Automobile insurance coverage is certainly essential and very advantageous. Essential, as in most areas it is mandated by law that all car owners have it and helpful because as customers, this is a way to be protected against loses and liabilities that could be incurred in accidents. With this in thoughts, it is of utmost importance that we get the very best offer achievable from insurance organizations. There are a handful of crucial points that want to be noted in order to accomplish this.
Collect and Evaluate. Just before getting something, it is important to survey the industry, get information on the distinct costs and delivers in order to make the right choice on exactly where it is greatest to purchase the item. This also applies to insurance coverage for automobiles. You need to be capable to make an auto insurance coverage quotes comparison from the prices that are provided by different companies. This ensures that you are not shortchanged or offered the raw end of the deal by an insurance coverage provider.
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Credit Counts. Always bear in mind that aside form the situation of the car you are getting insurance coverage for, a single of the principal considerations for the quote you obtain is your credit rating and record. Make certain that your credit record is correct and have any errors corrected promptly so it does not have an effect on your automobile insurance rate. Probabilities are, the larger your credit score, the better your auto insurance coverage quote will be.
Ask Concerns. When you happen to be nearing the final stages of picking an insurance organization based on the initial info you gathered from your auto insurance quotes comparison make positive to get in touch with the ones at the leading of your list straight as an alternative of going by means of an agent. Ask concerns that will give you the answers you want to finalize your choice. These can contain queries regarding any coverage that can be deleted from your quote, such as rental or roadside assistance or discounts that might be availed like prior coverage or property owners. Also, get assurance from the company representative that your auto insurance coverage policy will not lapse for any purpose as extended as your payments are in order.
If you are conscious of these crucial reminders whilst scouting for an insurance policy for your automobile, odds are you will be able to deduct a considerable quantity on its general price. Once you?ve purchased the insurance, keep in mind that how effectively you drive and how a lot you pay focus to the upkeep of your automobile will also make a huge difference the subsequent time you make an auto insurance coverage quotes comparison to renew insurance coverage.
A team of scientists, led by researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, has shown for the first time how cancer cells control the ON/OFF switch of a program used by developing embryos to effectively metastasize in vivo, breaking free and spreading to other parts of the body, where they can proliferate and grow into secondary tumors.
The findings are published in the December 11 issue of the journalCancer Cell.
In 90 percent of cancer deaths, it is the spreading of cancer, known as metastasis, which ultimately kills the patient by impacting ever-more tissues and functions until the body fails. Ten years ago, a French cancer researcher named Jean Paul Thiery hypothesized that tumor cells metastasized by exploiting a developmental process known as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT.
EMT is seen in developing embryos whose cells transform from stationary epithelial cells into more mobile mesenchymal cells, the latter able to migrate to new locations and create new types of tissue and organs. Thiery proposed that cancer cells also switch "ON" EMT, temporarily changing attributes so that they can detach from primary tumors, enter the bloodstream and seed new tumors elsewhere. After arriving at a new location, the cancer cells then turn "OFF" the EMT program and grow into carcinoma metastases or tumors.
Thiery's hypothesis was controversial because researchers haven't been able to find supporting evidential proof in vivo. "Although this model was proposed in 2002, there have been no experiments done to attest to it in a spontaneous tumor model," said Jing Yang, PhD, associate professor of pharmacology and pediatrics and senior author of the Cancer Cellpaper. "Our new study provides an in vivo demonstration of the reversible EMT in metastasis and helps to resolve the controversy on this leading theory in metastasis."
Using a mouse squamous cell carcinoma model, Jeff Tsai, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow in Yang's lab and first author of the study, with help from collaborators at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research in Cambridge, MA and The Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute in La Jolla, showed that activation of an EMT-inducing gene called Twist1 is sufficient to turn "ON" the EMT switch and promote carcinoma cells to disseminate into blood circulation. Equally importantly, the researchers found that turning "OFF" the EMT switch at distant sites is essential for disseminated tumor cells to proliferate and form metastases. Their findings indicate that reversible EMT likely represents a key driving force in human carcinoma metastasis.
"There are many similarities between developmental EMT and EMT in metastasis," Yang said. "Both processes seem to use the same cellular machineries and signaling pathways to activate the EMT program. During embryogenesis, the EMT program tends to be more permanent and epithelial cells commit to a mesenchymal fate. Our study shows that carcinoma cells need a reversible EMT to achieve efficient metastasis. It suggests that EMT reversion could be a critical step to wake up tumor cells from dormancy, a phenomenon in which cancer patients develop metastasis years after the initial primary tumor diagnosis and removal."
It's not entirely known how Twist1 becomes active in primary tumors, though previous studies have pointed to factors like hypoxia and inflammation in the tumor microenvironment. Researchers do not know exactly how Twist1 is "turned off at distant organs." Yang said these are subjects of current experiments.
More broadly, the published findings suggest that more research is needed to determine how to target EMT to combat cancer metastasis. Several pharmaceuticals and research institutes are already pursuing EMT inhibitors as possible cancer treatments.
"Since reversion of EMT promotes colonization and growth of metastases, this study actually cautions that therapies inhibiting EMT could be counterproductive in preventing distant metastases when patients already present circulating tumor cells. Instead, blocking EMT reversion may prevent dormant tumor cells from establishing metastases."
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University of California - San Diego: http://www.ucsd.edu
Thanks to University of California - San Diego for this article.
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I?m writing this the day after Thanksgiving, also known in the retail world as Black Friday. This is one of the busiest, if not the busiest, shopping day of the year. I observed a number of sales people and customers in the stores at a very busy shopping mall. Here?s what I noticed.
By the way, even if you?re not a retailer, there are still some lessons here. Every business will have busier times than others. It doesn?t have to be because of a holiday rush. It can be after a trade show or seasonal. Now, back to Black Friday.
Customers were divided. Some were enjoying the experience of looking for sale items for themselves or for holiday gifts for friends and loved ones. Others seemed to be anything but casually shopping. They appeared to be on a mission. It was either for a particular item or store, or it was to get the best deals they could get on Black Friday. All of the customers had one thing in common: they were going to encounter busy stores, long lines and overworked sales people.
The sales people were busy ? very busy. In some cases, almost too busy.
Some stores were busier than others, and of course, the check-out lines were longer than usual. This was testing the patience of some of the customers.
As a business, we must be prepared for these busier times. If we work hard to create a customer focused brand, we can?t let the holiday rush, the extended hours and demanding customers erode what we?ve worked for. No, if anything we need to up our game and deliver an even better level of service. First for our existing customers, and second because new customers will find their way into our stores, and if you want them back, then the customer service experience had better be amazing.
