'American Sniper' tops this week's TV ad spend

In this week's edition of the Variety Movie Commercial Tracker, powered by iSpot.tv, "American Sniper" held the top ad spend position last week, with an estimated $9.8 million spent across 985 national airings on 46 networks, led by MTV and Comedy Central.

Falling to No. 2 was last week's frontrunner, "Unbroken," with an estimated $6.5 million spend spanning 1,620 national airings across 52 networks, led by Cloo and USA Today. But that was it for the list veterans, as the bottom three entries are all newcomers.

In the No. 3 spot this week is the third installment of the "Taken" franchise -- "Taken 3" -- with an estimated $5.9 million spent on 1,045 national spots over 33 networks, led by MTV and Comedy Central. Next is "Blackhat" with an estimated $5.5 million spent on 765 national airing across 40 networks, led by Comedy Central and Spike. "Into the Woods" rounded out the list with a $4.6 million estimated spend on 714 national spots across 31 networks, led by ABC Family and E!

$9.8M - American Sniper

Online Activity: 12.21% within the movie category*

National Airings: 985

Networks: 46

Most Aired On: MTV, Comedy Central

Creative Versions: 17

Est. Lifetime TV Spend: $20.4M

Studio: Warner Bros.

Started Airing: 12/05/14

$6.5M - Unbroken

Online Activity: 2.56% within the movie category*

National Airings: 1,620

Networks: 52

Most Aired On: Cloo, USA Network

Creative Versions: 24

Est. Lifetime TV Spend: $37.3M

Studio: Universal Pictures

Started Airing: 11/20/14

$5.9M - Taken 3

Online Activity: 2.31% within the movie category*

National Airings: 1,045

Networks: 33

Most Aired On: MTV, Comedy Central

Creative Versions: 13

Est. Lifetime TV Spend: $11M

Studio: Twentieth Century Fox

Started Airing: 12/08/14

$5.5M - Blackhat

Online Activity: 1.24% within the movie category*

National Airings: 765

Networks: 40

Most Aired On: Comedy Central, Spike

Creative Versions: 8

Est. Lifetime TV Spend: $8M

Studio: Universal Pictures

Started Airing: 11/20/14

$4.6M - Into the Woods

Online Activity: 4.01% within the movie category*

National Airings: 714

Networks: 31

Most Aired On: ABC Family, E!

Creative Versions: 40

Est. Lifetime TV Spend: $20.3M

Studio: Walt Disney Studios

Started Airing: 11/12/14

¹ Movie titles with a minimum spend of $100,000 for airings detected between 12/22/2014 and 12/28/2014.
* Percent of digital activity captured across online video, social media, and search activity that was stimulated by these movie trailers and measured in comparison to all online activity in the movie category.

Variety has partnered with iSpot.tv, a company that catalogs, tags and measures activity around TV commercials in real time, to bring you this weekly look at what studios are spending to market their movies on TV. Learn more about the iSpot.tv platform and methodology.

© 2014 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

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Maura Healey may sue drug cos. to rein in Rx abuse

Attorney General-elect Maura Healey said she would consider taking legal action against pharmaceutical companies to help rein in prescription drug abuse that can lead to heroin addiction.

Healey pointed to a lawsuit brought by Kentucky against Purdue Pharma alleging the company misled health care providers, consumers and government officials regarding the risk of addiction associated with the drug OxyContin.

"It's something I want to look at," Healey said. "I certainly won't hesitate to take action against pharmaceutical companies that are engaged in unfair or deceptive marketing practices and aren't being straight with the public."

Healey said the problem of opiate addiction has been growing, in part, because prescription painkillers have become so powerful while the cost of illegal drugs such as heroin has plummeted as their potency has increased. That's led to a rise of overdoses, she said.

The Kentucky lawsuit was filed in 2007 and remains pending.

Richard Silbert, a lawyer for Purdue Pharma, said the company agrees prescription drug abuse is a serious problem. He said that's why the company reformulated OxyContin to make it harder to abuse. But Silbert said the evidence doesn't show the company's marketing caused harm.

Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway has said the state is moving ahead with the lawsuit.

Kentucky isn't alone. In July, the city of Chicago filed a lawsuit alleging five pharmaceutical companies, including Purdue Pharma, deceptively marketed their drugs to treat long-term, non-cancer pain. Chicago's lawsuit mirrors a complaint filed in June by two California counties.

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France drops its super tax on millionaires

PARIS — It was supposed to force millionaires to pay tax rates of up to 75 percent: "Cuba without the sun," as described by a critic from the banking industry. Socialist President Francois Hollande's super tax was rejected by a court, rewritten and ultimately netted just a sliver of its projected proceeds. It ends on Wednesday and will not be renewed.

And that critic of the tax? He's now Hollande's economy minister, trying mightily to undo the damage to France's image in international business circles.

The tax of 75 percent on income earned above one million euros ($1.22 million) was promoted in 2012 by the newly-elected Hollande as a symbol of a fairer policy for the middle class, a financial contribution of the wealthiest at a time of economic crisis.

But the government was never able to fully implement the measure. It was overturned by France's highest court and rewritten as a 50 percent tax paid by employers.

Faced with a stalling economy and rising unemployment, the government reversed course in 2014 with a plan to cut payroll taxes by up to 40 billion euros ($49 billion) by 2017, hoping to boost hiring and attract more investments.

All the while, Prime Minister Manuel Valls kept repeating his new credo: "My government is pro-business".

Ultimately, while the super tax affected only a small number of taxpayers, it triggered huge protests in business, sporting and artistic communities.

French actor Gerard Depardieu decried it vociferously and took Russian citizenship. Soccer clubs threatened to boycott matches for fear that 114 of their players or coaches would be taxed. The final version of the tax allowed them to minimize the burden.

The announcement of the 75 percent tax had "a very bad psychological effect" in business circles, says Sandra Hazan, a lawyer who heads Dentons Global Tax Group. Even if most of the companies were able to minimize or avoid the tax, "I think it had an extremely devastating impact on the attractiveness of France for foreigners."

At the time of its proposal, British Prime minister David Cameron ironically proposed to "roll out the red carpet" to French companies willing to avoid the tax.

Economist Thomas Piketty, author of the book "Capital in the Twenty-First Century", criticized it as "a millstone around the neck" of the government, asking instead for global reform of tax laws.

Proceeds from the tax are estimated to total 420 million euros ($512 million) for about 1,000 employees in 470 companies, according to the government. By comparison, France's budget deficit has soared well over 80 billion euros ($97 billion).

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Apple devices dominate at christmas

The holidays were filled with a lot of Apples lighting up for the first time.

Mobile devices made by Apple accounted for 51% of the devices being activated around the world on Dec. 25, according to Yahoo-owned research firm Flurry. The iPhone 6 was the No. 1 device.

Samsung came in second with 18%, followed by Microsoft's Nokia unit at 5.8%. Sony and LG trailed at 1.6% and 1.4%, respectively.

In other words, for every Samsung device that was activated, Apple activated 2.9 devices.

Apple is expected to sell 71.5 million iPhones during the fourth quarter, according to KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, 40% more than the 51 million iPhones sold in the last quarter of 2013. Apple sold more than 10 million iPhones during the first three days of the release of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in September, a record for the company.

In comparison, Samsung sold 12 million Galaxy S5 smartphones in its first three months of release, off 4 million from when the S4 was launched, analysts say. Overall, it's sold 40% fewer S5 units than it expected, with China, in particular, accounting for much of the decline as rivals there take a larger percentage of the business.

Christmas Day typically marks the time when more new mobile devices are activated than any other time on the calendar.

The same is true for apps, with more software purchased for devices on the day, Flurry said, which makes sense, given that consumers are looking for software to put on their new hardware.

This year was no different.

Flurry, which tracks more than 600,000 apps, found that app installs increased 2.5 times the number on an average day in the first three weeks of December.

The firm also found that larger screens are also becoming more popular.

Apple recently released the iPhone 6 Plus, with a 5.5-inch screen, while Samsung has the 5.7-inch Galaxy Note 4 in the phablet category -- devices with larger screens that fall in between a smartphone and a tablet.

In the week leading up to Christmas, 13% of new device activations were phablets, compared to just 4% in 2013.

Overall, the findings are notable, given how consumers are spending more time accessing entertainment on mobile devices.

In fact, 2014 marked the first time that more time was spent watching a smartphone or tablet than a television.

The time consumers spend on mobile devices has grown to 2 hours and 57 minutes -- up 9.3% -- topping the time spent watching TV, which has remained flat at 2 hours and 48 minutes daily, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Christmas numbers are also notable for Apple, given that its iOS operating system trails Google's Android around the globe. Android devices made up 84% of the smartphone sales in the third quarter, according to IDC, versus nearly 18% for iOS. For tablets, Android powered 68% of tablets, versus iOS at 28%.

The new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus were the first smartphones Apple released worldwide.

©2014 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

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Chipotle apologizes for NY worker's police protest

NEW YORK — Two Chipotle chief executives have apologized to New York City police officers who were greeted by a restaurant employee making the "hands up, don't shoot" gesture popular with protesters.

Co-Chief Executive Officers Steve Ells and Monty Moran said in a statement Monday that the employee's action appeared to be spontaneous. They said it happened at one of their Brooklyn restaurants on Dec. 16 when a group of nine police officers entered. They said the officers were not refused service, but chose to leave after encountering the gesture while in line.

The executives said appropriate actions had been taken toward the crew member after the Denver-based Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. reviewed video footage from security cameras. They said they could not discuss what actions were taken.

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Alert issued after likely HIV porn set infection

LOS ANGELES — California public health officials issued an alert Monday after finding "very strong evidence" that an adult film actor became infected with HIV as a result of unprotected sex on an out-of-state film shoot.

The Department of Public Health said the male actor tested positive for the virus that causes AIDS after engaging in unprotected sex with several other male actors during two separate film shoots. He had tested negative before the shoot.

