FREE Module #1 of 5 for MLC video course

As a special limited-time introductory offer from Abacus Learning Institute, you can view for FREE the first module of the five-module video course covering all of what you need to know to pass MLC. That module covers essentially all of the survival models material---single lives, multiple lives, multiple decrements, and multiple states.

The videos feature Dr. Steve Paris, A.S.A., director of and prize-winning teacher in Florida State’s large actuarial program. Steve combines his own approach with the approach I’ve used for nearly 25 years in my successful face-to-face seminars on life contingencies.

This offer is available to the first 50 people that register in the month of December for the free Module 1; registrants will be able to view the videos for 30 days starting from when they register. To register, go to http://ift.tt/1l3WDY1 and select MLC Free Module 1 from the pop-up menu about a third of the way down the page.

The full five-module course (or the remaining four modules) can be purchased separately or in combination with a live face-to-face five-day seminar. Steve will be the instructor for the face-to-face seminar in Atlanta, GA, on March 4-8, and I will be the instructor for the seminar in Davis, CA, on March 9-13.


Jim Daniel
Director of Actuarial Education
Abacus Learning Institute
jimdaniel@abacusli.com

FREE Module #1 of 5 for MLC video course

China & the war on terror

China has been a limited participant at BEST wrt the war on terror.
Yet, most terror attacks seem to happen in the west (non-far east definition being used here).

Maybe a more muted response is the better way to proceed? Seems to have kept China safe.

Should we be more like China going forward, or should China be more like us? Or something else?

China & the war on terror

China: Reincarnation is real, as long as we control it!

Not exactly new news, but there's a new news article on it, which is the same thing...

Quote:

BEIJING (Reuters) - China will never give up the right to decide on the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, a top Chinese official said on Monday, despite criticism from rights groups and the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader on the issue. The Dalai Lama and China's officially atheist Communist Party have repeatedly tussled over who has final authority on the issue of reincarnation. Tibetans fear that China will use the issue of the Dalai Lama's succession to split Tibetan Buddhism, with one new Dalai Lama named by exiles and one by the government after his death. The central government has stiffened its resolve to decide on the reincarnation of "living Buddhas, so as to ensure victory over the anti-separatist struggle", Zhu Weiqun, chairman of the ethnic and religious affairs committee of the top advisory body to China's parliament, wrote in the state-run Global Times. China says the Dalai Lama, who fled into exile in India after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959, is a violent separatist. The Nobel Peace laureate denies espousing violence and says he only wants genuine autonomy for Tibet. Tibetan Buddhism holds that the soul of a senior lama is reincarnated in the body of a child on his death. China says the tradition must continue and it must approve the next Dalai Lama. However, the Dalai Lama has said he thinks the title could end when he dies. Chinese officials, however, have stressed that the current Dalai Lama has no right to abandon reincarnation.

If he doesn't want to reincarnate, how are they going to stop him? Astral Projection?

China: Reincarnation is real, as long as we control it!

Which is the greater threat?

Please give reasons/evidence to support your position.
Both are urgent threats imo.

Which is the greater threat?

How much do exams change over the years?

To clarify what I mean by that question - my brother is an actuary and gave me some study manuals he had from school when he took the P exam (and FM so the same question applies). The manuals are from 2005 though. I have other study guides so this would not be my sole source of study material, but it has a lot of practice exams in the back and more of those are always good. I took P in September and got a 5. My biggest problem was that I knew what to do for most problems but I either couldn't do it fast enough or would make a mistake and have to find and fix it. So I've determined I need to do more practice practice practice. I plan on doing Adapt but money is tight so I'll probably just do it for the two week period. Other than that I have the exams from Finan's book, which are really just sample problems from past exams but are still helpful because I know that I can time myself to it and know that I'm getting a good sampling of different items from different sections. I'm getting the two free exams from TIA and I have the one free exam that was a sample from the ASM manual.

How much do exams change over the years?

Code Naming Convention

Title.

What do y'all use? I use CamelCase because I hate typing the underscore and it's what I've used in the past but the books I'm working through now for python and R both use underscore case.

I code primarily in VBA.

Code Naming Convention

Online Tournaments

For those indulging, please indulge us.

I've asked Apricity to explain the tourneys he's killing. "triple play"? not sure what that means, and I can't go anywhere at work to look it up. So, please.

Online Tournaments

ASM 12th Edition 2nd Printing vs Newest Edition

Hi all,

Is it worth it to buy the newest ASM edition or will this old one suffice?

ASM 12th Edition 2nd Printing vs Newest Edition

How many bombs have we dropped on ISIS?

Sorry for asking.
Just wondering how many bombs it takes to wipe out 30,000 fighters.

How many bombs have we dropped on ISIS?

Early December the most depressing weather difference Florida vs Northeast

Delray Beach, FL

Sunshine 81 degrees, beach, thousands of tasty restaurants, t-shirt weather, a movie theater where you can sit in huge reclining seats, push a button and order chocolate lava cake and a burger And popcorn from your seat...it's called Cinépolis

It's pure relax

Vs

34 degree and wind and rain and brown
All restaurants going out of business
And huge huge huge 2-hour lines for Dunkin Donuts coffee

Early December the most depressing weather difference Florida vs Northeast

Companies that pay the most to associates

I was just wondering which companies pay the most to its associates.

Companies that pay the most to associates

SOA Problem 120

An insurance policy is written to cover a loss X where X has density function (3x^2)/8 over 0 <= x<= 2.

The Time (in hours) to process a claim of size x, where 0 <= x <= 2, is uniformly distributed on the interval from x to 2x.

Calculate the probability that a randomly chosen claim on this policy is processed in three hours or more.

I found f(x,y) but when they find the marginal density of Y and begin to solve P[Y>=3], how do they jump to the min (y,2)^2 being 4? If the lower limit is 3, then how do they deem 2 to be the minimum? If anyone can break this down to me "Barney Style" I would appreciate the help.

SOA Problem 120

AVP Catastrophe Risk (Illinois #45882)

DW Simpson Global Actuarial Recruitment | Casualty Actuary Jobs

One of the largest reinsurers in the world seeks a senior-level professional to represent the Americas in global catastrophe risk reinsurance projects. Coordinate natural catastrophe teams worldwide and evaluate losses and exposures. Several years of catastrophe experience required along with strong communication and organizational skills. (#45882)

The post AVP Catastrophe Risk (Illinois #45882) appeared first on DW Simpson.



View and apply for this job at http://ift.tt/1LK7qeJ

AVP Catastrophe Risk (Illinois #45882)

ISIS can 'muster' between 20,000 and 31,500 fighters, CIA says

Quote:

A CIA assessment puts the number of ISIS fighters at possibly more than three times the previous estimates. The terror group that calls itself the Islamic State "can muster between 20,000 and 31,500 fighters across Iraq and Syria," a CIA spokesman told CNN on Thursday. Analysts and U.S. officials initially estimated there were as many as 10,000 fighters, including those who were freed from prisons by ISIS, and Sunni loyalists who have joined the fight as the group advanced across Iraq.

http://ift.tt/1LK7pHK

How do we get this estimate?
This is the number of people that are taking orders from ISIS leadership - which I think is the current definition of ISIS/ISIL/IS/Daesh from the AO? I have seen no information on methodology.

ISIS can 'muster' between 20,000 and 31,500 fighters, CIA says

Do you like hot dogs?

I love hot dogs especially at a ball park. Gimme a or a Carolina dog (chili, onion, slaw, mustard maybe) or a simple dog with ketchup and mustard. Relish is OK.





Some people are militant that ketchup doesn't go on a dog. Those people are felons.

Some people put a dog in a bagel. They are going to hell.



People in Chicago put so much crap on a dog sometimes there isn't even a dog under there.



I am mixed on cheese dogs.

So what is your favourite dog?

Do you like hot dogs?

Labour's segregated rally at "Asian" party event: "selling values for votes" again

(As well as the UK Labour party's pandering - again, after an earlier incident in Birmingham in May - to radical Islam, more political correctness here by the newspaper by the way: "Asian" almost certainly means Muslim (as opposed to eg Hindu or Sikh). It is surely unfair to tar other Asian communities with the segregation brush.)