So, how can we do it? Here are five simple and common sense strategies. This isn?t really new as much as they are important reminders.
Make sure you are staffed well. Wait times for the customer shouldn?t be too different than other busy times. Sales people must be available. If the customer feels they are waiting too long, or they see a long line, they may get frustrated and leave.
Make sure you are staffed well. Wait times for the customer shouldn?t be too different than other busy times. Sales people must be available. If the customer feels they are waiting too long, or they see a long line, they may get frustrated and leave.
Train the staff for the busy times. Prepare them. Give them some tips on how to deal with more than one customer at a time. Expect it will be busy.
Motivate them. If ever there was a time for a team meeting before you opened every day, this is the time. Get employees excited about the prospect of breaking sales numbers, but delivering great service along the way. Talk about what happened the day before and plan to repeat the good and avoid the bad.
Have a contest of some kind. Make the day fun.
Model the right behavior. Treat the employees the way you want your customers treated, and expect everyone else to do the same.
Okay, it?s holiday time! Let?s get to work ? and have an amazing holiday!
ScienceDaily (Nov. 28, 2012) ? Researchers from North Carolina State University and the University of Oregon have found a way to exploit cloud-based Web browsers, using them to perform large-scale computing tasks anonymously. The finding has potential ramifications for the security of "cloud browser" services.
At issue are cloud browsers, which create a Web interface in the cloud so that computing is done there rather than on a user's machine. This is particularly useful for mobile devices, such as smartphones, which have limited computing power.The cloud-computing paradigm pools the computational power and storage of multiple computers, allowing shared resources for multiple users.
"Think of a cloud browser as being just like the browser on your desktop computer, but working entirely in the cloud and providing only the resulting image to your screen," says Dr. William Enck, an assistant professor of computer science at NC State and co-author of a paper describing the research.
Because these cloud browsers are designed to perform complex functions, the researchers wanted to see if they could be used to perform a series of large-scale computations that had nothing to do with browsing. Specifically, the researchers wanted to determine if they could perform those functions using the "MapReduce" technique developed by Google, which facilitates coordinated computation involving parallel efforts by multiple machines.
The research team knew that coordinating any new series of computations would entail passing large packets of data between different nodes, or cloud browsers. To address this challenge, researchers stored data packets on bit.ly and other URL-shortening sites, and then passed the resulting "links" between various nodes.
Using this technique, the researchers were able to perform standard computation functions using data packets that were 1, 10 and 100 megabytes in size. "It could have been much larger," Enck says, "but we did not want to be an undue burden on any of the free services we were using."
"We've shown that this can be done," Enck adds. "And one of the broader ramifications of this is that it could be done anonymously. For instance, a third party could easily abuse these systems, taking the free computational power and using it to crack passwords."
However, Enck says cloud browsers can protect themselves to some extent by requiring users to create accounts -- and then putting limits on how those accounts are used. This would make it easier to detect potential problems.
The paper, "Abusing Cloud-Based Browsers for Fun and Profit," will be presented Dec. 6 at the 2012 Annual Computer Security Applications Conference in Orlando, Fla. The paper was co-authored by Vasant Tendulkar and Ashwin Shashidharan, graduate students at NC State, and Joe Pletcher, Ryan Snyder and Dr. Kevin Butler, of the University of Oregon. The research was supported by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Army Research Office.
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In association with time, Visual Communication Design is often influenced by the world of business, technology, theory or new concepts, new media and lifestyle with all its demands. Scope of Visual Communication Design increasingly broad and complex over the past 15 years, especially since the global economic crisis in 2008. So to achieve yield optimization qualified Visual Communication Design will need new strategies and tactics. Design Ethics, acts as a concept in the achievement of quality outcomes.
Ethics
The word 'ethics' comes from the Greek word ethos, which means "character" (customs, indigenous, practice), regarding actions within the framework of good and evil, right and wrong. Often associated that goodness is seen as the key ethical. The truth (the truth) to one aspect of that fullness. Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong conduct.
Design
Design is the creation of a plan or convention for the construction of human problem-solving efforts to produce work in meeting the needs, the needs and desires of the community group. Design is the creation of a plan or convention for the construction of an object or a system (as in architectural blueprints, engineering drawing, business process, circuit diagrams and sewing patterns).
The Design Ethic
The design ethic which will be discussed here is limited to Visual Communication Design or Graphic Design, a creative approach and consideration of the essential and ideal in achieving the integral design optimization, the concept can be analyzed in several aspects as follows:
Right Design
Alternatively referred to as deontological theory, emphasizing the obligation or formalistic, also emphasizes the processes and principles (in Graphic Design education is likely to be ignored these days).
Elements of the design should be based on the concept or basis for planning including:
Background
Problems
Purpose / Objective / Goal
Strategy and Tactics
The emphasis on the process:
Examined factually
Be more objective
Work manually from the beginning of the process will be prioritized rather than with a computer
Approach to culture and nature is a priority. In the code of conduct: no plagiarism, obey copyright laws.
Good Design
Otherwise known as the theory of Axiology. Consideration is harmony and beauty, aesthetic and 'Good-looking' oriented. The characteristics:
more subjective.
Meets or Graphic Design or Visual Communication function as informative and identical.
The emphasis on the outcome or final destination (this tends to be done on modern graphic design education).
Tend to depend on the device (computer).
Instant.
Involve many concepts of marketing communications.
Acceptable / communicative
That a work can be accepted by the public (the target) in accordance with aspects of the geographic, demographic, psychographic and particular goals, such as social class, lifestyle, habits, personality, attitudes, motivation. All close to the culture and norms. It also includes communication approach: emotional, rational and moral.
values
Human-To-Human Relationship
Ease (sign and all other information media)
Comfort (campaigns, packaging)
Security (sign, campaign)
Welfare (campaign)
Beauty (magazines, books, posters)
Supports promotion (advertising)
Fun / entertainment (various media)
Human Environment Relationship
The balance of the eco-system through campaigns and propaganda or any Graphic Design programs
Human-To-The Creator Relationship
Religious values ??(various media)
Value added
As the demands of the 21st century, starting in the early 1990s, the "Good Design not Enough". That good design need to be value-added, such as some of the following approaches:
additional information
Cross-disipline
Cross-culture
Green or Sustainable
New aesthetic
More visionary
Ideal Design Ethic is a true integration of right design, good design, and other values??.
