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Tag Archives: weather
Weather-Related Clichés
"I'm under the weather,"–A tornado just flattened my house.
"Calm before the storm,–the time before your wife discovers the broken vase.
"Every cloud has a silver lining,"—but it's still a cloud, dummy!
"It never rains but it pours," –you just hope there isn't golf-ball sized hail.
"It's raining cats and dogs,"–Please, Heaven let it be Chihuahuas, and not St. Bernards.
"A storm is brewing,"—and the @#$%^&* TV weather guy said I wouldn't need an umbrella.
"To steal someone's thunder,"—why not just borrow it?
"Save for a rainy day,"—and hope you don't get golf-ball sized hail.
"To be on cloud nine,"-when they're waiting for you on cloud seven.
"Rain on someone's parade,"—before they stomp on yours
"Come rain or come shine"—your mother made you wear your galoshes.
Tagged careers, childhood, Humoe, television, weather, Writing
The Haunted Disc Jockey ©
As Halloween approaches, Barkley Michaels muses about episodes in his long career as a disc jockey at Letongaloosa's own radio station: WZBZ Mega-Radio. One episode stands out. Barkley calls it "The Control Room Ghost Story."
Halloween night was a tough shift for a disc jockey. There were always lots of crank calls.
Ring.
"K-R-U-D Radio. What's your request?
"Does Letongaloosa Boulevard run past your station?"
"Then you'd better run out and catch it. Ha,ha,ha,ha." Click.
Barkley wasn't even supposed to be on duty. His friend Garrison Storm, the station meteorologist had asked Barkley to fill in for a sick employee.
On top of all that it was Halloween and there was the ghost legend.
According to lore handed down over the decades, Mega-Radio was haunted by the ghost of the former station owner Reginald Wicker. Mr. Wicker had died of apoplexy in the control booth as he bawled out a new announcer. The announcer had mispronounced the name of the person who bought more commercial time on the radio than any other sponsor. His name was Kuless Klemelborg. The young announcer had pronounced the first name "Kluless" instead of "Kuless."
Wicker went ballistic, and in the middle of his tirade, Wicker dropped dead right there in the control booth.
After Wicker's death there were strange manifestations. Control room lights would grow brighter then dimmer, then go out. Announcers' throats suddenly tightened up and they sounded like Minnie Mouse for a few seconds. Then their voices would go back to normal. It was pretty easy-going haunting. It was not threatening or scary.
But then there was the curse. Wicker's ghost was condemned to haunt the station until some future announcer pronounced the name Kuless Klemelborg correctly. The incident happened years ago. Kuless Klemelborg has long since joined Reginald Wicker in the great broadcast network in the sky.
The odds of removing the curse became slim to none.
So there was Barkley on the air at KRUD-radio on Halloween night.
"K-R-U-D Radio, what's your request?"
"Can you play a Golden Oldie for me?
"Sure thing, if we have it. What do you want me to play and who is the song going out to?"
"Please play "I Want to Hold Your Hand," for my Great Grandpa, Chellsie Clinghampton," said the caller.
But just as the caller began to give the name of the person to whom his request was going, a loud crackling noise came into Barkley's headphones.
"Sorry, I didn't get that name. Stay on the line while we go to a commercial." Barkley told the caller.
At that very instant a ghostly voice came into Barkley's earphones.
It whispered: "The song is for Kuless Kemelborg."
` "Did you say Caroline Clemantis?" asked Barkley
` "Kuless Kemelborg," said the ghostly voice emphatically.
"Okay, I've got it now. This song's for Chelsey Clarington, right?" said Barkley.
"No. No! The name is Kuless Kemelborg."
"That's Chester Clemmelthorne?"
At this point the station was coming back from the commercial. Barkley pressed a button to cut the caller off, but the call light didn't go out. The caller was still on the line.
"Play 'I Want to Hold Your Hand,' for Kuless Kemelborg," said the caller. Play it NOW."
Barkley improvised. "Okay listeners. We have a special request for "It's Now or Never," for Claireese Caltenborn."
There was a loud crackling noise, then static. The dials on the control board in front of Barkley started to jump around.
Barkley panicked.
"Here we go folks "this number's for Cleatus Carrlingberg, Carlene Clampton, Krystal Klomberg, Charlie Chinghammer," Barkley's voice lost its suave announcer quality. He sounded tinny and desperate. "Kleatis Klogsider, Karlos Kimmell, Klarice Kleenbopter, Kelly Kemmelwitz, Klaghorn Kipplemeyer, Konstance Kimberly.
Barkley paused, terrified. A quiet, ghostly voice came into Barkley's headphones:
It said, "The name is "Kuless Kemelborg."
"This one's for Kuless Kemelborg," screamed Barkley.
A loud pop sounded in the booth, a puff of smoke rose from the control board, and, with a shriek of joy, the ghost of Reginald Wicker, K-R-U-D Radio's resident ghost, disappeared forever. Happy Halloween.
Tagged Autumn, careers, comedy, Disney, Education, Fall, ghosts, halloween, humor, journalism, media, music, October, paranormal, radio, weather
Dancin' In High Gear ©
Looking down on the track of the Letongaloosa International Raceway, Jeremiah "Junebug" Jenkins knew today was going to be a horn tootin' sort of day. It was a day that had been 35 years in the making and Jeremiah was more nervous than a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. To be honest, the possibility of this day wouldn't even be on his radar if he hadn't listened to that darn message his grandson, Garrison, had left on his voicemail last Sunday. But here he stood waiting for the next chapter of his life to kick into high gear.
Jeremiah closed eyes, took a deep breath and continued gazing over the raceway. This is where his career began. This is also the track where he ran his last lap and won his final race just one month ago. The feelings of excitement from that race, and all the races he had won throughout his career came rushing back. Memories of the interview from his last Winner's Circle played in his head…
"Jeremiah, so many drivers have tried to win the Letongaloosa 600. You've won twice. How are you feeling?"
"I'm so excited.. I had heard this was the first time officials had shortened the race because of rain since 1966. I'm glad the officials decided to do it again. I want to thank my sponsors, Hank's Hardware, Alvin's Auto Body. They were instrumental in helping us get our car on the track."
He remembered telling the reporter that he couldn't believe how lucky he was to have won. He thanked his fellow competitors and all of the drivers who had come before him who had inspired him to start driving in the first place. It had been quite a day.
When Jeremiah was a boy, his Grandpa Sam had brought him to the Letongaloosa International Raceway to see his first race. The roaring of the engines, the speed of the pit crew and the rush of adrenaline he felt from watching the drivers run laps around the track made him dance with excitement. It was at that point, he knew he wanted to be a racecar driver when he grew up. That was also the day his grandfather gave him the name, "Junebug" because he was so excited by everything just couldn't stop jumping around.
Jeremiah has now been a part of racing for decades and he has competed on all stages of competition ranging from some of the biggest races in the country to the smallest. Since early in his driving career, he has loved to go fishing. Dropping a line in the water excited him almost as much as getting behind the wheel of his racecar. Fishing is how he always celebrates his wins and cheers up after his losses.
Once Jeremiah "Junebug" Jenkins made his final lap in his last month's Letongaloosa 600, he decided to retire. He wanted to celebrate his retirement by fishing and that's what he was doing on the Sunday he got the message from his grandson, Garrison.
Garrison is the lead meteorologist at MEGA-TV in Letongaloosa. He and Jeremiah are as close as a grandson and grandfather can be. Like Grandpa Sam, Jeremiah took Garrison to see his first race. Garrison was excited about the race. The roaring of the engines, the speed of the pit crew and watching the drivers run laps around the track didn't faze him. He was more interested in the rain storm that stopped the race. Since then, Jeremiah has relied on his grandson to give him the weather report before every race.
Retired for a month now, he knew the message Garrison had nothing to do with weather conditions. However, it did have everything to do with racing, but Jeremiah wouldn't be racing around a track, but he would be back in the winner's circle. MEGA-TV would be launching a network that had everything to do with racecars, pit crews and roaring engines. Jeremiah would be the lead reporter.
A week later, Jeremiah was back at the Letongaloosa International Raceway. As he walked toward the Winner's Circle, he was so excited. He felt his feet dancing. He felt like a kid again.
Tagged Aging, cars, Dancing, humor, kids, media, NASCAR, Racing, retirement, television, weather, Weekend, Writing
Fortune Cookie Sayings From A Loopy Ol' Geezer ©
We ate Chinese take-out the other night. The fortune cookie said: "The path is getting easier from here on out."
Well, thank heaven that the path is getting easier. I was so relieved and encouraged when I read that.
Then I imagined some individual in New Jersey, or Arkansas or Las Vegas or some place. He or she, I thought, was sitting at a rickety wooden writing table making up Chinese fortune cookie sayings. The person gets paid 20 cents a dozen for them.
So here are some Chinese fortune cookie sayings from a loopy geezer who lives in the Upper Midwest of the United States of America (a place where a century or so ago experts told people they should inhabit).
+ If you're watching the 10 O'clock news on a Kansas City TV station and in the middle of the show, the weatherman looks at radar screen and says, "Well folks, my shift just ended. Good Night," and the screen goes blank…
You should probably take cover.
+ If, here in the Upper Midwest, there's a cobalt blue sky and not a cloud anywhere, it's probably safe to drive to the grocery store (within half a mile of your place) and buy bread without taking your umbrella and rubber boots. You've probably got at least 15 minutes.
