Headlines: September 2004 - The Morning News

James Baker, representing Bush, held out for lecterns 10 feet apart and just 50 inches high, so the 5-foot-11 Bush won’t look dwarfed by the 6-foot-4 Kerry. Preparing for the debates.

Jeanne becomes the fourth hurricane since August 13 to hit Florida—the worst single-state frequency since Texas in 1886.

Reports show Al Qaeda is perched on the Afghanistan border, ready to upset the upcoming elections, and the U.S. says it wants everyone to know it’s increasing security measures now to protect its elections in November.

Tax-exempt charitable groups are producing anti-Bush and anti-Kerry ads without threat of having to expose their funding.

Sadly, “My Boo” isn’t the supercool glow-in-the-dark wand at the bottom of the bag but the baffling slingshot/calculator that never actually works. Sasha Frere-Jones on pop music and Happy Meals, and talks with Ben Greenman about the state of pop.

How the food really gets to your table: A profile of Erik Lopez, a kitchen steward at Daniel.

Bush administration juggles its view of Iraq, hoping for simple stability rather than pure democracy.

A massive cloud of interstellar sugar may offer clues to the origin of life.

How to remember numbers.

How the countries of the world are connected, the War of the Roses, and many more diagrams.

Game: New Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, now with graphics.

Daily Show viewers are more up on political issues than those who do not watch late-night comedy.

What Kundera, Gardner, and Vargas-Llosa cited.

How to appreciate classical music in mp3 format.

Headlines for Friday, September 24, 2004

New York’s currently: seeing the fall of our discotheque

Two Egyptians kidnapped in Baghdad, among 100 foreigners seized since March; U.K. doing “all it can” to save hostage Kenneth Bigley.

U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan accused of buying off candidates who plan to run against Karzai.

I believe that you or the United States of America will be a considerable business partner. Letters to George Bush from Germans who own property on the moon.

Billboard of Mubarak’s son appearing beside Olympic heroes has Egyptian opposition parties worried about a dynasty.

Violence, bandits, chaos belie Allawi’s Thursday assessment of Iraq getting better.

What do we want to hear from a candidate? Securing enriched uranium must be a priority in preventing a nuclear 9/11.

Video shows monkey able to sabotage Diebold touch-screen voting machine.

Watch purists upset new faces using “IV” instead of “IIII.”

PDF 1: Free menu/cookbook All About Apples available from Tastingmenu.com.

Reopening in November, MoMA to charge $20 for an adult pass.

South Korean laboratory experiments with plutonium and uranium enrichment are the tip of a global iceberg. View from Asia considering Korean nuclear ambitions.

Paris Hilton to star as Daisy in upcoming Gatsby remake Jay G.

PDF 2: The infamous spreadsheet of New York’s best sushi restaurants.

Classroom elects George Bush, voting solely for best articulation.

Calling food dorks: Blog from chef inside El Bulli.

Low railing installed to keep viewers away from paintings causes visitor to trip on show’s first day, ruin painting.

Finally: Free streaming surgical videos.

Headlines for Thursday, September 23, 2004

New York’s currently: a lovely day tomorrow (and today)

Congress moves forward with $145 billion in middle-class tax cuts. Lawmakers say that, even if the country can’t really afford the cuts, they look good politically. Although: It doesn’t look so hot for the poor.

Flood deaths in Haiti now nearing 2,000.

Fannie Mae accused of improper accounting, and the S.E.C. investigation begins.

“People keep asking, how do we know he’s got weapons of mass destruction? How do we know? Because we’ve still got the receipts.” David Hare’s “Stuff Happens.”

Michael Moore says vote for Bruce Springsteen.

Harley Spiller’s collection of 10,000 Chinese restaurant menus, some from the 19th century, reflect a timeline of how Chinese culture spread throughout the U.S. And: Going on an eating tour of Chinatown with Mr. Spiller.

“The Adventures of Superpup” was meant to be a children’s show with little people in dog costumes.

Jimmy Swaggart tells gay people that if they look at him “that way,” he will kill them and tell God they died.

Can-collecting homeless man hopes Bloomberg’s new recycling program will expand his business. Related: The mayor, stuck on Lexington line for 45 minutes, gets some extra reading done.

