stories we liked from this week’s news

Basque Cases The Basque language, or Euskadi, seems to be very ancient indeed. Biut no one knew that they were writing it down until this startling find from northern Spain. Nature Briefings: Bronze Hand might rewrite the history of Basque This is where science, linguistics and art meet folks- an Enlightenment learning feast!

A flat, life-size bronze hand engraved with symbols could prove the existence of written Vasconic — the language that developed into Basque. “This piece upends how we’d thought about the Vascones and writing until now,” says linguist Joaquín Gorrochategui, who was involved in the analysis by the Aranzadi Science Society, a Basque research institute. “We were almost convinced that the ancient Vascones were illiterate and didn’t use writing except when it came to minting coins.”The Guardian | 4 min read
Reference: Aranzadi Science Society press release (in Basque)

T Rex were really big Fans of the 1970s glam rock group T. Rex will recall that they were named after a species of large predatory dinosaur that has been in more films than Matt Damon. News that these beasts were really, really big comes in this piece from the Mail. T Rex’s closest living relatives are things like chickens and geese, which gives whole new meaning to the song Ride a White Swan

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-11443489/T-rex-70-larger-previously-thought-weigh-33-000lbs-study-claims.html

But the Universe was even bigger The problem with the practice of amateur astronomy is that it’s cold, dark, lonely and frustrating. Problems we share with people like fishermen, joggers and flashers, to name but a few. But Johns Hopkins University have come up with a way of avoiding all those hours at the telescope. They have a remarkable new map which lets you explore the secrets and wonders of the universe from the comfort of a warm lap top, and no more being scared out of your wits by the approach of a wandering hedgehog

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-11443287/Scroll-UNIVERSE-Incredible-interactive-map-lets-explore-200-000-galaxies.html

Man attacks Shark Ever since the release of the popular film Jaws, sharks have had a bad press, Attempts to conserve these fascinating and ancient creatures are stymied by the old canard: “but they bite!” But there’s hope for our cartilagenous chums in this piece from the BBC

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-63670072

This week’s musical clip Fans of the Baroque period in music (which didn’t quite overlap with that in art) will enjoy this selection from JS Bach’s Mass in B minor.,We’ve chosen the agnus dei, as we think film directors everywhere may want to use it Look, there’s even a picture of some bloke singing it!

Today’s little blog is a hymn of praise to that often overlooked but still vital apparatus of civilised equipment-the hip flask. It has got us through countless ceremonies-weddings, funerals, business meetings, family reunions, sporting and cultural events, hospital visits-where the congenial presence of alcohol is either frowned upon or forbidden altogether. A good, elegant hip flask is not only easily bought or swiped but can be concealed in any number of places where the prying eyes of the sanctimonious cannot reach. Once there, its contents may be enjoyed quickly, or even shared with like-minded souls. And so much easier to carry than a crate of beer!

Yet a problem remains-how to reconcile the shape and form of the hip flask with the complex, and usually icy, user requirements of the cocktail bar? What’s the point of creating an elaborate Singapore Sling and putting in your hip flask, only to find that the ice melts, the fizz goes out of the water and none of your companions like it? After much thought, we felt that you can have a classic cocktail in a hip flask, provided the following criteria are met:

1 It must only contain two ingredients

2 It cannot depend on the presence of ice, fruit juices or any other complications for its success

Therefore, the following suggestions seem entirely apposite

The Manhattan In a nice ratio of one part of sweet vermouth to 3 of bourbon, this simple little classic can be scaled up quickly to flasks of any size. It’s so simple that it will pass most discerning palates, making it easy to pass and swallow among any congenial group

Dry Martini the ratio is much the same as above, except dry martini and gin take the old 1,3 ratio for scaling. Another quick score,which never tastes offside.

Le Mans 1 measure Cointreau 1 vodka don’t use Russian vodka, obviously!

Pink Gin Its basically gin with a few drops of angostura bitters, topped with however much water you want. As it comes from Naval origins, its ideal for regattas, Cowes week and things like that.

Rusty Nail Scotch and Drambuie in the measures of two to one. Ideal for the drier parts of the Highlands and other places where they’re always tossing the caber.

