One famous nautical superstition has sailors looking to the evening skies to determine the weather for the next day. A colorful sunset with red skies meant the seas would be calm and the weather favorable delighting the sailors.
What will the artist's canvas look like tonight as the final sunset is painted in the evening sky? Let's hope that the sunset signals calm seas with favorable conditions for the coming year.
Early in 2010, a major earthquake hit Haiti killing or injuring hundreds of thousands, causing billions of dollars of damage, and devastating this already struggling nation.
The cruise industry and others rallied to try to help the country following the disaster. Royal Caribbean, who has a long-standing relationship with the government of Haiti, led the cruise industry response (even while being criticized). The nation would later suffer additional loss of life and damage when a hurricane struck the country.
Later in the year, the world's eyes turned to the skies over Iceland as volcanic ash grounded flights over Europe disrupting travel across the entire world. Passengers were stranded in airports for days until the ash cleared.
Some passengers were unable to get to their cruise ships on time while in other cases, the ships provided an alternate means of travel for stranded air passengers. It was a logistical nightmare for the entire travel industry and put additional strain on the economy.
Hurricane season began with a vengeance and it was feared that the NOAA predictions of a higher than normal season would become a reality. There were a larger than usual number of named storms and hurricanes, but fortunately, they didn't produce the devastation of years past.
That doesn't mean that there wasn't any loss of life or property damage. As mentioned, Haiti did have substantial damage as did St. Lucia and other Caribbean countries. Cruise itineraries were changed as storms approached or in their wake as services were restored.
During the height of hurricane season, an explosion on an oil rig caused loss of life and a major oil spill that would consume resources from the federal government and other agencies. The spill severely endangered the ecology of the Gulf Coast region. It took months to clean up and the effects of the spill will remain for many years to come.
Cruises were not impacted during the spill as the impacted ports remained open. Despite the continued cruise line presence, the economic impact from the oil spill took its toll on the region. Many people changed their vacation plans as the cleanup continued.
The most recent major event of 2010 was the engine room fire on Carnival Splendor which stranded passengers on that cruise and impacted vacation plans through February next year. The good news is that the industry will learn from this event and become even safer.
2010 saw the introduction of several new cruise ships including Costa Deliziosa, MSC Magnifica, Celebrity Eclipse, P&O Azura, Norwegian Epic, Seabourn Sojourn, Holland America Nieuw Amsterdam, Cunard Queen Elizabeth, Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas, and Disney Dream.
The introduction of these new ships means there are more choices for the consumer. As demand continues to increase, the capacity is keeping pace assuring that a cruise vacation is well within the realm of possible vacation choices.
While the economy and disasters have been front and center all year long, passengers are returning to cruising and we anticipate prices will rise as 2011 pricing comes out. There might be some time yet to take advantage of lower prices, so it is wise not to procrastinate.
Just like 2009, we saw an increase in first-time cruisers and those that have tried cruising continue to return year after year. A cruise vacation remains an extremely good value making it a wise choice for those that decided to take a vacation.
Let us close the book on this historic year together. Tomorrow, when you awake, open the book on what I hope will be a brighter tomorrow. Happy, Healthy, Prosperous New Year to all!!
The USCG has released CO2 system safety concerns in the wake of the Carnival Splendor fire. The investigation is ongoing, but the following two reports discuss preliminary findings and associated recommendations.
extinguished by the vessel's quick response team firefighters using portable extinguishing equipment.
started, the master of the vessel made the decision to release CO2 from the vessel's fixed firefighting system. It failed to operate as designed. Subsequently, crew members were unable to activate it manually and CO2 was never directed into the machinery space. "
Ensure that all supporting documentation, piping schematics, plans, manuals, component labeling and instructions are consistent with each other and relevant to the systems, equipment, and components installed onboard the vessel.
Carefully and critically review, routinely inspect and maintain, verify and test their Fixed Fire Fighting installations to ensure that they will operate correctly during an emergency.
Developed by the U.S. Coast Guard Headquarter's Office of Investigations and Analysis, Washington, DC. Questions may be addressed to HQS-PF-fldr-G-PCA@uscg.mil.
The cruise industry is carefully watching the investigation of the Carnival Splendor fire incident. It is hoped that through reports like the ones just released by the USCG, passenger and crew safety can be enhanced as a result. The industry takes safety very seriously and has an excellent record overall.
Carnival Splendor's sailings have been canceled until February 20, 2011 as a result of the fire.
Monday, December 27, will be delayed several hours. Carnival is advising embarking passengers to arrive after 1:30 p.m.
The East Coast is being hit by a major snow storm which has stranded passengers in several states including New York and Boston. The closures won't directly impact cruises in that area since there are none scheduled to leave until January 2nd. Of course, passengers trying to depart from or through New York or Boston, will be impacted by the closures.
Carnival Pride and Norwegian Jewel were not impacted by the snow storm. They departed on schedule Sunday afternoon.
It is always advisable to allow extra time for travel to your port of call, especially during winter months. Check with your air carrier in advance to see if there are any changes to your flight schedule. The cruise line will notify your travel agent of any known itinerary changes, but last minute changes can also occur. Best advice is to expect changes and have travel insurance to assist you with any missed connections.
Allure of the Seas - Move It! Move It!
Everyone likes a parade! Join all your DreamWorks movie friends on Allure of the Seas Royal Promenade for a parade like non other you've seen before on a ship. Passengers line up all along the promenade for a look at the parade. While there isn't a bad spot along the route, some spots have a slightly better vantage point, especially of the stages that are along the way.
The restaurants along the route are the first to fill up as passengers grab seats for the parade. It is possible to move some of the stools and get a front row seat for the parade. You'll want to line up for the parade at least 30 minutes in advance to find a good location.
The parade starts out with some overhead action, as a platform unfolds near the Cupcake Cupboard. When scouting out your viewing location, take the stages and overhead stages into consideration so that you don't miss any of the entertainment.
The following video shows some of the action from the parade. The costumes are very colorful and there's plenty of action to keep you interested. More videos and photos can be found on our Facebook Fan Page. Make sure to like us.
As I gaze out the kitchen window this morning, I see a white blanket of snow covering the ground and nearby trees. The snow began falling late last night just in time for a White Christmas. Looking at the untouched snow, everything looks quiet and peaceful.
Images like this usually stay with you for some time and when you close your eyes, you can sometimes see them again as if you were seeing them for the first time.
We've had the good fortune of being able to add other images to our memory banks this year. The tree in this picture decorated one of Azamara Journey's lounges. The crew had just started decorating for the holidays on the final day of our 12 Night West Indies voyage.
We had hoped that they would have decorated sooner, but they told us it was too early. The voyage following ours would be the first one that had the holiday decorations.
Prior to our Azamara Journey cruise, we were onboard the Allure of the Seas for a pre-inaugural cruise to nowhere. This picture of the glass elevators shows some simple holiday decorations.
Decorations play an important role in helping people get in the holiday spirit. For the cruise ship's crew, the holidays are business as usual as they go about assisting passenger's needs.
We sometimes forget that they are away from home for long periods of time. We had dinner with the Captain of the Azamara Journey one night. We learned that he was heading home after spending three months at sea away from his family. He was excited to be heading home for Christmas to spend time with his young child and wife.
Holidays are a time for family and friends. My wish for you this Christmas Day is that you are sharing the day with those that you love and care about, and who have mutual feelings for you. For those that are away from home, such as cruise ship crew and those serving their countries in the armed services, may the peaceful images in your mind help you to be close to those you love, if only in your heart and mind.
People read this blog from all over the world, so I don't know if you are looking out your window and seeing snow like I did, or perhaps a sandy beach that has just had the tide wash back out to sea leaving a peaceful image of untouched sand.
Whatever images you are seeing, may they sustain you and bring you peace on this Christmas Day.
Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your lives by sharing our adventures and cruise industry information. My blog and facebook fan page are my gifts to you. I hope you enjoy them. Merry Christmas to all.
Carnival Cruise Lines has announced additional cancellations of Carnival Splendor. The January 16, 23, 30 and February 6 and 13, 2011, voyages were canceled to allow for additional repair time following the engine room fire aboard the vessel in November.
Carnival's statement indicated that as the repairs have been progressing, additional problems were uncovered requiring additional repair time. In addition, some parts were unavailable and had to be manufactured in Europe.
The ship is currently in San Diego, however, it will sail to San Francisco in mid-January where repairs will be completed at a dry dock facility.
"We sincerely apologize to our guests for having to cancel these additional cruises," said Gerry Cahill, Carnival's president and CEO. "We made our best effort back in November to estimate the necessary repair time with a strong goal of not having to modify it at a later point in time. Unfortunately, as the repairs have progressed and we have discovered additional issues, it is now clear that we need more time. We know this is extremely disappointing for our guests and particularly disheartening for those who already had their vacations cancelled once and are now being affected again."
As has been the case with the earlier cancellations, guests booked on the cancelled voyages will receive a refund or future cruise credit equal to the amount paid, along with reimbursement of air transportation-related change fees. Those who re-book may also receive a 25 percent future cruise discount and/or onboard credit depending on the ship and sailing date of the new booking.
Additional details can be found in Carnival Splendor's Travel Advisory statement.
While this is disappointing, Carnival Cruise Line has once again tried to accommodate guests impacted by this accident. We all look forward to the day when Carnival Splendor will once again be sailing the seven seas with passengers enjoying the repaired ship.
Gator Park in the heart of Florida's Everglades National Park was our post-cruise destination for a few hours before heading to Miami International Airport. The shore excursion was arranged during our West Indies cruise on Azamara Journey. Since our flight wasn't until 5 PM, instead of going directly to the airport, we opted for the shore excursion.
