Barry Lynch: looking forward to seeing some progressive three-year-olds he bought

Tattersalls

County Cork-basedbloodstock agent and breeder Barry Lynchtells us about how he is managing both personally and professionally with theEurope-wide lockdown to halt the spread of the coronavirus

How is life ticking over for you at the moment?

Despite the world coming to a standstill life has been ticking over nicely. My family have stayed healthy and the weather has been kind to us in the last month.

I've had a few nice foals and some of our mares are covered again. Generally speaking we've just been trying to keep as busy and prepared as possible for when racing and sales kick off again.

With no racing or sales in Europe at present, your scope to do business must be limited. What are you doing instead?

Business has been challenging but I'm still working on buying horses privately and I've been keeping in touch with clients and trainers.

I've managed to pick up several breeding prospects and horses in training but it has been difficult and the logistics of doing business are greatly hampered.

I'm also making sure that the admin, accounts, website and so on are up to date as I'm hopeful that when racing restarts we'll see plenty of trade.

All the sale companies have been working tirelessly to re-arrange the sale dates, schedules and locations. Hopefully, I'll be able to support the sales by buying some good two-year-olds in training when the market opens up.

What's your view on online sales, if they had to happen in Europe this year?

Inglis Easter earlier this month showed that online sales are workable and if they do happen in Europe this year I'll be doing my best to take part.

It's important for agents that we're able to see the horses in the flesh to get a feel for them, but if we can manage that somehow, coupled with all the other information that we're able to attain online breeze videos, conformation photos and vet information I feel it would be a suitable remedy to overcome the coronavirus restrictions.

More importantly, for sales to restart we need racing to restart. Without racing it will be very hard to make the sales work.

Are you keeping in contact with clients and trainers?

I'm still in contact with trainers, to check in with how clients' horses are working, and then informing clients about their progress. I'll also be making tentative enquiries with clients about getting involved in the breeze-up sales.

Do you think there will be any positives to come out of the crisis eventually?

I thought is was very innovative of Arqana and Goffs UK to join forces by staging their breeze-up sales together in Ireland. It showed that our industry is willing to pull together for the greater good when our backs are up against the wall.

They're giving the breeze-up consignors a solid opportunity to provide a good sale. We're going to see a focus on online bidding, and more internet data such as videos, photos and measurements, which are all good steps in improving the selling of horses in future whether the coronavirus is here or not.

In difficult times it's often hard to see the outcome as positive but the racing industry has overcome lots of obstacles and recessions in the past. It can bounce back as quickly as it dips.

On a personal level, how are you keeping yourself busy during lockdown?

I have a few mares that I own in partnership with my father. We've been busy covering and making sure the foals are progressing well.

Outside of work, I got back running and spending some quality time with my family. It's a big change from previous years as I would normally have been travelling for work in late February and March.

Any film, TV or book recommendations to share to get through home confinement?

Peaky Blinders is always a good watch, but the kids seem to take over the TV so Fireman Sam, Peppa Pig and Paw Patrol have been the staple through lockdown!

A book I can recommend is As The Crow Flies by Jeffrey Archer. Its a fascinating story with multiple twists and turns.

What are you most looking forward to when racing returns?

Racing cannot come back soon enough. There are several progressive three-year-olds I've bought who could have a good year ahead in Bodyline (with Sir Mark Prescott), Animal Instinct (with Sir Mark again), Schroders Mistake (with Ken Condon) and Elusive King (another with Ken).

I'm also excited by the two-year-olds I bought as yearlings who are due to run, including a Kingman colt out of Merry Jaunt with Sir Mark, a Starspangledbanner filly out of Condensed in training with Joseph OBrien and a fast Territories colt with Michael Dods all good examples.

It will be great getting back on the sales and racing scene, where I have some great friends and colleagues. We'll be able to leave this pandemic behind us and have a much better appreciation for racing having been starved of it for such a long while.

Readmore Life in Lockdown Q&As with industry figures

Tim Lane: 'Working with horses does you the world of good in these times'

Jerry Horan: 'My sister butchered my haircut. I think it was payback'

Violet Hesketh and Mimi Wadham: 'Social distancing isn't hard - just lonely!'

Henry Beeby: 'Nick Nugent and I have entered a beard growing competition'

Charles O'Neill: 'ITM will be ready to go when the markets open up again'

Freddy Powell: 'We're improving our online sale platform in case it's needed'

Bumble Mitchell: 'Online sales could be tricky for outlying studs like mine'

David Stack: 'I had to give a garda a lesson about the birds and the bees'

Colm Sharkey: 'I've been torturing myself trying to sort out my golf swing'

Rachael Gowland: 'I didn't realise how much I loved racing until I couldn't go'

Sam Hoskins: 'I've been listening to endless Cold War podcasts on my tractor'

Niamh Spiller: 'Video calls are very important to keep everyone motivated'

Jamie Lloyd:'Staff have had all their own gear labelled, even wheelbarrows'

Michel Orlandi: 'The stallions are flying and that gives me great hope'

Richard Venn: 'The French are in a good position to get back racing sooner'

Tim Kent: 'It's difficult to plan when we don't know when racing will resume'

Russell Ferris: 'Weatherbys had contingency plans that we activated at once'

Grant and Tom Pritchard-Gordon: 'Inglis Easter has kept us busy since January'

Peter Hockenhull: 'The social side of meeting and chatting to breeders is gone'

Polly Bonnor: 'We've fulfilled every feed order, including all our exports'

Richard Lancaster: 'We're fortunate that some Shadwell staff live on site'

View post:
Barry Lynch: 'The industry has often bounced back as quickly as it dipped' - Racing Post

L to R: Joseph Huling, Keith Kramlich (Photos: Takeuchi-U.S.)

