Cambridge condo mixes style, comfort

This stylish new condo is one of three carved out of a long, narrow stucco house in North Cambridge that features a long front porch topped with private decks.

The end Unit 1 at 130 Rindge Ave. is the last of the condos for sale, on the market for $975,000, and it features three bedrooms and three levels of living space.

There's not much yard space around the 1875-built property, but the rebuilt front porch does overlook a large, open green space in front of the upscale Wyeth apartments next door. The house's exterior has been completely restored, with new black mullion windows and white trim.

The front porch leads into a foyer, with dark-stained red oak floors that are featured throughout the property, along with 9-foot ceilings with crown molding on the first floor.

To the left of the foyer sits a stylish recessed-lit kitchen,­ with 22 white-­painted wood cabinets and Carrara marble-topped counters with a white beadboard back­splash. There's also a separate Carrara-­topped gray-painted island with a breakfast bar that seats three as well as a double-doored pantry/storage closet. High-end stainless-steel appliances include a Bosch refrigerator and dishwasher as well as a professional-grade Viking gas stove and a matching microwave above.

Adjacent is a dining area, with glass doors that open out to a back porch and down to a private fenced-in patio.

Back inside, to the right of the foyer sits a good-sized recessed-lit living room with crown molding and four six-over-six windows on three sides.

Oak stairs lead up to three oak-floored bedrooms on the second floor with a window at the top of the landing.

The master suite covers half the second floor, with oak flooring, crown molding and recessed lighting. Two front windows bring in light and a pair of glass doors lead out to a private deck over the front porch with views of the open space next door.

The master suite has four closets, all with built-in shelving. The stylish en-suite bathroom is completely marble finished — from its small tile floors to gray tile around a deep soaking tub and shower. And there's a Carrara-topped double-sink wood vanity.

The second bedroom features two windows, two closets and an overhead light/fan. Across the hall sits a small third bedroom best suited as a home office or nursery. It has one deep closet.

The second full bathroom on this floor is equally stylish, with green-and-white small tile marble floors and white marble tile surround with small green tile inlay around a deep soaking tub and a shower. This bathroom also has a Carrara marble-topped wood vanity.

The unit has a fully finished basement, with oak stairs leading down to a carpeted family room.

The large family room has one window and two closets. One holds the unit's two-zone high-efficiency heating and cooling system, and the other has a washer-dryer hookup as well as a Navien tankless water heater.

There's a full bathroom on this level, with small white ceramic tile floors and white ceramic tile surround for a deep soaking tub and shower.

The condo comes with two outdoor parking spaces on a long shared driveway.

16.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Judge upholds ride-share rules

A bid by taxi medallion owners to halt regulations that have legalized transportation companies including Uber and Lyft has been rejected by a federal judge.

"Plaintiffs have failed to convince this court that medallion owners have a protected property interest in the market value of their medallions," U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton said yesterday in a court order. "Purchasing a taxicab medallion does not entitle the buyer to 'an unalterable monopoly' over the taxicab market or the overall for-hire transportation market,"

Gorton said the Boston Taxi Owners Association was not convincing in its argument for a preliminary injunction, rejecting its claims of violation of equal protection and "unconstitutional taking of their property."

The association has sued both Boston and the state in an effort to halt state regulations for Uber and Lyft that it sees as unfair. Initial statewide regulations for so-called transportation network companies went into effect last month, but require legislative approval.

"In order for Massachusetts' economy to thrive, we must continue to embrace technology and innovation as a means for growth," Gov. Charlie Baker said in a statement.

Boston is in the middle of its own regulatory process, with a Taxi Advisory Committee that has been looking at the issue for months. A spokeswoman for Mayor Martin J. Walsh said the city is pleased with the decision.

A lawyer for the Taxi Owners Association did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

16.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Audi A4 earns a high grade

The efficient 2015 Audi A4 with go-anywhere, all-wheel-drive is a solid choice for the New Englander not willing to compromise on performance or craftsmanship.

Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system intuitively sends power to the wheels with the most grip. Although our tester had 19-inch, low-profile summer tires, I found the sedan provided superb traction on both wet and snow-covered roads.

The quattro system, which has been around for more than 35 years, was equally impressive on dry roads, giving the A4 sharp handling with a decent amount of feedback and providing the driver with an intimate connection to the road. The A4's sport-tuned suspension settled through bumps on the corners and the sedan's electronic, speed-sensitive steering had a heavy, precision feel.

Under the hood, the A4 packs a turbocharged 2.0- liter, inline four-cylinder engine that cranks out 220 horsepower. Audi offers three transmission choices with the A4: a six-speed manual, a continuously variable automatic, and an eight-speed automatic with manual override. My tester had the eight speed with paddle shifters, which allowed me to take control of the sedan, especially through the corners and on steep highway ramps. The multitude of gears allowed for smooth downshifting and maximized the transfer of power from the efficient engine. The A4 balances a respectable amount power with decent fuel economy for an all-wheel-drive sedan. The A4 did 21 miles per gallon in the city and 30 mpg on highway.

Silver and gray trim highlighted my A4's black interior. Leather heated front seats were firm and supportive. The centerpiece of the A4's cockpit was a distinctive flat bottom steering wheel, which was part of the $1,500 sport plus package that included the paddle shifters, a black headliner, and 19-inch, 5-arm aluminum wheels with a titanium finish. Three-zone climate controls allowed driver and passengers to individualize the cabin temperature. While the A4 is listed as a five-seater, my children looked cramped in the backseat for the lift to school. The rear seats fold down with a 60/40 split.

