There is excruciating pain in losing a game like Saturday night’s, but there should also be joy at Rutgers for having had the opportunity to play it.

Missed Chances a Sign the Transformation Is Not Over

Many athletes do not seem to care about the intended use of eye black, making it a fashion accessory instead.

Eye Black Used to Cut Glare, or Turn Up Spotlight

Behind the Wheel review of BMW M6; photo (M)

BMW M6: The Devil Is in the Gearbox

Two days before he resigned as defense secretary, Donald H. Rumsfeld submitted a memo to the White House that acknowledged that the administration’s strategy in Iraq was not working.

Rumsfeld Memo Proposed ‘Major Adjustment’ in Iraq

Conflict diamonds — diamonds used to finance some of the most brutal warfare of the last two decades — have become a fashionable concern among entertainment figures.

Hollywood’s Multifaceted Cause du Jour

For some, the terrors and techniques of mingling at parties in this season are more daunting than holiday shopping.

Party Talk: Not So Holly Jolly

In the face of new competition, primarily from China, produce farmers have joined forces for the first time.

Imports Spurring Push to Subsidize Produce

Alexander V. Litvinenko’s career began in the post-Soviet roller coaster and ended mysteriously when he died of radiation poisoning last week.

Russian Ex-Spy Lived in a World of Deceptions

Brokers say that "problem houses" need not be problems at all, provided the tough issues are addressed  before the property goes on the market.

Finding That One Buyer in a Million

As a revitalized car show opened to the public in Los Angeles on Friday, the industry’s nexus shifted a bit closer to the West Coast.

Los Angeles, the Sequel: Car Show Has a New Script

MADDIE THE MALTESE was wearing a Rolling Bones T-shirt for her walk in the cool November morning. At the other end of the leash was all 4 foot 11 of Kristin Chenoweth; in boots and cropped jeans, with her hair tucked under a tweed newsboy cap, she looked like a refugee from ''Ragtime.'' When they got to the Canine Ranch pet emporium on West 72nd Street, everyone cooed about Maddie's figure; she'd finally lost the weight she'd gained on vacation while her owner made the movie ''Deck the Halls.'' ''When she got back,'' Ms. Chenoweth whispered, as if to avoid offending the dog, ''I couldn't get a size 12 around her.''     Now the tiny, longhaired creature -- Maddie, that is, named for Madeline Kahn -- was about to be rewarded with a shearling jacket, Puggs booties, a faux-crocodile carrying case. ''I don't really think she likes this very much,'' Ms. Chenoweth admitted, ''but tough doodie. I don't have a child or a drug problem or a husband. What else am I going to do?''  

She Sings! She Acts! She Prays!

A decision to question authority and "get people to toe the line."

This Fund Manager Is Heard, and Heeded

Healthcare industry is pushing for government and private programs that will improve system by increasing its reliability on computerized records and other technological advancements; technology companies, health insurers and medical device companies are eager supporters of change; critics worry about privacy concerns and and misuse of data; photos (M)

Health Hazard: Computers Spilling Your History

Pope Benedict XVI visits Turkey and seems to distance himself from earlier comments claiming Islam is prone to violence; some conservatives criticize what they say is softer stance; others say his visit to Turkey shows he is transitioning from role as theologian to more of diplomat; photo (M)

The Pope Without His Sting

Instead of earning a trip to the B.C.S. title game, the Trojans were sent on a return trip to the Rose Bowl, leaving plenty of intrigue on Sunday as to who will hop into the No. 2 slot in the B.C.S. rankings.

U.C.L.A. Brings Down U.S.C., and Opens Door to Title Game

From test scores to financing, the impact is being felt in districts across the New York region.

Surge in Asian Enrollment Alters Schools

IT'S the opening night of ''The Food Show: The Hungry Eye'' at the Chelsea Art Museum, a former Christmas ornament factory that hugs the westernmost corner of 22nd Street. Rain has begun to blow off the Hudson River in heavy sheets, reversing umbrellas and lagooning the sidewalks. Inside the museum all is sleek and bland and expensive looking: poured concrete floors, green glass stairs, a beautifully laid-out bookstore. Smack in the middle of the fall contemporary auction week, this is a prime moment for parties and networking, but the opening is attended by only a sparse gathering of middle-aged aficionados and gallery assistants with throwback-to-the-'70s mustaches.      Ted Mineo is standing among them, a 25-year-old artist with a long, angular build. He wears his hair unkempt and slightly dirty, swept across his forehead and tucked behind his ears. He has big, gentle brown eyes and the kind of translucent-white skin that one usually associates with convicts and nerds. This exhibition marks the first time one of his pictures has been shown in a museum. Amid works by Andy Warhol and Wayne Thiebaud, his piece has a choice spot at the far end of the gallery. It's an intricately detailed oil painting of a muffuletta -- that famous old New Orleans sandwich -- wearing a crown of thorns.  

The Debutante’s Ball

Produce farmers, facing competition mainly from China, have formed lobbying group to pressure politicians to include subsidy in farm bill to be debated in January; fruit and vegetable farmers have never before sought subsidies but are now seeking more than $1 billion to help their crops compete effectively in tougher global marketplace; any money growers get would probably have to come out of allocation that already goes to other sorts of farmers, and could lead to charges of supporting American farmers at expense of farmers in poorer countries; graphs; photo (L)

Robert A Olstein starts Olstein Strategic Opportunities mutual fund in response to fund managers who are not operating in best interest of their shareholders; fees are high but performance is generating high returns; Olstein also runs $1.7 billion Olstein All Cap Value Fund (M)

Interior Department eliminates Bobby L Maxwell's job in 'reorganization' after he and his team of auditors spend years scrutinizing books of major oil companies; becomes most feared whistle blower for Big Oil, exposing how industry and government do business together; files suit against Kerr-McGee Corporation accusing company of cheating governments out of royalty payments; contends that Interior Department ignored audits indicating cheating; nation's largest oil producers, including Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Shell and ConocoPhillips fail to block suit; photos; graph (M)

Blowing the Whistle on Big Oil

UCLA defeats Southern California University, 13-9; photos (M)

Ian McEwan has been accused of using brief wording from Lucilla Andrews memoir in his best-selling novel Atonement; this is most recent in string of plagiarism charges that highlights complicated relationship between art and life experience that artists have always drawn on; photos (M)

Her Life, His Art, Your Call

Doctors try to balance a patient's trust with new technology.

Ted Mineo has the gallery. He has the portfolio. Now it’s off to market at Miami Basel.

Solving mysterious death of Alexander V Litvinenko, who was poisoned with polonium, may be more difficult than first anticipated given relative ubiquity of polonium; some experts say it is possible that close examination of polonium residues from Litvinenko's body might reveal 'nuclear fingerprints' that could help investigation; history of polonium discussed; photo; drawing; chart (M)

December 3, 2006

Headlines from December 3, 2006

Missed Chances a Sign the Transformation Is Not Over

Eye Black Used to Cut Glare, or Turn Up Spotlight

BMW M6: The Devil Is in the Gearbox

Rumsfeld Memo Proposed ‘Major Adjustment’ in Iraq

Hollywood’s Multifaceted Cause du Jour

Billboard 200

Doctor's Advocate

Konvicted

NOW 23

Awake

Hannah Montana

Historical Context for December 3, 2006