Takeuchi-U.S. promoted two employees in its organization: Keith Kramlich takes over as national product and training manager, while Joseph Huling fills Kramlichs previous role as national service and warranty manager, effective immediately.

For Kramlich, this is his second promotion since he was hired in 2016 as a regional service manager. In his new position as national product and training manager, his main responsibility is overseeing product development, which includes supervising, managing and developing the product and training department.

Additionally, he will support corporate sales efforts by establishing business partnerships with dealers and distributors to provide exceptional product, training and support for them and their customers who have purchased or use Takeuchi products.

Huling was promoted from his previous position as the northeast regional service manager, which he held since he started at Takeuchi in late 2017. As national service and warranty manager, his main responsibilities include managing Takeuchi regional service managers to ensure they are providing service support in their respective regions, reviewing all warranty claims and providing final approval. Additionally, Huling will monitor failure trends to expedite solutions and calculate and review warranty costs, developing plans to reduce costs.

Kramlich has a degree in specialized diesel technology and applied service management from Wyoming Technical Institute. Huling has a bachelors degree in business administration and management from Brenau University.

The Andersons added Clint Formby to its Plant Nutrient Group to serve as territory manager for the professional turf business.

Formby will manage the distribution of The Andersons turf and ornamental products in the south-central region of the U.S.

Formby has more than 15 years of experience in the lawn and landscaping industry. He comes to The Andersons from SePRO, and he has held management positions with Native Texas Nursery and Regal Chemical Company, serving nursery, sports turf and landscape markets throughout Texas.

Formby earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas.

Ruppert Landscape made four personnel moves in the companys landscape construction division.

Jim Tuzzolino has been promoted to the position of division regional vice president.

He has more than 20 years of experience in the landscape construction industry and has been with Ruppert for almost 15 years. He first joined the company as an intern while attending SUNY Cobleskill, where he earned a bachelors degree in wildlife management. He has held many positions during his Ruppert career including production manager in the Maryland branch, operations manager in both Maryland and Virginia and most recently as branch manager in Virginia.

In his new role, he will support landscape construction division operations, specifically overseeing the Virginia and North Carolina branches, working closely with those teams to ensure continued improvement and success.

Mike Ryan has been promoted to fill the role of branch manager in the Virginia landscape construction branch.

He has more than 20 years of industry experience and holds a bachelors degree in horticulture from Virginia Tech. He joined Ruppert in 2015 as production manager in Virginia and was quickly promoted when the position of operations manager became available only a year later.

In his new role, he will oversee all landscape construction operations in the companys Virginia branch, which covers projects primarily in the Northern Virginia and D.C. markets. His responsibilities include planning, budgeting and personnel development within his region as well as ensuring customer satisfaction.

Brad Matthews has been promoted to fill the role of operations manager in the Virginia landscape construction branch.

He has been with Ruppert for more than 15 years, having joined the company straight out of Mississippi State University where he studied construction management. Since then, he has held almost every position on the landscape production side of the business, most recently as project manager.

Anne Kawecki has been tasked with taking on the role of business development manager in the Virginia landscape construction branch.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Marymount University and was an interior designer and co-owner of a vintage and repurposed home furnishings store in Southern Maryland before joining the companys Virginia branch in early 2019 as an assistant project manager.

The Manufacturing Institute named Lorraine Amesbury Holder, vice president of operations for Stihl, as an honoree for its 2020 STEP Ahead Awards.

Prior to her promotion to vice president of operations in 2018, Holder served as the director of manufacturing for Stihl for 10 years. She is passionate about skilled trades and educating others about the viable opportunities available in the industry.

The eighth annual STEP Ahead Awards recognizes women in science, technology, engineering and production who exemplify leadership within the manufacturing industry.

Husqvarna appointed Robert M. McCutcheon as president of North America for Husqvarna Division, effective June 1.

Prior to joining Husqvarna North America, McCutcheon served as president and managing director of the Americas for Britax Child Safety in Fort Mill, S.C. Bringing more than 23 years of experience and expertise in consumer products, he has led successful business growth initiatives through innovation, marketing and operational excellence. McCutcheons background includes positions with Conagra Brands, Walmart and Britax.

McCutcheon is succeeding Earl Bennett who served the company both as legal counsel and president of the North American division. He has been instrumental in building a strong organizational and business platform for the future growth of Husqvarna in North America.

Kyle Renninger will join Anuvia Plant Nutrients as CFO.

In his new position, Renninger will be a senior executive responsible for managing financial actions and planning and analyzing the companys financial status. As Anuvia CFO, Renninger will use his skills in finance to advance market growth of Anuvias innovative, biobased and sustainable products, including SymTRX for agriculture.

Renninger brings 15 years of experience in his career leading the financial analysis and planning for global agricultural businesses. Most recently, Renninger worked as CFO for Arysta LifeScience Corp., overseeing the North America, Australia and New Zealand business units. During his time with Arysta, Renninger served as marketing manager for U.S. Herbicides, financial planning and analysis manager, manager of sales and operations analysis and reporting, senior financial analyst and cost accountant/cost analyst. His background also includes various cost accounting and manufacturing analysis positions for IBM.

Renninger holds a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from Penn State University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Campbell University. He is also a Certified Management Accountant (CMA).

Sennebogen appointed Greg Roberts as tree care manager for the manufacturers new line of tree care handling machines.

As tree care manager, Roberts undertakes the responsibility for growing and managing the companys tree care division including the Sennebogen 718 and 738 tree handlers. His role will be to deliver field-based customer service including application support to end users, dealer development, sales training and product demonstration.

Read the original here:
People on the Move: Promotions and hirings from Takeuchi-US, The Andersons and more - Landscape Management magazine

Ajoy Chawla, CEO of the jewellery division at Titan, tells Samreen Ahmad that the company is gearing up to train nearly 25,000 people in Titan's ecosystem in two weeks to restart post-lockdown work.

