Weapons of Choice Axis of Time Book 1

Weapons of Choice Axis of Time Book 1

At the start of Australian author Birmingham’s stellar debut novel, a United Nations battle group, clustered around the U.S.S. Hillary Clinton (named after “the most uncompromising wartime president in the history of the United States”), is tasked in the year 2021 with stopping ethnic cleansing by an Islamist regime in Indonesia. When an experiment goes horribly wrong on a special ship doing research on wormholes, most of the battle group is deposited in the middle of the U.S. fleet on its way to Midway in 1942. The WWII carriers and supporting vessels attack a Japanese Self-Defense Force ship, triggering devastating computer-operated defensive fire from the 21st-century fleet. While the action sequences are outstanding, this book really shines in depicting the cultural shock that both navies experience. The Clinton group reflects a multicultural society that finds the racist and sexist attitudes of 1942 America almost as repugnant as those of the Axis powers, while the mere thought of non-whites and women not just serving in uniform but holding command drives many Allied officers and civilian officials apoplectic. The author also subtly shows the ways in which 20-plus years of the War on Terrorism have changed our attitudes. Unlike many alternate histories, the novel avoids the wish-fulfillment aspect inherent in the genre. This is the first of what should be a hugely (and deservedly) successful series.
Copyright

PriceLine Adjustable Tilt Wall Mount Plasma TV LCD Flat Panel Display Screen Black Bracket fits 37 63

PriceLine Adjustable Tilt Wall Mount Plasma TV LCD Flat Panel Display Screen Black Bracket fits 37 63

This is Angle Adjustable Wall Bracket for LCD Plasma. This Flat Wall Mount supports most 37″ to 63″ flat panel screen and plasma TVs up to 165 lb weight. The slim wall plate keeps the screen close to the wall for a very discreet installation that is perfect for boardrooms, digital signage, or home theaters. The back of the display sits about 4 inches off the wall when set in parallel. The mount includes simple to align brackets and a unique wall plate that can be mounted to various wall constructions including wood studs or concrete. Warning: This mounting bracket is not compatible with certain LG (r), PIONEER(r) and Sharp(r) brand TVs. Specifically, the following models are not compatible. Pioneer: PDP-6100HD, PRO-1410HD, PDP-614MX, PDP-6070HD, PRO-1540HD, PDP-607CMX, PRO151FD. Sharp: LC-65D93U, LC-65D90U, LC-57D90U, LC-65D64U, LG: LG52LG50-UA, LG52LG50 , Phillips 42PF9630A137

Buy/More Info

Sony Bravia S Series KDL 40S4100 40 Inch 1080p LCD HDTV

Sony Bravia S Series KDL 40S4100 40 Inch 1080p LCD HDTV

Prepare for full 1080p HDTV. The 40″ BRAVIA S Series KDL-40S4100 is an amazing value, and comes fully-loaded with 24p compatibility for smooth playback of filmed content. It also features a wide variety of HD inputs (3 HDMI, 2 component inputs, and a PC input) so you can connect it to a PlayStation 3, Blu-ray Disc player, and up to four more HD-enabled devices. Now you can watch all your favorite movies, sports, and games with the pristine picture and vibrant sound that you expect from a Sony at an unbelievable value.Movies and many prime time TV programs are captured at 24 frames per second (24p). Sony’s Blu-ray Disc players wisely take advantage of this by including 24p output capability allowing a compatible connection with BRAVIA HDTVs that have this capability. The benefit - you can watch movies in natural, cinematic motion, the way they are seen at the cinema. Every single frame of the movie can now be seen without using additional video processing that converts film-based images to video reproduction.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars No complaints
I dont have any complaints about this TV, it does everthing i need it to do. I am very satisfied. Colors are good, sound is good and shipping was exceptionaly fast.

5 Stars Sony Bravia LCD
Could not be happier with the purchase and with Amazon. The Bravia set is as advertised, Sony quality for under $1,000. While this unit does not have all the “bells and whistles” of more expensive Sony units, it does not compromise on picture quality. I saw this set next to the competition at a ‘big box’ store and there is clearly a difference. I am glad I did not settle for less. I added one of the inexpensive Bravia surround systems for < $300 and now have an excellent home theater system.

5 Stars Great Product
I have to say this was a wonderful experience dealing with such a big item being sent through the mail. The item was packed great and arrived in just a couple days with no extra costs. Great to deal with. Thank you

5 Stars Sony Bravia 1080p is the only one to buy

To All,

I purchased the Sony LCD Bravia 1080p HD on Amazon.com about a month ago and I have enjoyed the product immensely because of the clarity of the unit. It was so simple to order the TV on Amazon.com and there was no shipping charge. I strongly recommend that anyone looking for a great deal on a TV to try one of the Bravia models (Any size)

I also have 46″ Sony WEGA which is great.

