Unfortunately, the Emblings aren't alone. In fact, Jewelers Mutual conducted a recent survey on travel and jewelry loss or theft and found that the number of jewelry losses, based on survey responses, has doubled compared to their 2015 survey. The most common place to lose jewelry? The beach (27 percent of reported losses).

The survey also revealed that only 1 percent of travelers who lose jewelry report recovering the piece.

"Approximately 40 percent of consumers are devastated or experience a high level of emotional impact from a lost piece of jewelry," said Don Elliott, director of claims at Jewelers Mutual.

Avoid becoming a vacation victim with these six travel tips from Jewelers Mutual's new travel guide:

* Take pictures of items before your trip in case you need to file a police report.

* Avoid posting pictures of your jewelry and location on social media.

* Leave jewelry off while swimming.

* Wear or pack jewelry in a carry-on bag.

* Tuck necklaces and watches under necklines and cuffs when in dangerous areas.

* Keep necklaces safe and untangled in your bag by threading them through a straw; fasten earrings to an extra button to keep them together.

Jewelers Mutual puts travelers' minds at ease. The Wisconsin-based company has been in the business since 1913, and understands the value of jewelry and developing personal relationships with its customers.

While some homeowner's insurance plans cover an extent of personal property, the plans typically won't go as far as to replace a cherished piece that is lost or damaged. For those seeking to replace their lost treasure, Jewelers Mutual works with jewelers to recreate your lost, damaged or stolen jewelry so it can continue to be a prized possession for years to come.

Embling and her fiancé acted fast retracing their steps and discovered the ring in their hotel room, which happens to be the second highest place people lose their jewelry.

Visit jewelersmutual.com for more information about insuring and protecting your most cherished memories.

My prediction is that China will not drop its equity caps and intellectual property theft, and will not stop subsidizing all of its state-owned enterprises. As a result; we will see acceleration of the decoupling of China from the United States, in other words, a reversal of the economic integration and interpenetration that has taken place between these two economies over the past 20 years. So let us examine the implications of the decoupling of China from the United States.

The first area to consider is trade. The IMF has estimated that if the United States were to impose 25 percent tariffs on all Chinese imports, and China were to retaliate, the trade volume between China and the United States would drop by 70 percent. So there would clearly be an initial "trade shock."

The question here is whether the U.S. can find other low-cost suppliers. The answer is yes. We have seen that suppliers such as Vietnam have stepped up their exports to the United States, and other Asian countries and Mexico will also try to fill the role of low-cost supplier to the U.S. market. Vietnam has gained an estimated 7.9 percent of its gross domestic product from new business created by the U.S.-China trade war.

The next largest gainer is Taiwan, with 2.1 percent of its GDP added as a result of the U.S.-China trade war needed from other countries supplied by China.

In summary, if the Trump tariffs were to remain in place, there would undoubtedly be an initial "trade shock," and some dislocations. Over time, however, the United States would gradually shift its import sources to lower- cost suppliers, and would substitute rare earth minerals from other countries. So, with regard to trade, China is replaceable.

The second area is investment. Chinese direct investment in the United States dropped 84 percent from 2017 to 2018, from $29.4 billion to $4.8 billion. The U.S. government, will further limit Chinese investors through national security reviews. Meanwhile, U.S. direct investment in China has stagnated at $26.9 billion, with the annual growth rate dropping from 11 percent to 1.5 percent in 2018. U.S. investment will increasingly take place in other low-wage Asian countries such as Vietnam and Taiwan, and Mexico. Moreover, the lowering of U.S. corporate tax rates on January 1, 2018, from 35 percent to 21 percent will discourage direct foreign investment by U.S. enterprises, and make the United States a more promising place to invest than China. Therefore, if the Trump tariffs remain in place, China can be largely replaced over time by other countries as an investment target.

Last month, the Trump Administration restricted sales by U.S. companies to Huawei, the Chinese telecommunications champion. This measure will force Huawei to develop its own versions of chips and operating systems to replace those that it now obtains from the West. And last week the Commerce Department imposed new export controls that will effectively bar five major Chinese supercomputer developers of next-generation, high-performance computing from obtaining U.S. technology. The Commerce ban on exports to the major Chinese supercomputer companies, along with the Huawei ban, will promote the decoupling of the two countries' tech supply chains. Therefore, it is likely that separate operating systems will be set up for telecommunications, supercomputers, and the Internet.

China holds an estimated $1.1 trillion of U.S. government bonds. Some have warned that if China decided to dump U.S. dollars, U.S. interest rates would soar and the U.S. economy would implode. China's holdings, however, are not a particularly large proportion of the roughly $22 trillion total of U.S. government debt. Furthermore, China has already sold $221 billion in long-term Treasuries since early 2015, with no harm done to the U.S. capital market.

We are entering a new phase of increased Chinese assertiveness. China is now challenging the United States for global supremacy, while the U.S. Government distrusts Chinese intentions and sees China as a predatory competitor and an adversary. The global consensus based on liberalization is likely to be replaced by rival trading blocs. This may not be a desirable development from the standpoint of the United States and the global economy, but it is the most important geopolitical event of our era. Decoupling from China, while painful for both countries, would be preferable to a real war with China, the likely alternative.