"During the second film shoot, he had symptoms of a viral infection," the alert states. "The actor went to a clinic and had another blood test that showed he had recently become infected with HIV."

One actor from the second shoot has since tested positive for HIV. According to the health department, lab results indicate the first actor who tested positive "probably transmitted" HIV to the second.

A health department official was unable to immediately release further details regarding the lab testing and investigation. The alert notes that very early in an HIV infection, the test can be negative "even though the actor really does have HIV."

"In this case, the actor and production company thought he was HIV-negative during filming," the alert states. "Shortly after his negative test, HIV levels in his body rose rapidly to where he could infect other actors through unprotected sex.

A California-based trade group for the adult film industry declined to comment.

A health department official declined to release any information regarding when the transmission had taken place or which company it involved, citing privacy restrictions, but said the apparent transmission occurred in Nevada.

"It's happened before, it's happened now, and it will happen in the future," said Michael Weinstein, president of the Los Angeles-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation. "The big lie the industry has been saying all these years, there are no on-set transmissions, has been proven to be untrue."

The foundation championed an ordinance adopted by Los Angeles County voters in 2012 requiring actors in pornographic films to use condoms. The porn industry has fought the ordinance, saying having actors use condoms would interfere with a film's fantasy element by subjecting viewers to real-world concerns like pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

A federal appeals court recently ruled the ordinance does not violate First Amendment rights.

Several porn companies have moved shoots out of the county over the last two years in response to the ordinance. The number of porn filmmakers applying for permits in LA County has declined sharply, from 485 in 2012 to 40 in 2013.

The last confirmed on-set HIV infection was in 2004. After that, the porn industry adopted monthly testing for a range of STDs. Last year, the industry increased testing to every 14 days after a woman who performs under the name Cameron Bay contracted HIV. Her diagnosis triggered a moratorium on adult film production until all performers who worked with her were medically cleared.

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Developer serves up plan for building behind Back Bay tennis club

Developers are proposing a 10-story mixed-use, glass-faced building that would rise above a 1902 Beaux Arts building on Boston's Boylston Street, across from the Hynes Convention Center.

The $40 million project by Boston-based Hamlen Co. would replace an existing 18-space parking lot behind 927-939 Boylston St. and build upon what's considered an original building in the Back Bay neighborhood, according to documents filed with the Boston Redevelopment Authority. It would include 15 residential units, two ground-floor retail spaces, a second level of shell office or educational space and a new enclosed parking garage with 35 spaces.

"The proposed project will create much-needed housing and retail space in the Back Bay neighborhood in a manner that is consistent with and complimentary to the existing architecture and character of the neighborhood," the project developers said in a letter submitted to the Boston Redevelopment Authority.

Hamlen's plans include refurbishing the existing classical revival style building at 927-939 Boylston St. that's home to the Boston Tennis and Racquet Club — Boston's oldest athletic and social club. Residents of the proposed project would have access to the club's fitness facilities, food service, social areas and meeting space. The existing building also houses Berklee College of Music facilities, including its student-run Cafe 939 music venue and coffee house.

The project still must be vetted by the Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay's Architectural Committee and the Back Bay Architectural Commission in addition to the BRA.

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No health insurance? Penalties to rise in 2015

WASHINGTON — The cost of being uninsured in America is going up significantly next year for millions of people.

It's the first year all taxpayers have to report to the Internal Revenue Service whether they had health insurance for the previous year, as required under President Barack Obama's law. Those who were uninsured face fines, unless they qualify for one of about 30 exemptions, most of which involve financial hardships.

Dayna Dayson of Phoenix estimates that she'll have to pay the tax man $290 when she files her federal return. Dayson, who's in her early 30s, works in marketing and doesn't have a lot left over each month after housing, transportation and other fixed costs. She'd like health insurance but she couldn't afford it in 2014, as required by the law.

"It's touted as this amazing thing, but right now, for me, it doesn't fit into my budget," she said.

Ryan Moon of Des Moines, Iowa, graduated from college in 2013 with a bachelor's degree in political science and is still hunting for a permanent job with benefits. He expects to pay a fine of $95. A supporter of the health care law, he feels conflicted about its insurance mandate and fines.

"I hate the idea that you have to pay a penalty, but at the same time, it helps other people," said Moon, who's in his early 20s. "It really helps society, but society has to be forced to help society."

Going without health insurance has always involved financial risks. You could have an accident and end up with thousands of dollars in medical bills. Now, you may also get fined. In a decision that allowed Obama's law to advance, the Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that the coverage requirement and its accompanying fines were a constitutionally valid exercise of Congress' authority to tax.

In 2015, all taxpayers have to report to the IRS on their health insurance status the previous year. Most will check a box. It's also when the IRS starts collecting fines from some uninsured people, and deciding if others qualify for exemptions.

What many people don't realize is that the penalties go up significantly in 2015. Only 3 percent of uninsured people know what the fine for 2015 will be, according to a recent poll by the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation.

Figuring out your potential exposure if you're uninsured isn't simple.

For 2014, the fine is the greater of $95 per person or 1 percent of household income above the threshold for filing taxes. It will jump in 2015 to the greater of 2 percent of income or $325. By 2016, the average fine will be about $1,100, based on government figures.

People can get a sense of the potential hit by going online and using the Tax Policy Center's Affordable Care Act penalty calculator.

Many taxpayers may be able to get a pass. Based on congressional analysis, tax preparation giant H&R Block says roughly 4 million uninsured people will pay penalties and 26 million will qualify for exemptions from the list of more than 30 waivers.

But it's unclear whether taxpayers are aware of the exemptions.

Deciding what kind of waiver to seek could be crucial. Some can be claimed directly on a tax return, but others involve mailing paperwork to the Health and Human Services Department. Tax preparation companies say the IRS has told them it's taking steps to make sure taxpayers' returns don't languish in bureaucratic limbo while HHS rules on their waivers.

TurboTax has created a free online tool called "Exemption Check" for people to see if they may qualify for a waiver. Charges apply later if the taxpayer files through TurboTax.

Timing will be critical for uninsured people who want to avoid the rising penalties for 2015.

That's because Feb. 15 is the last day of open enrollment under the health law. After that, only people with special circumstances can sign up. But just 5 percent of uninsured people know the correct deadline, according to the Kaiser poll.

"We could be looking at a real train wreck after Feb. 15," said Stan Dorn, a health policy expert at the nonpartisan Urban Institute. "People will file their tax returns and learn they are subject to a much larger penalty for 2015, and they can do absolutely nothing to avoid that."

The insurance requirement and penalties remain the most unpopular part of the health care law. They were intended to serve a broader purpose by nudging healthy people into the insurance pool, helping to keep premiums more affordable.

Sensitive to political backlash, supporters of the health care law have played down the penalties in their sign-up campaigns. But stressing the positive — such as the availability of financial help and the fact that insurers can no longer turn away people with health problems — may be contributing to the information gap about the penalties.

Dayson, the Phoenix resident, says she's hoping her employer will offer a health plan she can fit into her budget, allowing her to avoid higher fines for 2015.

In Des Moines, recent college graduate Moon has held a succession of temporary local and state government jobs that don't provide affordable coverage. The penalties are on his mind.

"When it gets up to $325, I hope I have a career that actually offers me a good health care plan," he said.

___

Associated Press Social Media Editor Eric Carvin contributed to this report.

___

Online:

Tax Policy Center ACA penalty calculator: http://tinyurl.com/mrppjoe

TurboTax Exemption Check: http://bit.ly/1xu9hDl

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Somerville program helps young adults develop skills for employment

A Somerville workforce development program has teamed up with a jobs website to match low-income young adults with local businesses.

Although anyone can post or apply for one-off jobs or part-time work for free on HelpAroundTown.com, young adults age 18 to 24 in the city's Pocket Change program can signify their membership by using a badge on their profile, and employers can give preference to those applicants if they choose, said program manager Amanda Maher, the city's senior economic development specialist.

Pocket Change members get alerts when new jobs become available, and their case managers help them to apply and act as contacts if a job-poster wants to provide feedback.

Through a $7,500 contract, Somerville will pay for improvements to the Help Around Town website, which will allow the city to continue to use it for the Pocket Change program, Maher said.

Reem Yared, chief executive of Help Around Town, said Somerville initially approached her for advice, but it became clear that both sides were on the same page.

"We had exactly the same goals," she said. "I started Help Around Town with the specific purpose of helping youth find local jobs and build a reputation."

She said many employers will go the extra mile if they know they will be helping someone who really needs a job.

"It's really out of good citizenship, they know they are hiring local youth who want to make it," Yared said.

Funding for the contract and the program is provided through a $100,000 Working Cities Challenge Grant, awarded to Somerville early this year by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

The city applied for the grant after a 2013 report by Commonwealth Corporation and the Drexel University Center for Labor Markets and Policy found that many young adults lack the "soft skills" needed for a job, such as knowing how to write a cover letter and resume, showing up for work on time and not talking on their cellphones on the job, Maher said.

"Many employers were saying, 'If you can send us someone with those skills and a good work ethic, we'll train them to do the rest,' " she said. "So the whole idea behind the program using Help Around Town is to provide young adults with pocket change while we work with them on soft-skill training. It also provides them with work experience for their resumes, as well as references, so that they'll be ready some day for full-time permanent employment."

The partnership between Pocket Change and Help Around Town has already paid dividends, Maher said. Several young adults who applied for one-off jobs with Somerville businesses through the site have since moved into more permanent employment with a local business.

In the meantime, the city has been seeking additional funders to sustain the program, she said.

For more information, contact Amanda Maher at amaher@somervillema.gov or 617-625-6600, ext. 2528, or go to HelpAroundTown.com.

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Forecasting 2015: Digital world will smarten up

The "Internet of Things," "organic" TV and personal drones are among the high-tech items that you can expect to see in 2015.

