Game Theory in Video Games: How You're in a Prisoner's Dilemma ...

In the last decade, online gaming, especially massively multi-player online gaming, has become a topic of discussion amongst game theorists. However one soon notices that each resource or article about the topic seems to come from one of two types of sources. One source of discussion is academics with strong understanding of game theory and mastery of the nuanced field. This leads to a discussion which is in-depth but impenetrable and nearly unreadable (to the layman). ?This also is rarely specific to a type of game and gives no help to a player. The other source is experienced players of online games who have detected patterns from their play and then realized the game theory implications of it. These articles are equally unreadable by those who don?t know the specifics of the game being discussed. I wanted to join the fields by starting serious game theory discussion from the perspective of experienced game enthusiasts.

In team-based games there is obviously an incentive to work as a team and support those around you for a common goal. In all the games I?ll be discussing that is the case. But there is another factor which affects the way we decide to play the game. This is a more hidden feature of online gaming that I?ll call the ?fun factor?. It is hard to describe but common to many games. It is the inherent value we gain from playing the most fun role in a game even if it isn?t the most helpful to the team. Examples range from the vague, such as being damage dealer in a multi-player online battle arena game, or the specific, such as playing the Sniper class in Team Fortress 2.? From the competition of the two factors comes a strange payoff matrix (pictured and discussed below). In one regard you want to play a supportive character and help your team so you can win, in the other regard you want to play a fun character, even if it means losing. You are also on a team of people who are making this decision.

To aid the discussion I have made a payoff matrix using the following assumptions. Firstly it is more fun to play without the team in mind, that is, you receive 1 point for playing a supportive role and you receive 2 points for playing a fun role. Also we?ll assume you receive 2 point for winning and no points for losing. You can only win if both you and all your teammates decide to support each other.

		Player
	(Teammates, Player)	Support Team	Play for Fun
Teammates	Support Team	(3,3)	(1,2)
	Play for Fun	(2,1)	(2,2)

Here you can see where the game theory is important to the discussion. Clearly the best option for everybody is the Support their team and work together for a win. You get to have some fun playing and also get to win the game. That position is Nash equilibrium.? But in the real world you can see that if you are fearful that somebody will choose to break free from this Nash equilibrium, you are better off hedging your bets and assuring that you receive at least 2 points but playing for fun. That is why you will often see experienced players forming perfect team compositions and gladly taking a supportive role. But newer players, who lack to experience, will play for fun and cause the players around them to play for fun as well.

Players can use this knowledge to decide how they want to play but designers of games can use this information as well. Game companies are concerned with the maximum payout for their players, the ?social welfare? of the matrix. To accomplish this there is usually a ranking system which groups high ?skill? players (players who win games by working together). This system also drives together players who lose often, likely do to their choice to play for fun and not to win. That way the game company can move people away from the situations which involve a social welfare of 3 and towards the situations which have welfare payouts of 4 and 6, thereby making everybody enjoy their game more.

Examples of source type 1 (experience game theorists):
http://www.digra.org/dl/db/06278.10422.pdf
http://www.santafe.edu/media/workingpapers/09-11-042.pdf

Examples of source type 2 (experience gamers):

http://na.leagueoflegends.com/board/showthread.php?t=2498690

http://na.leagueoflegends.com/board/showthread.php?t=2572218

-TheRealHumanzeell

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Source: http://blogs.cornell.edu/info2040/2012/09/29/game-theory-in-video-games-how-youre-in-a-prisoners-dilemma/

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Casio XJ-H2650

The Casio XJ-H2650 isn't Casio's brightest projector, but it's part of Casio's Pro Series, which is its brightest line of projectors. It also offers WXGA (1280 by 800) native resolution, the highest in the Pro Series line. That's a moderately big deal, because until now, if you wanted a WXGA Casio projector you had to settle for one of the lower brightness models. The XJ-H2650 delivers the highest brightness Casio offers with WXGA resolution, and the highest resolution with Pro Series brightness, all of which makes it a good choice for mid-size conference rooms and classrooms.

Casio rates the XJ-H2650 at 3500 lumens, a bit less bright than the 4,000 lumen Casio XJ-H1750 Pro Series that I reviewed earlier this year. However, the XJ-H1750 offers a native XGA (1,024 by 768) resolution.

The only other Pro Series model with WXGA resolution is the XJ-H2650's near twin, the Casio XJ-H2600 ($2,000 street). Casio says that the two models are identical except for the addition of USB A, USB B, and LAN ports to the XJ-H2650, along with features that depend on those ports. Most notably, the XJ-H2650's USB A port lets you plug in a supplied Wi-Fi adaptor so you can connect directly with, and send data images from, Windows and Mac computers as well as most Android, iOS, and Windows smartphones and tablets.

The extra ports also let you plug in a memory key to read JPG and a few other file formats directly, control the projector over a network, send data images over a network, and add interactivity with an interactive pen and software option ($260 street). However, the interactive feature is hard to recommend, since the projector's standard-throw lens would make it hard to interact with the image without casting shadows that would get in the way. All other features on the XJ-H2600 and XJ-H2650 should be identical, so the rest of the comments in this review should apply to both.

Basics, Setup, and Connections
Like all current Casio projectors, the XJ-H2650 is built around Casio's hybrid light source, consisting of LEDs and a laser paired with a DLP chip. The LEDs produce the red and blue primaries directly. The laser shines on a phosphor element to produce green.

Not too surprisingly, given that both projectors are part of the same Pro Series, the XJ-H2650 shares a lot of its basic features with the XJ-H1750. In particular, it weighs almost the same, at 15.6 pounds, which makes it most appropriate for permanent installation or room to room portability on a cart.

Setup is standard, with a manual focus and a manual 1.2x zoom, which gives you some welcome flexibility in how far you can put the projector from the screen for a given size image. In addition to the LAN and USB ports I've already mentioned, connection choices include the usual HDMI for a computer or video source, VGA for computer or component video, and both S-video and composite video inputs.

Brightness and Eco Modes
In my tests, the XJ-H2650 was easily bright enough in its brightest mode for a 78-inch wide (92-inch diagonal) image to stand up to the typical level of ambient light in an office or classroom setting. Even better, it was bright enough at that size so you could easily take advantage of its eco modes to minimize power use and save on electricity.

Most projectors offer one bright mode and one eco mode that lets you lower brightness and power consumption. Beyond that, they offer color presets that can also affect brightness, but are, in theory, meant to adjust color.

