December 16, 2005

Under a presidential order signed in 2002, the National Security Agency has spied on hundreds of people inside the U.S.

Consumer Price Index fell by sixth-tenths of one percent in November, biggest monthly decline since Truman administration, but that does not diminish expectations that Federal Reserve will continue to raise interest rates at least through early next year; core inflation rate rose two-tenths of one percent in November, matching October's increase; it was up 2.1 percent over past 12 months; annual inflation rate through November, including food and energy, was 3.5 percent; Federal Reserve reports industrial production rose seven-tenths of one percent in November; production rose 1.3 percent in October; pickup in manufacturing puts output of nation's factories at 79.4 percent of their capacity, unchanged from October; inflation-adjusted wages of production workers in November rose by 1 percent; graph; chart (M)

For some time now, in addition to fulfilling the requirements of my day job, I have been moonlighting as an unpaid parenting consultant, on perpetual call to deal with a rather specialized but nonetheless urgent concern. Movie reviews are written for -- and despite occasional appearances to the contrary, by -- grown-ups, which means they don't always contain the information some adult readers want most. And so, through phone calls, e-mail and occasional grocery-store checkout-line buttonholing, I am continually tapped for what my friends and acquaintances seem to believe will be expert advice. Can I take my 10-year-old to ''King Kong''? they want to know. Will my daughter like ''The Chronicles of Narnia''? Should I bring the kids along to see ''The Squid and the Whale''? Well, nobody has really asked the last one, though I can imagine situations in which a family viewing of that brutally funny divorce drama might be beneficial, even therapeutic. (On the other hand, if you went in thinking it was a cartoon about lovable aquatic creatures you'd be in for a bit of a shock.) But the answers I come up with tend, in any case, to be frustratingly equivocal. Is a given movie appropriate for your children? It depends -- on you and on your children, as much as on the movie. How easily are they scared or disturbed? Do they like being scared or disturbed? What are you comfortable explaining to them, or declining to explain? How do you feel about implicit sex, explicit violence, coarse language, crude humor, egregious cuteness, gratuitous pop-culture references, talking lions or giant monkeys? Would you rather spend money on a babysitter or on popcorn and neon Gummi Worms?

Floyd Norris column on growing number of companies that will disclose soft-dollar contributions to political candidates; says Center for Political Accountability will announce that Coca-Cola Co, PepsiCo and Eli Lilly have agreed to make disclosures and provide board oversight of donations; adds other companies that have in past agreed to do so include Morgan Stanley, Johnson & Johnson and Schering-Plough; chart (M)

In a Metropolitan Opera House studio jumbled with tapes and 16-inch lacquer discs one day last week, nine of the most famous high C's ever sung shot out from the throat of Luciano Pavarotti. It was the recording of a live, broadcast performance of Donizetti's ''Fille du Régiment,'' at the Met on Jan. 6, 1973. The performance and others in that season's run launched Mr. Pavarotti to stardom, bringing on the epithet ''King of the High C's'' for his rendition of the bravura aria ''Pour mon âme,'' toward the end of the first act. The recording, played for a reporter, is one of the few -- perhaps only -- of Mr. Pavarotti singing the role live, and it belongs to a string of historic moments that the Met is slowly capturing for posterity and possible profit.

Court Rejects Judgment Against 'Light' Cigarettes The Supreme Court of Illinois threw out a $10 billion judgment against Philip Morris USA in a class-action suit that had accused the company of deceiving smokers in a campaign for its ''light'' cigarettes with lower levels of tar and nicotine. The court ruled that the use of ''light'' and ''low tar'' for cigarettes was authorized by the Federal Trade Commission and that Philip Morris could not be held liable for such marketing. BUSINESS DAY, PAGE C1 William Proxmire Dies A Democratic senator from Wisconsin for 32 years who battled what he believed to be frivolous government spending, he was 90. PAGE B13 Animation in 3 Dimensions The art of digital animation as practiced by Pixar, the studio behind ''Toy Story,'' ''The Incredibles'' and other hit films, is the subject of an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art. A review by Roberta Smith. WEEKEND, PAGE E35 Emissions Pact in Disarray New York and other states scrambled to salvage a landmark regional pact on power plant emissions after two states dropped out. PAGE B3

South Korean scientist Hwang Woo Suk, who claimed stunning series of advances in cloning and stem cell research, reportedly tells colleague that critical parts of one discovery were fabricated; colleague, Dr Roh Sung Il, co-authored paper with Hwang in journal Science last June; Roh now says Hwang told him that 9 of 11 stem-cell lines he said he created did not even exist; Hwang immediately defends his work and says he has proof of his success; first hints of trouble with his research came earlier this year, when reports emerged that women in his laboratory may have donated eggs for experiment in cultivating stem cells from cloned human embryo; last month, his American collaborator Dr Gerald Schatten severed ties with his group, citing 'ethical violations' over way eggs were obtained; Schatten has also asked that his name be withdrawn from article in journal Science that he co-authored with Hwang; photos; timeline (L)

After decades of drug addiction, Adriane Allen believes she has finally grown too old to smoke crack. At 57, she has chest pains, has lost most of her teeth and has trouble moving her arms. Lately, she worries about how her grandchildren will remember her when she is gone. ''I definitely do not want them mourning me as an addict, that I died as an addict,'' said Ms. Allen, shaking her head, covered with gray hair and fidgeting uncontrollably during an interview at a New York City needle-exchange center.

Sunni Arabs voting in Iraqi elections show new willingness to distance themselves from insurgency, absence of hostility for Americans and yearning to find place for themselves in post-Hussein Iraq; large Sunni turnout is expected to raise fresh hopes of reconciliation between what has been alienated Sunni minority and Shiite parties that won in Jan and seem poised to win largest bloc of seats again; Iraqi pragmatists warn that realities of power, and who will hold it once new government is formed, could once again render hopes short-lived; photo (M)

THERE are no coroners for houses of worship, so it is impossible to say with precision when one of them dies. Is it when the prayerful stop coming? Or when the physical structure is ceded, out of raw financial need, to another faith? Or is it perhaps that instant, no more enduring than a sigh, when one can sense the soul of a place passing away?

Major food producers are responding to criticism about nutritional quality of their products as they face scrutiny over thier role in contributing to increasing childhood obesity rates; Kraft and PepsiCo have created rating systems to designate healhier foods; McDonald's says it will begin printing detailed nutrition information on its packaging in February; Walt Disney says that beginning in next few months, it will remove characters like Winnie the Pooh, Mickey Mouse and Chicken Little from candy and food products it determines to be unhealthy for children; company will put Mickey Mouse thumbs-up seals on items like bananas and on store-brand products like pasta and juices; General Mills and Kellogg, which derive large part of their revenue from products aimed at children, are resisting changing many of their practices; photos (M)

Despite predictions of doom and gloom for the classical recording industry in recent years, CD's continue to stream out in some abundance, from new sources as well as from major labels in retrenchment. Nor is there any lack of truly excellent recordings, as the classical music critics of The New York Times found while scanning the year's releases in search of the most notable ones. The selections range through all genres and all eras; the newest of the new include a disc with the dynamic and versatile Esa-Pekka Salonen, right, conducting works of his own. The critic's choices, Page 27.