If there’s one thing that keeps most people on the straight and narrow, it’s the thought of retiring to a comfortable old age. You won’t go out throwing bombs, joining revolutionary parties or selling cranky newspapers outside Tube stations if it imperils your chances of spending quality time with the grandkids or blocking airport lounges with your unfeasibly bulky luggage. As the Capitalist Class, bless ’em, has always known.

Until relatively recently, the system had worked well. Pension funds took a slice of your money, invested it , and at the end gave you a lump sum which was then used to buy an annuity, and off you went to buy a car/boat/Benidorm villa, “au pair” or whatever. But now there are real fears that the whole scheme has seized up, leaving millions seriously out of pocket. Samantha Downs [1] has an excellent article here, but we’ll try to summarise a little below.

After the crash of 2007-2008 the world was only saved from disaster by quantitative easing, that strange but necessary global lowering of interest rates which kept the world running on life support. But pension funds carried on buying gilts, understandably, as they looked so safe. However, post Covid, interest rates are rising, and so are the values of gilts. (The price of any bond, such as a gilt, will always fall as the yield rises. And these yields have to rise to compete with interest rates offered elsewhere.)

Suddenly, the value of the stuff you need to buy an annuity has fallen away, with little hope of getting back up any time soon. A lot of people will find their retirement to be penurious. Which is always worse when you weren’t expecting it. In countries dependent on the grey pound, that will leave a big gap in discretionary spending. More worryingly for us a compact of understanding between the system and its loyal subjects has been broken. Younger people will start to entertain real doubts about their own futures. And who can blame them if they start to look for alternatives?

we thank Mr Peter Seymour for the idea behind this story

[1] https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/money/pensions-and-retirement/pensions-time-bomb-warning-biggest-fall-30-years-1640816

#pensions #gilts #bonds #annuities

For sheer courage, and the hope of the world, nothing is so admirable as the struggle of Iranian women against their malevolent and tyrannical regime. Braving tear gas, clubbings, live rounds and hundreds of deaths and injuries, they daily fight everyone’s fight against bigotry and oppression. And for what? So that each may choose whether or not to wear a simple headcovering, the hijab. They are certainly not trying to ban the garment. But the mere fact they demand this choice is enough to send the misanthropic brutes at the summit of the Iranian regime into paroxysms of fury and violence.

Today will simply provide you with a useful summary of the women’s cause, by Nifoofar Hooman of the Conversation, looking at the balance of forces on each side and where we are today.

And our thoughts? The ancient fools who run Iran are looking for blood in too many places. Just as they supply Russian tyrant Putin with more means to pursue his genocide in Ukraine, they face massive opposition at home. “The hour of destiny has struck upon the clock.”

https://theconversation.com/the-protests-in-iran-are-part-of-a-long-history-of-womens-resistance-191551

#iran #womens rights

things that caught our eye in this week’s news

Rise and Fall of a Prime Minister How come intelligent hard-working people make dreadful, nation-changing errors? British PM Liz Truss must have had some of those qualities to reach as far as she did. We all need to learn from poor decision-making, wherever we live. So this article from The Conversation seemed entirely apposite:

https://theconversation.com/liz-truss-resigns-as-prime-minister-the-five-causes-of-her-downfall-explained-192979?u

First Family Once again the wonders of DNA technology leave us breathless. Not only does it take us parsecs beyond bone studies, but it gives us hints to the sociology of these early hunter gatherers, and close human relatives. Not bad! Nature, A Neanderthal Nuclear family

for the first time, researchers have identified a set of closely related Neanderthals: a father, his teenage daughter and two other more distant relatives. The discovery of the family and seven more individuals in Chagyrskaya Cave in southern Siberia, along with two more from a nearby site, nearly doubles the number of known Neanderthal genomes. Genetic clues found in the individuals’ DNA hint that the population of breeding adults was low, and that there was more diversity in maternally inherited mitochondrial genomes — suggesting that mothers left their communities to build new families.Nature | 6 min read
Reference: Nature paper

How far is justified? At LSS, we tend to take the view that any desecration of a work of art cannot be justified. Think ISIS and Taleban if you like. So we were horrified when climate activists threw soup over a painting in the UK’s National Gallery. But we ill offer you the case for their defence, if only because it’s made by George Monbiot, all round intelligent guy and good bloke.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/oct/19/van-gogh-sunflowers-just-stop-oil-tactics

Tiger Tiger, Tiger The Zoological Society of London, that august institution, has always been at the forefront of conservation efforts. Heartening then to see their efforts amply rewarded with the birth of three rare Sumatran tiger cubs, who should do much to boost their Covid-depleted coffers.

https://www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo/news/zsl-london-zoo-shares-first-images-of-three-week-old-sumatran-tiger-cubs-outside

see you Monday!

