Business - BostonHerald.com

http://www.bostonherald.com/business/?srvc=rss The Boston Herald online: The closest distance between you and the news en-us Copyright 2012, Herald Interactive, Inc. Sun, 09 Dec 2012 11:25:54 -0500 systems@heraldinteractive.com (Web Developers) 120 http://cache.heraldinteractive.com/images/siteImages/rss_logo.jpg http://www.bostonherald.com/business/?srvc=rss 100 48 The Boston Herald online: The closest distance between you and the news http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061180647&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061180647&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061180647&srvc=rss LOS ANGELES - The union representing freelance technical employees who work on live sporting events for Pac-12... business Sun, 09 Dec 2012 10:15:12 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180505&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180505&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180505&srvc=rss The singing voice behind the hard-rock tune "Sober" has uncorked his wines in Massachusetts. Arizona Stronghold... business Sun, 09 Dec 2012 04:33:34 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180533&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180533&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180533&srvc=rss UsTrendy wants to give one budding collegiate fashion designer his big break. The Brookline-based fashion e-commerce... business Sat, 08 Dec 2012 21:39:24 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1061180543&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1061180543&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1061180543&srvc=rss I own a 1997 Dodge 3500 pickup I bought used about 10 years ago, and this problem came with the truck. When it... business Sat, 08 Dec 2012 21:28:04 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180489&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180489&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180489&srvc=rss WASHINGTON - The Agriculture Department is responding to criticism over new school lunch rules by allowing more... business Sat, 08 Dec 2012 18:30:19 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180311&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180311&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180311&srvc=rss Hurricane Sandy largely spared U.S. employment numbers last month, but one expert says the looming "fiscal cliff"... business Sat, 08 Dec 2012 11:30:53 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180436&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180436&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180436&srvc=rss DOHA, Qatar - A U.N. climate conference with nearly 200 countries has adopted an extension of the Kyoto Protocol... business Sat, 08 Dec 2012 11:22:58 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180430&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180430&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180430&srvc=rss WASHINGTON - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has some harsh words for rural America: It's "becoming less and... business Sat, 08 Dec 2012 10:33:47 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1061180425&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1061180425&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1061180425&srvc=rss Keep an eye on the Fiat 500L. The little retro-Italian crossover is one of the early surprises and stands a good... business Sat, 08 Dec 2012 10:02:25 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061180377&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061180377&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061180377&srvc=rss LONDON - A nurse found dead days after she took a crank call about the pregnant Duchess of Cambridge was originally... business Sat, 08 Dec 2012 09:25:37 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1061180407&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1061180407&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1061180407&srvc=rss The chief executive of cash-strapped Fisker Automotive Inc. is in Europe looking for investors and business partners. The... business Sat, 08 Dec 2012 08:38:58 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/healthcare/view.bg?articleid=1061180379&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/healthcare/view.bg?articleid=1061180379&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/healthcare/view.bg?articleid=1061180379&srvc=rss WALTHAM - The Massachusetts Medical Society has produced a series of brochures to help parents deal with topics... business Sat, 08 Dec 2012 06:35:38 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180374&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180374&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180374&srvc=rss WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama said Saturday that Republicans in the House are blocking a bill that would... business Sat, 08 Dec 2012 06:19:13 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/real_estate/view.bg?articleid=1061180305&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/real_estate/view.bg?articleid=1061180305&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/real_estate/view.bg?articleid=1061180305&srvc=rss This Melrose Victorian features lots of hand-carved woodwork that has been meticulously restored, and the home... business Sat, 08 Dec 2012 00:20:43 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180312&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180312&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180312&srvc=rss Boston lawyer Paul McDonough remembers when burlesque queen Ann Corio burst into genteel Locke-Ober to confront... business Fri, 07 Dec 2012 22:10:17 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180336&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180336&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180336&srvc=rss Supporters of the Massachusetts Iraq and Afghanistan Fallen Heroes Memorial Fund celebrated the announcement tonight... business Fri, 07 Dec 2012 21:34:26 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1061180304&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1061180304&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1061180304&srvc=rss The new Volvo S60 is a practical, sensible luxury car for those who don't need the ego boost of driving one... business Fri, 07 Dec 2012 21:29:04 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180261&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180261&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180261&srvc=rss Look for Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce at Faneuil Hall Marketplace on Sunday. Pierce will be visiting American... business Fri, 07 Dec 2012 21:26:46 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180306&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180306&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180306&srvc=rss US Air offers merger US Airways Group Inc. has made a formal merger proposal to American Airlines parent AMR... business Fri, 07 Dec 2012 21:20:57 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/real_estate/view.bg?articleid=1061180327&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/real_estate/view.bg?articleid=1061180327&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/real_estate/view.bg?articleid=1061180327&srvc=rss Development firm Pappas Enterprises has cashed in on the investment craze around the South Boston waterfront, selling... business Fri, 07 Dec 2012 21:16:46 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180277&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180277&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180277&srvc=rss WASHINGTON - The Federal Communications Commission says the nation's four largest wireless carriers have agreed... business Fri, 07 Dec 2012 16:37:36 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180273&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180273&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180273&srvc=rss WASHINGTON - Goldman Sachs & Co. is paying $1.5 million to settle civil charges that it failed to properly supervise... business Fri, 07 Dec 2012 16:05:59 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180272&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180272&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180272&srvc=rss WASHINGTON - Reaction to the monthly jobs numbers isn't what it used to be. Friday's unemployment report - the... business Fri, 07 Dec 2012 16:04:04 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180268&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180268&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180268&srvc=rss DALLAS - A Texas man who has described himself as a spokesman for the hacker-activist group Anonymous faces new... business Fri, 07 Dec 2012 15:37:53 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180254&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180254&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180254&srvc=rss The contents of the 137-year-old Locke-Ober restaurant hit the auction block this morning to draw a final curtain... business Fri, 07 Dec 2012 14:00:25 -0500

