Yesterday, the Congressional Budget Office released a report forecasting that immigration reform would cut federal budget deficits by $900 billion over 20 years.

Less-noticed is another report they released, showing how immigration would affect the broader economy.

The effects are good.

CBO expects that more immigration would raise productivity, increasing both wages and returns to capital and making the country not just bigger but richer. But it would take some time for those improvements to flow through to most workers.

It's not just a stereotype: Immigrants really do drive innovation. They're twice as likely as native-born Americans to win Nobel Prizes, found companies that go public, and apply for patents.

Innovation raises productivity, and productivity raises wages. By 2033, immigration reform would add 0.5% to the average worker's wage. Most of that gain would go to moderately-skilled workers, who would get a 1% wage boost.

But it will take time to get there. At first, the labor supply will grow faster than the capital stock, depressing wages and raising returns to capital. As Americans save and invest in response to higher capital returns, demand for labor will strengthen and wages will rise.

In Washington D.C., you're only as good as your last fundraiser.

The Center for Responsible Politics released a report Tuesday revealing the most popular D.C. hotels and restaurants for D.C. politicos to host fundraisers, and how much money they spent at each. 

The top 10 lists for both parties reveal that in the 2012 election season, Democrats spent a total of $3.1 million at their favorite spots. Republicans clocked in at $4.6 million. 

The Republican National Committee, the Obama Victory Fund and Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) all shelled out serious cash during 2012. It would appear that when politicians want to raise money, they almost always want to do it at a steakhouse.

If you're looking to live the lifestyle of a Washington insider with a big-league budget, even if just for one night, we have your guide to the favorite dining rooms of Republicans and Democrats alike. And there is some overlap — three of the restaurants appear on the top 10 lists of both parties. Get ready to get dressed up and dip into your retirement fund. 

Reviews are courtesy of Yelp. For hotel fundraisers, reviews are based off the on-site restaurant. 

Acqua Al 2

PARTY: Republican

BIG SPENDER: Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-Ohio)

AMOUNT SPENT AT LOCATION IN 2012: $143,028

Price Range: $$$

REVIEW : "Terrific place. My go-to business lunch location, but also a great place to hang out in the neighborhood on any given evening. Attentive staff, great Northern Italian food, creatively prepared.  These folks are doing the restaurant business right. Associated speakeasy, Harold Black's, upstairs is a secret." 

WHAT YOU SHOULD ORDER: Definitely get experimental with the steak sampler, which includes blueberry and balsamic filet mignon. 

WHERE TO FIND IT: 212 7th St SE
(between S North Carolina Ave & S C St) 
Washington, DC 20003

Bistro Bis

PARTY: Democratic

BIG SPENDER: Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee 

AMOUNT SPENT AT LOCATION IN 2012: $362,452

PRICE RANGE: $$$

REVIEW: "How many of you have seen a lion sunning himself on a South African safari? Or seen a humpback whales breach in the Alaskan sea? Probably not many, but you take comfort in knowing that they are there.  Somewhere. That they exist....for someone to appreciate or just for the sake of existing. That's how I feel about The Duck Hash at Bistro Bis."

WHAT YOU SHOULD ORDER: Seems like the Duck Hash is a solid option, but the Beef Bourguignon, served with bacon lardons (small strips or cubes, for my fellow uncultured masses), onions, and buttered noodles also earns rave reviews. 

WHERE TO FIND IT: 15 E St NW

(between N New Jersey Ave & N Capitol St) 
Washington, DC 20001

BLT Steak

PARTY: Republican 

BIG SPENDER: Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.)

AMOUNT SPENT AT LOCATION IN 2012: $135,705

PRICE RANGE: $$$$

REVIEW: "The food was excellent. As mentioned on all the other reviews, the popover bread is an absolute must. I ordered the bone-in rib eye and it was cooked perfectly and delicious. The sides were good, but nothing unique enough to stand out in my mind. I ordered the Mushrooms to be safe and they were good. I would have given 5 stars, but left some room for improvement for the ambiance itself. Don't get me wrong, it's nice. Just nothing particularly special about the décor or setup. BLT is a must try when you're in D.C."

WHAT YOU SHOULD ORDER: Don't worry, you'll get the prized popovers automatically with the meal. When it comes time to choose, the braised short ribs are a winner, and the Hen of The Woods mushrooms on the side are not to be missed. 

