Does it not matter if the hungry are fed, if slums are replaced by decent and air-conditioned housing, if infant mortality rates are reduced to less than a tenth of what they were before? Are invidious “gaps” and “disparities” all that matter? In a world where we are all beneficiaries of enormous windfall gains that our forebears never had, are we to tear apart the society that created all this, because some people’s windfall gains are greater or less than some other people’s windfall gains?--Sowell
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In northern Peru, a team of archaeologists has unearthed a striking discovery. They have located a 3,000-year-old tomb that is believed to be of an esteemed religious figure from the ancient Andean society.
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China's fertility rate is falling.
The 20% drop in two years. Following a 40% drop in five years. There's nothing even remotely similar in the historical record.
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Chess
From an internet posting:
The chart speaks for itself. (Actually, it doesn't.)
And this comment: It started in the 50s with the first Indian international Master, Manuel Aaron. He started the Tal chess club in Chennai , brought in Soviet chess books and even a Soviet Grandmaster for a month with more visiting and Anand, the Indian prodigy was his pupil. Basically all the local players worthy of note went through that chess club.
It blossomed from there , Anand was born and lives in Chennai and has been a great role model for chess in India and got many youngsters interested in the game.
So a bit of a network effect. Great players very active in coaching and mentoring got the ball rolling and it snowballed from there..
The chart speaks for itself. (Actually, it doesn't.)
And this comment: It started in the 50s with the first Indian international Master, Manuel Aaron. He started the Tal chess club in Chennai , brought in Soviet chess books and even a Soviet Grandmaster for a month with more visiting and Anand, the Indian prodigy was his pupil. Basically all the local players worthy of note went through that chess club.
It blossomed from there , Anand was born and lives in Chennai and has been a great role model for chess in India and got many youngsters interested in the game.
So a bit of a network effect. Great players very active in coaching and mentoring got the ball rolling and it snowballed from there..
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