Apple might want to put iCar idea into reverse

If Apple has its way, legions of fans who once clamored and camped out for first crack at the next iDevice will turn their obsession toward something much, much more expensive: the iCar.

Not only that, if all goes according to Cupertino's plan, we'll spend the next five years discussing whether the iCar will come in silver, gold and space gray until all the suspense culminates in a raucous red-carpet unveiling by CEO Tim Cook that includes many triumphant rounds of applause and uses of the word "amazing."

Nothing illustrates the incredible hubris of Apple better than its purported plans to become an overnight automaker. Recent news reports describe the company's mad dash to rush an electric vehicle into production by 2020, entering the regulatory, capital and legal minefield — not to even mention the supply chain — that is the auto industry.

And this move comes at a time when competition could not be more fierce.

Apple's capricious foray into automobiles is made possible by the dangerous combination of $170 billion in cash and investors for whom no amount of year-over-year profit increase will ever be enough. They'd sooner see Apple run into the ground than accept the incredibly successful status quo of consumer electronics.

It seems the pressure to get into automobiles was so intense that Apple was willing to take all manner of legal risks to form its new auto division of about 200 employees. At least five of those workers come from Waltham-based A123 Systems LLC, the battery-maker that filed federal suit against Apple last week, accusing the company of illegally poaching its top scientists and engineers "to establish a battery division that is similar if not identical to A123's."

To give you an idea of the lengths that Apple was willing to go to hire top talent: it managed to lure an A123 scientist who earned $600,000 last year plus a $5,000-per-month living allowance, according to court records.

These headaches are needless, too. Apple doesn't have to manufacture vehicles to be in the auto business. Nearly every automaker on the planet would be open to licensing Apple technology. Baking an Apple operating system into already existing cars (even just the electric ones, if that's what they're going for) seems like a lot less risk and potentially more reward.

That is unless Apple's top brass has lost confidence in its current product pipeline and is in desperate need of a new direction.

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Trucking easy going with Tundra pickup

Whether slogging through snow and mud at the work site, heading out for dinner or packing up the family for a trip, the refreshed 2014 Toyota Tundra CrewMax pickup will get you there with stylish ease.

Toyota continues to step up its game against the formidable Ford F-150, classmates Dodge Ram and the GM fleet with the Platinum edition. The revamped interior features standard heated and cooled diamond-stitched, leather-trimmed seats, JBL premium sound system, blind-spot and cross-traffic monitors, parking sensors and a moonroof. A handsome truck, its curb appeal is accented with chrome trim on the sideview mirrors, 20-inch wheels and running boards.

With New England's recent weather woes, the fittingly named Tundra was right at home. A turn of the dashboard dial engages the four-wheel drive, giving a sense of confidence and making the going very easy. The Tundra makes you feel like you're driving a smaller vehicle, so the rig handled the task of maneuvering down snow-packed, tight streets. Freewheeling in two-wheel drive on the highway, the cabin is quiet, but the traditional stiff suspension makes the ride a little bumpy at times.

The powerful 5.7-liter V8, 381-horsepower engine is standard equipment in the Platinum and is mated to a 6-speed transmission whose power competes in class but doesn't match most of the others in fuel efficiency. I feathered the accelerator to squeeze around 19 miles per gallon on the highway — it's rated at 17 mpg — but around town the Toyota is thirsty, getting only 13 mpg. A 4.6-liter 310 horsepower engine is also available for other models. Tow capacity for the Platinum edition is rated at 10,000 pounds.

The four-door crew cab is easy in and out. Three adults comfortably can sit in the back seat with plenty of leg and head room or jam it full of gear that won't fit in the 66.7-square-foot bed. There are three cab configurations for the Tundra and three optional bed lengths up to 78.7 inches. The CrewMax can seat five or six depending on seat choices but only comes with the shorter bed. The king-sized storage bin under the armrest is deep and wide. In fact it easily held two cameras and lenses with room to spare. And in some newer models a tray under the rear seat can hold more.

The large 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system was a quick learn and a snap to use, connecting your phone in two taps of the Entune screen. The upgraded JBL made listening pleasurable and toggling through stations and creating presets was quite simple. Both Bluetooth and USB connections can be used to listen to your playlist.

The MSRP on the Tundra is $44,550 and the Platinum, one of six trim levels, tested out at $49,930. The 2015 model drops the V6 engine option, but otherwise remains unchanged.

Well made with a history of reliability and high resale value, the Tundra has its own strong following. And while it fights to sway other brand loyalists to switch, it holds its head high in this iconic vehicle class.

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GateHouse buys chain that owns Las Vegas newspaper

New Media Investment Group — the parent company of GateHouse Media New England, which owns several Bay State regional daily newspapers — is continuing its spending spree, announcing it has reached an agreement to buy the company that owns the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

"Local is good because you are honing in on the neighborhoods, the local news, the things that interest people close to home and it's tougher for the giant organizations to muscle in that," Boston University advertising professor and media analyst Tobe Berkowitz said of New Media's latest multi-million-dollar acquisition. "The bad news for them is that you don't always have advertising revenue potential in the smaller areas."

New Media is buying all of Stephens Media LLC's assets for $102.5 million in cash, said Michael E. Reed, president of the New York-based investment group.

"The portfolio is anchored by an attractive set of print publications with a strong community focus, solid readership base, and stable advertisers with limited customer concentration," Reed said in a statement.

Stephens Media operates eight daily newspapers in seven states, and more than 65 weekly and niche publications, with a combined average daily circulation of roughly 221,000.

Last November, New Media bought the Worcester Telegram & Gazette and dozens of other Halifax Media Group papers for $280 million. GateHouse last year also bought the Providence Journal, the New Bedford Standard-Times and the Cape Cod Times.

Herald wire services contributed to this report.

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Southie condo decked out in style

With skyrocketing prices all over South Boston, this renovated one-bedroom top-floor starter condo with two private decks is on the market for just $399,000.

Unit 3 at 584 E. Seventh St., in the heart of the neighborhood's East Side, is one of three units in an 1899-built wood rowhouse gut renovated in 2011.

The building has olive-painted clapboard with white trim and bump-out bay windows, along with a bracketed covered entryway.

Cherrywood staircases lead up to Unit 3, with a main entrance on the second floor.

Up one flight is an open living/dining/kitchen space with cherrywood floors. The living area has a gas fireplace with black granite surround with built-in bookcases on either side. The sloped ceilings have recessed lighting and built-in surround-sound speakers.

A glass door from the living area leads out to a 12A-by-10-foot rear wood deck. A metal spiral staircase leads up to a 12-by-12-foot private wood roof deck with panoramic views of Dorchester Bay in one direction and downtown and Back Bay towers in the other.

The recessed lit kitchen area has 14 antique white wood cabinets, beige tumbled marble backsplash and dark brown bilevel granite counters with a breakfast bar that seats four. Bosch stainless-steel appliances include a side-by-side refrigerator, a dishwasher and a gas stove with a microwave above.

Across from the kitchen is a half bathroom with white Carrara marble floors, white subway tile walls and a pedestal sink. An adjacent closet holds a stacked Maytag washer and dryer. Between the two doors is an iPod dock that connects to surround sound throughout the unit.

The cherrywood-floored master bedroom has a sloped ceiling with contemporary light fixture and built-in speakers and a three-bay window bump-out. There's a good-size walk-in closet with built-ins. The en-suite master bathroom has Car­rara marble floors and there's a glass doored walk-in shower with Carrara marble floors and bench.

The unit has gas-fired central heating and cooling systems.

The condo does not come with an on-site parking space, which these days means a sturdy shovel to carve out a spot on East Seventh Street.

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Taunton's last silversmith declares bankruptcy

TAUNTON, Mass. — There will soon be no more silversmiths in the Silver City.

Reed & Barton, the last and oldest silversmith company in Taunton will cease operations in the city later this year.

Chief Executive Officer Tim Riddle confirmed Thursday that the nearly 200-year-old business had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and will close by June at the latest.

Riddle tells The Taunton Daily Gazette  he blames the company's pension liability, which he pegs as high as $18 million.

Riddle says the company has a $15 million sales agreement with former competitor Lifetime Brands, but the deal does not include real estate holdings.

Reed & Barton currently has about 80 employees.

Taunton earned the nickname Silver City because of the large number of high-quality silversmiths located there in the 19th century.

___

Information from: Taunton (Mass.) Daily Gazette, http://www.tauntongazette.com

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Advocates push preventative care

Advocates pushed for greater preventative health care for the state's poor and elderly — services they claimed would save money in the long run — even as Gov. Charlie Baker continued to vow that "reforms and initiatives" for the money-hemorrhaging MassHealth program have "gotta happen."