Red backlighting on switches and buttons played well against the dark interior. A 7-inch display screen was neatly integrated into the A4's dashboard. Navigation, stereo, cellphone, and vehicle settings were controlled with a joystick knob surrounded by an array of buttons on the center console. While the center stack was imposing at first glance, I found operating the A4's infotainment features intuitive and straightforward. The cluster of controls reduced the need to drill down through layers of menus. A push-button ignition button was located beside a conveniently placed electronic parking brake control.

My only dislike with the A4 was the location of the cruise control stalk behind the steering wheel. I guess it's just a distinctive quirk with Audi, but cruise control is much easier to use when located on the steering wheel.

The solidly built Audi A4 starts at $37,600 and my tester topped out just over $46,000, which puts it in the mix with the other premium sedans from Germany, such as the BMW 3-series or Mercedes-Benz C300. The A4 is also worth a test drive when considering the Cadillac ATS, Lexus IS, or Infiniti Q50.

16.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Partners prescribes Dr. David Torchiana as new CEO

Partners HealthCare has named its newest chief executive officer after a four-month search — as the health care giant deals with a judge's rejection of a deal that would have allowed a merger between Partners and three regional hospitals.

Dr. David Torchiana will be the fifth CEO since the founding of Partners in 1994 and will serve as the president and CEO on a date to be determined in March, the organization said. He will succeed Dr. Gary Gottlieb, who is expected to step down by July 1 after five years at the helm.

Torchiana now serves as the chairman and CEO of Massachusetts General Physicians Organization, the largest such group in New England with more than 2,000 physicians.

"I am looking forward to my new role at Partners HealthCare as its next president and CEO," Torchiana said in a statement. "Improving patient care is the reason our institutions exist."

The announcement follows a blow to Partners' expansion plans late last month, when the proposed merger with South Shore, Lawrence Memorial and Melrose-Wakefield hospitals was nixed by Judge Janet Sanders. Attorney General Maura Healey has threatened to sue if Partners goes ahead without a negotiated deal to prevent costs from going up.

Torchiana is a Yale graduate who went on to Harvard Medical School, where he is an associate professor of surgery. He completed his residencies at Massachusetts General Hospital.

"Dr. Torchiana possesses the instincts and the political savvy to be an outstanding leader for Partners," said Edward Lawrence, chairman of the board of directors.

16.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

The Ticker

Baker to address 
Boston chamber

Gov. Charlie Baker will ask business leaders for their best ideas on technology, education and regulation reform when he addresses the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce this morning for the first time since being sworn in, an administration official told the Herald.

Baker is expected to discuss how the Bay State's economy is partly affected by factors beyond the state's control, so it must work hard to pursue things it can guide, such as energy policy, education and regional economies, the official said.

The speech will also mention several news stories that occurred since Baker was sworn in, including the arrests of Interstate 93 protesters, last week's blizzard and Boston's naming as a finalist to host the 2024 Summer Games.

New Balance unveils soccer division

Boston's New Balance yesterday announced a new soccer division — New Balance Football — that will take over the sponsorship deals its Warrior Sports division had to provide "kits," training gear and cleats to the Liverpool, Stoke City, Porto and Sevilla football clubs.

New Balance Football also unveiled sponsorship deals with Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey, Manchester United's Adnan Januzaj, Valencia's Alvaro Negredo and Manchester City's Samir Nasri, Jesus Navas and Fernando Reges.

Uber legislation in works

Gov. Charlie Baker will create licensing regulations around for-hire car services such as Uber and Lyft in an effort to protect riders' and drivers' safety, the administration announced yesterday. Baker said drivers for the ride-for-hire companies could continue to operate while his administration works on legislation.

The governor will work with Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh and Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone — two cities where the service is commonly used — to draft the regulations. The licensing proposal will require background checks of drivers, proper safety checks of all vehicles and adequate insurance coverage.

TODAY

 Labor Department releases weekly jobless claims.

 Labor Department releases fourth-quarter productivity data.

 Commerce Department releases international trade data for December.

TOMORROW

 Labor Department releases employment data for January.

 Federal Reserve releases consumer credit data for December.

THE SHUFFLE

Ian Roffman has been named chairman of litigation at the law firm Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP. Roffman practices in the securities enforcement and litigation group, counseling clients through complex and often high-profile cases involving the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Prior to joining Nutter, Roffman was senior trial counsel in the SEC's Boston office.

16.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Bridj-ing gap between Uber costs, T woes

The pop-up bus service Bridj is offering free rides in the Boston area through tomorrow night, a stark contrast to the ride-sharing service Uber, which capitalized on long MBTA delays this week by more than tripling fares at times.

Bridj's payment processor requires the company to list trips — which ordinarily cost between $3 and $5, depending on the time of day — for at least 50 cents, but all trips are free this week when cus­tomers download Bridj's app and use the promo code "isitsummer," spokesman Ryan Kelly said.

"We lose thousands of dollars every day by doing this, but hopefully will gain new customers who've never tried our service before," said CEO Matthew George.

"And it's just the right thing to do. When you combine this unprecedented bout of terrible weather with the T's aging infrastructure, that really disrupts transit service. For some people, that's just an inconvenience; for others, not being able to get to work can mean not being able to pay their rent."

But during the evening commute Tuesday, many commuters who hadn't heard of Bridj, which opened in Boston only last June, and tried to get around via Uber received an unwelcome surprise: Fares had climbed 3.2 times the normal rates.

