Demographics: The Death of Halloween Trick or Treating
Last fall (2021), we thought we’d see a return of trick or treating after prior years’ Covid restrictions. We had just 4 knocks on the front door. We had moved…
Demographics: Declining youth enrollment leads to more school closures
The declining youth population in the U.S. is already leading to tough decisions about closing elementary schools. In a few years, decisions will need to be made about middle schools…
Policy: Rule by technocratic elite
Technocracy privileges the opinions and viewpoints of technical experts, exalting them into a kind of aristocracy, while marginalizing the opinions and viewpoints of the general public. Source: Technocracy – Wikipedia…
Demographics: Fewer people attending college
There are multiple factors at play here: There are 4 million fewer college students than there were a decade ago. Among students who graduated high school in 2016, 70% began…
Demographics: The world’s working age population peaked in 2012
The working-age population historically drives the economy. According to a report by the World Bank, the world’s working-age population peaked back in 2012. Since then, it’s been on the decline.…
Demographics: Fertility rates have been decreasing globally for 25-60 years
For the last 50 years, fertility rates have decreased worldwide, due to women’s empowerment, lower child mortality and increased cost of raising children. Source: How much has the global fertility…
Finance: Beyond Meat’s share price in long decline
Beyond Meat hit a high of $194.95 but now trades at about $22/share. Challenges: Product costs +70% more per pound than genuine meat Consumers turned off by high prices Sales…
Demographics: By 2030, 25% of all workers will be over 55 years old
In a world where population demographics is shifting to a surplus of older workers and a significant shortage of younger workers, what happens to age discrimination practices? Bloomberg writes that…
Demographics, Media: BBC acknowledges fertility rate decline, kind of
Lots of scary information about overpopulation – until you reach page 10 of this 22-page BBC report when, oh, by the way, the fertility rate is in sharp decline. This…
Energy: Using hot water tanks to store energy
This makes a lot of sense: Hot water systems are important and are one of the most basic energy storage devices available. Before, electric hot water systems were timed to…
Global: Overseas experience for older workers?
If you have an interest in developing global skills, do it in your 20s or 30s as opportunities diminish as you pass by age 35: Overseas jobs for seniors can…
Public health: One third of gym users have not returned after Covid shutdowns
Nearly one-third of gym-goers say they have not returned to their workout facility. For those that haven’t returned, 27 percent said they don’t have plans to go back, according to…
Demographics: China’s population challenges
But China also faces long-term challenges that won’t go away, beginning with an onrushing demographic decline. The United Nations projects that China’s population will shrink roughly 40% by the end…
Public health: Ten pages of Covid rules for a Nov 2022 event
Ten single spaced pages of Covid restrictions to attend a “con”-like event in mid-November 2022! Kumoricon » COVID-19 Expectations for Kumoricon 2022 Mandatory vaccination or lab/pharmacy issued negative PCR/Rapid test…
Automation: Walmart offering delivery via drone in select markets
Today we’re announcing we’ll be expanding our DroneUp delivery network to 34 sites by the end the year, providing the potential to reach 4 million U.S. households across six states…