(from http://ift.tt/1MZAXmJ)

Quote:

[b]Fury at Labour's segregated rally: Sexism row after men and women are split up at Asian party event ahead of key Oldham West by-election Asian men and women sat apart at meeting in Oldham West and Royton Sexes sat separately at a Labour rally in Birmingham before May election Labour said to be in danger of losing key Oldham by-election on Thursday 20% of Oldham voters are from an ethnic minority and key to winning seat See full news coverage of the Labour Party at http://ift.tt/1iL9LiC Labour faced a sexism row today after men and women were segregated at an Asian party rally. The meeting organised by the party's Friends of Bangladesh group was held ahead of Thursday's crucial by-election, which Labour is in danger of losing. Photographs of the event in Oldham West and Royton, where one in five voters is from an ethnic minority, shows Asian men and women sitting in separate rows. Critics said allowing the sexes to be split up at the party-run event was 'shameful' and accused Labour of 'putting political correctness ahead of equality' in order to win votes. Before the May election Labour was rocked by a similar segregation scandal when men and women were split at an Islamic centre rally in Birmingham. Labour today claimed that women were not forced to sit away from men. A party spokesman said: 'The accusation of gender segregation is absolutely untrue. The Labour party's record on gender equality speaks for itself. Ukip are clutching at straws for something to say in this election because they have no answers to the real issues facing voters in Oldham'. Internal polling is said to show that Labour could be in danger of losing the seat on Thursday after Michael Meacher's death. Ukip is targeting the white working class in the town and hope to collect Asian voters who are unhappy with Jeremy Corbyn's leadership and also keen to leave the EU. Mr Corbyn was due to visit Oldham on Friday but cancelled at the last minute to deal with the growing crisis in his party over whether to bomb Syria. Before the May election Labour was rocked by a similar segregation scandal when men and women were split at an Islamic centre. Senior party figures, including Liam Byrne, Tom Watson and Harriet Harman's husband Jack Dromey, spoke at the event in Birmingham where men sat on one side of the room and women on the other. Labour has denied that people were forced to sit separately based on gender - even though photographs from the event show that the groups were clearly segregated. Critics called the decision 'sickening' and claimed that the party was 'selling values for votes'. ...

Labour's segregated rally at "Asian" party event: "selling values for votes" again

Wiley/Efficient Learning Level I Study Guide

Through a shipping miscue I ended up with a copy of the Level I study materials that they're not asking me to return (I'm sitting for Level II). Willing to sell them for a discount to retail. PM me if interested.

Nate

Wiley/Efficient Learning Level I Study Guide

FA 12/8-12/1, 2015

Is anyone starting their FA next Tue or Wed? Maybe we can start a group.

FA 12/8-12/1, 2015

Is there a good baseball encyclopedia?

Maybe this should be in Sports, but I'll ask it here first.

My 7 year old son is obsessed with baseball. He also loves to read. He asked for a baseball encyclopedia as a Chanukah gift. I looked on Amazon, and the only ones I see are old. I can't find one that's been updated within the past 5 years. Does anyone know of one that is relatively up-to-date that I can get for him?

Is there a good baseball encyclopedia?

Fall 2015 Exam Results - Best Guess?

Does anyone care to venture a guess as to when results will come out for the Fall 2015 exams, specifically our exam, Exam 6?

Fall 2015 Exam Results - Best Guess?

CVS or Walgreens?

You must choose one even if you despise all options given:

CVS or Walgreens? Or Rite Aid?
CVS

Office Depot or Staples?
Staples

Home Depot or Lowes
Lowes

Target or Walmart?
Target

Dunkin or Starbucks?
Dunkin

BK or McDonalds
Mc

Subway or Quiznos?
Subway

Apple or Microsoft?
Microsoft

Macy's or Bloomingdales or Nordstrom?
Macy's

JetBlue or Southwest?
Jetblue

Mobile or Citgo or Sunoco?
Mobile

Family Dollar or Dollar Store?
Dollar Store

Coke or Pepsi?
Coke

DQ or Sonic?
DQ

CVS or Walgreens?

This is why they should dump Jackson.

You know how everbody is saying these days that slavery is wrong? Well guess what, Jackson owned slaves. Guess what else, Hamilton was against slavery. So who are they deciding to take off the 10 dollar bill? Thats' right Hamilton not Jackson. I would point out that Jackson is retarded cause he was but they get all racist at you if you say retarded so I wo'nt say that.

Heres' the three things you need to know about Jackson before you keep him on money instead of Hamilton. One, jackson is racist. Second, he is stupid, Third, I hate him. I mean, come on, Hamilton fought in like a bunch of duels. Jackson did'nt fight any as far as I know he just killed Indians. Not cool.

This is why they should dump Jackson.

post the walkscore of where you work

if you need to look it up - http://ift.tt/1xcPFU6

I'm just curious since it seems most jobs I have seen are for locations in random office buildings in the suburbs of cities. This saves money of course but it certainly makes for less appealing locations. people who work in NY will probably break this trend but I'm just curious. Post your work location's walk score below!

post the walkscore of where you work

My thoughts on food stamps

I watched an old video of Trump saying that he wants to get rid of food stamps at one of his rallies. Some guy started heckling, and security threw his ass out. Trump mentions how the guy was fat. Everyone laughed.

I agree. Let's get rid of food stamps. They're basically a tool used by democrats to get votes and keep poor dependent on the gov't. I grew up with the mindset where if you don't have money to eat, then you should starve or eat Ramen noodles.

I see people all the time paying for groceries with their food stamp debit cards (EBT). It seems like they're so easy to get now a days. These are the same people who pull out a wad of $100's when they have to pay for something that isn't covered by their EBT card. Someone told me back in the day the process for getting food stamps was very difficult, and families who were on food stamps were ashamed to be on food stamps. Now a days it seems like all this entitlement culture cares about is the end result. Meaning, it doesn't matter the means in which you get the food. As long as you get it.

The whole thing makes me sick. Why are my tax dollars going to fund food stamps? Let these scumbags pay for their steak and lobster on their own dime. I swear people on food stamps eat better than middle class taxpayers not on food stamps. You've all saw the comparison refrigerator memes. Bunch of scumbag democrats our generation churned. Again, I blame the participation trophies.

My thoughts on food stamps

Are FDA trials bigger than needed sometimes?

Suppose 200 people have a condition. Does it make sense to require that 1000 people undergo phase III testing? What if that makes the treatment too expensive, or dissuades companies from even searching for a cure?

Are FDA trials bigger than needed sometimes?

alpha estimation for pareto distribution

I am trying to fit a Pareto distribution and have a question. Sometimes, the MLE estimated by SAS are negative, which could generate undesirable result since the Pareto requires that the alpha>0. I read the CAS monograph number 2 and it says that an arbitrary alpha=6 is used. I was wondering what value of alpha do you typically use or how do you estimate alpha in fitting Pareto distribution. Thanks.

alpha estimation for pareto distribution

ao fan cleans out her fb friends list

I'm in a bad mood and I hate people and the universe, so I think a facebook purge will make me feel good.

ao fan cleans out her fb friends list

if you learned 80% of excel videos in youtube, are you at the intermediate level?

if you learned about 80% of excel videos in youtube, are you at the intermediate level?

if you learned 80% of excel videos in youtube, are you at the intermediate level?

Ringleader of Paris attacks snuck in with Syrian refugees

http://ift.tt/1OproBP

"The ringleader behind the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris had plans to strike Jewish targets and to disrupt schools and the transport system in France, according to sources close to the investigation.

Abdelhamid Abaaoud, a Belgian national of Moroccan origin, also boasted of the ease with which he had re-entered Europe from Syria via Greece two months earlier, exploiting the confusion of the migrant crisis and the continent's passport-free Schengen system, the sources said on Friday."

"The witness statement also described how Abaaoud had boasted about slipping into Europe with refugees fleeing Syria's civil war and then spending two months in France undetected prior to the Nov. 13 attacks."

Ringleader of Paris attacks snuck in with Syrian refugees

C vs MFE

I know MFE inside and out. I am about to dive into C. I need someone who has taken both to compare and contrast.

I am using Mahler's manual, which has over 5500 pages.

1. Concept.

Which is harder? C or MFE.

More specifically, is there any in C that is harder than stochastic calculus/processes?

2. Memory.

Which requires more memorization of the formulas?


EDITED:

Also,

3. Which set of problems requires more calculations?

Which requires remembering more formulas? C or MFE?

C vs MFE

FA 12/4~12/7

Is there anyone planning to take the FA around the first weekend in December?

I created a google group. Please PM me your email address if you are interested to join.

Thanks!

FA 12/4~12/7

US Has Killed More Than 20 Million In 37 Nations Since WWII

Quote:

This study reveals that U.S. military forces were directly responsible for about 10 to 15 million deaths during the Korean and Vietnam Wars and the two Iraq Wars. The Korean War also includes Chinese deaths while the Vietnam War also includes fatalities in Cambodia and Laos. The American public probably is not aware of these numbers and knows even less about the proxy wars for which the United States is also responsible. In the latter wars there were between nine and 14 million deaths in Afghanistan, Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, East Timor, Guatemala, Indonesia, Pakistan and Sudan. But the victims are not just from big nations or one part of the world. The remaining deaths were in smaller ones which constitute over half the total number of nations. Virtually all parts of the world have been the target of U.S. intervention. The overall conclusion reached is that the United States most likely has been responsible since WWII for the deaths of between 20 and 30 million people in wars and conflicts scattered over the world.

http://ift.tt/1OoANK2

Nation of peace.
:lol:
:usa:

US Has Killed More Than 20 Million In 37 Nations Since WWII

What is "the west" and "western culture"

I hear ISIS and ISlam and AL Qaeda (all different organizations of course) are at war with the west or western ideals. What does that mean?

