Saturday, September 29, 2012
Friday, September 28, 2012
Original Renoir from flea market now thought stolen
BEN NUCKOLSNEW YORK -- The Renoir painting that caused a sensation when it was bought at a flea market for $7 may have been stolen from a museum six decades ago, and an auction house has put its sale on hold. The planned Saturday auction was canceled Thursday after a reporter for The Washington Post discovered documents in the Baltimore Museum of Art's library showing that the painting was on loan there from 1937 until 1951, when it was stolen.
The Impressionist painting, whose title translates as "Landscape on the Banks of the Seine," was purchased two years ago at a West Virginia flea market. The buyer, a Virginia woman who has not revealed her name, took it to auction house The Potomack Co. in July, and experts there confirmed it was by the French master Pierre-Auguste Renoir. The frame of the painting includes a "Renoir" plaque.
It had been expected to fetch $75,000 or more at auction."Potomack is relieved this came to light in a timely manner as we do not want to sell any item without clear title," Elizabeth Wainstein, the owner of the Alexandria, Va.-based auction house, said in a statement.
Potomack and museum officials have notified the FBI about the theft, and an FBI spokesman said the bureau was investigating.
The documents uncovered by The Post in the museum's library indicated that the painting was part of the collection of Saidie May, a major donor to the BMA. It was reported stolen on Nov. 17, 1951, according to the documents, although there is no known police report and the painting does not appear on a worldwide registry of stolen art.
The reported theft occurred shortly after May's death, and the painting had not yet been formally accepted into the museum's collection, which is why museum officials did not initially realize it had been there, BMA director Doreen Bolger said.
"We were caught by surprise," Bolger said Thursday.
Bolger said she would be happy to show the painting again if it is ultimately returned to the museum.
"As this unfolds, we'll find out more about the ownership of the painting," she said. "If the painting is ours, we would be pleased to have it on view."
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Associated Press writer Brett Zongker contributed to this report.
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Opening night for Barclays Center in Brooklyn
Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK (WABC) -- After years of planning, construction and protests, it is finally opening night for the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Brooklyn's own Jay-Z will christen the new entertainment center with eight sold-out concerts.
"This is a great thing for New York City, and that's what the whole thing was about," he said. But not everyone is happy about the new venue. Many who opposed the arena have made their peace with it, but not everyone.They are fuming, especially those who were forced from their homes to make way for the arena. Others are worried about the traffic congestion and parking nightmare that they say will come with games and events.
"Yes, we may need a sports team in Brooklyn," one man said. "There were other places it could have been developed without causing the harm that it has caused."
City Councilman Jumaane Williams was against the arena. Now, he says it's time for the developer to deliver on his promises to the borough.
"I think we have to do our best to figure out what's best for Brooklyn now and really focus on the community benefits agreement," he said. "Make sure those affordable housing units come. Make sure those union jobs come. We should really focus our energy on making that happen."
The arena is stunning and will offer thousands of tickets at low prices. And though the Barclays has its own 40/40 Club and much more, neighborhood businesses look to benefit.
With parking so limited, officials encourage people traveling to the arena to take one of the nine subway lines, 11 bus routes or the Long Island Rail Road that all lead to the area.
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Get more information on the center and how to get there at www.barclayscenter.com. CLICK HERE TO SEE PHOTOS OF THE BARCLAYS CENTER BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER CONSTRUCTION.
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(Copyright ©2012 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more New York News »new york city, brooklyn, new york news
Secret Sales: Chocolate, jewelry and more!
by Tory Johnson, Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK (WABC) -- We have deals on chocolates and jewelry, including bracelets and watches, in this week's Secret Sales! Join me on Thursdays during Eyewitness News First at 4:00 p.m. for exclusive Secret Sales just for WABC viewers!
Challenge me: Join me on Facebook to tell me what you'd like to save on, and I'll see if I can make it happen. And, if you have a great idea for a local deal that's exclusive to our viewers, I want to hear that too!
Fine print: All deals are valid through dates and times specified below. Taxes and shipping are additional. All deals are subject to availability while supplies last. Address questions about your purchase to each retailer directly. Deals may not be combined with other coupons, discounts or offers.Zoe's Chocolate Company: Candy Bar Trio or 9 Piece Gift Box
Original: $15 to $22.50
Secret Sales Exclusive Deal: $7.50 to $11.25
50% savings on various chocolates
Valid: 9/27/12 thru 9/28/12
http://www.zoeschocolate.com/
(Promo code: CHANNEL7)
Your sweet tooth will love these tasty treats. Zoe's Chocolate Company is run by three siblings who are third generation chocolatiers that combine tradition with sophistication. An official chocolate of the 2011 Emmy Awards Salon, choose from the candy bar trio or the 9 piece gift box set. The trio includes espresso, raw and sports bar; the box set contains a variety of flavors from black raspberry to apple pie. Shipping starts at $5.
Red Carpet Manicure: LED Gel Polish Kit
Original: $110
Secret Sales Exclusive Deal: $55
50% savings on gel polish kit and nail polishes
Valid: 9/27/12 thru 9/28/12
www.redcarpetmanicure.com/channel7
(Promo code: CHANNEL7)
Save yourself money by creating long-lasting manicures that won't chip or peel right in the comfort of your own home. Red Carpet Manicure is an LED gel manicure/pedicure system with colors that last for weeks without having to touch up. The application is fast, safe and takes the same amount of time as a regular manicure. This bundle also includes three additional polishes to get your collection started. (Additional products are sold at local ULTA and Duane Reade stores.) Limit one kit per person. Shipping is $7.50.
Helene Jewelry: Friendship Bracelets
Original: $73
Secret Sales Exclusive Deal: $20
73% savings on assorted braided bracelets
Valid: 9/27/12 thru 9/28/12
http://www.helenejewels.com/wabcny.html
(Promo code: CHANNEL7)
A trendy, new spin on the traditional friendship bracelet, get one for yourself or share with friends. Made of colorful threads braided with a gold plated chain, choose from a variety of assorted styles. The tassel accent on the end adds additional flair. The lobster clasp makes for secure wear. Shipping is $5.
Coverlugg: Cooler Coozies
Original: $20
Secret Sales Exclusive Deal: $10
50% savings on cooler covers
Valid: 9/27/12 thru 9/28/12
www.coverlugg.com
(Promo code: CHANNEL7)
Instantly personalize your cooler and show pride for your favorite NFL team. Made of durable neoprene, the covers fit all 48 quart coolers and lowers the temperature by about 8 degrees. The stretch fit allows for easy use and is hand washable. A great way to make a statement at your next tailgate party. Shipping is $5.99.
