18 Sep, 2023
Until about a year ago, many articles claimed that China would surpass the USA as an (economic) SuperPower. I never believed those articles. China did and does not meet the SuperPower criteria. Today, many articles assume that USA may not be surpassed. I doubt that too. The Roman Empire was - probably - the first global empire. Alternatively, it was a multi-regional...
25 Jun, 2023
Financial Times title: Pasta producers in hot water over soaring prices FT subtitle: Brands including Barilla and Panzani in tussle with EU governments as mark-ups continue despite lower wheat prices By: Madeleine Speed, Silvia Sciorilli Borrelli, Laura Onita and Eri Sugiura Date: 21 June 2023 "European pasta producers are facing growing pressure...
23 May, 2023
For quite some time, I've been struggling with the thought above. Perhaps, the ultimate conclusion is that I do not belong here. There is no match on several criteria. Some five years ago, I considered my then-imminent relocation as temporary, before hopping abroad (eg, Italy). For several months, I have been resisting the idea of going back to my roots (below). I...
25 Feb, 2023
The Economist title: Why there are so few babies in southern Europe Economist subtitle: It’s mostly economics Date: 16 February 2023 "The museo degli innocenti in Florence has an unusual name and hosts an unusual display: a collection of small broken objects, mostly medallions. They were split in two when a baby was delivered to Florence’s hospital for...
15 Feb, 2023
I like several British and Scandinavian TV crime series. Recently, I started wondering if (their) crime fiction reflects reality? Based on my initial research, the answer seems clear: yes. Even in the Netherlands, there is a correlation: Baantjer (crime in Amsterdam), Penoza (drugs crime in Brabant). Statistics show that the "homicide rate in the UK was 1.2 per...
16 Nov, 2022
I've borrowed my title from a 1915 war poem by Julian Grenfell (1888-1915), called Into Battle. For some time, I've been aiming to write about my (daily) gratitude for the colours, the light, and the warmth. That line in Julian Grenfell's poem captures my meaning well. Without our sun, there is no life. My interest in this topic may well be the result of the dark...
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