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How will Covid-19/Coronavirus Affect my Alternative Investment Portfolio? Part 48: January 31
Third U.S. death wave holds onto tenuous plateau for second week in a row, giving hope of a turnaround; World round up: South Korea puts a lid on their third wave while Spain, Portugal and South Africa are battered by new variants; State Roundup: Finally some welcome news for overstretched and beleaguered hospitals; Yet again more massive new unemployment weighs down economy; What "Great Recession"? 2020's dismal year dwarfs the damage and is economy's worst year since 1946; Financial cliff: Outlook for bipartisan cooperation fades and then rekindles with last-minute Sunday morning counter-offer.;Study finds sending stimulus checks to higher income households doesn't really stimulate economy and is poor return on investment;Merck surprises many and is forced to abandon its two Covid-19 vaccines after overwhelmingly poor results; Mutant strain knocks much anticipated Novavax vaccine off-balance after its "tried-and-true" technology produces mixed results in final human trials; Behemoth Johnson & Johnson's vaccine not the virus knockout-punch many expected, and its less effective results are further depressed by mutant strains; Mutant Watch: Health expert warns that rules of pandemic are changing, calling it the "Dawning of a New Age of the Variants"; Moderna's lab test shows vaccine only generates 1/6th the usual antibodies against South African mutant strain; Long-Haul Covid finally explained? Researchers find Covid-19 lives on in brains of mice long after the disease has cleared the rest of the body; Update on my portfolio strategy.
This week there was a flood of new information on virus spread, economic impact, investment repercussions, the financial cliff, vaccines and the faster-spreading mutations.
Click here to see an index to all articles
Third U.S. death wave holds onto tenuous plateau for second week in a row, giving hope of a turnaround
For the 53rd week in a row, the United States battled the coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2, which causes the Covid-19 disease. And as of Saturday morning, the official death toll had climbed to 447,558 (versus 424,187 last Saturday morning). Here's a quick summary of what's happened so far:
3. Then the third death wave began on October 9th and is currently tracking upwards. Unlike earlier waves, this was led by rural areas (although it later spread across the entire country and surged in all areas).
The label is obscuring what happened, so let's change the zoom to get a better look:
This was a moderately positive week for U.S. deaths, which plateaued for the second week in a row. While they remained elevated at record-setting levels, the reduced slope was still a huge improvement over the rapid increases of only a month ago.
Unlike the two previous waves, this third one is widely distributed throughout the country, which many experts say makes it much more difficult to contain and to fight. And as we discussed in late October, this has already caused acute shortages of critical drugs and key medical personnel needed to fight the disease and limit deaths. Then in November and December, we talked about how this is causing hospitals to overload in certain areas of the country. When this happens, hospitals are forced to deny care to incoming patients, both those infected with the virus and uninfected. And not only do more people die of Covid-19 unnecessarily, but others (via heart attacks and other completely unrelated problems) die unnecessarily, too. In response, many states have enacted varying lockdowns which may start to kick in and change the trajectory. And vaccines are also being rolled out which are expected to eventually stop the spread. But, lurking behind this is the threat of new mutated strains, which may prove much more difficult to contain than the original. And the longer it takes to finish-off the virus, the more new mutations we may see. So we'll be watching all of this very closely to see what happens.
Crystal ball: Third U.S. infection wave
This week brought some very welcome news. The U.S.'s infections dropped for a second week in a row. This is the largest and longest drop since the third wave started, several months ago.
At the same time, despite the drop, the virus is still spreading at extremely high levels (far in excess of the worst of the second wave). Still, the progress from previous weeks was very welcome.
World round up: South Korea puts a lid on their third wave while Spain, Portugal and South Africa are battered by new variants
How did other countries do this week? As we discussed in part six, South Korea uses an aggressive mixture of the Three T's of epidemic control (testing, tracing and treatment). And through most of the epidemic, it has been one of the world leaders in both minimizing deaths (one of the lowest per million) and also minimizing economic damage (their economy is now mostly open and growth is projected to barely shrink this year, while in comparison, the U.S. still has significant closures and is projected to take a -3.5% hit to GDP).
