Christmas cheer? - NOT amateur radio

How to be cheered up for Christmas (NOT). Saw this on The Knowledge earlier:

"Scientists who are trying to create microbes that present an “unprecedented risk” to life on Earth. That’s according to an international group of Nobel laureates and other experts, says The New York Times, who warn that so-called “mirror bacteria” – synthetic organisms made from mirror images of natural molecules – could evade the immune defences of natural organisms, causing an “unstoppable pandemic, devastating crop losses or the collapse of entire ecosystems”. "

As my father-in-law once said, "I'm glad I am on the way out". 

Are we really going mad? - NOT amateur radio

 This quote appeared in The Knowledge today:

Villain 

The Sly Old Fox, a pub in Birmingham which is being asked to change its name because it is “derogatory”, “inaccurate” and “unfair” to foxes. The animal rights group Peta says the word “sly” should be replaced with “clever”, to reflect society’s “ever-evolving empathy for animals”.

As much as I like foxes, I don't think they will care.😀

The USA in decline? No - NOT amateur radio

This appeared in The Knowledge today. This comes as a daily email using various sources for this news compendium. As far as I can tell, it is pretty neutral.

" Most Americans think their country is in decline,” says Fareed Zakaria in Foreign Policy. The share who are “satisfied” with the way the country is going has not risen above 50% in 20 years; today it stands at a miserable 20%. Donald Trump won in 2016 by capturing this mood and preaching “doom and gloom”. Now he’s at it again – three months before entering the 2024 presidential race, he released a video titled “A Nation in Decline”. The Biden administration isn’t much better, blaming decades of globalisation for “hollowing out” American industry and exporting manufacturing jobs. The suggestion is that poor old Americans need protecting with epically expensive subsidies and stiff tariffs.

Yet for all the talk of “dysfunction and decay”, the reality is that American supremacy has never been greater. In 1990, US per capita income was 17% higher than Japan’s and 24% higher than Western Europe’s. Today, it’s 54% and 32% higher respectively. The US economy was roughly the same size as the Eurozone’s in 2008; today, it is nearly twice the size. Nine of the 10 most valuable firms in the world are American, up from only four in 1989, and the US is the world’s largest producer of oil and gas. As for the industries of the future, American AI startups have attracted six times more venture funding than their Chinese equivalents. Why don’t we hear more about any of that? If Washington keeps turning inward, tyrants will be emboldened and the rest of the world will suffer. The only danger to American dominance is the myth that it’s on the wane."

Quote in "The Knowledge" today - NOT amateur radio

This quote was in "The Knowledge" today. 

"War is the unfolding of miscalculations." Historian Barbara Tuchman

Quote from "The Knowledge" today - NOT amateur radio

In the UK, Mrs Thatcher was the first women Prime Minister. She had very definite views about what had to change. She was very strong in UK politics. She was in charge of the Conservative government. Many hated her and she has a lot to answer for.

This appeared in "The Knowledge" today.

Quoted

“If you have to tell people you are powerful, it means you aren’t.” Margaret Thatcher

Quote - NOT amateur radio

 “I find television very educating.  Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book! "

Groucho Marx.

Seen in The Knowledge earlier. The Knowledge comes as a free email newsletter daily. I find it very good and unbiased.