George Alter, acting director of ICPSR since November 2009, has accepted the position of Director for a five-year term starting in September.
Alter has been in important administrative roles at ICPSR since 2007, when he started as Associate Director of ICPSR and Director of the Collection Development unit.
His appointment as Director marks an important milestone in ICPSR's development, and will help the consortium take advantage of new research and preservation opportunities over the next several years.
"The ICPSR Council, ISR leadership and I have full confidence in George's ability in leading ICPSR during this period," said ISR Director James S. Jackson.
"As we look toward new opportunities and challenges in data management, we're truly excited about the future of ICPSR under the capable leadership of George Alter," said Ann Wolpert, chair of the ICPSR Council.
Along with his position at ICPSR, Alter holds two academic appointments at the University of Michigan -- Professor of History and Research Professor at ISR's Population Studies Center. He is also president of the Social Science History Association in 2011.
Before coming to ICPSR, Alter was a professor in the History Department at Indiana University, where he had held various positions since 1979. He holds a bachelor's degree and Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Master's in Applied Economics from U-M.
"I'm thrilled to serve this great organization at such an exciting time. There has never been as much recognition of the important work that we do at ICPSR, and the coming years promise to be challenging and productive," Alter said.
Alter replaces Myron Gutmann, who left ICPSR after 8 years as director to lead the National Science Foundation's Social, Behavioral and Economics Directorate.
US in liquidity trap?
I have re-read the FOMC statement. Its wording is somewhat contradictory and in some points is very similar to the set of conditions defining so-called liquidity trap.
“To promote the ongoing economic recovery and to help ensure that inflation, over time, is at levels consistent with its mandate, the Committee decided today to keep the target range for the federal funds rate at 0 to 1/4 percent.”
There are two statements in one sentence. The Federal Reserve has to keep the rate low in order to galvanize the economy. In turn, the economy did not show any reaction to the low rate during the past three years and is not expected to grow another two years:
“The Committee currently anticipates that economic conditions--including low rates of resource utilization and a subdued outlook for inflation over the medium run--are likely to warrant exceptionally low levels for the federal funds rate at least through mid-2013.”
To keep inflation in the target range one needs to be flexible and to have an opportunity to react when inflation expectations alter. The rate fixed between 0 and ¼ percent is not a medicine any more. It can not counteract inflation rise because it is fixed. It can not counteract liquidity trap because the rate can not be negative. Hence, the Federal Reserve should not mix economic growth and inflation in one pot. This statement is self-contradictory and reveals a trivial misunderstanding of economics.
All in all, the Federal Reserve admits that it has failed to improve real economic growth by near-zero rates and by pumping money into banks through the QE mechanism. Moreover, the FOMC does not see any real improvement at a mid-term horizon. Considering the experience of Japan who has been struggling through a liquidity trap for decades one may suggest that the U.S. is already in the trap and all current efforts are worthless.
Malay Banana Pancake with Brown Coconut Filling (Lempeng Pisang Inti Kelapa Gula Merah)
By: Roz@HomeKreation
INGREDIENTS:
1 Overripe Horn Banana - mashed
1 scoop Flour
2 tbsp Condensed Milk
2 tbsp Sugar (can skip if using sweeter bananas)
1/2 tsp Salt
Brown Coconut Filling (Grated Coconut + Palm Sugar)
Banana Leaf
METHOD:
Mix all well.
Spread thinly on a piece of banana leaf.
Spread coconut filling on top of banana mixture.
Fold in the middle & place on a griddle.
Flip & cook on the other side once it get browned.
Slice into smaller pieces when served.
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Ini menu berbuka puasa kelmarin. Along sempat juga buat Mee Jawa (tengok mangkuk kat belakang dlm gambar kat bawah) tapi tak sempat nak snap gambo Mee Jawa sbb org kat rumah ni dah tak bleh nak tunggu, so bayang2kan lah sendiri ya...hehehe tapi semua menu kelmarin sedap2 banget (sedap sbb lapo kot...). Resipi ni agak2 sahaja untuk panduan anda semua tetapi jgn risau sbb resipi ni gerenti menjadi walaupun resepi hanya agak2 & tidak perlu sukatan tepat. Dulu Along ada tunjuk Lempeng Pisang tapi ada kelainan sedikit dari yg ini, boleh rjuk kat sini.
BAHAN2:
1 biji Pisang Tanduk masak ranum - lecek
1 senduk Tepung
2 sb Susu Pekat
2 sb Gula (boleh kurang jika guna pisang yg lebih manis)
1/2 st Garam
Inti Kelapa Parut + Gula Merah
Daun Pisang
CARA2:
Campurkan bahan2 sehingga sebati.
Ratakan ke atas sekeping daun pisang & ratakan inti kelapa di atas nya.
Lipat dua & bakara atas kuali leper.
Balikkan apabila telah masak di bahagian sebelah nya.
Masak sehingga perang & garing di luar.Potong kecil sewaktu menghidang.
