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Joachim Nagel: The impact of the Russian aggression on inflation prospects and monetary policy's response
Closing keynote address by Dr Joachim Nagel, President of the Deutsche Bundesbank, at the International Economic Symposium co-hosted by the Deutsche Bundesbank and NABE, Eltville, 10 May 2022.
by Joachim Nagel
I am delighted to be able to deliver the closing address at this very insightful symposium – an event that has brought together the business world, policymakers and academia. I am also delighted to talk to you here at our Conference Centre on the beautiful River Rhine in person. That's something we took for granted before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic two years ago. Since then, the pandemic has dominated almost everyone's lives around the globe. During the last years, many may have felt that their lives had turned into the plot of a dystopian science fiction novel. Now we can hope that the pandemic will soon be behind us.
Sadly, there's now another crisis of truly historic dimensions that is putting us to the test. This crisis is different. It is as if a time machine has catapulted us into the past – back to an era that has long been overcome, one might think. I am talking about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This war is causing a horrifying humanitarian crisis – one that shocks me profoundly. Nothing and no one can justify it.
The Bundesbank is implementing the financial sanctions against Russia agreed by the German Federal Government. And I support the sanctions wholeheartedly. Besides inflicting terrible suffering on the people of Ukraine, Russia's aggression will have political, macroeconomic and financial consequences on a global scale.
In my speech today, I would like to focus on macroeconomics. In particular, I will share with you the Bundesbank's view on the inflation prospects, given the Russian aggression, in both the short and the long run. In doing so, I will pay particular attention to Germany. After that, I will outline the possible implications of recent developments for the Eurosystem's monetary policy.
2 Russion aggression and inflation outlook
2.1 Direct and indirect impact on inflation in the short run
Let's start by looking back at the state of the economy before the war broke out, which was shaped by the coronavirus pandemic. Last year saw the global economy continue to recover from the deep recession caused by the onset of the pandemic. During the course of this recovery, global economic activity has risen strongly and is now back above its pre-crisis level.
At the same time, price increases accelerated noticeably and on a broad scale. Multiple factors were behind this acceleration. For one thing, energy prices rebounded as the world economy recovered from the pandemic-induced recession.
Furthermore, new waves of infection disrupted production all over the world, and there were bottlenecks in some areas of the shipping industry. These factors distorted a number of global supply chains, sparking considerable price increases at upstream production stages.
Lastly, and importantly, consumption partly shifted from services to goods as a result of the pandemic-related restrictions. This drove up demand for goods to such an extent that industrial production could not keep up in some cases, meaning that price pressures gained further momentum. In addition, in Germany one-off effects due to a temporary reduction of VAT and the introduction of carbon emission certificates also contributed to very high inflation rates.
Consequently, as measured by the HICP, the inflation rate reached 6% in Germany and 5% in the euro area towards the end of last year. Overall, inflation was already unexpectedly dynamic in 2021, and most institutions were routinely surprised to the upside with their inflation projections. In line with these developments, inflation rates in Germany remained above 5% again in January 2022, even though the VAT effect had expired.
In March, just after Russia started the war, the HICP inflation rate climbed to 7.6% in Germany and 7.4% in the euro area. According to preliminary releases, inflation continued to surge in April, reaching 7.8% in Germany and 7.5% in the euro area. In Germany, we have not seen rates on this scale since the autumn of 1981, when the Gulf War between Iraq and Iran drove up oil prices and trend inflation was already higher.1
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has added to the pre-existing price pressures, both directly and indirectly. As far as the direct effects on price dynamics are concerned, the war is first of all putting more upward pressure on energy prices. Oil and gas prices have reached exceptionally high levels and could rise even further. This will also drive up inflation indirectly by raising the energy input costs of other products. The prices of several other commodities are being affected as well: nickel, palladium, noble gases, fertilisers and food products, in particular grain, have become, at least in the meantime, notably more expensive.
Furthermore, the war and the related sanctions are again distorting various supply chains, as both Russia and Ukraine produce a number of goods needed in the retail trade and at upstream stages of production. In February already, disruptions to Ukrainian supplies of cable harnesses for motor vehicles led to production stoppages at many car plants in Germany, including Volkswagen's factory in Wolfsburg. Another critical good is neon gas. Before the war, Ukraine was producing more than half of the global supply of this noble gas, which is a key ingredient for making microchips. Shortly after the start of military hostilities, production came to a halt. In particular, Ingas, one of Ukraine's two neon producers, is located in the city of Mariupol, which has been occupied and heavily destroyed by Russian troops. This production stoppage might impose significant constraints on the worldwide output of microchips.2
Additional distortions of supply chains are being caused by airspace closures, blocked seaports, shipping avoiding the Black Sea, and a lack of truck drivers. All these factors are adding to the upward pressure on inflation that already existed due to pandemic effects.
However, the Russian aggression could also affect price dynamics through a change in economic activity. Before the war, our experts had been expecting to see a notable economic recovery in spring. The Russian aggression, however, clouded the economic outlook in Germany. As the war continues, there is a significant risk of a further escalation, which would entail larger direct and indirect effects on inflation.
Tougher economic sanctions, e.g. including a complete embargo of Russian energy exports to Europe, have become increasingly likely. These would cause another spike in energy commodity prices and weigh on the economic outlook, at least in the short term.
The Bundesbank recently published a model-based scenario analysis estimating the effects of an immediate stoppage of energy imports from Russia on the German economy. In this scenario, the German economy might even slide into recession, with real output contracting by up to 2% in 2022.3 This could exert a degree of disinflationary pressure. Nevertheless, on balance, the inflationary factors of sanctions such as an energy embargo would clearly prevail, at least in the short term.
It goes without saying that this scenario is subject to considerable uncertainty. Most recent reports suggest that Germany's dependence on energy imports from Russia has already been reduced markedly. Bearing this in mind, the outcome of an embargo could also be less severe.
The war in Ukraine is still dragging on, and there is no sign of it ending any time soon. Nor can we rule out a further escalation of the conflict. All in all, inflation risks are clearly tilted to the upside.
2.2 Possible medium-term impact on inflation
When looking at the medium term, three questions warrant our particular attention. First, how widespread are the price increases? Second, how are wages responding to the increases in prices? And third, will inflation expectations remain well anchored?
Regarding the first question, we are indeed seeing more and more items increase in price by more than 2% in Germany. In March, more than half of the 12 sub-indices of the German CPI recorded growth rates of 4% or more. Core inflation excluding energy and food increased from 3.4% in March to 3.9% in April. This is disturbing evidence that the increase in inflation is gaining momentum.
Turning to the second question, there are no clear signs as yet that the movement in prices is feeding into wages in Germany. However, major rounds of wage negotiations in Germany are not scheduled until the second half of the year. The trade union of the iron and steel industry (IG Metall), for example, is pushing for a wage increase of 8.2% in this round. This means that wage dynamics may accelerate notably.
And as for the third question regarding medium-term inflation expectations, we are seeing dynamics that are concerning. Recent results from the "Bundesbank Online Panel Households" survey indicate that individuals in Germany have adjusted their five-year ahead inflation expectations strongly upwards, from 3.4% in February 2021 to 4.5% in February 2022, and to 4.8% in March. Similarly, in our corporate survey, the "Bundesbank Online Panel Firms", survey participants revised their five-year ahead inflation expectations upwards, from 3.4% in January 2022 to 4.5% in April.
All this suggests that higher inflation rates will prevail in the near future and that inflation expectations could become less anchored.
3 Are higher inflation rates here to stay?
But what about the inflation prospects for longer time horizons? Is it possible that the era of low inflation is now over and that we are currently experiencing a structural break? Will higher inflation rates be our constant companion for decades to come? Certain determinants may influence price dynamics in the long run, namely demographics, deglobalisation and decarbonisation. Let us take a closer look at them, one at a time.
The UK economists Charles Goodhart and Manoj Pradhan reason in their book "The Great Demographic Reversal" that the disinflationary forces of the last decades may not persist into the future. 4 In particular, Goodhart and Pradhan argue that since the beginning of the 1970s there has been a combination of demographic and globalisation factors that have induced a positive labour supply shock putting downward pressure on worldwide inflation.
They see five factors that produced the positive labour supply shock: First, the entry of baby boomers into the labour market. The effect of this was a decrease in the share of people not in the labour force. Second, after the post-war baby boom, there was a decline in birth rates. Consequently, the fraction of people who were not economically active fell further. Third, the labour market participation of women increased. This had a strong positive effect on the labour supply as well. Fourth, China emerged as the World's Factory. Lastly, trade barriers in Europe were gradually dismantled.
The authors claim that the labour supply shock led to decreasing real wages, in particular in the case of unskilled labour, due to the declining power of trade unions. By contrast, returns to capital and skilled labour increased. For Goodhart and Pradhan, the fall in real wages constituted the main driving force behind the low inflation environment since the beginning of the 1990s in developed countries.
However, nowadays these factors are petering out. In particular, China's downward pressure on worldwide prices is weakening, since its working-age population is now shrinking while the share of retired persons is on the rise. At the same time, Goodhart and Pradhan argue that the increasing labour market participation of young populations like those in India or Africa will not be enough to offset the demographic trends in developed countries.
Furthermore, Goodhart and Pradhan point to population ageing in most advanced countries as another complicating factor. In particular, an ageing population is prone to conditions like dementia, which unlike cancer and heart disease does not necessarily lead to lower longevity but requires a lot of human resources for eldercare. Therefore, demand for low-skilled labour in advanced countries is expected to grow. This could result in more upward pressure on wages as well.
Goodhart and Pradhan reasoned at the onset of the pandemic that the surge in inflation that would follow the pandemic would be more than a "temporary blip" and would mark "the dividing line" between the disinflationary forces of the last decades and the new regime. 5 Up to now, there is no clear evidence to suggest that their conclusion is wrong.
The economic impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine is in part similar to that of the pandemic. Looking at the international supply chains, we are again experiencing a massive supply shock, which might reinforce the tendencies sparked by the pandemic.
Furthermore, both shocks – the pandemic and the war in Ukraine – are fostering deglobalisation tendencies and therefore directly undermining one of the major forces that Goodhart and Pradhan see behind the disinflationary pressure of the past.
The UK weekly newspaper The Economist recently called the war in Ukraine "the third big blow to globalisation in a decade". The first setback was former President Donald Trump's trade wars. The second was the coronavirus pandemic, which briefly saw cross-border flows of capital, goods and people dry up almost completely. 5 The Economist estimates that a retreat by the West to cold-war spheres of influence would be equivalent to writing off US$3 trillion of investment and thus lead to less efficient production, hurt living standards, and heat up inflation.
History has taught us that turnarounds in inflation tendencies commonly occur when the authorities and economists are either not seeing the risks or denying them. A good example of this is the meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee in Washington on 15 December 1964.
The minutes from that meeting contain a series of interesting passages. One section reads: "So far, the supply of labor has been adequate to meet expanding demands without any strong general upward pressure on prices." And another notable section states: "With prices of industrial materials increasing little [...] prices of finished goods have not been subject to pervasive upward cost pressures."6 To sum up: Inflation did not seem to be a problem.
It was around that time that the Great Inflation era began, and it was to last for the next 17 years. This period led economists to rethink the policies of central banks.
There is another important factor that could push inflation higher in the future. And that factor could be strengthened by the Russian aggression against Ukraine. I am talking about the green transformation of our economies. This process of "decarbonisation", as it is known, which gained urgency as this new geopolitical event unfolded. In particular, our economies' dependence on fossil energy is increasingly becoming an issue not only for climate policy but also for national security.
In general, carbon pricing is considered the most efficient way to reduce carbon emissions. Higher carbon prices have an impact on carbon emissions, but also on consumer prices. At least during the transformation period, they would make energy more expensive and drive up the production costs of goods.
Furthermore, the necessary, accelerated transition to renewable energies inevitably implies new and costly capital investment, while existing capital stock has to be written off more quickly than expected.
One specific aspect of this is investment in the carbon industry. According to the International Energy Agency, investment in oil and gas supplies has been reduced sizeably since 2015, in part because of uncertainty about climate-related policy measures. This low investment would suffice to meet demand only if there are strict climate policies to reduce carbon-related emissions to net zero by 2050. Under currently implemented climate policies, however, projected demand is higher than supply.7
During the transition phase, the decarbonisation of our economies may thus add to inflationary pressures. We do not know exactly to what extent. But even in the case of an orderly transition, the euro area could temporarily experience significant price pressures.
The Network of Central Banks and Supervisors for Greening the Financial System estimates that climate policy measures could increase annual inflation rates in the period up until 2030 by between 0.3 pp and 1.1 pp, relative to a scenario without climate change and without climate policies. These numbers are the outcome of an orderly transition. In alternative scenarios, figures could be much higher.8
To sum up: The war in Ukraine is unlikely to bring about major new inflation dynamics on its own. But it may clearly accelerate pre-existing tendencies in both the short and the long run, as exemplified in energy markets and international trade.
4 Implications for monetary policy
How should monetary policy respond to these developments? Clearly, the Eurosystem must ensure that the current elevated inflation does not become entrenched and persist at an excessively high level over the medium term.
The ECB Governing Council decided in March to reduce purchases under the APP asset purchase programme more quickly than previously intended – from €40 billion in April to €20 billion in June. Incoming data since this decision reinforce our expectation that net asset purchases should end in the third quarter. Looking ahead, our monetary policy will depend on the incoming data and our evolving assessment of the outlook. Adjustments to the key ECB interest rates will take place "some time after the end of net purchases under the APP". However, given the high level of uncertainty, adjustments should be gradual.
In my view, we must stay alert with respect to upside risks to price stability over the medium term. There is less and less of a concern that a premature monetary policy normalisation could plunge the economy back into the low inflation setting of the previous years.
Instead, I see that the risk of acting too late is increasing notably. Given the extraordinarily high uncertainty surrounding the future path of inflation, we should not delay the exit from the very accommodative monetary policy, since a less expansionary monetary policy stance provides the most flexibility.
In the current situation, it is therefore more important than ever that central banks act in time. Their action should be foreseeable, gradual, and data-dependent. This way, debtors can better cope with an increase in interest rates, and accordingly, risk premia are expected to rise to a limited extent.
As inflation in the euro area continues to run high, we need to act. I expect the net purchases under the APP to be discontinued at the end of June. And if both the incoming data and our new projection confirm this view in June, I will advocate a first step normalising ECB interest rates in July.
As central banks consider how to bring inflation back down to target, it is worth recalling the conditions under which the last, most prominent disinflation episode – the Volcker disinflation at the end of the 1970s – played out. Over the course of this policy, nominal interest rates in the US rose above 20%.
Of course, at that time the situation was different in many respects. Debt ratios were much lower than they are today, for both public and private debt. Inflation had already been higher in the 1960s and early 1970s. And arguably, before this episode, the Fed may have been less independent and less focused on inflation than it is today.
There is one lesson I would draw from this: Delaying a monetary policy turnaround is a risky strategy. The more inflationary pressures spread, the greater the need for a very strong and abrupt interest rate hike.
And there are downsides to this: First, a very strong and abrupt interest rate hike may place excessive strain on firms and households. Second, a very abrupt change in the monetary policy stance could lead to vulnerabilities in the financial system and provoke significant market turbulence. And third, in an environment of high government debt ratios, the more abrupt the rate changes, the more governments may push against a tightening of policy on a necessary scale, putting the independence of central banks at risk. 9
The Russian aggression in Ukraine might become a watershed moment in European history. First and foremost, it means violence and human suffering. But beyond that, it has brought the western world closer together. It has helped us to face unpleasant facts. And it has spurred us to get ready to act.
The evidence is mounting that a return to the pre-war setting is highly unlikely – in terms of geopolitics, economics, trade, as well as inflation. What lessons can we draw from this? Whatever the post-war setting may look like in detail, three features will impact strongly on the shape of the new environment: changes in demographics, a backlash against globalisation, and the decarbonisation of economies towards net zero.
Each of these three features has the potential to go hand in hand with significant increases in the price level. In light of this, the task of central banks is clear. As history has taught us, preserving price stability is an indispensable prerequisite for prosperity. In uncertain times, more than ever, it pays off for an independent monetary policy to ensure price stability and provide a solid anchor for inflation expectations.
As this symposium draws to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the speakers, moderators and journalists for their inspiring contributions and discussions. And I would like to thank everyone else who helped make this insightful symposium possible. This is already the second NABE symposium co-hosted by the Bundesbank. The first one took place in Munich, in the south of Germany. The second one near Frankfurt, in the middle of the country. There's a German proverb that says: "All good things come in threes". I am sure there will be plenty of interesting developments in the years ahead. I'd be happy to meet up again to discuss them in the future, perhaps at a location in the north of Germany next time, such as Hamburg or Berlin.
1 Federal Statistical Office of Germany, Inflation rate at +7.3% in March 2022, press release #160 from 12 April 2022.
2 Alper, A., Exclusive: Russia's attack on Ukraine halts half of world's neon output for chips, Reuters, 11 March 2022.
3 Deutsche Bundesbank, Potential macroeconomic consequences of the war in Ukraine – simulations based on a severe risk scenario, Monthly Report, April 2022, pp. 13–29.
4 Goodhart, C. and M. Pradhan (2020), The Great Demographic Reversal: Ageing Societies, Waning Inequality, and an Inflation Revival, Palgrave Macmillan, London.
5 Confronting Russia shows the tension between free trade and freedom, The Economist, 19 March 2022.
6 FOMC transcripts and other historical materials, Historical Minutes of December 15, 1964 Meeting, pp. 31–32.
7 International Energy Agency (2021), World Energy Investment 2021, OECD Publishing, Paris.
8 Network for Greening the Financial System, NGFS Climate Scenarios for central banks and supervisors, June 2021; see also Deutsche Bundesbank, Climate change and climate policy: analytical requirements and options from a central bank perspective, Monthly Report, January 2022.
9 Goodhart, C. (2020), Inflation after the pandemic: Theory and practice, https://voxeu.org/article/inflation-after-pandemic-theory-and-practice
Joachim Nagel
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As part of another OpenBSD & IPsec problem I'm investigating, I was pointed at RFC 3884 which puts forward a solution for solving problems with dynamic routing protocols and the use of IPsec in tunnel mode.
The RFC covers a few scenarios and solutions, but the main solution put forward is to replace IPsec tunnel mode with a combination of IPsec transport mode and the use of IP-in-IP tunnels. This has the benefit that it remains interoperable with IPsec tunnel mode implementations as the packet format is identical.
To show this you need to understand how IPsec packets are constructed. The RFC covers this and there also sites like this one which give you better diagrams. You only really need to pay attention to how ESP works rather than AH as AH is rarely used due to it's shortcomings with the dreaded NAT. Once you know that all an IP-in-IP tunnel does is encapsulate an existing IP packet with another one you can see how the two implementations have the same wire format, the innermost packets just have a slightly different route through the network stack.
Anyway, after reading this I thought I'd test it to see if it really does work between a pair of OpenBSD hosts so I fired up a couple of stock 4.7 installs under VMware.
Note that we only apply transport mode to the IP-in-IP tunnel packets (proto ipencap) otherwise all other traffic will be dropped by the first host if you tried ping, SSH, etc. between them.
Here you can see the actual payload of the packets, in this case ICMP.
Note that you don't need to specify a source address this time as the routing sorts this out and correctly assigns you the local address of the IP-in-IP tunnel interface, (this is in fact another perceived benefit of the solution proposed by the RFC).
So we've hopefully proved it works, however this has only been demonstrated for manually keyed IPsec associations. Most IPsec these days is set up using IKE to automatically exchange keys in various forms and dynamically configure the flows on the hosts.
Here lies the problem, if I set up each end to use isakmpd(8) neither end will agree on a proposal as one side will propose tunnel mode and the other will propose transport mode. What I need to be able to do is get the transport side to propose tunnel mode but actually configure transport mode flows on the local side and rely on a suitable gif(4) interface to be set up. Currently there doesn't appear to be a way to do this with isakmpd(8).
This entry was posted on Sunday, October 3rd, 2010 at 2:02 pm and is filed under OpenBSD. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Thanks for pointing me up to RFC3884 with your post and doing the experimentation with OpenBSD here, you make me a happy camper. Did you ever found out a way to fake transport/tunnel proposal with IKE so that the keys just work out by magic?