http://www.bostonherald.com/business/?srvc=rss The Boston Herald online: The closest distance between you and the news en-us Copyright 2012, Herald Interactive, Inc. Sun, 09 Dec 2012 11:25:54 -0500 systems@heraldinteractive.com (Web Developers) 120 http://cache.heraldinteractive.com/images/siteImages/rss_logo.jpg http://www.bostonherald.com/business/?srvc=rss 100 48 The Boston Herald online: The closest distance between you and the news http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061180647&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061180647&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061180647&srvc=rss LOS ANGELES - The union representing freelance technical employees who work on live sporting events for Pac-12... business Sun, 09 Dec 2012 10:15:12 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180505&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180505&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180505&srvc=rss The singing voice behind the hard-rock tune "Sober" has uncorked his wines in Massachusetts. Arizona Stronghold... business Sun, 09 Dec 2012 04:33:34 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180533&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180533&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180533&srvc=rss UsTrendy wants to give one budding collegiate fashion designer his big break. The Brookline-based fashion e-commerce... business Sat, 08 Dec 2012 21:39:24 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1061180543&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1061180543&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1061180543&srvc=rss I own a 1997 Dodge 3500 pickup I bought used about 10 years ago, and this problem came with the truck. When it... business Sat, 08 Dec 2012 21:28:04 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180489&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180489&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180489&srvc=rss WASHINGTON - The Agriculture Department is responding to criticism over new school lunch rules by allowing more... business Sat, 08 Dec 2012 18:30:19 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180311&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180311&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180311&srvc=rss Hurricane Sandy largely spared U.S. employment numbers last month, but one expert says the looming "fiscal cliff"... business Sat, 08 Dec 2012 11:30:53 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180436&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180436&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180436&srvc=rss DOHA, Qatar - A U.N. climate conference with nearly 200 countries has adopted an extension of the Kyoto Protocol... business Sat, 08 Dec 2012 11:22:58 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180430&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180430&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180430&srvc=rss WASHINGTON - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has some harsh words for rural America: It's "becoming less and... business Sat, 08 Dec 2012 10:33:47 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1061180425&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1061180425&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1061180425&srvc=rss Keep an eye on the Fiat 500L. The little retro-Italian crossover is one of the early surprises and stands a good... business Sat, 08 Dec 2012 10:02:25 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061180377&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061180377&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061180377&srvc=rss LONDON - A nurse found dead days after she took a crank call about the pregnant Duchess of Cambridge was originally... business Sat, 08 Dec 2012 09:25:37 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1061180407&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1061180407&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1061180407&srvc=rss The chief executive of cash-strapped Fisker Automotive Inc. is in Europe looking for investors and business partners. The... business Sat, 08 Dec 2012 08:38:58 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/healthcare/view.bg?articleid=1061180379&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/healthcare/view.bg?articleid=1061180379&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/healthcare/view.bg?articleid=1061180379&srvc=rss WALTHAM - The Massachusetts Medical Society has produced a series of brochures to help parents deal with topics... business Sat, 08 Dec 2012 06:35:38 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180374&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180374&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180374&srvc=rss WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama said Saturday that Republicans in the House are blocking a bill that would... business Sat, 08 Dec 2012 06:19:13 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/real_estate/view.bg?articleid=1061180305&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/real_estate/view.bg?articleid=1061180305&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/real_estate/view.bg?articleid=1061180305&srvc=rss This Melrose Victorian features lots of hand-carved woodwork that has been meticulously restored, and the home... business Sat, 08 Dec 2012 00:20:43 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180312&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180312&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180312&srvc=rss Boston lawyer Paul McDonough remembers when burlesque queen Ann Corio burst into genteel Locke-Ober to confront... business Fri, 07 Dec 2012 22:10:17 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180336&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180336&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180336&srvc=rss Supporters of the Massachusetts Iraq and Afghanistan Fallen Heroes Memorial Fund celebrated the announcement tonight... business Fri, 07 Dec 2012 21:34:26 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1061180304&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1061180304&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1061180304&srvc=rss The new Volvo S60 is a practical, sensible luxury car for those who don't need the ego boost of driving one... business Fri, 07 Dec 2012 21:29:04 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180261&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180261&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180261&srvc=rss Look for Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce at Faneuil Hall Marketplace on Sunday. Pierce will be visiting American... business Fri, 07 Dec 2012 21:26:46 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180306&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180306&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180306&srvc=rss US Air offers merger US Airways Group Inc. has made a formal merger proposal to American Airlines parent AMR... business Fri, 07 Dec 2012 21:20:57 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/real_estate/view.bg?articleid=1061180327&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/real_estate/view.bg?articleid=1061180327&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/real_estate/view.bg?articleid=1061180327&srvc=rss Development firm Pappas Enterprises has cashed in on the investment craze around the South Boston waterfront, selling... business Fri, 07 Dec 2012 21:16:46 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180277&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180277&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180277&srvc=rss WASHINGTON - The Federal Communications Commission says the nation's four largest wireless carriers have agreed... business Fri, 07 Dec 2012 16:37:36 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180273&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180273&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180273&srvc=rss WASHINGTON - Goldman Sachs & Co. is paying $1.5 million to settle civil charges that it failed to properly supervise... business Fri, 07 Dec 2012 16:05:59 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180272&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180272&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180272&srvc=rss WASHINGTON - Reaction to the monthly jobs numbers isn't what it used to be. Friday's unemployment report - the... business Fri, 07 Dec 2012 16:04:04 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180268&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180268&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180268&srvc=rss DALLAS - A Texas man who has described himself as a spokesman for the hacker-activist group Anonymous faces new... business Fri, 07 Dec 2012 15:37:53 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180254&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180254&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061180254&srvc=rss The contents of the 137-year-old Locke-Ober restaurant hit the auction block this morning to draw a final curtain... business Fri, 07 Dec 2012 14:00:25 -0500

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Business - BostonHerald.com

http://www.bostonherald.com/business/?srvc=rss The Boston Herald online: The closest distance between you and the news en-us Copyright 2012, Herald Interactive, Inc. Sun, 02 Dec 2012 11:32:52 -0500 systems@heraldinteractive.com (Web Developers) 120 http://cache.heraldinteractive.com/images/siteImages/rss_logo.jpg http://www.bostonherald.com/business/?srvc=rss 100 48 The Boston Herald online: The closest distance between you and the news http://www.bostonherald.com/business/real_estate/view.bg?articleid=1061178852&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/real_estate/view.bg?articleid=1061178852&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/real_estate/view.bg?articleid=1061178852&srvc=rss WASHINGTON - What would happen to home values in the event that popular real estate deductions for mortgage interest... business Sun, 02 Dec 2012 09:37:43 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178851&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178851&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178851&srvc=rss WASHINGTON - President Obama is ready for difficult concessions to reach a deficit deal, but GOP lawmakers must... business Sun, 02 Dec 2012 09:14:18 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061178770&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061178770&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061178770&srvc=rss Hub ad agency Hill Holliday has learned its lesson: Business and politics - especially Beacon Hill politics - don't... business Sun, 02 Dec 2012 09:02:35 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/healthcare/view.bg?articleid=1061178845&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/healthcare/view.bg?articleid=1061178845&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/healthcare/view.bg?articleid=1061178845&srvc=rss WASHINGTON - It's health care brinksmanship, with hundreds of billions of dollars and the well-being of millions... business Sun, 02 Dec 2012 08:17:38 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178831&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178831&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178831&srvc=rss BEIJING - China has approved a proposal by auto parts conglomerate Wanxiang Group Corp. to purchase the assets... business Sun, 02 Dec 2012 06:10:08 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178779&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178779&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178779&srvc=rss Stadium Holdings has a lot to cheer about. The operator of Stadium Sports Bar & Grills in South Boston, Quincy... business Sat, 01 Dec 2012 21:58:06 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178729&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178729&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178729&srvc=rss Entering multiple competitions for money and exposure is a strategy that's paying off for some startups, but it... business Sat, 01 Dec 2012 21:33:28 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1061178774&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1061178774&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1061178774&srvc=rss I have a 2003 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 5.3-liter 4x4, which I bought new and has served me well for 235,000 miles.... business Sat, 01 Dec 2012 21:23:44 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178732&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178732&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178732&srvc=rss Time-shifting trend A new survey finds that digital video recorders are now in more than half of all U.S. homes... business Sat, 01 Dec 2012 21:05:00 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/healthcare/view.bg?articleid=1061178718&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/healthcare/view.bg?articleid=1061178718&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/healthcare/view.bg?articleid=1061178718&srvc=rss CHICAGO - The now familiar term "Asperger's disorder" is being dropped. And abnormally bad and frequent temper... business Sat, 01 Dec 2012 19:49:31 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061178699&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061178699&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061178699&srvc=rss NEW YORK - Media conglomerate News Corp. is set to appoint Robert Thomson, a veteran journalist and the managing... business Sat, 01 Dec 2012 16:02:42 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178696&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178696&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178696&srvc=rss NEW YORK - Bank of America is postponing an increase in monthly fees for checking accounts, according to a report... business Sat, 01 Dec 2012 15:56:42 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178691&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178691&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178691&srvc=rss PROVIDENCE, R.I. - A political scientist and deputy dean at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has been... business Sat, 01 Dec 2012 15:21:33 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178567&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178567&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178567&srvc=rss Staples is getting into the three-dimensional printing business. The Framingham office products retailer has... business Sat, 01 Dec 2012 12:42:15 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178657&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178657&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178657&srvc=rss Several New England college students have received research fellowships from the U.S. Environmental Protection... business Sat, 01 Dec 2012 10:14:44 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178572&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178572&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178572&srvc=rss A Cambridge real estate developer's bet on an Everett industrial site could pay off big if Las Vegas tycoon Steve... business Sat, 01 Dec 2012 09:14:05 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178585&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178585&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178585&srvc=rss The U.S. trustee overseeing the Upper Crust pizza chain's bankruptcy case wants the court to order the owners to... business Sat, 01 Dec 2012 05:56:25 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178145&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178145&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178145&srvc=rss In an epic Facebook meltdown, the owner of one of the Hub's fanciest French dining destinations went schoolyard... business Sat, 01 Dec 2012 01:27:44 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/real_estate/view.bg?articleid=1061178563&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/real_estate/view.bg?articleid=1061178563&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/real_estate/view.bg?articleid=1061178563&srvc=rss This just-built townhouse in Jamaica Plain is one of six units in three architect-designed duplex buildings off... business Fri, 30 Nov 2012 23:31:51 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178527&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178527&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178527&srvc=rss Mathew Martoma knew from an early age he wanted to blend his interests in health care, business and law into a... business Fri, 30 Nov 2012 22:22:00 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178587&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178587&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178587&srvc=rss On her daily bicycle rides to and from the MIT Media Lab's Information Ecology Group where she is a research assistant,... business Fri, 30 Nov 2012 22:07:34 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178589&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178589&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178589&srvc=rss Dollar bill endangered? Congressional auditors say doing away with dollar bills entirely and replacing them... business Fri, 30 Nov 2012 21:58:45 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1061178562&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1061178562&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1061178562&srvc=rss Despite being one of the best sellers in the crossover class and having the gravitas of 11 production years... business Fri, 30 Nov 2012 21:12:53 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178540&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178540&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178540&srvc=rss A Canadian man was charged yesterday with using kickbacks in order to trigger investments in two lightly traded... business Fri, 30 Nov 2012 17:44:08 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178541&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178541&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178541&srvc=rss WASHINGTON - Health insurance companies will have to pay to play in new health insurance markets coming under President... business Fri, 30 Nov 2012 17:43:39 -0500

