Monday, September 16th, 2024
Your Daily Americano
World Events and Politics — Secret Service Protecting Former President Donald Trump
CNN
President Joe Biden announced that the U.S. Secret Service will receive “every resource” necessary to ensure the safety of Donald Trump following an apparent second assassination attempt on the former president. The incident occurred while Trump was golfing at the Trump International Golf Club in Florida, where his security team noticed a gunman hiding in the bushes, prompting them to fire shots. Fortunately, Trump was unharmed. Authorities have since identified the suspect and taken him into custody. This event follows another assassination attempt on Trump that took place two months prior during a campaign rally.
Science and Technology — Geothermal Energy Could Substitute Nuclear Energy
New York Times
Geothermal energy is on the brink of a significant transformation, akin to the impact of George Mitchell on the oil industry through fracking. Fervo Energy, a Texas-based startup, is leveraging hydraulic fracturing and other petroleum techniques to enhance geothermal systems (EGS), which could make geothermal energy a major player in the energy landscape. Traditional geothermal relies on accessible underground hot water or steam, limiting its use to specific areas. In contrast, Fervo's EGS can create channels in hot rocks anywhere, allowing them to tap into Earth's heat more effectively. Despite challenges such as deep drilling costs and environmental concerns, Fervo has made notable progress, including a successful pilot project in Nevada and a major power purchase agreement with Southern California Edison. Recent advancements have also reduced drilling time and costs significantly. The potential for EGS is vast, with estimates suggesting it could generate up to 5,500 gigawatts of power across the U.S., far exceeding current geothermal resources and even surpassing the output of the entire nuclear fleet. This innovation could position geothermal energy as a flexible and reliable source of clean power, complementing intermittent renewables like solar and wind.
Business and Finance — China’s Economic Slowdown
Asia Society
China's ongoing consumption slowdown is largely attributed to the real estate slump, which has severely impacted local government finances and debt. Over the past two decades, a significant portion of Chinese household wealth was invested in real estate until the government began regulating developers' debt reliance in 2020. As property values decline and land purchases decrease, local governments are facing substantial revenue losses, particularly at the district and county levels. Analysts from S&P Global Ratings predict that it will take three to five years for local government finances to stabilize, with rising debt levels complicating recovery efforts. Local authorities are attempting to reclaim lost tax revenue by retroactively demanding payments from businesses, which has created uncertainty for consumers and strained businesses. The shift from an investment-driven economy to one that promotes consumption is proving challenging, as weak nominal GDP growth pressures companies to cut wages, further exacerbating the economic situation.
Health and Wellness — Is Cinnamon Powder Safe?
NBC Health
Over the past year, numerous cinnamon products in the U.S. have been recalled due to elevated levels of lead, with Consumer Reports finding high lead concentrations in a third of the cinnamon powders tested from various grocery stores in the Northeast. There is no safe level of lead consumption, and while completely eliminating lead from food is impractical due to its natural occurrence, the findings raise concerns about the FDA's lack of proposed limits on lead in foods, particularly those intended for young children. Following an investigation into lead-contaminated apple cinnamon fruit puree, the FDA began screening cinnamon imports, leading to warnings and recalls for several brands. Consumer Reports identified 12 products with lead levels exceeding 1 part per million, the threshold for recalls in New York, with the highest levels found in brands like Paras and EGN. Experts emphasize the risks of regular lead ingestion, especially for children and pregnant women, and call for better regulatory measures to address heavy metal contamination in spices.
Cooking and Baking — Chocolate Raspberry Cake
This ultra-rich chocolate raspberry cake is truly delightful. It features layers of moist dark chocolate sponge, smooth chocolate buttercream, and a homemade raspberry filling, all enveloped in a decadent chocolate raspberry ganache. This indulgent dessert is perfect for anyone who enjoys the exquisite pairing of raspberries with rich, dark chocolate.
Sally’s Baking Addiction
Poem Recommendation — Never give all the Heart
Never give all the heart, for love
Will hardly seem worth thinking of
To passionate women if it seem
Certain, and they never dream
That it fades out from kiss to kiss;
For everything that’s lovely is
But a brief, dreamy, kind delight.
O never give the heart outright,
For they, for all smooth lips can say,
Have given their hearts up to the play.
And who could play it well enough
If deaf and dumb and blind with love?
He that made this knows all the cost,
For he gave all his heart and lost.
By William Butler Yeats
Quote of the Day — John Donne
“Nature’s great masterpiece, an elephant; the only harmless great thing.” — John Donne
John Donne (1572-1631) was a prominent English poet and cleric known for his influential metaphysical poetry, which intricately weaves themes of love, faith, and mortality. He is best recognized for his profound and thought-provoking quotes. Donne's unique style and deep philosophical insights have solidified his place as a key figure in English literature.
Arise and shine, it's Monday's prime,
Time to crush the day and make it sublime.
Seize the moment, let your spirit soar,
Conquer the challenges, and ask for more.
Thank you for reading the Americano. As always, enjoy your Americano!