The Nets' chances depend largely on whether Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson can beat Dwyane Wade to the basket and on how well they deal with Shaquille O'Neal once they get there.

Nets' Fortunes Ride on Two of a Kind Against the Heat

At a time when sales of games tied to movies have slowed, publishers are trying to develop more game concepts from scratch.

Video Games Struggle to Find the Next Level

Gen. Michael V. Hayden, the likely nominee to lead the Central Intelligence Agency, has won trust through his mastery of the intelligence briefing.

Dodging Perils on Way to Top of Spy Game

In the 2:01.36 it took Barbaro to gallop off with a six-and-a-half-length victory in the Kentucky Derby, he was transformed from a versatile colt into a spectacular one.

Barbaro's Romp at the Derby Makes Believers Out of Rivals

At this year's E3 convention, game makers hope to show that they have realistic plans to capitalize on next-generation consoles.

At E3 Video Game Convention, New Generation Bows

New releases from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Gnarls Barkley, the Isley Brothers, Jagged Edge and Liberty Ellman.

New CD's

The prospect of Democrats winning the House or Senate is seen as a powerful tool to motivate the conservative base.

Rove Is Using Threat of Loss to Stir Republicans

In hopes of catching up to Google's ad revenue, Yahoo will soon release a simpler, more stable and more nuanced search-advertising system.

Yahoo Is Unleashing a New Way to Turn Ad Clicks Into Ka-Ching

Remarks by senior Republicans suggest that Gen. Michael V. Hayden would face a tough confirmation fight.

Republicans Fault a Top Pick to Lead the C.I.A.

It is possible that a stint weighing a worker's compensation case could offer more thrills than this eye-glazing attempt to resurrect Herman Wouk's 1953 play.

'The Caine Mutiny' Returns to Broadway

The city intends to dump hurricane debris near a Vietnamese-American community and a wildlife refuge.

A New Landfill in New Orleans Sets Off a Battle

Curbs on Hamas have saddled the Palestinian medical system with crippling shortages.

Funds Cut, Gaza Faces a Plague of Health Woes

The acquisition, for about $26 billion in cash and stock, would give Wachovia an important foothold in California.

Wachovia Near a Deal to Acquire Bank in West

Workers are relocating wires and pipes 65 feet below the street to make room for the Freedom Tower's foundation.

Clearing the Tracks for a Very Big Arrival

A man who was enraged at being asked to stop drinking in his own home opened fire in a room full of children, the police said.

Girl Is Killed at a Party in Brooklyn

Catch them in a rare moment of repose and the Manginis are likely to say, who needs sleep when you are living a dream?

Energy for the Jets and Beyond

Joe Torre became the fourth Yankees manager to reach 1,000, joining Joe McCarthy (1,460), Casey Stengel (1,149) and Miller Huggins (1,067).

Torre Passes Yanks' Milestone With 1,000th Victory

Fisher Scientific International, a medical lab equipment supplier, is near a deal to merge with rival Thermo Electron Corporation.

Possible Deal Would Make Major Player in Lab Tools

Phyllis Pellman Good's cookbooks eschew photographs and chic recipes for simple and practical dishes.

Whipping Up a Cookbook Empire With Meatloaf Instead of Sizzle

 Refugees Still in Crisis Despite Darfur Pact  Jan Egeland, in navy shirt at right, the top aid official of the United Nations, met with rebel groups and officials at a refugee camp in Gereida, in the Darfur region of Sudan. Two days after a peace agreement was signed by the largest rebel group, aid workers said they remained overwhelmed.   PAGE A3    Iraq Car Bombs Kill 14  Two car bombs in Baghdad and one in the Shiite holy city of Karbala killed at least 14 people and wounded nearly 40, Iraqi officials said.   PAGE A10    Showdown in Puerto Rico  Supporters of both sides demonstrated in San Juan over a standoff that shut down Puerto Rico's government last week. The governor and the Legislature have been unable to agree on a budget.   PAGE A14    Catch a Show? It'll Cost You  ''Premium tickets'' -- started by those once-shocking $480 seats for ''The Producers'' -- are now a Broadway epidemic.   THE ARTS, PAGE E1    Merger Deal for Wachovia  The Wachovia Corporation reached a deal to pay $26 billion for the California bank Golden West Financial. An article written before the announcement appears in Business Day, Page C1; an updated report is at nytimes.com/business.    Bonds One Away From Ruth  Barry Bonds hit his 713th home run, against the Phillies in Philadelphia. The embattled Bonds is one run from tying Babe Ruth for the No. 2 spot.   SPORTSMONDAY, PAGE D5    Girl, 4, Killed in Rampage  A Brooklyn man, enraged that he had been asked to stop drinking in his own home, opened fire, killing a 4-year-old girl and wounding three other people, the police said.   PAGE B1

