December 12, 2014
Warner Music revenue flows merrily up the Stream
Streaming music revenue is becoming a river for Warner Music Group. The third-largest recording giant said streaming revenue surged 74 percent in the latest fiscal year, including subscription services like...
Short sellers are making a beary big comeback on Wall Street
Short sellers are back with a vengeance. The five-year bull market has inflicted nothing but pain on short sellers as many of the stocks they bet against just kept soaring....
Atlantic City casinos hit the jackpot in November
Most of the Atlantic City casinos still open saw a hike in business for November. Among the casinos posting higher gambling revenues were the Borgata, up 15.6 percent to $59.2...
The bank is closed for HSBC sex-harass accuser
HSBC is trying to shut the door on sexual harassment allegations — literally. Michael Picarella, who claims the bank giant retaliated against him for reporting sexual harassment, was barred from...
Delayed merger vote is all about the almighty 'Dollar'
Family Dollar investors may get a little more time to consider the deep discounter’s proposed merger with Dollar Tree. The country’s second-biggest dollar-store chain will likely postpone a Dec. 23...
Viacom's CEO stock dump has Wall Street buzzing
Viacom chieftain Philippe Dauman isn’t waiting to see what’s under the Christmas tree. The media honcho has sold nearly $140 million worth of Viacom stock since just before the Thanksgiving...
Change of scenery starting to pay off for Queens' Travis Atson
For month, Travis Atson agonized over the decision. Stay home with family and friends, attempt to win another city and state championship with Christ the King or venture into the...
LT, John Riggins and the golden age: Remembering Giants-Redskins
There was a time when Redskins-Giants meant a rivalry worthy of a steel cage environment, often with divisional leads or titles on the line. “For me, it wasn’t so much...
Watts up! Reggie named 'Late Late Show' bandleader
The new “Late Late Show with James Corden” has tapped musician and comedian Reggie Watts as its bandleader. Watts — who is known for his improvised musical sets — currently...
It's 'Million' airtime for 'Downton' star McGovern
On “Downton Abbey” Elizabeth McGovern plays Lady Cora, the wealthy American wife of a British aristocrat, Lord Grantham (Hugh Bonneville) — and now she’s set to host a show about...
TLC's new late-night talk show is 'All About Sex'
TLC is getting its own “Sex” aftershow. “All About Sex,” a six-week show airing every Saturday night, will premiere Jan. 10 at 11 p.m. following “Sex Sent Me to the...
NYC's best Santas, including one you can drink with
There are only 12 days left till Christmas, and it’s safe to say that Santa Claus is currently one of NYC’s most sought-after celebrities. If you’re a parent, you’re probably...
Why new Yankee Gregorius will win over Bronx fans
Tino Martinez heard boos from Yankees fans when he got off to a slow start after he replaced Don Mattingly in 1996. Didi Gregorius will bring much less experience with...
Nets down NBA-worst 76ers to snap three-game skid
Before the Nets faced the 76ers Friday night in Brooklyn, general manager Billy King said his team needed to start playing better. While the Nets didn’t exactly follow that mandate,...
Nets GM Billy King douses reports of 'fire sale' of team's stars
Nets general manager Billy King knows his team isn’t playing up to expectations, but he isn’t ready to pull the plug. “My job is to listen to people and to...
Haikus and horoscopes for hire by these creative party teams
Forget the old-school magician or the goofy face painter. Today’s holiday parties demand entertainment that’s as quirky and captivating as Gotham itself. These four local acts — who’ve delighted the...
Winning Heisman may be start of Marcus Mariota's journey to Jets
BALTIMORE — Marcus Mariota has never been to New York City and doesn’t know much about the Jets other than the fact Rex Ryan — at least for now —...
Percy Harvin 'at home' with Jets, doesn't want to leave
Wide receiver Percy Harvin said he “absolutely” wants to return next season and continue his career with the Jets despite their current 2-11 record and uncertain leadership. “I feel at...
Dynamic Amari Cooper fine taking backseat to Mariota
There are Heisman Trophy favorites and there is Marcus Mariota. An upset would be anything other than a runaway. Just ask the dynamic Oregon quarterback’s competition. “Quarterbacks have such a...
Iman goes down, but resurgent Carmelo carries Knicks
BOSTON — Carmelo Anthony returned unexpectedly and so did the Knicks from the land of losing. The Knicks’ locker room was loud and lively after the 10-game losing streak ended...