"Dynamic pricing ensures a reliable ride at the push of a button, whenever and wherever you need it, especially at times when other transportation options aren't available," Uber spokesman Matthew Wing said in an email. "And remember that when the weather's bad, you can use our in-app Fare Split feature to share your ride and cut the fare in half."

16.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Judge considers blocking law

A federal judge is mulling whether to block proposed legislation that would regulate ride-for-hire services Uber and Lyft and allow them to work around state hackney laws.

At a hearing yesterday in U.S. District Court in Boston, lawyers for licensed taxi driver Joseph Pierre of Brockton, Raphael Ophir of Jamaica Plain, and the Boston Taxi Owners Association called for an emergency injunction against the legislation.

They argued it would create a two-tier system which would harm their business by saddling taxi drivers and owners with "oppressive" regulations, but allowing the other services to operate with little oversight.

Under the proposed rules, companies such as Uber and Lyft need to be certified by the state Department of Public Utilities, have insurance and run background checks on drivers, who would be banned if convicted of any of a number of crimes within the prior decade.

"This massive illegal operation puts the public and consumers at risk in many ways," the lawsuit states. "The use of a smartphone app does not change the nature of the business. It does not alter the need for uniform rules for all who engage in it. Use of an app merely provides an alternate means of dispatch and payment."

The lawsuit goes on to say taxi owners went along with the law because the city promised in return that taxi owners and the taxi affiliations and drivers who operate taxis would have the exclusive right to provide ride-for-hire transportation to individual passengers." Judge Nathaniel Gorton has "taken the matter under advisement."

16.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Toyota raises forecast after quarterly profit up on weak yen

TOKYO — Toyota Motor Corp., the world's No. 1 automaker, raised its earnings forecast Wednesday after third quarter profit jumped 14 percent, boosted by a weak yen.

Toyota reported a better-than-expected 600 billion yen ($5.1 billion) profit for the three months through December. Quarterly sales of 7.17 trillion yen ($61 billion) were up 9 percent year-on-year.

Analysts surveyed by FactSet had forecast a quarterly profit of 540 billion yen ($4.6 billion).

The Japanese automaker, which makes the Camry sedan, Prius hybrid and Lexus luxury model, expects a profit of 2.13 trillion yen ($18 billion) for the fiscal year through March, up nearly 17 percent from the previous year. It had previously projected a 2 trillion yen ($17 billion) profit.

Toyota has held the top spot in global vehicle sales for three years straight, selling 10.23 million vehicles last year, beating Volkswagen AG of Germany and U.S. rival General Motors Co.

Toyota's bottom line has gotten a lift from the cheap yen, although Managing Officer Taku Sasaki also credited cost cuts.

The dollar averaged about 114 yen for the fiscal third quarter, while it cost 100 yen the same period the previous year. It has risen to about 118 yen recently.

Toyota said it added 145 billion yen ($1.2 billion) to its quarterly operating profit from the foreign exchange rate, while gaining 80 billion yen ($680 million) from cost cuts.

The latest results show Toyota in robust financial health as it embarks on renewed growth, after putting such ambitions on hold during serious setbacks suffered over a massive recall scandal, fines from U.S. authorities and many lawsuits, especially in the U.S. since 2009.

In Minneapolis on Tuesday, a U.S. federal jury decided the design of the 1996 Toyota Camry had a dangerous defect that was partly to blame for a fatal 2006 crash, and ordered Toyota to pay nearly $11 million to victims.

But Toyota's global brand has largely recovered the recall crisis and U.S. sales have been doing well. Cash-rich Toyota is also likely able to afford the lawsuits.

Toyota President Akio Toyoda has compared the company's situation to a landing between two flights of stairs, while cautioning that the next climb would remain cautious but sustainable.

Challenges are great, with Volkswagen and others right on Toyota's heels in huge overseas markets such as China.

Toyota is also trying to lead a move toward what it calls a "hydrogen society," centered on fuel cell vehicles, which run on the power produced when hydrogen combines with oxygen in the air to produce water.

Hydrogen can also provide heat and electricity for homes, if not, entire towns. Other automakers are also working on fuel cells.

___

Follow Yuri Kageyama on Twitter at https://twitter.com/yurikageyama

16.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Sony trims full-year loss forecast to $1.4 billion

TOKYO — Sony Corp. trimmed its forecast of losses on Wednesday and said it doesn't expect the hack at Sony Pictures to hurt its finances overall.

The entertainment and electronics giant delayed the announcement of its earnings for the October-December quarter, citing internal difficulties arising from the hack at Sony Pictures Entertainment.

But it issued new earnings forecasts for the fiscal year ending in March and said it was benefiting from strong sales of gaming consoles, other devices and network services.

The company is forecasting a loss of 170 billion yen ($1.4 billion) for the fiscal year, an improvement from its earlier forecast of a 230 billion yen loss.

The company reported a 40 billion yen loss last fiscal year.

It said stronger than expected sales of the PlayStation 4, higher network services revenue, robust sales of devices and a slight improvement in its financial services business will help counter a decline in its mobile business.

Both Sony's music and movies businesses benefited from a weakening in the Japanese yen, which improves profit earned in dollars when it is brought back to Japan.

16.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ink Block area to get boutique hotel

A contemporary 200-room, design-focused boutique hotel is planned for Boston's South End, next to the Ink Block project that's helping to reshape a once drab area now undergoing significant redevelopment.