The XJ-H2650 gives you more flexibility for brightness and power use, with two non-eco modes, which I measured at 340 watts and 290 watts, plus five eco modes, with a measured range of 260 to 115 watts. With multiple eco modes, you have the freedom to pick the best color setting first, and then choose the least bright mode with the brightness you need, instead of using the color presets to adjust brightness. Also worth mention is that the only projector I've seen with more eco-mode levels is the laser-based BenQ LX60ST that I recently reviewed.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/rIXB7qr2W0A/0,2817,2410265,00.asp

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Chinese Public Doubts Beijing?s Pledges to Fight Corruption

? By detailing the extent of disgraced politician Bo Xilai?s abuses, China?s communist leadership has taken a hard stance on corruption, but many commentators in China say they doubt whether the case will lead to fundamental change in China.

Shortly after announcing that Bo Xilai had been expelled from the party and faced criminal prosecution for his crimes, China?s state news agency Xinhua published a commentary titled "Whoever tramples on party discipline and national law will be punished severely."

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(Click to view the photo gallery)

??Bo?s indictment, the article says, is further evidence of the party?s resolution to fight corruption no matter how high ranking the dishonest official is. ?The hand does not reach out,? the piece reads quoting Cheng Yi, a famous Mao-era politician, ?when it does it needs to be caught.?

Such comments underscore the leadership?s need to distance itself from corruption, which is perceived as endemic by many commentators and threatens to antagonize the Chinese public.

Timeline of the Bo Xilai Scandal

• February 2: Bo's key ally and Chongqing police chief Wang Lijun is demoted.
• February 6: Wang visits U.S. consulate in Chengdu, reportedly to seek asylum.
• March 2: Xinhua says Wang is under investigation.
• March 9: Bo defends himself and his wife, Gu Kailai, at a press conference at the National People's Congress.
• March 15: Bo dismissed as Chongqing party chief.
• March 26: Britain asks China to investigate November death of Briton Neil Heywood in Chongqing.
• April 10: Bo suspended from Communist Party posts. China says his wife is being investigated for Heywood's death.
• April 17: New York Times reports U.S. officials held Wang so he could be handed to Beijing authorities instead of local police.
• July 26: Gu charged with Heywood's murder.
• August 20: Gu given suspended death sentence after confessing to Heywood's murder.
• September 18: Two day trial of Wang for defection and abuse of power ends without him contesting the charges.
• September 28: Communist Party expels Bo.

??Zhang Ming, a political science professor at People?s University in Beijing, says that cases like Bo Xilai are widespread and common knowledge in China.

?We all know that the problem comes from the system,? he said, ?Why nobody stopped him when he was becoming corrupt? Why nobody checked??

??According to the recent investigations, Bo?s crimes date back more than a decade and involve abuses of power perpetrated while he was a well-known politician, climbing up the ladder of the party?s top echelons.

Online, where key words related to Bo?s case are still blocked on some microblog services, the party?s failure to act timely was perceived as unwillingness to seriously tackle the party?s internal abuses, despite public rhetoric to the contrary.

?Bo didn?t just fall out of the sky,? liberal columnist Zhao Chu wrote on his microblog account. ?He climbed up to an eminent position step by step, with his wife, family members, and lackeys doing so many bad things for more than 10 years,? he added in a commentary that was reposted by thousands on Weibo, China?s most popular micro blog service.

Zhao pointed at the historical lack of accountability within the party structure as the fertile soil where officials like Bo thrive.

?The basic principles of rule of law and contemporary social norms lack in this kind of long established political culture,? Zhao wrote, ?This is a reality that cannot be missed while talking about Bo?s case, and that will not fade overnight just with Bo?s downfall.?

Much of Zhao?s critique focused on the party?s failure to reckon with the Cultural Revolution, a ten-year period of great political turmoil launched by Mao Zedong in the 60s to purge disloyal officials.

Bo Xilai rapidly rose through the ranks of China's Communist Party before his involvement in China's biggest political scandal in decades.

• His father, Bo Yibo, was one of the founders of the People's Republic of China.
• Bo Xilai joined the Communist Party in 1980
• Was mayor of Dailan, governor of Liaoning province and commerce minister
• Named leader of Chongqing city in 2007 and ascended to membership in the Politburo.
• Gained prominence for launching crackdown on corruption in Chongqing.
• Expelled form Communist Party in September, 2012.

??Bo Xilai?s father, prominent politician Bo Yibo, was purged during the first phase of that sweeping political campaign. Bo Xilai, 17 years old at the time, grew up to see his father banished from political life and then reinstated after Mao?s death to his former position of vice premier.

Though many public officials persecuted during the Cultural Revolution were reinstated in the following decades, the party?s leadership has been cautious in bluntly criticizing Mao?s campaigns, and during Bo Xilai?s tenure in Chongqing it has tolerated Bo?s revival of Cultural Revolution?s themes.

On Saturday, Wang Xuming, a well known publisher and former spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Education, called Bo?s controversial campaigns against crime and to revive Mao era sentiments in Chongqing a farce, and pointed at the larger effect Bo?s downfall is having on the Chinese political system.

?The prestige and trust of people in the party and in the government is ruined yet again,? he wrote and added a call for deeper political reform to regain people?s trust.

Official reports of Bo Xilai?s long-time corruption come as Beijing is preparing to select the group of leaders that will rule the country in the coming ten years. Among the most likely candidates for powerful seats in the politburo, many are princelings, descendants of elderly party leaders still celebrated in China for their past contribution to the country?s political system.

Source: http://www.voanews.com/content/chinese_public_doubts_beijing_pledges_to_fight_corruption/1517360.html

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Indianola Auto Service and Repair - A+ Automotive | EDJE Blogs

A+ Automotive of Indianola, IA, also known as A Plus Automotive, provides complete automotive services and auto service repairs for customers in Indianola, Carlisle, Norwalk, Milo, Knoxville, and Osceola in central Iowa. We offer online vehicle service scheduling, your own vehicle car care page, loaner cars and 12 month coast to coast vehicle roadside assistance warranties.

They specialize in Indianola auto service and repairs for all vehicles, including cars, trucks, SUVs and vans, domestic and foreign. You can even schedule your appointment online or set up a personal car care page.

To learn more, visit their new website at http://indianolaautorepair.com/!

You may be interested in:

Source: http://www.edje.com/blog/2012/indianola-auto-service-and-repair-a-automotive

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Is Pricing Low the Way to Go? | Zillow Blog

It may seem logical that if you price your home low, it will sell quickly. Some real estate agents believe everyone should price low. The truth is, there are a lot of things to consider when pricing a home. And it helps sellers and buyers to understand clearly the factors that typically influence the asking and the actual selling price.

It?s not an exact science

There?s no exact science to pricing a home to sell. When working with a potential seller, the best an agent can do is provide them with a ?range? of value. The range is based on timing, the competition and the most recent comparable sales (or ?comps?).

2 similar homes, 2 different prices

Unlike the local grocery store or big-box retailer, which set product prices based on such factors as inventory and past sales of the same product, every seller and every home is unique. In most cases, the seller has only one home to sell. Ultimately, the seller, who may or may not be as experienced as their agent or an active buyer in their local market, sets the selling price. So you could have two similar homes on the same block, yet there?s a 10 percent price difference between them.

