Photo Post: Dalí & Daytrippers in Figueres, Spain

Dalí Theater-Museum

Surrealist work have fascinated me ever since first being uncovered to them in my Ninth-grade artwork class, particularly the works of Spanish artist Salvador Dalí. Whimsical works like The Persistence of Memory and Swans Reflecting Elephants tickled my fancy, whereas non secular items like The Sacrament of the Last Supper and Crucifixion (Corpus Hypercubus) impressed me with their mysticism.

Dalí Theater-Museum

Within the three years I lived and labored in Spain, I went on a number of pilgrimages to take a look at the works of a few of my favourite Spanish painters, wish to Toledo for El Greco and Barcelona for Joan Miró. The mid-sized city of Figueres, simply south of the French border in northeast Spain, was the vacation spot for my third painter-pilgrimage, because it was Dalí’s hometown, last resting place, and placement for his private Theater-Museum, a museum that makes you're feeling such as you’ve stepped into the body of one in every of his personal weird work.

Fig leaves on the flag of a city named after fig trees

This surrealist expertise didn’t let me see any of his most well-known works, but it surely was however an in-your-face glimpse into his wild creativeness. Even inside the primary lobby, the craziness was already cranked as much as 11: there was a Cadillac sedan configured in order that it was raining inside, as a result of, in spite of everything, why can’t it rain each outdoors a automotive and inside? Your entire period of my go to was stuffed with such oddities, and I discovered myself each laughing out loud and blinking in astonishment at what Dalí had give you.

Church of Sant Pere

After such an otherworldly expertise on the Dalí Theater-Museum, it was time to return again all the way down to Earth. I chilled out at a close-by vermouth bar named, so creatively, El Vermut, having fun with a pleasant little glass of home vermouth with a really Catalan tapa of boquerones (vinegar-cured anchovies) and pa amb tomàquet (bubbly bread with grated tomato).

Castle of Sant Ferran

Figueres was seething with daytrippers from Barcelona after I was there, however aside from the Dalí draw, there actually isn’t a lot to see on this nondescript city named for the Catalan phrase for “fig bushes.” Sure, there’s a so-so Gothic church the place Dalí was born, in addition to a sprawling fortress on the prime of a hill, however until you’re gaga for Dalí like I used to be, spend your time in additional attention-grabbing locations like Girona to the south.

What was your favourite picture from this publish? Does Dalí’s craziness drive you loopy? Share what you suppose beneath within the feedback!

For extra photos, take a look at my album on Flickr.

Rick Reilly: No question, Utah is the national champion - ESPN The Magazine

Rick Reilly: No query, Utah is the nationwide champion - ESPN The Journal

Going beyond the unemployment rate

Each month, the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics releases a flood of knowledge about employment and unemployment within the U.S. And each month, the lion’s share of the eye goes to 1 determine – the unemployment price, which was a seasonally adjusted four.eight% in January. (The February report comes out on Friday.)

However the unemployment price is only one indicator of how the U.S. financial system is doing, and it’s not all the time the perfect one. Merely being out of labor isn’t sufficient for an individual to be counted as unemployed; she or he additionally must be available to work and actively looking for work (or on non permanent layoff). In any given month, the unemployment price can rise or fall primarily based not simply on how many individuals discover or lose jobs, however on what number of be a part of or go away the lively labor drive.

There are, in actual fact, 5 different month-to-month measures of what the BLS calls “labor underutilization” in addition to the official unemployment price, in addition to scores of different measurements – labor drive participation charges, employment-population ratios, common weekly wages, common hours labored and extra. Figuring out what these different knowledge factors are, the place they arrive from and the way they’re calculated is crucial in understanding what they do – and don’t – inform us concerning the nation’s employees.

Take the idea of unemployment. Since U.S. economists first started making an attempt to systematically measure unemployment in the 1870s, one of many fundamental points has been defining exactly what “being unemployed” means – since many individuals who don’t have jobs, akin to retirees and college students, might not really need paying work. (Because the BLS itself famous once upon a time, “Being employed is an observable expertise, whereas being unemployed typically lacks that very same concreteness.”)

Since 1945, the official definition has been that to be thought-about unemployed, you need to not solely not have a job however be obtainable for work (i.e., not too sick to work) and have actively appeared for a job prior to now 4 weeks. In the event you’re neither employed nor, in accordance with the official definition, unemployed, you’re not thought-about a part of the labor drive.

The BLS derives its unemployment knowledge from the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey, which interviews about 60,000 folks every month (and never, as is typically supposed, by counting how many individuals drew unemployment advantages). The CPS covers all the civilian non-institutional population ages 16 and older, together with self-employed folks; jail inmates, residents of psychological services and houses for the aged, and active-duty army personnel are excluded. (A separate survey of 146,000 private- and public-sector employers produces the month-to-month nonfarm-payroll numbers.)

Since 1994, no main adjustments have been made in how unemployment is measured, although there have been some modest updates to the CPS over time. For instance, a 2010 change raised the higher restrict on reporting how lengthy somebody has been jobless from “99 weeks and over” to “260 weeks and over” with a view to higher monitor long-term unemployment.

