Oprah suffers Twitter backlash for comments about protesters

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

In a recent interview, Winfrey explained what she would like to see emerge from the recent spate of protests against police killings, but what her comment sparked instead was a swift social media backlash.

Winfrey said she thought it was "wonderful" to see so many demonstrators take to the streets after recent grand jury decisions in Ferguson, Missouri and New York City to clear police officers involved in the deaths of unarmed black men.

But the billionaire media mogul also qualified her praise.

"What I'm looking for is some kind of leadership to come out of this to say, 'This is what we want. This is what has to change, and these are the steps that we need to take to make these changes, and this is what we're willing to do to get it,'" Winfrey told People magazine.

The comment sparked considerable push-back on Twitter after People published the interview online on Thursday evening. For much of Friday, Winfrey, who boasts more than 26 million followers on the social media site, was inundated with messages from individuals who took umbrage to her characterization of the movement.

"So MY question, @oprah, is are YOU the leader that many thought you were and that you purported yourself to be?!" asked Charles Wade, an activist who's been involved in the Ferguson protests.

He asserted that "this is about ticket sales," since Winfrey was being interviewed about "Selma," a new movie about the 1960s civil rights movement that she produced and appeared in.

DeRay Mckesson, another Ferguson activist, told Winfrey to "ask before you assume."

"I thought you taught us that -- the radical power of the question," Mckesson said. "Stand with us. There are many 'leading.'"

Jamilah Lemieux, a senior editor at Ebony.com, offered to introduce Winfrey to leaders involved in the protests aimed at countering police brutality and other excesses by law enforcement.

Shaun King, who blogs at the Daily Kos, said that Winfrey's wish was superfluous.

"Everything she says should happen already has," King said.

"Selma" has been met with widespread critical acclaim, and many commentators have noted that its story may resonate with moviegoers today.

David Oyelowo, who portrays Martin Luther King, Jr. in the movie, told Variety in November that the movie "feels very timely and very necessary."

And Winfrey told People that the movie contains a valuable lesson.

"I think what can be gleaned from our film is to take note of the strategic, peaceful intention required when you want real change," Winfrey said.

She did not reply to any of the protesters' comments on Twitter on Friday.

First Published: January 2, 2015: 7:46 PM ET

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A year in super-cool cars

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

The Huayra, a gorgeous and ultra-rare Italian supercar, was one of two huge highlights in a year that was filled with cars that would have been tough to top in any ordinary year.

The other highpoint took me back in time, to shortly before the actual day I was born. The jet-powered 1963 Chrysler Turbine Car was unveiled at New York World's Fair. Of the 55 that were originally built, only three remain running. Getting to drive this car, even at parking lot speeds, was incredible.

The Turbine Car was, in its day, forward thinking technology that would, despite decades of research and development, ultimately yield absolutely zero in terms of a car customers could buy.

Many of the cars I drove in 2014 are very rare and very expensive. And they, too, show the way to the future.

Chrysler Turbine Car

The $845,000 Porsche 918 Spyder plug-in hybrid, for instance, might be more than you or I can afford but its technology is already making its way into more affordable models, relatively speaking, like the Porsche Panamera plug-in.

Porsche 918

And the beautiful BMW i8 plug-in hybrid, with its three-cylinder engine, is a relative bargain at $136,000. Plus, it's seriously a blast to drive, as a BMW should be.

BMW i8

For those with an eye for the classics, but still wanting to jump on the electric car wave, let me tell you about the Zelectric Bug. A small shop near San Diego takes the noisy gasoline engines out of classic Volkswagen Beetles and replaces them with electric motors. In the process, they hugely improve the little car's performance.

Zelectric Bug

Toyota let me take a spin in its Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell car. It'll be available for sale or lease soon in a handful of states.

Toyota Mirai

Not everyone is looking to save on gas, of course. The economy's improving and gas prices are low so Ferrari is doing quite well selling cars like the Ferrari 458 Speciale, a performance monster that ranks as of the most fun cars I drove last year.