In Daly City, CA, not long ago, two single-family homes of similar designs and layout, and in a prime neighborhood, went on the market around the same time. Separately, the sellers? agents suggested that the value range of their homes was between $425,000 and $450,000. At that time, the market was strong, and inventory was low.

Seller A chose to list his home at $489,000, hoping a buyer would negotiate him down to a figure in the high end of the range. Seller B listed her home at $425,000, wanting a quick sale. She received multiple offers and sold her home quickly ? at the top end of the range. Six weeks later, Seller A?s property was sitting on the market ? no offers.

The herd mentality

Why such different outcomes for essentially the same house? Answer: The herd mentality.

Buyers tend to flock to where other buyers are hovering. If three people seem serious about a property, then it must be a good value, location or both. Other potential buyers will likely become interested, too. In fact, the home will seem so desirable, or such a good value, to them that they?ll compete for it, ultimately paying the top of the value range ? or higher.

On the other hand, if they go to the open house of the overpriced home and don?t see anyone there, they?ll think there?s something missing ? or wrong. They don?t want to be the only one at the party. They move on to another property or make a low offer, because they appear to be the only interested party.

Advice for sellers

The example of Seller B, who priced low and yet got top dollar, may seem to suggest that pricing low is indeed the way to go. But not so fast.

For one thing, it?s not a good idea to market your home at a price you aren?t willing to take. And in slower markets, it may make more sense to price at the higher end of the range so you don?t leave money on the table. Is your home on a busy street, in a bad school district? Probably not worth the risk to price it low.

The point is, every seller and situation is different. You can?t simply assume that in a strong market, if you price your home low, you?ll receive multiple offers and it will sell for more than what you asked. The important thing is to work with an experienced local agent and to understand that, ultimately, the market will take the sale price where it needs to go.

Advice for buyers

If you?ve been in the market awhile, you likely have a good feel for values. If a price seems high, but there are still tons of people circling around, don?t be afraid to go in with a full-price offer or even under asking. There have been hundreds of examples where it seems like there were going to be multiple offers. Then, on the ?offer day? (the day the listing agent sets to review all offers), the seller gets zero bids. Or one offer comes in at the list price.

Look at overpriced homes that aren?t getting any action. Some homes have languished on the market for six months with no offers. Then the seller makes a major price reduction and receives four offers, and the place ends up selling for more than the original list price. You want to be the one who makes an offer before the reduction.

Ultimately, look at the comps, talk to your agent, trust your gut and go in with your strongest, cleanest offer.

Related:

Brendon DeSimone is a Realtor & HGTV real estate expert. He has collaborated on multiple real estate books and his expert advice is regularly sought out by print, online and television media outlets like FOX News, CNBC and Forbes. An avid investor, Brendon owns real estate around the US and abroad and is licensed to sell in two states. You can find Brendon online or follow him on Twitter.

Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of Zillow.

Source: http://www.zillow.com/blog/2012-09-28/is-pricing-low-the-way-to-go/

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How To Stop Spoilers from Ruining TV for Everybody [User Manual]

In the previous century, when everyone watched TV shows at the exact same time, we didn't have to worry about ruining suspenseful plots. You either saw it or didn't. But thanks to technology, we live in a dangerous time. Equally devoted fans of a show might be live-watchers—always up to the latest episode—or they might be time-shifters, perpetually a few days behind the broadcasts. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/Pdz7R07Dvug/how-to-stop-spoilers-from-ruining-tv-for-everybody

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Strategic Planning - it CAN work for you - FlourishFiles

?

Nothing makes people run for the hills faster than an invitation to a strategic planning workshop.

Why do we hate strategic planning?

Probably because we hate time-wasting meetings, right? And what is strategic planning but a time wasting, mega meeting, right?

Wrong!

Strategic planning is only a waste of time if once developed the plan is ignored.

So here are 5 simple steps for ensuring your strategic plan is implemented:
?

Make sure you give someone responsibility for implementing each goal.??

One of my pet peeves is seeing the word ?All? in the ?responsibility? column of many strategic plans. It may be that everyone should contribute to a goal in their own way, but you must give one person (or a cross-sectoral team) overall responsibility for implementation.?

Not only is everyone then clear of the chain of responsibility, it makes monitoring and evaluation much easier too.? If you ask ?All? how implementation is going all you will get is the dreaded ?crickets? sound throughout your organisation.

Tip - Don?t forget to allocate a budget, or other necessary resources (including time!) to this person / team.

Make sure the strategies you allocate to each person are related / meaningful to their job description.

It seems silly to say, but too often I?ve seen tasks given to people that are not a fit for their daily responsibilities.? ?Mary is great with people, let?s make her responsible for sponsorship.? The fact that Mary is the accountant means she is probably not the appropriate person to lead this project.??

I?m not saying accountants are bad at securing sponsorship, but they spend their days managing your organisation?s accounts. To ask them to take on sponsorship requires an additional layer of work unrelated to their core business.? This is an inefficient use of their time and your resources and will end in frustration (and failure).

I?ve also seen organisations allocate responsibilities inappropriately because the right person for the job is ?already too busy.? ?This is a signal for management to revisit resources or prioritise goals.?

Tip ? If Mary the accountant is great with people, by all means invite her to events where she can create a good impression of your organisation in the presence of potential sponsors.? It all helps!

Integrate the Strategic Plan into your annual work plan

The worst thing you can do is treat the strategic plan as separate to your core business. If people feel they need to find extra time to work on implementing the plan, it just won?t get done.

If a goal is to increase sponsorship, then allocate time in the annual work plan to achieving that goal. It might be that you need to develop a business case and design materials before you can actually make contact with a potential sponsor. Allocating time (and resources) throughout the year gets things done.

Tip - This is a really useful way to assess if your plan?s goals are specific and measurable.? If you can?t list practical steps to achieve your goals, you won?t be able to implement your plan.?

?

Add goals to your regular meeting agendas

Staff meetings, management committee meetings, it doesn?t matter, if you regularly discuss your strategic plan and its goals, things will get done. Again, if your objective is to increase sponsorship, have ?Sponsorship? listed as a standing item on your agenda. Then invite everyone to contribute ideas about who might be worth approaching for sponsorship. You?ll be amazed at what people may have read or heard or who they?ve met, that might create a lead for the person/s responsible for implementation.

Tip ? Having the strategic plan?s goals integrated into your meeting agendas gives you a head start on monitoring and evaluation as you?ll soon see where progress is being made?or not.

Celebrate accomplishments!

