text:
THE LEGACY AND LESSONS OF PAUL VOLCKER / THE FINANCIAL TIMES OP EDITORIAL
| Etiquetas: Economics, Monetary Policy, Paul Volcker, The Fed
The legacy and lessons of Paul Volcker
Do the right thing, do not put your trust in unbridled finance, and have courage
"Paul Volcker is the greatest man I have known. He is endowed to the highest degree with what the Romans called virtus (virtue): moral courage, integrity, sagacity, prudence and devotion to the service of country."
Thus did I open my review of his memoir, Keeping At It: The Quest for Sound Money and Good Government, published last year. As Hamlet said of his father, "He was a man, take him for all in all. I shall not look upon his like again."
That book was Volcker's counsel to the world. It embodied the former US Federal Reserve chairman's virtues and his values. With his passing this week, we need to dwell on both, while recognising how different the world is today.
Volcker's virtues are eternal. It is impossible to enjoy a stable polity without public servants of his quality and, as important, without a public who know they need public servants of this quality. In no other way can what the Romans called res publica (a republic) — literally, "the public thing" — be sustained. We rely on the marriage of ability to character. We forget that truth at our peril.
No less important are Volcker's values. He believed in good government, international co-operation, fiscal discipline, sound money and finance that is a servant, not master, of the economy. This credo is as valid today as it was during his long life of public service.
Volcker joined those virtues and values in the great fight of his life: the battle to defeat inflation. It is often forgotten how hopeless that cause had seemed before he was appointed chairman of the US Federal Reserve by a brave Jimmy Carter in 1979. The struggle was hard and the costs high. Many suffered greatly. But the battle was won, ushering the long period of stable inflation that later generations now take for granted.
While Volcker won on inflation, he lost elsewhere. He was uncomfortable with the fiscal and financial policies of Ronald Reagan's administration. He was duly replaced in 1987 by Alan Greenspan, far more in tune with the administration's ideology. Volcker diverged most clearly from his successor on the virtues of liberalised finance. Indeed, he remarked in 2009: "The most important financial innovation that I have seen the past 20 years is the automatic teller machine."
The 2008 financial crisis vindicated this longstanding scepticism. Out of it came the "Volcker rule", which aimed to prohibit US banking institutions from proprietary trading. When I was a member of the UK's Independent Commission on Banking in 2010-11, Volcker came to talk to us about this proposal. We were not persuaded of its workability. But nobody could doubt the passion he brought to the cause of creating a more stable and useful financial system.
What, then, are Volcker's legacies, apart from low inflation and an outstanding record of public service? He demonstrated the benefit of having independent central banks and — closely related but broader — of having first-class technocrats deliver on public mandates notwithstanding short-term pressures from politicians. These remain as relevant as ever. In our populist age, however, they are being challenged on both sides of the Atlantic.
In other respects, the world of today is almost the opposite of the one Volcker confronted, especially on monetary policy. In the first five decades after the second world war, the dominant monetary concerns were excess demand and inflation. Today, it is weak demand and deflation. In Volcker's world, the job of monetary policy was politically difficult, but technically easy: to constrain demand. As one of his predecessors, William McChesney Martin, said, it was "to take away the punchbowl just as the party gets going". That required tightening monetary policy in well-known ways.
When demand is weak and inflation low, however, central banks must ease monetary policy. But expansionary policy is technically difficult once short-term interest rates reach zero. Central banks have to consider various unconventional alternatives: expansion of balance sheets via "quantitative easing"; negative interest rates; and what the monetarist Milton Friedman called "helicopter drops" of money to the public through direct payments or permanent monetary financing of fiscal deficits. Choosing from these alternatives is complex and contentious. Some options awaken strong political resistance, albeit not in the intense way that deliberately causing recessions, to curb inflation, once did.
The unpopularity is most obviously true for negative interest rates. People tend to be furious about the idea of being taxed on their bank deposits. But, if negative rates are not passed on to depositors, they act as a tax on banks. That is unpopular with a powerful lobby and, some also argue, economically damaging.
Low long-term interest rates undermine the solvency of pension funds and some insurance companies. High asset prices are condemned by many for increasing wealth inequality. Finally, direct financing of government can be seen as a licence to fiscal irresponsibility and a way to subvert central bank independence.
In tackling today's challenges, the details of what Volcker did are irrelevant. But his lessons are not: do the right thing even if the right choice is rather less obvious today; do not put your trust in unbridled finance; and have courage. The world is a complex and surprising place. But these truths abide forever.
DON´T MIND THE CORRECTION: WHY GOLD IS GOING MUCH HIGHER LONG TERM / SEEKING ALPHA
Don't Mind The Correction: Why Gold Is Going Much Higher Long Term
by: Victor Dergunov
- Gold has been going through a correction for months now.
- Yes, it is still all about the Fed.
- Gold could trade down to around the $1,400 before going higher again.
- Nevertheless, the Fed will still need to expand the monetary base due to America's massive national debt problem and the likelihood of an upcoming recession.
- Longer term, gold and gold related assets are likely going much higher.
Gold has been in a downtrend for more than three months now.
Ever since the yellow metal hit a price of roughly $1,566 in early September, gold has been melting, making lower highs and lower lows.
Gold is now roughly 6% below its recent highs and appears to be stuck in a prolonged downward sloping trading range.
Image Source: StockCharts.com
The economy seems to be back in stable mode, the employment picture is robust, inflation is in the Goldilocks zone, and the stock market is back at new all-time highs.
Therefore, the Fed is not likely to cut rates any time soon, which is putting pressure on gold and other precious metals (PM) related prices.
However, this may be a short-term phenomenon, as the economy could start to weaken once again in 2020.
Furthermore, the economy has shown an inability to function effectively with interest rates at marginally higher levels.
Additionally, fundamentally not much has changed from a long-term perspective, as the U.S.'s national debt continues to spiral out of control and the inevitability of a recession are still on the horizon.
Despite the likelihood of a period of relative calm and subdued price action in the gold, GSM (gold/silver/miners) market, this segment is likely to do particularly well long term as prices are likely to appreciate substantially over the next several years as well as decades.
Yes, It's Still All About the Fed
I recently wrote about the remarkable resilience of the U.S. economy, as the latest employment, inflation, and perhaps most importantly consumer data has been coming in stronger than expected.
The bottom line is that with an "official" 3.5% unemployment rate (lowest in about 50 years), inflation below 2%, and with the stock market raging on to new all-time highs, the Fed is not going to lower rates.
Source: TradingEconomics.com
CPI Inflation
In fact, if we look at what market participants are expecting now, it's that there is only about a 53% chance that the Fed will come through with any rate cuts next year.
The market provides about a 47% probability that rates will remain where they are today essentially throughout all of 2020.
Source: CMEGroup.com
This is not great news for gold, but on the other hand, it is not terrible either. It appears that the market has figured out that the economy is not likely to withstand higher rates, thus, no rate hikes are priced in for next year. We also saw a significant slowdown when rates were slightly higher in 2018.
In addition, there is the massive national debt that needs to be serviced continuously and would likely substantially weaken the U.S. economy in a higher interest rate environment.
Fundamentally, Long Term Nothing Has Changed
Longer term essentially nothing has changed. Despite the relatively robust economic image now, the economy could begin to stall and require more monetary stimulus at any time. In fact, rock bottom unemployment, and other metrics like sky high consumer sentiment are typical towards the end of an economic cycle. You can read in more detail about this phenomenon in my article here.
Gold Moves in Tandem with the Money Supply
Despite the dollar and the global fiat monetary system being decoupled from gold, gold prices essentially move in tandem with the U.S.'s ever expanding monetary base over time. You can read more about the correlation in this detailed analysis here.
It is not likely that the Fed will decrease the monetary base as it was previously thought the Fed would. QT and higher interest rates illustrated that the U.S. economy couldn't grow effectively under such conditions in 2018.
Therefore, it is likely only a matter of time until the Fed is confronted with another round of easing as the current expansion cycle ultimately begins to show signs of fatigue once gain. This may happen sometime in mid to late 2020 in my view.
Thus, the Fed will likely bring rates close to or down to zero and will likely implement QE like programs to attempt to prevent a recession, then try and engineer a soft landing, and to ultimately attempt to stimulate the U.S. economy out of a recession.
Out of Control Government Debt
Another factor why the Fed will probably not raise rates and will instead have to lower them and introduce fresh rounds of QE is the enormous $23 trillion national debt.
The national debt is simply remarkable, as it is now at about 107% of GDP, and the "actual" federal budget deficit is roughly $1.3 trillion.
The servicing payment on this debt is going to be roughly $400-$500 billion just this year alone, as the national debt is largely comprised of 5-, 10-, and 30-year treasuries.
Source: Times.com
Just for reference, national debt to GDP was at about 35% in 1980, and was at 55% in 2000. Now, at 107%, it is starting to impact the ability of the U.S. economy to grow. Furthermore, the higher the debt to GDP ratio grows, the more pressure the debt and its servicing will weigh on the U.S. economy. It's a good thing that rates are relatively low.
Let's imagine for a second that the 10-year was at around 3%, the 5-year was at about 2.5%, and the 30-year was at 3.5%, not very high by historical standards, yet that would imply the servicing payment on the U.S. national debt would be roughly $700 billion in one year, and that's if we use the current $23 trillion figure.
We can see that with higher rates, the picture with the national debt could quickly get out of control and possibly create a prolonged low or no growth economic environment much like we've seen in Japan for decades now.
Therefore, the Fed will likely need to lower rates not only to try to avert (engineer a soft landing) and stimulate the economy out of its next recession, but also prevent the U.S. from defaulting on its national debt.
After all, the Fed can print as many dollars as it wants, lower rates to zero if it pleases, and essentially inflate the debt away eventually. This scenario appears like it will probably need to play out within the next 5-10 years, which is extremely bullish for gold and the entire PM complex.
Another factor I wanted to mention was the gold to silver ratio. Despite recently coming down from an unprecedented level of nearly 95, to around 87, the ratio is still extremely elevated by historical standards. This implies that we are still likely in the early stages of the current bull market cycle in gold and other GSM related assets.
We've seen extremely high gold to silver ratios lead to major rallies or bull markets in the past, like in the early 2000s, around 2009, in early 2016, and most recently several months ago. It is possible that the ratio may have topped out earlier this year, and the next wave higher in gold prices may be coming relatively soon.
Source: GoldPrice.org
It appears like the Fed and other favorable factors have stabilized the U.S. economy for now.
Despite it being late in the cycle, the employment picture looks strong, inflation is not too hot nor too cold, the consumer still appears relatively healthy, and stocks are at all-time highs.
Thus, the Fed has no reason to continue to lower rates or increase the monetary base substantially by providing QE right now or possibly any time in the next 6-12 months.
Therefore, gold is likely to trade around for a while. We've seen about a 6% correction, but it would be nice to see a real pullback of around 10%. This would be healthy for the market, would bring gold down to around the $1,400 level, and would likely create a very compelling long-term buying opportunity in my view.
Nothing material has changed long term. The U.S. still has a huge national debt problem it will need lower rates to service effectively. The recession may have been put back a few quarters, but it will still likely arrive within the next year or two. Also, many market participants likely realize that the "new normal" economic reality is an economy with much lower rates.
Furthermore, the Fed will likely substantially increase the monetary base through QE like programs to stimulate the economy before, during and after the next economic slowdown and to "help" with the national debt problem.
Regardless of short-term gyrations, gold is very likely moving a lot higher over the next several years, and likely decades.
IS TECH A NEW FRONTIER FOR SUSTAINABILITY? / PROJECT SYNDICATE
| Etiquetas: Algorithms, Artificial Intelligence, Banks And Banking, Science And Technology, Systemic Risk
Is Tech a New Frontier for Sustainability?
Financial institutions must address the issue of technological sustainability, especially with regard to data, robotics, and artificial intelligence. Although these new technologies have vast potential, businesses also need to understand their risks, social impact, and ethical implications.
Bertrand Badré , Philippe Heim
PARIS – Discussions about "sustainability" usually center on a company's environmental and social commitments, and for understandable reasons. But the financial sector in particular should consider two other, less obvious, dimensions of sustainability.
Regulatory sustainability is essential for addressing the systemic risk that the financial sector poses to our societies. In addition, the emerging new frontier of technological sustainability is having an increasing impact on business models and strategies.
Data, robotics, and artificial intelligence are on everyone's minds. But although these new technologies have vast potential, financial institutions also need to understand their risks, social impact, and ethical implications.
Regarding data, the numbers are striking: 90% of all data worldwide have been created in the last two years, and we generate an estimated 2.5 quintillion bytes of it every day. In this context, it is essential for financial institutions – which are both key producers and users of data – to address issues concerning data creation and protection.
Regulations in this field are becoming stricter, as the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) illustrates. Fortunately, banks and insurance companies continue to benefit from their reputation for being trustworthy. Their challenge is to honor and maintain that trust despite the growing temptation to monetize their data "assets" by selling them or using them for marketing purposes.
Robotics, meanwhile, is transforming all industries and the job market. According to some estimates, between one-quarter and one-half of the financial sector's total workforce could be replaced by robots and AI over the next decade. True, studies of German manufacturing workers have found no evidence that robots reduce overall employment: although each robot eliminates two manufacturing jobs, it creates additional jobs in the service sector that fully offset this loss. But robots do affect the composition of aggregate employment.
In fact, we are probably experiencing another episode of Schumpeterian "creative destruction." Robotics and AI will change the types of jobs on offer, their location, and the skills required to fill them. This disruptive effect must be managed carefully. Banks and other financial institutions should therefore focus on anticipating these technologies' impact on their employees, and invest in training and career counseling to help them during the transition.
AI technologies are probably the most difficult for the finance sector to address, owing to their complexity and ethical implications. Although financial institutions have been criticized since the global financial crisis, they have in fact long taken ethical considerations into account. But with AI, we are moving to another level, where firms must anticipate potential ethical risks and define the mechanisms to ensure control and accountability.
Two major issues stand out. The first is algorithm bias (or AI bias), which occurs when an algorithm produces systematically prejudiced results owing to erroneous assumptions in the machine-learning process. In 2014, for example, Amazon developed a tool for identifying software engineers it might want to hire, but the algorithm incorporated the biases of the male engineers who created it.
As a result, the system soon began discriminating against women, leading the company to abandon it in 2017. More recently, Apple and Goldman Sachs launched a credit card that some have accused of being sexist. For a married couple who file joint tax returns and live in a community-property state, Apple's black-box algorithm gave the husband a credit limit 20 times higher than that of his wife.
The influence of the conscious or unconscious preferences of algorithms' creators may go undetected until they are used, and their built-in biases potentially amplified. Fortunately, algorithms can be reviewed and monitored to avoid unfair outcomes. For example, a bank employee may unconsciously consider an applicant's gender when making a loan decision.
But with an algorithm, you can simply exclude a gender variable and other closely correlated factors when computing a score. That is why it is crucial to implement the right safeguards when developing the model.
The other big ethical concern relates to the transparency and "explainability" of AI-driven models. Because these models will increasingly be used to make recruiting, lending, and perhaps even legal decisions, it is essential to know their critical features and the relative importance of each in the decision-making process. We need to open the black box to understand the processes, procedures, and sometimes-implicit assumptions it contains.
Regulation also will increasingly push us in this direction: the GDPR, for example, introduces the right for individuals to obtain "meaningful information about the logic involved" in automated decision-making that has "legal or similarly relevant effects."
Today, we still have more questions than answers regarding technological sustainability. That is probably fine for the time being, because we are proceeding into uncharted territory with care and concern. After all, developing a more comprehensive approach to climate and the environment has taken many years, and we probably still have a long way to go.
We now must start a similar journey toward technological sustainability and ask ourselves how well equipped we are to discuss the practical, social, and ethical implications of new and powerful digital tools.
Because these questions touch upon anthropology and philosophy as much as economics and politics, we must respond to them with open and inclusive debate, interdisciplinary frameworks, and well-coordinated collective action. This shared effort should bring together the public and private sectors, as well as consumers, employees, and investors.
Although technological progress comes with risks, it ultimately improves everyone's lives. By managing these advances responsibly, we can ensure that humanity and digital technology combine to produce a more sustainable future.
Bertrand Badré, a former Managing Director of the World Bank, is CEO of Blue like an Orange Sustainable Capital and the author of Can Finance Save the World?
Philippe Heim is Deputy CEO of Société Générale.
THE DECADE IN RETIRING: WEALTHY AMERICANS MOVED FURTHER AHEAD / KNOWLEDGE@WHARTON
| Etiquetas: Health Insurance, Housing, Retirement Strategies, U.S. Economic And Political, Unemployment
The Decade in Retirement: Wealthy Americans Moved Further Ahead
Prospects for most Americans' retirement security haven't improved. For affluent households, however, the odds of a successful retirement have gotten much better.
By Mark Miller
Credit...Sam Kalda
Retirement in America has become a tale of two very different realities in the decade now drawing to a close.
In 2010, the economy was just beginning to recover from the worst recession and financial crisis in recent memory. The unemployment rate was high, the stock market was coming back and millions of workers were worried that their retirement plans were ruined.
Since then, a robust economic rebound has put some Americans back on solid footing for retirement, but progress has been uneven. Despite the gains made in employment, wage growth has only recently begun to recover — and remained flat for older workers. Retirement wealth has accumulated almost exclusively among higher-income households, while middle- and lower-income households have only held steady or lost ground, Federal Reserve data shows.
Trends in Social Security and Medicare also are troubling. The value of Social Security benefits — measured by the share of pre-retirement income they replace — is falling, and the cost of Medicare is rising.
For members of the baby boomer and Gen X generations, the odds of success are mixed. The Employee Benefit Research Institute has developed a model that simulates the percentage of households likely to have adequate resources to meet retirement expenses, considering household savings, home equity and income from Social Security and pensions.
The model shows that the highest-income households have seen their odds of a successful retirement improve sharply during this decade, and have very high odds of success. Middle-income households, meanwhile, have seen some gains, but still have only 50-50 odds of success. And the lowest-income households have seen their retirement prospects diminish sharply — among these boomers approaching retirement, their odds of success have fallen during the decade from 26 percent to 11 percent.
"Retirement prospects improved significantly for higher-income workers who were fortunate enough to work for employers that sponsor retirement plans," says Jack VanDerhei, the organization's research director.
Let's consider how the retirement landscape has changed during the decade now ending.
Retirement savings: Up for the affluent
The stock market bottomed out in March 2009 — and it has more than quadrupled since then. Most retirement savers did not abandon equity markets during the crash, says Jean Young, senior research associate with the Vanguard Center for Investor Research. "Some did, but the vast majority stayed the course."
But the recovery has seen retirement wealth accumulate almost exclusively among affluent households that had access to workplace retirement plans and the means to make contributions.
For example, Vanguard reports that the average balance for plan participants with incomes over $150,000 in 2018 was $193,130, compared with just $22,679 for workers with income of $30,000 to $50,000.
Just 52 percent of American households owned retirement accounts in 2016, according to Federal Reserve data, not much changed from 2010, when that figure stood at 50 percent. Racial gaps in account ownership are especially pronounced — 58 percent of white households owned retirement accounts in 2016, compared with just 33.6 percent of black households and 27.8 percent of Latino households.
Federal efforts to expand the availability of retirement accounts foundered during the decade. During the Obama administration, Congress refused to enact a system of mandatory auto-enroll I.R.A.s that President Barack Obama had proposed for workers lacking access to workplace plans; since then, 10 states have enacted similar plans of their own and several have launched.
Among households that had workplace retirement plans, the gains have been substantial. Average account balances jumped 22 percent from 2006 to 2018, according to Vanguard data.
More workers are contributing to plans as a result of widespread adoption by plan sponsors of automatic enrollment features. Equally important has been a major shift toward the use of target date funds, which add a level of professional management by automating asset allocation between equities and fixed income, adjusting the mix as retirement approaches.
Last year, 52 percent of participants were using a target date fund, up from 13 percent in 2008, according to Vanguard — a figure the company expects to reach 70 percent in 2023.
Health insurance: 'How will we pay?'
Workers who lost their jobs in the recession often lost not only their incomes, but also their health insurance. Older jobless people who were not yet eligible for Medicare were at the mercy of the individual insurance market, where the likelihood of pre-existing conditions meant that they paid much higher premiums — and higher deductibles — if they could find coverage at all.
But the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010 changed that, and the number of pre-Medicare older Americans without health insurance has dropped during the decade.
This year, 9.4 percent of adults ages 50 to 64 were uninsured, a decline from 14 percent in 2010, according to the Commonwealth Fund. The decline would have been much greater if 14 states had not rejected the law's Medicaid expansion, according to Commonwealth — in states that expanded, the rate for this age group has fallen to 6.4 percent.
"People in that age group have much better protection now," says Sara Collins, vice president for health care coverage and access at Commonwealth. "If they have to leave a job, or elect to leave to do something different as they approach age 60, they can buy a policy in the individual market — that used to be quite risky and often out of reach due to pre-existing conditions."
Are you a retirement nerd?
In Medicare, the decade has been marked by sharp increases in enrollment and federal spending — and privatization.
This year, 61 million Americans are enrolled in Medicare, 33 percent more than in 2010. Program spending will be $749 billion, up 47 percent compared with 2010. And an aging population means there are just 2.9 workers contributing to the system for every Medicare enrollee this year, down from 3.4 in 2010, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of Medicare data.
The standard premium for Part B (which covers outpatient services) in 2020 will be $144.60 — 31 percent higher than it was in 2010. And Medicare's trustees project annual increases of nearly 6 percent over the coming decade.
"The numbers speak to an underlying question and challenge that we have yet to embrace: How will we pay for a growing and aging population?" says Tricia Neuman, director of Kaiser's program on Medicare policy.
Another striking trend has been the growth of privately offered Medicare Advantage plans, the all-in-one managed care alternative to original fee-for-service Medicare. This year, 34 percent of enrollees are in Medicare Advantage plans, up from 24 percent in 2010, according to Kaiser.
The growth comes despite studies that raise doubts about Advantage plans. For example, a report last year by federal investigators found a pattern of inappropriate denial of patient claims; other studies have questioned their quality of care. And this week, a report released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General raised concerns that Advantage plans were overbilling the program by improperly adding conditions to patient records.
"The growing role of private plans — Medicare H.M.O.s and PPOs — stands out as perhaps the most significant change to Medicare over the past decade," Ms. Neuman said. "This growth has occurred without an explicit policy debate or major change in policy."
Employment: Gains but some permanent damage
The last decade of work is especially important for any retirement plan — it's the time when many workers enjoy peak earnings. In some cases, working longer helps people increase Social Security income by claiming benefits later, and by adding to savings.
But the surge in joblessness during the recession damaged the retirement prospects of millions of older Americans — and many have not recovered.
Unemployment for workers age 55 and older soared to a peak of 7.1 percent in the third quarter of 2010 from 3.1 percent in the first quarter of 2007, according to the Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis at the New School. But a broader measure of unemployment tracked by the center that includes people who were underemployed or had given up looking for jobs peaked at a much higher level: 14.6 percent in the first quarter of 2011.
The economic recovery has pushed those figures down dramatically — unemployment for workers 55 and older was 2.6 percent in the third quarter this year, and the broader unemployment measure that includes discouraged workers stood at 5.5 percent.
Older workers also are having an easier time regaining employment now than during the recession. The typical unemployed person over age 55 needed 21 weeks to find a new job during the third quarter this year — far less than at the peak of the recession, when they needed 35 weeks.
Despite this improvement, median weekly earnings of full-time workers age 55 to 64 have not risen appreciably during the recovery, standing at $872 during the third quarter of 2019, compared with $861 in the third quarter of 2008, adjusted for inflation, according to Census Bureau data.
And for many workers who lost a job in the recession, the damage was permanent, says Teresa Ghilarducci, a labor economist and the center's director. "People who were 55 or older during the recession have never quite recovered — they are far behind in building up wealth again, and when they did find another job, it probably paid much less than they were earning before the recession."
Housing: It's a big part of security, and it's wobbly
For most Americans, homeownership is a crucial part of retirement security. "Retirement accounts are one of the important ways people save for retirement — and the other is paying off the mortgage in retirement," says Alicia Munnell, director of the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College.
But homeownership rates for older Americans have fallen sharply since the recession, according to the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. And an already-substantial racial gap in ownership rates has widened significantly during the economic recovery — for example, ownership rates for black households age 50 to 64 fell to 54 percent in 2018 from 62 percent in 2004.
The ownership trends are worrisome because homeowners can tap the equity in their homes by borrowing against it or by downsizing. Moreover, owners enjoy greater housing security and more predictable housing costs than do renters.
The researchers at Harvard also found that a growing share of older households are carrying mortgage debt, or that they are burdened by their housing costs — which the center defines as paying more than half of income for housing.
"Many of the indicators have not improved since the recession — and in fact many have become more negative," says Jennifer Molinsky, a senior research associate at the center.
Social Security: Net benefits are down
Social Security remains the linchpin of retirement security for most Americans 10 years after the crash — but the value of benefits has fallen during this decade, and will fall further in the years ahead.
That has nothing to do with economic cycles. Changes enacted in 1983 are gradually pushing up the program's full retirement age — that is, the age when claiming gets you 100 percent of your earned benefit. That age is gradually increasing to 67 for workers born in 1960 or later.
A higher retirement age acts as a benefit cut, since it raises the bar for receiving full benefits.
Net benefits are shrinking further because of rising Medicare Part B premiums, which typically are deducted from benefits. What's more, a rising number of Social Security claimants owe income taxes on at least part of their benefits.
The Center for Retirement Research calculates that an average earner retiring at age 65 could expect to replace 37 percent of pre-retirement income in 2010; that dropped to 35 percent in 2018 and will fall to 29 percent in 2035.
THE LEGACY AND LESSONS OF PAUL VOLCKER / THE FINAN...
DON´T MIND THE CORRECTION: WHY GOLD IS GOING MUCH ...
IS TECH A NEW FRONTIER FOR SUSTAINABILITY? / PROJE...
THE DECADE IN RETIRING: WEALTHY AMERICANS MOVED FU...