However, in recent weeks, South Korea has been experiencing a third death wave that's been more difficult to control. And while this wave is minuscule compared to other countries', South Korean officials are still very concerned and have announced stricter lockdowns. Recently, the country also discovered the presence of the new mutated strain of the virus (which spreads more quickly and may be more difficult to contain). There's no way to know how widespread it is. But if it becomes widespread, then it may make partial lockdowns much less effective than before.
How are things going now? This week, South Korea looked like this:
This was another good week for South Korea. For the third week in a row, deaths have dropped. And they appear to have put a lid on their third wave.
How's Sweden doing? We used to look at Sweden's stats in depth every week, because it was following an unorthodox lockdown-lite strategy. And the hope was that it might prove itself as a successful alternate model for other countries to follow. But after a recent surge of infections, hospitalizations and deaths, they've reversed course and their strategy is becoming much more similar to others. And so far, lockdown-lite has resulted in worse economic damage and a stratospheric death toll (versus the top countries). So we're now switching to a one-month schedule (and will look at them in one more week).
Meanwhile, the other nations in Europe have been hit by a brutal second wave of deaths. Initially, the continent was bruised badly by the first wave, but used aggressive lockdowns to drive infections and deaths to extremely low levels. So then, countries loosened travel restrictions and reopened schools (despite warnings from many health experts). And, as colder weather hit, the death toll has skyrocketed. So authorities were forced to enact a variety of new lockdowns (which we've described in detail in previous weeks). But then, complicating everything, has come the emergence in 2021 of mutant strains that are much more contagious than the original version, and more difficult to stop. So how are things going?
First, let's look at Spain. The country is a popular travel destination and was one of the first to get hit by the second wave. After 2 months, they finally peaked and deaths mercifully dropped off a little bit. This gave hope that they might finally be getting control of things and turning the corner. But more recently the country has been battling mutated strains and deaths have rebounded. How did they do this week?
This is not a good graph for Spain. For the third week in a row, deaths increased rapidly. And this week, they eclipsed the previous peak of their second wave.
Meanwhile, next-door neighbor Portugal closed its border with Spain in an attempt to control the virus. Their week looked like this:
This is a disturbingly bad graph. After initially getting control of their most recent death wave about a month ago, Spain saw the virus rapidly rebound. And this week, deaths shot up into the stratosphere. Portugal's Prime Minister, Antonio Cost, said hospitals are being overwhelmed:
"There is no point in feeding the illusion that we are not facing the worst moment. The situation is not bad but terrible. And we'll face this worst moment for a few more weeks, that is for sure."
How did some of their neighbors in Europe do? Let's look at the U.K., France, the Netherlands and Belgium. All of them were hammered by a second wave from fall to early December and then turned the corner around near the end of 2020. But then some of them were hit by mutated strains (the U.K., especially) which caused them to go into even stricter lockdown than early in the pandemic. So what's happening now?
The Netherlands had a decent week, with deaths trending downwards for the second week in a row.
On the other hand, Belgium (which had been very successful for several weeks in pushing down deaths), experienced a plateau and an uptick at the end of the week. So this was disappointing, and a potentially troubling sign.
France has been less successful than Belgium for the last couple of weeks, and that continued this week. This week, they suffered a small increase in deaths, which put them close to the previous highs for the second wave.
The U.K. has been one of the hardest hammered countries, due to the widespread presence of the more contagious "U.K. variant." This week was okay for them, with deaths rising and then falling. So it essentially plateaued, and perhaps this is a sign they may be turning things around. We'll watch and see. Meanwhile, the U.K. also passed the unwelcome milestone, this week, of 100,000 deaths. And it continues to suffer one of highest deaths per million of any country in the world (ranked #5).
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said this week:
"We do not yet have enough data to know exactly how soon it will be safe to reopen our society and economy. And if we relax restrictions too soon, we run the risk of our NHS [National Health System] coming still under greater pressure."
He also announced that the strict lockdowns will continue for at least another three weeks, with schools not reopening until March 8th at the earliest.
Meanwhile, let's take a look at a country we haven't previously examined in this series: South Africa. How did South Africa do this week?
This week, South Africa's deaths leveled off, which might be a welcome sign.