Titans jewellery division, which accounts for about 80 per cent of the companys total revenue, reported a dip of 5 per cent in revenue in March because of the Covid-19 lockdown. The company is now preparing to roll out a digital initiative for customers who want to buy gold during Akshaya Tritiya, which is around the corner. Ajoy Chawla, chief executive officer (CEO) of the jewellery division at Titan, tells Samreen Ahmad that the company is gearing up to train nearly 25,000 people in Titans ecosystem in two weeks to restart post-lockdown work. Edited excerpts:

What are Titans plans for Akshaya Tritiya, which will occur during lockdown this year?

Akshaya Tritiya is the second most important event for us in terms of sales after Dhanteras. We reached out to our customers who are typically Akshaya Tritiya buyers and found out that 54 per cent of them actually want to buy during the occasion even if it is a token purchase. Since gold appreciates in value, people are also seeing wisdom in hedging and parking money in gold as a safe haven. The business community is positive towards it. Even the salaried class is beginning to see gold as an interesting asset class.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE: WHO says worst is still ahead; Mumbai cases top 3,000

So, what offers will be rolled out for these customers?

This time its going to be an e-Akshaya Tritiya as the stores are shut till May 3. Our central warehouse is in Hosur and unless we reach our warehouse we will not be able to commence deliveries. However, we have opened online to book orders and will take 100 per cent advance from customers and deliver to them whenever we can at the earliest. We are giving up to 25 per cent off on making charges on gold as well as studded jewellery. We are also running a gold coin scheme which enables customers to lock in and protect the current gold rate. If one wants to buy 25 grams worth of gold, he can buy in the form of gold coins today. These gold coins can be redeemed against future jewellery purchase any time up to November 30. The making charges on gold coins that we charge upfront now will be set off against the making charges of the jewellery that they buy later. We have also put together a back-end team, which is in touch with customers. Buyers can finalise a product and the moment our staff are allowed to go into stores, our sales executives will try on the jewellery for the buyer using a video based approach. Also, if you pick a product but on physical receipt it doesnt work out, then you can exchange it till June end.

How is the company coping with the slump in demand?

Jewellery demand will not be as badly hit as other discretionary products such as garments and shoes as it appreciates in value. Every consumer facing company is going through a tough time. Our sales lost during the lockdown period will not come back. There will be deferred demand for wedding buys as customers will delay wedding purchases to may be the second or third quarter. There is also pent-up demand, which happens during birthdays and anniversaries. No one can predict how this will play.

ALSO READ: Top automakers delay resuming production over dealers' inability to sell

How are you ensuring that Titans 10,000-strong karigar community is taken care of during these times of crisis?

We have ensured that they are getting cash flow support even though many of them operate on a variable basis. But currently, theres no work. So, they are being supported directly or indirectly by us. Food is being ensured wherever possible. For those who need cash support, it is being provided. This support will continue for a few months till the flow of work begins.

How are you deploying work from home for such a large number of employees?

Its a great opportunity to sharpen the saw. The retail staff are undergoing sales training, product training, and participating in innovation workshops. We are also doing health and wellness sessions with them. Every manager is in touch with his or her team on a daily basis even if it's an informal virtual chai pe charcha. Our karigars have been involved in design competitions. At the senior level, executives are conducting webinars and learning from around the world on how we need to be prepared besides looking at the financials.

Is Titan gearing up for a restart post lockdown?

We are in the process of rolling out a comprehensive training programme for two weeks starting Monday for 25,000 people who are a part of Titans ecosystem. Every karigar, support staff, vendor, security staff, housekeeping, franchisee staff, sales people and cashier will undergo this training. We are looking at changing layouts in stores to avoid crowding. There will be a shift system for staff to see there is no crowding. We are also working on adequate safety material availability, including reusable masks, thermal scanners, gloves and sanitisers.

Will launch of new collections be affected this year?

One of the drivers for sales is design and new collections. And that will not be compromised as it is a pillar of the Tanishq brand. Certainly, our launch calendar will get deferred and we are reworking it. But it's important to build desire for the customer with new collections.

Is the company going to cut salaries of staff?

We have not taken any call on that front. We have ensured that all the people in our ecosystem get their salaries.

First Published: Mon, April 20 2020. 22:44 IST

Read more from the original source:
Titans jewellery division to roll out digital initiative for clients: CEO - Business Standard

A TEESSIDE business which employs 15 people was one of the first in the country to receive a government coronavirus support loan.

HTES Ltd,which specialises in training and assessment services to engineering and construction industries, said it had seen a 'significant drop' in sales following the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Hartlepool-based firm had applied for thecoronavirus business interruptionloan aftercompany directorBrian Goodlad said sales had dropped by75 percent as a result.

But confirming HTES had been one of the first to get the loan, Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said he was "pleased" that emergency loans had started to arrive.

He said: Businesses across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool are facing unprecedented uncertainty due to the coronavirus pandemic, but I am pleased that these emergency loans are starting to arrive to businesses in my region.

"It is important in this time of national crisis that firms in every corner of the country get the valuable support they need, and fast.

The government has really stepped up to the plate when it comes to support for small and medium sized businesses.

"This is a really difficult time for everyone and people are understandably concerned, but the support is available to help firms get through this pandemic with as minimal impact as possible."

Brian Goodlad, director of HTES said: We have seen a significant drop in sales following the start of the coronavirus outbreak.

"The support provided by Business Enterprise Fund provides a boost to our cashflow which ensures certainty and stability in very difficult circumstances.

It is an important lifeline that will help us survive and safeguard 15 full and part-time jobs.

It comes asChancellor Rishi Sunak confirmed more than 90 million of loans to nearly 1,000 small and medium sized firms hadbeen approved under the governments Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Schemesince launchinglast week.

Today, The Northern Echo was told employers had claimed for 67,000 jobs in just 30 minutes of the new furlough scheme going live online.

