December 4, 2000

PEPSI TO QUENCH THIRST FOR QUAKER FOR $13.4B

Pepsi and Quaker are expected to announce today they're merging in a $13.4 billion deal. The pact comes after two other suitors - Coca-Cola and French food conglomerate Danone -...

GROWTH STOCKS ACING THE BUFFETT TEST

WARREN Buffett followers know he never reveals his stock picks. No stock recommendations. No stock comments. "He doesn't do interviews - anything like that," said his spokeswoman. But an online...

READING INTO WALL STREET

AFTER a year in which the Nasdaq composite index has lost almost half its value, you'd think staffers at the National Association of Securities Dealers would be reading up on...

WATCH YOUR E- PS & QS

MOVE over, Miss Manners. With technology taking over our lives, the old rules of etiquette are being tossed out in favor of new e-etiquette rules. To that end, Luntz Research...

HOW MANY ANALYSTS DOES IT TAKE TO RUN A FUND?

ONE of the biggest reasons that people invest in mutual funds is because they know they are getting professional management of their investments. A fund, after all, has a portfolio...

KEEP THE DREAM ALIVE

WHAT would you do to make your dream come true? An Internet company asked this question of CEOs, venture capitalists and other movers and shakers - and got shocking results....

THE HURDY-GURDY UPDATED

ANYONE who's ever watched a cowboy movie probably remembers the player piano. Invented in the 1860s, the player piano is primarily associated with Wild West saloons. It would jauntily play...

EAT THIS, TIME WARNER

JOHN Malone minces no words when it comes to the proposed merger between America Online and Time Warner. "The idea of a merger of equals is bull ...," the chairman...

VALUE MANAGERS PROVE THEIR WORTH

Now it's the value managers turn to laugh. After suffering years of bruising losses when investors wanted nothing but high-priced growth, value managers are now savoring a sweet victory. "They...

CHIPS OUT-WARBLE CHITS IN A SING-IN

WHO said everyone in Silicon Alley was a talentless loser who thinks fame and riches are just around the corner? Last Wednesday's Wall Street versus Silicon Alley Battle of the...

REEBOX INVESTORS SHOCKED BY GOOD FORTUNE

You'll excuse longtime holders of Reebok International Ltd. stock for not getting all warm and fuzzy over the recent strong performance of the sneaker company's shares. Yes, Reebok is among...

VF'S CARTER UNDER NEW YORK MAG'S MICROSCOPE

It's finally Graydon Carter's turn in the media hotseat - and he may not like it much. The flamboyant editor - who skewered a generation of celebrities while editing Spy...

SEVEN MARKET QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD BE ASKING

CONFUSED about the stock market? Want some answers about what's going on with the economy? I'm not only going to give you the answers, I'm also gonna provide the questions....

CREAM OR COSMO? MAG'S LAUNCHING LIFESTYLE CAFES IN THE U.K.

Searching for a place to grab a coffee and learn the magic ways to touch your man's back, arms and earlobes? Cosmopolitan magazine's new cafe concept could be the place....

BRITISH POP DIVAS ACTING SPICED OUT :BAD PUBLICITY, INNER TURMOIL HINT AT A SPLIT

THE Spice Girls soared to stardom on a tidal wave of girl power, but now it seems they're at the end of the road. Poor reviews and disappointing sales for...

CHRISTIANE TO THE LIONS; TOP CNN REPORTER READY TO JUMP

CNN star Christiane Amanpour is looking for a new job, sources say. Amanpour, one of the most visible faces on the all-news network, has been working without a contract since...

SEASON'S GREETINGS ; AILEY OPENS WITH REVISIT TO 'REVELATIONS'

ALVIN AILEYCity Center. West 55th Street, between Sixth and Seventh avenues, (212) 581-1212. Season runs through Dec. 31. AILEY galas are refreshingly different. Seen as family affairs, the company makes...

THE STARR REPORT

Just call 'Dr. Laura' a new KING KONG More beastly bad news for Laura Schlessinger and "Dr. Laura," which was unceremoniously booted Friday from KING in Seattle, finding refuge on...

LITTLE LIFE IN FOOTE'S 'LAST'

THE LAST OF THE THORNTONSSignature Theatre Company, 555 W. 42nd St. Through Dec. 30. (212) 244-PLAY. THERE are some plays where the set says it all.In Horton Foote's "The Last...