The country has continued a strict lockdown with a curfew in place. Still, its health system remains under siege, with staffing, space and critical supplies stretched past the breaking point.
For example, Gift of the Givers is one of the largest charities in the country. And its founder, Imtiaz Sooliman said this week that the situation for many is beyond desperate:
"Doctors will tell you that people died in cars while waiting to be admitted to the casualty ward, or they died in casualty before they could be seen. Ambulances and family members have said they would drive from hospital to hospital for up to six hours looking for a spot to get some oxygen."
And as we discussed in last week's "mutant strain update," South Africa is the source of a new variant of the virus that is more contagious and can re-infect people who recovered from the original. And despite the extremely strict lockdowns, it still appears to be spreading with shocking speed.
KwaZulu-Natal Research and Innovation Sequencing Platform (KRISP) has played a pivotal role in identifying the South African variants and others. And lead researcher Richard Lessells said, this week:
"Of the cases we've [DNA-]sequenced in South Africa, more than 90 percent are the new variant. It's amazing and terrifying how quickly it came to dominate, and it does feel like we're in the beginning stages of watching this variant, and the other new ones, become more dominant around the world."
Meanwhile let's look at another country that's new to our reports, Mexico. The country has done an unusually ineffective job of controlling the virus with its first wave barely subsiding before the second one hit. How did it do this week?
This was another bad week for Mexico. Deaths continue to climb and set pandemic high records. Meanwhile, Mexico's President, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (often called AMLO for short), announced he had become infected by the coronavirus and was undergoing medical treatment.
In the past, AMLO had refused to wear a mask in public and advised Mexicans that masks were unnecessary. Instead, he claimed, the best health defense against the virus was to maintain a clean conscience:
"No lying, no stealing, no betraying. That helps a lot to not get coronavirus."
As of Saturday morning, there was no word as to whether AMLO still believed this (and if so, which of the three portions of his own advice he had chosen not to follow). Health experts also noted that hours before AMLO disclosed he had contracted the virus, he had sat in coach class on a flight from San Luis Potosi to Mexico City.
Carlos Magis Rodríguez, a professor of medicine at the National Autonomous University in Mexico, said:
"One even expected or assumed, because of his way of exposing himself to so many people and not wearing a mask, that he would have been infected earlier."
In all the public appearances of López Obrador, except for when he went to visit [U.S. President] Trump, we saw him without a face mask."
Rodríguez also pointed out that the Mexican president is at higher risk because he is 67 and had a heart attack in 2013.
State Roundup: Finally some welcome news for overstretched and beleaguered hospitals
1. Second Wave: After the Memorial Day weekend (in May), we saw the second wave of infections (and eventually deaths) start in the Sunbelt and then spread to the Midwest and Northeast. And the people getting infected were significantly younger than those afflicted by the first wave (many of whom were going to parties and bars). In response, many states put in place virus control measures, including reinstatements of key portions of lockdowns and rules mandating the wearing of masks (in more than 50% of states). And the Sunbelt states made huge progress and fought the wave back down.
2. Third Wave: Then after the Labor Day weekend (in September) the U.S. also reopened schools and cooler weather began in the north. Almost immediately, a third wave began. While this started in just the Midwest and Northeast, it then spread across every major area of the country. And while earlier waves hit mostly urban areas, this new wave was led by rural places . This caused chronic shortages of 29 of the 40 most crucial drugs needed to treat Covid-19 as well as crucially needed medical personnel in many areas.
3. Then, last week came the first reprieve, with multiple states appearing to peak.
The Covid Tracking Project now puts out a very helpful map showing the locations of hotspots in the U.S. Here's what it showed this week.
Let's take a look at South Carolina, first.
This is much improved from only two weeks ago. Both infections and hospitalizations are sky high, but have also peaked and are coming down. Deaths are still rising, but that's a lagging statistic to the other two and would be expected to fall shortly along with them.
So overall, this is very welcome news.
Let's switch to Arizona. How's it looking this week?
Arizona has also had a rapid turnaround in just a few weeks. New infections have fallen sharply, as well as hospitalizations. And even deaths have begun to trend lower as well. So this is good to see.