Get off the pot
Imagine a place where the bathrooms barely function. The ancient, foot-pedal flush systems are hard to operate, so waste builds up. The stall doors get stuck closed, so people have...
Piti Bike
Comptroller Scott Stringer this week delivered an audit that will come as no surprise to anyone following the sorry saga of Citi Bike: It’s been a mess from the start....
All the Rev's enablers
Americans will today witness a bizarre spectacle: a march on Washington led by a rabble-rousing, riot-inciting, flame-throwing serial defamer. And tax cheat. In the wake of the Eric Garner and...
Truly thinking about torture
For a long time I resisted the word “torture” when discussing the “enhanced interrogation techniques” used against high-value captives in the war on terror. I don’t think I can do...
An anti-love song: Taylor Swift's gone dark
Taylor Swift isn’t exactly known for thought-provoking lyrics. She is bubbly, cheerful, humble and still classy, but her music is, well . . . predictable. The sweetheart of pop music...
The money Jets' Wilkerson should consider before returning
It was easy to tell Mo Wilkerson was not in a good mood. Never the most cheerful of fellows, he wore the bah humbug look when reporters approached him Friday...
The cop-killing cult of Larry Davis
In Manhattan’s Union Square last week, a protester wielded a menacing sign. It didn’t make the front page of any newspaper. You didn’t see it on cable news. An appalled...
Campus hysteria
Rolling Stone magazine has now apologized, sort of, for publishing a lurid account of a gang rape at a fraternity at the University of Virginia that -- it has become...
Stevie Brown aims to rebound from poor play and attitude
This is how difficult 2014 has been for Stevie Brown: Rehabilitating the torn ACL in his left knee, an injury that sabotaged his entire 2013, was easier to endure. Last...
Buyout king Leon Black poised to fetch PetSmart for $8B
PetSmart is close to selling itself — and Leon Black is in the catbird seat. The billionaire buyout king’s Apollo Global Management is nearing a deal to buy the pet-supplies...
Kate nails it, while Alyssa and Padma miss the mark
Outfit repeating is generally a fashion no-no, unless you’re Kate Middleton. Elsewhere, celebs such as Padma Lakshmi and Alyssa Milano have been making major statements on the red carpet — just...
Man confesses fraud in suicide note, then survives attempt
Now he has another reason to be depressed. A corporate lawyer was foiled by his own suicide note after he confessed to a ponzi scheme in the tragic manifesto —...
Through the ages: Christmastime in New York City
A look at how New Yorkers have celebrated Christmas through the ages.
Politician plays hooky from his sentencing hearing
A convicted-crook politician played hooky from his sentencing hearing Friday — and had his mommy call in to say he wouldn’t make it. Disgraced ex-Brooklyn Assemblyman William Boyland Jr. was...
The 6 best nerdy Easter eggs in ‘The Flash’ so far
The two big DC shows on TV this year — “The Flash” and “Gotham” — could be a lesson in the do’s and don’ts of how to turn comic books...
Fire breaks out at the American Museum of Natural History
Several artifacts at the American Museum of Natural History suffered minor damage when a fire on the outside of the building sent smoke circulating inside, activating the emergency sprinkler system,...
Tea Party mom wins $1.12M for false prosecution
A Long Island mother of three arrested for taking pictures of an Air National Guard base in the Hamptons -- while armed to the teeth with a licensed assault rifle...
'Remorseless' Adrian Peterson's appeal rejected
MINNEAPOLIS — The NFL’s hard line on Adrian Peterson held up. The league-appointed arbitrator for Peterson’s appeal affirmed the unpaid suspension until at least next spring, the final result of...
Court orders Garner judge to hold open hearing on deliberations
A New York appeals court ordered a Staten Island judge to hold a public hearing on Dec. 19 about the unsealing of the Eric Garner grand jury deliberations, The Post...
Cops tell de Blasio: Stay away from our funerals
Not over their dead bodies. Cops are warning Mayor de Blasio and Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito to stay away from their funerals should they be killed in the line...
Sidney Crosby's face is a mess, but Penguins deny mumps
https://twitter.com/emptynetters/status/543463274415919105 PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby will sit out the next two games as a precaution, though general manager Jim Rutherford says it does not appear the star...
The day in photos
Puppies pal around, Christmas lights illuminate Tokyo and Washington, unrest continues in Ukraine, sharks get snacks and more.
