As expensive as the damage control may be, it isn’t likely to cost near as much as the headline numbers suggest.

Ignoring Reality Has a Price

A military investigation concluded that recent American airstrikes in western Afghanistan killed more civilians than previously acknowledged.

30 Civilians Died in Afghan Raid, U.S. Inquiry Finds

The championship football team of Euless, Tex., includes many players whose parents came from the Pacific Island kingdom of Tonga in search of work.

Polynesian Pipeline Feeds a Football Titan

California and other states scrambled to cope with bills coming due as they pressed Washington for assistance because the municipal bond markets remain largely closed to them.

With Bonds in Trouble, States Seek Federal Help

Even Frank Langella, an actor who can be counted on to put the pepper in mashed-potato parts, doesn’t find much variety in the monolithic goodness of the title character of “A Man for All Seasons.”

Martyr Me a Little (the Perils of Thomas)

In a muted debate, Senator Barack Obama faulted a zeal for deregulation, while Senator John McCain offered a mortgage rescue plan.

Economic Woes Set Tone for Rivals in 2nd Debate

The markets have become a case study in crowd psychology, experts say, as investors seem to be selling first and asking questions later.

Forget Logic; Fear Appears to Have Edge

The presidential debate was remarkable for the senators’ subdued demeanors even as they tore into each other.

Downturn in Decibels, Too

Retail analysts and executives said they had not seen such a rapid slowdown in consumer spending since the nation’s last deep recession, in the early 1980s.

Retailers’ Sales Fall Sharply at Both High End and Low

Treasury officials say the just-passed $700 billion bailout bill gives them the authority to inject cash into banks that request it.

U.S. May Take Ownership Stake in Banks

The aid comes in addition to the $85 billion line of credit the Fed gave the insurer last month.

A.I.G. to Get Additional $37.8 Billion

In the end the fate of the life’s work of Marshall Frady came down to 15 minutes in a windowless room in Midtown.

Putting a Modest Price on a Storied Literary Life

American adaptations of foreign series — including “Eleventh Hour,” “Kath & Kim” and “Life on Mars” — are prevalent this season, but not all copycat shows are equally well made.

Imports Suffering Identity Problems

For comedy shows specializing in topical satire, the rabid attention that viewers are giving to the presidential (and vice-presidential) contest is providing a jolt of ratings and creative energy.

An Election to Laugh About

The former “Will and Grace” star is back in prime time with “The Starter Wife,” a new show on the USA Network that evolved out of a successful mini-series.

Debra Messing’s ‘Starter’ Role Has Staying Power

The WildCharge mat replaces all those black power bricks you’ve been using to recharge your mobile doodads.

The Perfect Charger (Almost)

The grocery chain said its earning rose on increased sales and cost cutting.

Safeway Posts 2.6% Rise in Profit

The bank’s stock price was pushed down by rumors about the fate of a $9 billion injection by the Japanese bank Mitsubishi, illustrating how much Morgan Stanley is exposed.

Morgan Stanley Still Vulnerable

More bad news for the wealthy, or at least those who pretend to be: the cable channel FX announced that it has canceled “The Riches.”

No More Riches for FX

It was the rare John Lennon-related showdown not motivated by sublimated anger toward Paul McCartney.

Ono, EMI Drop Imagine Lawsuit

The Broadway revival of “Guys and Dolls” will star Oliver Platt as Nathan Detroit.

‘Guys and Dolls’ Picks Its Nathan

Amy Hempel is the winner of the 2008 Rea Award for the Short Story, the award’s sponsors announced. Ms. Hempel is the author of “The Dog of the Marriage,” “Tumble Home” and other story collections. The award, bestowed by the Dungannon Foundation, includes a prize of $30,000. ... What’s this? An attempt to make life easier for New York theatergoers? The renovated TKTS booth will accept credit cards for payment on discounted theater tickets when it reopens in Duffy Square on Oct. 16.

Footnotes

A moment of supersilence, please: In Action Comics No. 870, released on Wednesday, Jonathan Kent, the adoptive father of Superman, suffers a fatal heart attack. His death comes after the supervillain Brainiac attacks the Kent farmhouse in an attempt to hurt Superman; despite all his mighty power, the Man of Steel is unable to save his dad. Superman “lost one of the biggest tethers to Earth and his human life,” said Geoff Johns, the writer of Action Comics. “It’s going to be pretty brutal for him to deal with the fallout.” This is at least the fourth death of Jonathan Kent in the Superman mythos, following previous demises in comic books (in 1939), the “Superman” feature film (in 1978) and the television series “Smallville” (2006). Rest in peace (again), Pa.

Superman Powerless to Prevent Dad’s Death

Another rock act has objected to the use of its music by Senator John McCain’s presidential campaign.

Rock Band Protests McCain’s Use of Its Song

Adding to speculation about how the worldwide economic downturn will affect next month’s big auctions in New York, two sales abroad drew disappointing numbers.

Sales Underwhelm at Art Auctions

Ângelo Ferreira Carvalho , was a Portuguese footballer who played for FC Porto, as defender.

Ângelo Carvalho, Portuguese footballer (born 1925)

Ângelo_Carvalho

Bob Friend, MBE was one of the original news anchors for the Sky News channel from its launch in 1989 until his retirement in late 2003.

Bob Friend, English journalist (born 1938)

Bob_Friend_(newscaster)

Eileen Herlie was a Scottish-American actress.

Eileen Herlie, Scottish-American actress (born 1918)

Eileen_Herlie

George Emil Palade was a Romanian-American cell biologist. In 1974 he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine along with Albert Claude and Christian de Duve. The prize was granted for his innovations in electron microscopy and cell fractionation which together laid the foundations of modern molecular cell biology, the most notable discovery being the ribosomes of the endoplasmic reticulum – which he first described in 1955.

October 8, 2008

Headlines from October 8, 2008

Ignoring Reality Has a Price

30 Civilians Died in Afghan Raid, U.S. Inquiry Finds

Polynesian Pipeline Feeds a Football Titan

With Bonds in Trouble, States Seek Federal Help

Martyr Me a Little (the Perils of Thomas)

Billboard 200

Death Magnetic

Don't Forget

Year Of The Gentleman

Doll Domination

Only By The Night

Notable Deaths

Historical Context for October 8, 2008