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Conference— “Austin Clarke, Black Studies and Black Diasporic Memory” – Repeating Islands

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Conference— “Austin Clarke, Black Studies and Black Diasporic Memory” – Repeating Islands


Honoring the legacy of Austin Clark—and co-organized by Darcy Ballantyne (Toronto Metropolitan University) and Ronald Cummings (McMaster University)— “Austin Clarke, Black Studies and Black Diasporic Memory” will take place on September 26-27, 2024, in Toronto, Canada. The conference includes a keynote ​address by Rinaldo Walcott (University at Buffalo) and closing remarks by David Chariandy (University of Toronto). [To register, go to Austinat90.]

Day 1: LiveLab, McMaster University Psychology Complex, 2nd Floor 1280 Main Street W. PC202A Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1

Day 2: Thomas Lounge, Toronto Metropolitan University First Floor, Oakham House 55 Gould Street Toronto, ON M5B 1E9

Description: Between 1968 and 1974, Austin Clarke was a visiting professor at a number of ​universities in the United States, including Yale, Duke and the University of Texas at ​Austin. During these years in the U.S., Clarke helped in setting up Black Studies ​programs at Yale and Harvard University. However, despite the significance of his ​presence in American academia of this time, the memory of Clarke’s work and his ​contributions in founding Black studies is largely forgotten today. This conference ​refers back to this time in order to think about the various transnational contexts of ​Austin Clarke’s work, as well as his foundational place in Black diasporic creative and ​intellectual life to ask and consider: What does it mean to remember this history and to ​engage with it at a time when we see the push towards institutionalizing Black studies in ​Canada?

For more information and to register for the conference, see https://austinat90.my.canva.site/

You may also contact the organizers at austinclarkeconference@gmail.com

Also see https://www.torontomu.ca/news-events/events/2024/09/austin-clarke–black-studies-and-black-diasporic-memory/



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Mandy Moore, la star di This is Us attacca un paparazzo: "Mi ha seguita tutto il giorno" – Movieplayer

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Mandy Moore, la star di This is Us attacca un paparazzo: “Mi ha seguita tutto il giorno”  Movieplayer



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DISNEYLAND HALF MARATHON TRAINING – 5 Weeks to go!

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DISNEYLAND HALF MARATHON TRAINING – 5 Weeks to go!


There are only a few weeks until the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend. (I think it’s technically 4 weeks but I started sharing my training this way last week, so we’ll go with it.) If you’re training for one of the Run Disney races or any race coming up within a few weeks of this race day – follow along for tips, motivation and accountability. Let’s go!!

Watch the Disneyland Half Marathon Training Week Recap on the Run Eat Repeat YouTube channel here:

YOU GOT THIS.

 

 

 





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Identifying Crises and the Economic Significance of Avoiding Them

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Identifying Crises and the Economic Significance of Avoiding Them


In the world of finance, understanding and managing crises are crucial for maintaining robust portfolio performance. Significant drawdowns can erode years of accumulated gains. Therefore, identifying potential equity market drawdowns and understanding their economic implications is a key focus for asset managers. This post will explore a sophisticated identification methodology I developed in collaboration with Merlin Bartel and Michael Hanke from the University of Liechtenstein. The approach identifies equity drawdowns using advanced spatial modeling, which can be used as a dependent variable in predictive models.

Understanding the Challenge: Drawdowns in Equity Markets

Equity markets are inherently volatile, and periods of crises are an inevitable aspect of investing. A drawdown is not merely a temporary decline in an asset’s value; it represents a period during which investors may incur significant financial loss. The economic significance of avoiding drawdowns cannot be overstated. By minimizing exposure to severe market downturns, investors can achieve higher risk-adjusted returns, preserve capital, and avoid the psychological toll of significant losses.

Traditional methods for identifying and managing drawdowns often rely on simplistic triggers, such as moving averages or volatility indicators. While these methods can provide some level of insight, they lack the depth and sophistication that is required to capture the complex, evolving nature of financial markets. This is where advanced techniques come into play.