Manhattan GOP chairman shakeup in the works
There’s a leadership shake-up coming at the Manhattan Republican Party. Adele Malpass is replacing Dan Isaacs as the head of organization. “I’m going to be the chairman. I’m looking forward...
Julio Jones owners: How to prepare for tricky fantasy finale
All the time and energy spent drafting, trading, making waiver pickups and more have all been directed toward these next two weeks. In most leagues, you are just a pair...
Rail that caused F train derailment was broken for a year: MTA
The MTA on Friday said the section of track where an F train derailment occurred earlier this year was laden with defects that should have been detected and repaired by...
7 celebrities who starred in animated shows
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBMEB8fiUlI Cartoon Network this week renewed “Mike Tyson Mysteries” for a second season. In the animated show, part of the network’s Adult Swim programming block, Tyson stars as a crime-fighting...
Mark Sanchez thoroughly debunks idea he hates Riley Cooper
Is there a rivalry brewing between Mark Sanchez and Riley Cooper? How dare you! The Eagles quarterback scoffed at that notion, which has been suggested in recent weeks. "That's the craziest thing...
'Sir' Didi Gregorius unsure of reception as Jeter's successor
Tino Martinez heard boos from Yankees fans when he got off to a slow start after he replaced Don Mattingly in 1996. Didi Gregorius will bring much less experience with...
3 injured in Portland school shooting
https://twitter.com/fox12oregon/status/543504584308563968/ PORTLAND, Ore. — A shooter wounded two boys and a girl outside an alternative high school Friday in what may be a gang-related attack, Portland police said. The victims...
Don't put your fantasy title hopes in Johnny Manziel's hands
It’s easy to get lost in the hype of Johnny Manziel. You remember the plays he made the past couple of seasons at Texas A&M, you watch a highlight of...
Couple wins $1M after receiving 700 calls from Bank of America
A Florida couple who got more than 700 collection calls from Bank of America over four years will now do a little collecting of their own — to the tune of...
Virgin male rats prefer to have sex with females in sexy lingerie
Victoria's Secret may have a new market. Virgin male rats were allowed to have sex with female rats wearing special rodent "lingerie” for a study. When given a chance to...
Olivia Munn dishes on Aaron Rodgers' game-day sex habits
For Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the game trumps everything else. His girlfriend, actress Olivia Munn, appeared on Thursday night's edition of "Watch What Happens Live" and shared some personal information...
Nick Saban's daughter not off hook for sorority 'beatdown'
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A judge in Tuscaloosa was wrong to throw out a lawsuit claiming the daughter of University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban beat up a sorority sister...
Sam Champion sells penthouse for $4.72M
The weather outside is frightful, but it's sunny times for TV weatherman Sam Champion -- who just sold his Lincoln Square penthouse for a cool $4.72 million, according to city...
ManServants will bring the ladies a dose of holiday cheer
http://youtu.be/ArxSNlfsgXQ Forget the dreaded holiday fruitcake — why not give your friend a beefcake for Christmas this year? ManServants — the San Francisco startup that offers dapper gentlemen to wait...
NFL's alleged serial rapist indicted in New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS — Former Saints safety Darren Sharper and two other men were indicted Friday on multiple rape allegations in New Orleans — adding to a list of charges and...
The whole wide weird of sports in 2014
Sports got pretty strange in 2014. See the most awkward athletic moments of the year.
NHL's outdoor obsession getting whiff of a bad sell
I get a lot of emails every day, most of which I delete without more than a glance at the subject line. You know what has slowly made its way near...
Accused serial killer deemed unfit for trial
An unhinged Staten Island man accused of gunning down three Brooklyn shopkeepers execution-style in separate slayings was found unfit to stand trial on Friday — but fuming relatives of his second...
Shailene Woodley is back in action in 'Insurgent'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suZcGoRLXkU The next chapter of Tris’ destiny is about to unfold. The first full-length trailer for “Insurgent” hit the Web on Friday, giving “Divergent” fans more than a 60-second glimpse...
Former Miss New York sues Match.com over fake profile
A beauty queen who has already met her match wants to know how a dating site let someone create a fake profile in her name. Married former Miss New York...
The NBA's best through the first quarter of the season
By the end of Friday’s action, every NBA team will have completed 25 percent of its 2014-15 schedule. So let's take the opportunity to survey the landscape of the league and...