WHERE TO FIND IT: 1625 I St NW
(between N 16th St & N Connecticut Ave) 
Washington, DC 20006

The stunning East River mansion known as the Ellen Biddle Shipman Residence has just sold for $35 million, according to The New York Observer.

The East 50th Street and Beekman place home went for $13 million less than the original $48.75 million asking price.

The townhouse, currently still listed on the Brown Harris Stevens website, had a price cut to $43 million in recent months. 

According to the NYO, the unknown buyer was so enamored with the mansion, that he or she also bought all the existing furniture in the six-bedroom home.

Shipman was a prominent garden designer who clientele included Robert T, Vanderbilt, J.S. Rockefeller, E.I. Du Pont, Mrs. M.T. Mellon, Theodore Roosevelt's son Kermit, and Vincent Astor.

Welcome to Beekman Place on the Upper East Side. The street is very secluded, so you'll feel like you're in a ritzy suburb.

The kitchen is any chef's dream, with a six-burner LeCornu range, a center island, and twin SubZeros.

The sweeping staircase is beautiful, but if you're too tired to walk the five floors, you can just use the elevator instead!

Dots, the hot new mobile game about connecting dots, could be the first contemporary art game. 

Dan Porter, the founder and former CEO at OMGPOP, recently made an interesting claim. 

Dots is "the first mobile game with a direct design pedigree inspired by contemporary art,"Porter wrote on his personal blog. "It's doubtful we will see game designers prowling the halls of Art Frieze and Art Basal, looking for their next inspiration, but I think we can say in certain areas, we are having a "Dots" cultural moment."

First, here's what Dots looks like.

Damien Hirst has a ton of spot paintings. This one, named 4-Nitropyridine N-Oxide, is from 2006. Looks pretty similar, right?

Here's another Hirst painting, titled Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD).

Your smartphone's video camera shoots somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 frames per second. Seems pretty fast, doesn't it? Could you blink your eyes 30 times in one second? You couldn't.

But forget about that wimpy camera for a second. There are supercharged high-grade cameras out there that can shoot over 60,000 frames per second.

When you play these shots back at a much more familiar 30 frames per second, the image is so dramatically slowed down that you notice a wide world of detail that's been escaping your camera since the beginning.

You need to see it to believe it.

The largest water balloon pop ever?

No one hits a golf ball like Tiger Woods.

Unless, of course, you fire one into a steel plate at 150 MPH.

Apple recently unveiled its latest mobile operating system for iPhones and iPads called iOS 7. 

The operating system has a brand new look and several new features, but Apple didn't have time to go over all the changes during its big presentation last week.

So what didn't Apple tell us about iOS 7? We've been using the beta version of the software for a few days now and uncovered a few lesser-known features.

Here's what you can look forward to.

Apple is experimenting with an easier way to move back a screen in apps. There have been signs that you'll be able to use a swiping gesture instead of tapping a "back" button.

When you set the timer in the clock app, the countdown appears on your lock screen. It'll also show how much time you have left on your alarm if you hit the snooze.

The App Store now has a wish list. This is perfect for situations when you don't want to purchase an app right away but want to remember it.

The "sharing economy"— the notion of collectively getting more use out of things by increasing the number of people who can use them — is nothing new. 

People have been sharing tools for all of human history. Most people have even let a friend borrow a car before. 

But as Le Web conference founder Loic Le Meur noted recently, the Internet, smartphones, and location-aware apps are letting people share like never before. You can hop on Airbnb and rent an empty townhouse in France for the weekend at a fraction of the price of booking with a travel agency.

Can't get a loan from a bank to start your business? You can create a Kickstarter and raise all the money you need from the people who'd be interested in your product in the first place.

It's amazing to see the ways people are coming up with to better take advantage of the web to collaborate on and share the things that we used to have to pay for ourselves.

The Sharing Economy

It's going to be big

Loic's first example is housing rental service Airbnb: Look how many people use it, even though it's still brand new.

From foie gras and ceviche to meatballs and Patrón popsicles, last weekend's Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, Colorado had something for everyone. 

Every day, there were two grand tastings, where attendees could roam two massive tents trying glass after glass of wine from 300 exhibitors and countless nibbles of food from restaurants and brands all over the world.

And we tried it all during the three-day festival where over 5,000 celebrity chefs, foodies, wine-os, and fans gather for one gluttonous weekend.

