Jurors hear secret tape recording in Miami police corruption trial as feds rest their case




















As rain began to fall on a June evening, Miami Police Sgt. Raul Iglesias told an undercover detective in his drug-fighting squad to turn off his cell phone and take out the battery as both officers stood outside the boss’s home.

Iglesias, already relieved of duty on suspicions of being a dirty cop, feared Roberto Asanza’s phone could be recording him. And his instincts were right, because Asanza was wired — though not through his phone.

“No one has done anything illegal or broke the law,” Iglesias told Asanza in the recorded conversation, played for jurors Friday at the sergeant’s corruption trial in Miami federal court. “... If they got, they got [it], but I [have] never seen anyone in my unit do anything wrong.”





Later in their chat, Asanza — who was cooperating with authorities and trying to bait his boss into incriminating statements — expressed fears about lying on the witness stand if he was asked to testify. Iglesias agreed that committing perjury would be a bad idea.

“Yeah, of course, you don’t wanna, you don’t wanna f---ing lie,’’ Iglesias responded.

The secret tape recording from June 2010 was the last piece of evidence that prosecutors presented before resting their corruption case Friday against Iglesias, 40, who has been on the force for 18 years.

Iglesias, an ex-Marine and Iraq War veteran who was shot in the leg during a 2004 drug bust, is standing trial on charges of planting cocaine on a suspect, stealing drugs and money from dope dealers, and lying to investigators about a box of money left in an abandoned car as part of an FBI sting.

Asanza, 33, also an ex-Marine, pleaded guilty last year to a misdemeanor charge of possessing cocaine and marijuana. The deal helped him avoid a felony conviction; in exchange, he testified Thursday that Iglesias told him it was “okay” to pay off confidential informants with drugs.

The secret tape recording could cut both ways for jurors. On it, Iglesias did not say anything to Asanza to implicate himself in connection with charges in the nine-count indictment, his defense attorney, Rick Diaz, pointed out Friday. The charges encompass the police sergeant’s brief stint as head of the Crime Supression Unit from January to May 2010.

Miami Internal Affairs Sgt. Ron Luquis, a government witness, agreed with Diaz’s general assessment during his testimony Friday, though the witness also sided with many of prosecutor Ricardo Del Toro’s critical views of the same evidence.

Asanza, despite agreeing to cooperate, discreetly gave his supervisor a heads-up that he was facing a potential criminal investigation when they met for the recorded conversation, according to sources familiar with probe.

The recording was made two months after other members of Iglesias’ Crime Suppression Unit wrote an anonymous letter to internal affairs, alleging that he was “stealing drugs and money” from dealers “2-3 times per 4-day work week.” Five CSU members, including Asanza, testified against Iglesias over the past week.

Asanza’s recording of Iglesias was less intelligible when both went inside the police sergeant’s home. Asanza’s wire picked up the sound of a barking dog, a blaring TV and the rustling of paper. Investigators believe Iglesias wrote down information on sheets of paper and later burned them, but that evidence was not presented to jurors.





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Britney Spears Split with Jason Trawick

After more than three years together, Britney Spears and her fiance Jason Trawick have split, her rep confirmed to People.


RELATED - Britney "Working Hard" on New Music

"Jason and I have decided to call off our engagement," Spears says in the statement. "I'll always adore him and we will remain great friends." Trawick adds, "As this chapter ends for us a new one begins. I love and cherish her and her boys and we will be close forever."

Spears, who got engaged to Trawick on his 40th birthday in December of 2011, previously said of her now-ex, "We're really normal. We just like to watch movies. We work out a lot. We love to work out. We do stuff together like that. We take walks."


VIDEO - More Shocking Celebrity Splits

Today has been a big day for sad Spears news as it was previously announced she wouldn't be returning for another season of The X Factor.

"I've made the very difficult decision not to return for another season," Spears told ETonline in a statement. "I had an incredible time doing the show and I love the other judges and I am so proud of my teens but it's time for me to get back in the studio."

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Lance Armstrong to admit doping in Oprah interview: report








AUSTIN, Texas — Lance Armstrong plans to admit to doping throughout his career during an upcoming interview with Oprah Winfrey, it was reported late Friday.

The interview, scheduled to be taped Monday and broadcast Thursday night on the Oprah Winfrey Network, will be conducted at Armstrong's home in Austin, Texas.

Citing an anonymous source, USA Today reported that the disgraced cyclist plans to admit using performance-enhancing drugs, but likely will not get into details of the allegations outlined in a 2012 report by the US Anti-Doping Agency that led to Armstrong being stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and banned for life from the sport.





REUTERS



Lance Armstrong





His representatives declined comment late Friday, including attorney Tim Herman, but Armstrong sent a text to the Associated Press early Saturday morning saying: "I told her (Winfrey) to go wherever she wants and I'll answer the questions directly, honestly, candidly. That's all I can say."

It was first reported last week that Armstrong was considering making a confession.

The 41-year-old Armstrong, who vehemently denied doping for years, has not spoken publicly about the USADA report that cast him as the leader of a sophisticated and brazen doping program on his US Postal Service teams that included use of steroids, blood boosters and illegal blood transfusions.

Winfrey's network announced Tuesday that Armstrong agreed to a "no holds barred" interview with her.

A confession to Winfrey would come at a time when some of Armstrong's legal troubles appear to be clearing up.

Any potential perjury charges stemming from his sworn testimony denying doping in a 2005 arbitration fight with a Dallas promotions company over a contract bonus worth $7.5 million have passed the statute of limitations.

Armstrong faces a whistle-blower lawsuit filed by former teammate Floyd Landis accusing him of defrauding the US Postal Service, but the US Department of Justice has yet to announce if it will join the case. The British newspaper The Sunday Times is suing Armstrong to recover about $500,000 it paid him to settle a libel lawsuit.

Armstrong lost most of his personal sponsorship — worth tens of millions of dollars — after USADA issued its report and he left the board of the Livestrong cancer-fighting charity he founded in 1997. He is still said to be worth an estimated $100 million.