11-year-old Arkansas girl hails cab ... to Florida
BRYANT, Ark. — Arkansas police say an 11-year-old girl paid a cabbie $1,300 to take her to meet a boy in Florida, but that authorities caught up with the runaway...
Red Bulls give their new rival a goalie
With icon Thierry Henry leaving and a new emphasis on internal roster building expected, the Red Bulls took a step in that direction Thursday when they signed Sean Davis as...
FBI investigating black teen's hanging death
BLADENBORO, N.C. — The FBI is looking into the death of a black North Carolina teen after his family questioned the official ruling that the young man found hanging from...
Carmelo says he wants to be a Knick, dances around no-trade talk
BOSTON — Carmelo Anthony said he’s not surprised his commitment to the Knicks has been questioned amid their franchise-worst 5-20 start, saying it “comes with the territory’’ and it wouldn’t...
Gisele Bündchen goes topless for shoes — again
Following her sexy fall 2014 campaign for Stuart Weitzman, Gisele Bündchen is going topless again in the name of stylish shoes. Meanwhile, Kendall and Kylie Jenner are dishing out holiday...
Bloods gang member 'sucker-punches cop' during anti-police protest
Nearly a week after firebrand Brooklyn Councilman Jumaane Williams tweeted his support for members of the Bloods to join anti-cop protests, a member of the violent gang took him up...
Palestinian attacks Israeli family with acid
JERUSALEM — A Palestinian attacker posing as a hitchhiker threw acid at an Israeli family on Friday before he was shot by a passer-by and arrested, the Israeli military said....
Patriots conspired to muddle knee injury, recoup millions: lawsuit
In a callous scheme that reached the highest echelons of management, the Patriots purposefully altered medical treatment of a player's major knee injury in order to avoid paying out signing...
Practicing with furious Kobe Bryant sounds miserable
Kobe Bryant is not handling the Lakers’ train wreck of a season so well. The star guard ripped his teammates on Thursday by yelling at GM Mitch Kupchak while walking...
When to watch the spectacular Geminid meteor shower
A major meteor shower will ignite the night sky over the weekend — providing one of the most spectacular shooting star displays of the year. Dubbed the Geminids, the annual interstellar...
The 8 worst celebrity Christmas cards
There’s only one thing more seasonally appropriate than fir trees, garland and candy canes — the annual Christmas card. What’s typically a wholesome photo for most families is often turned...
London airspace closed after computer failure
LONDON — The European air control agency Eurocontrol says London airspace has been closed due to a computer failure. Officials at London Heathrow Airport said Friday there is a power...
Charges dropped for death-row mom held 22 years in son's death
PHOENIX — In a scathing critique of Arizona's criminal justice system, a state appeals court on Thursday ordered the dismissal of murder charges against a woman who spent 22 years...
300 United Airlines passengers stuck on tarmac all day
Over 300 passengers on a United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Sydney were stuck at Canberra’s domestic airport for eight hours Friday morning. The plane was diverted to Canberra...
California whacked by 'Pineapple Express' storm
SAN FRANCISCO — A powerful storm churned down the West Coast on Thursday, bringing strong gales and much-needed rain and snow that caused widespread blackouts in Northern California and whiteouts...
Tragic cricketer remarkably poised in return to action
Sean Abbott, who delivered the ball that killed Australian batsman Phillip Hughes last month, returned to the cricket grounds Friday showing no lingering effects of his role in the tragedy....
Clouds fill Grand Canyon in rare weather event
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. — A rare weather phenomenon at the Grand Canyon had visitors looking out on a sea of thick clouds just below the rim. The total...
Japan outraged over 'Unbroken'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kk1M_HwmFMM TOKYO — Angelina Jolie's new movie "Unbroken" has not been released in Japan yet, but it has already struck a nerve in a country still fighting over its wartime...
Korean Air nut's public walk of shame
The Korean Air executive who delayed a flight in New York City to throw a hissy fit because her macadamia nuts came in a bag instead of a bowl bowed...
Facebook dismisses 'dislike' button as too negative
Haters gonna hate — but Facebook isn’t going to help them. The world’s biggest social network considered adding a “dislike” button and then dismissed it as a bad idea. Facebook...
2 Brooklyn fires leave 1 dead, 12 hurt
Flames shot from the roof and burst through windows during a raging four-alarm fire at a Cypress Hills apartment building — one of two blazes in Brooklyn early Friday that...