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Communities across the country are defying the Trump administration on immigration.
Within days of taking office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order threatening to stop aid to communities that don't fully cooperate with federal officials to help deport immigrants. Many mayors of these so-called sanctuary cities were outraged and vowed to continue resisting Trump's immigration agenda.
In May, the city passed municipal sentencing reform that could help immigrants avoid deportation for petty offenses. Federal rules put immigrants on Immigration and Customs Enforcement radar when they are convicted of certain types of crimes that carry a sentence of at least a year. Prior to Denver's reform measure, all criminal violations of city ordinance carried the same penalty — up to 365 days. The new sentencing guidelines place the penalty for low-level violations under 364 days, which could help keep some immigrants off the federal books. "Denver is committed to taking actions that will protect our people's rights and keep our city safe, welcoming and open," Mayor Michael Hancock said in a statement after signing the law.
The state Senate passed a bill in late March that officially would make California a sanctuary state. A defiant response to Trump's threat to defund "sanctuary cities," the legislation bars state and local law enforcement from using resources to help with immigration enforcement and prohibits law enforcement statewide from asking for immigration status. Connecticut, Colorado, New Mexico and Rhode Island already have similar statewide protections for undocumented immigrants, but this measure, expected to be signed by the governor, is the most far-reaching.
In late February 2017, the Santa Fe City Council passed a resolution reaffirming the city's status as a welcoming community for immigrants and refugees and adopting several new policies. Among the changes: City employees are now prohibited from disclosing sensitive information, including immigration status, about any person except as required by law. Also, city employees have been directed to refuse access to non-public areas of city property by federal immigration agents who don't have a warrant. Councilor Joseph Maestas said the measure was a way of "thumbing our nose at" the Trump administration.
In May, in a partially symbolic move, the city council declared Portland a "sanctuary city," boldly stating its unwillingness to help ICE find and deport immigrants. The city is also providing resources to train staff on how to respond to federal immigration officials who request information on city employees or Portland residents. "The City of Portland will remain a welcoming, safe place for all people," Mayor Ted Wheeler wrote in a newspaper column.
In response to the Trump administration's threat to withhold federal funding, Mayor Muriel Bowser said the District would continue to limit cooperation with deportation orders. "I will not let the residents of D.C. live in fear," she said. The City Council also unanimously passed a resolution vowing to maintain "sanctuary city" status. Meanwhile, Attorney General of the District of Columbia Karl Racine, an immigrant who fled political oppression in Haiti, said his office would protect the rights of all District residents, including undocumented immigrants.
In early February, the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors declared the jurisdiction a sanctuary for immigrants and assured that no county money would be used to enforce federal immigration laws. "Some of the values and ideals that have been attacked by President Trump, we've now stood up against, and we've gone on record," said County Supervisor Marina Dimitrijevic.
In late January, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced he was socking away an additional $250 million a year in reserves for four years because of a "huge amount of uncertainty" stemming from Trump's threat to cut federal funds to "sanctuary cities" like New York, which is home to an estimated undocumented population of over 750,000. "The stroke of a pen in Washington does not change the people of New York City or our values," de Blasio said.