Lunchskins: Set of 6 Reusable Snack Bags
Original: $55.50
Secret Sales Exclusive Deal: $27.75
50% savings on eco-friendly snack bags
Valid: 9/27/12 thru 9/28/12
www.lunchskins.com
(Promo code: CHANNEL7)
Started by three moms, Lunchskins provides an easy, fashionable and affordable solution to single-use plastic bags. Ideal for snacks, travelling or packing lunches, Lunchskins bags are made of food-safe, high-quality fabric that you can throw in the dishwasher for easy cleaning. This set includes 2 of each snack, sandwich and sub sized bags. Shipping is $5.95.
AQUASWISS: Vessel Unisex Watches
Original: $400 to $500
Secret Sales Exclusive Deal: $140 to $175 + FREE SHIPPING
65% savings on watches
Valid: 9/27/12 thru 9/28/12
wabc.aquaswisswatch.com
(Promo code: CHANNEL7)
The ultimate accessory: a stunning timepiece. AQUASWISS watches are functional, stylish and sophisticated; they've been seen on the wrists of numerous superstars. This unisex collection, which works from black tie to everyday, comes in a variety of colors and in two sizes: the super trendy, oversized face, as well as the standard face. Free shipping!
Friendzip Bracelets: Set of 3 Bracelets
Original: $16.50
Secret Sales Exclusive Deal: $8.25
50% savings on set of 3 bracelets
Valid: 9/27/12 thru 9/28/12
www.friendzipbracelet.com
(Promo code: CHANNEL7)
Wear them, share them or pair them, Friendzip bracelets unzip so you can exchange half with your best friend. Available in various designs with a charm, this is a fun accessory for young girls. Choose 3 bracelets of your choice - great for birthday gifts or to stock up on for the holidays. Shipping is $2.25.
CLICK HERE TO SEND A SECRET SALES SUGGESTION TO TORY JOHNSON
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Every Thursday on Eyewitness News First @ 4, special contributor Tory Johnson shares exclusives local deals that enable viewers to save big.
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(Copyright ©2012 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Consumer News »eyewitness news at 4 p.m., secret sales, coupons, sales, deals, tory johnson, consumer news
Putting all-purpose cleaners to the test
Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK (WABC) -- TV commercials make gleaming promises about all-purpose cleaners. Consumer Reports cut through the hype by conducting tough tests on 19 all-purpose cleaners, including big names like Clorox, Lysol, and Pine-Sol. Testers slather tiles with stubborn stains like grape juice, mustard, ketchup, and grease. They also spray a soap scum residue on bathroom tiles. Then the cleaners are applied as directed.
"Most say you just spray them on and wipe. Others are a little bit more labor intensive. You have to apply them and then rinse them off," Celia Kuperszmid Lehrman said.
The tiles are then placed in this scrubbing machine. It gives each tile the same number of swipes with a paper towel. Some cleaners worked better than others. The cleaner used on the right tile left more of the grape juice behind.
Testers also left the cleaners on a variety of surfaces overnight to mimic an unnoticed spill. Some marred metal finishes, which could be a problem with your kitchen or bathroom faucets.
"We found in our tests that with convenience came a little less cleaning power. None of the sprays excelled at cleaning all the stains," Lehrman said.
After scrubbing more than 500 tiles, only one cleaner did well enough to be recommended - Pine-Sol Original. It's not as easy to use as a spray. But it beat all the other cleaners by a wide margin.
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(Copyright ©2012 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Consumer News »consumer reports, consumer news
Consumer Reports: The best shopping websites
Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK (WABC) -- More people are shopping online than ever, but which sites are the best? Consumer Reports surveyed more than 28,000 of its subscribers to find out. Flowers make beautiful gifts, but ordering online can be pretty unpleasant, Consumer Reports discovered.
Subscribers surveyed about their experiences shopping at the 52 largest retail websites found that online florists 1-800-Flowers and FTD rated near the bottom.
"They had low marks for value, and there were lots of complaints about high shipping charges and customers having to wait longer than expected," Consumer Reports Tony Giorgianni said.
Ticketmaster doesn't have a lot to cheer about either. It was at the bottom the ratings and got the lowest marks of all for customer support.
"A good online retailer should offer great value, have good products and services, and deliver them on time, Giorgianni said. "It also should have great customer support."
Among the highest-rated sites were B&H Photo, Zappos, Costco, Nordstrom, LL Bean, New Egg (for electronics) and REI, which carries outdoor gear and clothing.
REI stands out with its guarantee that shoppers can return or replace items any time at the store or online, and there's no expiration date.
"Zappos also has a good return policy," Giorgianni said. "You have a year to return something, and Zappos picks up the cost."
Another way to save on shipping is to shop at sites like Walmart, which doesn't charge if you have the item delivered to the store for pick up.
Shopping online can be really convenient, but getting a ton of spam is not. Consumer Reports says a good idea is to set up a separate E-mail address for all your online purchases.
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(Copyright ©2012 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Consumer News »consumer reports, consumer news
Gas prices down slightly in New Jersey
Eyewitness NewsTRENTON, N.J. (WABC) -- After several months of gas prices going up, we're seeing a new trend starting to settle in with lower prices. Gas prices dropped six cents from $3.82 to $3.76 a gallon along the New Tersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway Friday morning.
Analysts say the lower prices at the pump are mostly due to falling crude oil prices and stations switching over to less expensive winter blends.
The price of regular unleaded gasoline along New Jersey toll roads dropped for the second straight week after 10 straight week of price hikes. That followed 10 weeks of decline leading up to summer.The highways offer some of the cheaper gas in the area, and motorists are taking note.
"I live on Staten Island, but I try to fill up in Jersey every chance I get," driver Tony Ablavskiy said.
Gas prices only increase once a week on the two highways, maintained by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. The Authority surveys 100 gas stations, located off the highway, every Wednesday and Thursday to determine an average statewide price, and implements the increases Friday morning. The service area per-gallon cost cannot be more than 3 cents above that average price.
CLICK HERE TO FIND CHEAP GAS PRICES NEAR YOU
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(Copyright ©2012 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more ABC7 Traffic Center »gas prices, travel, abc7 traffic center
US Bank, PNC report website problems
Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK -- Two more major banks, U.S. Bank and PNC, have reported problems with their websites after a financial services security group warned about possible cyber attacks on banks. A spokesman for U.S. Bank says some customers have experienced delays. He says the bank is working to fix the problem and is working with law enforcement. A spokesman for PNC says the bank is "taking appropriate measures."
The U.S. Bank spokesman says the issue appears to be related to problems at other banks in the past week. JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America both had system problems last week, and Wells Fargo reported access problems with its site Tuesday.
Last week, the Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center raised its cyber threat level to "high" from "elevated" because of potential cyberattacks.---
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(Copyright ©2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Business »internet, business
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Rats found roaming around Fairway
Glenn Herman was in the store early Wednesday morning when another customer noticed the little rat.
"The gentleman who pointed it out to me, an older gentleman, looked like someone had tazed him," Herman said. And when Eyewitness News started looking online, we saw other videos taken by customers at the store and some still pictures as well."Oh, don't show me that," one customer said.
