New York’s currently: stopping, collaborating, listening

 As Fallujah residents emerge from hiding to find a city in ruins, the Marines say that without continued U.S. military presence, the insurgents will be back.

 Kmart to buy Sears for $11 billion; even combined, the new company will still reach only 20 percent of Wal-Mart’s sales.

 Still-Secretary of State Powell says he’s seen information that suggests Iran was looking into ways to deliver nuclear devices via missile.

 House Republicans vote to change their own rules and allow Majority Leader Tom DeLay to retain his post even if indicted by a grand jury.

 London graffiti artist Arofish travels, paints walls in Iraq, the West Bank, and Gaza. (Arofish’s site here.)

 Fascinating: Listen to recordings of pre-Velvet Underground Lou Reed.

 Apartments, offices, nightclubs that have extraordinarily significant cultural relevance: The portfolio of Factory Records’ interior designer Bill Kelly.

 Video: Yee-ouch! Beware the dangers of deep-fat turkey fryers.

 Play Mad Libs online. Related: George W. Bush and Tony Blair don’t use verbs.

 For those moments when you know an overused metaphor would just kill: the Cliché Finder.

 Gallery of historic maps of Rio de Janeiro. (scroll down a bit)

 Video of girls from a North Korean high school: “We’re singing! We’re singing! But however… If someone attacks us there is no doubt about it, our soldiers will fight with power and spirit and they will never lose.”

 New research says that long-distance running wasn’t just walking really really fast, but that it may have been a key force behind human evolution.

 Video: Fox anchor falls into a verbal blooper, doesn’t recover.

 The debate squad from the Manhattan Center makes the Bush-Kerry fracases look like a cakewalk.

 Huge thanks to yesterday’s two thoughtful people who lined our pockets—no!—who supported this site!