"The lens has to widen," said Al Norman of Mass Home Care, which released a new report yesterday. "The health care system in this state has been too narrowly focused on medical care and needs to take a broader look."

The organization's report recommends the state provide MassHealth patients with "short-term coaching" for a month after hospital stays — things like ensuring they take prescribed medications and have enough money to take care of themselves — which would save money by avoiding costly repeat hospital stays or even more expensive nursing home care.

"We feel the state has not done a good job of coordinating that care," said Norman. "I believe the Baker administration knows that there's a lot of inefficiency and a lack of coordination in services for the elderly and disabled and I believe they will be receptive. How far they are willing to go ... I guess we're going to find out."

Speaking to the New England Council yesterday, Baker vowed a series of "reforms and initiatives" to MassHealth — though he didn't mention specifics, suggesting the plan is still being worked on. He blamed the runaway cost of temporary Medicaid — the emergency insurance provided to people who couldn't sign up for Obamacare last year because of the state's costly website failure — for a 13-14 percent increase in MassHealth spending. That's a $13 billion total price tag this year, representing the largest piece of the state budget, said Baker.

"In this budget and future budgets, the administration is looking for reforms to MassHealth that will have the smallest impact on the fewest people," a Baker administration official told the Herald. "That's the discussion that's happening now."

Dr. Richard Pieters, the president of the Massachusetts Medical Society, said doctors already experience roadblocks with the current MassHealth setup and don't want more of them.

Just this week, he said MassHealth required an extra — and, he claimed, unnecessary — layer of authorization for his female cancer patient who lost her hair after undergoing radiation, just so she could be covered for the cost of a wig.

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Critics: Wal-Mart wage hikes aren’t enough for workers

Wal-Mart has budged in the battle with workers over higher wages, but critics say the hourly pay increases pledged by the world's largest retailer don't go far enough.

The Bentonville, Ark., company yesterday said it would raise the hourly pay of 500,000 Wal-Mart and Sam's Club workers in the U.S. to at least $9 in April — a 24 percent hike for those who get the federal $7.25 minimum wage. Current employees will earn at least $10 an hour by Feb. 1 of next year.

CEO Doug McMillon said Wal-Mart wants to ensure it remains a "ladder of opportunity."

"We firmly believe that our customers will benefit from a better store experience, which can drive higher sales and returns for our shareholders over time," he said.

Wal-Mart workers, who aren't unionized, have staged protests and strikes over low pay, benefits and scheduling for the past several years under the Organization United for Respect at Wal-Mart, which is affiliated with the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union.

"It showed that Wal-Mart is actually starting to listen to us," said Fatmata Javvie, a Wal-Mart cashier in Alexandria, Va., and Our Wal-Mart member. "But, at the same time, we're looking for $15 and full-time."

The changes are "inadequate" for employees struggling to support themselves and their families, said Christine Owens, executive director of the National Employment Law Project.

The wage changes will have little impact in Massachusetts, where the minimum wage rose to $9 in January and will rise to $10 in 2016. "That is why workers are still demanding $15 and consistent hours," said Russ Davis of Massachusetts Jobs with Justice.

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Making bones at science fairs

The path to success is not paved with paper mache volcanoes — but it can wind through the science fair.

It did for Randolph resident Barnas Monteith, a science fair champion in middle school and high school. Monteith took home top honors at the state, regional and international levels — and his wins paid for college.

Now the 38-year-old hopes to guide young students to science fair glory with his book "Dinosaur Eggs and Blue Ribbons: Science Fairs Inside and Out." Monteith will share his tips tomorrow during a signing at Barnes and Noble in the Prudential Center.

"There is a widespread perception, because sometimes science is boring in school that it is boring in real life, but that's not true," said Monteith.

Monteith first found success with a presentation on plants and fish at the science fair as a student at John F. Kennedy Middle School in Randolph. But it was an opportunity through the Museum of Science to work alongside famed paleontologist Jack Horner, who served as consultant to both Michael Critchton and Steven Spielberg for "Jurassic Park," that stoked his interest in science. It led to Monteith's science fair reign in high school. He won four years in a row with projects based on dinosaurs.

"They were pretty stressful for me, too, but I did enjoy them," said Monteith, a Tufts University graduate. "I think the thing about science fairs is you get to pick your own topic. That is one of the reasons why I still stayed with it in the adult world with advocacy. It's an alternative way to assess a kid's ability."

Monteith is now an entrepreneur and president of Tumblehome Learning, a Pembroke- and Taiwan-based company that makes educational tools promoting science and engineering.

"It's about exposure," said Monteith, co-chairman of the Massachusetts State Science and Engineering Fair. "EMC2, Raytheon, they are our sponsors. If you are a really smart kid, they will offer you a scholarship or internship on the spot."

Monteith said times have changed for the better.

"Kids are actually publishing peer review articles now," said Monteith. "There are a few kids even at the Massachusetts state fair who end up publishing their work. By the time you are out of high school, you have a patent you can earn money on. It's something you couldn't imagine in the '90s."

Monteith will be signing his book at Barnes and Noble, Prudential Center, 800 Boylston St., Boston. Sat.,
1. p.m.; 617-247-6959.

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The Ticker

Connector extends hours

The Massachusetts Health Connector is extending hours and adding workers at its walk-in and call centers ahead of Monday's deadline to complete an application and pick a health plan.

The Boston walk-in center at 133 Portland St. is bringing in additional staff today through Monday.

Those who visit the center should make sure they have Social Security numbers and other documentation for everyone on their application. They also should have income information and their checkbook if they plan on making a payment.

The Connector's call center also will have expanded hours over the weekend and on Monday.

Battery maker A123 suing Apple

Battery maker A123 Systems is suing Apple, claiming it aggressively poached some key staff members in violation of their nondisclosure and noncompete agreements when they left A123.

According to a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, A123 is seeking a restraining order and preliminary injunction to stop former employee Mujeeb Ijaz from hiring former A123 employees at Apple, where he now works. A123 makes lithium-ion batteries for electric cars and other products,

The complaint says Apple is starting a battery division nearly identical to A123. Apple did not immediately return a request for comment.

Judge dismisses larceny charges

A state judge has dismissed larceny charges against a Northampton woman who was accused of embezzling money connected to a failed project to build condominiums catering to older gay and lesbian people.

Hampshire Superior Court Judge Mary-Lou Rup dismissed the charges against Nancy Whitley on Wednesday. Whitley and her former spouse, Heather Whitley, were charged in the disappearance of $146,000 in deposits by potential owners of the condos planned for Easthampton in 2006 and 2007.

Charges remain pending against Heather Whitley, who has pleaded not guilty.

Mass. ad agency may pitch Santa Fe

A Bay State-based advertising agency could receive a $900,000 contract to promote the city of Santa Fe, despite objections from some.

The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that the city's Finance Committee this week unanimously recommended hiring Winchester-based Fuseideas LLC to pitch New Mexico's capital to the world.

Fuseideas was among 10 agencies that submitted proposals for the contract with the city's convention and visitors bureau, now known as Tourism Santa Fe.

If approved by the full Santa Fe City Council, the contract for Fuseideas would begin March 1. It would be a multiyear contract with an option to renew for three additional years.

• Vantage Builders Inc., a general contracting and construction firm based in Waltham, has named Joe Rodriguez, left, as project manager. Rodriguez joins Vantage from project management roles at JDL Corporate Interiors and iConstructors.

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Ink Block makes mark at former Herald HQ

The Ink Block is the transformation of the 24-acre former Boston Herald building in the South End into a destination residential area, and now the first two apartment buildings in the complex have opened.

They join a 50,000-square-foot Whole Foods Market that had its debut last month, in a four-building complex that will have 315 apartments, 83 condos, cafes and restaurants. A second phase will include an adjacent boutique AC Hotel by Marriott as well as a sixth building with more residential units.

"We're trying to create a community here that fits in with the rest of the South End, but has a design edge that reflects the area's history, food, art and music," said Ted Tye, managing partner of Newton's Nation­al Development.

Each of the three Ink Block apartment buildings is designed to appeal to different renter demographics. The Euro-styled 1 Ink features a glass exterior with bump-outs and floor-to-ceiling windows, and its apartments have a sleek and sophisticated vibe. The metal and precast stone-clad 2 Ink has hip, more industrial-looking interiors geared toward millennial renters. 3 Ink, which opens next month, goes with a more traditional Boston look, with its brick exterior and warmer interiors with wood cabinets.

Rents in the three buildings range from $2,529 to $2,804 for studios, $3,234 to $4,304 for one bedrooms, $4,104 to $4,704 for two bedrooms and $5,404-$5,804 for three bedrooms. Garage parking costs $325 a month.