Well, there’s a few starters-but we are sure that the more creative among you will soon come up with even more delicious and satisfying variations. Enjoy, and let the lemon faced miseries and religious fanatics enjoy their own fallacious delusion that they have snuffed a little enjoyment from the world

“We gotta open more coal mines again!” So runs the sly call from those who wish, ever so surreptitiously, turn back the tiny progress we have made so far on global warming. To those in poor communities, the lure of jobs, even terrible ones deep underground, can be alluring. Then there is always the need to counter the machinations of Mr Putin and his attempts to freeze us all to death this winter. Tempting. Attractive. Understandable. But first, read our link to a story by Renee Jacobs for Huck, who has been following the disastrous story of the town of Centralia in Pennsylvania, USA.[1]

It was a mining town, one of many in the Appalachian mountains. Hardscrabble poor, but proud, and a home for the lives of many. Until the 27th May 1962 when a huge fire erupted in the mine galleries under the town. It is inextinguishable. It has been burning ever since. It will burn for at least 250 years. It spews out carbon monoxide gas and palls of smoke. Every of often it opens huge chasms in the ground, hundreds of metres deep. Eventually the whole town had to be razed, and now only five people live there. So much for prosperity.

Not every mining town will share exactly the same geology and engineering as Centralia. But as a concentrated metaphor for the long term consequences of the carbon industries, it is hard to beat. Leaving aside all that global warming, we still don’t know the health consequences of all the pollution they have spewed out. You are reading this on an electrically-powered computer. Some of those electrons will have been dug out of the ground in places like Centralia, Pa. There’s no getting around it. But attempts to keep on doing so are incredibly short sighted, and bring little benefit to the people who do it. The quicker we move to safer sources, the better it will be for all. Especially mining communities,

We thank Mr Peter Seymour of Hertfordshire for this story

[1] https://www.huckmag.com/art-and-culture/photography-2/centralia-renee-jacobs-slow-burn-project

Through most of recorded history, the phrase “China has the biggest population” has a been a constant of every school room, pub quiz, and geopolitical calculation. So it’s going to feel slightly odd in November next year, when India is going to overtake the People’s Republic. But it’s going to be very, very significant, both for the two countries themselves and for the rest of us who share their planet. The Guardian has two pieces which explain the situation for any enquiring mind. The first [1] by Hannah Ellis Peterson will give you all the detailed facts you need, along with some excellent graphics.

The second [2] by Julian Borger looks at the implications. Will China’s population shrink? Will they see a huge demographic bulge which has to be supported by a smaller and smaller pool of young workers? What are the implications for China’s military future, especially if confronted by an aggressive younger power just across the Himalayas? As Julian presciently observes:

Through that prism, China’s military spending is a bet that it will bend a large part of the world to its will so that it gains privileged access to resources. But if that bet fails, Beijing will have spent a lot of capital that could have been used to adapt its economy to the encroaching limits, leaving the country stuck in a middle-income trap.

But lastly, gentle readers, we’d like to turn back to Hannah’s article because we think the statistics in it bear out a point we’ve been trying to make for a long time (see LSS 22.6.,4.7/1/11.22) Richer people have less children than poor ones. They also have less motive to up sticks and move. With all the implications that has for the so called immigration “debate” in western countries. Could we start to conduct it in grown-up terms from now on, please?

[1]https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/14/india-faces-deepening-demographic-divide-as-it-prepares-to-overtake-china-as-the-worlds-most-populous-country

[2]https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/14/why-india-overtaking-china-as-most-populous-country-is-more-than-symbolic

#india #china #population #demographics #superpowers

Alphabet on a Comb The change from a pictorial alphabet like the Egyptian one, where every single word has a unique symbol, to a true alphabet, where a few symbols can suddenly convey the entire sounds of a language was like the digital revolution of its day. The earliest evidence of it was not in some portentous work of great literature, but a simple inscription on a humble comb as Ian Sample makes clear for the Guardian. Ian Sample-what a great name for a Science editor, by the way!

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/nov/09/oldest-known-written-sentence-discovered-on-a-head-lice-comb

Joni the Pioneer Attentive readers of this blog will recall our praise for the songs of Joni Mitchell, who as early as the 1960s was pointing out the ravages that crass materialism was inflicting on our planet. Turns out she was pioneering in other ways, like upsetting the boys with her frank expositions of the human condition. Or didn’t they realise women are human too? Once again, the BBC has it all

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-63596059

Can CRISPR cure cancer? Imagine if every cancer patient had there wn treatment system, specific and unique to them. Well, our old friend CRISPR, long boosted in these blogs, may make that possible. Here’s snippet from Nature Briefings Most Complicate therapy ever.……..