The Clustering and Identification Methodology

Our approach begins by leveraging the concept of clustering to identify patterns in equity return sequences that may indicate the onset of a drawdown. Instead of using a binary approach (crisis vs. no crisis), we propose a continuous-valued method that allows for varying degrees of drawdown severity. This is achieved by employing advanced clustering methods, such as k-means++ clustering, to categorize sequences of equity returns into distinct clusters, each representing different market conditions and subsequently use spatial information to transform the classification into a continuous-valued crisis index, which can be used in financial modelling.

  • Equity Return Sequences and Clustering: We utilize overlapping sequences of monthly equity returns to capture the dynamics of how crises develop over time. Rather than defining a crisis based on a single negative return, we identify a crisis as a sequence of returns that follow specific patterns. More recent returns in these sequences are weighted more heavily than older returns.
  • Minimum Enclosing Ball and Spatial Information: To refine our identification process, we use the concept of a minimum enclosing ball for the non-crisis clusters. This involves identifying the smallest sphere that can enclose all the non-crisis cluster centers. Using the relative distances from the center of the ball and their direction, we can create a continuous measure of crisis severity. The approach provides a more nuanced understanding of crisis risks by incorporating both the distance and direction of return sequences.

The Economic Significance of Avoiding Drawdowns

The primary economic benefit of this advanced methodology is its ability to provide indications of potential drawdowns, thereby allowing investors to reduce or eliminate market exposure during these periods. By using a data-driven, continuous-valued crisis index, investors can better manage their portfolios, maintaining exposure during stable periods while avoiding severe downturns. This is because the crisis index is predictable, which significantly improves the risk-adjusted returns of investment strategies, as evidenced by empirical testing.

Conclusion

Identifying and avoiding equity drawdowns is essential for achieving superior long-term investment performance. In our joint research, Bartel, Hanke, and I introduce a sophisticated, data-driven methodology that enhances the identification and, subsequently, prediction of crises by incorporating spatial information through advanced techniques. By transforming hard clustering into a continuous variable, this approach offers a nuanced understanding of crisis severity, enabling investors to manage their portfolios more effectively with predictive modelling.

The use of spatial information via the minimum enclosing ball concept is a significant advancement in financial risk management, providing a powerful tool for avoiding costly drawdowns and enhancing overall portfolio resilience. This methodology represents a step forward in the ongoing quest to combine academic insights with practical, actionable strategies in the field of finance.

If you liked this post, don’t forget to subscribe to the Enterprising Investor.

All posts are the opinion of the author. As such, they should not be construed as investment advice, nor do the opinions expressed necessarily reflect the views of CFA Institute or the author’s employer.

Image credit: ©Getty Images / Ascent / PKS Media Inc.

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CFA Institute members are empowered to self-determine and self-report professional learning (PL) credits earned, including content on Enterprising Investor. Members can record credits easily using their online PL tracker.

Explained: What Is The New UEFA Champions League Format, What Has Changed, And How Many Teams Will Qualify – MSN

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Explained: What Is The New UEFA Champions League Format, What Has Changed, And How Many Teams Will Qualify  MSN



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Wilmer Valderrama Details Terrifying Plane Incident in New Book

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Wilmer Valderrama Details Terrifying Plane Incident in New Book


Wilmer Valderrama Details Terrifying Flight Incident in New Memoir
Corey Nickols/Getty Images

In his new book, Wilmer Valderrama recalled a frightening experience that became a turning point in how he approached his life in Hollywood.

“A group of actors and insiders is flying back to Hollywood from New Orleans after the Super Bowl, but nothing is smooth about this flight,” Valderrama, 44, wrote in An American Story: Everyone’s Invited, out Tuesday, September 17. “A winter storm rages across the skies, and the mood on board is shaky.”

Valderrama was “in a small chartered plane” with his That ’70s Show costars Ashton Kutcher and Danny Masterson, as well as Colin Hanks and a handful of other friends.