The connected 1 Ink and 2 Ink share a lobby with a 24/7 concierge, as well as lounge areas with Wi-Fi, a projection TV and workspace. The funky decor is inspired by the site's news printing history, with wall coverings fashioned from thin strips of newspaper, pixelated wall displays and Ben-Day dot stenciling. Herald publisher Patrick J. Purcell has a minority interest in the Ink Block project.

We took a look at 1 Ink model Unit 411, a 753-square-foot one bedroom that's renting for $3,800 a month. The stylish kitchen features white quartz countertops and white Thermofoil finished cabinets, along with stainless-steel GE appliances and a quartz-topped island that seats three.

The open dining/living area has a built-in desk and floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic city views, as does the carpeted bedroom. The bathroom has porcelain tile floors and a white-tiled shower and there's a closet that holds a stacked Bosch washer and dryer.

Stenciled door numbers, jelly-jar lights and pop art in the hallways give 2 Ink a funky vibe. Unit 432, a 591-square-foot studio at 2 Ink, rents for $2,529 and has a divider between the living room and bedroom. The kitchen has black granite counters and mostly black cabinets with white subway tile backsplash. This unit also has a tile bath and washer/dryer, plus a large bedroom closet and additional storage space.

Property manager Jessica Ryan says lot of young professionals are renting the 315 Ink Block apartments, which are 25 percent leased. The complex is offering one month of free rent and a "look and lease" promotion that gives an additional $1,500 off if a lease is signed within 24 hours of touring an apartment.

"People renting Ink Block are looking for a lifestyle, not just a well-designed apartment," Ryan said. "It's literally one-stop shopping here."

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Pipeline would pump out more natural gas

Gov. Charlie Baker is backing a plan for a new natural gas pipeline that could deliver 1 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas to electricity suppliers and possibly lower consumer energy prices, boosting regional supplies by as much as 20 percent.

"Governor Baker will continue his support of expanding gas capacity along existing routes in addition to increasing energy efficiency and renewable energy investments," his office said in a statement.

The project, expected to cost $3 billion, will be constructed by Eversource Energy, Spectra Energy and National Grid pending regulatory approval from state and federal agencies, and could be completed by late 2018.

Richard Levitan, president of Levitan and Associates, a Boston-based energy consultant, said the project has the potential to lower prices.

He said the natural gas supply in New England suffers from heavy congestion due to a lack of infrastructure. "Congestion is what drives the wholesale price," he said. "By creating another super highway for gas to flow from where it is produced, you're making an investment in the infrastructure, the fruits of which will be more energy supply."

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Nonstops to Shanghai land at Logan in June

China's Hainan Airlines will start nonstop flights between Boston's Logan International Airport and Shanghai — China's major commercial center and largest financial hub — on June 20.

Boston is the largest U.S.-Shanghai air travel market without nonstop service, according to Massport, which runs Logan. More than 73,000 passengers traveled between the two cities last year, it said.

"Our new Boston-to-Shanghai service will open a new door for business as well as leisure and recreational travel," said Pubin Liang, Hainan's North American managing director.

The flights aboard two-class Boeing 787 Dream­liners will run three times per week, with a flight time of 14 hours and 40 minutes to Shanghai's Pudong Airport.

The route will be the third direct China route landed by Logan since Hainan launched its Boston to Beijing flights last June. Cathay Pacific Airways will start nonstop Boston to Hong Kong service in May.

"This is the start hopefully of a continued expansion of our capacity to meet the needs of people here, businesses here and people and businesses in … China," Gov. Charlie Baker said. "The combination of our medical, educational and business institutions — along with the size and activities associated with our normal population here — has had a big impact on that."

Hainan's Boston-to-Beijing flights, which have been four days weekly with temporary increases to daily during the summer and holidays, will revert to daily May 1. The flights have operated at 90 percent capacity.

"It's been a very successful experience," Massport CEO Tom Glynn said. "The popularity of their service in Boston has led us to this situation today."

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The Ticker

Boston 2024 plans 
meetings across state

The group behind Boston's bid for the 2024 Olympics is reaching beyond the city for input on its proposal.

Boston 2024 announced yesterday that it would hold a series of 20 community meetings in the coming months around Massachusetts — venturing as far west as Springfield.

"The purpose of these meetings is quite simple — to listen to the people of Massachusetts and use those conversations to help shape the bid to bring the Games to the United States," said Rich Davey, CEO of Boston 2024. "In the end, these will be Massachusetts' Olympic and Paralympic Games and we are committed to every corner of the state having a voice in this effort."

The first meeting will be held Monday in Roxbury, followed by sessions in Lowell, Cambridge, the South Coast, Springfield and Malden.

Citigroup invests $100B for climate

Citigroup announced yesterday a plan to lend and invest $100 billion over the next 10 years to help reduce the impact of climate change. The plan was developed with Boston-based environmental nonprofit Ceres.

Citigroup said it will seek to finance programs to cut greenhouse gases, increase access to clean water, manage waste and create green low- and moderate-income affordable housing.

Citigroup had previously committed $50 billion to the effort in 2007 and met that goal three years early.

Baker funds broadband expansion

Gov. Charlie Baker will release $50 million in capital funds for the expansion of broadband Internet access in western Massachusetts, his administration said yesterday.

The existing capital funds will be used by the Massachusetts Broadband Institute to narrow a digital divide by pushing municipal and private investments and bridging the "last mile" of broadband access for underserved cities and towns in the western part of the Bay State. According to the Baker administration, 45 towns in western Massachusetts still do not have residential cable or broadband, and depend on dial-up technology.

TODAY

 Labor Department releases weekly jobless claims.

 Wal-Mart Stores Inc. reports quarterly financial results.

TOMORROW

 Deere & Co. reports quarterly financial results.

THE SHUFFLE

 The nonprofit Initiative for a Competitive Inner City has named former state Treasurer Steve Grossman as its new chief executive officer. The Boston-based group describes itself as a pioneer in developing market-based solutions to help revitalize economically under-performing urban economies through business and job development.

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Roof collapses weigh on firms

Snow and ice accumulating on roofs from the barrage of storms has resulted in more than 80 reports of collapsed or damaged buildings since Feb. 9, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage to businesses.

Rob Norris, owner of Rockland's Piano Mill, is trying to restore his business after large portions of the store's roof caved in last Tuesday.

"It's gone, it's a total loss," Norris said. "The building has to come down."

The company has relocated seven doors down in Rockland. "We want everybody to know we're not out of business," Norris said. "We are working very hard to get the doors open as soon as possible."

An engineer for his insurance company determined snow had drifted to one side of the roof, creating an unbalanced load that caused it to collapse, according to Norris.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency fielded reports of eight collapsed or partially collapsed buildings — or buildings damaged or at risk for collapse — from 7 p.m. Tuesday to 11 a.m. yesterday alone, according to spokesman Chris Besse. In Waltham, police and fire departments responded to Artisan Industries for a report of a natural gas smell to find a buckled ceiling had damaged the gas line.

No building is safe from the incredible stress of the 8 feet of snow that has piled up on roofs.

"I expect we'll hear of a lot more once the weather starts to warm up," said Garrick Goldenberg, a structural engineering professor at Wentworth Institute of Technology.

Repeated snowstorms compact the snow already on roofs, gradually turning it into ice, Goldenberg said. A cubic foot of snow that weighs about 8 pounds becomes a 64-pound cubic foot block of ice.

Most of collapses are occurring in flat-roofed buildings, but even pitched roofs are not safe under such stress. A Big Kmart in Braintree and a Burlington Coat Factory in Revere were evacuated and closed because of roof damage.

Goldenberg said it's not building codes that are inadequate, but maintenance.

"As soon as the snow stops, the best way to deal with it is to remove it immediately," he said.

Contractors have been removing snow and ice from the roofs of Simon Malls. "There has been no damage to the malls," New England vice president Brian Nelson said. "We are being proactive."

Herald wire services were used in this report.

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European shares lower; Japan shares at 14-year high

TOKYO — European shares were mostly lower early Thursday as investors waited to see the outcome of negotiations between Greece and its eurozone creditors.

Britain's FTSE 100 fell 0.4 percent to 6,871.27, while France's CAC 40 shed 0.3 percent to 4,786.14 and Germany's DAX lost 0.4 percent to 10,920.35. Wall Street also looked set for a dismal start, with Dow and S&P futures both 0.3 percent lower.

European policymakers are struggling to find a compromise that will keep Greece out of bankruptcy and in the eurozone.

Athens' new government argues that six years of recession show that further austerity measures would just strangle growth, but creditor countries are refusing to lend it more money without tough conditions.

"Greece is likely to submit an extension request for up to six months on the 'loan agreement.' The question is what scope a 'loan agreement' would take?" IG market strategist Stan Shamu said in a commentary.

