December 18, 2005

President Bush acknowledged on Saturday that he had ordered the National Security Agency to conduct an electronic eavesdropping program in the United States without first obtaining warrants, and said he would continue the highly classified program because it was ''a vital tool in our war against the terrorists.'' In an unusual step, Mr. Bush delivered a live weekly radio address from the White House in which he defended his action as ''fully consistent with my constitutional responsibilities and authorities.''

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GRETCHEN MAVROVOUNIOTIS considered the theme songs from ''Ghostbusters'' and ''Footloose'' before settling on ''Can't Stop the Music'' by the Village People. The disco beat, she said, is the best for her dance partner, since it best shows off his forward weave and counterclockwise turns. ''What I like,'' she said, ''is fast-paced music to keep up his enthusiasm, so he doesn't get bored and just plod along. I also look for music where you have transitions, where you can put in some of the flashier moves, like back up, turn around and back through my legs.''