Livestrong might be one reason to issue an apology or make a confession. The charity supports cancer patients and still faces an image problem because of its association with its famous founder.

It was reported that Armstrong may make a confession in an attempt to return to competition in elite triathlon or running events, but World Anti-Doping Code rules state his lifetime ban cannot be reduced to less than eight years. WADA and U.S. Anti-Doping officials could agree to reduce the ban further depending on what new information Armstrong provides and his level of cooperation.

Armstrong met with USADA officials recently to explore a "pathway to redemption," according to a report by "60 Minutes Sports" aired Wednesday on Showtime.










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What the week’s big mortgage moves mean for consumers




















This week brought three big developments to the nation’s beleaguered mortgage landscape. For consumers, the complex moves have been mostly mystifying, but experts say they all aim at turning the page.

“There is a strong desire to put behind us all this period of time — the aftermath of the darkest period in American finance. All these things [announced this week] are intended to do that,” said John Taylor, president and CEO of the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, a Washington, D.C.-based community advocacy group. “There are good and bad things in it for consumers.’’

A new rule issued Thursday by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau aims to prevent lenders from making the sort of toxic mortgages that forced many unsuspecting borrowers into ruin. Yet the new “qualified mortgage” rule, according to some lenders, also could perpetuate the nation’s tight credit problem and keep many would-be homebuyers on the sidelines.





Meanwhile, two settlements unveiled Monday with big banks should resolve some lingering issues from the mortgage meltdown that have kept banks focused on past errors instead of getting back to the business of lending.

Here is a quick primer on the week’s developments and some likely implications for consumers.

OCC Settlement

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which regulates nationally chartered banks, Monday unveiled an $8.5 billion settlement with 10 giant banks that service mortgages.

As part of the controversial settlement, the OCC is scrapping its Independent Foreclosure Review, which was aimed at identifying victims of robo-signing and other improper foreclosure tactics by banks, but soon proved to be a badly flawed effort.

Instead, under the OCC’s new approach — which will be spelled out in enforcement actions in a couple of weeks — more than 3.8 million borrowers who faced foreclosure between Jan. 1, 2009 and Dec. 31, 2010 stand to get some payment regardless of whether they actually suffered any harm.

The mortgage servicing banks covered are Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citibank, JPMorgan Chase, SunTrust, PNC, Sovereign, U.S. Bank, MetLife Bank and Aurora.

The agreement provides for $3.3 billion to go directly to borrowers. Another $5.2 billion is earmarked for loan modifications and the forgiveness of deficiency judgments.

The OCC said the amount that eligible borrowers get will range from a few hundred dollars up to $125,000, depending on the type of error that possibly occurred in their mortgage servicing.

“If a borrower went through foreclosure with one of those 10 lenders, they should receive a couple hundred bucks, whether they deserve it or not,” said Guy Cecala, publisher and CEO of Inside Mortgage Finance Publications in Bethesda, Md., which tracks news and statistics in the residential mortgage industry. “The odds of getting $125,000 is the odds of winning the lottery. It would have to be a false foreclosure or where they were thrown out of their house illegally.”

The OCC will look to 13 broad categories of errors outlined in the Independent Foreclosure Review launched in April 2011.

Those include a litany of bumblings and misdeeds by the mortgage servicers, ranging from foreclosing on a homeowner who was following the rules during a trial period of a loan modification, to failing to offer a loan modification as mandated under a government program, to failing to follow up with a borrower to obtain needed documents under a government program.





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Miami Gardens City Hall’s new address: Obama Boulevard




















Miami Gardens will have a street named after President Barack Obama, after all.

An earlier attempt last month was rejected by the council because the proposed location on Northwest Second Avenue was deemed not worthy enough.

The street that was deemed acceptable for “President Barack and Michelle Obama Boulevard” is Northwest 185 Terrace between 27th and 25th Avenues. It is also the site of the new City Hall that is scheduled to open later this year.





The street renaming passed unanimously at Wednesday’s council meeting.

While city officials admit the two city blocks that will be named after the president and his wife are currently in need of improvement, they say once construction is completed residents — and the president — would be proud.

According to City Manager Danny Crew, the city is spending $1.5 million in renovations and upgrades on President Barack and Michelle Obama Boulevard.

“We’re going to make sure it looks good out there,” said Vice-Mayor Lisa Davis.

The renaming comes before President Obama’s inauguration on Jan. 21.

Once City Hall is built, residents who send letters in the mail to the council or other city officials will address the envelope to President Barack and Michelle Obama Boulevard.

The council will also consider at a later date if it wants to rename a portion of Northwest 199th Street after Marcus Garvey, pan-African activist and Jamaican political leader.





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Worn Out? Stars Step Out in Same Style



Lena Dunham vs. Gwyneth Paltrow







Has Girls star Lena Dunham been taking style notes from Gwyneth Paltrow? Lena looked confident in her black and white Valentino jumpsuit at the show's season two premiere on January 9 in New York City, but Gwyneth was first to sport the form-fitting jumpsuit all the way back in October, when she celebrated her 40th birthday in NYC alongside her besties Beyonce and Cameron Diaz.

Who looks better in the minimalist jumpsuit -- It Girl Lena or birthday girl Gwyneth?








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Wells Fargo reports 25 percent increase in fourth-quarter earnings








Wells Fargo, the country's biggest mortgage lender, reported a 25 percent increase in fourth-quarter earnings Friday. The bank made more loans, set aside less money for potential defaults and enjoyed above-average returns from the investments made by its private equity business.

The San Francisco-based bank was the first major lender to report fourth-quarter earnings. Revenue grew over the year in credit cards, wealth management and other units, and the bank brought in more in service charges and investment fees. Mortgage lending slowed from the third quarter, however.




Revenue rose 7 percent, to $21.9 billion, beating the $21.3 billion expected by analysts polled by FactSet. Wells Fargo earned $4.9 billion before paying dividends on preferred stock. That amounted to 91 cents per share, more than the 87 cents per share analysts were expecting. In the same period a year earlier the bank earned $3.9 billion, or 73 cents per share.