Newton's National Development hopes to start construction this year on an AC Hotel by Marriott on the former FW Webb and Independent Taxi sites on Albany Street, with a 2017 targeted opening.

"We've been trying to ... create an interesting and exciting urban community, and the hotel really supports the restaurants and retail activity that we're creating," managing partner Ted Tye said.

The Ink Block occupies the former Boston Herald headquarters site and includes a new Whole Foods Market and apartments. The Sepia condos are set to open in September, and multiple retail shops and restaurants are in the works. Herald publisher Patrick J. Purcell has a minority stake in the development.

As a select-service property, the hotel will not have its own large restaurant or meeting space, but will have a fitness facility and small bar, with parking at the Ink Block.

"We'll really focus on using the restaurants within Ink Block for the hotel," Tye said. "I want the activity of the Ink Block to be a real draw for (guests) of the hotel who want to stay down in this neighborhood."

National Development will own the hotel as a Marriott franchisee and hire an outside company to manage it.

AC Hotels started in Europe in 1998 before affiliating with Marriott in 2011. The chain has one U.S. hotel, in New Orleans, with others slated to open this year in Washington, D.C., Miami Beach and Kansas City.

It's a great brand for urban locations, particularly hip and gentrified ones, according to Andrea Foster, senior vice president and New England practice manager for PKF Consulting.

"The South End is a good location for an AC Hotel within Boston," she said.

And now is a good time in the hotel industry to build.

"We're still seeing improvements in performance (in the Boston market), and now we're seeing a lot of development happening because occupancy and rate increases are so good," Foster said.

16.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Australia cuts interest rate to record low 2.25 percent

SYDNEY — Australia's central bank cut its benchmark interest rate to a record low of 2.25 percent on Tuesday in a bid to jolt an economy weighed down by falling commodity prices.

The Reserve Bank of Australia's quarter percentage point rate cut at a monthly board meeting was its first since August 2013. It came as a surprise to many economists, who expected the bank to hold off on lowering the rate until later in the year. Subdued inflation, however, has given the central bank more scope to stimulate Australia's $1 trillion economy.

The news shook the Australian dollar which dropped 1.8 percent 76.5 cents. The stock market was boosted, with the S&P/ASX 200 up 1.5 percent.

Resource-rich Australia managed to avoid a recession during the global financial crisis thanks to a decade-long mining boom. But with the economy weakening in China, which is Australia's largest export market, prices for commodities such as iron ore and coal have dropped.

Australia's move follows monetary easing steps by other central banks though is modest compared with the unprecedented stimulus programs that Japan and Europe have embarked on to revive long stagnant economies.

In a statement, the central bank's governor Glenn Stevens said commodity prices have continued to decline, "in some cases sharply," particularly oil.

The bank also said that while the U.S. economy had strengthened, European and Japanese economies were weaker than expected, and forecasts for global growth this year were moderate.

"In Australia the available information suggests that growth is continuing at a below-trend pace, with domestic demand growth overall quite weak," Stevens said. The fall in oil prices would offer "significant support" to consumer spending but that is partly offset by weakening growth in incomes, he said.

"The economy is likely to be operating with a degree of spare capacity for some time yet," he said.

Treasurer Joe Hockey dubbed the rate cut good news that would bolster the country's economy.

"It is going to help to create more jobs because business is going to be able to pay less for their debt, as consumers should pay less for their debt and as people with a mortgage should pay less for their debt," he told reporters in Canberra, the nation's capital.

Stevens has repeatedly stressed that the Australian dollar is too high, despite the currency plummeting in recent weeks to around 77 U.S. cents, the lowest level since the global financial crisis. The Australian dollar reached an all-time high of $1.10 in 2011.

In his statement Tuesday, Stevens acknowledged the Australian dollar had declined noticeably, but said it remains above most estimates of its fundamental value. "A lower exchange rate is likely to be needed to achieve balanced growth in the economy," he said.

Spiros Papadopoulos, senior economist at National Australia Bank, suspects the bank will cut the rate again later this year, though not at its next meeting.

"The combination of weak growth, further increases in unemployment and a very subdued inflation outlook has really given them that room to maneuver," he said.

16.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Virgin Galactic gets back on track toward space tourism

UPHAM, N.M. — The only thing interrupting the creosote and mesquite that makes up one of New Mexico's most remote stretches of desert is a pristine runway where Virgin Galactic plans one day to launch the world's first commercial space-line.

In the four years since its completion, however, the runway has seen little use. No constant roar of jet engines. No screeches from landing gear. Just promises, year after year, that it would shuttle paying passengers to the edges of Earth.

Virgin Galactic had proclaimed 2015 was finally going to be the year. That was until the company's rocket-powered spacecraft broke apart over California's Mojave Desert during a test flight last fall, killing one pilot and igniting speculation about the future of commercial space tourism and Spaceport America.

Virgin Galactic CEO George Whitesides said things are on track now and testing will take off again this year.

"I really think we're turning the corner," Whitesides said. "We've gone through one of the toughest things a company can go through and we're still standing, and now we're really moving forward with pace."

He said the company and its investors aren't backing down from the goal of making space accessible.

Virgin Galactic's manufacturing crew is about two-thirds done with building a new spacecraft, and the operations team is ramping up for a test-flight program that will serve as one of the last major hurdles to getting off the ground.

"Our company has spent a lot of time and money to get to the point where we can carry out successful commercial operations at Spaceport America. We're still committed," he said.