+ If the big brown UPS truck drives by your house, you've got a least a half hour before any unannounced tornado hits. The UPS drivers are in touch with their dispatcher by radio.
Tagged food, Geography, humor, Life, media, radio, tv, weather, Writing
Minnifred & Winnifred (c)
This tale requires an explanation of how Ed and Jeanie Morningside
got the millions of dollars that their daughters inherited.
Although they had been respected Letongaloosa citizens for decades,
Ed and Jeanie never had two nickels, much less a dollar, to rub together. They needed every penny that came in to pay the rent, put food on the table, and buy clothes for the family.
Then, against 14-million-to-one odds, they won $378-million
in the national lottery. Suddenly, accompanied by a whole lot of fanfare, Jeanie and Ed and their two daughters, Minnifred and Winnifred were rich.
At 7:15 a.m. every morning Minnifred Morningside-Suggs sat at her desk grading papers and sipping tea from her favorite artesian mug. Unless she had an early morning appointment out of the office, nothing in Minnifred's life ever changed. This Tuesday morning was different.
Instead of going to her 8 a.m. Tuesday staff meeting, Minnifred said "hi" to Hanger Duggins and his crew at Letongaloosa International Airport and then flew to Kodiak Island to visit Winnifred and to enjoy some much needed time away. That's when things got, well, freaky.
It was a few weeks later and Minnifred and her husband, Reggie, were having dinner at the diner in downtown Letongaloosa. Reggie had just picked Minniefred up from the airport. Reaching for the
bread, he said : "You act diff'rent."
Minnifred had been regaling him with stories about a shiny Republic RC-3 Seabee seaplane she in which she had flown to her sister's cabin; the ice fishing excursion on which she caught the biggest fish the locals had ever seen, and the polar bear swim she had completed in record time. Reggie thought the stories were interesting, but he had never seen Minnifred so animated. She was usually quiet, reserved, and didn't add much detail in the infrequent stories she told.
Reggie continued to stare, and Minnifred pretended she didn't notice the "diff'rent" comment and the puzzled look on his face. She kept talking a mile a minute about her Alaskan adventures. Still more puzzling to Reggie was Minnifred's insistence on sleeping in the guest bedroom.
Something happened a few days later. It was the first round of judging in the Feature-Palooza Competition for Young Writers. There were more than 550 entries, and a group of teachers and business professionals had assembled in the newsroom of the Letongaloosa Register-Journal-Challenger-Sun Chronicle to read the entries, critique them, and choose a contest winner.
Garrison Storm, Letongaloosa's lead meteorologist noticed Minnifred's peculiar behavior. Minnifred had always been a stickler for proper grammar, diction, usage, and syntax. Folks in town tolerated her correcting them in conversations because they were awed by her knowledge of English, and because Minnie was generous with her money. Despite her wealth she had begun teaching public school the year she graduated from college.
Garrison noticed Minnie's grammar goof immediately but he dismissed it, thinking he must have heard wrong. But when she goofed again and seemed actually happy about it, Garrison was perplexed.
As they heard her speak, others in town were too.
Meantime, folks in Kodiak couldn't believe their ears. Winnifred, the winsome spinster, who had always regaled them with bright and cheery chatter, had suddenly become terse and taciturn. Worse,she had begun to correct their grammar and made unfavorably comments on what she labeled their "syntax." People in Kodiak had no idea what "sin" she thought them were guilty of.
A few days later, Winnifred and Minnifred sat together in an airport coffee shop in Vancouver, British Columbia.
"What an excellent time!" said Minnifred, who was waiting for a flight home to Letongaloosa.
"A blast!" said Winnifred, who was booked on a later flight to Katchikan, Alaska. From there she'd catch a seaplane to Kodiak.
"We must do this again soon," said Winnifred.
"Indubitably," said Minnifred.
Tagged academics, adventure, Alaska, Education, family, humor, life lessons, Lifestyle, love, marriage, money, school, Sisters, sports, swimming, travel, Twins, Vacations, weather, writer
It's So Cold…
Colder than a witches' up here. Clear blue sky, not a cloud. Cold enough to freeze Ginger's pee as soon as it hits the grass (well not quite).
Tagged books, Christmas, Dogs, funny, humor, Landscraping, Life, travel, weather, winter, Witches, Writers Life
A Christmas Luau in Letongaloosa©
From Garrison Storm's earliest memories, Christmastime in Letongaloosa meant
sledding and snowball fights in down at Ol' Man Connelly's farm, hot cider and
skating with the Duggins kids, and sampling the cookies that he and his Mom
baked for Santa on Christmas Eve. Garrison has countless wonderfully, nostalgic,
childhood memories, but his most memorable holiday memory happened last
year when he and Clara Vidente, Letongaloosa's resident psychic, saved
Typical days at MEGA-TV are an odd mix of terribly busy, and nothing much to
do. Everyone works in ebbs and flows. Some days are calm. Others are frantic.
Holidays are just plain crazy.
Garrison, the station's lead meteorologist, was in the middle of a frantic stretch
which meant he would be working over the weekend to get forecasts ready for
Christmas. By Sunday, despite the lure and distraction of the yuletide activities in
town, Garrison had had a productive day. He had managed to deliver the
forecast for the upcoming week. He tweaked the layouts of the night's
weathercast and even made time to go online to order a shiny, snow racer sled
for his nephew, Parker. He then walked across the street to eat at the diner
where he struck up a conversation with his psychic friend, Clara.
Clara had lived in Letongaloosa for years. She had a shop on Main Street that
lured passersby to come in to have their futures told. Garrison always walked by
on his way to go sledding with Paul and Tommy Duggins. She'd wave at him
through the bright yellow and green neon sign hanging in her store window.
That afternoon, as he waited for his roasted turkey sandwich and potato salad,
Clara told him she was concerned about the weather. It had been a bit
blustery, but after pouring over the radar all weekend Garrison saw nothing out
of the ordinary. Weather conditions were normal for that time of year, cold and
snowy. In other words, perfect weather for warm cider, cookies and sledding.
"I've been consulting my crystal ball and I don't see snow at all," Clara told
Garrison.
Garrison could tell she really believed in what she had "seen", so he just sat and
listened. He had known this sweet lady his whole life.
"Go on," he said.
"I see flowers blooming, children eating the snow, instead of throwing it. This is
going to be unlike any Christmas Letongaloosa has ever seen. We've got to do
something!"
"Tell you what," Garrison said. "I'm going back to my office and I will check
every forecast again. I promise to issue a special weather bulletin if anything
other than snow happens on Christmas day."
After lunch, Garrison took a short walk down Main Street to stretch his legs. It felt
good after the frantic pace he'd been on. He looked down at the snow on the
ground, took a deep breath, and thought about what Clara had said.
Garrison didn't consider himself a haruspex. He couldn't predict the weather.
And all of his data and experience as a meteorologist told him that everything
would be normal.
Walking back to the station, Garrison met Merry Duggins. She's Paul and
Tommy's mother who volunteers at the courthouse as a guardian ad-Litem.
Merry always had a kind word, a smile, and a pat on the back for kids in need.
Merry was as level-headed as Clara was psychically inclined. As they chatted,
Merry told Garrison that the winter festival would have a bit of a twist. He
promised he'd be there. He thought she had given him a peculiar smile as she
continued down Main Street.
Weeks later, Garrison walked into the courthouse meeting hall. He couldn't
believe his eyes. Tropical flowers were everywhere. The good folks of
Letongaloosa had donned Hawaiian shirts. Their kids were chomping snow
cones. Garrison had walked into a Christmas Luau.
Clara's crystal ball predictions had come true. He glanced around the room
taking it all in. Then he spotted her.
"You were right!"
"I can get used to this. It's nice."
"Merry Christmas, Clara! Now let's go sledding."
Tagged Broadcasting, career, childhood, Christmas, Cookies, family, farming, Hawaii, holidays, humor, news, Party Planning, Psychics, Santa, Skating, television, tv, weather


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Inapoi la www.1asig.ro
XPRIMM News - THE ROMANIAN INSURANCE MARKET NEWSLETTER
No. 116, September 11th, 2008
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MENU: EDITORIAL | INTERVIEW | TOP PRESS | CEE & CIS | FINANCIAL NEWS | EVENTS
The promptness beats the advertising
The best advertising for an insurance company is the promptness in paying the claims... We have heard many times before this sentence, but the meaning of this was ever as clear as this summer.
During this July, unprecedented rains fell in the North of Romania, affecting Botosani, Iasi, Bacau, Vaslui, Maramures and Neamt counties. In some sectors of the rivers from these areas, the maximum flow reaching enormous values, with probabilities of occurring once in 100 or 200 years, over the historic level.
In this context, the financial effort needed for the reconstruction of the affected areas will be of EUR 500 million, according to some preliminary forecasts.
The Romanian insurance companies will pay as a result of these catastrophic events, of over RON 15.7 million (EUR 4.5 million), less than 1% from the total claims.
The small amount of claims paid by the insurers is not surprise, this indicator being a refection of the small amount of the penetration degree, especially in the rural areas, the most affected by floods.
From the signals we have until now, the insurers rally in order to promptly instrument the claims files and compensating rapidly the people insured and affected by floods.
So, we deal, in the flooded areas, with two types of persons: the ones with insurance, who receive their money and can go on with their lives and those who are waiting for the State mercy, being in danger of spending the summer without a roof above the head...