Florida Everglades is home to hundreds of bird species as well as thousands of alligators, and crocodiles. During a visit to Gator Park, you'll get up close views of alligators and bird species for certain and you may have an opportunity to see some of the other inhabitants in their natural setting.
The highlight of the excursion to Gator Park is a 45 minute airboat ride through the Everglades. Each airport holds up to 20 people, 4 per row. Every seat is a great seat. While your guide will be pointing out alligators and other things of interest along the way, each person has the opportunity to be on the lookout. You never know what you'll see during your boat ride.
You'll be able to stand up when the pilot / guide slows down to point out alligators or other marine life.
Weather plays a role in how active the alligators and other wildlife are in the park. The weather had been on the cool side for several days, and the alligators were a little sluggish. That was fine for us since that provided plenty of opportunities for us to see them coming out for some sun on this gorgeous day.
We've been to Gator Park before but still enjoyed our visit there. Following the airboat ride, we had some lunch, which we ordered when we arrived at the park. Then we watched a wildlife show which included alligator wrestling and if you were feeling brave, you could actually hold an alligator and have your picture taken with it. Actually, you didn't have to be too brave as the alligator's mouth was secured so that you didn't have to worry about being its lunch.
There are more pictures on our Facebook Fan Page. If your flight leaves after 3 PM, consider a shore excursion to Gator Park if your cruise offers the tour. Another option on our cruise was a Miami City Highlights tour. Both tours concluded at Miami's airport about the same time. We still had plenty of time before our 5 PM flight, but did enjoy our little diversion visiting the gators of Florida.
Today is the dreaded final day of our back to back cruises. Seventeen days ago we left the cold of Chicago behind and headed to sunny Florida for our pre-inaugural cruise on Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas which was followed by one day in Miami and this 12NT West Indies cruise on Azamara Journey.
Both cruises were amazing in their own way. As usual, my ever vigilent husband somehow managed to capture most of the highlights of our cruises. In this photo, he caught two of our companions and I out on deck 5 of the Journey watching a pod of dolphins playing near the ship. We had spotted them through the cafe window as we were having breakfast. Our friends hadn't seen them, so we told them to go out on deck to see if they were still around. Low and behold, they were still there, thrilling anyone that was fortunate enough to be gazing out at Miami's skyline in the background.
Sailing into Miami is always a treat early in the morning. The sun glistens off the tall buildings and reflects in the water. I'll post some more Miami skyline pictures on my Facebook Fan Page when I get a chance. I think you'll enjoy them. This portion of Miami's skyline has been made famous by the CSI Miami television series.
We booked late flights (around 5 PM) for our return home. It is always a good idea to book flights after noon of disembarkation day because you never know how long it will take to clear the ship. Before anyone can disembark, non-US Citizens must clear through immigration on board the vessel. Sometimes, the staff needs to make repeated announcements for guests to be cleared.
The thought of hanging around MIA airport for 6 hours or more didn't thrill us, despite it being a nice airport. We booked a post-cruise tour through the shore excursion desk. We were given luggage tags, Lavender 1, which meant we'd be one of the first groups off the ship. Basically, only people with early flights disembarked prior to us.
Once off the ship, we claimed our luggage, which was quite easy to find in the small number of passengers which were on the bus tour along with us. We didn't need a porter this time, so we proceeded directly to Customs, gave them our passports and form and were on our way outside to one of the waiting buses.
The shore excursion we selected was a visit to Gator Park where we would have the chance to take a 45 minute air boat tour through the Everglades and then an interactive show which included the opportunity to hold an alligator if you liked.
We've been to Gator Park before, but this is one of those places where you can visit more than once and enjoy yourself. Whenever you are dealing with nature, you can guarantee you'll have a different experience - you never know what you'll see.
I'll feature Gator Park in another post and also post pictures on our Facebook Fan Page. This is a fabulous tour which is perfect for occupying a few hours before you return flight.
Our bus pulled into Miami International Airport around 12:30 PM or so. The driver made two stops at each of the main terminal locations, unloaded the bags, and sent us on our way.
As you can see, we still had several hours to kill at the airport, but at least we'd had a fun experience speeding through the everglades in an airboat and watching the amazing wildlife that inhabits the Florida Everglades.
There was also a city highlights tour that we could have selected. Some of the passengers picked that excursion but regardless, both tours ended at the airport about the same time.
Sadly, this ends our current cruise adventure. We've had a wonderful time on both cruises and will be posting additional blog articles and more pictures. There is just so much to share with my readers, it was hard to select a sample to get started. I hope you come back often to see what other stories I have for you. If you have questions, feel free to contact us.
The final chapter has been written on the Disney Dream's construction as shipbuilder MEYER WERFT turned over the keys of the new ship to Disney Cruise Line December 9th in Bremerhaven, Germany. Following maritime tradition, the MEYER WERFT flag was lowered, while the Disney Cruise Line flag was raised, transferring ownership from the shipbuilder to Disney Cruise Line.
Construction began nearly two years ago in Papenburg, Germany. The delivery signals its readiness to welcome guests on its maiden voyage, set for Jan. 26, 2011, from Port Canaveral, Florida. The Disney Dream will depart for Florida on December 19th after crew and provisions are loaded on the new ship in Germany.
From a water coaster at sea called AquaDuck, and inside staterooms with virtual views, to Enchanted Art that immerses guests in stories, and fine dining at Remy's, the Disney Dream will deliver family cruise experiences like no other. The shipboard experience remains focused on the legacy and heritage of The Walt Disney Company's most known assets – master storytelling, world-class entertainment and legendary guest service.
Those of us in the travel business call this the "Disney Difference". The Disney Dream adds to the list of completed vessels in 2010. We believe this will be one of the years that stand out in cruise industry history as a year of innovation that takes cruise vacationing to a new level.
The Disney Dream is scheduled to depart on Dec. 19, for its transatlantic voyage to the U.S., with an expected arrival on Jan. 4, 2011. Captain Tom Forberg will officially take the helm of the Disney Dream for Disney Cruise Line. As part of the Disney Cruise Line ship construction team, Captain Forberg has been with the company for 15 years and was responsible for launching Disney's first two ships, the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder.
The Disney Dream is scheduled to sail three-, four- and five-night cruises to the Bahamas, from Port Canaveral. Sister ship Disney Fantasy is currently in production at the MEYER WERFT shipyard and is scheduled to set sail on its maiden voyage on April 7, 2012. It will sail seven-night alternating eastern and western Caribbean itineraries, also from Port Canaveral.
Congratulations Disney Cruise Line on another family vacation choice which will continue Walt Disney's legacy for many years to come. It's hard to believe it all started with a mouse.
Today we celebrated my birthday at sea on Azamara Journey. It was a wonderful day from start to end.
While I slept, my husband had decorated the cabin with a Happy Birthday banner he purchased in St. Barth. He also put a banner on the door.
We went for breakfast in Windows Cafe. Following breakfast, we headed to the Discoveries Restaurant where the Grand Buffet Brunch was being served. We took a few pictures and planned to return for lunch.
The reason we did things this way was that we had an Engine Control Room tour at 11 AM and wouldn't have time to leasurely enjoy the brunch otherwise.
The tour was fascinating as this was the first time seeing an engine control room on a ship this size. The chief and staff have the responsibility of making sure everything runs smoothly.
Obviously, they monitor the engines, but there is so much more that is controlled by the power generated onboard. The most important thing is keeping the temperature within the proper range for all the various ship's components.
When we returned to our cabin, our cabin steward, Valentina, and her helper, Jose, were there to greet us. While we were at breakfast, they had made up our cabin and added more to the decorations. They added balloons on the door and on the bed. There was a certificate wishing me a Happy Birthday. They wished me a Happy Birthday and we chatted for awhile. They have been great throughout the entire cruise.
It was now time to head back to Discoveries for brunch. Since we are Discoverer Members of Le Club Voyage (the highest ranking for the loyalty program) we had a reserved table for brunch. We sat with the guests who had joined us for dinner with the Capatain earlier in the voyage. This time, we were joined by Staff Captain Aris for a most enjoyable brunch.
Captain Aris arranged for the 8 of us to join the bridge tour at 1:30 PM, so we next headed to the Looking Glass on deck 10 where the tour gathered. I'd missed the tour the other day due to a meeting, but my husband had gone and taken pictures.
Following the tour we went to change into our bathing suits and laid out on the spa deck which is where the thalassotherapy pool is located. We stayed up there for a few hours and then it was time to get ready for the evening's festivities.
First up was a Le Club Cocktail Happy Hour in the Looking Glass. From there we headed across the deck to Prime C for dinner with another couple we met on the cruise. We had invited them to join us for my birthday dinner. We had a fabulous time at Prime C. I'll cover that in a separate post, as that deserves its own treatment.
As usual, the evening entertainment was in The Cabaret on deck 5 at 9:45 PM. Tonight's entertainment was entitled "Broaway Showtoppers". The musical arrangements and direction were by Eric De Gray, our Cruise Director. He starred in the performance along with the Journey Singers and Dancers and the Boys in the Band. Once again, it was a fabulous show since the entertainment on the Journey is one of the best at sea.
Despite the fact that we were gaining an hour of sleep tonight as the clocks are set back to Eastern time, I was tired and decided to retire to bed following the show.
One more sea day and then we will be back to Miami. Check out my Facebook Fan Page for more pictures.
Welcome to Central Park, a neighborhood where you can enjoy nature or indulge your cravings for something tasty from one of the quaint shops along the path.
Strolling through Central Park, we decided to have some more lunch. Unlike other cruises, we had decided not to have a sit down meal in the buffet, but rather to try one or more of the dining venues.
One of the best kept secrets is Park Cafe's Signature sandwich. It is slow roasted beef on a bun with au jus.
If you wanted, you could order a panini sandwich or even have a salad made to order. As the name suggests, service is buffet style. There are several counters to chose from, so take your time and select one or more of your favorites.
We highly recommend the English Toffee cookies and other pastries to complete your meal.
For more pictures, see our Fan Page on Facebook.
There is much to tell about the Allure of the Seas. Central Park is just one of the locations where you can find a quick bite to eat or have a relaxing meal.
We will continue our coverage of Allure of the Seas on our blog and Facebook page, so be sure to check back to see what else we've added.