How about Oklahoma?
Oklahoma's numbers here are also good to see. New infections and hospitalizations have been trending down for the last two weeks. And while deaths rose, they again are a lagging statistic. And at the end of the week, there were even signs of perhaps the start of a drop. So let's hope that continues.
So overall, the states' data gives some great news and continues to suggest that the U.S. is at the peak of the thirdwave, and may be headed downward. This was reiterated in the national hospitalization data, which also showed a drop:
This was also very welcome news for the overstretched and beleaguered health workers and hospitals.
At the same time, some health experts warned this may not mean final victory over the virus. As we discussed in previous weeks, many expect new, more contagious mutations to become widespread by late February and early March. If that happens, this may change the game completely and cause another wave (as has happened in other countries already). If that does occur, then the current drops could end up being just a temporary reprieve.
Yet again more massive new unemployment weighs down economy
Unemployment has historically been one of the most reliable indicators of when the U.S. has entered a recession and when its left one. So that's why we examine it very closely, every week.
And unfortunately, over the last 45 weeks, the economy has been hammered week after week by massive levels of new unemployment. This week 875,000 people were newly unemployed. This was a slight improvement over the 900,000 people newly unemployed last week.
So at this stage, we're 12 months into the pandemic, and still getting weekly job losses that are more than three times the pre-pandemic level (216,000 in February of 2020). Back in June, few expected the continuing damage would ever last this long. On Wednesday, the chair of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, emphasized the human toll exacted by this continuing situation, and the challenges it presents to the country:
"A resurgence in recent months in Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths is causing great hardship for millions of Americans and is weighing on economic activity and job creation."
What "Great Recession"? 2020's dismal year dwarfs the damage and is economy's worst year since 1946
This week, the Commerce Department released its much anticipated quarterly report on the entire economy (gross domestic product or GDP).
And those expecting a robust V-shaped recovery were disappointed, as the fourth quarter produced only a weak 4% (annualized) increase:
This fell far short of recovering from the deep hole of losses earlier in the year. This resulted in an overall 2020 total of -3.5%. This performance made 2020 significantly worse than even the brutal battering of the 2007-2009 financial crisis (-2.5%). And it was the largest decline the country has suffered since just after World War II in 1946:
And as a result of the tepid fourth quarter performance, the economy is still a massive $473 billion smaller than it was before the pandemic hit.
The Chief Economist of business advisory firm RSM, Joseph Brusuelas, summed it up this week, saying:
"The report represents a major disappointment and hit to the nascent recovery in the domestic economy."
Financial cliff: Outlook for bipartisan cooperation fades and then rekindles with last-minute Sunday morning counter-offer.
As we've discussed over the last several months, there's a huge, but invisible problem with the economy, that's largely unrecognized by the general public. But an overwhelming consensus of economists, analysts (across the political spectrum) and policymakers at the highest levels (including the Federal Reserve) all agree that it's essential we find a solution to it. And if we don't, millions of Americans and businesses are destined to fall over a financial cliff with devastating long-term consequences. If this happens, then we may suffer a debilitating double dip recession (the dreaded "w-shaped recovery"). And investors in many alternative investment asset classes (including certain real estate sectors) could be caught up in a world of hurt. This financial cliff is caused by several things:
1. Impending collapse of crucial safety nets: This spring, 10-12 million people who lost jobs due to the crisis are scheduled to lose critical benefits they're currently depending on. These were provided by two government programs (the CARES Act in mid-2020 and extended by the second stimulus passed at the end of 2020). The first safety net is the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), which gives workers, who've been unemployed so long that they've exhausted state unemployment benefits, an additional 24-week lifeline. The second is the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) for workers in the gig economy who are otherwise unable to get the same benefits that traditional workers receive when they lose their jobs. Both of these programs expire in March 14, 2021. If that happens and these workers don't get any additional help, then the damage to the economy would be severe, immediate and potentially long-lasting.