*Bart S. Fisher is an attorney in Washington, D.C., and co-author of International Trade and Investment: Regulating International Business.

Beautiful and Durable 

Jane Frederick of Frederick + Frederick Architects in Beaufort, South Carolina, and president-elect of the American Institute of Architects, says homeowners are looking for comfortable spaces for entertaining. "Our area is hot and humid," she adds. "Screened-in porches with ceiling fans continue to be extremely popular upgrades in new construction and renovations."

And full outdoor kitchens are no longer must-haves, says Frederick. "Most people want porches with a simple kitchen, integrating a grill and plenty of countertop space, storage, and seating - good-looking light fixtures, too."

To top off a porch with a high-end look, Frederick chooses cypress for ceilings, overhangs, and rafter tails. Why? "First and foremost, cypress is a beautiful material. But equally important, cypress is naturally resistant to decay and mildew. And it's locally sourced." 

How About a "Prefab" Structure Built to Last? 

"Pergolas and pavilions offer open, airy outdoor spaces, yet provide relief from direct sunlight, to enjoy dinner or cocktails after a long day at the office," says Hubert Burns of My Outdoor Rooms in Dothan, Alabama. "They can also be outfitted with TVs and fireplaces, and adorned with plants and drapery to add privacy and a personal touch.

"Most importantly, outdoor living space is an investment and homeowners deserve high-quality structures that will last. We've been building with cypress for more than 10 years, and found that it performs well when exposed to the elements, is naturally durable and resistant to insect infestation, and is more beautiful than pressure-treated wood."

Building a gorgeous, outdoor cypress pergola or pavilion need not be a daunting task. Burns says that companies across the country specialize in prefabricating structures and ship nationwide, taking the stress out of design and construction. "Prefabrication ensures they are high-quality and can be installed quickly," Burns adds. "And three people can install a 16-foot-by-16-foot pergola in about five hours."

For more tips on creating your outdoor living space with cypress, visit www.CypressInfo.org.

She and her husband tried different types of stimulation, but nothing got her in the mood. "My lack of interest in sex was hard on my marriage. My husband wanted to be intimate, but I didn't. I missed that connection with him."

Amy is not alone in her experience. HSDD is a diagnosable medical condition that affects approximately 1 in 10 women in the U.S., with a profound impact on a woman's emotional state, her sense of self and her relationships.

"Trying to deal with the strain of low sexual desire was difficult. I talked to my husband about it and we looked for solutions together. Eventually, my doctor helped me enroll in a clinical trial for an HSDD investigational treatment."

"In the clinical trial, I received training on how to use an autoinjector to take the medicine at least 45 minutes before I anticipated sexual activity. I found the injection easy to use, it fit conveniently into my schedule and it put me in the driver's seat for when I wanted to take the medication. I felt empowered when my desire returned and started to look forward to being intimate with my husband again."

Following the clinical trial, Amy hoped she would one day have the choice of taking the medication again. In June 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Vyleesi™ (bremelanotide injection) to treat hypoactive (low) sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in certain premenopausal women. Vyleesi is not indicated for the enhancement of sexual performance, but women will have another treatment option for HSDD when Vyleesi is available later this month.

In the clinical trials, the most common side effects were nausea, flushing, injection site reactions, headache and vomiting. Vyleesi should not be used by women with uncontrolled high blood pressure or heart disease.

AMAG Pharmaceuticals, the company launching Vyleesi, will offer co-pay assistance to help women access Vyleesi. Patients will be able to obtain their first four-pack of Vyleesi autoinjectors with a $0 co-pay, and refills for no more than $99. Under current government regulations, pharmaceutical companies cannot offer this type of program to patients insured by federal health care programs, including Medicare and Medicaid.

Amy says, "I am motivated to share my story because I want to encourage other women to talk to their healthcare providers about distressing low sexual desire and find out what treatment options are available. They should know they do not have to suffer in silence."

Women who may be experiencing symptoms are encouraged to visit Vyleesi.com and utilize a tool called the HSDD Symptom Checker. To verify diagnosis and to see if Vyleesi might be an appropriate treatment option for them, women are encouraged to speak with their healthcare provider (HCP). An open and honest conversation between a woman and her HCP is the first step to improving desire, reducing distress and getting back to a fulfilling sex life - something all women deserve.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Do not use VYLEESI if you have uncontrolled hypertension, known heart disease or are taking oral naltrexone-containing products intended to treat opioid or alcohol addiction. Women who can become pregnant should use effective birth control during treatment with VYLEESI.

VYLEESI can cause serious side effects, including temporary increase in blood pressure and decrease in heart rate, severe nausea, and skin darkening that might be permanent.

The most common side effects of VYLEESI include nausea, flushing, injection site reactions, headache, and vomiting. But these are not all the possible side effects of VYLEESI; consult your healthcare professional for more information or visit Vyleesi.com for additional Important Safety Information.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Case in point: the flu pandemic of 1918, colloquially known as the Spanish flu, occurred during World War I and spread worldwide during 1918-1919. Published research suggests the final death toll may have been as high as 100 million.