http://www.bostonherald.com/business/?srvc=rss The Boston Herald online: The closest distance between you and the news en-us Copyright 2012, Herald Interactive, Inc. Sun, 02 Dec 2012 11:32:52 -0500 systems@heraldinteractive.com (Web Developers) 120 http://cache.heraldinteractive.com/images/siteImages/rss_logo.jpg http://www.bostonherald.com/business/?srvc=rss 100 48 The Boston Herald online: The closest distance between you and the news http://www.bostonherald.com/business/real_estate/view.bg?articleid=1061178852&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/real_estate/view.bg?articleid=1061178852&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/real_estate/view.bg?articleid=1061178852&srvc=rss WASHINGTON - What would happen to home values in the event that popular real estate deductions for mortgage interest... business Sun, 02 Dec 2012 09:37:43 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178851&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178851&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178851&srvc=rss WASHINGTON - President Obama is ready for difficult concessions to reach a deficit deal, but GOP lawmakers must... business Sun, 02 Dec 2012 09:14:18 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061178770&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061178770&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061178770&srvc=rss Hub ad agency Hill Holliday has learned its lesson: Business and politics - especially Beacon Hill politics - don't... business Sun, 02 Dec 2012 09:02:35 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/healthcare/view.bg?articleid=1061178845&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/healthcare/view.bg?articleid=1061178845&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/healthcare/view.bg?articleid=1061178845&srvc=rss WASHINGTON - It's health care brinksmanship, with hundreds of billions of dollars and the well-being of millions... business Sun, 02 Dec 2012 08:17:38 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178831&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178831&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178831&srvc=rss BEIJING - China has approved a proposal by auto parts conglomerate Wanxiang Group Corp. to purchase the assets... business Sun, 02 Dec 2012 06:10:08 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178779&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178779&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178779&srvc=rss Stadium Holdings has a lot to cheer about. The operator of Stadium Sports Bar & Grills in South Boston, Quincy... business Sat, 01 Dec 2012 21:58:06 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178729&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178729&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178729&srvc=rss Entering multiple competitions for money and exposure is a strategy that's paying off for some startups, but it... business Sat, 01 Dec 2012 21:33:28 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1061178774&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1061178774&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1061178774&srvc=rss I have a 2003 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 5.3-liter 4x4, which I bought new and has served me well for 235,000 miles.... business Sat, 01 Dec 2012 21:23:44 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178732&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178732&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178732&srvc=rss Time-shifting trend A new survey finds that digital video recorders are now in more than half of all U.S. homes... business Sat, 01 Dec 2012 21:05:00 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/healthcare/view.bg?articleid=1061178718&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/healthcare/view.bg?articleid=1061178718&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/healthcare/view.bg?articleid=1061178718&srvc=rss CHICAGO - The now familiar term "Asperger's disorder" is being dropped. And abnormally bad and frequent temper... business Sat, 01 Dec 2012 19:49:31 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061178699&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061178699&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061178699&srvc=rss NEW YORK - Media conglomerate News Corp. is set to appoint Robert Thomson, a veteran journalist and the managing... business Sat, 01 Dec 2012 16:02:42 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178696&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178696&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178696&srvc=rss NEW YORK - Bank of America is postponing an increase in monthly fees for checking accounts, according to a report... business Sat, 01 Dec 2012 15:56:42 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178691&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178691&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178691&srvc=rss PROVIDENCE, R.I. - A political scientist and deputy dean at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has been... business Sat, 01 Dec 2012 15:21:33 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178567&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178567&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178567&srvc=rss Staples is getting into the three-dimensional printing business. The Framingham office products retailer has... business Sat, 01 Dec 2012 12:42:15 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178657&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178657&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178657&srvc=rss Several New England college students have received research fellowships from the U.S. Environmental Protection... business Sat, 01 Dec 2012 10:14:44 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178572&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178572&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178572&srvc=rss A Cambridge real estate developer's bet on an Everett industrial site could pay off big if Las Vegas tycoon Steve... business Sat, 01 Dec 2012 09:14:05 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178585&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178585&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178585&srvc=rss The U.S. trustee overseeing the Upper Crust pizza chain's bankruptcy case wants the court to order the owners to... business Sat, 01 Dec 2012 05:56:25 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178145&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178145&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178145&srvc=rss In an epic Facebook meltdown, the owner of one of the Hub's fanciest French dining destinations went schoolyard... business Sat, 01 Dec 2012 01:27:44 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/real_estate/view.bg?articleid=1061178563&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/real_estate/view.bg?articleid=1061178563&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/real_estate/view.bg?articleid=1061178563&srvc=rss This just-built townhouse in Jamaica Plain is one of six units in three architect-designed duplex buildings off... business Fri, 30 Nov 2012 23:31:51 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178527&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178527&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178527&srvc=rss Mathew Martoma knew from an early age he wanted to blend his interests in health care, business and law into a... business Fri, 30 Nov 2012 22:22:00 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178587&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178587&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178587&srvc=rss On her daily bicycle rides to and from the MIT Media Lab's Information Ecology Group where she is a research assistant,... business Fri, 30 Nov 2012 22:07:34 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178589&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178589&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178589&srvc=rss Dollar bill endangered? Congressional auditors say doing away with dollar bills entirely and replacing them... business Fri, 30 Nov 2012 21:58:45 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1061178562&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1061178562&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1061178562&srvc=rss Despite being one of the best sellers in the crossover class and having the gravitas of 11 production years... business Fri, 30 Nov 2012 21:12:53 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178540&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178540&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178540&srvc=rss A Canadian man was charged yesterday with using kickbacks in order to trigger investments in two lightly traded... business Fri, 30 Nov 2012 17:44:08 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178541&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178541&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178541&srvc=rss WASHINGTON - Health insurance companies will have to pay to play in new health insurance markets coming under President... business Fri, 30 Nov 2012 17:43:39 -0500

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Trouble with key fobs, accessories could be related

I have a 2004 Ford Expedition with a 5.4-liter engine. Over the past few months, my remote key fob will intermittently unlock only the driver's door and not all the doors. If I open the door and push the unlock button, they will all unlock. A new battery in the fob did not help. Normally, when the engine is shut off, and the key removed, the radio and other accessories will turn off when the door is opened. Now, when I open the driver's door from the inside, the accessories will not turn off. It has gotten progressively worse over the last few months. The passenger door always turns things off. Could the remote locking and the accessories issues be related? Is there a switch or connector inside the driver side door that could be causing the issue?