Instantly generate fear, madness, and… puckering with The Lovecraft Engine.

Effects of U.S. anti-terror measures show significant drop in issuing of green cards, even if Al Quaeda websites are sometimes accidentally hosted by U.S. companies.

Noisemapping London.

Heckler’s anti-Bush remarks now under investigation by the Secret Service.

Everything you ever wanted to know about the century in shoes.

Learn how to take photos online. Related: Art with rocks and art with taxidermy.

They have become known for dishes they’ve distinguished: souse stew from the Caribbean, Oaxacan tamales, Brazilian rissole turnovers, and other traditional recipes. Street cooking in New York.

Headlines for Wednesday, September 22, 2004

New York’s currently: enjoying a week of perfect days

Killing of two Sunni clerics in Baghdad Shiite neighborhoods raises possibility of sectarian civil war in Iraq.

Al-Zarqawi terrorists apparently kill second American hostage, demanding Iraqi women in U.S.-run prisons be released. Perhaps unrelated, Iraqi female scientist Dr. Germ set free.

What someday may become Europe’s army, Eurocorps takes command of NATO’s peacekeeping forces in Afghanistan.

City girls suffer dearth of sex-buddies when men crave cuddles.

My hunch is that John Kerry eats pastry. David Brooks on the different type of cereal-eaters, as described by TMN’s John Warner.

Three top aides to Tom DeLay charged with illegally raising funds from corporations.

Spaniards in Madrid can’t find time for work-day siesta, try public napping instead.

Video: Images from inside Pier 57, detention center used to house NYC protesters.

What women say about the clothing that makes them feel powerful.

I come back and my back’s broken and my mind’s broken. They say it’s not combat related. Soldiers find maddening red tape and mental instability in medical holdover after returning from Iraq.

Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens) causes plane to be diverted “on national security grounds.”

Late to this, but: Readers mourn death of Aaron Hawkins, author of uppity-negro.com.

The official God FAQ.

Warhol Museum hangs exhibit of Abu Ghraib photos, draws hate mail.

“Free-speech zones” still stun us, and now: Secret Service uses arcane law to turn protesters into threats against the president.

Strange history of how a shocking hand gesture rocked a small Pennsylvania town.

Headlines for Tuesday, September 21, 2004

New York’s currently: telling itself to go outside and enjoy this weather

Floods in the wake of Tropical Storm Jeanne leave more than 600 dead in Haiti.

Kerry on Iraq: “We have traded a dictator for a chaos that has left America less secure.” Bush on Kerry: “He’s saying he prefers the stability of a dictatorship to the hope and security of democracy.” Related: Debates set to begin Sept. 30.

American hostage beheaded in Iraqi video.

Fake web sites, professional letter-writing: How Ali G cons celebrities onto his show.

Software engineer drives into the city with intent to kill President Bush.

So which is it? Is Al Qaeda for Kerry? Or Bush?

Dan Rather apologizes for fake documents. Related: The man who originally provided the forgeries is reported to have a history of self-described mental problems.

U.S. investigates Afghani charges of murder and torture.

New romance novels feature God as a main character.

Pakistan: Musharraf says he may need to stay in power in order to keep his country free of extremism; reporting from the hunt for Osama bin Laden.

Mikhail Kalashnikov, inventor of the AK-47, introduces new vodka.

Peter Saville says men would do well to select Brian Ferry as their fashion role model.

Chess set made of apples.

ORD? MSY? ABE? Deciphering airport identifier codes.

Video: “How to Barbecue a Man.”

Headlines for Monday, September 20, 2004

New York’s currently: fully autumnized

In the world’s largest country that you know nothing about, former president Jiang Zemin resigns and hands over power to Hu Jintao.

90 dead, 150 missing in Haiti as tropical storm Jeanne whips up floodwaters; Thousands evacuated as Delaware River spills over.

With up to 10,000 dying each month in Darfur, U.N. adopts resolution against Sudan, with sanctions considered against its oil industry. (And Sudan says, “Wait! Not cool!”)

Bush told his ever-faulty missile defense program is faulty once again, though it is being deployed and still costs billions.

In hurricane country, doctors ask pregnant women to head for the hospitals, believing falling barometric pressure can trigger labor.

