A reminder of the "Call for speakers and workshop facilitators" was sent to the web-support JISCMail list. [21 Feb 2008]

A reminder of the "Call for speakers and workshop facilitators" was sent to the website-info-mgt JISCMail list. [21 Feb 2008]

Many people I talk to are eager for "prices to get back to normal", but that's not how inflation works. Medora Lee does a good job reminding us of that.

When talking about inflation, it's important to remember that inflation is a rate that measures how fast prices are rising. If the consumer inflation rate drops from its 40-year high of 8.6% in May, prices are still rising - just not as fast.

Consumers won't feel immediate relief even as the inflation rate slows because many of those elevated prices are likely here to stay, said Michael Ashton, managing principal at Enduring Investments in Morristown, NJ.

"The price level has permanently changed," said Ashton. "Until your wages catch up (to inflation), it will continue to hurt."

Even when inflation returns to target 2% levels, prices won't return to "normal" 2019 levels. Prices will continue to grow, but at a slower and more predictable rate.

"Once core prices go up, generally they don't come down," Roussanov said. "In the last 40 to 50 years, we've never seen deflation in core goods. Most durable goods and services don't really come down in price."

And deflation is more dangerous than inflation because it can lead to a total economic collapse. When people believe that their money will buy more in a year than it will now, they stop consuming and just wait.

Additionally, modest, predictable inflation is seen as a sign of a growing economy. It incentivizes people to spend money now rather than waiting, allows wages to increase either in line or above inflation to boost the standard of living and makes it easier for businesses to plan, according to the Federal Reserve and IMF.

Jon Rahm’s play-off defeat in the Spanish Open by the world number 398 shows golf’s enduring capacity to yield upsets - but this trait rarely extends to the Presidents Cup, writes Iain Carter.

Mercedes have put the car from Lewis Hamilton's controversial 2021 championship defeat on display in the lobby at their factory.

The NIE Awards submission process will be open from approximately late Aug. through Nov. 28, 2022. 

Washington — Retaliation against workers who report unsafe or unhealthy conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic is illegal, OSHA is reminding employers.

AI Water is an intelligent voice-controlled hydration assistant application that leverages advanced artificial intelligence technology, including GPT analysis features It provides users with comprehensive services.

Many motorcycle crashes are caused by automobile drivers who fail to see motorcyclists

The Pennsylvania Compensation Rating Bureau announced that eligible carriers can request refunds of 2009 work comp security fund assessments through Feb. 24. Gov. Josh Shapiro in July signed HB 2310, a…

Let us remind ourselves of the basics of substation transformer parts, their operation principles, and do’s and don’ts for safety measures and precautions. For novice substation engineers it’s important to recognize every single detail of a transformer and later to... Read more

The post A quick reminder to substation transformer basics and safety precautions, dos and don’ts appeared first on EEP - Electrical Engineering Portal.

In a since-deleted post on the photo-sharing site, the 'Halloween' actress joins 'The Pursuit of Happyness' actor to discuss body positivity and health issue.

In a since-deleted post on the photo-sharing site, the 'Halloween' actress joins 'The Pursuit of Happyness' actor to discuss body positivity and health issue.

The Ministry of Home Affairs issued a reminder that “critical zones for Black Grouper aggregation remain closed to fishing until December 1, 2024,” with the reminder following “recent incidents where three commercial fishers are suspected of illegally fishing within these seasonally protected areas.” A Government spokesperson said, “The Ministry of Home Affairs reminds all commercial and recreational […]

Following a video circulating showing a person hanging on to a turtle, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources [DENR] reminded the public that marine turtles are afforded protection under the Protected Species Act 2003. A Government spokesperson said, “The Department of Environment and Natural Resources [DENR] wishes to remind the public that marine turtles […]

The Bermuda Police Service is reminding the public to “securely lock their vehicles before leaving them unattended” after four cars with keys left inside were stolen over the past nine days. A police spokesperson said, “Between Sunday, 29th September and Monday, 7th October 2024, four cars were reported stolen. Three of those vehicles were removed […]

Egypt’s purchase of a Chinese fighter jet is a reminder Cold War tactics are back in the Middle East Expert comment LJefferson 18 October 2024

The Egyptian army is a formidable force lacking air superiority capabilities to match its size and ambitions. China understood this predicament and offered to help.

