Technology Review has a piece on trials of GMO crops in Tanzania and the possibility African countries are becoming more open to them. I think this is how change occurs--while humans may resist the new, usually there come times when the advantages of the new outweigh the resistance.
But the example of Japan's resistance to modern firearms cautions that it can take a long time for the advantages to become clear.
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Monday, October 24, 2016
Politics Is Checkers Not Chess
Some of the bloggers I follow, particularly Althouse and Powerline on the right but also some on the left, sometimes fall into fancy theories about what the other side is doing. IMHO they tend to be a bit paranoid, figuring that their opponents are smart enough to play a double game. Unfortunately I don't have any examples to hand; maybe now I'm posting on the subject I'll remember to point out future examples as I come across them.
As you can tell by my description, I usually doubt such posts. In my experience, it's often better to consider that people have tunnel vision and focus on the near than to expect them to be playing games. My metaphor in the title then is people play checkers, not chess. I suppose expert checker players can set traps, but even beginning chess players can come up with a knight fork, or a revealed check.
I'm blogging today because it seems to me that the Wikileaks of Podesta's emails tend to confirm my view--I haven't noted any fancy stratagems being revealed, just day-to-day planning.
As you can tell by my description, I usually doubt such posts. In my experience, it's often better to consider that people have tunnel vision and focus on the near than to expect them to be playing games. My metaphor in the title then is people play checkers, not chess. I suppose expert checker players can set traps, but even beginning chess players can come up with a knight fork, or a revealed check.
I'm blogging today because it seems to me that the Wikileaks of Podesta's emails tend to confirm my view--I haven't noted any fancy stratagems being revealed, just day-to-day planning.
Sunday, October 23, 2016
Small Gardens in the UK
The "allotment" in the UK is like a plot in a community gardens in the US, except with a much longer history.. It's a reflection of the difference in the two nations that a scholar is able to come up with estimates of the total number of allotments over more than a century, up to a million such gardens in a nation of maybe sixty million people. Also in the UK, unlike the US, the national government had legislation on the subject, dating back to 1907, with allotment gardens dating back to the early or mid 19th century.
According to the linked piece, the evolution of allotments in the UK involved differing motivations and rationales: supplying the needs of the working class; serving as a hobby for middle classes; a focal point for socialization; and finally the trendy ecological concerns of recent times.
I show my prejudices by noting this long historical perspective should serve as a caution to US enthusiasts.
According to the linked piece, the evolution of allotments in the UK involved differing motivations and rationales: supplying the needs of the working class; serving as a hobby for middle classes; a focal point for socialization; and finally the trendy ecological concerns of recent times.
I show my prejudices by noting this long historical perspective should serve as a caution to US enthusiasts.
Saturday, October 22, 2016
Friday, October 21, 2016
Stone the Rich Economist
N. Gregory Mankiw has a piece here--he paid $2500 apiece for "Hamilton" tickets in NY and is reasonably happy about it. As a market economist he sees it in terms of supply and demand, mourning only that the creators of the show get only the benefit of the $500 face price.
What's interesting to me is the comments: the most "liked" comments are those trashing the rich plutocrat who can afford such a price. I'm not sure whether that's coming from the presumably liberal readers of the NYTimes or from those who support Mr. Trump. Probably the former, that would be more consistent with the liberal ethos. But it's a little straw in the wind which shows the support Clinton can get for "soaking the rich".
What's interesting to me is the comments: the most "liked" comments are those trashing the rich plutocrat who can afford such a price. I'm not sure whether that's coming from the presumably liberal readers of the NYTimes or from those who support Mr. Trump. Probably the former, that would be more consistent with the liberal ethos. But it's a little straw in the wind which shows the support Clinton can get for "soaking the rich".
Thursday, October 20, 2016
Drum's Crystal Ball
Kevin Drum had a crystal ball post--how will Paul Ryan and Clinton work together after the election. He got a lot of comments.
All I know is it's going to be interesting. One problem for the Democrats is the number of senators up for reelection in 2018, including a number from red states (Manchin, Heidtkamp, etc.). So there's a strategic choice in the Senate: either go for broke on liberal issues (assuming you can get the Dems to buy it) and sacrifice your majority in 2018; or try to preserve your majority in 2018 by dodging the more controversial issues, at the risk of aggravating the left and laying the ground for a challenge in 2020.
All I know is it's going to be interesting. One problem for the Democrats is the number of senators up for reelection in 2018, including a number from red states (Manchin, Heidtkamp, etc.). So there's a strategic choice in the Senate: either go for broke on liberal issues (assuming you can get the Dems to buy it) and sacrifice your majority in 2018; or try to preserve your majority in 2018 by dodging the more controversial issues, at the risk of aggravating the left and laying the ground for a challenge in 2020.
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
What's a "Colorist"?
Did Bess Truman have one?
Apparently Michelle Obama invited a number of people to last night's state dinner based on their personal service to her over the last seven years. I understood hairstylist and makeup artist, but "colorist"? A brief check of the Internet yields little that's helpful, unless Mrs.Obama has been dyeing her hair?
We've come a long way as a society from the days when Bess Truman was "Boss".
Apparently Michelle Obama invited a number of people to last night's state dinner based on their personal service to her over the last seven years. I understood hairstylist and makeup artist, but "colorist"? A brief check of the Internet yields little that's helpful, unless Mrs.Obama has been dyeing her hair?
We've come a long way as a society from the days when Bess Truman was "Boss".
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Consequence and Lab Girl
Was away on annual visit to Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck. Two books to recommend, both as it happens by people raised in the Presbyterian church, which must be why I like both:
Consequence, by Eric Fair. Memoir of someone who had tours with our military and our contractors, with the major focus on interrogations in Iraq and religion.
Lab Girl, by Hope Jahren. Memoir of a woman growing from a high school science lab (great evocation of the sort of lab I remember) through a career as paleo/geo/botanist.
Consequence, by Eric Fair. Memoir of someone who had tours with our military and our contractors, with the major focus on interrogations in Iraq and religion.
Lab Girl, by Hope Jahren. Memoir of a woman growing from a high school science lab (great evocation of the sort of lab I remember) through a career as paleo/geo/botanist.
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