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The overall circumference measurement of your dog's head at the largest point is the best determination of size, because if you choose a size too large, the muffs won't seal well against his head, and you lose all the sound-reducing properties you were shooting for.
"I can highly recommend the muffs having taken my search dog on a Chinook. Previously he was a very reluctant passenger on helicopters. This time he pulled me onto the aircraft and appeared very relaxed during the flight."
"Just to let you know my order arrived today. My dog is wearing then now and hardly bothered by the fireworks. Thanks a lot. First time in 11 years he has not been climbing the walls at this time of year."


I've read quite a few questions lately from recent retirees who are confused about their state of legal residency, and where they need to file their state income taxes. State of legal residence for retirees is an important issue, and ideally you are thinking about it long before you actually retire, and definitely while you are planning your post-military life.
Active duty military members are permitted to retain their state of legal residence even when Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders require them to live elsewhere. This protection comes from the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. Military spouses, depending on their situation, may be able to retain their state of legal residence as they move with their active duty service member. This protection comes from the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act.
Once the service member retires, both partners lose these protections, and must follow the same residency rules as civilians. This generally means that they have to pay state income tax to the state in which they actually reside. That can be a big shock, especially if they've been legal residents of a state with no state income tax. With state income tax rates running as high as 13.3% (for the highest tax bracket in California), not planning for state income taxes can be a big shock. Even with a relatively average rate of 7-8%, we're talking about some significant money. Depending on the state, retired military members may be paying on taxes on their military retirement pay, any investment or other income, and/or pay from their second career.
Another surprise is how much of total military compensation is non-taxable. Only pays, such as base pay and special pays, are taxable. Allowances, such as housing allowance, are non-taxable. What this means is that even if you're making the same total amount of compensation from your retirement job as you made from your active duty job, you may well be paying significantly more taxes on it.
So, what can a prospective (or recent) retiree do? Most importantly, be aware of the tax consequences of the choices you make with regard to where you work and live. Be sure that you are factoring in all the variables, including which sources of income are taxed in your desired state, and the cost of those state taxes.
Once you make a decision about where you're going to put down roots, be sure that each payer, including new jobs and the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) has the correct state and federal tax withholding information so that you aren't stuck with a huge bill at the end of the tax year. I've heard many recent retirees report that they forgot to change their state withholding with DFAS and it was a tax-time hassle.


If you are unable to control your impulses, even if the behavior produces undesirable results then you may have impulse control disorder. An impulse is an urge you have to do something, whether eat a snack or buy a new shirt. Most adults are able to think rationally about an impulse and decide whether or not to act on that impulse, but some people lack that control and end up giving into their wants and desires, even if it causes negative consequences.
What is Impulse Control Disorders?
Impulse control disorders consist of a group of mental health disorders. When you have an impulse control disorder you are unable to resist the urge to give into your impulses, even when you know it will likely lead to harm.
Feelings of guilt and shame are common with impulse control disorders.
Acting on impulses does not necessarily mean you have an impulse control disorder. The key factor in distinguishing between healthy impulsiveness and an impulse control disorder is that, with the latter, you experience negative consequences as a result of acting on your impulse. You are aware of the negative consequences associated with the impulses, but you are unable to resist the urge to act on your impulses.
If you have an impulse control disorder you may gain great pleasure when acting on the impulse. In some cases, the action may even result in sexual arousal. If you do not act on the impulse, then you can become very anxious. After the impulsive act is complete, you feel regret, shame and/or remorse.
With impulse control disorders, the focus is completing the impulsive action. The necessity of the actual action is not relevant. For example, if you are a kleptomaniac, you will feel the uncontrollable urge to go to the grocery store and steal food for your family, even if you have the money to purchase the food, you first inclination will be to steal the food. You need to act on the impulse – not because the theft is necessary to obtain food because you just cannot resist the urge. More than likely you perform these impulses in solitude. For example, if you have a compulsive eating disorder, you will eat by yourself – not binge eat with company.
There is disagreement in the psychological community as to how impulse control disorders should be classified. Some professionals classify them as "addictions," some classify these disorders as subsets of obsessive compulsive disorder and yet others classify impulse control disorders as a separate category all together.
Instances of impulse control disorder can be seen throughout popular culture. Public figures such as Jacqueline Kennedy had an impulsive buying disorder and Winona Ryder was arrested for shoplifting due to her kleptomania disorder.
The symptoms of an impulse control disorder vary depending on the specific problem. In all cases, you will be unable to control your actions despite knowing that these behaviors will likely produce negative consequences. In some cases, it can be difficult to distinguish between healthy, controllable impulsive behaviors and this disorder because the consequences vary so greatly. For example, a very wealthy person may not be significantly affected financially by a compulsive buying disorder, but a low-income individual may suffer serious financial difficulties from the disorder.
You perform the impulsive act alone.
You engage in the impulsive activity fully knowing that it will produce consequences, such as harm to self or others.
Before the act, you feel tense and/ aroused.
You become incredibly excited during the act.
After the act, you are filled with guilt and/or shame.
You feel out of control in regards to your actions.
Is Compulsive Gambling a Disorder?
Impulse control disorders are likely caused from a combination of biological, social and psychological factors. Researchers believe that this disorder is caused by a neurotransmitter imbalance in your brain. Studies also support the theory that hormone imbalances can lead to risky behaviors commonly associated with impulse control disorders such as violent and/or aggressive tendencies.
Impulse control disorders hare typically treated with a combination of psychotherapy, behavioral modification therapy and pharmacology.
Grant, J. E., Levine, L., Kim, D. & Potenza, M. N. (2005). Impulse control disorders in adult psychiatric inpatients. American Journal of Psychiatry.