INSIDE

Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra has seen generational shift as nearly half of 122 members are under age 40 and average age has fallen to 45; members say that influx of young players has helped make orchestra more flexible, transparent and attuned to non-Germanic and contemporary repertory; changes began when Claudio Abbado took over as music director following death of Herbert von Karajan, and has accelerated under Simon Rattle; in current orchestra there is increased feeling of democracy as younger players feel free to express themselves; photos (M)

A Youth Movement at the Berlin Philharmonic

The current list of best-selling cookbooks is dominated by authors with good looks, television contracts, chic recipes and food empires.     Phyllis Pellman Good, though, appears on no culinary show; nor does she own a catering company, restaurant or magazine. A slight, 57-year-old Mennonite with round glasses, Ms. Good has created books full of instruction for dishes like ham loaf and cheeseburger soup based on recipes from women around the country. But her books have sold more in the United States than the combined works of the popular Food Network hosts Ina Garten, Giada De Laurentiis and Jamie Oliver.  

Attention, please. All New Yorkers eager to experience the edge-of-your-seat suspense and gut-churning excitement commonly associated with two weeks of federal jury duty, please report to the Gerald Schoenfeld Theater, where a new Broadway revival of ''The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial'' opened last night. Roll call at 8 p.m.     Kidding aside, it is just possible that a stint weighing a worker's compensation case could offer more thrills than this eye-glazing attempt to resurrect Herman Wouk's 1953 play, adapted from his novel ''The Caine Mutiny.'' Directed with metronome in hand by Jerry Zaks, this workmanlike production gives few clues to the enduring appeal of Mr. Wouk's tale of possible cowardice and possible insubordination, plus a humdinger of a typhoon, some disappearing strawberries and a nut job memorably named Queeg.  

To anyone who doubts the stakes for the White House in this year's midterm Congressional elections, consider that Representative John Conyers Jr. of Michigan, the Democrat who would become chairman of the Judiciary Committee if his party recaptured the House, has called for an inquiry into the possible impeachment of President Bush over the war in Iraq.      Or listen to Senator Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont, who would run the Senate Judiciary Committee if the Democrats took the Senate. Mr. Leahy vowed in a recent interview to subpoena top administration officials, if he got the chance, to answer more questions about their secret eavesdropping program and what he considers faulty prewar intelligence.  

Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro has those who were skeptics singing his praises and predicting future wins (M)6

Iain Stewart Macmillan was the Scottish photographer famous for taking the cover photograph for the Beatles' album Abbey Road in 1969. He grew up in Scotland, then moved to London to become a professional photographer. He used a photo of Yoko Ono in a book that he published in 1966, and Ono invited him to photograph her exhibit at Indica Gallery. She introduced him to John Lennon, and Lennon invited him to photograph the cover for Abbey Road. He worked with Lennon and Ono for several years, staying for a while at their home in New York.

May 8, 2006

Headlines from May 8, 2006

Nets' Fortunes Ride on Two of a Kind Against the Heat

Video Games Struggle to Find the Next Level

Dodging Perils on Way to Top of Spy Game

Barbaro's Romp at the Derby Makes Believers Out of Rivals

At E3 Video Game Convention, New Generation Bows

Billboard 200

Me And My Gang

NOW 21

High School Musical

White Trash With Money

King

Notable Deaths

Historical Context for May 8, 2006