Western hemisphere?

What is "the west" and "western culture"

APC December 2015 LA

Anyone attending the APC in LA this week?

APC December 2015 LA

Nevernudes

I've only just heard of this "condition". People who can't stand to be naked at any time even if only by themselves. Is this for real?

Nevernudes

FA in French

Do you know if there are lots of persons taking the FA in french? and do you know if we can hope to have our result faster if we take it in french?

FA in French

MSE of Link Ratio Estimate

I am referring to Loss Development Using Credibility by Brosius.

At Page 7 Option 2, it says that MSE = 6c^2 - 20c + 18,
and minimum is found at c = 5/3

At page 8, it says that when c = 5/3, MSE = 10/3, which is not the case if we pluck back c = 5/3 into the equation. In fact, it give us 4/3. The difference is 2, which coincidentally, is the expected value of outstanding claim count.

Am I missing something here?:-?

MSE of Link Ratio Estimate

Tighter Lid on Records Threatens to Weaken Government Watchdogs

http://ift.tt/1TkWw5t

Quote:

The continuing Honduran inquiry is one of at least 20 investigations across the government that have been slowed, stymied or sometimes closed because of a long*simmering dispute between the Obama administration and its own watchdogs over the shrinking access of inspectors general to confidential records, according to records and interviews. The impasse has hampered investigations into an array of programs and abuse reports — from allegations of sexual assaults in the Peace Corps to the F.B.I.’s terrorism powers, officials said. And it has threatened to roll back more than three decades of policy giving the watchdogs unfettered access to “all records” in their investigations. “The bottom line is that we’re no longer independent,” Michael E. Horowitz, the Justice Department inspector general, said in an interview. The restrictions reflect a broader effort by the Obama administration to prevent unauthorized disclosures of sensitive information — at the expense, some watchdogs insist, of government oversight.[...] Not surprisingly, tensions are common between the watchdogs and the officials they investigate. President Ronald Reagan, in fact, fired 15 inspectors general in 1981. But a number of scholars and investigators said the restrictions imposed by the Obama administration reflect a new level of acrimony. “This is by far the most aggressive assault on the inspector general concept since the beginning,” said Paul Light, a New York University professor who has studied the system. “It’s the complete evisceration of the concept. You might as well fold them down. They’ve become defanged.” While President Obama has boasted of running “the most transparent administration in history,” some watchdogs say the clampdown has scaled back scrutiny of government programs. “This runs against transparency,” said the Peace Corps inspector general, Kathy Buller.[...] In a rare show of bipartisanship, the administration has drawn scorn from Democrats and Republicans. The Obama administration’s stance has “blocked what was once a free flow of information” to the watchdogs, Senator Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont, the ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, said at a hearing. A Justice Department spokeswoman, Emily Pierce, said in a statement on Friday: “Justice Department leadership has issued policy guidance to ensure that our inspector general gets the documents he requests as quickly as possible, even when those documents are protected by other statutes protecting sensitive information. The department is unaware of any instance in which the inspector general has sought access to documents or information protected from disclosure by statute and did not receive them.”

If even Pat Leahy is saying things like that the administration may have a problem.

Tighter Lid on Records Threatens to Weaken Government Watchdogs

WARNING!!! AGW -> FLYING BOULDERS!!!1!

OMGWTFBBQ!! ocean storms will be so bad that boulders will be flung about

http://ift.tt/1TkWydy

i thought was was an onion piece at first

WARNING!!! AGW -> FLYING BOULDERS!!!1!

How many different ways can Actuarial Jews and Christians Hate Islam

Doess the hate extend past the internet? Is it a daily practice like a prayer to G-d?

How many different ways can Actuarial Jews and Christians Hate Islam

Why do Jews working as Actuaries hate Islam?

A group, Jewish Actuaries, consistently demonstrate a hatred of Islam. This is a thread for explanations of the hate. That is Jews, working (or formerly working) as actuaries hating on Islam.

Why do Jews working as Actuaries hate Islam?

What should I listen to on my commute?

Free or cheap is bestest.

I have unlimited data...

What should I listen to on my commute?

Exam C Sample #70

I'm really confused with the conditioning that must be going on in this question. Is this the way to set this question up in the beginning? I follow the rest of the model solution if all of this is true, but I sense this is wrong, please tell me where it is wrong:

First, we need to get the conditional probabilities of rural|group and urban|group for each of the two groups.

Business
E[Business)=1.8=E[Business|Rural]P(Rural|Business)+E[Business|Urban]P(Urban|Business)

Since given business, your either Rural or Urban, that means
1=P(Rural|Business)+P(Urban|Business)

E[Business)=1.8=1.0*P(Rural|Business)+2.0*(1-P(Rural|Business))

P(Rural|Business)=-(1.8-2)=0.2, which implies P(Urban|Business)=0.8

Pleasure
E[Pleasure]=2.3=E[Pleasure|Rural]P(Rural|Pleasure)+E[Pleasure|Urban]P(Urban|Pleasure)

Since given pleasure, your either Rural or Urban, that means
1=P(Rural|Pleasure)+P(Urban|Pleasure)

E[Pleasure)=2.3=1.5*P(Rural|Pleasure)+2.5*(1-P(Rural|Pleasure))

P(Rural|Pleasure)=-(2.3-2.5)=0.2, which implies P(Urban|Pleasure)=0.8

Then, we need to get the joint distribution probabilities from the conditional probabilities we attained above.

Business
0.2=P(Rural|Business)=P(Rural intersect Business)/P(Business)

Since there are equal number of business and pleasure, P(Business)=0.5

P(Rural intersect Business)=0.2*0.5=0.1

0.8=P(Urban|Business)=P(Urban intersect Business)/P(Business)

P(Urban intersect Business)=0.8*0.5=0.4
Pleasure
0.2=P(Rural|Pleasure)=P(Rural intersect Pleasure)/P(Pleasure)

Since there are equal number of business and pleasure, P(Pleasure)=0.5

P(Rural intersect Pleasure)=0.2*0.5=0.1

0.8=P(Urban|Pleasure)=P(Urban intersect Pleasure)/P(Pleasure)

P(Urban intersect Pleasure)=0.8*0.5=0.4

Now, u=E(claims|joint selection)

u=E[Business|Rural]*P(Rural intersect Business)+E[Business|Urban]*P(Business intersect Urban]+E[Pleasure|Rural]*P(Rural intersect Pleasure)+E[Pleasure|Urban]*P(Pleasure intersect Urban]=1.0*0.1+2.0*0.4+1.5*0.1+2.5*0.4=2.05

Exam C Sample #70

When are fall 2015 results coming out?

Has anyone heard anything?

When are fall 2015 results coming out?

studying strategies

Do most of you have a set study schedule or do you just wing it and study whenever you can?

studying strategies

British Drones - 100% perfection

British drone strikes have killed 305 ISIS targets in the last year without causing ANY civilian casualties

Quote:

British drones have killed around 305 ISIS fighters in Iraq over the past year without harming any civilians, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has revealed. RAF Reaper drones have carried out more than 200 strikes over Iraq as part of Operation Shader since November 2014. The 305 kills do not include British extremists Reyaad Khan, 21, from Cardiff, and Aberdeen schoolboy Ruhul Amin, who were killed in a secret drone strike on Syria in August.

This is AMAZING! And very believable.
Awesome we know these guy are ISIS. Somehow. I guess drone operators can tell they (and everyone else we kill) believes in the caliph.

http://ift.tt/1Ih1wXQ

British Drones - 100% perfection

Part time MBA

Does anyone here have any experience with getting a part time MBA at a top 10, maybe 20 business school? Is it useful and worth the time in this profession? Anyone went into something like that for a potential career switch? Let me know what your experience is like. Thank you!

Part time MBA

Considering quitting actuarial field to go into medicine

Medicine is something I had wanted to go into originally, but with the time commitment required and amount of debt from school, going for a job in the actuarial field seemed to make more sense economically. Now almost a year into the job and really feeling the regret of doing so.

When I think about it logically, it seems like such a dumb@$$ move to leave a career with so much income potential and stability, to go back to school, incur more debt and time studying. Especially when the work that is required as an actuary isn't "hard" per se, the amount paid for what is expected feels rather skewed. But inside I feel spending the next 35+ years doing this would have no meaning when compared to going into medicine doing something that directly affects people's lives.

So I'm posting for outlooks and insights on this, from any that have considered switching, those who have, or didn't, why I should leave or why I'm being such a complete idiot to leave to pursue what many would see like a fool's dream. As I get medicine isn't anything like it is shown on tv, and most of the time people will not even acknowledge or appreciate what you do for them, but that doesn't really matter to me, it's in the actual doing that makes me want to go. I have the support of my family to switch, granted though it will makes a bit harder financially, but luckily I did married someone who makes a good amount of money that we don't have to live in a cardboard box if this switch is made :spnner:

Considering quitting actuarial field to go into medicine

Everyone panic! Its dangerous to sew on the metro!!!!

