New Cinema Star: Lego

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 17:41:00 EDT
Amateur cineastes are turning "brickfilms," where Legos make the cast and set, into a new art, with big help from the online community.

The Price of a Four-Star Rating

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 22:59:00 EDT
Top critics for magazines and newspapers usually try to dine anonymously and pay their own way. But as online food sites become increasingly influential, chefs and owners are plying bloggers with free meals to get good write-ups.

What's Old Is Nouveau Again

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 22:37:00 EDT
Italian couturier Valentino Garavani drew on his most iconic looks -- red gowns, white lace and elegant bows -- in his final ready-to-wear show.

Romney's Deep Pockets Offer Edge

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 23:28:00 EDT
Mitt Romney loaned his presidential campaign $8.5 million in the third quarter and raised $10 million from individuals. Rival Rudy Giuliani raised $11 million.

Beverly Hills, Surgeons Face Off Over Taxes

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 23:28:00 EDT
After decades of collecting lower taxes from doctors than from other businesses, Beverly Hills is trying to take a bigger cut of the revenue generated from so-called surgery centers, much to the ire of doctors.

The Gofer Broker

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 23:28:00 EDT
With the housing market in a dive and homes lingering unsold for months, the relationship between real-estate agents and their clients is beginning to change. Both buyers and sellers are demanding more from their brokers, and getting it.

Companies Try to Score With Athletes Who Blog

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 20:52:00 EDT
Several athletes have seen their online blog comments turn into public relations debacles, giving their marketing partners pause.

Republicans Grow Skeptical on Free Trade

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 15:34:00 EDT
Republican voters are are growing increasingly skeptical of the benefits of free trade for the U.S. economy, a shift in opinion that mirrors Democratic views, a new WSJ/NBC poll found. (Poll results)

Racing Has a Haven in Belmont Abbey

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 16:54:00 EDT
Belmont Abbey College, founded by the disciples of St. Benedict, now offers a business degree in motorsports management. The North Carolina school says the curriculum is the first of its kind and could help the college stay open.

Bank Bill's Senate Champion Has Industry Ties

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 16:17:00 EDT
Sen. Sessions is promoting legislation that would aid some of the nation's biggest banks, including two in which he and his wife hold shares.

Top Small Workplaces 2007

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 00:22:00 EDT
Across the country, many small businesses and nonprofits have built workplace environments and cultures that rival -- or even outshine -- the big names. The Wall Street Journal teamed up with Winning Workplaces, an Evanston, Ill., nonprofit that helps small and midsize companies create better work environments, to spotlight 15 top small workplaces.

When Should Taxes Pay Private Tuition?

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 00:22:00 EDT
Supreme Court justices will hear a case about whether a public school district must pay for private school for special-education students.

Marketers Get Creative to Stave Off 'Ad Fatigue'

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 00:22:00 EDT
When the same ad runs too often, consumers grow bored, annoyed or hostile. But some marketing executives are finding new ways around the problem by varying their messages and media.

FCC's Copps Has Doubts on Media Mergers

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 13:33:00 EDT
The FCC's Michael Copps set a high bar for approval of three media mergers, including Dow Jones-News Corp., as he questioned whether the proposed deals were in the public interest.

To Be Young, Gifted and Country

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 00:22:00 EDT
Nashville outsider and black country singer Rissi Palmer is finding success in a genre synonymous with good-ol'-boy culture.

'Citizen Journalists' Evade Myanmar's Blackout

Sun, 30 Sep 2007 22:52:00 EDT
"Citizen journalists" are breaking the news from Myanmar to the world. Witnesses are using cellphones and the Internet to beam out images of bloodied monks and street fires, subverting the government's effort to control media coverage.

Web Money

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 23:20:00 EDT
Online fund raising is filtering down to local races, where a little bit of extra money goes further than it would in a national race.

Controversy as a Fashion Statement

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 00:22:00 EDT
A new ad campaign from Italian fashion label Nolita featuring nude photos of an anorexia sufferer is stirring controversy over whether it draws attention to an important health issue -- or seeks to profit from it.

A Rocky Mountain High-End Problem

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 00:05:00 EDT
City leaders in Aspen are pushing back against the proliferation of high-end jewelry shops and luxury-chain stores in the popular ski destination out of concern that they are destroying its exclusive small-town allure.

A Turning Point for Health Care

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 00:22:00 EDT
GM's labor agreement highlights a bigger trend sweeping U.S. health-care: employers renouncing their role as chief health-care buyer. As one of the biggest U.S. employers, GM's move is likely to speed this shift -- and drive discussion in the presidential campaign about overhauling the health system.

Paralysis Researchers Challenged to Read Minds

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 00:22:00 EDT
Researchers trying to enable people to control computers using only their thoughts are challenged by the fact that it's often easier to do some action than to think about doing it.

