The Weekly Distillation No.24
Football; Vaccines; Virtual Influencers; Spy Wars; Moon Rock; Coronavirus; Gin
Photo by Paweł Czerwiński on Unsplash
This newsletter is written for entrepreneurial organisational leaders and aims to help identify themes of our current context and provide questions, tips and tools that can help in navigating these times.
"That would be a question more for the White House, but I will say that all laws are being followed with regard to an expected transition, though we expect to continue on as the Trump administration. We will see how our litigation goes." - Kayleigh McEnany , White House Press Secretary (speaking in her personal capacity)
“Today is a great day for science and humanity. The first set of results from our Phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine trial provides the initial evidence of our vaccine’s ability to prevent COVID-19,” - Dr. Albert Bourla, Pfizer Chairman and CEO
"I know that there have been a lot of comments and a lot of people saying a lot of different things about me, but I just want to let you guys know that I am fine," she said. "I'm the happiest I've ever been in my life." - Britney Spears
“In the nearly two months since the president gave his preliminary approval to our proposal to satisfy those concerns, we have offered detailed solutions to finalise that agreement but have received no substantive feedback on our extensive data privacy and security framework." - Bytedance (owner of TikTok USA)
“Amnesty International can today confirm that scores, and likely hundreds, of people were stabbed or hacked to death in Mai-Kadra (May Cadera) town in the South West Zone of Ethiopia’s Tigray Region on the night of 9 November.” - Amnesty International
“The chants of "No Scotland, no party" boom out around the empty stadium.”- BBC
Coronavirus
Photo by Rosie Kerr on Unsplash
The beginning of the end. That moment when you are almost at the final chapter in a book, the last page of the exam paper, the final corner in a race - that’s how the world reacted to Pfizer’s announcement of its 90% effective RNA Vaccine. The FTSE 100 is up more than 15%. Oil jumped, as did shares in airlines, cinemas, travel companies whereas gold sold off. In the fear to greed pendulum that the markets move, this was a “risk on” phase, shifting back into consumer cyclicals in spades. It doesn’t mean it’s not going to be hard, that this winter isn’t going to be worse than the year to date - but it has given hope that a vaccine is possible, that the majority of the population can be recoded to have their bodies fight the virus and that 2021 might be better than 2020.
Initial reactions I heard from my network:
“Great news”
“It’s not a surprise it came out post the US election, now Trump lost”
“I’m not taking the Russian vaccine. After you on that one.”
“RNA is a new technology, I’ll take it after 1 million others have had it”
“We might be back to normal by April”
“Why are they not going to vaccinate the children?”
Latest survey data in the UK shows 75% of people willing to take a vaccine and only 9% fundamentally opposed to it. Another survey data showed 36% of people uncertain or very unlikely to agree to be vaccinated against Covid-19 in an issue being called “vaccine hesitancy”. As it’s thought that you need 80% take-up to have real effect this will be a major focus of the first half of next year. Get ready to start talking a lot about the safety of vaccines.
A very credible and clever research scientist I know admits that what concerns her is long covid and what we don’t know about that. In that light, more information on the impact on mental health was a concern.
Wondering how to do the office Christmas party thing this year? Check out some ideas.
How Technology is Changing Our Future
Photo by Erik Eastman on Unsplash
There are some amazing advances coming down the road (RNA vaccines anyone?) but there are also some real ethical issues, mental health implications and malicious actor control tools coming too. Being aware of the trends helps you take advantage of them, but also step into the conversation on where and how we want to set boundaries, personally, corporately & societally.
Despite some of the most advanced technology in the world, the British Army managed to drop off the Chief of the General Staff into the wrong field and leaving him “lost”. #comedy
Every angst you feel on social media is multiplied for people who work as social media managers.
Even the Pope has AI high on his radar. I love this Kevin Kelly quote - "If you create other things that think for themselves, a serious theological disruption will occur"
We’re going to be able to plug into our brains via our veins. Imagine just mainlining your Kindle library.
Ageing is optional? This theory keeps doing the rounds, especially amongst tech billionaires despite life expectancy in many Western countries having flattened or declined in recent years.
Everyone knows about online influencers. But can you get your head round virtual influencers? AI is still stealing your job AND its also stealing your side-gig on social media.
Florida is releasing 750 million genetically modified mosquitoes into the wild. This feels like the beginning of a horror movie, right?
Chinese Financial Services & Technology giant, Ant Group, had its $37bn listing put on hold by the regulatory authorities at the last minute, in a major shock. Reuters reported that this was a slap down for Jack Ma, following a critical speech he gave.
We’re going to turn moon rock into oxygen.
WHAT………A………GAME
“Not getting ahead of ourselves, but oh my word. Let this sink in. As the scoreline stands...SCOTLAND ARE 32 MINUTES FROM EURO 2020.
Three minutes to go. Serbia chucking everything at Scotland here. In the words of that famous kilted Australian Mel Gibson: "Hooooooooooooooooooooooollld!!!!"
