June 2, 2002

THIS ASIAN FUND IS NO PAPER TIGER

THE whole time U.S. stocks have been doing nothing, Asian markets have been shooting higher. While the Dow is basically flat for the year, Japan's Nikkei index has a double-digit...

DYLAN'S CANDY BAR A SUGAR BLAST

The back office of Dylan's Candy Bar is a lot like the candy-laden store. Everywhere you look in the shared office of co-owners Jeff Rubin and Dylan Lauren, there is...

BULL'S EYE

Stock's missing? Blame CanadaThe wraps came off a shiny new discount brokerage/investment center on Sixth Avenue the other day and at first glance, it looked like every other brokerage in...

DO GOOD AND DO WELL SOCIALLY AWARE INVESTING PAYS

Get over it. Socially responsible investing has exploded in popularity during the last few years - especially since the Exxon Valdez oil tanker disaster - but the investing style still...

NO COLD FEET : FOX PUTS 'TEMPTATION ISLAND' ON ICE

"Looking For Love: Bachelorettes in Alaska" Tonight at 9 on Ch. 5 IF you loved "Temptation Island" you'll absolutely go berserk for "Looking For Love: Bachelorettes in Alaska," premiering tonight...

ROLLERS ROCK ON : GOOD SKATES STICK WITH FOUR-WHEEL GLIDE

Mention the term roller skating and visions of big hair, lip gloss and shiney spandex might come to mind. But a few hundred die-hard skaters in the city live in...

NICE & NASTY

"The Shield" Season finale Tuesday at 10 p.m.on FX THE only other show on TV that comes closest to "The Shield" is "Oz" on HBO, and "Oz" isn't even a...

WHAT I WATCH

JERRY O'CONNELL ACTOR, "TOMCATS," I CAN'T SEEM TO GET ENOUGH OF "BLIND DATE." ANY TYPE OF INSECURITIES I HAVE ABOUT BEING SINGLE AND ON THE DATING SCENE ARE IMMEDIATELY GONE...

STYLE & SUBSTANCE: LAUREN AMBROSE

IT'S safe to say that Lauren Ambrose shocked a few fans when she burst into song and tore off her bathrobe to reveal a sequined Bob Mackie gown in a...

BASKETBALL OUTLET A HIT WITH KIDS, CLUB OWNERS

It may not have had the high-stakes drama of the Nets versus the Celtics, but a recent Restaurant League championship game between the Shark Bar and the Room did not...

INSECTS AND THE CITY

The problem with scientists these days is that they don't see enough movies like "Spider-Man," which makes it clear that an innocent little scientific mishap results in a safer, happier...

UP TO SPEED ON DATING OUR 'HUNKY HEROES'

When a girl has been dumped, who better to cheer her up than New York's Finest and Bravest?I felt dejected over Alex for precisely 45 minutes - until I got...

'IDEAL COUPLE' CALL IT QUITS

The news hasn't received much notice in the West, but the divorce of Maggie Cheung and Olivier Assayas is a hot topic among cineastes. Cheung, 37, and Assayas, 47, seemed...

HOW I'D ADD SOME PIZZAZZ TO TONYS

The Tony Awards really are not that interesting. If they were, people would pay them more attention - even to the extent of remembering who had won. The Oscars they...

A BREED APART: A TRIBUTE TO THE CORGI, HER MAJESTY'S PREFERRED PET

This weekend marks the 50th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation. As the monarch and her subjects celebrate this Golden Jubilee, it's a fitting occasion to pay tribute to Her...

PSYCHED FOR SUMMER! NOT REVVED UP YET FOR SUN AND FUN? FOLLOW THESE HANDY TIPS

Having trouble getting in the mood for summer? The unofficial kickoff has come and gone, but the yo-yo weather over Memorial Day weekend didn't exactly put us in a sun-and-fun...

BRIGHT LIGHTS : 10 GREATEST MOMENTS OF THE THEATER SEASON

It wasn't the best of times - but it wasn't the worst, either. Surely this theater season has nothing on the last one, when "The Full Monty" opened to raves,...