The recent years have witnessed the explosion of services and applications such as email, cloud computing, social and media networks, and video sharing. The grand challenge is to store, process and transfer this massive amount of data. According to recent estimates, the data to be stored grows at a rate of 45% per year, a factor of 40 by 2024. Data centers typically employ a collection of cheap devices/nodes, which are connected forming a so-called distributed storage (DS) system, where a central server keeps track of where each file is stored and performs all network operations. Every day, knowingly or unknowingly people connect to various private and public DS systems. It is nowadays accepted that current DS systems cannot face the unabated growing of digital data volume. Nextgeneration storage systems desperately need new technologies to improve their robustness to node failures, storage efficiency, complexity, and cost efficiency, in order to sustain the information revolution of modern societies. This project addresses the challenges above using modern coding theory and optimization theory. Our focus is on the application of sparse-graph erasure correcting codes to large DS networks. The proposed project falls into the category of fundamental research, but it is driven by practical concerns, and we expect our findings to give new and relevant insights for the design of practical coding schemes for next-generation DS systems.


text:
Vol. 2, No. 3, BOOK REVIEWS, Robert H. TAYLORR
Strong Soldiers, Failed Revolution: The State and Military in Burma, 1962–88
Yoshihiro Nakanishi
Singapore and Kyoto: NUS Press in association with Kyoto University Press, 2013, xxi+358 p.
Millions of words have been written about politics in Myanmar since the collapse of General Ne Win's socialist revolution in 1988. However, works of genuine scholarship on the structure and underlying nature of Myanmar politics are as rare as snow in summer. Strong Soldiers, Failed Revolution is a welcome exception. Yoshihiro Nakanishi has made a significant addition to the meagre literature on the politics of modern Myanmar. My criticisms which follow, and there are several, in no one way detract from the fundamental contribution that this book makes in confirming how the political and administrative core structure of the post-1962 state in Myanmar, the army, was constructed and survived unto today. The stability, and continuity, of army rule in Myanmar since 1962 is, as Dr. Nakanishi makes clear, unusual and requires explanation. The central chapters of this volume provide an explanation of that stability and grounds it in detailed, empirical, and highly original research.
Chapters four through seven are the most important parts of the argument of Strong Soldiers, Failed Revolution, but the earlier and later chapters are also important contributions to our understanding of modern Burmese politics, although at places one can take issue with some of the points the author advances. Chapter one provides an overview of the volume and takes the reader through some of the relevant, and sometimes irrelevant, largely American, political science literature on comparative politics. If words mean anything, some of this is just jargon, such as "dictatorship democracies," which some seem to favor. However, this chapter is important in setting the scene, particularly as the author does not make the mistake of many commentators on Myanmar politics and dismiss General Ne Win's commitment to his socialist revolution. He was willing to deny his army resources for the sake of that revolution, and that sacrifice became part of its strength and the reason the army could continue to rule after the revolution had failed.
The second chapter provides the historical background to the Ne Win revolution. The author's grasp of this material is rather weaker than of the more recent history, though perhaps some of the problems stem from the fact that the language he is using has been translated at least three times—from English into Japanese and back into English again. For example, colonial Burma never had a governor-general (p. 33). It was the British Government of Burma Act of 1935 which separated Burma from India in 1937, not 1936 (also p. 33), though later this author gives the dates accurately (p. 38). These are petty criticisms, though it is important to note that the so-called British "divide and rule policy" was an accusation made by Burmese nationalists, and perhaps a consequence of British rule. Whether it was intentional is highly debatable. Aung San did not go to London to negotiate independence with the colonial governor, Sir Hubert Rance, but with the British Prime Minister, Clement Attlee (p. 50), the "Panrong agreement" is presumably the "Panglong agreement," though whether it is a document proposing federalism is debateable (also p. 50), and the Mujahids wanted to merge northern Arakan with East Pakistan, not form a separate Islamic state (p. 51). However, as no one will read this book for the sake of this background chapter, this criticism is by-the-by.
Chapter three on how the ideology of the Burma Socialist Programme Party came to be written is informative, though the author's lack of reference to a third ideological tract, the Specific Characteristics, which was the last published as a corrective to earlier texts, is surprising, given how thorough is his research. The author's attempt to draw a distinction between ideology and philosophy, at least in terms of political practice, I find unconvincing. That the author of the Party's ideology, U Chit Hlaing, could use his theory to justify two different regimes should surprise no one who studies politics. Chit Hlaing was following the orders of his military employers. Whether Ne Win had a clear idea of what kind of ideology he required to justify his rule to himself and others is something that Dr. Nakanishi doubts, but that he gave Chit Hlaing instructions he confirms. In an age of ideology, had Chit Hlaing's ideas not been available, they, or something like them, would have had to be invented because that was the zeitgeist of what was then called Third World politics, in this case in a Theravada Buddhist context.
Chapters four through seven provide the reason Strong Soldiers, Failed Revolution will be cited by other Myanmar scholars as well as comparative political scientists for years to come. Chapter four explains why the single party that Ne Win invented was never able to gain autonomy from its military founders. Finding jobs for the officer corps as they retired from the army was not only a personal kindness but a political strategy and prerequisite for remaining in power. Chapter five, entitled "Destroy the Bureaucracy! Transformation of the Civilian Bureaucracy in the Name of the Revolution," provides a detailed account of how the bureaucracy became captured by retired military personnel. Whether Ne Win realized what he was doing when he created the first deputy ministers in 1969 is unclear, but now we know the consequences. However, I believe that the author underestimates the weaknesses in the bureaucracy that already existed when the army seized power in 1962. It was then just a shadow of what had existed in 1942, the last effective year of British rule. When many of the remaining senior bureaucrats resigned on the cusp of independence, the then ruling civilian party was able to fill many posts with their own appointees, regardless of their qualifications. This, in part, explains why the army was able to so dramatically improve the administration of the country during the first, brief period of its rule, in 1958–60.
Chapter six, entitled "'Winner-Take-All': An Analysis of Burma's Political Elite," begins with a misleading and unhelpful allusion to something called "Burma's political culture." What that may be remains in doubt, other than that some analysts, when at a loss to explain political decisions, gloss what they do not know in terms of an unknowable "political culture." Happily, Dr. Nakanishi quickly abandons that discussion and returns to the close empirical analysis of the members of the legislative and other bodies in the government of Burma during the 1970s and 1980s. He once more demonstrates, despite Ne Win's apparent intentions, that army and ex-army personnel dominated the government just as they did the party. This leads logically into the final substantive chapter, seven. Here his command of his data is impressive, though his lack of knowledge of pre-1962 history lets him down. Amongst Myanmar's ministers of defense, he omits Bo Let Ya and U Win (p. 243), but this minor error detracts not at all from the empirical validity of the author's conclusions.
After a very cogent and helpful restatement of the key points in the thesis of the Strong Soldiers, Failed Revolution, Dr. Nakanishi does what everyone writing a book on Myanmar these days seems to feel impelled to do and speculates about what comes next. Much of this is quite helpful and informative, particularly suggesting how the legacy of the Ne Win-BSPP period allowed the post-1988 military regime not only to maintain itself in power, but to expand and develop the capacity to make the transition to a civilianized regime after 2011. Indeed, this could be expanded upon with advantage for one of the most misunderstood aspects of modern Myanmar politics is the nature and purposes of the military regime between 1988 and 2010.
Unfortunately, he falls into what I see as an error in being drawn into the discourse of political critics of the army, rather than remaining in the discourse of political analysis. He repeats the previously heard allegation made by critics of the post-1988 military regime that the army then perceived the general public as a threat and "also exhibited a sense of paternalism" (p. 294). That the army arrogated to itself a claim to be practicing "national" politics in a selfless manner is undoubtedly the case, but there is nothing new in that claim. That was a claim made from the 1940s onwards. Moreover, a reading of the documents of the 1990s indicates the army leadership knew exactly who their political opponents were, and they were not some generalized "citizenry." Indeed, the army used the near same language as in the socialist period: the people's army, together with the people, against the enemies of the state, whether leftists or rights. As in the introduction to the book, so also at the conclusion, Nakanishi perhaps becomes victim to the same philosophical fault as U Chit Hlaing. That democracy is the reigning ideology of today, rather than socialism, is obvious, but in terms of their approaches to the subject of comparative politics, there is little difference. Democracy, like socialism, is not an analytical category, it is a vague ideological preference.
Robert H. Taylor
Institute of South East Asian Studies (Singapore)
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technocracy democratization Buddhism Cambodia Thailand Southeast Asia Vietnam Islam democracy Philippines Malaysia Indonesia Singapore monarchy religion