As many observers have identified, the official unemployment definition leaves out some vital teams. The underemployed – part-time employees who would like to work full-time – are counted among the many employed. And discouraged employees – individuals who’d like a job however have stopped trying as a result of they don’t imagine any work is out there – aren’t counted as a part of the labor drive in any respect.

However the CPS asks folks much more than whether or not they're working or looking for work. Questions embrace how lengthy jobless folks have been out of labor, how not too long ago they appeared for work, why part-timers aren’t working full time, why folks select to not search for work, and even why folks with jobs might not have been working throughout the survey interval (for instance, in the event that they have been sick, on trip, quickly laid off or snowed in).

All that additional knowledge allows the BLS to calculate six totally different measures of labor underutilization, labeled U-1 by means of U-6, with broader or narrower parameters than the official unemployment price (which is called U-Three). The broadest, U-6, consists of all “marginally connected” employees (together with discouraged employees) and involuntary part-time employees. The seasonally adjusted U-6 price stood at 9.four% in January; since 1994 it has ranged from 6.eight% (in October 2000) to 17.1% (most not too long ago in April 2010). Whereas the U-6 sometimes runs anyplace from Three to 7 proportion factors increased than the common unemployment price, with the hole wider throughout recessions and narrower in good financial occasions, it tends to comply with the identical sample because the official unemployment price.

Past the unemployment price, a key metric within the month-to-month jobs report is the labor drive participation price – the share of the 16-and-over civilian non-institutional inhabitants both working or on the lookout for work. The participation price rose for a number of many years, peaked in early 2000 at 67.Three%, then started falling; in January it was 62.9%, about the place it was within the late 1970s. Labor economists typically agree that waves of retiring Baby Boomers clarify half (however not all) of the decline, which has been particularly steep for men in their prime working years.

There’s additionally the employment-population ratio, which measures employed folks as a proportion of the 16-and-over civilian non-institutional inhabitants. Although the ratio has some quirks, it’s much less affected by seasonal differences or short-term fluctuations in labor-market conduct than the unemployment price. In accordance with the January jobs report, the seasonally adjusted employment-population ratio was 59.9%, three-tenths of a proportion level increased than it was a 12 months earlier.

Just like the labor drive participation price, the employment-population ratio will be affected by extra folks retiring or deciding to return to high school. That’s why many labor-market economists deal with the 25-to-54 age group, which strips out most college students and retirees. In January, the employment-population ratio for that subgroup was a seasonally adjusted 78.2%, a determine that’s been fixed for the previous 4 months. Whereas that’s higher than it was throughout the lengthy hangover from the Nice Recession (solely 75.2% of 25- to 54-year-olds have been employed in January 2011), it’s nonetheless beneath the indicator’s pre-recession excessive (80.Three% in January 2007).

It’s additionally essential to do not forget that not all employment is created equal. Earlier than the Nice Recession, fewer than 20% of all part-time employees stated they have been working lower than 35 hours every week for financial causes, akin to slack demand or incapacity to search out full-time work. Through the stoop, that share jumped to a 3rd of all part-timers; the “involuntary part-time” share has fallen since, to 22.2% of all part-timers in January, however nonetheless is above typical pre-recession ranges.

Notice: This publish has been up to date with January 2017 unemployment knowledge. It was initially printed in June 2013.

Matters: Economic and Business News, Economic Policy, National Economy, Work and Employment

File income tax returns early

 

Characteristic Articles: Taxes

 

File revenue tax returns early

Linda Geist, Author, Extension Communications; Story supply: Andrew
Zumwalt, Assistant Extension Professor & Affiliate State Specialist, Private Monetary Planning,
College of Missouri Extension

 

The saying goes, “Early to mattress and early to rise makes a person
wholesome, rich and smart.” Early submitting of revenue tax returns can
do the identical for a lot of, says College of Missouri Extension private
finance specialist Andrew Zumwalt.

 

Missourians obtain a median revenue tax refund of $2,612,
in keeping with IRS information. That's cash that you just’re not receiving
curiosity on, says Zumwalt, so file early, declare it and put it to
good use.

 

When cash is direct-deposited into your checking account, it will possibly arrive
in as little as seven days.

 

Early filers can get a head begin on saving and paying down debt.
The earlier you pay down payments, the extra you'll save on curiosity
costs. Cash in hand or in an emergency fund can prevent from
going additional in debt, Zumwalt says.

 

There are a number of different causes to file early, Zumwalt says. For those who
discover that you just owe extra charges and are usually not entitled to a refund,
you might have extra time to plan on how you'll pay this previous to the
submitting deadline.

 

Dad and mom and college students can use the tax kinds to estimate revenue for
pupil monetary help.

 

You can also fund a person retirement account for 2015 earlier than
the submitting deadline, which falls on April 18 this yr. Contribution
limits are $5,500 for these beneath 50 and $6,500 for these 50 and
older.