Google as a Bad Big Brother

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 00:22:00 EDT
Author and Boing Boing blogger Cory Doctorow discusses his short story "Scroogled," in which he envisions a world in which Google turns into Big Brother. (Forum)

Capitol Hill Spending Showdown

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 22:33:00 EDT
Congress will approve a six-week stopgap bill to keep the government operating past Oct. 1, but Bush's veto pen could block Democrats' domestic priorities.

Bad at Complying? You Might Be a Bad Listener

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 23:28:00 EDT
After two days of soft-skills training on "The Power of Listening," Jared Sandberg comes to understand the limitations of listening skills. Truth is, bad listening often is blamed falsely when a listener has chosen not to comply.

Web-Address Theft Is Everyday Event

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 00:22:00 EDT
Experts say the theft of Internet addresses from businesses is an everyday occurrence, as short or memorable domains can be sold for millions of dollars and generate Web traffic and revenue online.

Gucci Chief Peddles 'Power of the Dream'

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 23:28:00 EDT
As Gucci readies for Milan fashion week, its CEO must walk a tightrope between boosting sales and keeping his brands exclusive. Robert Polet discusses what it takes to juggle some of the world's most exclusive brands.

A New Take on the Old Double Bill

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 00:22:00 EDT
Director Wes Anderson is using a short film released on the Web as a complement to, and marketing tool for, his next movie, "The Darjeeling Limited."

Romney Tries to Show Voters He 'Gets It'

Sun, 23 Sep 2007 21:59:00 EDT
Mitt Romney is managing to sound both conservative and liberal at the same time as courts his party's base against the backdrop of a public shift of opinion away from the Republican Party.

Art's Anxiety Attack

Sat, 22 Sep 2007 00:40:00 EDT
"Judgment Week" is coming to the art world. With an unusually high number of works hitting the London auction stage in a few weeks, some dealers and collectors are concerned about signs of weakness in what for years has been a gravity-defying market. See photos of some of the items up for sale.

From Campaign to the Battlefront

Sat, 22 Sep 2007 23:44:00 EDT
Mark Lippert has been instrumental in helping Barack Obama shape his Iraq policy. But before then, Lippert enlisted in the Navy Reserve, feeling the tug of his family's long military history. Now he's heading to Iraq, leaving Obama to worry about a hole in his foreign-policy team, and about his close friend.

Unions Bolster Election Budgets

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 22:48:00 EDT
AFL-CIO plans to pump $53.4 million to bolster Democrats in the 2008 election, up 11% from 2004.

Data-Leak Culprits Are Often Mom, Pop

Sun, 30 Sep 2007 21:39:00 EDT
As more people use plastic to pay for smaller purchases, countless mom-and-pop shops and restaurateurs are running afoul of rules designed to protect people's personal data,

Confession Makes a Comeback

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 08:53:00 EDT
Sin never goes out of style, but confession is undergoing a revival. Aggressive marketing by churches has helped reinvent confession as a form of self-improvement rather than a punitive rite.

Want to Work in Space? Squinters Can Now Apply

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 23:48:00 EDT
NASA is loosening its vision standards for potential astronauts, allowing more men and women to reach for a dream of flying into space.

Hsu Is Accused of Ponzi Scheme

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 15:25:00 EDT
Norman Hsu used political fund-raising to lift his profile and to find investors for illegal Ponzi schemes, federal prosecutors said.

Democrats Stall on Gun-Records Bill

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 23:23:00 EDT
A gun-control bill has stalled in the Democratic-controlled Congress thanks to infighting and self-inflicted wounds by the new majority.

Fact-Checking Political Debate

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 09:21:00 EDT
Web sites that evaluate the statistical claims made by presidential candidates demonstrate how common it is for politicians to massage statistics or cherry-pick numbers in order to make a point.

The Accidental Thief

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 00:01:00 EDT
Amid mounting theft and other merchandise loss in recent years, retailers face a daily battle against scam artists. But let the customer beware: With security on high alert, even law-abiding shoppers can fall under suspicion.

High Scores Matter to Game Makers, Too

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 00:22:00 EDT
Videogame review Web sites such as Metacritic hold a lot of sway due to their ability to influence the sales of games, the stocks of videogame publishers and even the way game developers are compensated.

IPod Touch Is a Beauty but Short on Battery Life

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 19:43:00 EDT
The iPod Touch is an elegant and capable music player, but this cousin of the iPhone is short on battery life and lacks some important software features, writes Walt Mossberg. (Video)

Ex-Judge Consults Wee Friends

Sun, 16 Sep 2007 22:24:00 EDT
In the Philippines, a judge was fired last year after stating he sought the counsel of elves only he could see. The ex-judge is now a celebrity and is seeking the return of his job and vengeance on the Supreme Court -- allegedly with the elves' help.

