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Millenials group ages 18-49 who have decided to have zero children post pandemic is growing, as shown in this story in The Washington Post- with many graphs about what is really happening. A 2021 Pew Research poll shows 44% of childless adults ages 18-49 saying they do not want kids, or are not likely to have kids. This is up from 37% in 2018. And 56% of these people simply give no reason, just that- no kids. The difficult economic environment is part of this, so is the difficulty in raising kids that do better than their parents, the huge resources needed to raise good kids, all leading to this view among millenial women.

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The term "lazy girl job" is a misnomer because it refers to work life balance choices made by women who prefer to do remote work, avoid micro manager bosses, and pay attention to health and exercise, lifestyle choices. Being able to take a walk midday and take a bike ride in the evening at 5.00 pm with work cut off times is a preference for many young people. It follows the trend of quiet quitting where lifestyle choices and health take precedence over existing flawed ways of work that ignore family, health and exercise needs. The pandemic has created a new awareness about what is important in life and a new set of priorities. Young people are following their heart.

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Anthony Hopkins is Pope Benedict XVI in November's Netflix Movie The Two Popes. Hopkins, a Welsh actor, is now famous for the way he talks about not taking himself so seriously. His view of life, just be glad you are alive and have fun doing things while you can, all this talk about getting to the top, once you get up there you find there is nothing there, just nonsense, all lies. For Hopkins it has freed up a lot of energy and makes him come alive at 81 years. Another thing he says keep working thats the only way to live, and not go into decline. So what better way to take on the role of Benedict, a German pope who becomes the first to resign his office, and have his chosen successor follow him, cardinal Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, Argentina, (actor Jonathan Pryce) succeed him. Just be laid back and fill the role without thinking too much about it. So no intensity, he does not do research, actually a bit clueless, he says. Life is too short to be overconscious about oneself, he was intense once, now since about ten years he just wants to relax. Benedict he sees as an easy role especially with Pryce as cardinal Bergoglio. Fernando Meirelles directs and he is good with that. In the movie a day long conversation takes place, and two people who are from opposite ends of the world and ideologically too, have a sense of lightness about them, talking the World cup and soccer, and Hopkins playing the piano for Bergoglio. Hopkins just intent on having a lot of fun and doing it that way on the set. He sees the to popes as not walking on water, just human beings, and that make it easy for him. The human touches like going along with Bergoglio to watch football, though he nows nothing about it, and having a beer together. When playing Benedict Hopkins tells himself he is just pretending, just kidding, that makes it easy for him. His wife has encouraged Hopkins to relax by taking on painting and playing music. ...

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Companies in retail, construction  entertainment sectors made layoffs in the first 2 years of the pandemic. White collar workers worked remotely and were not affected that much. In 2023 the layoffs are now affecting professionals and white collar workers. White collar workers are also paid more which creates savings for companies when they layoff higher paid professionals who do not perform critical tasks. In manufacturing and blue collar worker industries there are not many layoffs because companies are hoarding these workers as there are worker shortages. Many workers retired in manufacturing and blue collar leading to shortages in these sectors. Because this is not typical in the layoffs and hiring cycles seen previous to the pandemic this is an unusual situation.

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On the hope for the world that can be created through the example of the 1.4 billion people of India combined with the 290 million people of Indonesia PM Modi told the Indonesian parliament-"On this great soil of Indonesia, I come before you with confidence in our shared journey of development. I come with the conviction that, together, India and Indonesia can inspire humanity with renewed hope, purpose, and energy. When the 1.4 billion people of India and the 290 million people of Indonesia move forward together with shared purpose and collective effort, the world will witness the making of a new chapter in history. India is a nation that believes not in expansionism, but in development. That is why we are guided by the principle: Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas—Together with all, development for all." On the civilizational dialogue between India and Indonesia PM Modi said- "India, Indonesia, and the Indian Ocean – these very names bear witness to the deep and enduring bonds between our two nations. For thousands of years, our ports connected the world, and our ships carried trade, culture, and ideas across distant shores. The seas continue to hold immense opportunities for our shared future. It is with the vastness of this ocean as our inspiration that I invite you today to take India–Indonesia relations to even greater heights." "Honourable Members, India and Indonesia share far more than the sea—we share a common history. Our relationship is rooted in the timeless legacy of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. In the wisdom of Nalanda that reached these shores centuries ago. In the traditions of Wayang, dance and music. We are connected through magnificent monuments such as Borobudur and Prambanan. We are united by Garuda, the national emblem of Indonesia." On the struggle for independence and shared history- "Friends, there is so much that our ancestors experienced together. Both our peoples endured long periods of foreign rule. Our two nations also attained independence at nearly the same time-Indonesia in 1945, and India in 1947. And when the question of Indonesia’s sovereignty as an independent nation arose, India stood firmly in support of Indonesia’s freedom struggle and became a strong voice for its cause at the United Nations. During that defining period, the role played by the respected Biju Patnaik remains a shining chapter in our shared history. The courage and determination with which he safely brought Prime Minister Sutan Sjahrir and Vice President Mohammad Hatta to India forged an even deeper bond between our two nations."   ...