THE INN CROWD: HAUTE HOTELS, WHERE THE DOZE MAKES THE MAN

A walk through the lobby of the new W Union Square hotel is like a stroll through an exhibit of early 20th-century fashions at the Met's Costume Institute. Stone walls...

DISHING THE DIRT ON DIVAS WITH RIGHT TENOR

HERE'S what James Jorden - and his pseudonymous persona, the viper-tongued La Cieca - have to say about some of opera's biggest stars: * LUCIANO PAVAROTTI: "He gave me one...

MAKING SEXY WOMEN FRIENDS WORK FOR YOU

IF you can't use your friends, who can you use?Basically, every guy needs one very pretty - though platonic - female friend if he wants to attract other stunning singles....

LOWDOWN ON HIGH CS ; OPERA'S VERSION OF MATT DRUDGE PRINTS ALL THE GOSSIP OF NOTE

HE'S been called the Matt Drudge of the opera world - the outsider with the dish on divas.James Jorden is the feared, revered creator of parterre.com, a biting, often bitchy...

IT'S EASIER TO RESPECT RATS THAN TO KILL THEM

I WENT to the "Rat Summit" last week to hear scientists and politicians discuss a strategy for winning the war on rats, but I left with more respect for the...

OVARY OP LINKED TO PARKINSON'S

Removing a woman's ovaries destroys the brain cells that protect against Parkinson's disease in just 10 days, new research has found. Scientists already knew that removal of estrogen, produced in...

TRUCE BETWEEN PATAKI & DEMS LOOKS DOOMED

A LONG-STANDING "peace pact" between state Democrats and Republican Gov. Pataki will shatter once the presidential election is resolved, key insiders agree. The pact - virtually unknown to the public...

DOLLY DOCS HATCH NEW WAY TO BEAT CANCER

Scientists who created Dolly the Sheep have now made a "designer chicken" they say lays cancer-fighting eggs. The Roslin Institute will unveil Britney the Chicken - named after pop queen...

A CHANGE FROM THOSE TIRED OLD REASONS WE YAWN

A new study suggests yawning may not mean we're tired or bored - just in need a change. Over the years, scientists have come up with numerous theories as to...

OPERA UNDIES UP FOR BID

She was once one of the world's great opera divas. Now they're selling off Maria Callas' undies. The famed singer's underwear and a lock of her hair were among hundreds...

JUSTICE FAILS ALLEGED STALKING VICTIM

A 25-year-old Brooklyn woman says a series of snafus and judicial errors have allowed her menacing ex-boyfriend to continue his reign of terror. Carmen Cubilette, an account executive who lives...

SHOPPING MAD FOR KID-CHARITY EVENT

It's the season of giving, especially for shoppers who strolled along Madison Avenue yesterday. It was the 14th annual Miracle on Madison Avenue, with 20 percent of the profits from...

BRIT CALENDAR GIRLS OLDIES BUT NUDIES

Who needs the Full Monty when you have the full BBW? That's Bold British Women - as in the 11 middle-aged ladies whose cheesecake calendar is flying off the shelves...

IF THIS ISN'T A TRUE CRISIS, THEN WHAT IS?

FIVE THOUSAND jailbirds voted in Florida's election, but military votes were thrown out. A Ryder truck carrying ballots to Tallahassee got more air time than O.J.'s white Bronco. The key...

TEAM GORE MAY JOIN BID TO TOSS ; ABSENTEE BALLOTS

TALLAHASSEE - The Gore campaign may join a lawsuit that seeks to disqualify 15,000 Seminole County absentee ballots - at a time the veep has publicly called for the counting...

HAMAS WARNS OF MORE TERROR AGAINST ISRAEL

JERUSALEM - The extremist terror group Hamas yesterday pledged its bloodiest attacks against Israel yet. "In the coming days, unprecedented events will take place which have not been seen before,"...

DERBY CHAMP BATTLED INNER DEMONS

DEEP down, there was always a feeling the Chris Antley story would not have a happy ending. Even when he was being celebrated as the "comeback kid" for his inspirational...

ALL FOR AL, DEMS SAY: BUT 2 IN CONGRESS GROW IMPATIENT

WASHINGTON - As Congress heads back to work today, top Democrats said yesterday they remain firmly behind Al Gore's lonely legal quest to claim the White House, although not everyone...