It’s both Virgin and Vogue all at once. Collection of high school senior photos.

Friends of the President recall various times they stopped short of asking him why he invaded Iraq.

While bomb fuel festers in Russia or gets tested in North Korea, a review of Kerry and Bush’s anti-nuke strategies.

Reasons for going home for the African ex-patriate.

I don’t like her. I find her quite round. Profile of “the new fabulous” fashion photographers Mert and Marcus.

Damian Loeb painting yanked from exhibit due to copyright problems.

Videos: Footbag technique.

Mayor LaGuardia reading the comics over the radio (see 1940s) and other highlights from WNYC’s past.

Paintings: Justin Hibbs’s oils on architecture. (See also Adam Connelly, internet-porn-ish.)

Iran to the U.N.: We have completed full nuclear enrichment, and we have no interest in stopping now.

History of Jews in the NYPD.

Video: Band films video for catchy song by walking around New York, finds SNL’s Rachel Dratch.

If you come from continental Europe, great. If you don’t, pretend that you do. How to become a famous architect.

Headlines for Friday, September 17, 2004

New York’s currently: measuring once, measuring twice

After a night of U.S. air strikes in Fallujah, a suicide bomber detonates in Baghdad, killing at least five and wounding 20.

Iraq, worse than you think: an average of 87 attacks per day on U.S. forces in August; at least 52 U.S. troops dead so far in September; more than 100 foreigners abducted since April, including two Americans and a Briton yesterday.

Who will be the last American to die in Iraq?

Hurricane Ivan hits Alabama, leaves 23 dead and a quarter of the population without power.

The campaign trail: Kerry tells National Guard association that Bush is living in a “fantasy world,” National Guards respond with dismissal and crossed arms. And: Confident Bush enters Democratic fantasy world of Minnesota and Wisconsin.

North Korea shows diplomats where the explosions occurred for the hydroelectric project that wasn’t a nuclear bomb experiment or anything, and South Korea says they were taken to a different spot.

Lose that belly bracelet and that toe ring, because slutwear is out.

Butcher hacks up estranged wife in broad daylight on a Washington Heights sidewalk.

Why a new nickel and no new dime? No idea, but it’s here, and it has buffalos and bluffs.

Your camera’s memory card was in a taxi; I have it now. I am going to post one of your pictures each day. I will also narrate as if I were you.

A history of the New Yorker in the ’30s, its big names, quirky advertising standards, and that policy on Dubuque.

Bagels were strung from island to island on special spaghetti, samosas were bowled at baguettes, Greek salads were thrown like confetti. Jonathan Safran Foer, “The Sixth Borough.”

New report shows Iraq had every intention to create chemical and biological weapons, “though probably for use in assassinations, not to inflict mass casualties.”

Video: Guy tries to… well he attempts, well just go watch it.

Producer says Jude Law will not play Ian Curtis in upcoming Joy Division movie, and Moby is also not a part of the production. And: New Order remixes tend to have one or more of these characteristics… Related: Some kids just want to sit in the back of the auditorium and listen to Joy Division.

Headlines for Thursday, September 16, 2004

New York’s currently: feeling for its southern cousins

Seven reported killed in the U.S. by Ivan, with more than 60 dead in the Caribbean. (See map of hurricane’s path.)

You would be surprised at how far a can of orange soda would go. Details of changes made to interrogation techniques at Abu Ghraib.

Houston airport uses volunteers on horseback to keep forests free of terrorists.

State department moves Iraq reconstruction money to security detail, hoping for pre-election (you pick which one) stability.

Ivins says Bush’s “flip-flop” campaign needs no watering to survive, similar to Japanese flip-flap plant, requiring no attention.

Johnny Ramone of The Ramones dies of prostate cancer. Related: See End of the Century, the Ramones documentary.

Op-ed: When there are elections in Muslim countries, most voters—even in Pakistan—reject parties that sympathize with the extremists.

What Annan means when he now says invading Iraq was illegal.

Videos: Richard Strauss.

You know he’s born again, you know he’s a Christian, but does anyone have a clue about the details of Bush’s faith?

Explore zipcodes.

Videos: Expensive Kryptonite bike locks defeated by ballpoint pen in 30 seconds.