Heads up everyone, there's a new danger facing people! :link:

Quote:

Recently, I came across a young woman working on a piece of cross-stitch embroidery inside an SMRT train. She sat forward with a gap between her and the back of her seat, perhaps to facilitate the flow of her needlework movements. The embroidery floss running through the needle was about 45cm long. I suggested to the woman that it could be dangerous to sew inside the confines of a moving MRT train. She replied that she had been sewing while riding in MRT trains for a long time and returned to her task. There were commuters seated on both sides of her. While the train was relatively empty during the off-peak hour, sewing is not a safe activity to pursue inside a train that is travelling. At times, MRT trains lurch when moving or halting. If the woman is pulling the needle in an upward movement and is caught unexpectedly by a sudden staggering of the train, an involuntary jerk of the hand holding the needle may cause the needle to jab at a fellow commuter sitting or standing close by. There will be very serious consequences if the needle impales an eye or other body part of a nearby commuter who could not move away in time. How can the injured commuter seek recourse? If the SMRT's regulations do not permit sewing inside MRT trains in operation, what is the appropriate action that a concerned fellow commuter can take in such a situation? By the way, what circumstances warrant an activation of the emergency communication button? Tan Lay Hoon (Ms)

Perhaps one of you actuary types could give us an injury rate from people sewing on transit...

Everyone panic! Its dangerous to sew on the metro!!!!

Driving in Los Angelse Could Ruin Your Marriage!

Nury Martinez, a 6th district Los Angeles city councilwoman, proposed to integrate the license plate database with another database of license plates photographed in certain -- disreputable -- places around the city, and send to that owner a letter explaining that the vehicle was seen in, “an area known for prostitution.

Perhaps the intent is to promote buses, taxis and use of Uber.

Quote:

Martinez told CBS Los Angeles, “If you aren’t soliciting, you have no reason to worry about finding one of these letters in your mailbox. But if you are, these letters will discourage you from returning. Soliciting for sex in our neighborhoods is not OK.”

I suspect Councilwoman Martinez has never had a wife.

Quote:

what happens to those records once they are committed to paper? As letters sent by the District Attorney or City Council, they would be rightly subject to Freedom of Information Laws. And mandatory retention periods that exceed those of automated license plate data, even though no investigation has been consummated. Which means that, under Councilwoman Martinez’ scheme, anyone will be able to get a list of all vehicles driving in certain parts of town merely by requesting “all ‘John’ letters sent” between a date range.

You'd think that the more obvious solution would be to devote resources to stopping the actual prostitution instead, but... no.

Driving in Los Angelse Could Ruin Your Marriage!

Electronic ASM Manual

This is probably a stupid question, but I got the electronic version in June and the license is going to expire in December. I need it at least for a couple more months as I plan to take the test in February. Do I have to buy a whole new one, or is there anyway to update the license for free? Thanks!

Electronic ASM Manual

Career Advice

I decided on becoming an actuary late in my academic career. I graduated last may and have been doing a temp job (which ends next month) while studying for my exams. I've passed my first exam (P) this month, but with no internship, I have slim chance of besting those that knew about actuarial science since high school/freshman year. I live in NY btw, so competition is considerably high. Since my temp job is ending soon, I need to make a decision soon.

I've considered my options, and this is what I've come up with:

1. Persist in applying for jobs (targeting smaller companies) while studying for FM in February (unemployed).

2. Look for another temp job and pass FM and MFE next year and restart my applications with 3 exams and no actuarial experience.

3. Since the job applications aren't going well, I was thinking of applying to graduate school to help with exam prep and acquiring an internship (last resort since I don't want to accumulate more loans).

4. Find a non-actuarial job at an insurance company. And eventually move into actuarial science as I complete more exams. Also, what positions would you suggest that will help with transferable skills? (Btw, I graduated with a BS in mathematics).

All input would be appreciated.

Career Advice

Split political into "left wing" and "right wing subforums?

People go to political on the internet not to seriously debate issues with the opposing side, but, for validation that their side is the right side.

Mixing views in AO political hinders this goal. So, why not split the forum out to create the echo chambers both sides are really looking for?

I would've posted this in political, but, I understand that's frowned upon.

Split political into "left wing" and "right wing subforums?

Is this racist? Economics edition

There was an article I came across the other day where a black woman was arguing that other black people should spend more of their money at black owned businesses. She cited a statistic that showed that out of all the ethnicities, black people spent the smallest portion of their shopping money at businesses owned by their own ethnicity.

Her suggestion seemed a bit racist to me. But then I thought about other groups that sort of formalized the idea of preferential shopping - like the idea of Kosher food or Halal food. Also seemed somewhat racist to me.

Do you find these practices to be racist?

Is this racist? Economics edition

Network Cable Help

I'm finishing my basement and want to install 2 ethernet jacks in the wall as part of it. Since the basement is open I can easily run the cables directly from the router to the place in the wall where I want the jacks. I'm just trying to figure out what cables I need and general Google searches are confusing me so I'm hoping someone here can help. Here are my questions:
1) Cat5e or Cat6
2) Stranded or Solid
3) Shielded or Unshielded
4) How much do I have to worry about EM interference as the cables will be running through the celing and walls near the electrical wiring.

I'm planning to use already terminated cables and "coupler" style wall jacks as for only two jacks I don't really want to mess around with crimping and punchdown tools.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Network Cable Help

Does that liquid band-aid stuff really work?

I remember ads a few years back, you apply it I guess like nail polish, it dries on, then it's water-proof, and you heal.

I've been getting a lot of cuts lately (side-effect of indoor climbing) and I'm sick of having bandaids on all the time. But, when I don't bandaid up showering ruins proper scab formation and things take forever to heal.

So, anybody used this produce successfully? Or, unsuccessfully?

Does that liquid band-aid stuff really work?

Resume Advice

Hi all,

I'd like some opinions on my resume. I recently passed my first exam and have formatted to hopefully look more actuarial. Thank you.

Attached Images

Nyx_Resume.pdf (208.6 KB)

Resume Advice

Saudi Arabia Redefines Black Friday!

From the source we all know and love: RT

Quote:

Saudi Arabia is planning to execute more than 50 people, found guilty of terrorism, in a single day. The move was immediately slammed by Amnesty International, which said the Saudis are “using the guise of counter-terrorism to settle political scores.” The information about executions was recently released in Saudi media, which said that up to 55 ‘Al-Qaeda terrorists’ and 'criminals' from the town of Awamiyya will be executed in the next few days. However, it hasn’t been specified when and how exactly the executions will take place. Awamiya, in Eastern Province where the authorities suppressed protests in 2011, has a predominantly Shiite population. According to sources, the executions may be carried out after Friday prayers.

Saudi Arabia Redefines Black Friday!

Buhlmann-Strauss

Hi

I'm using the BS credibility model to come up with a weighted premium for commercial motor. I have a couple of questions which I was hoping for some feedback on.

In coming up with Tao and Sigma, is there a minimum size in terms of vehicle exposure years, claims etc. that you should use. My fleet size consists of about 500 commercial fleets.
In the formula z = w/(w+k), is there a minimum w below which z is 0. Currently, I don't have a minimum in my formula.

Regards

Buhlmann-Strauss

Iphone Pictures

Is there a good method of backing up iPhone pictures without having a PC or Mac? My mother has a chromebook, she had upped her iCloud storage but keeps hitting her phones memory maximum. I believe its not possible to delete pictures from the phone without also deleting from the cloud is there?

Ideally, there would be another cloud based app that she loads her pictures too that allows her to delete the without the risk of losing them, has the ability to download them again in the future if needed, and can also be accessed through a chromebook so she can manage them easily.

Is there a good solution? I would think there were be a large population of people with way too many pictures for their phones memory.

Iphone Pictures

17th International Chopin Competition

If you are a pianist, or love piano music, then if you aren't already aware of this, the Chopin Institute has (incredibly generously) put up stunning videos of all the performances of this year's competition (which finished just over a month ago).

Over 180 competitors whittled down to 10 finalists. There are moments of real beauty in some of the performances, including from some of those who didn't make it to the finals.

Being a very keen amateur pianist, I thought I knew the Chopin repertoire pretty well, but in this competition you hear pieces that aren't played very often (including the middle Impromptus, the Bolero, Rondos, and some of less popular Mazurkas) and discover (thanks to the vast amount of preparation that some of these young performers have put in [competition is very 5 years, and this year's was open to pianists aged between 15 and 30]) why they make sense and are worth playing.