Celebrate the small steps along the way. It might be that you have developed a new prospectus or a potential sponsor has agreed to hear your pitch. Ensure you let the team know this is a strategic plan outcome and it will motivate everyone to keep going.

Tip ? Include the strategic planning responsibilities/objectives in job descriptions and therefore performance reviews. That way more formal feedback and/or bonuses can be provided.
?

So, happy planning and always keep your eye on implementation! (And let me know if I can help!)
?

Source: http://flourishfiles.typepad.com/flourishfiles/2012/09/strategic-planning-it-can-work-for-you.html

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Deadline latest weapon in EADS-BAE merger talks

PARIS (Reuters) - Europe's EADS rejected calls on Thursday to allow extra time for negotiations over a $45 billion merger with BAE Systems , as brinkmanship looked set to play a key role in politically complex plans to create a new defense giant.

Fabrice Bregier, head of the Airbus planemaker unit and part of the inner circle running Franco-German-Spanish EADS, was quoted as saying it was crucial to stick to the date set by UK regulators under rules designed to protect investors.

"The importance is that opinions converge. The October 10 deadline may seem soon but it is absolutely necessary given the environment," Bregier told the French daily Les Echos in an interview to be published on Friday.

EADS and BAE are in talks to create what would be the world's largest defense company. But their efforts have become snagged on differences over control between France and Germany while there are also political concerns about jobs.

German Defence Minister Thomas de Maiziere joined France in pressing the companies to seek an extension of the UK deadline in order to give politicians more room to bridge differences.

"Perhaps we need more time. It depends on the answers for our questions and so I think we need more time," de Maiziere told reporters at a meeting in Cyprus.

France and Germany want to safeguard their influence over EADS while special arrangements will be needed to ringfence sensitive operations, including work BAE does in the United States and on Britain's nuclear submarines.

In the past two weeks, investors uncertain about the deal have stripped 4 billion euros from the value of EADS, illustrating the risk Chief Executive Tom Enders could face if he agrees to expose the stock to a further month of negotiation.

BAE shares have also shed their initial gains and analysts warn they may struggle to carry investors with them beyond October 10 if the talks show no signs of progress.

Yet with two weeks left, EADS and BAE have little incentive to seek an extension to the deadline.

Softening the deadline would ease pressure on Europe's politicians to come to an agreement acceptable to the companies while placating U.S. and UK fears of political interference.

For these reasons, experts say a bid for an immediate extension is unlikely unless there is progress. But if there is stalemate running up to the deadline, leaders of both companies could play hardball and decide to abandon the plan.

"It's normal that different points of view are expressed. Especially in an operation where states have strategic interests to preserve," Bregier told Les Echos.

"This kind of operation requires rapid decisions and it's not EADS or BAE management pushing, it's the markets and the clients, who want to know what the future of the group will be," he said adding that the current merger plan included guarantees to the United States covering its security concerns.

INFLUENCE AND TRADE-OFFS

The merger to create the world's biggest defense and aerospace company would dilute the influence of the French, German and Spanish governments in the company, prompting negotiations over their roles in the future.

German reservations include how to safeguard jobs and protect the merged firm from any future hostile takeover, a government document obtained by Reuters on Monday showed.

On Wednesday, a French government source said France would want to retain certain rights, as well.

EADS is standing firm, reiterating its "intention and current expectation" to provide further clarity by that date.

Technically, extensions to the UK stock market deadline are relatively simple and are usually granted, lawyers say.

Yet in classic European negotiating style, as seen on issues from farm subsidies to national bailouts, talks generally go down to the wire.

Raising the threat of a missed deadline, or demanding it be kept, is a tried and tested tactic in the brinkmanship so often seen among the 27 nations of the European Union.

De Maiziere called talks with his British and French counterparts on Wednesday evening "constructive".

"This is a complex situation, there are a lot of questions and conditions, nothing has (been) decided yet ... We will keep in contact," he said.

European governments all face severe spending pressures, but a stand-off between France and Germany over control of EADS is seen as the bigger roadblock, rekindling a climate of mistrust which set in during management rows from 2005 onwards.

France holds a 15 percent stake in EADS and wants to retain its right to influence group strategy. Spain owns 5 percent.

Germany is not a direct shareholder but sees the transaction as a chance to enlarge its influence. At the same time, EADS and BAE are pressing for less political influence.

Airbus's Bregier said he did not see the issue of German state participation being an issue in the talks and did not see any reason why measures could not be taken to ensure a balance with France, whose government would end up with a 9 percent share in the new group as plans stand today.

Signs of discord first emerged at the weekend when Reuters reported that France appeared to rebuff German proposals for a common position [ID:nL5E8KLN1G].

EADS and BAE have said they will offer the governments of France, Germany and Britain a "special share" in the new company, allowing them to block any future hostile takeover, but are determined to prevent any meddling in management decisions.

(Additional reporting by Michele Kambas, Adrian Croft, Rhys Jones, Gernot Heller, Mark John, Catherine Bremer; editing by Jason Neely, Bernard Orr)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/deadline-latest-weapon-eads-bae-merger-talks-170436198--finance.html

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For A Special Needs School, NJ Is The Best Place To Find One

If you have a child that you know would excel to a greater degree by being in a special needs school NJ has all of the right facilities for you to check out and ultimately bring your child to so that you can stimulate their growth. With a special needs school nj instructors can help to uplift and stimulate your child rather than tell them they are not good enough and shun them from society. Just because your child is special needs does not mean that they should be barred from getting an education and by sending them to a special needs school NJ?s best instructors will make sure that they get the fighting chance that they deserve to be contributing members of society. Ultimately, this will help you to feel better knowing that you gave your child your best.

Comments are closed.

Source: http://www.ncwt.org/reference-and-education/for-a-special-needs-school-nj-is-the-best-place-to-find-one/

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Best Budget Pen? [Hive Five Call For Contenders]

Pen enthusiasts will tell you that you can never spend enough money to get a quality writing instrument, and bargain basement shoppers won't think twice about buying a $2 bag of Bics and walking away. This week we want to hear from those of you who love your writing instruments but don't love going broke either. Which pen type and model do you think is the best when you're not trying to break the bank?

Sure, the 12-pack ballpoints from the convenience store are cheap, but you go through them quickly, and they're not exactly fun to use. That $200 fountain pen may be fun to use, but seriously, it's $200 - we want to know about the pens that fall in the middle, the ones you make sure you never lose, or the ones you give as gifts. Let us know which affordable pen is the best you've used?the one you'll never let go of?in the discussions below.

Hive Five nominations take place in the discussions, where you post your favorite tool for the job. We get hundreds of nominations, so to make your nomination clear, please include it at the top of your comment like so: VOTE: BEST BUDGET PEN. Please don't include your vote in a reply to another person. Nominations emailed to us will not be counted. Instead, make your vote and reply separate discussions. After you've made your nomination, let us know what makes it stand out from the competition.