A human-caused climate change signal emerges from the noisePublic release date: 29-Nov-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Anne Stark stark8@llnl.gov 925-422-9799 DOE/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Livermore, Calif. -- By comparing simulations from 20 different computer models to satellite observations, Lawrence Livermore climate scientists and colleagues from 16 other organizations have found that tropospheric and stratospheric temperature changes are clearly related to human activities.
The team looked at geographical patterns of atmospheric temperature change over the period of satellite observations. The team's goal of the study was to determine whether previous findings of a "discernible human influence" on tropospheric and stratospheric temperature were sensitive to current uncertainties in climate models and satellite data.
The troposphere is the lowest portion of earth's atmosphere. The stratosphere sits just above the troposphere, between 6 and 30 miles above earth's surface.
The satellite temperature data sets were produced by three different research groups, and rely on measurements of the microwave emissions of oxygen molecules. Each group made different choices in processing these raw measurements, and in accounting for such complex effects as drifts in satellite orbits and in instrument calibrations.
The new climate model simulations analyzed by the team will form the scientific backbone of the upcoming 5th assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which is due out in 2014.
In both satellite observations and the computer model simulations of historical climate change, the lower stratosphere cools markedly over the past 33 years. This cooling is primarily a response to the human-caused depletion of stratospheric ozone. The observations and model simulations also show a common pattern of large-scale warming of the lower troposphere, with largest warming over the Arctic, and muted warming (or even cooling) over Antarctica. Tropospheric warming is mainly driven by human-caused increases in well-mixed greenhouse gases.
"It's very unlikely that purely natural causes can explain these distinctive patterns of temperature change," said Laboratory atmospheric scientist Benjamin Santer, who is lead author of the paper appearing in the Nov. 29 online edition of the journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "No known mode of natural climate variability can cause sustained, global-scale warming of the troposphere and cooling of the lower stratosphere."
The team analyzed results from climate model simulations with specified historical changes in human and natural external factors, and from simulations with projected 21st century changes in greenhouse gases and anthropogenic aerosols. They also looked at simulations with no changes in external influences on climate, which provide information on the year-to-year and decade-to-decade "noise" of internal climate variability, arising from such natural phenomena as the El Nio/Southern Oscillation and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation.
The team used a standard "climate fingerprint" method to search for the model signal pattern (in response to human influences, the sun and volcanoes) in the satellite observations. The method quantifies the strength of the signal in observations, relative to the strength of the signal in natural climate noise.
###
Other contributors include researchers from Remote Sensing Systems of Santa Rosa; the Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research, Melbourne, Australia; the Canadian Centre for Climate Modeling and Analysis, Victoria, Canada; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, Princeton; the University of Colorado, Boulder; the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge; the U.K. Met. Office Hadley Centre, Exeter, U.K.; the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Toulouse, France; North Carolina State University; the National Climatic Data Center, Asheville; Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; the National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder; the University of Adelaide, South Australia; the University of Reading, U.K.; and the Center for Satellite Applications and Research, Camp Springs. The paper is Santer's inaugural article as a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences.
Founded in 1952, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory provides solutions to our nation's most important national security challenges through innovative science, engineering and technology. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is managed by Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration.
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
A human-caused climate change signal emerges from the noisePublic release date: 29-Nov-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Anne Stark stark8@llnl.gov 925-422-9799 DOE/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Livermore, Calif. -- By comparing simulations from 20 different computer models to satellite observations, Lawrence Livermore climate scientists and colleagues from 16 other organizations have found that tropospheric and stratospheric temperature changes are clearly related to human activities.
The team looked at geographical patterns of atmospheric temperature change over the period of satellite observations. The team's goal of the study was to determine whether previous findings of a "discernible human influence" on tropospheric and stratospheric temperature were sensitive to current uncertainties in climate models and satellite data.
The troposphere is the lowest portion of earth's atmosphere. The stratosphere sits just above the troposphere, between 6 and 30 miles above earth's surface.
The satellite temperature data sets were produced by three different research groups, and rely on measurements of the microwave emissions of oxygen molecules. Each group made different choices in processing these raw measurements, and in accounting for such complex effects as drifts in satellite orbits and in instrument calibrations.
The new climate model simulations analyzed by the team will form the scientific backbone of the upcoming 5th assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which is due out in 2014.
In both satellite observations and the computer model simulations of historical climate change, the lower stratosphere cools markedly over the past 33 years. This cooling is primarily a response to the human-caused depletion of stratospheric ozone. The observations and model simulations also show a common pattern of large-scale warming of the lower troposphere, with largest warming over the Arctic, and muted warming (or even cooling) over Antarctica. Tropospheric warming is mainly driven by human-caused increases in well-mixed greenhouse gases.
"It's very unlikely that purely natural causes can explain these distinctive patterns of temperature change," said Laboratory atmospheric scientist Benjamin Santer, who is lead author of the paper appearing in the Nov. 29 online edition of the journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "No known mode of natural climate variability can cause sustained, global-scale warming of the troposphere and cooling of the lower stratosphere."
The team analyzed results from climate model simulations with specified historical changes in human and natural external factors, and from simulations with projected 21st century changes in greenhouse gases and anthropogenic aerosols. They also looked at simulations with no changes in external influences on climate, which provide information on the year-to-year and decade-to-decade "noise" of internal climate variability, arising from such natural phenomena as the El Nio/Southern Oscillation and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation.
The team used a standard "climate fingerprint" method to search for the model signal pattern (in response to human influences, the sun and volcanoes) in the satellite observations. The method quantifies the strength of the signal in observations, relative to the strength of the signal in natural climate noise.
###
Other contributors include researchers from Remote Sensing Systems of Santa Rosa; the Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research, Melbourne, Australia; the Canadian Centre for Climate Modeling and Analysis, Victoria, Canada; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, Princeton; the University of Colorado, Boulder; the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge; the U.K. Met. Office Hadley Centre, Exeter, U.K.; the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Toulouse, France; North Carolina State University; the National Climatic Data Center, Asheville; Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; the National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder; the University of Adelaide, South Australia; the University of Reading, U.K.; and the Center for Satellite Applications and Research, Camp Springs. The paper is Santer's inaugural article as a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences.
Founded in 1952, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory provides solutions to our nation's most important national security challenges through innovative science, engineering and technology. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is managed by Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration.
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
The inaugural Narrows Umpires Camp will take place at Pacific Lutheran University on Dec. 1 and Dec. 2. Tripp Gibson, who is an umpire at the Triple-A level in the Pacific Coast League of the minor leagues, will be the chief instructor for the camp.
