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Business - BostonHerald.com

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 01 Desember 2012 | 18.38

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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. Sat, 01 Dec 2012 06:34:35 -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/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 05:56:49 -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/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 05:53:45 -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/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178501&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178501&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178501&srvc=rss A Newton man was ordered to pay $700,000 and received a suspended jail sentence for paying kickbacks to workers... business Fri, 30 Nov 2012 17:31:55 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061178538&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061178538&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061178538&srvc=rss Emanate, a midsize marketing communications company, said today it has opened an office at Atlantic Wharf in downtown... business Fri, 30 Nov 2012 17:30:04 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1061178534&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1061178534&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/automotive/view.bg?articleid=1061178534&srvc=rss DETROIT - Ford is recalling more than 89,000 new Escape SUVs and Fusion sedans because the engines can overheat... business Fri, 30 Nov 2012 17:15:31 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178531&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178531&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178531&srvc=rss One of the three companies that had been pursuing a casino license in Springfield is dropping out of the race. Ameristar... business Fri, 30 Nov 2012 17:08:53 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/healthcare/view.bg?articleid=1061178514&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/healthcare/view.bg?articleid=1061178514&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/healthcare/view.bg?articleid=1061178514&srvc=rss Partners HealthCare and its founding hospitals, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital,... business Fri, 30 Nov 2012 14:32:26 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178512&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178512&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178512&srvc=rss The Wilcox Hospitality Group said it's bringing a new restaurant to the South End tomorrow designed to embody a... business Fri, 30 Nov 2012 14:31:26 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178507&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178507&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178507&srvc=rss PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The federal government says it plans to sell leases for wind farms off the coasts of Rhode... business Fri, 30 Nov 2012 13:50:43 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178502&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178502&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178502&srvc=rss A Swampscott demolition company has been ordered to pay the Commonwealth $100,000 in civil penalties for the alleged... business Fri, 30 Nov 2012 12:45:50 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178498&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178498&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178498&srvc=rss WASHINGTON - American consumers have shown about as much appetite for the $1 coin as kids do their spinach. They... business Fri, 30 Nov 2012 12:21:40 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178370&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178370&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178370&srvc=rss Bay State business leaders remain confident a "fiscal cliff" compromise will be achieved, yet many don't expect... business Fri, 30 Nov 2012 11:58:37 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178491&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178491&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178491&srvc=rss The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit against Chelsea business Boston Hides & Furs Ltd. and company... business Fri, 30 Nov 2012 11:54:46 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178488&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178488&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178488&srvc=rss NeuroMetrix Inc., a Waltham-based medical device company focused on the diagnosis and treatment of the neurological... business Fri, 30 Nov 2012 11:51:02 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178490&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178490&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178490&srvc=rss When it comes to the 100 largest companies in Massachusetts, women now hold 12.7 percent of board seats, an increase... business Fri, 30 Nov 2012 11:39:54 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178492&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178492&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061178492&srvc=rss Diversified Agency Services, a division of Omnicom Group Inc., said it has acquired overseas consulting company... business Fri, 30 Nov 2012 11:38:31 -0500

Business - BostonHerald.comBusiness - BostonHerald.com

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Aflac chief quacks about quick response to quake

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 30 November 2012 | 18.38

Aflac chief Daniel Amos won't wait very long to break the bad news.

"Those who work closely with me know that I have a saying that I live by and that is that 'Bad news does not improve with age.' By this I mean that even if it isn't good ... don't wait to deliver it," Amos said yesterday during a Boston College Chief Executives' Club of Boston luncheon.

To a roomful of rapt executives, Amos recounted two crises that hit the insurer in rapid succession.

The first was the March 2011 earthquake-tsunami disaster in Japan, where Aflac gets more than three-quarters of its revenue. The company quickly announced that all of its employees in the country — nearly 5,000 — were safe, and Amos hopped on a plane to Japan despite warnings about nuclear radiation.

"Lack of information does not mean that you can stand back and let uncertainty fester. We take our responsibility to communicate with our shareholders seriously," he said. "It's the right thing to do and over time it establishes credibility and consistency with investors, employees, customers and sales agents."

As the disaster unfolded, comedian Gilbert Gottfried — the voice of Aflac's iconic duck brand — tweeted "hurtful and insulting" jokes about Japan, Amos said. Gottfried was fired 30 minutes after Amos first learned of the Twitter outburst.

Aflac was forced to pull all commercials featuring Gottfried and rely solely on a silent movie-style spot until the duck's voice was revived through a nationwide audition that drew 11,200 online applicants — and positive publicity.

"The events we faced proved to me that when you're decisive, you're transparent and ultimately when you're trying to do the right thing, it will reflect in your company and in your image," Amos said.