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/oct/19/van-gogh-sunflowers-just-stop-oil-tactics

#liz truss #uk #politics #dna #neanderthal #climate change #protest #zsl

Nothing is so evocative of autumn as the appearance of the pumpkin [1] in schools, streets and supermarkets. As the colder nights draw in and we look to evening festivals like Halloween and Bonfire Night, the big, friendly round squash comes into its own as a source of seasonal foods, decorations,…….. and of course, cocktails as we hope to show in this brief blog.

We were surprised when our indefatigable researchers showed has how many recipes there are. What we offer today is just a selection, and we’re sure you can google a few more if you want

So, while the kids are gathered around the bonfire with their sparklers, celebrating an ancient act of judicial murder, or frightening each other to death with witch costumes, here’s something to take the heat off of the adults, who can relax and

From Basco, (and this let us use their lovely picture)

Spiced Pumpkin Sour

Mix that drink offer a nice looking pumpkin pie martini, which you can see by clicking on this link:

https://mixthatdrink.com/pumpkin-pie-martini-mixthatdrink-original/

while the cookie rookie suggest a pumpkin whisky smash

Pumpkin Whiskey Smash Cocktail

Not to be outdone, the good old Co-op offers a pumpkin puree

https://www.coop.co.uk/recipes/pumpkin-puree?

see you next Friday, which is more than you can say for Liz Truss.

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

#pumpkin #cocktails

“Every year” says Paul, “David sends me a birthday card. It says Thank you for teaching me everything I know. ” Paul is a Foster Parent, one of that amazing army of unsung heroes and heroines who often make the difference between survival and total collapse for so many thousands of abused, neglected or abandoned children. David was his first foster placement. It was many years ago, when Paul was busy as a successful businessman in the food supply business,and raising a highly successful family of his own. Since then, Paul and his wife Jane have fostered many and are still doing it today, well into their seventies.

The trouble with LSS-and like certain Prime Ministers, we humbly admit it-is that there are too many molecules, too many econometric theories and too many cocktails in here. We don’t bring you enough human interest stories. Too easy to sink into a pit of esoteric academicism, ignoring the heroic work of carers, fosterers, police officers, and all the others who are the real glue holding our society together. Time to learn from them. And this was our principal lesson.

About fifty years ago, certain supercilious biologists were fond of preaching that utter selfishness and egoism were the only worthwhile guides for human behaviour. It was all, in our genes, they told us, with all the otiose certainty of first year undergraduates who imagine a university place is a guarantee of private virtue and public wisdom. Qualities such as altruism, sharing and solidarity were the delusions of weak minds, destined for evolutionary extinction. A way of thinking quickly picked up by newspapers such as the Daily Mail, ever eager for sticks with which to beat Trade Unions, Social Democrats and anyone else who tried to stand in the way of a dog-eat-dog free for all.

We won’t tell you of the satisfaction which Paul and Jane obtain from each successful placement. Or that each successful case which they handle turns in to a healthy productive citizen, ready to work to pay taxes for the rest of us in our dotage. Or that every child saved from the streets saves someone from getting mugged, drugged, slugged or harmed in some way. We’ll leave you instead with the words of John Donne, that amazing 17th century mystic, who wrote

No man is an island, entire of itself: Every man is a piece of the Continent, a part of the main.

If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend’s, or of thine own were.

Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind. And therefore never send to ask for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.

^{names have been changed for confidentiality}

#john donne #fostering #altruism

.

A couple of years ago we wrote here:

…….. a terrible disease is sweeping across the world. In the UK alone there are 209 600 new cases per year. One in 14 of people over 65 are sufferers. Readers in any country in the world will soon find comparable statistics (LSS 21 1 2020)

Alzheimer’s disease, a subset of dementia, is one of those intriguing mysteries which stubbornly refuses to yield up a solution, despite the best efforts of researchers and noble organisations like the Alzheimer’s Society, whose excellent site is linked here[1]

Much of the burden of research has fallen on amyloid-beta proteins, and their relationship with the plaques which form in the brains of sufferers. Up to know, the plaques have been the villains of the piece. But are they? Now new research suggests that the amount of the proteins may be the key factor. It’s interesting research because it makes use of genetic studies on populations who experience higher levels of dementia and tries to tie this to levels of proteins and plaques. The Conversation [2] has three writers-up, which is a bit much to cite for a short blog like this one.