About the Hive Five: The Hive Five feature series asks readers to answer the most frequently asked question we get: "Which tool is the best?" Once a week we'll put out a call for contenders looking for the best solution to a certain problem, then YOU tell us your favorite tools to get the job done. Every weekend, we'll report back with the top five recommendations and give you a chance to vote on which is best. For an example, check out last week's five best alarm clocks.

The Hive Five is based on reader nominations. As with most Hive Five posts, if your favorite was left out, it's not because we hate it?it's because it didn't get the nominations required in the call for contenders post to make the top five. We understand it's a bit of a popularity contest, but if you have a favorite, we want to hear about it. Have a suggestion for the Hive Five? Send us an email at tips+hivefive@lifehacker.com!

Photo by Kristy Hall.

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/0K4r7Vmxa2I/best-budget-pen

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AP-GfK Poll: Most see health law being implemented

FILE - In this March 23, 2010, file photo, participants applaud in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, March 23, 2010, as President Barack Obama, flanked by Macelas Owens of Seattle, left, and Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., right, signs the health care bill. Americans may not be all that crazy about President Barack Obama?s health care law, but a new poll shows they don?t see it going away. The Associated Press-GfK poll finds that about 7 in 10 Americans think the overhaul law will go into effect fully, with some changes, ranging from minor to major alterations. Behind the president, from left are, Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin of Ill., Vice President Joe Biden, Vicki Kennedy, widow of Sen. Ted Kennedy, Rep. Sander Levin, D-Mich., Ryan Smith of Turlock, Calif., Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Md., Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev., Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., House Majority Whip James Clyburn of S.C., and Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

FILE - In this March 23, 2010, file photo, participants applaud in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, March 23, 2010, as President Barack Obama, flanked by Macelas Owens of Seattle, left, and Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., right, signs the health care bill. Americans may not be all that crazy about President Barack Obama?s health care law, but a new poll shows they don?t see it going away. The Associated Press-GfK poll finds that about 7 in 10 Americans think the overhaul law will go into effect fully, with some changes, ranging from minor to major alterations. Behind the president, from left are, Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin of Ill., Vice President Joe Biden, Vicki Kennedy, widow of Sen. Ted Kennedy, Rep. Sander Levin, D-Mich., Ryan Smith of Turlock, Calif., Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Md., Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev., Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., House Majority Whip James Clyburn of S.C., and Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Chart shows answers to health care questions

WASHINGTON (AP) ? It still divides us, but most Americans think President Barack Obama's health care law is here to stay.

More than 7 in 10 say the law will fully go into effect with some changes, ranging from minor to major alterations, a new Associated Press-GfK poll finds.

Only 12 percent expect the Affordable Care Act ? "Obamacare" to dismissive opponents ? to be repealed completely.

The law ? covering 30 million uninsured, requiring virtually every legal U.S. resident to carry health insurance and forbidding insurers from turning away the sick ? remains as contentious as the day it passed more than two years ago. There's still more than another year before its major provisions go into effect on Jan. 1, 2014.

Although the overhaul survived a Supreme Court challenge in June, the November election appears likely to settle its fate. Republican Mitt Romney vows to begin repealing it on Day One while Obama pledges to carry it out faithfully.

But the poll found that Americans are converging on the idea that the overhaul will be part of their lives, although probably not down to its last comma. They don't totally buy what either candidate is saying.

"People are sort of averaging out the candidates' positions," said Harvard School of Public Health professor Robert Blendon, who tracks polling on health care issues.

Forty-one percent said they expect the law to be fully implemented with minor changes, while 31 percent said they expect to see it take effect with major changes. Only 11 percent said they think it will be implemented as passed.

Americans also prefer that states have a strong say in carrying out the overhaul.

Sixty-three percent want states to run new health insurance markets called "exchanges." Open for business in 2014, exchanges would sign up individuals and small businesses for taxpayer-subsidized private coverage. With GOP governors still on the sidelines, the federal government may wind up operating the exchanges in half or more of the states, an outcome only 32 percent of Americans want to see, according to the poll.

Developed with researchers from Stanford University and the University of Michigan, the poll also found an enduring generation gap, with people 65 and older most likely to oppose the bill and those younger than 45 less likely to be against it.

Republicans remain overwhelmingly opposed to the overhaul and in favor of repeal. But only 21 percent said they think that will actually come about.

Romney supporter Toni Gardner, 69, a retired school system nurse from Louisville, Ky., said that until a few weeks ago she was sure her candidate fully supported repeal, as she does.

But then Romney said in an interview there are a number of things he likes in the law that he would put into practice, including making sure that people with pre-existing medical problems can get coverage. The Romney campaign quickly qualified that, but the candidate's statement still resonates.

"If Romney gets in, he'll go with parts of it," Gardner said, "and there are parts of that he won't go with."

Gardner thinks expanding coverage will cost too much and may make it harder to get an appointment with a doctor. Besides, she doesn't believe the government can handle the job. She's covered by Medicare ? a government-run health system ? but says "that wasn't a choice that I had."

At 26, Santa Monica, Calif., web developer Vyki Englert has only bare-bones health insurance coverage. Her parents, a preschool teacher and a self-employed photographer, are uninsured. Englert says she thinks the law will largely go into effect as passed. (Among 18- to 29-year-olds, 60 percent think it will be implemented with only minor changes or none at all.)

Englert says that she supports guaranteeing coverage to people with health problems and that provisions such as broader coverage for birth control will help younger women such as her.

"I kind of see a day-to-day way where this law could benefit me," she said. Englert says the health care law dovetails with a trend toward consumerism in her generation. Older Americans "don't have the context of the young people," she added. "They are looking more at the theoretical impact on the budget and the country."

Overall, the poll found Americans divided on repeal, with neither side able to claim a majority. Forty-nine percent said the health care law should be repealed completely, while 44 percent said it should be implemented as written.

The notion that the law will be implemented with changes, captured in the poll, mirrors a discussion behind the scenes in Washington, particularly among some Republicans.

"Whoever wins the election, the (health care law) is going to be modified," Mark McClellan, who ran Medicare under former President George W. Bush, said in a recent interview.

Congressional Republicans say if tax increases are on the table in budget negotiations with a re-elected Obama, changes to the health care law or delays in implementation are also fair game.

Some parts of the law already are in effect; its big push to cover the uninsured doesn't come until 2014.

Public opinion about the law itself has barely budged since 2010, soon after it passed. At the time, 30 percent supported it. That's now 32 percent. And 40 percent opposed the overhaul. That's now 36 percent.

Misconceptions about the law that reigned two years ago live on, including former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's widely debunked charge that it would create "death panels" to decide on care for the elderly and disabled. In 2010, 39 percent believed the law would set up committees to review individual medical records and decide who gets care paid for by the government. Forty-one percent still hold that view, according to the poll.