Whitesides has always been reluctant to attach a timeline to the milestones the company needs to reach, but he's certain test flights will resume later this year.

That's what New Mexico taxpayers want to hear.

They've already funneled nearly a quarter of a billion dollars into the world's first purpose-built spaceport, and state lawmakers are being asked for nearly $2 million more this year to make up for the lost fees stemming from the delay in Virgin Galactic's commercial flights.

Some lawmakers have called for pulling the plug, adding fuel to criticisms that the project — first initiated by former Gov. Bill Richardson, a Democrat, and British billionaire Richard Branson — is a boondoggle.

Others, including Republican Gov. Susana Martinez's administration, say the state has a chance to carve out a new niche for economic development and position itself on the front end of space tourism.

New Mexico has struggled to rebound from the recession, creating only 14,000 jobs over the past year while neighboring states have bounced back to 2008 employment levels.

Whitesides visited Spaceport America in December. The runway was quiet, but workers inside the massive, futuristic hangar continued to outfit it for the day Virgin Galactic opens.

"I really think we're on the edge of something truly incredible, which is enabling people and students to experience space, whether going themselves or sending their experiments," he said.

He added, "These things are hard. That's why they haven't happened yet."

Christine Anderson, the head of New Mexico's Spaceport Authority, pointed to the ill-fated Apollo I test launch and the 1986 Challenger explosion as examples of space exploration efforts that resulted in tragedy. Still, astronauts and scientists pushed on, and she said those backing Virgin Galactic and Spaceport America are doing the same.

"We have invested $218 million, so there's absolutely no reason to stop now," she said.

Virgin Galactic continues to pay its lease, and more money will come from lease and user fees related to the testing scheduled to begin this spring for a reusable rocket being developed by Elon Musk's SpaceX. But Anderson acknowledged that the spaceport needs to entice more tenants and host other events, including fashion and auto photo shoots, conferences and more rocket launches by companies such as UP Aerospace.

The spaceport in late February also expects to open its visitors' gallery at the site, which spans more than 28 square miles.

"The challenge was to build a commercial spaceport here. There was absolutely nothing here. We did it," Anderson said. "It's amazing to think of it."

16.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Companies strike serious, somber tone in Super Bowl ads

NEW YORK — Forget slapstick and sex in Super Bowl ads: This year, serious was the name of the game.

Nationwide ran an ad on preventable childhood death. Carnival struck a somber note with a voiceover by John F. Kennedy speaking lyrically about the sea. And a public service announcement by coalition No More depicted a chilling 911 call from a battered woman to demonstrate the terror of domestic abuse.

Other advertisers had positive, albeit equally serious themes: McDonald's said it would let some customers pay with acts of kindness, Coca-Cola showed online negativity and bullying turning positive and Procter & Gamble's ad for its Always feminine products brand tried to redefine what it means to do things like a girl.

"It's a shame there aren't any commercials for antidepressants because these commercials make me want some," said Jon Early, who was watching the game in New York with friends. "Football is supposed to be an escape."

The serious tone is an effort to win over Americans who have a lower tolerance for crass ads with an overuse of sexually explicit themes and sophomoric humor. They also have short attention spans these days, thanks to the bite-sized communication of social media.

The serious spots were a continuation of a trend that started last year when advertisers shied away from the tactics that had been commonplace during Super Bowl. The difference this year is that many of the serious ads had an overarching "message" to live better, think better and be better.

With 30-second ads costing $4.5 million for the chance to market their brand to 110-plus million Americans, advertisers were trying to stand out by marketing socially conscious messages. In the process, they hoped to boost the image of their brands.

"The Super Bowl reflects what's happening in the country," said Tim Calkins, a marketing professor at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. "Maybe in the country today we're a little more reflective and a little more pensive."

SERIOUS TONE

A Microsoft ad with a voiceover by rapper Common told the story of Braylon O'Neill, a boy who was born missing the tibia and fibula bones in both of his legs so he had to learn to live with prosthetic legs developed by Microsoft.

The ad struck some similar notes with Toyota's Camry ad, which featured Paralympian Amy Purdy, who also has prosthetic legs snowboarding and dancing set to a speech by Muhammad Ali that ends "I'll show you how great I am."

Some serious ads bordered on sober. Nissan returned to the Super Bowl after 18 years with an ad featuring the story line of an up-and-coming race driver and his wife struggling to balance work and raising their son. In a jarring detail that many on social media pointed out, the ad was set to "Cats in the Cradle" by Harry Chapin, who was killed in a car crash.

And a Nationwide ad showed a boy riding a school bus and lamenting he'll never learn to fly, or travel the world with my best friend, or even grow up, because he died in an accident. The ad was aimed at stopping preventable childhood accidents, but Charles Taylor, marketing professor at the Villanova School of Business in Pennsylvania, said it received the most negative response from his ad viewing panel.

"It's just playing with fire focusing on an adolescents' death in the context of the Super Bowl," he said.

POSITIVE BUT SERIOUS

Other advertisers tried to implore people to do positive things.

In apparent commentary on how heavily food companies market to Americans, Weight Watchers' Super Bowl debut ad showed pizza, doughnuts in large portions with an ominous voiceover saying "You gotta eat, right?" A tagline said Weight Watchers can help members take control.

But it didn't resonate with all viewers, many of who were at Super Bowl parties eating snacks. "Some people are saying it made them want to eat more than anything," said Villanova's Taylor.

