Madoff's properties in NYC, Florida up for sale

NEW YORK – It's where Bernard Madoff broke down and confessed to his massive fraud, frantically wrote checks for millions of dollars as the scheme unraveled and appeared in a bathrobe to greet the FBI agents who arrested him.

Soon the world will see whether Madoff's luxury penthouse apartment — perhaps the only former crime scene featuring four fireplaces, a wraparound terrace and closet space galore — also will hit the jackpot on the Manhattan real estate market.

The U.S. Marshals Service plans to put the 4,000-square-foot duplex in a 12-story doorman building on the Upper East Side up for sale this week, betting that exclusivity outweighs notoriety.

Madoff "is behind bars," said deputy U.S. Marshal Roland Ubaldo during a tour offered Tuesday to The Associated Press. "We believe the cloud has passed."

The marshals also gave the AP a look inside the disgraced financier's 8,700-square-foot, Mexican-tiled estate in Palm Beach, Fla., a yacht and two smaller boats docked in Fort Lauderdale — property it hopes to sell off to raise tens of millions of dollars to help reimburse victims.

Prices for the New York and Florida home won't be set until brokers are selected this week. His seaside beach house on southeastern Long Island was listed last week for $8.75 million.

Madoff estimated his Manhattan apartment was worth $7 million, the Florida home $11 million and the boat $2.2 million in a federal declaration late last year.

Under a court order stripping the Madoffs of most of their wealth, the marshals also want to bring in more money by auctioning off the boats and furnishings still in the homes, including a baby grand piano and several works of art.

Madoff, 71, was sentenced in June to 150 years in prison for masterminding a multibillion-dollar Ponzi scheme that spanned decades and burned thousands of investors.

Monthly statements told clients their securities accounts were worth tens of billions of dollars. But authorities say that late last year in a meeting at the apartment, Madoff told his sons Mark and Andrew that the double-digit returns were "all just one big lie," a confession repeated to FBI agents who showed up the next day.

Like all visitors, the agents came to the apartment in an elevator that opens directly through a door with a mezuzah, a small ornamental box containing a prayer scroll that is commonly affixed to entrances of Jewish homes. Chinese sculptures of howling dogs sit on shelves flanking the doorway.

More Chinese antiques, including ornate cabinets, porcelain vases and towering wooden screens adorn living and dining rooms as big as some one-bedroom apartments in New York City.

The kitchen has marble and stainless steel countertops, Baccarat crystal glasses in the cabinets, and an atrium breakfast nook. A winding staircase descends to the 11th floor and the master bedroom, furnished with a four-poster bed.

Narrow hallways lead to two bathrooms: one with white marble floors, a bidet and a flat-screen television, the other decorated in minimalist black.

The apartment has three walk-in closets, including one where agents found more than 50 business suits and countless pairs of men's shoes.

The home office has a leather couch, paintings of sailboats and a sculpture of a bull, a favorite Madoff motif, on a coffee table. There's also the desk where authorities said they found 100 checks worth $173 million that Madoff was ready to send out to close relatives and friends after he realized he would be caught.

The house in Palm Beach is tucked into a secluded, palm-lined lot with a stunning view to the west across the Intracoastal Waterway. From his living room, he would have been able to see his boats at a 100-foot private dock, looking over a chevron-shaped pool with a Jacuzzi at one end.

The house, built in 1973, has Mexican tile throughout, five bedrooms and seven bathrooms. It has a huge all-white kitchen filled with antiques, including century-old golf clubs, an 1895 set of Shakespeare's complete works, antique fly rods and 10 paintings or sculptures of bulls.

Even as the government was seizing Madoff's assets, Palm Beach County officials issued a $13,800 refund check for property taxes the couple overpaid on the mansion. Madoff and his wife, Ruth, had successfully challenged the value of the home, resulting in a 2008 overpayment, said Palm Beach County Tax Collector Anne M. Gannon.

Ruth Madoff last month asked the tax collector to cut a new check made out in her name only, but Gannon said a new check won't be cut because state law requires refunds to go to those who paid the taxes.

"Either she cashes it this way, or there is no way," Gannon said.

Madoff's yacht, named "Bull," is a 55-foot 1969 Rybovich that has been completely refitted, from brand-new twin Man Diesel engines to all-new electronics.

It lacks many of the ostentatious touches found on more modern ships, said Bill O'Dell, operations manager for National Maritime Services Inc., which is handling the auction for National Liquidators. For example, there's only one TV — not a flat screen — and all the beds are bunk-style.

"This boat is designed to go catch fish," O'Dell said. "This is a man's boat — a manly, masculine boat."