The camp costs $100 per participant and the registration deadline is Nov. 26. For more information, call Harry Soete at 360-265-6488 or reach him by email at harrysoete@yahoo.com
ScienceDaily (Nov. 28, 2012) ? Most Ontario adults are drinking responsibly, and fewer are smoking or using illicit substances -- but several areas of concern were found in the 2011 CAMH Monitor survey of substance use trends, released November 28 by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).
"More young adults are reporting that they drive within an hour of using cannabis -- even more than those who report drinking and driving," says Dr. Robert Mann, CAMH Senior Scientist and lead researcher. "Yet the risks of doing so are significant." Nine per cent of 18- to 29-year-olds report driving after cannabis use, versus six per cent in this age range who report drinking two or more drinks and driving.
The 2011 CAMH Monitor, which included 3,039 adults aged 18 or older from across Ontario, is the longest ongoing survey of adult substance use in Canada.
Cannabis users are also aging, the survey found. Those aged 50 or older now account for 16 per cent of all adult users of cannabis, which is five times higher than in 1977.
Alcohol Use
Most Ontario adults report drinking alcohol in the past year (81 per cent), but the majority does not drink excessively. Alcohol use is a concern when there are harmful drinking patterns, which occur in certain groups.
"Women are drinking more than in the past," says Dr. Mann. "Several key drinking indicators show an increase among women." Six per cent of women reported a pattern of drinking daily in 2011, compared to three percent in 1998. About eight per cent of women were drinking in ways that were hazardous or harmful, up from five per cent in 1998.
"Binge drinking also remains high, particularly among 18- to 29-year olds," notes Dr. Mann. "Overall, nine per cent of Ontario drinkers consume five or more drinks at one time each week, which represents 691,700 people." The survey also showed that the average number of drinks consumed weekly has increased, as has the number of drinkers overall who report daily drinking.
Non-medical Prescription Opioid Use
There was some good news, with the reduction in non-medical use of prescription opioids, which has been a concern in recent years. Use dropped by half between 2010 and 2011, down to four per cent in 2011.
This decline may be the result of Ontario's Narcotics Strategy as well as other policy measures to reduce the non-medical use of these powerful, addictive drugs, Dr. Mann suggests.
Mental Health
One in seven Ontario adults (17 per cent) report elevated psychological distress, with rates highest among those aged 18 to 29. "This type of distress can reduce people's ability to function effectively socially and emotionally," says Dr. Mann.
Seven per cent of adults reported using an anxiety medication, and seven per cent took a depression medication. These medications were most likely to be used by those aged 40 to 49, and in the case of antidepressants, by women in this age range.
Smoking
Smoking rates have been declining steadily for years in Ontario. Currently 15 per cent, or 1.4 million Ontarians, say they are smokers. However, this rate may be leveling off, says Dr. Mann. "The 15 per cent remains three times higher than the Cancer Care Ontario target of five per cent."
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Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
In this July 6, 2011, file photo, President Barack Obama sits in front of a screen displaying a question he tweeted??Looking for leverage in "fiscal cliff" talks with Republicans, President Barack Obama on Wednesday was to host middle-class Americans whose taxes risk going up January 1 then retreat behind closed doors for talks with top corporate executives. The White House also worked to enlist support on Twitter, highlighting a hashtag, #My2K, for tweets about the standoff.
Obama planned to deliver a speech at 11:35 a.m. to press Congress to extend Bush-era tax cuts on income up to $200,000 for individuals and $250,000 for families ? surrounded by Americans who stand to be affected when those reductions expire January 1.
The White House says that "a typical middle class family of four" would pay Uncle Sam an additional $2,200 unless those tax cuts are extended. Obama campaigned for reelection in large part on the argument that tax cuts that chiefly benefit the richest Americans? must expire in order to save popular government programs that face the axe. Republicans argue that will reduce investments that generate jobs at a time when the economy is still sputtering, with unemployment stubbornly high. The GOP has signaled it would be willing to consider boosting tax revenues as long as Democrats agree to overhaul popular entitlement programs like Medicare or Medicaid.
That $2,200 figure is the inspiration for #My2K, part of what the White House describes as an "online push" behind the president's approach. Obama has highlighted Twitter hashtags in past disputes with Republicans: #40dollars in the fight over the payroll tax holiday and #dontdoublemyrate in a feud over student loans.
The president, who spoke to top Republican and Democratic leaders over the weekend, was to make brief public remarks at the top of a meeting with his cabinet at 3 pm before huddling with senior executives from major American corporations.
Here is the list of attendees, as provided by the White House:
Frank Blake, Chairman and CEO, The Home Depot
Lloyd Blankfein, Chairman and CEO, Goldman Sachs Group
Joe Echeverria, CEO, Deloitte LLP
Ken Frazier, President and CEO, Merck and Co.
Muhtar Kent, Chairman and CEO, Coca Cola
Terry Lundgren, Chairman, President, and CEO, Macy's Inc.
Marissa Mayer, CEO and President, Yahoo!
Douglas Oberhelman, Chairman and CEO, Caterpillar
Ian Read, Chairman and CEO, Pfizer
Brian Roberts, Chairman and CEO, Comcast
Ed Rust, Chairman and CEO, State Farm Insurance Co.
Arne Sorenson, President and CEO, Marriott
Randall Stephenson, Chairman and CEO, AT&T
Patricia Woertz, President and CEO, Archer Daniels Midland
The "fiscal cliff" refers to an economically painful set of tax hikes and deep spending cuts that come into effect January 1 unless Congress and the president reach a deal.
Do you really love your car? Do you really care your car? Well, car is as precious as your home, right? This is the main reason why you need to bring the perfect protection to your car because you?ll never know what will happen in the next time, isn?t it? Who will know that one day you will have some troubles with your car and you need extra money to fix it. That?s why protection is something which is required for every car owner.
If you want to save your money, if you want to live happily with your family, you have to think how to protect your property. Yup, it is about car insurance. In these days, there are so many people who have known that having insurance to protect their car or vehicle is very important. If you have car accident and you need to repair it, you don?t need to spend much money because you have had a company that will cover your problem. This is also the reason why choosing the right insurance company is important.
My suggestion here is, please do something that will protect your property than you have to regret later. Choose the best insurance company for your car.
ScienceDaily (Nov. 28, 2012) ? People are able to detect, within a split second, if a hurtful action they are witnessing is intentional or accidental, new research on the brain at the University of Chicago shows.
The study is the first to explain how the brain is hard-wired to recognize when another person is being intentionally harmed. It also provides new insights into how such recognition is connected with emotion and morality, said lead author Jean Decety, the Irving B. Harris Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at UChicago.