Most markets in Asia were closed Thursday for Lunar New Year holidays, but Japanese stocks climbed to their highest level in nearly 15 years early in the day after the release of strong trade data.

The Nikkei 225 stock index meandered later in the day, gaining 0.4 percent to 18,264.79 as it fell back from an intraday peak of 18,322.50 that was the benchmark's highest level since May 2000.

The rally was driven by strong buying of exporters and shipping lines after the government reported the trade deficit plunged nearly 60 percent on a 17 percent year-on-year jump in exports in January.

Elsewhere in the region, Australia's S&P ASX/200 lost 0.2 percent to 5,904.20. New Zealand's shares also fell.

Oil prices extended losses amid speculation that a recent rally in crude was excessive.

The price of benchmark U.S. crude, which rose last week, fell $1.74 to $50.40 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It fell $1.39 to $52.14 a barrel Wednesday.

Brent crude, a benchmark for international oils used by many U.S. refineries, fell $1.57 cents to $58.96 a barrel.

The U.S. dollar fell to 118.63 against the Japanese yen, from 118.78 on Wednesday. The dollar edged up against the euro, to $1.1436 from $1.1399.

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Marty Walsh wants 1,000 new mentors for school kids

Mayor Martin J. Walsh put out a call yesterday looking for 1,000 adults — from business executives to scientists to City Hall employees — to step up and volunteer as mentors to help guide Boston school kids.

"There is nothing better than helping somebody shape the future of their life by being a positive role model, a positive influence in their life so they can reach their dreams," Walsh said of his new initiative, the Mayor's Mentoring Movement.

Felix G. Arroyo, Walsh's chief of health and human services, said the administration, "in an attempt to put our money where our mouth is," is looking to recruit 10 percent of the volunteers from the city's own workforce.

"When you ask successful adults, and particularly so for men of color and women, when you ask them did you have a mentor in your life, those who were self defined as successful in their career choice to a T they all say 'Yes,'" Arroyo said.

The city is teaming up with Boston-based Mass Mentoring, a nonprofit that serves as a clearinghouse referring adult volunteers to agencies such as Catholic Charities, Big Brother, Big Sister and Hyde Square Task Force, that then match mentors with kids.

Marty Martinez, head of the organization, said there is a waiting list with as many as 3,000 youths on it looking for mentors.

Bob Gallery, Massachusetts president of Bank of America, whose employees donated 200,000 hours mentoring children last year, said corporations play a critical role in supporting such programs.

"As we all know, there is a strong correlation between what a young person achieves later in life ... and if they had a mentor earlier in their life. It helps ensure their future success," he said, adding that mentors help teach kids both "soft and hard skills."

To learn more about the Mayor's Mentoring Movement, visit: bostonmentors.org.

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Critics glad Partners abandons S. Shore hospital buy

Partners HealthCare System's decision to abandon a controversial plan to acquire South Shore Hospital is a victory for the state's efforts to help rein in rising health care costs, according to critics of the proposed purchase.

"It will help moderate costs, and South Shore (Hospital) is a very good system independent of Partners," said Stuart Altman, chairman of the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission, established in 2012 under the state's health care cost-containment law. "In the case of Partners, the problem was they were using their higher reimbursement amounts to generate higher costs."

Partners dropped its bid in the wake of a Suffolk Superior Court judge's rejection last month of an antitrust settlement negotiated by former state Attorney General Martha Coakley that would have paved the way for it to acquire South Shore Hospital and Hallmark Health System's Lawrence Memorial and Melrose-Wakefield hospitals. Attorney General Maura Healey threatened to file an antitrust lawsuit to block any future merger.

"We have listened and heard the public concerns and ... we have decided that the best approach is not to proceed with our plan," outgoing Partners CEO Gary Gottlieb said in a letter to employees yesterday.

That decision is the "right choice for Partners and the commonwealth," Healey said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Gottlieb said Partners and Hallmark agreed "to take a pause as we reflect on next steps."

Healey said in a court filing that she will continue to evaluate that proposal if and when the companies proceed.

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The Ticker

Boston Scientific settles with J&J for $600M

Boston Scientific will pay $600 million to settle with drugmaker Johnson & Johnson over the medical device maker's $27 billion acquisition of Guidant Corp. in 2006.

Boston Scientific said yesterday that Johnson & Johnson had wanted $7 billion in damages, but will dismiss its lawsuit. Under the settlement, Boston Scientific also won't sue Johnson & Johnson over several stent products. Johnson & Johnson confirmed the terms of the settlement.

Natick-based Boston Scientific Corp. shares rose $1.65, or 11 percent, to $16.49 in aftermarket trading. Johnson & Johnson shares were unchanged at $100.44.

After Johnson & Johnson lost a bidding war for Guidant, it sued Boston Scientific and Abbott Laboratories, accusing them of interfering with its Guidant deal. New Brunswick, N.J.-based Johnson & Johnson said Boston Scientific and Abbott induced Guidant to breach its deal agreement with the health and medical product company.

Analyst: Uber hurting medallion prices

Uber, the popular ride-hailing app, is hitting taxicabs where it hurts: the medallion business.

Taxi companies make money by charging drivers for medallions, or licenses to drive their cabs.

In a note to investors yesterday, Jefferies analyst Sean Darby said taxi medallions are not the "safe haven" in terms of investing that they used to be as taxi companies face increasing competition from Uber and similar services.

"After many years of rising prices due to limited supply, the average price of a single (New York City) taxi medallion fell around 20 percent from its peak in 2013" because of the growing popularity of Uber and other car-hailing apps, he wrote. He said the situation is similar in Boston and Chicago.

He said it might be time to bet against taxi medallions in 2015.

Today

• Labor Department releases the Producer Price Index for January.
• Commerce Department releases housing starts for January.
• Federal Reserve releases industrial production for January.
• Federal Reserve releases minutes from January interest-rate meeting.

TOMORROW

• Labor Department releases weekly jobless claims.
• Freddie Mac, the mortgage company, releases weekly mortgage rates.
• Secretary of Administration and Finance Kristen Lepore has named Carol Gladstone as commissioner of the state's Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance. Gladstone, who has more than 35 years of real estate experience, has spent the past two years working with nonprofit and government organizations as a principal at Stantec Consulting, an international architecture and engineering firm.

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Amazon drone arguments don't fly

Tensions between Amazon and the Federal Aviation Administration have been brewing for months, so it should come as no surprise that the agency drafted regulations that shoot down the e-commerce giant's drone delivery ambitions.

Why, after all, would the FAA inflict upon itself the masochism of unmanned aircraft hurtling through the sky with gadgets and groceries? The agency seems to have its hands full with helicopters and planes.

And therein lies the abject failure of Amazon to publicly make the case for its proposed Prime Air delivery service, which aims to get packages to customers in 30 minutes or less using small aerial vehicles.

"We believe customers will love it," wrote Paul Misener, Amazon's vice president of global public policy, to the FAA in December, without much in the way of hard data to support his sweeping claims.

Random assertions like those seem to be the basis of Amazon's argument, and the FAA just isn't buying it.

"What data or analysis supports Amazon's position that aerial delivery is in the interest of the American public?" asked the FAA in a rather testy letter to Amazon on Oct. 30. "Examples of benefit to the public may include reductions in injuries or fatalities related to current hand delivery practices."

In other words: what's in it for us?

Amazon's failure to provide much of an argument beyond that it really, really wants to have drones is almost certainly to blame for the FAA's stifling proposal that would mandate drones remain within eyesight of the operator at all times and stay only 500 feet above ground level. Both rules pretty much defeat the purpose of Prime Air.

That said, the FAA isn't so obtuse as to scare off what could potentially be a huge innovation industry in the United States. The agency specifically stated that it is open to public comment on the proposed line-of-sight restriction. Once the proposed rules are published online, the public has 60 days to comment.

Misener has rightly argued that it's in the best interests of the nation for Amazon to keep its drone research and development here in the U.S.

But Amazon needs to get a grip: it's not like these drones are going to be defusing bombs or transporting life-saving medicine.

Until that's the case, Amazon is going to have to make a better argument.

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Orphan drugs for rare diseases soar

Treatments for rare diseases — key to the success of several Bay State companies — surged nationally last year, a trend that experts say will likely only continue.

Seventeen of the 41 novel new drugs the Food and Drug Administration approved in 2014 treat rare or "orphan" diseases that affect 200,000 or fewer Americans, offering new hope to patients who previously had few or no drugs available to treat their conditions.

"This really is a time of great interest in orphan drugs," said Mary Dunkle, vice president for educational initiatives at the National Organization for Rare Disorders. "There were a few companies who took a risk early on and made this a successful business model."

An orphan drug designation by the FDA means its developer qualifies for tax benefits and seven years of exclusivity, compared to five years for other drugs.