2. Foreclosure and rental eviction tsunami: on March 31st 2021, moratoriums on evictions and foreclosures are scheduled to expire. If this happens, then a tidal wave of 8 million delinquent homeowners are set to be foreclosed on and lose their homes (dwarfing the worst of the Great Recession). And 12 million more delinquent renters (owing an estimated $70 billion in back rent as of 1/23/2021 and $25 billion more in utilities as of 12/2020) will be evicted, as well. If the tsunami is allowed to occur, then it will have a devastating effect on real estate and the wider economy.
3. Student loan resumption: The CARES Act suspended payments and interest on $1.7 trillion in student debt during the pandemic. And the Federal Reserve estimated this saved borrowers from paying about $7 billion a month. But on January 1st, this protection was lifted. So this has the potential to exacerbate the other two issues.
All of these things could have been addressed months ago, if Congress and the former President could have agreed on a new pandemic aid bill. However, all efforts to agree were stymied by enough twists and turns to write a novel. (For those who're interested see the detailed summary here in Part 44 on December 26th, 2020). But, at the very last minute (at the end of December 2019), a new law was successfully passed. The legislation was a combination of $1.4 trillion of regular government funding along with a $908 billion Covid-19 relief bill.
So this was welcome news. But there were some notable issues with this.
1. Hard hit Restaurants and bars left out in the cold: Some analysts calculate this will "leave millions more out of work."
2. $25 billion in rental assistance helpful, but "not enough to avoid eviction crisis": This isn't enough to cover the $70 billion owed + $25 billion in utilities and late fees. Nor does this cover any new rent, utilities and late fees that will be owed from January 1 onward.
3. Not enough funding for economically crucial transit industry: $14 billion is less than half of what the transit industry needs to avoid "devastating service cuts and layoffs".
4. $600 Stimulus checks criticized for being insufficient for the unemployed.
5. No aid for U.S. states hammered by covid-19 bankruptcies and layoffs:
So the new President proposed a $1.9 trillion stimulus package, which included spending for all the above issues. Last week, it met with stiff opposition from moderate members of the opposing party (which we will call the "small stimulus party"). This week, the White House went on a charm offensive to reach out to members of the opposing party and get their support. However, they were largely rebuffed. In response, the President indicated he would come down from the $1.9 trillion number. But the opposing party still didn't budge, and largely rejected it. So, the large stimulus party announced late in the week that it would move forward to push through the legislation, using the budget reconciliation process. As discussed previously, the large stimulus party has a majority in the house and a razor-thin effective majority in the Senate. And they could use the "budget reconciliation process" to pass much of the stimulus package with only a simple majority vote. This would require no participation from the other political party. On the other hand, passing a bipartisan bill would require 60 votes in the Senate, meaning that at least 10 "small stimulus party" Senators would need to agree. Then, on Sunday, there was some potentially significant news. A group of 10 of the small stimulus party's senators wrote to the President offering an alternative proposal for more Covid-19 pandemic-aid and stimulus.
Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana (and a member of the small stimulus party) said that the proposal comes to "about $600 billion" and would include $160 billion for virus control measures and some form of more targeted direct stimulus checks.
Cassidy suggested the stimulus checks might be as high as $1000 and done in a more targeted fashion (versus the $1400 original proposal from the White House).
In addition to Senator Cassidy, the other senators who signed Sunday's letter were Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio, Susan Collins of Maine, Todd Young of Indiana, Mike Rounds of South Dakota, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Jerry Moran of Kansas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina.
The Senators will deliver the details on Monday. And we'll continue to watch and see what happens.
In addition, the CDC also announced on Friday that the federal moratorium on evictions would be extended from January 31 through March 31. This is welcome news for renters, but no additional relief was given to landlords (many of whom are still required to meet debt payments by lenders).
Study finds sending stimulus checks to higher income households doesn't really stimulate economy and is poor return on investment
Opportunity Insights (OI) is a nonprofit research organization that was created in cooperation with Harvard University, Brown University, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. And they have been compiling high-frequency data (such as credit card usage) which are able to more quickly analyze the economic effects of the crisis than government reports (which typically lag by a month or more).


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The International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (CPR) officially launched its inaugural set of administered arbitration rules at a reception held on May 13,2013, at the New York office of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett L.L.C.