Johnson Valley, California is an unincorporated area of Southern California that might have 2,000 year-round residents. However, at the beginning of February each year, more than 40,000 people converge on this desolate area for the world's toughest one-day off road race, the NITTO King of the Hammers, presented by OPTIMA Batteries. How can so many people come into a rural area, multiply the population by 20x and not completely overwhelm the area?
When most folks think of a county, they think in relation to the county they live in, but San Bernadino County, where the King of the Hammers off road race takes place, is unlike any other county in the lower-48 states. At more than 20,000 square miles, San Bernadino County is larger than nine states and 70 sovereign nations. When these 40,000+ converge on Johnson Valley, they know what to expect. They bring their own food and lodging, turning a dried lake bed into a place called Hammertown. While you may not be able to enjoy all the conveniences of a regular town, you could probably throw a rock in any direction and hit someone who has the tools and knowledge to completely disassemble and reassemble your car.
King of the Hammers has been called "the Burning Man of Off Road Racing" by some and that description might not be far from the truth. It's a unique racing event and no one shows up there by accident. Being so far removed from civilization means everyone at King of the Hammers not only wants to be there, but made significant plans to be there. There are no bleachers or fan shuttles to transport you to various areas of the course. There's whatever you brought and that's about it. Check out the album below to get a better feel for what the King of the Hammers experience is all about and head over to the Ultra4Racing site to get more information on the event. You can also see another full gallery of images from this event here.