“Outside is nothing but darkness and sleet,” he continued. “The plane is pitching up, down, side to side. I’m feeling lightheaded. It’s getting hard to breathe. Oxygen masks drop from the ceiling, and I wonder if they dropped because the turbulence shook them loose or if it’s something else.”

‘That ’70s Show’ Cast: Where Are They Now?

Related: ‘That ’70s Show’ Cast: Where Are They Now?

That ’70s Show managed to cultivate some of the most iconic moments in pop culture history. It’s also responsible for catapulting its younger stars Topher Grace, Laura Prepon, Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Wilmer Valderrama and Danny Masterson into the spotlight. Created by Mark Brazill, Bonnie Turner and Terry Turner, That ’70s Show centered on a […]

After asking the pilot — who had already put on “a full Air Force mask, far bigger than ours” — Valderrama and his pals took action.

“We fumble with our masks. Something is definitely not right with this plane,” the actor wrote. “Colin clutches the armrests of his seat with a death grip. Ashton’s jaw has dropped to his lap. … Our plane is going down.”

According to the captain, carbon monoxide was filling the interior of the plane because “an oxygen valve got stuck closed.” The effects were noticeable.

Masterson, 48, told his costars, “I have no feeling in my arm,” prompting Valderrama and Kutcher, 46, to “share one mask” and give Masterson an extra. The pilot informed the passengers that they had to land, but they were “still a long way from home.”

“I’m struggling to imagine a best-case scenario if we crash high on a mountainside and they can’t find us,” Valderrama recalled. “Ashton’s gonna wonder who to eat first. It’s probably gonna be me, because he loves Latin American food.”

Wilmer Valderrama Details Terrifying Flight Incident in New Memoir

Ashton Kutcher, Colin Hanks Anna Webber/Getty Images; VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images

After an “incredibly turbulent” landing, the plane reached the ground safely. “We let out a cheer, but it feels like a lifetime has just passed. It’s not a happy cheer,” Valderrama wrote. “It’s a wobbly cheer, like we’re all trying to process what just happened.”

The emergency landing caused the group to be delayed in El Paso, Texas, on their way back to California. While waiting for a new plane to retrieve them, Valderrama called his mom. “I don’t tell her what happened,” he wrote. “I don’t want to worry her. All I say is, ‘I love you.’”

Valderrama didn’t specify when exactly the incident took place, but he noted that it was “a few years into That ’70s Show,” which debuted in 1998. While the version of the story that made its way to the press at the time was slightly exaggerated, Valderrama hasn’t stopped thinking about what he experienced.

When That ’70s Show concluded in 2006, Valderrama kicked off his “hiatus years,” which gave him time to travel and “process these larger questions” about the future of his career. Eventually, he returned to the industry — but he was particular about the roles he wanted to take on. One of those roles was Dell Gordo in Larry Crowne, which was cowritten and directed by Tom Hanks, who gave him “some of the best lessons about life and professionalism I’d ever witnessed.”

Valderrama also received some advice from Johnny Depp in the wake of the plane incident, when he felt like he was “burning the candle at both ends.” The duo were put in touch through an agent, who set up a meeting with Depp, 61, while he was filming Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest. Depp encouraged Valderrama to “focus on one character at a time” and to “bet on yourself” in order to find success.

“[After we talk], I’m thinking, What if my life had ended that day on the plane?” Valderrama wrote. “All of us are going to die someday, and we have to prepare for what’s next. But it’s also important to live here and now.”

An American Story: Everyone’s Invited is available now.

How Personalization Creates Engagement for a World-Class Producer Experience

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This post is part of a series sponsored by AgentSync.

If there’s one area where insurance agencies and carriers can stand out, it’s in the quality of the producer experience they offer. After all, compensation tends to be standardized; benefits usually all boil down to about the same thing; and the actual job of selling insurance just is what it is, regardless of which products you’re selling.