An imagine that should be analyze by everybody and should convince those more than 90% from the uninsured owners to contact as soon as possible an insurance company, in order to buy a policy...
by mihaela.circu@mxp.ro
EDITORIAL | INTERVIEW | TOP PRESS | CEE & CIS | FINANCIAL NEWS | EVENTS
Interview with Mr. Peter BRAUMULLER
Director Insurance and Pension Supervision
FMA - Austrian Financial Market Authority
XPRIMM: Austria is, at the moment one of the most important investors on the Romanian market, and without any doubt the most significant player in the insurance industry. How can you explain this phenomenon?
Peter BRAUMULLER: It is difficult for a supervisor to answer this question but I suppose they are looking for opportunities of development, especially in the insurance market, which has potential. Until few years ago, the Romanian market was outside the EU borders and has - since then - made serious efforts to satisfy the European requirements. Obviously, Romania is a very large market and there is still room for further development and growth
As a supervisory authority, we are monitoring the financial indicators, the economic figures and insurance data and we analyze whether the groups' strategies are in line with the legal frame and the economic environment.
XPRIMM: The Austrian insurance players are among the most significant investors in CEE markets. Do you think that this trend will continue or we are going to assist to a stabilization of the market?
P. B.: This trend is obvious and I assume that a main reason for Austrian insurance companies' important position in Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe is the fact that they were among the first who entered these markets and gradually worked on strengthening their position. Regarding the speed of these investments, this is depending on the actual investments opportunities. Generally speaking, I consider that the general trend will continue, but at the same time we will also see more consolidation and stabilization. VIG, UNIQA and GRAWE are major players on the Austrian market who have discovered new business opportunities and they will certainly continue their strategy.
XPRIMM: Do you consider that applying Solvency II will offer you the power to supervise these groups?
P. B.: We have had group supervision in the EU since the entry into force of the Insurance Groups Directive. Solvency II will further strengthen group supervision and extend the regime to completely new areas like joint approval procedures for internal models and the group support regime. In this matter, the supervisory authorities periodically organize meetings of the coordination committees, and CEIOPS provides guidance on the functioning of those coordination committees. In addition, bilateral meetings are held between the group supervisor and the relevant solo supervisors in order to exchange views and opinions and to improve the mutual knowledge on insurance markets, legal frameworks and supervisory practices.
XPRIMM: Recently, VIG and ERSTE have surprised the market by announcing the transfer of the bank's insurance operations to VIG. How do you comment on the fact that banks give up their insurance business? Is this aspect related to the fact that Solvency II and Basel II are not well connected?
P. B.: One of the issues CEIOPS is looking into is the consistency between Basel II and Solvency II in order to avoid regulatory arbitrage. It is a crucial concern of supervisors that that bad or risky assets are not shifted from a bank to an insurance company or vice versa, because capital charges are lower there. As a supervisor, I would not like to assess companies' business strategies. However, one should keep in mind that participations are not the only way by which banking and insurance activities might be linked together. In Austria, more the 50% of the life insurance products are distributed through banks. Therefore, it could be more attractive to sign agreements with banks, rather than to operate through own sales networks or other means. It can also be expected that insurance companies are trying to extend any successful acquisition policy to Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe as well.
XPRIMM: Can you enumerate some particularities of the Austrian insurance market?
P. B.: In Austria, there are at present more than 100 domestic insurance companies, more than half of which are small mutual associations. The overall number of insurance undertakings has been slightly decreasing over the last few years, whereas the number of participations of Austrian insurers in foreign insurance companies has significantly increased and the actual number of such foreign companies already exceeds the number of domestic insurers.
The life and non-life sector account for approximately the same share of total insurance business. The growth of life insurance has been very moderate over the last three years. However, unit-linked and index-linked business as well as state-sponsored retirement provision have grown quite strongly, whereas traditional life insurance is less dynamic, especially as concerns single premium contracts. The non-life sector has shown a steady growth in premiums over the last few years of about 4 to 5 percent p.a. In international terms, there still seems to be still some potential of expansion in life insurance. The occupational pension market which has been established in Austria around 18 years ago got new rules through the transposition of the EU IORP Directive some years ago. The investment rules are now based on the prudent person principle, combined with risk management requirements. Traditionally, pension companies are investing a higher proportion of their money in equities which leads to a higher volatility and dependency of their return on market fluctuations. Since the main part of the occupational pensions is defined contribution type schemes, bad investment income might easily result in pension cuts.
We have seen some convergence between the life insurance and pension sector in Austria over the last few years. On the one hand, a new type of insurance was created called "occupational group insurance" which is very similar to pension contracts but offered by insurance companies and both are subject to the same tax treatment. On the other hand, a limited change of beneficiaries within pension schemes was permitted, so that they may be allowed to change twice between different funds (investment and risk sharing groups), but only into those with less risky investment policies.
XPRIMM: Is there any penalty for switching the fund that you already choose?
P. B.: No, the practical functioning of the system is depending on the agreement between the employer and the pension institution. In most cases, there will be no penalty and they will probably not charge them, because the aim is to foster the private pension system and to make the pension forecast more reliable the nearer the beneficiary comes to the retirement age. The future development of the pension sector is also depending on new profession groups entering the occupational pension system, e.g. public employees.
At present, there are around EUR 13 billion invested in the second Pillar and around EUR 70 billion of assets in life insurance.
Because of the convergence between occupational pension and insurance products the Austrian FMA believes that there should be a new Solvency regime for pensions as well, based on the principles of Solvency II but also taking into account the particularities of the pension sector. In CEIOPS there are different opinions depending on the respective systems, and there are really a lot of differences between the countries, it's a huge puzzle.
XPRIMM: The Romanian life insurance market is on early stage of development and the insurers and supervising authorities are trying to find some solutions in order to stimulate this sector. One of the solutions is some fiscal facilities insurance segment. Do you have in Austria some tax facilities?
P. B.: In Austria, most people do not want to be obliged to keep money permanently in funds or to be penalized when they take it out at some stage, so products which allow free disposition over your money after 10 or 15 years are well received. In addition, tax incentives are stimulating demand for certain products. As a supervising authority, we should not influence the market development, because this is not our task and we are not better managers than others. I will only tell insurance managers or politicians about the possible risks of certain decisions or strategies. As supervisors, we never recommend what product should be created or promoted, we just form expert opinions on the risks that might occur and the possible impact on the financial situation or development of a company or the market.
XPRIMM: Can you give us some advice in order improve the savings especially in insurance and private pension system in Romania?
P. B.: Let me again take Solvency II as an example. It is crucial that managers identify, assess and manage risks. In Solvency II, higher risks automatically lead to higher capital charges. If tax laws or other means are used to promote specific forms of private investment it is important for decision makers to fully understand all elements of that decision and in particular the risks involved so that the capital charge is appropriate to the risks. For those who steer market developments by creating incentives to the customers or the companies it is important to understand all possible effects of such a measure. Consequently, the supervisor should be involved in the legislative processes which might impact the insurance market. By the way, this is also foreseen in the international standards on insurance supervision.
XPRIMM: What is the Austrian Supervisory authority opinion regarding the Solvency II project? What about the insurance market opinion?
P. B.: We have had some discussions with the representatives of the Austrian Insurance Association and industry representatives about Solvency II. In general, they are satisfied, of course, since the new framework will provide more opportunities to the industry. From our point of view, I think it is absolutely the right direction. The possible problem for supervisors is the fact that for some companies it is difficult to understand and implement complex systems. And also for the supervisor, the new system poses a set of challenges. So mainly, we are very positive, and we are working a lot together with the industry, we are organizing many seminars and workshops on that subject. There are still many problems to be debated, but we are optimistic. And we are already adapting our internal structure and processes to the new regime.
XPRIMM: What is your message to the Romanian insurance market?
P. B.: I can not send any messages about how people should run their business. I am a supervisor, I am not a manager. I do believe that strengthening the market means also strengthening the supervisory authority. Considering that the Solvency II project is crucial for the insurance market and insurance supervision in all our countries, it is extremely important to have an efficient dialogue between the industry and the supervisory authority. One key message of Solvency II is that we need strong supervisors because there are a lot of advantages for the whole market and no market participant should be in a position to gain unfair advantages through violating the rules. An effective supervisor is a prerequisite for good market developments.
XPRIMM: Thank you!
by mihaela.circu@mxp.ro,
oleg.doronceanu@mxp.ro
Mr. Peter BRAUMULLER
The insurance market remains on loss in the first half
The Romanian insurance market concluded the first half of the year with a negative financial result of approximately RON 15.66 million, compared to net loss of RON 83.56 million registered in the similar period of 2007, according to data submitted by the Insurance Supervisory Commission.
by andreea.ionete@mxp.ro, 3.09.2008
Romania's mandatory pension brokers earned over EUR 100 million
ROMANIA. The mandatory pension brokers' total incomes during and after the 4 month signup period officially exceeded 100 EUR mln., sources from CSSPP, the country's private pensions regulator, told www.privatepensions.ro
by mihai.bobocea@mxp.ro, 9.09.2008
BREAKING NEWS: Romanian pensions regulator fines 22 pension brokers
ROMANIA. CSSPP, Romania's private pensions regulator, announced today the biggest collective sanction in its history: 22 pension and insurance brokers were fined, 5 were warned in writing and one was left without its license, CSSPP announced today.
Over EUR 11 million from agricultural insurance in the first half
Agricultural insurance market is estimated at RON 41.40 million, namely to EUR 11.3 million, after the first half of the year in progress, according to data provided by companies for the Insurance PROFILE Review magazine, while gross written premiums of agricultural insurance in the whole year of 2007 were amounted to RON 54.76 million (EUR 16.41 million).
