US News

Snapped! New Yorkers outraged over being secretly photographed for exhibit

FOX News - Thu, 05/16/2013 - 11:46am

Residents of a luxury Tribeca building are furious over a new photo exhibit in a Chelsea art gallery — because they had no idea they were the subjects on display.

From his second-floor apartment across the street, artist Arne Svenson secretly took photos of his neighbors through their oversized windows as they engaged in such personal things as bending over cleaning, taking naps and carrying sleeping kids to bed.

The shots — which don't show full faces — are now being sold for up to $7,500 each at the Julie Saul Gallery in an exhibition called "The Neighbors," which opened Saturday.

The largest print on display is 5 feet by 2 feet.

Residents of the Greenwich Street building — where penthouses fetch up to $6 million — soon caught wind of their involuntary modeling, and are fuming.

Click for the more from the New York Post.

 

Categories: US News

Coming Soon: An ATM For Bitcoins

CNBC - Thu, 05/16/2013 - 11:44am
The world's first vending machine for the digital currency is coming to Silicon Valley, reports CNBC's Jane Wells.
Categories: US News

Arias lawyers wanted to withdraw after verdict but were denied

FOX News - Thu, 05/16/2013 - 11:43am

Attorneys for Jodi Arias asked to step down from the case after their client was convicted of first-degree murder, but a judge denied the request.

Arias returns to court Thursday for the final phase of her trial as the same jury that convicted her last week now weighs whether the former waitress should be sentenced to life in prison or death.

Her attorneys must convince jurors she shouldn't be executed. But just Tuesday, Kirk Nurmi and Jennifer Willmott asked a judge for permission to withdraw from the case. The detail was contained in court minutes and provides no information about why the two defense lawyers asked to withdraw.

Legal experts have said that Arias complicated efforts for her defense when she gave an interview to Fox affiliate KSAZ minutes after her conviction Wednesday, saying that she preferred death over life in prison.

"I believe death is the ultimate freedom, and I'd rather have my freedom as soon as I can get it," Arias said.

However, Arias cannot choose the death penalty. It's up to the jury to recommend a sentence.

On Wednesday, the panel took less than three hours to determine that Arias should be eligible for the death penalty in the killing of her one-time lover after prosecutors proved the murder was especially cruel and heinous.

Arias, 32, acknowledged killing Travis Alexander on June 4, 2008, at his suburban Phoenix home after a day of sex. She initially denied any involvement then later blamed the attack on masked intruders. Two years after her arrest, she settled on self-defense.

On Thursday, the penalty phase of her trial begins during which prosecutors will call Alexander's family and other witnesses in an effort to convince the panel Arias should face the ultimate punishment. Arias' defense lawyers will have her family members testify, and likely others who have known her over the years, in an attempt to gain sympathy from jurors to save her life. It's not yet known if Arias will testify.

Arias showed no emotion Wednesday after the jury returned a decision that was widely expected given the violent nature of the killing. She slashed Alexander's throat, stabbed him in the heart and shot him in the forehead. The victim suffered a total of nearly 30 knife wounds in what prosecutors described as an attack fueled by jealous rage after Alexander wanted to end his affair with Arias and prepared to take a trip to Mexico with another woman.

The jury simply had to determine the killing was committed in an especially cruel and heinous manner to complete the "aggravation phase" of the trial and move on to the penalty portion.

Alexander's family members sobbed in the front row as prosecutor Juan Martinez took the jury through the killing one more time earlier in the day. He described how blood gushed from Alexander's chest, hands and neck as the 30-year-old motivational speaker and businessman stood at the sink in his master bathroom and looked into the mirror with Arias behind him, a knife in her hand.

"The last thing he saw before he lapsed into unconsciousness ... was that blade coming to his throat," Martinez said. "And the last thing he felt before he left this earth was pain."

Wednesday's proceedings played out quickly, with only one prosecution witness and none for the defense.

The most dramatic moments occurred when Martinez displayed photos of Alexander's corpse and the bloody crime scene for the jury, then paused in silence for two minutes to describe how long he said it took for Alexander to die at Arias' hands.

Arias, wearing a silky, cream-colored blouse, appeared to fight back tears most of the morning, but didn't seem fazed by the verdict. Afterward she chatted with her attorneys. Arias spent the weekend on suicide watch before being transferred back to an all-female jail where she will remain until sentencing.

