Quote of the Day
“No man should escape our universities without knowing how little he knows”.
- J. Robert Oppenheimer
Musical alternative to the morning’s radio news
John Field – Nocturne No. 5 in B flat major
According to Nate Silver Biden is on course to win on November 3
I’ve just been looking at his latest projection.
I can’t help remembering that at this time in 2016 he was convinced that Hilary Clinton would win!
How to (Actually) Save Time When You’re Working Remotely
From the Harvard Business Review:
While the widespread shift to remote work hasn’t been without its challenges, it does offer a major silver lining: For many of us, commuting has become a thing of the past. In the United States alone, eliminating the daily commute has saved workers around 89 million hours each week — equivalent to time savings of more than 44.5 million full workdays since the pandemic began! These numbers suggest that working remotely could be a deus ex machina for reclaiming one of our most precious and limited resources: time.
But despite the potential for staggering time savings, many have struggled to achieve everything they hoped the pandemic would finally make time for: baking sourdough, meditating, or writing the next great literary masterpiece. On the contrary, data we collected from 12,000 people across the U.S. and Europe during the pandemic show that the additional time is often burned on unproductive work and unsatisfying leisure activities. Having more time does not necessarily mean that we use it wisely. So, what are we doing wrong?
Answers on a stamped, addressed, handmade postcard.
HT to Charles Arthur, who spotted it.
Stop Expecting Life to Go Back to Normal Next Year
Well, actually, I wasn’t expecting that. But it’s the headline on a NYT OpEd today:
Anthony Fauci warned us last week that Covid-19 is likely to be hanging over our lives well into 2021. He’s right, of course. We need to accept this reality and take steps to meet it rather than deny his message.
Many Americans are resistant to this possibility. They’re hoping to restart postponed sports seasons, attend schools more easily, enjoy rescheduled vacations and participate in delayed parties and gatherings.
It is completely understandable that many are tiring of restrictions due to Covid-19. Unfortunately, their resolve is weakening right when we need it to harden. This could cost us dearly.
The unrealistic optimism stems in part from the fact that people have started pinning their hopes on a medical breakthrough. There have been promising developments. Remdesivir holds potential for those who are hospitalized. Convalescent plasma might do the same. Antibody treatments might improve outcomes for some or prevent infections in those at highest risk…
It’s an interesting and not very cheery assessment.
The bottom line is that we’re in a marathon when too many people think it’s a sprint.
Nicci Gerrard’s crowdfunding campaign is half-way to meeting its target!
Please consider donating. It’s a great cause.
This blog is also available as a daily email. If you think this might suit you better, why not subscribe? One email a day, delivered to your inbox at 7am UK time. It’s free, and there’s a one-click unsubscribe if you decide that your inbox is full enough already!