The CPR non-administered arbitration rules2 have been used for years in large B2B complex commercial disputes by users who appreciate the flexibility they offer while reducing the costs. Nonetheless, parties may prefer the ongoing involvement of an administrative organization for certain categories of disputes. With these new rules, CPR is responding to the request expressed by its members3 and users to also offer an administered arbitration option.
The CPR Administered Arbitration Rules (the "Rules") are based on CPR's well-tested and comprehensive non-administered arbitration rules, an attractive alternative to the UNCITRAL arbitration rules.4 They have been carefully drafted by arbitration experts from CPR's Arbitration Committee5 to meet business needs and offer only what parties need from an administering institution, and no more. CPR will assist the parties during the critical arbitrator selection phase, handle all billing and advances on costs with the input from the Tribunal, address any arbitrator challenge that may arise,6 and perform a limited review of the award before it is issued. The administrative services are designed to make these rules cost-efficient. For example, submissions of filings and pleadings to CPR will be in electronic format only. To streamline the process, the Tribunal will interface directly with the parties for scheduling matters and advise CPR of the status. Attorneys already on staff with CPR, and experienced with arbitration, will assist the parties and administer cases out of CPR's New York office. Below is a short description of some of the key features of the Rules.
Parties using the Rules will have access to the elite Panel of CPR Distinguished Neutrals7 worldwide. All CPR arbitrators have proven experience conducting arbitrations for complex commercial disputes and are strictly vetted and evaluated before being admitted to the CPR Panels8.
The rules offer numerous other arbitrator selection options to ensure that the parties have a range of options to address their specific needs and ultimately maintain control over the process. As a variation of the default process, the parties can, for example, provide in their arbitration clause that the two party-appointed arbitrators will designate the Chair11 or that all three arbitrators will be appointed by CPR using a list-ranking process with the parties' participation. The clause can also provide that the unique CPR-screened process for the appointment of party-appointed arbitrators will be used. Pursuant to the screened process provided by Rule 5.4, the parties each select their own party-appointed arbitrator without that arbitrator knowing which party has appointed them because CPR acts as a "screen" during the selection phase. Finally, the parties can also specify in their arbitration clause that they will use a sole arbitrator instead of a three-member tribunal. In that case, the clause can specify whether the arbitrator will be jointly designated by the parties-with CPR's assistance only if the parties are unable to agree-or selected by CPR using a list-ranking process with the parties' participation.
The administrative fee schedule has been designed to be user-friendly and offer certainty to arbitration users. The claimant is required to pay a flat filing fee of $1,750 and there is no separate filing fee for counterclaims. In addition to the filing fee, the parties are required to pay a flat administrative fee12 based on a scale of amounts in dispute.13 rather than a percentage of the amount in dispute.14 The fee schedule is also designed to encourage efficiency. The administrative fee is based on the delivery of the final award by the Tribunal to CPR for review within 12 months of the initial pre-hearing conference.15 CPR must approve any scheduling orders extending beyond this period, and has discretion to convene a call with the parties and arbitrators to discuss the factors relevant to such an extension. CPR may charge an additional $2,000 administrative fee for each additional 6-month period.
A provision directly built into the Rules allows the Tribunal to suggest that the parties explore settlement or mediation at any time during the arbitration.30 This provision has long been a part of CPR Non-Administered Arbitration Rules and can lead to consensual resolution opportunities spotted by arbitrators during the proceeding.
If mediation is used, the mediator shall be a person other than a member of the arbitral Tribunal.
Any dispute arising out of or relating to this contract, including the breach, termination or validity thereof, shall be finally resolved by arbitration in accordance with the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution ("CPR") Rules for Administered Arbitration (the "Administered Rules" or "Rules") by [a sole arbitrator] [three arbitrators, of whom each party shall designate one, with the third arbitrator to be appointed by CPR] [three arbitrators, of whom each party shall designate one, with the third arbitrator to be designated by the two party-appointed arbitrators] [three arbitrators, of whom each party shall designate one in accordance with the screened appointment procedure provided in Rule 5.4] [three arbitrators, none of whom shall be designated by either party]. The arbitration shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.s.C. §§ 1 et seq., and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be entered by any court having jurisdiction thereof. The place of the arbitration shall be [city, state].