RON 88 million for agricultural insurance in the crop year 2007-2008
Insurance companies posted underwritings for agricultural insurance exceeding RON 88 million in the crop year 2007-2008, with over RON 34 million more than in 2006-2007 period, according to data provided by UNSAR - National Association of Insurance and Reinsurance Companies from Romania. The amount represents cover for autumn crops and for the spring crops between the 1st of September 2007 and the 31st of July 2008.
MARSH Romania wants EUR 50 million in 2008
MARSH, one of the leading insurance brokers in Romania, aims to reach mediated premiums of EUR 50 million for the whole year 2008, this meaning to repeat, in the second half of the year, the performance achieved in the first semester.
FATA Asigurari extends throughout Romania
FATA Asigurari, the Romanian subsidiary of FATA Assicurazioni has set as main objective for the year 2008 a strong territorial network development, in order to cover all districts of the country.
by mihai.cracea@mxp.ro, 3.09.2008
D&O and E&O, the New Stars on the Market
Lately, in Romania, the services sector has known a more and more dynamic rhythm of growth, especially in the financial and property markets. This background, along with the awareness of the need to cover damage caused by managers of companies operating in these areas, or the imposition of concluding such a policy by third parties, is shaping the biggest potential for the insurance market: professional liability.
EUR 44 million for BT Asigurari in the first half
BT Asigurari, the newly-consolidated GROUPAMA subsidiary in Romania posted a 16.9% business growth for the first half of the year up to EUR 44 million, according to results published by the French group. Also, the insurer ended this period with a EUR 5,7 million loss but the profitability will improve significantly starting 2009, following the rationalization plan launched by GROUPAMA in Romania.
by andreea.ionete@mxp.ro, 29.08.2008
Romania's pension funds outperformed mutual funds in the first 4 months of operation
ROMANIA. Private pension funds managed to outperform the majority of mutual funds in Romania, during the first four months of operation (20th May - 31th August), a survey done exclusively by www.privatepensions.ro shows. Half of the mandatory pensions funds (7 of 14) and 37% of the voluntary pension funds (3 of 8) managed to return positive results during those four months, ranging from +0.4% to +7%. The lowest negative return by a pension fund was -5.9%.
Romania's market leader in mandatory pensions officially has a new CEO
Emilia BUNEA was today confirmed by CSSPP (Romania's private pensions regulator) as the new CEO of ING Pension Fund, Romania's market leader in mandatory private pensions (2nd pillar), market sources told www.privatepensions.ro.
by mihai.bobocea@mxp.ro, 28.08.2008
UNITA sale will be completed this autumn
Austrian UNIQA's deal of taking over 100% of the share capital of the Romanian company UNITA from VIENNA Insurance Group, fixed at the end of June, is expected to close in autumn after all necessary regulatory approvals. Because the conditions for a majority takeover of ASTRA-UNIQA were not fulfilled, there are no more legal obligations in this regard so the shareholding in the Romanian insurance company ASTRA remains at 27%, the group representatives said.
INTERAMERICAN Romania's business, up 21% in the first half
INTERAMERICAN Romania ended the first half of the year with a total volume of gross written premiums of RON 44.29 million, growing 21% as compared with same period of 2007. Also, the company posted a gross negative financial result of RON 5 million, but the loss was slightly lower than that of the first half of 2007 of RON 5.23 million.
Insurance Solutions for Real Estates and Construction Developments from C&A and KINGSPAN
Romanian CAPITAL & ALLIANCE (C&A) Insurance Broker and KINGSPAN, member of global leader in design and manufacture of high quality Firesafe Insulated Roof & Wall Systems for the construction industry, KINGSPAN Group, started working together in September to create a better insurance product for real estate/construction industry.
The Lions' castling
Tudor MOLDOVAN has accepted a new professional challenge from GENERAL PPF Holding, while Marie KOVAROVA has been nominated to take over the position of CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors at Romanian GENERALI Asigurari. Tudor MOLDOVAN, the insurers' presently CEO and Chairman of the Board, has accepted the offer received from GENERALI PPF Holding - that of being directly involved in all business projects in the Central and Eastern Europe region.
by mihaela.circu@mxp.ro, 01.09.2008
Unit-linked insurance from GENERALI Asigurari and BNP Paribas
Insurer GENERALI Asigurari and the Romanian branch of one of the largest financial group from France, BNP Paribas, have together launched a new unit-linked life insurance product, with investments in Euro, named EURO Garant 15.
ALLIANZ-TIRIAC is raising the target for EuroMax to EUR 5 million
Romanian leading insure ALLIANZ-TIRIAC will supplement the issue for EuroMax policies, following the success this unit-linked life insurance product with maturity guaranteed investment had since its launch in May 2008.
Romania: Which mandatory pension funds won the battle for Bucharest
ROMANIA. ING, AIG, BCR and BRD are the mandatory pension funds (2nd pillar pensions) that gathered clients better in Bucharet (Romania's capital) than at national level, talking market share, research by www.privatepensions.ro shows.
THE INSURER tells Romania's private pensions "success story"
The prestigious insurance and pensions magazine THE INSURER, edited by The Russian POLIS (company similar to Media XPRIMM in Romania) publishes a large analysis about the Romanian "success story" in the private pension reform.
Number of empty accounts drops below 15% in the mandatory pensions system
ROMANIA. The number of accounts left empty (without any pension contributions) in the Romanian mandatory private pensions system (2nd pillar) dropped below 15% of the total number of participants for the first time, analysis by www.privatepensions.ro shows.
OTP Garancia, warned by the Romanian pensions regulator
ROMANIA. Voluntary private pensions (3rd pillar) company OTP Garancia, part of GROUPAMA group, received a written warning by CSSPP, Romania's private pensions regulator, for various reporting / marketing errors that came out after a control action by CSSPP at Garancia's headquarters in Bucharest.
CEE & CIS
ROSSGOSTRAKH made a strategic investment in Republic of Moldavia
"The purchasing of Moldavian-based MOLDASIG is a strategic expansion on a new perspective market", Danil HACYATUROV, President of ROSGOSSTRAKH has declared at the recent press conference. He pointed that "this acquisition was made according to the company's strategy and aim not only to maintain the leading position in the insurance market in Russia, but also obtain similar results in CIS countries and Eastern Europe". At the same time, Vitalie BODEA, General Director of MOLDASIG, believes that attracting new investment will allow strengthening its positions
on the Moldavian market and will provide the opportunity of applying new
technologies, active development of regional networks and the agents, as well as launching of several common selling programs through banks, leasing companies etc.
ROSGOSSTRAKH has purchased 80% in the authorized capital of the MOLDASIG, the main player on the Moldavian insurance market through Cyprus-based LINEKERS. Transaction has been made through acquisition of the additional issue of shares totalized 3 mil. EUR, following the decision of MOLDASIG shareholders to increase authorized capital five times, from EUR 750 thousand to EUR 3.7 million, MOLDASIG stated for XPRIMM on May 7. In 2007 the company wrote EUR 13.4 in premiums and paid EUR 2.9 million in claims.
by oleg.doronceanu@mxp.ro, 10.09.2008
Debates on life insurance in Poland
The IV annual international conference on life insurance "World views for life insurance in Central and Eastern Europe, Russia and Asia - 2008" will take place November 13-14, 2008, Sheraton Warsaw Hotel & Towers, Warsaw, Poland.
The conference is officially supported by KNF - Financial Supervisory Commission of Poland and PIU - Polish Insurance Chamber.
The aim of the conference is to summarize world and regional life insurance experience, discuss development prospects of the life insurance industry in Russia, Eastern Europe and other countries, to consider modern channels of sales, development of informational technologies and marketing strategies.
In the course of three years, the conference organizers - RUSSIAN Polis Information Group (published of The Insurer magazine) managed to create in Moscow one of Europe's best conferences on life insurance. In 2007, the congress gathered the ex-head of AIG Maurice GREENBERG, Vice-president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners of US Walter BELL, chairman of Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India C. S. RAO, top managers of leading European (re)insurance companies.
Among the speakers of the conference are: Ilya LOMAKIN-ROUMIANTSEV (Russia), Head of Federal Service for Insurance Supervision; Stanislaw KLUZA (Poland), Chairperson of Polish Financial Supervision Authority, Carlos MONTALYO REBUELTA (Germany), Secretary general of CEIOPS, Dan CONSTANTINESCU (Romania), Member of the Council, Insurance Supervisory Commission (CSA) and many other prominent experts. Major sessions of the conference are: World's regulation of life insurance, Life insurance in Russia, World views for life insurance; Life insurance developments in CEE and other related topics.
Joining Forces to Raise Your Game in Prague on 25th-26th of September
The end of September will mark out the needed coordinates for building-up a successful business and learning the best practices in order to improve performance in bancassurance, wth the occasion of "Joining Forces to raise Your Game - The future of Bancassurance, Assurbanking & the Affinity Business" Conference, organized by UNIGLOBAL Research on 25th-26th of September in Prague, Czech Republic.
The concept of bancassurance created a tide change within the financial sector and is now well established in the insurance industry.
So what lies ahead? Are insurance and capital markets heading for convergence or collision course? Will insurers sell banking products as bankers sell insurance products? Who else should be involved to increase the sales potential? Based on the knowledge of the banking and insurance sector this event, supported by XPRIMM - Insurance&Pensions as Media Partner will answer these questions and will review the strategic trends in product differentiation, which are a key within a sector of fast evolving customer needs, and where customers face an abundance of offerings.