And then we took photos of everything we ate and drank so that we could make you hungry.

My first meal at Food & Wine Classic was supposed to be a Spanish BBQ by celebrity chef José Andres. Instead, my flight was delayed and I was forced to pick apart this packaged airport food.

Luckily, things could only go up from there and the next day I entered the grand tasting tents in Ruby Park. I kicked things off with a Patrón watermelon jalapeno margarita.

One of the most popular stops is the Best New Chefs table.

Fans of the absurd this week were delighted when guinea pig-scale armor — complete with helmet and chain mail — went on eBay with a starting bid of $5.

The armor is currently valued at over $24,000 with a day left of bidding.

"Is your pet guinea pig tired of wandering around the house unarmored and vulnerable?" The eBay description asks. "Do they get picked on by other guinea pigs? Has your guinea pig ever wanted to go with you to a Renaissance Faire but had nothing to wear?"

The chain mail is handmade by seller Sean McCoy of Fairfax, Virginia. According to the TODAY show, McCoy bought the helmet and made the chain mail for his own guinea pig, Lucky, who recently passed away.

100% of the proceeds of this tiny costume will go towards the Metropolitan Guinea Pig rescue. There are even more pictures of Lucky and the chain mail on McCoy's eBay page.

SEE ALSO: Meet Some Of The Most Ridiculously Pampered Pets In History

Join the conversation about this story »

Nightlife in New York City can get a bit expensive.

All those cover fees and drink prices can really add up, so we decided do a little research on where to score some free booze and save a little money.

Trust us, your wallet will thank you later.

Empire Hotel Rooftop, 44 West 63rd Street

Located on the 12th floor of the hotel, The Empire Rooftop Bar and Lounge offers a magnificent view of the city, including sites like Columbus Circle, Lincoln Center and the Hudson River. Alongside the beautiful view, if you RSVP with Overtime, you receive two free drink tickets every Friday night.

Enjoy a selection of well-mixed drinks, beer, or wine, free of charge. Check out their website for even more happy hour deals and open bars at awesome locations around the city like Greenhouse, Sky Room, The Hill and more.

Astor Wines and Spirits, 399 Lafayette St

Astor Wines and Spirits offers free tastings almost every day of the week. Not only do they offer free tastes of wine, but past tastings have included an assortment of tequilas, scotches and vodkas.

And if you fall in love with any wine or liquor you taste, the bottle is 15% off at purchase just for tasting it!

Bottlerocket Wine & Spirit, 5 West 19th Street

Bottlerocket offers free wine tastings every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings.

From 5-8 pm, enjoy a variety of deliciously blended wines alongside free chocolates. It doesn't get better than free.

Manhattan regularly tops the list of most expensive places to live in the U.S. and it is easy to see why. Goods and services here can cost two to three times more than the national average and seem to have a way of ballooning year after year.

Manhattan scores a whopping 225.4 on a cost of living index, much higher than the national average which balances out at 100, according to the Council for Community and Economic Research.

There is an interesting exception to this trend when it comes to things like manicures and yoga, which are actually cheaper in Manhattan thanks to a competitive market.For most things, however, Big Apple prices are out off the charts.

We used Bankrate.com's cost of living calculator to see just how much more expensive Manhattan really is.

Manhattan homes cost $1,018,864.67 more than the national average.

Manhattan: $1,303,420.67

National average: $284, 556

Source: Bankrate.com / CostofLiving.org

Manhattan rent costs $3,032.10 more than the national average.

Manhattan: $3,902.10

National average: $870

Source: Bankrate.com / CostofLiving.org

Energy bills are $66.58 higher in Manhattan than the national average.

Manhattan: $231.44

National average: $164.86

Source: Bankrate.com / CostofLiving.org

Those looking for a breathtaking bird's eye view of London can easily take a ride up on the London Eye. But if you're looking for a more cultured and tastier experience, visit one of London's many rooftop bars and restaurants to see the city over a gourmet meal or classic cocktail.

Our friends at Zagat rated the seven hottest rooftop restaurants and bars in London.

At these hotspots, you can take in a cool drink while admiring the ever-evolving skyline.

The Boundary Hotel

2-4 Boundary St., E2 7DD

Situated in East London, The Boundary Hotel has a weatherproof pergola so visitors can dine alfresco even in the grayest of London weather. The French-inspired menu is enjoyed amid The Boundary's garden, which crawls with grape vines and beds of fresh herbs.

