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Rodrigo - what he does is "indefinable" being in the right places at the right time- winner of best player in World Cup Soccer 2026. He is tall but not imposing. He is not the super athlete. In a World Cup that is dominated by television advertising pushing celebrities every minute, and tickets that few can afford, Rodrigo is the ultimate irony says this report in The Guardian by Jonathan Wilson. Not Haaland, not Mbappe, not Messi, the star celebrities and goal scorers, but Rodrigo or Rodri who is a cerebral player in the Spanish tradition of Busquets. Wilson rightly cites Mauricio Pochettino, the US coach, when he says that the US cannot produce a Rodrigo because of the way it manages soccer expecting parents to pay thousands of dollar for their child to join a club, which leaves out large parts of the US people. And what they get in return is physical prowess. What matters in soccer is tactical awareness and technical ability which are difficult to measure and intuitive. There is another aspect to Rodrigo he struggled for the last 2 seasons after an injury, recovering in time for the World Cup. The results are plain to see. Messi says this report could not play his style of game because of Rodrigo and players like Rodrigo in the Spanish team. ...

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Andy Burnham tells the Times of London in an Interview-

“It’s where I’ve gone wrong, sometimes in my political career. It’s when I’ve not been true to my instincts. I hate saying it like this, but my instincts are pretty good. And I said it on Friday: I do listen to people. That’s where I’ve always picked up my straws in the wind. And that’s my style. I’ve got to find a way of keeping that: sitting in my own seat. It’s actually the best thing I could do. Every game there would be a mega focus group on me.”

"I’m going to really try to keep that style. Just keeping close to people, close to the ground … it’s all about helping people.”

And with that Andy talks about his 10 Year Plan for the country.

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In and Interview with The Times of London Andy Burnham said yesterday: “You have to rethink how we run things to get a different approach to public spending and running the economy which is much more focused on early investment, early intervention, setting people up for success and much less paying for failure." “A concept I will talk about tomorrow is a 10-year plan for the country. I think that’s what it needs. I’m not saying that means I’m setting out to say I’m going to be here for 10 years, it’s more that we’re not in the right place structurally. “You go round large parts of Britain and they’re in decline still. The path we’ve got to lay is quite a long one. It can’t be done overnight. You’ve got to show people where we’re going and the steps towards it.” At Lyrarc.com we have called for a 10 year Plan for the US, this is a right step for Britain.   ...

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Spain Win World Cup 1-0 as Argentina struggles - Spain 17 shots on goal, Argentina 0. Without brilliant goal keeping by Argentine goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez, with 11 saves, Spain would have been far ahead. Ferran gets the goal in overtime from a pass by Williams Jr. Other goals by Spain were disallowed for offside and foul. Spain's coach Luis de la Fuente said the win was because of Spain's footballing training discipline and its long tradition of training. As Sergio Ramos brought the trophy out Spain's new World Cup team connected with the team that won the World Cup in 2010. Xavi, Iniesta, Casillas and Ramos were from that team in 2010. Rodri, Ferran and Olmo, Unai Simon showed Spanish football at its best. In terms of fans having the game of their lives in this World Cup the third place finish game was a classic that surpassed every other game. England played France in a 6-4 game in which England put up 4 goals in the first half and France responded with its own 4 goals in the second half, Saka got a hattrick, Bellingham 2 goals, and Mbappe added 2 goals for France to become the leading goal score of this World Cup. Declan Rice, Saka and Bellingham played well for England, Mbappe, Barcola and Dembele for France. Because of Argentina fizzling out and poor performance in the final it appears as though England which surrendered its lead in the 86th minute of the game with Argentina when coach Tuchel pulled out Declan Rice and made some questionable decisions, were the better team than Argentina. Its almost as if it is Spain No, 1, England No. 2, Argentina and France tied for third place if one went by the quality of the game played. With Brazil out early it appears that world soccer is returning to its roots in England, France and Spain, with newcomers as Egypt. ...

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China high speed rail- how it was done with help of Kawasaki  of Japan, Alstom/Siemens of France/Germany over 2008 to 2025, with borrowed technologies, the largest network of high speed  trains built in 17 years. India is starting the same journey with Japanese assistance and capital. The first leg is the Mumbai to Ahmedabad high speed rail. In a decade a similar rail high speed network will connect all major cities in India. India is working with the same speed as China and will have a new generation technologies high speed rail network by 2035 using Japan's latest technological advances.

