Uncategorized Archives - Page 4 of 9

Amber Haider: Pushing the limits of what is possible in ballroom dancing

By Frank Li February 7, 2024UncategorizedNo Comments

Amber thought she was probably too old to start dancing at age 40. She thought it would be hard to succeed if you did not grow up dancing. She thought a lot of things that turned out to be just thoughts. The reality is that when you question those thoughts and push the limits of what you think is possible, you can achieve things you never thought possible, such as winning Rhythm at three different levels (Bronze, Silver, and Gold) at the OSB three years in a row (2021, 2022, and 2023), which is exactly what she has done!

February 2024 Economic Forecast: Index Again Modestly Declined But Remains Well Above Levels Associated With Recession

By admin January 29, 2024UncategorizedNo Comments

Authored by Steven Hansen

EconCurrent‘s Economic Index again declined and continues slightly in negative territory. Being slightly in negative territory is not necessarily indicative of a recession, and we continue to believe a recession is not imminent. There remain four major indicators signaling a recession. Read on to understand the currents affecting our economic growth.

Brian Ames: A gentleman competitor with big dance dreams

By Frank Li January 3, 2024UncategorizedNo Comments

It is almost accidental that Brian is an accomplished Bronze-level dancer today. Seven years ago, he was barely aware of this beautiful art form. His dreams then are not his dreams today. Dancesport has taken a place in the core of his personal and professional life, which means it is at the core of his hopes and dreams.

The most efficient amateur male in pro/am ballroom dancing!

By Frank Li December 20, 2023UncategorizedNo Comments

My first out-of-town ballroom dance competition was OSB 2019, and I placed 4^th (Gentlemen, Open Smooth, age-group C). After that, I started privately claiming that I am America’s most efficient male amateur in pro/am ballroom dancing (age-group C initially and S1 now) based on this simple fact: All the other five finalists had been dancing for many more years than I had. Now, it is time to reveal this claim publicly!

Adventures With 3 Coin Flips. Part 6: Probabilities

By John Lounsbury December 17, 2023UncategorizedNo Comments

In Part 5, we found that there are 6,435 possible outcomes for the complete characterization of a process of repeating three coin flips. This arises because a 3-flip sequence must be repeated eight times to allow for the possibility of all eight equally probable sequence results occurring. In this article, we calculate the probability of obtaining any individual outcome and also the probability of obtaining an outcome of each of the 22 outcome types.

15 Dec 2023 Market Close & Major Financial Headlines: Dow Sets Another Historic High, 10-year Treasury yield slips, Markets Close Mixed

By Gary Hall December 15, 2023UncategorizedNo Comments

Summary Of the Markets Today:

The Dow closed up 57 points or 0.15%,
Nasdaq closed up 0.35%,
S&P 500 closed down 0.01%,
Gold $2,034 down $10.80,
WTI crude oil settled at $72 up $0.04,
10-year U.S. Treasury 3.913% down 0.015 points,
USD Index $102.61 up $0.650,
Bitcoin $42,202 down $792 ( 1.84% )
Baker Hughes Rig Count: U.S. -3 to 623 Canada -9 to 185

*Stock data, cryptocurrency, and commodity prices at the market closing.

Click here to read our current Economic Forecast – December 2023 Economic Forecast: Economy Is Likely To Decelerate

Today’s Economic Releases Compiled by Steven Hansen, Publisher:

The 23 participants in the December 2023 Livingston Survey predict higher output growth for the second half of 2023, compared with their projections in the June 2023 survey. The forecasters expect 3.1% annualized growth in real GDP during the second half of 2023. Next year they have lowered their forecast for unemployment and their inflation expectations are little changed.

Industrial Production remains in a recession declining 0.4% year-over-year. The components: manufacturing declined 0.8%, mining up 2.3%, and utilities down 1.0%.

Business activity declined in the Empire State Manufacturing Survey. The headline general business conditions index fell twenty-four points to -14.5 continuing to oscillate around -8.6 — the average observed over the past year. New orders fell for a third consecutive month, and shipments also declined. Manufacturing continues in a recession in the U.S.

Here is a summary of headlines we are reading today:

U.S. Drillers Cut Drilling Activity Amid Stabilizing Oil Prices
Houthis Continue To Attack Ships Near Vital Oil Chokepoints
Santa Getting Boost From Lower Gasoline Prices
Global Coal Demand Is Set to Hit a Record High in 2023
Citigroup employees, on edge over layoffs, told they can work remotely until the new year
10-year Treasury yield slips, adds to this week’s steep decline
The Dow will try to keep its record-setting momentum in the week ahead as more inflation data looms
Intel’s stock sheds a bear as a key catalyst awaits
Top Fed officials says the Fed isn’t ‘really talking about cutting interest rates right now’

Click on the “Read More” below to access these, other headlines, and the associated news summaries moving the markets today.

Dancing Queens & Kings: Call for Participation (6)

By Frank Li December 6, 2023UncategorizedNo Comments

My forthcoming book, “Dancing Queens & Kings,” is calling for participation. The only requirement is that you have competed at the USDC or OSB and have an interesting story to tell. Below is the new and final timeline:

12/31/2023: 1 page highlighting your compelling story in pro/am ballroom dancing.
1/31/2024: 10-page full story.
4/30/2024: Book review by Sam Sodano.
6/30/2024: Publication at Amazon.

I am looking for 40 stories and will accept up to 50 submissions of 1 page (1st come, 1st accepted). After your 1 page is accepted, your 10-page is almost guaranteed to be included in the book, unless it is so poorly written that it is totally unsalvageable.

Adventures with 3 Coin Flips. Part 5: Identifying and Counting Outcomes

By John Lounsbury December 3, 2023UncategorizedNo Comments

This article describes the process of identifying all possible outcomes when there are 8 trials of 3 coin flips each. Then, the outcomes are divided into types, and the number of outcomes for each type is determined.

Ten Dancing Queens & Kings at OSB 2023

By Frank Li November 29, 2023UncategorizedNo Comments

In this post, I will present 10 amateur ballroom dancers who attended OSB 2023 after choosing to participate in my book (“Dancing Queens & Kings”):

Annette Burden (S2): Winner of both Closed-Gold Rhythm and Smooth.
Irene Fong (S1): Winner of Closed-Gold Smooth.
Eric Leininger (S1): a danceholic.
Brian Ames (C): Placed 3^rd in MIB Rhythm and Smooth.
Nichelle Kennedy (C): A new champion in Open Smooth.
Giovanni Fortezza (C): 2^nd place in Open Rhythm.
Sara Granberg (B): A finalist in Ballroom – Silver.
Alexis Salapatek (A): A new champion in Open Smooth.
Francesca Mattozzi (A): A rising star in Smooth and Ballroom.
Frank Li (S1): Winner of the top male student award (Gold) two years in a row.

Now, let me briefly highlight them one by one …

Adventures With 3 Coin Flips. Part 4: Learning to Count at an Advanced Age

By John Lounsbury November 26, 2023Uncategorized2 Comments

The process of understanding the complexity of many 3-flip sequences for tossing a coin is about to become more difficult. This is because are going to enter the arcane world of permutations and combinations. As a result, this is counting on a scale far more complex than that learned in elementary school.