Demifluid or demigenderfluid is a gender identity for "someone whose gender is partially fluid (genderfluid) with the other part(s) being static; an example could be: one part of their gender is 'woman' while the part that fluctuates is 'man' or other non-binary gender.
A Demifluid person can have any static gender and any fluid gender. The fluid gender can change constanty while the static one will stay that gender.


text:
Q: Passing operator as a parameter I want to have a function that evaluates 2 bool vars (like a truth table).
For example:
Since
T | F : T

then
myfunc('t', 'f', ||);  /*defined as: bool myfunc(char lv, char rv, ????)*/

should return true;.
How can I pass the third parameter?
(I know is possible to pass it as a char* but then I will have to have another table to compare operator string and then do the operation which is something I would like to avoid)
Is it possible to pass an operator like ^ (XOR) or || (OR) or && (AND), etc to a function/method?

A: @ybungalobill posted a C++ correct answer and you should stick to it. If you want to pass the operators, functions will not work, but macros would do the work:
#define MYFUNC(lv, rv, op) ....

// Call it like this
MYFUNC('t', 'f', ||);

Be careful, macros are evil.

A: Declare:
template<class Func> bool myfunc(char lv, char rv, Func func);

Or if you need to link it separately:
bool myfunc(char lv, char rv, std::function<bool(bool,bool)> func);

Then you can call:
myfunc('t', 'f', std::logical_or<bool>());

A: What you can do is define proxy operators that return specific types.
namespace detail {
    class or {
        bool operator()(bool a, bool b) {
            return a || b;
        }
    };
    class and {
        bool operator()(bool a, bool b) {
            return a && b;
        }
    };
    // etc
    class X {
        or operator||(X x) const { return or(); }
        and operator&&(X x) const { return and(); }
    };
};
const detail::X boolean;
template<typename T> bool myfunc(bool a, bool b, T t) {
     return t(a, b);
}
// and/or
bool myfunc(bool a, bool b, std::function<bool (bool, bool)> func) {
    return func(a, b);
}
// example
bool result = myfunc(a, b, boolean || boolean);

You can if desperate chain this effect using templates to pass complex logical expressions.
Also, the XOR operator is bitwise, not logical- although the difference is realistically nothing.
However, there's a reason that lambdas exist in C++0x and it's because this kind of thing flat out sucks in C++03.

A: In modern C++ can pass any operator by using lambdas.
Update 1: the proposed solution introduces small improvement which is suggested by @HolyBlackCat
#include <iostream>

template<class T, class F> void reveal_or(T a, T b, F f)
{
    // using as function(a, b) instead of expression a || b is the same thing
    if ( f(a, b) )
        std::cout << a << " is || " << b << std::endl;
    else
        std::cout << a << " is not || " << b << std::endl;

}

template<class T> void reveal_or(T a, T b)
{
    // reuse the already defined ||
    reveal_or(a, b, [](T t1, T t2) {return t1 || t2; });
}

Don't bother how to pass parameter if || operator is defined
int main ()
{
    reveal_or('1', 'a');
    return 0;
}

Passing explicitly as parameter. We can pass anything, including including any exotic nonsense
int main ()
{
    //same as above:
    reveal_or('1', 'a', [](char t1, char t2) { return t1 || t2; });
    //opposite of above
    reveal_or('1', 'a', [](char t1, char t2) { return !( t1 || t2; ) });

    return 0;
}

A: It's hard to be realized. In C++, function parameter need an memroy address to find its object, but operator is decided in compile time. Operator won't be a object. So you can think about MACRO to finish your task.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Theresa Adu of CARLIGH (Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries) in Ghana shares her experiences and reflects on how strong partnership between INASP and CARLIGH has helped the consortia transition to direct management with strengthened leadership.
Why is access to electronic research information important?
You need access to e-resources to enable you to publish, do your research, and basically to study. To be able to do good research and study, you need access to e-resources. And to me, getting access to them is very important. Because otherwise, you cannot study.
What are the challenges around the availability of e-resources?
One of the biggest challenges is getting access to the internet. We normally get access to e-resources through CARLIGH. But most of the time, getting access to the materials themselves becomes a challenge because of intermittent breaks in internet access. Since my institution is a private institution, one of the biggest challenges we have is payment for our e-resources. Not just us, a lot of private institutions are having issues with funding and finances as it is a bit difficult to pay upfront. We therefore end up staggering our payments.
As CARLIGH transitions to direct management, what has been the biggest achievement over the course of the partnership?
One thing that has really helped is strengthening the leadership in CARLIGH. I think all the training programmes we've had and the mentoring processes we've gone through have helped strengthen leadership in CARLIGH. INASP's relationship with us has helped. We have had various training programmes. I also had been to quite a number of training programmes, sponsored by INASP. I think this has helped me to be in a very good position to handle the affairs of CARLIGH now.
Also, the fact that we have been able to re make our strategic plan is an achievement. Our strategic plan had been an issue for us previously. Since INASP brought in Caplor Horizons to help us to with our strategic plan, we have been able to recraft our strategic objectives as well as our strategic plans. I think now we are in a better position to move CARLIGH forward.
What does the future holds for CARLIGH?
I think that one of the things we said during the strategic planning is for CARLIGH to be a leader when it comes to e-resources, when it comes to enhancing access to information. And I think that that is the way forward for CARLIGH now. We are trying to build up capacity for advocacy and marketing so that we can promote issues about CARLIGH a bit more. I think CARLIGH is now able to grow from where it used to be into a greater institution. We are trying to get a lot more of our institutions to join CARLIGH. In fact, what we said is that, by the year 2027, we should be able to get about 90% of all tertiary institutions in Ghana to be members of CARLIGH and we believe that if we are able to do this, it would improve our finances, it would improve visibility for CARLIGH and it would make CARLIGH stronger so that we can provide access to the e-resources.
How has the partnership with INASP helped?
I have been active in CARLIGH for a few years now and over the period I have realized that INASP has been very strong in partnering with CARLIGH. We have done a lot of training programmes and capacity building which has been sponsored by INASP. And the training is not only in our country, but we get training elsewhere, in various places. We have also had e-resources negotiated for us by INASP, which of course makes e-resources cheaper for members. And then also we get to network with other institutions such as CUUL, KLISC, ZULC [library consortia in Uganda, Kenya and Zimbabwe] and various other institutions. It's good because when you have such a network, then you can pull resources together, you can pull ideas together, you can talk with each other, you tap in to each other's ideas and strengths. I think partnering with INASP has been very good for CARLIGH.
On behalf of CARLIGH we would want to express our very deep gratitude to INASP. I think this has been a very fruitful partnership. Sometimes you know what to do, you know how to go about things, but I think getting that push, that encouragement, that financial support which all came from INASP, that has been very great.
A very big thank you to INASP for helping CARLIGH to come this far. And of course, to Caplor Horizons as well.
Theresa Adu works with Wisconsin International University College and she is currently there as the head librarian. She is CARLIGH Treasurer and also the Head for Advocacy and Marketing at CARLIGH.