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WSJ Editorial Board on Andy Burnham "wish him well,"  yet  this editorial says "he has wrong instincts." Calls Burnham as being "cipher on immigration," "want government to take lead on housing construction" and "wants greater state control of utilities," are unfounded criticism as shown below- "Cipher on immigration" - Burnham has supported Shabana Mahmood, as Home Secretary, on new action for strict immigration rules, tight control over migration, similar to Denmark.  He "wants greater control over utilities."  WSJ says nothing about how utilities were privatized under the Conservatives for basic services that are necessities for a basic quality of life- water, energy and transportation. It is widely accepted across Britain that the private entities have dismally failed the British people in ways not thought possible. Handing basic services to for profit companies was a fundamental error in Britain as it deteriorated the quality of life of the British people. As Burnham pointed out yesterday in speech to Labour and the British people if one cannot get something as basic as a bus service right how on earth can one fix the larger problems facing Britain? He "wants government to take the lead on housing construction."  When there are shortage of housing affecting the standard of living and quality of life as in the US and Britain the government can make a difference, and its stepping in and doing things correctly can improve the quality of life of the British people. He has "the wrong instincts on economy" with suffocating net zero policies. It is reported in The Guardian that Burnham will support drilling for oil to help bring down cost of energy. The focus now is not net zero goals but making life better, improving the quality of life, achieving some balance which now is leaning towards cost of living affecting the people. In fact on July 19 DJT said people will be dancing in the streets of Aberdeen as Burnham is supporting drilling for oil in the North Sea. Much of the criticism of the Sky News and WSJ continues to follow a pattern of failed coverage of the past with no faith in Britain's future and potential. Every new effort is met with "it can't be done." He has the wrong instincts for business. In modern economies business is part of and the main driver of the economy. In Burnham's work in Manchester business was part of his plan for the economy, and successfully implemented. For far too long in Britain there has not been an honest reckoning on how policies that were reckless with the quality of basic services that affect the quality of life of the British people, would let Britain down, would fail to deliver for the people of Britain. The country that led the Industrial Revolution deserves something better and should get it in this one bold effort by Burnham. ...

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France's 2750 kms of TGV track and 300 TGV trains making 1.8 billion euros profit a month. Double decker trains such as on the Marseille to Paris 750 kms route are popular. These trains are very quiet and efficient. Doubledecker trains are also popular. Bordeaux, Lyon, Lille, Strasbourg can be reached, and Geneva, Brussels, London, Zurich. It is the best high speed network in comfort and efficiency, food, in the world, with large group of international travelers. France did this after the 1973 oil crisis.LGV-Sud-Est was completed in two phases in 1981 and 1983. By contrast Britain faile to build ahigh speed rail line and work has dragged on for years. Germany has a similar but smaller network. China's only started in 2008 built over 17 years to 2025. India's is starting now with the latest Japanese technologies and should be connected major Indian cities by 2030, with the first line Ahmedabad to Mumbai complete in 2027.

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Something the US president says was "unusual" was the move to a defensive posture reverting to back five, in the substitutions, style of play, and DJT says putting Kane in defense in the second half. "You have a great player in England who I've played golf with. And he is Harry [Kane] who has been fantastic. I think they perhaps made a mistake when they made him a defensive player. What do I know about soccer? They took the lead, and they took their best player and put him on defence." "We got to be a little offensive, right. But no, I'm not going to call it, what do I know about coaching? But that was a little unusual." Messi gets a lot of media attention because of media focus is on stars. In the actual results of the Premier League, Bundesliga, and La Liga, it is Harry Kane who stands out in Bundesliga performance during the last soccer season. He is arguably as good a player as Messi, and the Argentine team would have had a lot to handle with Kane and Bellingham, Saka, Rice and Stones all pushing up front. It may have broken up the Argentine attack with rapid counterattack and the result- England may still be in the finals with Spain. ...