As in the previous quarter, mortgages were the main driver of the bank's results. The bank said it funded $125 billion in mortgages, up from $120 billion in the same period a year ago. However, that was also down from $139 billion in the third quarter, stoking some investors' concerns that the mortgage boom, which Wells Fargo is heavily dependent on, could be slowing.

Chief financial officer Tim Sloan said he was "very pleased" with the bank's performance, but also noted the "challenging" problems of "low interest rates and elevated unemployment." Low interest rates can hurt banks because they get a lower return from lending out money. Well's Fargo's net interest income fell 2 percent from the same period a year ago.

The stock fell 40 cents, about 1 percent, to $35 in pre-market trading.

Also top of mind was Monday's national foreclosure settlement, in which Wells Fargo and nine other banks agreed to spend a combined $8.5 billion to settle the government's accusations that they had wrongfully foreclosed on some struggling borrowers.

Wells Fargo said it would pay $766 million in cash and commit an extra $1.2 billion to "foreclosure prevention actions," such as mortgage modifications, for its part of the settlement. The settlement forced it to take a $644 million charge to fourth-quarter results.

The settlement also eliminates an uncertainty that had been hanging over the bank and means the bank no longer has to go through individual, independent reviews of its foreclosures. The bank said that hiring external consultants and extra staff for the foreclosure reviews had recently been costing it about $125 million a quarter.

CEO John Stumpf said the bank was "very pleased to have put this legacy issue behind us."










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Legal feud over Spanish-language TV leads to federal suit in Miami




















What began as a highly-touted affiliation between a new Spanish-language national television network and a popular independent local station in Miami has dissolved into a legal dispute of David and Goliath proportions.

MundoFox Broadcasting, part of the family of communications giant News Corporation, filed suit in the U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida against the parent company of America Tevé Channel 41-WJAN, America-CV Network, for breaching two agreements forged in May.

The complaint alleges that in South Florida "MundoFox’s initial launch had less exposure, viewership was lower, soliciting advertisers became more difficult and advertising revenue decreased,” because the network was swapped to inferior channel positions by cable providers.





In a statement, America-CV Network, denied the allegations in the complaint and announced that it will defend itself vigorously.

— DANIEL SHOER ROTH





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Wisdom from the mouths of babes




















The other day, a friend of mine email me the following letter from a 7-year-old second-grader, Abigal Lily Alder, at Heron Heights Elementary in Broward County, and I want to share it with you, my dear Neighbors in Religion readers:

The title: "AUTISM SPEAKS to Me!"

"If I could help somebody it would be my brother, Grant, who has autism. People with autism like Grant sometimes have trouble communicating and they may act 'different.' I participated in a walk for Autism Speaks with my family, and learned that for every 88 kids one of them will have autism like my brother. If you have a conversation with someone who has autism they are not always able to focus on what you are saying and they may only want to talk about things that are important to them.





“Restaurants, playgrounds and shops can sometimes be too exciting for them at first. They may be loud, say things you may not expect or they may have trouble understanding what you are asking them.

I would like people to accept kids like my brother who are unique in their own way, and not judge them. Just be patient. If you see someone who you think may have autism, you should help them or just be a friend. I went to camp during the summer with kids who have autism like my brother, and I found out that they can be real friends just like anyone else. We laughed together and played games. It was a blast and I am still friends with many of them.

“There are good things about autism, too. My brother is the most fun and active person. He is awesome on computers and every morning when I wake up, my brother has a big smile on his face and he says, 'It is a beautiful morning.' He is still the BEST BROTHER EVER!

“I know I may be only seven, but I can make a difference and so can you."

Abby is in Mrs. Chiros' class and was the essay contest winner for her grade level.

Oh, thank you, so much Abby. You are wise beyond your young years. I know your parents are so proud of how sensitive you are — and that's a feather in their hats. God bless you and Grant. My godson Isaiah Swift, 6, has autism and I love him so much, and tell him often.

Although he had not been able to speak, one day at church he shocked my boots off, so to speak, when he said without any prompting, "I ... love ... you.”

It brought tears of joy to my eyes.

‘Why I am Thankful’

On Dec. 28, I asked readers to share reasons they are thankful. Here is a response from Charlotte Delascasas:

"I am grateful for the upcoming MLK Holiday and our national tradition of community service. Coral Gables Congregational Church will be having their annual food drive and Pastor Laurie Hafner will remain fasting up in the tower until 3,000 pounds (one dollar also equals one pound) is raised before the cherry picker brings her down, usually 7 p.m. Saturday night, when there will be a rock ‘n’ roll band in our parking lot in front of the Biltmore Hotel, to celebrate.

“Our church will also adult education about Dr. King from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m., each Sunday in January. I am thankful that our congregation welcomes everyone, no matter where you are on your spiritual journey, with an open door. Each Thanksgiving we join Temple Judea and Riviera Presbyterian for an interfaith service and we have welcomed theologians from all religions to speak as well. Our social justice program includes Green Christians, who have just started a community garden.





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Lily Allen Gives Birth to Daughter Marnie Rose

Lily Allen, 27, is a mom again! The British singer welcomed daughter Marnie Rose on Tuesday, January 8, People is reporting.

This is Allen's second child with her husband Sam Cooper. Marnie Rose will join older sister Ethel Mary, 1.

Related: Lily Allen is Pregnant

"Quite overwhelmed by all the well wishing going on. THANKYOU everybody x x x," she tweeted Thursday morning.

Allen has been previously open about the two miscarriages she suffered prior to giving birth to Ethel Mary on November 25, 2011.

"It was a really long battle, and I think that kind of thing changes a person," Allen said in her documentary Lily Allen: Rags to Riches.

Related: Lily Allen Welcomes a Baby Girl

The Smile singer again made headlines in June with rumors of her return to music after announcing in 2010 that she was taking a break to focus on her fashion store and personal life.

"You will be pleased to know that i am currently in the f***ing studio with [producer] @GregKurstin," Allen tweeted.