French cafés to improve service, comfort levels, hygiene to attract customers.

14 illegal immigrants testified against Moussaoui as trade for visa to stay in the U.S., but prosecutor chose only three as helpful.

MP3 of John Cage’s 4’33”.

I think about Hemingway and Faulkner and how it ended for them. Profile of Philip Roth, taken from interview in his West Side studio. (See excerpt from new book.)

NYC: Artbots invade Harlem.

Headlines for Wednesday, September 15, 2004

New York’s currently: crisping up for sweaters and such

Thousands in New Orleans flee the path of Hurricane Ivan, a storm that, with the help of federal budget cutbacks, could literally sink the city. [PDF of Times-Picayune]

Even if the Bush memos are forgeries, says the secretary who would have typed them in 1972, the originals said the same thing.

Bush reiterates how proud he is to have served in the Guard. But: We want him to at least admit his privileged status there, and Dan Rather would like some answers.

Gripped by an anti-American fervor, dozens of men rushed at a Western cameraman and chanted, “Bush is a dog, Bush is a dog!” Iraqis react to the car bomb that killed 47 yesterday.

North Korea wants to wait out U.S. election before beginning nuclear talks.

“There are no other jobs. Joining the police and the army is the only choice.” Why prospective cops brave car bombs in Baghdad.

If only every recipe were drawn like this… Cooking for Engineers.

Kazakhstanian press secretary disputes Borat’s (Ali G’s) claims about his country: Wine is not made from horse urine, and all that.

Man packs Soviet-made explosives in baggage for cool souvenir that could have blown up his plane.

Decoding the names of cars. [via things] And: World’s largest SUV ready for market, and it’s pretty much a semi.

Entrepreneurship, Cement Work, Atomic Energy, Computers: Boy Scout Merit Badges, past and present.

One thousand troops dead in Iraq: their photos.

Couldn’t bring yourself to dissect a frog in high school? Now you can, no scalpel required.

“The Pseudo-Elizabethan Place Name Generator,” also known as “The Suburban Subdivision Placename Generator.”

Video: Satan knocks down hapless pedestrians, says vote for Bush.

Worldometers.

Headlines for Tuesday, September 14, 2004

New York’s currently: hoping its daily labor adds up to much

Baghdad car bomb kills 47, wounds more than 100.

Grabbing power where possible, Putin announces plans to “manage democracy” by ending popular elections of governors and independent lawmakers.

Two to three percent of children on antidepressants have suicidal thoughts or behavior says FDA.

Every lady I did not kill got paid what we both agreed on. Notes written for police by Gary Ridgway, Seattle’s “Green River Killer.”

Kerfluffle over Minneapolis handyman’s gift to New York City of $1.4 million.

Who will you pray for this week? Fear not, the Presidential Prayer Team will tell you.

Accounts of Russian soldiers raping, torturing Chechens. See also, Russians trapped between a paranoid President and well-trained terrorists.

Preparing for Philip Roth’s The Plot Against America, when FDR is beat by a Nazi-sympathizing Charles Lindbergh.

U.S. Airways’ declaring bankruptcy is no surprise when the big carriers are dying.

Lives compared in Piscataway, N.J.; Kochi, Japan; and Zhuzhou, China.

Details of attacks, casualties in Iraq yesterday.

Photos: Tokyo Polaroid Plus.

Machiavelli never worked in a college English department, but he would have enjoyed it.

Controversial essay arguing Louis Armstrong liked women who knew how to worship the trumpet.

Tonight, New Yorkers: Opening of “Have You Eaten Yet? The Chinese Restaurant in America.”

The notion that the sport might have had its origins in a form of siege warfare is appealing. Why, exactly, does everyone love pole-vaulting?

Website, about Romania, decays further with each visit.

Headlines for Monday, September 13, 2004

New York’s currently: bursting with sunshine and breezy, no complaints there

Iraq sees its most violent day in months, with three car bombings, at least 80 civilians dead, and an al-Arabiya reporter gunned down, on air, by a U.S. helicopter.

North Korea says no, that was just us blowing up a mountain for a hydroelectric project, not us blowing up nuclear bombs. And: Kerry criticizes Bush inaction on North Korea nukes.