Thus the attendance will learn from leaders in Assurbanking & Bancassurance what cross selling and effective segmentation consists in, which products and product combinations have the greatest potential and will understand how effective HR can leverage the distribution strength or the crucial role of processes and IT in driving profits.
FAIRFAX makes USD72 million bid for POLISH Re
FAIRFAX Financial Holdings (TSX:FFH) announced recently that it has made a USD 72 million bid for Polish reinsurer POLISH Re, valued at approximately USD 66 cents per share.
FARFAX has received commitments to tender the offer from shareholders holding about 47 per cent of PTR's shares. The offer is expected to close in the first quarter of 2009.
"We are positive about future prospects for the Central and Eastern European economies in which POLISH Re is active", said FAIRFAX Chairman and CEO Prem WATSA. This investment will increase FAIRFAX's exposure to the region and will provide a long-term platform for expansion."
In turn, Cherski MAREK, CEO of POLISH Re believes that "this transaction will enable us to get a strong strategic investor, as well as lead to greater leadership positions reinsurer in the market and improve the CEE ratings company".
FAIRFAX is a financial services holding company which, through its subsidiaries, is engaged in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance and investment management.
POLISH Re began operations in June 1996, and currently provides reinsurance services for 180 companies from 40 countries, most of which are in the CEE region.
Ruf-FIEDLER to step down as CEO of ING Life Russia
ING Life Russia, a subsidiary of ING Group, announced in August that Olga RUF-FIEDLER, CEO of ING Life Russia, has decided to step down. With a departure on August 1, 2008, she had served at the company for two years. RUF-FIEDLER will pursue career opportunities outside the company.
Janos VERES, CFO of ING Life Russia, has been named temporary general manager.
According to some media sources, Jetse De VRIES, senior vice president of ING Canada in the Western region, will occupy the position of CEO at ING Life Russia
De VRIES began working at ING in 1986. From 1989 to 1991 he was the manager of claims adjusters in Holland. He also held the position of sales and marketing manager in Belgium from 1993 to 1997. De VRIES was CEO of Romania-based life insurer Nederlanden Asigurari de Viata from 1997 to 2000. He was also country manager of ING Group Spain and general manager and CEO of ING Nationale-Nederlanden Life, ING Nationale-Nederlanden Non Life, and ING Employee Benefits.
ING has been operating in the CIS markets since 1994. In Russia the group is represented by ING Wholesale Banking, ING Non-State Pension Fund, ING Lease (Eurasia), and ING Life.
By RP Newsline, 08.09.2008
TRIGLAV shares to be listed on local bourse
Slovenia's largest insurer Zavarovalnica TRIGLAV is officially listed on the Ljubljana stock exchange as of Tuesday, the Ljubljana bourse said. "We expect that TRIGLAV's stocks will be one of the most traded on the bourse, bearing in mind the large number of shareholders", said Marko SIMONETI, the head of Slovenia's stock exchange.
SIMONETI said that the insurer's listing 'is an important event for over 30,000 small shareholders, since they could expect a more transparent trading with the company's stocks,' adding that Slovenia's financial market will become more representative.
"We expect the listing of TRIGLAV's stock on the market will have mostly positive effects", said Andrej KOCIC, CEO of TRIGLAV.
A total of 22.7 million ordinary TRIGLAV shares will be listed on market with the code ZVTG.
TRIGLAV reported a EUR 37.9 million pre-tax profit in the first half, rising by 1% over the respective period last year. The insurer's premiums grew by an annual 5% to EUR 414.1 million in the first six months, while payouts rose by 1% to EUR 170.5 million in the period.
TRIGLAV held a 43.9% stake in the Slovenian market in the first half of the year. The biggest shareholders of the company are state-owned funds, Pension and Disability Insurance Institute (ZPIZ), which hold 34.5% and 28.4% respectively.
Romania's GDP, an 8.8% growth in H1/2008
The Gross Domestic Product estimated for the first half of 2008 was RON 195,764.1 million, 8.8% more compared to H1/2007, according to the data offered by the National Statistics Institute. In QII 2008, the GDP amounted to RON 109,019.1 million, current prices, a 9.3% growth (in real terms) compared to the same period of 2007.
During the previous week, Varujan VOSGANIAN, Minister of Economy and Finance, said that Romania's GDP grew by 8.9% in the second quarter of this year, the advance of the first half of the year being 8.6%.
According to the analysts of RAIFFEISEN Bank, "not even in the second half of the year will a reduction of the economic advance take place, which will maintain high as a result of the contribution of agriculture, with an activity much better than that of last year".
by mihaela.circu@mxp.ro, 2.09.2008
Labor productivity up 9.3 percent in industry
Industry labor productivity increased 9.3 percent year-on-year in the first seven months of 2008, due to significant advance in the processing industry, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INS) yesterday. In the processing industry, productivity growth rate was 10.1 percent, while labor productivity in the energy, gas and water sectors went up to 9.5 percent.
The growth rate is the same as the one registered in the first six months of the year. However, in H1, the advance was lower compared to the 9.9 percent growth registered in the first half of 2007.
In the first seven months, productivity growth rate was significantly below the 25.8 percent annual increase of the average salary.
by standard.ro, 11.09.2008
Romania ranks first in EU on retail segment growth
Romania ranked first in the European Union in July as far as the retail growth is concerned, with sales up by 18.4 percent compared to July 2007. Romania also ranked first in June.
According to local analysts, the local retail is advancing due to clothing and food sales. "The first engine for retail is the increase of purchasing power, while the second is that people are giving away traditional markets and go to hypermarkets and malls, which also impacts on the GDP", says financial analyst Emil STOICA.
The President of Romanian Businesspeople Association, Florin POGONARU, said other segments, such as services, should also increase. "We need an increase on the services segment, to bring Romania closer to normality", said Florin POGORANU.
by standard.ro, 9.09.2008
Romanian leasing market up 36 percent in H1
The leasing companies finances goods acquisitions worth a total EUR 2.94 billion in the first six months of 2008, up 36 percent year-on-year, according to Romania's Financial Companies Association (ALB). In H1 2007, the local leasing market totaled EUR 2.17 billion, 46 percent higher on 2006. Players on the market were expecting a slower growth rate for this year, due to higher interest rate, which led to more expensive financing, and a pollution tax for car registration, as of July 1, which leads to clients focusing on cheaper second-had cars, not purchased in leasing.
5th ICAR - The International CAtastrophic Risks Forum
Organizer: Media XPRIMM
Media Partner: PRIMM Magazine - Insurance&Pensions
Details: www.icarforum.ro
8th Yalta International Forum
September 15th-19th, 2008
Yalta, Ukraine
Organizer: The League of Insurance Organizations of Ukraine
Details: www.cbs.org.ua
Life Insurance Securitisation Conference
London, Great Britain
Organizer: JACOB FLEMING Conferences
Details: www.jacobfleming.com
10th Insurance & Reinsurance Conference
Organizer: The Hellenic Association of Insurance Companies
Details: www.eaee.gr
"Joining Forces to Raise Your Game" - The Future of Bancassurance, Assurbanking & the Affinity Business
Organizer: UNIGLOBAL Research
Details: www.uniglobalresearch.eu
IV International Conference "Development of Insurance Brokerage Markets in Eastern Europe and CIS"
Imperial Park Hotel & Spa*****, Moscow Region
Organizer: RUSSIAN Polis
Media Partner: Revista PRIMM - Asigurari&Pensii
Details: www.in-sure.ru
The Russian and CIS Reinsurance Forum
Organizer: C5
Details: www.c5-online.com
IV International Congress "World Views for LIFE INSURANCE in Eastern Europe, CIS and Asia"
November 13th-14th, 2008
Sheraton Hotel, Varsovia, Polonia
Global Pension Funds & Alternative Investments
November 13th-14th 2008
November Business Meetings of Reinsurers
Hotel President, Moscova
Organizer: ARIA - Asociatia Reasiguratorilor din Rusia
Details: www.nbm-moscow.ru
THE EDITORIAL STAFF:
President: Sergiu COSTACHE CEO: Adriana PANCIU
Business Development Director: Alexandru D. CIUNCAN
Editor in Chief: Mihaela CIRCU
Scientific Advisor: Daniela GHETU
International Column Coordinator: Andreea IONETE
Private Pensions Coordinator: Mihai BOBOCEA
Senior Editors: Vlad PANCIU, Oleg DORONCEANU
Editors: Vlad BOLDIJAR, Oana NECULA, Mihai CRACEA, Andreea STATE
Web Responsible: Costi BORODA
General Secretary: Lidia POP
Accounts Manager: Georgiana OPREA
IT Department: Octavian GRIGOR, Dorin PALADE
Edition Responsible: Costi BORODA
e-mail: xprimm@primm.ro
PUBLISHED BY: Media XPRIMM
Reproduction or use without permission of editorial or graphic content, in any manner, is prohibited. The Editorial Staff is not responsible for the truthfulness or the accuracy of the presented data. The Editorial Staff has the right to present the data in it's own manner. In what concerns the use, in any manner, of the information contained in this e-mail, Romanian laws apply.
Copyright©2008 MEDIA XPRIMM
XPRIMM News - The Romanian Insurance Market Newsletter is best viewed with an active Internet connection.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
https://www.sheltonherald.com/news/article/State-plans-local-hearing-for-public-on-electric-13945986.php
State plans local hearing for public on electric supplier problems
Published 11:18 am EST, Monday, February 17, 2014
The state Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) will hold five public hearings around the state to allow people to comment on their experiences with electric suppliers.