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Ferry passengers return to daily - and seated - commute








AFP/Getty Images


Mayor Bloomberg inspects the damage after the commuter ferry slammed into Pier 11. A large hole can be seen in the front of the boat after the crash.



Commuters aboard the same ferry service that crashed one day earlier enjoyed a smooth — and seated-at-all-times — sail into Manhattan this morning.

Passengers returning to the Highlands-to-New York journey said they had no worries riding the Seastreak ferry and noticed virtually everyone stayed in their chairs until the craft came to complete stop in Manhattan.

Yesterday, an out-of-control ferry carrying more than 300 commuters slammed into a lower Manhattan dock , tossing terrified passengers like rag dolls into walls and down staircases and leaving 93 people injured.





Sun Media / Splash News



The damage to the Seastreak yesterday.





PHOTOS: SEASTREAK FERRY CRASHES INTO PIER 11

RIDER'S FIRSTHAND ACCOUNT OF FERRY CRASH

CAPTAINS WORRIED OVER PROPULSION SYSTEM

“Everyone remained seated at the end --normally people rush to get off first." said commuter Darren Srikumpol, 37, just after pulling into Pier 11.

Atlantic Highlands resident Julie Mahoney, 38, said she too noticed how passengers weren’t in such a rush to sprint off the boat.

“It [today’s commute] was very smooth, but at the end no one stood up or rushed to get off the boat, a first,” said Mahoney, adding that yesterday’s smash-up was the talk of this morning’s ride.

“There was a lot more chatter than usual because people were talking about it. When you take it everyday it's part of your daily commute. It's part of the reason I moved to Atlantic Highlands.”

Federal investigators are probing whether a mechanical failure caused the Seastreak Wall Street to crash into Pier 11 at about 8:45 a.m., sending 93 passengers to hospitals — two of them in critical condition — and ripping a giant gash in the ship’s bow.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash, which evoked memories of the horrific 2003 Staten Island Ferry wreck that killed 10 people and injured 59.

Passenger Michael Dean said he believes a slower exit off the boat will be the new normal.

“I think more people will stay in their seats from now on,” said Dean, who went flying yesterday but escaped virtually injury-free.

“I was gathering my stuff facing my chair. When we hit land, the crash lifted me up and threw me into a row in front of me. I was literally in the air. I got knocked around but I decided to see my own doctor in New Jersey to get checked out. I’m a bit stiff but I’m fine."

Commuters on board today chalked up yesterday’s violent docking as an aberration.

“I appreciate that the boat feels slower today, especially docking this morning,” commuter Sheila Carson, a Monmouth Beach resident and JPMorgan Chase attorney.

“Today is business as usual. We have jobs to do and the ferry is how we get there."

Dean, a 46-year-old financial analyst from Middletown, called yesterday’s crash a “freak accident.”

"I’m feeling no apprehension at all,” Dean said during his commute. “I think it was a freak accident. I think it was something mechanical. These crews are so professional. The crew and captain are great guys.”

Srikumpol said he has no beef with ferry operator despite yesterday’s crash.

He went as far as urging injured passengers to reconsider the lawsuits that will inevitably be filed.

“I hope they don't get sued,” he said. “This is a chance occurrence and I'd hate for this service to be shut off because of this litigious society.”

Additional reporting by David K. Li










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Unemployment claims on the rise in Miami-Dade




















Miami-Dade County ended 2012 with more people joining the unemployment rolls than it did last year.

The late-year increase in first-time unemployment claims broke a trend of declining applications throughout most of 2012. First-time claims spiked about 15 percent in November and December, with about 17,500 new applications in all over those 60 days. That’s compared to 15,000 during the same time in 2011. For the entire year, claims were still down about 10 percent.

In Broward, overall claims were down 15 percent. In November and December, Broward residents applies for 10,200 first-time unemployment benefits, compared to about 10,500 in 2011 — a 3 percent drop.





DOUGLAS HANKS





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Mystery fish invades Keys waters from the Pacific




















Deep-diving spearfishermen surfaced with a mystery last month south of Pacific Reef Light off North Key Largo.

"I was shocked when I saw it," Wayne Grammes said. "It’s an ugly-looking fish with a face on it that looks like a tripletail and a tail like a jewfish."

The 15-pound, 27-inch fish speared by Greg Caterino of Tavernier turned out to be a humpback grouper — a species native not to Pacific Reef but to the tropical Pacific Ocean off Asia.





"This is the equivalent of a hunter in North America finding a zebra," said Grammes, who was fishing Dec. 23 with Caterino.

"We’ve seen the successful marine invasion of lionfish," Reef Environmental Education Foundation Project Director Lad Akins said this week. "We certainly do not want to see it happen again with another Pacific species."

Akins, a renowned expert in fish identification, confirmed the speared fish was a humpback grouper. With an array of black spots, it’s also known as a panther grouper.

"This is not the first time these have been sighted in Florida," Akins said. "There have been five or six reported as far back as the 1980s, but all from different parts of the state."

"The juveniles are really popular in the aquarium trade," Akins said. "It’s quite likely that this is released fish."

Young humpback grouper sport a brilliant white color with an attractive spray of black spots. But they outgrow most privately owned saltwater tanks — and cast a hungry eye on other tank fish. "Just like lionfish, they are carnivores," Akins said.

At 27 inches, the humpback grouper was nearly as large as they grow, Akins said.

Caterino and Grammes, a Miami-Dade resident and frequent Keys diver, were searching a deep ledge about 95 feet down when they saw what appeared to be a black grouper. After it was taken, it was apparent that it was not something local, Grammes said.

The humpback grouper bears a passing similarity to the marbled grouper, a native species that is considered rare.

"This could be only the tip of the iceberg," Grammes said. "Who knows how many are down there? This was in an area where not many people go."

Lionfish gained a foothold in the U.S. and Caribbean largely due to their prolific breeding and venomous spines that fend off predators.

Humpback grouper could lack defenses needed to become established, Akins said, "but we really don’t know."

Due to the possibility of mistaking a humpback for a protected native species, Akins said, people seeing one should report its location to REEF rather than harvest it. To find out how, go to www.reef.org.