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Starbucks $7 cup of Joe's jolting

How deep are coffee lovers willing to dig for a cup?

Starbucks is pushing the limit with the latest offering from its "Reserve" line of premium coffee. A 16-ounce "grande" cup of its Costa Rica Finca Palmilera is selling for $7.

The Seattle java giant attributes the jolting price to the rarity of the Geisha coffee, a naturally low-yielding, heirloom varietal that only grows at extremely high altitudes.

"This price is based on limited availability and appeals to a particular audience, like one who loves sampling boutique wines that are available in limited quantities," spokeswoman Alisa Martinez said.

The coffee is only being sold in 46 Starbucks in Seattle and Portland, Ore. Good thing, because bean-heads in South Boston's Seaport District roasted the new offering yesterday.

"It's ridiculous," said Vanessa Eusse of Everett, a 23-year-old restaurant server and self-described Starbucks fanatic who prefers lattes. "That's way too much — unless it had little pieces of gold in it."

If someone wants to pay $7 for a coffee, that's their prerogative, but don't count in lawyer Erik Weibust. "I don't like coffee that much," he said.

Starbucks says coffee connoisseurs will appreciate the intense flavors of Finca Palmilera, whose half-pound bags go for $40.

"A trained nose and palate will pick up delicate floral aromas, flavors of white peach and pineapple, and a juicy herbal complexity," Martinez said.

There's a good market for premium products in almost every retail category, according to Ron Paul, president of Technomic, a food industry research and consulting firm in Chicago.

"Maybe they'll put it in a special cup, so when you're walking down the street, people will say, 'Hey, there's someone who really knows premium coffee,' " he quipped.

But Melvin Gonzales' eyes widened in disbelief at such a costly cup of Joe.

"Why buy a $7 coffee, when McDonald's got it for a dollar?" said Gonzales, who works for a refrigeration company.

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UMass prez sweats performance report

The University of Massachusetts is making strides toward greater transparency and accountability with plans to release a report next spring on its performance, experts said. But that transparency could come at a cost.

As an institution beholden to the state for much of its funding, UMass also has more than its reputation at stake in reporting its performance. At a Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce forum yesterday, UMass President Robert Caret said the state has already cut funding to the school by about $30 million.

"It's completely reasonable for policymakers to hold higher education institutions accountable when they're appropriating money for them," said Andrew Kelly, a research fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a Washington, D.C., think tank. "But it's important not to get hung up on one particular measure of their performance."

The report will measure the university's performance in student experience and success, producing an educated citizenry, world-class research and development enterprise, enhancing social well-being, good stewards of resources, and telling and selling the UMass story.

The university could go even further, Kelly said, by following the lead of states such as Florida, Tennessee and Texas, which compare students' post-secondary school records with the likelihood that they're employed three to five years after they leave school and how much they earn.

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What $300G buys

Here are five examples of what $300,000 can buy you across the state:

Just a short walk from the water, 38 Bowes Ave. in Quincy is a two-bedroom, ranch-style home listed by Marla Osborne of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.

The property was built in 1956, but has been updated with new bathrooms and a new kitchen with ceramic tile flooring, granite counter tops and stainless appliances.

Also included in the 1,261 square feet is a large living room with fireplace and bay window.

The basement is carpeted and includes a family room with a bar, laundry, full bath and space for an office or additional bedroom.

There is a sun room in the rear of the house that looks out to the fenced-in back yard.

Unit 107D at the Powder Mill Square Condos in Andover is a one-bedroom, one-and-a-half bath open plan home with two parking spaces.

There is a spiral staircase leading to the bedroom as well as exposed brick walls, high ceilings, wood posts and rugged exposed beams.

There is a contemporary kitchen with birch cabinets, stainless steel appliances and granite counters.

The monthly condo fee of $392 includes water, sewer, master insurance, elevator, exterior maintenance, landscaping, and snow removal and exercise room.

Built in 1912 and converted to condos in 2006, the development has 60 residences.

The 1,250-square-foot home, close to the commuter rail, is listed by Silvija Aprans of Home Sellers Edge.

Nestled in a Victorian-style home in the Neponset neighborhood of Dorchester at 582 Freeport St. is the Unit 1 condo.

Converted to condominiums in 2005, the building has three units, all with private storage in the basement.

Listed by Jason G. Mahoney of Vitruvius Realty, the two-bedroom, two-bath, 1,078-square-foot home has an open floor plan, hardwood floors, central air and an in-unit washer and dryer.

The kitchen features cherry cabinets with stainless steel appliances and granite counters.

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Comic pair's cat vida purr-fect surprise

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 29 November 2012 | 18.38

A Billerica comedy duo has raised the bar on Internet pet videos — with a clip gone viral about dogs and cats that has no actual animals in it.

