Italy joining China's Belt and Road initiative

Quote: Pacomartin

The phrase "plenty of them" is relative. I'm sure that most Chinese don't want to live in another country, but Italy has only 4.3% of the population of China. Even if 0.5% per year of the Chinese want to live in Europe, and they all move to Italy, that would radically change the country.

Relative but means millions. Remember, so many people in China that even if you are a one in a million guy there are 1,000 other guys just like you.

Quote: AZDuffman

Remember, so many people in China that even if you are a one in a million there are 1,000 other people just like you.

I like that saying. But technically it is "even if you are a one in a million there are 1,400 other people just like you."

When I was in Italy a professor said to me that it is difficult to believe all those billions of people are just going to leave this infrastructure to an ever diminishing population.

Which scenario do you think is optimal?

Italy
2020: 524,182 births: 666,460 deaths
2050: 547,215 births: 871,491 deaths

United States
2020: 4,118,072 births: 2,767,557 deaths
2050: 4,309,258 births: 3,912,557 deaths

China
2020: 16,198,466 births: 11,472,751 deaths
2050: 11,102,879 births: 18,014,518 deaths

Percentage change over next 30 years
Italy +4.4% births +30.8% deaths
US +4.6% births +41.4% deaths
China -31.5% births +57.0% deaths

US is the only one of the three that will still be having more births than deaths in 30 years.

Quote: Pacomartin

I like that saying. But technically it is "even if you are a one in a million there are 1,400 other people just like you."

Please don't be that guy.

Quote:

When I was in Italy a professor said to me that it is difficult to believe all those billions of people are just going to leave this infrastructure to an ever diminishing population.

I keep trying to explain that to people.

Can't say much more, pinched nerve making typing painful. Any ideas to help that appreciated.

Quote: AZDuffman

Please don't be that guy.

Sorry. It occurred to me that people might think you are exaggerating for effect, but in fact you are not.

Quote: AZDuffman

I keep trying to explain that to people.

One American woman who was visiting Genoa for a year had three children. She said that all the Italian grandmothers were almost reduced to tears when they saw her, as they were so used to their grandchildren having one child (if any).

So many Americans think Italian famillies look like they did in the 1950s.



It's only a short boat ride to Italy

Quote: AZDuffman

Please don't be that guy.



I keep trying to explain that to people.

Can't say much more, pinched nerve making typing painful. Any ideas to help that appreciated.

Can you use "talk to text"?

Ice pack on your upper spine to reduce inflammation, anti inflammatory's? Time. Chiropractic?

Inversion table?

Quote: petroglyph

Can you use "talk to text"?

Ice pack on your upper spine to reduce inflammation, anti inflammatory's? Time. Chiropractic?

Inversion table?

Not my spine, my hand/wrist. Feeling a bit better now, right combination of time and dope I thing. Still tender.

FWIW I *HATE* talk to text and never use it.

Quote: Pacomartin

Sorry. It occurred to me that people might think you are exaggerating for effect, but in fact you are not.

One American woman who was visiting Genoa for a year had three children. She said that all the Italian grandmothers were almost reduced to tears when they saw her, as they were so used to their grandchildren having one child (if any).

My theory is that the fertility rate will just keep falling, and once it is below replacement level for say a decade it never recovers. After WWII Western Europe got wealth and decided they preferred that over kids. Even Italians who love large families. The USA was until recently a weird exception, Americans liking having kids more than most other societies for I can think of a few reasons.

There is a neat YT video on rats and a guy who did an experiment. He gave the rats all the food and space they needed, figuring they would sooner or later breed to take up as much space as ha gave them. Nope. They got so big then their birthrate collapsed. They died out.

I think I started a thread here but it did not have legs. Declining fertility rate is fascinating me the last few years. I personally think all these incentives to have kids are a waste of time. They will never work. I think it fascinates me because I never wanted kids, but even 20 years ago in my early 30s to say that people acted surprised to angry. Now it is far more socially acceptable to say.

Quote: AZDuffman

Not my spine, my hand/wrist. Feeling a bit better now, right combination of time and dope I thing. Still tender.

FWIW I *HATE* talk to text and never use it.

Me too. I don't even like it when others obviously are using it and are to lazy to correct the mistakes.

Quote: petroglyph

Me too. I don't even like it when others obviously are using it and are to lazy to correct the mistakes errors.

Quote: petroglyph

Me too. I don't even like it when others obviously are using it and are to lazy to correct the mistakes.

For me it is a matter of I think to type via my fingers, talking does not give the same feel.

I hate voice control of other things also though, seem slower.