The reported agreement for Egypt to buy the Chinese Chengdu J-10C 4.5 generation fighter jets is part of a broader shift from focusing on modernizing ground troops to bolstering the air force. The details of the deal have not yet been published. Nonetheless, it reveals Egypt has two motivations beyond backing its arsenal with another fighter jet.

Elusive Western technology

The most important motivation for Egypt’s military diversification strategy (and the biggest source of frustration) is the perceived Western technology starvation.
   
A quick examination of the map around Egypt shows that the most significant perceived threats to its national security are located in remote places where Egypt doesn’t traditionally enjoy ground troops’ presence. These include Ethiopia, the Southern Red Sea, Libya and the vulnerability a potential Israel–Iran regional war would create. From the generals’ perspective in Cairo, this list is more than a catalyst to build a modern and capable long arm.

The race started in 2015 after the Obama administration paused an arms transfer to Cairo in 2013 that included four F-16C Block 52 fighter jets amid toppling the Muslim Brotherhood government. The psychological effect of Washington’s decision in Cairo increased Egypt’s risk tolerance towards challenging its military ties with the US by diversifying away from it. 

Egypt ordered the MiG-29M2 fighter jets from Russia and the French Rafales this same year. In 2018, Egypt negotiated a $2 billion deal with Russia to purchase the Su-35 fighter jet, seen in Washington as crossing a red line and triggering a warning to Egypt that it would impose sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). This caused the deal to collapse.

The main factor of the US military sales in the Middle East is the upholding of the Israel Military Qualitative Edge principle over its neighbours. This principle requires the US to ensure Israel is superior over other regional countries’ strategic military capabilities, especially in air power.

For Egypt, this has long been a strategic vulnerability. The US turned down multiple requests by Egypt to purchase the active radar long-range AIM-120 AMRAAM fire-and-forget missile that can be launched from the F-16 fighter jets, the main striking force in Egypt’s arsenal. 

Unlike the Gulf and other states (such as Jordan and Turkey), Egypt was only allowed the old AIM-7 Sparrow and the AIM-9 Sidewinders, which are shorter in range and technologically inferior. Israel also allegedly pressured the Trump administration to refuse Egypt’s request to buy the F-35 stealth fight jets in 2019.

The US and Israel reportedly pressured France to not sell to Egypt the MBDA’s Meteor 100 km air-to-air missile with the Rafale fighters. Instead, Egypt received the 80 km MICA missile as part of the deal to buy 30 Rafales in 2021. Acquiring this advanced radar system and long-range missiles was likely behind Cairo’s deal to purchase 24 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft from Italy in 2022. However, it is unlikely that they will come with the full package.

Egypt thought the Chinese J-10C Vigorous Dragon fighter may solve this predicament. The Chinese fighter has a beyond-visual range AESA radar and can carry the PL-15 200 km air-to-air missile, similar to the Rafale’s Meteor. The J-10C’s price tag is attractive for Egypt at $40-50 million, much less than the F-16 and Rafales.

The Chinese fighters are also a hedge against Russia’s sanctioned fighter jets, traditionally a second choice for the Egyptian air force.

Risky manoeuvres 

This doesn’t mean Egypt is on a path to abandon its weapons purchases from its Western partners. Egyptian weapons procurement policy is not only motivated by technical considerations. It also serves political objectives. Egypt still receives $1.3 billion every year in military and economic aid from Washington. Regime security and backing are two objectives that will likely encourage Cairo to rely on Western weapons systems for decades. 

However, from Egypt’s military perspective, the time may have come to resort to the Cold War tactics of diversification and counterbalancing. Being forced to accept old technology during the significant modernization of its air force creates a technical and operational necessity to seek this technology elsewhere. 

