Kirjahaku

Much has been written about the ups and downs of financial markets, from the lure of prosperity to the despair of crises. Yet a more fundamental and pernicious source of uncertainty exists in today's world: the traditional "insurance" risks of earthquakes, storms, terrorist attacks, and other disasters. Insightfully exploring these "acts of God and man," Michael R. Powers guides readers through the methods available for identifying and measuring such risks, financing their consequences, and forecasting their future behavior within the limits of science. A distinctive characteristic of earthquakes, hurricanes, bombings, and other insurance risks is that they impact the values of stocks, bonds, commodities, and other market-based financial products, while remaining largely unaffected by or "aloof" from the behavior of markets. Quantifying such risks given limited data is difficult yet crucial for achieving the financing objectives of insurance. Powers begins with a discussion of how risk impacts our lives, health, and possessions and proceeds to introduce the statistical techniques necessary for analyzing these uncertainties. He then considers the experience of risk from the perspectives of both policyholders and insurance companies, and compares their respective responses. The risks inherent in the private insurance industry lead naturally to a discussion of the government's role as both market regulator and potential "insurer of last resort." Following a thoughtful and balanced analysis of these issues, Powers concludes with an interdisciplinary investigation into the nature of uncertainty, incorporating ideas from physics, philosophy, and game theory to assess science's limitations in predicting the ramifications of risk.

Much has been written about the ups and downs of financial markets, from the lure of prosperity to the despair of crises. Yet a more fundamental and pernicious source of uncertainty exists in today's world: the traditional "insurance" risks of earthquakes, storms, terrorist attacks, and other disasters. Insightfully exploring these "acts of God and man," Michael R. Powers guides readers through the methods available for identifying and measuring such risks, financing their consequences, and forecasting their future behavior within the limits of science. A distinctive characteristic of earthquakes, hurricanes, bombings, and other insurance risks is that they impact the values of stocks, bonds, commodities, and other market-based financial products, while remaining largely unaffected by or "aloof" from the behavior of markets. Quantifying such risks given limited data is difficult yet crucial for achieving the financing objectives of insurance. Powers begins with a discussion of how risk impacts our lives, health, and possessions and proceeds to introduce the statistical techniques necessary for analyzing these uncertainties. He then considers the experience of risk from the perspectives of both policyholders and insurance companies, and compares their respective responses. The risks inherent in the private insurance industry lead naturally to a discussion of the government's role as both market regulator and potential "insurer of last resort." Following a thoughtful and balanced analysis of these issues, Powers concludes with an interdisciplinary investigation into the nature of uncertainty, incorporating ideas from physics, philosophy, and game theory to assess science's limitations in predicting the ramifications of risk.

Palm Springs. Turbine windmill farms. More golf courses per square mile than any American city. Winter playground for politicians, athletes, artists, actors, and other celebrities. Can the son of Arizona ranchers and a Florida State art major find love and happiness flipping homes in the gayest city in America? Will old bones, toxic waste, or a rising young star derail their romance? As they pursue their dreams, Payt and Trip discover life is what happens while they're busy making other plans. Their most important discovery is they have flipping skills beyond real estate.

When Peter becomes a widower, his partnered gay friends quietly disappear. Deciding to relocate, Peter sells everything in California so he can return to his Midwestern roots. His first night back, Peter meets two very attractive younger men with only one obvious physical difference. Both show a surprising amount of interest in Peter. Flattered by their attention, he must choose the blond securities analyst from a wealthy family or the Jamaican medical intern. As he learns about boofing and fencohol, Peter discovers a sociopath can hide in plain sight. He also realizes the better choice for him is someone who already knows how to live outside the crystal bubble.