5 Stars Sony does it again
The Sony Bravia S-Series KDL-40S4100 40 inch LCD TV is fantastic. The picture is great and the sound fills my living room and both makes me feel I am actually in the picture. Some say it is slow in changing channels. Yes but if you hit the enter key after the number buttons it changes quickly. Unlike the newer version this model does not have the problem of going dark in dim scenes. It also receives all in the clear digital signals on my local cable system. If you want a great 40 inch LCD then look no further. Sony has really hit the mark with this tv.Sony Bravia S-Series KDL-40S4100 40-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV

Buy/More Info

LG 42LG70 42 Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV

LG 42LG70 42 Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV

The LG70 series are the ideal HDTVs for home theater enthusiasts. If they prove one thing, it’s that nobody demands more from LG products than LG itself.

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars New 42LG70 42-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD Review
I purchased the LG 42″, 1080p, 120Hz, TV locally in January and hooked it up myself. The setup was easy and the picture quality was average to poor due to my having the standard Direct-TV service. I ordered the Direct TV HD upgrade receiver and their technicion installed it two days after I ordered and was he was very good/knowledgeable. The HD channels on my new LG looked perfect in color and clarity. This is the way TV should be. One problem with Direct TV in Central Virginia is they do not give you the local channels in HD. So after all my efforts, I had to watch this years Superbowl on Fox in standard digital and the picture was poor. I contacted Direct TV and they said the local channels in my area were not available in HD even thought we can see the HD symbol on all of them. I contacted the local channels and they said Direct TV refuses to connect to their HD signal. This must be some kind of finacial decision where Direct TV deems our market not worthy of the investment but they claim that 88% of their customers get local channels in HD. I asked Direct TV why we were being charged the same as their customers getting local HD when we did not. They did not reply. The solution here is to buy an outdoor HDTV antenna. I just installed mine this weekend and I now get all local channels in HD along with 20 other “FREE” channels. The cable and satelite companies are gouging us with high prices and package deals that encourage you to spend more. If our TV stations continue to add HD free service, the cable/satelite companies may find themselve without customers. I gave the 42LG70 a rating of 4 due to the internal speakers causing vibration and ratling in surround mode.

5 Stars Very pleased with this tv
I did a lot of research before deciding on this model. It was easy to set up and looked great right out of the box. I have since fined tuned the color settings. We’ve had it for 3 months now and very pleased with it. I especially like the ability to choose different color schemes for different types of programing with just one button on the remote. I also like the fact that standard definition programing looks better on this tv than on others I’ve seen. I can’t speak for the sound as I have it connected to a surround sound system.

5 Stars Trully Fantastic Pic and good sound too!
I bought this set a month ago from Fry’s in CA. It was on sale for $949 and with tax beat all on-line retailers. I did the research and viewed the screens in stores. I live in a small RV and am limited on space and have lots of window light. The Panasonic plasma was my 1st choice but the plasma is a fragile set as you can not lay them down, they aren’t supposed to travel over 5,000′ in elevation and I was also concerned with vibration. So I was considering the Sony 40″ and the Samsung 40″ but the reviews and specs of the LG along with the 2″ of gained viewing space with a fine matte screen attracted me. I also saw the LG 42″ in several 4 and 5 star hotels! They prefer LG because of reliability. I have been watching my old VHS movies from a Sony dual player directly connected to the LG via 3 wire component harness. LG sound is very good! I have read many complaints about the LCD sets having poor sound, well the LG is great! Also I have a Sony 1080i upscale DVD player to watch my standard DVD movies. They look great on this set. Yesterday I installed my new Sony S-350 Blu Ray player and watched “The Dark Knight.” WOW. It is like better than the theater! I could not believe it, even the sound is terrific. Tonight I want to watch a standard DVD movie because this player up scales to 1080P and the reviews indicate standard movies will look as good as a blu ray. I will check this out! Believe me when I tell you there is NOTHING out there that beats the 42LG70’s performance with an excellent matte screen with no reflection! By the way, I am using CAT-2 HDMI cables from the Blu Ray player to the Denon Receiver and from there to the LG. From AMZN seller for under $10 each and that allows 100% transfer of all Blu Ray transfer data! Too Cool!

