gleans at 6:25 AM MT, 10/8

 

Don't worry, things could still get better
Times Online - UK

In debate, McCain and Obama battle mostly to a draw

By Doyle Mcmanus

The second presidential debate provides a stark contrast between the candidates and little evidence that McCain succeeded in reversing a recent shift in the polls toward Obama.

 

 

Debate reaction varies

By Seema Mehta

Some undecided voters at an Albuquerque get-together see their initial inclinations reinforced; others are surprisingly swayed by the opposition. And a few find that their needle hasn't budged at all.

 

 

Galapagos Islands expels hundreds of Ecuadoreans

By Chris Kraul

Growth in population and tourism contaminate the islands' environment with alien species and pollution. But some say tourists, not citizens, should be kept out.

 

 

'Left in Dark Times: A Stand Against the New Barbarism' by Bernard-Henri Levy

By Tim Rutten

The French philosopher and activist gets on his soapbox about the United States, Israel, Islam, the left and the right.

 

 

Iraq, U.S. near deal on military future

By Jeffrey Fleishman

The issue of granting U.S. troops immunity from prosecution is a point of contention in trying to decide the future American military presence in the country.

 

 

Old Gender Roles With Your Dinner?

Most upscale restaurants have not reached a point where men and women are treated equally.

 

 

Central Banks Coordinate Cut in Rates  U.S. Reduces Key Rate by .5%

By DAVID JOLLY 

The world’s major central banks — including the Federal Reserve, the Bank of England and the European Central Bank — moved together to staunch the financial crisis.

• Floyd Norris: Slashing Rates

 

European Stocks Rebound After Move by Banks By DAVID JOLLY, BETTINA WASSENER and KEITH BRADSHER European shares recovered from early losses and U.S. futures rose after a big drop in Asian markets.

 

Britain Announces Huge Bank Bailout

By LANDON THOMAS Jr. and CARTER DOUGHERTY 

As European leaders continued to clash over measures to ease the financial crisis, Britain announced a multibillion-dollar bailout for its banks.

 

 

Editor of Note, Perched Online

By DAVID CARR

Tina Brown’s new Web site, The Daily Beast, is aiming to be a smaller, less chaotic version of the World Wide Web itself.

 

 

Video Game Helps Math Students Vanquish an Archfiend: Algebra

By WINNIE HU

Annie Tritt for The New York Times

Students at Intermediate School 30 in Brooklyn played a video game on Monday, and learned a little algebra at the same time.

This fall, schools in the New York area will test video game prototypes focusing on math and science.

 

 

 

A Push to Curb the Casual Use of Ugly Phrases

By STUART ELLIOTT

A public service campaign from the Advertising Council will focus for the first time ever on a social issue of concern to gays and lesbians, focusing on teenagers.