"We will see a lot more of the 'Internet of Things,' meaning smart devices that we have in our houses that can do various things will be connected together and made to work together more closely," said Carl Howe of Think Big's Boston office.

"There will also be big focus on wearable technology. There was a lot of that last year and I expect even more of that going into 2015, including fitness wearables and smart watches."

Howe said he also expects Apple's Apple Pay service, which will let smartphone owners pay for items at stores with a wave of their device, will make a splash over the next 12 months: "Apple Pay is going to be a really big deal this year. I think we will finally see paying with smartphones become a big trend in 2015."

Ben Bajarin of Creative Strategies said technology due to be unveiled in 2015 will change the TV viewing experience.

"There are bigger TVs, curved TVs and these organic LED4K TVs, which I think will start pushing the boundaries of what people can get."

Bajarin added, "I'm seeing an awful lot of drones being advertised. There are even drones that will follow you around if you put a little sensor on yourself."

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Pringo not for everyone, but still cute

Pringo Pocket Wi-Fi Photo Printer ($149.99, Amazon.com)

With all the advancements in smartphone technology, we still haven't mastered portable printing. Enter the Pringo, by Taiwanese manufacturer Hiti. Hoping to cash in on our incessant Instagram-ing, this tiny photo printer is compatible with iOS and Android, and prints smartphone photos via a Wi-Fi-enabled app.

The good: This is a cute, fun conversation-piece that stores in your pocket or purse and provides instant photo-printing gratification. Select filters, effects and borders with the accompanying app.

The bad: The best borders and effects cost money in the form of in-app purchases.

The bottom line: This is a cute little gimmick that will appeal to tweens and compulsive selfie-takers, but the cost of in-app purchases may be a deal-breaker.

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Amazon quick-delivery plans threaten small stores

Bay State convenience stores could be in for a world of pain in 2015 if Amazon speeds up and expands its same-day delivery services.

All signs point to Amazon vastly growing its Massachusetts footprint in the next year, and CEO Jeff Bezos has made no secret that instant delivery of goods to consumers is the end-game of America's biggest e-commerce giant. That means we may see the same one-hour delivery window that is currently being piloted in Manhattan — and that spells disaster for the sales volume of corner marts, which will simply no longer seem convenient.

A 1-million-square-foot fulfillment facility in Fall River, with part of the land located in Freetown, is on track to begin construction in 2015. Another 328,000-square-foot warehouse is planned for Stoughton, fueled by $2.89 million in state tax breaks over the next decade.

It's hard to blame the state for luring Amazon: The proposed facilities and its already existing properties stand to create many Bay State jobs, including an estimated 1,000 positions in Fall River and another 125 in Stoughton.

Amazon has been growing its same-day delivery service for years, and it's already available in parts of Boston and a dozen other U.S. cities. It's unclear how popular the service is locally. I've never used it, and you have to hunt around the website to find what's available for same-day delivery. But expect Amazon to start heavily promoting the service as part of its Prime subscription loyalty program in 2015.

"Our long-term vision is that customers can order and receive a sellers' product the same day anywhere in the world," reads a job listing posted by Amazon in late October, one of several open positions that point to a major hiring blitz to extend the same-day strategy across 
the globe.

Manhattan appears to be the test city for that strategy. One week before Christmas, Amazon launched the Prime Now app, which enables one-hour delivery for Prime members in parts of Manhattan. With more than 25,000 items available, delivery within an hour costs $7.99 and Prime members can select a two-hour delivery window from 6 a.m. to midnight for free. Amazon's video commercial for the service says customers can order everything from coffee grinders to TVs and have them within an hour.

Considering Amazon's shipping costs were more than double its shipping revenue for most of 2014, I'm skeptical that they'll find a way to make money on same-hour delivery anytime soon. Let's just hope they don't put too many convenience stores out of business before they raise their prices to the intended rates.

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Mass. skiing awaits cold

Massachusetts ski areas are awaiting this week's forecasted return of colder weather to make more snow and kick the season up a notch.

Wachusett Mountain Ski Area in Princeton, which opened Nov. 21, had one of its strongest and earliest launches in years for a record month.

"As the result of cold early temperatures, we were able to make snow early, and then we got the bonus of a 10-inch snowstorm around Thanksgiving," marketing director Tom Meyers said. "So we've had one of the best Novembers we've ever had."

But December has been a different story.

"December has been challenging all month, not just the last few days," Meyers said. "We've made snow whenever we can, but it's been not as cold as it was early. But, nevertheless, we still have over three-quarters of the mountain open, and the forecast now calls for cold temperatures to return … and we're looking to start making snow again and building base depths, expanding coverage and opening additional terrain."

Wachusett had 14 trails and four lifts open yesterday, with snow base depths of eight inches to 12 inches.

Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort in Hancock opened Nov. 16 with expanded snow-making operations. Yesterday, 34 trails and nine lifts were in operation with average snow base depths of eight inches to 28inches. 

"The season started out very solid and … we were able to get all our snow-making terrain open before Christmas," CEO Tyler Fairbank said. "We've never been able to do that before."

Rain on Christmas Eve and into Christmas knocked down Jiminy Peak's trail count a bit, but with a significant amount of manmade snow on the mountain, it was able to recover very quickly with its grooming fleet, according to Fairbank.

It's been a slow start at Nashoba Valley Ski Area in Westford, where eight of 18 trails and eight of 11 lifts were open yesterday.

The recent warmer weather has proved a challenge, according to marketing and corporate sales director Pam Fletcher. This time last year, Nashoba Valley had its entire mountain open thanks to a series of December snowstorms and more days of super cold temperatures.

"But with the cold weather coming, we can cover and open a slope from bare ground," Fletcher said. "And we already had, going into the rain, decent coverage — anywhere from 2 feet in some areas to 2 inches. That depth really helps you when you're going into the warm weather that we got over the holiday. We just need a couple of cold nights, and they can cover the whole thing."

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Can Mass. casinos compete?

The state's gaming czar says local casinos are ready to weather mounting competitive pressures in New York and Connecticut in 2015, as his commission gears up to regulate its first gambling facility in Plainville and grapples with uncertainty over whether there will be a third Bay State casino in Southeastern Massachusetts.

Gaming Commission chairman Stephen Crosby said developments such as New York approving three new upstate casinos on Dec. 17 — including one in Schenectady, 90 minutes from the MGM Springfield project — have been "part of the calculation from the beginning."

"The Springfield facility is going to take a backseat to nobody," Crosby said. "I think we are going to have by far the most compelling, most competitively well-positioned facilities out there."

But Michael Paladino, who assesses the credit worthiness of casino companies for Fitch Ratings, said the types of casinos New York has opened, and the commercial one rumored on Connecticut's Bay State border, generally eat away at the existing local customer base, not add to it.

"We do think the market in the Northeast is saturated, particularly with the competition coming online in New York and Massachusetts," Paladino said. "It means that, generally, new competition has limited ability to grow the market, and essentially cannibalizes existing properties to a great degree."

MGM, which this year was licensed to build an $800 million casino in downtown Springfield, isn't worried.

"We are confident that as an urban revitalization project our innovative design, tested marketing plan, and strong brand will make MGM Springfield a premiere destination resort casino in the Northeast," MGM spokeswoman Carole Brennan said. "We are moving full steam ahead for a spring 2015 groundbreaking."

Boston College professor Richard McGowan, a casino expert, expects to see Massachusetts projects cut back as New York facilities come online, and for the Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods casinos to adjust to hold on to market share.

"In the long run ... you're going to see a repeat of Atlantic City, eventually," McGowan said, referring to the widespread shuttering of casinos this year. "There's going to be too many."

The first facility to open will be the $225 million Penn National slots parlor at the Plainridge Race Course in Plainville, expected in June. Crosby said the commission will add 10 to 15 staff members to regulate the Penn facility, which he called the gaming panel's "real focus" in 2015.

Meanwhile, there is a dearth of developments for the "Region C" resort casino license in the southeastern part of the state, with a Jan. 9 deadline for interested parties to submit a list of principals for background checks.

KG Urban has been approved to pursue a license in Region C, but has yet to announce an operator or win the support of New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell, who is shopping the municipal golf course and a waterfront industrial site to casino operators.

"The market here in the Southeast is clearly weaker than it is in the other two regions," Mitchell said. "We're not holding our breath, but we're also open for a good proposal still."

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Hospital closes, leaves emergency room open

QUINCY — An emergency room is all that remains of a 124-year-old hospital in Quincy.

After reaching an agreement with state regulators, Quincy Medical Center officially closed its doors at midnight, replaced on Saturday by the 24-hour satellite emergency care facility that will continue operations until at least the end of 2015.

The hospital's owner, Steward Health Care, said it was losing $20 million a year in the face of increased regional competition.

Quincy Medical Center announced in November that it planned to close, and state officials waived a required 90-day notice that would have forced Steward to keep it open until February.

The hospital said it had no inpatients remaining at the time of closing.

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Short-sellers get last-minute gift with debt relief extension

WASHINGTON — For David Foster of Chicago, it was a stunning and welcome early Christmas present for him, his wife and three young children.

The Senate's 11th-hour extension of the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act through Dec. 31 will save Foster, who works for a nonprofit ministry group, from having to pay the IRS about $28,000 next year on $100,000 of mortgage debt canceled by his bank as part of a short sale on his condo. Before the Senate's action, he told me he had no idea "how or where we could come up with" that sort of money.

The federal tax code treats forgiven debt as ordinary income to the borrower, taxable at regular rates. But under an exception that took effect in 2007, qualified home mortgage debt that is canceled by a lender as part of a short sale, loan modification or foreclosure is treated as non-taxable. However, that exception expired last Dec. 31 and its renewal has been in doubt all year leaving short-sellers such as Foster unsure whether they would be facing crushing taxes in 2015.