GORE: 'BUSH WILL BE MY PREZ' IF HE WINS

As their lawyers battled in a Florida courtroom yesterday, Al Gore kept up his mantra of contesting that state's election result, while Gov. George W. Bush kicked back at his...

CHUCK BIDS TO SPEED UP GENERIC RX

Vowing to break a deadlock in Congress over prescription drug prices, Sen. Charles Schumer announced a bipartisan bill yesterday he says could save New Yorkers $2 billion over the next...

BALLOT-MAKER SAYS RECOUNT OFTEN NEEDED

TALLAHASSEE - Al Gore got a surprise boost yesterday when the inventor of the punch-card voting machines used in Florida conceded in court they sometimes don't work right - and...

TROUBLED JOCKEY FOUND MURDERED : ANTLEY DEATH A PUZZLE

California cops were hunting for clues yesterday in the murder of two-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Chris Antley, whose career was plagued by drug and weight problems and depression. Pasadena police...

'I JUST WANT MY SECRET SON': DAD SEEKS TO OVERTURN ADOPTION

A Manhattan man is waging a heartbreaking court battle for the 16-month-old son he never knew he had - saying the boy's adoption should be voided because the mom kept...

LOUIMA WEIGHING $7M DEAL

Police-torture victim Abner Louima's lawyers are reportedly urging him to accept a $7.1 million offer to settle a massive civil lawsuit. Talks in the case heated up late last week...

BUYER TO BURN DIVA'S PANTIES

A fired-up former Greek singer bought all of Maria Callas' panties at an auction last night and vowed to burn them "to save the dignity and honor" of the opera...

PAL NABBED, BUT MAY NOT BE SUSPECT

Two-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Chris Antley - whose career was plagued by drug and weight problems - was killed by a severe blow to his head, authorities said yesterday. Pasadena...

AL BOOSTED BY BUSH BALLOT EXPERT ; CITES RECOUNT NEED AS JUDGE IS SET TO RULE

TALLAHASSEE - A Florida judge will rule today on Al Gore's lawsuit to overturn George W. Bush's win in Florida - after the veep's team got a surprise boost from...

THOUGHT FOR FOOD AT HOLIDAYS

The Savvy Shopper offers consumer advice throughout the holiday season.THE holiday season is an overwhelming time of year. There are so many things to buy, cards to send, parties to...

COURT PLAN WILL USE 'NET TO SPEED UP ABUSE CASES

The Internet might have saved Ramona Martinez's life. Now, police and prosecutors plan to use it in hopes of saving the lives of other domestic-violence victims. A judge never saw...

PENN STA. TUNNELS DISASTERS-IN-WAITING ; AUSTRIA-LIKE FIRE COULD BE 'CATASTROPHIC'

A half-million people traveling to and from Penn Station daily ride through century-old railroad tunnels that are catastrophes waiting to happen, The Post has learned. A federal inspector general, a...

DEVILS' DEFENSE TOUGH TO CRACK

One lonely goal in 130 minutes the Devils can blame on a rejuvenated John Vanbiesbrouck. No third goals-against in eight games they can credit to themselves, resulting in the longest...

PENTATONIC ROLLS IN MONTAUK

Pentatonic was able to come off a slow pace to take the lead in midstretch to win the 21st running of the $81,225 Montauk Handicap for New York-breed fillies and...

KNIGHTS LAY IT ON LINE TO CAPTURE PSAL TITLE

PSAL Championship Kennedy 21 Wagner 14 In every game Kennedy played this season, its offensive line owned the line of scrimmage. So when faced with a fourth-and-goal from the one-yard...

TELL US WHAT HAPPENED! CBS AND FOX DROP BALL

WHO? What? Where? When? Why? All good questions that can no longer be answered by watching NFL telecasts. Yesterday, all hell broke loose at the end of both 1 p.m....

STOP THE RECOUNT! FELIX IS KING

LAS VEGAS - Tell the Supreme Court of boxing they can stop counting the ballots now. The results are clear. Felix Trinidad is the best fighter in boxing, pound-for-pound, round-for-round,...

NO BUTTS ABOUT THIS ONE

JET NOTES-It's safe to say Curtis Martin's butt is feeling a lot better. -Martin's production in the first half of yesterday's 27-17 win over the Colts was more than what...

