Reluare duminică, 22 august 2004

Editorial Observer; Walden at 150: What Would Thoreau Think of the 24-Hour News Cycle?

Date: 22 August 2004

By Adam Cohen

Adam Cohen

Adam Cohen, in Editorial Observer column, contends that Henry David Thoreau's book Walden, which was published 150 years ago, is oddly preoccupied with his thoughts about communications; contends that Thoreau believed that sensationalist newspaper articles--mid-19th century equivalent of local television news--were distraction; says Thoreau was by no means opposed to news consumption, but he believed society should focus on news that mattered (M)h

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U.S. Journalist To Be Freed, Militia Says

Date: 22 August 2004

By John F. Burns

John Burns

Spokesman for rebel cleric Moktada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army in Najaf condemns recent kidnapping of American journalist Micah Garen by loosely affiliated Martyrs Brigade; representatives of Sadr have been negotiating for Garen's release (M)

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The Porcini Was Praiseworthy, But a Lawsuit Was Served Next

Date: 23 August 2004

By Sean Mehegan

Sean Mehegan

Phil Romano sues Dallas Morning News over its favorable review of his Il Mulino New York restaurant, written by chief restaurant critic Dotty Griffith; holds she is not qualified to write reviews, made factual errors and is in cahoots with Dallas restaurateur Janet Cobb; Belo Corp, paper's parent, holds Romano lacks grounds for suit; photo (M)

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U.S. Terrorism Tribunals Set to Begin Work

Date: 22 August 2004

By Neil A. Lewis

Neil Lewis

First military tribunals for terrorism detainees at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base will begin August 24 with defendants Ali Hamza Ahmed Sulaiman al-Bahlul, Salim Ahmed Hamdan, David Hicks and Ibrahim Ahmed al-Qosi; criticism of detentions and tribunals has made military officials determined to demonstrate that trials will be fair; trials will be open to news media representatives and legal observers; American military lawyers appointed for defense have gone beyond expected protestations of their clients' innocence and asserted that trials are stacked into favor of prosecution (M)

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Everybody Loves Obama

Date: 23 August 2004

Editorial says Kenyan press and people are bursting with pride over success of Barack Obama, Senate candidate from Illinois whose father is from Kenya; says Kenya today is locked in desperate struggle against poverty and corruption; says Kenyans understand, perhaps better than Americans, what Obama meant in his keynote address at Democratic National Convention when he spoke of 'the audacity of hope'

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Sports of The Times; Do Not Mistake Warm and Fuzzy For Fair and Just

Date: 22 August 2004

By Selena Roberts

Selena Roberts

Selena Roberts Sports of The Times column contends that US gymnast Paul Hamm, who will keep all-around gold medal despite scoring error, has earned too much media attention and patriotic support for South Korean gymnast Yang Tae Young to win public sympathy for losing out on gold medal; photos (M)

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F.C.C. Says It Extended Discounted Phone-Line Rates

Date: 23 August 2004

By Bloomberg News

Bloomberg News

Federal Communications Commission extends for six months discounted rates AT&T, MCI and other telephone companies that provide local calling pay to local phone companies to rent their equipment while it works on new competitive rules; says local phone companies will later be able to raise prices for existing customers 'moderately,' by up to 15 percent; Michael K Powell, chairman, expresses confidence that FCC can foster sustainable competition in local-phone market; sets Dec vote on permanent rules; two Democrats on FCC voted against order; Comr Michael J Copps cites threat of big price increases (M)

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Sight for Sore Losers

Date: 22 August 2004

Julio Marzan letter contends that Puerto Rican men's basketball team's win over US was unfairly noted in media only for Americans's loss, not for Puerto Rico's upset victory (S)

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Hostile Welcomes

Date: 22 August 2004

Colleen J G Clark letter on Alan Cowell's August 1 travel article on hostility toward visitors, especially journalists, entering US

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NEWS SUMMARY

Date: 22 August 2004

INTERNATIONAL 3-11 Rebel Holds On to Iraqi Shrine The rebel Shiite cleric Moktada al-Sadr remained in control of a holy shrine in Najaf in defiance of the Iraqi government, even as his aides said they were making arrangements to hand over the shrine to another, more moderate cleric. 4 Bush administration officials have said that the decision to confront Moktada al-Sadr and his fighters in Najaf will be made by Prime Minister Ayad Allawi and his government. But since the Iraqis would be backed up by American air power and possibly by more direct military involvement, it is unlikely they would act without assent in Washington. 4

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