Lamborghini Especiale

Lamborghini, meanwhile, is hitting sales records thanks, in large part, to the new Lamborghini Huracán. I called it the best Lamborghini I'd ever driven and apparently a lot of people agree.

Lamborghini Huracan

Britain's Aston Martin, meanwhile, is still creating new versions of its cars. Last year I drove two versions of the Aston Martin Vantage. First there was the top-dollar V12 Vantage S, Aston Martin's high-powered answer to the muscle car craze. Then there was the bargain-priced -- well, relatively speaking -- Aston Martin GT with a V8 engine, a manual transmission and a price tag starting ever so slightly under $100,000. I ended up thinking that the original Aston Martin V8 Vantage still had the best balance of beauty, luxury and performance.

Aston Martin Vantage GT

From McLaren, another British carmaker that's maybe less familiar than Aston Martin, came the replacement for what had been one of my favorite sports cars. The McLacen 650S is, essentially, a significantly updated version of the McLaren 12C. The 650S felt quicker, more natural and even more pleasant to drive at any speed.

McLaren 650S

I also spent some in time in a couple of Bentley's newest models, both featuring the luxury brand's new turbocharged V8. The Bentley Continental V8 S offered only slightly better performance than the non-turbo V8 but, in the Flying Spur sedan -- which is otherwise only available with a V12 -- it made the car feel more spirited, nimble and surprisingly fun.

Bentley Continental V8 S

Jaguar brought itself back to the sports car world with the F-type. I used to think this car, with its $65,000 base price, was just too expensive. That was before I actually drove it. Between the V6 and V8 versions, I liked the V8 better. Loads of power and, otherwise, just crazy fun to drive. Plus, whatever's under the hood, it is flat out gorgeous.

Jaguar F-type

For the more practical-minded, may I show you something in a station wagon? Check out the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG with its 577 horsepower turbocharged V8. I thought it was the perfect mix of outrageousness and cargo space.

Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG

For the less practical minded, there was also the Alfa Romeo 4C. I couldn't really decide whether I loved it or hated it. On smooth curvy roads it was magnificent. With no power steering, hard suspension and a noisy four-cylinder engine, it felt wonderfully connected and "real." But, let's face it... All those things are also a recipe for a really killer headache when you're not out on a perfect country road.

Alfa Romeo 4C

For those on really tight budgets, Elio Motors is promising a price of just $6,800 for a three-wheeled two-seater that, they say, will get 84 miles per gallon. Like the Alfa Rome 4C, the Elio prototype I drove was noisy and had a brutal ride. But this was just a prototype. Elio promises the production car will be considerably more pleasant.

Elio

We'll see when they actually start building it, something that's supposed to happen later this year.

First Published: January 2, 2015: 5:20 PM ET

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'Downton Abbey's' 5 great money lessons

Downton Abbey Season 5 premieres January 4 on PBS.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

As the Dowager Countess quips, "If I were to search for logic, I would not look for it among the English upper class."

But behind the dinner parties and grand gowns, the Crawley family is often one step away from financial ruin. There's a lot to learn from their troubles.

In honor of the Season 5 premiere in the U.S. on Sunday, here are the top financial takeaways:

1. Don't put all your money in 1 stock: Downton's patriarch, the Earl of Grantham, needs a little Investing 101. He loses the entire family fortune at the start of Season 3 by betting on a Canadian railroad company that goes belly up.

"It wasn't just me. Everyone said we couldn't lose," he protests.

His wife, Cora, sums it up best: "Why were you so heavily invested in one enterprise. Wasn't it foolish?

Yes, it was. Learn from the earl and make sure your portfolio is diversified.

Related: How to invest like a billionaire

2. Ask for a raise: The most interesting drama often takes place "downstairs" in Downton's servants quarters. Several characters aren't content to spend their lives as maids and footmen.

Take Daisy, who begins the series as a kitchen maid, but stages a protest for better pay and conditions.

Daisy goes from kitchen maid to assistant cook at Downton Abbey.

"You've still kept me here with a dishonest representation," Daisy complains when she goes on strike.

"Oh dear. Have you swallowed a dictionary?" replies head cook Mrs. Patmore.