Several times as I've been working and listening (over the last 2-3 weeks) to these competition videos in the background, I've had to stop what I'm doing just to listen to a single bar, because of magic that the performer pulled out of a hat, even for a piece that I had heard many times before.
In particular, listening to this competition has made me want to pick up and study several Etudes and Mazurkas. Chopin was a genius, but it sometimes takes performers who have spent years preparing for this (probably one of top 3 piano competitions in the world) to make some of the lesser works come to life (and then you think - so that's why Chopin wrote that piece, and why have I failed to love it until now?).

There are also very interesting interviews with jury members and performers.

Here are a few links:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZgrm8dNA-0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3I1tEMT81c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uu6yYw2Heg

17th International Chopin Competition

Why is Microsoft copying Apple with Windows 2010

They copied the ideas of Siri, calling programs "apps", sorry this is Apple's business...Microsoft looks inferior when they copy what they didn't start. Microsoft should stick to what it does best and stop pretending to be Apple

Why is Microsoft copying Apple with Windows 2010

Outlet Stores: Don't sell authentic brand leftovers at outlets, did you know?

They sell cheap knockoffs of their popular items at the outlet stores and now have larger margins at the outlet stores.

I discovered today that outlet stores don't actually sell merchandise that was in their original stores. They sell clothing made for the outlet store. The clothing typically uses inferior quality materials and has the logo on it. It's usually modeled after their more popular selling items in their main stores.

They also show the prices of the original higher quality clothing/shoes, then a marked down price. So you're not actually getting any discount. I never knew this until today.

I also came across this quote

Quote:

Michael Kercheval, president and CEO of International Council of Shopping Centers, the industry’s largest trade group, contends that consumers “fully understand” that they’re typically not getting authentic brand leftovers at outlets.

So did you know that outlet stores sold inferior products?

Outlet Stores: Don't sell authentic brand leftovers at outlets, did you know?

egtuary resume 2

updated resume. all comments are welcomed.

Attached Images

RESUME-oa2.pdf (239.7 KB)

egtuary resume 2

delete

delete

delete

Background check with a dismissed charge.

I got an offer for as an intern in January 2016. They want to do a background check and I am nervous because back in 2010, I was arrested for possession of marijuana in New Jersey. The case was dismissed as the police didn't find anything in my pocket but one of my friend's (we were just in the same car). And thats all I can think of as any obstacle to get that internship.

FYI, my lawyer is working to expunge the case but the court hearing is like 5 weeks away.

Did anyone had a similar experience? or anyone can tell me what is likely to happen?

Background check with a dismissed charge.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all the AOers!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all the AOers!

Happy Thanksgiving

EOM 2 Current Events

Is it Ok to apply current events to this module?

1) Isis, the migration to Europe and new terror threats
2) They refer to Chavez as a threat and possibly one who will dominate the region. Well the man is now six feet under and I don't think the new leader is as powerful.
3) The role of Bitcoins.

There are more current event outside forces but I was wondering if such stuff can/ or should be taken into account.

EOM 2 Current Events

Medicare Supplement Plan Choices

My Dad recently became Medicare eligible and is retiring. His employer gives him $500 per year towards the purchase of a UHC Medicare supplement plan.

I don't have any professional experience in Med Supp so I haven't been too helpful. He narrowed down the choice to Plan F or Plan N. The difference in premium is about $70 per month.

There doesn't seem to be too many differences in plan design. Plan N doesn't cover the Part B deductible and there is up to a $20 copayment per office visit. One thing I don't fully understand is that Plan N does not cover "excess charges" but this is covered by Plan F. What constitutes an "excess charge" that providers may levy and how common is it?

My dad is reasonably healthy at the moment and only has 1 regular prescription for Advair.

Any other tips or suggestions for choosing between plans is appreciated.

Medicare Supplement Plan Choices

Which do you think people hate more?

Jews or Muslims - and why?

Which do you think people hate more?

OC1 in two weeks?

what would you say the chances are of passing the OC1 if I start tomorrow and write the exam on Dec 15?

OC1 in two weeks?

ASM MFE Study Manual + Exam - Nith Edition

Available in for pick up in Greater Toronto Area. PM me.

of course by Nith I mean Ninth :)

ASM MFE Study Manual + Exam - Nith Edition

pass/fail result

Hi,

did any one knows when is the pass/fail result for MLC exam, they said after six weeks from exam date. are they accurate?

pass/fail result

Buhlmann-Strauss

Hi

I'm using the BS credibility model to come up with a weighted premium for commercial motor. I have a couple of questions which I was hoping for some feedback on.

• In coming up with Tao and Sigma, is there a minimum size in terms of vehicle exposure years, claims etc. that you should use. My fleet size consists of about 500 commercial fleets.

• In the formula z = w/(w+k), is there a minimum w below which z is 0. Currently, I don't have a minimum in my formula.

Regards

Buhlmann-Strauss

Help with webwork problems

I need help in solving this webwork problem. I've tried using the compound formula, but, it doesn't give me the right answer. Any help would be appreciated thanks.
How many years will it take to save $200000 if you place $1500 per month in an account that earns 15% compounded monthly?

Help with webwork problems

soa.org login problem

Is anyone consistently encountering login issues with soa.org?

I can login through SOA Online Services but not the main page.

Anyone having the same issue?

soa.org login problem

egtuary resume

this is my resume. please take a look at it and leave comments. All recommendations are welcomed. thanks.

Attached Images

RESUME-AO.pdf (230.7 KB)

egtuary resume

Winter internship?

Anyone here know of actuarial companies that hire interns for winter?

Winter internship?

Have a Happy Thanksgiving, AO!

Here's hoping you all have a wonderful and safe holiday.

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving, AO!

Cost of University

Seen so much on social media lately about how college is too expensive, etc. It's a debt sentence, :ohnoes:

I personally saved up in high school, earned scholarships, volunteered hundreds of hours, had a job, etc and was able to get through debt free after I decided to go to the most affordable college. Wasn't glamorous but it was possible. But then you see some of these crazies go on the television and talk about free college. Curious to know how everyone here feels...

Cost of University

Which of These Rejoinders will you use at Thanksgiving Dinner?

You know how it is with polls. One will be here. Maybe two.

Which of These Rejoinders will you use at Thanksgiving Dinner?

How to find job openings

What are some good websites to find entry level jobs (or internships)?

Obviously there is DWSimpson.com and Googleing "actuary jobs", but are there any other websites I should use too? (I'm new at this.)

Thanks!

How to find job openings

Intervention for HaLevi

HaLevi, you start way too many threads. You're an extremist. You make other Jews here look bad. Even in the small amount of times I agree with you, I'm hesitant to write that because I don't want to be associated with you.

You need to tone it down, bro. You're harming yourself. Nobody takes you seriously. You're like the 2pac for the other side.

Intervention for HaLevi

Assistant Actuary, Product Development / ALFA (California #45861)

DW Simpson Global Actuarial Recruitment | Life Jobs

Life insurance company seeks actuary with strong programming skills to support product design and pricing teams. Knowledge of C++ programming and ALFA desirable. ASA preferred but not required. (#45861)

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Assistant Actuary, Product Development / ALFA (California #45861)

Senior Associate, Annuities / Risk Management / Hedging (New Jersey #45881)

DW Simpson Global Actuarial Recruitment | Life Jobs

Large Northeastern insurer seeks actuary with a background in hedging, risk management and variable annuities for a non-traditional opportunity. Open to ASA/FSA or someone pursuing designation currently. Strong communication and critical thinking skills are necessary in this high-visibility position. (#45881)

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Senior Associate, Annuities / Risk Management / Hedging (New Jersey #45881)

Selling P and MFE Manual

I am selling the ASM exam P 14th edition and ASM MFE 9th edition.

ASM P manual is $75.
ASM MFE is $85

Selling P and MFE Manual

if you had to choose..big data or pred. modeling?

There are 2 graduate courses next semester I want to take for fun or skills for future projects. If you had to pick one, which one would you choose and why?

Class descriptions:

Big data Analytics

Current issues in storage, retrieval, and analysis of large volumes of data (Big Data), in order to support business decisions. Big Data are stored in a variety of formats, including Web log, Internet clickstream data, as well as unstructured data, such as industry reports and customer comments. Big Data analytics utilize data sources that may be left untapped by conventional business intelligence solutions. Topics include conventional data warehousing, retrieval of large data sets that are stored across clustered systems, natural language processing, topic extraction in textual data, machine learning and artificial intelligence, and predictive analytics for unstructured data. A semester project in Big Data Analytics relevant to a functional area of business is an important component of the course.

Predictive Modeling

This course covers major topics used in developing predictive modeling and applied statistical forecasting models that are of major interest to the business, government, and academia. These include exploring the calibration of models, the estimation of seasonal indices, and the selection of variables to generate operational business forecasts. Topics in this course can assist business professionals in utilizing historical patterns to build a more constructive view of their future. The course also examines how these topics can be used in combination with data capture, integration and information deployment capabilities, to ensure more productive decisions and more accurate planning. Modern forecasting techniques for the evaluation of sophisticated business models used to make intelligent decisions in marketing, finance, personnel management, production scheduling, process control, facilities management and strategic planning, are covered.

if you had to choose..big data or pred. modeling?