Thousands of Americans who completed short sales during 2014 and received cancellations of mortgage debt by banks had reason to celebrate when the Senate extended the exception for transactions just before adjourning for the holidays. According to data prepared for this column by research firm RealtyTrac, nearly 122,000 short sales went to closing nationwide between January and October, involving an estimated average debt forgiveness of about $88,500. The average seller had a mortgage balance one and a half times higher than the market value of the house.

In a short sale, an underwater homeowner agrees to sell the property to a new purchaser, typically for a price well below what is owed to the bank. If the bank agrees to the sale, the proceeds pay off part of the loan balance and the bank forgives, or writes off, the rest.

Richard Eastern, CEO of Washington Property Solutions Inc. in Bellevue, Wash., a brokerage specializing in short sales, says people such as Foster are the lucky ones. Substantial numbers of owners have been rushing to beat the Dec. 31 deadline. "I got a call today from a client who asked, 'we're still scheduled for Dec. 29, right?' " Eastern recounted. The typical client served by his firm is an underwater owner with $300,000 of mortgage debt on a $200,000 house.

But Eastern said he has dozens of other listings where a 2014 closing won't be possible, and some of these clients "are now devastated" in the wake of the Senate's limitation of the extension to 2014 transactions only. They could be plunging into a federal tax policy black hole when they complete their sales next year, uncertain of any further extension of the debt forgiveness law.

Eastern is mystified that Congress could not have lengthened the extension to two years, retroactive for 2014 and good through Dec. 31, 2015, a provision approved in a bipartisan vote by the Senate Finance Committee last summer. He predicts that without protection from heavy tax burdens, many underwater owners will opt instead for bankruptcy filings. In some cases, they might be able to qualify for an "insolvency" declaration, which could wipe away tax liability for unpaid mortgage balances.

How do you know whether your short sale, loan modification or foreclosure is covered by the extension for 2014? Though a tax professional familiar with the law should be your best guide, here are the key tests you'll need to pass: The house securing the mortgage debt must be your principal residence. The maximum amount of debt that qualifies for relief is $2 million ($1 million if you are married filing taxes separately.) Any portion of the mortgage debt forgiven that was used for purposes other than improving or building the house — say you refinanced, pulled cash out and used it to buy a car — will not qualify for the exclusion and may be taxable.

What are the prospects that Congress will extend the law for 2015, covering people who didn't quite make the deadline for 2014? Not great. The Republican tax policy leadership in the House favors broad tax reforms in the upcoming session and wants to put an end to temporary tax code benefits that require periodic extensions.

Unless proponents can make a strong case for mortgage debt relief as a permanent part of the tax code, it will be tough to get it extended again.

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Union Wharf duplex location can’t be beat

This brick-and-beam duplex on Union Wharf was completely redone three years ago, incorporating original granite details with contemporary finishes, including a wine cellar.

Unit 101 is a first-floor and basement-level corner duplex with wood-beam ceilings and brick walls, new oak floors throughout and a large, open kitchen/living area. The large three-bedroom unit has 2,552 square feet of living space and is on the market for $1,895,000.

Originally built as a warehouse in the 1830s, Union Wharf still has much of its interior granite lintels on its large windows as well as granite supporting columns. The six-story 89-unit complex was converted into condos in 1978, with two gray granite buildings as well as brick row houses added along the wharf.

Entry is into a foyer with a coat closet and into an open kitchen/living area with a brick side wall. The track- and recessed-lit kitchen, redone in 2011, features 25 cherrywood cabinets, some glass-fronted and ­others pantry-style. There's bilevel granite counters with a glass-mosaic tile back­splash and an island with a breakfast bar withthat seats four and pendant lighting above. Jenn-Air stainless steel appliances include a refrigerator, dishwasher and electric stove and oven along with a Marvel wine cooler.

The adjacent 20-by-20-foot living room has two large windows, track lighting and a ceiling fan/light.

A half-wall with wood columns leads into a formal dining room with track lighting, brick walls, two large windows and a jelly-jar chandelier.

The short hallway leading to the master bedroom holds a half bathroom redone in 2011.

The master bedroom suite has a brick wall, recessed lighting and a dropped white ceiling. There's a walk-in closet with built-in storage and wardrobes. The en suite bathroom, redone three years ago, has a standalone clawfoot tub and porcelain tile floor and surround for a glass-doored walk-in shower. There are two sinks in a cherrywood vanity topped with black granite, as well as a handcrafted cherrywood linen closet.

A set of oak stairs leads down to the lower level, where there are original granite columns integrated into the renovations. Straight ahead is a family room with track lighting and a custom storage cabinet.

There are two bedrooms on this level with wood-beam ceilings, new oak floors and track lighting but with very small windows. A full bathroom has porcelain tile floors and surround for a walk-in shower as well as a whirlpool tub. A cherrywood vanity has two sinks and a marble countertop, and a closet holds a full-sized front-facing Whirlpool washer and dryer.

An adjacent closet has a temperature-controlled wine cellar that holds hundreds of bottles.

Heat and hot water are included in the $999 monthly condo fee, as well as access to the complex's heated outdoor swimming pool. There's also a top-floor common roof deck as well as a marina.

The unit comes with one deeded outdoor parking space on a gated lot manned 24/7, and there are spaces allotted for visitor parking.

Home Showcase

• Address: 343 
Commercial St., Unit 101, Union Wharf, Waterfront
• Bedrooms: Three
• Bathrooms: Two full, one half
• List price: $1,895,000
• Square feet: 2,552
• Price per square foot: $743
• Annual taxes: $17,724
• Monthly condo fee: $999 (includes heat, hot water, on-site heated pool)
• Location: Three blocks from restaurants and shops on Hanover Street in the North End; a quarter-mile from Faneuil Hall and the Financial District.
• Built in: 1830s; converted to condos 1978; unit completely renovated in 2011
• Broker: Ruth Ann Bowers and George Jedlin of Otis & Ahearn at 857-263-2181

Pros:

• Original brick walls, wood-beam ceilings, granite columns and lintels
• New oak floors, recessed and track lighting throughout
• Kitchen redone with 26 cherry cabinets, granite counters, Jenn-Air appliances
• Temperature-controlled wine cellar
• Complex has heated outdoor pool, marina and common roof deck with Harbor views

Cons:

• Very small windows on lower level

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Insurer to rescue Connector

A Massachusetts health plan, citing widespread bewilderment over the Health Connector's latest attempts to sign up Obamacare recipients, said it will offer last-minute insurance to Bay Staters who missed key deadlines.

"The bottom line is many members have been very confused," said Thomas Policelli, the CEO of Minuteman Health. "So we thought this made sense to extend this for people who didn't realize they have a problem. ... We've gotten panicked phone calls from fully paid members."

Bay Staters looking for health insurance effective Jan. 1 have until Sunday to pay for plans that they already selected through the Connector. But those who missed a separate Dec. 23 deadline to pick a plan may end up uninsured on Jan. 1, said Policelli.

Adding to the confusion, many Bay Staters have reported not receiving payment confirmation and some paid enrollees won't receive insurance cards by Jan. 1.

Minuteman said it is allowing people who missed the deadlines and need insurance by Jan. 1 to buy plans right up until Dec. 31. The plans are non-subsidized because they're being purchased outside the Connector, but Policelli said the alternative is no coverage at all.

Eric Linzer, spokesman for the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, blamed the Connector's revamped Obamacare portal for not effectively providing payment confirmation to consumers.

"What this shows is a failure on the part of the Connector's website to offer some basic functionality that most consumers have come to expect with any kind of online shopping experience," said Linzer. "The subsequent workaround by the Connector has contributed to consumer confusion on this."

Connector officials, however, defended the enrollment process. They said they gave insurance companies information on everyone who signed up for their plans so they could collect payment. They also conducted a comprehensive outreach campaign, and they insist enrollees without ID cards are still covered.

Some 40,065 Bay Staters have paid for plans so far, while 34,138 people have selected plans but not paid.

Obamacare czar Maydad Cohen defended the functionality of the website and said the decision to extend the payment deadline has made a difference.

"I strongly believe the extension to pay has resolved any concerns consumers had about ensuring they could get access to ... coverage," said Cohen.

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The Ticker

Dow, S&P, Russell 2000
 set new records again

Wall Street's "Santa Claus" rally kept delivering gifts a day after Christmas.

The Dow Jones industrial average, Standard & Poor's 500 index and the Russell 2000 index of small-company stocks closed at all-time highs yesterday.

The modest pickup in stocks, which gave the Dow its seventh consecutive gain, came on a day of relatively light trading after the holiday break.

The Dow gained 23.50 points to close at 18,053.71. That's up 0.1 percent from its previous record high Wednesday. The Standard & Poor's 500 index added 6.89 points, or 0.3 percent, to 2,088.77. That's up 0.3 percent from the S&P 500's most-recent all-time high recorded Tuesday. The Nasdaq composite rose 33.39 points, or 0.7 percent, to 4,806.86.

Holiday deliveries improve

After FedEx and UPS failed to deliver some presents in time for Christmas last year, the two package carriers improved their performance this holiday season.

FedEx delivered more than 99 percent of express packages as promised on Dec. 22 and Dec. 23, according to shipment tracker ShipMatrix. UPS delivered 99 percent of express packages as promised on those days.

Last year, the percentage of express packages delivered on time those days was in the "low 90s," said Mark D'Amico, a spokesman for ShipMatrix.

Missouri sees below $2 average gas

Missouri became the first state yesterday to have an average statewide gas price fall below $2 per gallon since 2009, while Oklahoma's average was expected to drop below that threshold sometime over the weekend, according to AAA.

The national average gas price was at $2.32 per gallon yesterday, which AAA spokesman Michael Green said was the lowest since May 2009. That average has dropped for 92 days in a row, he said, which is the longest streak since AAA started keeping daily records in January 2000.