Meanwhile, fast food chain McDonald's announced it will randomly select customers who can pay for their food with acts of goodwill, such as calling their moms and telling them they love them as part of a Valentine's Day promotion that starts Monday.

HUMOR IN BETWEEN

Not all ads were serious, though.

Nationwide's other ad showed "Mindy Project" star Mindy Kaling walking around New York believing she is invisible and doing scandalous acts, including sitting naked in Central Park and going through a car wash. Then, she tries to kiss actor Matt Damon, but as it turns out, he can see her. The idea is Nationwide doesn't treat customers like they're invisible.

Naomi Zikmund-Fisher, a psychotherapist watching the game in Ann Arbor, Michigan, said the ad appealed to her. "It sucked you in as a plot and then ruined it for her," she said.

Another ad scored early. Chevrolet's spot before kickoff appeared to be a live game feed that turned into static and a blank screen, shocking some viewers. Chevrolet used the trick to show that its Colorado truck has 4G LTE Wi Fi, allowing for live game streaming in the truck.

"That one got all of our attention," said Kirin Jessel, who watched the game with co-workers in Oakland, Calif. "We were thinking 'Oh my God, what's happening.'"

16.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Toddler food often has too much salt, sugar, CDC study says

CHICAGO — Many packaged meals and snacks for toddlers contain worrisome amounts of salt and sugar, potentially creating an early taste for foods that may contribute to obesity and other health risks, according to a new government study.

About seven in 10 toddler dinners studied contained too much salt, and most cereal bars, breakfast pastries and snacks for infants and toddlers contained extra sugars, according to the study by researchers at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They advise parents to read food labels carefully and select healthier choices.

The researchers analyzed package information and labels for more than 1,000 foods marketed for infants and toddlers. Results appear in the journal Pediatrics on Monday.

The study notes that almost one in four U.S. children ages 2 to 5 are overweight or obese — and that almost 80 percent of kids ages 1 to 3 exceed the recommended maximum level of daily salt, which is 1,500 milligrams. Excess sugar and salt can contribute to obesity and elevated blood pressure even in childhood, but also later on.

"We also know that about one in nine children have blood pressure above the normal range for their age, and that sodium, excess sodium, is related to increased blood pressure," said the CDC's Mary Cogswell, the study's lead author. "Blood pressure tracks from when children are young up through adolescence into when they're adults. Eating foods which are high in sodium can set a child up for high blood pressure and later on for cardiovascular disease."

The researchers collected data on foods available in 2012. They didn't list brand names, but foods studied included popular brands of baby food, toddler dinners including packaged macaroni and cheese, mini hot dogs, rice cakes, crackers, dried fruit snacks and yogurt treats.

The Grocery Manufacturers of America, a trade group whose members include makers of foods for infants and toddlers, issued a statement saying the study "does not accurately reflect the wide range of healthy choices available in today's marketplace ... because it is based on 2012 data that does not reflect new products with reduced sodium levels."

The study "could needlessly alarm and confuse busy parents as they strive to develop suitable meal options that their children will enjoy," the group said.

The researchers said theirs is the most recent, comprehensive data on commercial foods for young children. Cogswell acknowledged there have been some improvements in the marketplace and said the findings aren't all negative.

"The good news is that the majority of infant foods were low in sodium," she said. It was surprising, she said, that "seven out of 10 toddler foods were high in the amount of sodium per serving and that a substantial proportion of toddler meals and the majority of other toddler foods and infant's and toddler's snacks contained an added sugar."

Foods for toddlers should contain no more than about 210 milligrams of salt or sodium per serving, under Institute of Medicine recommendations, but the average for toddler meals studied was 361 milligrams — almost 1.5 times higher than that limit. Sodium amounts per serving ranged from 100 milligrams to more than 900 milligrams.

High sugar content was defined as more than 35 percent of calories per portion coming from sugar, based on Institute of Medicine guidelines for foods served in schools. Many foods in the study exceeded that. On average, sugar contributed 47 percent of calories for infant mixed grains and fruit; 66 percent of calories in dried fruit snacks, and more than 35 percent of calories in dairy-based desserts.

Also, about one in three toddler dinners and most toddler cereal bars and dried fruit-based snacks contained at least one added sugar.

Added sugars, including high fructose corn syrup, dextrose and glucose, raised concerns because they boost calorie totals without health benefits.

"It's just additional calories that aren't needed," Cogswell said.

Kathleen Burnett of Chicago said she tries to buy healthy foods for her three young daughters and recently switched brands when she found out her favorite kids' yogurt was full of sugar.

"When you're in the grocery store and things seem quick and simple, it's very tempting to take those things, and we certainly have," Burnett said. "We just try to use moderation in those prepackaged foods."

___

Online:

American Academy of Pediatrics: http://www.aap.org

USDA: http://www.choosemyplate.gov

___

AP Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/LindseyTanner

16.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Asian stocks down after Chinese factory activity weakens

BEIJING — Asian stocks were mostly lower Monday after Chinese manufacturing weakened while European markets rose after France endorsed Greek efforts to renegotiate bailout debt.

KEEPING SCORE: Germany's DAX added 0.7 percent to 10,768.71 and France's CAC-40 gained 0.4 percent to 4,622.42. Britain's FTSE 100 rose 0.5 percent to 6,780.49. Wall Street looked set to rebound from Friday's losses, with futures for the Dow Jones and Standard & Poor's 500 index both up 0.4 percent. On Friday, the Dow lost 1.5 percent and the S&P was down 1.3 percent.