"Our data strongly support the notion that determining intentionality is the first step in moral computations," said Decety, who conducted research on the topic with Stephanie Cacioppo, a research associate (assistant professor) in psychology at UChicago. They published the results in a paper, "The Speed of Morality: A High-Density Electrical Neurological Study," to be published Dec. 1 and now on early preview in the Journal of Neurophysiology.
The researchers studied adults who watched videos of people who suffered accidental harm (such as being hit with a golf club) and intentional harm (such as being struck with a baseball bat). While watching the videos, brain activity was collected with equipment that accurately maps responses in different regions of the brain and importantly, the timing between these regions. The technique is known as high-density, event-related potentials technology.
The intentional harm sequence produced a response in the brain almost instantly. The study showed that within 60 milliseconds, the right posterior superior temporal sulcus (also known as TPJ area), located in the back of the brain, was first activated, with different activity depending on whether the harm was intentional or accidental. It was followed in quick succession by the amygdala, often linked with emotion, and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (180 milliseconds), the portion of the brain that plays a critical role in moral decision-making.
There was no such response in the amygdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortex when the harm was accidental.
Other studies with functional MRI scans, including those in Decety's lab, have shown that those areas of the brain become activated when people see others intentionally harmed, but those studies have been unable to separate or time the way the various parts of the brain may work together.
"High-density ERPs can identify spatio-temporal patterns of communication between regions that contrast analyses (such as fMRI) with low temporal resolution may not detect, and such methods are necessary to advance knowledge of neuroscience of morality," said Cacioppo.
The ability to recognize and respond emotionally to the intentional infliction of harm is a critical source of morality that is universal across cultures, researchers believe. "It is part of humans' evolutionary heritage," Decety said. "The long history of mammalian evolution has shaped our brains to be sensitive to signs of suffering of others. And this constitutes a natural foundation for morality and sensitivity to justice."
Philosophers have debated the origins of this moral response for ages. Some maintain that moral judgments begin with an immediate aversive reaction to perceived or imagined harm to victims, though the full moral judgment may form only after the fact. Other philosophers maintain that moral principals develop from reason alone and are not connected to emotion.
The new research suggests that emotion and the perception of intentionality, rather than deliberate reasoning, comprise the vital first component of moral responses -- at least for responses that stem from care for others Decety said.
The research may help inform other areas of neurodevelopment research, including studies of the moral responses of psychopaths and of children who lack empathy for others, displaying what are called callous-unemotional traits.
The National Science Foundation and the Swiss National Science Foundation supported the research.
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Chicago. The original article was written by William Harms.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
J. Decety, S. Cacioppo. The speed of morality: a high-density electrical neuroimaging study. Journal of Neurophysiology, 2012; DOI: 10.1152/jn.00473.2012
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
To finish a degree, you must have college algebra, that's exactly what most majors think. Every single year a half of million university students take college algebra. This number a good reason for brand new studies with algebra courses - more interest from students can be made, higher success rates can be achieved and students could have better retention rates.Adequate college algebra help is given to the university students nowadays.
Survey Results All kinds of students have a problem with algebra and they need to devote lots of time to complete this class. This can be noticed in popular schools too, the gifted folks are hindered by algebra, not to mention trigonometry and calculus. There are students taking these courses 3 or 4 and even higher number of times to be able to complete the algebra exams. Some of them are seen taking additional college algebra help. The statistics say that 60 percent of students end up getting a bachelor's degree. When we compare algebra grades with the grades in different subjects, we find that we now have much more F's and D's.
Popular Reasons For Choosing Algebra
The fundamental reason why students go for algebra would be to fulfill a college or state requirement. The majority of students take up a standard College Algebra, based upon 1950's curriculum with the aim to prepare them for Calculus. Yet, it is seen that 90% of individuals won't ever take Calculus. Hence the traditional College Algebra along with its content are thought to be irrelevant and are just looked upon as a dreary obstacle to get a college education.
Why Choose A New Approach
If we did not have mathematics, the society would not succeed. We have to study ratios, decimals, rates and build numerical skills. Only a decent grounding in mathematics can hone these abilities. Investment opportunities, animated movies, airfare ticket costs are strengthened by Algebraic algorithms. Young people need to understand how those things work. There's a certain ideology behind the numbers, and algebra allows us to recognize and understand that ideology. The modern day times that we live in are statistical and that requires more informed citizenship. What is essentially needed is a greater comprehension of different numbers. College algebra assistance goes a long distance to fully grasp those book formulas and what they actually convey.
Once we figure out the idea behind these formulations, we are more intellectually proficient and more mindful of our surroundings. Hence, it's easy to understand why MIT or Caltech want each one of us to be proficient in mathematics. Math, applied or pure, is quite essential for the progress of our civilization. In an effort to decrease the ordeal and make algebra more attractive, exciting courses and college algebra help familiarize students with kinds of statistics that summarize our private and public life, whether the sphere is electronic or visual.
The Final Thoughts On College Algebra
The first year of geometry is a requirement for all higher-level math, trigonometry, calculus and algebra II. Students having high-level math course are more prone to do well in college math. Latest survey has found that reading along with math skills are required to work as plumber, electrician and even upholsterer. Algebra is, the portal to success these days. The college students, with a little college algebra help can make successful changeover from solid arithmetic to the symbolic language of algebra.
"I?m not a big burger guy or anything, but Kuma?s is pretty fucking phenomenal," says Fec.
?
Touring musicians have a great gig. Rock and roll! It?s doubly great when they?re interested in exploring the international culinary world. We do realize some bands subsist solely on Taco Bell and Coke Zero. Shame on them! There?s Hatch chile to sample in New Mexico.?Pappy Van Winkle?in Kentucky. Doppelbock outside Hamburg. Tortas on the California-Mexico border. In?Good Food, Rocks, we track down a band member serious about their grub ? and who has held a job in the food industry too.
?When I?m recording, eating becomes kind of a burden,? reveals Black Moth Super Rainbow creative center Tobacco (n? Tom Fec). ?When I get into the zone, I just want to go for 16 hours straight. I dump a can of chickpeas into a bowl and try to drink them down as fast as possible.?
The statement, which comes at the end of a 30-minute call with the Pittsburgh musician, is a bit of a shocker, as we've just talked extensively about barrel-aging Negronis, Pequod?s vs. Burts (it?s a Chicago pizza thing), Philly chef Marc Vetri and the masterful barbecue at his hometown favorite Union Pig and Chicken. It turns out that homeboy is really into food, but aparently art comes first. And bless him for it. BMSR's latest album, Cobra Juicy, is one of the year?s best ? a collection of songs built around Reagan-era analog synths and tape machines mingling with everything from Beck guitar licks to the bass lines and buzz saws of a midnight Justice?set. You can hear it live in a city near you. And if you like it, buy the man a bourbon. Small batch, of course. ??
