The envy of the world
The American economy has left other rich countries in the dust. Expect that to continue, argue Simon Rabinovitch and Henry Curr
Analysis: ‘The American Economy’ (Oct. 19, 2024)
Category Archives: Analysis
Military: U.S. Army Unveils Laser That Melts Drones
The Wall Street Journal (October 15, 2024): In Ukraine and the Red Sea, low-tech drones are changing the way wars are fought. The U.S. and other countries are investing in a new and inexpensive way to retaliate: lasers.
Chapters: 0:00 Laser weapon systems 1:03 The LOCUST 2:57 Targets 3:40 Weaknesses 4:56 Future challenges and deployment
Compared with traditional weapons, lasers present some key challenges: they have a shorter range, limited power and can be harder to fix when issues arise. WSJ explains how the BlueHalo LOCUST laser weapon system works and why the tech is so difficult to perfect.
WSJ: “Killer Drones” On Ukraine’s Front Lines
The Wall Street Journal (October 14, 2024): “Darwin” is one of Ukraine’s deadliest drone pilots in its war against Russia.
Chapters: 0:00 A race to adapt 1:38 “Darwin” 2:48 Artillery strikes 4:01 Personal evolution 6:37 In the bunker 8:32 Drone strike 12:20 Just the beginning
But the 20-year-old must contend with his own personal evolution after hundreds of successful missions in a modern survival of the fittest.
WSJ: How ‘Project 2025’ Benefits Kamala Harris
The Wall Street Journal (October 3, 2024): Project 2025–a once obscure conservative policy book—has emerged as a defining element of the 2024 presidential race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.
Chapters: 0:00 Project 2025 0:35 The campaign trail 5:10 Voters reactions
The former president has gone to great lengths to distance himself from the far-right policy playbook, while it has become a political lightning rod for the Democrats. WSJ takes an inside look at how the controversial agenda is transforming campaign strategies and voter decisions.
Technology Quarterly: ‘Chipmaking & AI’ (Fall 2024)
Silicon returns to Silicon Valley
AI has returned chipmaking to the heart of computer technology, says Shailesh Chitnis
The semiconductor industry faces its biggest technical challenge yet
Node names do not reflect actual transistor sizes
How to build more powerful chips without frying the data centre
AI has propelled chip architecture towards a tighter bond with software
Researchers are looking beyond digital computing
The end of Moore’s law will not slow the pace of change
Generative AI: Speeding Up Amazon Package Delivery
Chapters: 2:14 Two-day to same-day 5:51 Robot revolution 9:18 Predicting orders 12:11 Routes and personalization
CNBC got an exclusive look at Amazon’s use of generative AI to optimize delivery routes, make more intelligent warehouse robots, and better predict where to stock new items.
How “Kamikaze Drones” From Iran Are Wreaking Havoc In Ukraine & Israel
Chapters: 0:00 Shahed drones 0:31 What they are and how they work 2:45 How they stack up to other drones 4:01 Who’s using these drones? 6:02 Defenses against these drones
WSJ looks at how Iran’s kamikaze drones work, how they are being used across the globe by militant groups and Russia and the defense mechanisms used against them.
Strategy Behind Ukraine’s Invasion Of Russia (WSJ)
Chapters: 0:00 Where the war stands 0:34 Ukraine tactics in Kursk 1:53 Russia’s response 2:53 What’s next?
If Pokrovsk falls, it will be the largest population center taken by the Russian military since Bakhmut in May 2023. WSJ explains the latest developments on how the Kursk invasions steps up the stakes for both Ukraine and Russia.
Politics: Foreign Affairs Magazine – Sep/Oct 2024
The Perils of Isolationism
The World Still Needs America—and America Still Needs the World by Condoleezza Rice
America Isn’t Ready for the Wars of the Future
And They’re Already Here by Mark A. Milley and Eric Schmidt
What Was the Biden Doctrine?
Education: “Schooling’s Stagnation” – July 13, 2024
Must try harder
Schools in rich countries are making poor progress. They need to get back to basics, argues Mark Johnson
Schools in rich countries are making poor progress
Hanging on to the best of them is getting harder
Boomers Daily 