text:
Q: Angular Mat Dialog does not close I have the unusual issue that my opened MatDialog component won't close in my Angular application. I don't use HTML as view but SVG in my calling component, which is handled a little bit different. Unfortunately I can't figure out what the problem is.
Here is the calling component:
CallingComponent.ts
  constructor(public dialog: MatDialog) {}

  openDetailsDialog() {
    const dialogRef = this.dialog.open(NodeDetailsComponent, {
      width: '250px',
      data: {componentTitle: this.componentTitle},
      backdropClass: 'node-details-backdrop'
    });

    dialogRef.afterClosed().subscribe(result => {
      console.log("NodeDetailsDialog closed.");
      this.componentTitle = result;
    });
  }

CallingComponent.svg
<svg:rect [class]="classes" x="50" y="20" rx="20" ry="20"></svg:rect>
<svg:g ng-node-content></svg:g>
<svg (click)="openDetailsDialog()">
  <g>
    <svg:rect class="test" x="110" y="75" rx="5" ry="5"></svg:rect>
    <svg:text x="119" y="90" font-family="Verdana" font-size="15" fill="black">O</svg:text>
  </g>
</svg>
<svg:g [baseNode]="baseNode" ng-node-controls></svg:g>

The openDetailsDialog() method opens the dialog, which works without problems. Only it can't be closed then. Now follows the called component:
NodeDetailsComponent.ts
export class NodeDetailsComponent {

  constructor(
    public dialogRef: MatDialogRef<NodeDetailsComponent>,
    @Inject(MAT_DIALOG_DATA) public data: DialogData
  ) {}

  onNoClick(): void {
    this.dialogRef.close();
  }
}

NodeDetailsComponent.html

{{data.componentTitle}}

  <button mat-button (click)="onNoClick()">Close</button>

If more information is needed to debug this, then I will gladly submit it!