THE PRIX-FIXE IS IN, SO BOOK LUNCH NOW

Fans of Summer Restaurant Week, flex your dialing digits. The 10th anniversary of the local lunch deal is still three weeks off, but to nab choice seats, the time to...

FOUL 'PLAY' FOR MADONNA

Last week I went to London to see the Queen - Madonna. The Needs-Some-Better-Material-Girl is starring in a play there called "Up for Grabs" - which probably describes her ego...

PICTURES OF A FAMILY TRAGEDY: INSIDE SKAKEL'S TORTURED WORLD

TRAGEDY, like infinity itself, sometimes never seems to end. Tomorrow, Michael Skakel faces a jury in the heart-wrenching 27-year-old murder mystery of 15-year-old Martha Moxley. "Of course I'm anxious as...

WEIRD BUT TRUE

A Texas burglar who went on the lam in 1987 is behind bars after he ran into his prosecutor in a Corpus Christi restaurant. Thinking the case was over, Louis...

VIVA REVITA-LIZA : SHE'S BACK WITH SASS - AND CLASS

IN show business, as in a shipwreck, the key to survival is simply hanging in there. And the adorable Liza Minnelli has really hung in there. Like Elaine Stritch, she's...

PAKISTAN'S BID TO EASE FEARS OF NUKE CLASH

Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf said yesterday a nuclear war between his country and neighboring India was all but unthinkable because it would be "irresponsible to go to that limit."...

COPS MAKE DERRIERE-ING ARREST

A Queens career criminal carrying a powerful handgun was shot in the buttocks by cops after a wild chase, police said yesterday. The shooting occurred shortly before midnight Friday after...

COPS RAISE BURGLAR ALARM IN S.I.

Angelo Powell, who was freed on parole last November after serving 11 years for burglary, is being sought anew - this time for a string of 21 Staten Island apartment...

OIL CAN NEW CLUE IN BLAKE MURDER

LOS ANGELES - Cops have recovered an empty can of motor oil that may have been used by the killer of Robert Blake's wife to help obscure incriminating fingerprints, according...

MULES TOTE 'WEARABLE' HEROIN

International smugglers are hiring local teens as drug mules, luring them with big bucks and tales of an unusual new method of concealing heroin, customs officials say. The couriers, typically...

VEGAS HAS N.J. 5/1 'DOGS

Despite their thrilling six-game series win over the Boston Celtics, the Nets will be the underdog in the NBA Finals no matter who they meet, according to Las Vegas bookmakers....

W. TO CADETS: BE READY TO FIGHT

President Bush issued a call to arms for the nation's newest soldiers yesterday, saying America must strike first to banish the "the dark threat" of terror from the world. "If...

MAN KILLS WIFE IN FRONT OF SON, 3

Police said a Brooklyn man who feuded constantly with his common-law wife fatally shot her yesterday before the terrified eyes of their 3-year-old son, who lay on his mother's stomach...

N.Y. FANS CAUGHT IN JERSEY'S NET ; KNICK ROOTERS JUMP ON THE TRANS-HUDSON BANDWAGON FOR NOW

For Knick fans, the only thing worse than having your team stink is having to root for the Nets. But now that their cross-river rivals are set to play for...

POLITICIANS OPTING OUT OF VIGIL BY WTC KIN

A solemn citizens' ceremony - without dignitaries - will be observed at Ground Zero today to bring to a close the recovery efforts at the World Trade Center site. Gov....

KIN CLAIMS OVERWHELM BOARD

More than 6,000 claims connected to the World Trade Center attacks have been filed to date with the New York State Worker's Compensation Board, officials say. The board oversees payments...

AFFLECK POISED TO CLOBBER 'CLONES'

George Lucas and his clones have "Sum"-thing to fear this weekend. The spy flick "The Sum of All Fears," which hit theaters Friday, is poised to topple "Star Wars -...