Assault-weapons ban set to expire at midnight tonight, though weapons dealers say it was never a big deal anyway. And: Kerry criticizes Bush inaction on assault-weapons ban.

Ready to let go: What the politicians wanted, it finally seemed, was the right to revive 9/11 whenever it served their own ambitious purposes.

And the audio tour that was never taken.

In 1978, some poor kid shot the tiny red projectile down his throat and killed himself. Everybody’s favorite deadly toys from days gone by!

Sarah Hepola on the men in movies she finds the hottt-est.

U.S. Open: Kuznetsova, Federer win titles.

Bloggers’ typographical detective work on suspect Bush records make major media waves.

A flow chart that could help you determine whether or not you should rip that CD.

Video: Dog walks on two legs, teaches others. Next: The dogs finally take over.

Game: Play Boggle online against others, wonder why anyone would even think that’s a word.

Exploding manholes, showers of sparks, and other dangers under the city’s streets. Related: A New York writer’s account of things that happen on the way into work.

Obsessively detailed map of the Simpsons’ Springfield.

Absentee voting riddled with security flaws, fraud.

Headlines for Friday, September 10, 2004

New York’s currently: where babies come from

U.S. army moves against three insurgent strongholds in Iraq, show of strength anticipating January elections.

Finally! Congress to let ban on assault weapons expire on Monday!

China, U.K. try to dissuade North Korea from nuclear weaponizing, especially after bluster that South Korea’s recent cop to playing with plutonium threatens new arms race.

Fuchs wants Kuntz talks.

Horse’s head. Baby bird in a jar. Pit bull chained to a tree. Items found on California’s shores.

Cheney unable to dismantle “vote Kerry, vote terrorism” remark, but happily says Hussein gave “safe harbor” to Al Qaeda, without evidence.

Trends: Editors in publishing valued for closing deals, not editing; a publishing story wherein selling the book is the easiest part.

Jesus t-shirts are cool, until people are just wearing them for trend’s sake, not faith.

Message board for newspaper copy editors, and their groupies.

To be, or not to be, I there’s the point. Early quartos of Shakespeare’s plays now online.

Half a million Jamaicans told to evacuate coastal areas in preparation for Hurricane Ivan.

Video: Ways in which the Aeron chair sucks.

Graphic novel Persepolis reviewed via slideshow.

60 Minutes documents on Bush’s military record suspected of forgery, with telltale Microsoft Word superscripts.

More video: Special effects revealed in Pepsi kung-fu ad.

Bushmaster rifle manufacturer to pay D.C. sniper victims $2.5 million settlement.

Database of information on wrecks across the Pacific Ocean.

New Yorkers! Janet Cardiff’s audio walk in Central Park ends on Monday, go now!

Headlines for Thursday, September 9, 2004

New York’s currently: draining

Rains linked to Hurricane Frances filled up New York’s aging sewers yesterday, shutting down parts of the subway system, while Florida’s flood-control system held back the water.

So, really, what’s going on with all these hurricanes lately?

Car bomb explodes outside Australian embassy in Jakarta, killing 11.

Genesis probe falls to Earth, and with it solar particles and a seven-year dream.

Three years after it seemed that the name and image of the twin towers would be mournfully expunged from the cityscape, the World Trade Center survives.

Dowd: The scare tactics of Dick Cheney and why American voters shouldn’t stand for it.

New documents show Bush was suspended from flying with the Texas Air National Guard for disobeying direct orders, failing to show up for duty.

NRA lobbying and election-year politics mean the assault-weapons ban is still set to expire on Monday.

“The Taliban are women! They’re bitches! If they were real men, they’d stop hiding under their burkas and they’d come out and fight!” Army uses loudspeaker to lure Taliban.

Following massacre in Russia, Muslim media becomes introspective.

Since the beginning of the U.S. invasion, over 10,000 people have been killed in Baghdad.

Diarists get sick; Atkinsists get bored.

Films to see before you vote.

Video: Interviewer rolls eyes over sci-fi conventioneers’ responses.

“There were two swastikas painted on the ceiling, but also celtic crosses and several stars of David, so we don’t think it’s extremists.” Cinema/restaurant discovered beneath the streets of Paris.