We further agree that the above dispute shall be submitted to [a sole arbitrator] [three arbitrators, of whom each party shall designate one, with the third arbitrator to be appointed by CPR] [three arbitrators, of whom each party shall designate one, with the third arbitrator to be designated by the two party-appointed arbitrators] [three arbitrators, of whom each party shall designate one in accordance with the screened appointment procedure provided in Rule 5.4] [three arbitrators, none of whom shall be designated by either party]. [We further agree that we shall faithfully observe this agreement and the Administered Rules and that we shall abide by and perform any award rendered by the arbitrator(s).] The arbitration shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. §§ 1 et seq., and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be entered by any court having jurisdiction thereof. The place of arbitration shall be [city, state].
to pay any administrative fees.
dedicated to advancing ADR in their particular industries.
Industry Litigation at Siemens serves as Vice-Chair.
scheduling of the proceeding promptly after its constitution.
tabid/265/ ArticleType/ ArticleView / ArticleID/ 614/Default.aspx.
proceedings ancillary to the arbitration.
29. See Rules 15.6 and 15.7.
Olivier P. Andre is Special Counsel and Director of Dispute Resolution Services, International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution (CPR).


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Anabolic Steroid: The Truth About Methenolone Acetate (Primobolan)
by Gethealthandbeauty January 9, 2023 January 9, 2023 011
One of the few steroids with both oral and injectable are available one of them is methenolone acetate. Although the anabolic steroid Primobolan is no longer as well-known as it once was, it still has a significant, almost cult-like following because of rumors that Arnold Schwarzenegger loved it. Primobolan is undoubtedly one of the less harmful steroids we can use in terms of side effects. Still, in recent years, many users have switched to Masteron because it is more widely accessible and much less likely to be faked.
However, although these two steroids are frequently contrasted in truth and functionality, they differ significantly. More importantly, it is impossible to ignore the counterfeiting issue. Yes, Primobolan is one of the most commonly counterfeited steroids on the black market, particularly tablets, but it is also available in large quantities in both forms. Nonetheless, while legitimate Primo, as it is widely known, is a very mild steroid, it can be well suited for cutting cycles, but in general, there is little benefit for most. Primobolan is a mild anabolic steroid, so it is frequently a good option for female users of anabolic steroids because the side effects are manageable and often nonexistent when used responsibly.
What Is Anabolic Steroid Powder?
Methenolone Acetate (Primobolan) Powder
Benefits Of Methenolone Acetate (Primobolan) In Bodybuilding
Steroid Advantages:
Drostanolone Propionate Powder
Methenolone Vs Drostanolone Propionate: Who Is Stronger?
Buy Anabolic Steroid Powder
Steroids are synthetic testosterone, also known as anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) Trusted Source. They can be taken as a supplement to replace or supplement your body's natural testosterone levels.
Testosterone is a hormone that is commonly associated with men. The average male's body contains 300 to 1,000 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL) of this hormone.
Testosterone is best known for causing puberty-related changes in the male body, such as making the voice more profound and the body hairier. It also stimulates the production of sperm in the testicles.
Anabolic steroids are not always harmful when used correctly. They're used for a variety of medical and athletic purposes, such as:
Gaining body mass from increased protein production (about 4.5 to 11 pounds).
It reduces your overall body fat percentage while increasing muscle strength and endurance.
Increasing the density of your bones.
Increased production of red blood cells.
Enhance performance in strength-related sports like weightlifting.
"Stacking" steroids with other substances for increased muscle mass, such as growth hormones and insulin.
When you have a condition that causes your muscles to waste away, such as liver disease or cancer.
Methenolone Acetate powder is an oral or injectable anabolic steroid that bodybuilders use to promote lean muscle mass, prevent muscle waste, and improve physical performance and strength. Indeed, due to its long-acting, mild anabolic properties, as well as its low androgenic properties. Given that both men and women can use it without worrying about liver toxicity or aromatization, it is considered one of the safest anabolic steroids on the market.
Methenolone Acetate (Primobolan) powder is a DHT derivative (more precisely, a structurally altered form of DHT). It has an additional double bond at carbons one and two, which contributes to the anabolic nature of this hormone. It also has an extra 1-methyl group, which protects it from hepatic breakdown. The presence of the acetate ester protects it from hepatic metabolism even more.
