Brigadoon Daily
Your daily dose of the emerging issues + independent thinkers shaping commerce + culture
November 3, 2021
“Virginia is For Lovers”
TOP FIVE
1. Ethiopia declares state of emergency
2. Virginia goes Youngkin
3. Patagonia doesn’t use the word ‘sustainable’
4. ‘Vax’ is Oxford’s word of the year
5. The traveling friendship of Guy Fieri and Sammy Hagar
ROSS RANT
"Do I need a communications advisor?"
Full post here.
GLOBALIZATION + STATECRAFT
Ethiopians mobilize as advance of rebel groups toward capital threatens wider civil war
WP
Ethiopia declares state of emergency as Tigray forces claim advances: DW reports the Ethiopian government has declared a national state of emergency amid fears that Tigray insurgents are preparing to march on the capital, Addis Ababa. The UN called for an "immediate cessation" of hostilities.
The Times: Residents in Ethiopian capital urged to take up arms against rebels
Long-winded at COP26: Ignoring the three minutes allocated for each global leader, Emmanuel Macron spoke for 10:53 minutes. But Joe Biden outdid even that, speaking for 11:25 minutes.
+ 100 countries pledged to end and reverse deforestation by 2030
+ US and EU unveil plan to slash methane emissions by 2030
Biden and his allies look past China on climate: The president and European leaders are looking to countries like Indonesia, India, and South Africa for climate change breakthroughs after failing to move Beijing at the G20 summit.
Politico
+ Biden said at a COP26 press conference on Tuesday that Chinese leader Xi Jinping made a "big mistake" by not showing up to the UN climate summit, suggesting that Beijing has "lost an ability to influence" other countries as a result.
How Russia is cashing in on climate change: Global warming may pose grave dangers around the world, but as one tiny Russian town on the Arctic Ocean shows, it can also be a ticket to prosperity.
NYT
The Netherlands is due to announce new COVID restrictions this week, with vaccine passports expected for sports venues, museums, and amusement parks, and the government urging people to work from home, at least part-time. On Sunday, the Netherlands reported the highest number of infections since July.
Germany coalition talks: What are the biggest sticking points? Negotiators enter tough talks on climate, taxation, and foreign policy as SPD, Greens, and FDP look to nail down the ‘traffic light’ coalition.
Politico
Why Britain and France can’t stop fighting about fish: It suits both Boris Johnson and Emmanuel Macron for the post-Brexit row to continue.
Politico
How Italy introduced the world to espresso – archive, 1953
Guardian
Satellite images show new Russian military buildup near Ukraine: Politico reports the deployments come as tension is rising between Moscow and the West.
When it comes to China, don’t call it a ‘Cold War’
Joseph S. Nye Jr.
+ Nye coined the term “soft power” in 1989 and is a professor @ Harvard University
Nikkei: New Zealand signals shift in China stance by opening door to AUKUS
+ Diplomat indicates a willingness to collaborate on technology outside of nuclear subs
Shutting down historical debate, China makes it a crime to mock heroes: Under a new law, China has zealously prosecuted even the perceived slander of Communist figures, broadening Xi Jinping’s campaign to dominate party orthodoxy.
NYT
China tells citizens to stockpile food as Covid controls are tightened: FT reports the communist party newspaper says no reason for alarm but admits families running low on supplies.
China’s climate goals hinge on a $440 billion nuclear buildout: China is planning at least 150 new reactors in the next 15 years, more than the rest of the world has built in the past 35.
Bloomberg
SCMP: China has already had its best year for space launches, and leads the US
+ 40 launches by the end of October is one more than the country managed last year, while the United States has had 39
Hawley proposes $3 billion per year for Taiwan: Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) and expected 2024 GOP presidential candidate has proposed a bill to give Taiwan $3 billion a year to boost its defenses ahead of a potential Chinese invasion. The Arm Taiwan Act would establish the Taiwan Security Assistance Initiative and conditions future arms sales on the island purchasing weapons to counter Beijing’s military plans.
Nikkei: As China campaigns to cut off Taiwan, Honduras poised to flip next
+ Beijing woos Central America and the Caribbean with vaccines and infrastructure
North says no more sanctions in return for end-of-war talks: Korea JoongAng Daily reports North Korea demanded that sanctions be lifted as a condition for negotiations to discuss a formal declaration to end the Korean War. The North’s stipulation for beginning talks to formally end the war was confirmed during an audit of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) conducted by the National Assembly’s intelligence committee.