Have you had any jobs in the food service industry? I was a busboy at an upscale Italian place for one day. The owner was weird, the manager was weird and everyone just sucked, so I just didn?t come back.
So that?s your food career right there? I actually always wanted to work at a pizza place and I still kind of do, but I never did it. Maybe one day, just for fun.
What?s your fascination with pizza? It?s not even the pizza. I guess I just created a fantasy in my head where hanging out with friends, driving around and delivering pizzas to all these weird people in town would just be so much fun. I?m at that point where I definitely don?t need to get any kind of job, but want that all to be kind of my hobby.
Do you like pizza? Do you make it at home? I don?t make it, but I like it. I?m getting pickier as I get older I think. When you find really good shit, it?s hard to then go back. There?s this one place in town that?s about a half-hour outside of the city that not a lot of people know about. The crust is almost a pastry ? it?s buttery and the sauce is really sweet. I?ve never had anything even similar to it. It?s called Jioio?s.
Tell me more about the dining scene in Pittsburgh?It?s pretty underrated and dare I say unknown. Yeah, you just have to dig in. Over the past two years some things have really popped up. I wouldn?t say it exploded here or anything, and it?s not like you have a shitload of options. But you can find one or two of each type of food that is amazing, even better than other cities. I don?t want to start a controversy, but I think some of the best things that I?ve had here are better than I?ve had in New York.
Let?s start some controversy? We have this barbecue called Union Pig and Chicken. I?m going to guess that people around here would consider [Kevin Sousa] our local star chef because he also owns Salt of the Earth and runs this hot dog place. Union Pig and Chicken is hands-down the best barbecue I?ve ever had, including in the South.
And you?ve toured the South, like Texas and Mississippi? Yeah. I?d say the second best I?ve ever had was in St. Louis ? I can?t remember the name of the place ? but I?ve been everywhere in the country and this guy has the best barbecue. It?s not even close.
What food item that Pittsburgh is known for? Well, that?s the thing. I?m not proud of what Pittsburgh is known for. I hate this because any time I have friends who are coming through, they are like, ?We have to go to Primanti Brothers!? And that?s fucking gross. Have you heard of this place?
Yeah, it?s like a place that you see on The Food Network? Probably, I?m sure. It?s what we?re most famous for, which is really any kind of shitty sandwich covered in coleslaw and fries. They?re open all night, which is their thing, but it?s just trash. Greasy food is great, but they don?t even do that well [laughs]. I?m going to get killed if anyone from Pittsburgh sees this!
It?s like delis getting a lot of press in New York, but they all fucking suck. What are some of your favorite cities around the world for the food? Number two would be Philly and that?s mainly because one of my best friends from high school works at a few restaurants there. He works at Osteria and Vetri. He knows how to show us around, so I?m a little biased towards that city. In terms of finding stuff on my own, my favorite city is Chicago.
Where do you like eating in Chicago? I?m not a big burger guy or anything, but Kuma?s is pretty fucking phenomenal. I?ve never had a burger that good anywhere else. Then the pizza ? if you go outside of that typical Chicago pizza ? there?s a place called Pequod?s. The guy who started Pequod?s left and is doing his own thing at Burt?s. Pequod?s is amazing and most people would say it?s better, but I like Burt?s even more because it?s more eccentric and apparently the guy picks up all of the shit on the way in to work. Everything is super fresh and it?s made with care because he?s the only one back there.
What food and drink is on your tour rider when you?re on the road? I like to go really simple. The hardest thing to find when you?re on tour and waiting at a venue is fruits and vegetables, and that?s all that I want. I need blueberries, avocados, broccoli, celery, strawberries and shit like that. And you don?t always get it.
You sound like you?re pretty health-conscious? Do you drink? I?m pretty healthy. I like a good cocktail or a really good liquor. If it?s something different, I?m totally down.
What kind of cocktails do you like? My friend in Philly designs the alcohol menu for the Vetri restaurants and got me into Negronis hardcore. We got a barrel here at our house and I?ve been aging my own kind of Negronis. Artichoke Negronis.
Oh, with Cynar? Yeah, yeah.
Why barrel-age a cocktail? It just mellows out. Especially a drink like a Negroni. Campari is fucking rough. It?s like ehhhh and gets into your throat. The barrel takes the edge off of it and totally smooths it out. It?s really nice. We got into that because there?s a place in Pittsburgh called Meat and Potatoes and they started doing barrel-aged Manhattans and Negronis recently, and it?s the best shit ever.
What kind of gin do you use in your Negronis? We?ve still been working on the best. Since we only have one barrel, we can only make it once a month. We?re still working it out. We?ve tried every kind. The latest batch was Bombay and that was pretty good.
Bombay is good. I personally like Beefeater because it has great juniper and isn?t too citrusy. My favorite is Hendrick?s, but it?s too much for a Negroni.
What other cocktails do you like to make at home or order on the road? I just like really simple stuff usually. When we?re on the road, unless we?re at an amazing cocktail place, I?d rather get something straight. Some people just go overboard ? even when you order something normal that you think is simple, it?s all sugared up. It?s just nasty. We?ll just try to find like one Prohibition-era kind of place in town and get one thing that?s really good. The best drinks that we?ve probably ever had were at Village Whiskey in Philadelphia. The burger is actually almost at Kuma?s level too.
Do you cook at home? Not really. I like to eat stuff really plain ? cut up an avocado, eat some celery. I think the most complex I like to get is like broccoli with pasta sauce. I like to eat really clean.
Why eat clean? I don?t know. I like to run a lot and when you?re digesting easier, it makes everything go smoother and I feel better. Right now, I?m so tired ? we just got home from tour yesterday ? I?m so tired from changing up my routine and eating so much crap. I couldn?t wait until this morning to just have blueberries and flaxseed. I also feel that since I?m not a great cook, I?d rather just once a week pay someone at a restaurant who is really good at it [laughs].
Do you run competitively? It?s just for my own personal sense of accomplishment. I?ve never been in a race but am definitely working on getting my times to a really good spot.
Chefs really like your music. Have you heard that before? I haven?t heard that but I also don?t know any chefs [laughs]. I?ve definitely never heard it in any of the restaurants that I go around town.