Read the original:
Hartlepool firm among first to get 60k loan from government - The Northern Echo

Taylor Swift brought me to tears with her heartbreakingly beautiful performance of "Soon You'll Get Better" for the One World: Together at Home concert on Saturday night. The singer was one of the final acts for the unique globally broadcast event, and her emotional track off the Lover album really drove the message of the evening home.

The song, originally accompanied by the Dixie Chicks, was inspired by Swift's mother, Andrea, and her battle with cancer over the past few years. Soon after the release of Lover, Swift said she wasn't sure if she'd ever perform the track live because it's so personal. However, she made an exception for the at-home concert, aimed to honor the healthcare workers on the front lines against the COVID-19 pandemic and uplift the spirits of people around the world. "Soon you'll get better" is a message so many people need to hear right now.

In addition to Swift's song, other celebrities joined forces to share their talents for the powerful event. Jennifer Lopez sat down for a low-key cover of Barbra Streisand's "People," Lady Gaga performed Charlie Chaplin's classic tune "Smile," and Kacey Musgraves graced audiences with her lovely track "Rainbow."

Watch Swift's strikingly personal performance above. Her vulnerability and the poignant lyrics make this a memorable performance that will tug at your heartstrings.

Read the original post:
Taylor Swift's Sang "Soon You'll Get Better" Live For the First Time in an Emotional Performance - POPSUGAR

"It's just fun. It kind of keeps my life a little bit on the lighter side." Wochit

Ryan "NEON" Citro was in his fifth season with the Milwaukee Bucks' Rim Rockers when the 2019-2020 NBA season came to a haltover the coronavirus.

Citro is part of a team of ten whofly off of trampolines and dunk basketballs to hype up the crowdduringhome games and community events.

While the remainder of the season is inlimbo and the gym whereCitro works as a personal trainer is temporarily closed, he'scontinuing to do trick shots from his home in Oak Creek.

"It's just fun," he said. "It kind ofkeeps my life a little bit on the lighter-side when everybody is in a state of panic."

About a year ago, Citro started filming and uploading videos ofhimself doing trick shots online.

He aims to shoot one a day, and usually films them at his gym,Bridgewater Performance in Franklin.

When he thinks of an idea for a trick shot, he adds it to a running list on his phone, and always tries it out at least once.

Milwaukee Bucks' Rim Rocker Ryan "NEON" Citro met his fiance, Mariah Nigl, when she was a Bucks dancer.(Photo: Submitted)

"I always have to turn my camera on because I've tried some stuff just to see what would happen, and it's gone in," he laughed.

Since Citro has been home, he's shotfrom theroof of his house, backwards from his car, and with ashovel while doing yard work.

Behind the camera is Citro's fiance and former Bucks dancer Mariah Nigl.

Not only does she film the videos, she also chases down basketballs wherever they may fly and contributes ideas for shots.

"He loves to do it, and ultimately, I want to see him happy," Nigl said.

An athlete isn't somethingCitrobecame, it was always a part of who he was.

"I first climbed up on the top of the refrigerator by myself when I was 3," he said.

That was the year his mom signed him up for gymnastics, which he did through age 16. His dad got him intoT-ballas soon he was old enough to join.

"Before I could walk, I was throwing stuff around," Citro said.

He went onto play baseball forUpper Iowa University, where he studiedexercise and sports science, and taught classes and personally trained clients at the school's Recreation Center.

He also played basketball until starting high school inCudahy, then was a diver his junior and senior years. He is currentlythe head diving coach for Oak Creek High School.

"Gymnastics gave me a very different skill set than most teenagers have, to where I could go and probably be competitive in any sport I tried," he said."I liked being the guy that stood out."

Ryan "NEON" Citro is a Milwaukee Bucks' Rim Rocker, a personal trainer at Bridgewater Performance, and the head diving coach at Oak Creek High School.(Photo: Hannah Kirby/ Now News Group)

While Citro was visiting home during college, his friend who was aRim Rockerinvited Citroto one of the team'spractices.

"After I hit it one time, it was kind of like, 'I can do this,' " Citro said.

He was invited to be on the team that night.

"I've always been more-so a team guy than an individual guy throughout my life," he said. "From what I saw, how much they brought me into their circle that quick, it just seemed like something I wanted to be a part of."

But with only a year and a half left of school, he decided to headback to Iowa to finish up his degree.

As soon as he returned to the area after graduation, he reached back out to the team.

But, the first night of try-outs didn't go as planned. On his way down from a dunk, he broke his ankle.

He underwent surgery a couple days later three pins were placed in his ankle followed by eight months of physical therapy.

"Then, I got right back to dunking," he said.

If it wasn't for his injury, he wouldn't have gotten his Rim Rockers' nickname, "NEON."

When he started trainingwith the team, he worelong neon compression socks that helped to keep his ankle warm and mobile.Then he added neon shirts to his practice ensemble.

"I like to feel like I brighten people's days," he said.

Hesaid his dad, who passed away in 2013 from lung cancer, inspires him to bring joy to others.

Now, Citro sports neon leggings and sleeves atevery game, and has an exclusiveglow-in-the-dark ball for his trick shot videosthrough a partnership with Maximum Versatile Performance.

Ryan "NEON" Citro usually films basketball trick shot videos at Bridgewater Performance in Franklin, where he's a personal trainer.(Photo: Hannah Kirby/ Now News Group)

"We really never stop moving during games," Citro said.

In the first half, the Rim Rockers throwT-shirts and mini balls into the stands "to get people fired up."

They start warming up at halftimeand typically perform right after the third quarter or during the first time-out of the fourth quarter.

Routines are usually a minute and a half full of individual dunks, two teammates dunking together and the wholeteam passing to each other and dunking, Citro said.

"The possibilities are endless," he said.