"Companies are understanding the great value of pushing into new areas where there has not yet been an attempt to develop a drug," said Irving Adler, a spokesman for Alexion Pharmaceuticals, a Connecticut-based firm with operations in Cambridge.

Alexion has one approved orphan drug Soliris, which treats two rare, life-threatening diseases.

Other local companies that have developed orphan drugs include Burlington-based Dyax Corp. and Cambridge-based Genzyme.

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Pharrell Williams has deal for 'Happy' picture book, 3 more

NEW YORK — Pharrell Williams has a "Happy" deal for a series of children's picture books.

The Grammy Award-winning performer has an agreement with Putnam Books for Young Readers for four picture books, starting with one inspired by his hit song.

Putnam announced Tuesday that the book, "Happy," will be published Sept. 22 and will feature photographs of children from around the world "celebrating what it means to be happy." It plans a first printing of 250,000 copies.

Pharrell has won 10 Grammys, including two for "Happy."

"Happy" was featured on the soundtrack of "Despicable Me 2" and was an Oscar nominee last year for best song.

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Top US labor official arrives as West Coast ports back up

LOS ANGELES — The nation's top labor official flew Monday to California in an attempt to resolve a damaging contract dispute between West Coast dockworkers and their employers.

U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez arrived in San Francisco, where months-long negotiations between the dockworkers union and a maritime association of companies have come to a halt.

So, too, has the movement of billions of dollars of cargo that is supposed to pass through 29 seaports from Southern California to Seattle. The ports are a critical trade link with Asia and the gateway not just for imports such as electronics, household goods and clothing but also U.S. exports including produce and meat.

Starting Saturday, companies locked out workers who would load or unload ships, saying they would not pay weekend or holiday wage premiums to crews they accuse of intentionally slowing work to gain bargaining leverage. As a result, cranes that would otherwise be moving containers onto dockside yards were raised up, stationary and eerily quiet on normally bustling waterfronts.

Dockworkers deny slowing down and say they want to work.

Full port operations are supposed to resume Tuesday, when Perez is scheduled to speak formally with both sides for the first time. He already has been in touch by phone with representatives of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association, which represents the shipping lines that carry cargo and the terminal operators that handle it once the ships dock.

For now, those massive vessels are forming ever-longer lines outside the ports, laden with imports that are now delayed by weeks. Off the coast of Los Angeles and Long Beach, for example, 33 "congestion vessels" were awaiting space at the docks, according to the Marine Exchange of Southern California — a new high since this round of disruptions began.

Cargo congestion at the coast's largest ports predated the contract dispute, though the problems were nothing like those now seen. Congestion worsened in the fall, which is when the maritime association says dockworkers began slowing down. The union blames the slow movement of cargo on larger problems with the supply chain, including a shortage of truck beds to carry containers from dockside yards to distribution warehouses.

Contract negotiations began in May. The last contract expired in July. The two sides have reached tentative agreements on many of the key issues, but are stuck on whether to change the process of arbitrating workplace disputes.

Several other issues have been on the table, including pay. The maritime association says average wages exceed $50 an hour; the union says wages are set between $26 to $36 an hour — though many shifts carry a premium over that range.

___

Contact Justin Pritchard at http://twitter.com/lalanewsman

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Fed judge nixes Caesars suit

Gaming giant Caesars Entertainment Corporation can't sue the Massachusetts Gaming Commission for excluding it from the race for the coveted Boston-area casino license, according to a federal appeals court ruling that found no improper behavior by commission chairman Stephen Crosby.

The commission was able to make "highly discretionary" decisions "in response to an application to license activity carrying substantial risks of commercial and social harm," according to the decision by Judge David H. Souter.

Caesars had accused Crosby of being biased during the licensing process and said he went out of his way to select Wynn Resorts, which eventually won the lucrative license.

"The allegations say that Crosby urged Wynn to compete for the license and to remain an applicant at one point when Wynn was poised to withdraw in exasperation with the proceedings," according to the decision.

The ruling removes a potential roadblock facing Wynn Resorts' Everett gaming palace. Caesars also argued that it wasn't given adequate time to appeal the commission's decision to deny a license, which deprived it of a property interest through an "arbitrary exercise of government power."

The court ruled that simply submitting a bid for a public contract does not create a property right, citing a recent Supreme Judicial Court decision that made the same finding.

"Caesars has alleged no cognizable protected property interest said to have been infringed in violation of Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment due process," wrote Souter.

"The issue … is whether Massachusetts law would recognize in the request for action by the commission a source of expectable value sufficiently reliable to be protected as property," Souter wrote. "The licensing cases point to a negative answer, and the casino licensing law does the same with unmistakable emphasis."

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Tow, plow drivers, plumbers prosper

The brutal winter is proving a boon to certain hardy and lucky sectors of the Bay State's snow-plagued economy — from tradesman to plow drivers to hardware stores.

"This is by far our busiest, most lucrative winter — ever," said Beacon Hill's Charles Street Supply owner Jack Gurnon, whose store has been besieged by customers seeking many shovels, ice scrapers, heaters and roof rakes. "It's epic. It's one storm after another after another. I feel badly for the amount of disruption it's caused. But we're making out great."

Plow drivers have literally seen money fall from the sky, with 7-plus feet on the ground already.

Yeh Diab, co-founder of PlowMe.com, said his contractors have done more jobs in the last three weeks than they did all of last winter.

"This is unprecedented," Diab said. "It's really been — no pun intended — an avalanche. Business-wise, it has been a good winter."

Likewise, tow drivers have seen a bumper crop of cars battered by pothole-ridden roads and subzero temperatures.

Craig Quatromini, owner of C.J. Auto and Tow, said the towing end of his business has been so busy that he's actually closed his Waltham auto-repair shop for the last few weeks to keep up.

"We're helping 200 people a day in Newton — almost triple other winters — and installing 10 batteries a day there," Quatromini said.

The winter has taken a steep toll on many small businesses and restaurants that have seen customers dwindle thanks to a broken transit system and snow days that force Bay Staters to hunker down — spurring Gov. Charlie Baker to declare this week Valentine's Week to urge people to patronize shops and eateries. Hourly workers who depend on the T — and the school system for childcare — have had particularly hard hits to their paychecks.

But certain sectors have made out well, said Alan Clayton-Matthews, associate professor of economics and public policy at Northeastern University.

"There are winners and losers," Clayton-Matthews said. "On net, it is a pretty big loss, especially for hourly workers. But it has been a good winter for snowplow drivers and others."

At Ippolito Snow Services, a plow company in the South End, revenues are up 300 percent this winter, owner Frank Ippolito said.

"We're not trying to take on new clients," he said. "We can't even call everyone back to respectfully decline. We've had to just post something on our website."

Snow Angels, a Boston shoveling business, has seen the number of its customers spike in recent weeks, said owner Carolyn Falk.

"We literally have people around the clock, but we prioritize first responders and the elderly and handicapped," Falk said. "I empathize with the businesses that have been hard hit, but winter's been very good for us."

Joe Delicio, general manager for Roto-Rooter Plumbing and Drain Services Co., said year to date, revenues are up about 15 percent over last year, even though its plumbers have had difficulty getting into driveways or finding parking due to the snow.

"The cold helps our business because people's pipes freeze," Delicio said. "And when this stuff starts melting, that will bring a new influx of calls."

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American lobster: the new Chinese New Year delicacy

PORTLAND, Maine — Now on the menu in Beijing for Chinese New Year: lots and lots of American lobster.

Exports of U.S. lobster to China have rocketed in the past few years, largely to satisfy the appetites of the communist country's growing middle class, to whom a steamed, whole crustacean — flown in live from the United States — is not just a festive delicacy and a good-luck symbol but also a mark of prosperity.

And that's good news for Maine, far and away the nation's No. 1 lobster state, where the boom has put more money in the pockets of lobstermen and kept shippers and processors busy during the usually slack midwinter months.

For Stephanie Nadeau, owner of The Lobster Co., a wholesaler in Arundel, Maine, the demand has meant 14-hour nights spent stuffing wriggling lobsters into crates so they can reach China in time for the Lunar New Year, which falls on Thursday this year. She said she sends 100,000 pounds a week to China this time of year.

"There's lot of orders, lots of demand right now — it is a race to get them there for Chinese New Year," Nadeau said.

On the other side of the world, every morning at 9, the Auspicious Garden restaurant in Beijing receives 800 lobsters that have just crossed the Pacific aboard a cargo plane. In the evening, hundreds of diners fill the two-story restaurant in the gigantic Pangu Seven Stars Hotel for a nearly $80 all-you-can-eat buffet with the New England specialty as the main attraction.

Xu Daqiang, a 35-year-old businessman who was at the restaurant for the first time on a romantic date with his girlfriend, said food-safety concerns in China make him choose expensive high-class restaurants where he can find imported seafood.