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Would a generic Democrat do better? Mr. Biden's weakness is with less engaged voters says this analysis of a Times Siena poll showing less support in battleground states. One queer aspect of this poll is that Kamala Harris does slightly better because she does better with non white voters. Mr. Biden does well with white voters retaining all of his support achieved in the 2020 election with white voters. Another queer aspect of this poll is that a so called generic Democrat would win by large margins of over 5% in most of the battleground states over Mr. Trump, in Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania. Another queer aspect of the poll is that Michigan has all three- the Governor's position, the State Assembly and other positions in the hands of Democrats who have performed well in the state.

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One perspective of what Silicon Valley is focused on is shown by Reid Hoffman. It does not mention climate change, not one word on climate change, no words on cost of living action, little is said about factories and jobs for reviving American manufacturing, helping workers and families and redesigning the world's supply chains. It is critical of addressing monopolies and regulatory action by the FTC even where it is needed. It calls for huge investments in AI that would leave little for investments in science, education, healthcare and infrastructure, and says "trust us to do the right thing." It calls for pro-innovation direction when pro-innovation has been the thrust of policy for three decades with the results that we have seen leading to widening gas between the upper and lower classes and shrinking of the middle, a pharma industry out of control in pricing, and negligible investments in education by so called "tech" companies who like Apple have outsourced manufacturing to China. A return to tech and Silicon Valley is not needed as embedding it in the nation's policy making priorities is the Nation's problem. ...

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China believes Taiwan is part of one country with different systems, yet president Xi's words to former Taiwan president Ma in Beijing on March 9, 2024 suggest China is moderating its stance with Taiwan, reliant more on persuasion after the air and sea blockades during the pandemic. Xi met Ma in 2015 in Singapore when both affirmed the unity of both countries. Taiwan under the Progressives who now have won for a third time sees itself as a separate country and Xi sees Taiwan as a part of China.  Ma's colleague lost the recent election to  Lai Ching-Te of the Democratic Progressive Party. Issues in the election were cost of housing and the economy.  Xi said the 1992 Consensus still holds for Taiwan, a former Japanese colony just across the straits from mainland China under that consensus it was accepted as one country with different systems. Xi said: “Compatriots on both sides of the strait are Chinese... The difference in systems does not alter the objective fact that the two sides of the strait are of one country and one nation.” ...

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Friedman describes the lack of decisionmaking, initiative and courage in the Eurozone, India and China to tackle difficult problems. During his visit to India he describes the problems India faces. A serious problem with lack of good governance within the democratic framework. India also has a growing population that will soon surpass China's population, which makes the task of development that much harder, with the small steps India is taking to move forward not making a serious impact. Azim Premji, chairman of Wipro, described it this way: "There is a complete lack of decision-making among leaders in the government. If prompt action is not taken, the country will face a setback. You must appreciate how serious it is." Friedman sees a similiar situation in the eurozone countries as new governments are being formed in Greece and Italy by Papademos and Mario Monti, both technocrats from the European Union. This has the added complication because these experts have not been elected. The fact that they have support and goodwill is because of the failure of the political class in Greece and Italy. The failure of the political class in the U.S. is evident from the stymied negotiations over the deficit, and the lack of leadership from President Obama....

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Dr Norman Borlaug passes away at 95. He was a plant scientist who invented special rust fungus resitant varieties of wheat through work for the Rockefeller Foundation in Mexico. In this work he used the climate of the Sonoran desert and the Mexican highlands to develop this rust resistant wheat variety. He came up with asmaller wheat plant which with fertilizer counld increase yields enormously. Brough up in Minnesota of Norwegian parents, he studied in aone room schoolhouse and pursued his doctorate in plant sciences at the University of Minnesota during the depression. At this time he saw hungry people in Minneapolis, and this stayed with him as he was persuaded to take up the job with the Rockefeller Foundation in Mexico after working at Du Pont. Mexico meant dismal conditions and vast amounts of travel between the desert and the highlands. But his unflagging persistance and good humor in these difficult conditions led to results with the new varieties of wheat. This was then used in Mexico and later in India and Pakistan in the 70's with the wheat crop in 1968 maring the beginning of ther green revolution. ...

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Hou You-Yi of the KMT and Tai Ching-Te of the DPP are candidates for the Taiwan elections in 2024. The Guardian looks at their differing positions in relation to China and the US.

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Masks are made mandatory as a travel requirement on all flights and public transportation in the US.

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The Queue for seeing Queen Elizabeth at Westminster is a talking point around the world. See the queue here on the BBC and Charles III and Prince William interacting with the people in the queue. It is five miles long and stretches along the Thames and through London. It takes 9 to 24 hours to complete the queue and enter Westminster. It is a typically British invention. One report in the BBC on the queue described the silent meditative magic of it. The good humored and patient standing for hours and hours showed the British public at its best. This report looks at the organization that also helped set this up.

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The question of identity that looms large over the retirement years is explored from personal experience by Stephen Yoder in the WSJ.

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A split in the Conservative party in Britain after the partygate report in parliament on Boris Johnson. Not only do the Tories fail to deliver for Britain, the infighting in the Conservative party is likely to lead to more years added to the lost decade for Britain. 

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Life expectancy was growing in the U.S. till 2010. In the three years 2015 to 2017 it declined each year. In 2014 the life expectancy in the U.S. was 78.9 years, declining to 78.6 years today. This is contrary to the trend in all G-7 countries where life expectancy is growing. Now it is seen as systemic- a factor common to all race, gender and ethnic groups. Part of this is a result of economic distress. People with less education are more affected and young people are also hit hard.