Drop-dead dropout numbers Tim Rutten One-third of all L.A. Unified students don't finish high school -- where's the civic outrage? The 411 to avoid boredom By Irving Biederman As 'infovores,' information is the fuel that keeps our brains all fired up. Bush's U-turn toward common sense By Graham Allison Talks with Iran signify that the administration has finally abandoned a failed part of its foreign policy. A saint in the family By Justin Catanoso Discovering a distant cousin who was put on the path to sainthood by John Paul II rekindles his Catholic faith. Do it for the foster kids Governor, sign the bill that would give those children a voice in hearings that decide their fate. Curtains for orangutans The L.A. rental apes are retiring. Did their acting experience prepare them for life off camera? For the record Presidents: In the "Presidential puzzlers" quiz on July 4, President James Monroe's party affiliation was incorrect. He was a Democratic-Republican, not a Republican. The quiz asked which president was the only one to run unopposed, and indicated that the correct answer was Monroe. George Washington also "ran" unopposed; however, at that point, contested elections had not taken hold. In the era of contested elections, Monroe's unopposed run for a second term is unique.

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