A small clinical trial has shown that CRISPR gene editing can alter immune cells so that they seek out and destroy a person’s cancer. T cells, a type of white blood cell that patrols the body looking for errant cells, were modified to recognize the mutated proteins in tumours, which are different in every person. It is the first attempt to combine two hot areas of cancer research: gene editing to create personalized treatments, and the engineering of T cells to make them better at targeting tumours. “It is probably the most complicated therapy ever attempted in the clinic,” says study co-author Antoni Ribas, a cancer researcher and physician. “We’re trying to make an army out of a patient’s own T cells.”Nature | 5 min read

Sympathy for the Devil Poor Mr Trump, whose hopes have suffered such a crushing at the recent US elections! His quest now we surely be: how do I cope with being such a dreadful failure? What will Daddy say? Fortunately, help is at hand in the shape of this article from the Conversation, which basically recommends the consolation of Philosophy. Such an erudite, reflective man as Mr Trump will lap this up, no doubt.

https://theconversation.com/philosophy-can-help-us-deal-with-failures-that-seem-insurmountable-193351?utm_mediu

Terfel Magic Welsh baritone Bryn Terfel has been one of the best singers around in the last few decades. One of our favourite moments in his illustrious career was this Te Deum from Puccini’s Tosca, here with the Royal Opera. How do these guys belt it out so loud yet still say in tune? Remarkable.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=bryn+terfel+tosca+dies+irae+eno&&view=detail&mid=C2B6A1340CE712C53D97C2B6A134

#donald trump #crispr #bryn terfel #puccini #joni mitchell #alphabet #archaeology

Many have asked: “What is Civilisation?” “What is the Good Life?” One area that has made a reasonable stab at answering these questions is the Bordeaux region of South-Western France, And they’ve been doing it for a very long time. Wine seems to have come to the area in around 43 AD, since when they’ve been knocking out the good stuff ever since, despite the irruptions of marauding Goths, Vandals, Saxons, English, the phyllorexa virus, Germans and recently, global warming. The union with England under Henry and his Queen Eleanor in 1154 was actually a boost, for it formed a kind of early single market, which the later Hundred Years War wrecked. But Bordeaux saw ’em all off in the long run, and now boasts some of the finest vintages in the world.

You could spend a week driving round the various regions scattered along the Gironde. The very names-Medoc, Graves, Entre-Deux-Mers and others are evocative of warm sunshine and Atlantic breezes. Our second link, Vins de Bordeaux, has everything the armchair explorer needs to start an expedition. There’s great notes on varieties, tours, grapes and we loved the interactive map of the terroir.

So why not sit back, pour a glass of fine claret and look forward to a good weekend? You’ve earned it.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Bordeaux_wine

[2] https://www.bordeaux.com/gb/

#france #bordeaux #wine #friday night

The dominant narrative of the last fifty years or so, at least in Anglo-Saxon economies, has been that of the free untrammelled individual. You know the creed ” I am a free man, any brake on my ability to do exactly as I want at any time is a monstrous outrage. And anyhow, complete and utter selfishness will help the economy grow!” This belief has been expounded in countless different ways, from the speeches of people like Margaret Thatcher, the academic works of people like Hayek, the rants of Ayn Rand, and schoolboy-level popularisations of the work of people like Maynard-Smith and EO Wilson. As a doctrine, it’s not without merits (usually a millionaire is less immediately dangerous than a commissar). But it has a deep theoretical flaw: what if my liberty impinges on yours?

Real world, tangible evidence is always the best response to imperfect theory. A very simple example is a piece we saw by Jessica Mouzo of El Pais, [1] the title of which roughly translates as “Pollution machine guns the health of children“.” Jessica’s evidence list is long: premature births, underweight infants, defective neurodevelopment, respiratory and skin ailments…,all are linked to pollution. Obviously, the bulk is coming from industry, transport and so on. But all of these enterprises are run by sovereign individuals. So, let’s take it down even more personally. Smoking cigarettes is an obvious form of pollution, as anyone who remembers the pubs and discotheques of the 1970’s will testify. Smokers are quick to adduce their rights and freedoms, and the need to exercise both aggressively. But what if your right by its very existence, sui generis, impinges on mine? Or of an unborn infant, as Jessica so neatly points out?

