Feldman's Faves: October 4, 2021

Good morning BL5 – What a weekend for sports….For those of you who are Jays fans, all I can say is that it was one hell of a season. Such a bummer that it had to end. It was also quite a treat to watch the two GOATS last night in Foxborough– I guess TOM is the greater GOAT!

As we start our return to the office this week, we have not selected A DAY for people to come in. We might want to consider trying to coordinate if people are interested – I know the Tax Group is doing Thursdays. But we can leave that for another day. I plan to come in today. If anyone wants to grab lunch or a coffee just let me know.

This week my recommendations are is science-related and look at how humanity is remarkable in our ability to create solutions for problems that we create. I am t not able to decide if this fact gives me hope or fills me with dread. I go back and forth but in the end I land on hope.

Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future - By: Elizabeth Kolbert – Elizabeth Kolbert is most famous for her Pulitzer Prize winning book called the Sixth Extinction – the topic of which is self evident…. In Under a White Sky, Kolbert describes how humanity has had and continues to have a transformative impact on our planet – yes statement of the obivious….. The introduction of Asian Carp to North America to control the overgrowth of plankton in the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River (caused by the spilling of chemicals) and the introduction of invasive species (such as the Bull Toad in Australia as a means of pest control, which led to a destruction of many local species in Australia) are two of the many examples of actions taken by really smart people in an effort to solve problems that then led to new problems. For example, Asian Carp have wreaked havoc in every ecosystem they’ve entered (and basically leave nothing for the other fish to eat). They are also treacherous to boaters and water-skiers - (apparently this is a thing - New Water Sport "Skarping" Peoria Carp Hunters - YouTube ) Nonetheless, at this poin.t Kolbert believes that it is now up to us to save the planet with our ingenuity. One seemingly crazy idea she suggests is to shoot actual diamond particles into the atmosphere in order to battle global warming. Sounds insane but it is based on scientific research of the impact of volcanoes and how they have served as natural coolants over time. I’m not sure what breathing in diamond dust will do to us….. That said, I believe that Kolbert (like me) is fundamentally an optimist who believes that we are not in a great place right now (the Holocene Era being over) but that there is so much creativity and ingenuity in humanity that we will be able to solve this problem (as daunting as it may seem). Here is a good review from Gates Notes - https://www.gatesnotes.com/Books/Under-a-White-Sky

The Next Big Idea - EXTRA LIFE: We Doubled Life Expectancy in the Last Century. Can We Do It Again? - It’s hard to believe sometimes during our almost two year Covid crisis, that in all of human history, there is no better time than today to be alive. The advances made in medicine, sanitation, drinking water and social policy have allowed humans to double expected lifespan in just over 100 years. THAT IS BONKERS. Some scientists are trying to view dying and aging as diseases that might someday have a cure. The key question, given our impact on the planet, is whether the cure is better or worse than the disease. I certainly don’t know the answer, but it is an interesting issue to consider. Also, does anyone really want to live forever (we would certainly have to up the Goodmans mandatory retirement age if we did)…..Here is an excerpt from the PODCAST itself: “Over the past century, the average human lifespan has doubled. That astonishing statistic is the subject of a new book and PBS series by acclaimed science writer Steven Johnson called “Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer.” In this episode, he tells Rufus about the renegades who shamed milkmen, spiked public reservoirs, and rode rocket-powered sleds — all in the name of science. They discuss how inventions like vaccines, seatbelts, and sewers made the world a safer place. And they peer into a future where aging might be a thing of the past.” - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-next-big-idea/id1482067226?i=1000534789095

Thank you for your ongoing engagement and participation.

And remember to stay safe, stay healthy and to docket daily.

Jon