By NEIL DOWNING, The Providence Journal
Tax, benefit changes ahead for retirees, workers, savers
Changes lie ahead in taxes and benefits for workers, savers, retirees and others. Here's a summary:-- Tax Hike: About 11 million workers nationwide will pay more in Social Security taxes next year. This little-noticed tax hike will affect you if you earn $102,000 or more. Here's why:
U.S. Treasuries: a safe harbor in tumultuous financial times
Every time the stock market plunges, you hear about a "flight to quality" -- about big institutional investors seeking refuge in U.S. Treasury securities. So you might think that investing in Treasury securities is only for the big guy.
Brown University opens nanotechnology center
Imagine wearing a shirt with fibers containing a special material that, when set into motion, generates electricity.Thus, a simple stroll down the street might generate enough power to run, say, a portable music player.This is one of many possible results from the study of tiny particles -- "nano" particles.