EUROPEAN DEBT: Greece's new finance minister won support from Paris for his effort to renegotiate the debt for its bailout. Yanis Varoufakis, a member of a new ruling party that campaigned against the austerity terms of the Greek bailout, struck a conciliatory tone as he sought new conditions from creditors. Germany has criticized Greece's stance but French Finance Minister Michel Sapin said Sunday that while his government wouldn't support canceling the debt, it was willing to consider a new time frame or terms. That is for now easing worries that Greece's new government might eventually leave the euro common currency.

CHINESE MANUFACTURING: Surveys by HSBC Corp. and a Chinese industry group found manufacturing activity in the world's second-largest economy weakened in January. The China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing said its purchasing managers' index fell to a 28-month low. A separate index by HSBC edged up but still showed activity contracting. Both blamed weak demand in China and abroad. Analysts said they expect this to prompt Beijing to inject more credit into the economy or launch other stimulus measures.

THE QUOTE: "We think demand in the manufacturing sector remains weak and more aggressive monetary and fiscal easing measures will be needed to prevent another sharp slowdown in growth" in China, said HSBC economist Hongbin Qu in a report.

ASIA'S DAY: The Shanghai Composite Index gave up 2.6 percent to 3,128.30 and Tokyo's Nikkei 225 was off 0.7 percent to 17,558.04. Hong Kong's Hang Seng shed 0.1 percent to 24,484.74. Seoul's Kospi added 0.2 percent to 1,952.86. Markets were mixed in Southeast Asia while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.7 percent to 5,625.30.

OIL ROLLER COASTER: Crude slid after jumping Friday on signs American production is slowing following big price drops since last June. Oil plummeted about 60 percent since June as global supplies grew faster than demand. OPEC has declined to cut its production, putting pressure on U.S. companies to curtail drilling as oil prices fall to a level that makes some production unprofitable. U.S. benchmark crude was down $1.30 at $46.94 per barrel on Nymex. The contract surged by an unusually large margin of $3.71 on Friday, to close at $48.24. Brent crude, used to price international oils, shed $1.43 to $51.56 a barrel in London after rising by $3.86 on Friday.

CURRENCIES: The dollar gained to 117.76 yen from Friday's 117.43 yen. The euro strengthened to $1.1333 from $1.1285.

16.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

MassChallenge starts up 2015 with lots new

MassChallenge kicks off a new season on three continents this month, with a new managing director and new workspace for startups in Boston.

The accelerator and competition's programs in the Hub, Tel Aviv and its newest location — London — will accept applications from Feb. 11 to April 1.

At the helm of the Boston program is Scott Bailey, who started a year out of college as an unpaid intern at MassChallenge in 2010. Since then, he has held nearly every position at the startup accelerator, most recently leading partnerships and fundraising, before being promoted to managing director this month.

"It's been a wild ride," said Bailey, 27. "I feel like I've aged 10 years."

Bailey and Roman Kern, MassChallenge Boston's new director of programs and operations, will work closely with the board of advisers to refine and expand the organization's core offerings.

In addition to kicking off the Boston program this month, they'll launch Made@MassChallenge, a 5,000-square-foot space, adjacent to their Innovation District headquarters, where startups will be able to use hardware and software tools to build their prototypes.

MassChallenge also is in talks with the city of Newton about using a former branch library where the program's alumni could spend a year growing their companies.

"We're still shaping what that looks like," Bailey said. "We're always thinking of support for entrepreneurs, and there's a great mentor network there."

In the meantime, he said, MassChallenge is continuing to pursue its strategy of global expansion.

Boston will accept 128 startups into this year's class, Bailey said, and Israel will likely send 10 to 12 teams to the Boston program as finalists. The UK will decide how many finalists to accept, based on the quality of the applicant pool, he said. Applicants will be able to indicate which location they're interested in, Bailey said, and the finalists will be placed in the program that best suits their needs.

In Boston, finalists will be announced May 20 and have four months of free office space and mentoring, culminating in an Oct. 28 ceremony where they'll give their final pitches and compete for more than $1 million in no-strings-attached cash prizes.

The Israel and UK startups will not compete with the Boston finalists for the same prize money, Bailey said. Each program will award its own cash prizes.

Over the next five years, MassChallenge plans to open 10 new global hubs.

"We want there to be a MassChallenge location on every populated continent," Bailey said. "We have overwhelming interest and are researching the best places to open our next location."

16.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

Spark plugs need changing, but long warmup needless

I have a 2001 PT Cruiser with 100,000 miles on it. Would you recommend a spark plug change? Also, I keep hearing that it's not good to warm up your car nowadays. Hey, when it's 20-below I really don't care if it wastes a cup of gas! They say that the oil is much better these days, but is it really OK to jump in your car when it's very cold and take right off?

As I mentioned in my last column, there's no harm in allowing your vehicle to warm up a few minutes in extremely cold weather. Besides generating some temperature in the vehicle's fluids and warming the interior a bit, it gives you time to make sure the windshield, side and rear windows are clear of snow and ice before you drive.

Is it harmful to drive the vehicle as soon as it is started in cold weather? No. As you said, today's motor oils are far superior to oils of just a decade earlier. In addition, manufacturing materials and tolerances are far better and more precise. Add the engine management system's capabilities to fine-tune fuel/air mixture and ignition timing as well as limit engine output during the warmup period, and that means the most efficient and least stressful warmup method in all but extreme cold is to start the engine, let the idle stabilize and drop to normal, engage the automatic transmission, let it idle in gear for a moment or two, then drive the vehicle gently as it gets up to temperature.