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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    return false;
  }),

  workloads: computed('id', 'namespace.workloads.@each.volumes', function() {
    return (get(this, 'namespace.workloads') || []).filter((workload) => (get(workload, 'volumes') || []).find((volume) => get(volume, 'persistentVolumeClaim.persistentVolumeClaimId') === get(this, 'id')));
  }),

  sizeBytes: computed('status.capacity.storage', function() {
    const str = get(this, 'status.capacity.storage');

    if ( str ) {
      return parseSi(str, 1024);
    }

    return;
  }),

  displaySize: computed('sizeBytes', function() {
    const bytes = get(this, 'sizeBytes');

    if ( bytes ) {
      return formatSi(bytes, 1024, 'iB', 'B');
    }

    return;
  }),

  actions: {
    resize() {
      get(this, 'modalService').toggleModal('modal-resize-pvc', { model: this, });
    }
  },

});

export default PersistentVolumeClaim;

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Hi, I'm Amanda Sharp and I would love to help create Magic for you and your family.
My first trip to Disney World was when I was six years old. I was lucky enough to have family in Orlando, and grandparents who loved to travel. We went to Disney World twice each year, every year. I have seen Disney World grow over my entire lifetime, and each trip is just as magical as the first. I moved to Orlando and worked for The Mouse himself for awhile, and created magical memories for many families. After I relocated to Georgia, I wanted to continue to make magic. I decided at that moment to become a Travel Consultant with Pixie Vacations.
My number one goal is to make your vacation planning as stress free as possible, and your Disney vacation a magical experience. My services are completely free. This means there are no hidden costs to use my expertise. Vacations are meant to be enjoyed, so let me take care of the time consuming part.
Aside from offering you my first-hand Disney knowledge, I am also a graduate of the Disney College of Knowledge. I am here to help plan your vacation from the beginning and will help you along the way. I continuously monitor for promotions to help save you money. I also help with making Fast Passes and Dining Reservations. I would love to work with you!