It's a comical exchange, but Daisy does end up with a raise and a promotion to assistant cook. Look for even more assertiveness from her in Season 5.

Then there's Alfred, who manages to go from being a second footman at Downton to a prestigious chef training course in London. He ultimately lands at The Ritz.

Sheryl Sandberg would be proud: Even at Downton, people aren't just "leaning in" to serve at the dinner table.

Related: Three reasons you'll likely to get a raise in 2015

3. Make a will ... and revisit it! The whole "Downton Abbey" series kicks off in a crisis to find a new heir. The man who was to inherit the vast estate -- and marry Lady Mary -- dies on the Titanic in 1912.

It's a good reminder to get your will in order.

None of the earl's three daughters is legally allowed to take over the fortune. That's how Matthew Crawley -- a distant and solidly middle class relative -- gets lucky.

Sadly, Matthew dies at the end of Season 3, but not before he weds Lady Mary and finds a way to lawfully make her his sole heir.

Related: Shakespeare's 5 best investing tips

4. Know the basics of supply & demand: Thomas Barrow is the most devious of Downton's residents. A servant known for causing trouble, he injures his hand on purpose to get out of World War I. But he could use a basic economics lesson.

After returning from the war, he tries to make it as a black market salesman. Getting quality goods is hard during the war, especially of the kind Downton is accustomed to for meals.

Thomas meets a man at a bar who sells him a bunch of supposedly high-end food, but it turns out the stuff is rotten or watered down. Downton won't buy it, and Thomas has blown his savings.

If the price is too good to be true, it probably is, especially for items in high demand.

5. Be an active shareholder: Activism in the Downton era looks a little different than how hedge fund moguls Carl Icahn and Bill Ackman do it today.

But the principle is the same: No one will be as protective of your money as you are. Stay informed and involved in the businesses you invest in.

Lady Mary is quite the love interest at Downton, but she's also becoming more of a business woman.

When Matthew uses his inheritance from Mr. Swire to save Downton, he insists on getting a say in how things are run. After all, Lord Grantham squandered the family money before. Matthew even appoints his brother-in-law Tom as the new estate manager.

After Matthew tragically passes away, his widow Lady Mary steps in. The grand lady can even be seen mucking about in a pig stall in Season 4 to save the animals -- and the family's investment.

"We must rise to life's challenges," Lady Mary says.

Bonus tip: Beware the gold diggers. A constant theme in "Downton Abbey" is whether to marry for love or money.

"Everyone goes down the aisle with half the story hidden," the Dowager Countess says.

The biggest gold digger of all is Lord Grantham, who admits he only married the American Cora for her money. Fortunately for him, he falls in love after the wedding.

In contrast, Lady Sybil marries the family chauffeur and makes a bold choice to leave the world of Downton behind.

But it's the rich widows who have to be most on guard.

Lady Rosamund Painswick, daughter of the Dowager Countess, has to fend off the men who want her for her money. And Cora's mother, the feisty Mrs. Levinson from America, is pursued by an impoverished British lord.

"I have no wish to be a great lady," Mrs. Levinson says at the end of Season 4. "My world is coming nearer and yours is slipping further and further away."

First Published: January 3, 2015: 8:02 AM ET

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What to do with your leftover Champagne

Add some Champagne to that bubble bath to glow like Marilyn Monroe.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

If the New Year's Eve celebration got a little out of hand, and you have some opened bottles that lasted longer than your guests, fear not: There are still plenty of delicious ways to keep the party going.

Take a bath

Channel Marilyn Monroe, who was rumored to bathe in 350 bottles of bubbly, taking advantage of the grape's naturally-occurring antioxidants.

But if you don't have a few hundred bottles to spare, use a sip's worth for a natural toner. Michelle Phan, makeup artist and YouTube star, promises it will be "light, cool and refreshing."

She wrote on her website, "Champagne is a favorite toner of mine for its detoxifying properties and its ability to fight free radicals."

According to Phan, the acid also helps to even out skin tone. She suggests putting a small amount on a cotton pad and wiping it across the face.