The boat — which sleeps six — does, however, have a one-person elevator from the fishing deck to the fly bridge. Its logo, emblazoned on everything from cocktail glasses to life preservers, is a black bull, with Madoff's initials "BLM" in white.

Most of the clothing and personal effects from both homes and ships have been inventoried and stored in boxes. But a few stray items remain, including a case of 1990 Chateau Beychevelle Saint Julien wine and a biography of one-time client Sandy Koufax.

Inside a guest closet in the Manhattan apartment is an old black-and-white photo of Madoff posing next to a giant swordfish caught in the Bahamas. Guests at a bash thrown for him in 1984 signed the photo with tributes like, "You are the big fish," and "We're hooked on Bernie."

There's another inscription for the man who became the big fish of white-collar crime: "Dear Dad: No one in the world deserves a party like this more than you. ... Love, Andy."

By TOM HAYS and CURT ANDERSON,

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090909/ap_on_re_us/us_madoff_real_estate

Mice Levitated in Lab

Scientists have now levitated mice using magnetic fields.

Other researchers have made live frogs and grasshoppers float in mid-air before, but such research with mice, being closer biologically to humans, could help in studies to counteract bone loss due to reduced gravity over long spans of time, as might be expected in deep space missions or on the surfaces of other planets.

Scientists working on behalf of NASA built a device to simulate variable levels of gravity. It consists of a superconducting magnet that generates a field powerful enough to levitate the water inside living animals, with a space inside warm enough at room temperature and large enough at 2.6 inches wide (6.6 cm) for tiny creatures to float comfortably in during experiments.

Disoriented

The researchers first levitated a young mouse, just three-week-old and weighing 10 grams. It appeared agitated and disoriented, seemingly trying to hold on to something.

"It actually kicked around and started to spin, and without friction, it could spin faster and faster, and we think that made it even more disoriented," said researcher Yuanming Liu, a physicist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. They decided to mildly sedate the next mouse they levitated, which seemed content with floating.

A plastic cage was also designed by physicist Da-Ming Zhu at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, to keep the mice in during levitation. Its top remained open to let in air, food, water and video surveillance, and its bottom was filled with small holes to allow waste removal.

From time to time, mice would kick the walls of the cage, causing it to briefly drop off from the levitation zone before re-entering it and floating again.

Although the researchers could levitate mice with or without the cage, "it's easier to house a mouse in a cage when you bring it to the levitation zone," Liu explained. Also, if you want to run an experiment comparing mice living inside and outside the levitator, you want to set up exactly the same living conditions to match results up as best as possible.

Results

Repeated levitation tests showed the mice, even when not sedated, could quickly acclimate to levitation inside the cage. After three or four hours, the mice acted normally, including eating and drinking. The strong magnetic fields did not seem to have any negative impacts on the mice in the short term, and past studies have shown that rats did not suffer from adverse effects after 10 weeks of strong, non-levitating magnetic fields.

"We're trying to see what kind of physiological impact is due to prolonged microgravity, and also what kind of countermeasures might work against it for astronauts," Liu said. "If we can contribute to the future human exploration of space, that would be very exciting." They are now applying for funding for such research with their levitator.

The researchers also levitated water drops up to 2 inches wide (5 cm). This suggests the variable gravity simulator could be used to study how liquids behave under reduced gravity, such as how heat is transferred or how bubbles behave.

Charles Q. Choi

http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20090909/sc_livescience/micelevitatedinlab

Somebody's Watching...and Ready to Sue

Albert Hancock is embroiled in a lawsuit over a stone wall which extends onto town property in Westport, Conn.

Fences are supposed to make good neighbors. But that wasn't the case with a stone wall in Westport, Conn., which pitted neighbor against neighbor and has cost its owner $150,000 in legal fees -- so far.

The story of the stone wall began in 2005 when Albert and Susan Hancock built it around their modest 1920s home in this affluent coastal town. While the wall was being built, one of the Hancocks' neighbors filed a complaint with the town. The town sent out inspectors but did not stop construction, though it later filed its own complaints against the Hancocks. Then, last year, the Hancocks' neighbor filed a separate suit claiming that because the wall runs along a private lane, all the homeowners on the road are liable.

How and when the story ends is still unclear. But the dispute opens a window into life in a wealthy suburb, where neighbors have enough money to fight for years over an issue that may have been quickly resolved in a less well-off town. In fact, Westport officials say such cases are not all that unusual.

"More than 50 percent of my day is dealing with these disputes," said Gordon Joseloff, the first selectman. "In Westport, the people are very wealthy, and at the first indication of anything, they'll threaten or file a lawsuit."

If nothing else, the Hancocks' story is a cautionary tale, illustrating what you should and should not do when your neighbors are watching you.