You have a lot of food imagery in your song titles. Does food play a role in the creative process? It?s not necessarily that, but I always like the song titles to be a major part of what the whole concept and art of it is. I like to create titles that you can?t really place ? but when you think about them and combine what I?m saying ? it creates its own new thing. I?ve always liked adding some kind of taste into my titles because if you can taste the title, you just think of it in a different way.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 dominates this year?s employment-related Supreme Court docket, with the Justices hearing two cases involving Title VII of that landmark law.
Also to be decided between now and next June: cases involving the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).
Questions to be decided
For 50 years, courts have been trying to settle what Title VII of the Civil Rights Act means to employers and employees.
This term, the Supreme Court will seek to define who is a supervisor under Title VII and what affirmative action should look like at this stage of the 21st century.
In the FLSA case, the Court will rule on legal tactics that potentially short-circuit collective actions by several employees.
Another case raises the issue of how far ERISA-covered plans can go to get reimbursed when beneficiaries also collect damages from other plans.
Two Title VII cases
In Vance v. ...(register to read more)
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Not much has changed since last week?s Option Index Update. The following still applies:
?Given that the option indices indicate significant weakness in a market that is barely holding onto bullishness, and that the market is now due for a breakout, it would not be surprising for something big to happen here. These are the types of conditions in which crashes occur. But they are also conditions that can produce a surprise year-end rally. Either way, the effects of any news in the coming weeks is likely to produce a highly amplified response in the markets.?
Follow up:
The most significant of the three option indices this week is the Long Straddle/Strangle Index (LSSI) which is hovering in an area that typically precedes a major move in the market. When the LSSI reaches the level where it is currently, it signifies that traders are likely beginning to feel impatient.
Bulls wanted to see a rally to all-time highs, and bears were betting that the looming fiscal cliff in the U.S. and fears of worldwide recession would result in a major sell-off. While the market has made some swings in both directions, over the past four months it has managed to become range bound. This condition satisfies neither the bulls nor the bears. Historically, the longer this condition remains, the bigger the move when one side finally overpowers the other.
For now, the market remains bullish, as indicated by the Covered Call/Naked Put Index (CCNPI). Covered call trading remains profitable, which often coincides with bullishness among traders. However, that bullishness has no strength behind it, as indicated by the weakness in the Long Call/Married Put Index (LCMPI). Long call trading is not currently profitable. What that means is that the bulls are still in control, but they may have one finger on the ?sell? button. The bears know that the bulls lack confidence now, and as a result they may have one finger on the ?short? button, just waiting for a low-confidence rally to press it.
Something big will likely come out of this build up of trading tensions. It could be six or eight weeks from now, or it could be next week. Until that surprise rally or all-out crash occurs, prices should tend to be choppy, moving the market sideways or slightly higher in the next week or so.
Option Index Definitions
The intent of each option index is to provide a snapshot of the emotions of traders. It is these emotions that drive the markets over the long term, not the news; the news is merely a catalyst that feeds into market emotions that were already present.
The performance of Covered Calls and Naked Puts reveals whether traders feel bullish or bearish.
The performance of Long Calls and Married Puts reveals whether traders feel a bull market is strong or weak.
The performance of Long Straddles and Strangles reveals whether traders feel the market is normal, has come too far and needs to correct, or has not moved far enough and needs to break out of its current range.
Because sellers of at-the-money covered calls or naked puts receive a premium from the buyer, either of those trades will result in a profit as long as the underlying price does not fall by a greater amount than the premium received. Generally, when covered calls or naked puts are profitable trades, it is an indication of a bull market. Likewise, when there is a bull market, it is often profitable to sell covered calls or naked puts.
An analysis of the performance of covered calls or naked puts opened a moderately long time prior to expiration (such as 112 days) can be useful:
In a downtrend ? Implied volatility is usually higher than usual and the premiums received on these trades are also higher. It is therefore possible for covered calls or naked puts to become profitable when prices are still falling, but no longer falling quickly enough to outpace the faster time decay of the unusually high premiums. Thus a positive 112-day CCNPI in a downtrend is often a bullish signal that marks the end of a downtrend, while a negative CCNPI generally signals that the downtrend will continue.
In an uptrend ? Implied volatility is generally low and the premiums received are lower as well. Covered calls and naked puts become much more sensitive to corrections in an uptrend, because there is a smaller premium to offset any decline in the underlying stock price. Thus a negative 112-day CCNPI often indicates the market has experienced more of a correction than would be expected in a healthy bull market. A negative 112-day CCNPI in an uptrend is a bearish signal that may mark the end of an uptrend, while a positive CCNPI generally signals that the uptrend will continue.
The 112-day CCNPI has been positive since mid-July and remained positive this week, and therefore is an indication of bullish emotions among traders. Traders ?want? to be bullish now, but they need strength to actually act bullish. Determining the strength of these bullish emotions requires a study of the Long Call/Married Put Index (LCMPI).
Because buyers of at-the-money long calls or married puts must pay a premium, these trades will only result in profits when the uptrend occurs quickly enough to offset the loss of value due to time decay. When long calls or married puts are profitable trades, it is an indication of a strong bull market. Likewise, only when there is a strong bull market is it profitable to buy calls or married puts.
An analysis of the performance of long calls or married puts opened a moderately long time prior to expiration (such as 112 days) can be useful:
At the beginning of an uptrend ? Implied volatility usually remains elevated for some time after the previous downtrend has ended, causing the premiums paid to open long calls or married puts to be higher than usual. Long calls and married puts only become profitable when the market has gained sufficient strength to overcome the inflated premiums. Thus, when a previously negative 112-day LCMPI turns positive, it often signals that a bull market has gained strength.
When an uptrend is well underway ? Implied volatility is generally low, and the premiums paid are much lower. Long calls and married puts only become unprofitable when the market has weakened so much that it cannot overcome the relatively low premiums. Thus, a when a previously positive 112-day LCMPI turns negative in an uptrend, it often signals that a bull market is weakening.
The 112-day LCMPI has been negative for several weeks now, indicating that bullish emotions are likely to be weak. Weakness is sometimes temporary, however weakness that lasts for more than a few weeks often leads to a bear market. Determining whether the bullish emotions, as shown by the CCNPI, and weakness of those emotions, as shown by the LCMPI, are justified requires a study of the Long Straddle/Strangle Index (LSSI).
Because buyers of straddles or strangles must pay two premiums, one for the call option and another for the put option, these trades will only result in a profit when the market moves up or down very strongly, so that the gains exceed the combined premiums. When a long straddle or strangle returns a substantial profit it is an indication that traders were taken by surprise ? they were complacent and those emotions were later proven to be unjustified when the market moved much more than they had expected. ?Likewise, when the market is complacent, it can be profitable to buy a straddle or strangle.
