Phil Cain's Blog, page 9

Interchangeable signs

2+2 = 2×2 = 4
1+2+3 = 1x2x3 = 6
What set of four numbers works and what three sets of five numbers?

Reveal solution

Four numbers: 1,1,2,4
Five numbers: 1,1,1,3,3; ,1,1,2,2,2; 1,1,1,2,5

A fresh perspective

This is fiction written in an hour with the Sunday Writers’ Club at an exhibition of work by abstract expressionist Robert Motherwell at Vienna’s Kunstforum with the prompt. “While wandering the gallery you notice another visitor who is crying. They stand, transfixed, staring at a painting as the tears stream down their cheeks. You approach this person to make sure they’re OK.”

It seemed wrong to intrude on what was clearly a painful and private moment when I first passed. But she was sti...

The nanny private sector

UPDATE: Olympic beer promotion deal includes all AB InBev brands

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A heavily-criticised deal to promote beer brands at the next two Olympics covers all brands in AB InBev’s portfolio, Alcohol Review has learned.

The deal shows a “disgraceful disregard for the health and wellbeing of the millions of children” said the UK Association of Directors of Public Health on Monday, with Scottish health NGO SHAAP saying it is “very disappointing”,

The agreement between the International Olympic Committe...

Above all

This is fiction.

Watching the little people milling like ants below his snugly-slippered feet brought the reassuringly delicious combination of pity and scorn. “A certainty in an uncertain world,” mouthed the serial entrepreneur Ken Midas, tucking his signature long grey hair behind his ears as he prepared for his daily trance.

The scurrying, bug-like people below were not like him and never would be. He was the inventor of the revolutionary silent fridge. He alone discovered a novel w...

Alcohol Review – issue 98, December 22nd 2023

Alcohol understanding for all

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In this issue: Alcohol deaths hit record high in England; Study to see alcohol-free impact on young; Bingeing plus genetics multiply liver risk; Sperm impact longer than expected

Alcohol deaths hit record high in England

Alcohol-specific deaths rose 4.6% in 2022 in England and Wales, reaching the highest level on record, according to estimates from alcohol expert Colin Angus. T...

The goose

One day a man going to the nest of his goose found there an egg all yellow and glittering, or so he said. When he picked it up it was as heavy as lead and he was going to throw it away, because he thought a trick had been played upon him. But he took it home and soon found to his delight that it was an egg of pure gold. One day he grew greedy; and thinking to get at once all the gold the goose could give, he killed it and opened it only to find nothing.

“Oh, brilliant. You killed the fuck...

Alcohol Review – issue 97, November 24th 2023

Alcohol understanding for all

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In this issue: UK cuts taxes fuelling alcohol harm; Japan lays out draft guidelines; Ghanaian civil society supports celeb ad ban; Ireland’s 9pm ad ban begins 2025

UK cuts tax fuelling surge in alcohol harm: The UK government this week made another real terms cut in alcohol tax, despite surging alcohol harm, with alcohol deaths last year 27% above pre-pandemic levels. It is “utterly...

Alcohol Review – issue 96, October 19th 2023

Alcohol understanding for all

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In this issue: Australia expected to consider alcohol warning labels;  UK to lower wine alcohol minimum; High risk drinking treatment guidelines; Alcohol has lessons for cannabis

Australia expected to consider warning labels: The Australian federal government is seeking advice on ways to raise public awareness of alcohol harm, advice which is expected to include warning labels. Nearly...

Alcohol Review – issue 95, September 29th 2023

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In this issue: Australian alcohol deaths accelerate; Scotland plans minimum price adjustment; UK labelling relaxation; US costs to climb; TV shots off target; Dutch wariness rises

Australian alcohol deaths up 30% since pandemic

The number of alcohol-induced deaths in Australia increased to around 30% above pre-pandemic levels in 2022. They rose 11% year on year, on top of a 7% rise in 2021 and around 8% in 2020.

They are at their highest level for over a decade, a patte...