Cao Lijun, a 24-year-old Shanghai resident celebrating her friend's birthday in a party of four, alluded to lobster's reputed aphrodisiac properties when she said with a half-laugh: "How to say it? It makes my husband healthier. Really, this is what we say, because it is high in proteins."

Lobsters and other foods seen as luxuries are popular at Lunar New Year and other festive occasions. The bright red of a cooked lobster is considered lucky, as is its resemblance to a dragon.

China also imports lobsters from Canada, Australia, South Africa, the Caribbean and elsewhere, but the market for the U.S. variety is exploding, with the demand strong year-round, not just at New Year's.

American exports of live or processed lobster to China climbed from $2.1 million in 2009 to $90.5 million in 2014, federal statistics show. China took about 12 percent of U.S. lobster exports in 2014, up from 0.6 percent in 2009.

American lobsters often appear on menus in China as "Boston lobster" and sell for $50 to $100 each in restaurants — expensive, but more affordable than the Australian rock lobster, which can cost hundreds of dollars and doesn't have the big meaty claws of the American variety.

For the Chinese, the preferred way of enjoying lobster is to cook it in plain water and then dip the pieces in soy sauce and wasabi. Another popular way is to braise it with green bean vermicelli noodles in garlic sauce, said Lv Hui, the cook in charge of the daily buffet at the Auspicious Garden.

Wang Kang, a marketing manager at Zhangzidao Group, a seafood distributor and processor in Shanghai, attributed lobster's popularity in China to rising incomes.

"That naturally means that people are buying more foreign luxury goods," Wang said. "Chinese people are also more concerned with healthy living, as well as foreign goods still being a new thing to them."

New England lobstermen have been recording epic catches in recent years and are grateful for the business from the world's second-largest economy. Maine, which accounts for more 80 percent of all U.S. lobster, hauled in more than 250 million pounds in 2012-13, the highest two-year total in the record books, which go back to the 1800s.

Chinese New Year is on the verge of becoming Maine's second-biggest lobster shipping week of the year, behind Christmas week, according to industry officials. As for the lobstermen, Gerry Cushman of Port Clyde said the year-round demand from China has helped drive prices up, and he is using the extra money to build a new boat.

But so far, Cushman said, the surge has not driven large numbers of Maine fishermen to go out in the middle of winter, a punishingly cold and wet time of year in the Atlantic when lobsters head out into deeper, more dangerous waters and most lobstermen pack it in.

Maine's small corps of winter lobstermen, Cushman said, consists of "stragglers who are stupid like me, or who have kids."

___

Associated Press writers Paul Traynor in Shanghai and Aritz Parra in Beijing contributed to this report.

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SUVs make a powerful comeback

In the rock 'em, sock 'em heyday of the SUV, manufacturers couldn't make enough of them to meet demand.

But the price of a gallon of gasoline went from under a buck to almost $4, and the truck-like comportment of SUVs caught up to them.

Manufacturers have gotten the message, though, and analysts see a fresh wave of SUVs that haven't sacrificed size or power poised for a comeback to match the recovering economy.

Edmunds.com features editor Mike McGrath recommends the following five SUVs for buyers ready to stretch out a bit:

Jeep Grand Cherokee

"Jeep hasn't forgotten its roots and the Grand Cherokee is proof," McGrath said. "The Grand Cherokee is comfortable, sure, but it's also terrifically capable with four-wheel-drive and a host of off-road assisting tech." An additional appeal is a starting MSRP below $30,000, a price tag that gives the Grand Cherokee an advantage. (MSRP: $29,995, MPG: 22/30)

Ford Expedition

"The Expedition isn't all-new like Ford's aluminum-intensive new F-150, but it has been thoroughly refreshed into one of the best offerings in the large SUV class," McGrath said. A twin-turbocharged V6 makes the Expedition "faster than it needs to be," according to McGrath. "If you need a real SUV, take a serious look at this one." (MSRP: $43,845; MPG: 16/22)

Toyota Sequoia

McGrath gave a nod to Toyota's best offering, the Sequoia. "There's still a strong market for real, tough, truck-based SUVs, and the Sequoia is Toyota's entry into this field," he said. Sequoia's big V8 engine cranks out 381 horsepower, giving it stellar towing capacity of 7,400 pounds. (MSRP: $44,395, MPG: 13/17)

Chevy Suburban

The Suburban is the king of large SUVs, and unlike the Expedition, it's all new. "And it shows," McGrath said. "Inside and out, it looks fresh and modern, even if its V8 is outclassed by the Expedition's more powerful V6." (MSRP: $48,250, MPG: 16/23)

BMW X5

The BMW X5 has dynamic styling, luxury to spare, a little more trim profile and a ridiculous array of power options. "It's your luxury pick if you want your SUV with a side of horsepower," said McGrath. The base engine produces 300 horsepower while the xDrive50i makes 445. Not enough? The X5 M makes a staggering 567 horsepower. (MSRP: $53,900, MPG: 24/31)

Read the e-Edition version of the Presidents Day Automotive Section.

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Device improves your pics in a Flash

Nova Flash (various retailers, $59 and up)

Between Pinterest and Instagram, the competition for good smartphone photos is fierce. This wireless, Bluetooth-enabled flash is supposed to give you an edge. Nova, a former Kickstarter product, is going mainstream, but does it live up to the hype?

The good: This is a great flash that comes in the size of a playing card, with an internal battery that is charged using a Micro USB cable. Just holding it off to the side of your smartphone camera will make your photos look like they could not possibly come from a smartphone. Apps for both iPhone and Android are available.

The bad: It can be a little tricky to hold your phone in one hand and the flash in the other. Some sort of stand or hold mechanism would be nice.

The bottom line: This is a must for anyone who wants to take their mobile photo game to the next level. Yes, it lives up to the hype.

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Booting Up: Picture app popular in health care field

A new mobile app — like an Instagram for doctors — has taken the medical community by storm.

Figure 1, developed by a Toronto-based startup, is not for those with weak stomachs. But for more than 150,000 doctors, nurses and dentists who have uploaded case photos, and for an estimated 30 percent of medical students nationwide who use it, Figure 1 is a tool that makes digital collaboration simpler and easier than ever.

And for people like you and me, it's a rare, unfiltered window into the medical world. Some of the sights I came upon include: an extremely rare brain melanoma that was just removed, a 25-year-old with a pocket knife embedded in his skull, and an X-ray of a child's stomach after he swallowed a coin. But for every bit of morbid curiosity Figure 1 satisfies, there are many things of poignance and interest.

One user, PunkRockDoc, posted a photo of a brain harvested from a dementia patient. Upon viewing the photo, which showed an atrophied frontal lobe, one registered nurse commented: "My dad is in the last stages of Alzheimers … This is very interesting and very sad to see what my sweet dad's brain looks like."

Some photos elicited spirited debates, while others overwhelmed with sadness. "Please keep us updated," wrote one user to the pediatric orthopedic surgeon who uploaded a photo of a severely deformed infant.

The app has the ground rules of medical privacy one would expect — faces are automatically blurred, users must manually block any identifying marks like tattoos, and the rarest conditions found only in a few patients are not permitted to be featured, for fear of compromising anonymity. Only verified doctors who have provided credentials are allowed to post, according to the app-makers. And the app's founder, Dr. Josh Landy, has vowed to reject sensationalist images that do not have an educational purpose — though I'm not sure how a 25-year-old with a pocket-knife protruding from his skull is educational. Doctors are advised to seek written permission from patents before posting.

What's so striking about this app is that it doesn't try too hard. It's simple. Other medical image-sharing services aren't as simple — they require subscriptions, are highly curated and include the dense articles you'd expect from a medical journal.

This app — just like Instagram — is all images and comments.

"I have learned A LOT from this app," wrote one nursing student. "I am mostly a visual learner and the pictures posted here are awesome."

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Crossing over? Five best bets

When searching for a vehicle, some New England buyers like trucks and SUVs for their rugged versatility in our tough weather but don't want to give up the convenience of a car.

Enter the crossover, a more compact SUV with the car-like qualities buyers desire. Traits like better fuel economy usually top the list followed by smaller size (especially sought by city-dwellers with parking issues), handling (for those who fret over top-heavy behemoths) and affordability.

"Before deciding to buy, shoppers should research as much as possible," said Michelle Krebs, director of automotive relations at AutoTrader Group, the parent company of AutoTrader.com and KBB.com. "The average age of a car on the road today is 10 years. Trucks are 11 years old. Cars have changed so much, so it's extremely important to do an honest self-assessment: What do you have to have, what are your needs, and how does it fit your budget? Look at the total price, not just the monthly payment."

