It took over five years for Nathaniel Rich to finish his first novel — maybe because he was writing The Mayor's Tongue secretly, first as a college student, and then while writing film criticism during the day.
» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Analysts say the deaths of Americans in Juarez last weekend may put more pressure on the Obama administration to act. The U.S. already gives hundreds of millions of dollars to Mexico for its drug fight.
The golfer said he will play at Augusta National after a four-month hiatus.
Golf superstar Tiger Woods confirmed this morning that he will play in the Masters Tournament, which begins on April 8, the Associated Press, Bloomberg News, MSNBC and other media are reporting.
» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
John Edwards' former mistress shares her side of the affair - and some skin - in a "doozy" of an interview with GQ.
Red-shirted protesters had threatened to carry out the symbolic act in Bangkok if Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva didn't agree to dissolve the country's parliament by Monday. The government has activated special security provisions just short of martial law.
A rate hike isn't imminent. But at their meeting Tuesday, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and his colleagues will likely focus on how to telegraph that higher rates are coming once the economic recovery is more deeply rooted.
Housing construction fell 5.9 percent last month as winter blizzards held down activity in the Northeast and South. Building permits, considered a good barometer of future activity, fell 1.6 percent.
House Democrats may tackle overhaul by formally voting on fixes to the Senate health bill. By passing them, legislators would deem the underlying Senate bill also approved. The approach, also called a "self-executing rule," is used fairly frequently on Capitol Hill, but not on anything as big as health overhaul.
U.S. envoy George Mitchell put off a visit indefinitely as Israel's foreign minister signaled his government had no intention of curtailing the construction at the heart of the row. Palestinians hurled rocks and set fires across Jerusalem's eastern sector, where the construction is planned.
Linda Wertheimer hails a Dickensian novel of London in the boom days of 2007, before the banking bust. An encore by child detective Flavia de Luce (Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie) is both creepy and laugh-out-loud funny. And So Much for That finds the hilarity in a relentless tale of runaway health care costs.
English progressive rockers turned 1980s pop stars Genesis have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at a New York City ceremony. They're being joined by two other acts that thrived in second lives: ABBA and The Hollies.
» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Even in death, Michael Jackson is breaking new records. The King of Pop's estate has signed the biggest recording deal in history: a $200 million guaranteed contract with Sony Music Entertainment for 10 projects over seven years, according to a person familiar with the deal.
Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd introduced a bill to overhaul financial industry regulations Monday. The move follows months of bipartisan negotiations that failed to produce agreement on such controversial issues as consumer protection and reining in practices that led to the financial collapse in 2008. The way forward looks murky, but Dodd plans to move the bill through his committee next week.
Toyota has responded to the latest developments in last week's runaway Prius investigation in San Diego. Federal inspectors say they can't duplicate the acceleration problem the driver reported after his car raced down the freeway at more than 90 miles an hour. Toyota stopped short of calling it a hoax.
» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd has unveiled his second attempt at overhauling financial regulations. His first bill flopped. On Monday, he introduced a 1,336-page bill, which includes provisions negotiated with Republicans. David Wessel, economics editor of The Wall Street Journal, talks to Linda Wertheimer about the chances of this measure succeeding.