ASM 12.13

Here's the question:
1- The Number of claims on an auto comprehensive policy follows a geometric distribution w/ mean 0.6. (Which I know is a Neg Binomial w/ (r=1, B=0.6))
2-The number of claims for each insured follows a poisson distribution w/ parameter lambda.
3- Lambda varies by insured according to a gamma distribution.

Calculate the proportion of insureds for which the expected number of claims per year is less than 1.

__________________________________________________ _______________
**When you do the calculations, Beta=Theta=0.6 and r=alpha=1**

My main issue is how to determine whether to use the neg binomial probability that n<1 or the gamma probability that n<1. I understand the solution uses F(1) for an exponential, which is a gamma. But, initially I was using the neg binomial probability that n<1 instead of the gamma. How do I determine which distribution to use? Thanks!

ASM 12.13

Christianity Needs an Intervention

Do you guys agree with this statement?

Christianity Needs an Intervention

Judaism Needs an Intervention

What do you guys think?

Judaism Needs an Intervention

Senior Consultant/Manager, Benefit Plans (Multiple Locations #45879)

DW Simpson Global Actuarial Recruitment | Pension Jobs

Leading international consulting firm seeks a Student – FSA level Pension Actuary with 4-8 years of relevant Federal industry experience within employee benefit plans. Must be eligible to obtain a US security clearance and willing to travel up to 25%. (#45879)

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Senior Consultant/Manager, Benefit Plans (Multiple Locations #45879)

Day before Thanksgiving timekiller

I like the required grade needed for VEE credit with CPCU 540:

Day before Thanksgiving timekiller

help, I have too many RBs

Hey guys, I'm looking for some keeper league fantasy advice.

I'm in a standard scoring (2 RB 3WR, 1 flex, 1 everything else) keeper (keep 3, and when you keep someone, you lose the pick in the round that he was originally picked in).

Anyway, I am absolutely loaded at RB. Freeman, Gurley, McCoy, Bernard, Lacy, and now Rawls.

Next year, I'm looking to keep Gurley (10th round), Freeman (last round) and Hopkins (7th round). Which means I let go of Newton (11th), Lacy (4th) and McCoy (1st).

I want to trade away some RBs for either a top tier TE (I have Kelce) or some help at WR. How many RBs should I trade away and who? I'm thinking Lacy and McCoy. But will Rawls actually play the rest of the year? Is Freeman healthy? Is Bernard useful enough to trust as my one and only backup? I don't think that I'd get much back for Lacy but definitely will for McCoy.

Thanks

help, I have too many RBs

Islam Needs an Intervention

http://ift.tt/1POP43W

"Failure to name Islam is tantamount to preserving Islamic terrorism in our lives and those of our children and our children's children into the future. Clinton and Obama are worse than cowards for not doing it, they are civilizationally suicidal. Obama's linking the war on ISIS with his forthcoming climate change conference in Paris out-Orwells Orwell. It's impossible to parody."

"Think about a family. When there's a cousin addicted to crystal meth, what do you do? Give him money for more or stage an intervention? The latter obviously. Only in this case the size of the intervention is huge, almost incomprehensibly so. But it is necessary. Otherwise, there is no reason to think it will ever stop.

How do you make an intervention so huge? Well, obviously, you have to destroy ISIS military and totally. But that, as I indicated, is only temporary. Beyond that, we have to launch a major ideological war. This will take allies in the Islamic world like Egypt's al-Sisi, a man who says Islam needs reform but whom, not surprisingly, our president disdains.

Sharia law should be outlawed in the United States and in as many Western countries as possible since it is in direct contradistinction to Western values in its misogyny and homophobia. Those from the Islamic world who seek to immigrate should be required to take classes explaining our values and why Sharia is unacceptable to us. Otherwise they should not be admitted. This may not work, but it is a start.

Above all, we must be honest with Muslims that their religion in its current form is unacceptable. We cannot exist in a world where religion dominates society to the extent that there are no Jews and hardly any Christians living in the Arab or Persian countries anymore. American leaders don't have to threaten violence to make this clear. They have to state it clearly to the Islamic world, especially to Saudi Arabia and Iran. Instead of Obama's approach, which was to apologize to Muslims, we must be honest with them. They live, for the most part, in intolerant and primitive societies that endanger humanity. We must stop lying. They will not change until we do."

Islam Needs an Intervention

Which should I choose for my last semester of college

I have like 6 hours left of required courses that I need to take and I'll pick up another 6 hours of filler.

Option 1: Stay at my current school

Pros: don't have to move, already have friends here, know the faculty/other random students in classes, get to have those bittersweet "last time" memories

Cons: I'm kinda sick of this place, have some baggage built up with various people around campus

Option 2: Spend my last semester at my Fiance's school (4 hour drive away from current school)

Pros: get to be with my fiance for one semester of college (we have been long distance), I know a few people at that school, school is in a better/more fun city, school is closer to home (for what that's worth)

Cons: don't have my "bros" there, could end up costing me 2-3k in extra expenses should I not find a sublease for my old place

I'm really torn on this! I keep deciding one way or the other and then I freak out that I've made the worst decision ever

Which should I choose for my last semester of college

Are the two textbooks useful in essay?

not yet enroll but interested to know it during my preparation.:notworth:

Are the two textbooks useful in essay?

Explaining my position on the war on terror

I am on record as saying that ISIS and Al Qaeda don't exist. Let me clarify.

I think there are terrorists out there. Some that actually really hate the US. But I don't think it is some organized enemy like we are being led to believe.

Question for the believers:

What is the unifying characteristic that all Al Qaeda members share - that non Al Qaeda members do not share?

Explaining my position on the war on terror

how do career changers compete with recent college graduates?

Career changers are older than recent college graduates. that is age disadvantage. Most career changers do not have internship before and will not quit the current job to have a internship. Besides passing more exams and learning more computer skills, is there anything else they can do?

how do career changers compete with recent college graduates?

Upset that 401k Target retirement year plans allocate 25% to Foreign market index

As a result of this, if you kept your money in a Target retirement fund, you lost double digit percentage of gains you would have today if you ignored the foreign market allocation entirely.

Why is it even worth investing anything in foreign stocks when the risk level is MORE than US stocks, and the expected returns are dreadful?

Upset that 401k Target retirement year plans allocate 25% to Foreign market index

Role of Illustration actuary

Hi,

I am wondering what the role of the illustration actuary is and what are some examples?

thanks in advance

Role of Illustration actuary

Today in old news....

Would be interesting to know who decided to dig up this gem and why it's currently circulating....

Quote:

Anti-Soviet warrior puts his army on the road to peace: The Saudi businessman who recruited mujahedin now uses them for large-scale building projects in Sudan. Robert Fisk met him in Almatig OSAMA Bin Laden sat in his gold- fringed robe, guarded by the loyal Arab mujahedin who fought alongside him in Afghanistan. Bearded, taciturn figures - unarmed, but never more than a few yards from the man who recruited them, trained them and then dispatched them to destroy the Soviet army - they watched unsmiling as the Sudanese villagers of Almatig lined up to thank the Saudi businessman who is about to complete the highway linking their homes to Khartoum for the first time in history. With his high cheekbones, narrow eyes and long brown robe, Mr Bin Laden looks every inch the mountain warrior of mujahedin legend. Chadored children danced in front of him, preachers acknowledged his wisdom. 'We have been waiting for this road through all the revolutions in Sudan,' a sheikh said. 'We waited until we had given up on everybody - and then Osama Bin Laden came along.' Outside Sudan, Mr Bin Laden is not regarded with quite such high esteem. The Egyptian press claims he brought hundreds of former Arab fighters back to Sudan from Afghanistan, while the Western embassy circuit in Khartoum has suggested that some of the 'Afghans' whom this Saudi entrepreneur flew to Sudan are now busy training for further jihad wars in Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt. Mr Bin Laden is well aware of this. 'The rubbish of the media and the embassies,' he calls it. 'I am a construction engineer and an agriculturalist. If I had training camps here in Sudan, I couldn't possibly do this job.' ...

The above was from an article published back in 1993. Business Insider published a follow up on it 20 years later in 2013 :link: I saw the story today being circulated on Facebook. Would definitely be interesting to know what's going on behind the scenes to prompt this. Just randomly becoming popular on Facebook or is someone pushing the story... :tfh:

Today in old news....

Actex MFE study manual Volume 1 & 2 Spring 2015 edition

$100: new and never written on it (Shipment included). Additional sample exams as a gift.

Actex MFE study manual Volume 1 & 2 Spring 2015 edition

Obama finally getting tough with ISIS

We've been waiting for it and today is finally the day.

He's going to go and meet other world leaders for the global climate conference.