All things being equal, a talented and high-performing insurance producer can choose to work with the distribution partners that make their job easier and more enjoyable.

A personalized producer experience

Everyone likes to feel special and know they’re seen as an individual. Insurance producers are no different. Creating a custom and personal producer experience (starting with onboarding and lasting through commission payments and the entirety of the relationship) is one way to do just that.

But, if you’re an agency or carrier working with tens, hundreds, or thousands of licensed producers, you might be wondering what exactly you can do to add personalization to your business operations. How can you give producers white-glove treatment at scale without needing an army of administrative staff to do so?

The key can be found in using the right type of technology to create an experience that each producer will appreciate while not adding extra administrative burden to get there. Here’s just one example of how a solution like AgentSync can help in your quest to provide producers with the type of experience that stands out in their minds and makes them more likely to want to work with you (and tell their friends to do the same!).

Customized onboarding portal

What does it look like when a producer agrees to join your agency? If your answer includes lots of paperwork to fill out, or many different websites to visit and enter information into, you could be losing producers before they even start.

A customized, branded, and user-friendly onboarding portal transforms the tedious process of getting a producer ready to sell into something that measures up to the convenient online experience producers have come to expect in their personal lives.

This setup allows producers to access a pre-populated profile, with up-to-the-day license information, based on basic inputs like their NPN. Because the system pulls each producer’s information from the industry’s source of truth, they don’t have to enter details that already exist. They can also double-check that their information is up-to-date in the producer database and request corrections if it’s not.

In addition, the portal allows producers to upload documents like their E&O insurance, answer background questions, and can also be integrated with other technology solutions like background checks and compensation management to eliminate the need for duplicate data entry in other places.

A customized producer onboarding portal not only removes roadblocks for the producer, it takes a load off compliance admin staff as well. They can see exactly where each producer sits in the process and don’t have to chase each one down for missing information. This dramatically reduces their workload while improving their experience, all while getting producers ready to sell faster than ever.

Two-way daily data sync

A personalized experience can only truly be “personalized” if it includes accurate data. It doesn’t help producers or administrative staff if a pre-populated form is full of bad information. That’s actually the opposite of helpful!

A two-way sync with the industry’s source of truth is vital if your goal is to provide a personalized experience. With this advanced capability, which updates each day with any new information, producers can speed through their onboarding process, only entering information that’s new or different from what’s already on record. They can even initiate change requests if they see something that’s wrong – all without leaving their browser tab.

Some technologies have the same data sync but only do it on request (and for an extra charge). Such periodic updates just aren’t the same as having accurate-to-the-day information baked into the system to ensure what you’re seeing really reflects the industry’s source of truth on a daily basis.

There’s nothing “personalized” about requiring a producer to enter information into your system that they’ve previously updated with the insurance industry’s system of record, but which you don’t have access to due to an outdated data source.

Personalized license renewal and CE reminders

How many people would it take to send out personalized emails to every producer at your agency, or with whom your carrier contracts, to remind them of upcoming license renewals and any continuing education credits they need in order to renew those licenses? Don’t forget to multiply this number by how many states those producers hold licenses in and by their different license types.

The answer would be “zero” if you had AgentSync!

Using technology that draws information from the industry’s source of truth for state licenses and carrier appointments, AgentSync can automatically alert any producer in advance of any license expiration date, including reminders about missing CE credits they need to complete before submitting their renewal application.

This is a level of personalized service that most agencies and carriers can only achieve for their producer force if they have a massive team of administrative staff. Even if you had unlimited resources, no one really wants to be in charge of manually contacting each producer to remind them of their renewals and CE deadlines. This is a job much better left to technology. The result: Producers feel personally taken care of without burdening licensing managers and other compliance staff with tedious tasks they hate.

How personalization drives engagement

When someone sees a generic message, their instinct is to tune it out. We can point to evidence of this in our daily lives. After all, how many emails do you ignore because they don’t pertain to you? On the other hand, when we receive highly relevant, personalized messages, we tend to pay attention and take the necessary action. Voila! Engagement!

