Merkel likely to seek coalition with incompatible pro-business and anti-business parties
German election results
Germany’s two conservative parties not in Chancellor Merkel’s previous government were the main beneficiaries in yesterday’s national election. It is expected that Merkel will seek to form a jerry-built majority coalition with Germany’s pro-business Liberal party (FDP) and its anti-nuclear, anti-carbon Green Party — rather than forming a conservative alliance with the FDP and immigration-restrictionist Alternative for Germany (AfD).
China’s North Korean invasion option
The U.S. foreign policy journal National Interest writes that “China has been preparing for a partial or complete intervention into North Korea for years now” — that is, a military occupation. One month ago Founders Broadsheet anticipated that contingency as the second-choice option in resolving the North Korean crisis. The better option would be a unified but neutral Korea under the present South Korean government.
U.S. sports crisis deepens
NFL players in London
Two NFL teams playing a game in London kneeled when the U.S. National Anthem was played but stood for the U.K. anthem, “God save the Queen.” But in the U.S. last night, former Army Ranger and Bronze Star Medal for Valor awardee Alejandro Villanueva, defied the orders of Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin by standing during the National Anthem.
Puerto Rico’s desolation likely to prompt mass movement to U.S. mainland
Hurricane crop damage in Puerto Rico
An estimated eighty percent of Puerto Rico’s agriculture — a mainstay of the island’s economy — were destroyed by Hurricane Maria. The island has almost no electricity, hospitals are barely functioning on diesel generators, and thousands must cluster around the few cell phone hot spots available. Tens of thousands of islanders are now expected to flee to the U.S. mainland, especially Florida.
Sweeteners may not suffice to get Graham-Cassidy reform bill passed
The Graham-Cassidy reform bill has been slightly revised, with sweeteners added to help get at least fifty senators on board to pass it. Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert is calling for Arizona to recall reform bill holdout, Senator John McCain. “[L]et’s get somebody in here who will keep the word he gave last year,” Gohmert said on “Fox & Friends.”
Hearing, vision, and sleep loss are critical health issues, lead to cognitive decline
Hearing and vision loss have been tied to cognitive decline. This could easily be remedied by periodic checkups, hearing aids, and eyeglass prescription changes. Sleep scientists warn how many serious illnesses, including dementia, are also caused by short sleep and night shifts.
The Amazon-Sears comparison and Amazon’s new rival, Jet.com
Old Sears communication center
Amazon’s massive disruption of the retail economy is being compared to a similar disruption one hundred years ago — by Sears.
Those unhappy with Amazon’s ownership of the virulently anti-Trump Washington Post now have a viable alternative, Jet.com, owned by Walmart as of a year ago.
Museum news: Zurbarán exhibit in Dallas, later New York City
Zurburan paintings on site at Auckland Castle, U.K.
An important exhibit of Old Testament paintings by Spanish Golden Age master Francisco de Zurbarán (1598–1664) is now on display at the Meadows Museum in Dallas and will migrate to New York’s Frick in January 2018.
Science: loop quantum computing and overcoming the “information bottleneck”
Two scientists at the University of Tokyo have just announced a major computing advance — loop-based quantum computing.
A computer scientist and neuroscientist at Hebrew University in Jerusalem is promulgating a new theory of how overcoming the “information bottleneck” makes deep learning possible.
Click here to go to the previous Founders Broadsheet (“Sunday’s news – 9/24/2017”)
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