Trimming the Times: Afghanistan Preview; Summer Drinks

A guide to what's in the New York Times for those worried about hitting its pay wall

Now that the New York Times pay wall is live, you only get 20 free clicks a month. For those worried about hitting their limit, we're taking a look through the paper each morning to find the stories that can make your clicks count.

At the top of the home page, a preview of President Barack Obama's speech on Afghanistan troop levels focuses on the cost of the conflict. Below that on the page, a feature looks at the political influence of California's public employee unions. But the item to take away from today's paper is the newly updated Summer Drinks guide.

World: You can skip the lead story on Greece's confidence vote, as you've probably already read about it anyway. Rather, check out these two articles on European nations facing dilemmas on what to do with fascist monuments: In Spain, a debate on how to commemorate the civil war includes the question of what to do with the Valley of the Fallen, which commemorates the fascist victory. And in Germany, massive bocks of Nazi-built vacation homes are "too big and too laden with symbolism to destroy, but too enormous to be easily put to use."

U.S.: The lead story, on bookstores leaning more toward paid author appearances to make up their lagging sales, seems like a lot of extra copy for that one observation. For a far more interesting trend story, read the report on African Americans in New York and other northern cities moving south to put down new roots. Also of interest: The report on an Indian outsourcing company under investigation for U.S. visa abuse.

Business: The small feature in Dealbook on a disbarred attorney trying to get "back in the game" is pretty interesting. Also, the report on a possible failure of oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is an intriguing bit of news.

Technology: The story on a new camera by a company called Lytro, which can focus after it takes a picture, is just the kind of thing we like to see in tech. Also, it looks like Hulu is considering selling to an unidentified buyer.

Science: A very cool article on a butterfly researcher suggests that people may be able to somehow sense the earth's magnetic field.

Health: Skip the lead story on new cigarette warning labels (unless you haven't seen them yet). Instead, check out this troubling report on an investigation into Medtronic over side-effect reporting of its bone-growth product.

Sports: As baseball fans count down to Derek Jeter's 3,000th home run, memorabilia vendors prepare to package stadium dirt and other weird keepsakes. Also, there's a good report on homophobia plaguing African women's soccer.

Opinion: In the lead op-ed, history professor Nelson Lichtenstein continues the reaction to the Wal-Mart decision, arguing that the chain's general culture of management authoritarianism could be the product of its successful fight against employees forming unions.

Arts: Catch music critic John Pareles's musing on whether, and how, to use cloud music servers to store a massive record collection online.

Dining and Wine: Definitely read the two additions to the Summer Drinks Guide, a rundown on simple summer cocktails, and a tasting report on 20 varieties of rum.