WTC VICTIM LED A SECRET LIFE - WORKER LEFT BEHIND 2 'WIDOWS,' 5 KIDS

For all anyone knew, Alexis Leduc was a simple, hard-working maintenance chief, a devoted husband and dad. It took his death in the World Trade Center to reveal his far...

MORE W. BANK RAIDS

JERUSALEM - Israeli forces continued their West Bank raid yesterday, staging wide-ranging sweeps of Palestinian militants, making dozens of arrests and killing one Palestinian man. In Nablus, the scene of...

WEST POINT GRADUATION A BAND OF BROTHERS

WEST POINT - The U.S. Military Academy hasn't seen the last of the Nahm brothers. Blair Nahm, 21, graduated yesterday with a degree in civil engineering. Two years ago, his...

HOW THEY WENT FROM SWAMP THINGS TO KINGS OF COURT

From rags to riches, from zeroes to heroes, and now from laughingstocks to conference champions. The New Jersey Nets have done it. After 26 years as the National Basketball Association's...

ARABIC TAPES ALL GREEK TO UNREADY FBI

The FBI's shortage of Arabic translators has left thousands of hours of new undercover intelligence tapes collecting dust, The Post has learned. Since Sept. 11, FBI cooperators have taped hundreds...

IDLE HOURS NOW HARDER TO BEAR

EACH morning for nine months, Peggy Butler sent her husband, Bill, off to work with clear instructions: "Bring him home today," she said. "Tell him I'm mad at him. Tell...

BUILDING OWNERS PLAN FOR TERROR

City landlords will be urged to issue residential identification cards and expand camera surveillance in their buildings when anti-terror experts host a security summit at Police Headquarters tomorrow. The measures...

$WIPE JOB: BANKS CHARGE FEES ON DEBIT-CARD BUYS

Debit-card users are getting caught in a financial tug of war that has them paying through their PIN numbers. Already burdened by ATM fees imposed for withdrawing their own money,...

WANTED: LOUIMA JURORS

Who hasn't heard of Abner Louima? That's the question lawyers and a federal judge are wrestling with as they try to find a fair jury for the third trial in...

POLS' ODD BILLS IN LA-LAW LAND

Imagine a New York where all new car alarms are banned, every parade has to start with an American flag and drivers who motor around with snow on their vehicles...

VICTORIA GOTTI

AT a sponsor's event in Toronto last week, Tiger Woods told the gathering he was just a "regular guy" who does a lot more simple things than many people realize....

$TRUGGLING TO HIRE INTELLIGENCE

One of the FBI's greatest challenges to reinvent itself will be to hire highly skilled staff away from more lucrative jobs in the private sector, insiders say. FBI Director Robert...

WOODY'S A REEL SUCKER: EX-PAL

Woody Allen was duped - by someone. Allen says it was Jean Doumanian, the former best friend and producer he trusted implicitly - and who he now charges cheated him...

CONDIT PLOTS REVENGE ON EX-PAL

WASHINGTON -Dumped Democrat Gary Condit is quietly seeking revenge against the former protégé who cost him any chance of retaining his congressional seat. In an astonishing break with political tradition,...

CORPSE FOUND IN BLAZING CAR

Police are investigating the murder of an unidentified man who was found slain in The Bronx in the back seat of a burning car. The victim was discovered shortly after...

SPORTS TO KEEP GUYS GLUED TO THE TUBE

Ladies, if your man is a couch potato and Big Apple sports fan, it's probably a wise idea to make other plans next weekend. And you'd better make sure there's...

PATAKI'S PARTY VICTORY FENDS OFF GOLISANO BALLOT BID - FOR NOW

While gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo yesterday got the expected backing of the Liberal Party, Gov. Pataki at least temporarily beat back a fight for the Conservative Party line from millionaire...

20G FOR DRUG MULES

International smugglers are hiring local teenagers as drug mules, luring them with big bucks and tales of an unusual new method of concealing heroin, U.S. Customs officials say. The couriers,...