What Kind of Addiction Treatment Does Medicare Cover?
Home » What Kind of Addiction Treatment Does Medicare Cover?
Typically, young adults struggle with the highest rates of substance abuse or addiction. Substance abuse typically begins to wane around age 26 and continues to decline as individuals age. However, many older adults still struggle with addiction, including addiction to prescription drugs, which they are more likely to receive for a variety of health conditions like chronic pain.
The Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBHSQ) Short Report found that, in 2014, there were over 1 million people, ages 65 and older, with a substance use disorder; 978,000 older adults with an alcohol use disorder (AUD), formerly called alcoholism; and 161,000 older adults with an addiction to illicit drugs. As the baby boomer generation ages into retirement, these adults bring their unique patterns of substance abuse into their older years, which is estimated to increase rates of drug or alcohol abuse from 2.2 percent to 3.1 percent between 2001 and 2020.
With more older adults struggling with drugs and alcohol, it is important to know which resources are available to support treatment. Medically-supervised detox and behavioral counseling in a rehabilitation program make up the foundation of evidence-based addiction treatment, but what is the best way to afford detox and rehabilitation?
Medicare was designed to help older adults manage their medical care, which can increase with age. However, it did not originally include treatment approaches for mental or behavioral health, including substance abuse. Today, combining different parts of Medicare can help you manage appropriate addiction treatment.
How can you end addiction? Contact Us Today!
Medicare Interactive, an organization that helps people understand Medicare insurance, states that alcoholism and drug addiction treatment will be covered by this government program under some conditions.
A healthcare provider must deem it medically necessary.
Services must be provided by a Medicare-approved facility or program.
The healthcare provider must set up a plan for care.
According to Medicare.gov, substance-related disorders will be covered through the different approaches to mental health treatment of specific Medicare parts. Medicare parts cover various services that can be coordinated to offer complete addiction treatment.
This covers much of the cost of hospitalization, including if you are hospitalized due to an overdose or because you need supervision during the detox process. Psychiatric hospital stays are also covered for a total of 190 days. The first 60 days of hospitalization are covered with no cost to coinsurance. Days 61 to 90 are about $335 in coinsurance per day. Day 91 and over are $670 coinsurance per day. There is a 20 percent reduction in cost for associated counseling or mental health services received during your hospitalization.
Alcohol and drug outpatient rehabilitation is considered part of mental health coverage because it is based in counseling and therapy practices. Part B covers outpatient mental and behavioral health treatment with a 20 percent coinsurance if you meet your deductible.
This part covers prescription medications, which may include drugs like buprenorphine to manage withdrawal symptoms. However, Part D does not cover methadone treatment for opioid addiction. This is because the requirements for Part D medications are that they can be dispensed through a pharmacy and methadone must be administered at a specific methadone clinic. If your doctor feels that methadone is necessary to taper you off opioid addiction, there are other methods of financing this approach if needed that do not require Medicare coverage. Buprenorphine-combination drugs like Suboxone have become the preferred detox methods for opioid addiction, and it is much more likely that your physician will prescribe this substance, which can be covered by Medicare.
For many people, Medicare is one insurance plan of two or more. This is the primary form of insurance for many older adults, but many pay for a second insurance program to have better treatment coverage and more treatment options. Private insurance, due to the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), must cover behavioral health, mental health, and substance abuse treatment services.
There are several Medicare Advantage Plans, which are often called Part C or MA Plans. These are plans that are offered to Medicare-eligible individuals and approved by Medicare but created by private insurance companies. Because these are private forms of insurance working with Medicare, the Medicare program pays a fixed amount for some monthly coverage, but other charges can vary based on the private insurance provider's approach to covering services.
Due to changes in federal programs through the ACA and Medicare, an increasing number of seniors can get evidence-based addiction treatment to prevent substance abuse, overcome existing addictions, and avoid relapse.


Reading and share top 2 Peter Snell famous quotes and sayings.
Browse top 2 most favorite famous quotes and sayings by Peter Snell.
The mind is like the stomach. It is not how much you put into it that counts, but how much it digests."


Does anyone know what happened with market?
Wow, hopefully, you'll find some good people for these positions!
Yes, of course it is possible, but what is the purpose to waste a potential of blockchain? What benefits?
To make messengers more secure and really anonymous. Are you aware of current vulnerabiliies that Telegram has f.e.?
hm.. interesting! Could you clarify?
One of examples, Telegram's Windows client incorrectly handled RLO characters and was vulnerable to phishing emails.
I didn't know that, thanks. How it could be solved?
The vulnerability is removed, and fraudsters will not be able to repeat this trick.I m not aware how it was solved technically but I'm sure Credits should have solutions for that to make the industry of messengers more secure.
I just google it. Messaging requires a blockchain with no transaction fees, capable of processing more than 50,000 transactions per second, and offering expanded confidentiality management functions. This is a great advantage of Credits blockchain, especially if you take into accountthat they have already reach stable 200k tps.
Yup, agree, New York is a great place to find skilled and experienced people!
It seems to me that this project has a very bright future. I would like to support this project. Best of luck.
You can use any idea. There are a lot of use cases on Credits website, try to use them. I hope they will help you.


text:
Sophie Mouse:Forget-Me-Not Lake
Binding: Paperback Condition: New
Sophie Mouse:Forget-Me-Not Lake - is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
by Poppy Green
Sophie Mouse wishes she could play in the water at Forget-Me-Not Lake with her friends, but she can't because she's a mouse. Or can she? Find out in this third book of The Adventures of Sophie Mouse.
Sophie Mouse likes being a mouse. So she's excited that she and her classmates are making presentations for school about life as the type of animal they are. Sophie has already made a list of things she can do—run fast, scurry into small places, and more. But while playing at Forget-Me-Not Lake with her friends Hattie Frog and Owen Snake, Sophie realizes one thing she definitely can't do: swim!
Hattie and Owen are having so much fun in the water, and Sophie will never be able to join them. Sophie starts to think that being a mouse isn't so special, after all. When Sophie's friends notice her disappointment, can they figure out a way to get her out on the water?


text:
Andy Dalton Odds: Week 13 Andy Dalton Prop Bets and Picks vs. the Buccaneers – December 5, 2022
Andy Dalton has player prop bets available on Monday when he takes to the field at 8:15 PM ET live on ESPN. Dalton and the New Orleans Saints (4-8) square off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-6) at Raymond James Stadium in Week 13.
Andy Dalton Player Props vs. Tampa Bay
Andy Dalton Prop Bet Stats: Passing Yards, Interceptions, Rushing, & Touchdowns
This Dalton has posted 2,023 yards passing (168.6 per game) going 180-for-271 (66.4%) with 14 touchdowns and seven picks.
He's also run 23 times for 53 yards, averaging 4.4 yards per game.
Over his last three contests, Dalton has 638 passing yards (212.7 ypg), completing 69.1% of his passes and collecting four touchdown passes and two picks.
Compared to his 215.5-yard over/under for this matchup, Dalton is throwing for fewer yards per game this season (168.6).
Dalton has gone over 215.5 passing yards four times in 12 games this season.
Dalton's average prop bet for passing yards this season has been 220.5. His actual passing average is below that, by 51.9 yards per game.
Dalton has exceeded his passing yards prop total in three of nine opportunities this season.
In eight of nine games this year, Dalton completed a touchdown pass — including multiple TDs three times.
Dalton has been intercepted in four games this season (out of 12), including more than one INT on two occasions.


5 May Pycairo is a set of Python 2 & 3 bindings for the cairo graphics library. Since version pycairo has moved to GitHub and pycairo and. Pycairo is a Python module providing bindings for the cairo graphics library. It depends on cairo >= and works with Python + as well as Python +. Pycairo is a set of bindings for cairo. It provides the cairo module which can be used to call cairo commands from Python. Integration with other Libraries.
Cairo Tutorial for Python Programmers. by Michael Urman. Cairo is a powerful 2d graphics library. This document introduces you to how cairo works and many Table of Contents - Nouns - Verbs - Preparing and Selecting a. This page provides Python code examples for chateauversailles-epiceriefine.comface. 17 Nov - 3 min - Uploaded by evanmartin2 How to sketch out graphics code with a quick iteration cycle time.
Eventually I got as far as installing PyCairo (from the GNOME link in the question) , without Cairo itself. This gave me a DLL import error when I. a SVG to PNG, PDF, PS and SVG converter;; a command-line interface;; a Python + library;; known to work at least on Linux, OS X, and Windows;; based . 2 Sep This is PyCairo tutorial. In this tutorial, we are going to learn 2D graphics programming in Python and the Cairo library. Debian Python Modules Team (Mail Archive); Dave Beckett; Torsten Marek. It should generally not be necessary for users to contact the original maintainer. 26 Oct Python bindings for the cairo graphics library. Git version.
Split Packages: python2-cairo. Description: Python bindings for the cairo graphics library. Upstream URL: chateauversailles-epiceriefine.com License (s). 21 Nov #!/usr/bin/env python import cairo w, h = , # Setup Cairo surface = cairo. ImageSurface(chateauversailles-epiceriefine.com_ARGB32, w, h) ctx = cairo. Description. Cairo is a 2D graphics library with support for multiple output devices . It is designed to produce consistent output on all output media while taking. Package, Summary, Distribution, Download. chateauversailles-epiceriefine.com7hl .html, A python wrapper for the Cairo libraries, Mageia Cauldron for armv7hl.