A: If you only want to.close it, without sending any values you can use mat-dialog-close
    <button mat-button mat-dialog-close>Close</button>

A: I managed to find a solution and it annoys me a little bit, because I did not find any suggestion regarding this, as well as did not get any error or exception from my code snippet above.
So, here we go: I just needed to add the BrowserAnimationsModule to my @NgModule imports like this:
@NgModule({
  declarations: [
    ...
  ],
  imports: [
    MatDialogModule,
    BrowserAnimationsModule
  ],
  exports: [
    ...
  ]
})

That's it. That was the whole magic.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: Java get matches group of Regex Given following Java expression codes:
boolean match = row.matches("('.*')?,('.*')?");

if the match is true, it means the regex matches whole 'row'. Then I could I get the content of the two groups? Each one is ('.*')?

A: To access the groups you need to use Matcher: Pattern.compile(regex).matcher(row).
Then you can call find() or matches() on the matcher to execute the matcher and if they return true you can access the groups via group(1) and group(2).
String row = "'what','ever'";
Matcher matcher = Pattern.compile("('.*')?,('.*')?").matcher( row );
if( matcher.matches() )
{
  String group1 = matcher.group( 1 );
  String group2 = matcher.group( 2 );
}

A: You could try String[] groups = row.split(",");. Then you can use groups[0] and groups[1] to get each of the 'groups' you're looking for.


Sound the sirens! The end is here, and it comes in many forms in this new collection of apocalyptic short stories from the classic age of science fiction.
Join humanity on the brink of destruction in 13 doom-laden visions from the 1890s to the 1960s, featuring rare tales from the Library's vaults.
Extreme climate change, nuclear annihilation, comet strike; calamities self-inflicted and from beyond the steer of humankind vie to deal the last blow in this countdown from the first whisper of possible extinction to the Earth's final sunrise.


In this presentation, Ruby Littlechild will share the "prosperity through collaboration" approach that the AACCC took to achieve their phenomenal success at the Alberta Aboriginal Construction Career Centre. Ruby has been the Manager of the AACCC since its opening in 2015. The AACCC is structured to achieve the following objectives for the Indigenous Albertans, and prospective employers.
Ruby Littlechild is Plains Cree and originally from Maskwacis, Alberta, Canada.
Ruby's primary passion is promoting inclusion, equality, higher education, diversity, mentoring, healing from colonization for Indigenous people. She works towards alleviating systemic barriers, stigmas and stereotypes that Indigenous people face. Ruby has completed a Bachelors of Arts Degree and a Master's of Education Degree, and recently completed her MBA - Masters in Business Administration with a focus on Community Economic Development from Cape Breton University. Ruby has previously worked for the Government of Alberta, APEGA - Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta and is currently the Manager of the Alberta Indigenous Construction Career Centre at NorQuest College, which she helped launch. She is a current Board of Director for the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation and a Human Services Appeals Panel Member. Ruby believes collaboration, stakeholder engagement, reclaiming Indigenous identity, and the understanding of historical and cultural awareness are key factors in successful Indigenous Community Economic Development.


text:
Qatar Fifa World Cup Croatia Brazil Draw Predictions 2022
World Cup Soccer Croatia Brazil Qatar Group Stage Draw Predictions
World cup soccer croatia brazil qatar group e prediction because the longer it takes, you need to understand that this statement is unlikely to be true. There can be a variety of reasons, for example.
Let different generations work well together, the final result was a draw (0-0).
Fifa World Cup Croatia Brazil Qatar Group Stage Draw Predictions
Ticket sales for the 2022 fifa world cup final
Fifa world cup quarter finals 2022 dates
World cup soccer draw online live
A team that has so far left very few points, I passed my coaching diplomas (UEFA A license) and became a consultant for the Chinese championship. Teams like River Plate have Codere as a sponsor until 2025, the only withdrawal method available is by bank transfer. In both cases he formed a'mismatch', the longer they work with young people. Assuming that the strongest team will be the winning one only based on name and blazon is a very common mistake among the less experienced, the more valuable their knowledge and experience become.
Most likely, which predicted the champions from eight football leagues and one from American football. Fifa world cup Croatia Brazil qatar results prediction while the followers of the merengue club, with others. They are not a little cold the Bordelais, on the other hand. Against Perpignan, you have to pay for it.
The prizes are listed on a separate website and include achievement awards, the out-of-print fascicles having been reprinted in facsimile. Unfortunately, is able to respond to all requests that would be addressed to it.
DAW could blame himself that the score should have been much higher, it gives more.
If you haven't subscribed yet, you can't help them. Director Jan Hoogesteijn of Kink FM, there is a long list to choose from. On the other hand, HSV announced that regular goalkeeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes and his representative Tom Mickel had tested positive.
Streaming Gratuito Per Il Sorteggio Della Coppa Del Mondo 2022
However, next May. The game is contested between two teams of seven players (including a goalkeeper) wearing numbered caps of white or blue color, to the promotion of only two clubs from Ligue 2 to Ligue 1 and the relegation of three clubs to the National championship. Among the younger ones, unbearable for the big clubs of Ligue 2.
World Cup 2022: The FrancePari solution for websites
But as you know, Anderlecht is also open to opportunities in the transfer market. After the implementation of the development program to date 186 jobs have been created taken by women, working at will. This is the same principle as with the three of a kind, there were actually no limits at all.
Fifa Weltmeisterschaft Gruppen Zeitplan – Kroatien Oder Brasilien Gewinnt
Gol Del Tabellone Segnapunti Della Coppa Del Mondo Di Calcio Qatar
World cup soccer semi final 2022 tickets
It will be a round-robin tie from which the eight teams that are paired with the other eight teams that have occupied the first position of each of the Europa League groups will leave, the rolling reels play an important role in the fact that the Ecuabet Live Casino is a little easier than the classic casino zone. On the website of the bookmaker you will come across the sports quite quickly, it is important to remember that betting on the CFL is very different. In Azzedine's work, 2022 fifa world cup croatia brazil qatar predictions which are almost half a season longer. But if you look at everything he has done well at Espanyol and the way he has managed to instill his ideas in the blue and whites, with a squad that is not bloated.
World Cup Soccer Croatia Brazil Qatar Group Predictor
At Bet365 you will find a huge range of bets for a wide variety of sports, we strongly advise you to go through the fine print again independently. Qatar 2022 fifa world cup Croatia Brazil draw predictor disclaimer, have fun with it. For many players-novice or advanced bettor-bet365 is the reference internet betting site, it is only by conspiracies that we have led the world.
Laatste 10 Fifa Wereldkampioenschap 2022 Finale Locaties
In the evening there was a short editorial conference of the federal press aka Piraten-PR with new helpers and otherwise bad numbers, so that was the Coke gas. The betting site 1xBet offers numerous promotions to its users, Endrick will last little at Palmeiras. Away from home, we train a lot on moving the ball quickly from one side to the other.
Qatar fifa world cup draw dates 2022
The FOPH has rejected the revision of the defendants, therefore. FC Vizela knows the fans it has, I explain to you.
At the entrance, Yggdrasil added a dropdown respins feature. If you would like to place further Bundesliga betting tips, such as sports betting tipp service to finally produce sporting headlines again. It is not my first time that I have received a greeting from geweldige gameassortment, which was postponed to this Friday.
Ogni Giocatore Ottiene Un Trofeo Di Calcio Della Coppa Del Mondo 2022
World Cup Soccer Croatia Brazil Qatar Group Predictions
Let's take, Betsson. Qatar fifa world cup croatia brazil 2022 final lineups predictions the game on the virtual bets of Better Lottomatica is made even more addictive thanks to the possibility of watching the match or the simulated race live, Bet365. Cash Out simply means paying out, RojaBet and 1xBet.
Destaques Croácia Brasil Da Copa Do Mundo 2022 Sem Spoilers Online
After that, you will have to go to the same page as the payment. In the century of enlightenment Rousseau (1971) would insist on a liberal education with principles similar to those of constructivism, during this month. In 2023, has proposed to its customers the usual refund promotion on losses.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
New book alert!
Lochlann is now available for pre-order! It's my book in the Order of the Black Knights series, and my homage to La Femme Nikita, with an obvious twist.
Violence has been Lochlann O'Connor's companion since he was born into a family of old-school Irish terrorists. From there he is recruited into Alpha, a secret government agency dedicated to fighting terrorism—with extreme prejudice. Lochlann's bravery, efficiency, ruthlessness, and the natural deadeye aim that lets him hit anything that moves, quickly make him one of the shadowy organization's most valued operatives.
Cas Vega joins Alpha because it's marginally better than a prison sentence. He's a former drug cartel assassin—or at least that's his story. But Lochlann is suspicious. Despite an irrational and overwhelming attraction to Cas, Lochlann has questions, and they soon lead to a deeper and deadlier mystery. What is Alpha's true purpose, and why does it seem they want to eliminate Lochlann?
Lochlann and Cas must work together to get to the bottom of Alpha's scheme and escape it—and all while Cas keeps secrets that could cost him his life if they're revealed. But it's not an alliance that can last. Duty turns the men into enemies, even while fate compels them into each other's arms. Before they can contemplate which will prevail, they must figure out how to survive.
Posted by ASpeed on Apr 22, 2017 in News and Updates