 

Zumwalt says MU Extension Volunteer Earnings Tax Help (VITA)
websites are open now statewide. VITA volunteers present free revenue
tax submitting companies to certified people. For details about
the VITA tax program in Missouri, go to
extension.missouri.edu/hes/taxed/vitasites.htm.

 

 

This story was initially printed by MU Extension information:
http://extension.missouri.edu/n/2726

Final replace:
Monday, March 28, 2016

 

How to help the senior in your life get better sleep with a weighted blanket

Senior Weighted Blankets: A Pure Sleep Help for Older Adults

Why do not seniors sleep in addition to youthful adults? It is tougher to get relaxation for this inhabitants for some causes listed under: 

Older individuals are likely to get much less deep REM sleep at night time, a weighted blanket may also help them sleep extra soundly and be extra alert throughout the day resulting from higher sleep habits.

Older individuals can get chilly simply, it doesn't matter what the surface temperature and senior blankets hold you heat as a result of the polypellet content material of the blanket, it retains you heat.

Senior blankets can simulate a sense of consolation, they simulate a “hug” with the regular stress that they produce on the physique. This blanket, due to it’s evenly distributed provides that swaddled unstated feeling that we like of being cuddled and comforted, a featherweight blanket can consolation and calm the particular person.

As we age, we have a tendency to supply much less melatonin and get up usually at night time.Senior blankets assist with the manufacturing of melatonin and serotonin within the mind, inflicting the particular person to sleep extra soundly at night time.

A senior blanket (Three-5 lbs) is quilted and made out of excessive cotton materials and weighted by non poisonous polypellets (consider a bean bag and a blanket).

All blankets are product of 100% cotton materials

Mosaic Weighted Blankets comprise business grade non poisonous poly pellets and are customized sewn on business grade machines  Senior weighted blankets are a frivolously weighted blanket designed for the older inhabitants and is a good sensory integration instrument which may profit sleep and relaxation.

Senior blankets are Three to five lbs and created by Laura LeMond, the creator of Mosaic Weighted Blankets. Laura created the blanket together with her mom in thoughts, her mother is 82 and so they have been profitable for the next causes:

“My mother is normally by a chilly air conditioner and she or he likes the blanket, as a result of it retains her heat, and she or he is sleeping higher with it on her legs at night time. She hauls it all around the home together with her, she actually loves it. For some motive 5 to 7 pm is a tough time for mom, and she or he makes use of her blanket then. Older individuals are likely to complain about being chilly, and the blanket actually helps with that.”

It is a fantastic reward for the vacation - neglect hand lotion, cleaning soap and stamps... make a "high quality of life" distinction by shopping for one for that particular senior in your life. 

For extra data accessible at www.mosaicweightedblankets.com

A California Movie Theater is Trying to Appeal to Families With Playgrounds | Movie News

(photograph: Cinepolis.com)

Think about you go to see Disney's new live-action remake of Magnificence and the Beast and whereas the present is taking part in there are children operating round and climbing on a jungle health club and happening massive slides throughout you. That is what might be the expertise at some "Cinepolis Junior" theaters in California making an attempt to attraction extra to youngsters, and with them entire households.

The Los Angeles Occasions has a report on the gimmick, which technically may not enable to be used of their in-auditorium playgrounds throughout the film, however supposedly that additionally is not being dominated out utterly. The thought is as a substitute that for a couple of further per ticket, households will need to arrive early and let the youngsters tire themsleves out a bit on the buildings earlier than sitting down for the present. 

That really would not sound a lot completely different from the playgrounds we used to play on on the drive-in earlier than the solar went down and the film started. Or too far off from taking part in video video games within the foyer proper till showtime. Besides that it is within the auditorium proper subsequent to the seats and brightly coloured, probably distracting you and tempting the youngsters, particularly if there are any gradual moments on display screen. 

Theater house owners will attempt something, in fact. Earlier than it was an try to get extra adults in theaters by providing dinner, drinks and child-free screenings. Now they're again to making an attempt to woo the youngsters and households extra, in all probability as a result of 3D is beginning to fade as a assured most well-liked amenity today. And when even the newest Ice Age sequel can bomb, that market can appear determined. 

Included within the Cinepolis Junior play areas are two slides, stationary pogo sticks, climbable buildings, mini merry-go-rounds, ball pits, hanging foam-filled luggage and extra. There may even be extra kid-friendly snack decisions like Cheetos, and clearly these particular auditoriums will present solely child and household pleasant releases. 

How about this, although: let the youngsters play on a playground in the course of the film and have the home lights on and all the pieces, but in addition rent skilled caretakers to oversee so the mother and father not solely do not must endure by that headache but in addition can keep away from no matter annoying colourful rubbish the youngsters are demanding to see within the first place and see Logan or Get Out as a substitute. 

Or we will simply take the youngsters to a park playground without spending a dime after which go house proper after and watch a film in our lounge.

 

 and 

 

“Island Zero” movie poster — in case you had any doubts about the genre.

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