text:
3 Faces by Jafar Panahi - Review
For a filmmaker placed under as many limitations as Jafar Panahi is, he's a surprisingly prolific director. Less than halfway through a 20 year ban on making films, a ban imposed on him by the Iranian government, he's now made four features; his latest, 3 Faces, is arguably his most audacious when it comes to the film's production.
Where Panahi's previous films have seen him confined to his house in This Is Not A Film and a car in Taxi, 3 Faces sees him and co-star Behnaz Jafari - both playing versions of themselves - on a road trip through Iran's rural expanses to find Marziyeh, a young woman who, after being denied by her family the opportunity to become an actress, has reached out desperately to Jafari in a video message, which appears to show her committing suicide after several calls for help. Burdened with the feeling that they are somehow responsible for the young girl's apparent demise, both Panahi and Jafari set off to a quiet village in search for the truth.
Laurent de Alberti
Movie nut, born in France, living in London, holding the enviable title of the only person ever to have been suspended from school for skipping class to attend the Cannes Film Festival...
Girl by Lukas Dhont - Review
When talking about Girl, it's hard to separate the film from the controversy it has provoked since its release. The first-time feature from director Lukas Dhont has caused many critics to take issue with it for a number of reasons; these have mainly centred around the film's presentation of its transgender protagonist and the apparent lack of any trans people in the film itself. Girl's story and main character are inspired by dancer Nora Monsecour - who, according to interviews, also had some creative input in the film's making - but here the central character Lara is played by Victor Polster, a cisgender male. These are substantial, valid concerns and worth highlighting, especially at a time when the industry is becoming increasingly aware of the importance of representation on all levels.
Help our writers!
I am really keen to pay my writers, we have no external funding and run no adverts, so if you can help, all funds received will be split pro-rata between the writers
Why I'm Angry About Side Effects' Ending - SPOILERS
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS. Obviously do not read this post if you have not seen Side Effects yet. And do not get tempted, it does not h...
Harry Potter's new poster ripping off 80's sci fi cult classic Enemy Mine?
Over the last few days I have been wondering why many films websites I came across were featuring the poster for Enemy mine. Until I reali...
Orange film ads: A history
Bradley Cooper and an Orange tissue box Utter the words Orange film ads to any cinema-goer in the U.K. and you are likely to witness a w...
Is Penelope Cruz regretting her decision? Melancholia vs Pirates of the Caribbean
Penelope Cruz had a bit of a false start in Hollywood. Hot on the heels of her star turn in All about my mother (1999) that got her notice...
Adèle Haenel Declares Her Love At The Césars - Translated
The Césars (French Film Awards) ceremony was a disaster last night. An overlong, painfully unfunny ceremony (poor host Cécile de France...
Cannes 2021 - Comments on a special edition
It was never going to be a regular year. After the successive delays then cancellation of last year's edition (a vastly reduced, four da...
Why Haven't You Seen...? The Opening Of Misty Beethoven (1976)
What's it all about? It's Pygmalion with blowjobs. Dr Seymour Love (Jamie Gillis) is writing a book about sex and finds his s...
Top 20 Films Challenge #19: The Raspberry Reich (2004)
Having this film on my list might sound like a joke. Hell the film itself might seem like one big joke. But I stand by it, and at number...
X by Ti West
If the slasher film has slowly creeped its way back into horror in the 2020s with the Fear Street trilogy , Halloween Kills, Malignant , a...
Amin by Philippe Faucon - Review
In recent years there's been no shortage of films about immigration, but Philippe Faucon's Amin brings a fresh perspective to a crisis t...
Twitter Count
Laurent de Alberti on Twitter Counter.com
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Nobody does passion like the Spanish, and nobody does better films in Spain than Pedro Almodovar. So one of his films logically finds it...
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Life is pretty dull for Mel aka Melanie, with her job at the aeroplane food factory, until along comes Nuno. Is he the friend from Faro? W...
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The English title of this film, Red Nights, is the dull and truncated translation of the wonderfully evocative French one, Les Nuits Ro...
Catherine Deneuve In A Bath: A Trilogy
Are you a fan of sultry and iconic French actress Catherine Deneuve? Would you like to see her in a bath? Would you like to see her in a...
General comments, ideas, suggestions... E-mail me:
Andy Zach
Craig Skinner
Georgina McAlister
Harry Boulton
Joe Sommerlad
Linda Marric
Mairead Roche
Matt Mansfield
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24 Frames Per Second
Adventures of a new, old, gamer: Finishing (and not finishing) a game
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text:
Gazette Actu Artistes
The UK Pension System: an Analysis Essay
March 6, 2029 / admin
The purpose of this essay is to execute an analysis of the UK pension system, understanding its foundation and working. The nucleus focal point is to measure the statement " the UK pension statement is fatally flawed and requires that we make cardinal alterations in the manner we save for old age " , by mentioning to the Pension Commission Reports, and the comparative proposals that have been made late.
The essay provides an debut to the pension system, before undertaking the issues that make the system troublesome and flawed. Detailed analysis of the studies, including the Pension Act 2007 and 2008, are used as grounds of assorted issues with the current apparatus, and the proposals are judged to see if they will supply the necessary alterations to better the system in the coming old ages.
The generic apprehension of the term 'pension ' is the agreement by which people who are no longer in employment are provided a signifier of income. It can besides be considered as a signifier of nest eggs, in which one accumulates financess without any revenue enhancements, to use subsequently as retirement income ( Blake, 2006 ) . The main difference between pension and a rupture bundle is that the former is paid in regular episodes, while the latter is paid as ball amount at the clip of going from employment, or shortly thenceforth.
Where pensions are granted at the clip of retirement from the work force, they are referred to as retirement programs or old-age pension. The flexibleness of the retirement program is that it can be set up by employers, insurance companies, authorities or trade brotherhoods, to provide for the demands of the work force upon its issue from employment due to making the adulthood age that is pre-decided as the point to travel out. This is usually at 60 old ages, although recent alterations have pushed it to 65 old ages ( Blake, 2006 ) .
Pension is referred by different names in different states ; the Americans call it a retirement program, in Australia it is known as old-age pension, and in the UK it is regarded as pension strategy ( Blake, 1997 ) .
Types of Pensions
In order to analyse the pension system objectively in visible radiation of the paperss, it is of import to understand the different types of pensions. There are three common types of pension in pattern around the universe ( Blake, 2006 ) . These are:
Employment-based pensions: Frequently regarded as a deferred signifier of compensation, this is chiefly an agreement between the employer and employee, aimed at supplying a steady income to the employee once they are no longer in employment due to making adulthood or retirement age. Both employer and employee make regular parts to this fund during the period of employment.
Social / State pensions: These are financess created by national authoritiess for the benefit of their citizens and occupants. Contributions into these financess are made by the subjects of the state throughout their on the job life, and the benefits they end up receiving after retirement are based on the part history. Two known illustrations of this type of pension are National Insurance ( NI ) in the UK and Social Security in the United States ( US ) .
Disability pensions: A more specialized signifier of pension that is designed to supply a regular payment if the member suffers a disablement. In some instances, societal pensions contain a disablement clause which ensures a regular income to persons should they hold to retire earlier than normal, in the event of some disablement.
Determination of Benefits
Pension or retirement programs can be classified into two chief types, on the footing of the benefits that they provide: defined benefit programs and defined part programs.
The defined benefit programs follow a traditional set expression for ciphering the benefits that a member will have after retirement. It takes into history the person 's salary and old ages of employment ( Blake, 2006 ) . There are discrepancies in the salary degree taken ; some programs take an norm of the wage over the period of employment, others take the concluding wage as the finding value. The defined benefit programs besides have a proviso for early retirement ; this allows employers to allow travel of workers who are close to the retirement age by offering auxiliary benefits to the payout that will have. These benefits are paid till the clip of existent retirement age being reached. The benefit for employers is that they can engage younger workers at lower wage to manage the work load.