McCain's Primary Concern: Iraq

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 00:35:00 EDT
McCain is staking his bid for the presidency on the success of Bush's "surge" strategy in Iraq. The hope is voters will view him as a steadfast patriot, but he risks running afoul of antiwar sentiment in key states.

The New Battle for M.B.A. Grads

Sun, 16 Sep 2007 23:59:00 EDT
With demand growing for M.B.A. graduates, it's a seller's market out there, making it tough for many companies to meet hiring quotas. To improve their odds, recruiters are visiting business schools earlier and more often and raising starting salaries. What's more, some are trying something new: virtual recruiting.

Clinton's Lingering Fund-Raising Controversy

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 23:18:00 EDT
A fund-raising scandal from 2000 continues to dog Hillary Clinton, foreshadowing current events involving fund-raiser Norman Hsu.

Collecting's New Breed of Big Spenders: Kids

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 23:28:00 EDT
In a collision of the art boom, the wealth boom and the Baby Einstein approach to parenting, galleries and auction houses report that children are building collections that include works by Jasper Johns, Andy Warhol and Rembrandt.

Expats Keep Adopted Babies Close to Home

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 20:00:00 EDT
Of the thousands of Chinese children adopted by American families each year, a small number are adopted by expats living in China. They can more easily maintain a Chinese identity while developing an American one.

Edwards Tackles Katrina Flap

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 22:52:00 EDT
John Edwards redirected his investments tied to subprime businesses and set up a fund to help Katrina victims facing foreclosure.

Hsu Sent Suicide Note Before Disappearance

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 08:48:00 EDT
Hsu sent a suicide note to some acquaintances and groups before he skipped a court hearing last week. Wednesday, he was released from a hospital and jailed.

Harvard Aims to Widen M.B.A. Pool

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 08:50:00 EDT
A new Harvard Business School program allows undergraduates to lock in a spot during their junior year, but accepted students must work for two years before they start. The goal is to create a more diverse M.B.A. talent pool.

New Limits Debated For Organ Donation

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 19:02:00 EDT
A debate over proposed guidelines on organ donation reflects tensions between the need for organ donors and concerns that doctors may be lowering standards for living donors too far or failing to catch problems that could put the donor at unacceptable risk.

Public Gives Bush Slight Reprieve

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 04:02:00 EDT
Public discontent with the Iraq war eased slightly, according to a new WSJ/NBC News poll, giving Bush more political leeway at a key point in debates over war costs and troop levels. (Poll results)

Beyond Ringtones and Games

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 00:22:00 EDT
New services hope to transform the mobile commerce industry, which is currently dominated ringtones and games, into a mirror of the online shopping world where virtually any item can be retrieved with just a few clicks.

Are MP3s Ruining Pop Music?

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 10:58:00 EDT
Engineers and producers from the recording industry think they know why people are enjoying music less: The iPod and all the compressed music loaded on it. (Forum)

D.C.'s New Young Blogging Elite

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 08:58:00 EDT
Blogging is becoming a popular career option for young professionals in Washington who aren't necessarily interested in more traditional media or political positions. Discuss

Medicare Moves to Cut 'Self-Referral' Practice

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 21:11:00 EDT
Federal Medicare officials are cracking down on doctors who refer patients to businesses in which they have a financial stake, arguing that this practice, known as self-referral, fuels unnecessary exams and fattens doctors' profits.

Climate Change's Great Divide

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 18:47:00 EDT
Economists and lawmakers are debating whether Washington should impose carbon-emission taxes or caps on companies. But there may not be much difference between the approaches.

New Bout of Sticker Shock?

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 18:34:00 EDT
The disclaimer "actual mileage may vary" will get new scrutiny this model year as the EPA updates mileage ratings and vehicle window stickers.

In Little Havana, Cuba Sí, Obama No

Sun, 09 Sep 2007 21:50:00 EDT
Obama's view that the U.S. should ease its embargo of Cuba is exposing a generational rift in Miami's Little Havana. One Cuban-American man has discovered that being an Obama fan can mean a break from family and friends.

Bliss Beyond a 'Digital Velvet Rope'?

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 09:32:00 EDT
A social-networking site is enabling professional models to connect behind a "digital velvet rope." And it's this promise of exclusivity that is drawing sponsors to the site.

Policy Makers Use Numbers to Turn Heads

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 23:49:00 EDT
Human beings have a hard time understanding big numbers, so when advocates and politicians want to get a rise from us over figures such as the cost of the Iraq war, the challenge is to provide shock and awe. (Discuss)

The New Gold Coast

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 15:13:00 EDT
Eye-popping sales are spreading along a 40-mile stretch of southern Santa Barbara County, illustrating how California's gold coast is defying the downdraft in the national housing market.