SUSHISAMBA

Heron Tower, 110 Bishopsgate, EC2N 4AY‎

While it's not really a rooftop, SUSHISAMBA on the Heron Tower's 38th and 39th floors has an expansive outdoor terrace that overlooks the city. The food is a blend of Peruvian, Japanese, and Brazilian tapas-style foods—a unique menu for a unique experience.

Coq d'Argent

1 Poultry, EC2R 8EJ

The rooftop garden at Coq d'Argent looks like The Queen of Hearts' croquet field in Alice in Wonderland, high above London. The garden is heated in unfavorable weather, and live jazz plays on Sundays to accompany your three-course brunch.

Monopoly is one of the classic American games. 

It's played amongst close friends, loved ones, and trusted business partners. 

It's also one of the few times in life where it's perfectly acceptable to want to systematically annihilate and crush the aforementioned friends, loved ones and partners. 

Well, we're here to help.

Monopoly has a major element of chance in it, and the best part about games of chance is that people with Microsoft Excel can basically solve them. 

We broke down the must-know math behind Monopoly as well as several lessons you can take away from what truly is The Most Dangerous Game. 

In this presentation, we'll teach you such concepts as:

• The most important properties in the game
• The crucial "axis" that will change the way you think about the shape of the board.
• Where you should invest.
• How to make moves so that your opponent will keep landing on your properties.

The Refinery Hotel opened last month in New York City's Garment District.

Formerly the Colony Arcade Building, a 20th century hat factory, the hotel has maintained its roots with small details that point to its past: Hat pins form a sculptural installation behind the front desk, scissor motifs are woven into the carpets, and desks in the guestrooms resemble converted sewing machines.

The independently-owned boutique hotel was designed by Stonehill & Taylor—the design firm behind the chic NoMad Hotel.

“Our design is part history and part inspiration,” said Christina Zimmer, principal with Stonehill & Taylor.  “We thought about how the original tenants lived and worked.  We considered everything, the owner of the tea room and the fashions of the ladies who lunched.”  

The 197 guest rooms are spacious and sleek, with nice details like 12-foot ceilings, original artwork, and large mosaic-tiled bathrooms.

Rooms start at about $399 per night.

The hotel entrance is marked by a long runner and Gothic arches.

There are also bellmen in retro-looking hipster uniforms: suspenders, checked button-downs, and fitted pants.

A closer look at the runner reveals ornate details, like an intricate pattern of scissors and hat-making tools—a tribute to the building's past.

Japanese billionaire Masayoshi Son is one impressive guy.

But the most impressive thing about the SoftBank CEO is that he remains Japan's second-richest person years after losing $70 billion of his net worth.

You read that correctly.

Son was once reported to be worth $78 billion before the dotcom crash.

But losing all that money didn't stop him, and under Son's leadership SoftBank's profits have skyrocketed in the past few years.

Now he has his eye on acquiring Sprint. After upping his bid to $21.6 billion, the "maverick" CEO is on the precipice of winning the company over its other main suitor, Dish.

Bloomberg has the 55-year-old "Bill Gates of Japan" at a net worth of $13.8 billion.

Grade school classmates threw rocks at Son because he was Korean.

Son was born in 1957 in Japan to a Korean immigrant family. His original name was Son Jeong-ui, signifying his family's Korean roots, but they took the Japanese name Yasumoto to fit in when Son was a child.

Son's idol told him to go study in America.

McDonald's Japan founder Den Fujita told him to go to school in the U.S, and that's exactly what Son did.

He went to California at 16 to learn English.

Son went to Serramonte High School just south of San Francisco. Then after two years at a local college, he transferred to the University of California-Berkeley and majored in economics. 

Longing for a long-distance getaway but don't have a passport? No problem!

We've found five faraway places overseas where, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, you won't need to bring a passport.

Puerto Rico

The island of Puerto Rico (officially an unincorporated territory of the United States) has long been a favorite of travelers from the contiguous 48. Inexpensive airfare from Spirit, Southwest, and JetBlue makes Puerto Rico an economical option for East Coasters. And its Isla de Vieques, a TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice 2013 winner for best island in the Caribbean, offers visitors a bioluminescent bay to kayak and unspoiled beaches to explore. In a 2012 referendum on the territory's political status, a record 61 percent of Puerto Rico's voters were in favor of eventual statehood, so we may one day welcome the island as the 51st. Even so, right now, you can explore its wonders without a U.S. passport.