It's still unclear if Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky will be available to face the Giants on Sunday, but Chicago is confident Trubisky's shoulder injury won't turn into a long-term issue, as Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com tweets. Trubisky missed the Bears' Thanksgiving Day matchup against the Lions, but Chicago was still able to manage a victory with backup Chase Daniel under center. The Bears have a 98% chance of earning a postseason berth and an 83% chance to win the NFC North, so they may not want to risk Trubisky's health in what could be another easy win against New York. Trubisky did practice on Wednesday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), although it was in a limited fashion.
While Trubisky might be healthy enough to play on Sunday, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco almost certainly won't be ready for Week 13. Flacco, who is still dealing with a hip issue that has cost him two games, didn't practice on Wednesday and appears likely to sit out Sunday, per Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com (Twitter link). First-round rookie Lamar Jackson, who has led Baltimore to two victories in his first two starts, figures to be under center again when the Ravens take on the Falcons. Meanwhile, offensive lineman James Hurst returned to practice on Wednesday after being sidelined since mid-October, reports Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Matt Nagy will lead the Bears against the Giants on Sunday, but New York never showed any interest in hiring him as a head coach during the offseason, as he told reporters — including Ryan Dunleavy of NJ.com (Twitter link) — on Wednesday. That's in line with PFR's 2018 Head Coaching Search Tracker, which shows Nagy only interviewed with the Colts and Bears. The Giants, meanwhile, met with Josh McDaniels, Matt Patricia, Steve Wilks, Eric Studesville, and Steve Spagnuolo before hiring Pat Shurmur. Nagy, for his part, could take home Coach of the Year depending on how Chicago's season ends.
Speaking of current Bears coaches, Chicago is worried it could lose defensive coordinator Vic Fangio this offseason, as Jay Glazer of The Athletic writes. Fangio has interviewed for two head positions in the past, but both have been with clubs that already employed him (Bears in 2018, 49ers in 2015). While he didn't land either of those gigs, Fangio could be in line to move into a head coaching role after that's currently ranked first in DVOA by a relatively wide margin. As Glazer writes, however, Fangio's age (60) could work against him as many clubs are searching for younger coaches.
By going over the 100-catch mark on Sunday, Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen triggered an escalator in his contract, tweets Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Thielen, who inked an incredibly team-friendly extension last spring, will now see his 2019 base salary increase from $3.85MM to $5.85MM. If he tops 90 receptions in 2019, Thielen will boost his 2020 salary from $5.35MM to $7.35MM.
Drew Brees, QB (Saints): Two years, $50MM. $10.5MM signing bonus. $10.2MM 2018 base salary. $3.3MM available via incentives in 2018. $24MM cap charge in 2018. $33.5MM cap charge in 2019 (Twitter links via Field Yates of ESPN.com).
Malcolm Butler, CB (Titans): Five years, $61.23MM. $24MM guaranteed. $10MM signing bonus (via Howard Balzer).
Justin Ellis, DT (Raiders): Three years, $13.5MM. $6.5MM guaranteed. 2019 base salary ($2.25MM) becomes fully guaranteed on third day of 2019 league year (via Adam Caplan of SiriusXM).
Mark Herzlich, LB (Giants): One year, $790K minimum salary contract (via Ralph Vacchiano of SNY).
James Hurst, T (Ravens): Four years, $17.5MM. $6MM guaranteed (via Caplan).
Trumaine Johnson, CB (Jets): Five years, $72.5MM. $34MM guaranteed (via Balzer), $34MM fully guaranteed (per Rich Cimini of ESPN.com).
The Ravens and James Hurst have agreed to a four-year deal to keep the offensive lineman in Baltimore, according to ESPN's Jamison Hensley. Hurst's deal will be worth $17MM in total and he'll receive $8MM guaranteed, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).
Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter) opines that the money in Hurst's deal signals that the Ravens plan on transitioning him into a starting role. He also speculates as to what the deal could mean for right tackle Austin Howard, who the Ravens signed to a three-year deal last offseason and started all 16 games this past year.
Hurst, 26, has served in mostly a backup role during his first four seasons with the Ravens but started all 16 games last season at left guard due to injuries on the team's line. Zrebiec wonders whether the team will opt to keep Hurst at left tackle and shift former fourth-round pick Alex Lewis, who missed all of his sophomore season due to a shoulder injury, to right tackle rather than starting Howard.
The Ravens signed Hurst as an undrafted free agent in 2014 out of North Carolina. They're set with Ronnie Stanley at left tackle and Marshal Yanda at right guard but have several other question marks remaining in regards to how their line will shake out.
Hurst, Lewis and Howard are all under contract but center Ryan Jensen and backup Luke Bowanko are both due to hit unrestricted free agency this offseason. The Ravens also have Nico Siragusa back at guard after taking him in the fourth round last year and missing the entire season with a torn ACL.
If a Malcolm Butler trade is going to occur, it will likely take place this week and come down to whether the Saints are ready to surrender their No. 32 overall pick or submit a proposal of a package involving their second-rounder (No. 42), Mike Reiss of ESPN.com notes. Butler signed his $3.91MM RFA tender earlier this week to pave the way for a trade and Saints/Patriots talks continue, but it's uncertain if the Saints want to unload a high draft pick and pay the 27-year-old Butler like a top-tier cornerback. Reiss gets the feeling the Patriots won't have an issue with Butler playing on the RFA tender this season, as they would be able to fetch a compensatory pick after the season if/when Butler departs as a UFA in that scenario.
Here's the latest from New England and the rest of the league as we enter draft week.
Aaron Hernandez's death closed all cases against him and could open the door to more issues between the NFL and NFLPA regarding the former Patriots tight end's salary. The league and NFLPA agreed to table any grievance-related discussions until all criminal prosecution of Hernandez concluded, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. That having happened reopens those unresolved issues. Hernandez's side was demanding $3.25MM in unpaid money from his 2012 signing bonus, and the NFLPA filed a grievance for the former tight end's 2013 and 2014 guaranteed salaries (in addition to a 2014 guaranteed workout bonus). The NFL and the Patriots' grievance sought repayment of all money given to Hernandez prior to the 2012 contract extension.
While initial reports indicated Ravens offensive lineman James Hurst had signed his restricted free agent tender, that doesn't appear to be the case, tweets salary cap guru Ian Whetstone. Instead, Hurst looks to have agreed to a reduced one-year contract, similar to Baltimore RFA wide receiver Michael Campanaro. Under the terms of his original-round RFA tender, Hurst would have earned $1.797MM in 2017. But he will now will presumably take in a lesser total. Hurst, 25, started three games for the Ravens last season and played on roughly a quarter of the club's offensive snaps.
Tyler Lockett expects to be ready for training camp, but the rehabbing Seahawks wideout has an uncertain timetable until then, Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times reports. Lockett broke the tibia and fibula in his right leg in Week 16 of last year and had surgery on Christmas Eve. Lockett told media, including Condotta, he's aiming to be ready by camp but is viewing any earlier participation as a bonus.
The Cardinals did not view Karlos Dansby as a backup plan despite his age, contacting the 14th-year linebacker in the opening minutes of free agency, Kent Somers of AZCentral.com reports. Signed to a one-year, $2MM deal, the 35-year-old Dansby is expected to take Kevin Minter's place alongside Deone Bucannon at inside linebacker. The Cards allowed Minter to walk, and he signed a one-year, $4MM deal with the Bengals.
Two personnel men surveyed by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Bob McGinn regarding the 2017 draft said Ryan Ramczyk would profile as a second-round pick if this were a more traditional year for offensive line prospects. But with the prognosis grim for this year's class, the Wisconsin blocker likely will vault into the first round. An AFC team's staffer said this class of linemen was the worst he's seen in 10 years.
Dallas Robinson contributed to this report.
Restricted free agent offensive linemen James Hurst and Ryan Jensen have signed their tenders with the Ravens, as has exclusive rights free agent wide receiver Chris Matthews. The Ravens tendered both Hurst and Jensen at the lowest level last month, meaning they wouldn't have been entitled to compensation had either headed elsewhere by way of an unmatched offer sheet. Hurst, a tackle, is the more experienced of the two, having appeared in all 48 regular-season games and totaled 16 starts during his three-year career. Jensen has also been in the NFL for three years, but the interior blocker only has 19 appearances and nine starts to his name.
The Raiders have announced the signing of kicker Giorgio Tavecchio, who was with the team in each of the previous three training camps. The Italy native, undrafted from Cal in 2012, has also spent time with San Francisco, Green Bay and Detroit, but he hasn't seen any regular-season action yet.
The Rams have waived defensive back Kevin Short, who spent time on their practice squad last year and then signed a reserve/futures contract in January. Interestingly, Short came to the pros directly from the JUCO level, having played at Fort Scott Community College (Kansas). He went undrafted in 2015, unsurprisingly, and suited up for the Chiefs', Seahawks' and Jets' practice squads prior to joining LA's taxi squad.
Let's look at some of the news coming from AFC teams' camps as teams begin final preparations for Week 2.
Eugene Monroe will miss the Ravens' second game after sustaining a concussion in their first, Clifton Brown of CSNMidAtlantic.com reports. James Hurst will likely start at left tackle. Hurst helped DeMarcus Ware receive a J.J. Watt-esque +10.6 grade from Pro Football Focus in the Ravens' Week 1 loss to the Broncos. Breshad Perriman will also miss Week 2.
John Harbaugh deemed recently signed pass-rusher Jason Babin fit to suit up for the Ravens on Sunday, with the team likely using him in pass-pursuit situations behind Elvis Dumervil and Courtney Upshaw, Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun reports.
Josh McCown did not believe he sustained a concussion on his end zone dive against the Jets and drove himself home from the Browns' facility after the game, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports. Cleveland's primary starter expected to be cleared for this week but will comply with the concussion protocol, Cabot notes. Mike Pettine seemed to acknowledge McCown endured a setback this week, according to Cabot, noting that such an occurrence resets the recovery clock in the concussion protocol.
Joel Corry of CBSSports.com examines whether a potential Colts dynasty has been squandered due to the failure to form a quality roster around Andrew Luck. Corry's chart of contenders' quality players lists the Colts with having nine, a number well below their top-tier brethren; the Broncos have 17, the Patriots 15, the Packers 14 and the Seahawks 13 in this analysis.
Jonathan Cyprien (calf) is doubtful for the Jaguars' AFC Florida supremacy battle, while Luke Joeckel (ankle) is questionable, according to an Associated Press report.
In a mailbag post, John Clayton of ESPN wrote that rookie wide receivers were impressive around the league during rookie mini-camps. He noted that Sammy Watkins of the Bills and John Brown of the Cardinals shined particularly brightly.
The Ravens gave UDFA Jerry Rice Jr. good feedback following his workout with the team, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Although the UNLV product was not offered a deal, he is on the Ravens' emergency list should they look further for additional receiving options.
The Ravens also are impressed with former North Carolina tackle James Hurst. Matt Zenitz of the Carroll County Times, points out that Hurst, who plays left tackle, would join the likes of Justin Tucker and Priest Holmes if he were to catch on as a major contributor with the Ravens as an UDFA.
Former BYU standout receiver Cody Hoffman is hoping to catch on with the Redskins, according to Tarik El-Bashir of CSNWashington.