As we pointed out before, there are a number of competing hypotheses, and we don’t think a cure is coming tomorrow. But never forget, gentle readers, how research in one area can often have surprising benefits in others, as it all adds to the total of human knowledge. So, if you wanted to dip into your pocket and help a charity, it would do no harm.

We thank Mr Peter Seymour for this story

[1] https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/

[2]https://theconversation.com/alzheimers-disease-surprising-new-theory-about-what-might-cause-it-192143?utm_mediu

#dementia #alzheimer’s #proteins #plaques #neurology

stories that caught our eye this week

Megathreats Why believe Nouriel Roubini? because he was the dude who accurately predicted the 2007-08 crash, that’s why. Now his new book identifies ten trends that imperial our future. In his own words” expect many dark days”

https://www.ft.com/content/3be78531-a7f9-4045-9ac8-88ca64210f59

All Trussed Up Inept leaders are always more interesting than the able ones . Latest on the list is UK Prime Minister Liz Truss, but the lessons here can be applied to many, many countries.

https://theconversation.com/liz-truss-is-now-a-case-study-in-poor-leadership-192554?utm_m

Neurobiology Advances again Sufferers from terrible neurological diseases such as MS, MNR and the rest have always elicited our utmost sympathies. So we welcome every advance in neurological techniques such as the one below. And, who knows-it may help those injured in terrible accidents as well.

Miniature human-brain-like structures transplanted into rats can send signals and respond to environmental cues. Researchers grew the structures from human stem cells and then injected them into the brains of newborn rat pups. After six months, the organoids became fully integrated into the rat brains. The approach could lead to a way to test therapies for human brain disorders. But some researchers have ethical concerns about such experiments: creating rodent–human hybrids could harm the animals or produce animals with human-like brains.Nature | 5 min read
Reference: Nature paper

On the Silk Road Sometimes things from history grip our imagination. Nothing more so than the Silk Road, that vast network of trade routes crossing mountains and deserts that seems almost as old as Civilisation. New discoveries in Wenzhou suggest how extensive it was, The finds date from the Song and Yuan dynasties. They corresponded roughly to our own European High Middle Ages, from about 960 AD to about 1368 AD.

https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3195907/photos-ancient-chinese-port-city-reveals-secrets

Larry the Intrepid Fox Hunter Larry, the feline resident of No 10 Downing Street was anxious to prove that someone in there is still doing their job. In the middle of a major political and economic crisis he still found time to see off an intruding fox. Can your cat do this?

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/oct/11/larry-the-cat-fox-no-10-downing-street-chief-mouser-pm

#nouriel roubini #catastrophes #debt #liz truss #neuroscience #ms #mnr #larry the cat #china #silk road

Do you know anyone who has failed, completely and utterly? Whose entire life’s work has gone down the drain? Who has devoted their entire life to a career that has utterly failed, publicly and spectacularly? Who has not only shown themselves to be personally and intellectually unequal to their task, but that their core beliefs, their moral compass if you like, have been shown to be utterly useless? If you don’t know anyone personally, can you think of anyone famous? Perhaps in England?

What would you advise them to do? We at LSS might suggest a cocktail or two to drown their sorrows. And once again, our researchers have come up with a list of drown your sorrows. Slammers that could console anyone who has wrecked their own life, and those of many around them.

Pain killer A rich mix of rum, fruit juices, and coconut a couple of these will make you feel you are delivering growth again in no time at all

https://www.liquor.com/recipes/painkiller/

Mexican Firing Squad A rejuvenating mix of lime juice, tequila and bitters, you could reboot any human enterprise from a whelk stall in the Mile End Road to -oh, let’s think of something, a failing Government, maybe?

https://www.liquor.com/mexican-firing-squad-cocktail-recipe-5270686

Any Port in a Storm Boozy blend of rums, ports, absinthe and many other elements which could ready you for the most difficult pf press conferences. Or give you the courage to take your main questions from patsy journalists whose owners put you where you are today.