When a long straddle or strangle results in a substantial loss, it is also an indication that traders were taken by surprise ? they were overly-fearful and those fears were subsequently proven to be unjustified by the market?s failure to move.
An analysis of the performance of long straddles or strangles opened a moderately long time prior to expiration (such as 112 days) can be useful:
In any trend, up or down ? The relatively high premium on these trades tends to make them rarely return a profit greater than 4%.? Thus, a 112-day LSSI that exceeds 4% often signals that the market has come too far, too fast and may need a correction to satisfy those traders who were previously complacent and subsequently surprised by the move.
In a range-bound market ? The relatively high premium on these trades tends to result in losses, but those losses seldom exceed 6%. A 112-day LSSI that is negative by a greater magnitude than 6% is an indication not only that many traders were previously fearing a sell-off, causing an increase in option premiums, but that such a sell-off did not materialize. Thus a 112-day LSSI lower than -6% often precedes a breakout, either to a lower price range that confirms trader?s prior fears, or to a higher price range that completely puts those fears to rest.
The 112-day LSSI last exceeded its normal range this past August, just prior to the breakout to higher prices that occurred in early September. Last week the LSSI exceeded its normal range, and was immediately followed by a week-long rally. This week the LSSI stands at -5.5%, which is very near the maximum range of -6% that is considered normal. Often when the LSSI reaches these levels, the market makes some big moves in the following weeks. The direction of the move can be up or down depending on the news that triggers it, but the magnitude of the move tends to be amplified when the LSSI is at its current level.
Note: Option position returns are extrapolated from historical data that, while reliable, cannot be guaranteed accurate. It is not possible to match the exact performances shown, because the strike prices and expiration dates used in the calculations will not always be available in actual trading. All data is relative to the S&P 500 index.
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About the Author
Christopher Ebert uses his engineering background to mix and match options as a means of preserving portfolio wealth while outpacing inflation. He studies options daily, trades options almost exclusively, and enjoys sharing his experiences. He recently co-published the book "Show Me Your Options!"
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks eased on Monday as a mixed start to the holiday shopping season, caution over Greek aid talks and budget discussions in Washington gave investors reason to pause after Wall Street posted its best week in over five months.
While holiday shopping appeared to be off to a good start, analysts cautioned against reading too much into one weekend's numbers. Retailers need to sustain the initial burst through the November-December holiday season, which can account for a third of annual sales and 40 to 50 percent of profits for the year.
Shares in department store operator Macy's Inc , which offered consumers deep discounts on Black Friday, fell 3.6 percent to $40.22. The SPDR S&P retail exchange-traded fund fell 1.3 percent to $62.39.
"The underwhelming performance of retailers in general is hurting the market," said Michael James, a senior trader at Wedbush Morgan in Los Angeles. "Retail is certainly seeing a mixed bag."
Investors continued to chew over two of the greatest overhangs for markets. Euro zone finance ministers and the International Monetary Fund will seek to unfreeze the second bailout package for Greece on Monday. At the same time, U.S. lawmakers have made little progress in the past 10 days toward a compromise to avoid the harsh tax increases and government spending cuts schedule to start in January.
"Friday was a big day in the stock market," said Tim Ghriskey, chief investment officer at Solaris Group in Bedford Hills, New York. "So it's not surprising at all to see some profit-taking on that."
The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 88.58 points, or 0.68 percent, to 12,921.10. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index fell 8.40 points, or 0.60 percent, to 1,400.75. The Nasdaq Composite Index lost 5.84 points, or 0.20 percent, to 2,961.01.
Total spending for the Black Friday long weekend rose 12.8 percent from last year, to $59.1 billion, from last year, according to the National Retail Federation. That pace was down from the prior year's 16.4 percent increase.
Black Friday's online sales topped $1 billion for the first time ever as more consumers used the Internet do their early holiday shopping, comScore Inc said on Sunday.
Major indexes ended last week with gains of 3 to 4 percent, recovering some of their losses following an 8 percent correction since September. The Dow and S&P 500 both closed above key technical levels for the first time since November 6, which could provide additional support. The Dow ended above 13,000, while the S&P broke above 1,400.
In company news, shares of Knight Capital Group Inc jumped 10.4 percent to $2.75. A source familiar with the matter on Saturday said the company is in talks about possibly selling its market-making operation, its largest and most profitable business, but it is not known if a deal will happen. Knight's chief executive, in an internal memo, said the company currently is in talks with at least two firms on the possible sale of its largest business unit, but would only pursue a deal if it created value for its shareholders and clients.
Qatar has cashed in its remaining warrants in Britain's Barclays Plc , a move that should yield a $280 million profit. The warrants have not yet been converted, but conversion would dilute the holding of shares by other investors. U.S.-listed shares of Barclays fell 5.6 percent to $15.37.
Apple Inc has asked a federal court to add six more products to its patent infringement lawsuit against Samsung Electronics Co , including the Samsung Galaxy Note II, in the latest move in an ongoing legal war between the two companies. Apple shares were up 1.7 percent at $581.
(Additional reporting by Gabriel Debenedetti; Editing by Kenneth Barry and Leslie Adler)
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Public release date: 29-Nov-2012
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![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uV8mVTBd2p3PByOOCTH9lwyC8TQVvkGlLHq-kISfXsvGmncnsPpwkgiEUv1gO7hBAo9n6XhIZiScfPonEMdSoC63JiMsDHvllUmw0MRe0dR7tfcDaZJ2QSS0jEcA2fnSnnR3br4WmZc7iFLx9wI0U2IoUpvVdterLgvzfk7dyIUVQtFV2FUAxQZ-4ZKljcx7MehkIqhPOypEdvJ4MDMCkpIP8YwgfV4zuqrKRlCnLFFTZvRLiYN6wDSsvo5MTmSfIQUhg9ZgyePnLnLJeWIg=s0-d "In this July 6, 2011, file photo, President Barack Obama sits in front of a screen displaying a question he tweeted during a "Twitter Town Hall" in the East Room of the White (Charles Dharapak/AP)")
?Given that the option indices indicate significant weakness in a market that is barely holding onto bullishness, and that the market is now due for a breakout, it would not be surprising for something big to happen here. These are the types of conditions in which crashes occur. But they are also conditions that can produce a surprise year-end rally. Either way, the effects of any news in the coming weeks is likely to produce a highly amplified response in the markets.?