The poll asked people to say whether 18 different items were in the law or not and to rate how certain they were about their answers. Just 14 percent were right most of the time and sure of it.

Still, knowledge about what the law actually does is growing. More people are aware of provisions that allow adult children to stay on their parents' coverage until age 26, impose insurance mandates on individuals and businesses, and protect those with pre-existing medical conditions.

The poll was conducted Aug. 3-13 and involved interviews with 1,334 randomly chosen adults nationwide. It has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points.

The survey was conducted online by GfK using its KnowledgePanel sample, which first chose people for the study using randomly generated telephone numbers and home addresses. Once people were selected to participate, they were interviewed online. Participants without Internet access were provided it for free.

___

AP News Survey Specialist Dennis Junius contributed to this report.

___

Online:

http://www.ap-gfkpoll.com

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/bbd825583c8542898e6fa7d440b9febc/Article_2012-09-26-AP%20Poll-Health%20Care%20Overhaul/id-8455a7fe6c284d53a8cfd22fbbad86e1

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Successful Investors Are Successful History Students ? SharesInv.com

By Xeo Lye

Recently, I picked up a personal finance book written by a local author from a local bookstore. I have not had a chance to read a personal finance book for a considerably long period of 5 years, and was very curious as to what type of advice some of the local financial gurus were dishing out to the public. Needless to say, the advice was very much the same, compared to 5 years ago: Buy and hold for the long term, diversify. The only new idea which came out of the book, thanks to the effects of the great financial crisis, goes like this: Financial consultants and bankers are crooks! Do not trust them! Only trust the advice of those who are not involved in the banking and insurance industries.

Paying High Price for Bad Advice
The world of financial information is a messy place. It?s a place where everyone tries to convince you that they are in the right. Crowds such as your own friends, relatives, colleagues, financial advisors, the media, financial institutions and financial gurus are more than willing to volunteer their ?expertise? and dish out their version of wisdom, without verifying their own facts beforehand. It is not a wonder that there are people approaching and telling me that the more that they learned about investing, the more confusing they became.

There are many who do not bother to check on the facts prior to the acceptance of any investment idea as the conventional truth, and the only path leading to big, handsome investment profits.

Consider one of the conventional truths we are being told:

?Stocks over the long run, will always go up, so just buy and hold?

At this point of time, I will roll my eyes and just shake my head. It is so true, yet so misleading. This is true because the world?s biggest and most established stock index, the US Dow Jones industrial index, has been going up for the past 100 years and has averaged at about 8-9% returns every year.

However, consider this again with a fact that I am about to share with you: Imagine that you are the citizen of one of the richest nation in the world. At the age of 25, you started on your retirement planning and faithfully invested your money in the local stock market, in hopes that at the point of your retirement, you would have doubled or tripled your money with a nice retirement nest egg. 25 years later at age of 50, while you are reaching your retirement, you took a look at your investment portfolio and would be shocked to see that your investment portfolio hasn?t grown at all. In fact, it is losing money. The country in question is none other than Japan, one of the richest and most prosperous nations in the world. The problem with the conventional truth of buying and holding for long term only works if you are investing in the American stock market. Thus, in another word as to put it, in order to emulate the performance of the US stock market, the said country should be demographically, geographically, culturally and economically similar to that of the United States of America. How could that be possible in the first place!

The other problem I have encountered with the statement is the definition of long term. I am not sure if it is left intentionally vague for the purpose of marketing and trying to convince investors to keep their hard earn money in the market. In my opinion, 25 years is a very long term and if you cannot make money after 25 years in the stock market, then the conventional wisdom of buying and holding for long term should never be deemed as the universal truth.

On the other hand, this statement has certain strong arguments backing it up. The stock market is a reflection of the productivity of the nation. By reducing the amount of resources it uses to produce a single unit of goods, the price of a company will go up when it makes more profits. Productivity has gone up, profits have gone up and so did the stock price. The most important determinant of productivity is technological advancement. For as long as us humans could produce the ideas to do more with less resources, the advancement of technological improvement can never be halted. History has proven that humans could become the dominant species on planet Earth due to their creativity and innovation and therefore should continue to have technological breakthroughs into the foreseeable future. Thus, it is also true that in the long term, should technology improve, the stock market should tend to rise as companies become more productive in the future and buying and holding for the long term should work too!

By now, you should be utterly confused. So, should I believe that buying and holding for the term actually works, or should I throw out this idea and look for a new investment strategy? That is probably the most important hurdle every good and successful investor goes through at one point of time and this will probably determine if you can retire rich, or be permanently disillusioned with investments and deposit your hard earn money into safe, but non-inflation proof fixed deposits.

The point I wish to bring across with this article is to help investors understand that the investment theories generally works only if the investor truly understands the context and content of how the investment theories are being formulated, and apply these theories carefully and selectively. There is generally no one magic formula that will always work and the only way to understand the context and content of these investment theories and ideas is to study the history on which these strategies have derived from.

Playing the Investment Game
Which is why after many years of being a good history student, I have developed a financial game called: CAPITAL GAINS GAME. Together with Financial Youth Intelligence, we are rolling out Capital Gains Game Competition from October 2 until October 6 this year at Taylor?s University, UCSI University, Sunway University & Monash University with a mission to educate the youths to grab hold of the opportunity to learn more about the history of the financial world spanning across different asset categories: Stocks, bonds, properties, gold and even oil. It is also a more interesting way to go about learning about history than trying to go through stacks and stacks of financial history text books and hopefully, jump-start people who are genuinely interested to become successful investors to move on to the next stage of their investment learning.

The Bottom Line
So, the next time when somebody is trying to convince you that their investment strategies are the only way to go, check with the history books before putting your hard earned money into that investment. Or else, you may end up as a sad, elderly Japanese investor, who is unable to retire because he had put in a bit too much faith into a conventional wisdom.

Xeo Lye (BBA, CFP?), is the founder of Capital Gains Game, a game that allows participants to immerse in one of the most turbulence time in the history of the financial market by competing against other investors investing in equities, properties, bonds and gold across a period of 20 years. Financial Youth Intelligence will be organizing this competition for the very first time in Malaysia from October 2nd ? 6th 2012. Please visit www.FinancialIntelligence.asia or contact Tang Ching Huei at tangchinghuei@truenorthasia.com or 016-5188308 for more information.

The Shares Investment editorial team welcomes constructive feedback on our coverage and content. We would also be delighted to answer any questions on the above article. Leave us a comment below, and we'll get back to you shortly!

Source: http://www.sharesinv.com/articles/2012/09/26/successful-investors-are-successful-history-students/

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Ally non-U.S. operations draw interest from GM, banks: source

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Brooke Astor home auction fetches $8.7 million

Sotheby's / AP

This undated photo provided by Sotheby's shows a group of five seated porcelain dogs for auction that belonged to the late philanthropist Brooke Astor. The first day of the auction fetched $8.7 million.