Gas prices have fallen every day since Sept. 25, for a total of $1.02 per gallon, Green said.

Big fries back on Japan McDonald's menu

Big fries are going back on the menu in Japan.

McDonald's Japan said yesterday it will resume serving all portion sizes of fries Jan. 5 after resolving shortages due to labor disruptions on the U.S. West Coast. The fast-food giant began limiting customers to orders of small fries earlier this month.

The company said in a notice on its website that its fry inventory had improved thanks to air shipments and extra sea shipments from the U.S. East Coast. It apologized and said it would try to avoid further shortfalls at its 3,100 outlets in Japan.

L Waltham-based ImmunoGen Inc., a biotechnology company that develops targeted anticancer therapies, announced the appointment of Richard J. Gregory, Ph.D., as executive vice president, research and chief scientific officer effective Jan. 5, at which time current CSO, John Lambert, Ph.D., will assume the position of executive vice president, distinguished research fellow. Gregory most recently served as senior vice president and head of research for the Sanofi Genzyme Research & Development Center.

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Hacks are security wake-up call

Businesses are re-examining their security controls and wondering where the next attack will come from after the Sony Pictures hack and a subsequent cyberattack that crippled the Xbox and Sony PlayStation networks on Christmas morning.

"It is the new normal," said Adam Towvim, chief executive of TrustLayers, a data security company. "This is a wake-up call. Who is accessing the data isn't the right question to be asking anymore, it should be how is the data being used, what are they doing with the data, which country is it being moved to."

The networks powering the two largest video game consoles, XBox Live and The PlayStation Network, were both down yesterday after a group called Lizard Squad claimed responsibility for the hack on Twitter. As of last night, the PlayStation Network remained down, but Xbox Live was largely operating.

PlayStation is owned by Sony, but it is unclear if there is any connection between that attack and the Sony Pictures hack.

"Just like we see in physical life, there are copycats in cyberworld," said Christopher Ahlberg, chief executive of Recorded Future, which monitors cyber-threats.

Towvim said many businesses reached out after details of the Sony Pictures hack emerged, asking what other steps can be taken to protect their networks. He said companies can't just try to keep attackers out, they need to also monitor internal data so red flags go up if there is any change in the way it is being used.

"Access control is still important, but real time visibility is now critical," Towvim said. "You can't just lock the data down. These persistent threats that happen inside the network, they do not look like proper use of the data. If you attach usage limitations to that data and you monitor that use, you have a totally different way, if not preventing, at the very least going a long way towards mitigating the risk."

Computer security expert Bruce Schneier, said the Sony hack could give other companies with lax security protocols the necessary incentive to tighten their controls. The hackers apparently were able to run rampant inside Sony's network, he said, thanks in part to an unencrypted list of passwords called "Passwords."

Said Schneier: "Maybe if we're lucky some more companies wake up and take security more seriously."

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Post-Christmas shopping spree

A perfect post-Christmas shopping storm of blowout sales and gift card mania is brewing, according to retail analysts.

Expect stores and malls across the region and nationwide to be flooded today and parking lots packed as eager buyers hunt for the best deals.

"It's usually in the top 10 shopping days of the year, but I wouldn't be surprised if it cracked the top five this year," said Ken Perkins, analyst at Retail Metrics Inc. in Swampscott, predicting today will be "a very sound day for retail."

Big sales — many stores boasting 60 percent off deals even before Christmas — combined with the popularity of gift cards this holiday season mean big profits for retailers, Perkins said.

Today will cap off an already successful shopping season, Perkins said. The retail scene has been packed with promotions since the beginning of November, and Super Saturday saw $23 billion in sales nationally, surpassing Black Friday's $20 billion this year.

Norwell's Retail Concepts owner Michael Tesler said the plummeting popularity of clothes-centered gifts — a negative for stores going into the holiday season — will be a positive this weekend. It means fewer returns and more competitive sales to clear out lingering merchandise.

"There has been a shift from apparel to things like toys and electronics, which are less likely to be returned," Tesler said. "With the markdowns and sales, you'll see more shoppers than in previous years."

The unseasonably high temperatures in the Northeast will also serve as an "incredible plus," Tesler said, as will the upcoming weekend days.

"You have a Friday, Saturday, Sunday grouping coming up, so a larger percentage of people will probably be free after Christmas than usual," he said. "This is like a Black Friday weekend, everyone's got the time off."

In the week leading up to Super Saturday, retail sales increased 3.1 percent from the same week last year, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers.

The weekend prior to Christmas saw $42 billion in shopping sales, compared to $41 billion last year, according to research firm Customer Growth Partners.

According to Perkins, lower unemployment numbers across the country help to account for some of the shopping boom, particularly in more affluent areas like Boston.

Massachusetts shopping numbers going into Super Saturday weekend pointed to the best Christmas for state retailers since 2006, according to Jon Hurst, president of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, which expects statewide holiday sales to climb 3.9 percent to $15.4 billion.

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High-end digs dominate Boston in ’14

Real estate in Greater Boston this year has been somewhat of a paradox.

The market saw a huge influx of luxury apartment complexes, with high rents and lots of amenities, and construction is under way on some of the city's most expensive condos.

Yet there's been a shortage of inventory, especially mid-priced properties, and sales have slowed. And Boston has yet to solve a major problem — there are not enough condos or apartments that average city dwellers can afford.

Several thousand new luxury apartments — more than any in the city's history — opened this year in areas ranging from the Seaport District to the Greenway to Back Bay. Some of the first wave of high-rent digs, such as the Kensington and 315 on A, leased up well, but others have struggled, offering anywhere from one to three months of free rent, with fears that there may be a glut of upscale apartments on the market.

Looking for rental relief, some have opted to lease in places like Chelsea, where One North over the Mystic Bridge and new apartments in the Box District have done well. In an industrial area of Everett, apartments were carved out of a former Charleston Chew candy factory.

Two new apartment buildings at Assembly Row developed by AvalonBay Communities have leased up well, part of a successful urban village in East Somerville with 40 outlet stores and a dozen restaurants next to a newly completed Orange Line Station.

On the condo side, Boston has seen higher prices but lower condo sales this year because of low inventory, with midpriced units snapped up quickly. Meanwhile, the upper end of the condo market is going gangbusters driven by foreign buyers and local empty nesters. Preconstruction sales at condo projects now going up, such as the Ink Block's Sepia in the South End, Twenty-Two Liberty on Fan Pier and downtown's Millennium Tower have been brisk.

The highest price condo and single family sold in Boston this year were on the same Beacon Street block across from the Public Garden — at 96 Beacon St., a 6,337-square-foot, four-bedroom penthouse condo went for $13 million in March, and 74 Beacon St., a redone 6-bedroom, five-story, single-family townhouse with its own rooftop lap pool, sold for $12.5 million in October.

This year saw the highest price condo ever listed in Boston, a 12,000-square foot penthouse at the Millennium Tower that's asking $37.5 million.

The market in Somerville and Cambridge remains hot, with prices increasing and not enough inventory to meet demand. But the Alewife area of Cambridge saw several new apartment developments this year.

Along the banks of the Charles River in Watertown, several luxury apartment complexes have opened this year, and new rental properties have also sprung up near Orange Line stops in Malden Center and over the Melrose line near Oak Grove.

In the city, East Boston saw the first phase of Portside At East Pier, a luxury waterfront apartment complex.

South Boston real estate stayed hot this year, with dozens of high-end apartment and condo projects opening, a number around West 1st on D Street such as the Flats on D, West Square and Seaport Crossing that helped to knit together the gap between the Seaport District and the West Side.

To spur construction of more housing for moderate-income residents, the city has just designated corridors along Dorchester Avenue between the Broadway and Andrews Red Line T stations in Southie, and around the Forest Hills T station area in Jamaica Plain for higher density, transit-oriented development. But high labor, land and materials costs remain a challenge.

Next week we'll take a look at the real estate prospects for 2015.

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Booting Up: Sony runs with chance to test new marketing model

Sony Pictures has pioneered a new model for marketing films, bypassing big theaters and instead looking to a startup and streaming services to distribute the movie that sparked an unprecedented North Korean cyber attack.

Reversing its decision to pull the plug on distribution of the satirical comedy "The Interview," which depicts a group of young guys trying to assassinate the North Korean dictator, Sony this week turned to a streaming startup called Kernel, as well as Google and Microsoft, to show the film. (It's nice to know that Google and Microsoft aren't afraid of the North Koreans. Not Apple, which reportedly passed on distributing the movie through iTunes.)

The film costs $5.99 to rent and $14.99 to own an HD copy. The monetary success or failure of this effort will be watched closely by everyone with a stake in live-streaming video.

Kernel runs seethe
interview.com, which is just what it sounds like: a portal for buying and viewing the movie. Kernel was a virtual unknown until a few days ago, but Sony tapped the company to distribute "The Interview" because they were already working on a pilot project with the startup to promote and distribute films differently. Both companies have taken the opportunity to lift the curtain on their project for "The 5th Wave," a screenplay due out in 2016, the first in a series of books about a teenage girl fighting against the end of humanity.

Kernel's role is to pre-sell exclusive, behind-the-scenes content such as bonus downloads, VIP experiences and tickets to "The 5th Wave." Packages go all the way up to $1,000, which includes two tickets to a yet-to-be-scheduled movie premiere.

With an entire subculture of movie buffs, it's a wonder we haven't found a better way than overpriced tickets and popcorn to monetize the industry. Kernel and Sony may be onto something.

YouTube, Google Play and Xbox have all begun distributing "The Interview," along with some small independent theaters such as Apple Cinemas near Fresh Pond in Cambridge.

I got to have my Christmas viewing of "The Interview" after all, and if enough people do the same, Google and Microsoft will become a much more viable option for movie distribution in the future.