Citro has performed atthree of the last four NBA All-Star Game weekends, including this year's in Chicago, and last year'sJr. NBA Global Championship.

"It sounds cliche, but it's one big family," he said. "We hang out outside of it, talk to each other daily. It's the closest thing to brothers."

Citro's videos can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Contact Hannah Kirby at hannah.kirby@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HannahHopeKirby.

Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.

Autoplay

Show Thumbnails

Show Captions

Read or Share this story: https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/south/news/oak-creek/2020/04/17/milwaukee-bucks-rim-rocker-does-trick-shots-home-amid-coronavirus/2984875001/

See the article here:
While the NBA season is on hold, this Bucks' Rim Rocker continues shooting trick shots from his Oak Creek home - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

LAWRENCE, Kan. The Big 12 Conference announced its 2020 Winter Scholar-Athletes of the Year on Tuesday, and Kansas senior Haley Downey was selected as this years Womens Swimming and Diving Co-Scholar Athlete.

The exercise science and pre-physical therapy major accumulated a 4.0 GPA while appearing in 100% of this seasons competitions. She has been named to the Academic All-Big 12 Team each of the last three seasons as well as a 2017 Academic All-Rookie Team member. Head coach Clark Campbell also announced that Downey was awarded the Team Academic Award for the 2019-20 season earlier this month. To add on to her list of accomplishments, she was also a 2020 Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award Recipient.

While competing at the Big 12 Championship, Downey claimed three top-five finishes including a second-place finish in the 200-yard breaststroke.

The Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award was created back in 2012-13 with a recipient being named from each conference-sponsored sport. In order to be considered for the award, the Scholar-Athlete of the Year nominees must be a junior or senior (athletic and academic standing), have a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher, participate in at least 20% of the teams scheduled contests and have a minimum of one year in residence at the institution.

"We are so happy for Haley's Big 12 honor. She was a leader in the pool and classroom during her entire Jayhawk career. Haley was truly an exemplary collegiate student-athlete."

Read the original:
Haley Downey Named Big 12 Women's Swimming & Diving Co-Scholar Athlete of the Year - Kansas Jayhawks

I find buttons to sew on and the result is always satisfying. Illustration: Eva Bee/The Observer

The first thing I do each morning is open the back door and sniff the air. It contains a surprising amount of information. Recently, it has become a little warmer. It still has a bite, but it lacks the viscosity it had in the coldest months. Now, it carries the scent of leaves and flowers, of turned earth. It is suddenly full of birdsong.

Ive spent my whole life falling in and out of isolation and this is one of the tricks Ive learned. Living as an undiagnosed autistic woman until I was nearly 40, Ive regularly suffered mental and physical crashes that drag me outside of life for a while. By trying to be like everyone else, Ive pushed myself too far, too often.

Every three years, give or take and Im not convinced Ive broken the cycle yet anxiety has engulfed me, or Ive become so exhausted that my body has gone on strike. Whatever the cause, the outside world recedes for a season.

Ive lived through periods of continuous panic, when the machinations of my own mind have stood in the way of doing anything of much significance. But there are minor gestures I can make, which take little effort and give me something pleasurable. Sniffing the air is just one of them. I can find buttons to sew on, for example, and the result is always satisfying. I can usually find something to pickle, and then to give away.

At the moment, Im flowing my nervous energies into growing things. Every day, I water my plants (the ones that want watering Im learning to neglect my cactus). Geraniums, for some reason, are particularly rewarding on this front. They seem to offer an endless cycle of renewal that demands my assistance. Every few days, the one on my windowsill produces a desiccated flower or a yellow leaf that I can ease off the stem and feel like Im carrying out an act of nurture. Its a strange kind of harvest, but it pleases me. I am given the gift of making things tidy again.

These times out of life have an emotional quality all of their own, a heady mix of intensity and drift. My attention is entirely unmoored. Right now, I have boundless capacity for reading newspaper websites, for assessing the contents of my larder and tidying my house, but an utter aversion to the book Im supposed to be writing. I am hypervigilant, driven towards the practicalities of sustaining life. Everything else seems flimsy in comparison.

These confined days are a heady mix of intensity and drift

In these moments, I think of the author Jean Rhys, whose magnetic attraction to tumult found her living above a pub in Maidstone in 1951. Her husband, Max, was in the nearby prison for larceny, and Jean had rolled from one form of trouble to another for so long that it seemed like she wouldnt recognise peace if she stumbled over it. By now, she was a known drunk and a fighter, with a spell in Holloway behind her.

While lodging in Maidstone to be close to Max, Jeans world shrank and it seemed to comfort her. Her attention shifted to an appreciation of her simple surroundings. She admired the row of black elephants on the mantelpiece, the plate of red apples on the table and the flowers that her landlady brought to her room. So you see, what more can I want? she said. For the first time in years, she stopped drinking (although she was saving up for a real debauch some time). I go about in a sort of dream, I suppose, she wrote.

I recognise that dream state well: the shifted priorities, the uncanny calm amid chaos, and the way that the minutiae become unexpectedly luminous. It was here that Rhys finally began to write the story she had yearned to tell about the first Mrs Rochester, the madwoman in the attic in Jane Eyre. It was a long time since she had been able to write at all. Her early literary promise seemed to have dissolved. But here, in the most straightened of circumstances, she was able to find a new perspective, and, most of all, she had time.

Its tempting to claim that this period in exile gave birth to her enduring classic, The Wide Sargasso Sea. But that would be a gross overstatement: Rhys signed a contract for the book six years later and only delivered the manuscript nine years after that. Her masterpiece was 15 years away from that little room with its flowers and elephants, and there was certainly more tumult to come. But for all its trauma, Rhyss time in Maidstone was something of a relief. The worst had happened. Everything stopped for a while. And in that space, she could think differently.