I'm glad you included the fact that the passenger door "always turns things off." That's a key piece of information. The VSM (vehicle security module) located in the passenger footwell individually controls the driver and passenger door lock/unlock relay. This module or its connections may be at fault.

The other possible source of trouble is the driver door switch and/or the driver door ajar switch, both located inside the driver's door. I'd suggest an initial scan test looking for possible B-series (body control module) fault codes.

L L L

I have a 1996 Cadillac Deville with 81,200 miles on it. I have a constant problem with the theft deterrent system disabling the starting of the car. Failure to start after the "three minute program" is common, and it can be several hours or even several days before the car will start. I have been left stalled in a parking lot and I had to have the vehicle towed once — only to have it start almost immediately after being towed to my driveway. I have contacted several dealers and their suggestions range from replacing the key cylinder, replacing the key (I seriously doubt the chip is the problem) and even installing a new vehicle computer.

My question: Is there a code to reset the computer so that the vehicle will start after being disabled by the theft deterrent system? Is there a code to delete the theft deterrent system from the vehicle? Is there some other way to correct this system?

There's no reset code and no way to delete the anti-theft system from the vehicle. But there is a very strong possibility of a DTC fault code stored in the vehicle's powertrain control module (PCM) or body control module (BCM). If you haven't had the dealer perform a scan of these modules, that should be your first step. A 2700-series instrument panel DTC fault code could point to the specific problem — which may well be a faulty chip on the ignition key. Do you have a spare?

L L L

I have an '02 Toyota Camry V-6 with 118,000 miles. After driving about 100 miles, when I come to a stoplight the RPMs drop to 100-150 and the engine dies. It will restart but stall again. If I rev the motor, it will keep running. If I leave it sit for 5 to 10 minutes, it will return to normal. It does this maybe two to three times a month. The Check Engine light does not come on.

Sounds like a loss of fuel pressure. Underhood heat may be causing the fuel to percolate in the fuel rail mounted on the engine. The boiling fuel creates air bubbles, which disrupt the spray of fuel from the injectors — thus the poor idle/stalling. Restarting and keeping the engine RPM moderately high for a few moments often clears the overheated fuel from the rail. Ditto for allowing the vehicle to sit and cool for several minutes; it lowers the temperature of the fuel, stops the percolation and clears the vapor lock.

Additional factors could include a restricted exhaust or partially clogged catalytic converter, excess engine or underhood temperatures due to cooling system problems, and perhaps your choice of fuels.

Paul Brand, author of "How to Repair Your Car," is an automotive troubleshooter, driving instructor and former race-car driver. Readers may write to him at: Star Tribune, 425 Portland Ave. S., Minneapolis, Minn. 55488 or via email at paulbrand@startribune.com. Please explain the problem in detail and include a daytime phone number.

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Startup pulls 'Levr' to promote local biz

A trio of Boston University graduates want to pull local merchants in with their new app Levr, which helps businesses promote themselves and their deals for free by simply snapping and uploading a photo.

"We wanted to give local businesses additional leverage in terms of promoting their offers," said Levr co-founder Alonso Holmes, 22. "They're really in control of what they offer. It's just the reach they have is so limited that we're trying to extend that."

Incorporated in June, the startup, which includes co-founders Patrick Walsh, 22, and Ethan Sherr, 23, is an alternative for businesses that traditionally pay other companies to highlight their deals and offers. For example, a restaurant bartender can take a picture of a "specials" chalkboard, and launch an offer via Levr in seconds, which can be edited or canceled at any point, Holmes said.

Levr, which just unveiled its app for merchants, is currently promoting offers from 72 local businesses, mostly restaurants, Holmes said, adding the company is starting to promote retailers in Cambridge and downtown Boston.

"We are a megaphone," he said. "If you think about the nature of the offer you see written on a chalkboard, this is the business saying, 'This is the best I have to offer.' We think we're matching a relatively good customer base to a really good set of businesses."

Operating in East Boston, Levr is currently funded by an angel investor, and hopes to secure additional venture capital early next year. The startup also hopes to launch in San Francisco in the near future, with more cities to follow, Holmes said.

The app works on iPhone, Android and Windows phones. While free to sign up for and launch offers, Levr has several additional promotional options for businesses that range from under $5 up to $20 per offer. For $20, a merchant can purchase a "radius alert" for an offer, which sends a notification containing the offer to every Levr user that comes within a mile of their businesses.

Users can also click on an "Upvote" thumbs-up button to show their appreciation for an offer.

"It's the community saying, 'This is useful to me,' " Holmes said, adding the startup will ultimately allow developers to easily add Levr offers to any location-based app.

The startup differs from other deal-based tools such as Groupon because "the customer base that is attracted by an 80 percent off special is unlikely to return in the absence of a similar offer," Holmes said.

One business thinking of implementing Levr is The Urban Art Bar in South Boston, which previously used LivingSocial to highlight its deals.

"With a LivingSocial deal you're giving up a big percentage of the sale to them," said Frank Knippenberg, The Urban Art Bar's director of marketing. "I see no harm in giving (Levr) a try and seeing what it does."

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Big sales on Small Business Saturday

When Joanne Rossman opened her namesake gift store 12 years ago she didn't bother buying a cash register — instead stuffing her profits in a Dunkin' Donuts cup behind the counter — because she thought her boutique amid empty storefronts could never compete with large retailers.

But her Roslindale Village business has flourished in recent years, and mom-and-pop shop supporters gave Rossman an extra boost yesterday on Small Business Saturday.

"It's been incredible. Every year it just gets better and better," said Rossman, who racked up huge sales during the shopping event sandwiched between Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

The campaign to support independent mom-and-pop businesses amid the holiday rush at big-box retailers and Internet sites is a way for shoppers to show love of community, said Karen Mills, head of the federal Small Business Administration, who browsed Roslindale stores yesterday.

Mills said 100 million shoppers participated in last year's campaign — including President Obama, who headed to another independent book store yesterday — and she expects that number to rise this year.

"It's really become a movement. I think it's not just about supporting the community. It's about saying 'thank you' to people in our community," she said.

Maureen Tisei of West Roxbury has done her Christmas shopping locally on the Saturday after Thanksgiving for the past three years.

"I come out to support my community. I look forward to it," she said.

Business owners said many customers whipped out credit cards from American Express, which created the campaign in 2010 and offered $25 credits for those spending at least that amount at local stores.

"Last year Small Business Saturday was my best sales day ever — in the three years I had been open at the time. We're hoping for a repeat," said Elizabeth Swanson, owner of Birch St. House & Garden.

Antone Wilson, who stopped into Diane's Bakery yesterday, said he prefers locally made sweets over chain-store goods.

"I like a real doughnut. If you've never had one, you don't know what you're missing," he said.

"Small Business Saturday has really helped highlight local retail," said Ruth Kennedy, whose family opened Birch Flower Shop 70 years ago.

"It's a great idea. We always shop locally to help the little guy," she said. "You get better service."