The sovereign autonomous individual does not and cannot exist. That is not to say we should all adopt Communism, or some form of Theocracy along Iranian lines. But any economic and social model must take into account that humans are inescapably joined to one another, whether they like it or not. And the ones that best reflect this truth are the currently unfashionable ones like Social Democracy, Christian Democracy, Keynesianism and their soul mates. Perhaps it’s time to see them again in action. (Inhabitants of the anglosphere and others will now need their translator apps)

[1] https://elpais.com/salud-y-bienestar/2022-11-10/la-polucion-acribilla-la-salud-de-los-ninos-partos-prematuros-bajo-peso-al-nacer-y-dificultades-cognitivas.html

#hayek #social democracy #pollution

The Star Spangled Banner The American Revolution and Constitution were achieved by a group of the most Enlightened, educated and idealistic people who have ever lived. Their ideals remain the most hopeful set of political ideas we have, and not just for Americans. So when Lady Gaga got up to sing the theme song “Oh, say have you seen……..” it still remained the last, best hope for a world beset by dictators, maniacs, fanatics and ignoramuses. Thanks America, and Lady G. for a truly moving moment

The Civil War 1861-1865 A large number of (Northern) Americans risked it all to prove that hatred, bigotry and cruelty are not only inefficient, but they can also actually lose. As for the Glorious Myth of the Antebellum South, the term “Proto-Nazis” comes to mind, for want of less polite epithets.

The New Deal Franklin Roosevelt not only rebooted Capitalism (thus defeating Communism) he strengthened America’s economic sinews to such an extent that it basically carried the production burden of all the Allies in the Second World War. Goodbye Nazis a second time! The social settlement achieved lasted as the world model until at least 1980, the most powerful exercise of soft power ever attained.

NASA Not for the spacecraft, astronauts or web site, though all are of the most admirable quality. We’ve picked them for our award in project management. From a nothing start, step by incremental step, through Mercury, Gemini and Apollo until two of their own stood on the Moon. All in eight years. Compare that to George W Bush‘s foreign policy and you may begin to grasp where things have gone wrong lately.

The Food An old soldier of His Britannic Majesty’s army once told us of how, one afternoon in Burma, with the British supply chain having failed once again, the Americans showed up in a jungle clearing and took things over. Not only was the food infinitely better, but they made the Officers queue up with the Other Ranks (Enlisted Men), to the utter chagrin of the former. It’s pretty much the same wherever you go in America from democratic diners like McDonalds up to the top range, comparable to anything in Europe. And bigger portions.

Muhmmed Ali Proof that not every boxer is a brainless thug came in shape of this gifted sportsman, whose mind was every bit as nimble as his steps in the ring. As for his thoughts on why he refused to join the pointless Vietnam War, we are no longer permitted to quote them in a family blog. But he was right.

Hollywood Has had every epithet thrown at it you can think of, from highbrow Marxists to crazy conspiracy theorists. It can be vulgar, trashy, simplistic, horribly American-and more. But has taken the human experience and distilled it intelligibly across the whole planet, giving us moments of unforgettable joy, pathos, laughter and song. The commies gave us Eisenstein, who is OK for those who struggle to sleep at nights, but unwatchable for anyone else.

The San Francisco Police Department Forensic Lab, Hunter’s Point, Ca. OK, bit of a personal one. But when one of our staff writers visited it, more than twenty years ago he was treated with a kindness, courtesy and interest which should be a model for professional exchanges everywhere. And lunch thereafter, in what was reputed to be a converted bordello. The heavy flock wallpaper suggested something had been going on, that was for sure.

The University Cluster Harvard, Yale, the various UC’s, Princeton, MIT………we could go on and on. A conveyer belt of excellence driving Defence, IT, NASA (see above), the banks and every other aspect of what still (just) the world’s most advanced economy. If we have missed your alma mater, please write in and tell us, although Bible Colleges in Southern regions need not waste their time.

The National Parks Europe thought it had given the world heritage in the form of all its cathedrals, art galleries and all that stuff. They forgot Nature, which can look every bit as good as a Vermeer. Starting with Yellowstone, the US pioneered the idea of fencing off and preserving the best bits of the great outdoors, until everyone wanted to copy it. How poor we would be without them!

It remains to be seen how many of these things might yet exist in ten years’ time if Donald J Trump or his acolytes are returned to power. We hope any Americans reading will draw the appropriate conclusions.