Not all of us find peace in the times when life stands still, though. Isolation can leave us pacing like a caged tiger, measuring the dimensions of the rooms that contain us. These are often moments when the ego cries out, when we feel sidelined or ignored. This moment of mass confinement sees many of us grappling with a sudden sense of irrelevance, of being restrained from succeeding. We are urged to think of the bigger picture, and we do, but that does nothing to soothe the sense that our lifes work the sum total of our ambition is now considered petty.

Isolation is not just time alone. Its also a personal U-turn, a seismic shift in identity that undermines our very sense of self. Being busy being part of the brisk congress of daily life is our code for being important, needed, wanted.

Being busy makes us skim over life like a stone on still water

In less interesting times, we will meet acquaintances on the street and tell each other how busy we are, what a rush were in, how fast life is. In fallow periods, time opens up, and we read it as an insult. The outside world does not require us. We are surplus stock, just another human body. The shame of it hangs over us, an unspeakable thing. But there is unpicking to be done here, because the pace at which we live is so often destructive. Being busy makes us skim over life like a stone on still water. In quieter times, we can feel the presence of all the things we miss in our hurry. We begin to notice the cobwebs that have formed in forgotten corners, the gardens that are overrun with weeds.

After I left my academic job two years ago, I realised that my sense of importance was only relevant in that very specific microcosm, and that the extra financial rewards of a salaried job were mostly squandered on fuelling my headlong pursuit of work itself. The takeaways and expensive groceries; the costly services that preserved my time. I was a whole industry of my own, a republic formed to make me believe I was important.

There is pleasure not just in small things, but in being small. When my health failed and it all fell away, I was relieved to drop the illusion. That doesnt mean it was easy. That doesnt mean it wasnt painful and full of paranoia and regret.

It felt like that moment of waking and watching a dream recede, incrementally remembering what is real and what is not. I had believed that I was the pin holding everything together, but it turned out that I wasnt. To know that at the time was agony. To know it now is a liberation. Im not that important in the scheme of things. That leaves me free to walk away from things that do more harm than good.

Often we resist change for so long that everything has to collapse before we can welcome it in. But thats not to say that crises and certainly not pandemics are some kind of divine intervention to make us mend our ways. Change comes because we live within a system governed by entropy. Change comes because our sense of control is an illusion.

As writer and philosopher Alan Watts says, we cannot be happy until we find a way to accept that our life is riddled with insecurity. For as long as we want it to be fair, we suffer. Change invites us to surrender. And if we refuse, it carries on regardless.

My standard response to a crisis like this is to burn shoe leather. If I can walk until Im exhausted, I can usually wear out the anxious part of my brain, too. This time around, Im not allowed even that luxury. Im embracing change yet again, pounding on my exercise bike in front of the TV, following ridiculous workout videos on YouTube, dancing to old records. Im not enjoying these things exactly, but they park my sense of dislocation for a while. Meanwhile, Im waiting to see what the change will bring me.

Wintering: How I Learned to Flourish When Life Became Frozen by Katherine May (Rider, 14.99). Buy a copy for 12.59 at guardianbookshop.com

Continued here:
Living in our isolation bubbles can bring great rewards - The Guardian

Peter Dunn, Special to USA TODAY Published 7:40 a.m. ET April 21, 2020 | Updated 2:59 p.m. ET April 21, 2020

The coronavirus (COVID-19) is impacting the global economy and raising fears of a recession. What causes a recession and what are the signs? USA TODAY

Dear Pete,

I had planned on retiring from my job this October after 42 years in the workforce. But with all this stock market crash and recession stuff, Im not sure I can or should. I live alone, currently bring home $4,100 a month, and I have $452,000 in my 401(k) (even after the crash). I havent filed for social security yet, but Ill receive about $2,500 a month. Ill be 67 when I file. I dont have too many bills, and we only spend about $3,000 a month. I think I can make it work, but Im just nervous about leaving the workforce with all the unknowns.

Robert,

Kansas City

Answer: Your apprehension is understandable. To attempt to retire in one of the most challenging financial environments in a century is undoubtedly harrowing, but based on the situation you described, you might just be the type of person to pull it off without a hitch.

To understand why youre likely to be successful, you first must understand what typically compromises a retirement plan.

Save better, spend better: Money tips and advice delivered right to your inbox. Sign up here

There are four circumstances that will typically ruin a retirement strategy before its even rolled out.

The good news is I dont think youre vulnerable to any of the four culprits.

(Photo: Getty Images)

Retirement and COVID-19: Retirement planning during coronavirus pandemic: Here's what to watch for

Don't downsize: More baby boomers stay in their homes as they reach retirement, skipping downsizing

Becauseyoure older than 65, you wont be forced to come up with an alternative health insurance strategy, which typically puts a strain on the retirement finances of those who retire prior to age 65. This remains a problem until they become eligible for Medicare at 65. Fortunately, youve avoided this very expensive period of time. Additionally, at67 youll be able to claim your full Social Security retirement benefit, as opposed to accepting a reduced amount at a youngerage.

The second circumstance youve avoided is an expensive lifestyle. As it stands now, you only live on about 73% of your take-home pay. Thats phenomenal and is arguably the primary reason you will be able to successfully retire in October. A successful retirement is rarely defined by having a lotof money. Its usually determined by not needing a lot of it. Thats you.

The next factortripping up many retirees is the percentage of money needed from non-fixed income sources. In other words, if your fixed-income sources (Social Security, pension, etc.) arent enough to fully fund your retirement, youd at least like them to be a high percentage of your income. Per your numbers, 83% of your initial retirement income needs will come from a fixed source (Social Security). That means youll only need your assets to fund the remaining 17%, which in your case is $500 a month.