Quote:

What a powerful rebuke to the terrorists it will be, when the world stands as one and shows that we will not be deterred from building a better future for our children

http://ift.tt/1Sjjc5o

pathetic imo

Obama finally getting tough with ISIS

ASM manual for sale

9th edition, 6th writing. Good condition, has creases on some pages and a couple of pages have ripped their three hole punch. Just passed using the manual and adapt.

Asking $60 + shipping from FL. But make an offer, I'd like to get it sold quickly.

Thanks!

ASM manual for sale

MLC: TIA and SOA problems

Firstly, I'm a big fan of TIA. I enjoy the video lecture format and the clear/concise/intelligent way each course instructor approaches the material. I will be using it for MLC, as I've heard and read many good things about TIA for this exam. Seeing as this exam just underwent a change in format, I thought I'd ask this question...

My question is: are the SOA released problems for MLC more relevant than other exams, i.e. should I make it a priority to do all the SOA released problems?

For P + FM + MFE I did not bother to do the SOA problems explicitly, as there were plenty of original problems available from other sources (TIA and ADAPT), and I'd read that they were not great practice for a current exam. After scanning the released SOA questions from each respective exam, I tended to agree with the prior statement.

Thanks for your thoughts!

MLC: TIA and SOA problems

Thank you letter after the offer

I received an internship offer from a company a few days ago. I just wanted to know if I should just wait until I officially accept the offer to send out thank you emails to the people that interviewed me (director actuaries, senior HR).
What did you guys do?

Thank you letter after the offer

Actuarial Analyst, Reinsurance / Financial Reporting (New Jersey #45874)

DW Simpson Global Actuarial Recruitment | Casualty Actuary Jobs

Reinsurer seeks individual with 3-5 years of experience and exams to join their reserving and financial reporting department. Strong technical skills (Excel and Access) are a must, with the ability to build clean reports from the company’s data. This individual will interact with other departments and senior management, providing exposure to the entire reinsurance process – strong communication skills are a must! (#45874)

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Actuarial Analyst, Reinsurance / Financial Reporting (New Jersey #45874)

Songs with only one verse (sung once) and then a repeating chorus

Only one I can come up with is

Fastball - Out of My Head

Songs with only one verse (sung once) and then a repeating chorus

US-backed forces have right to self-defense, but others do not - State Department

Quote:

During the regular press briefing, Mark Toner said the Syrian government did not have such a right, though. When asked by RT's Gayane Chichakyan if the State Department considered the rebels who reportedly killed the Russian pilots "moderates," Toner replied: "We’ve seen conflicting reports. One pilot may not have been killed. If these ‘Turkomen’ were actually being attacked by Russian strikes, they have every right to defend themselves.” AP's diplomatic correspondent Matt Lee asked a follow up question. "Doesn’t that apply to everyone, not just rebels backed by West? Including the Assad regime?" What the Assad regime was doing "is not self-defense," Toner countered, arguing that the government in Damascus responded to "peaceful protests with four years of terror." When other reporters questioned his description of the Syrian conflict as a "peaceful protest," Toner brushed them off by saying that "everyone in this room knows what happened." Toner repeated several times that Washington stood by Turkey as a NATO ally, and its "right to protect its sovereign airspace”, while refusing to comment on the specifics of this morning's downing of a Russian jet because, by his admission, he had no details yet. The State Department spokesman confirmed the US was supplying TOW missiles – seen in a video purportedly showing the rebels destroying a Russian search-and-rescue helicopter – to the "moderates" in northern Syria who were supposedly battling Islamic State forces. Another revelation at the briefing on Tuesday was that the "de-confliction" mechanism established between the US and Russia last month to avoid clashes in the skies over Syria did not apply to any other members of the US-led coalition. Asked by Chichakyan if the State Department would condemn the rebels’ use of US-supplied missiles against a Russian rescue helicopter, Toner replied that Syria was a “very complex environment.” Repeating that Russia was supporting Assad and directing airstrikes against the “moderate Syrian opposition,” he said that this only increased the urgency to speed up the political transition, so that everyone could focus on fighting Islamic State.

:usa:

http://ift.tt/1XeeEUw

US-backed forces have right to self-defense, but others do not - State Department

Corporate Actuary, Financial Reporting / Claims (New Jersey #45831)

DW Simpson Global Actuarial Recruitment | Casualty Actuary Jobs

Top property and casualty insurer seeks Actuary for a role supporting one or more lines of business in reserving, quarterly financial reporting and ad-hoc analyses. Will work directly with the claims department, financial department and senior management. (#45831)

The post Corporate Actuary, Financial Reporting / Claims (New Jersey #45831) appeared first on DW Simpson.



View and apply for this job at http://ift.tt/1XeeEUu

Corporate Actuary, Financial Reporting / Claims (New Jersey #45831)

Songs without choruses

Any they forgot?

Quote:

Almost every popular song has a chorus, that repeating part that often contains the song’s hook, its most memorable musical passage. Strong choruses are considered almost essential for a song’s success. But not always. Here’s a list of classic songs with no discernable chorus: “Stairway to Heaven”/Led Zeppelin “Bohemian Rhapsody”/Queen “Sympathy for the Devil”/Rolling Stones “Maggie May”/Rod Stewart “Wish You Were Here”/Pink Floyd “All Along the Watchtower”/Jimi Hendrix “Cool for Cats”/Squeeze “Baker Street”/Gerry Rafferty (the repeating sax bit doesn’t count) “Virginia Plain”/Roxy Music “Bittersweet Symphony”/The Verve “Paranoid Android”/Radiohead “Losing My Religion”/REM

Songs without choruses

Upcoming Webinar: Principles for Actuarial Spreadsheet Design

Introducing ACTEX's New Webinar Series for Professional Development!
Secure your spot for December 9th!

Early bird pricing available through December 1st!
Group pricing and college student discounts available, see below for details!

Whether you are a newcomer to actuarial spreadsheet design or have been practicing for years, this 1-hour session will cover high-level principles of spreadsheet design with a special focus on actuarial needs and issues, as well as specific practical implementation tips.

The webinar will be instructed by Mary Pat Campbell, FSA, MAAA, PRM, who is Vice President, Insurance Research at Conning in Hartford, Connecticut. Mary Pat also teaches courses on computing (Excel, Access, and VBA) and business writing for actuarial science students at the University of Connecticut.

Specific topics to be covered include:

• Considering why one should (or should not) do certain things, not only how.
• How to structure the flow of information through your spreadsheet together with appropriate documentation
• Building spreadsheets with future changes in mind
• Why using the INDEX/MATCH combination is preferable to VLOOKUP
• Considerations on the use of Named Ranges

Pricing:
1-2 participants: $49 **Early bird pricing available through 12/1**

Discounts for groups using one connection are available; please call customer service to place a group order.

Enroll today on ActexMadRiver.com

Upcoming Webinar: Principles for Actuarial Spreadsheet Design

Upcoming Webinar: Principles for Actuarial Spreadsheet Design

Introducing ACTEX's New Webinar Series for Professional Development!
Secure your spot for December 9th!

Early bird pricing available through December 1st!
Group pricing and college student discounts available, see below for details!

Whether you are a newcomer to actuarial spreadsheet design or have been practicing for years, this 1-hour session will cover high-level principles of spreadsheet design with a special focus on actuarial needs and issues, as well as specific practical implementation tips.

The webinar will be instructed by Mary Pat Campbell, FSA, MAAA, PRM, who is Vice President, Insurance Research at Conning in Hartford, Connecticut. Mary Pat also teaches courses on computing (Excel, Access, and VBA) and business writing for actuarial science students at the University of Connecticut.

Specific topics to be covered include:

• Considering why one should (or should not) do certain things, not only how.
• How to structure the flow of information through your spreadsheet together with appropriate documentation
• Building spreadsheets with future changes in mind
• Why using the INDEX/MATCH combination is preferable to VLOOKUP
• Considerations on the use of Named Ranges

Pricing:
1-2 participants: $49 **Early bird pricing available through 12/1**

Discounts for groups using one connection are available; please call customer service to place a group order.

Enroll today on ActexMadRiver.com

Upcoming Webinar: Principles for Actuarial Spreadsheet Design

Should I permanently retire

This is post 80k for me.
Should I continue fighting the good fight, or should i retire? I will let you all decide. Vote early - vote often...

Should I permanently retire

Twelve O'Clock Boys

Watched the documentary on Showtime last night (most of it- will finish tonight). Very interesting. Anyone else familiar with this?

Twelve O'Clock Boys

Would you say the wealthiest .05% of people worldwide are working together?

Are they too cohesive and insular as one group? Or are they too secluded from each other?