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Andy Burnham of Labour says "I am Ready." He also told Labour and the British Nation: "I have a Plan." Even before he assumes office The Burnham Programme is on the web. Burnham has implemented it in the North in the Manchester Region. He is now bringing it to the whole of Britain. What Thatcher did in Britain had reverberations in the US with Reagan. What Boris Johnson did in Britain had reverberations in the US with DJT. What Andy Burnham does in Britain will have reverberations in the US. At Lyrarc.com we had sections on Renewal America, Renewal Europe and Renewal India from its founding period. The US (and Britain) is on the cusp of a national renewal, so is India among the English speaking nations of the world. Modi's work in Gujarat state for industrialization and modernization is similar to the work for reindustrialization and modernization undertaken by Burnham in Manchester region. Like Modi Burnham can now take it to the whole country. For the countries UK and Britain that led the Industrial Revolution, and for India that adopted all the parliamentary and democratic processes of Britain and the UK, there is new hope amid the rubble of factionalism, corruption, and deindustrialization. ...

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I write this comment as Founding Editor of Lyrarc.com. Lyrarc.com would not have been possible without the work of Neil Kinnock's mentor Michael Foot and his brother Dingle Foot. In the same way that Andy Burnham says he would not have entered politics and would not have joined Labour without the impression on him left by Kinnock, I can say that I would not have founded Lyrarc.com without the impression left on me by Sir Dingle Foot when I first met him in Colombo, Ceylon in 1966. What Michael Foot did for Labour, Dingle Foot did for the whole of Asia bringing forward looking ideas and a passion for the people of Asia that can only be compared to Gen. Joe Stilwell's passion for China and the Chinese people in their struggles in the 20th century since 1900. Sir Dingle Foot is not with us as Neil Kinnock is, but his impressions live on with me from his letters in his own handwriting to me from the 1960's, a period when decolonization in Asia and Africa was still happening. I think of Gandhi and the British agent in Rajkot, Sir Frederic Lely who helped him study in London and gain the knowledge of British ideas that led him to writing "Hind Swaraj" on a steamship from London to South Africa. Today Lely's name cannot be found on the internet but it is there at the Gandhi Museum in Porbandar, India- which means in the world of AI models trained on Wikipedia there are things one will never know that are vital to understand and continue the work of building the Modern World for the US, UK, India and China. Andy Burnham of Labour says "I am Ready." He also told Labour and the British Nation: "I have a Plan." Even before he assumes office The Burnham Programme is on the web. Burnham has implemented it in the North in Manchester. He is now bringing it to all of Britain. What Thatcher did had reverberations in the US with Reagan. What Boris Johnson did had reverberations in US with DJT. What Andy Burnham does in Britain will have reverberations in US, Europe, and the World.    ...

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Asking Congress to pass Save America Act DJT says 278000 noncitizens on voting rolls, on July 16 2025 in address to Nation. The fight is for voter ID's and verifying voters, limiting mail in voting.

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Andy Burnham's first speech as a Labour leader July 16 2026- historic address to the British people for a time to hope in every corner of Britain for the first time in 40 years. After 40 years of destructive politics, a time when ordinary people would say "Labour is us."

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Not Explained - why truck produce from central Mexico to the USA when it can be grown here. Stuff like tomatoes and greens, vegetables that can best be grown locally and sold locally.

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Repair cafe in North Carolina to reduce stuff that goes to landfills- old sewing machines, tea kettles, old sweaters, old shoes,  Schwinn bike, a lawnmover, toaster oven, generators,chainsaws, on and on. By getting together volunteer mechanics, electricians, sewers, fixers, this adds resilience in a North Carolina community. It goes further to roads and bridges. And there is a sense of exhilaration when people come together and talk.

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Canadian wildfires smoke in Ontario affecting US cities.

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Taylor Farms $7 billion farm produce company based in Salinas, California, reported to be the source of the iceberg lettuce sent to Taco Bell that caused outbreak of cyclosporiasis. Taylor Farms supplies vegetables and lettuce to grocery stores around the country. This particular batch of lettuce came from a company in Mexico.

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Cyclosporiasis outbreak in Michigan and midwest tied to Taylor Farms sourcing iceberg lettuce from Mexico. One solution is to source agricultural produce from locally grown suppliers and farms in each state which removes transportation costs, removes the fuel burnt for transportation causing pollution, and gets fresh produce to markets sooner.