Because methenolone acetate powder is the only oral steroid, not a C17-aa steroid, its oral form is especially advantageous. Although it lacks C17-aa and is not toxic to your liver, it is mild or regarded as weak in comparison to other steroids, implying that most men won't experience the same level of anabolic activity. To buy this product, you can visit our website AASraw , the top methenolone acetate powder manufacturer.
Methenolone acetate powder from AASraw is a popular anabolic steroid that bodybuilders use during the off-season to help them lose fat and lean muscle mass.
For various reasons, the methenolone acetate steroid powder is a popular choice among bodybuilders for burning fat during cutting cycles.
Methenolone acetate powder has little effect on the body's natural hormone production, so bodybuilders and athletes won't experience any adverse side effects.
Muscle definition and metabolism have improved.
Post-workout muscle recovery is accelerated.
Increased strength and endurance without adding bulk.
Increases SHBG and LH, allowing for free testosterone.
Collagen synthesis both prevents and speeds up an injury.
It was used in the treatment of breast cancer and is also commonly used in sports, bodybuilding, and powerlifting as a performance enhancer, providing increased protein synthesis, which reflects in the gain of lean muscle tissue and aids recovery.
Drostanolone propionate powder is a unique and exotic anabolic steroid with an exciting history and various applications. It was initially used as an anti-estrogen, but it is now used to help improve athletic performance and muscle gain.
You will receive the correct dosage of this powder, a user guide, and information about its uses from AASraw, a reputable Drostanolone propionate powder manufacturer.
Metenolone steroid is well-known for its ability to increase lean muscle mass and strength. Many people use Primobolan to boost their physical performance and avoid muscle loss during their cutting cycles. Metenolone binds to androgen receptors in muscle tissue, promoting lean muscle growth without excessive bulking. It also aids in producing red blood cells, increasing oxygen delivery to the muscles. This can result in increased stamina and recovery times.
Drostanolone (also known as dromostanolone) is a highly effective synthetic androgenic anabolic steroid that functions similarly to testosterone. Drostanolone is combined with hormone therapy in postmenopausal women with recurrent breast cancer.
The original form of Masteron is Masteron propionate, also known as drostanolone propionate. It has been used by many people and is generally regarded as the more popular variety. When most people and brands talk about Masteron, they mean Masteron propionate.
Comparing the potency or strength of various steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs is neither appropriate nor accurate. These substances have multiple effects on the body and can pose significant risks and side effects.
Even in the best-case scenario, anabolic steroids can only be legally purchased by only officials who have permission, so many of the anabolic steroids advertised online are selling, but you can buy them from our platform, AASraw the best manufacturer of Methenolone acetate powder and Drostanolone Propionate powder.. It's best to look into the legal status of steroids in your country to see where they fall. Visit our website. We are supplying it all over the world.
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For centuries Quakers have objected to war and armed service on grounds of conscience, and fought for the right to conscientious objection. Now we are campaigning for exemption to military taxation.
In Britain, there has not been military conscription since the 1950s, but citizens continue to pay for war through our taxes. Conscientious objection in Britain today is about upholding the right to refuse to pay for others to kill on our behalf.
Read more about the history of conscientious objection and Quakers.
15 May marks International Conscientious Objection Day, celebrating resisters of war past and present. Quakers join people of all faiths and none at these events.
Let us know if you're holding your own commemoration. Possible venues are listed by the Peace Pledge Union.
You can support conscientious objectors who have been imprisoned for refusing to join the military by writing to them.
Each year on 1 December, supporters of conscientious objection mark Prisoners for Peace Day. War Resisters' International publishes a list of prisoners who are either conscientious objectors or who have taken nonviolent actions to disrupt preparation for war.
Find out more about Prisoners for Peace Day.
Visit Conscience, the national NGO campaigning for an increase in the proportion of tax spent on peacebuilding.
Visit War Resisters' International, the organisation supporting conscientious objectors around the world.
Register as a Conscientious Objector (offsite link) by making a public statement of conscience about military taxation.