They just had unbelievable wealth and so you can imagine this pair of shoes.

Women's interest is shoes is very complex. I think it is a late 20th- early 21st-century obsession in part because - like hats in the middle part of the 20th century - they are fashion that is attainable for most women.

What's important for people to understand is that they were sort of cloudy, decorative-level gems. I'm afraid somebody stole the shoes with the idea they would disassemble them and sell the jewels and get some money. But the jewels are worthless -- they were just there for decorative purposes really.

Wealth in an area is sometimes exported to other parts of the country. Racial and ethnic disparities are not due to genetics or inborn differences in people of different races, but rather that they reflect social inequalities. Similarly, geographic disparities that we see across the country are not due to climate but reflect the social environment and local economies.

The figures did not take into account the expected increase in the number and wealth of people living in storm-prone areas; correcting for such increases, the losses are likely to be several hundred percent higher.

The Jews are known for their perseverance and this is what helps them achieve their goals. Perseverance means continuous persistence in a course of action, a purpose, in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.