The final circumstance which can ruin a retirement before it begins is the percentage of total assets required to support your lifestyle afteryour working years end. For years, financial experts warned people to not withdraw more than 4% of their total assets, in order to ensure their money will last throughout retirement. That "four percent rule certainly has its flaws, but its still a decent litmus test. By your account, you only need $500 a month from your nest egg, which is only 0.6% of your assets.

Robert, I think you can retire in October, and do so in peace. Between now and then, make sure your 401(k) is properly allocated, and continue to maintain that $3,000-a-month lifestyle. If you havent already, make an appointment with a financial planner sooner rather than later, and they can chart your specific strategy going forward.

Congratulations on creating a sustainable retirement strategy. Your discipline and diligence made it happen. Allow me to be the first to wish you an (early) happy retirement.

Peter Dunn is an author, speaker and radio host, and he has a free podcast: "Million Dollar Plan." Have a question for Pete the Planner? Email him at AskPete@petetheplanner.com. The views and opinions expressed in this column are the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY.

Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/04/21/retirement-avoid-4-culprits-can-ruin-your-nest-egg/5169040002/

See original here:
The stock market is crashing and we're in a recession. Can I still retire? - USA TODAY

The question of retirement is typically one that plays out over the long term. Most people have the chance to plan for years, gradually building resources and exploring possibilities before they set a target date for retirement. However, no matter how much you plan, life can throw you a curveball like the sudden outbreak of a pandemic that results in an unprecedented economic shutdown.

For some, this has raised another question: If youre already close to retirement, should you just accelerate your timeline? Its a relevant consideration, given that theres no concrete answer as to when and how the U.S. economy will open back up fully. Unfortunately, there isnt a blanket answer. The factors that play into a decision like this means the answer is different for everyone. Before you move up your retirement in the wake of this crisis, there are certain questions you should ask yourself.

This is perhaps the most crucial question. With the number of new unemployment claims soaring at virtually unprecedented rates, its no secret that a lot of people are out of work. As of April 16, a shocking 22 million Americans had filed unemployment claims in just the previous four weeks.

Related:The 20 Industries That Will Never Be the Same After the Coronavirus

Simply put, if youre one of the people who has been laid off, that puts you in a different situation. If you were five years away from retirement, the process of finding another job you might hold for only a few years could be a bit daunting. If youre still working, its a lot easier to stick to your original plan. But if youve just gotten a pink slip in the sort of career where positions are few and far between, you might take the sudden change as a good reason to reconsider your plans.

Another crucial question to ask: What are your career prospects in your field? Once again, its not an easy one to answer immediately. Few, if any, industries have clear futures right now, so you might not have a sense of how hard finding new work would be. Consider how much impact social distancing will have on your industry. Then look at how many open positions there traditionallyhave been. This should give you a better feel for how difficult it could be to land another job.

If it took you years to find your current job, that is something to consider before leaving prematurely. Likewise, if you work in an industry thats already contracting as times change, you might be on the verge of a forced retirement anyway. Whether youre freshly laid off or confident that youll be able to leave on your own terms, taking the time to understand what sort of work is out there there is an important step in the process.

The ability to work remotely used to be a nice perk. Today, its become a lifeline for some businesses to stay in operation while so many others have had no choice but to shutter until further notice. For someone trying to figure out whether now is the time to retire, which side of the work-from-home fence you landed on is all the more important.

See:26 Highest-Paying Jobs That Let You Work From Home

Clearly, the short-term health of your industry depends on how much work can be done remotely. If you are fortunate enough that you can do your job from home, you might not want to give that up so quickly.

But theres an even more important element at play here, too: your health. Given that most people within five years of retirement are in their late 50s or early 60s, youre in a high-risk group that is more likely to experience potentially deadly COVID-19 complications, and limiting social contact should be at a premium. If youre doing work that puts you around people, moving your retirement plans up a few years could be a prudent decision, even if its a bit tougher for you financially.

Theres no easy way of knowing if your company is heading toward cutbacks, but some people working at small businesses might have a good reason to accelerate retirement to help out their employer. With budgets crunched in ways that never could have been anticipated, plenty of companies are in the process of making some very difficult calculations about what they can and cant afford.

Story continues

If your company is in the process of cutting back resources and your retirement might help keep the business afloat or save a younger coworkers job that could play into your decision. Certainly dont make any assumptions, but if you have the sort of relationship with your boss that allows for an open and honest conversation about this, consider asking about plans for dealing with the crisis and whether your decision to retire could ease the pinch. Dont feel pressure to retire before youre ready, though.

One of the major reasons that people work so hard to prepare for retirement is because deciding to forgo a stable income is a major step. When you dont have a paycheck, all of your expenses come from your savings and investments.

Consider:How To Protect Your Retirement Savings During the Coronavirus Scare

The coronavirus pandemic has thrown a wrench into some income streams. Plenty of pending retirees might have investments in rental properties with tenants no longer able to pay rent in the face of a sudden and unexpected loss of employment. Or, stock dividends might not be nearly as stable as they were when the investment was made. As such, if you have alternate income streams, you should take time to examine how consistent they might be in the coming months.

If you do have a steady source of income, early retirement wouldnt necessarily require tapping into your 401(k) when markets are down. So, if you are confident your other income streams are somewhat reliable, you might be in a better position to shave a few years off of your career.

Of course, the money flowing in is just one half of the equation in retirement. Money flowing out also deserves just as much attention. You already should have a projection on what you expect to spend weekly, monthly and annually in retirement if not, start working it out. Take a look at those projections and ask yourself what you can cut.

Clearly, your retirement is a time to enjoy, but if losing some minor luxuries makes retirement financially possible, its time to reconsider your spending. Take some time to make a few different budgets at different spending levels to see what the end results look like. If reducing spending is an option you can live with, you will have some flexibility to change your plans.

Debt is essentially investing in reverse, and getting yourself out from under any major financial liabilities prior to ending your career should always be a goal whether youre retiring soon or not.

