Consumerist
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Posts Tagged “
New York Times
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inflation
Consumer Price Index Shows That Consumers Like Eating Out, Gasoline
The New York Times made a pretty cool graph out of the Consumer Price Index, which tracks changes in prices for many consumer goods over the past year. Turns out, gas prices went up. More »
psychology
The New York Times has an interesting series of tests and explanations that show why and how the human brain makes errors in estimating probability—and consequently, why we get suckered even if we think we're overall pretty smart. To start things off, play the Times' online version of the "Let's Make a Deal" game, where you pick one of three doors, then you can read up on how it works. The game brought in a bunch of reader responses (and arguments), so the author, John Tierney, offered a few more thought experiments you can try if you need something to keep you distracted from your job. In today's column, Tierney talks about why so many people naturally make errors with probability and gets a plain-English explanation from a couple of marketing and psychology experts.
More »
Why You Fall For Dumb Things
The New York Times has an interesting series of tests and explanations that show why and how the human brain makes errors in estimating probability—and consequently, why we get suckered even if we think we're overall pretty smart. To start things off, play the Times' online version of the "Let's Make a Deal" game, where you pick one of three doors, then you can read up on how it works. The game brought in a bunch of reader responses (and arguments), so the author, John Tierney, offered a few more thought experiments you can try if you need something to keep you distracted from your job. In today's column, Tierney talks about why so many people naturally make errors with probability and gets a plain-English explanation from a couple of marketing and psychology experts.More »
op-ed
Government-Mandated Mutual Funds For Everyone! No Thanks.
There was a NYT op-ed last week, "Go On A Savings Spree," suggesting that, as opposed to the tax-rebate stimulus, the best way to heal the economy is for the government to create universal mutual funds for every tax-payer. At one point, author Dalton Conley writes, "Some research suggests that asset-holders behave more responsibly and are more civic-minded than those without wealth. After all, they have a stake in the future of the economy and their community...Investing motivates people of all income levels to defer gratification and become knowledgeable about the economy and society."
This is a misplacement of cause and effect. Giving a man an investment fund automatically makes him responsible and civic just as much as giving a man a fish teaches him to catch his dinner with rod and reel.
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made in china
Breaking News: There Are Sweatshops In China!
Economists and politicians rant about China in terms of jobs lost, currency valuation, and trade gaps. But the New York Times reports that a new metric has been discovered: every year, Chinese workers manufacturing our toys, garments and electronic junk in the Peal River Delta collectively break 40,000 fingers. More »
marketing
Store Says It Can Prove There Is Seaweed In Its Clothing
The New York Times recently tested some "Vitasea" seaweed clothing from athletic clothing store Lululemon Athletica and could not find any evidence that there was any actual seaweed in the fabric. Lululemon disagrees. More »
corrections
Candy From Denmark Not As Filthy As Previously Reported
Remember when we said exports from countries not named China were also tainted and filthy? It turns out the exports aren't as tainted and filthy as the New York Times originally reported. The Times explains that a "methodology problem was discovered" after the Danish Embassy complained that their candy was refused by FDA inspectors only 82 times, not 520, as the Times claimed. From the Gray Lady:When the data was re-analyzed, it showed that the number of candy shipments rejected from Denmark had not been higher than the number of seafood shipments rejected from China, as the article stated. The number of shipments rejected from China was also misstated; it was 331, not 391.More »
online
Get Free Access To Times Select Using Your College Email Address
If you have access to your college email address, you can get access to the New York Times "Select" articles from their archive without those pesky five-dolla charges. More »
taxes
Tax Season: IRS Owes You $60 If You Own A Phone
The New York Times reports how our victory in the Spanish American War will save you $60 on this year's taxes. Last year Congress realized that Cuba was no longer occupied by the Spanish Empire. The war, funded by a 3% tax on all long distance calls, is over. No more measly one or two dollar "Federal Excise Tax" on your monthly phone bill. With the empire unlikely to strike back, Congress decided to drop the tax and refund the excise taxes collected over the last three years. More »
new york times