AS INJURIES MOUNT, NETS BECOME PAINFUL TO WATCH

The point guard is hobbled by a sore ankle but vowing to play. The shooting guard is stuck in one of the worst shooting slumps of his career while playing...

TIME'S ARE ROUGH FOR RANGERS: THERE IS NO REST FOR THESE WEARY RANGERS IN SIGHT

Maybe it was just as well that the Rangers had no time to sit for too long on the horrific 8-2 pounding they invited on themselves Saturday night in Toronto....

FOX'S BLITZKRIEG TACTICS STUFF SKINS

LANDOVER - When defensive coordinator John Fox called for a blitz on two of his unit's first three plays of the game yesterday at FedEx Field, it sent a message...

FISH LEAVE BILLS IN THE COLD

Dolphins 33 Bills 6 ORCHARD PARK - Zach Thomas looked around a visiting locker room where painful experience has taught him that the heat will always bring back the feeling...

SUDDENLY, NFC EAST IS BIG BLUE HEAVEN ; MISS BY MURRAY PUTS JINTS IN FIRST

Giants 9 Redskins 7 LANDOVER - With the sounds of victory and first place filling the room, Kerry Collins figured the time was right for his final handoff. Moments earlier,...

EAGLES CAN'T REID CLOCK

Titans 15 Eagles 13 PHILADELPHIA - Luck finally ran out on the Eagles yesterday because they refused to let the clock run down. That terrible clock management by head coach...

FASSEL FINDS REPLAY DANDY

LANDOVER - The NFL's use of instant replay to review controversial calls hasn't always been kind to Jim Fassel. The first seven times he had a play reviewed, the outcome...

JINT DEFENSE PLAYS SANTA FOR SLUGGISH 'O'

LANDOVER - As he considered the mindset he wanted out of his team, Jim Fassel in the moments following the Giants pulsating 9-7 victory over the Redskins said "We weren't...

TRAIN DEATH SHAKES JINTS

GIANT NOTES LANDOVER - Few road trips started the way the Giants embarked on their Amtrak charter here on Saturday afternoon. Along the way, the Giants' train struck and killed...

BEEZER EVENS OUT DEVS

OVERTIME Islanders 1 Devils 1 A 37-year-old goaltender with a stiff back on a last place team having to face the league's hottest club is not exactly a combination for...

IT'S LOSING AS USUAL FOR NETS

The point guard is hobbled by a sore ankle but vowing to play. The shooting guard is stuck in one of the worst shooting slumps of his career while playing...

BAFFLED COLTS CAN'T EXPLAIN STRETCH FADE

In the spirit of the season, Al Groh played the part of Scrooge to perfection yesterday, handing the Colts an early holiday gift in the form of a giant lump...

JETS 'D' TAKES AWAY INDY'S EDGE

The Colts live and die on the Edge. Yesterday, they died by it. Edgerrin James, the Colts' super back and the leading runner in the NFL with 1,358 yards, was...

JETS RIDE MARTIN PAST PESKY COLTS: CURTIS' 203 YARDS KEEP HEAT ON FISH

Jets 27 Colts 17 Sometimes in life, the stars simply align themselves and all is good. Yesterday's strong-willed and crisply-executed 27-17 win over the Colts at Giants Stadium provided three...

FERGUSON, 'DOLLAR' GO LONG WAY

How could the Colts have expected Nick Ferguson to make game-changing defensive plays in their 27-17 loss to the Jets yesterday at Giants Stadium? After all, Ferguson has been with...

HAYES CATCHES ON QUICK

Windrell Hayes was holding his breath for that first NFL catch. When it didn't come last week in his first start, he didn't fret. Instead, he came out in yesterday's...

RANGERS AMBUSHED BY REFS ; BAD CALLS BOOST AVALANCHE

Avalanche 6 Rangers 3 What happened to the Rangers last night is not at all uncommon. Picking themselves up out of the gutter into which they they had fallen while...

ROCKIES GET DENNY, BID $120M FOR MIKE

The Mets are in an 0-2 hole with Sandy Koufax on the mound when it comes to signing free-agent pitchers. First, they were willing to pay Mike Mussina $90 million...

RED STORM'S COOLER HEADS PREVAIL OVER MICHIGAN

St. John's 97 Michigan 83 WASHINGTON, D.C. -One day after loosing his cool and striking an opposing player in the groin, St. John's senior forward Reggie Jessie responded with a...