"Where was this?" a man wanted to know.
The store is aware of the problem.
Eyewitness News saw rat traps set both outside and inside the store.
"The manager there did tell me that it is kind of difficult to wipe out the rat problem when they are basically walking through the front door from the subways," Herman said.
Supermarkets like Fairway are inspected by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, just once a year "unless there's something critical to cause reinspection."
In a statement Wednesday night, Fairway said, "We believe the incident was caused by the massive construction that is happening throughout the immediate vicinity of the store. We are now taking comprehensive measures to remedy the situation so that it doesn't happen again."
Joanne Grossman and her husband have seen some of the videos online.
"I said disgusting, but I didn't stop shopping here. But I guess now that I hear they were up on the olives, I'll think about it a little bit more," Grossman said.
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(Copyright ©2012 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more New York News »new york city, rats, upper west side, new york news, jim dolan
MTA meeting to overhauls subway ad policies
Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK (WABC) -- After the uproar over anti-Muslim subway ads, the MTA meets Thursday to hammer out a new policy for accepting or banning advertisements at its facilities. The MTA lost a court battle to ban the ads that called jihadists "savages."
MTA board member Fernando Ferrer says that if the board has a free speech problem, the answer to that should be even more free speech.
The ads - reading, "In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel. Defeat Jihad." - went up in 10 stations across Manhattan after a court victory by a conservative commentator who once headed a campaign against an Islamic center near the World Trade Center site.The Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York initially refused to run blogger Pamela Geller's ad, saying it was "demeaning." But a federal judge ruled in July that it is protected speech under the First Amendment.
Geller, executive director of the American Freedom Defense Initiative and publisher of a blog called Atlas Shrugs, has said she's not concerned that her ad could spark protests like the ones against the depiction of Muslims in the video "Innocence of Muslims." Violence linked to the movie has left dozens in seven countries dead, including the American ambassador to Libya.
The ad was plastered on San Francisco city buses in recent weeks, prompting some people to deface the ads and remove some of the words, including "Jihad," or holy war.
Geller said the subway ads cost about $6,000. The MTA said they will be up for a month.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report)
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Landmarked religious institutions look to sell air rights
Mayor Michael Bloomberg hopes the incentives will lead to the demolition of outdated offices, but some religious institutions want a piece of the development pie.
The City Planning scoping session is scheduled for Thursday afternoon, when representatives from St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church and St. Patrick's Cathedral will be pushing to modify the proposal so they could sell air rights to developers and reap the benefits.
For years, landmark institutions have been barred from selling precious air rights. St. Pat's has a million square feet, while St. Bart's has 650,000. At $200 a square foot, the money would be significant.St. Patrick's is in the middle of a massive renovation project, inside and out.
"The entire building is being repointed, and the windows are being fixed, and the outside and inside of the cathedral are being brought up to snuff," St. Patrick's rector Monsignor Robert Ritchie said. "That's going to cost us over $175 million."
St. Bart's also has a number of capitol improvement projects that it is required to do because of its landmark status. Selling its air rights would pay for the repairs and then some.
"It would be enough for us to restore and then conserve and preserve this place for many, many generations," the Reverend Buddy Stallings said. "And it's what we've needed."
Under the current plan, the only landmarked building that would be able to sell its air rights is Grand Central Terminal, with roughly 1 million square feet of them.
In addition to St. Pat's and St. Bart's, Central Synagogue would also benefit from re-zoning and the ability to sell their air rights.
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(Copyright ©2012 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more New York News »new york city, st. patrick cathedral, new york news, lisa colagrossi
Survey: 1 in 5 households paying student loans
HOPE YENWASHINGTON -- With college enrollment growing, student debt has stretched to a record number of U.S. households - nearly 1 in 5 - with the biggest burdens falling on the young and poor. The analysis by the Pew Research Center found that 22.4 million households, or 19 percent, had college debt in 2010. That is double the share in 1989, and up from 15 percent in 2007, just prior to the recession - representing the biggest three-year increase in student debt in more than two decades.
The increase was driven by higher tuition costs as well as rising college enrollment during the economic downturn. The biggest jumps occurred in households at the two extremes of the income distribution. More well-off families are digging deeper into their pockets to pay for costly private colleges, while lower-income people in search of higher-wage jobs are enrolling in community colleges, public universities and other schools as a way to boost their resumes.
Because of the sluggish economy, fewer college students than before are able to settle into full-time careers immediately upon graduation, contributing to a jump in debt among lower-income households as the young adults take on part-time jobs or attend graduate school, according to Pew.As a share of household income, the debt burden was the greatest for the poorest 20 percent of households, or those making less than $21,044. In all, 40 percent of U.S. households headed by someone younger than age 35 owed college debt, the highest share of any age group.
"Comparing the debt to their economic resources, the lowest-income fifth of households are the ones experiencing the greatest stresses," said Richard Fry, a senior economist at Pew who analyzed the numbers.
Noting that college enrollment has continued to climb since 2010, Fry added: "Until college enrollment peaks, I would not expect the amount of outstanding student debt to level off."
The study released Wednesday is based on the Survey of Consumer Finances, conducted every three years and sponsored by the Federal Reserve. The numbers are as of 2010, the latest available for that survey. Separate Fed data have pointed to subsequent increases in student loans since 2010 that totaled $914 billion in the April-June quarter, but don't provide demographic breakdowns on who shoulders the biggest burdens.
Both President Barack Obama and his Republican challenger in this year's election, Mitt Romney, have been seeking to court young voters with differing visions on how to address rising tuition and growing college debt. Obama wants to make tax credits for college expenses permanent and expand Pell grants for lower-earning families. Romney says that making government the direct source of federal student loans has not worked and simply drives tuition higher. He stresses the need to curb college costs.
The Pew report found that the richest 20 percent of households, or those with annual income of $97,586 or higher, owed the biggest share of outstanding student debt - 31 percent, up from 28 percent in 2007. The poorest 20 percent of households also saw their debt grow, to 13 percent from 11 percent.
The richest households saw significant increases in per-household debt. For those with annual income of $97,586 to $146,791, college debt rose from $25,921 in 2007 to $31,989. For the richest 10 percent, making at least $146,792, college debt increased from $36,033 to $44,810.
Across all households, the average outstanding college debt increased from $23,349 to $26,682. For the poorest 20 percent of households, the average debt rose from $19,018 to $20,640.
In recent years, Americans have cut back on several other types of borrowing such as credit card use, with average household indebtedness falling from $105,297 in 2007 to $100,720 in 2010. Broken down by income levels, however, average total indebtedness for the bottom 20 percent of households by income actually rose from $17,579 in 2007 to $26,779; for the higher income groups, average indebtedness either was unchanged or declined.