Some types of debt are less of a concern. A mortgage with a fixed (and low) interest rate will have structured, predictable costs that you can plan around. But if you are still sweeping away credit card debt or other high-interest loans, that can significantly hinder your long-term plans. Pushing up your retirement while you still owe money may prove problematic. Make sure you have a clear plan for how you will pay off debt while sustaining your lifestyle.

Another big question is what exactly you plan to do with your retirement. Youve been saving your whole life for this moment. Its worth knowing that your nest egg isnt just going to sustain you but will bring you real happiness in your golden years.

Check Out:16 Real People Affected By the Coronavirus Give Their Best Financial Advice

If all you really want from your retirement is time to enjoy life with family and friends, that potentially will require a lot less in savings. Likewise, if youre planning on having a second career, you dont need to be as concerned about building a large enough 401(k) since you will still have an income.

However, if you want to open that bed and breakfast or start another small business, or if you had thoughts about philanthropy or traveling the world, giving up the last few years of income before you retire might seriously impact those plans.

Having a place already lined up and paid for should be something you seriously consider prior to making any decisions about your retirement. This is even more relevant now as the economic slowdown caused by the pandemic has made the future of the housing market uncertain. Sure, its possible that low interest rates will persist and people with liquid assets like those who might be close to retirement will be able to take advantage of a buyers market. But rolling the dice on that would be a big risk to take.

If you already own your home, you can always wait and see what the market looks like in a year or two. But, if youre renting or in an uncertain living situation, delaying your retirement for a few more years may prove to be the smarter decision.

This is one situation where its impolite not to ask your age. Thats because the size of your Social Security checks depends on how old you are when you begin drawing them. So, while losing a few more years of income from your job is one consideration to moving up your retirement date, the long-term and permanent reduction in your Social Security benefits also should be weighed.

You can begin drawing on your Social Security as early as age 62, but doing so means only getting 70% of the monthly payment you would receive if you waited until full retirement age.

If choosing to retire now means getting a significantly smaller Social Security benefit, youll have to live with that decision for quite a while. So, be sure youve considered how it will impact those monthly checks and how that could affect your finances in the long term.

Just because you decide to retire doesnt mean youll immediately file for your Social Security benefits. If you can end your career now but delay drawing on Social Security until youve reached your maximum benefits, that changes the equation for you. However, if putting off those monthly checks for a few years means having to sell off stocks, you could be robbing Peter to pay Paul.

This is a question that hinges not just on how much you have saved, but what kind of savings it is. If you have a lot of cash stowed away in your checking account and CDs that are maturing in the coming months and years, your assets are more liquid and you have more options. If you can delay drawing Social Security until youve reached your maximum benefits without having to sell off any stocks, the consequences of moving up your retirement plans will be reduced significantly.

You might have read about the need to shift assets in your retirement funds away from stocks and into bonds the closer you get to retirement. Well, if youre five years or less from retirement, the past three months are exactly why that particular piece of advice is so universally acknowledged.

Stock markets are predictable when your time frame is long enough at least 10 years or so but theyre also wildly unpredictable over any single 10-year stretch. If you can wait out the periodic crashes and avoid selling stocks, youre in a good position. But, if too much of your money is tied up in stocks, the need for cash to cover expenses could result in selling at prices well below true value.

If you followed the classic advice by shifting your money into bonds and other stable assets ahead of time, youre probably in decent shape right now. You can focus on selling off other assets while you wait for stock markets to recover, and youll have those assets to draw on later in retirement when theyre back to whole.

If not, the income from your job will be a lot more important over the next five years if for no other reason than it can prevent you from having to sell stocks. As such, moving up your retirement will be much more difficult if you failed to prepare your portfolio.

One basic aspect of the dynamics of the financial markets is that, as often as not, bonds increase in value when stocks are falling. So, while now is the worst time to be selling stocks and buying bonds, its one of the best times to be selling bonds. The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is up about 5% on the year while the S&P 500 had plunged more than 13% as of April 16.

Generally speaking, selling bonds before maturity injects a lot more risk into owning them. Whats more, markets could be due for another major plunge or two that will make you wish you had held onto your bond assets.

If you own enough bonds and are comfortable with selling them ahead of maturity, this can allow you to retire a few years early. It also prevents you from selling stocks and, subsequently, hurting your nest egg. Keep in mind that youll probably want to start getting your stock/bond mix back to normal when the markets calm.

Granted, trying to time the market is not, generally speaking, a good idea. But people within five years of retirement and on solid financial footing could consider taking advantage of down markets to make up for lost income from early retirement.

Clearly, buying stocks now is risky; theres no guarantee that markets arent in for another major drop as the crisis continues to unfold. But, the truth is that down markets present an opportunity to buy cheap stocks that could pay off later on.

Look:50 Stocks That Have Suffered the Biggest Losses During the Coronavirus Scare

The long-term view of the stock market is a bit more consistent than the picture you get by focusing on just the past six months. The S&P 500 might swing up and down wildly, but it averages out to an annual return of about 10% a year over its history. Even after a crash as big as the 2008 financial crisis, the losses were recovered over the next five years.

If you have plenty of stable assets and cash on hand, you might take the down market as a chance to make some extra stock investments that you can draw on later in retirement.

The last thing anyone is looking for now is more uncertainty, but the simple fact is theres no sure thing when it comes to retiring early. Only you and your financial advisor really know whether your finances are ready for retirement. For that matter, only you really know if youre ready for your career to end.

So, take the time to review the above questions and see what they tell you about your situation. But ultimately, you matter more than your finances. Consider your nest egg, but also discuss the decision with your loved ones.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: If You Planned To Retire in the Next 5 Years, Should You Just Do It Now?

Read this article:
If You Planned To Retire in the Next 5 Years, Should You Just Do It Now? - Yahoo News