South Korea plots its next entertainment blockbuster: Having given the world K-pop, Parasite, and Squid Game, it now wants to create global platforms to distribute its content.
FT
Singapore wants to become a global crypto hub: “We think the best approach is not to clamp down or ban these things,” its top banking regulator said.
The perils of military brinkmanship in the age of AI
Henry Kissinger + Eric Schmidt + Daniel Huttenlocher
POLITICS + CAMPAIGNS
Republican Youngkin takes Virginia election in blow to Biden
Bloomberg
ABC News: Republican Glenn Youngkin projected to win Virginia governor's race
+ It's the first time a Republican has won at the top of the ticket since 2009
WP: Republican Glenn Youngkin projected to win Virginia governor’s race
Politico: Republican Glenn Youngkin won the Virginia governor's race, a sign of the GOP's comeback after losing the presidency and the Senate in the last election
+ AP_Politics: BREAKING: Republican Glenn Youngkin wins election for governor in Virginia
+ VA Dem chair @SusanRSwecker to national Dems: "wake up" I would encourage those people across the river that could pass legislation to give relief to working families that maybe they better wake up & think about what next year is gonna look like now," she tells @jmartNYT
+ @Nate_Cohn: Biden has nearly the worst approval ratings of any president on record at this stage of his presidency. Just something to keep in mind if you're struggling to understand what happened tonight
+ @Redistrict: Needless to say, tonight's results are consistent w/ a political environment in which Republicans would comfortably take back both the House and Senate in 2022
+ Joe Biden won Virginia by ten points in 2020
Percentage that approves of Biden’s performance:
April 53%
August 49%
October 42%
Percentage that believes the country is headed in the wrong direction:
August 63%
October 71%
-- HT NBC News
Today: Biden returns from his European trip
Today: Nikki Haley will deliver the 2021 Margaret Thatcher Freedom Lecture at the Heritage Foundation
+ Nikki Haley (R-SC) is a former US Ambassador to the United Nations and former Governor of South Carolina, plus an expected 2024 GOP presidential candidate
Democrats must look beyond Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for 2024: The party’s historic deference to establishment candidates invites losing to Donald Trump.
Janan Ganesh
Liberals read, Conservatives watch TV: Explaining why Trump emerged on the right, why only liberals debate filibuster reform, how anti-vax became a partisan issue, how David Shor is half right, "Dems are the real racists," and much else.
Richard Hanania
Pence says James Madison and the Bible helped him certify election results against Trump’s wishes
WP
Banks tried to kill crypto and failed. Now they’re embracing it (slowly). Digital payments technology is forcing the financial system to evolve. Banks feel their power waning and want to regain control.
NYT
+ The companies standing behind over $100 billion in stablecoins — cryptocurrencies linked to the dollar — are effectively banks and should be regulated as such, according to an important new report released Monday by the Treasury Department
+ Treasury officials warned that without more oversight, the rise in reliance on stablecoins could result in bank runs, consumer abuse, and payment snafus, and potentially threaten the wider financial system
+ The Fed is expected to release a report on the prospects of a central bank digital currency in a couple of weeks
+ Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said that he would take his next paycheck “100% in Bitcoin"
+ A cryptocurrency inspired by “Squid Game” soared, spectacularly, before the money vanished
Reshuffle the Fed board now: Under the leadership of Jerome Powell, the US Federal Reserve seems headed for a massively consequential monetary-policy mistake. The best way to prevent it is to replace Powell with Lael Brainard, a Fed governor since 2014.
Simon Johnson
America has lost the plot on COVID: We’re avoiding the hardest questions about living with the coronavirus long term.
Sarah Zhang
DISRUPTION + INNOVATION
Is carbon capture here? A Swiss company is operating a device in Iceland that sucks CO2 from the air and shoots it into the ground, where it turns into rock.
NYT
COMMERCE
Hey, Facebook, I made a metaverse 27 years ago: It was terrible then, and it’s terrible now.
Ethan Zuckerman
Facebook plans to shut down its face recognition system in the "coming weeks," Meta announced Tuesday, citing the "many concerns about the place of facial recognition technology in society."
Microsoft takes on Facebook by launching metaverse on Teams: FT reports users will be able to appear as animated cartoons in meetings and visit virtual workspaces.