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Online: Pew Social & Demographic Trends
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(Copyright ©2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Business »business
So long, replacements; NFL reaches deal with refs
BARRY WILNERNEW YORK -- So long, replacement refs. The NFL's regular crews will be back on the field starting Thursday night. After two days of marathon negotiations - and mounting frustration among coaches, players and fans - the NFL and the referees' union announced at midnight Thursday that a tentative agreement had been reached to end a lockout that began in June.
Commissioner Roger Goodell, who was at the bargaining table Tuesday and Wednesday, said the regular officials would work the Browns-Ravens game at Baltimore.
"Welcome back REFS," Buffalo Bills running back C.J. Spiller tweeted shortly after the news broke.The replacements worked the first three weeks of games, triggering a wave of outrage that threatened to disrupt the rest of the season. After a missed call cost the Green Bay Packers a win on a chaotic final play at Seattle on Monday night, the two sides really got serious.
"We are glad to be getting back on the field for this week's games," referees' union president Scott Green said.
The tentative eight-year deal is the longest involving on-field officials in NHL history and was reached with the assistance of two federal mediators. It must be ratified by 51 percent of the union's 121 members, who plan to vote Friday and Saturday in Dallas.
The agreement hinged on working out salary, pension and retirement benefits for the officials, who are part-time employees of the league. Tentatively, it calls for their salaries to increase from an average of $149,000 a year in 2011 to $173,000 in 2013, rising to $205,000 by 2019.
Under the proposal, the current defined benefit pension plan will remain in place for current officials through the 2016 season or until the official earns 20 years' service. The defined benefit plan will then be frozen.
Retirement benefits will be provided for new hires, and for all officials beginning in 2017, through a defined contribution arrangement. The annual league contribution made on behalf of each game official will begin with an average of more than $18,000 per official and increase to more than $23,000 per official in 2019.
Beginning with the 2013 season, the NFL will have the option to hire a number of officials on a full-time basis to work year round, including on the field. The NFL also will be able to retain additional officials for training and development, and can assign those officials to work games. The number of additional officials will be determined by the league.
"As you know, this has to be ratified and we know very little about it, but we're excited to be back. And ready," referee Ed Hochuli told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. "And I think that's the most important message - that we're ready."
Replacement refs aren't new to the NFL. They worked the first week of games in 2001 before a deal was reached. But those officials came from the highest level of college football; the current replacements do not. Their ability to call fast-moving NFL games drew mounting criticism through Week 3, climaxing last weekend, when ESPN analyst Jon Gruden called their work "tragic and comical."
Those comments came during "Monday Night Football," with Seattle beating Green Bay 14-12 on a desperation pass into the end zone on the final play. Packers safety M.D. Jennings had both hands on the ball in the end zone, and when he fell to the ground in a scrum, both Jennings and Seahawks receiver Golden Tate had their arms on the ball.
The closest official to the play, at the back of the end zone, signaled for the clock to stop, while another official at the sideline ran in and then signaled touchdown.
The NFL said in a statement Tuesday that the touchdown pass should not have been overturned - but acknowledged Tate should have been called for offensive pass interference before the catch. The league also said there was no indisputable evidence to reverse the call made on the field.
That drew even louder howls of disbelief. Some coaches, including Miami's Joe Philbin and Cincinnati's Marvin Lewis, tried to restore some calm by instructing players not to speak publicly on the issue.
Fines against two coaches for incidents involving the replacements were handed out Wednesday.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick was docked $50,000 for trying to grab an official's arm Sunday to ask for an explanation of a call after his team lost at Baltimore. And Washington offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan was tagged for $25,000 for what the league called "abuse of officials" in the Redskins' loss to Cincinnati on Sunday. Two other coaches, Denver's John Fox and assistant Jack Del Rio, were fined Monday for incidents involving the replacements the previous week.
"I accept the discipline and I apologize for the incident," Belichick said.
Players were in no mood for apologies from anyone.
"I'll probably get in trouble for this, but you have to have competent people," Carolina receiver Steve Smith said. "And if you're incompetent, get them out of there."
Added Rams quarterback Sam Bradford: "I just don't think it's fair to the fans, I don't think it's fair to us as players to go out there and have to deal with that week in and week out. I really hope that they're as close as they say they are."
They were.
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AP Sports Writers Tim Reynolds in Miami, Steve Reed in Charlotte, and R.B. Fallstrom in St. Louis contributed to this story.
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Report: More fees, less choice for air travelers
JOAN LOWYWASHINGTON -- Airline passengers can expect fewer carriers to choose from, fewer flights to smaller cities and more baggage and other fees as the industry continues to grapple with high fuel prices and a weak economy, according to a government report released Tuesday. The airline industry is still in transition after a tumultuous decade in which bankruptcies and mergers cut the number of airlines accounting for the bulk of domestic flights in half, to just five: American, Delta, Southwest, United and US Airways, the report by the Department of Transportation's inspector general said. If US Airways and American - which are in merger discussions - were to combine, that would drop to four.
There are dozens of other airlines in the U.S., but collectively those smaller carriers account for less than 15 percent of total passenger traffic. Twelve years ago, there were ten major U.S. airlines accounting for 90 percent of domestic flights. But high fuel prices, the 2008 recession and a slow economic recovery have taken a toll, the report said.
In 2000, fuel costs were just 10 percent of airline operating expenses. Fuel costs peaked at 40 percent of expenses in 2008, outdistancing payroll as the airlines' biggest expense. Last year, fuel accounted for 35 percent of expenses.Less competition has enabled airlines to try to offset higher costs by eliminating less profitable flights to smaller cities, the report said. Airlines cut the number of scheduled domestic flights by 14 percent between June 2007 and June 2012, the report said. As a result, flights have fewer empty seats and airlines have been able to increase fares, especially on short-haul flights.
Last year, the industry attempted 22 fare increases, of which 11 were successful, the report said. Airfare increases are considered successful if competitors also adopt an increase. If there's not widespread matching by other airlines, the result is usually a withdrawal of the original increase. So far this year airlines have attempted eight fare increases, four of which have been successful, the report said.
Since 2008, airlines have also supplemented their fares by charging a wide range of fees for services that in most cases used to be free. Baggage fees alone contributed $2.7 billion in added revenue to airlines last year. Besides fees for checked bags, at least two airlines - Allegiant and Spirit - now charge passengers for carry-on bags.
As a result of these trends, the industry in general has become profitable again after years of red ink. And having fewer flights has resulted in a drop in flight delays and cancellations.
"The good news is that the (carrier) consolidation and ancillary fee revenue stream have stabilized the airline industry," said Kevin Mitchell, chairman of the Business Travel Coalition, which represents corporate travel managers. "The bad news is airlines can disregard consumers' interests much more easily when there are fewer carriers."
John Heimlich, vice president and chief economist for Airlines for America, a trade association representing major airlines, said one reason airlines have cut back on flights is that more passengers traveling less than 700 miles are choosing other forms of transportation such as cut-rate intercity buses and Amtrak's higher-speed Acela trains in the Northeast. He said some people would also rather drive than hassle with security checks in the post-9/11 world.