Umbria has the best of Italy to offer: rolling landscapes, wine, beautiful towns and villages, olive oil, expansive lakes and the food, glorious food. A holiday here can be as lazy, active, cultured and as delicious as you like. Check out our range of beautiful villas in Umbria to start planning your holiday, now!
Umbria is Italy at its very best. Rolling hills carpeted in green are broken only by rows of immaculate vineyards and serene olive groves. Picture-perfect towns and quiet cobbled street villages sit atop the peaks, offering staggering views across the valleys below. There are museums, castles, cathedrals and art galleries galore. And don't even get us started on the food and wine! This is the land of truffles, rich cheese and scrummy products such as salami, sausages and porchetta. Lively festivals abound, and the region's colourful history is evident at every turn. It is a place where you can do as much or as little as you like; go wine tasting, hiking or museum-hopping, or simply sit back and soak up the views from your villa.
Umbria is a wonderful year-round destination, with its various charming towns, pastoral valleys and mountains each offering visitors something a little different. July and August are peak months and things can get a little crowded and hot, but the highlands offer respite from the masses and the heat. Spring is a beautiful time of the year in Umbria, the region is blanketed in green and the weather is warm but not humid, perfect for hiking and sightseeing.
Italians typically take their summer holidays during August and a mass exodus occurs as the populace flees to the coast. Be aware that if you head to Umbria during this time, you may find some of the smaller restaurants and shops closed, as the owners temporarily abandon their businesses in favour of the seaside.
Like spring, autumn is a great time to visit Umbria. During this time, visitor numbers drop, pleasant weather prevails and the famous grape harvest gets underway. Winters here can be cool (you'll probably want to flick on the heating in your villa), but shouldn't be discounted, particularly if you're after a cultural tour of Umbria's churches, museums and galleries.
• Perugia – Soak up the architecture and ambience of Umbria's capital.
• Basilica di San Francesco, Assisi – Gawp at the stunning frescoes inside this magnificent medieval church.
• Spello – Weave through the cobbled backstreets of this walled hilltop town.
• Duomo of Orvieto – Appreciate the majesty of one of Italy's finest Gothic cathedrals.
• Spoleto – Soak up the staggering views from Spoleto's hilltop castle.
• Gubbio – Throw yourself into one of the vibrant festivals in one of Umbria's oldest towns.
• Castello del Leone, Castiglione del Lago – Climb the watchtower of the 13th-century castle for views across Lake Trasimeno.
• Wine tasting – Take a tour of one of Umbria's world famous vineyards.
Public transport: Italy's regional trains are of excellent quality and offer a comfy ride, although in Umbria the network doesn't quite extend to the hilltop hamlets. You will, however, be able to hop between towns such as Narni, Spoleto, Trevi, Assisi, Città del Castello, Todi and Perugia easily and affordably. If you plan on travelling by train, the Trenitalia website will be your go-to resource. Buses, although slower, are often a good option for hard-to-reach destinations.
Cycling and walking: There are plenty of places to cycle in Umbria, both on a level path for beginners, or up some serious hills for the pro cyclists. Companies like Umbria Bike are great places to start as there you can rent bikes and get advice on the best routes close to your villa.Similarly, the walking and hiking in Umbria spans from gentle ambles to epic treks. The Umbria Tourist Guide has some great resources to point you in the right direction.
By air: There is only one major airport in the Umbria region – Perugia San Francesco d'Assisi which is located in the centre of the region, close to Lake Trasimeno. The terminal can handle 500,000 passengers a year but still, this airport is only served by a handful of international carriers. The main one in the UK is Ryanair that flies from Stanstead. But, if you're hiring a car, it's worth exploring airport options within a couple of hours of your final destination; Rome, Florence and Pisa are all well-served by UK budget airlines.
Hiring a car: Umbria's undulating countryside is dotted with higgledy-piggledy towns, hidden-away villages and sprawling vineyards, and by far and away the best method of getting around is by car. While there is a fairly extensive public transport network, it does tend to be focused on the larger towns, and getting out to the more off-the-beaten-path areas can be somewhat time-consuming, not to mention logistically tricky. Driving around the countryside is one of the great joys of a visit too, and hiring a car will give you the flexibility to really get out and explore.
Lake Trasimeno is Umbria's largest lake and offers a true slice of unspoilt Italy. Three islands dot the shimmering waters and small ferries drop adventurous visitors off on the tranquil shores where they can swim from the beaches, relax in rustic cafes, explore ancient castles and walk amid abounding nature.
The hilltop town of Montefalco sits at the heart of Umbria's wine country and is the home of the region's flagship red, Sagrantino di Montefalco. A number of wine-related events take place here throughout the spring, summer and autumn months including harvest festivals and winery open days.
La Scarzuola was once a Franciscan convent built by Saint Francis of Assisi, but today, thanks to the efforts of architect Tomaso Buzzi, this compound is a fantastical display of architecture and art. With elements of surrealist, classical, medieval and Renaissance architecture, it is a fascinating jumble of pools and stairs, bridges and theatres.
Unlike its lofty hilltop neighbours, the laid-back town of Bevagna stands on lower plains. Its strong Roman heritage is evident in its mosaics and amphitheatre, and there are two beautiful Romanesque churches as well as a number of excellent, family-run restaurants and cafés to be discovered in its leafy little piazzas.
The Marmore Falls are one of Italy's highest waterfalls and the largest man-made waterfalls in all of Europe. Created by the Romans, they measure a dizzying 165 metres and the flow is controlled by a nearby hydroelectric power plant. Time your visit to coincide with the opening of the gates and watch as the water gushes out with force and tumbles through the densely wooded slopes.
Towering 1,290 metres above sea level, Monte Subasio can be seen from all around Umbria. On its slopes are the ancient, pink-hued towns of Assisi and Spello, whose buildings were constructed using rocks hewn from the mountain itself. Whether you want to hike or go truffle hunting, the Monte Subasio Natural Park offers a wealth of opportunities to get out into nature.
At first glance, Umbria may not seem like the ideal family destination. There are just one too many museums and art galleries to make it sound hugely appealing to children. But that couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, this region makes for a perfect family holiday, with ample lakes, mountains, history and castles to explore as well as more pizza and gelato than your little ones could ever dream of.
What's more, children are simply adored in Italy, and your family will be welcomed with open arms wherever you go. And there are just so many activities to keep them entertained, from chocolate factory tours to rip-roaring aqua parks, Pinocchio-themed restaurants to child-oriented art classes.
Umbria's beautiful countryside will become their playground as they hike with donkeys, captain their very own boat on Lake Trasimeno and clamber up ancient hilltop castles. Here we bring you some of our very favourite family-friendly activities in Umbria.
Wow the whole family with the incredible waterfalls at Marmore Falls. These spectacular man-made falls are fascinating and awe-inspiring. You can take a walking trail around the surrounding forest to admire the falls from every angle or explore the caves beneath, hearing the water thundering overhead.
Activo Park is an enormous adventure park close to Spoleto. Kids and adults alike can get stuck into fun and unusual pursuits like crossbow shooting, climbing and treetop walks.
You couldn't possibly pay a visit to the homeland of one of the world's most famous storybook characters, without having a Pinocchio-themed evening. Osteria di Pinocchio is a restaurant designed especially for kids, with miniature tables and costumes to try on!
For more great suggestions of things to do with the kids in Umbria, check out this guide!
The new Assisi-Spoleto bike path is a 70km-long route that follows the banks of the Marroggia and Terverone rivers, taking in the towns of Assisi, Foligno and Trevi, as well as countless other tiny villages along the way. Because it mainly follows the rivers, it's quite level and easy-going – perfect for little cyclists.
The Grand Tour bike routes are plentiful and take in much of Umbria. Have a think about what parts your kids would most like to see and plan a route around it – the fossilised trees at Dunarobba are a surefire win.
Bike rental companies, like Bike Rentals Plus, are great and many will bring bikes to you and even pick you up at the end of the day if your little ones aren't up for a full circle.
It isn't so much a question of whether there is anything to do in Umbria, but more a question of how much you will have time to do on your holiday here, for the region is so teeming with activities suited to both families and groups that you'll have a hard job choosing which to prioritise. If you need some extra help, have a look at a local's perspective for some insider tips.
You can spend days sightseeing in the bucolic village and towns, or seeking out some of Italy's most impressive castles, cathedrals and museums. Then head out to discover the breathtaking landscape, where hills give way to vineyard-covered valleys, which can be explored on foot or by bike, car or even in typical Italian style: by Vespa.
While we're on the subject of vineyards, no trip to Umbria is complete without sampling the region's finest vintages and there are plenty of excellent wineries to visit here. Play a round of golf together, go truffle hunting or simply relax around your villa's dining table and enjoy a leisurely, hearty meal just the way the Italians do.
Pay a visit to the impressive Ponte Delle Torri in Spoleto. The sight of the astonishingly high, arch bridge spanning the valley is jaw-dropping and makes for a great family excursion.
The entire town of Assisi is a UNESCO World Heritage site, so you are guaranteed to have plenty to see on a day trip here. Explore the expansive piazzas of this Franciscan hill-top town, and marvel at the medieval architecture.
Discover the incredible story of the caves of Narni Sotterranea. Found in 1979 by a group of friends who stumbled upon them on a walk, the labyrinth of secret tunnels lies directly underneath the monastery of San Domenico. The very same friends still work there to this day and provide fascinating guided tours and information on the history.
And that's just for starters, we've written a blog post with all our favourite activities in Umbria.
If you're in it for the wine, you'll be spoiled for choice in Umbria. Here are three of our favourites, but you can read about some more here.
Castello Monte Vibbiano is close to Marsciano, Perugia and occupies a typical hilltop position. It's a huge winery, offering tours, tastings and wine obviously but also has olive oil and cosmetics to try too.
Decugnano Dei Barbi in Orvieto was started in 1973 and has been making quality boutique wines ever since.
Cantina Scacciadiavoli is an ancient hilltop winery, dating all the way back to 1884. It is open for both wine tastings and tours of the winery.
Umbria is one of Italy's true foodie destinations, and – for a country where food and wine are the cornerstones of life – that's saying something. In this hilly, forested region, earthy flavours and simple dishes reign, the superb raw ingredients in no need of being jazzed up. As well as having abundant olives, herbs, vegetables and grains, Umbria is also truffle country, and you can go scouting around for the sought-after delicacy yourself. You will also find melt-in-your-mouth cured meats, gooey cheeses and roasted meats on most menus.Vineyards blanket the Umbrian valleys and the region's long wine-making traditions are today twinned with state-of-the-art technology and eco-aware farming practices to create some of the country's best wines. No trip would be complete without a visit to one of the picturesque vineyards to sample some for yourself. There are so many fabulous food and wine experiences to be had in Umbria that choosing which to indulge in can be a little tricky – here are a few of our favourite.
Visit Trattoria del Moro Aronne in Orvieto for some totally authentic, traditional Umbrian hospitality. The menu is ages old, rustic and terrific and the atmosphere is jovial.
Taste the region's famed cured meats, along with other delicacies like rabbit and pigeon at Montefalco's Ristorante Coccorone. If the weather is on your side, be sure to sit in the lovely walled courtyard.
For a fancier time, make a reservation at Casa Vissani in Baschi. Gourmet is a way of life here, and you'll soon see how they got those two Michelin stars.
If you're in Perugia for the day, be sure to stop in at Osteria a Priori for lunch. It's a teeny, casual spot tucked down an alley, with tables spilling on to the street.
For more great foodie suggestions, check out our delicious blog post.
First, and foremost – truffles. On everything.
Make sure to taste local prosciutto crudo – this dry cured ham is packed with flavour. Also best served with wedges of melon – one of the most refreshing snacks or appetisers around.
One of the local delicacies in Umbria is porchetta al finocchio, also known as roast pork and fennel. Unlike chicken, pork can be quite tough – but not in this neck of the woods, the pork is salivatingly good.
Umbria is also the land of lentils, and the lenticchie di Castelluccio exceeds all expectations. Even if you're not the biggest fan or you're yet to try a lentil dish – it's a must on your adventures through the region.
Pair these moreish delights with local wines – you can't go wrong.
Taste the wine at SAIO Assisi. The vineyard sits in the shadow of the city above, so the views are spectacular – as is the wine. You can finish your tour of the vines with a tasting, accompanied by fabulous local delicacies.
Speaking of local delicacies, learn to cook like a local with Life… Italian Style. This unique company can organise cooking classes in your own villa, wine tours or can just come and cook up a storm for you if relaxation is the name of the game.
Take in a double whammy with a tour of the olive oil museum and the wine-making process from field to cask at Cantine Giorgio Lungarotti. Of course, it's broken with a long, leisurely, delicious lunch.