#donald j trump #national parks #NASA #muhammed ali #hollywood #harvard #franklin d roosevelt

stories that caught our eye

Cause of Depression; So, what is it? As for most mental infirmities, opinion is divided. It would be nice to know, because its effect can ravage the lives of sufferers and their families. The neurotransmitter serotonin has always been in with a shout, and new study, her reported in The Guardian, gives credence to this conjecture:

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/nov/05/study-finds-first-evidence-of-link-between-low-serotonin-levels-and-depression

Help with depression Ever since the publication of Aldous Huxley‘s The Doors of Perception, the role of psychoactive substances in mental health has intrigued some medical researchers. So, can psilocybin help sufferers. Here’s the Guardian again

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/nov/02/magic-mushrooms-psilocybin-alleviate-severe-depression-alongside-therapy

Global Warning COP27 is on us again, and even the British Prime Minister has noticed. But what can we expect? Nature Briefings has it all in this extract and link!

It’s been a year since global leaders renewed their climate pledges at COP26, the landmark United Nations climate summit in Glasgow, UK. On Monday, global leaders will convene in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, during COP27 to carry on negotiations aimed at reining in global warming. The short-term outlook is daunting: global energy prices are spiking, spurring fresh investments in harmful fossil fuels. The good news: renewable-energy installations continue to rise globally, and many countries have made new climate commitments this year.

What to look out for:

• A key issue at COP27 is ‘loss and damage’ finance — how to pay for the mounting impact of climate change on the countries that did the least to cause it and can least afford the destruction it brings.
• Much of the focus will be on evaluation, assessment and accountability. “We can’t just move on to new commitments without getting a grip on whether the current commitments are being carried out,” says climate-policy analyst David Waskow.

Nature | 6 min read

Unpleasant Pleasures The subject of drugs comes up again in this rather unpleasant Cautionary Tale from The Conversation, starring the popular actor Matthew Perry (who he?-ed) We say: don’t take ’em, unless your Doctor tells you to.

https://theconversation.com/what-long-term-opioid-use-does-to-your-body-and-brain-193494?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Lat

Weaponising Rape The Russians have a bit of form here (see Germany 1945) so it’s no surprise to see that once again they are using mass rape as an instrument of war. Perhaps if Mr Putin reads this, he might think “Oh gosh, I’ve got this all wrong, I’ll put a stop to it right away!” And then again, perhaps he won’t. CNN has the details

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/11/02/europe/russia-ukraine-kherson-sexual-violence-intl/index.html

This week’s song The Commitments Survivors of the 1990s will recall that feel good film, rich in music and social texture So we’ll close by offering you this jolly video showing the band at its exciting best

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=The+Commitments+Mustang+Sally&docid=608015413690381795&mid=0B20116C42364428C7FF0B2

From the Editorial Board

Learning Science and Society is more than just another office block near East Croydon Station. It’s a thriving, industrious community, all working away happily in our different roles. At the top, there’s those of us on the Board. Alright, our offices may be just a tiny bit larger, our catering a little more finely tuned, our salaries a tad higher, and so on. Yet that is more than compensated for by the heavy load of responsibilities we bear, the burdens, as t’were, of higher office. And we never forget that underneath us lies the busy world of admin, HR, editorial, security, IT, cleaning and maintenance, and all the other departments whose names we cannot entirely recall at this moment. However, we’re sure they’re all hard at it, (all those cameras aren’t just for security) and once again we regret that this year’s pay settlement was a little skewed towards the higher grades, but those are market forces, and that’s the way it is.

So, to recognise the enormous contributions of all our staff, we have invited them to suggest their favourite cocktails for this week’s column, and the board itself has chosen the best three contributions, which will be mixed for us at this year’s Editorial Board Christmas Lunch. We know the employees will be grateful for this, and for the egalitarian company ethos which thereby implied. Thus, without further ado, we present:

The Club To a mixing glass add four ice cubes, 1 measure of Irish Whiskey and i1teaspoon of grenadine. Flick in 2 dashes of angosturas, and stir. Decant to a cocktail glass, minus ice and decorate with a lemon rind and a cocktail cherry.

Burnt Orange Put four ice cubes intoa mixing glass and add the juice of half a Valencian Orange. Add three drops of angostura, and three measures of finest French Cognac. Stir, stain to a chilled cocktail glass and decorate with a slice of orange

Gin Tropical To shaker, add 6 cubes of ice, 2 measures of gin, 1 measure orange juice, 1 measure lemon juice and 1 measure of passion fruit juice. Shake ’em ’til you break ’em, and strain to a tumbler. You can top this with plain cold fizzy water, but don’t overdo it, or you’ll kill the flavours Decorate with an orange slice.

And so we will toast our employees, thank them for these suggestions and another year of labour, and hope to offer a similar scheme next year.

#cocktails #industrial relations #christmas lunch