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Egypt's stock market plummets after Morsi's decree

CAIRO — Egypt's benchmark stock index has plunged 9.5 percent halfway through the first trading session since the country's Islamist president issued decrees to assume near absolute powers.

Sunday's losses on the Egyptian Exchange's EGX30 index are among the biggest since the turbulent days and weeks after the ouster of authoritarian leader Hosni Mubarak last year.

The fall follows the announcement Thursday by President Mohammed Morsi of a package of decrees that place him above any oversight, including judicial, and extend the same protection to two Islamist-dominated bodies: a panel drafting a new constitution and parliament's upper chamber.

Morsi says his measures are designed to "protect the revolution," but they triggered an uproar among non-Islamist political groups now vowing to press on with street protests to force him to back down.

© Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Hobbits, superheroes put magic in New Zealand film industry

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — A crate full of sushi arrives. Workers wearing wetsuit shirts or in bare feet bustle past with slim laptops. With days to go, a buzzing intensity fills the once-dilapidated warehouses where Peter Jackson's visual-effects studio is rushing to finish the opening film in "The Hobbit" trilogy.

The fevered pace at the Weta Digital studio near Wellington will last nearly until the actors walk the red carpet Nov. 28 for the world premiere. But after "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" hits theaters, there's more work to be done.

Weta Digital is the centerpiece of a filmmaking empire that Jackson and close collaborators have built in his New Zealand hometown, realizing his dream of bringing a slice of Hollywood to Wellington. It's a one-stop shop for making major movies — not only his own, but other blockbusters like "Avatar" and "The Avengers" and hoped-for blockbusters like next year's "Man of Steel."

Along the way, Jackson has become revered here, even receiving a knighthood. His humble demeanor and crumpled appearance appeal to distinctly New Zealand values, yet his modesty belies his influence. He's also attracted criticism along the way.

The special-effects workforce of 150 on "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy a decade ago now numbers 1,100. Only five of Weta Digital's workers are actual employees, however, while the rest are contractors. Many accept the situation because movie work often comes irregularly but pays well. Union leaders, though, say the workers lack labor protections existing in almost any other industry.

Like many colleagues, Weta Digital's director, Joe Letteri, came to New Zealand in 2001 to work on the "Rings" trilogy for two years. The work kept coming, so he bought a house in Wellington and stayed.

"People come here because they know it's their chance to do something really great and to get it up on the screen," he said in a recent interview. "And you want to do it in these next two weeks, because the two weeks after the movie's finished are useless."

Jackson, who declined to be interviewed for this story, launched Weta in 1993 with fellow filmmakers Jamie Selkirk and Richard Taylor. Named after an oversized New Zealand insect, the company later was split into its digital arm and Weta Workshop, which makes props and costumes.

Loving homages to the craft are present in Weta Digital's seven buildings around the green-hilled suburb of Miramar. There are old-time movie posters, prop skulls of dinosaurs and apes, and a wall of latex face impressions of actors from Chris O'Donnell to Tom Cruise.

Its huge data center, with the computing power of 30,000 laptops, resembles a milk-processing plant because only the dairy industry in New Zealand knew how to build cooling systems on such a grand scale.

Little of Weta's current work was visible. Visitors must sign confidentiality agreements, and the working areas of the facilities are off-limits. The company is secretive about any unannounced projects, beyond saying Weta will be working solidly for the next two years, when the two later "Hobbit" films are scheduled to be released.

The workforce has changed from majority American to about 60 percent New Zealanders. The only skill that's needed, Letteri says, is the ability to use a computer as a tool.

Beyond having creativity as a filmmaker, Jackson has proved a savvy businessman, Letteri says.

"The film business in general is volatile, and visual effects has to be sitting right on the crest of that wave," Letteri says. "We don't get asked to do something that somebody has seen before."

The government calculates that feature films contribute $560 million each year to New Zealand's economy. Like many countries, New Zealand offers incentives and rebates to film companies and will contribute about $100 million toward the $500 million production costs of "The Hobbit" trilogy. Almost every big budget film goes through Jackson's companies.

© Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Jeff Kaye, voice of NFL Films, dies at 75

PHILADELPHIA — If you were going to follow John Facenda on the air, you had to have a great voice.

Maybe nobody could match the legendary Facenda, whose familiar baritone was called the "voice of God" when he broadcast for NFL Films.

But Jeff Kaye brought it off. After Facenda died in 1984, Jeff became the voice of NFL Films, lending his own sonorous baritone to the pro-football features of the Mount Laurel, N.J.-based company.

Maybe not quite God, but close to it.

"I can say to this day, when I look at some of the shows Jeff narrated over the years, I am still fascinated by the way he told a story," said Kevin McLoughlin, director of post-production for NFL Films.

"His voice — so smooth, yet booming — was always a pleasure to listen to. He had some big shoes to fill after John Facenda passed away.

"Jeff narrated hundreds of films for NFL Films over the years, from team highlights, to 'Road to the Super Bowl.' One of best voices of NFL Films."

Jeff Kaye, born Martin Krimski in Baltimore, winner of four Emmy Awards for broadcasting, whose radio career surged in Boston and Buffalo, N.Y., died of cancer Friday at the age of 75. He lived in Binghamton, N.Y.

Jeff's voice was a familiar presence in Philadelphia for some 30 years, yet hardly anybody knew his name. For years, it was his voice that announced the news broadcast on WPVI-TV: "Action News, the Delaware Valley's leading news program."

He also did voice-overs for Phillies games and commercials, advertising products and services ranging from Budweiser to NJ Transit. In Buffalo, Jeff became something of a legend in 1968 when he scripted and produced his own version of H.G. Wells' "War of the Worlds" as program director of WKBW-AM.

The broadcast wasn't as terrifying as Orson Welles' version in 1938, but it still scared the pants off many listeners with its realistic-sounding reporting by actual WKBW staffers of a supposed Martian invasion.

Jeff was a popular boss in Buffalo. Sandy Beach, a former WKBW staffer, said Jeff "had such class, style, and talent. He encouraged us to 'go for it' every time we were on the air. He recognized, hired and nurtured talent."

In the early '80s, Jeff moved to WHEN Radio in Buffalo, before coming to Philadelphia and NFL Films, where he worked with the late Harry Kalas. Jeff almost lost his voice in 1996 when a cancerous tumor was found on his left vocal cord. The growth was successfully removed, and he returned to the air.

His first broadcasting job was in Providence, R.I., after his service in the Air Force, where he was a meteorologist. He retired in 2006.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Suzanne; three daughters, Anne Schoonover, Judith Krimski and Sarah Krimski-Smith; a son, Peter Krimski; and seven grandchildren.

———

©2012 Philadelphia Daily News Visit the Philadelphia Daily News at www.philly.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

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In need of a bailout, FHA trying to raise more revenue

WASHINGTON — You may have seen headlines last week about the Federal Housing Administration needing a taxpayer "bailout" by the Treasury and wondered: Uh oh. Is the FHA heading down the fiscal drain like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which have required billions in federal assistance just to stay in business?

The good news answer for FHA's traditional borrowers — who are primarily moderate-income, first-time purchasers, people with limited cash for down payments and less-than-perfect credit histories — is no. There is a strong possibility that FHA will not require any money transfer from the Treasury, which in any event would not occur until next September. Meanwhile FHA is making tweaks to its program rules that could affect some loan applicants in the months ahead, and which are designed to improve revenue flows to the agency and cut back on losses.

Among the most immediate changes, new borrowers early next year are likely to be charged slightly higher annual mortgage insurance premiums — 1.35 percent of the loan balance rather than 1.25 percent at present. On loans above $625,500 in high-cost areas such as California and metropolitan Washington, D.C., the annual premium will go from 1.5 percent to 1.6 percent. This will not be a major problem for most people, but it could cause some buyers to check out FHA's competitors' private mortgage insurers whose monthly premiums on loans for applicants with high credit scores may be more attractive than FHA's.