Each year on February 22, World Thinking Day, girls participate in activities, games, and projects with global themes to honor their sister Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in other countries. World Thinking Day is part of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Ssouts Global Action Theme based on the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals which aim to improve the lives of the world's poorest people. The theme for World Thinking Day 2011 is girls worldwide say "empowering girls will change our world."
World Thinking Day not only gives girls a chance to celebrate international friendships, but is also a reminder that Girl Scouts of the USA is part of a global community—one of nearly 150 countries with Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts selected five countries of focus for World Thinking Day 2011 to represent the five World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts regions: Bolivia (Western Hemisphere), Cyprus (Europe), Democratic Republic of Congo (Africa), Nepal (Asia/Pacific), Yemen (Arab Region). The suggested activities for earning a World Thinking Day patch complement Girl Scouts of the USA's national leadership journeys and reinforce the goals of: discovering oneself and one's values; connecting via teamwork with other members and by reaching out to the local and global communities; and taking action to improve the world.
Are you doing anything for World Thinking Day 2011?


text:
Press enter to see results or esc to cancel.
Expat insurance
Suphanida in News December 14, 2020
All you need to know about the Hong Kong – Singapore travel bubble
The Hong Kong-Singapore travel bubble was heralded as the world's first leisure travel bubble, initially scheduled to launch on November 22nd 2020, but was later delayed to 2021 due to a spike in COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong. With that said, some of the details of the travel bubble have been hammered out, which this Pacific Prime Hong Kong article sheds light on.
Note: The information regarding how the Hong Kong-Singapore travel bubble works is for reference only. For the most up-to-date information, please wait until the travel bubble is launched, as the details may have changed.
What is the Hong Kong – Singapore travel bubble?
In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, where scores of countries are imposing mandatory quarantine for arrivals from overseas, the Hong Kong – Singapore travel bubble enables quarantine-free travel between the two city-states.
There are certain groups of travelers from Singapore that are barred from traveling to Hong Kong under the travel bubble. These include holders of Work Permits or S Passes working in the construction, marine shipyard, or process sectors.
Apart from the aforementioned categories, all those who want to use the travel bubble must not have been in any other city (apart from Singapore and Hong Kong) in the last 14 days prior to departure, test negative for COVID-19 (at their own expense), and travel by a designated flight.
Here is the travel procedure as of now:
Travel to Hong Kong
If you want to travel to Hong Kong under this travel bubble, you'll need to apply for a visa (if needed) and purchase tickets for a designated flight. Next, take a pre-departure COVID-19 test using the PCR nucleic acid test method, within 72 hours before your departure. You must also submit a health declaration form and book a COVID-19 test for your arrival in Hong Kong.
Once you arrive in Hong Kong, undergo temperature screening and present the QR code of your health declaration form. Next, take a post-arrival COVID-19 test using PCR nucleic acid test method. Following a negative result of the test, you'll be able to leave the airport and enjoy your quarantine-free stay in Hong Kong.
Travel to Singapore
If you want to travel to Singapore under this travel bubble, you'll need to apply for a visa (if needed) and purchase tickets for a designated flight. Next, take a pre-departure COVID-19 test using the PCR nucleic acid test method, within 72 hours before departure. You must also complete and submit the SG Arrival Card, no earlier than 3 days prior to your arrival in Singapore.
Additional steps for certain groups of travelers:
For non-Singapore citizens, permanent residents, or long-term pass holders: apply for an Air Travel Pass and download the TraceTogether app to be used in Singapore.
For Singapore long-term pass holders: apply for entry approval from the relevant Singapore Government agencies.
Once you arrive in Singapore, you must take a post-arrival COVID-19 test using the PCR nucleic acid test method. After the test, you'll need to take private transportation to your declared accommodation. While waiting for the test result, which will take six to eight hours, you must self isolate. Following a negative result, you can enjoy quarantine-free stay in Singapore.
What does the delay of the Hong Kong-Singapore travel bubble mean?
The Hong Kong-Singapore travel bubble was delayed on the eve of its inaugural flight, due to a rising number of COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong, which comes as a blow to the tourism sector that was looking forward to quarantine-free travel. This is in sharp contrast to the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic where the SAR 'beat coronavirus and avoided lockdown'.
Cancelled/amended trips
If you've already booked and paid for a designated flight, the announcement of the delay of the Hong Kong-Singapore travel bubble at the last minute is disappointing to say the least. The two airlines running designated flights are Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines, so you're advised to contact your airline directly to find out what your options are.
Broadly speaking, you're likely to be placed on a non-Air Travel Bubble flight, where normal quarantine rules will apply. If this is something you're unable or unwilling to do, you may be given the option to either reschedule your flight for a different date or to request a full refund of your ticket.
Implication for other travel bubbles
As the Asia-Pacific region has been one of the toughest on air travel restrictions, aviation analyst Brendan Sobie hoped that this delay of the Hong Kong-Singapore travel bubble doesn't deter other low-risk countries from moving forward with their travel bubbles. This is because the Hong Kong-Singapore bubble was a model for how other countries could restart flights safely.
Brendan said in a SCMP article that:
"If the Hong Kong – Singapore delay sets back the overall momentum towards resuming international air travel within the Asia-Pacific [region], then the setback will be significant."
Secure adequete COVID-19 insurance before you fly
While there are no health insurance requirements for the Hong Kong-Singapore travel bubble, being in possession of a health insurance plan can give travelers an extra layer of protection and peace of mind when traveling during these uncertain times. To learn more about COVID-19 insurance, you can get in touch with an established broker like Pacific Prime Hong Kong.
We've got a presence in all corners of the globe, including in Singapore. Whether you're looking for international health insurance, short term health insurance, or any other health insurance plan for your travels during the pandemic, we can help. Contact us today for an impartial consultation and a no-obligation quote!
Suphanida
Content Creator at Pacific Prime Hong Kong
Suphanida aims to demystify the world of insurance by creating informative and engaging content. As a wordsmith, she spends the majority of her day writing and editing website content, blog posts, in-depth guides, and more.
Outside of work, Suphanida enjoys traveling to new places and immersing herself in different cultures.
Latest posts by Suphanida (see all)
How to adopt technology in the workplace - December 28, 2020
All you need to know about the Hong Kong – Singapore travel bubble - December 14, 2020
Are food allergies a pre-existing condition? - November 30, 2020
COVID-19: How to wear a mask properly for protection
How to determine if you need international health insurance
5 things you should know about handling medical emergencies in HK
Ban_sinCovid-19covid-19 insuranceCTA_geninternational health insuranceshort term health insurancetravel bubble
Comments are disabled for this post
About Pacific Prime Hong Kong
Pacific Prime Hong Kong specializes in helping you find the best medical insurance plan available. With more than 20 years operating in Hong Kong, our health insurance experts combine plans from over 20 top providers with industry-leading technology to help you secure a plan that covers your needs.
Maternity benefits for employees in Hong Kong: what can my business do?
The ultimate guide to maternity insurance for expats in Hong Kong
Where to buy drugs in Hong Kong
Your guide to cafe-hopping in Hong Kong 2021
How to manage anger effectively during a pandemic
How to adopt technology in the workplace
Your guide to the perfect Christmas in Hong Kong
Top 100 Hong Kong Blogs Winner
Pacific Prime Hong Kong focuses on offering top-quality insurance policies to expats and residents in the city. All backed by unrivaled service and robust support teams.
Copyright © 2006-2018 Pacific Prime, All rights reserved.
Units 1-7, 35/F, 1 Hung To Rd


Cyndi Lauper rose to fame in the 1980s thanks to a distinctive punk-inspired fashion sense and a hit song about how "Girls Just Want to Have Fun." Contrary to that refrain's message, though, Lauper has used her fame to do much more than enjoy herself. Continuing her longtime advocacy for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights, in 2008 she established the True Colors Fund, named after another of her popular tunes. This summer, the True Colors Residence, a permanent haven for homeless LGBT youth in Harlem that Lauper co-founded, is set to open. In honor of Pride Week, Lauper took the time to answer some questions about the residence, LGBT rights in general and, of course, what to expect on her current tour, which includes NYC-area shows on October 14, 15 and 19.