The first hearing will take place near Shelton, on Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the Milford City Hall auditorium, 70 West River St., Milford. A Feb. 27 meeting is scheduled for Waterbury.
PURA scheduled the hearings due to recent legislative changes and a spike in customer complaints against various electric suppliers during the past few months.
'Skyrocketing rates' by suppliers
Elin Swanson Katz, state consumer counsel, said members of the public are welcome to attend the hearings to offer comments or concerns.
"My office has received many complaints about skyrocketing electric rates and other issues relating to electric suppliers in the last couple months, mostly from people who felt they were taken advantage of," Katz said.
"PURA is doing a thorough investigation, and this is a chance for folks to come and share their experiences and concerns with the regulators and other government officials in attendance," she said.
Advocate for utility ratepayers
Katz said members of the state Office of Consumer Counsel will attend every meeting. The office acts as an advocate for all utility ratepayers in Connecticut, and will fulfill that role in the PURA proceeding.
The Office of Consumer Counsel seeks to ensure just and reasonable rates and reliable utility service for customers of Connecticut's electric, gas, telephone, and water utilities as well as reasonable protection for cable-TV customers.
People can go to the agency's website at www.ct.gov/occ for up-to-date energy news on topics such as electricity prices.
Hearing schedule and letters
The complete schedule for meetings follows:
— Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the Milford City Hall auditorium, 70 West River St., Milford.
— Thursday, Feb. 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the Farmington Community Senior Center, 321 New Britain Ave., Farmington.
— Monday Feb. 24 at 6:30 p.m. in Room 135, Brookfield Town Hall, 100 Pocono Road, Brookfield.
— Tuesday, Feb, 25 at 6:30 p.m. at Norwich City Hall, 100 Broadway, Norwich.
— Thursday, Feb. 27 at 6:30 p.m. in Waterbury City Hall's Veterans Memorial Hall, second Floor, 235 Grand St., Waterbury.
The hearings will continue in March at the PURA office, 10 Franklin Square, New Britain.
PURA also will accept letters from members of the general public who have an interest in the outcome of this proceeding through the last day of the hearing (Docket No. 13-07-18).


text:
All Fabulous
COUCH TO 10K
12 simple tips to start running – from treating yourself to new trainers to power walking
Start by power walking and build up to a gentle jog, experts say
Miranda Larbi
Updated: 16 May 2019, 8:24
GOING for a jog can seem like a really horrible way to spend an hour.
Your thighs hurt. Your lungs scream. You think you've ripped something in your ankle.
Want to start running but don't know where to start - or doubt you even can run? Don't worry, we've got you covered...Credit: Getty - Contributor
But you know what? We're all born to run - it's just a case of finding the motivation, learning the right posture and getting the proper gear.
While no one's expecting you to go on a 24-hour jog, that does mean that your local 5K Parkrun or Simplyhealth 10K race is well within your capabilities - if you're willing to build up to it and you know what you're doing.
Laura "Biceps" Hoggins, PT and founder of the brand new podcast Biceps & Banter, has just run the London Marathon.
"Historically, I haven't had a fantastic experience with it," Laura told The Sun.
"I started off running to try to lose weight.
"It was easy, it was free, I could just run wherever I decided, headphones in and off I went."
But, she says, it took "focus and dedication" to go from a Strongwoman to a marathon runner - and although she didn't always enjoy the process, it was well worth the work.
"We are all unique, and running doesn't come naturally to everyone, but you have to start to see how far you can get!"
With that in mind, here's a few top tips to get you started...
1. The hardest part is getting through the door
Credit: Instagram/@laurabiceps
A gym fiend, PT Laura Hoggins says that she wouldn't describe herself as a "runner".
"It can feel like the most daunting thing in the world getting started," Laura says.
"We think of so many reasons why we 'can't', so just focus on lacing up and walking out the front door, the rest will follow.
"While you're out there, you may as well give it a go!"
2. One foot in front of the other
"There may come a time where running feels harder than usual," Laura adds.
"That's totally normal but try not to think of the run as one big task.
"Maybe try to break it down in your head.
"Just running to the next traffic light, just one more minute...and before you know it, it all adds up and you're closer to your finish line!"
3. Invest in strength and mobility
Being a PT, Laura is really invested in ensuring we are all the strongest versions of ourselves - both mentally and physically.
She says that strength is massive for helping runners stay injury-free.
"Body weight squats and lunges, core and upper body resistance work can really help improve your posture, enabling you to run with a little more efficiency.
"Remember to run tall, and keep that little brace in the abs."
You can do that by looking up (it's tempting just to look at the pavement!), retracting your shoulders so that they're pinned back and aren't bunched up by your ears and making sure that you're switching on your core muscles.
4. Choose the right kit
"There is nothing worse than embarking on your running journey and realising five seconds into the run you have chosen the wrong bra!" Laura says.
"I definitely did this, so make sure how you feel in your kit doesn't distract you. No one cares if you are wearing Primark or Varley! Run with confidence."
For real support, we love Shock Absorber's Ultimate Run Bra, £43 from Very.
Choosing the right trainers is also very important. They can be the difference between keeping all your toenails and losing most of them.
Inadequate support can also lead to painful conditions like shin splints, sore knees and hips.
If you're running on the road (it's free!), then we particularly like Brooks Levitate 2 Road Running Shoes (£140). They come in a variety of snazzy colours and have a 90-day trial run. If you're not 100 per cent satisfied, you can return them for free.
Getting the right shoes is important - we love the Levitate 2s from BrooksCredit: Brooks
And registered physiotherapist Jenny Blizard agrees that getting the right stash is crucial.
Speaking on behalf of Simplyhealth, title partner of the Simplyhealth Great Run Series, she says that the biggest investment you need to make is a decent pair of socks and some proper trainers.
"I'd definitely recommend getting some running socks and going for a gait analysis, which ensures you've got the right shoe," she tells The Sun.
"This is something people can access now through services such as the Simplyhealth Active Plan. Shoes and socks are the two things that are either going to make or break you.
"If you've not got the right shoes or socks then that's going to cause blisters which are going to stop you from being able to continue to run."
HUMANS were born to run.
If that sounds ridiculous, consider this: humans are the only animal in the world who can keep on running for hours without collapsing from heat exhaustion.
Sure, many animals can outrun us over a short distance, but because they tend to have fur, they just get hotter and hotter.
We, on the other hand, sweat.
And that sweat enables us to keep going without keeling over from heat exhaustion.
"Humans are terrible athletes in terms of power and speed, but we're phenomenal at slow and steady," says Harvard anthropology professor, Daniel Lieberman.
"We're the tortoises of the animal kingdom."We can run in conditions that no other animal can run in."
5. Run with purpose
One of the things that puts loads of people off running is the idea that they can't run. So to get started, you need to set yourself realistic goals.
"Choose to power walk for 10 minutes two or three times a week, and build from there," says Laura.
"Maybe next week, start to build up to a brisk jog and aim to stop as few times as possible.
"I like to give myself a task to think about when I am running, a challenge to tackle.
"You could decide to think about someone, dedicate a minute of thought to a person in your life, or maybe just decide to clear your mind of everything and let being active and moving because you love how it makes you feel."
6. Avoid doing too much too soon – enjoy it!
Not only can running feel overwhelming if you do too much too soon but it can also take a massive toll on your body.
Going from 0-100 is responsible for so many injuries. Your best bet is to build your distance up little by little and make sure that you're doing other exercises to strengthen your bones and protecting muscles.
"People sometimes have a tendency to try and do too much all at once," Jenny says.
"If you can make the effort to do 0-5K three times a week, you'll start to enjoy it more at which point you can start adding in more, such as Pilates and yoga classes."
Adding weights and a Pilates or yoga class into your weekly schedule will really help reduce your risk of injuryCredit: Getty - Contributor
7. Pace yourself
"A 5K for some people is still a long way. I still get it wrong sometimes and set off too fast!" Jenny says.
"It's better setting off slowly and getting your breathing right so you feel like you can last the full distance."
Don't worry if other people are setting off much faster than you. The best pace to set off at is the same at which you feel you could still talk.
Then if you get half way round and you think you could go a bit faster, start to pick up the pace.
If you can, try to take someone out for a jog with you or maybe give someone a call on your handsfree set (best done in a park as you don't want to be distracted while running on roads).
8. Get a health check before you start running
If you already know you've got problems or any aches or pains, it's definitely worth getting those checked by a physio first.
If they're there to start with, then it's likely that they're going to present themselves at some point along the line.
Jenny recommends: "If you're new to running, it's also worth having a health check – looking at things like cholesterol and blood pressure – to make sure you're healthy when you start training.
"Simplyhealth have recently launched an Active Plan for runners, which provides access to these services."
9. Have something to look forward to
It's easy to jump out of bed on a sunny weekend morning and go for a little jog but when it's early and cold outside, you might be less enthusiastic.
That's when you need to have a treat lined up.
It could be a glass of wine and a hot bath, or your favourite dinner. Or maybe it's booking yourself a massage at the end of the week - anything concrete that you can look forward to and help motivate you.