The initial complaint about the Hancocks' stone wall was over its proximity to a wetland. The town then raised other issues, like the fact that the wall lay six inches on town property -- even though it was built largely where an old wall had been -- and that the Hancocks had not sought the necessary permits before construction.

After four years, the Hancocks have spent some $150,000 on legal expenses and $50,000 for modifications and inspections of the wall. These expenses have already exceeded the $170,000 cost of the wall. But with their case going to Stamford Superior Court on Thursday, Mr. Hancock's lawyer said the couple could spend $150,000 more before the matter was resolved. If they lose, it would cost them at least $120,000 to tear down their wall, not counting any fines.

Jeffrey and Elizabeth Lillien, the neighbors who filed the initial complaint and the lawsuit last year, say they believe Westport has moved too slowly in the case. They argue that the wall violates environmental laws and that it rests on common property.

"The remedy is to remove the wall," said Mr. Lillien, a lawyer at UBS investment bank. "We care about the environment. We care about our property being maintained in a safe and sound manner." He added: "They're trying to turn this into an interpersonal issue. This is a legal issue."

The Hancocks counter that the Lilliens are busybody neighbors and say they are angry that the town has allowed the issue to drag on for so long. "This is wealth destruction," said Mr. Hancock, a senior vice president at ING Investment Management. "It's gone too far."

Ira Bloom, a lawyer representing Westport, said he did not know how much the town had paid his firm in the case but said he billed the town at a discounted rate of $200 an hour.

Property disputes are nothing new in wealthy towns. But their effects are more pernicious in a bad economy. A town has to take taxpayer money that could have been spent on schools or the police, while residents have to have the resources to defend themselves.

As with all litigation, both sides in the stone wall dispute argue that they are right. But even short of a resolution in the case, there are lessons to draw.

Get Everything in Writing. The Hancocks said they inquired about a permit for a stone wall but were told they did not need one because it was under eight feet tall. They did not have a survey because the new wall was largely built on the site of an old one. Philip Law, the builder, said he would testify that he had built similar stone walls without permits or problems in Westport.

Mr. Bloom, the town lawyer, said they should have gotten approval from the wetlands office, zoning office and building department. They also needed to get an encroachment waiver because of the portion of the wall on town property.

The problem is the Hancocks have no documentation for their initial conversations with town officials. Yet had the Lilliens not complained about their wall, the Hancocks probably would have been fine, if not legally right.

To complicate matters, the Lilliens' suit is steeped in rarely applied town law about sight lines and common property. "Rules are rules," Mrs. Lillien said. "I guess other people can do whatever they want to do and cram it down people's throats."

It would have taken the Hancocks longer to get everything in writing but that might have saved a lot of grief.

Beware Thy Neighbor. Both the lawyers for the town and the Hancocks said the driving force behind this has been the Lilliens. The Lilliens argue that the dispute is over principles and is more than a neighborly spat. They also say they have incurred their own legal bills to defend their property rights.

"The reason this has gone on so long is because the town has put that private dispute in the middle of the other issues," said Gwen Bishop, the Hancocks' lawyer. "They've taken that issue and used it to tie everything up."

The town said it has proceeded cautiously. "We're not talking Egyptian-Israeli border disputes, but I don't make fun of them," Mr. Joseloff, the first selectman, said. "They're important to these people."

And they are fairly common. Alan Spirer, the Lilliens' lawyer, said he had 30 property cases pending, most in Westport. In one, he is representing a woman whose vegetable garden was bulldozed by a neighbor. Typically, he said, these disputes cost clients $7,500 to $25,000 in legal bills.

Be Prepared to Lobby. Where the Hancocks admit they failed was in community relations. "We're perceived as really bad guys," Mr. Hancock said.

Local newspaper accounts of one town hearing painted the Hancocks as another wealthy commuter couple who thought they could do whatever they wanted. Yet the problem with class warfare in Westport is it becomes a battle between the haves and the have-mores. The median sale price of a home from May to July 2009 was $970,000, according to Trulia.com.

The Hancocks said their image at town meetings would have been different if they had been better at explaining their reason for building the new wall after eight years of living with the old one. On separate occasions, two cars and a town fire truck ran off North Avenue and onto their property. In one accident, only a tree stopped the car from landing in their dining room.

Their safety concerns were not part of the public discussion, and this shows the importance of making your case early and personally.

What Is the Goal? At the end of the day, knowing how long you will fight is the hardest part. Most of these battles start off simply: one neighbor does something another neighbor dislikes. But then the legal bills, fines and arguing starts. "If we knew we were going to be $150,000 into this on Day 1 and still only be halfway there, I'm not so sure we wouldn't have just torn down" the new wall, Mr. Hancock said.