By The Associated Press

The first day of an auction of the contents of philanthropist Brooke Astor's two homes brought in $8.7 million, Sotheby's said.

Sotheby's is offering the contents of both homes, 901 objects in all, including European and Asian furnishings, Old Masters, Qing Dynasty paintings, tea sets, silverware, jewelry, a porcelain menagerie, over 100 dog paintings ? and even the uniforms of her domestic staff.

The two-day auction continues Tuesday.

Proceeds will go to institutions and charities, including the New York Public Library and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, under a settlement negotiated by the state Attorney General's office.

The collection had expected to fetch just $6 million to $9 million.

The auction comes after a nasty family feud involving her only son, Anthony Marshall. The five-year dispute ended in March with a settlement that freed $100 million for her charities and cut by more than half the amount going to Marshall, who was convicted of taking advantage of his mother's dementia, partly by engineering changes to her will. He has appealed.

The dispute had threatened to deplete the entire estate.

Astor spent her life putting the fortune that her third husband, Vincent Astor, left to use where it would do the most to alleviate human misery. Her efforts won her a Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, in 1998.

Astor died in 2007 at age 105.

More money and business news:

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? 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://bottomline.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/25/14091658-brooke-astor-home-auction-fetches-87-million?lite

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Disabled children in school, too many difficulties. Why? - West

Why is integration of disabled people at school still an objective to be achieved in Italy, where there is one of the most advanced laws in Europe on disabilities?

This flop is even more surprising if you think that the number of pupils with disabilities in Italian schools has increased by 56 percent over the last 10 years. In the school year 2011/2012, they were about 200 thousand, mainly ? about 75 thousand ? in primary schools and the others divided between nursery, middle and high schools.

Yet, in practice, something seems to have gone wrong. After that special institutes closed down a few decades ago, no complete alternative has been provided and attempts to integrate handicapped people into schools, especially in the most serious cases, has often failed.

For three reasons, at least:

Firstly, shortage and poor specialization of the so-called special education teachers. Often, this particular category of students is followed by teachers who lack specific education.

Secondly, it is important not to underestimate the fact that most schools in Italy are not equipped with technological services and devices for this category of students. Not to mention that today, architectural barriers are still the grim reality in 1 out of 10 schools.

Thirdly, and finally, as the OECD recently reported, in Italy, the amount of total investments in education is the lowest across Europe: 4.7 percent of the GDP against a EU average of 5.8. These figures, however, must be read cum grano salis since the feeling on this front is that the real problem does not reside in the quantity of resources particularly destined to young disabled people, as in their quality: that is, how they are used.

The truth is that handicapped students integration requires individual educational programs and a connection between disabled pupils, classmates and teachers, as well as between school and family that only a special education teacher and the support given by classmates can guarantee. These latter, among other things, will be able to take advantage from the relationship with disabled mates, starting from a higher awareness of diversity.

Source: http://www.west-info.eu/disabled-children-in-school-too-many-difficulties-why/

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Home Maintenance: 5 Fall Frugal Gardening Tips - Axia Home Loans

Summer is officially over and it?s time to start thinking about pumpkins, leaves falling and even Christmas decorations are starting to bloom inside department stores. In your garden and around your home it?s time to start thinking down the road as well.

In most parts of the country the Fall is the best time of year for all kinds of garden activities, including planting and transplanting my types of plants. It?s also the time of year when you can save a bushel of cash on gardening equipment and nursery stock, and save even more by properly tucking in your garden and equipment for its long winter?s nap. Here?s how:

1) Build yourself a compost pile and/or mulch

If you don?t already have one, you definitely want to start a compost pile in the Fall to provide a receptacle for all the leaves, pumpkins and other yard debris you should rake up before winter sets in. Building a compost pile can be as simple as staking up a hoop of three-foot-high ?chicken wire? or other mesh fencing; just so long as it allows for air circulation from the sides and is deep enough for leaves and other organic matter to compress itself thanks to the law of gravity. Also, keep your eyes open after Halloween and Thanksgiving for leftover bales of straw that might be discounted ? or even put out for the garbage man ? now that they?ve served their decorating purposes; straw makes great mulch or can be added to the compost pile. Mulching garden bedsin the Fall with wood chips, compost, or other suitable organic matter helps to retain ground moisture and protect plants sleeping underneath. Check with local landscaping and tree removal services in the Fall for some of the best prices of the year on mulch.

2) Score great deals on end-of-season local nursery stock

Just recently I saw a Japanese Maple measuring about 8-10 feet high for only $40! Plants, shrubs, ground cover, even soil sees a discount this time of year at your local nursery or Home Depot!

3) Update your garden tools and equipment

Fall season means it?s slowing down at the local Lowe?s and Home Depot for ?summer projects? so you?re likely to score a deal on the latest lawn and garden equipment they?ve overstocked. Pick up a new shovel, shears, planters, you name it!

4) Use your current plants to multiply and make more

In addition to being the best time to plant most springtime flowering bulbs (e.g. tulips, daffodils, crocuses, irises, etc.) as well as trees and shrubs, many perennial plants and vegetables can be divided in the Fall. Do a little homework on which ones are best for this sort of arrangement but you?ll find just a little light labor will have you with double the amount you had for no extra cost!

5) Tune up and do some TLC for your current tools and equipment

Since you won?t be mowing the lawn as much (or at all depending where you?re at), you?ll need to make sure you keep fuel that?s been treated with a stabilizer to prevent condensation and deposits. Sharpen your shears by cutting through the aluminum foil scouring pad a few times. Oil all metal surfaces of your tools with used or new motor oil, and scrub that dirt and rust off your shovels, hoes, etc, to guarantee their lifespan.

Hopefully this helps you in your yard and garden heading into the fall.

Reference: TheDailyGreen.com

# # # # #

About Axia Home Loans: Axia Home Loans is a full-service mortgage banker. Founded in 2007 and locally owned, the company provides access to a wide array of products and customized lending solutions, offers superior customer service and adheres to the highest ethical standards. With subsidiary divisions including The Advisors, TILA Mortgage and Axia Home Loans with branches in Idaho, Arizona, Hawaii, California, Montana, Utah and Washington State, Axia employs more than one-hundred loan originators. Locally Axia operates twelve branch offices with locations in Bellevue, Renton, Bothell, Longview, Lynnwood, Alderwood, Olympia, Yakima, Liberty Lake and Spokane. Axia Home Loans is a registered trade name of Axia Financial, LLC.