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Beyonce, Kelly Clarkson to Perform at Inauguration

President Barack Obama will have a Miss Independent and an Independent Women performer helping him celebrate the 57th Presidential Inauguration. Beyonce Knowles and Kelly Clarkson are scheduled to perform along with another music icon.

James Taylor will join the ladies on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 21, 2013 for the big event. "Vice President [Joe] Biden and I are honored to have these wonderfully talented musical artists perform at the Inaugural ceremony,” the president said in a statement on Wednesday. "Their music is often at the heart of the American story and speaks to folks across the country."


RELATED: Actors Who've Played Presidents

So, what will these ladies and gentleman be performing? Beyonce will take on the National Anthem, Clarkson will belt out My Country Tis of Thee while Taylor will sing America the Beautiful.


RELATED: Who Did the Stars Vote For?

According to the White House press statement, Obama was involved in selecting the singers for the ceremony. Other ceremonial participants include Myrlie Evers-Williams, who will give the invocation; Richard Blanco, who will serve as the Inaugural poet; and Reverend Louie Giglio, who will deliver the Benediction.

As you may recall, Beyonce performed Etta James' At Last during the first dance between Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball during the 2009 inauguration.

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Hurricane Sandy prevented total number of complaints filed against NYPD cops from rising last year








Hurricane Sandy prevented the total number of complaints filed against NYPD cops with the Civilian Complaint Review Board last year from rising for the first time since 2009, The Post has learned.

The total number of CCRB complaints in 2012 dipped just two percent over the previous year’s totals, the fourth time in five years that the total number of complaints against the city’s cops has fallen.

The two percent drop -- the smallest since numbers generally started heading downwards in 2007 -- translated into a scant 144 fewer cases in 2012 compared to 2011, from 5,964 complaints in 2011 compared to 5,820 last year.




But CCRB numbers were trending upwards in the second half of 2012, with increases posted in July, August, September and October .

Following the ravages of Sandy, the agency was ousted from its Lower Manhattan offices and forced to adopt a new phone number -- one that didn't hook up with the city's 311 information line -- after the storm.

Such factors meant that the CCRB took fewer complaints in November and December and all but guarantee that had Sandy not occurred, the complaint tally would have surely tipped upwards in 2012 for the first time since a slight increase was registered in 2009.

Overall, CCRB complaints have fallen 21 percent between 2007 (when they reached a record-high of 7,549) and 2011.

A spokeswoman for the CCRB declined to comment, as the agency is expected to provide further details about its year-end figures for 2012 at a monthly meeting scheduled for later this morning at CCRB’s new temporary headquarters at 209 Joralemon Street, in Brooklyn.

The CCRB allows members of the public to file complaints against cops that can include up to four separate allegations – those involving improper use of force; abuse of authority; discourtesy or offensive language – that might stem from a single confrontation.

The complaints are then investigated for further action by civilian investigators in a bid to see if they can be substantiated or deemed unfounded or, in some cases, cops are considered "exonerated.".

A breakdown of the categories of complaints from last year compared to 2011 shows that while the total number fell by two percent, the seriousness of the allegations increased by a slight margin.

For instance, the total number of complaints alleging discourtesy and offensive language fell by 243 and 18, respectively, between last year and 2011.

However, the allegations of force or abuse of authority -- more serious categories of police misconduct -- rose by 21 and 248, respectively.










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4 smartphones with standout features




















These days, smartphones are almost all drawing from the same bag of tricks, and it can be hard to tell one from the next. If the average smartphone will do all the basic things you want it to, what does it take to be special? Here are four smartphones with unusual features that really make them stand out.

Nokia Lumia 920

Rating: 4 stars out of 5 (Excellent)





The good: This phone forges new Windows Phone ground with wireless-charging support and a highly sensitive screen you can use with gloves. Moreover, Nokia helps fill in Windows Phone OS gaps with a few missing features.

The bad: A thick, heavy build and slippery finish for some colors make the Lumia 920 harder to hold and carry, and the phone’s overhyped camera doesn’t have enough settings.

The cost: $99.99

The bottom line: Nokia’s Lumia 920 is heavy and thick, but if you want the most powerful, feature-rich Windows Phone smartphone available, this is it.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2

Rating: 4 stars out of 5 (Excellent)

The good: Oodles of screen real estate make this terrific for videos, games, and reading, and its improved stylus aids productivity. A blazing quad-core processor, a great camera and strong battery life round out the advantages of this Android 4.1 phone.

The bad: The huge display makes it unwieldy to carry, and hiccups in the S Pen stylus and apps can slow you down. The pricey Note 2 isn’t a suitable tablet replacement across all categories.

The cost: $149.99 to $309.99

The bottom line: Samsung delivers a powerful, boundary-pushing device that gets a lot right. Yet its complicated features and high price raise questions about its purpose.

Motorola Droid Razr Maxx HD

Rating: 4 stars out of 5 (Excellent)

The good: This Droid (Verizon) offers fast performance, a big, eye-popping screen and luxurious design. It also has great call quality, lots of storage, 4G data speeds, and unbeatable battery life.

The bad: The major weakness is a camera that produces subpar images. The phone is filled with Verizon bloatware as well.

The cost: $149.99 to $299.99

The bottom line: Motorola’s fast, stylish Droid Razr Maxx HD offers outstanding battery life, but its camera captures unimpressive images.

Samsung Galaxy Beam

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 (Very good)

The good: An integrated pico projector, as well as a dual-core processor, 720p video capture and a 4-inch Super AMOLED screen.

The bad: The projection software needs some work, the 5-megapixel camera sometimes blurs indoor shots, and the Beam is thicker and heavier than many phones.

The cost: $474.49 to $839.99

The bottom line: Despite weak software, the Galaxy Beam’s bright projector pushes boundaries, and strong smartphone features make it a worthy standalone device.





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Police shoot, kill woman accused of holding knife to her boyfriend




















A woman who was holding her boyfriend at knife point as their 3-year-old boy was in their home was shot to death by deputies in Lake Worth Tuesday morning.

Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputies were called to the home in a duplex about 2:45 a.m. by the boyfriend who was frantic, saying she was going to kill him, sheriff’s spokeswoman Teri Barbera said.

“When we arrived she had him by the shirt with a knife in hand. We told her to put the knife down repeatedly. When she turned to stab him, we shot her. In an effort to save his life, we shot,” Barbera said.





Though deputies then ran to her assistance and called paramedics, the woman, who is 24, died from her injuries.

Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said Tuesday morning, “If the deputies had not taken the action they did she would have knifed him on the spot.”

Bradshaw said the 911 calls reveal the couple were in a “violent confrontation” and that the boyfriend was trying to get the child away from the boy’s mother. When deputies arrived, the woman let go of the child and came through the front door with her boyfriend, holding him by the shirt with one hand and a knife in the other.

“The deputies actions actually saved his life and probably, further down the road, the child’s life,” Bradshaw said.

Bradshaw said deputies had been called before to the duplex and that the couple has had previous problems. He did not release their names, but said the woman was 24-years-old and her boyfriend is about the same age. Bradshaw also said there are possible child abuse charges pending against the woman.

The boy will likely be placed with relatives, Bradshaw said.

This is the second shooting death of 2013 in Palm Beach County. A bartender at a Boca Raton restaurant was shot and killed in a robbery Friday, Jan. 4.

Rafael Rodriguez was bartending when the restaurant was robbed by several men. The robbers took personal items, including wallets, jewelry and cellphones from the victims. As the robbers were leaving, Rodriguez exchanged words with one of them. The robber fired at Rodriguez, striking him once. Rodriguez, 46, died at a local hospital after being shot once.





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James Franco and Ashley Benson Parody Justin Bieber Selena Gomez

James Franco and rumored girlfriend Ashley Benson had some fun recently -- though it's at the expense of their Spring Breakers co-star Selena Gomez and her on-again/off-again boyfriend Justin Bieber.

In this video that originally appeared on Franco's WhoSay but he has since deleted, the 34-year-old mocks Justin's signature style -- down to the sideways hat, his [formerly] floppy hair and a baggy hoodie -- while parodying his mega-hit Boyfriend. For her part, Benson, 23, plays a sexy Selena, donning a long brunette wig and showing off some spectacularly racy dance moves.

Pic: James Franco Gets Handsy with Ashley Benson

Though this dig seems a little personal -- Benson reportedly dumped Bieber's pal Ryan Good for Franco after the two met on the set of Spring Breakers.

Video: Will 'Spring Breakers' Spark Controversy?

Although Franco denied dating Benson in a blog post on The Huffington Post in October, writing, "As for Gomez and Benson, those are Bieber's girls and I wouldn't dare tangle with the Biebs. I heard he wants to kick my a**. Yikes!," Benson recently posted a pic of the multi-talented star playfully groping her on New Year's Eve which she quickly deleted, sparking more rumors that the two are more than friends.

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Campaign finance reform crusader Cuomo fund raises at Waldorf Astoria

Whoopi Goldberg whooped it up with some racially tinged humor at Gov. Cuomo’s fund-raising bash at the Waldorf Astoria last night.

“I just have to tell you. There are no black people (living) upstate,” emcee Goldberg said, eliciting some nervous laughter from the well-heeled crowd of real estate titans, lobbyists, PR mavens and labor leaders at the $1,500-a-plate dinner.

She also said all the black people came down to the city looking for jobs.

Cuomo, who is looking to overhaul the campaign finance laws, easily took in over a million dollars from wealthy contributors.




Elder Ordonez/INFphoto.com



Whoopi Goldberg was the star of Gov. Cuomo's fund-raiser at the Waldorf Astoria last night.



The bevy of attendees included real estate developers John Zuccotti and Bill Rudin, New York City Partnership CEO Kathryn Wyle, PR honchos Howard Rubinstein, Ken Sunshine and George Arzt as well as veteran Albany lobbyists.

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Norwegian Cruise Line to go public




















In a long expected move, Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line Tuesday announced plans to take the company public.

The company has registered an initial public offering of 23,529,412 ordinary shares with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The shares will be traded on the NASDAQ; no price has set been set.

The third largest ocean-going cruise line, Norwegian Cruise Line has 11 ships with itineraries in North America (including Alaska and Hawaii), the Caribbean, Bermuda, the Mediterranean and the Baltic. Genting Hong Kong - a subsidiary of Genting Group, a gambling and resort conglomerate that purchased the land currently occupied by The Miami Herald in 2010 for $236 million - owns 50 percent of the cruise line in a partnership with private equity firms Apollo Management and TPG.








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BCS ticket prices falling (but so is the number of available seats)




















Procrastination pays.

For those fans who waited until the last minute to buy tickets to Monday night’s national championship football game in South Florida, now’s the time to buy.

Ticket prices have fallen by about half since Dec. 1, when the University of Alabama clinched its spot in the title game. The average price is about $1,500 as of Monday morning, with the cheapest seats costing $865, according to the ticket-tracking services SeatGeek and TiqIQ.





But there are only about 2,200 to 3,000 tickets available from third-party brokers right now. So though the price could fall more, this is probably the best time to buy.

“We always see this: Prices are highest on the day of an announcement for the latest concert or a national title game,” said Will Flaherty, SeatGeek’s communications director for the ticket-tracking firm.

“Fans think: ‘Oh no, I need to act quickly and get the best price for my tickets.’ But that’s often one of the worst times to buy,” he said. “Ticket prices tend to fall when you get closer to game time.”’

Assuming a buyer times his purchase properly, Flaherty said tickets could go for as low as $700 (a little more than double the face value of the cheapest wholesale tickets). He said that the average overall ticket price for this event is about $1,700 — the most-expensive event since the 2007 Super Bowl in Miami.

“I’d recommend buying from online retailers who have some sort of guarantee that you will receive legit tickets and not fakes (safest way),” Chris Matcovich, TiqIQ’s data and communications director, said in an email.