"Cat-Friend vs. Dog-Friend" shows what happens when humans have cat and dog personalities.

The "dog-friend" greets a man at the door with a football and wants to play, while the "cat-friend" knocks over glasses of milk, deliberately. As of yesterday it had more than 2 million YouTube hits.

The creators are Jimmy Craig and Justin Parker, both 27, a comedy team known as Fat Awesome. They have been making each other laugh since they met at Billerica Memorial High School nearly a decade ago.

"We've been doing sketch comedy for several years now, and we've made videos that were successful before, but this was something that transcended our normal audience," explained Craig.

"It's been honestly like an early Christmas for us. This is the best feeling," said Parker.

"The part that's even cooler than watching the views go up, is finding our friends saying, 'Oh, my co-worker sent me this video, and it was yours,' " Craig said.

The idea for the sketch started when the guys were carpooling to the Danvers office of Methodloft, their video production company, and chatting about "how ridiculous the things that cats do are," said Craig. "My fiancee has three cats at home, and basically I asked her what weird things her cats do."

And human-based pet videos are just the beginning.

"We've been doing a lot of open mike stuff, trying to put together a full show. We did a show at WPI in Worcester in the fall and that was awesome," Parker said.

It's also important to the guys to stay in the Bay State despite pressure to move to comedy hubs such as Los Angeles and New York City.

"We love to bring attention to Boston and to the comedy scene here, and I think that's a great thing. And we try to get our friends in the videos — we don't want to move away from them."

Plus, staying in the Hub will help them check off their next goal.

"Paul Pierce [stats]. We gotta get the word out. We want him in a video with us! We would take KG or Rondo, too," Craig said with a laugh.

The next Fat Awesome video will premiere tomorrow. Visit their website, fatawesome.com, for more information.

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Upper Crust bankruptcy trustee seeks Dec. auction

The trustee overseeing the bankruptcy case of the Upper Crust pizza chain has proposed a Dec. 19 auction date for the company's leases, licenses, equipment and inventory.

An emergency hearing to set the auction schedule has been requested by trustee Mark DeGiacomo, who closed the company's 10 locations earlier this month after it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October.

It will be up the court to determine the schedule, according to DeGiacomo, who called the suggested Dec. 19 auction date, and a proposed due date for bids two days earlier, "pretty aggressive."

"The judge and creditors will have the opportunity to tell us whether those dates make sense or not," he said.

DeGiacomo also has recommended that the auction be held at a Boston hotel due to the large amount of interest from potential buyers. About 50 companies have expressed interest in buying parts or all of the business.

Upper Crust, which employed about 170 workers, has up to $4 million in debt, and auction proceeds would be used to pay its creditors.

The company defaulted on its TD Bank loans in September. Its troubled operations include a 2009 U.S. Department of Labor investigation that resulted in an order to pay $342,000 in back wages to 121 workers, who filed a class-action lawsuit in 2010 alleging they had been pressured to return those wages.

This past April, Brendan Higgins and Joshua Huggard sued fellow co-owner Jordan Tobins, alleging he improperly used corporate credit cards and divested corporate funds for his personal use. ZVI Construction Co. also has filed a complaint against Upper Crust, alleging its owed $700,000, according to court documents.

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A chef's surprise lights up web

In an epic Facebook meltdown, the owner of one of the Hub's fanciest French dining destinations went schoolyard crazy on a woman who dissed his pumpkin pie, calling her "fat," "uneducated" and "unintelligent" in a series of expletive-laced and misspelled rants.

But no one, especially Pigalle Chef/Owner Marc Orfaly, came out smelling like a rose in this Facebook fable, a lesson in what-not-to-do for business owners and patrons alike.

The mess began on Thanksgiving when Sandy Tremblay of Nashua had a disappointing dining experience at Pigalle. But rather than complaining at the restaurant, she took to Pigalle's Facebook page, days later, to angrily claim her pumpkin pie tasted like "vomit." "Thanks for ruining my Thanksgiving!" she wrote.

What followed were a series of bombs from Orfaly: "hey sandy ,(sic) go (expletive) your self(sic)!" he said, as well as: "you must enjoy vomit you (expletive) if you know how much it tastes like."

The rants didn't end there. Hours later, Orfaly posted an open letter to patrons directing them to air any grievances while at his restaurant, slamming Tremblay as "uneducated, unintelligent" and "unpolished."

Orfaly later deleted his attacks, but they had already gone viral, sparking backlash from aghast patrons.

Tremblay was panned as well. Let's face it, she sat around angry about pumpkin pie for five days. Then she bashed Pigalle on a public Facebook page rather than trying one of the many constructive options at her disposal.