Young girl struck by car in Brooklyn
A 9-year-old girl was clinging to life after being hit by a car in Brooklyn Thursday evening. The girl, whom cops did not immediately name, was with her grandmother on...
Celebrity swindler gets probation after identity fraud
A convicted con man who once bilked nearly $10 million from a bevy of Hollywood stars dodged jail time Thursday when he was sentenced to two years’ probation for racking...
DOE considers making HS entrance exam mandatory for 8th graders
The Department of Education is considering requiring all eighth-graders to take the entrance exam for the city’s specialized high schools in hopes of boosting the number of blacks and Hispanics...
Ex-banker accused of recording sex romps friend-requested 'victim'
An ex-Morgan Stanley banker busted for video-recording sex romps with three women recently friend-requested one of them on Facebook, prosecutors charged Thursday in court. The friending offer could be in...
Public defenders appear in 'kill cops' rap video
Taxpayers pay their salaries — but that hasn’t stopped two Bronx public defenders from appearing in a vile online rap video that urges black people to kill NYPD cops. The...
Manhole fire causes havoc on subway lines
Rush-hour commuters faced significant subway delays Thursday night after a manhole caught fire near the West 4th Street station — and some lines could still be affected Friday morning, MTA...
The classless NFL clowns, and the 'experts' who enable them
To save time and syllables, we’re going journo-green today. Thus “common sense” will be replaced by “it,” as in “getting it.” And that’s the point: “it” doesn’t matter, not anymore....
Giants rookie: Near death at 2, near stardom at 22
In a Giants season wrought with more blight than with bright moments, there have been examples that give fans reason for hope in 2015 and beyond. We have known for...
Carmelo would consider waiving no-trade clause
BOSTON — This is how bad it has gotten for Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks: Five months after swearing his allegiance to New York and signing a five-year, $124 million...
CIA head defends agency, rips some tactics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-yzOXZKgCM WASHINGTON — CIA Director John Brennan on Thursday acknowledged the use of “abhorrent” tactics by the spy agency — but he said harsh interrogations provided “useful intelligence,” a day...
Drunk rider becomes drunk driver after swiping cab
A drunken woman who was booted from a cab in Manhattan because she refused to pay her fare managed to slip behind the wheel and take off, leaving the driver...
Nets' Hollins pulls no punches: 'I thought we would be better'
The Nets, a quarter of the way through the NBA season, are 8-12, have lost three straight games by at least 20 points and have trade rumors surrounding their high-priced...
Claiming ObamaCare on IRS forms set to be taxing
WASHINGTON — The new year will usher in new ObamaCare provisions on tax forms that are poised to create costly headaches for millions of Americans and threaten to put the...
Brits get to see US royalty as Elvis makes way to London
Hail the King! The British can now feast their eyes on pieces of American royalty, as a collection of items once possessed by Elvis Presley goes on display across The...
ISIS savages behead four children: Christian leader
Four Christian children were beheaded by ISIS militants in Iraq for refusing to denounce Jesus and convert to Islam, according to the leader of the Anglican church in Baghdad. Canon...
SEC weed wackers sparked GrowLife fears
The feds are getting inside the heads of pot investors. Two weeks before shares of GrowLife were halted by regulators last spring, some of the troubled marijuana company’s financial backers...
Cardinals win game but lose another QB
ST. LOUIS -- Drew Stanton hopped off the field to the bench and was carted off with a right knee injury. For the second straight meeting against the St. Louis...
Inconsistent Rangers hoping for another Christmas turnaround
So as Christmas fast approaches, here again are the Rangers, struggling to find cohesion and struggling to find consistency. If that sounds familiar, it’s because this was the same situation...
SEC chief not pleased over insider trading decision
Securities and Exchange Commission chief Mary Jo White is none too pleased about Wednesday’s landmark federal appeals court ruling that overturned two insider trading convictions. “My initial sense is that...
Recent decision could give inside trader a 2nd chance
Michael Kimelman lost everything — his family, his company, his life savings — in 2011 when he was convicted of insider trading and sentenced to two and a half years...
Daily Blotter
Manhattan A pair of thieves swiped fur coats from two Upper East Side stores, authorities said. The couple walked into Loro Piana on Madison Avenue near East 65th Street on...
Dirty judge tormented me with sex tales: secretary
A randy Brooklyn judge turned the hallowed halls of justice into a seedy sleaze pit — sexually harassing his Orthodox Jewish secretary with lurid tales about his erotic adventures with...