We look in a brilliant position. We have managed the game superbly so far.
Into the last minute and Serbia have another corner. Gulp.
GOAL SERBIA 1-1 Scotland.
“I said I don't believe it, but with our history then I really should believe it.”
Off to extra-time we go. Don't worry, it's all part of the plan...
Something needs to happen, and soon.
Oh, and three minutes to go.
There must be a more relaxed pursuit than being a Scotland fan. A lion tamer or something.
10 seconds to go...
Time added on..
Serbia have a corner.
If you have a god, a wee prayer just now would be handy...
GOING TO PENALTIES
FT: Serbia 1-1 Scotland (after extra-time)
Leigh Griffiths is going first...
And he SCORES!!!
Serbia 0-1 Scotland
Right, on to Callum McGregor. A left foot shot coming...
AND IT'S IN! Never in doubt. Keeper goes the right way again, but it's too high.
Serbia 1-2 Scotland
On to McTominay..
What a penalty!!!
A rifled shot into the bottom left. Redeems himself (almost) from his mistake for the Serbia goal.
Serbia 2-3 Scotland
Here comes Oli McBurnie
And he rolls it in off the post for his first Scotland goal. Sort of..
Still, Serbia 3-4 Scotland
Sudden death time.
Here comes Kenny McLean...
Sends the keeper the wrong way. GOAL.
Save this and Scotland are going to the Euros!
Serbia 4-5 Scotland
Here comes Mitrovic..
SAAVVVVVVVVVVVEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SCOTLAND HAVE DONE IT!!!!!
YYYYEEEESSS!!!!
Choose Scotland. Choose Archie Gemmill. Choose Andy Goram in his tights. Choose Craig Brown. Choose Faddy scoring in Paris & Tom Boyd scoring an own goal against Brazil. Choose avenging the pain of Georgia. Choose 4-6-0. Choose belting out 500 Miles in your mum and dad's front room. Choose Andy Murray winning Wimbledon. Choose a deep fried haggis and a square sausage. Choose David Marshall. Choose Steve Clarke.
CHOOSE SCOTLAND GOING TO THE EUROS!”
- BBC Commentators on Scotland vs Serbia (Scotland’s chance to reach the Euros, and be in a major football finals for the first time since 1998)
A long read for the weekend
Photo by Chris Yang on Unsplash
I started and finished a fiction book this week, A Spy By Nature by Charles Cumming. An interesting and engaging light read but it sat nicely with this week’s longer read. In a week where Trump has been replacing senior officials at the Pentagon with loyalists, ex Homeland Security people are claiming US security is under threat due to no smooth transition, and undercover police are under investigation and critique for the way they went about their cases. And then there was this story last month about the undercover Scottish spy who infiltrated Irish Republican terrorist groups for years.
This week’s long read covers a strange story of seeming attacks on embassies, consulates and spies around the world - but acoustically. It’s a mystery wrapped inside an enigma. It’s also a story that, dependent on how it plays out in months and years to come, could have major ramifications for geopolitical relationships.
The other weekly distillation
“the action of purifying a liquid by a process of heating and cooling.”
In 1993, I entered my 2nd year at the University of Edinburgh. Leaving the very fine Mylnes Court, I moved to a dingy flat in Summarhall Square with threee good friends. It was small, it had cracked windows, it had a miserable box room and we often slept in sleeping bags in the winter to stay warm. On the other hand, it was pretty close to the University and it was cheap. I do remember us staying up (and possibly even standing up - what were we doing….) to hear the UK national anthem (my roommate was a loyalist) close out the BBC daily service.
Next door to our square was the Royal Dick Veterinary School. This building, which we never entered, was where Scotland’s vets of the future would learn their trade - or at least their degrees. It comprised a classic old building alongside a horrible tower.
The tower has turned into a co-working space for tech companies. This started out with a bunch of tech startups in the city getting together to renovate it and turn it into a tech hub as a first stage of a local ecosystem. I volunteered to go along on one of the first days and we smashed and ripped and carried - I don’t think I’ve ever been as in much pain since. The tech hub moved on to form Codebase and the tower became Techcube.
The rest of the school is used as a venue for the Arts but also has the privilege to host one of Edinburgh’s few distilleries - Pickering’s Gin. It’s too early to talk about Christmas but I have tried their Christmas Baubles but they also have their main gin, the cunningly named Pickering’s Gin. If you want more flavour options (Brussels Sprout Gin?) go to their shop.
The tasting notes from Master of Malt:
Nose: Up-front juniper notes, with subtle spicy, herbal notes and fresh citrus.
Palate: Once again, the juniper is in the front, supported once more by lively citrus, though on the palate, this is joined by subtle nutty notes and hints of sweet anise.
Finish: A crisp, full-flavoured, herbal finish.
Overall: Good on ya, Gert and the rest of the Summerhall team! Keep up the good work!
A final ask - if you valued this, please share it with your network and encourage them to sign up to receive it as a free email.