Defined benefit programs are composed of unfunded and funded programs. In unfunded programs, there no assets set aside and the benefits are paid out through the workers ' parts and revenue enhancements. Funded plans use investing vehicles to put financess in, at the present clip. Benefits are paid out of the return on investing that is made in the hereafter. However, since the return is non known, the degree of benefits that will be given out is besides ill-defined ( Blake, 2006 ) .
The defined part programs provide a payment at retirement based on the part made by the member during the clip of employment. The parts are maintained in an person 's history, with the sum being invested in a fund or the stock market. Tax returns made from the investing are credited back to the person ( Blake, 2006 ) . The hazards of the investing made are approved by the person, with no duty held by either the employer or the patron. However, the decision makers of the fund choosing the investing options are held responsible to a certain grade to guarantee answerability. Additionally, defined part programs allow workers to make up one's mind the sum that they wish to regularly add to their retirement bundle, in add-on to the part made by the employer.
Pensions in the UK
The UK Pension Provision can be divided into three chief classs: province pensions, occupational pensions, and single or personal pensions. The province 's chief purpose is to guarantee some signifier of basic pension proviso as a preventive step against poorness in old age. The retirement age presently stands at 60, but is under programs to be raised to 65, and be equalised for work forces and adult females ( Blake, 2003 ; DWP, 2009 ) .
The UK province pension day of the months back to the early 1900s, when it was introduced as " Old Age Pension " . The qualifying age at the clip for having this benefit was 70, and there was agencies test that needed to be cleared prior to any payments being released ( Blake, 2003 ) .
The province pension is made up of three elements: basic province pension ( BSP ) , extra pensions and pension credit.BSP is besides known as province retirement pension ( SRP ) , and is a part based program. The benefit that an single receives is based on their NI part history ( Budd & A ; Campbell, 2000 ) . Extra pension relates to strategies that the authorities introduced to supply excess proviso to the subjects, in add-on to BSP. This includes the calibrated retirement benefit, province earnings-related pension strategy ( SERPS ) and province 2nd pension ( S2P ) . The calibrated retirement benefit ended in 1975 and the SERPS was ceased in 2002. The current S2P follows the basic rules introduced by SERPS, by taking into history the person 's NI parts and supplying benefits where net incomes are below the low degree identified by the province. The extra pension strategies are voluntary and persons can choose out of doing parts to it. Pension recognition was introduced in 2003 and is a agency tested benefit that aims to raise a bulk of retired people out of poorness. The benefit is paid after the single reaches the age of 60, and their income from nest eggs is below a certain degree. Those with some signifier of nest eggs double benefit when they reach the age of 65, with a 2nd proviso of the strategy kicking in, known as " Savingss Credit " ( Blake, 2003 ) .
The occupational pensions are administered by employers to supply benefits to their employees after they retire. These can be defined benefit or defined part strategies run by the employers, or an ordered third-party. Typically, the UK occupational strategies are jointly funded by both employer and employee, where employees contribute about 6 % of their gross wage into financess that invest into equity, and supply a return of that investing to the person 's history for the hereafter ( Budd & A ; Campbell, 2000 ) .
The 3rd class of UK Pension Provision is personal pensions. This is when persons make agreement with a supplier like an insurance company, to do regular parts in a strategy, similar to occupational pensions ( Blake, 2003 ) . Like the other programs, the parts are made by the person throughout their on the job life, with benefits of pension being released after retirement. The procedure of these benefits being released can change ; in some instances, the supplier purchases a pension program prior or at retirement for the person.
Challenges to Pensions
The most of import challenge faced by most states, including the UK, is the ripening of the population. With birth-rates decelerating down and life anticipation increasing, a larger per centum of the population is elderly. This means that the ratio of workers to retired persons is turning, intending there are less persons each twelvemonth earning and lending to the pension system, while there are more donees being registered each twelvemonth. The current system is usually referred to as " wage as you go ( PAYG ) " , in position of how it is funded and utilized ( Blake, 2003 ) . This challenge is harder to turn to with persons seeking to look for options to guarantee a better life style after retirement for themselves, than the bigger image of a state with a big part of retired persons falling below the poorness degree.
Another challenge faced is the decrease in investing into private pensions. Employers have cut the parts they had been doing as a response to the current concern clime ( Budd & A ; Campbell, 2000 ) . This means that the sum available or due to be available for retired persons in the hereafter will be lesser than ab initio forecasted, stoping up with farther disparity between the demand and proviso of the benefits at that phase.
The complexness of the UK pension system has made it harder for alterations to be implemented efficaciously, ensuing in more patch-up than complete reforms. This complexness has given rise to a sense of desperation among the work force on the ability of the province to provide to the demands of the citizens, and offer solutions that are feasible and executable in the long-run.
Pensions Commission
Formed in 2002, the Pensions Commission was a public organic structure in the UK that did non come under any governmental section, but reported to the Secretary of State for Works and Pension ( Pensions Commission, 2007 ) . Its exclusive purpose was to reexamine the system of private pensions and nest eggs in the state, and do recommendations as it saw necessary on whether alterations needed to be made for the hereafter. The alterations were chiefly linked to the voluntary parts made by persons and organisations.
The Commission published two studies, in 2004 and 2005. The studies provided a elaborate analysis of the UK pension system at the clip, its development over clip should it stay unchanged, and recommendations on stairss that were needed to explicate a new policy that was more in line with the future demand ( Pensions Commission, 2007 ) .
The UK compared to the remainder of Europe
With limited handiness to informations from current old ages for the pension strategies in Europe, an analysis of a study conducted during the late 90s shows some interesting information, foregrounding the predicament of the UK pension system, and the drastic demand of reform in the present age ( Blake, 2006 ) .
It was discovered that on the whole, 57 % of the work force in the UK who were in paid employment contributed towards a pension. This is the voluntary part that business pensions allow. The information of European Union ( EU ) workers showed that 79 % of the contributed to a pension program. This disparity shows the ensuing instability in benefit payments and parts for the UK, every bit good as a specifying ground for a high per centum of pensionaries falling below the poorness line ( Blake, 2003 ) .
When the comparing was done for freelance persons, it was discovered that 59 % of work forces and 47 % of adult females in the UK contributed to a pension strategy. However, this pickets in comparing to the 73 % and 72 % of work forces and adult females, severally, in the EU who contributed to a pension program ( Blake, 2003 ) . This is an add-on to the point stated earlier, that signifies the turning income equality puting into the societal system in the UK, and is a contemplation of the divergency of income among workers.
On the organisation forepart, more employers have changed their strategies in the UK, necessitating persons to fend for themselves, and be more responsible for the proviso of pension. The province has taken a backseat, to go more of an enabler and regulator ( Blake, 2006 ) . However, with increasing concerns from the citizens, the UK authorities in the last few old ages has started to look into alterations to the current system, in hope of conveying improved benefits in the long tally.
The Turner Report
In 2005, the Pensions Commission published the Turner Report, after its thorough research of the prevailing pension system in the UK. The study was aimed at supplying the authorities a class of action with recommendations on stairss that needed to be taken to convey a extremist displacement in the contributory wonts, every bit good as the construction in topographic point for the pension system ( Pensions Commission, 2007 ) .
One of the recommendations from the study as linked to battling the population ageing challenge faced by the system. It was of the position that the retirement age be increased so that the contributory work force Numberss are improved to supplement the demands of the pensionaries ( Pensions Commission, 2007 ) . Besides, the age for having maximal benefits should be changed so that these are merely available to older subjects, with others needed to put into private pensions as a agency of supplementing their retirement income.