10. Get your playlist sorted
💁♀🎤 BICEPS & BANTER | The Podcast, it's finally here!!! Biceps gets her very own Podcast powered by @fitbituk_ireland 👊🏽 link in bio! Behind the scenes I've been putting in the work, making some dreams come into a reality and I am so excited it's now LIVE -and you can now SUBSCRIBE to the first episode which will be released on Tuesday! I've been able to interview SO many incredible guests, men and women who inspire me or represent strength and resilience in many different ways. . This is my first podcast series of Biceps & Banter, and there will be a new episode dropping every week for the next 8 weeks!!! I want to take this opportunity to thank the team at @fitbituk_ireland we have been working together for a while, I'm a genuine supporter of the brand and my Fitbit is an extension of my daily life. . . Big up to my manager @noramillar the best in the land @found_entertainment and the gang at @mags.creative for delivering it, they really are incredible, I can't wait to start this journey. . . #BicepsandBanter #PoweredbyFitbit
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There's nothing like a banging playlist to see you through a run.
There are plenty of running-specific lists on Spotify designed to accommodate runners of every speed.
Or if you want to be inspired at every step, you could listen to Laura's podcast which sees her celebrate the stories of physical and mental resilience with extraordinary men and women. The Well Far: The Running Podcast by Women's Health Digital Editor Amy Hopkinson is also essential listening to anyone thinking about pacing the streets.
It's packed full of tips, tricks and inspo.
11. Keep a record of your success
Don't feel like you're making progress? Download Strava and keep a track of your runs.
As Laura says "if you're not assessing, you're guessing" - and having a tally of your activity will help you improve on speed, endurance and pacing.
It'll also be hugely helpful on your down days when you see just how many runs you've done and how many miles you've run over the past few weeks/months/years.
It's also a super easy way of seeing how far you've run over time - great for those days when you don't feel like heading outCredit: Strava/Miranda Larbi
12. Book a race
OK, this might sound scary if you've literally just started but trust us, there's nothing like a race to get you feeling motivated and part of something.
Races aren't actually competitive - they're just a communal event where the only person who cares about your time is you.
There are free 5K Parkruns every Saturday at parks across the country and you can take them as seriously or not as you want.
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For something a little longer, there's the Simplyhealth series of 10K and half marathons starting this weekend in Manchester and going on to Birmingham, Newcastle and Aberdeen.
You can find out more here.
Simplyhealth are supporting runners and their families every step of the way with the launch of the Simplyhealth Active Plan. For more information visitwww.simplyhealth.co.uk/health-plans/active
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Many common signs of aging, such as shaking hands, stooped posture and walking slower, may be due to tiny blocked vessels in the brain that can't be detected by current technology.
Microscopic lesions or infarcts - too small to be detected using brain imaging - were in 30 percent of the brains of people who had no diagnosed brain disease or stroke.
Those who had the most trouble walking had multiple brain lesions. Two-thirds of the people had at least one blood vessel abnormality, suggesting a possible link between the blocked vessels and the familiar signs of aging.
"This is very surprising," said Dr. Aron S. Buchman, lead author of the study and associate professor of neurological sciences at Rush. "The public health implications are significant because we are not identifying the 30 percent who have undiagnosed small vessel disease that is not picked up by current technology. We need additional tools in order to identify this population."
In 1994, the researchers began conducting annual exams of 1,100 older nuns and priests for signs of aging. The participants also donated their brains for examination after death. This study provides results on the first 418 brain autopsies (61 percent women, average 88 years old at death).
Although Parkinson's disease occurs in only 5 percent of older people, at least half of people 85 and older have mild symptoms associated with the disease.
Before the study, researchers believed that something more common, such as microscopic blocked vessels, might be causing the physical decline. The study's autopsies found the small lesions could only be seen under a microscope after participants died. The lesions couldn't be detected by current scans.
During the annual exams of the nuns and priests, researchers used the motor skills portion of a Parkinson's disease survey to assess their physical abilities. Researchers observed and rated the participants': Balance Ability to maintain posture Walking speed Ability to get in and out of chairs Ability to make turns when walking Sense of dizziness "Often the mild motor symptoms are considered an expected part of aging," said Buchman, who is also a member of the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center. "We should not accept this as normal aging. We should try to fix it and understand it. If there is an underlying cause, we can intervene and perhaps lessen the impact."
Co-authors from Rush are Sue E. Leurgans, PhD; Dr. Sukriti Nag, PhD; Dr. David A. Bennett, and Dr. Julie A. Schneider, MS. The National Institutes of Health and the Illinois Department of Public Health funded the study.


This book, with its rather clunky title, is a coming-of-age story set in Elephant Beach, a small town on Long Island, New York in the early 1970s. This is the gritty, poor version of Long Island, not the moneyed wealth that exists there now.
The story doesn't have a strong plot line but rather follows the teenage Katie and her friends through one summer near the end of their school years. It is another example of a collection of linked stories pulled together as a novel, which seem to be gaining popularity, particularly in the US at the moment.
There are a couple of young Vietnam war veterans, struggling with their demons, and the staples of the genre, including losing your virginity, teenage pregnancies, drug use and finding out what you want to do with your life.
But mainly this is the story of a small town, the characters that live there and the different groups of have's and have nots. There are many lovely scenes, such as a very sad one where a local woman loses her job through no fault of her own and the slow but inevitable breaking away from the past and moving to Manhattan.
The strongest part of the story for me was the interaction between the young girls, the way they confided in each other but also how they could turn on each other too. The realisation that some of the girls have made choices that they are starting to regret was also painful and realistic.
But when the time comes, Katie finds it hard to leave because she doesn't want to accept that she is not leaving something behind that she will keep coming back to find. I felt that Katie's exploration of her adoption and what it meant to her was potentially the most interesting theme of the book but it felt under done to me. Her feelings of wanting to belong were related to this, but somehow not fully realised.
Reading a series of stories makes for a less compelling narrative, but the writing in this story is lovely and Chicurel completely immerses the reader in the life of a small town in the 1970s.
This entry was posted in American, Coming of age, Fiction and tagged Coming of age, Judy Chicurel, Long Island. Bookmark the permalink.


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Lamborghini's V12 gets electrified with the 819HP Sian hybrid
The V12 with a supercapacitor produces 819 horsepower.
Roberto Baldwin / Engadget
Roberto Baldwin|@strngwys|September 10, 2019 3:05 AM
The first electrified Lamborghini doesn't disappoint. If anything, the green-tinted Sian with its fins, channels and hyper-sharp styling feels like the most Lamborghini thing the company builds.
Gallery: Lamborghini Sian unveil | 8 Photos
With a name that means "flash or lightning" in the Bolognese dialect, the Sian is the latest supercar to get the hybrid treatment following Porsche and Ferrari vehicles. But the automaker wasn't content just placing a battery in its latest vehicle. Instead, it's using a supercapacitor to propel the vehicle forward.
The Sian has added a 48-volt motor to the gearbox, giving an additional 34 horsepower to the V12 engine. It helps propel the vehicle at launches and gives the Sian immediate torque while punching the accelerator.
It does this with a supercapacitor instead of the typical lithium-ion battery pack. Lamborghini says it's "three times more powerful than a battery of the same weight and three times lighter than a battery producing the same power." When you building something that goes incredibly fast, reducing weight while adding power is the name of the game. Lamborghini seems to have done that with updated tech it borrowed from the Aventador.
Plus, whenever the brakes are used, the supercapacitor is fully recharged so it's always ready for takeoff.
The combined powertrain produces 819 horsepower and shoots the Sian from zero to 62 miles per hour in 2.8 seconds. If you're in the market for one, you might want to hurry. The automaker is only building 63 Sians that will be individually styled by the owners. In other words, it's pricey.
FrankfurtMotorShow2019
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Your company is only as strong as the distribution channels that you use. When you buy products from companies that you sell to others, you expect those products to arrive in a timely fashion. If you send products to customers and clients, you want to use postal companies that get those products to others by the time that you promised or guaranteed. Whether you're on the fence about hiring a new company or just want to find out if you hired the best company, you can look for some clear signs of distribution errors, issues and failures.
Anytime that you use a company to ship items to you to to ship items to your customers, you want some guarantee of how long the process will take. Some companies offer flat rate shipping, which lets you place a large or small order and pay the same amount for shipping. Other companies charge a set amount for standard shipping and different rates for faster or expedited shipping. You generally want to avoid companies that offer no guarantee of when your items will ship or when those products will arrive because it's a sign that the company has some distribution issues and that it cannot tell you when your order will get there.
Another sign of a distribution issue is when a company constantly suffers from tardiness and lateness. When you place an order, you expect that order to reach you within a few weeks or less. Some companies will promise delivery by a set date and then make up excuses as to why the product did not arrive in time. You may even get the runaround as the company keeps pushing back your shipping date after you order.
If you want to know if there are problems in your shipping channels, you can arrange for distribution testing. This allows a private company to examine all those channels and find out why products do not arrive or arrive late. You'll also want to look for products that arrive broken and items that arrive in damaged packaging. Those signs indicate that one of your distribution channels does not care about your items and does not use any care when moving those products to the next channel. When you experience any of these issues for yourself, it's time to take a serious look at your distribution channels.


Our Mothers have always spoiled us with lots of love, food, and attention, so spoil them back with an enjoyable afternoon of gourmet food and wine! Chef Jeff from To Your Kitchen will be preparing a delightful array of food for our mothers to enjoy and our Winemaker Tanya will be pouring 5 wines and providing a 20 min tasting seminar. Please see the attached lunch menu. Tickets are $35/person + tax and $20/person + tax for children under 10 plus HST.