Source: http://www.axiahomeloans.com/blog/2012/09/25/home-maintenance-5-fall-frugal-gardening-tips/

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Weitzman fundraising pits taps Young Hollywood

This product image released by Stuart Weitzman shows an oxford shoe co-designed by actress Chloe Grace Moretz for a special Stuart Weitzman collection to help raise money for ovarian cancer research. (AP Photo/Stuart Weitzman)

This product image released by Stuart Weitzman shows an oxford shoe co-designed by actress Chloe Grace Moretz for a special Stuart Weitzman collection to help raise money for ovarian cancer research. (AP Photo/Stuart Weitzman)

This product image released by Stuart Weitzman shows a goose-bump calfskin pump co-designed by actress Nikki Reed for a special Stuart Weitzman collection to help raise money for ovarian cancer research. (AP Photo/Stuart Weitzman)

This product image released by Stuart Weitzman shows a gold metallic cap-toe black multi-strap ankle boot co-designed by actress-model Brooklyn Decker for a special Stuart Weitzman collection to help raise money for ovarian cancer research. (AP Photo/Stuart Weitzman)

This product image released by Stuart Weitzman shows a black pony-hair stiletto pump with burgundy satin piping co-designed by actress AnnaSofia Robb for a special Stuart Weitzman collection to help raise money for ovarian cancer research. (AP Photo/Stuart Weitzman)

NEW YORK (AP) ? When you are a hot young starlet in Hollywood, you often get what you want. For Nikki Reed, that meant goose-bump calfskin, and for Chloe Grace Moretz, it was a menswear-inspired design. They are two of the celebrities to work with footwear designer Stuart Weitzman to craft shoes to their specs to help raise money for ovarian cancer research.

Weitzman has a long history of working with stars, and he finds many of them to be "frustrated fashion designers."

"It doesn't surprise me when they make requests or have ideas. They have a desire to create what they wear and what they look like," said Weitzman. "It would be surprising to me if they didn't want to have more input and try design."

The Young Hollywood Cares collection was co-designed this year by Moretz, Reed, Brooklyn Decker, Julianne Hough and AnnaSophia Robb.

Weitzman recalled Moretz's inspiration: "She told me as a kid, she would wear her father's wingtips and oxfords. ... And she wanted to make a shoe like her dad's that was sexy, high and wearable."

Other styles include Decker's gold metallic cap-toe black multistrap ankle boots, and Robb's black pony-hair stiletto pumps with burgundy satin piping.

This is the second round of collaborations, following last year's successful fundraising effort of $80,000, which was done without much promotion or publicity, Weitzman said.

"I want to be more visible," he said. "I have learned it's hard to ask people for money and it's harder to get them to give it, but if you have fun and make some noise, you can rattle it. You'll buy something, even if it costs a little more, but why not for a good cause?"

Proceeds from the collection benefit research at the Folkman Institute/Vascular Biology Program at Boston's Children's Hospital.

___

Online:

http://www.stuartweitzman.com/

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2012-09-25-Fashion-Weitzman-Young%20Hollywood/id-01436a131188437c8fb28e04d9e202ba

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Economists' surprising election-year request: Raise taxes, please!

In a survey of economists who work mostly for banks and businesses, a majority said some additional tax revenue is needed, along with spending cuts, to reduce the federal budget deficit.

By Mark Trumbull,?Staff writer / September 24, 2012

The American flag flies at the US Capitol, in this February 2009 file photo, in Washington. Economists who work for the nation's businesses have a surprising request during an election year: raise taxes.

Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP/File

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Economists who work for the nation's businesses have a request that sounds off-key in a US election year: Taxes should go higher.

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They aren't asking Congress to raise taxes right away, but their argument in a newly released survey is that federal deficits need to be controlled, and that more revenue is part of the answer.

"The vast majority of survey respondents favors some combination of higher taxes and reduced spending to reduce the federal budget deficit," says a report from the National Association for Business Economics (NABE), which conducted the survey in August.

Even President Obama, while calling for higher taxes on high-income Americans, doesn't couch his argument in rhetoric saying "I like higher taxes." He explains that he's been a tax cutter in his first term, but that the richest Americans need to chip in more in tough times.

In the survey of 236 economists, who work mostly for banks and businesses, only one-third said that fiscal policy should be "tightened," as would occur with tax hikes, over the next year. But a majority said policy should become tighter starting in 2014.

When asked "How Should Congress Reduce the Federal Budget Deficit?," participants were asked to pick from among five fiscal policy options. The most common response was "equally with spending cuts and tax increases" (selected by 45 percent), followed by "mostly with spending cuts" (31 percent), "mostly with tax increases" (14 percent), "only with spending cuts (9 percent), and "only with tax increases (1 percent).

On its face, the survey appears to show more support for Obama-style policies than for those advocated by the president's Republican challenger, Mitt Romney. President Obama, after all, has consistently and loudly called for a "balanced" approach that includes both spending cuts and tax hikes.

The survey found 90 percent of respondents supporting some blend of those two methods of reducing deficits, while Romney's espousal of "revenue neutral" tax reform lines up most closely with the 9 percent of economists in the survey who called for "spending cuts only."

At the same time, it's important not to interpret the survey too strongly as an endorsement for Obama from the economics profession.

The results do show a clear skepticism for the no-new-taxes appeal that has become a hallmark of Republican fiscal policy. But they also show a strong tilt toward spending discipline ? a bigger emphasis for Romney than for Obama ? with 40 percent of those surveyed in either the "mostly spending cuts" or "only spending cuts" camps. By contrast, only 15 percent favored mostly or only tax increases.

Survey participants weren't asked whether they would side with a particular political party, candidate, or policy proposal. Both parties have some history of failure when it comes to curbing federal deficits.

Many budget-policy experts are skeptical of whether Republicans, if holding the levers of both Congress and the White House, could really reduce federal spending to 20 percent of gross domestic product, as Romney has called for.

Similarly, on the Democratic side, Obama's tax-increase proposals are arguably more tangible than his spending-cut plans. Journalists at the fact-checking website Politifact assessed Obama's claim to have a plan to "cut our deficits by $4 trillion" during the next decade. Their analysis cited some $1.7 trillion in proposed revenue increases, alongside spending plans that rely heavily on automatic spending cuts in a 2011 law ? a law that is widely viewed as a place holder rather than a long-term plan on spending.

The reluctance among economists to impose budget discipline in 2013 highlights another side of America's dilemma over government: What to do about the so-called "fiscal cliff."

At the end of the year, a large volume of tax cuts are scheduled to expire even as automatic spending cuts kick in. Economists, including those in the survey, worry that such sudden tightening of fiscal policy could cause a recession next year. "A majority of respondents would prefer that both monetary and fiscal policies become more stimulative or remain unchanged in 2013," says the NABE report summarizing the survey.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/SGbnlXAnvsc/Economists-surprising-election-year-request-Raise-taxes-please

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