New York Times (July 28)
Richard Muller had been one of the most outspoken climate-change skeptics. No longer. The “converted skeptic” writes, “three years ago I identified problems in previous climate studies that, in my mind, threw doubt on the very existence of global warming. Last year, following an intensive research effort involving a dozen scientists, I concluded that global warming was real and that the prior estimates of the rate of warming were correct. I’m now going a step further: Humans are almost entirely the cause.”
Richard Muller had been one of the most outspoken climate-change skeptics. No longer. The “converted skeptic” writes, “Three years ago I identified problems in previous climate studies that, in my mind, threw doubt on the very existence of global warming. Last year, following an intensive research effort involving a dozen scientists, I concluded that global warming was real and that the prior estimates of the rate of warming were correct. I’m now going a step further: Humans are almost entirely the cause.”
Tags: Climate change, Global warming, Humans, Muller, Skeptic
Telegraph (July 27)
“Brilliant, breathtaking, bonkers and utterly British. Danny Boyle captured the spirit, history, humour and patriotism of an expectant nation last night as he pulled off an Olympic opening ceremony like no other.”
“Brilliant, breathtaking, bonkers and utterly British. Danny Boyle captured the spirit, history, humour and patriotism of an expectant nation last night as he pulled off an Olympic opening ceremony like no other.”
Tags: Danny Boyle, London, Olympics, Opening ceremony
Chicago Tribune (July 27)
In British English, they might say “I was gobsmacked by the Olympic opening ceremony…. In a more proper English teahouse, they might say I quite fancied that. All over the world, they will remember this as the night Britain put on a show that was bloody fantastic…. It was impossible not to be moved. Anybody who tells you differently is just talking rubbish.”
In British English, they might say “I was gobsmacked by the Olympic opening ceremony…. In a more proper English teahouse, they might say I quite fancied that. All over the world, they will remember this as the night Britain put on a show that was bloody fantastic…. It was impossible not to be moved. Anybody who tells you differently is just talking rubbish.”
Tags: London, Olympics, Opening ceremony, UK
The Economist (July 26)
“Europe kills entrepreneurialism…. It has created only one of the world’s 500 biggest firms since 1975; California has given birth to 26.” Among the hurdles are conservative bankruptcy laws, weak funding opportunities and inflexible labor regulations.
“Europe kills entrepreneurialism…. It has created only one of the world’s 500 biggest firms since 1975; California has given birth to 26.” Among the hurdles are conservative bankruptcy laws, weak funding opportunities and inflexible labor regulations.
Tags: Bankruptcy, California, Entrepreneurs, Europe, Funding, Labor regulations
Bloomberg (July 24)
Extending Greek repayment terms to make the program achievable might cost 16 – 20 billion euros ($19 – $24 billion). “Whatever German Vice Chancellor Roesler may think, the risk of contagion from a Greek exit remains high, and the damage to Europe’s political project would be lasting. Compared with those costs, 20 billion euros is a bargain.”
Extending Greek repayment terms to make the program achievable might cost 16 – 20 billion euros ($19 – $24 billion). “Whatever German Vice Chancellor Roesler may think, the risk of contagion from a Greek exit remains high, and the damage to Europe’s political project would be lasting. Compared with those costs, 20 billion euros is a bargain.”
Euromoney (July 24)Euromoney (July 24)
Euromoney’s Country Risk Survey shows “further deterioration in perceptions of sovereign risk across all main global regions this year. In total, 108 of the 186 countries in the survey have become riskier in the first half of the year…. Only two regions of the world have seen an improvement in their average risk scores during the last six months: Australasia and the Caribbean.”
Euromoney’s Country Risk Survey shows “further deterioration in perceptions of sovereign risk across all main global regions this year. In total, 108 of the 186 countries in the survey have become riskier in the first half of the year…. Only two regions of the world have seen an improvement in their average risk scores during the last six months: Australasia and the Caribbean.”
New York Times (July 22)
“Climate change is staring us in the face. The science is clear, and the need to reduce planet-warming emissions has grown urgent. So why, collectively, are we doing so little about it?” Aside from economic and political considerations, one major hurdle is our psychological wiring. We are designed to “navigate the local, practical demands of day-to-day life,” which makes “it difficult to engage with the more abstract, global dangers posed by climate change.”
“Climate change is staring us in the face. The science is clear, and the need to reduce planet-warming emissions has grown urgent. So why, collectively, are we doing so little about it?” Aside from economic and political considerations, one major hurdle is our psychological wiring. We are designed to “navigate the local, practical demands of day-to-day life,” which makes “it difficult to engage with the more abstract, global dangers posed by climate change.”
Tags: Abstract, Climate change, Emissions, Global danger, Psychology
The Economist (July 21)
“In the past decade emerging markets have established themselves as the world’s best sprinters. As serial crises tripped up America and then Europe, China barely broke stride…. Lately, though, the sprinters have started to wheeze.” China, India and Brazil have all recently reported weak performance. Russia is the only BRIC with a resilient economy, but this is vulnerable to oil prices. What does the “Great Slowdown” mean for long-term growth and the world economy? The Economist believes, “no crisis looms, but serious concern is justified.”
“In the past decade emerging markets have established themselves as the world’s best sprinters. As serial crises tripped up America and then Europe, China barely broke stride…. Lately, though, the sprinters have started to wheeze.” China, India and Brazil have all recently reported weak performance. Russia is the only BRIC with a resilient economy, but this is vulnerable to oil prices. What does the “Great Slowdown” mean for long-term growth and the world economy? The Economist believes, “no crisis looms, but serious concern is justified.”
Tags: BRICS, Oil, Russia, Slowdown, World economy
Forbes (July 20)
The computer maker Lenovo “had a banner year in 2011, with its profits up 73%.” CEO Yang Yuanqing did something unusual with his bonus, which was $3 million more than last year. “He decided to give that raise to his employees instead of himself, and divided it among 10,000 lower-level employees—receptionists and factory workers and the like. They got an average of 2,000 yuan, or $314, apiece.”
Wall Street Journal (July 19)
They may have won the World Cup, but Japan’s women’s soccer team, “considered strong contenders for Olympic gold in London, had to squeeze into economy seats on a 12-hour flight to Europe this week, while members of the less successful men’s soccer team, enjoyed the plush amenities of business class further up the cabin.” Last year’s World Cup win raised “hopes that the surprise victory would change attitudes toward women playing the beautiful game in Japan,” but those hopes “appear to have been premature.”They may have won the World Cup, but Japan’s women’s soccer team, “considered strong contenders for Olympic gold in London, had to squeeze into economy seats on a 12-hour flight to Europe this week, while members of the less successful men’s soccer team, enjoyed the plush amenities of business class further up the cabin.” Last year’s World Cup win raised “hopes that the surprise victory would change attitudes toward women playing the beautiful game in Japan,” but those hopes “appear to have been premature.”