To increase revenue streams long term, FHA is also abandoning its practice of allowing borrowers to cancel their annual mortgage insurance premium payments when their loan balance drops to 78 percent of the property value. In effect, this will mean that borrowers obtaining 30-year FHA loans could be paying premiums for decades.

Is this a big deal? Clem Ziroli Jr., president of First Mortgage Corp. in Ontario, Calif., thinks it could encourage some higher credit quality borrowers to "refi out" of their FHA loans and seek better deals in the conventional marketplace. But Paul E. Skeens, president of Colonial Mortgage Group in Waldorf, Md., sees it differently: With fixed 30-year mortgage rates in the mid- to upper-3 percent range and virtually certain to increase — maybe significantly if the economy improves in the coming years — "everybody is going to want to keep these loans forever," he predicts. "They're not going to want to refi."

Other changes on the FHA horizon:

L More financial counseling for applicants who have low FICO credit scores, are purchasing their first homes, and are seeking to make minimum 3.5 percent down payments.

L A new short-sale program that reaches out to existing FHA homeowners who are seriously delinquent and heading toward foreclosure. FHA Acting Commissioner Carol J. Galante said the agency plans to streamline the short-sale option — where owners are permitted to sell their house for less than the balance on the mortgage — in order to avoid the huge costs of foreclosures.

L Structural alterations to FHA's reverse mortgage program, which allows senior homeowners to withdraw funds based on the equity in their properties. The program dominates the industry and accounts for the vast majority of outstanding reverse loans in the country, but has produced inordinate losses to the FHA insurance fund because of home-value declines and the failure of some borrowers to make their property tax and insurance payments, thereby triggering foreclosures. Though few details are yet available and Congress would have to approve any statutory changes, Galante said the agency plans to restrict the amounts that seniors can draw down in a lump sum up front, among other remedial actions next year.

The bottom line on FHA's forthcoming program tweaks? Jeff Lipes, vice president of Rockville Bank in Hartford, Conn., put it this way: FHA isn't making fundamental changes. Its basic mix of enticements — low down payments, low credit score requirements and generous underwriting rules compared with competitors — aren't going away, "so I don't think the tweaks will have that great an impact on most FHA buyers."

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Lorillard appeals in Mass. cigarette samples case

BOSTON - Willie Evans remembers all the things his mother tried to quit smoking: the patch, the gum and even hypnotism.

Her attempts all failed. Marie Evans died of lung cancer in 2002 at the age of 54.

Willie Evans sued Lorillard Tobacco Co., arguing that the company got his mother hooked on smoking by giving away free cigarette samples to children in her Boston housing project in the 1950s and '60s.

A jury awarded $152 million in damages, an amount that was later reduced to $116 million.

Lorillard's appeal is set to go before the highest court in Massachusetts next month. The company argues that the trial judge made a series of rulings that prevented the company from getting a fair trial.

For Willie Evans, the appeal is another step in the process for finding justice for his mother.

"We think today of what our reaction would be if a tobacco company were to go into a playground and give cigarettes to kids, and we would be outraged," he said.

"My reaction is one of outrage that they would target kids at such a young age."

During the 2010 trial, Evans' lawyers said Marie Evans first received free samples of Lorillard's Newport cigarettes when she was 9 or 10 years old. She said she initially gave them to her older sisters or traded them for candy, but then began smoking Newports herself regularly when she was about 13.

One of Marie Evans' sisters testified that the cigarettes were delivered in a white truck that attracted adults and children in the Orchard Park housing project in the Roxbury section of Boston.

In a videotaped deposition shown to jurors, Marie Evans said the giveaways had a "large impact" on her.

"Because they were available ... I didn't worry about finding money to buy them," she said.

Evans said she made about 50 attempts to quit but always went back to smoking.

"I was addicted. ... I just couldn't stop," she said.

Lorillard's lawyers argued during the trial that Evans made the decision to start smoking and continued to smoke even after she suffered a heart attack in 1985 and her doctors urged her to quit.

The company denied giving away cigarette samples to children. In its appeal, Lorillard said it was denied a fair trial, in part because the judge allowed the jury to hear about Evans' claim that the company marketed its cigarettes to African-Americans and children.

© Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Cyber Monday to be super

Experts estimate that Cyber Monday will top a record-breaking $1.5 billion in sales to become the largest online shopping event in history, with blockbuster deals that rival or exceed Black Friday doorbusters.

"We believe you'll find better deals and savings if you shop online from the comfort of your home or work," said Howard Schaffer, CEO of the Internet deal aggregator Offers.com. "We don't see any reason to risk going to the store and having to deal with the chaos of parking."

Consumers are increasingly savvy about online discounts. And in an increasingly mobile landscape, 45 percent of consumers are likely to use a smartphone or tablet to shop this holiday season, according to RetailMeNot.

Fueled by this growth in mobile commerce, the number of U.S. online holiday shoppers is expected to grow 3 percent from last year. But the amount of money those shoppers spend is increasing even more, according to a recent report by Forrester Research. The average U.S. holiday shopper will spend $419 online, a 12 percent jump over last year, Forrester estimates.

Cyber Monday spending has more than doubled from the time the term was coined in 2005 to last year, when consumers spent $1.25 billion.

This year, shoppers are expected to "showroom" certain products beforehand, with 42 percent heading to stores to do an in-person check of an item with the intention of purchasing it on Cyber Monday, according to CouponCabin.com.

The online bonanza is shaped by market conditions that have retailers offering better deals than last year because they are more focused on marketshare than profits, said PriceGrabber spokesman Rojeh Avanesian.

"We got politicians talking about the fiscal cliff, high unemployment and the recent Hurricane Sandy," he said. "Retailers are responding accordingly with deep discounts."

Avanesian said shoppers should be able to purchase a 55-inch 3D LCD TV for under $1,400 for the first time this year, and get a decent laptop for under $200.

Other Cyber Monday highlights include:

• Walmart.com will offer the Xbox 360 Skylanders Family Fun Bundle for $159, a nearly $100 savings.

• Radioshack.com will offer 24 so-called amazing deals in 24 hours, including a digital camera at 44 percent off and a GPS Navigation System for $70 off at $60.

• Macys.com will lower its free shipping threshold to a $75 minimum on all online purchases.

Kmart.com and Sears.com are expected to pull out all the stops this year, Schaffer said. But as with most retailers, the details of sales won't be divulged in advance.

One big reason to shop Cyber Monday: Four in 10 online retailers are expected to offer free shipping without conditions, according to Shop.org's eHoliday survey.

The online analytics service comScore advised retailers: "Consumers are showing renewed signs of optimism heading into this year's shopping season, and it's never too early for online retailers to win a fair share of their spending."

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Tablet app to teach languages

Vicky Wu Davis has always wanted her son to embrace his heritage, but a year ago, when he was 3, he began to shun all things Chinese.

So Wu Davis developed the Adalia Enrichment Program, a weekly class in Andover that teaches children ages 2 to 6 Mandarin Chinese through storytelling, play and scientific discovery.

"I didn't want glorified flash cards," she said. "If you wrap it up in fun things, they don't even realize they're learning another language."

By making ice cream from scratch, for example, the children learn in Chinese about water, solids, temperature and taste.

They also learn how plants grow and how bees make honey.

They dance to Chinese songs. And in milder weather, they go on treasure hunts.

It's a formula that has paid dividends. Wu Davis' son now teaches her husband Mandarin.

But while other children in her class also have flourished, their parents, some of whom speak only English, often ask her how they can reinforce at home what their children learn in class.