My Alldata database says Chrysler recommends fresh spark plugs in this engine every 30,000 miles. After this many miles, take care in removing the old plugs to avoid stripping the threads in the cylinder head. Install new plugs with anti-seize on the threads.

Typically I change my own oil. Our newest vehicle has 23,000 miles on it and calls for 0W-20 synthetic oil. It's actually less expensive to let the dealer do it than to buy the oil and filter and do it myself. However, on the last two oil changes I've noticed that they seem to overfill it by 1⁄2 to 3⁄4 of a quart. What potential harm can come from overfilling?

Slightly overfilling the crankcase with oil, as you've described, usually isn't an issue. If the oil level is high enough to cause a problem, the excess oil is usually blown out of the engine through the PCV system, engine seals and gaskets as it seeks its normal oil level.

If the engine is grossly overfilled and the crankshaft whips the oil into a froth as it spins, the aerated oil can cause a loss of oil pressure and lubrication to engine bearings, potentially causing damage.

How can you tell if the engine is grossly overfilled? Fully warm up the engine while monitoring the oil pressure gauge or warning light. Shut the engine off and quickly pull the dipstick to check the oil for evidence of frothing.

I have a 2001 Toyota RAV4 with 68,248 miles. It has started to give out a puff of exhaust smoke when started in the morning. Oil and coolant levels show full and haven't changed. There is no smoke while driving. What could the problem be or is there even a problem?

I don't think there is a problem. A slight puff of bluish smoke on starting a 70G mile engine is not uncommon, nor is it harmful. The typical cause is oil that has collected on the valve stems slowly seeping past the valve seals and guides as the car sits overnight. When the engine is first started, this oil is drawn into the combustion chamber with the incoming air/fuel mixture and burned. Having owned and driven high-mileage vehicles for decades, I see this as
upper-cylinder lubrication at startup rather than a problem.

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 paulbrandstartribune.com. Please explain the problem in detail and include a daytime phone number. Because of the volume of mail, we cannot provide personal replies.

16.30 | 0 komentar | Read More

More millennials jumping into the mortgage market

WASHINGTON — Call them the prodigal millennials: Statistical measures and anecdotal reports suggest that young couples and singles in their late 20s and early 30s have begun making a belated entry into the home buying market, pushed by mortgage rates in the mid-3 percent range, government efforts to ease credit requirements and deep frustrations at having to pay rising rents without creating equity.

Listen to Kathleen Hart, who just bought a condo unit with her husband, Devin Wall, that looks out on the Columbia River in Wenatchee, Wash.: "We were just tired of renting, tired of sharing (housing) with roommates, and not having a place of our own. Finally the numbers added up."

Or listen to Erin Beasley, who with her fiance earlier this month closed on a condo unit in the Capitol Hill area of Washington, D.C. "With the way rents kept on going," she told me, "we realized it was time" after five years as tenants. "With renting, at some point you get really tired of it; you want to own, be able to make changes" that suit you, not some landlord.

Hart and Beasley are part of the leading edge of the millennial demographic bulge that has been missing in action on home buying since the end of the Great Recession. Instead of representing the 38 percent to 40 percent of purchases that real estate industry economists say would have been expected for first-timers, they've lagged in market share, sometimes by as much as 10 percentage points. But last week new signs began emerging that hinted that maybe the conditions finally are right for them to shop and buy:

• Redfin, a national real estate brokerage, said first-time buyers accounted for 57 percent of home tours conducted by its agents mid-month — the highest rate in recent years. Home-purchase education class requests, typically dominated by first-timers, has jumped so far this month by 27 percent over last January. "I think it is significant," said Redfin chief economist Nela Richardson. "They are sticking a toe in the water."

Kas Divband, a Redfin agent in D.C., assisted Beasley with her condo purchase.

• The Campbell/Inside Mortgage Finance HousingPulse Tracking Survey, which monthly polls 2,000 realty agents nationwide, reported that first-time buyer activity has started to increase much earlier than is typical. First-timers accounted for 36.3 percent of all home purchases last month, according to the survey.
• Anecdotal reports from realty brokers around the country also point to exceptional activity in the past few weeks. Perrin Cornell of Century 21 Exclusively in Wenatchee, Wash., who helped Hart and her husband buy their condo, said he is either actively working with or has serious inquiries from four times the number of first-timers than he'd typically see in January. Gary Kassan, an agent with Pinnacle Estate Properties in the Los Angeles area, said nearly half of his current clients are first-time buyers.

Assuming these early impressions could point to a trend, what's driving the action? The steady decline in interest rates, high rents and sheer pent-up demand play major roles. But there are other factors that could be at work. In the past few weeks, key sources of financing for entry-level buyers ­— the Federal Housing Administration and giant investors Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — have announced consumer-friendly improvements to their rules. FHA cut its punitively high upfront mortgage insurance premiums and Fannie and Freddie reduced minimum down payments to 3 percent from 5 percent.

Price increases on homes also have moderated in many local areas, improving affordability across the board. Plus many younger buyers have discovered the wide spectrum of special financing assistance programs open to them through state and local housing agencies. Hart and her husband made use of one of the Washington State Housing Finance Commission's buyer assistance programs, which provides second-mortgage loans with zero interest rates to help with down payments and closing costs. Dozens of state agencies across the country offer help for first-timers, often with generous qualifying income limits.

16.30 | 0 komentar | Read More