"Airlines have been more cautious about avoiding a glut of seats in the marketplace relative to the demand, and such caution has helped the industry get back on more solid financial footing," Heimlich said.
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Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Brooke Astor auction fetches $18.8 million for estate
Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK -- An auction of the contents of philanthropist Brooke Astor's two homes brought in over $18.8 million, Sotheby's said Tuesday. Sotheby's offered 901 objects in all, including European and Asian furnishings, Old Masters, Qing Dynasty paintings, tea sets, silverware, jewelry, a porcelain menagerie, more than 100 dog paintings and even the uniforms of her domestic staff at a two-day auction that began Monday.
Proceeds will go to institutions and charities, including the New York Public Library and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, under a settlement negotiated by the state attorney general's office.
The collection had expected to fetch just $6 million to $9 million.The sale concluded Tuesday evening with a selection of jewelry from Astor's personal collection. Among the highlights was Astor's emerald engagement ring, which sold for more than $1.2 million.
The auction comes after a nasty family feud involving her only son, Anthony Marshall. The five-year dispute ended in March with a settlement that freed $100 million for her charities and cut by more than half the amount going to Marshall, who was convicted of taking advantage of his mother's dementia, partly by engineering changes to her will. He has appealed.
The dispute had threatened to deplete the entire estate.
Astor spent her life putting the fortune that her third husband, Vincent Astor, left to use where it would do the most to alleviate human misery. Her efforts won her a Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, in 1998.
Astor died in 2007 at age 105.
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Albert Einstein's brain now interactive app
CARLA K. JOHNSONCHICAGO -- The brain that revolutionized physics now can be downloaded as an app for $9.99. But it won't help you win at Angry Birds. While Albert Einstein's genius isn't included, an exclusive iPad application launched Tuesday promises to make detailed images of his brain more accessible to scientists than ever before. Teachers, students and anyone who's curious also can get a look.
A medical museum under development in Chicago obtained funding to scan and digitize nearly 350 fragile and priceless slides made from slices of Einstein's brain after his death in 1955. The application will allow researchers and novices to peer into the eccentric Nobel winner's brain as if they were looking through a microscope.
"I can't wait to find out what they'll discover," said Steve Landers, a consultant for the National Museum of Health and Medicine Chicago who designed the app. "I'd like to think Einstein would have been excited."After Einstein died, a pathologist named Thomas Harvey performed an autopsy, removing the great man's brain in hopes that future researchers could discover the secrets behind his genius.
Harvey gave samples to researchers and collaborated on a 1999 study published in the Lancet. That study showed a region of Einstein's brain - the parietal lobe - was 15 percent wider than normal. The parietal lobe is important to the understanding of math, language and spatial relationships.
The new iPad app may allow researchers to dig even deeper by looking for brain regions where the neurons are more densely connected than normal, said Dr. Phillip Epstein, a Chicago-area neuroscientist and consultant for the museum.
But because the tissue was preserved before modern imaging technology, it may be difficult for scientists to figure out exactly where in Einstein's brain each slide originated. Although the new app organizes the slides into general brain regions, it doesn't map them with precision to an anatomical model.
"They didn't have MRI. We don't have a three-dimensional model of the brain of Einstein, so we don't know where the samples were taken from," said researcher Jacopo Annese of the Brain Observatory at the University of California, San Diego. What's more, the 1-inch-by-3-inch Einstein slides on the app represent only a fraction of the entire brain, Annese said.
Annese has preserved and digitized another famous brain, that of Henry Molaison, who died in 2008 after living for decades with profound amnesia. Known as "H.M." in scientific studies, Molaison participated during his life in research that revealed new insights on learning and memory.
A searchable website with images of more than 2,400 slides of Molaison's entire brain will be available to the public in December, Annese said.
"There will be another Einstein and we'll do it like H.M.," Annese predicted. For now, he said, it's exciting that the Einstein brain tissue has been preserved digitally before the slides deteriorate or become damaged. The app will spark interest in the field of brain research, just because it's Einstein, he said.
"It's a beautiful collection to have opened up to the public," Annese said.
Some may question whether Einstein would have wanted images of his remains sold to non-scientists for $9.99.
"There's been a lot of debate over what Einstein's intentions were," museum board member Jim Paglia said. "We know he didn't want a circus made of his remains. But he understood the value to research and science to study his brain, and we think we've addressed that in a respectful manner."
Paglia said the app could "inspire a whole new generation of neuroscientists."
Proceeds from sales will go to the U.S. Department of Defense's National Museum of Health and Medicine in Silver Spring, Md., and to the Chicago satellite museum, which is set to open in 2015 with interactive exhibits and the museum's digital collections.
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Online: Einstein's Brain App
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11 groups sue New York City to stop NYU expansion
Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK -- Eleven groups have sued the city for approving a plan to expand New York University's footprint in Greenwich Village, a move that critics say could destroy the historic neighborhood. The lawsuit accuses government decision-makers, including both the City Planning Commission and the City Council, of illegally turning over public land to facilitate NYU's wishes. It also claims the approval process lacked transparency and denied the public meaningful input.
The suit requests the court to reverse the city's approval. It also seeks to stop NYU from starting any construction.
The City Council gave final approval to the plan in July despite opposition from neighborhood groups and preservationists who warned that it could change the character of a beloved neighborhood that has nurtured artistic and social movements throughout the decades.The area sports row houses and carriage houses dating from the 1820s to the 1850s. In the early 1920s and 1930s, the Greenwich Village Follies gave Martha Graham and Cole Porter their start. Among the artists who eventually lived or worked there were Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Allen Ginsburg, Andy Warhol and Keith Haring.
The expansion plan calls for four new buildings in the area around Washington Square Park and the demolition of two low-rise buildings. After objections from residents and NYU faculty, the proposal was reduced by about 20 percent to 1.9 million square feet of new classroom space and other facilities for the more than 50,000 students at the nation's largest private university.
Supporters have argued that the school's ability to attract top students boosts the city's economy because many stay in the area after graduating.
Plaintiffs in the lawsuit include NYU faculty members, Greenwich Society for Historic Preservation, Historic Districts Council, Washington Square Village Tenants' Associated, East Village Community Coalition and others.
The NYC Law Department says it's reviewing the lawsuit, which was filed Monday in Manhattan State Supreme Court.
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MTA to vote on Grand Central 'Kissing Room' restoration
A train arrives to the Astor Place station early Friday, Dec. 16, 2005 in New York. (AP Photo/ Dima Gavrysh) Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK (WABC) -- If you remember meeting under the clock at Grand Central Terminal, you might remember the Kissing Room. The MTA will vote Wednesday on spending $15 million to restore that long-forgotten nook, located in the northwest corner of the terminal.
In its glory, the Kissing Room was a more intimate arrival point for cross-country travelers.