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Sony says online PlayStation disrupted

TOKYO — Sony's online PlayStation store and Microsoft's Xbox site suffered disruptions to users on Christmas Day in the latest possible cyber-attacks on the companies.

The PlayStation Store Twitter feed said Friday that some users were having trouble logging into its network. It said engineers were investigating.

A notice on Microsoft's Xbox website said it knew some users were having trouble signing in. it said, "We're aware of this issue, and we're working to find a fix ASAP!"

The problems were affecting Xbox Live Core Services, though most other applications were up and running, it said.

Earlier this month the PlayStation store also experienced spells of inaccessibility. That followed a cyberattack on computer systems of Sony Pictures Entertainment that led to the release of confidential information on the Internet.

A hacker group calling itself Lizard Squad appeared to take responsibility for the disruptions on its Twitter account.

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Mayor Marty Walsh makes Dorchester tour

It was a merry Christmas Eve day in Dorchester yesterday as the mayor and police commissioner went on a goodwill tour of businesses.

The event began with a gathering at the Teen Center at St. Peter's where neighborhood kids received presents from police and seasons greetings from community leaders including Mayor Martin J. Walsh, police Commissioner William B. Evans and state Rep. Evandro C. Carvalho.

Walsh and police officers then took to Bowdoin Street towards Geneva Avenue to shake hands and wish happy holidays to shoppers along the boulevard.

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Sony tries to save face with 'Interview' flip-flop

ATLANTA — Sony's flip-flop on releasing "The Interview" shows the studio is working furiously to try to chart the right course through political and public-opinion minefields.

Although analysts don't believe the decision will have any effect on Sony's image, it will at least give the movie-going public a chance to vote with their wallets and send North Korea a protest message.

Last week, Sony canceled the Christmas Day release of "The Interview" in the wake of an extensive hacking attack and release of confidential emails by a group linked with North Korea. The movie stars Seth Rogen and James Franco as journalists tasked by the CIA with killing North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The hackers threatened violence if Sony didn't pull the movie. Sony did so after major theater chains decided not to screen it.

But the company then wavered in the face of public outcry and criticism from President Barack Obama. On Tuesday, Sony Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton said Seth Rogen's North Korea farce "will be in a number of theaters on Christmas Day."

The film is set to open in over 200 theaters, down from an original release planned in 3,000. Atlanta's Plaza Theater and 16 theaters that are part of the Alamo Drafthouse chain in Texas are among those that plan to show it.

Lynton said Sony also is continuing its efforts to release the movie in more theaters and through more platforms — namely digital channels, such as Internet streaming or video on demand on cable systems. But Sony isn't offering specifics. Starz, which has first pay TV and streaming rights to Sony releases, didn't respond to requests for comment. Streaming service Netflix declined comment, while YouTube didn't respond to requests.

Plaza Theater owner Michael Furlinger said he was thrilled to be showing the movie. He canceled plans to fly to Long Island, New York, to see his parents for the holidays.

"We play a lot of controversial pictures, things I don't necessarily agree with, but I will never censor them," he said. "It's not for me to decide. It's for the customer to decide. If they want to come, they'll spend their money. If they don't, that's their choice. It should not be the choice of somebody from North Korea or China or anywhere else."

Atlanta Police spokesman Sgt. Greg Lyon said police will monitor the location for potential threats, but he wouldn't discuss specifics. Furlinger said the theater will take some precautions, though he said he wasn't worried about the threats.

If anything, the controversy has raised awareness about the movie. Although fewer theaters are showing it, those theaters might be more packed than they would have been otherwise.

Anthony LoRusso, 54, of Atlanta, thought the premise of the movie was "silly" and initially planned to wait for the DVD. Now, he plans to see it at The Plaza.

Colby Cohen, 29, of Atlanta said he probably would have seen it anyway, but the brief cancellation made him want to see it more.

"I'm going to get to fight terrorism on Christmas Day now," he said.

Because Sony has been wavering on its release of "The Interview" since last week, deciding to release it after all should not have a major effect on its image. Laura Ries, president of Atlanta-based branding consulting company Ries & Ries, said most moviegoers don't tie movies with the studio that makes them in the first place.

If Sony ends up expanding the theatrical release and sells the movie through digital channels, it could end up recouping some of its box offices losses. Doug Stone, president of film industry newsletter Box Office Analyst, had estimated domestic box office for the movie would be $75 million to $100 million, of which Sony keeps about 55 percent. But the release is too limited so far to give Sony much of a financial bump.

Furthermore, costly damage from the email leaks to relationships and future projects cannot be recouped, and there is a threat of more leaks as Sony plans on releasing the film now.

"Panic-based decisions are not sound crisis management," said Jonathan Bernstein, president of Los Angeles-based crisis management company Bernstein Crisis Management. The studio is making decisions too quickly and could face more embarrassment if hackers leak additional documents and emails in retaliation for showing the movie, he said. He said Sony should have waited until it is sure it can protect itself.

Still, moviegoers seemed enthusiastic Tuesday. Isaac Sokol, a 21-year-old university student in the Dallas suburb of Richardson, bought two tickets for a Christmas night show at the Alamo Drafthouse theater in Richardson.

"The only way to tackle world conflicts and human rights violations and all of the dreaded things around the world is to take them with a grain of salt," he said. "If you don't, it's going to just be sadness."

The Alamo Drafthouse said many showtimes across the chain were selling out for Christmas Day, but the company did not provide specifics.

Once James Wallace, the Richardson theater's creative manager, received word Tuesday morning that the movie was back on, the theater got to work preparing for several shows. Among other touches, the theater will offer a patriotic menu featuring burgers, "freedom fries" and apple pie.

"You better believe it's going to be all-American," Wallace said.

___

AP Film Writer Jake Coyle in New York and AP writers Kathleen Foody in Atlanta, Nomaan Merchant in Dallas, Joseph Pisani in New York and Michael Liedtke in San Francisco contributed to this report.

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Honda recalls 1,252 Crosstours over side air bags

NEW YORK — Honda is recalling 1,252 Crosstour vehicles due to a faulty side air bag made by troubled air bag supplier Takata.

The Honda recall is for 2015 model year Crosstours. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the side air bag may not inflate properly because of a problem with its inflator tube. Crosstour owners will receive a letter in the mail asking them to take their car to a Honda dealer and have the side air bags replaced free of charge.

Honda said no injuries were reported. Takata Corp. declined to comment.

Takata, a Japanese air bag maker, is at the center of massive recalls around the world. Several automakers have recalled vehicles with air bags made by the company because they can explode and send shards flying at drivers and passengers. In response to the recalls, Takata on Wednesday apologized to those killed or hurt by its faulty air bags and announced it was reshuffling its executives.

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Quincy residents to be left with emergency facility only

The long-struggling Quincy Medical Center will permanently close its doors tomorrow, leaving Quincy residents without an official health facility sooner than originally planned, which could spur legal action from the Attorney General's office.

"Because of significant declines in patient volume, the department has determined that this closure timeline is necessary and appropriate to protect the health and safety of patients served by QMC and the department waives the remainder of the 90-day closure notice period," Department of Public Health official Sherman Lohnes wrote Tuesday in a letter to QMC owner Steward Health Care System.

Hospitals are obligated to give 90 days' notice before closing, which would have required the medical center to stay open until February if DPH had not waived the requirement.

The for-profit company previously agreed in a contract with Attorney General Martha Coakley to keep the 196-bed center open until at least 2017, and Coakley's office has raised the possibility of taking legal action if the hospital's emergency services did not stay open past Dec. 31.

Although AG spokesmen declined to specifically comment on whether that still may be in the cards, talks with Steward were said to be ongoing.

"We have made clear that any efforts to close Quincy Medical Center must maintain emergency services beyond Dec. 31," said Brad Puffer, spokesman for Coakley. "This is an important step in that process and we are continuing our discussions with Steward."

According to a press release, Steward QMC will close at 11:59 p.m. tomorrow, and the Steward Satellite Emergency Facility will officially open at midnight.

Steward said it will keep the emergency facility open until Dec. 31, 2015, through Carney Hospital's license.

The center has been fraught with financial woes and a dwindling patient base for several years.

But the closing of the center leaves Quincy residents without a hospital and the center's health care workers in employment limbo.

Brooke Thurston, a spokeswoman for Steward, said many of the center's employees will be paid and receive benefits through Jan. 6, and that a majority will be transferred into new positions within the Steward network.

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Bitcoin now available at local stores

You can now pick up some bitcoin with that bottle of soda and bag of chips at the store down the street.

LibertyX, a company that originally made and operated bitcoin vending kiosks, has expanded to let any store sell bitcoin for cash at the register, just like anything else they have in stock.

"You hand over cash, you get a code," said Kyle Powers, co-founder of LibertyX, formerly known as Liberty Teller. A cashier gives the customer a pin number, which can be redeemed for bitcoin. LibertyX is working with 2,500 stores, mostly local businesses including convenience and computer stores, across the country in the obvious places — Cambridge and San Francisco — and some less obvious, such as Lowell and Missoula, Mont.

The move away from dedicated ATMs that sell bitcoin came from overwhelming demand, Powers said.

"We had people driving for hours," Powers said. "The whole thing was to reach areas that we couldn't otherwise."

The ATMs are still operational, including the one at South Station.

"We're doing the same thing (as the ATMs), just cheaper, faster, more convenient," Powers said.

To help LibertyX expand, the company has raised a little more than $400,000 in private investment. Project 11, the venture capital firm headed by Katie Rae, Reed Sturtevant and Bob Mason, formerly of TechStars Boston, led the investment.

Powers said much has been made of bitcoin's ups and downs, but he continues to have faith in the online currency.

"Bitcoin is like gold, except the market is a thousand times younger" he said. "What we're doing is a fundamental, foundational piece of the bitcoin ecosystem."