Out of Iraq, Some Common Ground

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 09:41:00 EDT
Gen. Petraeus is likely to ask that elevated troop levels be maintained at least through November or December, when a withdrawal would begin. (Complete coverage)

Iran's Unlikely TV Hit

Sun, 09 Sep 2007 19:31:00 EDT
A wildly popular TV series on Iran's state-owned TV tells a heart-wrenching tale of Jews during World War II, part of the government's bid to demonstrate its empathy for the Jewish people even while it denounces Israel.

What's Hot…and Not

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 19:19:00 EDT
A graphical look at how different investments, from REIT shares to crude oil, fared last week.

Enter Thompson, Stage Right

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 09:51:00 EDT
Fred Thompson announced his long-expected bid for the presidency. The former Republican senator faces a crowded field of candidates.

New Way to Count Listeners Shakes Up Radio

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 00:15:00 EDT
Arbitron's electronic ratings system is delivering unexpected insights into the behavior of radio listeners, and showing how the new technology could resculpt programming and radio advertising.

YouTube Phenom Has a Big Secret

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 15:51:00 EDT
Singer Marié Digby may seem like the latest YouTube phenom, but her career demonstrates something else: that media giants, like the record label that helped devise her Web strategy, are going to new lengths to build online buzz.

Companies Try New Web-to-TV Technologies

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:20:00 EDT
A new breed of companies is trying to build a niche businesses by sending movies, TV shows and videos available on the Internet directly to television sets.

Unraveling the Subprime Mess

Mon, 03 Sep 2007 22:46:00 EDT
Credit-rating firms likely will be a target for blame as Congress returns from summer recess and tries to untangle the mortgage mess.

Homeowners Dropping Wind Coverage

Mon, 03 Sep 2007 22:10:00 EDT
Amid backlash over soaring premiums, more homeowners are taking an extreme approach to insurance against hurricane winds: They're going "bare" -- doing without the coverage entirely.

Two-for-One Deal, Take Two

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 10:36:00 EDT
Hillary and Bill Clinton made a rare joint appearance that underscores the uncharted waters that a Clinton presidency would bring.

Pain of 'Pay-As-You-Go' Rules

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 22:58:00 EDT
When Congress returns this week, a few must-do tax items will force Democrats to confront a harsh reality: Passing tax cuts for one group likely means making others pay more.

Game Called on Account of Plane

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 22:57:00 EDT
Airline delays this summer have presented a particular challenge for minor-league baseball teams, which don't have the immense budgets and private jets of their big-league parents.

Pakistan's Unlikely Hot Spot

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 09:08:00 EDT
Coco's Den, a restaurant set in the crumbling, ancient heart of Lahore, fits into the wide-angle view of Pakistan that takes in the incongruities -- and the turbulence -- of this Islamic nation.

A Chef Faces His Worst Fears

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 22:48:00 EDT
After being diagnosed with advanced tongue cancer, famed chef Grant Achatz has been forced to consider life without taste. The diagnosis sent him looking for an alternative treatment that would save his life, his tongue and his career.

U.S. Draws Map of Rich Arctic Floor

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 19:36:00 EDT
The U.S. and other countries are taking a renewed interest in mapping and claiming the seafloor beneath the melting polar ice cap, home to oil, gas and other natural resources. (Forum)

Iconoclast Republican Draws Followers

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 23:27:00 EDT
White House hopeful Ron Paul has used the Internet to amplify his message as he vies for the Republican nomination. And the antiwar, libertarian advocate of minimalist government is appealing to both sides of the political aisle.

Sheets Comes to Brewers' Rescue

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 13:18:00 EDT
Ben Sheets came off the disabled list to lift the Milwaukee Brewers to a much-needed win over the Chicago Cubs. Plus: Updates on baseball's division battles.

Fix Baseball Contest Update

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 12:16:00 EDT
Home run No. 756 and the Yankees' surge didn't surprise the 177 readers who entered the Daily Fix's seasonlong baseball contest. See more on how the game has played out and what some top baseball writers say about the season thus far.

Powerful Yahoo Mail Is Worth the Wait

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 21:15:00 EDT
Yahoo Mail has emerged from testing as a polished, fairly powerful online email program. It beats Google's Gmail both in terms of features and its ability to act like a computer program instead of a Web page, writes Walt Mossberg.

Microsoft, Rivals Take 'Office' Politics Global

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 00:29:00 EDT
A Microsoft bid for support from an Italian standard-setting body for a file format used in its Office software has drawn feverish attention, highlighting the stakes as software makers court foreign governments.

Message in the Drink Bottle: Recycle

Mon, 03 Sep 2007 18:17:00 EDT
Following months of unflattering coverage, the beverage industry is stepping up efforts to promote recycling and use more recycled plastic in production of its bottles.

Lawyers Gear Up Grand New Fees

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 22:57:00 EDT
Billable rates at top law firms are increasingly hitting $1,000 an hour, breaching a level once seen as taboo.

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