CONDIT PLOTS REVENGE ON EX-PAL POL

WASHINGTON - Dumped Democrat Gary Condit is quietly seeking revenge against the former protégé who cost him any chance of retaining his congressional seat. In an astonishing break with political...

GEHRIG'S SPEECH ECHOES AGAIN

In a touching tribute to raise awareness for Lou Gehrig's disease, "Sopranos" star James Gandolfini recited the baseball legend's historic retirement speech at Yankee Stadium yesterday. After being introduced by...

BLUESHIRTS ARE HEADING BACK TO MARKET

THE Rangers didn't exactly hit a home run on the amateur free-agent market last year with the signings of Barrett Heisten, Layne Ulmer and Matt Kinch, but that's not stopping...

ARROGANT ROY LEFT WITH EMPTY FEELING : GOALIE'S RARE GAFFE BURIED AVALANCHE

HE thrust his glove up to show the Red Wings and to show the world that he had done it again, only this time the glove was empty and thus,...

IT'S TIME FOR TEE ON L.I.

Wait! Don't hang up that phone. It's still possible to book tee times on Long Island this June, even though the place will be swarming with golfers. With the U.S....

YAO-CH! CHINESE GOV'T MAY STING MING

AS tempted as the Rockets might be by the many bids for their prime real estate in the June 26 draft that VP Carroll Dawson already is being besieged with,...

KITTLES SAYS LONG ROAD BACK WELL WORTH IT

One year ago, Kerry Kittles was preparing to compete in summer- league competition, going against guys who showed all the promise and potential to wow them in Finland, Zanzibar or...

THANK ROD FOR THIS MIRACLE

SOME of the best and brightest persons in basketball couldn't turn on the lights at the Meadowlands. Really, it wasn't as if the Nets, with a .397 winning percentage, 10...

SWAMP CINDERELLAS NOT DONE DANCIN'

The world looks at the NBA Finals, realizes the Nets are in and sees living, breathing - and unlike so many past seasons - walking proof that anything is possible....

LUCIOUS' CHOICE IS CLEAR: BRING ON THE LAKERS

Most Nets were diplomatic and expressed no desire either way for the Kings or Lakers. But Lucious Harris has a definite choice. He wants Los Angeles. But not necessarily the...

GOOD WORKOUT FOR 'MEDAGLIA'

Medaglia d'Oro, runner-up in Aqueduct Grade 1 Wood Memorial, breezed five furlongs at Belmont yesterday in 1:00 2/5. The Bobby Frankel trainee went the quarter-mile in :24 4/5, the half...

NO ANSWERS FROM ESPN FIRING SQUAD

FOR ESPN to have last week fired "NBA 2Night" host Jason Jackson "for violations of company policy" in the midst of the NBA playoffs, Jackson must have been accused and/or...

EVERYONE'S HOMER HAPPY... FOR NOW

THE good news is the Yankees are nearly on pace to break the all-time homer record. Is that also the bad news? Chicks dig the long ball and so do...

YANKS GO BOOM ON BOSTON : ENRIQUE SLAM, 4 HRS SPARK BOMBER BASH

Derek Jeter set the tone early and an unlikely hero made sure the Red Sox got the message loud and clear. Shortly after James Gandolfini re-enacted Lou Gehrig's emotional farewell...

DON: N.J. CAN KO KINGS, BUT L.A. . . .

If Don Chaney were in Byron Scott's shoes, he'd be pulling hard for Sacramento tonight in Game 7. The Knick coach told The Post the Nets have a legitimate shot...

MOOSE MAKES THE RIGHT CALL

Mike Mussina beat the Red Sox as much with his smarts as with his stuff yesterday, keeping his cool whether there was a hitter at the plate or a play...

SIGEL, BLAND SHARE NFL LEAD

Just days ago, Jay Sigel wondered if he'd ever win again on the Senior Tour. Last week, at the Farmers Charity Classic in Michigan he answered that pressing question with...