The regional uncertainty since Hamas’s 7 October attack on Israel and the war that followed in Gaza, southern Lebanon, and Israel’s intermittent confrontations with Iran makes make it imperative for the Egyptian strategic planners to take risky manoeuvres while targeting specific capabilities they seem desperate to acquire. 

The threat to deploy CAATSA sanctions against Egypt in 2019 makes the J-10C deal with China an interesting case study for all Middle Eastern allies of the West. It shows an uptick in Egypt’s risk tolerance to overcome its technological dilemma. It allows other countries considering the Chinese fighters (mainly Saudi Arabia) to gauge Washington’s reaction and design their future approach accordingly.   

Another motivation is to pressure the US, UK, and their allies to reconsider their implicit embargo on certain advanced technology by showing that Cairo now has alternatives. This tactic seems to work. General Frank McKenzie, the former head of US Central Command, said during a congressional hearing in 2022 that Washington will finally provide Egypt with the F-15 heavy-weight air superiority fighter, a longstanding demand by Cairo.

Building favours

The J-10C fighter jet ticks all the boxes: It satisfies Cairo’s diversity strategy and technological needs. It is under the sanctions threshold since it is less technologically savvy than the most controversial J-20 5th generation fighters, the equivalent to Russia’s SU-35. And it takes Egypt’s military partnership with China to a new level.

The rumour that the Chinese fighters are bought to replace the ageing versions of Egypt’s significant F-16 fleet is a source of pride for Beijing since its military technology started to be seen as a competitor to Western technology. A heavyweight military power like Egypt relying on Chinese fighters would almost certainly boost China’s share in the regional weapons market, just like Cairo’s purchase of the Rafale boosted its popularity globally.

Businesses urged to revisit insurance needs, encourage workplace safety The Delaware Department of Insurance is sharing reminders with businessowners regarding important measures to take as phased reopenings begin and providing resources that can help companies enhance worker and customer safety throughout the reopening process. Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro recommends that businesses revisit their insurance plans […]

Commissioner Navarro encourages caution in repairs, meets with community Tropical Storm Isaias produced tornado activity, heavy rain and flooding, hail, and strong winds throughout the state, causing significant destruction in several Delaware communities. Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro visited residents and assessed damage on Wednesday. “While measuring the full extent of this storm will take time, […]

As Medicare Open Enrollment approaches, the Delaware Department of Insurance and its Medicare Assistance Bureau (DMAB) are sharing their annual consumer information update. From October 15 to December 7, consumers can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D) or Medicare Advantage Plan. DMAB’s free, confidential, unbiased one-on-one assistance can help residents determine if making a coverage change is the right choice. In 2022, the team completed 5,123 counseling sessions, saving beneficiaries a combined $1.5 million.

DOVER, Del. (October 19, 2023) – With hunting season now open, the Delaware Department of Agriculture Forest Service would like to remind our users of regulations as they relate to State Forest lands. This information can also be found in the Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide. To view all State Forest Rules and Regulations, please […]

On Memorial Day, we pay tribute to those fallen heroes who have died while protecting our country. To honor the dedication and service of all of our service members Governor Carney requests that the proper protocol for the U.S. Flag Code be followed this Memorial Day. Flags are to be lowered to half-staff on Monday […]

Title 29, Section 408 of the Delaware Code requires Delaware State agencies, including all public schools, to display a POW/MIA flag on National POW/MIA Recognition Day, the third Friday in September. Section 408 reads as follows: “§408 Display of POW/MIA flag. State agencies, including all public schools, shall cause a POW/MIA flag to be displayed […]

In accordance with 29 Del. C. §6332, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will hold virtual public hearings from November 9, 2020 through November 20, 2020 to review and take public comment on each state agency’s Fiscal Year 2022 budget request. A complete calendar of these virtual public hearings can be found here Notification […]

The Delaware Office of Highway Safety (OHS) is reminding drivers why it’s important to buckle up during the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) national Click It or Ticket enforcement effort. OHS is partnering with local and state police to conduct high-visibility enforcement starting May 20, – June 9, to ensure drivers and passengers buckle up every trip, every time.