If you take
Beverly Hills, Santa Barbara, Laguna, Malibu, Newport Beach, La Jolla, SF Lombard ST, Marin County, CA

East Hampton, Scarsdale, NY
Manhattan 5th Ave and Upper west side

And Ocean Grove, Morristown, Madison, Hoboken, Cherry Hill NJ

Greenwich, CT

Brookline and Newton and Cambridge and Nantucket, MA

Fisher Island and Marco Island and Miami Beach, FL

West Vancouver, BC, Canada

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Lake Shore Drive Chicago

Kensington Palace Gardens, London, UK

And then you have Kauai, Hawaii
Bora Bora

And the artisans of Moscow and the oil kings of UAE and Saudi Arabia

Are these forces of wealth in unison or are they as secluded from each other as a rich man and a random guy on the sidewalk?

Would you say the wealthiest .05% of people worldwide are working together?

AO's biggest imposters of all time

Who's it?

Like someone who had an alt since many years, both IDs with a lot of pc. You totally thought they were different people, until it was revealed somehow that they were the same person.

AO's biggest imposters of all time

Turkey Shoot

Isn't it a little early for this?

:rimshot:

Turkey Shoot

Compliment an AO Poster

This thread is to compliment ao posters and thank them.

Thank you UFActuary for all your entertaining threads.

Compliment an AO Poster

Actex Stats book chapters

What chapters of the text does the course generally cover? I want to start pre-reading before january.

Actex Stats book chapters

Investment advice -- lump sum

I am anticipating to receive a high 5-figure lump sum soon. (No one is dying. It's a long term investment finally maturing.)

How should I invest it?

• Pay off mortgage
• 529
• equity market
• saving account
• something else

Investment advice -- lump sum

Turkey is a NATO member?

So why are they selling ISIS oil?

Turkey is a NATO member?

Looking to buy Exam 4/C Flashcards

Looking to purchase flashcards published by ASM, any recent edition will do.

Thanks!

Looking to buy Exam 4/C Flashcards

2015 Thanksgiving thread

FoxNews was preoccupied covering the Donald Trump celebration tour, so I did a little investigative reporting myself. You decide.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rex Ryan's pet coyote (Post 8315267) if you say "make america great again" your dick will be predator droned Infraction point for inappropriate language.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Cuddling Wingman (Post 8251953) I am going to punch someone in the dick many times. 10!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Natural Numbers (Post 8152259) Wait, someone here thinks that Iran released the hostages because they were afraid Ronald Reagan was going to punch them in the dick or something?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neutral Omen (Post 8138262) My bank makes me answer a zillion questions to authenticate my identity. A legitimate stranger caller can also jump through similar hoops to gain my trust. If a neighbor scams me, I can just go punch him in the nuts. That's the world grandparents grew up in. I can't dick punch somebody calling me from Ohio or from overseas.

Quote:

Originally Posted by George Frankly (Post 8105545) Be proactive. Or leave your sunglasses (or whatever) at the table. As everyone's leaving, go back to retrieve them and look at the receipt. Anyone who gets caught not only stiffing the wait staff, but also taking your money, gets a solid dick punch.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serena (Post 8085362) There's a chick who needs a dick. So someone can punch her in it.

Hold on SnB, you say. Maybe a blow to the dick isn't the offensive part. maybe we can't say drone because of the PC police. yeah, maybe you're right...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dismal Science (Post 8139275) I would like to buy a share of a predator drone please

Quote:

Originally Posted by oedipus rex (Post 7447177) Who cares what this douchebag says. Pretty soon we'll have our own predator drone bodyguards and no one will **** with us, or else.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr coffee (Post 8302844) I read unconfirmed report that they're returning the favor for the drone strike that killed jihadi john.

...and to bring it full circle, here are a couple unmodded posts referencing both a predator drone AND a dick. :ohnoes:

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShakeNBakes (Post 6783624) if people do this without approaching the dog's owners first, they deserve to have a predator drone flown into their dick at top speed

Quote:

Originally Posted by erosewater (Post 7220415) Balla that new avatar is gonna get you a predator drone to the dick

And in closing, here is the picture that I believe started it all. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong:




KNIBB HIGH FOOTBALL RULES!!!

2015 Thanksgiving thread

June 2016 Exam C Thread

I just passed MFE and I can't wait to pass C next!

I know it's super early, but I'm a slow learner and I will take 2 times the amount of time others need so I'm starting ahead. :)

Exam Window: June 21-27
Registration Deadline: May 11
Paper and Pencil: June 21


I read couple of recent study threads and it seems like the consensus is that the ADAPT doesn't prepare you for the real exam as it does for MFE (for MFE, the exams were sometimes word for word).
I'm a visual learner and need someone to teach me instead of reading through the manual, so I'm going to subscribe to TIA and purchase Mahler's exams


So who's with me??


I copied this from last year's thread.
-----
(Credit to GoodInGreen)

Tips
Exam C TI -30XS MultiView Calculator Thread: http://ift.tt/1T18CzV

Exam Information
Exam C Syllabus: http://ift.tt/1T18CA1
Exam C Tables: http://ift.tt/1BB5mqe

Sample Questions/Practice Exams
305 Sample Questions: http://ift.tt/1I8ZfOr
305 Sample Solutions: http://ift.tt/1I8ZdGe
Univ. of WI Sample Solutions (Some w/ Videos!): http://ift.tt/1I8ZdGg
Mahler's Website (Incl. Free C Practice Exam): http://ift.tt/1T18CA7
Actuarial Empire Free Exam (Solutions Only Available to Members): http://ift.tt/1I8ZdGi

Online Exam Guides
Rational Argumentator Guide to C (Updated July '14!): http://ift.tt/162HJci
Marcel B. Finan's Guide to C: http://ift.tt/1T18CAb

June 2016 Exam C Thread

Obama warned the media against helping the Islamic State recruit after Paris

I just can't make out what he's getting at here:

Quote:

The media isn’t shy about telling President Obama how to do his job. But on Sunday in Kuala Lumpur, it was the president's turn to share some thoughts on how journalists should do theirs. At a news conference where he said the fight against terrorism “doesn’t have to change the fundamental trajectory of the American people,” the president took a brief detour to add this: The media needs to help in this, I just want to say. You know, during the course of this week — a very difficult week — it is understandable that this has been a primary focus. But one of the things that has to happen is how we report on this has to maintain perspective and not empower in any way these terrorist organizations or elevate them in ways that make it easier for them to recruit or make them stronger. As he spoke, Obama paused several times, seeming to choose his words carefully. He appeared to be trying to deliver a message as subtly as possible. “He has a line he can’t cross, so he was being very measured,” said John G. Geer, who studies politics and media as chair of the political science department at Vanderbilt University. “The way I think about it is, this was a reminder from Obama — without being heavy-handed — that the media has a role to play. He knows the press is self-reflective, and this gives them a chance to think about it.” Conservative commentator Tammy Bruce, however, didn’t seem to think the president was subtle at all. “Here he’s telling the media, in other words, to do what he’s doing: ignore it, downplay it, don’t even discuss it, discuss what’s important to me and my narrative,” she said Monday during an appearance on Fox News. “That’s what he wants them to do. That’s what they’ve normally done. And this week, they stopped.”

And the whole piece here: http://ift.tt/21dSGjO

Anyone got any ideas? Is it related to this?:
CNN Punished Its Own Journalist for Fulfilling a Core Duty of Journalism

http://ift.tt/1YrgKxq

Is he claiming the lapdog media are lappy enough?

Obama warned the media against helping the Islamic State recruit after Paris

ISIS fighters booby trap dolls in sick attempt to kill children

Obviously quan jue propaganda.

I am trying to find the original source of the photos, but can't.
Maybe someone else can?



http://ift.tt/1YrgKxf

ISIS fighters booby trap dolls in sick attempt to kill children

Best way to study for this?

So I'm taking it in March, 4 months to go

I'm through 7 chapters of the 26 in the ASM manual, and I'd estimate I maybe know 30% of the material. 50-70% if I have a formula sheet in front of me. I estimate it's going to get exponentially more difficult.

Should I

a) stick to a standard study plan and try to get through X pages / lessons a day with the goal of finishing the material mid January so I can do all practice problems / exams until March, or

b) just start doing nonstop practice problems now and focus on memorizing the formulas as I go because this is basically what's going to end up happening anyways

Best way to study for this?

Does anyone have interesting, shareable, Precision 1D structures?

If so, do reply.

Does anyone have interesting, shareable, Precision 1D structures?

He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f20Oz9Yr_So

Lyrics:

He hit me
And it felt like a kiss.
He hit me
But it didn't hurt me.

He couldn't stand to hear me say
That I'd been with someone new,
And when I told him I had been untrue

He hit me
And it felt like a kiss.
He hit me
And I knew he loved me.

If he didn't care for me
I could have never made him mad
But he hit me,
And I was glad.

Yes, he hit me
And it felt like a kiss.
He hit me
And I knew I loved him.

And then he took me in his arms
With all the tenderness there is,
And when he kissed me,
He made me his.



Romantic or promoting domestic violence? Thoughts?

He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss)