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Writer LAWRENCE SHAINBERG. His new book, "Ambivalent Zen: A Memoir," (Pantheon) is about his years practicing Zen buddism, and centers on SHAINBERG's relationship with his Zen teacher, Kyudo Nakagawa Roshi. "Both master and student live on in this hilarious, provocative account of what being a student of Zen has been." writes Gretel Ehrlich in her review

NPR's John Ydstie concludes his series on reforming the social security system with an examination of the plan favored by the advisory council's chairman, Ned Gramlich. Gramlich's proposal occupies the middle ground between the other two plans. It also relies on the financial markets to boost retiree benefits, but without redirecting a large chunk of the payroll tax into personal retirement accounts.

the Clinton Administration out of expanding a law requiring them to detail all the chemicals that go into plants and factories. Environmentalists are pushing for the expansion, to hold the chemical industry accountable for accidents and toxic pollution.

Harvey Pitt resigns as chairman of the Securities Exchange Commission. Pitt had a stormy 15-month tenure as SEC chief and was recently under fire for his handling of the appointment of William Webster to head an accounting oversight board. NPR's Scott Horsley reports.

Harvey Pitt resigns as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Pitt had a stormy 15-month tenure as SEC chief and was recently under fire for his handling of the appointment of William Webster to head an accounting oversight board. Hear NPR's Jim Zarroli.

Six University of Maryland students admit they got extra help on an accounting exam by surreptitious use of cell phones. (At least they weren't driving.) Also, a Norwegian lawmaker apologizes for playing a war game on a pocket computer at a most inappropriate time.

NPR's David Welna reports on President Bush's newly revealed Social Security Commission. The panel is supposed to develop a Social Security reform plan by next fall. Democrats on Capitol Hill were unenthusiastic about the announcement, claiming Bush stacked the deck against them by loading the commission with members who all favor personal retirement accounts.

President Bush's plan to allow private accounts for Social Security may send a lot of business to Wall Street; but lobbyists for reform say the returns for financial firms are not necessarily so great. NPR's Peter Overby reports.

Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan reviews Alex Gibney's award-winning documentary, Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room. Gibney adapted a book that chronicles the fantastic rise and demise of the company that was engulfed in scandal when its outrageous accounting practices were exposed.

Former Worldcom chief Bernard Ebbers is indicted on charges that he participated in an $11 billion accounting fraud at the company. In the same investigation, former Worldcom chief finance officer Scott Sullivan pleads guilty and will cooperate with federal prosecutors. Ebbers and Sullivan are charged with securities fraud and conspiracy. NPR's Robert Smith reports.