Nine months after the football World Cup in Germany, hospitals are reporting a baby boom, sparking the idea that the excitement of the tournament could have released hormones that made it easier to get pregnant. Pia Schmidt and her husband claim Germany’s 1-0 victory over Poland, sealed in injury time, was the deciding factor in their pregnancy. With many expecting babies due at the end of February, it looks like there might be a few more Lukas, Bastian and Jens in the future! Read full article here
Culture
The Priest in the Arena
The phrase “man in the arena” has been popularized in recent years, but a lesser known, more dangerous archetype is the “priest in the arena”. This figure is responsible for a process called theocratic capture, where an institution surrenders to a cult demanding unaccountable authority, fueled by claims to privileged knowledge. These cults often target powerful institutions and attempt to monopolize conversations with scaremongering tactics and hostile treatment of allies. It is important to identify and stop theocratic capture before it can gain control. Read full article here
Merv
May 29, 2023