San Diego has the allure of a permanent vacation with its nearly perfect sunny weather, dinners grilled on the barbecue and days spent poolside—which is why living here can be pricier than most markets. Luckily, Chula Vista's newest luxury apartment experience, Alexan Millenia, developed by Trammell Crow Residential, is proof that you don't have to sacrifice the luxury and style of living in San Diego for a strict budget. Officially open as of July 2018, this 309-unit community brings stylish living spaces, countless resort-worthy amenities, plenty of outdoor space—and is conveniently located within a short walking distance of shops, restaurants and parks all within a booming, family-friendly neighborhood.
With apartments available for lease starting at $1,995, the Alexan Millenia experience features top of market amenities and trending interior design concepts thanks to developer, Trammell Crow Residential, who brings more than 40 years of experience and local presence in 12 key U.S. markets, and manages more than 20,000 units of multi-family amenity-rich communities. Let's take a tour at just a few of the perks that come with being an Alexan Millenia resident, and how you could be living affordably without sacrificing style and luxury.
Upon entrance, each unit's interior greets each visitor in a Metro Lounge with a gourmet kitchen designed with deep quartz countertops, full height Porcelanosa backsplash, deep sitting undermounted stainless steel sinks, and high-arching DELTA plumbing fixtures. These chic floorplans also incorporate two refined color palettes complementing the European and Shaker cabinetry and wood style plank flooring throughout the lounging and dining areas.
Game night for the adults is just one of the few bonus upgrades that come with the Alexan Millenia lifestyle. Adults can enjoy the Metro Lounge, which includes a gourmet kitchen, billiards table, a shuffle board and poker table – perfect for any Saturday night spent indoors. A teens room is available to enjoy with a flat screen television, lounge seating, and video games while the little kiddos hang out in the children's play area complete with a jungle gym!
Unlike many other apartment complexes, the Alexan Millenia experience fosters a tightly-knit community of locals that enjoy a plethora of activities, both individually and socially. The space offers scenic parks for those running enthusiasts looking for any easy activity. Socialites rejoice and can coordinate wine night, book club, social networking events, and much more with fellow locals in the community recreation area. If you're looking to gold in paradise and can afford to spend extra on something recreational – specifically, "tee time"- look no further than the Eastlake Country Club located minutes away for a round of golf with your friends or business partners. The country club features almost 1,000 tress, lakes and waterfalls to create the perfect golfing experience!
During the summertime – or really any time in San Diego – residents can enjoy the day by a resort-style pool and spa complete with fire features, barbeque grills, concrete ping pong table, outdoor television, daybeds and modern furnishings. These amenities make it easy to enjoy Alexan Millenia with all your loved ones – making any weekend feel like a mini vacation!
Health and wellness lifestyles are fulfilled with a state-of-the-art fitness studio that includes Life Fitness strength and cardio equipment. Satisfy much younger energy by including a children's entertainment suite to keep the kiddos busy! For an outdoors experience in your fitness routine or if you need some fresh air, enjoy a nice drive to Mountain Hawk Park and enjoy the hiking trails.
If the "grind" never stops or if you don't have time to run to the office and prefer to work remotely, working from home in a professional setting has never been easier with the modern community co-working spaces at Alexan Millenia. This space includes flat-screen televisions, private conference rooms and alcoves that are presentation ready. The luxurious apartment complex also offers townhomes with their own office spaces– perfect for those entrepreneurs! Whether you need peace and quiet, or a change of scenery, Alexan Millenia is committed to providing business professionals with a workspace without having to leave your home or pay extra rent for an office space located further away.
Because of its close proximity, locals typically enjoy walking to dinner or partaking in a shopping spree at the open-air shopping destination, Otay Ranch Town Center, which features over 90 name-brand retailers, entertainment and quick-service restaurants. Seeking entertainment? Look no further than Mattress Firm Amphitheatre to catch some live music or SeaWorld Water Park located just minutes away for the whole family to enjoy.
Needless to say, buying locally has never been more of a breeze. Chula Vista residents can enjoy the nearby Sprout's Farmer's Market. With amazing prices, Sprouts Farmer's Market and Trader's Joe's are committed to selling organic, locally grown grocery products. Or support local and visit the Chula Vista Farmers' Market in Downtown Chula Vista to purchase fresh vegetables, fruits, flowers and more gourmet goods from San Diego farmers and artisans. The most exciting is that onsite retailers and restaurants will be coming soon to the Alexan Millenia community!
Before taking inventory of things to eliminate from your lifestyle to save money, consider the fact that it is possible to live lavishly in San Diego for much cheaper without giving up space and amenities. Consider a new approach to living and think of all the things that are missing from your lifestyle, and know that you could be treating yourself to much better. Whether you're a small family or a single, urban professional, Alexan Millenia is committed to providing above and beyond just a regular apartment lifestyle for an affordable price.
If you feel like you are cheating yourself of the luxury lifestyle you want, chances are you're right. Your new lifestyle begins when you choose the right home to host your happiness. If you would like to find out more about the Alexan Millenia experience, or wish to secure a lease now, please visit: www.alexamillenia.com or visit the property at 1660 Metro Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91915 for more information!
For more information about Alexan Millenia's developer, Trammell Crow Residential, please visit www.tcr.com.


text:
Instytucjonalizacja międzynarodowa w ogólnym rozumieniu jest to dążenie określonych uczestników do ustanowienia więzów interakcji i komunikowania dla wspólnego rozwiązywania pojawiających się nowych problemów międzynarodowych.

W rozumieniu praktycznym, od początku XIX wieku, instytucjonalizacja międzynarodowa realizowana była przez tworzenie różnorodnych instytucji międzynarodowych, m.in.:
 konferencje międzynarodowe (np.: Kongres wiedeński – 1814-1815)
 tworzenie organizacji międzynarodowych (międzyrządowych i pozarządowych) od połowy XIX wieku, a zwłaszcza po 1945 r.,

Procesy instytucjonalizacji obejmują stosunki:
 a) bilateralne (dwustronne),
 b) wielostronne,
 c) regionalne,
 d) sojusze,
 e) wspólnotowe,
 f) różne inne dziedziny życia międzynarodowego.

Cechą charakterystyczną instytucjonalizacji międzynarodowej od końca XX i początku XXI wieku jest uzupełnianie interakcji instytucji międzyrządowych przez działalność organizacji i interakcji pozarządowych. Zjawisko to (wzrost udziału aktywności organizacji pozarządowych) jest wynikiem globalizacji. Uzupełnianie instytucjonalizacji międzynarodowej przez udział organizacji pozarządowych powoduje przyspieszenie interakcji międzynarodowych pod względem ilościowym i jakościowym.

Teoria stosunków międzynarodowych
Socjologia polityki

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Cozy up with one of Millie Marotta's beautiful books on this chilly winter evening and colour the night away. We'll provide refreshments to help you stay inside the lines.
Please register in advance by calling 705-360-2617 or visit us at 325 Second Ave.


WHAT ARE YOU TEACHING? Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6 New King James Version). It is a struggle to raise children today. There are many things in society, with its moralistic views, in direct opposition to biblical teaching,… Continue reading What Are You Teaching?