In the vein of Arthur C. Clark and Clifford Simak, science fiction novelist Mike Powers unveils the intriguing world of New Paradigm, one of six planets in a separate solar system far from Earth, which has been claimed by ten thousand human colonists hopeful for a fresh start. Intent on building an advanced community free from the unnecessary restrictions of Earth, the colonists embrace open marriages and unhampered lifestyles with an eye toward building a society strengthened by interwoven relationships. Their contact with Earth is limited to a yearly check-in, since regular communiqu s are so slow, and the energy-intensive dimensional communication drains too many resources to be used for anything more than emergencies. So when the colonists hear from a nearby race of highly intelligent beings known as the Watchers about a grave disaster eradicating the inhabitants of other planets, they must decide for themselves whether they should fight alongside these alien creatures to stop the unknown enemy. Tracing the first hundred years of the space colony, New Paradigm is rich with unforgettable characters and thrilling exploration that will stretch your notions of what is possible.

A deathbed promise sends Craig Nolan from Seattle to Kuala Lumpur to find his best friend's son and deliver two gifts. Described by outsiders as a small Asian country on steroids, Malaysia has many surprises for Craig: a huge casino in a country that forbids gambling, poisonous fish, terrorist gangs, and the love of his life. His first night in KL, a pickpocket steals Craig's wallet in a gay bar, but an attractive young Malay intervenes, returning Craig's valuables. When Craig accepts Wuji's offer to help find his friend's son, the search takes them to an exotic resort island, mountain casino, palm oil plantation, and Malaysia's version of American Idol. Along the way, mutual attraction becomes love, with the lingering question: what happens when Craig's mission is complete?

Bali, crown jewel of Indonesia.....................-Island of the Gods; land of a thousand temples -Peaceful Hindu enclave in world's largest Muslim nation -Popular gay vacation spot-Very affordable beachside hotel rooms -Endless white sandy beaches & clear blue-green water -Designer label shopping at bargain basement prices -Millions of tourists spending billions of dollars each year When Greg Simmons discovers his favorite uncle in LA never returned from Bali, he crosses the Pacific to find him. Greg launches his own investigation with the help of a wealthy widow, a gay salon owner, and two teens. With few clues, this unlikely posse stumbles onto information which could change the balance of world power, and cost them their lives. All they have is each other. They discover that's all they need.

Seven partners own Over55, a Minneapolis firm that helps families find care for their aging loved ones: BURT, paternalistic founder and CEO. GEORGIA, Burt's business partner and wife. ED, former computer company executive. MARK, handsome, talented sales executive. LOIS, Snow White's evil twin. JOAN, tough operations director. TROY, adjusts facts to fit every situation.Long on sales and marketing talent, the company is short on administrative skills until Dylan Riley, a closeted gay man, joins the partners. Everything changes quickly. New technology, clever deals, and creative financing fuel the company's national growth. Despite Dylan's determination to keep his business and personal lives separate, the two collide. Not all the partners share the wealth. Some are forced out. There's an attempted murder. Dylan's lover suddenly leaves town. Not everyone is who they seem to be. More twists and turns than a Six Flags roller coaster ride. Find out who's eliminating partners in this gay-themed romantic thriller.

Eddy is living the American dream Young, sexy, healthy, and openly gay, Eddy has it all. Successful caf operator in Kansas City's Country Club Plaza, one of the Midwest's premier retail areas. Trendy condo overlooking the Plaza. Adorable mixed race face. A body to die for. One of KC's Thirty-Under-30. Eddy is in the many-friends-with-benefits stage of his life. When Eddy offers to help one of his customers find an old friend, he has no idea he's about to lose everything he owns, but find everything he's always wanted.

When Quinn takes on a new Incline Village landscaping client high above Lake Tahoe he has no idea how dramatically his life will change. Hired to transform a huge tract of bare land into a masterpiece, Quinn and his crew toil for months to finish the job. After a week of hard work, Quinn bonds with his wealthy older client over dinner each Friday night. With extremely different lifestyles, Quinn and Reese find enough common ground to begin dating. Age and income differences disappear when life-threatening events prove they're a perfect match.