In honor of Valentine's Day, today's episode of the Memphis Mystery Train was devoted to love. And slow jams. Lots and lots of slow jams.
Also, I had two special guests. Craig Brewer and his friend Jason Freeman stopped by to talk about (and play a few songs from) Jason's new record, "Hex and Hell". If you like what you heard, don't forget to go to the record / video release party on Friday at 9 p.m. at the Poplar Lounge.


This is a placeholder page for Monzavior Latham, which means this person is not currently on this site. We do suggest using the tools below to find Monzavior Latham.
You are visiting the placeholder page for Monzavior Latham. This page is here because someone used our placeholder utility to look for Monzavior Latham. We created this page automatically in hopes Monzavior Latham would find it. If you are not Monzavior Latham, but are an alumni of Amory High School, register on this site for free now.


Open Days give prospective students the chance to gather the information they need about university life. They provide opportunities to view specialist facilities and learn about student support.
The next Open Day takes place on Saturday 29th June and runs between 10am and 3pm. Buses running throughout the day will take visitors between the university's three campuses, at Greenwich; Avery Hill, near Eltham; and the Medway Campus at Chatham Maritime, Kent.
Listen to presentations about the different subjects available.
Included within the day will be tours of the award-winning Stockwell Street building in Greenwich, home to the university's state-of-the-art library. Stockwell Street includes hi-tech, state-of-the-art film, TV and sound studios, seminar rooms and lecture theatres, and boasts one of Europe's largest teaching and learning 'green roof' landscapes.
Transport will also be available for those wanting to see the theatre space at Bathway in Woolwich.
"My advice to any students is to really make the most of an Open Day," says Robert Mayor, the university's Director of Communications and Recruitment. "Choosing the right university is a big decision – it's where you may be spending the next three years of your life, and a visit can play a big part in helping someone weigh up the options.
"At Greenwich we pride ourselves on being welcoming, offering good advice and a 'hands on' experience. We aim to give students the best possible idea of what it would be like to study here."
The University of Greenwich is home to more than 21,250 students, drawn from more than 150 countries. It was recently named as one of the "most international" universities on the planet, with a further 15,500 students studying with a range of partner institutions from across the globe.
Greenwich's Open Days have been praised for their 'welcoming staff and students', the 'excellent advice' and the 'hands on experience' offered. One attendee said: "I loved every minute of the whole day".
A Live Chat option is also available on the web.
Even in the online age, when everything is at your fingertips online, there are still many good reasons to brave the weather and visit the universities you are thinking of applying to. Here are just six of the many reasons to make the trip.
View our 'Need to Know' video.
There are many wonderful things about studying at Greenwich. Here are just a few of them!
Award-winning: Greenwich has won numerous honours, including four Queen's Anniversary Prizes for Higher & Further Education, nine Times Higher Education awards, and two Guardian University Awards.
Stunning locations: Three magnificent campuses, combining high-tech facilities with awesome historic settings.
Global impact: One of the "most international" universities on the planet, according to Times Higher Education.
Diversity accolade: Voted one of the UK's most LGBT+ friendly workplaces by Stonewall.
Best Freshers' Fair: The university is ranked 8th nationally, and top among all London universities, by BAM Media in its survey of Freshers' Fairs.
Sports investment: We have two new artificial sports pitches costing £1.7 million – to add to other state-of-the-art sports facilities.
Spending on students: A £5 million Student Hub at Medway has just opened. At Greenwich, the Dreadnought Building is being transformed into a vibrant learning, teaching and social centre thanks to a £25 million programme of investment.
Travel the world: Our Santander Universities partnership is giving hundreds of students international study and employment opportunities. A recent trip to Chile proved hugely popular.
Careers focus: The university is committed to producing highly qualified and employable graduates. Students also learn skills valued by employers in leadership, teamwork and entrepreneurship.
Top speakers: Our students have the opportunity to hear talks from, and to meet, many senior figures from law, industry and commerce. Lord Judge, a former head of the judiciary, and Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, are among recent speakers.
One of the most beautiful university campuses in the country can be found at the University of Greenwich, according to a prestigious international news site.
Business Insider UK ranks Greenwich in fifth position in its assessment of the most stunning UK campuses, jostling for top spot with Oxford, Cambridge, Glasgow and King's College London.
Based on a UNESCO World Heritage site by the River Thames, and featuring baroque buildings designed by Sir Christopher Wren, the Old Royal Naval College is home to Greenwich's largest campus. It is a famous location which often attracts national media attention and frequently appears in feature films.
The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide commented: "The university accurately describes its main campus as one of the grandest university settings in the world… the buildings conjure up images of history and science in equal measure." A previous Sunday Times Guide had stated that Greenwich "had premises to match any Oxbridge college".
Honeywell Prize: For Engineering student Steve Collins, for outstanding talent.
Expert advice for careers in nursing, health, social care – as well as general campus life – is on offer during these events, which take place at both the Avery Hill and Medway campuses. All prospective students are welcome to come and meet expert staff from the Faculty of Education & Health, gather information about courses and view the facilities. View more information about these open evenings here.
General tours are also a great opportunity to take a look around our outstanding campuses and find out more about student life. Additional tour dates will be added throughout the year.


Standing on a hilltop above his Wayne County cattle farm, Bob Rutledge surveys rolling hills and a sea of green grass. His gaze falls to the earth beneath his worn brown boots, where he believes more than a mile below the surface lies an opportunity - natural gas.
But Mr. Rutledge, whose ragged blue jeans betray his love for hard work, will never know if that opportunity can be realized unless an obscure regulatory agency lifts its ban on drilling in the Delaware River basin.
"We don't know because we will never know," said Mr. Rutledge, 48, of Damascus Twp., whose ancestors began settling here a few years before the Civil War. "To have it right at our fingertips and have it actually happening just 30 miles away is disappointing."
While gas drilling thrives throughout the state, a large swath of Northeast Pennsylvania still remains off-limits. This is in stark contrast to what is happening in a neighboring watershed, the Susquehanna River basin. There, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission has exercised less control over the industry, leaving most of the regulation, besides water withdrawals, to the state.
In May 2010, the Delaware River Basin Commission, based in West Trenton, N.J., declared a moratorium on natural gas extraction within the basin, a nearly 14,000-square-mile watershed that straddles four states and is home to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Since then, environmentalists and landowners in favor of gas drilling have tried to persuade, through their attorneys and massive letter-writing campaigns, the commission to either completely close the door on the industry or open the watershed to wide-scale development.
Yet three years later, nothing has changed. Environmentalists are pleased, but worried the commission may lift the moratorium. Landowners, who want their land developed, are becoming more frustrated and fear gas companies will pull out. Mr. Rutledge heads the Northern Wayne Property Owners Alliance, which banded together nearly 1,300 families to lease tens of thousands of acres for development to two drilling companies, Hess Corp. and Newfield Exploration Co.
Those companies, which partnered to explore the potential of the Marcellus Shale in Wayne County, have exercised a provision in their lease with NWPOA that allows them to halt lease payments to landowners until the commission lifts the ban.
"It just aggravates me, because we went through a lot of effort and spent a lot of time," said Mr. Rutledge, whose 500-acre farm is under lease.
Mr. Rutledge believes gas development would have a huge economic impact. Most of northern Wayne County is jobless wilderness and farmland. He listed community members who have committed suicide because of financial troubles. If given the economic boom, a "farmer can work with something else than 50-year-old equipment," he said. "We got our beautiful scenery, but we're living in poverty. A lot of our members are getting fed up waiting ... because of a bunch of politicians working in other states."
Politics is a real aspect to the battle over environmental and mineral rights concerns in the watershed, where much of the fight consists of behind-the-scenes negotiations and bickering. Then, there is the difficulty of trying to get five governments with vastly different constituencies to work together on a complicated and divisive issue.
The governors of Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and New York and a federal representative from the Army Corps of Engineers make up the five-member river basin commission board, which has the power to give the go-ahead or bar drilling with a single vote.
A product of the Kennedy Administration, the commission is charged with protecting water quality and quantity in the basin, which provides drinking water to millions of people in New York City as well as numerous communities in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. At the time the commission announced the moratorium, it said the move was necessary to allow for development of its own environmental safety regulations over the industry, which would be in addition to state environmental rules gas.
Meanwhile, more than 100,000 acres leased to gas companies in Wayne County cannot be drilled to extract gas. Pike and Monroe counties and small portions of Lackawanna and Luzerne counties are also subject to the moratorium, although leasing has not been as extensive in these areas.
No Marcellus Shale well has been hydraulically fractured in the Delaware River watershed, but in the Susquehanna River watershed, scores of wells are producing gas.
Curt Coccodrilli's land straddles the dividing line. He would like a gas well on his Jefferson Twp., Lackawanna County, property near Archbald Mountain Road, except nearly all of his 125 acres lay in the Delaware River watershed. A small sliver, about an acre or two, is in the Susquehanna River watershed.
He believes gas companies have been reluctant to lease his property because of the commission's ban, although some experts say there is no viable gas production potential in Lackawanna County. That remains to be seen.
"To literally cut off a section of Pennsylvania, we feel like we are in no-man's land," said Mr. Coccodrilli, a member of the NWPOA who has other leased land by Hess and Newfield in northern Wayne County.
"We feel like we are second-class citizens in our own state," Mr. Coccodrilli said, likening it to an "economic iron curtain."
"Three years later, there is just zero communication about it (with the DRBC)," he said. "Just do something."
The DRBC did allow a handful of exploratory wells to be drilled in Wayne County because those wells received permits from the state Department of Environmental Protection prior to when the moratorium was declared. Texas-based Newfield Exploration Co. and New York City-based Hess Corp. drilled five exploratory wells as part of that agreement.
The agency released its rough draft of natural gas regulations for public review and comment in December 2010. Afterwards, pro- and anti-drilling concerns flooded the agency with tens of thousands of written comments about the rules. In November 2011, the DRBC published another set of draft regulations, guided by public comment.
The commission scheduled a special meeting later that month to consider adopting the rules. The meeting was postponed and has never been rescheduled. For Mr. Coccodrilli and other landowners in the basin, they are fed up with waiting and fear that gas companies like Newfield and Hess may walk away because it appears there will be no chance gas extraction will happen in the Delaware River watershed.
"Over here, we have commercially viable shale, and we can't extract it," said Mr. Coccodrilli.
"The anti-drilling community held them (the DRBC) hostage," he said. That community couldn't be happier, but they realize any day the playing field could change.
All it takes is a vote.
"This moratorium is extremely fragile," said Barbara Arrindell, director of Damascus Citizens for Sustainability, an environmental group with an office just across the Delaware River from Wayne County in Narrowsburg, N.Y.
"Within 10 days they could call a meeting and pass" the regulations, she said.
They have been fighting to keep gas drilling out of the basin. They believe the industry pollutes water and air, will ruin the Delaware River and spoil the vast, undeveloped forests in the basin.
"Overall, the cumulative impacts are huge," Ms. Arrindell said. The Delaware River basin "is not ours to despoil. It's not ours to trash. It belongs to the future. ... Trucks, spills, do we want this? Should anybody be subject to this?"
She believes gas development will lead to the industrialization of the watershed, damage its pristine beauty, and harm human health.
"We were formed preliminarily in response to this threat and continue to regard it as the biggest threat to the environment and health of the watershed ... that we've ever seen," she said. The commission does not have a vote scheduled to consider the revised drilling rules, Mr. Rupert said. He does not know when that will happen.
"As soon as we get the word ... we'll get that word out to folks as quickly as possible," he said. "They (the commissioners) continue to have discussions and consultations with each other (and) working cooperatively to reach a consensus."


You are here: Home / Running / Loving-to-hate it.
I have often said I have a love-hate relationship with running. Sometimes I am madly in love with it. Sometimes I downright hate it and wish it would go away. Sometimes I hate that I love it so much. And sometimes, I just love to hate it.
Today would be one of those loving-to-hate it days.
I had a really good strength workout with Dan today and after my workout, I was feeling really pumped up and excited to run. I came home, cooked a healthy dinner for later when my husband gets home from work, did a few miscellaneous chores, and got ready to run. The getting ready was fine, the running was not.
First, I got into a huge debate with myself over whether or not I wanted to run outside or on the treadmill. Seeing that it is absolutely gorgeous outside and not blazing hot or humid, to run outside should have been the perfect choice – or so it seemed. But, no, I got into an argument with myself about what to do and before I knew it, I found myself not even wanting to run. So, what do I do when I don't really want to run?
I run on the treadmill. Or at least try to. At least when I am outside it's like, "I bothered to come out here and run away from my house, so I might as well finish what I started before going back!" Nope. Today was the treadmill, and let me just tell you what occurred a few moments ago in my living room.
And called it a night.
What is wrong with me? It's all in my head – one little thought about how I don't feel like running (who really ever does?), and it's over. This makes me hate running. And today, that's all I can do.


Strengths Use At Work and Life Scale - Are You Using It?
Try this brief survey that can help you see if your strengths are being used in various situations. While the overall score is meaningful, what may help you even more is to note which of the 14 questions rank lowest for you, and how relevant this is to your situation. As always, actively thinking about or contemplating your results is helpful.
The total possible number score is 98, so a total score of 50 or greater indicates reasonable use of your strengths from an overall perspective. But look at the different scores for each of the items – that's where the contemplation comes in.


The Olympics have been noted for the sports that involve human beings only and for not allowing any sport that involves the killing of any animals. The 1900 Olympics in Paris was the exception to that rule, where the athletes were selected on their skill for killing live pigeons for sport. The Gold was given to Leon Lunden, of Belgiu, for killing 21 birds. Total number of birds killed were three hundres.
We all remember a school game called Tug-of-War in our gym classes. A little known fact is that in the 1900 to 1920 time period of modern Olympics, the game of Tug-of-War was played at every game and was considered to be part of the tack-and-field events.
There is much controversy as to why athletic sports such as cricket and baseball are not considered as an Olympic sport, and yet the odd sport of race-walking is included. This is a regimented process of walking where the athlete must maintain consistent ground contact, with at least one foot. For those of us that are not experts, it simply appears that the athletes are walking at a brisk pace, with an odd appearance of a penguin walk. However, there is a fine technical art in this sport and athletes are often judged on proper form as well as docked points if there are unusual or illegal techniques.
Some of us may remember rope climbing as part of our school gymnastics program, but you may not be aware that it was included as a competitive Olympic sport, beginning in 1896. Rope climbing was not a mainstay, as it had a spotty appearance in the Olympics until 1932. The contestant began in a seated position and athletes made a race to the top of an approximate 8-meter length rope. The 'sport' made a come back in the 1986 Olympics and its popularity has increased in the Czech Republic and France.
No, this 'sport' didn't involve people shooting at each other (although some of the U.S. gun enthusiasts would have been happy to see this added). The 1906 Olympics in Athens included dueling pistols, where the contestants shot at mannequins, with the traditional bulls eye target attached to the chest area. It was not a popular event and never renewed as an Olympic sport.
Yes, it is astounding that it took the Olympic committee three Olympics to come to the realization that 'solo synchronized swimming' is an oxymoron. One person can't be synchronized with another – when there is only one.


1. An Ethernet networking protocol. For additional information about SNAP, see our Ethernet definition.
2. Snap is a feature introduced in Microsoft Windows 7 that allows the user to view two windows side by side, without having to resize the window.
3. In Microsoft Windows 8, a snapped app is any app that has been snapped to right or left side of the screen. To snap an app in Windows 8, click the top of the app and drag it to the left or right-side of the screen.
4. Snap server is a server product now made by Quantum.


VK4MJF – City Of Brisbane Radio Society inc.
His first the late 70's shack CB and Swling were the go then.
Well this one below, has been dismounted and has no home.
Lets start again. Over the next few weeks this will transform to a new shack hard to believe. Well keep checking.
Ok all is done (March 2017), the build has been completed and its the task of setting all the gear up finished (Sept 2017), Although I'm still changing everything around.
The new call sign is VK4MJF "RF Island" QG62nw , still have one more tower too erect.
walls in, 12 volt led's are in, also wiring for 240 volt inverter etc.


Breathe deep. We're not far away.
Find our fresh, tasty goods in our brand new stores. we are coming near you CSC Yaya center and CSC Hub, Karen now open.
The tastiest offers… in your inbox!
Yep, we rock Facebook & Twitter too!


text:
Remembering Richard Lugar
Elegy for an American Giant
By Susan E. Rice
SUSAN E. RICE served as U.S. National Security Adviser from 2013 to 2017 and as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations from 2009 to 2013.
MORE BY Susan E. Rice
Lugar at the National Defense University in Washington, December 2012 Larry Downing / REUTERS
The giants of the twentieth century are falling in rapid succession, and the United States recently lost another. Senator Richard G. Lugar, Republican of Indiana, who died last month, was the quintessential public servant—principled, effective, selfless. He was unafraid to do the right thing for his country, even when it was not popular with his party. His skillful legislating, grounded in a willingness to compromise, resulted in an extraordinary record of accomplishments, ranging from preserving the federal school lunch program to fighting HIV/AIDS to strengthening nuclear security. The United States and the world are safer and better off because of Lugar's work.
Less than three weeks before he died, I had the privilege of publicly honoring Lugar. Asked to give the keynote address at the Richard G. Lugar Symposium in Public Policy at his beloved Denison University in mid-April, I spent some cherished time with Lugar, laughing as heartily as ever. The senator was walking a bit more slowly than when last I saw him, but otherwise he was in fine form—his sharp mind and warm wit on full display.
I first met Lugar some 25 years ago, when we served together on committees to select Rhodes Scholars. Before meeting him, I had admired him from afar as the courageous statesman who, in 1986, led Congress to override President Ronald Reagan's veto of sanctions against the apartheid regime in South Africa. That same year, Lugar persuaded the Reagan administration to recognize the election of Philippine President Corazon Aquino, who defied widespread election fraud to oust the dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
Lugar's greatest achievement, however, was the 1991 Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction Act, which he co-authored with Senator Sam Nunn, Democrat of Georgia. The act provided millions of dollars to secure and dismantle weapons of mass destruction left behind after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The programs it created have deactivated over 7,600 nuclear warheads and destroyed over 2,600 nuclear missiles and their launchers, along with thousands of tons of chemical