For his part, Orfaly issued a public apology — only after the news of his rants was broken by the Boston Eater blog.

But the way this story ends is even more bizarre. Orfaly called Tremblay yesterday afternoon to apologize. And now, in this incongruous social media world we live in, the two are Facebook friends — and Tremblay is sending business Orfaly's way.

"So all of you that have made comments good or bad I would strongly recommend checking out Pigalles (sic)," Tremblay wrote. "You might want to make reservations weeks in advance because as the saying goes, even bad publicity is good!"

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Greater email privacy won't hinder law enforcement

WASHINGTON — A Senate bill to protect the privacy of electronic communications won't keep federal agents from combing through your inbox if they believe a crime has been committed, legal experts say. Federal and state authorities still will have a robust set of tools to track down lawbreakers even as these officials oppose changes supported by a broad coalition of technology companies and public interest groups.

The legislation, which the Senate Judiciary Committee was expected to consider Thursday, would update a 26-year-old law by requiring police to obtain a search warrant from a judge before accessing the content of all emails and other private information from Google, Yahoo and other Internet providers. Under the current law, the 1986 Electronic Communications Privacy Act, a warrant is needed only for emails less than 6 months old.

Supporters of the bill, sponsored by Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., say the changes are necessary to overhaul a law that is outdated in an era of cloud computing, cheaper electronic storage, social networking and wireless phones. Such advances in technology have dramatically increased the amount of stored communications in ways no one anticipated a quarter of a century ago.

The Justice Department has resisted the changes. The associate deputy attorney general, James Baker, urged the committee last year to consider the adverse impact on criminal and national security investigations if a warrant were the only means for law enforcement officials to obtain emails and other digital files.

But setting the bar higher doesn't prevent law enforcement agencies from doing their jobs, according to current and former prosecutors, judges and attorneys who specialize in privacy issues. Federal law enforcement authorities in four Midwestern and Southern states have been working with the more demanding warrant requirement since 2010 after an appeals court ruled warrantless access to emails was unconstitutional. To get a warrant, a judge must have proof of probable cause that a crime is being committed.

"I don't see anything (in the Senate bill) that's going to seriously concern law enforcement in terms of our ability to request warrants and to get the contents of the material that we need," said Joseph Cassilly, the state's attorney in Harford County, Md., and a former president of the National District Attorneys Association. "Since you've already got to get warrants for the stuff that's less than 180 days, it's obviously not an insurmountable standard."

Nor does the legislation weaken other methods used by law enforcement for collecting electronic information. A subpoena signed by a federal prosecutor — not a judge — will continue to be sufficient for obtaining routing data from third-party Internet providers that can identify the sender of an email and the location where the message was sent.

Police also can use what is known as a "D order" to get the "to" and "from" addresses of an email, but not the contents. These orders must be issued by a judge, but the agency seeking one need only show there is reasonable suspicion of a crime — a lower legal standard than probable cause.

In a Nov. 21 letter to Leahy, 30 former federal and state prosecutors and judges said the bill would provide "a much needed judicial check on when the government can access our private digital information." Concerns that the bill would keep law enforcement from acting quickly during emergencies are unfounded, they added, because the Senate bill does not change a provision in the existing law that compels third-party providers to give the government information in situations where lives are at risk or children are being exploited or abused.

Digital Due Process, a wide-ranging coalition that includes Google, Microsoft and Twitter, as well as the American Civil Liberties Union and Grover Norquist's Americans for Tax Reform, has mounted a public relations campaign supporting the Senate bill. The coalition says updating the law will clear the "murky legal landscape" for companies and consumers alike and provide the proper safeguards for the vast amounts of information stored in server farms.

There's money at stake, too. The global market for cloud computing via the Internet is estimated to be $240 billion by 2020. But the Business Software Alliance, a coalition member that represents Apple, Intel and Microsoft, said U.S. cloud providers are at a disadvantage unless online privacy and security laws are changed. If consumers aren't sure their information is being properly protected on the remote, networked computer servers that make up the cloud, they'll take their business elsewhere.

Use of the law has been interpreted inconsistently by the courts, further fuel for those pushing for an overhaul. In a 2010 decision, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati ruled that an Ohio businessman's constitutional rights were violated when federal investigators obtained thousands of his emails without warrants. Now investigators in states covered by the 6th Circuit — Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and Tennessee — must obtain warrants for all emails. But that's not the law in other federal circuits.

In the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers California, Washington, Oregon and six other Western states, judges ruled that a search warrant was required for both opened and unopened email, but only if left on a server for less than 180 days. The Justice Department has argued that a search warrant is required for unopened email left on a server for less than 180 days, but not for opened email less than 180 days old.

The decisions mean different rules apply depending where an investigation begins. How should emails be treated if a case starts in Pennsylvania and the messages are stored on a server in California, the hub for Google, Yahoo and other major Internet businesses?

"It's very confusing," said Hanni Fakhoury, a staff attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation in San Francisco. "Law enforcement will never admit this, but a uniform search warrant standard is easier for them."

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Business - BostonHerald.com

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 28 November 2012 | 18.38

Business - BostonHerald.comBusiness - 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. Wed, 28 Nov 2012 06:32:29 -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=1061177803&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061177803&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061177803&srvc=rss MIT Media Lab director Joi Ito and famed filmmaker J.J. Abrams experienced what you might call a Vulcan mind... business Wed, 28 Nov 2012 05:49:46 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061177890&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061177890&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061177890&srvc=rss NEW YORK -- Two football games that showed the widely divergent paths of New York's pro football teams boosted... business Wed, 28 Nov 2012 04:35:35 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061177886&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061177886&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061177886&srvc=rss WASHINGTON - The Newseum in Washington will mark the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F.... business Wed, 28 Nov 2012 04:08:09 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177885&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177885&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177885&srvc=rss CAMBRIDGE -- The Obama administration's top immigration official is visiting the Massachusetts Institute of Technology... business Wed, 28 Nov 2012 04:05:03 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177882&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177882&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177882&srvc=rss A popular program that allows some commuter rail customers to purchase and display tickets on their smartphones... business Wed, 28 Nov 2012 02:59:36 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177804&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177804&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177804&srvc=rss Shoppers visiting stores during what's become a four-day Black Friday "weekend" thanks to Thanksgiving openings... business Tue, 27 Nov 2012 21:58:13 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177811&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177811&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177811&srvc=rss Mass. home sales soar over last year A total of 4,044 single-family homes sold in the Bay State last month,... business Tue, 27 Nov 2012 21:46:55 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177787&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177787&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177787&srvc=rss Shoppers visiting stores during what's become a four-day Black Friday "weekend" thanks to Thanksgiving openings... business Tue, 27 Nov 2012 19:40:32 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177769&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177769&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177769&srvc=rss A Woburn business owner has pleaded guilty in connection with failing to accurately report his total payroll or... business Tue, 27 Nov 2012 19:09:30 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177772&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177772&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177772&srvc=rss WASHINGTON - A federal judge today ordered tobacco companies to publish corrective statements that say they lied... business Tue, 27 Nov 2012 17:38:04 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177583&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177583&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177583&srvc=rss State officials and industry leaders today will hold the first meeting of the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative... business Tue, 27 Nov 2012 16:22:02 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177763&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177763&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177763&srvc=rss A racy Cyber Monday promo from urban streetwear web retailer Karmaloop featuring scantily-clad women posing as... business Tue, 27 Nov 2012 15:55:32 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177752&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177752&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177752&srvc=rss The search is on for a new CEO at Hub-based online customizable jewelry retailer Gemvara. Founder Matt Lauzon... business Tue, 27 Nov 2012 15:06:59 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177743&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177743&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177743&srvc=rss Bay State business leaders and state officials plan to hold a manufacturing summit next spring to promote an industry... business Tue, 27 Nov 2012 14:14:02 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177741&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177741&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177741&srvc=rss Research teams at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and other institutions are developing a nanotube-based... business Tue, 27 Nov 2012 13:47:59 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177739&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177739&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177739&srvc=rss The Pinehills in Plymouth will be home for the second Mirbeau Inn & Spa. Mirbeau, which operates a six-building,... business Tue, 27 Nov 2012 13:41:38 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177730&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177730&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177730&srvc=rss BioAxone BioSciences, a privately held biotechnology company, will celebrate the opening of a new office in Cambridge... business Tue, 27 Nov 2012 13:22:50 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177731&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177731&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177731&srvc=rss BUFFALO, N.Y.- The latest in a string of lawyers who have represented a New York man in a multibillion lawsuit... business Tue, 27 Nov 2012 13:20:14 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177711&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177711&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177711&srvc=rss Fans of the 137-year-old Locke-Ober can still get a memento of the venerable Boston restaurant. Restaurant and... business Tue, 27 Nov 2012 13:15:48 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177724&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177724&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177724&srvc=rss The Chestnut Hill Shopping Center, which is under redevelopment and expansion, has been rebranded as The Street... business Tue, 27 Nov 2012 13:12:51 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177721&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177721&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177721&srvc=rss WILBRAHAM - A general contractor that's done work for the federal government, the state, and Fenway Park, has... business Tue, 27 Nov 2012 12:49:33 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061177714&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061177714&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061177714&srvc=rss This holiday season you're likely to spot singer Jennifer Lopez in Kohl's. You could get a peek at pop music icon... business Tue, 27 Nov 2012 11:58:22 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061177712&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061177712&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/media/view.bg?articleid=1061177712&srvc=rss NEW YORK - Radio talk show host Laura Ingraham is off the air - at least temporarily. She said Tuesday that... business Tue, 27 Nov 2012 11:49:27 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177709&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177709&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177709&srvc=rss The Berklee College of Music has released an updated version of its comprehensive directory of salary ranges for... business Tue, 27 Nov 2012 11:43:27 -0500 http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177585&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177585&format=comments#CommentsArea&srvc=rss http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1061177585&srvc=rss Federal customs agents yesterday laid out a holiday-shopping sampler of bargain-basement bootleg buys - including... business Tue, 27 Nov 2012 11:35:47 -0500

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Charitable giving gets its own day

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 27 November 2012 | 18.38

Thanksgiving weekend was about spend, spend, spend. Today it's about give, give, give.

"Giving Tuesday," a movement debuting hot on the heels of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, encourages charities to step up their fundraising efforts and the public to think of others, largely through social media.

The initiative counts more than 2,100 organizations as partners, including about 100 in the Bay State, several of which said Giving Tuesday virtually eliminates the need for year-end appeals.

"This is perfect timing — 40 percent of our annual support comes in November and December," said Melanie Sheffield, director of advancement for the Animal Rescue League of Boston, which appointed former hopeFound executive director Mary Nee as its new president yesterday. "It would be amazing to see this become part of the vernacular."

The concept was spearheaded by officials at New York's 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation. A bevy of corporations and nonprofits also serve as founding partners, including J.C. Penney, Sony Electronics, United Way, Simon Malls and the Bridge-span Group.

Given the social media implications behind the initiative, organizers officially refer to Giving Tuesday by its Twitter hashtag, #GivingTuesday.

"I think it is a fresh, creative idea that is harnessing both the American spirit of generosity and the power of social media to build a movement," said Thomas Tierney, chairman and co-founder of the Bridgespan Group. "By drawing attention to 'giving' we both recognize and reinforce the public spiritedness that makes America so special — and provides so much value to our communities."

Giving Tuesday also helps the mission statements of smaller nonprofits be heard better, said Laura Winig, executive director of Wellesley-based Venturing Out, a Massachusetts partner.

"Particularly with us, given our size, we don't really float to the top for many people, so for us to get attention we actually thought it might be kind of nice to have that wrapped into a more formal and better-known undertaking than just ours," she said.

Jessica Orndorff, development officer for community programs at the Joslin Diabetes Center — which raised $1.5 million during National Diabetes Month — said she hoped the movement would gain momentum as fundraising is already on people's minds given the time of year.

"At the end of the calendar year, you're going to be making an extra effort or extra appeal to make a gift," she said. "This is a great way to put it on the calendar of the general public."

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Chef Batali baking up Seaport pizzeria plan

Fort Point's restaurant scene is getting hotter, this time with news that a certain flame-haired celebrity chef is in talks to open a Summer Street restaurant.

Mario Batali is in negotiations to open a pizzeria at 320 Summer St., a source involved in the deal said.

Batali tweeted on Saturday that he would be opening a Babbo pizzeria in Boston "very soon," but the source close to the negotiations said the restaurant would be a third location for his Otto Enoteca Pizzeria. No agreement has been signed, the source said.

"They wanted Boston, they wanted the Seaport," said the source, who wished to go unnamed because talks are supposed to be confidential. "It would be a great use for the building and great for the Seaport."

Batali is negotiating for 6,500 square feet at 320 Summer St., a former warehouse building to which Woburn software firm LogMeIn will relocate its headquarters next year.

A competing Portland, Maine, company already operates pizzerias in Brookline and Cambridge under the Otto brand, which could account for the name discrepancies for Batali's plans.

A spokeswoman for the chef said an official statement would be released in the next two weeks.

A cookbook author and co-host of ABC's "The Chew" daytime talk show, Batali has 20-plus restaurants with business partner Joe Bastianich, including the flagship Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca in New York and Otto Enoteca Pizzerias in New York and Las Vegas, which sell pizzas for $7 to $15.

Batali would be added to a roster of big-name Fort Point chefs who include Barbara Lynch (Drink, Sportello, Menton), Joanne Chang (Flour) and Ming Tsai, who's slated to open the 70-seat Blue Dragon at 324 A St., by year's end.

Former nightlife-king-turned-restaurateur Seth Greenberg plans to open a French bistro at 49 Melcher St. next year, but said it was too early to reveal the chef. Also, Berkeley Investments reportedly will bring in a celebrity chef for a restaurant at 381 Congress St.

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Help wanted in manufacturing

State officials and industry leaders today will hold the first meeting of the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative to draw attention to a sector whose work force is aging and projected to have 100,000 job openings over the next decade.

While some analysts have predicted the decline of industry as a major economic player, manufacturing is Massachusetts' fifth-largest private sector, accounting for some 7,500 companies and 250,000 jobs, said Northeastern University Professor Barry Bluestone, who serves on the collaborative's board.

"A lot of people don't know that Massachusetts manufactures things," said Mitch Tyson, the collaborative's industry co-chairman and former CEO of PRI Automation. "The reality is so much of high-tech products in the state are made here. All manufacturing jobs have not moved to China."

But while productivity in the sector has increased by about 8.7 percent annually since 2007 in Massachusetts, the manufacturing work force is aging and expected to have 100,000 job openings by 2022, said Bluestone, who co-authored a report on the industry this year.

Of 700 Bay State manufacturing companies surveyed for that report, 70 percent said they expect to increase employment over the next five years alone, Bluestone said.

The collaborative, which met informally for more than two years before it was formally established in August as part of the jobs bill Gov. Deval Patrick signed, has been working with vocational school and community college leaders to better align their curriculum with companies' needs and to tout manufacturing careers through promotional campaigns like "AMP it up!"

"We need to find ways to attract employees and train them," Bluestone said.

Manufacturing companies in Massachusetts pay an average of $27,000 per year for unskilled, entry-level workers and $52,000 per year for skilled production workers, Bluestone said.

"There's lots of room for people to have secure, good-paying jobs in this industry," said Eric Nakajima, assistant secretary for innovation policy.

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Taliban say they tried to kill Pakistani TV anchor

PESHAWAR, Pakistan — The Pakistani Taliban have claimed responsibility for a failed assassination attempt against a prominent Pakistani TV anchor.

Taliban spokesman Ahsanullah Ahsan said Tuesday that the group targeted Geo TV's Hamid Mir because he was "promoting secular forces."

A bomb was found underneath Mir's car in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, on Monday and was defused by police.

The Taliban threatened Mir and other journalists last month because the group was unhappy with their coverage of a schoolgirl activist shot by the militants.

The Taliban shot 15-year-old Malala Yousufzai in the head for criticizing the militants and promoting girls' education. She is currently recovering in Britain.

Ahsan, the Taliban spokesman, said they will target Mir again and other journalists opposed by the militants.

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Allston Urban Outfitters, Petco site sold

Written By Unknown on Senin, 26 November 2012 | 18.38

A Newton real estate company has purchased a retail and medical office building in Allston for $11.7 million.

An investment affiliate of National Development bought the three-story building at 226 Harvard Ave. from Chicago's Wrightwood Capital.

The 28,000-square-foot property, built in 2009, is fully leased to four tenants: Urban Outfitters, Unleashed by Petco, Hair Cuttery and Steward Medical Group.

"We like the fact that this is a new property at a prime visible location at the intersection of Harvard Street and Commonwealth Avenue," said Ted Tye, a managing partner at National Development. "It has great MBTA access and strong long-term leases."

The building, which fell into foreclosure in 2010 after the construction loan matured, sits between a Staples store and T.J. Maxx.

Elsewhere in Boston, National Development said in September that it was selling six buildings in the Fort Point neighborhood.

Tye declined comment on a report that the firm has reached a $130 million deal with Clarion Partners, a New York real estate investment manager.

National Development bought the buildings — one of which features the iconic Boston Wharf Co. neon sign on its roof — for about $74 million in 2007.

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The Ticker

Hotel firm enters Mass.

RLJ Lodging Trust has acquired the 275-room Embassy Suites hotel in Waltham, marking the Bethesda, Md., company's first move into the Massachusetts market.

The company said it paid $64.5 million for the 550 Winter St. property near Route 128 and the Cambridge Reservoir. The hotel underwent a $12 million renovation and brand conversion from DoubleTree last year.

The seller was HEI Hotels & Resorts, a Norwalk, Conn., company that owns about 40 hotels including the Liberty in Boston and Le Meridien in Cambridge.

Publicly traded RLJ's portfolio consists of 145 hotels in 20 states.

Wentworth dorm earns approval

The Wentworth Institute of Technology recently won approval from city planners for a 305-bed dorm on Huntington Avenue in Boston.

The seven-story building will allow the school to house 96 percent of its students on campus.

The $43 million project will create 275 construction jobs, according to the Boston Redevelopment Authority.

TODAY

American Eagle Outfitters and Guess release quarterly financial results.

TOMORROW

Emily Rooney, host and executive editor of WGBH's "Greater Boston," addresses the women's network breakfast hosted by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.

Standard & Poor's releases the S&P/Case-Shiller home price index for September and the third quarter.

Analog Devices and Sycamore Networks release quarterly financial results.

The Conference Board releases the Consumer Confidence Index for November.

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All items in '12 Days of Christmas' now top $107K

PITTSBURGH — Add seven swans, six geese and five golden rings to the list of Christmas gifts that cost more than they did a year ago.

And if you get all 364 items repeated throughout "The Twelve Days of Christmas" carol, you'll pay 6.1 percent more this year, according to the so-called Christmas Price Index that PNC Wealth Management updates annually.

That comes to $107,300.

"The rise is larger than expected considering the modest economic growth we've had," said Jim Dunigan, managing executive of investments for PNC. He noted the government's Consumer Price Index has risen just 2 percent in the 12 months before September.

Thrifty shoppers may find some reasons for cheer. Six items mentioned in the song haven't gone up in price: maids-a-milking, ladies dancing, lords-a-leaping, calling birds, turtle doves and the partridge. The eight maids-a-milking still cost just $58 because the minimum wage hasn't risen.

Twelve drummers drumming ($2,775.50) and eleven pipers piping ($2,562) might also be considered relative bargains compared to seven swans, which will set you back $7,000. Nine ladies dancing will cost you $6,294.03.

Dunigan said the 2011 drought caused the prices of some birds to soar, partly because of corn and other feed costs.

"The geese were up 29.6 percent, and swans were up 11 percent," Dunigan said, adding that none of the gifts in the song went down in price this year.

The price of a pear tree is $189.99, an 11.8 percent jump from last year's $169.99. Five gold rings jumped 16.3 percent this year, to $750, and three French hens are now $165, instead of $150.

The $15 partridge is the cheapest item, and swans the most expensive, at $1,000 each.

Last-minute shoppers who turn to the Internet will pay a bit more for the gifts. Buying one set of the core items in each verse costs $24,431 in traditional stores this year, but $40,440 online. Part of that difference is the extra expense of shipping live birds, Dunigan said, adding that Internet costs rose 1.5 percent compared to last year.

PNC Financial Services Group Inc. checks jewelry stores, dance companies, pet stores and other sources to compile the list. Some of its sources this year include the National Aviary in Pittsburgh and the Philadelphia-based Pennsylvania Ballet Company.

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2014 World Cup mascot named 'Fuleco'

SAO PAULO — Brazilians have selected the name "Fuleco" for the three-banded armadillo mascot for the 2014 World Cup after a three-month voting process that was derided by fans as undemocratic.

FIFA said Sunday that more than 1.7 million people in Brazil took part in the controversial vote to select the name for the mascot. The other options were Zuzeco and Amijubi.

Polls across the country had shown the vast majority of Brazilians were not pleased with the names picked for public voting and critics said organizers should have allowed fans to choose other names. There was even an online petition demanding a more democratic approach in which the public could make suggestions.

Fuleco comes from the Portuguese words "futebol" (football) and "ecologia" (ecology), and FIFA said it "seamlessly represents the way in which the FIFA World Cup can combine the two to encourage people to behave in an environmentally friendly way."

Football's governing body said Fuleco received 48 percent of the vote, while 31 percent went for Zuzeco and 21 percent for Amijubi.

Amijubi comes from the words "amizade" (friendship) and "jubilo" (joy), while Zuzeco comes from "azul" (blue) and "ecologia" (ecology).

FIFA said the three options were chosen by a "high-profile judging committee" that included former Brazil player Bebeto and Brazilian celebrities and politicians. Organizers said it wouldn't have been feasible to allow fans to send in suggestions because the names needed to fulfill several legal requirements involving trademarks and other rights.

FIFA said studies showed that the top terms used by the public to describe Fuleco included "Brazilian," "nature," "friendly" and "passion for football."

"This clearly shows that Brazilians already recognize the significance of the armadillo as an important ambassador for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and his role in inspiring fans all over the world with his passion for the sport and his country," FIFA said in a statement.

The three-banded armadillo, named for the three distinctive bands on its shell and found in northeastern Brazil, was introduced as the mascot in September.

The armadillo, which is in danger of extinction, rolls up into the shape of a ball when threatened. The mascot carries the colors of the Brazilian flag — the armadillo is yellow, with green shorts and a blue shell and tail. It is dressed in a white shirt with the words "Brazil 2014" written on it.

The mascot of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa was a leopard called Zakumi, while the 2006 tournament in Germany had a lion called Goleo.

———

Follow Tales Azzoni at http://twitter.com/tazzoni

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All items in '12 Days of Christmas' now top $107K

2014 World Cup mascot named 'Fuleco'

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