5 Stars LG 42LG70 42″
Great product and came ready to use. The delivery people even set it up for me. It has all the connections you need for all the peripheral equipment.

5 Stars My Window!!!!
This TV is UNREAL, I watch a movie and it looks like im looking over the director’s shoulder. Everyone that stops by is impressed. The only thing that would limit your entertainment experience is the supporting equipment. The TV is Awesome. It looks sharp, it displays nicely, and is affordable. The only cons I had with the TV is the sound wasn’t too loud by the tv itself, but hooked up with a surround system and it is amazing. We are very very very happy with this TV.

Buy/More Info

Animal Spirits How Human Psychology Drives the Economy and Why It Matters for Global Capitalism

Animal Spirits How Human Psychology Drives the Economy and Why It Matters for Global Capitalism

Akerlof and Shiller are the first to try to rework economic theory for our times. The effort itself makes their book a milestone. . . . And their book takes their case not just to economists, but also to the general reader. It is short (176 pages of text) and easy enough for laymen to understand.
(Louis Uchitelle New York Times Book Review )

Animal Spirits [is] . . . the new must-read in Obamaworld.
(Michael Grunwald Time )

[Animal Spirits] really applies to all the big areas where we need change.
(er Orszag, Obama budget director (quoted from “Time )

White House Budget Director Peter Orszag is a numbers guy, a propeller head as President Obama would say. But as David Von Drehle and I write in this week’s print version of Time, Orszag has been spending his time recently reading not about spreadsheets, but about psychology. In particular, he has been reading a new book by the economists George Akerlof and Robert Shiller called Animal Spirits: How Human Psychology Drives The Economy, and Why It Matters For Global Capitalism. . . . We are, it turns out, slaves to the Animal Spirits. They have brought us to our knees. And now they are the only things that can save us.
(Michael Scherer Time.com’s Swampland )

In their new book, two of the most creative and respected economic thinkers currently at work, George Akerlof and Robert Shiller, argue that the key is to recover Keynes’s insight about ‘animal spirits’–the attitudes and ideas that guide economic action. The orthodoxy needs to be rebuilt, and bringing these psychological factors into the core of economics is the way to do it. . . . The connections between their thinking on the limits to conventional economics and the issues thrown up by the breakdown are plain, even if they were unable to make every link explicit. Even more than Akerlof and Shiller could have hoped, therefore, it is a fine book at exactly the right time. . . . Animal Spirits carries its ambition lightly–but is ambitious nonetheless. Economists will see it as a kind of manifesto.
(Clive Crook Financial Times )

Animal Spirits is a welcome addition to our Hannitized national economic debate, in which anyone who advocates government spending risks being labeled a socialist. . . . Animal Spirits is most compelling when the authors summon all the key behavioral patterns to explain vast, complex phenomena such as the Great Depression. . . . Animal Spirits . . . [is] aimed squarely at the general reader, and rightly so: Macroeconomics is now everybody’s business–the banks are playing with our money.
(Andrew Rosenblum New York Observer )

[A] lively new financial crisis book.
(James Pressley Bloomberg News )

The two superstars have produced a truly innovative and bold work that attempts to show how psychological factors explain the origins of the current mess and offer clues for possible solutions. At a time when plummeting confidence is dragging down the market and the economy, the authors’ focus on the psychological aspect of economics is incredibly important.
(Michael Mandel BusinessWeek )

What Sigmund Freud did for the study of the mind, George Akerlof and Robert Shiller are doing for economics. Freud, healer or fake–take your pick–built a career and a field of medicine on the idea that people are driven by irrational forces. Akerlof, professor of economics at the University of California, Berkeley and winner of the 2001 Nobel Prize in economics, and Shiller, the Yale economist who is the eminence grise of the housing meltdown, argue that massive government market intervention programs are the only way to turn fear into enthusiasm for spending and investing–the ‘animal spirits’ that are an essential part of recovery. . . . Akerlof and Shiller pick up on the idea of the emotional impetus to investment. With elegant reasoning and lovely prose, they demonstrate that we’ll all be wallowing in misery unless governments around world, especially the in the G7 nations, help to return markets to optimism. . . . Animal Spirits is a fine discussion of the last few decades of development of economic theory, especially monetary economics.
(Andrew Allentuck The Globe & Mail )

[T]his book is rather more than the usual lament about the failings of economics. Its authors are two of the discipline’s leading lights. . . . Most of the time, the unrealistic assumption of rationality serves economists fairly well. They should, however, be more prepared to depart from it, especially in times like these–even if that makes behaviour more difficult to describe in elegant equations. Messrs Akerlof and Shiller have therefore done their profession a service.
(The Economist )