An engaged workforce is essential to a successful business. With producers acting as the front-line revenue-generating people in your insurance organization, keeping them engaged is pivotal to your overall success. And personalization is key to that engagement.

Personalizing more than producer onboarding

Producer onboarding, licensing, appointments, and continuing education are a few areas where technology can take personalization from a tedious, manual task to an effortless experience. Producer compensation management is another.

When you provide producers with a personalized and transparent view into how they’re earning commissions, they become more engaged. They can see where their efforts pay off the most and where they have room for improvement that’ll earn them real dollars and cents.

For a personalized and engaging producer experience that can differentiate your insurance carrier, agency, or MGA/MGU from the rest with a unique combination of trust, transparency, and technology, check out AgentSync.

To go even further and integrate seamless personalized producer compensation management into your workflow, read our partner Varicent’s blog on this exact topic.



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What if……? ~by Chris G. Bennett

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One of my own quotes from yesteryear!

The LORD just pulled me up short in my tracks.

How would you answer this?

“I have been telling you and telling you that I am coming very soon.

What if — I didn’t mean I AM coming for My Bride?

What if — I AM coming first, as always promised, in power and authority in order to set revival in place?”

Testimony

We see Signs of this being fulfilled here in The United Kingdom.

This past weekend, here in Burton upon Trent, we saw The LORD beginning to stir Revival Fires with things beginning to move that haven’t been happening before!

e.g. Little things — attendance boosted with street evangelism and outreach bringing new people into the Sunday morning meeting; ‘Angel feathers’ falling; healings — one attested so far, more to come.

We see signs of this in many other places — America, Europe, Australasia, Africa, Asia, and South America (…. where reports say the Argentine Revival has never really stopped!)

 

~ Chris G. Bennett

Chris G. BennettChris Bennett came to salvation in 1962 but didn’t begin ministry until 2007 — a late-comer! Now mandated by The LORD to prophesy and open old wells of revival in the U.K., but especially in Wales. He has also operated Healing Rooms, and worked with deliverance teams, all with his wife, Linda. Happily now doing whatever The LORD asks of them! Founder, with wife Linda, of their ministry The Upper Room Encounter.

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How can mortgage brokers increase market share in the US?

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That starts with gaining a comprehensive understanding of what’s best for the client and which solution fits their overarching financial goals. “Even with the rates being as high as they were, we stayed really busy – just because it all goes back to [putting in] time,” he said.

“It’s finding what’s the right opportunity for the client. I call [the first phone call] a discovery call: I spend 15 minutes with them and say, ‘I want you to write your financial goals in a box… and once you write those down, let’s find a way to hit them.’”

How can newer mortgage brokers find their feet in the current market?

Bolling gave a presentation at Fuse detailing strategies for brokers to triple their business through high-level networking, defined branding, and effective use of social media to sharpen the effectiveness of marketing.

For newer brokers or those who cut their teeth in the industry during the pandemic, getting to grips with the turbulent market of recent years may have been especially daunting. Still, it’s essential that those professionals are not discouraged by market ups and downs, Bolling said – and that they remain willing to take a leap of faith.

Treading that path is something of a rite of passage for industry newcomers, according to Bolling. “Invest in yourself. It sounds almost cliched, but I was terrified,” he said. “And honestly, if it wasn’t for my wife pushing me to do this, then I probably would still be either working in retail or maybe searching for a job, because a lot of it shut down.

Modernizing Insurance Sales with the SelectsysTech RQB Platform

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This post is part of a series sponsored by Selectsys.

In the realm of insurance, outdated legacy rating platforms and reliance on Excel-based systems create significant hurdles for carriers and MGAs. These challenges often manifest in restricted data access, cumbersome maintenance, and inefficient distribution. The SelectsysTech API-driven Rate, Quote & Bind (RQB) Platform, hosted on Azure with auto-scaling capability, offers a transformative solution to these issues. By prioritizing comprehensive data capture and transparency at every stage, this platform seamlessly integrates with IMS and other core systems without the need for additional coding. Moreover, it adeptly manages rating versions and facilitates smooth transitions across multiple rate updates, streamlining operations for carriers and MGAs alike.