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HomeLiterature EssaysThe AeneidThe Complex Interplay of Past, Present, and Future in The Aeneid
The Aeneid
The Complex Interplay of Past, Present, and Future in The Aeneid Meredith Kerr College
In Book 2 of the Aeneid, the hero carries upon his shoulders the aged father and at his side walks the little son. They are fleeing Troy as she burns. Subject to the will of the gods and the promise of a future in safety, their image is not only one of piety and Roman familial virtue, but also of deeper importance for the poem as a whole. Together, they are the past (grandfather Anchises), present (father Aeneas) and future (son Ascanius). One of the most famous symbols of succession between generations and continuity of superior cultural values in the Roman world even before its noted depiction in the poem, it is matched by other depictions, episodes and themes that make use of the interrelation between these temporal schemes.[1] The three are constantly compared and alluded to, providing a rich tapestry effect. On a historical (which is also largely mythological), political and structural level, Virgil makes his Aeneas and epic universe part of the greater picture of Augustus and Rome in the present time, the heroic mythic past, and the limitless future of the Roman 'imperium'. At the same time, as a story the Aeneid is a complex organism that has a vivid present, but also flashbacks back and foreshadows forwards continually....
Essays About The Aeneid
Is Aeneas a Good Warrior?
Aeneas, and the Reinvention of the Hero
The Facets of Passion and Duty
On Such a Night as This: Analysis of Vergil's Aeneid, II.248-259
Two Treatments of a Woman Scorned
The Underworld in The Aeneid Versus The Odyssey
"I Stood There Alone": A Close Look at lines 2.730-2.742 of Virgil's Aeneid
Serpent Imagery in Virgil's Aeneid
Aeneas, Turnus, and the Greater Labor
The Women of Virgil's Aeneid
The Goals of the Divine
Witchy Women: Female Magic and Otherness in Western Literature
Lavinia: The Rightful Queen Of Rome
How may the demands of empire in Virgil's Aeneid be seen to modify the characteristics of Homeric epic?
Surrey's Innovations and Achievements in His Aeneid
Comparing Female Figures in Samson Agonistes and The Aeneid
Mortal Women and Furor in the Aeneid
The Aeneid - a Criticism of Rome's Founding through a Pyrrhic Victory
Repetition in the Aeneid
Artwork and Creation in the Aeneid
Women in the Aeneid: the Importance of Being Beautiful
The Role of Guidance in The Aeneid, Confessions, and The Divine Comedy
Kill Turnus, Refound Rome: The Closing Scene of the Aeneid
A Survey of Moral Sentiments in Virgil's Aeneid
No Friend Like A Sister: Anne and Phaedra in The Legend of Good Women
Into the Woods: The Forest as Symbolic Landscape in The Aeneid
Piety and Fury in the Aeneid: The Tragic Flaw of a Leader
The Exploration of Virgil and Dante's Underworlds
Comparing Virgil's Aeneid and Livy's Early History of Rome
Immortal Intervention In The Mortal World
The Platonic Soul in the Aeneid
Classical Cannibalism: Personified Vice in Homer and Dante
Linear Time Marked by References to Nature in the Odyssey and Aeneid
The Character of a Ruler
Exploring the Theme of Impossible Love Throughout Virgil's The Aeneid and Ovid's Metamorphoses
Sacrifice of a Mother: Euryalus's Mother
The Power of Love and Its Many Forms
An Epic Synthesis: Fact and Fiction in Virgil's Aeneid
The Complex Interplay of Past, Present, and Future in The Aeneid
Virgil, Corruptor of Youth
Human Nature: Vergil's Aeneid (IV.173-192)
The Similarities and Differences of Aeneas and Odysseus


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DRAG RACE Event: Unlim 500 + Destination Greece: 16-17 November!
While we publish all the videos of events and races in the States, we forget about the whole World and everything it has to offer! Thus, we would like to present to you this BIG DRAG RACE EVENT that is about to take place on the 16th and 17th November in the Southern European Country -- Greece, only 2 weeks from now! Many BIG NAMES are going to participate such as Porsche 911, Nissan GT-R, Lamborghini Gallardo, BMW M6 and many more! They are all going to give their best to win on the TYMPAKI AIRPORT! Do not miss it!!! Watch the trailer of the DRAG RACE Event: Unlim 500 + in Greece from 16-17 November! It will be the best 500+ event so far! So stay tuned!
Finally, check out the truck race winner at Michigan!


Last weekend at Hopton, I ended up with my worst result at 9th place, but I still came away smiling because it was such a fun course and I enjoyed every minute of it. The uphills were really hard, but well rewarded with the awesome swooping downhills.
I loved the weekend, enjoying all the tense racing with my South West Squad and feeling so proud of how they did. Harry Birchill being Juvenile Champion and my mum taking a silver, Max Suttie coming 12th against some tough ellites and experts, plus everyone else who worked there socks off for great positions. Well done all!
I'm now off to Morzine and the French alpes for three weeks for mountain biking and kayaking in the sun! So see you all in three weeks.


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Defense steps up for Leominster
By Sentinel and Enterprise |
PUBLISHED: April 10, 2019 at 12:00 a.m. | UPDATED: July 11, 2019 at 12:00 a.m.
LEOMINSTER – The Blue Devils' defense put on a show, and the offense was no slouch, either.
Local roundup
Goalie Kenny Aubuchon made seven saves behind a stellar allaround defensive effort as the Leominster High boys' lacrosse team rolled past Mid-Wach B foe Marlboro, 16-2, in Tuesday's game at Doyle Field.
Offensively, Nate Taylor (4 goals), Zach Moran (3 goals, 5 assists) and Anthony Larson (2 goals, 3 assists) all played well for Leominster (2-0, 1-0 Mid-Wach B).
Lunenburg ……………………17 Hudson …………………………..6
Donovan Powell finished with six goals, and a pair of assists to lead the Blue Knights (1-1) to victory. Also playing well were teammates Declan Fitzpatrick (goals, 3 assists) and Jake Bremer (2 goals). Lunenburg will next host North Middlesex Regional on Thursday.
Tyngsboro……………………….7 Nashoba …………………………5 Rory Boots (goal, assist) and Will Falla (goal) played well in defeat for Nashoba Regional (1-1).
Leominster……………………14 Bay Path …………………………1
Leilani Amarasinghe and Eliza Howlett recorded three goals and one assist each in the blowout victory. Also playing well for the Blue Devils were Monique Cormier (2 goals) and goalie Alexis Hahn (6 saves).
Leominster ……………………..3 Marlboro…………………………0
The Blue Devils cruised to victory in their home opener by set scores of 25-15, 25-23 and 25-15.
Captains Eric Jenny ( 5 service points, 4 aces, 5 kills), Kurt Edmans ( 12 service points, 3 aces, 4 kills) and Seeley Thao ( 9 service points, 5 aces, 5 kills) led the way, while teammates Rohit Lalotra and Ruchit Patel also played well for the Blue Devils ( 2- 0).
Leominster will next host Worcester North on Friday.
— COACHES: To report a score, call 978-516-2284 or email sports@sentinelandenterprise.com.


"With Title III of Jumpstart, our Business Startups Act coming through - securities-based crowdfunding is now rapidly defining the new contours of crowdfunding in USA. Whereas in India, it's almost two years that Sebi issued a white paper on securities-based crowdfunding but has not taken any action beyond that," said Satish Kataria, CEO at crowdfunding platform Catapooolt.
At present, all crowdfunding platforms are projecting themselves as social impact projects - connecting lenders and those who need funds rather than funding platforms. "It will be tough for such ventures to scale up if regulations don't change," said Vikram Gupta, managing partner, IvyCap Ventures.
With regulation not coming through, most crowdfunding companies in India restrict themselves to finding backers for creative projects such as those in fashion, independent films, music, comic, publishing and photography.
"We try to limit it to largely creative projects whereas our global counterparts help fund a wider spectrum of entities such as mobile apps, manufacturing or ecommerce companies," said Varun Seth, CEO of Mumbai-based Ketto which has helped disburse Rs 20 crore across 2,000 projects.
Ketto, which last year received $7,00,000 from Calcutta Angels and ah! Ventures besides other investors, last week launched Ketto 3.0, adding new features to the platform such as social sharing, providing updates on funding in order to improve user experience. Experts also believe the level of innovation in terms of unique ideas is low in India so as to open up as equity-based startup-funding platforms in a big way.
"In the US, platforms like Kickstarter get on an average 20 new technology innovations every day listed on it. Such products are still rare to find coming from India as most Indian entrepreneurs are still trying to ape international models instead of working on original ideas and products," said Kataria of Catapooolt.


Suspended from a sleek swan neck arm, this beautiful wall light is the perfect way to make an entrance to your home. Complete with a clear glass shade and a 5W LED bulb. Built for outdoor use, this wall light offers excellent quality construction and has an IP44 waterproof rating.


Philippus Mornayus Plessiaci Marlian: Dn Anno Aetatis. LXII. M.DC.XI.
Edward Lord Herbert of Chirbury.
Thos. Egerton Baron of Ellesmere, Viscount Brackley, Lord High Chancellor of England - Ob.1717. From the Original at Wootton Court, in Kent.
Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk, & Mary Queen of France.
Robert Earl of Ailesbury, Obit 1685.
Isabella Countess of Sefton, from the original Picture in the possession of the Earl of Sefton.
Henry Carey, Earl of Monmouth, from an Original Picture at Strawberry Hill.
James Scot, Duke of Monmouth. OB. 1685.
The Right Honble. Countess of Harrington.