Business

Regarding the story, "Neighborhood face-lift gives Hollywood pause," (May 6):

A roundup of online appeals shows that you'd better be on your guard. Here's what happened when Times reporter David Colker hit 'Reply.'

There's been no shortage of opinion about what went wrong with Microsoft's "failed" $47.5-billion takeover of Yahoo (I'm hedging because a lot of people still think the deal could go through, once cooler heads prevail).

Consumers who don't pay careful attention to terms on deferred-payment plans can end up owing more than they'd bargained for.

Jim Steyer educates families and companies about appropriate content for kids.

Dear Liz: I was working as an attorney in the fall of 2002 when I was diagnosed with HIV. After the initial shock wore off, I quit my job and went on a wild spending spree. I traveled, bought cars, gave expensive gifts to family members and secured a grave plot, among other purchases. I sold my house and most of my other possessions. When that money ran out, I got started on my credit cards. Now, almost six years later, I am still completely healthy, still unemployed and have $75,000 in credit card debt. I was miserable as an attorney and would prefer not to go back to that type of work. However, with the credit card debt and the $100,000 in student loans I still owe, I feel trapped because I will have to earn a high salary to pay my way out of this mess. Would Chapter 7 be a good option for me if I want to be able to take a lower-paying but potentially more personally rewarding job and still make ends meet?

Two contenders -- Cablevision Systems and media owner Mortimer Zuckerman -- remain for Tribune Co.'s Long Island newspaper after News Corp. withdraws its $580-million offer.

In need of help

Who:Alicia Cardenas, 45

Starting a dialogue

Who: Jim Steyer

You know it's an online scam when . . .

* You've won a lottery you didn't enter.