Last week, Wu Davis, a serial entrepreneur, launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise $60,000 by Dec. 17 to fund Peach Ice Cream Adventures, the first of several planned language learning games for tablets.

Built from an existing technology platform, PICA is designed for 3- to 6-year-olds and comes with a dashboard to allow parents to watch their children's play and switch languages.

Like Adalia, it teaches language by spiraling: Children cycle back to prior words and build vocabulary through repeated use in different contexts.

"Having no Chinese background, we would love to have some way for us to learn together as a family," said Juliet Correll Wright, whose 4 1⁄2-year-old daughter, Willow, takes Wu Davis' class. "PICA would reinforce what she's learned and would engage her with technology in a meaningful and purposeful way."

Correll Wright wants her daughter to learn Chinese because it has becoming an increasingly important language as China has become an economic powerhouse, and she feels there's a narrow window of opportunity for children to naturally pick up another language.

Waipeng Lee, another Andover parent, signed on to develop the content for PICA after enrolling her own 5-year-old daughter in Wu Davis' class.

"With an application, she would be able to learn (Chinese) any time," said Lee, 45. "I feel like if my daughter can be more independent using an app, she'll be more confident speaking Chinese."

As of Friday, 90 people had pledged a total of nearly $5,000 to fund the Kickstarter campaign.

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As eurozone economy shrinks, govt debt loads grow

FRANKFURT, Germany — Europe's government-debt crisis is no longer panicking financial markets. But it won't end until the region's economy starts growing strongly again.

And that will be a while.

The economy of the 17 countries that use the euro has shrunk for two straight quarters — a common definition of a recession — and analysts forecast little or no growth until 2014.

Without growth, there won't be enough tax revenue to help countries like Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal narrow their deficits and slow the expansion of their debts. Their debt burdens as a percentage of economic output, a key measure of fiscal health, look worse by the day.

The eurozone's combined debts are equal to about 93 percent of the region's gross domestic product this year and that figure is forecast to rise to peak at 94.5 percent next year. In 2009, the eurozone's debt-to-GDP ratio was 80 percent. A ratio above 90 percent is generally considered high and can put pressure on governments' borrowing costs.

"The worrying thing about the projections is, the peak seems to keep moving," says Raoul Ruparel of the Open Europe think tank.

The panic in European financial markets has eased in recent months largely because of aggressive action by the European Central Bank. The ECB said on Sept. 6 that it was willing to buy unlimited amounts of government bonds issued by countries struggling to pay their debts. That pledge quickly lowered borrowing costs for Spain and Italy, which earlier in the year faced the same kind of financial pressure that forced Ireland, Greece and Spain to seek bailouts.

But stemming the crisis and heading off a default by one or more countries aren't the same as stimulating growth. The U.S. economy remains weak several years after actions by the Federal Reserve helped arrest its financial crisis.

Europe's economy is being held back for several reasons:

— Austerity. Whether they got into trouble by overspending or after rescuing banks from a real-estate collapse, European governments are tackling their debts the same way: By raising taxes and cutting spending, including wage cuts for public sector workers. Italy slashed its deficit by 2.8 percent of GDP this year, but economists estimate that reduced growth by 1.5 percentage points. Less spending by the government and less spending by consumers who gave more of their income to the government were a drag on the Italian economy.

— Shaky banks. Banks reeling from the financial crisis are making it harder and more expensive for businesses in the hardest-hit countries to borrow. That's crimping investment and hiring by these companies across southern Europe. Companies in Greece or Portugal are often paying twice as much interest on loans as their German competitors.

— Consumers are holding back. Wage cuts have weighed on family budgets, and people are saving more because they're worried about further economic shocks. Together, these trends have reduced consumer spending by about 1 percent this year.

— Anti-business regulation. Laws in many European countries make it hard for companies to lay workers off in lean times, and that makes employers reluctant to hire. Bureaucracy chokes the process of starting a business or exporting goods. Greece's tax accounting rules were so onerous — permitting large penalties for minor paperwork errors — that the EU demanded the entire rulebook simply be abolished. Parliament finally complied last week.

European governments are slowly trying to make their economies more competitive. But in a September survey on global competitiveness by the World Economic Forum, Greece, Portugal, Spain and Italy ranked low because of poor access to financing and rigid labor markets.

It requires 11 bureaucratic filings to start a business in Italy. Fellow euro member Slovenia requires two.

Eurostat data released Thursday showed that for the second straight quarter the eurozone economy contracted. Output shrank by 0.1 percent in the July-September quarter, compared with the previous quarter.

© Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Gas drilling presents Obama with historic choices

PITTSBURGH - Energy companies, environmental groups, and even Hollywood stars are watching to see what decisions President Barack Obama makes about regulating or promoting natural gas drilling.

The stakes are huge. Business leaders don't want government regulations to slow the flow of hundreds of billions of dollars of clean, cheap domestic energy over the next few decades. Environmental groups see that same tide as a potential threat, not just to air and water, but to renewable energy. And on a strategic level, diplomats envision a future when natural gas helps make the U.S. less beholden to imports.

Some say the unexpected drilling boom presents historic options - and risks - for the Obama administration.

"It's a tough choice. The president is in a real bind," said Charles Ebinger, director of the energy security initiative at the Brookings Institution, a Washington, D.C., nonprofit. "I think the question is what does he want his legacy to be?"

Ebinger said that if Obama fully embraced the boom in gas drilling the nation could see "incredible" job gains that could lead to "a re-industrialization of America." Possibilities like that are tempting to any president, and perhaps even more so in the current economy.

"But really embracing this stuff is going to bring him squarely in conflict with some of his environmental supporters. It's not without some possible peril, particularly if he gets to be seen too cozy with the oil and gas folks," Ebinger said.

Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, has made it possible to tap into deep reserves of oil and gas but has also raised concerns about pollution. Large volumes of water, along with sand and hazardous chemicals, are injected underground to break rock apart and free the oil and gas.

Environmental groups and some scientists say there hasn't been enough research on water and air pollution issues. The industry and many federal and state officials say the practice is safe when done properly, and that many rules on air pollution and disclosure of the chemicals used in fracking are being strengthened.

The Sierra Club is already trying to slow the gas rush, which began in Texas and has expanded to Pennsylvania, Colorado and other states. It's started a nationwide "Beyond Natural Gas" campaign to push for more regulation on an industry it describes as "Dirty, Dangerous and Run Amok."

"We need to avoid replacing one set of problems with a new but very different set of problems," said Michael Brune, the Sierra Club's executive director, referring to coal and natural gas. Investing in green energy makes more economic and environmental sense, he said.

The Sierra Club knows natural gas will be a part of the nation's energy future. "How much a part is a big fight right now," Brune said.

Such arguments have resonated with many environmental groups, and with actors and musicians who are lending their star power to anti-drilling efforts.

The Hollywood film Promised Land is scheduled for release in December, starring Matt Damon, with a story line about drilling from best-selling novelist Dave Eggers. But even before its release, critics pounced on the fact that some financing for the project came from the United Arab Emirates - a country that stands to lose money if the U.S. gets more of its energy needs at home.

Brune agreed that "you have to acknowledge that there are benefits to home-grown energy."

Critics say many states haven't been tough enough on the industry, which has objected to the idea of national drilling regulations. Some state officials oppose such proposals, too.

"Yes, we are concerned," said Patrick Henderson, energy executive for Pa. Gov. Tom Corbett. "Upwards of 10 federal agencies are seeking to put their proverbial nose under the tent with regard to oil and gas development." He added that federal intrusion "is a surefire way to impede job growth. We'll be vigilant of proposed federal rulemakings."

© Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Nokia Lumia 920 brightest light for Windows phones

The masterfully botched launch of Windows 8 phones brought zero lines of eager consumers to wireless retailers across the nation.