Fighting on has taken a toll. They may prevail, but the emotional cost has been high, and they have half-jokingly say they have begun to worry that the wall costs could surpass what they paid for their house.

by Paul Sullivan

http://finance.yahoo.com/real-estate/article/107679/somebodys-watching-and-ready-to-sue.html?mod=realestate-buy

Apple event: Steve Jobs returns, iPod Nano gets a camera, Touch gets faster & cheaper

Back from his six-month medical leave, Apple CEO Steve Jobs—clad in his trademark black turtleneck and blue jeans—finally reemerged into the spotlight Wednesday to unveil a new digital album format, a camera-equipped iPod Nano, and a trio of souped up, cheaper, but camera-less iPod Touches. No sign of the Beatles, though.

Indeed, absent news of the Fab Four finally arriving on iTunes or the unveiling of the rumored Apple "iTablet," the reappearance of Jobs—who underwent a liver transplant in April during a six-month leave of absence—was the biggest news of the day.

Dressed in his standard uniform—black turtleneck, jeans, and sneakers—Jobs still looked a bit gaunt but otherwise "good," as the bloggers at Engadget noted. The recuperating Jobs got a long standing ovation as he took the stage, then told the rapt audience that he now uses the transplanted liver of a 20-something man who died in a car crash.

"I'm very happy to be here today with you all," said a thankful Jobs, who urged everyone at the event to become organ donors themselves. "I'm vertical, back at Apple, and loving every day of it."

And with that, Jobs launched into the product demos, including ...

New iPod Touches
Unfortunately, rumors of a Touch with a built-in camera didn't materialize; what we did get, however, was a 64GB version of the Touch to go with the existing 32GB and 8GB models. (The old 16GB version is, for now, MIA). Both the 64GB and 32GB Touches boast "50 percent" faster performance and OpenGL-enhanced graphics, according to Apple, while the 8GB model is stuck with the old, slower Touch processor. Pricing for the new Touches (all available now): $399 for the 64GB version, $299 for the 32GB, and $199 for the 8GB. (Oddly enough, the new price tags conflict with the Touch price drops that were revealed on the Apple Store earlier today.)

New iPod Nano, with built-in camera
While the Touch didn't get its own camera as expected, the Nano sure did—a VGA-quality, 30 frames-per-second camera, specifically, along with the ability to sync photos and videos to iPhoto or the Photos directory on a PC. The new Nano also comes with a larger, 2.2-inch display, an FM radio, pedometer, voice recorder, and a built-in speaker, as well as support for the new Genius Mixes (more on that in a moment). Prices: 16GB for $179, 8GB for $149.

Updated iPod Classic, Shuffle
Nothing major to report here, except that the Classic now ships with a 160GB hard drive for $249, while the Shuffle—now with the ability to tell you via VoiceOver when its battery is full—will sell for $59 (2GB), $79 (4GB), and $99 (a 4GB stainless-steel special edition).

iTunes 9 & iTunes LP
As expected, we also got our new digital album format: iTunes LP, a slick digital package for full music albums that includes album art, liner notes, credits and "other customized content." The main interface for an iTunes LP-formatted album looks something like a DVD menu, complete with options such as Play Album, Song List, photos, videos, memorabilia, liner notes, and credits; Jobs also mentioned that the artists themselves may collaborate on iTunes LP design (for instance, we got an example from a Dave Matthews LP, with artwork drawn by Matthews himself). It's a sleek looking package, all right, but (at first blush, at least) somewhat short of earth-shattering; while it's a nice bonus for those who buy complete albums, I doubt it will put much of a dent in the trend of buying individual tracks on iTunes.

Also new: "iTunes Extras," which will deliver the same types of extra features for purchased movies that you'd expect from a DVD, such as featurettes and deleted scenes. (Director and cast commentaries, anyone?)

Sharing movies, TV shows, and songs across multiple computers in your home will also be easier thanks to "Home Sharing," a new iTunes feature that'll let you view, stream, and copy your content between up to five systems on a home network—no more need to dig into your iTunes folder and copy content manually.

Jobs & company also showed off Genius Mixes, an extension of the Genius recommendation feature in iTunes that creates "endless mixes of songs" that "go great together, almost like radio stations" starting with 12 mixes based on the tunes in your iTunes library. Another new Genius feature: recommendations for apps, in addition to music.

Meanwhile, iPhone and iPod Touch users with dozens of apps will appreciate this next feature: the ability to manage and organize all the apps on your iPhone/iPod Touch via iTunes, all without having to (clumsily) drag icons back and forth on the device itself.