Make shoes sparkle

Parisian shoemaker Olga Berluti has said she finishes a shoe shine with Champagne, and directs her well-heeled customers to do the same. It's said to cut the fat in the polish, allowing the natural color of the leather to really shine.

Though this may seem like an obnoxious practice of the 1%, there is some historical precedent.

It dates back to the 1800s and a guy named Beau Brummell, who led the tailored-suit trend and liked his shoes with a bit of shine.

According to a book by Carlo Maria Franzero, a young man once asked Brummell how he got his boots so buffed. He said he didn't use anything except the "froth of Champagne."

Brummell was also the kind of guy who wore three fresh shirts a day and had them washed in the country to get a fresh smell. For that, I say just spray some Febreze. It's 2015.

Get cooking

One of the best things about a big night out is brunch the day after. Flat sparkling wine can be added to scrambled eggs instead of milk for extra fluffiness, or you can use it like a white wine and add to sauces, salad dressings or desserts, according to David DiSalvo, a chef in New York City.

"It'll make your food so much better," he said. "There's nothing wrong with cooking with it."

Have a lot of opened bottles?

He suggested making a beurre blanc, which is basically a butter sauce. Just put chopped shallots in a saucepan and add in the Champagne. Reduce it down by about a third and add a little cream.

"Then add a little butter and whisk it until it becomes a creamy sauce that can go with anything," DiSalvo said. "It's beautiful with fish."

His other recommendation is a French gelée, which is just a fancy way of saying "Jell-O shot."

He shared his recipe below:

First Published: January 1, 2015: 6:22 AM ET

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95-year-old billionaire and 39-year-old Go Pro founder among top givers of 2014

Ralph Wilson, Jr., (left) Nicholas Woodman (middle) and Diane von Furstenberg gave away a lot of money this year.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Ralph Wilson, Jr., the billionaire owner of the Buffalo Bills football team, gave the largest individual donation of the year, according to a ranking from the Chronicle of Philanthropy.

A manufacturing magnate, Wilson passed away at the age of 95 in March and left $1 billion to his family foundation, which works to help homeless and poor families in Buffalo and Detroit.

Last year's top donation of $990 million came from Zuckerberg, the 30-year old founder of Facebook (FB, Tech30).

This year's second largest gift year came from Ted Stanley, an 83-year old Connecticut billionaire, who pledged $650 million to support research in mental health.

Stanley, who made his fortune selling sports memorabilia and other collectables, has a personal connection to the cause. He told The New York Times that his son, Jonathan, has a bipolar disorder and that medication saved his life.

While the top two donations came from old-school billionaires, the third came from a 39-year old surfer dude billionaire.

Nicholas Woodman, founder of the body-mounted camera company GoPro, gave $500 million to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, which makes grants to a variety of causes such as education and immigration.

Woodman took his company public in June, making him a billionaire three times over.

His largess caused a stir on Wall Street when Woodman decided to donate 5.8 million of his shares to his family foundation even before the stock was available to traders.

Another tech billionaire, Google (GOOG) cofounder Larry Page, 41, made the fifth largest donation of the year. Page gave $177 million in stock to a charity he set up in the name of his father.

"Young tech wealth is continuing to give," said Stacy Palmer, editor of The Chronicle of Philanthropy. She said the giving had reached a high point last year with Zuckerberg's big donation also to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

Related: More rich people are donating stock to charity

Meanwhile, the fourth largest donation of the year went to Harvard University.

The Morningside Foundation, run by the family of Hong Kong real estate tycoon T.H. Chan, pledged $350 million to the Ivy League university's School of Public Health. It was the largest gift in Harvard's history.

Gerald Chan, one of the T.H. Chan's sons, earned a master's degree from the School of Public Health in the 1970s.

Another notable bequest came from media mogul Barry Diller and his fashion designer wife, Diane von Furstenberg. They pledged $130 million to help build a floating park in New York City's west side (pictured below).

The Diller-von Furstenburg Family Foundation has made dozens of grants to promote art and education in New York City.

