China is leveraging its 90% control over rare earth processing not just against the US, but globally. By requiring licenses from any company worldwide, it creates a chokehold on high-tech manufacturing and establishes a new template for economic coercion.
After being seen as an activity for older generations, Vienna's waltz tradition is experiencing a youth renaissance. By positioning glamorous ballroom events as a sophisticated social alternative to digital dating, the city successfully rebranded a classic cultural export for a new generation.
While retirees now spend more time on screens than young people, the negative impact is arguably lower. For a teenager, screen time displaces critical activities like studying. For a retiree with abundant free time, this opportunity cost is significantly reduced, reframing the issue.
Contrary to fears of 'digital dementia,' some research indicates that people over 50 who regularly use digital devices experience lower rates of cognitive decline. While the causal link is still being studied, it challenges the narrative that screen time is inherently harmful for older minds.
China's dominance isn't limited to rare earths; it accounts for 35% of global manufacturing—three times the US. This industrial might gives it the theoretical ability to apply similar coercive licensing regimes in sectors from EVs to renewable energy, posing a systemic risk.