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The Ticker

Pier 4 owner cashes out

Pier 4 master developer New England Development has cashed out of the 1-million-square-foot South Boston waterfront project, selling 130 and 140 Northern Ave. to the deeper-pocketed Tishman Speyer, the New York owner of properties including Rockefeller Center, Chrysler Center and Yankee Stadium.

The Newton company sold the two Seaport District parcels, which had been slated for an office building, a separate condominium building and waterfront public park, for $70 million, according to Registry of Deeds documents filed yesterday.

New England Development executives could not be reached for comment. Tishman Speyer, which also owns 125 High St. and One Federal St. in Boston, declined comment, but is expected to move faster with the development of the two parcels.

New Balance seeks sneaker design ruling

Boston's New Balance has filed pre-emptive court action against Massachusetts rival Converse to protect its ability to continue selling its 77-year-old PF Flyers brand of sneakers.

The federal lawsuit follows the North Andover-based Converse's October trademark infringement lawsuits against Wal-Mart Stores Inc., H&M, Skechers, Ralph Lauren and 27 other retailers and companies for allegedly knocking off the design of its iconic Chuck Taylor All-Star sneakers that date to 1917.

New Balance, which wasn't included in that round of lawsuits, is asking for a U.S. District court ruling that its PF Flyers don't infringe on Converse's trademark and that Converse doesn't have exclusive rights to use the design.

"Converse brought its case to the International Trade Commission to prevent consumer confusion, to protect its legitimate intellectual property rights, and to stop the sale of knockoff Chucks, all of which remain unchanged," Converse said in a statement.

Quincy hospital to close midnight Friday

The Department of Public Health yesterday signed off on the proposed closure of Quincy Medical Center, set for midnight Friday.

Steward Health Care, the owner of the hospital, said Quincy Medical will halt operations Dec. 26, at 11:59 p.m., with a satellite emergency facility set to open in the same location at 12 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 27.

Steward said that Quincy Medical, as of yesterday, no longer has any inpatients.

Local elected officials have criticized Steward for the speed with which the for-profit company has moved to close the hospital after it claimed in November that it suffered financial losses and a decreasing number of patients at the Quincy hospital.

Cornerstone Pub to be redeveloped

The Cornerstone Pub and Restaurant in South Boston will soon be history as a developer has filed a project notification form with the city to build a mixed-use development on the 14 West Broadway site. The Southie landmark, which sits across from the Broadway T station, will be razed and replaced with a complex that would include 47 residential units, commercial and retail space, a ground-floor restaurant and garage parking.

THE SHUFFLE

Emmanuelle Debouverie has joined Boston-based criminal defense firm Rankin & Sultan as an associate. Debouverie was previously an associate at Clifford Chance.

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Single-family home sales fall in Nov.

Single-family home sales fell last month while the median price rose, particularly in Greater Boston, driven by a continuing shortage of inventory, according to the Massachusetts Association of Realtors.

Statewide, the number of closed sales dropped by 6.7 percent, from 3,817 in November 2013 to 3,560 last month, while the median price increased 4.4 percent, from $316,000 to $330,000 over the same period, MAR statistics show.

Condominium sales fell even more precipitously — by 10.2 percent — from 1,494 to 1,342, but the median price increased only 1 percent, from $299,000 to $302,000.

"Both the falling numbers of sales and the increasing median prices are a reflection of low inventory," said MAR President Peter Ruffini. "There's a lack of affordable housing for first-time buyers. It's very rare to see new construction priced at under $400,000. That's simply not a viable price point for most people looking to enter the housing market."

In the Metro Boston area, the median selling price for a single-family home rose even more dramatically — by 9.4 percent, the largest percentage increase since April — from $480,000 in November 2013 to $525,000 last month, the highest median home price ever recorded for November in the area, according to the Greater Boston Association of Realtors.

"Even at these prices, what is available is being jumped on pretty quickly," said Michael DiMella, the association's president and managing partner of Charlesgate Realty Group in Boston. "We're still seeing some multiple offers and bidding wars, although not as much."

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Sony tries to save face with 'Interview' flip-flop

ATLANTA — Sony's flip-flop on releasing "The Interview" shows the studio is working furiously to try to chart the right course through political and public-opinion minefields.

Although analysts don't believe the decision will have any effect on Sony's image, it will at least give the movie-going public a chance to vote with their wallets and send North Korea a protest message.

Last week, Sony canceled the Christmas Day release of "The Interview" in the wake of an extensive hacking attack and release of confidential emails by a group linked with North Korea. The movie stars Seth Rogen and James Franco as journalists tasked by the CIA with killing North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The hackers threatened violence if Sony didn't pull the movie. Sony did so after major theater chains decided not to screen it.

But the company then wavered in the face of public outcry and criticism from President Barack Obama. On Tuesday, Sony Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton said Seth Rogen's North Korea farce "will be in a number of theaters on Christmas Day."

The film is set to open in over 200 theaters, down from an original release planned in 3,000. Atlanta's Plaza Theater and 16 theaters that are part of the Alamo Drafthouse chain in Texas are among those that plan to show it.

Lynton said Sony also is continuing its efforts to release the movie in more theaters and through more platforms — namely digital channels, such as Internet streaming or video on demand on cable systems. But Sony isn't offering specifics. Starz, which has first pay TV and streaming rights to Sony releases, didn't respond to requests for comment. Streaming service Netflix declined comment, while YouTube didn't respond to requests.

Plaza Theater owner Michael Furlinger said he was thrilled to be showing the movie. He canceled plans to fly to Long Island, New York, to see his parents for the holidays.

"We play a lot of controversial pictures, things I don't necessarily agree with, but I will never censor them," he said. "It's not for me to decide. It's for the customer to decide. If they want to come, they'll spend their money. If they don't, that's their choice. It should not be the choice of somebody from North Korea or China or anywhere else."

Atlanta Police spokesman Sgt. Greg Lyon said police will monitor the location for potential threats, but he wouldn't discuss specifics. Furlinger said the theater will take some precautions, though he said he wasn't worried about the threats.

If anything, the controversy has raised awareness about the movie. Although fewer theaters are showing it, those theaters might be more packed than they would have been otherwise.

Anthony LoRusso, 54, of Atlanta, thought the premise of the movie was "silly" and initially planned to wait for the DVD. Now, he plans to see it at The Plaza.

Colby Cohen, 29, of Atlanta said he probably would have seen it anyway, but the brief cancellation made him want to see it more.

"I'm going to get to fight terrorism on Christmas Day now," he said.

Because Sony has been wavering on its release of "The Interview" since last week, deciding to release it after all should not have a major effect on its image. Laura Ries, president of Atlanta-based branding consulting company Ries & Ries, said most moviegoers don't tie movies with the studio that makes them in the first place.

If Sony ends up expanding the theatrical release and sells the movie through digital channels, it could end up recouping some of its box offices losses. Doug Stone, president of film industry newsletter Box Office Analyst, had estimated domestic box office for the movie would be $75 million to $100 million, of which Sony keeps about 55 percent. But the release is too limited so far to give Sony much of a financial bump.

Furthermore, costly damage from the email leaks to relationships and future projects cannot be recouped, and there is a threat of more leaks as Sony plans on releasing the film now.

"Panic-based decisions are not sound crisis management," said Jonathan Bernstein, president of Los Angeles-based crisis management company Bernstein Crisis Management. The studio is making decisions too quickly and could face more embarrassment if hackers leak additional documents and emails in retaliation for showing the movie, he said. He said Sony should have waited until it is sure it can protect itself.

Still, moviegoers seemed enthusiastic Tuesday. Isaac Sokol, a 21-year-old university student in the Dallas suburb of Richardson, bought two tickets for a Christmas night show at the Alamo Drafthouse theater in Richardson.

"The only way to tackle world conflicts and human rights violations and all of the dreaded things around the world is to take them with a grain of salt," he said. "If you don't, it's going to just be sadness."

The Alamo Drafthouse said many showtimes across the chain were selling out for Christmas Day, but the company did not provide specifics.

Once James Wallace, the Richardson theater's creative manager, received word Tuesday morning that the movie was back on, the theater got to work preparing for several shows. Among other touches, the theater will offer a patriotic menu featuring burgers, "freedom fries" and apple pie.

"You better believe it's going to be all-American," Wallace said.

___

AP Film Writer Jake Coyle in New York and AP writers Kathleen Foody in Atlanta, Nomaan Merchant in Dallas, Joseph Pisani in New York and Michael Liedtke in San Francisco contributed to this report.

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Sony threatens legal action against Twitter after users post hacked emails

Sony Pictures Entertainment is threatening Twitter with legal action and is calling on the social media platform to prevent its users from posting emails exposed during the recent hack of the studio.

In a letter sent to Twitter's general counsel by Sony Pictures' attorney David Boies, the company threatens that if "stolen information continues to be disseminated by Twitter in any manner," Sony will "hold Twitter responsible for any damage or loss arising from such use or dissemination by Twitter."

One letter cited musician Val Broeksmit, in particular, whose Twitter feed includes screenshots of emails by Sony execs including Michael Lynton, Amy Pascal, Clint Culpepper, Hannah Minghella, Doug Belgrad and Dwight Caines, among others.

Sony also demanded Twitter "comply with all future requests with regard to any other account holder seeking to disseminate the Stolen Information via Twitter. In addition, we ask that you provide the Account Holder with a copy of this letter, and request that the Account Holder cease publication of the Stolen Information on Twitter."

"SPE does not consent to Twitter's or any Twitter account holder's possession, review, copying, dissemination, publication, uploading, downloading, or making any use of the Stolen Information, and to request your cooperation in suspending the Account Holder's Twitter account and the account of any other user seeking to disseminate the Stolen Information via Twitter," according to an email.

In response, Twitter sent Broeksmit a message letting him know that the platform "cannot provide legal advice" and that he "may wish to contact your own attorney about this matter."

While Twitter does not let its users post another person's private information via text or images, it does not prevent users to link to that kind of information through posts.

