Each Monday, Alister and Meridyth deliver quick news and interesting stories from the past week to prepare you for the “water cooler” banter, while also squabbling over a topical issue.
Alister is your classic Labour champion with a dad-joke-like humour. Meridyth (an American expat) brings a transatlantic, moderate take with eye-rolling groans.
⚠ Special edition alert
ALISTER: Catch the Labour conference? MERIDYTH: Did they have cocktails? ALISTER: Maybe? MERIDYTH: Because I wonder if they served K(e)ir Royales… ALISTER: 🙄 MERIDYTH: Crap. You’re rubbing off on me!!!
ALISTER: There's this woman charging thirty grand to come up with cool names for babies. Thirty thousand! I mean, fair play to her business acumen, but when did we become so utterly rubbish at naming our own kids?
MERIDYTH: If people are willing to pay, then by all means. I certainly can’t relate to parting with that much cash, but I guess if would-be-parents are stressing out about it, then why not outsource? It’s their prerogative. Maybe we should be getting into the baby naming game…
ALISTER: But these trendy names are a nightmare for people like me with dyslexia. All those creative spellings and made-up monikers like Khaleesi, Whimsy Lou, and Aquatic!
MERIDYTH: She's helping parents avoid "name regret" while taking advantage of demand that’s building her a $150,000 annual business. A smart woman spotted a gap in the market… more power to her!
ALISTER: I suppose there's some logic to it. Apparently, teachers give higher marks to students with "pleasant" names, and unusual spellings can be a right pain. Maybe some parents genuinely do need professional help choosing between "Braelynn" and "Braelynne."
MERIDYTH: Exactly. And with influencers naming kids Heart, Afternoon, and Stone, someone needs to provide sanity checks. So, is this squabble your way of saying you don’t like my name then?!?!?
☀️ Britain still believes. A 45,000-person poll finds Brits aren’t all doom and gloom. 52% feel hopeful about the future, craving fairness, community, and action. Turns out optimism might just be our last great national export.
⚡️ Clean power surge. Britain’s running on sunshine and wind. So far this year, 87 hours have been powered entirely by clean energy, up from just 2.5 in 2021. Still a long way from 2030’s all-renewable goal, but the grid’s finally glowing green.
⛪️ History made at Canterbury. Sarah Mullally, former nurse turned Bishop of London, has shattered a stained-glass ceiling, becoming the first-ever female Archbishop of Canterbury and spiritual leader to 85 million Anglicans. (She also confirmed Meridyth into the Church of England this past summer! 🎉)
🎬 Creativity gets a boost. Liverpool and Manchester are set for a £25m funding injection to supercharge film, TV, music, and gaming industries. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy says it’s proof “creativity has no postcode.”
🚁 Air taxis take off. A new Oxford-Cambridge project is testing electric air-taxis to prove they can fly and profit by 2029. The six-month trial could make the UK’s first piloted eVTOL flight a reality next year.
GOOD NEWS… for the EU after 43 million tons of lithium was discovered in Germany, which could transform European EV battery supply chain. AND MORE GOOD NEWS… for women after Sarah Mullally’s rise in the CoE and also Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister.
🌞 China’s solar superplant. China Three Gorges just switched on the world’s largest hybrid solar plant: a 1 gigawatt mega-project in Xinjiang powering 830,000 homes day and night. Proof that the sun really never sets on China’s energy ambitions.
🤖 AI law goes live. Italy just became the first EU country to pass a full AI law limiting child access, punishing deepfakes with prison, and backing “human-centric” innovation. Gratzie.
🍺 Oktoberfest wraps with a bang. Munich’s 190th Oktoberfest ended yesterday with its traditional gun salute and 6.5 million visitors, including Arnold Schwarzenegger leading a beer tent singalong. The festival briefly shut midweek over a bomb threat but bounced back with Bavarian spirit intact.
Research suggests that even forcing a smile can actually trick the brain into feeling happier. So, share a smile while you share The AM Squabble!
💻 GPs go digital. Every GP surgery in England must now offer online booking as part of the Health Secretary’s plan to make appointments “as easy as ordering a takeaway.” The govt says an additional 8.5 million appointments will be available within the first 3 years.
🥗 Eat green, think sharp. A green Mediterranean diet that’s heavy on plants, green tea, and walnuts, but light on meat may slow brain aging by lowering key biomarkers. Turns out, dinner choices might just shape your mind.
🍒 Sweet dreams were made of these… Cherries, kiwis, and grapes top the list of fruits that help your body produce melatonin, the sleep hormone. That bedtime snack of fruit could help you drift off faster. So who am I to disagree? 🎶
🦔 Britain’s cutest commute. Across the UK, neighbours are cutting holes in their fences to build a “hedgehog highway,” linking 133,000 gardens. The grassroots project helps the prickly little wanderers find food, mates, and a safe way home. Some of the holes are too cute! 🥰
☄️ Asteroid skims Earth. A tiny asteroid dubbed C15KM95 whizzed just 300km above Antarctica, lower than most satellites and barely beneath the the Int’l Space Station’s orbit. Detected only hours before, it was harmless but a stark reminder that space rocks don’t give you advanced notice.
📚 David vs Goliath. Newly launched Bookshop.org is giving indie shops a slingshot to fight Amazon’s Kindle. The platform allows them to sell e-books while keeping 100% of profits with titles that match Amazon’s prices. Finally, a plot twist Amazon didn’t write.
By Meridyth
We’re all guilty of wanting to slow the aging process. But as someone who just can’t be bothered with multiple products and routines, I’ve been amazed at the results of adding collagen powder to my morning cup of joe!
For years, I noticed more and more pronounced fine lines on my neck. But after 4 months of adding 1 scoop of collagen to my coffee, I kid you not… those lines have faded! I really wish I had Before photos to share.
I use this powder from Costco for £20, which lasts about 2 months. You don’t have to get this one, but make sure it says collagen peptides or hydrolyzed collagen. Also for better absorption, it’s helpful if it includes magnesium and vitamin C.
By Meridyth
Not a meme, but in the spirit of keeping things lighthearted… a quick laugh from Michael McIntyre, who I adore.
And to all my British friends, who make fun of my American accent and how I saw “herbs”… in your face! 😜
Whew, you made it!
Time to polish those conkers. The World Conker Championship is this Sunday 💪 Join us next week for another Squabble and some more smashing stories.
Alister & Meridyth