Now, it's set to become the welcome point for 80,000 Long Island Rail Road riders who will use the new East Side Access service.Of course, kissing will be optional.
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ONLINE: mta.info
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New Jersey toll enforcement nets $3.2 million
Cars drive up to the Raritan toll plaza northbound on the Garden State Parkway. Eyewitness NewsWOODBRIDGE TOWNSHIP (WABC) -- Highway officials in New Jersey are cashing in on their crackdown on chronic toll cheats. New Jersey Turnpike Authority officials announced Tuesday that stepped-up toll enforcement efforts have resulted in an additional $3.2 million in revenue.
The Asbury Park Press reports exact-change lane violations on the Garden State Parkway have been reduced by 50 percent. Meanwhile, authority officials say 35 percent of the 150 drivers who face suspension of their vehicle registration privileges for unpaid tolls have contacted the authority to settle up.
The authority, which also runs the parkway, has collected more administrative fees in the first eight months of the enforcement program. And it has seen a record number of customers buy E-ZPass tags.---
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Waitress sues Central Park Boathouse for harassment
Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK (WABC) -- A waitress at the famed Central Park Boathouse is suing the restaurant for sexual harassment. The woman says managers routinely made inappropriate comments, including asking female employees for sexual favors.
She is seeking unspecified damages and back wages.
The restaurant's owner denies the accusations.According to the New York Post, at least six workers have filed complaints against the Boathouse.
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Staples closing, consolidating stores in U.S., Europe
Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK (WABC) -- Staples is hoping fewer stores equals larger profits. The office supply giant plans to close 30 stores in the United States and downsize 30 others before the end of the year.
It is also shutting 45 stores and delivery businesses in Europe.
The company say streamlining will improve productivity, while saving $250 million annually over the next three years.---
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Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Brooke Astor's possessions hit the auction block
ULA ILNYTZKYNEW YORK -- Brooke Astor was the immaculately dressed grande dame of New York City, a philanthropist, taste-setter and host extraordinaire, at ease with kings and queens and world leaders. She adored animals, especially dogs, flowers and books. Floral patterns and animal sculptures were decorative motifs throughout her two sumptuous homes: a 14-room duplex on Park Avenue and her country estate, Holly Hill, overlooking the Hudson River in Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.
Sotheby's is offering the contents of both homes, 901 objects in all, including European and Asian furnishings, Old Masters, Qing Dynasty paintings, tea sets, silverware, jewelry, a porcelain menagerie, over 100 dog paintings - and even the uniforms of her domestic staff - at a two-day auction on Monday and Tuesday.
Astor died in 2007 at age 105.In keeping with her wishes and life's motto that "money is like manure; it should be spread around," proceeds from the sale will go to the institutions and causes she supported. They include what she called the city's crown jewels - the New York Public Library, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Bronx Zoo, Central Park, plus the Animal Medical Center of New York, New York City's public schools and charities in Maine.
The collection is expected to fetch a total of $6 million to $9 million.
The auction comes after a nasty family feud involving her only son, Anthony Marshall. The five-year dispute ended in March with a settlement that freed $100 million for her charities and cut by more than half the amount going to Marshall, who was convicted of taking advantage of his mother's dementia, partly by engineering changes to her will. He has appealed.
The dispute had threatened to deplete the entire estate.
Astor spent her life putting the fortune that her third husband, Vincent Astor, left to use where it would do the most to alleviate human misery. Her efforts won her a Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, in 1998.
Among the items expected to bring one of the highest bids is an Imperial Chinese gilt-bronze lion clock estimated at $180,000 to $220,000.
Astor developed her passion for Asian jade and porcelain and lacquered furniture as a child due to her father's military career that took the family all over the world.
But not everything in the sale is for deep-pocketed buyers. A group of four large white tin-glazed earthenware hounds and a figure of a reclining tiger, for example, carry a pre-sale estimate of $2,000 to $3,000. Two needlepoint pictures are estimated at $200 to $300.
"This is a woman who surrounded herself with the things that she loved," said Elaine Whitmire, vice chairman of Sotheby's single-owner collections. "You can see it in the upholstery, you can see it in the porcelain that she used, floral, animal and Asian-inspired."
"You see not only paintings of dogs, but also sculptures of camels, bulls and pigs. She clearly adored animals, and that passion was reflected not only in her residences ... they were also the passions of her philanthropic legacy," added Whitmire.
Whitmire, who toured both properties in preparation for the auction, said the residences exuded sophistication and elegance but also "put you at great ease."
Her homes were decorated by high-society designer Sister Parish - the same interior decorator Jacqueline Kennedy hired for the White House - but it's Astor who comes across, not the decorators, she said.
"You knew instantly you were walking into a home of a woman who was a fantastic host, who was comfortable with the things she lived with, and she wanted her guests to feel that way," added Whitmire. Parish's business partner, Albert Hadley, created the duplex's library, where Astor entertained world dignitaries.
There are 64 pieces of jewelry in the sale, including a magnificent emerald and diamond necklace and earrings for which Vincent Astor selected the stones in 1958. Vincent Astor died a short time later with the jewelry not completed. Nearly two years later, Astor received the finished necklace from the Italian jeweler Bulgari.
Sotheby's estimates the necklace will bring $250,000 to $350,000. The earrings may fetch an extra $30,000 to $40,000.
Astor is pictured in the auction catalog wearing the pieces while chatting with President Lyndon Johnson at a dinner dance in his honor at the Plaza Hotel in 1969.
"A woman who dined with kings and queens and presidents - that is a provenance that doesn't get much better," said Whitmire.
For more information please visit: http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2012/property-from-the-estate-of-brooke-astor-n08890/lots.list.1.html
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(Copyright ©2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Lifestyle & Fun »auction, brooke astor, lifestyle & fun
Powerball jackpot up to $200 million
Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK -- The Powerball jackpot has now grown to a whopping $200 million, after no one matched all six numbers in Saturday night's lottery drawing. Five players, including one New Yorker, did win $1 million after matching the first five numbers.
Those numbers were 2-16-18-40-42.
No one matched the all important powerball number, 33.The next drawing is Wednesday night, and you can get the results after the drawing on Eyewitness News at 11 p.m.
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ONLINE:
Multi-State Lottery Association: http://www.powerball.com
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Free checking offered at fewer banks
Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK (WABC) -- It may be your money but you're paying more for the privilege of using it. A new survey shows that ATM surcharges are up 4% this year, hitting a record high of $2.50.
Meanwhile, free checking accounts are becoming a thing of the past.
They're now offered by less than 40% of all banks.Not only that, the average monthly fee for a checking account is up 25%.