With Animal Spirits we hone in on how incentives and narratives can be created to channel the human psychological factor into collectively healthy directions, and how to be aware of the fictions we tell ourselves about how we wish the world and greed and financial security worked. [Animal Spirits] sheds light on complex issues and leaves readers with a better grasp of undercurrents and–most importantly–a rediscovered belief in principles of common sense and caution.
(Daily Kos )

The new book from George Akerlof and Robert Shiller, Animal Spirits, has been getting a lot of press of late, and quite rightly: it’s really good. It’s not only very readable; it also offers a compelling vision of a very different type of macroeconomics–one where behavioral considerations are front and center, rather than simply providing what Clive Crook calls ‘ad hoc modifications’ to the standard, ridiculously oversimplified and unrealistic, model. . . . [I]f you read only one book on this subject, make it Animal Spirits.
(Felix Salmon Portfolio.com )

As George Akerlof and Robert Shiller show in a new book Animal Spirits, this is no freak storm. It may mark the long-awaited encounter between psychology and economics. . . . Akerlof and Shiller’s book is probably the first macroeconomic exploration of the subject that is accessible to those interested in the subject but who don’t have the academic training to understand the detailed argument.
(Mint )

My book of the week is an easy one this time around: it’s Animal Spirits, by Robert Shiller and George Akerlof. . . . Admittedly, I’m biased as a fan of both Shiller’s and Akerlof’s. Believe me, however, when I say the blessedly brief Animal Spirits is a thoughtful and well-written look at how economics discarded psychology and lost its way on the trip from Adam Smith, through Keynesianism, to laissez-faire. The book puts the current crisis in a useful economic context, with consistent and practical selections from behavioral finance illuminating everything along the way. . . . Highly recommended.
(Paul Kedrosky SeekingAlpha )

Another contribution to the human-nature-ensures-economics-is-irrational school of thought. But, unlike many of the rants against people trying to make an honest profit, this is a measured examination of how the present crisis is explained in economic terms. And so it should be. George Akerlof is a Nobel prizewinner, Robert Shiller teaches at Yale and is the author of Irrational Exuberance, which should give you an idea of this one’s approach. This fascinating work uses economics to explain real-life issues, such as real estate price cycles, to key policy problems, such as the relationship between inflation and employment.
(Stephen Matchett The Australian )

George Akerlof and Rober Shiller’s Animal Spirits is a plea to start believing our lying eyes rather than the model. Rather than try to explain away the apparent irrationality in human behaviour, Akerlof and Shiller say we need to try to understand it and shape policies that take it into account. . . . The core message of Animal Spirits is that we should stop trying to cage the spirits and instead admit their central importance. Specifically, this means that world governments will need to intervene forcefully in the current economic crisis with both fiscal stimulus and direct measures to stimulate lending–to restore some of the confidence that the crash has sapped.
(Matthew Yglesias The National )

In saluting Keynes’ quip, Akerlof and Shiller argue that much of the story is in the unreliability and incompleteness of supposedly rational behavior–the micro-foundation of the free-market model. They contend that modern economics, even self-described Keynesian economics, has given short shrift to this core behavioral insight. . . . Their best chapter is on the limited capacity of central banks to prevent or cure calamities.
(Robert Kuttner The American Prospect )

Akerlof and Shiller take psychological research seriously, and it’s refreshing to see that they’re not trying to reinvent the wheel. . . . The book is an interesting read and would probably be very useful for an undergrad class that needs an introduction to behavioral economics. A & S do a nice job of moving between the theoretical and the practical, the empirical and the implied. The writing is accessible and the topic is more than relevant to our current economic situation.
(Orgtheory.net )

Animal Spirits is succinct, clear and lively.
(Brad Willis Edmonton Journal )

In an intriguing new book, Animal Spirits, US economists George Akerlof and Robert Shiller argue that psychology plays a far bigger role in determining economic outcomes than economists realize–and that, broadly speaking, people get what they expect. If we think good times are ahead, we act confidently in a way that creates them. And if we expect a downturn ahead, we act defensively and unwittingly ensure that’s what we get.
(Tim Colebatch The Age )

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Rethinking economics’ fundamental principles
Nobel laureate George A. Akerlof and prescient Yale economics professor Robert J. Shiller explain the role of human psychology in markets. They say conventional economic theory assigns too much weight to the role of reason in economic decision making, and too little to the role of irrational emotional and psychological factors. That insight would have been novel a few years back, but numerous other authors have made the same point, though few with such sterling credentials. Having asserted their beliefs and offered evidence about the power of emotions, or “animal spirits,” the authors prescribe curative policies though they don’t always illuminate their proposals’ full real-world impact. Akerlof and Shiller’s distinguished reputations command attention, and getAbstract confirms that their book is worthwhile reading. Yet, those who know the authors’ bodies of work may wish for even more insight.