Arias' attorneys didn't put on much of a case during the aggravation phase, offering no witnesses and giving brief opening statements and closing arguments. They said Alexander would have had so much adrenaline rushing through his body that he might not have felt much pain.

The only witness was the medical examiner who performed the autopsy and explained to jurors how Alexander did not die calmly and fought for his life as evidenced by the numerous defensive wounds on his body.

Categories: US News

Task force slips up on bomber travel

POLITICO - Thu, 05/16/2013 - 11:36am
FBI director Robert Mueller says authorities didn't act on notices.


Categories: US News

Another Maserati Is Smashed in China

CNBC - Thu, 05/16/2013 - 11:31am
A Chinese man hired a crew to crush his Maserati, but his story sounds familiar. Is this a trend or a stunt?
Categories: US News

New Mexico mom chases down child abductor

FOX News - Thu, 05/16/2013 - 11:25am

Albuquerque police say a mother who saw her 5-year-old being abducted chased the suspect down and crashed her vehicle into his car, triggering a manhunt.

Police say the incident unfolded Wednesday evening when the woman saw her child being forced into a car in Albuquerque's North Valley. She jumped into her vehicle and gave chase for about seven miles, unaware the man had pushed the girl out of the car shortly after grabbing her. The girl was not injured.

The mother followed the suspect and finally rammed into his car near an intersection. He fled on foot.

Police are still searching for the man, who they say matches the description of a suspect who sexually assaulted and returned a girl in the same neighborhood last week.

Categories: US News

Obama to name new acting IRS chief

POLITICO - Thu, 05/16/2013 - 11:19am
He plans to appoint a new acting commissioner this week, an administration official says.


Categories: US News

IRS strikes out with Cornyn office

POLITICO - Thu, 05/16/2013 - 11:10am
The IRS' softball team canceled a game scheduled for Friday against a team from Cornyn's office.


Categories: US News

Solar-powered plane makes history

CNN - Thu, 05/16/2013 - 11:06am
Call it a historic technological achievement. Call it a victory lap across America. Call it a shameless promotion for a controversial energy agenda. Its owners simply call it Solar Impulse.
Categories: US News

Hess Names New Directors Amid Battle

CNBC - Thu, 05/16/2013 - 10:56am
Hess and Elliott Management made peace on Thursday, agreeing on a slate of new directors.
Categories: US News

Can Your Job Make You Fat?

CNBC - Thu, 05/16/2013 - 10:52am
Does this job make me look fat? A Gallup-Healthways survey takes a look at which jobs have high rates of obesity.
Categories: US News

Hill Dems muster defenses

POLITICO - Thu, 05/16/2013 - 10:46am
They try to dig their way out from under a week that's included three national scandals.


Categories: US News

Mercedes S-Class: Ups Tech and Luxury

CNBC - Thu, 05/16/2013 - 10:42am
Mercedes-Benz is digging in and putting more features into its redesigned flagship S-Class sedan.
Categories: US News

Helping kids, one bike at a time

CNN - Thu, 05/16/2013 - 10:38am
The Oasis Bike Workshop provides inner-city youth with the tools to fix and build bikes from the ground up.
Categories: US News

Cramer: Higher Margins for This Company

CNBC - Thu, 05/16/2013 - 10:38am
Investors can expect higher margins from this company as it moves to a new strategy, Cramer said.
Categories: US News

Farmers, Beware: Big Debt Looming

CNBC - Thu, 05/16/2013 - 10:36am
It would take a perfect storm, but there are worries the current economic boom for farmers could turn into a bust.
Categories: US News

Rubio rips 'culture of intimidation'

POLITICO - Thu, 05/16/2013 - 10:33am
The senator says the IRS scandal is a product of the climate the administration has created.


Categories: US News

Senate panel OKs Perez nomination

POLITICO - Thu, 05/16/2013 - 10:19am
His nomination to be Secretary of Labor is headed for the full Senate, after a party-line vote.


Categories: US News

No deal yet on high-tech visas

POLITICO - Thu, 05/16/2013 - 10:19am
Orrin Hatch says his amendments are likely to be addressed next week.


Categories: US News

Obama's week? 'Horrible, no good'

POLITICO - Thu, 05/16/2013 - 10:18am
His troubles involving the IRS, Benghazi and the Department of Justice gave him a negative week.


Categories: US News