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(Copyright ©2012 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Business »money, business
Apple supplier's factory back up after brawl injures 40
by JOE McDONALDBEIJING -- A factory in China owned by the manufacturer of Apple's iPhones resumed production Tuesday after a brawl by workers highlighted tensions that labor groups say were worsened by the pressure of a new iPhone launch. Foxconn Technology Group and police said the cause of the unrest Sunday night was under investigation, but labor activists said the rollout of the iPhone 5 has led to longer working hours and more pressure on workers. Foxconn and police said as many as 2,000 employees were involved in the brawl and 40 people were reported injured.
The iPhone 5 debuted last week in the United States and eight other countries and Apple has a three- to four-week backlog of online orders. Foxconn has declined to say whether its one-day suspension of production Monday in Taiyuan might affect supplies. It did not respond to a request for comment on the labor groups' claims.
News reports and witnesses said the violence Sunday night in Taiyuan in northern China stemmed from a confrontation between a factory worker and a guard that escalated. One employee reached by telephone said the violence was fueled by workers' anger about mistreatment by Foxconn security guards and managers."Foxconn, some supervisors, and security guards never respect us," said the employee, who asked not to be identified by name. "We all have this anger toward them and they (the workers) wanted to destroy things to release this anger."
Production at the Taiyuan factory resumed on Tuesday, Foxconn said in a written statement. It did not respond to a request for information on the status of its investigation or whether policies at the factory might be changed.
Foxconn, owned by Taiwan's Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., is the world's biggest assembler of consumer electronics, with about 1.2 million workers in factories in Taiyuan, the southern city of Shenzhen, in Chengdu in the west and in Zhengzhou in central China. It makes iPhones and iPads for Apple and also assembles products for Microsoft Corp. and Hewlett-Packard Co.
Labor activists say the need to ramp up iPhone 5 production has increased pressure on Foxconn employees.
"Because of the launch of the iPhone 5, the workload of workers suddenly surges," said a Hong Kong group, Students & Scholars Against Corporate Misbehaviour, in a report this month. It said some employees interviewed at the Zhengzhou factory had not had a day off in the previous 30 days.
Foxconn has declined to say which products are made in each factory but another group, China Labor Watch, said the Taiyuan facility, which employs 79,000 people, is making the iPhone 5.
The group, based in New York City, complained that employees suffer "verbal and physical abuse" by guards.
"These workers must be treated with respect," it said in a statement. "And both Apple and Foxconn, with billions of dollars in profits every year, have both a legal and ethical obligation to uphold the rights of these workers."
Labor tensions in China have been aggravated by a slowing economy that is squeezing employers and a communist system that prohibits independent labor unions.
Many factories and other businesses have unions but they must be part of the state-sanctioned All-China Federation of Trade Unions. Workers complain leaders of local branches often are allied with management and fail to stand up for the workforce.
That means grievances over pay or other issues spiral into strikes and protests. In some cases, ACFTU representatives have scuffled with striking workers, trying to force them to return to work.
"They have no other way of voicing their grievances," said Geoffrey Crothall, communications director for China Labour Bulletin, a Hong Kong organization that promotes employee rights in China. "There are no formal channels of communication or ways of resolving grievances through peaceful negotiation."
Foxconn raised minimum pay and promised in March to limit hours after an auditor hired by Apple found Foxconn employees were regularly required to work more than 60 hours a week.
That review followed a rash of suicides at Foxconn facilities - about a dozen since 2010 - and an explosion at the iPad-making plant in Chengdu in May 2011 that killed four employees.
Foxconn's facilities are exceptionally large by the standards of a Chinese electronics industry in which most manufacturers employ hundreds or thousands of workers. Its flagship mainland factory in Shenzhen, near Hong Kong, has 250,000 workers. The Chengdu site has 100,000 and the company has said the Zhengzhou factory might eventually employ 300,000.
Foxconn also has faced criticism in the past over the conduct of its security guards.
In 2010, Foxconn's parent, Hon Hai, pledged its guards would obey the law and refrain from using threats or harassment after a videotape showing several beating workers was circulated on the Internet.
Foxconn employees have complained about what some critics call "military-style management."
"Workers are expected to obey their manager at all times, not to question but simply do what they are told," said Crothall. "That atmosphere is not conducive to a happy or contented workforce. It's a very dehumanizing way of treating workers."
AP technology writer Peter Svensson in New York and AP researcher Flora Ji in Beijing contributed.
Foxconn Technology Group: Foxconn.com ---
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(Copyright ©2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Get more U.S. & World News »apple, u.s. & world news
NFL upholds Seahawks' disputed win over Packers
by RACHEL COHENNEW YORK -- The NFL has upheld the Seahawks' 14-12 win over the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football. The league said in a statement Tuesday that Seattle's last-second touchdown pass should not have been overturned.
The NFL says Seahawks receiver Golden Tate should have been called for offensive pass interference before the catch, which would have clinched a Packers victory, but that cannot be reviewed by instant replay.
The replacement officials ruled on the field that Tate had simultaneous possession with Green Bay safety M.D. Jennings, which counts as a reception. The NFL says that once that happened, the referee was correct that no indisputable visual evidence existed on review to overturn the touchdown call.On the final play, Russell Wilson heaved a 24-yard pass into a scrum in the end zone. Tate and Jennings both got their hands on the ball, though the Packers insisted Jennings had clear possession for a game-ending interception.
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MTA: Survey shows customer satisfaction up
A train arrives to the Astor Place station early Friday, Dec. 16, 2005 in New York. (AP Photo/ Dima Gavrysh) Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK (WABC) -- The MTA says its latest survey for 2012 shows more riders like the agency's service. On subways, 81 percent say they are satisfied with their home stations.
On the Long Island Rail Road, 86 percent of customers say they are happy with the service they're getting.
And 93 percent of Metro-North riders are satisfied with their commute. That's up from 89 percent in 2011 when severe winter weather frequently affected service.Satisfaction in on-time performance also is up: 91 percent compared to 88 percent in 2011.
The Port Jervis line received an all-time high 92 percent satisfaction rate.
Metro-North says 5,855 east-of-the-Hudson riders and 730 west-of-the-Hudson riders were surveyed in June.
The railroad has conducted the survey since 1988.
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ONLINE: mta.info
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(Copyright ©2012 WABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more ABC7 Traffic Center »mta, mass transit, new york city transit, subway, bus, abc7 traffic center
Peanut butter recall expands beyond Trader Joe's
MARY CLARE JALONICKNEW YORK -- A New Mexico-based company is recalling 76 types of peanut butter and almond butter after one of its products was linked to a salmonella outbreak at Trader Joe's groceries. Sunland Inc. recalled the products under multiple brand names after the Food and Drug Administration and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention linked 29 salmonella illnesses in 18 states to Trader Joe's Creamy Salted Valencia Peanut Butter. Sunland manufactures and packages the Trader Joe's product.
A Sunland spokeswoman said the company recalled the other peanut and almond butters because they were manufactured with the same equipment as the Trader Joe's product. None of the other products have been linked to illnesses.