US Virgin Islands

The U.S. Virgin Islands lie mere minutes away from Puerto Rico by plane. Made up of three main islands—St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John—plus a scattering of smaller isles, the U.S.V.I. see some 2.6 million visitors each year. In fact, tourism and rum (things we think go very well together) make up the majority of the islands' economy. Each island has its own unique appeal. St. John, with its national parkland and legendary diving, will charm true escapists. St. Thomas is a shopper's dream, with countless boutiques and jewelers, as well as two bustling cruise terminals. And Dutch-flavored and diverse St. Croix is a favorite of luxury-seeking honeymooners. Find accommodations of every stripe, from St. Thomas' smart Ritz-Carlton to the luxe and immersive Caneel Bay resort on St. John.

Northern Mariana Islands

These Micronesian islands have been governed by many in their long history: first by Spanish colonists in the 16th century, then Japanese forces during WWII, and finally, the United States since the Battle of Saipan in 1944. Nowadays, the islands rely heavily on tourism from their northern neighbors Japan and Korea as well as the United States. History buffs will find much to see in Saipan, the largest island of the Marianas, which is home to several war memorials and museums. Adrenaline junkies can dive the Grotto, a limestone cavern whose 70-foot-deep waters are home to sea turtles and reef sharks, or take a boat to the nearby lagoon surrounding Managaha Island. While the Mariana Islands are relatively remote, several major hotel operators, including Hyatt, run four- and five-star properties on Saipan.

Navigating the world one dish at a time, leather jacket-clad traveler and TV personality Anthony Bourdain has become somewhat of a poster-child for finding authentic eating experiences abroad.

On an episode of his travel show No Reservations, the foodie visited Hong Kong, a culinary hub teeming with traditional and non-traditional dishes.

"In Hong Kong you don't take the tour bus to find good food," Bourdain said. "You don't need to know where you're going, you just press start."

Hong Kong is made up of a set of islands in the South China Sea.

Over 7 million people live in an area that's just a quarter the size of New York City.

Bourdain began his visit to Hong Kong at the Four Seasons Clay Pot Restaurant on Temple Street in Kowloon, where he met up with Josh Tse, a Hong Kong based food blogger.

Yasiel Puig has only played 15 big league games and 78 games as professional since defecting from Cuba.

But thanks to his all-around talents, the explosive start to his career, and the bright lights of Los Angeles, Puig is already making a big splash.

If he can keep this up, he will undoubtedly become the next huge thing in a sport that has very few true superstars.

Here is why Puig is on the path to superstardom...

He has one of those names that is fun to say once you learn how to say it correctly

He has been compared to Bo Jackson

And like Bo, he is considered a true 5-tool talent (hit for average, power, run, strong arm, good glove). And there is no doubt he has the power, hitting two home runs in just his second game

Yesterday, Miley Cyrus debuted her latest music video for her new single "We Can't Stop."

It's a catchy tune and we actually kind of like it, but the Diane Martel-directed, 3-minute video is a pretty big departure for Cyrus, a former Disney star.

There is no trace of "Hannah Montana" here, just a rebellious 20-year-old twerking, skinny dipping and grinding her groove thing all over the place in a teeny tiny leotard.

Cyrus' latest spiked-hair look isn't anything new to the over 12 million people who follow her photos on Twitter, but her latest music video isn't just racy for a Disney star — it's surprising for any 20-year-old.

The video is introduced with Miley cutting off an ankle monitor.

She then puts in her grill.

This guy eats a sandwich stuffed with dollar bills.

We have photos of the latest wild, colorful Google office.

This time it's Google's offices in Dublin, Ireland, which are the company's European headquarters.

In four buildings in Dublin's docklands district, Google has sales, marketing, and finance employees.

The buildings interiors were designed by Swiss architecture firm Camenzind Evolution, working with with local firm Henry J. Lyons Architect.

The tallest of the four buildings is 14 stories high. There are themes for the floors, as well as for each building.

The office spaces have 5 restaurants, 42 kitchen areas, game rooms, gyms, and over 400 meeting rooms.

And these buildings are undeniably Google-y...

Here's a look at the 14-story Google Docks building.

This is the reception inside the Docks building.

Big Google letters create a colorful space.