DEREK KEEPS HIS COOL AFTER RED-HOT DRILLING

With his eyes closed, Derek Jeter braced for a pitch he couldn't see but knew was headed for his body. And when Rich Garces' sixth-inning delivery drilled Jeter in the...

THERE'S NO RELIEF IN BOSTON

At the end of the sixth inning yesterday, Red Sox reliever Rich Garces made the Sign of the Cross as he walked from the mound to the dugout. It was...

LIONS ROAR BY ADAMS TO REACH TITLE GAME : MONROE SQUEEZES OUT WIN IN OTHER SEMIS

PSAL SEMIFINALS Lehman8 Adams6 Monroe4 Port Rich.3 Argelis Rosario is slight of stature and only throws in the 70s, so he isn't the best prospect around. "Scouts aren't drooling over...

MCARDLE WINS N.J. CLASSIC

Mcardle, who had been getting no respect after two straight losses, earned some back last night winning the $500,000 New Jersey Classic at the Meadowlands. Driver Cat Manzi, who will...

THUMB KINDA LOSS

MIAMI - Mike Piazza was ticked, he was ejected and the last thing he wanted was an umpire physically restraining him. "Get the [bleep] off me. Don't push me," Piazza...

VALENTINE GOES TO BAT FOR EMBATTLED ENGLE

MIAMI - If there were any doubts Bobby Valentine supports his hitting coach, the Met manager put an end to them before last night's 9-7 loss to the Marlins. In...

FLY FISHING'S A REEL RUSH IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING

SALTWATER fly fishing is the fastest-growing segment of fishing in the country, especially here in the northeast where striped bass and fly fishing seem to belong together. I've done a...

VENTURI'S LAST DAY AS THE VOICE OF GOLF

When Joe DiMaggio retired in 1951, Ken Venturi didn't understand the logic. After all, the Yankee Clipper was still at the top of his game. So when the two friends...

STRICK FEELS SICK ABOUT BAD OUTING

MET NOTES MIAMI - Scott Strickland didn't pull any punches after his worst outing of the season. "Every pitcher on that field tonight is now worse for watching me pitch,"...

REY GETS ON STICK: LIGHT-HITTING SS A SLUGGER FOR ONE NIGHT

MIAMI - Rey Ordonez came to spring training with the body of a middleweight champion, but he's hit like a palooka in the regular season. After a promising April, Ordonez...

PHILLIPS EXPECTS POWER SURGE

Steve Phillips likens Edgardo Alfonzo to Mo Vaughn. Alfonzo did not miss a whole season in 2001 as Vaughn did. But the Mets GM feels his third baseman's bad back...

THE INSIDERS: THE POST TAKES YOU BEHIND THE LOCKER-ROOM DOORS

Scouting talent for the NBA draft requires a great deal more legwork these days, with prospects coming from high school, Europe, South America, and even prison. The stock of 19-year-old...

A WORTHY SUCCESSOR TO THE THRONE: WAR EMBLEM HAS THE GOODS TO END TRIPLE CROWN JINX

Start the countdown to the Triple Crown. After a quarter-century of broken promises and dashed hopes, this Saturday at Belmont Park before a Big Apple bash of 80,000 expectant witnesses...

THE 'MAGNIFICENT SEVEN' WHOSE BEST JUST WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH

Secretariat. Seattle Slew. Affirmed. Come Saturday, War Emblem will try to race his way into the winner's circle of racing's immortals. A Belmont win would finish what he started in...

OLD MAN VS. ONE-HIT WONDER EVANDER AND HASIM FIGHT THE STEREOTYPES

ATLANTIC CITY - What did Evander Holyfield have left? What did Hasim Rahman have new? Will either get another shot at the heavyweight championship of the world? Does either deserve...

METS SHOULD ROCK WITH ROLEN

Scott Rolen and Bobby Valentine already have something important in common. Both despise Dallas Green. You don't build a mega-trade around this reality. But you have to start somewhere and,...