Your Side of the Bed
Friday, December 20th, 2024
World Events and Politics - The Economists Country of the Year
The Economists
Each December, The Economist selects a "Country of the Year," recognizing the nation that has shown the most significant improvement over the previous 12 months. For 2024, Bangladesh has been named the winner for toppling the 15-year rule of Sheikh Hasina, who had become increasingly repressive, and transitioning towards a more liberal government. The selection followed a vigorous debate among correspondents, with other contenders including Syria for ousting Bashar al-Assad, Argentina for its radical economic reforms, South Africa for forming a new coalition government to address poor governance, and Poland for its efforts to repair institutions damaged by its previous government. Bangladesh's transition, led by a temporary technocratic government under Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, has been encouraging despite challenges such as a history of vengeful violence, a corrupt main opposition party, and the threat of Islamic extremism. The interim government has restored order, stabilized the economy, and garnered support from various sectors, though it still faces significant tasks in 2025, including repairing ties with India and ensuring fair and credible elections.
Science and Technology — Gas Will Be the First Big Climate Fight of the Trump Era
The Atlantic
The Biden administration has released a critical report on the impacts of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, which could significantly influence the future of the industry, particularly under the incoming Trump administration. The report warns that unfettered LNG exports could drive up domestic gas prices by over 30%, reduce domestic supply, and generate substantial greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to about a quarter of current U.S. annual emissions by 2050. It challenges the original argument that LNG exports are necessary for European energy security, noting that European demand is plateauing and that increased exports would primarily benefit China. This analysis provides opponents of LNG exports with strong evidence to legally challenge new terminal projects, which could lead to prolonged legal battles as the Trump administration plans to reverse the current pause on new LNG export permits. Despite industry arguments that exports are an economic boon, creating jobs and contributing to the U.S. GDP, the report aligns with environmental advocates' concerns about the environmental and public health impacts of these exports.
Business and Finance — Broadcom’s Rise
The Economists
Hock Tan, the CEO of Broadcom, stands out from the typical archetypes of tech industry leaders. Unlike the eccentric visionaries like Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and Jensen Huang, or the low-key caretakers like Tim Cook and Satya Nadella, Tan operates in a unique manner. Broadcom, which recently joined the trillion-dollar club due to its promising AI microprocessor business, is a broad and disjointed conglomerate selling a wide range of products from AI chips to wireless networking chips and virtualization software. Tan, born in Malaysia and significantly older than many of his tech CEO peers, is known for his methodical and ruthless approach to business. He focuses on identifying mature businesses, cutting costs, eliminating less lucrative products, and increasing prices for captive clients, then distributing the profits to shareholders. This strategy, likened to that of private equity firms but executed with greater discipline, has led to significant growth and high operating margins, as seen in the recent acquisition and restructuring of VMware. Tan's approach is expected to continue, with a focus on cash flow and potentially expanding into new areas beyond semiconductor deals, while maintaining Broadcom's strong market position in custom AI chips and other critical technologies.
Health and Wellness — Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), does that Even Exist?
The concept of the "Highly Sensitive Person" (HSP), popularized as a personality trait characterized by deep environmental attunement, sensory sensitivity, and emotional intensity, faces significant criticism for its lack of scientific validity and overlap with autistic traits. The HSP framework, developed by Aron and Aron, has been criticized for its broad and subjective criteria, which can be confused with other psychological constructs such as anxiety or cultural differences. The construct's vagueness and lack of empirical validation make it difficult to operationalize and test, undermining its credibility. Notably, the traits associated with HSP, such as sensory sensitivity and emotional reactivity, are also core features of autism, particularly in individuals who mask their autistic traits. This overlap raises concerns that the HSP label might mischaracterize autistic individuals, potentially delaying or preventing them from receiving appropriate support and accommodations. Current research debunks outdated stereotypes that autistic people lack empathy, highlighting the need for a more nuanced and evidence-based approach to understanding sensitivity, one that acknowledges the role of masking, challenges biases, and considers autism as a possible explanation for the observed traits.
Cooking — Moroccan-Style Stuffed Acorn Squash
Acorn squash filled with cornbread, mushrooms, and sage-flavored wild rice makes it an ideal dish for a holiday meal. "It's delicious!” It's easy to cook, presents beautifully on the table.
All Recipes
Song Recommendation — Your Side of the Bed by Loote
Quote of the Day
“There is a certain enthusiasm in liberty, that makes human nature rise above itself, in acts of bravery and heroism.” — Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton was a Founding Father of the United States, born on January 11, 1755 or 1757, on the island of Nevis in the British West Indies. He served as the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury from 1789 to 1795, playing a crucial role in shaping the American financial system, including the establishment of a national bank and the creation of the U.S. Coast Guard's precursor, the Revenue Cutter Service.
enjoy your weekend, and safe flight home ~