4 Stars Above average but a little dry and textbooky.
http://www.kabam.com/?p=1844

I had heard a lot of good things about this book and I admire both the authors. Unfortunately it came off a little to academic and observed on much more a “macro” level. I prefer to track economics and the concept of “animal spirits” on a much more refined level.

Since I typically trade on a very short term basis I’m more concerned about what may be happening this instant in a particular market. As opposed to the current yearly or even decade long trend on a global basis.

The middle third and final third were very interesting and engaging, but the middle third could have almost been any other econonomics textbook based on Keynes and Freidman.

Overall I would recommend it to anyone who was curious about how emotions and mental swings can effect markets in a sizable and profound way. But you need to be very interested in economics to enjoy it. If you only have a passing interest it will be drudgery to read.

3 Stars Three serious mistakes
I’m reluctant to criticize Yale’s Robert Shiller, who has spoken highly of my own book “The Big Three in Economics,” and who has an exceptional record in predicting the top of the stock market in 2000 and the real estate markets in 2006.

There are some good ideas and details in “Animal Spirits.” For example, I didn’t know that Enron abused the new “mark-to-market” rules established by the SEC to overbook profits (pp. 33-34).

But I was surprised by the large number of gaffes made in “Animal Spirits,” such as:

1. The authors failure to include any reference to Milton Friedman and Anna Schwartz’ classic “Monetary History of the United States” in explaining the cause of the Great Depression in the 1930s. They adopt an entirely outmoded Keynesian explanation, and make no reference to the collpase of the money stock during the early 1930s. As Friedman & Schwartz demonstrate, this monetary collapse was completely avoidable.

2. On page 130, Akerlof and Shiller claim, “In the absence of social security people would grossly undersave.” Isn’t it just the opposite? It is BECAUSE of social security that people grossly undersave, especially poor people who have no surplus left after shelling out 15% of their paychecks for FICA. In China, where there is no federal social security system, the Chinese people grossly oversave.

3. On page 173, Akerlof and Shiller state, “Without intervention by the government the economy will suffer massive swings in employment.” Again, shouldn’t it be just the opposite? It is BECAUSE of intevention by the government that the economy suffers massive swings in employment and output. The authors themselves point to numerous examples in their book where government caused instability in the marketplace, such as the SEC “mark to market” ruling that helped Enron overvalue its assets….and Andrew Cuomo, HUD Secretary under Clinton, who “mandated lending by Fannie and Freddie to underserved communities….Cuomo forced Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to make loans, even if that meant lowering credit standards.” (page 155) So who started the subprime lending scandal? The federal government (HUD and other agencies).

In short, I question the whole thesis of this book, that “left to their own devices, capitalist economies will pursue excess….manias and panics.” (preface) I defy the authors to show me an example of capitalism going haywire without bad government playing a significant role in the background.

5 Stars Fantastic, with a great narrative voice
One of the hardest parts of communicating economics is to try to use a voice that can appeal to people who don’t have degrees in economics. This books achieves that and more: while there are parts where the authors use extensive economic models to explain irrational behavior, it’s possible to catch the gist of what’s going on and muddle through those minor parts. What helps is the fact that both authors are able to present their arguments–that Keynes’ ideas of “animal spirits” needs to be revived in modern economics–in a convincing way. In fact, sometimes they’re a little TOO convincing. When explaining away Milton Friedman’s overly simplistic throwing away of “money illusion,” they use real examples that just about ANYONE can relate to. It was only a few days ago when I had a conversation with someone who was astounded that Led Zeppelin’s first U.S. tour “only” grossed $5 million. That number, of course, was NOT adjusted for inflation …

1 Star Academic Apologists for Obamanomics
Here it is in a nutshell: The role of government is to be sure capitalism provides us not what we think we need, but what we really need. And who decides what we really need? Why the government, of course.

You see, we’re the dumb animals, and the federal government is the wise zookeeper.

Don’t buy this thing. If you feel the need to read it, get it from the library. But know that the sub-title “How Human sychoogy Drives The Economy, And why It Matters For Global Capitalism” is largely a come-on.

If this is what passes for state of the art economists’ thinking, we’re in deep caca.

Buy/More Info