Free one-on-one counseling saved Delawareans $3.8M in 2023 As Medicare Open Enrollment approaches, the Delaware Department of Insurance and its Medicare Assistance Bureau (DMAB) are sharing their annual consumer information update. From October 15 to December 7, consumers can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D) or Medicare Advantage Plan. DMAB’s […]

[Parliament of South Africa] Parliament, Tuesday, 12 November 2024 - The National Assembly (NA) will hold a plenary session scheduled to start at 10:00. Among the items on the agenda from 10:00 to 13:00 is the statement by the Minister of Water and Sanitation on water security in the country and a debate on 16 Days of Activism for no violence against women and children. The debate will be held under the theme, "Marking 30 years of democratic rights for women and fostering national unity to end gender-based violence".

In the UK, the first owner of a copyright work is the author, unless the work is created by an employee in the course of their employment. In that case, the copyright will belong to the employer unless the parties have agreed otherwise (eg between u...

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will open the new overpass on Mudd Tavern Road tomorrow , Oct. 23  in...

From playful spoofs to interrupting birds, here are our favorite moments with the official voice of nature.

The makers of Almond Breeze are being sued for false advertising, and it's a reminder not to believe everything you read on a package.

One of the most vivid symbols of modern man is the image of finger with a ribbon tied around it. That image symbolizes a reminder, of not forgetting a chore, a task or an event.

Appointment confirmation software now includes voice confirmations

Auto repair shop owners need to find ways to keep customers coming back in the face of potential economic uncertainty, according to distributor.

With approvals from 33 states, these on-demand code classes are available for 50% off for a limited time. Register by April 26th to take advantage of this special offer.

Grand Canyon National Park's summer season is set to begin in the next few weeks, plan ahead to make the most of your trip! https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/visitation-tips.htm

The advice was issued after the council revealed that it had to eject a coach from one facility.

An interactive television program guide system with program series reminder and recording capabilities is provided. The system allows a user to set a reminder or schedule a recording for a single episode or for each episode of a program series. In addition, other options may be provided that allow the user to determine, for example, whether to schedule reminders/recordings for episodes on all channels on which the program airs or only on a selected channels, whether to schedule reminders/recordings for all episodes including reruns or only new episodes, whether to schedule reminders/recordings for network or syndicated episodes, and whether to schedule reminders/recordings for episodes on all days or only on selected days of the week. Before the scheduled broadcast time of each episode of each selected program series, the system sends a reminder message to the user that reminds the user of the program episode or sends a record command to a videocassette recorder to initiate recording of the episode. The system allows a user to view a list of all currently requested program reminders and scheduled program recordings. The user may update, change, or cancel any entry in either list or the system may automatically update the lists to match new broadcast schedule information. If the user sets a reminder or schedules a recording that conflicts with an existing reminder or recording, the system may inform the user of the conflict and allow the user to resolve the conflict or the system may resolve the conflict.

A computer-implemented method and computing system for identifying, using one or more computing devices, an appointment scheduled for at least one user. Some embodiments may include determining, using the one or more computing devices, a present location for the at least one user and generating, using the one or more computing devices, a reminder for the appointment based upon, at least in part, the present location.

Pointers for anyone needing Birmingham & Solihull NHS serices.

A few quick status updates on: training for mods; ongoing mod work; restless_nomad; jessamyn; hiring.

Reminder: if you've considered applying for the mod job, the initial deadline is this weekend!

Red carpets might be going on indefinite hiatus as the international events calendar grinds to a halt. For now, enjoy these photos from the "Mulan" premiere. Sigh.

Before fears about the coronavirus scrubbed sports for the foreseeable future, Sunday was supposed to be the big reveal.

An influenza outbreak among newborn babies at Adelaide's Women's and Children's Hospital results in dozens being given antiviral medication and isolated in closed cots.