https://www.liquor.com/any-port-in-a-storm-cocktail-recipe-5209424

Adios Mofo We’ve toned down the title for this family website, but it’s a beautiful Conservative blue, this one. Quite appropriate, really. One of these, and you’re ready to sack anyone who carries out your orders to the letter.

https://www.liquor.com/recipes/adios-motherfucker-2/

Grave Digger If by some random chance your name is Sir Graham Brady, and, by some other even more fantastic probability, you are chairman of the 1922 committee, this one might resonate.

https://www.liquor.com/recipes/grave-digger/

North Sea Oil Much better for the economy than all those windfarms! A Scottish theme with lots of whiskies, in case they still love you up there as they should. Maybe. Perhaps.

https://www.liquor.com/north-sea-oil-cocktail-recipe-6742780

The Noble One If you can carry on when everyone around seems to hate you, for some inexplicable reason, what better heart warmer than this rather outre mix of sherry, port and various syrups. And if all else fails-send for Jeremy Hunt!

https://www.liquor.com/noble-one-cocktail-recipe-5268020

Once again, hats off to our researchers and that amazing site https://www.liquor.com/- a go to must for anyone who needs a mix in a hurry, or has been told to write an article to a deadline.

#uk #financial crisis #conservative party #stability

Ever had one of those annoying phone calls where someone rings up pretending to be from your IT supplier or something? If you have any brains at all, you know it’s the start of a scam, and you need to get rid of them. We’ve tried various methods down the years. A) Pretending we’re a garage and assuming they’re calling about their car (it’s never been ready yet) B) Converting them to The Lord Jesus Christ (it’s useful to know a couple of hymns and invite them to sing along C) Faking a nervous breakdown, or drunkenness.

The online ones are more skilful. Their imitations of real corporations and their website are chillingly authentic these days. No more grammar or spelling errors like they did five years ago. And of course there are always the Love Rats (to borrow a phrase from the estimable Take A Break ) who rip the lonely and the sad out of millions.

We at LSS think the scammers are part of the same industry as certain charlatans who practice in politics, religion, health and nutrition, and give all practitioners of these arts a bad name. So why do their entreaties work? How? Today we have a series of pieces which we hope will help you explore the world of scamming, and how you might be wise to the pitfalls. Here goes

Why people fall-the psychological weaknesses, if you like- are admirably introduced by this clear piece in The Conversation by psychologist Paul Seager

https://theconversation.com/five-psychological-reasons-why-people-fall-for-scams-and-how-to-avoid-them-102421

While Stacey Wood for the BBC carried out controlled experiments to look at the actual process of deception.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20180727-why-so-many-people-fall-for-scams

As for the types of scams-there seem to be more of them then there are types of lager in our local supermarket. Phone scams, advance free fraud, pyramids…..that excellent site Which gives a jumping off point, but a quick google will reveal many, many more.

https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/scams/types-of-scams

And finally…….spare a thought for the victims Many, many have had their life savings, homes and pensions snatched away. Ultimately, the problem will require transnational regulation for it to be eliminated. But that’s a thought for another day.

#fraud #scam #gullible #psychology

Many years ago, we were moved to join a charity called Antibiotic Research UK. [1] One of its patrons and principle moving spirits was Dame Sally Davies, now UK Government special envoy on antibiotics and Master of Trinity College Cambridge. Early followers of this blog, and the old Facebook posts which preceded it, will recall that it was our principal motive and raison d’etre which caused us to enter the confusing world of cyberspace. Since when, our remit has broadened somewhat.

Global warming, nuclear weapons, pollution….with all these other problems creeping up the agenda since 2015, you might be forgiven for thinking that the problem of antibiotic resistance had been solved by now. Not so, according to Dame Sally. It’s still right up there with all those other Bad Guys and may indeed have edged out Climate Change as the number one existential threat. Only the recent self-promotion of Vladimir Putin and his enthusiasm for a world Armageddon may represent a more proximal threat.

In a recent article for the New Statesman, [2] Dame Sally offers Alona Ferber a magisterial bird’s eye view of progress so far, where we are now, and hope for the future. OK, it’s a bit UK-centric-the Staggers is published in London, after all. But readers all around the world will certainly benefit on this critical state of play assessment by the Wise Woman of Cambridge. Especially if you are the owners of children or grandchildren.

[1] https://www.antibioticresearch.org.uk

[2]https://www.newstatesman.com/encounter/2022/10/sally-davies-anti-microbial-resistance-could-kill-

#antibiotic research #amr #dame sally davies #medicine