TLC voting on whether to allow people to use smartphone apps to nab a cab ride

Every New Yorker knows how to hail a yellow cab.The next step for some might be to "e-hail" a cab using a smartphone.Members of the city's Taxi & Limousine Commission are to vote Thursday on whether to allow people to nab a ride electronically. Downloaded apps would link customers with drivers.If the vote is yes, companies offering the high-tech hailing...

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Lennar to borrow $1.7 billion from Chinese bank

Miami-based Lennar Corp. has gotten approval on $1.7 billion in loans from China Development Bank to fund the development and construction of two major projects in San Francisco, according to a person familiar with the transaction.The contract, set to close by Dec. 31 subject to various conditions, would mark the first U.S. loan by the big state-owned Chinese bank. One condition...

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Legislative leaders dish out salary increases to top staff

TALLAHASSEE -- Florida’s new legislative leaders handed out hefty raises and salaries to many of their top staff and newly hired talent even as thousands of state workers went for a sixth year without a bump in pay.Senate President Don Gaetz and House Speaker Will Weatherford, who were sworn in last month, immediately hired new chiefs of staff and paid them more than taxpayers...

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Here’s the Pope’s First Tweet

The long wait is over and we’ve finally got the first words of Twitter wisdom from Pope Benedict XVI. Dear friends, I am pleased to get in touch with you through Twitter. Thank you for your generous response. I bless all of you from my heart.— Benedict XVI (@Pontifex) December 12, 2012Ok, so not that funny, but it was all spelled right and we got blessed by a pope, so that’s a good start. And...

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First section of WTC spire hoisted

The first section of a spire that will rise atop the World Trade Center's tallest building will be set into place on Wednesday.Nine of 18 giant steel pieces of the spire arrived at the site in New York City Tuesday via barge from Port Newark, NJ.The arrival marked the end of a 1,500-nautical-mile journey that started in Canada on Nov. 16.A plant outside Montreal produced the 18 pieces. The spire will...

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The first wave of Windows 8 PCs

We’ve been benchmarking and field-testing new Windows 8 systems, including all-in-one desktops, traditional clamshell laptops and convertible laptops with displays that flip or twist around to form tabletlike devices. Dell XPS One 27 Rating: 4 stars out of 5 (Excellent) The good: Boasts the highest-display resolution among Windows 8 all-in-ones, and...

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South Florida pols sticking to party lines on fiscal cliff

WASHINGTON -- Don’t expect South Florida’s congressional delegation to stray too far from party lines when it comes to dancing on the edge of the fiscal cliff, the end-of-the-year spending cuts and tax increases set to take effect if Congress and the president don’t address them.Democrats are firmly with President Barack Obama, whose proposal seeks to raise $600 billion over...

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BlackBerry Messenger 7 adds free Wi-Fi voice calling, split-screen multitasking and more

Research in Motion (RIMM) updated its BlackBerry Messenger to version 7 on Monday, adding a new key feature called “BBM Voice” that “will allow customers to make free voice calls to their BBM contacts around the world over a Wi-Fi connection.” BBM 7 also introduces multitasking with split-screen, which allows users to BBM, check email, or use other apps while on a BBM Voice call; new compatibility...

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Anna Faris Post Baby Body

Whoa, Mama! Less than four months after giving birth to son Jack, Anna Faris rocked the red carpet last night, flaunting her bangin' post-baby body!RELATED -  Anna's Early BirthAlongside husband Chris Pratt, Faris stunned in a pale lace down that showcased her new mom curves. The happy couple was celebrating the Los Angeles premiere of Zero Dark Thirty, in which...

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Man struck and killed by L train

Authorities say a man has been struck and killed by a subway train in Manhattan.It occurred at about 7:15 a.m. Tuesday at the 14th Street and First Avenue station.The victim was struck by a southbound L train and pronounced dead at the scene.Police and fire officials had no other details. ...

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