text:
Campaign News Archives - Lori Berman
Palm Beach Post: "Replacing Clemens starts with special election primary Tuesday"
January 25, 2018 /in Campaign News /by mdwcomm
It's the known versus the unknown in a special Florida Senate election Tuesday to replace Jeff Clemens, the Atlantis Democrat who resigned in October after admitting to an affair with a lobbyist.
State Rep. Lori Berman, of Lantana, squares off against Arthur Morrison, a former federal worker who has never run for elected office, for the Senate District 31 seat, which covers part of coastal Palm Beach County, including Lake Worth, Lantana, Boynton Beach and Delray Beach.
The winner will face Palm Beach County Republican Vice Chairwoman Tami Donnally of Lake Worth in the April 10 general election. Donnally is running unchallenged.
Democrats have a 46.6 to 24.1 percent registration advantage in the district and the GOP did not field a candidate there against Clemens in 2016.
Early voting is underway, part of a process that Palm Beach County Elections Supervisors Susan Bucher will cost taxpayers about $1 million.
Berman, a member on the powerful House Rules and Policy Committee, said she's running because she's been a state representative the past eight years.
"I jumped into the race because I want to continue to work on the things that have been important to me, which include access to health care for all Floridians, first rate educational system, preserving our environment, protecting women's rights and economic prosperity for all by promoting diversity in the job market," Berman, 59, said.
She said she has built a lot of relationships and that she understands all the issues to be an effective legislator.
Morrison, 72, did not make himself available for an interview with The Palm Beach Post.
He did, however, tell The Post's Editorial Board that he became irritated at what President Trump was doing and decided to run after Clemens resigned.
Morrison, a county native who graduated from all-black Roosevelt High School, told the board he is determined to help poor seniors by keeping "Medicaid-to-work" issue from coming to Florida, prevent oil and gas drilling in the state's coast and to stop charter schools from siphoning away money from traditional public schools.
Berman said the top three issues in Florida are health care, education and the environment.
She said her biggest disappointment with the legislature is that it has failed to expand Medicaid. "I will continue to advocate to do that," she said. "I want that to be a valid initiative so the citizens in the state can vote on it."
On education, Berman said she fully supports funding public education to make sure public students are not short changed by getting less than charter schools.
As for medical marijuana, Berman, said the legislature passed a bill last year that was more limited than she would have liked it to be. She proposes that people should be allowed to smoke marijuana. "Right now, the only means for inhaling or ingesting marijuana are through edibles and vaping," Berman said. "We should expand it to include smoking."
The seat will remain vacant through the regular 2018 legislative session, which runs through March 9.
District 31 is generally east of Florida's Turnpike between Lake Worth and Delray Beach.
Read the original article here.
https://loriberman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Berman_Branding_StateSenate.gif 0 0 mdwcomm https://loriberman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Berman_Branding_StateSenate.gif mdwcomm2018-01-25 06:00:212018-01-29 22:04:20Palm Beach Post: "Replacing Clemens starts with special election primary Tuesday"
Palm Beach Post: "Post endorsements: Among Democrats, Berman best successor to Clemens"
When state Sen. Jeff Clemens abruptly resigned his seat in October, it left District 31 without one of the most influential and dynamic voices in the Florida Legislature.
Clemens, an Atlantis Democrat who resigned after admitting to an affair with a lobbyist, had risen to become a Democratic leader in a Republican-dominated Senate.
The Post believes that for Democrats, their best chance of getting back that clout when they go to the polls for a Jan. 30 primary election is state Rep. Lori Berman, of Lantana.
Berman, whose current House District 90 sits entirely within Senate District 31, has risen to be the ranking member on the powerful House Rules and Policy Committee. After four terms in the House — she is term-limited — the 59-year-old knows her way around the halls of the state Capitol and is already a known quantity on big issues like health care, education, the environment and economic growth.
Her opponent, Lantana retiree Arthur Morrison, is an energetic 72-year-old former federal bureaucrat. Morrison, a county native whose graduation from all-black Roosevelt High School took him to Harvard University, said he became "irritated at what President Trump was doing" and jumped at the chance to run when Clemens resigned.
He told The Post Editorial Board that he is determined to protect poor seniors by keeping the "Medicaid-to-work" issue from coming to Florida, prevent any oil and gas drilling off the state's coast and stop charter schools from siphoning away money from traditional public schools.
Berman agrees with all of those positions, and adds that she wants economic development in the county and throughout the whole state that will produce "jobs that are careers."
"I voted to support Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida because, among other things I want my children to be able to have good, well-paying jobs," she said, "that will keep them in our state."
A major part of attracting those jobs, she said, is bolstering the state's higher education system — especially community colleges like Palm Beach State College. "We shouldn't have to support our universities at the expense of our community colleges," she said.
We admire Morrison's ambitions, but Berman clearly would be the more effective legislator, one who would need only a minimal learning curve in moving from House to Senate.
In the Republican primary, Palm Beach County Republican Party Vice Chairwoman Tami Donnally is running unchallenged.
The two primary winners will face off in the April 10 general election.
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Campaign Kickoff: Thursday, Nov. 30 @ Wood & Fire
November 29, 2017 /in Campaign News /by mdwcomm
Join Lori for her campaign kickoff on Thursday, November 30th, at Wood & Fire in Delray Beach! The event is free to attend, but contributions are encouraged.
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Plan Beach Post: "Berman rolls out big endorsements, Slosberg dismisses 'political machine' in special Senate race"
State Rep. Lori Berman, D-Lantana, today rolled out several Democratic endorsements as she pursues the party's nomination for a special state Senate election to replace Jeff Clemens in Palm Beach County.
U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Boca Raton, and former Democratic U.S. Reps. Robert Wexler (for whom Berman once worked) and Patrick Murphy are among those endorsing Berman as she vies against former state state Rep. Irving Slosberg and Arthur Morrison of West Palm Beach in a Jan. 30 primary. The seat is open because Clemens resigned in October after admitting to an extramarital affair with a lobbyist.
Republican Party Vice Chairwoman Tami Donnally is also running for the heavily Democratic seat. The general election is April 10 — after the regular 2018 legislative session ends.
Berman, serving her fourth term in the state House, announced endorsements from 27 state lawmakers, including Palm Beach County Democratic state Sens. Bobby Powell and Kevin Rader and state Rep. Matt Willhite of Wellington.
"Lori is a true progressive leader, a tireless fighter for women's rights, and will make an excellent State Senator. I am proud to endorse her," said Deutch.
Slosberg downplayed Berman's endorsements.
"It's Irv Slosberg vs. the political machine — again," Slosberg said.
Slosberg took on the Democratic machine and won in 2000, ousting former Rep. Curt Levine to win a House seat. The machine got its revenge in 2006 when Deutch, making his first run for office, got the backing of many party leaders and defeated Slosberg in a state Senate primary. Slosberg won a House seat again in 2010, but left in 2016 to challenge the party establishment again; he lost a bid to unseat incumbent Sen. Clemens.
Said Slosberg: "I just want the endorsements of the people."
https://loriberman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Berman_Branding_StateSenate.gif 0 0 mdwcomm https://loriberman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Berman_Branding_StateSenate.gif mdwcomm2017-11-26 22:05:402017-11-30 22:06:03Plan Beach Post: "Berman rolls out big endorsements, Slosberg dismisses 'political machine' in special Senate race"
Florida Politics: "Lori Berman nabs two dozen endorsements in SD 31 bid"
Last week, more than 25 Democratic legislative leaders from Palm Beach County and the state announced endorsing state Rep. Lori Berman in her bid for Senate District 31.
Among those lining up behind Berman, a Lantana Democrat who represents HD 90, are Congressman Ted Deutch of Florida's 22nd Congressional District, former Congressmen Patrick Murphy and Robert Wexler, both Democratic Palm Beach County Sens. Kevin Rader and Bobby Powell, Sens. Linda Stewart, Annette Taddeo and Victor Torres.
"Lori is a true progressive leader, a tireless fighter for women's rights, and will make an excellent state senator," Deutch said in a statement. "I am proud to endorse her."
State Representatives endorsing Berman include House Democratic Leader Janet Cruz, House Democratic Leader Designate Kionne McGhee, House Democratic Policy Chairs Evan Jenne and Cynthia Stafford, Democratic Leader Pro Tempore Bobby DuBose, Reps. Matt Willhite, Robert Asencio, Loranne Ausley, Kamia Brown, John Cortes, Tracie Davis, Ben Diamond, Joseph Geller, Patrick Henry, Shevrin Jones, Amy Mercado, Barrington Russell, Sean Shaw, Carlos Guillermo Smith, Richard Stark, Barbara Watson and Wengay "Newt" Newton.
"Lori Berman is the only choice for true Democrats in the race for state Senate, and that is why so many outstanding elected officials have come out and endorsed her today," said Rader.
Berman is resigning her House seat effective April 9 of next year for the SD 31 special election, which covers Lake Worth, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach and Greenacres. The seat vacated after POLITICO Florida reported on an extramarital affair between then-Democratic Sen. Jeff Clemens and Tallahassee lobbyist Devon West. Clemens resigned the seat.
"I am honored to have the support of these legislative leaders that have done so much for Palm Beach County and our state," Berman responded to the endorsement wave. "I will be a bold progressive champion in the Senate and look forward to working with them in standing up for a woman's right to choose, pushing for commonsense gun violence prevention measures, advocating for traditional public schools, expanding access to high-quality health care, and fighting for seniors."
https://loriberman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Berman_Branding_StateSenate.gif 0 0 mdwcomm https://loriberman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Berman_Branding_StateSenate.gif mdwcomm2017-11-26 22:03:322017-11-30 22:04:53Florida Politics: "Lori Berman nabs two dozen endorsements in SD 31 bid"
News Service of Florida: "Berman fires up Senate run – with wood oven"
State Rep. Lori Berman, a Lantana Democrat, is kicking off her special election Senate campaign at an upscale pizza joint in Delray Beach in two weeks.
And everyone's invited — just keep your "encouraged" checks under $1,000.
Berman, who is already in the contest to replace disgraced Democrat Jeff Clemens for the Palm Beach County seat, posted an invitation on Twitter Thursday announcing the Nov. 30 event at Wood & Fire in Delray Beach.
Clemens resigned after admitting to an extramarital affair with a lobbyist, and the seat will remain vacant through the 60-day 2018 legislative session that begins Jan. 9.
Gov. Rick Scott set a special primary for Jan. 30 and the special general election for April 10.
Democrat Arthur Morrison of West Palm Beach and Lake Worth Republican Tami Donnally have also opened campaign accounts. Former Rep. Irv Slosberg, a Democrat narrowly defeated by Clemens in a spendy primary last year, is expected to run.
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Florida Politics: "Lori Berman to run in SD 31 special election"
October 31, 2017 /in Campaign News /by mdwcomm
Lantana Democratic Rep. Lori Berman announced Tuesday she will run for the special election in Senate District 31, which opened up Friday following the unexpected and immediate resignation of Jeff Clemens.
"We're in the midst of a watershed moment in the struggle for women's rights across this country and one of the key motivators in my decision to do this is our state's need for a champion on issues ranging from pay equity to health care and reproductive rights to freedom from sexual harassment and workplace discrimination," Berman said in a press release."My message is simple: now more than ever, women need a strong voice in the Florida Senate."
Berman also took a jab at the Republican-controlled Legislature, which she said has caused suffering among Florida children and seniors. Although her message calling for more strong women in the Senate will likely resonate more within the safe Democratic district, especially given the nature of Clemens' exit from the Legislature and the focus laid upon sexual harassment in both Tallahassee and the nation over the past month.
Clemens, a Fort Worth Democrat who was slated to become Senate Minority Leader, stepped down Friday after reports surfaced of an affair he had with lobbyist Devon West. The tryst took place during the 2017 Legislative Session and boiled over when West got ahold of Clemens' laptop and informed his wife of the affair.