Other new iTunes 9 features: a cleaned-up iTunes Store interface (with a navigation menu above every page that lets you jump to any section of the store), improved iPod/iPhone syncing (for example, you can now sync entire genres and artist collections), and the ability to preview songs or videos by mousing over them from the iTunes "top charts" listings.

The new Genius features for the iPhone and iPod Touch will be enabled by iPhone Software 3.1, which Jobs said will be available later today. (More details on the new firmware as we get them.)

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/patterson/56697?comment_start=6&comment_count=20#see_comments

Best Places to Retire 2009

This is a fantastic time to buy the home to which you’ll retire, whether you’re a month or a decade from saying sayonara to the office. That’s because home prices in some sought-after retirement havens have plunged about 50% since the market peak, nearly double the national average. You might actually be able to afford a town you once only fantasized about, especially if you’ll be moving from a high-cost area.

We pored through the numbers and quizzed real estate experts to identify places that offer terrific value for your housing dollar right now—plus good medical care, reasonable tax rates, lots to do, and plenty of company. While no one can predict exactly when home prices will bottom, most forecasts are for sometime in 2010. If they’re right, you can take several months to shop around.

10 Best Places to Retire

Port Charlotte, Fla.

Courtesy: Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands Visitor's Bureau

The Conquistador Cup Regatta, 2008

Population: 48,000

Percent over 50: 44%

Typical 3-bedroom home: $170,000

State income tax: None

Lots of places in Florida have been battered by the housing bust. But this laid-back Gulf Coast town, just across Charlotte Harbor from pricier Punta Gorda, arguably best hits the sweet spot of great prices and great amenities.

Homes here cost less than half what they did in late 2005, and about 40% of them sit on canals and waterways leading to the harbor — which has 270 square miles of cruising waters and 219 miles of protected shoreline.
—by Sarah Max

Palm Springs, Calif.

Courtesy: Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism

Population: 48,000

Percent over 50: 42%

Typical 3-bedroom home: $250,000

State income tax: 10.55% (top bracket)

It's easy to see the appeal of living in the desert town beloved by Frank Sinatra's Rat Pack. Residents get 332 days of annual sunshine, 360-degree views of the mountains, and as much culture and design as they can pack in.

They can see paintings and sculpture in the 125,000-square-foot Palm Springs Art Museum, landmark midcentury architecture by the likes of Richard Neutra and Albert Frey, and indie movies galore at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.
—by Sarah Max

Traverse City, Mich.

Courtesy: Traverse City Convention & Visitors Bureau

Population: 14,300

Percent over 50: 41%

Typical 3-bedroom home: $250,000

State income tax: 4.35% (top bracket)

You don't often hear of people moving to Michigan for the weather. But that's exactly what Susan and Alan Szepanski, 49 and 51, did. After working for the Alaska state government for a combined 55 years, they were able to retire early — and started searching for a new home. "I wanted a place with access to good medical care and lots of culture," says Susan. "Al wanted water." And both wanted four seasons — but winters less long, dark, and harsh than those in Juneau.

The couple found everything on their wish list in this pretty town on the northeast shore of Lake Michigan. Last April they paid about $500,000 for a brand-new, 3,100-square-foot Craftsman-style house with lake views.
—by Sarah Max

Pinehurst, N.C.

Courtesy: Pinehurst Resort

Population: 12,000

Percent over 50: 57%

Typical 3-bedroom home: $300,000

State income tax: 7.75% (top bracket)

Most Americans know this town as the home of Pinehurst Resort, which contains one of the country's oldest and most prestigious golf courses. Yet it's also a friendly year-round community with a bustling downtown, firstrate regional hospital, and mild weather.

Granted, at $300,000, the typical home in Pinehurst isn't rock-bottom cheap. But all residents are eligible for membership in the resort, which boasts eight golf courses, 24 tennis courts, three pools, and a 200- acre lake with a beach. If you buy a home from someone who already has a membership, you can pay $12,000 to join vs. $40,000 normally.
—by Sarah Max

Surprise, Ariz.

Courtesy: City of Surprise

Population: 91,000

Percent over 50: 43%

Typical 3-bedroom home: 150,000

State income tax: 4.54% (top bracket)

This fast-growing community outside Phoenix is named after the hometown of the man who founded it in 1938, but Surprise could just as easily describe what people feel when they look at the real estate listings. "You can scoop up a great house for less than $100,000," says local agent Meredith Andrews.

Locals can watch baseball at Surprise Stadium (the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers both do spring training here), cool off at the town's 10,500-square-foot aquatics center, and check out ancient petroglyphs at a nearby 30,000-acre park. Nearly 20% of residents live in Sun City Grand, a resort-like retirement community that offers reams of activities--tennis, golf, wine tasting, and more. (The original Sun City is a few miles down the road.)
—by Sarah Max

Boulder City, Nev.