In the crossover segment, Edmunds.com features editor Mike McGrath chose five great values for buyers:

Jeep Cherokee

"A different animal altogether than the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Jeep Cherokee is a compact crossover with wicked good looks. Beyond the exterior, the Cherokee is available in Trailhawk trim that gives this little crossover serious off-road cred." (MSRP: $22,120, MPG: 22/32)

Subaru Forester

"The Forester is a staple of the New England landscape for good reason. It's compact enough to be nimble and easy to drive, but big enough for a weekend worth of gear." All of these vehicles are available with all-wheel-drive. (MSRP: $22,195, MPG: 24/32)

Nissan Rogue

McGrath calls the Nissan Rogue "deceptive." "It looks and drives smaller than it actually is, because beneath that tidy exterior is an optional third-row seat." He also praises the available around-view camera that helps in parking — never a bad quality in Boston — and Nissan's "Zero Gravity" seats. "They are some of the best we've ever sat in." (MSRP: $22,790, MPG: 25/32)

Toyota RAV4

The popular Toyota option is "no longer the blandest kid on the block. The new RAV4 brings some actual style to one of the safest and least visually interesting segments around." One knock on the RAV4 has been on its 176-horsepower engine; the trade-off is solid fuel economy and Toyota's legendary reliability (and resale value). (MSRP: $23,680, MPG: 24/31)

Hyundai Santa Fe

On the other end of the power spectrum, Hyundai's Santa Fe has a snarly 290-horsepower V6 engine. "That's a lot," understates McGrath. And when the Santa Fe is outfitted with all-wheel-drive, it's sure-footed and darned quick. "Not bad for a seven-passenger SUV that received a five-star safety rating from NHTSA." (MSRP: $24,950, MPG: 18/25)

Check out the e-Edition of the Presidents Day Automotive Section

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Vehicle makers rev up tech advances

Vehicle manufacturers are embracing new technology, but things have moved so fast in the past few years, some buyers have no idea what is available.

"Car shoppers are spending more time considering and evaluating the consumer electronics and technology they want in their cars and ultimately are spending more money on the technologies they really want," said Michelle Krebs of AutoTrader. "But it's like Rip Van Winkle waking up. So much new tech has been developed since a lot of buyers have shopped for a new vehicle.

"Consumers want protection, and tech helps prevent accidents and make life more convenient."

Not all tech advances are safety-related. Navigation systems have a safety benefit, but they're also a convenience feature that delight owners — as are charging ports, Bluetooth capability, remote start and keyless entry.

Robert O'Koniewski, executive vice president of the Massachusetts State Automobile Dealers Association, said carmakers are casting "a wide net" in exploring new tech.

"Manufacturers are all trying to come up with next big thing,' said O'Koniewski. "They're looking to find an edge to offer something useful to attract customers. For example, in the truck market, Dodge has been developing self-contained Wi-Fi for the Ram because contractors are looking for that capability. Ford and Chevy are doing the same thing."

Ron Montoya, consumer advice editor for Edmunds.com, listed five relatively new car technologies that buyers might want to look into:

BMW i3 carbon fiber-reinforced plastic chassis

"BMW's i3 electric vehicle has a carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic body shell and chassis that is extremely strong and lightweight," Montoya said. "There's a chance we could see more cars made of these materials if the costs come down. The fuel economy and performance benefits would be huge."

Tesla's autopilot system

"We haven't had a chance to test this, but if it works as advertised, it would be the earliest implementations of automated driving in a vehicle," said Montoya. "Tesla says the system is smart enough to read stop lights and drive in stop-and-go traffic."

Rear back-up cameras

"These aren't new," said Montoya, "but the fact that they are appearing on more cars is. In fact, they will become standard on all vehicles by 2018. These cameras are becoming a 'must have' feature as rear visibility on some newer cars can be an issue."

Front crash prevention

"This technology includes forward collision warning and autonomous braking systems. These systems will alert the inattentive driver that he is getting too close to the car in front of him and in some cases will hit the brakes for them. It's like having an extra set of eyes on the road," said Montoya.

Heads-up display

Heads-up displays give basic information (navigation directions, speed) and are widely available. "They have tremendous potential to change the way we get information in a car," Montoya said. "They were once found only on luxury cars, but now you can get it on the inexpensive Mazda 3."

The bottom line on vehicle tech remains safety enhancements, the most potentially revolutionary of which is the "smart car/smart highway" concept of self-driving and self-monitoring vehicles that reduce or eliminate human error.

"This technology is potentially game-changing with respect to traffic safety," said John Paul, senior manager of traffic safety for AAA. "This is all part of the ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems); the stepping stone to self-driving cars."

Check out the e-Edition of our Presidents Day Automotive Special Section.

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Docs track patients live via mobile apps

Boston area doctors are relying more on mobile apps and social media to keep tabs on their youngest patients — giving new insight into a group whose health updates can get lost in translation, experts say.

"Children use behaviors and code language at times to communicate symptoms that wouldn't be used by adults," said Dr. Alisa Niksch, a pediatric cardiologist at Tufts Medical Center. "It is very difficult to interpret, and they need that extra tool to help discern what's happening."

Niksch said she tracks about 15 to 20 of her patients using an AliveCor monitor and free mobile app which collects data with a heart-monitoring device that reads activity from the patient's fingertips or chest wall and attaches to a mobile phone.

"Parents of children with heart issues are afraid that things like an irregular heartbeat won't be caught early enough," she said. "It's important to get some actually objective data."

It's not just patients with physical ailments who benefit from remote monitoring, according to Dr. Marilyn Augustyn, a pediatrician at Boston Medical Center, who gets updates on patients with Attention Deficit Disorder through an app from Boston-based startup mehealth for ADHD.

The app allows doctors to gather more information for diagnosis and assessment, Augustyn said, and gives teachers and parents easier ways to report their own observations.

"It's really useful for children with certain behavioral and developmental problems to see them in different settings. I may see them in my office, but that's not where they live or where they learn," she said.

Ken Tubman, chief technology officer for Optimal Medicine and its mehealth for ADHD app — which was founded in 2009 and gained venture capital funding in 2012 — said health apps are gaining traction with doctors.

"Health care is a growing industry, especially in software," he said. "As far as I can tell, it'll continue to grow over the next 10 years or so."

Dr. Joseph Kvedar, director of Partners Center for Connected Health at Massachusetts General Hospital, which conducts research on health care outside of medical centers, said using tools like apps and social media can be especially useful for teenagers, who are most comfortable with digital interactions.

He said the center just wrapped up a yearlong study that used Facebook to connect teens with asthma to one another, which helped them be more in tune with their illness, and as a result they were more aware of their symptoms.

"During the trial, the kids were so enthusiastic that we had to ask for an extension on the study because they didn't want to leave the group," he said.

He added that using technology like apps can also be effective in diagnosing and managing autism spectrum disorders, because different cues are used to make assessments.

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Booting Up: App shows drivers the best Waze to go

Something is very wrong when Google has better traffic data than government transportation departments. That's why I applaud Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh for successfully ensuring Boston was one of 10 cities in the world selected to share and receive data with Waze, the groundbreaking social navigation app that Google scooped up for 
$1.3 billion two years ago.

Waze, which integrates with social networking apps, allows users to report road hazards and accidents in real-time. But the real gamechanger is how it calculates the best routes: by tracking the speed of its users in real-time rather than relying on traffic cameras. Waze recalculates your route frequently, adapting to a live-stream of traffic data and basically putting every other navigation service to shame.

Hub officials say the city will be able to share information on expected road closures with all of Waze's 400,000 users in Greater Boston, making the mobile navigation app even more accurate for those users. Waze, in turn, will provide streams of traffic data to the city's Traffic Management Center, which is akin to our municipal command center. City officials promise that engineers will use that data to better calibrate the city's 550 intersections with traffic signals.

"This partnership will help engineers in the TMC respond to traffic jams, accidents and road hazards quicker," said Boston Transportation Department Commissioner Gina Fiandaca.

"And, looking forward, the Waze data will support us in implementing — and measuring the results of — new congestion management strategies."

The Waze data-
sharing partnership launched several weeks ago after months of development. Time will tell whether — or when — these new data efficiencies will trickle down to the commuters on the ground. Road relief doesn't appear to have happened yet, but that should be motivation for Boston drivers to use Waze. The more drivers use it, the more accurate it becomes.

It's natural to wonder why this new partnership didn't prevent Boston from becoming a commuter abyss over the last week. I wondered the same thing while chatting with Fiandaca yesterday, but then I remembered: that black hole of vehicle gridlock and agonizing public transit? The MBTA's fault.

So while this is a great example of government embracing innovation, we're only as strong as our weakest link, or in this case, rail. Here's hoping Waze and Google turn their attention to public transit next.