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England coach Tuchel's tactics, substitutions, and England team's inability to put Argentina on defense after Gordon's goal with its own offense, are seen as a deciding factor in the loss for World Cup semifinal. Leaving the England goal keeper to fend off repeated and constant attacks without efforts to get the ballout of that zone, and make the Argentine team offbalance with its own counteratttack decided the result, even though England were ahead 1-0 upto the last 5 minutes of the game. With an improvising team like Argentina of Messi, Fernandez, Martinez, falling back deeper and deeper was not the right way to play the game, say many who watched the game.

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Goldman Sachs Analysis on replacing Hormuz oil supplies so that the world can focus on pressing domestic issues for China, India, EU, US,  Africa, Asia and Latin America. This Analysis is detailed on the source of new oil supplies outside of Hormuz in each specific region. This does not include renewable energy target acceleration in EU, India US and China, and does not include the 4 million barrels a day China is replacing with its own alternative supplies from its reserves, coal and renewables. It also does not include the 3 million barrels a day from Venezuelan ramp up. The total picture is shown in the Lyrarc.com report alongside this article.

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US can working with all countries find replacement for Hormuz supplies. The meetings with Iraqi prime minister Zaidi at the White House are one part of an extended effort that includes China, India, UAE, EU, Venezuela, other oil producers and oil consuming countries and regions with expanding shift to renewable energy (India, China, EU). Chevron and other companies plan to invest $60 billion in oil projects in Iraq including Kirkuk to Baniyas pipeline. The plan is to ramp up Iraqi oil production to the 4.5 million barrels a day Iraqi production by rebuilding or putting  new pipeline from Iraq to the Syrian coast on the Mediterranean. This is activity from the White House to replace Hormuz as this will keep the US out of a prolonged conflict. The media has not covered the replacement of Hormuz as a viable option to bypass the conflict, leaving a naval blockade in place, and continuing focus on domestic priorities with China, India, EU and other major nations all working together in this direction. China's economy is weak, India's needs trade and technology infusion, EU needs US cooperation and trade, all 3 powers keenly interested in a different path than one put forward by Iran of prolonged and unneeded conflicts for 4 billion people in these largest economies and the 4 billion people in Africa other Asia, and Latin America. That is 8 billion people's interests vs 45 million in Iran (if IRGC has only half the population's support in rural Iran, small towns). Can 5% of the world's population determine the direction of the 95%? Can culture wars in the US which heavily determine the distortions appearing in the NYT,  and the ideological wars on capitalism vs socialism in the WSJ, Republican vs Democrats midterms and other election politics distorted presentation, be allowed to obscure this fact that 95% of the world's people including Americans are interested in fixing drug cartels and fentanyl, fixing dilapidated infrastructure, in building new housing, in tackling oil prices, not the bombing of targets in the Middle East (limiting such action to nuclear weapons facilities not using force in Hormuz). China adds 4 million barrels a day by finding alternatives sources. UAE and Saudis are increasing production outside Hormuz, UAE outside of OPEC. Iraq can add 3 million barrels a day from 1.5 million barrels a day in June 2026 to 4.5 million barrels a day. Because Venezuela's current production is about 1 million barrels a day it can ramp this up to 3.5 adding 2.5 million barrels a day. The chart below shows how Hormuz can be replaced and the task ahead for nations and regions representing 8 billion people in the world. UAE 2 million barrels a day via pipelines, Saudi add 2 million barrels a day via pipelines, Iraq 3 million barrels a day via pipelines, China 4 million barrels a day by alternative sources, India 2 million barrels a day from alternative sources and renewable energy target upgrade, Venezuela 2.5 million barrels a day,  US  1 million barrels a day, Other - Guyana, Canada, Brazil. Shown alongside is a report from Goldman Sachs analysis which come to a similar conclusion and with facts on each specific region's ramp up of oil supplies to replace Hormuz in a race against time.So that Hormuz will be left behind, so that the world and the US of 8 billion people can pursue other priorities of peaceful cooperation, to achieve "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" as the Founders aspirations and the world's aspirations.     ...