Courtesy: City of Boulder City

Mountain bikers ride Bootleg Canyon Park's 36-mile Epic Mountain Bike Trail

Population: 14,900

Percent over 50: 49%

Typical 3-bedroom home: $315,000

State income tax: None

What happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas, and that's fine with residents of this gambling-free town (a rarity in Nevada), who get all the benefits of living 20 miles from Sin City without having to constantly contend with the tourist set. Federal workers build Boulder City in the 1930s to house workers constructing the Hoover Dam just six miles away. The dam remains a major tourist attraction, and it created boat-friendly Lake Mead.

In the summer, the thermometer regularly cracks three digits, but Boulder City residents get outside anyway. Local Bootleg Canyon offers a range of hiking and mountain biking trails, and a new zip line for the extra adventurous. The city has a variety of public recreation facilities, including two golf courses and a year-round pool and racquetball complex.
—by Beth Braverman

Fredericksburg, Texas

Photo: Peggy Crenwelge, Courtesy: Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce

Bronze sculptures in Fredericksburg's Market Square

Population: 10,900

Percent over 50: 40%

Typical 3-bedroom home: $220,000

State income tax: None

Retirees flock to Fredericksburg for its warm weather and the income tax-free living afforded by Texas. Outdoor recreation abounds in the multiple parks in Fredericksburg. The largest, the 150-acre Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park, offers lake fishing, a 72-par golf course and an Olympic-size pool for swimming. The snaking roads and rolling hills throughout the region draw both bicyclists and motorcyclists. For urban adventures, residents can reach both San Antonio and Austin in less than an hour.
—by Beth Braverman

http://finance.yahoo.com/retirement/article/107681/best-places-to-retire-2009?mod=retire-after_retire

Ellen DeGeneres Named New 'American Idol' Judge

Ellen DeGeneres is the new full-time judge on "American Idol."

The TV talk show host announced the news during a taping of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" on Wednesday that she is the new "Idol" judge, filling a seat left vacant by Paula Abdul, who chose not to return to the show last month.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Ellen DeGeneres

"I have a big announcement to make. No one knows this. I just finally got the OK ... just moments ago to announce this to you today...I am going to be the new judge on 'American Idol,'" Ellen told her audience on Wednesday afternoon, for her show which will air on Thursday.

Although Ellen is known for being one of the funniest ladies on television, the news was no joke, as the announcement was confirmed to Access Hollywood by a rep for FOX.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: The Verdict Is In! Judges Of Reality Television

"I could not be more excited to have Ellen join the 'American Idol' family," Simon Fuller, the show's creator and executive producer, said in a statement issued to Access Hollywood. "Ellen has been a fan of the show for many years, and her love of music and understanding of the American public will bring a unique human touch to our judging panel. I can't wait for this next season to begin."

http://tv.yahoo.com/american-idol/show/34934/news/tv.accesshollywood.com/ellen-degeneres-named-new-american-idol-judge-20090909

A kiss for Rafa: Man storms court after Nadal victory

Ladies (and gentlemen), take note: Rafael Nadal will not spurn your advances, no matter how bold they may be.

Last night, after the six-time Grand Slam champ defeated Gael Monfils in a thrilling four-setter at the U.S. Open, a man rushed the court to give Nadal a hug and a kiss. Before security could react, the fan hugged the unsuspecting, shirtless Nadal before being dragged away.

Initially surprised, Nadal had a broad smile on his face during the brief encounter. When security personnel began to lead the man into custody, Nadal initially tried to stop them saying "it's OK" as the man was blowing kisses and making "you're No. 1" motions with his hands.

Ever cool, Nadal went immediately back to packing his tennis bag before standing for a post-match interview. Afterward he said of the incident:

"For me, it wasn't a problem. The guy was really nice. He said, 'I love you,' and he kissed me."

(Watch the video of the press conference here. Rafa's remarks about the fan come near the 3:30 mark.)

The security guard in the picture reacted as soon as the intruder jumped over the wall, but she wasn't able to get to him before he reached Nadal.

The incident was similar to one in the French Open final when a men dressed in Swiss colors and holding the flag of the Barcelona soccer team stormed the court to try and put a hat on Roger Federer. What we wrote at the time holds true today:

By Chris Chase

http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/blog/busted_racquet/post/A-kiss-for-Rafa-Man-storms-court-after-Nadal-vi?urn=ten,188317

Janet speaks out: About her last day with Michael, his eccentric style, and how she hopes he's remembered

Janet Jackson's interview in the October issue of Harper's Bazaar is almost entirely devoted to her brother Michael and, while you won't find answers to the more mysterious questions surrounding the King of Pop's life and death, the resulting article is still a sweet, and at times, fascinating read.