It was the seventh largest donation of the year. Palmer said it's unusual to see such a large donation go to a public park, since most big grants fund scientific research or social causes.

Overall, the 10 biggest gifts totaled $3.3 billion, down slightly from 2013.

"It's not as strong as you might expect given where the economy is," said Palmer. But the total is still up significantly in the years following the financial crisis, when the tally averaged about $2.5 billion.

"Clearly, donors are ready to give," she concluded.

Related: The 2014 tax breaks you'll be able to take

Related: Paul Allen donates $100 million to start cell research institute

First Published: January 1, 2015: 12:36 AM ET

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New Year's is the best day to apply for financial aid

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

January 1 is the first day students can submit the nationwide financial aid application (known as FAFSA) for the upcoming school year. Applying early is hands down the best way to maximize the amount of money a student gets to put toward college.

Here are five things you need to know about the process.

1. It's a single application for three different kinds of aid.

This form is super important because it determines the amount of aid a student will get from the three main sources available: the federal government, state governments and schools. Funding can include loans as well as money that students don't have to pay back, like scholarships, grants and work-study gigs.

2. The sooner you file, the more money you can get.

Some states and colleges have a finite amount of money to dole out and it's allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis each year, according to Sallie Mae spokeswoman Martha Holler. So it's always best to be at the front of the line.

Don't wait for your W-2 to come in or to get your tax returns. The application can always be updated later with exact numbers, Holler said.

Related: My college degree is worthless

3. Don't assume your family is too wealthy.

The amount of aid granted to students is largely based on income. The value of the home a family lives in and any retirement savings aren't taken into consideration.

And keep in mind that a family with more than one student in college is actually eligible for more help. A family with two kids in school could see its expected contribution to tuition cut in half, Holler said.

Related: More and more food banks are for college students

4. Watch out for different deadlines.

There can be early deadlines to get state aid. The first one is in Connecticut, where families must submit the form by February 15 to be eligible for state aid.

5. There might be another form

Some states and schools require more information than this application calls for. Once the standard form is submitted, links to supplemental forms can be found on the confirmation page -- but not on the confirmation email, so be careful!

The form is free to file and can be found here. Holler says it should take about 30 minutes to complete.

"A little time could translate into a lot of money," she said.

Related: 10 most expensive colleges

Related: Colleges with the highest paid graduates

First Published: January 1, 2015: 6:01 AM ET

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Russia slashing vodka prices as economy reels

LONDON (CNNMoney)

The state agency that regulates the alcohol market said this month that it will slash vodka prices in February by about 16%.

The price cut marks a reversal for Russian policy makers, who have tried to discourage excessive drinking by hiking alcohol taxes, banning advertising and introducing new, restrictive regulations over the past few years.

But now inflation in Russia is near 10%, the ruble has fallen by more than 40% this year and the economy is shrinking -- and cheaper vodka just might take the edge off.

The country is getting hit hard by a sharp drop in oil prices as well as Western sanctions, and the situation is expected to get much worse before it gets better.

Related: Wealthy Russians aren't buying U.S. homes anymore

News of the vodka price cut comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin told government officials in Moscow last week that he was concerned that expensive vodka was driving consumers to drink cheaper bootlegged substitutes, which are not fully taxed or regulated.

The latest estimates suggest that up to one-third of vodka in Russia is bought through the black market.

Alcohol prices in Russia have risen much faster than other items in recent years due to targeted government regulations. In 2013, alcohol prices shot up by about 15%, according to data from Euromonitor International.

Rising prices have helped curb consumption, and vodka sales have been hit particularly hard.

Russians consumed nearly 1.2 billion liters of vodka drinks in 2013, according to research from Mintel, down 13% compared to 2012.

Alcoholism in Russia is considered a major problem. It's believed to cause nearly 500,000 deaths per year and is responsible for one-third of crimes, according to Euromonitor.

"Alcohol consumption patterns in Russia are amongst the riskiest in the world as consumers frequently prefer to drink excessively," Euromonitor stated in a report.

First Published: December 31, 2014: 7:10 AM ET

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