Trader Joe's recalled the Creamy Salted Valencia Peanut Butter from its stores Saturday.For more information on Salmonella, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/general/
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Apple crime up 40 percent in New York City
The NYPD has a warning for iPhone and iPad users to stay alert, because the Big Apple is having an Apple crime wave.
While thousands of New Yorkers stormed Apple stores to be among the first to score the iPhone 5 last Friday, thieves were also anticipating the new release.
The NYPD says more criminals are targeting Apple products, and while overall crime is up 4 percent in New York City, Apple product crime is up 40 percent.According to department records, of the more than 79,000 crimes so far this year, more than 11,000 of them thousand involve an Apple product.
Many of the victim's are distracted when the robbers strike. The NYPD has released a public service announcement warning people to be aware of their surroundings while using their gadgets.
It's something iPhone users say they're taking seriously.
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Tips to protect your iPhone, iPad and your data
1) Keep your device out of view or at lower profile in public. You are at risk of theft while using devices at coffee shops, restaurants and on mass transit.
2) Don't leave your device unattended or in plain view inside a parked car or purse, for example.
3) Use the free Find My iPhone app to locate a lost or stolen iPhone. The app is one of several that allows used to remotely erase data from a device. Similar programs are available for Androids and other smart phones.
4) Activate your passcode on your iPhone or iPad by opening the Settings, choosing General, Passcode Lock, and entering a four-digit code. You can also assign passcodes to individual apps to protect your data.
5) Several location-tracking apps allow you to use the device's camera to take a picture of the thief, and then email that photo to you. It may not improve the odds of recovering the phone, but it could help prosecute a thief.
6) Record the serial number of your iPhone or iPad. Look on the back cover, or open Settings>General>About and scroll to the serial number entry. You can also get this number when the device is connected to a computer and you open iTunes.
7) Also note the devices 15-digital International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number engraved on the back of some iPhones and iPad models. Apple's support offers more details on where to find the number. The IMEI can be used to prevent a phone from accessing the cell network.
Source: CNET.com
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new york city, apple, crime, new york news, marci gonzalez
Amtrak to test high-speed trains across Northeast
Eyewitness NewsTRENTON -- Amtrak is going to break the speed limit in the Northeast Corridor. The rail service announced Monday it will operate test trains overnight at 165 mph in four stretches from Maryland to Massachusetts.
Acela Express equipment will be used for the tests, which were to start at about 10:30 p.m. Monday in New Jersey and will continue into next week, Amtrak spokesman Cliff Cole said.
All the locations may one day have regular 160 mph service; the current top speed limit is 150 mph.Amtrak said tests need to be performed at 5 mph above what is expected to be the maximum operating speed.
Two test locations - from Perryville, Md., to Wilmington, Del., and from Trenton to New Brunswick, N.J. - currently have a speed limit of 135 mph. The two others - in Rhode Island from Westerly to Cranston and in Massachusetts from South Attleboro to Readville - have 150 mph limits.
The same areas, totaling just over 100 miles, were used for tests reaching 165 mph in the 1990s before the introduction of high-speed Acela service, Cole said. Federal regulations required another round of testing, he said, to further raise the top speed limit.
Cole said the tests, with cars equipped with instruments to collect a variety of data, will not affect normal rail operations because they are scheduled at a time of minimal rail service.
In New Jersey, track, electric power, signals and other systems are to be upgraded over the next several years to improve reliability and to permit regular train operations at faster speeds, as part of a $450 million project funded by the federal high-speed rail program.
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Ads calling Jihadists 'savages' go up in subways
Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK (WABC) -- Controversial new ads targeting Muslim extremism make their debut Monday at 10 New York City subway stations. The ads equate Islamic jihad with savagery.
Similar ads have already appeared on San Francisco buses and at Metro-North stations north of the city.
The group behind the ad, the American Freedom Defense Initiative, has already sued and won the right to display the ads.Transit officials say the ads were initially rejected for "demeaning" language, but a Manhattan federal court judge ruled in July that the MTA violated the group's First Amendment rightse.
The ad states "In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man." It adds, "Support Israel. Defeat Jihad," in between two Stars of David.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority spokesman Aaron Donovan tells The New York Times the agency's "hands are tied," and says the MTA may consider revising its ad policy at a board meeting next week.
New York's Council on American-Islamic Relations calls the ad an attempt to "define Muslims" through hate speech.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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Monday, September 24, 2012
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Many stores report being sold out of iPhone 5s
Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK -- It was possible to walk into a store Saturday and buy an iPhone 5. But it took some hunting. Some stores reported having Apple's newest phone available for walk-up customers. But a random check of about a dozen stores indicated that most were sold out.
A Verizon store in New York City said the phone was available. A Sprint store in a suburb of St. Paul, Minn., said all but the most expensive 64 gigabyte iPhone 5s were sold out.
The iPhone 5 went on sale Friday, igniting explosive interest around the world. Apple's website said phones bought online would ship in three to four weeks. Verizon's website said they would ship by Oct. 19.It's hardly uncommon for supply shortages to make it difficult to get new iPhones in the first days of their release. For Apple, the iPhone introduction is the biggest revenue driver of the year. Analysts say the company will likely sell millions of phones in the first few days.
There were long lines Friday at Apple's stores in Asia, Europe and North America as customers pursued the new smartphone. Apple and the phone companies haven't provided sales figures from the first day. Apple is expected to announce early results Monday.
Last year, Apple said on the Monday after the launch of the iPhone 4S that it had sold 4 million in the first three days.
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Saturday, September 22, 2012
Report: Idling vehicles cost MTA $800,000 a year
A train arrives to the Astor Place station early Friday, Dec. 16, 2005 in New York. (AP Photo/ Dima Gavrysh) Eyewitness NewsNEW YORK (WABC) -- The MTA's Inspector General says employees waste about $800,000 a year in gas money because of idling vehicles. In New York, drivers are not supposed to leave cars running unnecessarily for more than five minutes without moving.
But Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North workers kept highway vehicles running while they were parked for a combined total of more than 20,000 hours each month.
In one incident, investigators say two trucks idled for a combined 25 hours over one weekend in Queens.Inspector General Barry Kluger calls the practice illegal and environmentally destructive.
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Panera franchisee settles suit by black worker
JOE MANDAKPITTSBURGH -- An Ohio franchisee who runs several western Pennsylvania Panera Bread stores has agreed to pay more than $76,000 to settle discrimination claims by current and former black employees. Chief U.S. District Judge Gary Lancaster has told attorneys for Guy Vines, the black worker who sued in January, and Covelli Enterprises, the Warren, Ohio franchisee, to advertise the settlement, which he preliminarily approved Monday.
Vines sued claiming he was denied promotions and made to work in the kitchen because company owner Sam Covelli didn't want black employees in areas where the public was served. About 200 to 300 black workers may be entitled to money.
Covelli continues to deny wrongdoing, but is settling to avoid the costs of defending the case.---
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