Gail Collins

Thomas L. Friedman

The difficulty for the Republican ticket in talking about change and acting like insurgents is that they have been running Washington for most of the last eight years.

Roger Cohen

For the first time, scientists have recorded individual brain cells fetching a spontaneous memory.

The oil industry helps keep the Alaskan economy flush.

Jenny Bryant bought McCain/Palin stickers from the Republican booth at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer, a few miles from Wasilla.

Mr. McCain will "serve his country, and not just his party," Ms. Palin said.

The comedian Mitch Hedberg, who died in 2005.

MAMAS AND PAPAS Parents are sometimes surprised by virtual twins. Deborah and Dave Curry, center, learned that Deborah was pregnant with Julie, left, after the birth mother of Sara, right, chose them as parents.

Gov. Sarah Palin will now have to appeal to audiences that are not necessarily as primed to adore her.

Mayor Kwame M. Kilpatrick of Detroit will step down after months of defiantly holding onto his job leading the nation's 11th-largest city.

David Brooks

PATCHWORK LAB Faythe Levine, a pillar of the do-it-yourself movement, at her home in Milwaukee. She recently completed a documentary and a book, both with the title “Handmade Nation.”

FEB. 4, 2008 The day before the biggest primary contest of the season, Senator John McCain campaigned in Boston on the turf of a rival, Mitt Romney.

FOREVER? Randal Batinkoff, Jack Ong and Molly Ringwald in the film “For Keeps.”

Choosing Sarah Palin raises serious questions about John McCain’s qualifications.