Despite decades of developments in biology and virology at the cost of more than $80 billion, the U.S. is unprepared to handle a flu pandemic of a similar scale if one should occur, contends Dr. Steven Hatfill, a specialist physician and virologist with additional training in medical biochemistry, and experimental pathology.

After more than a decade of study, Dr. Hatfill and his team have published a book, Three Seconds Until Midnight, in which he revisits the challenges of the 1918 pandemic and highlights the limitations of the current public health system in the U.S. in the event of a serious pandemic on the scale of the 1918 event.

"There are worse viruses out there in nature than another 1918-type pandemic. They are simply waiting for the right conditions to jump into man," says Dr. Hatfill.

In addition, "the overwhelming majority of Americans assume that the CDC and public health authorities are capable of rapidly detecting when a new outbreak of infectious disease is occurring and that they will quickly respond with a vaccine, drugs, and other measures to contain the event. In reality, none of this is true with respect to a serious pandemic," he emphasizes.

In the book, Dr. Hatfill and his team point out how the U.S. has an insufficient public health workforce and lacks the "surge" medical capacity needed for a pandemic situation with mass casualties, and that no programs are currently in place to train personnel how to handle a pandemic.

Vaccine distribution is another problem, says Dr. Hatfill. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) documents show that in a pandemic on the scale of the 1918 event, a minimum of 123 to 125 million Americans will not receive any anti-viral drugs or vaccine until at or near the peak period of infection and death. Historically, the poor, socially disadvantaged urban communities will be hit the hardest.

Citizens are uninformed on how to care for family members at home if they contract a contagious and possibly lethal infection, and entire households can become ill, Dr. Hatfill says.

Dr. Hatfill's book outlines how the government can salvage its preparedness plan by considering more involvement by the military in a disaster response mode, similar to the role played by the Armed Forces after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

The major problems in pandemic preparedness occur not with the federal government but with the local city authorities who continue to be unprepared to manage an outbreak of a serious lethal infectious disease on a 1918-type scale. This includes having rational methods to manage worker absenteeism, organizing alternate care sites, expanding mortuary capabilities and teaching non-pharmaceutical interventions to the public.

"We now live under population densities that are a new phenomenon in human civilization and we have no precedent to indicate if we are nearing a threshold or not". As a consequence, every individual alive today is participating in a great on-going global biological experiment," says Dr. Hatfill.

Three Seconds Until Midnight will be available for purchase online via Amazon or Kindle in approximately mid-October. For more information, visit www.ThreeSecondsUntilMidnight.com.

Consider this: as with anything worth having, there are expenses and hassles associated with boat ownership that you may not even be aware of. But partial (fractional) ownership offers "all of the luxury and none of the hassle" according to the website of yacht co-op management company Saveene.

It works like this: The more fractions you purchase, the more yacht usage you can experience. For example, a 10 percent purchase equals approximately four weeks of yachting time each year; 20 percent entitles you to eight weeks, and so on.

For those who enjoy the periodical pleasure of luxury boating, fractional ownership is more cost-effective than sporadic charters, and has several other advantages:

- Predictability. Saveene fractional owners hold equity in the yacht and have the option to sell their fraction any time they like. Purchase as many fractions as you want, up to 10 fractions per yacht. When you choose your dates, contact Saveene and they will schedule and prepare your yacht for your arrival.

- Pampering. When you arrive at the marina, the yacht is clean, stocked, and safety-checked. Chart your course in advance, or allow your captain to create a memorable itinerary. Bring any food and beverages you choose, or Saveene yachts accommodate a chef or catering service.

- Peace of mind. With fractional ownership, you avoid many headaches associated with owning a boat outright, including maintenance, repairs, storage, transportation, and insurance. Saveene handles the business transactions of purchasing and selling the fractions as well when the time comes.

Saveene offers a range of options for yacht enthusiasts - a Sea Ray Sundancer for $19,995, a 36' Carver Mariner for a one-time fee of $ 39,995, a 64' Aicon for $89,980 or a combined usage of these for $69,985. All types are available at the same marina for viewing before making a purchase.

Sea Ray Sundancer: This 34-foot cruiser is ideal for families, and easy to maneuver along intercoastal waterways for boating, snorkeling, and dining at dockside restaurants.

Carver Mariner: This 37-foot boat features a fly bridge suited for parties, a home-size galley to accommodate larger food prep or catering, and a full entertainment center.

Aicon: The 64-foot yacht includes four full-sized cabins plus crew quarters to handle an extended excursion. All cabins include their own facilities and TV/DVD setups, and the yacht includes a collection of water toys for kids of all ages.

Want to go bigger? Saveene is also taking orders for an 85-foot Azimut yacht.

Other benefits include the opportunity to check out Saveene yachts for a risk-free trial and the ability to write off your fractional purchase on your taxes.

For more information about the benefits of yacht co-ownership, visit saveene.com.