Into the metaverse: How sci-fi shapes our attitudes to the future: From the Terminator to Japanese manga, powerful narratives drive fear or reassurance around tech.
FT
WSJ: Hertz says Tesla is delivering cars to fleet, Elon Musk says there is no signed deal
+ Elon Musk’s net worth jumped $24 billion Tuesday, to $335 billion - he is by far the world’s richest person
Fear and loathing in cryptoland
Nick Maggiulli
What happens to your crypto when you die?
AP
China’s popular electric vehicles have put Europe’s automakers on notice: NYT reports by selling battery-powered SUVs and luxury sedans in places like Germany and Norway, China is striving to become a force in the global auto industry.
How car shortages are putting the world’s economy at risk: Because so many jobs depend on automaking, the industry’s production problems are causing the pain to ripple.
NYT
Bloomberg: Under Armour says transporting goods is now its biggest concern
Supply chain crisis risks taking the global economy down with it: New Bloomberg Economics gauges show the extent of the global supply shortages that are pushing prices higher and putting economic recoveries at risk.
Bloomberg
Nikkei: Apple trims iPad production to feed chips to iPhone 13
+ US tech giant produces 50% fewer tablets than planned in September-October
Bloomberg: Zillow shuts home-flipping business after racking up losses
Greedy bots cornered the sneaker market. What now?
Slate
Nike files to sell digital sneakers: WSJ reports the sneaker company’s trademark applications indicate it wants to offer virtual goods as part of videogames and other online platforms.
Lyft had 18.9 million active riders in the latest quarter.
LAT: The Golden Globes want to make a comeback this year. Hollywood isn’t buying it
Axios told staffers in an internal note that the company raised a series D funding round from Cox Enterprises, valuing the company at $430 million.
MARKETING + COMMUNICATIONS
Patagonia doesn’t use the word ‘sustainable’. Here’s why: At Patagonia, we don’t use the word “sustainable”. Why? Because we recognize we are part of the problem.
Beth Thoren
+ Beth Thoren is the Environmental Action & Initiatives director, EMEA @ Patagonia
SPACE + SCIENCE
London cabbies’ brains are being studied for their navigating skills. It could help Alzheimer’s research.
WP
Related: Uber can't find my house: Without a doubt, London's taxi service is the best in the world. No doubt this is in part because cab drivers working in London must know the quickest routes through London's labyrinthine road network. There are thousands of streets and landmarks within a six-mile radius of Charing Cross - the junction in the city where six routes meet. Anyone who wants to drive an iconic London cab must memorize them all - they must have the Knowledge.
Full post here
PERFORMANCE
What motivates lifelong learners
John Hagel III
CULTURE
Check our Maya Lin's Ghost Forest, a towering stand of forty-nine haunting Atlantic white cedar trees curated as a public artwork in New York City's Madison Square Park.
These sneaker silhouettes have redefined what we consider to be luxury fashion
Quartz
What it's like to have a record deal and Justin Bieber for a fan at age 14: Prentiss Furr taught himself to make music in Jackson, Mississippi by editing YouTube videos. Now he's playing shows in L.A. and Skrillex wants to work with him.
GQ
‘Vax’ is Oxford’s word of the year, as pandemic’s ‘Fauci ouchie’ and ‘inoculati’ enter the lexicon: WP reports the coronavirus's influence on language — and now vaccine availability — spawned terms such as “vaxxident,” “anti-faxxer,” "vaxinista” and "vaxxies."
The traveling friendship of Guy Fieri and Sammy Hagar: A conversation on Cabo, starting a tequila brand, and flying private during the pandemic.
WP
SPORT
Watch Patagonia’s classic film "Mountain of Storms" - click here.
+ In 1968, five friends set out on a 5,000-mile road trip in a white Ford van bound for South America. They packed surfboards, skis, and climbing gear and documented the whole trip on a 16mm Bolex camera. From Ventura, California to the first ascent on Cerro Fitz Roy, with a stop for sand skiing and 31 days in an ice cave in between, Mountain of Storms not only prefigured the modern adventure movie, but it also serves as the mythological origin story behind the Patagonia name and philosophy.
DW: Ex-FIFA bosses Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini charged with fraud in Switzerland
Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.
-Marc
Curation and commentary by Marc A. Ross | Founder @ Brigadoon
Get Brigadoon Daily in your inbox.