Reddit currently bans users who post links of emails and other documents stolen from Sony's computer servers, but does not prevent them from posting news stories of the hacks. It already had taken down a forum that included links to the hacked documents.

Earlier this month, Sony's attorneys demanded press destroy any information it may have obtained after information and emails were leaked online and emailed to journalists.

The letter, sent from Boies to Twitter's general counsel, Vijaya Gadde, and subsequent emails to Broeksmit, were first reported by Motherboard.

Broeksmit has told Vice that "I'm not with a newspaper and I think I can get away with it. It's important -- the reason is it's so new and different from anything we've seen before."

The musician started posting images of Sony emails after hackers, calling themselves the "Guardians of Peace," posted data and films stolen from SPE online, including salaries of top execs and personal info for thousands of current and former employees, forcing the studio to ultimately pull the Christmas Day release of the comedy "The Interview," starring Seth Rogen and James Franco, in which North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is assassinated.

© 2014 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

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Business Protocol: Toe the line in kissing under mistletoe at holiday parties

Hung over a doorway during Christmas, mistletoe remains one of the season's most beloved traditions.

They say mistletoe has spiritual and healing powers. It is also said to be a sexual symbol and an aphrodisiac. One legend states couples kissing underneath mistletoe will have good luck but a couple not performing the ritual will have bad luck. And while mistletoe is widely viewed as a symbol of love, it was traditionally a symbol of peace. Enemies who encountered each other underneath mistletoe-bearing trees are supposed lay down their arms, embrace and agree to a truce until the next day. This gesture of goodwill evolved into the custom of kissing as we know it today.

Finding yourself underneath the mistletoe can be festive and fun, especially after a few cocktails, but be careful not to get cornered … or carried away! For starters, full "lip lock" should be reserved for your spouse/significant other.

Here are some options to consider before you get near those innocent-looking dangling sprigs:

• Consider kissing at least one other person before an office crush, to conceal your true intentions!

• Men should consider offering a female co-worker the hand kiss, showing the ultimate respect.

• Rest your hands on the other person's shoulders to help respect personal space/comfort zone issues:

• The cheek kiss — always appropriate.

• The "never wrong" air kiss, even better, while simultaneously shaking the other person's right hand, and squelch any budding office rumors.

• The corner to corner kiss — allowing the corner of your lips to just barely touch their lips.

• The motherly forehead kiss.

• Finally, you will never go wrong with the old-fashioned handshake.

Some other things to bear in mind: Your mistletoe should be real — with white berries. Fake mistletoe is tacky. If the berries are red, it's probably holly. Hang it from the ceiling — beforehand! Don't walk around with it, holding it over people.

And tradition calls for men to remove a berry when they kiss a woman. When all the berries are gone, the kissing is over.

Bottom line: Treat other people with respect and defer to their wishes while protecting your own dignity and reputation. And if you're uncomfortable with any of this ... steer clear of the mistletoe!

Judith Bowman is the president and founder of Protocol Consultants International and author of "Don't Take the Last Donut: New Rules of Business Etiquette" and "How to Stand Apart @ Work ... Transforming '"Fine'" to Fabulous!" Email her at Judith@ProtocolConsultants.com.

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Two top execs leaving MassChallenge

Two members of MassChallenge's executive team are stepping down.

In emails yesterday, Akhil Nigam, president and co-founder of the Boston-based startup accelerator and competition, and Karl Buttner, chief mentorship officer, said they will remain advisers to the organization but did not say what their next career move would be or who would replace them.

"Akhil and Karl are two of the most dedicated, sincere, enthusiastic and fun people I know ," John Harthorne, co-founder and CEO, said in a separate email. "We've been planning for this moment for a while now. MassChallenge has made some new hires, reorganized the team and worked to ensure a smooth transition. We'll announce more in the coming months as we head into an exciting 2015."

Nigam, a Harvard Business School alumnus and former Bain and Co. employee, did not say why he is leaving. Buttner, an MIT graduate, said he is trading his "lengthy car commute" to spend more time with his family.

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Netflix cuts CEO Reed Hastings salary

Netflix said co-founder and CEO Reed Hastings' baseline salary would be $1 million in 2015 -- down from $3 million this year -- in a regulatory filing.

At the same time, Hastings had an annual stock-option allowance worth up to $13.7 million of shares, per Netflix's filing.

Also in the 8-K filing, Netflix said CFO David Wells would receive $2 million in salary and up to $1.675 million value in the company's stock-option allowance. Chief content officer Ted Sarandos, with a $1 million salary, will receive $9.6 million value in stock options as well as up to $2 million in bonus for 2015.

In other compensation: Netflix chief product officer Neil Hunt stands to receive $1 million in salary as well as $1.87 million worth of stock options and up to $5 million in bonus. Greg Peters, chief of Netflix's streaming and partnerships office, will earn $1 million as well as 2.725 million stock options and a potential $1 million bonus, according to the company's regulatory filing.

© 2014 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

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'The Interview' fallout: theater owners angry at Sony for shifting blame

Theater owners are incensed that Sony Pictures Entertainment has insisted in public statements that they are the major reason the studio canceled the release of "The Interview."

Exhibitors believe that they are being made the scapegoat for the cancellation when many of them only wanted the film's premiere to be delayed or modified, three theater industry executives tell Variety.

After hackers threatened theaters that screened "The Interview" and moviegoers who bought tickets to the film while evoking the memory of 9/11, Sony said in a statement last week that the majority of exhibitors cancelled their bookings. That characterization has been disputed in exhibition circles. The exhibition executives said that several chains asked only to delay playing the movie until the authorities could discover who was behind the message or had apprehended the criminals who hacked the studio.

Authorities have since said that North Korea is behind the hackings as punishment for Sony backing "The Interview," which centers on a plot to kill the country's leader Kim Jong-un.

In an interview with CNN on Friday, Sony Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton said, "The only decision that we have made with respect to release of the film was not to release it on Christmas Day in theaters, after the theater owners declined to show it...Without theaters, we could not release it in the theaters on Christmas Day. We had no choice."

His remarks came after President Barack Obama said Sony had made a "mistake" in pulling the film because it emboldened the North Korean hackers who have tormented the studio for weeks. Lynton said Sony still hopes to release the film.

Following his interview on CNN, Lynton reached out the heads of major theater chains such as Carmike, Regal and AMC by phone to say that he had not meant to imply they were wholly responsible for the film being pulled and that he understood their safety concerns. Those conversations were civil on both sides, according to individuals with knowledge.

His words may not have done enough to assuage feelings across the exhibition industry. Among the repercussions being weighed are that some exhibitors will refuse to pay Sony the film terms they once did or will decline to guarantee the same screen counts for its lower profile films. They may also be more lax when it comes to promoting Sony films on their websites or in their theaters with posters and other materials. These potential measures have yet to be communicated to Sony.

Sony Pictures still hopes to release "The Interview" by the end of 2014, but the comedy will likely forgo a theatrical release, according to a source close to studio.

Instead, the film will be made available through a patchwork of electronic sell through, video on demand and other home entertainment platforms, the source said. There may be some road blocks. No major distributor has signed on yet and some have expressed concerns that they will be targeted by the hackers who have terrorized Sony for weeks if they carry the picture.

Even if the film secures enough distribution platforms, it may have difficulty recouping the roughly $75 million the studio spent to make and market the picture.

There will also be ruffled feathers to smooth over with theater owners, particularly those that dispute Sony's claims that their refusal to show the picture led the studio to pull the film. Some theater chains, including Canadian chain Cineplex, suggested opening the film in limited release in a few key markets over the holidays in order to gauge if threats were real. Others, such as Carmike, were careful to say in public statements that they were delaying the release.

Instead of postponing the release or doing a limited rollout, Sony said Wednesday that it had no further release plans for the film - a position it has since modified.

A spokesman for Sony declined to comment.

© 2014 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

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Cambridge frets over business climate

Two of Cambridge's top priorities — supporting biotech companies and being green — are in a tug-of-war as the city mulls tougher emissions standards for new construction.

A city task force has been meeting for nearly a year to come up with a way for new buildings in Cambridge to be "net zero" to significantly reduce emissions. But some of the most energy-intensive buildings in Cambridge are biotech labs, which require a significant amount of specialized infrastructure, including high-powered ventilation systems to deal with any potentially hazardous gases.

"We want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the built environment," said Susanne Rasmussen, director of environmental and transportation planning for Cambridge and co-chairwoman of the task force. "The actions we take could have much broader impact than in our own community."

Joe McGuire, vice-president of development for Alexandria Real Estate Equities, one of the largest developers of lab space in Cambridge and also a member of the task force, said, "There are less than a handful of cases where a lab can be made net zero. (Labs) could be five or six times more expensive (to power) than an office building."

He said his own company makes energy efficiency a priority, but developing a net-zero emissions lab in Cambridge would be nearly impossible.

Because Cambridge is so densely packed, particularly in Kendall Square where most labs sit, there is less room for renewable energy infrastructure, such as solar panels.

McGuire estimates roughly half of Cambridge's commercial office space is taken up by laboratories, a far greater percentage than anywhere else in the world.

"It's impossible with technology that's currently available to build a 200k-square-foot lab building that's net zero," said Peter Abair, director of economic development for the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council.

McGuire said increased costs to developers will be passed on to companies, some of which may start to look outside of Cambridge if the cost gets too high.

"I'm concerned that what Cambridge does is so aggressive that it makes other communities more attractive," he said.

The task force is anticipating that there will be significant technological breakthroughs in the coming years for renewable energy.

Under current plans, which have not been finalized, the task force would require new lab space to have net-zero emissions by 2030.

"We recognize that laboratory buildings have unique circumstances that make them at least right now have a higher energy consumption," Rasmussen said.

The task force plans to reevaluate the timeline and other regulations every five years.

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