FOMC has announced a new recession period
I do not understand the euphoria of the stock market participants yesterday. Formally, the FOMC has admitted that the US economy is sinking into a new recession period which will likely end in 2013:
“… The Committee currently anticipates that economic conditions--including low rates of resource utilization and a subdued outlook for inflation over the medium run--are likely to warrant exceptionally low levels for the federal funds rate at least through mid-2013…”
There is no prospective of any economic recovery any time soon and deflation knocks the door. As we have shown in this blog the rate of unemployment will not fall below 9% with employment/population ratio fixed at 58%.
The market players should get to the point during the today’s session and the S&P 500 will be fall again.
Lemongrass & Cajun Roast Chicken (Ayam Panggang Serai & Cajun)
By: Roz@HomeKreation
Source: Nor@SecubitGaram
Original source: HanaMemories
Translated into English by HomeKreation
INGREDIENTS:
(RECIPE UPDATE IN ENGLISH IS WORK IN PROGRESS, WILL UPDATE LATER DUE TO LATE HOUR RIGHT NOW & IF ANY REQUEST)
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Buat dah beberapa hari sudah tapi tak sempat nak update sbb travel gi KL & baru jer balik ni. Maceh kekawan yg tinggal mesej sewaktu ketiadaan tuan rumah ya. Terpanggil nak mencuba resepi yg mudah ni apabila ternampak kat rumah Nor@SecubitGaram. Maceh Nor sebab tolong promote lauk yg mudah tapi tersangat sedap ni. Tak pernah rasa Cajun lagi, so hubby tolong gi kedai lepas balik kerja, nasib sempat nak buat ni walaupun pulang lewat dari opis.
Source: Nor@SecubitGaram
Original source: HanaMemories
Resepi di ubah suai sedikit & di taip semula untuk mudah rujuk. Kalau nak resepi asal atau Nor punya cara, sila tekan link di atas.
BAHAN2:
½ ekor Ayam - potong2 (Along ikut Nor guna ketulan kecil)
½ labu Bwg Putih*
2" Halia*
2 btg Serai* (* blend dgn sedikit air)
1 sudu mkn Lada Hitam - tumbuk kasar (Along cuma letak 1 st)
2 sb Kicap Masin (resepi asal guna kicap manis)
1 st Madu (di kurangkan dari resepi asal)
½ labu Bwg Putih*
2" Halia*
2 btg Serai* (* blend dgn sedikit air)
1 sudu mkn Lada Hitam - tumbuk kasar (Along cuma letak 1 st)
2 sb Kicap Masin (resepi asal guna kicap manis)
1 st Madu (di kurangkan dari resepi asal)
Garam
Butter & Olive Oil (Along letak dua2)
Kentang, Carrot, Bwg Besar - potong empat (Along cuma letak kentang)
1 sb Sos Tiram
2 sb Sos Cili
Butter & Olive Oil (Along letak dua2)
Kentang, Carrot, Bwg Besar - potong empat (Along cuma letak kentang)
1 sb Sos Tiram
2 sb Sos Cili
2 SB Cili Mesin (Along tambah sendiri)
Cajun
CARA2:
1. Campurkan kesemua bahan2 kecuali butter & cajun
Perap 2-3jam atau pun semalaman dlm peti sejuk.
2. Letakkan ayam dlm bekas kaserol thn panas & taburkan potongan butter & olive oil.
Taburkan cajun.
3. Bakar suhu 230C selama 1 jam atau sehingga ayam masak.
Setiap 15-20min siramkan jus ayam ke atas ayam supaya permukaan atas tidak terlalu kering.
Setiap 15-20min siramkan jus ayam ke atas ayam supaya permukaan atas tidak terlalu kering.
Is gold a new bubble?
Gold price rockets up as a natural haven during the turbulent financial markets. It is reflective type behaviour from the past when gold played a very specific role in finances. Currently, gold is a normal commodity with its price fully driven by the market. Therefore, the rocketing gold price likely repeats the trajectory of house prices before 2006. Some experts say that it was a bubble in sense that the house prices were speculative. Gold can not be an exclusion from "normal" market behaviour . When the market players understand this simple rule the price will plummet down. I expect this fall in 2011 because the negative tendency in economic performace has no alternative and there is no really safe haven for assets.
Percent of Adults Who Smoke Cigarettes and their Attitudes About Their Health Risks
Results from Gallup's annual consumption poll show that the percent of adults that report smoking has stabilized around 22%, the level it has more or less been over the last five years. The highest percentage of adult smokers ever measured by Gallup was 45% in 1954 and has been declining steadily since.According to a Gallup article discussing the results of this poll, the fairly consistent poll results regarding adults' attitudes about smoking over the last decade also suggest that adults have "made up their minds" about the health risks of smoking and secondhand smoke despite new scientific findings. About 2 in 3 smokers now believe that smoking is "very harmful" to adults who smoke, tying the record high that was previously reached in 2004. This is still substantially lower than the percent of adults overall and adult nonsmokers that believe that smoking is "very harmful," which is 81% and 86% respectively.
A smaller percentage of Americans across all groups believe that exposure to secondhand smoke is "very harmful," with only 35% of smokers, 54% of adults overall and 59% of non-smokers believing it is "very harmful."
BL cf