But here we have Microsoft's last chance to show its smartphone gambit is for real. The Windows 8 platform has been refined and supercharged, with its capabilities fully showcased in the Nokia Lumia 920.

It is, to put it plainly, a beast. The first thing you'll notice is its heft. Nokia's big bet is that the technology packed into this 6.5-ounce, 5.13-inch frame will be worth the tradeoff in bulk. Near-field communication, wireless charging and all-day battery life are some of those features.

The buzz is that the Lumia 920 sports the best camera of any of the Windows phones, but I would go further to say it's among the best smartphone cameras on the market, with remarkable low-light capabilities and image stabilization.

Nokia's camera comes with an excellent suite of exclusive apps. Cinemagraph allows you to animate part of your picture, similar to a built-in Gif maker. Smart Shoot allows you to take a picture of something blocked by moving objects. For instance, if you're at the Louvre and hordes of tourists are walking by the Mona Lisa when you want to take a picture, Smart Shoot will take a series of photos and splice them together, erasing the people blocking your view.

A winning feature of Windows phones has been its people hub for integrating social information — tweets, status updates, photos — from your contacts into one stream. The new OS takes this a step further, allowing you to group your contacts into "rooms." It's similar to Google Plus circles, but with deep integration into Microsoft Apps and office features, so you can push out documents and hold chats.

With high-quality tablets and ultrabooks galore, the Windows ecosystem is improving. And at just $99 on-contract with AT&T, the Lumia 920 will not disappoint if you're OK with its size.

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Health care stakeholders reflect, prepare to tackle 'cost monster'

Health care providers, business leaders, lawmakers and policy experts looked back Thursday at the passage of the state's new health care cost control and payment reform law, contemplating the changes it will make to the health care market.

During the Massachusetts Association of Health plans annual conference at the Seaport Hotel, a panel of experts discussed the upcoming impacts of the law signed by the Gov. Deval Patrick in August. The law implements and enforces cost growth goals and regulates alternative payment methodologies.

Television and radio talk show host Jim Braude, who moderated the panel, said discussions about health care generate more interest than any other topic. Braude said he wonders if it is because there is interest or confusion. Many listeners and viewers tell him they don't know how to "pick one phone company" never mind decide on a health care provider, he said.

Dolores Mitchell, executive director of the Group Insurance Commission, said when she was first hired 25 years ago by Gov. Michael Dukakis, "The governor said to me, 'the one thing I want you to do is get your arms around the cost monster.' "

"That was 25 years ago. I do not feel at this moment in time that I have yet gotten my arms around the cost monster," she said.

Mitchell said she feels confident the state's recent request for bids for health insurance will make a dent in costs because the request for proposals sets aggressive fiscal restraints. The bids are due Tuesday.

"We are telling bidders that we will not accept anything higher than a 2 percent increase in the commonwealth's cost for the next two years. And we expect them to move from flat to a minus trend for the next five years of the contract," she said.

Health insurance providers are also expected to move a substantial number of GIC employees into integrated delivery plans, Mitchell said. There will be penalties for those who fail to meet targets or set up integrated delivery systems, according to Mitchell.

"There are some who say this is too much change with too little time to implement it. We say in response we have waited long enough," she said. "We do know that the provider community is already moving in this direction. Our goal as a very large purchaser is to seize the goal and the momentum. The major changes we are seeing is providers merging and getting stronger. I have yet to see the economies of scale. There will never be a better time for change than now."

Rick Lord, president and chief executive officer of the Associated Industries of Massachusetts, said his organization got involved in the health care debate because business leaders realized the status quo was not sustainable. Employers, when surveyed two years ago, said the cost of health care dwarfed all other concerns. A.I.M. represents 6,500 employers across the state.

"And frankly, it was not sustainable for state government. State government cannot continue to spend 40 percent of its budget on health care," said Lord, who was appointed to the new Health Policy Commission created under the law. "It is part of the fiscal cliff facing us in the state. Our economy will deteriorate and so will state government's ability to take care of its most vulnerable citizens."

The health care cost containment law sets targets to slow the rate of health care costs to match the growth in gross state product. Lord said his organization advocated for a lower growth rate, but they are pleased there is a target.

Rep. Steven Walsh, co-chair of the Health Care Financing Committee and one of the author's of the new law, said lawmakers did not want to cap rates or create rate regulations. When the law was crafted, Walsh said, lawmakers sat with providers, patients and hospital executives to "figure out how far we could push without tipping over."

"Government was smart enough to figure out we are not the experts. We left the real details to the people who know how to do it, you people," he said.

Lawmakers did not tell health providers how to cut costs; they just asked them to not make fee-for-service the primary form of payment, Walsh said.

Braude asked the panel about the charge made by some critics of the law that it does not have enough teeth in it. Walsh said this law was the first step in reforming health care costs, and if changes need to be made, lawmakers will revisit it.

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Crave a Twinkie? The price is going up fast online

SAN FRANCISCO — Twinkies are being sold on the Internet like exquisite delicacies.

Hours after Twinkie-maker Hostess announced its plans to close its doors forever, people flocked to stores to fill their shopping baskets with boxes of the cream-filled sponge cakes and their sibling snacks — Ding Dongs, Ho Hos and Zingers.

Late Friday and Saturday, the opportunists took to eBay and Craigslist. They began marketing their hoard to whimsical collectors and junk-food lovers for hundreds — and in some cases — thousands of dollars. That's a fat profit margin, when you consider the retail price for a box of 10 Twinkies is roughly $5.

Greg Edmonds of Sherman, Texas is among those who believe Twinkies are worth more now that Hostess Brands Inc. has closed its bakeries. He lost his job as a sales representative eight months ago, so he is hoping to make some money feeding the appetites of Twinkie fans and connoisseurs

After spending a couple hours driving around to stores Friday, Edmonds wound up with 16 boxes of Twinkies and Ding Dongs. He started selling them Saturday on eBay, advertising three boxes for a hefty price of $300.

"I could really use the extra money since I'm unemployed," Edmonds, 50, said. "I figure I better sell them pretty quickly because I am not sure how long this novelty is going to last."

Contrary to popular belief, Twinkies don't last forever. Most bought in stores Friday carry an expiration date of early December,

If buyers don't bite, Edmonds isn't sure what he will do with his supply. He doesn't even like Twinkies. "I do like to have a Ding Dong, every once in a while though," he said.

John Stansel of Tampa, Fla. blanches at the thought of eating a Twinkie. He's a self-described health nut.

Yet he, too, rummaged shelves late Friday at a neighborhood Walgreens and then again early Saturday at Target and a grocery store. He spent about $100 for 20 boxes of Twinkies and Ding Dongs. His goal: sell them for about $1,000 and put the money to good use.

"Maybe I will hire a personal trainer for myself or go do some shopping at Whole Foods or donate the money to a charity to fight diabetes," Stansel, 40, said. "No matter what, I figure I am getting sugar off the streets."

Although Hostess is shutting down, it's still possible that Twinkies, Ding Dongs and Ho Hos could make a comeback. That's because Hostess is planning to sell its brands and other assets at an auction to be overseen by a U.S. bankruptcy judge in New York. Several potential buyers could emerge for Twinkies, particularly with the recent outpouring of affection.

A hearing on Hostess's liquidation request is scheduled for Monday morning.

Not all online sellers are demanding top dollar. Some boxes are being listed at $5 to $20. Others are willing to barter. "I am willing to trade a box for some good microbrew. A real quality six pack," offered a thirsty New York seller on Craigslist.

Despite his disdain for junk food, Stansel confesses he won't sell a few of his individually wrapped Twinkies. He plans to give them to his nostalgic friends and family as stocking stuffers for Christmas.

© Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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