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Stored Honda CR-V picks up a bad case of rotor rust

We stored our 2013 Honda CR-V in our detached garage last winter. When we drove it last spring there was a loud grinding when the brakes were applied. The Honda dealer told us that the brake rotors had rusted over the winter and that to remove the build-up was not covered by warranty and would reduce the longevity of the rotors. They told us it would disappear with usage but the grinding has not gone away. Is this condition permanent? Is there anything we can do to ensure this doesn't happen again when we store the vehicle?

A light buildup of corrosion on the surface of cast iron brake rotors after a period of non-use is not uncommon. In fact, our Passat develops enough to feel and create a light grinding sound after being parked for just a few days in damp conditions. Applying the brakes while driving the car quickly "cleans" the rotors and eliminates the noise.

Carmakers typically do not cover normal "wear" components such as brake pads and rotors so I wouldn't expect any warranty coverage. It's worth having the rotors carefully inspected to see if "turning" them to remove the rust is viable. If so, this should eliminate the grinding without dramatically reducing rotor life.

However, since the grinding hasn't been eliminated during normal driving, the rust may be deep enough that replacement is warranted. To prevent this from happening again, spray the brake rotors with an aerosol rust preventative when you store the car for the winter, then flush the rotors with aerosol brake cleaner prior to driving in the spring.

...

My 2012 BMW 750Li is just over two years old and has 25,000 miles. Whenever it gets below 15 degrees F, I get warnings that the battery is running low and I should put it on external charge. I have had it into BMW service at least five or six times and they say it is fixed, but as soon as it gets cold — same thing. Last time I complained, they said BMW has no known solution.

Ask the dealer to check BMW service bulletin No. SI B61 03 13 dated August 2013. It deals with the high battery discharge warnings compounded by frequent short trips and cold weather placing a high demand on the battery. The bulletin recommends testing, and if necessary, replacing the original 90AH battery with a 105AH battery.

...

What is the correct way to rotate the tires on my 2011 Chevy Silverado? I just had them rotated, but not according to the owner's manual.

Your owner's manual recommends rotating the tires every 7,500 miles by moving the front tires to the opposite side on the rear, and the rear tires straight forward to the same side on the front.

I've seen suggestions that include crossing the rear tires to the opposite front and moving the front tires straight back, just switching the tires front to back on the same side and alternating the rotation pattern at each rotation.

The amount of tire wear "wastage" due to failure to rotate tires is staggering. In my opinion the method of rotation isn't nearly as important as the need for tire rotation every 6,000-7,500 miles, period.

...

I have a 1999 Camry 2.2-liter with 160,000 miles. It has developed a series of oil leaks from the valve cover, timing belt shaft, oil pan gasket and now the rear main seal. My mechanic says that excessive crankcase pressure due to worn valves or rings is forcing oil out of the assorted seals. Any suggestions?

The engine is "tired." The KISS principle says to check, clean and frequently service the PCV — positive crankcase ventilation — system and valve and make sure there are no air leaks into the engine that could defeat the PCV system.

Paul Brand, author of "How to Repair Your Car," is an automotive troubleshooter, driving instructor and former race-car driver. Readers may write to him at: Star Tribune, 425 Portland Ave. S., Minneapolis, Minn., 55488 or via email at paulbrand@startribune.com. Please explain the problem in detail and include a daytime phone number.

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Startup makes core change to reactors

A three-person startup in the heart of Kendall Square is trying to reinvent the nuclear power plant to make it safer and more efficient with the help of $2.5 million in new venture funding.

"If we can develop a new type of design that directly addresses those problems, then we can develop a type of power that will be more acceptable," said Leslie Dewan, chief executive of Transatomic Power. "We felt that in order to properly address climate change, the world needs more nuclear. There's so many hurdles to broader adoption."

Transatomic is developing a "molten-salt" nuclear power plant, which Dewan says will be meltdown-proof and will be able to extract more power from nuclear fuel. The system is based on gravity, liquid fuel and a fail-safe in case of a complete power failure. Transatomic's power plant can also run on existing nuclear waste.

"Having a power plant that will burn waste and make electricity, that's a no-brainer," said Ray Rothrock, chairman of Transatomic and a venture capitalist who started his career as a nuclear engineer.

The government has said nuclear waste could be stored at Yucca Mountain in Nevada, but the project has stalled as Republicans and Democrats find themselves on opposite sides of the issue.

"The utilities want very much to get this waste off of their sites," Dewan said.

Transatomic uses liquid fuel, which Dewan says makes their design more efficient than existing nuclear plants.

"There are some inherent problems with using solid fuel, and that's primarily because you can only keep that solid fuel in a conventional reactor for three or four years," she said.

The uranium rods wear through their metal containers well before the energy is spent, she said. Liquid fuel can be kept inside the reactor indefinitely. Dewan said 96 percent of the energy in liquid fuel can be extracted, compared to 4 percent for solid fuel.

The $2.5 million in venture funding from Founders Fund, Acadia Woods Partners and Armada Investment, comes on top of $2 million in funding secured last summer.

Transatomic recently began experiments with the help of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to test components for a prototype power plant. The company hopes to start construction by 2020.

Dewan and her co-founders are part of a new generation of nuclear engineers. Dewan and Rothrock said high profile accidents such as Chernobyl and Three Mile Island drove a generation of potential nuclear engineers to other industries. Now, a new wave of engineers is coming.

"There are, by last count, about 43 nuclear innovation companies in the United States and Canada and about $1 billion of private capital has been applied," Rothrock said. "University nuclear engineering departments are bursting at the seams."

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Homeowner tax breaks appear safe, for now

WASHINGTON — Tax reform is revving up again on Capitol Hill, with the heads of key committees pledging to work toward a simpler and fairer tax code, possibly one with lower tax rates. Sounds intriguing.

But what might that mean for homeowners — many of whom benefit from tax breaks such as mortgage interest and property tax deductions, plus tax-free writeoffs of up to $250,000 or $500,000 of home sale capital gains, depending on whether they file returns as singles or married couples? Renters get none of these.

Homeowner writeoffs become targets for cutbacks or elimination whenever tax code reforms get serious attention because of their costs in uncollected federal revenues. The mortgage interest deduction alone cost the Treasury $113.4 billion in fiscal 2015, property tax writeoffs $27.8 billion, according to estimates by the congressional Joint Committee on Taxation.

President Obama kicked off the tax legislative season with a budget proposal that would limit mortgage interest and other deductions for upper income taxpayers. No surprise there. He called for essentially the same change last year, and this year's version was widely viewed as dead on arrival in a Congress controlled by Republicans.

But what might Republican tax reformers themselves have up their sleeves? Last February, the top Republican tax writer, Rep. Dave Camp of Michigan, the then-chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, came out with a tax code overhaul blueprint that would offer lower tax rates and a big increase in the standard deduction in exchange for drastic cutbacks in special-interest deductions and credits, including the benefits traditionally enjoyed by homeowners.

Camp's plan would have shrunk marginal rates for most taxpayers to just two brackets, 10 percent and 
25 percent; phased down mortgage interest deductions from the current
$1 million limit on eligible mortgage amounts to $500,000; eliminated deductions on home equity loans and credit lines altogether; and stretched out the time period needed to qualify for tax-free capital gains exclusions from the present two years out of the preceding five years to five years out of the preceding eight years. Camp's plan also would have eliminated homeowners' writeoffs of local property tax payments and ended penalty-free withdrawals from IRAs to assist with first-time home purchases.

Camp retired from Congress at the end of the last session. His reform plans — considered too controversial to pass in an election year — never moved out of committee. But the impetus for some sort of wholesale reform of the sprawling Internal Revenue Code remains alive and well. Is anything likely or even possible this year, and if so, could it create problems for current or future owners?

Conversations with tax experts and Capitol Hill legislative analysts suggest a couple of things: There is bipartisan support for the broad concept of streamlining the tax code. The new Ways and Means Committee chairman, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said on NBC's Meet the Press that he is prepared to work on reforms with the White House — even compromise on some issues — "if we can find common ground." Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) Senate Finance Committee chairman, has created working groups tasked with coming up with tax reform plans with the objective of introducing a bill, probably by late this spring.

And there is already common ground to build on: bipartisan support, including at the White House, for a broad package of tax changes affecting businesses. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew recently said the administration could support reforms that lower top tax rates for big corporations, eliminate unfair loopholes and simplify the entire system for businesses. Republicans generally are on board, but insist that small businesses be part of the solution.

So there's a chance that a bipartisan corporate tax reform bill could be cobbled together this year.

What about comprehensive tax reforms for individuals of the type that inevitably would involve significant changes in current preferences for homeowners and tax increases for higher income households? Highly unlikely.

Bottom line: Homeowner tax breaks are safe for the time being, probably until 2017 at the earliest.

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