“There maybe good deals on Craigslist and amongst scalpers outside the stadium, but doing that you run the risk of losing hundreds of dollars if the ticket is a fake,” he wrote. “If people do decide to buy from people outside the stadium, one way to protect yourself from buying fakes is by asking the seller to walk to the gate with you to make sure you get in.”





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Heidi Klum Marriage, Divorce and Sex Talk

It's been nearly a year since Heidi Klum split from Seal, and since then, she's taken a different view of marriage. "I wanted to keep the memory of our wedding alive every year, that’s why I thought it would be fun to get married over and over," the supermodel said of her famous vow renewal ceremonies with ex-husband Seal. "But now I don’t think it’s that important."

Never say never though. "Maybe if I’m with someone for 15 or 20 years, and we do [get married] in our old age as a fun thing to do," Klum, 39, tells Marie Claire magazine. "But I don’t have the urgency anymore."

RELATED: Heidi Klum's Style Evolution

As for how she's dealing with her split, the model mom seems to be keeping positive. "People say, ‘Oh, God, how devastating to go through a divorce.' Did I wish for this to happen to my family? No. But everyone is healthy; we’re moving on with our lives. If someone got [very sick], God forbid, that would be a real problem. It’s not what I wanted – it’s not what anyone wanted – but it’s not a real problem."

RELATED: Klum In Love With Boyfriend

Klum has since moved on to dating her body guard, Martin Kristen, and shares a few tips on how she keeps her sex life interesting. "Some people are more experimental in bed and others are more boring. If you are wild and crazy, bring it on so the other person is well aware that you have little devil horns that come out every once in a while," she advises. "It’s good to make an effort to dress up sometimes, to do things outside of the norm."

The latest issue of Marie Claire magazine hits newsstands Tuesday, January 15th, while Klum returns as the host of Project Runway on Jan. 24th.

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Klum tells mag she likes to get kinky in bed








Heidi Klum is all about making it work -- in bed.

The gorgeous “Project Runway” host even admitted she enjoys getting freaky in bed, getting “experimental” and wearing costumes during her hot love making.

"It's good to make an effort to dress up sometimes – to do things outside of the norm," she told Marie Claire magazine.

"Some people are more experimental in bed and others are more boring. If you are wild and crazy, bring it on so the other person is well aware that you have little devil horns that come out every once in a while."

The iconic fashion figure was married to recording artist Seal for seven years before the broke up in April.





Getty Images



Heidi Klum





She’s now hooked up with bodyguard Martin Kirsten.

The 39-year-old called her divorce "devastating” but necessary.

"Did I wish for this to happen to my family? No," she said.

"But everyone is healthy. We're moving on with our lives. If someone got [very sick] – God forbid – that would be a real problem. It's not what I wanted. It's not what anyone wanted. But it's not a real problem."

Klum isn’t bitter about the institution of marriage, but doubts she’ll ever walk down the aisle again.

“I don't think [I'll get married again], no, no," she said.

"I'm not angry about anything, but I don’t think I will. Maybe if I'm with someone for 15 or 20 years, and we do it in our old age as a fun thing to do.”












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Billionaire Phillip Frost an ‘entrepreneur’s entrepreneur’




















For that blind first date, a half-century ago, the young doctor, Phillip Frost, showed up at Patricia Orr’s family house in suburban New York, with an unusual gift: a miniature mushroom garden.

In the 50 years since, Frost, the son of a shoe store owner, has gone on to amass a fortune of $2.4 billion, according to Forbes magazine, becoming the 188th wealthiest man in the United States by developing and selling pharmaceutical companies. Along the way, he and Patricia have become major philanthropists in Miami-Dade County and they’ve signed a pledge to give away at least $1 billion more.

“He’s a relentless guy,” says Miami banker Bill Allen, who’s know him for more than 40 years. “He’s not afraid to take risks. ... He knows the intimate details of the chemistry of products, and he’s the kind of guy who can examine 50 deals while eating a sandwich.”





CNBC’s Jim Cramer recently praised Frost’s “incredible track record” for developing companies, calling Frost’s latest endeavor, OPKO Health, a “very risky” investment while noting it could offer huge gains under Obamacare.

But back in 1962, Patricia’s first impression was that Phil Frost was a bit of a nerd, finishing his medical internship with a strong interest in research — including mushrooms. She figured an academic career loomed.

“My mother was very impressed,” recalls Patricia, not so much by the M.D. behind Frost’s name but by the gift, something more serious than the usual flowers or candy. Serious was fine with Patricia, who was living at home while working toward a master’s degree in education at Columbia University. For their first date, they listened to a classical music concert.

Frost’s rise to riches may seem highly distinctive, but in an odd coincidence he has much in common with another prominent Miamian. Frost, 76, and car dealer Norman Braman, 80, both frequently appear on the Forbes list of wealthiest Americans. Both grew up in Philadelphia — Frost the son of a man who sold shoes, Braman son of a barber. Both are Jewish, well-known art collectors and philanthropists.

“He’s an entrepreneur’s entrepreneur,” says Braman. “We have a lot in common, coming from very poor families. But he went to Central High (a public school for exceptional students) and I was not qualified to go there.”

There are other differences. While Braman is voluble and highly visible in the causes he supports, Frost tends to be a reticent, almost shy speaker, given to careful pauses.

‘Lucky chances’

Told that a former colleague had called Frost “lucky,” Frost thought for a long moment. He could have cited many national business stories about his business acumen. Instead, he responded crisply: “I’ll be satisfied with lucky. I benefited from chance meetings.”

Frost spent his first years living above the shoe shop within an Italian market in South Philly. His two brothers were 15 and 16 years older. “I was an afterthought.”

The family was religiously observant, and Frost recalls his father singing him songs in Yiddish when he was small. He lived at home while attending the University of Pennsylvania, except for a year abroad in France. He took many science courses, but his major was French literature.





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CrimeWatch: Two email scams you shouldn’t fall for




















This week I am going to share with you some scam emails that are going around. People are falling for them, but many could have been avoided with some common sense. If you get an email like the one below, please call the person before sending cash, which many have done and have lost their money.