"I have made mistakes I'm ashamed of, and for the past six months I have been focused on becoming a better person," he said in a statement to the media last week. "All women deserve respect, and by my actions, I feel I have failed that standard. I have to do better."Berman follows former Democratic Rep. Irv Slosberg in announcing her candidacy, though more Democrats are expected to throw their hats in the ring in the coming days.
Among those speculated to join her are Democratic Rep. David Silvers and Delray Beach Mayor Cary Glickstein.
SD 31 covers part of coastal Palm Beach County, including Lake Worth, Lantana, Boynton Beach and Delray Beach.
Gov. Rick Scott has not yet set dates for the special election, though Palm Beach County Elections Supervisor Susan Bucher proposed Monday that a primary election be held Jan. 30, followed by an April 10 general election.
If Scott picks those dates, SD 31 will go the entirety of the 2018 Legislative Session without representation. The annual session is scheduled to run Jan. 9 through March 9.
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Palm Beach Post: "Florida lawmakers call for genetically modified mosquitoes"
September 14, 2016 /in Campaign News, Uncategorized /by mdwcomm
TALLAHASSEE — With Congress showing no signs of breaking its long deadlock over funding to fight the Zika virus, Florida lawmakers Wednesday threw in behind a new weapon — Franken-skeeters.
A majority of Florida House members asked federal health officials to approve releasing genetically modified mosquitoes in the state to reduce the risk of more cases of the Zika virus. Florida has already reported more than 700 cases, including 56 that could be linked to local mosquitoes.
Led by Incoming House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O' Lakes, and Rep. Janet Cruz, D-Tampa, who becomes her party's House leader after the November elections, 61 House members sent a letter to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell requesting emergency action to fast-track the modified insects with the colorful nickname.
"We must find and utilize new strategies to both curb the spread of the virus and prevent additional outbreaks," the Florida leaders wrote.
Palm Beach County Reps. MaryLynn Magar, R-Tequesta, Bill Hager, R-Delray Beach, Rep. Lori Berman, D-Lantana, and Kevin Rader, D-Delray Beach, were among those signing.
+Richard Corcoran photo
The British company Oxitec has developed technology to mutate millions of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in a lab setting, deploying a synthetic protein that kills their offspring before they can emerge from larvae as adults and transmit the Zika virus.
Last month, Oxitec received a federal go-ahead for a pilot project in the Florida Keys.
If wild female mosquitoes mate with sterile males, the population dies off rapidly. The approach has been used in Brazil and Caribbean islands with some success, but questions remain about whether it would make much difference in Florida.
Mosquito populations would have to be narrowly targeted, and a large metropolitan area like Miami could prove a challenge, officials have said.
"If the federal government follows its normal bureaucratic processes, it might take years for Florida to access this technology. Such a delay presents an unnecessary health risk to the people of our state. Red tape is never an acceptable justification for the loss of human life," the Florida lawmakers wrote.
The letter was sent as the U.S. Senate — just back from a two-month recess — defaulted to what has been its familiar position of deadlocking over Zika funding.
A $1.1 billion proposal failed Tuesday in a 52-46 vote after Republican leaders included a provision dropping Planned Parenthood from the list of providers getting new funding to combat the spread of the virus, which can be sexually transmitted.
Democrats wouldn't go along with the move against Planned Parenthood. Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio voted for the measure, while the state's other senator, Democrat Bill Nelson, voted against it.
Rubio, who is running for re-election, has said that he would support the entire $1.9 billion Zika funding package proposed in February by President Obama — but not taken up by the GOP-controlled Congress.
Rubio's opponent, U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Jupiter, has ridiculed him for failing to get those in his own party to drop their stand against Planned Parenthood.
While many Florida members of Congress have clamored for action, Rep. David Jolly, R-Belleair Bluffs, underscored the push Wednesday by bringing a jar with about 100 mosquitoes to the House floor, warning that the University of South Florida needs funding to continue research into the virus.
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News Service of Florida: "Voters Give Green Light To Solar Tax Break"
August 30, 2016 /in Campaign News, Uncategorized /by mdwcomm
By Jim Turner – News Service of Florida
Primary-election voters Tuesday approved the expansion of a renewable-energy tax break that backers say will help businesses and spark the expanded use of solar energy in Florida.
But while the measure had support from an array of groups, they are divided on an unrelated solar amendment on the November general-election ballot that could lead to a major political fight.
The proposed constitutional amendment approved Tuesday was known as Amendment 4 and was placed on the ballot by the Legislature. It is designed to extend a residential renewable-energy tax break to commercial and industrial properties.
Shortly after the polls closed, the measure was more than 10 percentage points above the required 60 percent threshold needed for approval of constitutional amendments.
The preliminary results indicated that the measure, which backers say will spur growth in solar and renewable energy, was supported in almost every county.
"The strong showing of support for Amendment 4 sends a clear message to elected officials at all levels of government that Florida voters want more diversity in our energy market," said Sen. Jeff Brandes, a St. Petersburg Republican who sponsored the proposal during the 2016 legislative session.
Though approved by voters, the measure still needs the Legislature to enact the changes.
The measure — sponsored in the House by Rep. Ray Rodrigues, R-Estero, and Rep. Lori Berman, D-Lantana — will exempt for 20 years the assessed value of solar and renewable-energy devices installed on businesses and industrial properties.
"Eliminating high tax barriers will unleash the potential of the 'Sunshine State' to become a leader in solar energy production," Rodrigues said in a prepared statement.
Berman said the election results allow Florida to "enter a new era where renewable energy can be accessible for all, and clean energy jobs can be at the forefront of Florida's economy."
Voters approved a similar exemption for residential property owners in 2008, with the measure taking effect in 2014.
The new proposal also has an element to help residential property owners, as it would exempt all renewable-energy equipment from state tangible personal property taxes.
Support for the measure came from a wide range of organizations such as the Florida Retail Federation, the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, the Florida Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association, the Florida AFL-CIO, the Nature Conservancy, the Sierra Club of Florida and Surfrider Foundation.
A poll released last week by the Florida Chamber of Commerce showed 70 percent of Floridians supported the proposal, with 14 percent opposed.
Yet on Friday Mason-Dixon Polling & Research released findings that indicated the measure was having serious trouble with Republicans and independent voters.
Some late opposition to the measure came from groups such as the Orlando-based political action committees Stop Playing Favorites and the Advocacy, Action & Accountability Alliance, which claimed the amendment would provide "millions in tax breaks to big corporations" at the expense of money that would otherwise flow into minority communities.
Backers of the measure also had to overcome some confusion that the proposal was linked to a separate utility-backed solar proposal on the November ballot.
With Tuesday's victory, supporters of Amendment 4 are now expected to divide up on what is known as Amendment 1 in November.
Stephen Smith, executive director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, said his group is ready to immediately "pivot" from having supported Amendment 4 to vocally opposing Amendment 1.
"What Amendment 1 does not have is the support of a broad, very diverse, grassroots coalition," Smith said. "It is exactly what it is, a utility-backed, utility-funded, self-promoting approach to try to keep a monopoly control on their terms."
The November "Consumers for Smart Solar" initiative would generally maintain the status quo in allowing Floridians with solar equipment on their property to sell energy to power companies.
More than $15 million has already been spent promoting the November amendment.
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Florida Politics: "Jeff Brandes, Lori Berman, Ray Rodrigues launching campaign for solar power tax breaks"
April 5, 2016 /in Campaign News, Uncategorized /by mdwcomm
The three legislators responsible for a statewide initiative concerning home and industrial solar power system tax breaks announced on Tuesday they'll be launching a campaign to get the measure passed on the August ballot.
"Because we've moved to the August primary, we have a really short window in order to really spin up a campaign," said St. Petersburg state Sen. Jeff Brandes, who sponsored the bill in the Senate. "We think we'll be very active right up front, and we're going to be doing a lot of work in the next few weeks."
The amendment would essentially be a tax break: It would exempt solar power equipment on homes from being counted toward a house's value for property tax purposes. It also would exempt from taxation solar energy devices on commercial and industrial properties.
"This constitutional amendment represents bipartisan support from the Legislature for a radical shift in the way we prioritize clean, renewable energy in Florida," said Boynton Beach Democratic Rep. Lori Berman. "Cutting taxes to promote the expansion of solar and renewable energy production is the right policy for our future, and this amendment will provide high-paying jobs for our of hardworking families."
Berman and Fort Myers Republican Ray Rodrigues sponsored the measure in the House, where it passed unanimously.
Brandes initially proposed the solar amendment in 2015.
"At the end of the day a couple of things came into play," he said of its passage. "There were already a couple of solar constitutional amendments being discussed and so I think that the opportunity to have a more robust discussion about a third, the Legislature was ready to have that discussion."
One of those constitutional amendments backed by the public utilities and a group called Consumers for Smart Solar is slated to appear on the ballot this November. The second one, backed by the group Floridians for Solar Choice, was a more grassroots effort that failed to get the necessary signatures to trigger a Florida Supreme Court review. That proposal does share bipartisan support, as Brandes noted about his constitutional amendment.
"It's one of those issues where we can get the conservatives and the more progressive to agree that, both, we want more solar and we like to cut taxes, and so here were the Baptists and the Bootleggers to come together and agree on a policy."
An existing ad valorem abatement for solar and renewable energy devices on residential property already exists in the state constitution. The lawmakers' proposal opens the door for significant expansion of solar and renewable energy production on a larger scale in Florida. Once implemented by the legislature following approval in August by the voters, the ad valorem tax incentives of the amendment will begin in year 2018 and continue for 20 years.
https://loriberman.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/solar-tea-party-split-Large.jpg 1080 1620 mdwcomm https://loriberman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Berman_Branding_StateSenate.gif mdwcomm2016-04-05 22:18:022017-11-29 19:39:57Florida Politics: "Jeff Brandes, Lori Berman, Ray Rodrigues launching campaign for solar power tax breaks"
Political Advertisement Paid For And Approved By Lori Berman, Democrat For State Senate District 31

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


A three full days of course during three weeks, for to learn how to use your film camera operating it without the help of a light meter (16 Sunny Rule) learning how to develop a roll of black and white film, how to contact it in the darkroom until a practical demonstration of photo enlargment.
A basic analog photography course for any beginner.
Discover more on the page of this course with the link provided herewith and contact us through that page if you need more information.


So happy to see sweet onions on sale at ALDI this week! 2-lb bags were only 99¢ each. I put onions in pretty much everything I cook for dinner, so it was a no-brainer to pick up a lot!
I noticed that some bags of onions had 4 onions and some had 5. Since I generally use one onion regardless of size, I only chose bags with 5 onions. So I can get three more meals out of the onions before I have to buy them again!


Read all about setting up the house and our business, why we called the house "Solar Branco" and more about the daily life we have here in the Azores.
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