Video: Bush says, “Too many OB-GYNs aren’t able to practice their love with women all across this country.”

Headlines for Wednesday, September 8, 2004

New York’s currently: a rainy dog

Escalation of attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq, with key areas of the country controlled by increasingly sophisticated rebels.

Do 330 dead show Putin’s policies in Chechnya to have have failed, or do Westerners not understand how things are done in Russia?

Google explains how to become a New York socialite.

Vice President Cheney: Vote for the opposition, and you will die.

Military records show President didn’t fulfill military service.

Even when we don’t agree, you know what I believe and where I stand. Philip Gourevitch on Bush’s message and how it’s delivered to connect, even when the President is saying nothing.

Video: Americans practice throwing molotov cocktails in a Seattle parking lot.

1,000th U.S. soldier killed in Iraq.

Remnick on Al Gore living in Nashville, with the heartbreak of a lifetime (including music by Gore’s neighbor).

Christ-centered short films.

There’s no abstract human who will always behave in the same way—except in economics. Philip Pullman on being a fiction artist who loves science.

U.S. hid detainees in Afghanistan from Red Cross for months.

I’m giddy, I’m like a child, like a butterfly, like a land mine. The diary entries of a President in love with John Kerry.

Blogs: Supermarket employee; Cop.

Court rules musicians should pay for every sample included in a recording.

50 essential tracks from the 20th century.

Headlines for Tuesday, September 7, 2004

New York’s currently: labor-intensive

Clinton heart bypass successful, full recovery expected, but that means he can’t campaign for Kerry, though it won’t stop him from advising from bed.

During school hostage crisis, Russian troops went to Chechnya to pluck hostages of their own.

Seven Marines have been killed outside Fallujah—the deadliest attack since April.

In both cases, the respective Bush campaigns disclaimed responsibility, saying the ads were the work of unaffiliated groups. The Swift Boat Veterans for Truth: A Willie Horton ad for a new election.

Veep candidates get into it over who’s soft on what, though we think it’s going to turn out a lot more like this.

Frances continues to slap Florida, leaving 6 million without power.

Vegan who says son isn’t eating healthy kidnaps him and flees to woods.

Actors who sell real estate find congruity in job demands.

Eschewing the “Best Documentary,” category, Moore intends to submit Fahrenheit 9/11 for the top prize at the Oscars.

Jailed Bali bomber taken to Starbucks.

The age of consent in Spain is 13, which is something none of us knew.

A forgotten hero: The Russian who didn’t push the button in 1983.

Kerry comes back with catchy “W stands for Wrong” slogan, then trades Iraq barbs with Bush. Related: For whomever wins, Iraq must be a priority.

Dual testing between adults and newborns show that babies prefer to look at “beautiful” faces.

Mermaid statue carved from white ash causes uproar with bombshell measurements.

Headlines for Friday, September 3, 2004

New York’s currently: a sigh of relief

Developing story: Russian forces storm school, hostages flee, as hours before, a mother was forced to choose which child she had to leave with the guerillas.

Kerry comes back: “I will not have my commitment to defend this country questioned by those who refused to serve when they could have and who have misled America into Iraq.”

South Koreans admit to secret production of near-weapons grade uranium.

In the wake of Charley, Hurricane Frances forces 2.5 million people to evacuate in Florida.

Bush RNC speech: don’t forget Sept. 11 and how about a tax plan that will benefit the wealthy, eat away at Social Security?

Manhattan judge orders release of protestors, fines city for extended incarceration.

Pundits mull the Kobe Bryant apology/non-apology, and marketers mourn the loss of Kobe.

For anyone interested in an update, you didn’t miss all that much while you were away. An open letter to returning New Yorkers. (Sorry, we didn’t water the plants…)

Comics of healthy competition between the Brontes. [via bookslut] And: Correct forms of address for every manner of class and position.

Vote for the scientists: Alien signals picked up from outer space? And: Photons successfully teleported across the Danube.

A gallery of Robert Smith lookalikes.

Important lessons on how to wear a miniskirt in New York.

Votergasm: More trading sex for votes, but this time with a party on Saturday at Piano’s. (And free drinks for bloggers who say hi to the organizers.)

Spider-Man reviews crayons.