Another recommendation was for the formation of a National Pension Savings Scheme ( NPSS ) , a semi-compulsory part strategy that offered persons a set pick of investings within a forced scope of investing options ( Pensions Commission, 2007 ) . The creative activity of such a strategy would let UK workers to bask auxiliary retirement benefits without any trust on employers to move as patrons. However, skeptics have argued late on the viability of such a strategy to be cost-efficient or the administration policies for it to stay efficient and reactive to the altering fiscal conditions domestically and internationally.
The National Pensions Debate
The work of the Pensions Commission and the resulting Turner Report gave the UK authorities a wake-up call on the demands for alteration in the pension system. The first stairss towards reform were taken in the measure of opening the argument to the populace. The focal point of such a measure was to affect the citizens into the procedure of make up one's minding what was needed, as they were the main donees of the system.
The National Pensions Day, organised on 18 March 2006, brought together 1000s of UK subjects on a unvarying platform, to portion their positions and offer options, in footings of the reforms needed to be auctioned by the authorities to hold a permanent consequence on the pensions system ( DWP, 2009 ) . Equally good as a co-ordinated public event through cyberspace link-up, the UK authorities used an on-line study to hold on a broader apprehension of the mentality held within the state on the delicate nature of the current pensions system.
From the input gained due to the argument and the study produced by the independent Pension Commission, the UK authorities took two enterprises ; it published two white documents to cover the proposals that it believed were mandatory to implement for positive alteration to come into the system ( DWP, 2009 ) .
The first white paper, titled " Security in Retirement: towards a new Pension System " , outlined the authorities 's proposals that were designed to revamp the pensions system provided they met with the demands set within personal duty, equity, simpleness, affordability and sustainability ( DWP, 2009 ) . After holding formulated and published this white paper, the authorities brought together cardinal concern leaders and organisation front mans to offer advisory advice on the reforms that were being proposed. This corporate agreement was a agency of guaranting minimal barriers to the procedure of alteration for the long term.
The 2nd white paper was titled " Personal Histories: a new manner to salvage " , was published by the authorities suggesting the apparatus of a new national system of low cost personal histories. The political orientation here was to present a wont of salvaging among the UK subjects and occupants, which would assist in supplying income after retirement. This clip, the authorities proposed a period of public audience on the affair, desiring to turn to any questions and reserves from the audience that would most be affected by it ( DWP, 2008 ) .
Having gained a major consensus towards the auctioning of these reforms, the Government moved in front with the execution procedure. The procedure nevertheless was long-run orientated and phased, in order to let the alteration to be effected positively and have long term benefits for the state.
The Pensions Act 2007
The reforms proposed to the province pensions system in the first white paper were transformed into jurisprudence by this act. The alterations proposed covered three cardinal countries: the Basic State Pension ( BSP ) , the State Second Pension ( S2P ) and the qualifying conditions set out for both ( DWP, 2009 ) .
Some of the cardinal alterations are:
The modification old ages for having full BSP was 39 for adult females and 44 for work forces. Effective 2010, this would be reduced to 30 for both.
The one-year cost of populating constituent in BSP was linked to monetary values in footings of additions. This would be changed to associate with net incomes from 2012, provided the financial place allowed affordability.
Easing the conditions for part to BSP, so that everyone can construct up some entitlement, alternatively of those run intoing the tough making procedure.
From 2010, presenting national insurance credits in relation to S2P, basically for those persons who suffer from long term disablements and those who have caring duties, leting them to construct up some extra pension entitlement.
However, one major alteration that was proposed linked with the issue of the ageing work force. For long term affordability of the province pension system, it was decided necessary to implement a gradual addition in the province pension age for both work forces and adult females. The of import portion of this alteration would be the gait at which the addition has been proposed. The period for this addition was between 2024 and 2046 ; with the age being increased to 68 by the terminal of this term ( DWP, 2009 ) .
In continuance to the proposed reforms that were deemed necessary after the committee probe and public argument, this act put into jurisprudence most of the actions advised in the 2nd white paper. The purpose here was to promote greater private pension economy, so that persons were non entirely reliant on the province to run into their life costs after retirement ( DWP, 2009 ) .
Some of the cardinal alterations of this act are:
Automatic registration of eligible workers into a measure uping workplace pension strategy, with consequence from 2012. What this means is that workers would hold to take a determination non to be portion of the pension strategy provided by the employer. If any such determinations have non been made actively by the worker, he or she would be enrolled automatically to the workplace pension strategy.
A lower limit of 3 per cent part by the employer to the employee 's pension history, based on the earning set. This was as a addendum to the 4 per cent part that would be made by the employee, and the about 1 per cent in revenue enhancement alleviation provided by the authorities.
2012 would see the debut of a new low cost nest eggs vehicle, named as the National Employment Savings Trust ( NEST ) . This strategy is aimed at the medium and low earners, with low charges and simpleness.
The Procedure of Reform
When analysed against the pension systems in the developed universe, the predominating UK system has shown serious defects that have increased over clip. The cardinal factor to see here is the ageing population. While this factor is prevailing in other developed states running province pension systems, the job seems less act uponing for a few grounds.
Canada and Australia have a lower population and a higher per centum in the active work force. The US being the largest economic system in the universe has a important pensionary population, but its higher rate of in-migration has allowed it to hold a work force that contributes to a great extent to the pension system. The UK, nevertheless, seems in neither of these countries. It has a important part of its work force approaching the retirement age in the coming decennary. With in-migration being tightened, the figure of foreign workers come ining to lend to the pension system is non every bit high as required ( Butler, 1997 ) .
The above point, nevertheless, points a serious defect in the PAYG system, where the current on the job persons contribute in the present twenty-four hours, to pay the benefits of those already retired, anticipating the same for themselves when they move out of the employment age bracket. The illustration can be referred to as a pail of H2O with a clasp in the underside. There is small accretion, as H2O flows out, and the influx is a slow watercourse.
The demand for an apprehension to be developed in the populace for being more responsible towards their single demands in retirement is of import. Taking personal duty during the on the job age will in bend aid avoid a big figure of pensionaries falling below the poorness line subsequently.
Additionally, a back uping but steady function of the employer in footings of part to pension strategies for the employee is a measure frontward. Superannuation schemes in Australia have been following this theoretical account for a figure of old ages, with new alterations leting more flexibleness to the employee to take their investing vehicle, but curtailing entree to the financess till retirement age ( Blake, 1997 ) .
The recent fiscal crisis excessively has impacted the pension system in the UK, as most strategies had invested in several strategies and stocks that have since fallen in value or collapsed. This has resulted in a write-down for many pensionaries, fostering stressing the weaknesss of the authorities to supply better protection to pension programs. The province of economic system and its stableness, hence, becomes an of import factor in the overall effectivity of the pension system in the United Kingdom.
The implicit in message in the reform is an credence of the drawbacks bing in the pension system of UK, and taking stairss to rectify it. Its chief purpose is to present the construct of nest eggs among the populace, by offering simplified procedures to include more of the working population in the part to the province programs, every bit good as to single and organisational programs, thereby diversifying the beginnings of income after retirement.
With the reform commencing in 2010, the mentality remains positive. With public engagement in the decision-making procedure, it is likely that the alterations under execution will be accepted without much opposition. However, critics still argue over whether there is traveling to be a permanent consequence once all fluctuations are completed. One of the most of import factors in this would go on to be the economic status and the sustainability of stableness shown.
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