Speaking out for the time since her brother's passing, the 43-year-old singer says the last time she saw Michael was May 14, just a few days before her birthday: "We had so much fun that day. We kept calling each other after and saying how great it was." Janet also reveals some intimate details about the days following his death, including the decision to allow (Michael's daughter) Paris to speak at the memorial service."I was really proud," she says. "People said to me that Michael's daughter speaking really gave them a sense of how he was as a father, in her words. Paris is incredibly smart; they are all so smart. She's a sweet girl. The kids are doing well. They're with all their cousins; that family love will keep them going."

For the entire story, head to newsstands this week, we've got some of the more interesting excerpts below:

What she'd like the world to know about Michael:
"He loved to laugh. The last time we were together, he'd laugh so hard, he would just start crying. Sometimes his humor would be corny, sometimes dry. He loved the Three Stooges, he loved slapstick, he loved Eddie Murphy in his silly comedies. He loved to have fun. He loved to play....People have told me, 'I am an American citizen because of your brother.' He wrote them a letter or something. He was just that giving, loving person. And the greatest entertainer there ever was. And is. I hope people get a glimpse of him now, some sort of picture."

About her brother's unique style:
"If it was shiny, if it had any kind of bling, he loved it. It was that drummer-boy look. Do you remember that black jacket he wore for Motown's 25th anniversary? That's our mother's! He grabbed that from her closet! He loved anything that sparkled. [That last day Janet saw Michael] he had a Balmain jacket on. He had a few of them--all black, jeweled, studded, with rhinestones."

On the origins of the famous white glove:
"That was actually my brother Jackie's idea at home one day. He just said, 'You should wear one glove. A white glove.' And then Mike studded it all. That was it."

Would Janet ever wear the King of Pop's costumes?
"No," she says emphatically. "They should go to the children, if anything."

On how she'd like to be remembered:
"I would hope my legacy would be bringing smiles to faces. Happiness with my music. Also, to make babies. I've had so many people come up to me and say, 'My child was conceived by listening to your music.'"


by Jennifer Romolini, Shine staff
http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/beauty/janet-speaks-out-about-her-last-day-with-michael-his-eccentric-style-and-how-she-hopes-hes-remembered-509993/

Walmart's Project Impact: A Move to Crush Competition

Walmart loves to shock and awe. City-size stores, absurdly low prices ($8 jeans!) and everything from milk to Matchbox toys on its shelves. And with the recession forcing legions of stores into bankruptcy, the world's largest retailer now apparently wants to take out the remaining survivors.

Thus, the company is in the beginning stages of a massive store and strategy remodeling effort, which it has dubbed Project Impact. One goal of Project Impact is cleaner, less cluttered stores that will improve the shopping experience. Another is friendlier customer service. A third: home in on categories where the competition can be killed. "They've got Kmart ready to take a standing eight-count next year," says retail consultant Burt Flickinger III, managing director for Strategic Resources Group and a veteran Walmart watcher. "Same with Rite Aid. They've knocked out four of the top five toy retailers, and are now going after the last one standing, Toys "R" Us. Project Impact will be the catalyst to wipe out a second round of national and regional retailers." (See 10 things to buy during the recession.)

Though that's bad news for many smaller businesses that can't compete, Walmart investors have clamored for this push. Despite the company's consistently strong financial performance, Wall Street hasn't cheered Walmart's growth rates. During the 1990s, the company's stock price jumped 1,173%. In this decade, it's down around 24% (Walmart's stock closed at $51.74 per share on Sept. 3). "Walmart is under excruciating pressure from employees and frustrated institutional investors to get the stock up," says Flickinger. (Read "Can Toys "R" Us Sell Toilet Paper?")

Many analysts believe that the store-operations background of new CEO Mike Duke will keep investors quite happy. Though the recession finally caught up to Walmart last quarter, when the company reported a 1.2% drop in U.S. same-store sales, Walmart was a consistent winner during the worst days of the financial crisis, as frugal consumers traded down. While most retailers are shutting down stores, Walmart has opened 52 Supercenters since Feb. 1. Joseph Feldman, retail analyst at Telsey Advisory Group, estimates that each store costs Walmart between $25 and $30 million. In order to continue the momentum that it has picked up during the retail recession, over the next five years the company plans to remodel 70% of its approximately 3,600 U.S. stores.