Caught out of the country

Omg!! I’m writing this with tears in my eyes, my family and I came down here to Perth, Scotland, in United Kingdom for a short vacation unfortunately we were mugged at the park of the hotel where we stayed, all cash, credit card and cell were stolen off us but luckily for us we still have our passports with us. We’ve been to the embassy and the police here but they’re not helping issues at all and our flight leaves in less than 19 hours from now, but we’re having problems settling the hotel bills and the hotel manager won’t let us leave until we settle the bills, I’m freaked out at the moment.





Sandy scams

Dear Friend, in light of what happened in the Northeast, here is a great opportunity for you to help and make some money. FEMA needs clean-up crews for South Jersey. It’s $1,000 for seven days, hotel and food included. Call this number... [The fraudster’s number would be here.] We will contact you as soon as possible. Thank you for applying.

The latter is a scam that is truly deplorable, but due to the kind hearts of many, they have fallen for it and have given their social security number, date of birth and other information that probably will be used in identity theft. Here the first thing one should have done is gone to the FEMA sight to see if it’s true.

The above scams were emailed to me from several readers, so please be careful, and as I always say, learn to use the “delete” key because if it involves money you have to dish out, it’s a scam.

Assault weapons

Now on to a subject that we should all be adamant about, and that is the murders that have been caused by assault weapons this past year.

On Sept. 13, 2004, the federal assault weapons ban expired. This ban was put in place in 1994, and outlawed 19 types of military-style assault weapons. A clause directed that the ban expire unless Congress specifically reauthorized it, and our congressional leaders did not. Shame on them! These are the consequences we are now seeing across the country. As stated by many in the law-enforcement community, these weapons are nothing more than “cop-killer guns”.

I always tell you that we need to get involved, we need to be part of our community, and we must demand that our community be a safe place to live. Therefore I ask you to please contact your representatives in Congress and ask them to support this ban. I truly believe that the killing of 20 little children should be sufficient for our congressional leaders to take the appropriate action. If you don’t know who your House member is, go to www.house.gov/representatives/find and you can find your representative.





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Cher Signs Development Deal with Logo

Logo just announced at The Television Critics Association in Pasadena, CA that the network has signed a development deal with the ultimate gay icon, Cher.


AUDIO - Listen to Cher's New Song

The show, which is in its earliest stages of development, would mark Cher's first regular TV gig since The Sonny and Cher Show ended in 1977.

While this could change before the show hits the air (if it actually does), Cher's Logo show is set to revolve around Hollywood in the 1960s. It's unknown what Cher's on-screen participation will be like at this time. 

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Man shot dead, another slashed with broken bottle in two fights outside Queens club








A man was shot and killed outside a Richmond Hill night club this morning.

Kwasi Olatunji, 36, of Canarsie, was struck several times in the torso during one of at least two bar brawls at the Flavor Lounge on Hillside Avenue, police said.

The gunfire erupted outside the bar around 3:30 a.m., cops added. Olatunji was rushed to Jamaica Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A second fight at the lounge left a 27-year-old man with a gash to the leg after an attacker slashed him with a broken bottle, police said. That victim was taken to Jamaica Hospital in stable condition, according to cops. His name has not been released.



It’s unclear what caused the two fights, which did not appear to be related, according to police sources.

No arrests have been made in either attack.

kconley@nypost.com










Read More..

Billionaire Phillip Frost an ‘entrepreneur’s entrepreneur’




















For that blind first date, a half-century ago, the young doctor, Phillip Frost, showed up at Patricia Orr’s family house in suburban New York, with an unusual gift: a miniature mushroom garden.

In the 50 years since, Frost, the son of a shoe store owner, has gone on to amass a fortune of $2.4 billion, according to Forbes magazine, becoming the 188th wealthiest man in the United States by developing and selling pharmaceutical companies. Along the way, he and Patricia have become major philanthropists in Miami-Dade County and they’ve signed a pledge to give away at least $1 billion more.

“He’s a relentless guy,” says Miami banker Bill Allen, who’s know him for more than 40 years. “He’s not afraid to take risks. ... He knows the intimate details of the chemistry of products, and he’s the kind of guy who can examine 50 deals while eating a sandwich.”





CNBC’s Jim Cramer recently praised Frost’s “incredible track record” for developing companies, calling Frost’s latest endeavor, OPKO Health, a “very risky” investment while noting it could offer huge gains under Obamacare.

But back in 1962, Patricia’s first impression was that Phil Frost was a bit of a nerd, finishing his medical internship with a strong interest in research — including mushrooms. She figured an academic career loomed.

“My mother was very impressed,” recalls Patricia, not so much by the M.D. behind Frost’s name but by the gift, something more serious than the usual flowers or candy. Serious was fine with Patricia, who was living at home while working toward a master’s degree in education at Columbia University. For their first date, they listened to a classical music concert.

Frost’s rise to riches may seem highly distinctive, but in an odd coincidence he has much in common with another prominent Miamian. Frost, 76, and car dealer Norman Braman, 80, both frequently appear on the Forbes list of wealthiest Americans. Both grew up in Philadelphia — Frost the son of a man who sold shoes, Braman son of a barber. Both are Jewish, well-known art collectors and philanthropists.

“He’s an entrepreneur’s entrepreneur,” says Braman. “We have a lot in common, coming from very poor families. But he went to Central High (a public school for exceptional students) and I was not qualified to go there.”

There are other differences. While Braman is voluble and highly visible in the causes he supports, Frost tends to be a reticent, almost shy speaker, given to careful pauses.

‘Lucky chances’

Told that a former colleague had called Frost “lucky,” Frost thought for a long moment. He could have cited many national business stories about his business acumen. Instead, he responded crisply: “I’ll be satisfied with lucky. I benefited from chance meetings.”

Frost spent his first years living above the shoe shop within an Italian market in South Philly. His two brothers were 15 and 16 years older. “I was an afterthought.”

The family was religiously observant, and Frost recalls his father singing him songs in Yiddish when he was small. He lived at home while attending the University of Pennsylvania, except for a year abroad in France. He took many science courses, but his major was French literature.





Read More..