The Evolution of Rate, Quote & Bind Processes

Historically, the insurance industry has relied heavily on manual processes and outdated systems, leading to inefficiencies and errors. Legacy systems often lack the flexibility and scalability needed to keep up with the fast-paced demands of modern insurance operations. The SelectsysTech RQB platform addresses these challenges by offering a digital-first approach that automates and enhances the entire rate, quote, and bind process.

Key Features and Benefits of the RQB Platform

  • Comprehensive Data Capture and Transparency: One of the primary advantages of the RQB platform is its ability to capture and manage comprehensive data throughout the insurance lifecycle. By ensuring data transparency, the platform enables better-informed decision-making and enhances the overall efficiency of the insurance process. This comprehensive data capture also helps in meeting regulatory requirements and improving risk assessment.
  • Seamless Integration: The RQB platform is designed to integrate seamlessly with existing Insurance Management Systems (IMS) and other core systems. This integration does not require additional coding, which significantly reduces the time and resources needed for implementation. As a result, carriers and MGAs can quickly adopt the platform and start experiencing its benefits without major disruptions to their operations.
  • Streamlined Operations and Rating Management: Maintaining rating versions and managing multiple rate updates can be challenging with traditional systems. The RQB platform simplifies this process by automating the management of rating versions and facilitating smooth transitions across updates. This leads to increased productivity and cost savings, allowing underwriters and sales teams to focus on more strategic tasks.

Enhancing Sales Efficiency with Turn-key Comparative Rating

For MGAs and wholesalers, navigating the landscape of multiple P&C insurance carriers and integrating third-party services can be daunting tasks that impede sales processes and market entry. The RQB platform offers a turn-key comparative rating solution that integrates with over 30 carriers and supports various third-party services, including Google API, Core Logic, E2Value, Zillow, Verisk, DTC (Distance To Coast), VIN Service, and Address Cloud.

Real-time Comparative Rate, Quote & Bind

The RQB platform’s Single-Entry Multi-Carrier Comparative Rate, Quote & Bind capability allows users to enter data once and receive comparative indications from multiple carriers in real-time. This eliminates the need for re-keying submissions and speeds up the process of obtaining quotes and binding policies. This efficiency not only enhances the sales process but also improves customer satisfaction by providing quicker and more accurate quotes.

Case Study: Transforming Insurance Sales with RQB

Consider a mid-sized MGA struggling with inefficiencies in their sales process due to reliance on outdated systems. By implementing the RQB platform, they were able to integrate their various lines of business and streamline their operations. The platform’s automation capabilities reduced the time required to generate quotes by 50%, allowing their sales team to handle more clients and close deals faster. Additionally, the improved data management provided valuable insights into customer preferences, enabling the MGA to tailor their offerings and improve customer satisfaction.

Future Trends in Digital Insurance Platforms

The future of insurance lies in digital transformation. Platforms like RQB are at the forefront of this evolution, continuously innovating to meet the changing needs of the industry. With advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning, future iterations of the RQB platform will offer even more sophisticated data analysis and automation capabilities. These technologies can analyze vast amounts of data in real-time, identify patterns, and make predictions, enabling even more precise and customized quotes.

Conclusion

Modernizing the rate, quote, and bind processes can lead to increased efficiency, reduced complexity, and improved competitiveness in the insurance industry. The SelectsysTech RQB platform is designed to address these challenges, providing a comprehensive, cloud-based solution that enhances sales efficiency and streamlines operations for carriers, MGAs, and wholesalers. Embrace the future of insurance with the RQB platform and transform your sales process today.

Visit our website at Selectsys.com for more insights, services and solutions.

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