So what does a Project Impact store look like? One recent weekday afternoon I toured a brand new, 210,000-sq.-ft. Walmart in West Deptford, N.J., with Lance De La Rosa, the company's Northeast general manager. "We've listened to our customers, and they want an easier shopping experience," says De La Rosa. "We've brightened up the stores and opened things up to make it more navigable." One of the most noticeable changes is that Project Impact stores reshape Action Alley, the aisles where promotional items were pulled off the shelves and prominently displayed for shoppers. Those stacks both crowded the aisles and cut off sight lines. Now, the aisles are all clear, and you can see most sections of the store from any vantage point. For example, standing on the corner intersection of the auto-care and crafts areas, you can look straight ahead and see where shoes, pet care, groceries, the pharmacy and other areas are located. And the discount price tags are still at eye level, so the value message doesn't get lost. (See how Americans are spending now.)

"They are like roads," De La Rosa says proudly. "And look around, the customers are using them. We've already gotten feedback about the wider, more breathable aisles. Our shoppers love them."

The layout is also smarter. "You can kind of guess where everything is going to be," says Sharon Tilotta, 73, a shopper in the West Deptford store. The pharmacy, pet foods, cosmetics and health and beauty sections are now adjacent to the groceries. In the past, groceries and these other sections were often at opposite ends of the store, which made it more difficult for someone looking to pick up some quick consumables to get in and out of Walmart. "Under Project Impact, Walmart is providing more of a full supermarket experience within its walls," says Feldman. "The biggest complaint against them has always been that it takes a long time to get through everything. This definitely improves efficiency." De La Rosa also points out the party-supply section. Favors, wedding decorations, cards and scrapbooks are all in one area. "In the past, these products would be in three different places," he says.

And although Walmart won't admit to targeting specific competitors - "We're just listening to what our customers want," De La Rosa says - it's clear that, under Project Impact, Walmart will make major plays in winnable categories. The pharmacy, for example, has been pulled into the middle of the store, and its $4-prescriptions program has generated healthy buzz. With Circuit City out of business, the electronics section has been beefed up. Walmart is also expanding its presence in crafts. Sales at Michael's Stores, the country's largest specialty arts-and-crafts retailers, have sagged, and Walmart sees an opportunity. Stores are chock-full of scrapbooking material, baskets and yarns. "Look, they're selling the stuff that accounts for 80% of Michael's business, at 20% of the space," says Flickinger. "It's very hard for any company to compete with that." (Read "That Viral Thing: People of Walmart.")

Apparel, one of Target's traditional strengths, gets a prominent position at the center. The color palettes of the shirts and dresses are brighter and more appealing than they've been in the past. "Walmart has figured out fashion for the first time in 47 years," Flickinger says. "They've gone from a D to an A-minus." Briefs and underwear have been shuttled to the back. "That's a smart move," Flickinger says. "People know to come to Walmart for the commodity clothing. Now, they have to walk past the higher margin, more fashionable merchandise to get what they need."

Of course, Project Impact isn't perfect. You'd think that if Walmart was going to open a massive new store with a cutting-edge layout, the company would at least put a sign up. In West Deptford, it's easy to miss the entrance to the Walmart - which is buried in the back of a parking lot - while driving along a main thoroughfare. And of course, customers will always nitpick. One elderly shopper complained about a shortage of benches in the store (she needed a rest). Another had a more esoteric, yet legitimate, gripe. "Their meat is leaky," says Jeff Winter, 30, a West Deptford shopper. "And instead of giving you a wet wipe to clean it off, they give you a dry towel. How's that going to prevent E. coli or whatever?" (See which businesses are bucking the recession.)

What analysts really want to see from Project Impact, however, is a faster pace of implementation. "The biggest hurdle facing Walmart is the speed with which they can roll this out," says Feldman. As more Project Impact stores pop up, the existing stores appear worse by comparison. For example, while the merchandise at the Project Impact store outside of Philadelphia really speaks to that particular market - there's tons of Eagles and Phillies gear - at one regular discount store outside New York City, Minnesota Twins and Seattle Mariners pajama pants wasted away on the racks. There were plenty of associates staffing the electronics section at the Project Impact store; at the discount store, five frustrated shoppers waited in line for help from a customer-service rep. Soon, it was closer to 10.

What about the friendly service? In West Deptford, the associates were sunny and bright. At the New York–area discount store, not so much. "You'll notice we've been in the store for two hours, and no one has even said hello to us," Flickinger says after he and I toured that store. He's right, we weren't feeling any love. But if Project Impact keeps picking up momentum, many more Walmart salespeople, and shareholders, should be smiling.

By SEAN GREGORY / WEST DEPTFORD

http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20090909/us_time/08599192069800