Applying the term loosely to any one who holds a position in an organization and has to follow rules, or who makes the rules for others.
Farewell, Stanislav Petrov, with obits in both the Times and Post
Tuesday, September 19, 2017
Monday, September 18, 2017
How Humans React to Change
Lots of angst about the coming of artificial intelligence and autonomous cars and CRISPR. Even more angst about our addiction to cellphones and social media. I was a late-comer to smart phones, but have somewhat caught up and now understand the addiction.
But I'm not agonizing about it. Seems to me generally people overdo in reaction to any social change, whether it's the coming of railroads, crack, or smart phones. Once people see the downsides, they create new norms which have the effect of damping the adverse impact. Remember the crack epidemic of the 1980's? Or the concerns over mass media of the 1950's (i.e., comic books, etc.)?
So my prediction is we'll see the same thing happening with social media and smart phones. I may not live to see it, but it will happen.
But I'm not agonizing about it. Seems to me generally people overdo in reaction to any social change, whether it's the coming of railroads, crack, or smart phones. Once people see the downsides, they create new norms which have the effect of damping the adverse impact. Remember the crack epidemic of the 1980's? Or the concerns over mass media of the 1950's (i.e., comic books, etc.)?
So my prediction is we'll see the same thing happening with social media and smart phones. I may not live to see it, but it will happen.
Sunday, September 17, 2017
Problems in Predicting the Future
I never dreamed in the early 70's we'd see a Sunday NYTimes paper we see today. Back then we were worried about overpopulation, exhaustion of resources, and the failure of the newly decolonized nations to achieve development. See this piece.
The Chinese were an ant-like people, all dressed in Mao jackets and still starving from the effects of his ideology. In that they weren't much different than the residents in the rest of the Third World.The developed world was bad on foreign aid, often funding projects which were strategic in the Cold War with the Soviet Union, not worthwhile for the recipient.
But today we have an article on obesity in Brazil and Nestle's role in pushing First World junk food on willing Brazilians. And we have an article in the Times mag about the billions of Chinese investments abroad, and the possible debt trap they pose for the recipient nations.
Of course there's no Soviet Union and rich Chinese are buying Western baubles.
It's a strange world.
The Chinese were an ant-like people, all dressed in Mao jackets and still starving from the effects of his ideology. In that they weren't much different than the residents in the rest of the Third World.The developed world was bad on foreign aid, often funding projects which were strategic in the Cold War with the Soviet Union, not worthwhile for the recipient.
But today we have an article on obesity in Brazil and Nestle's role in pushing First World junk food on willing Brazilians. And we have an article in the Times mag about the billions of Chinese investments abroad, and the possible debt trap they pose for the recipient nations.
Of course there's no Soviet Union and rich Chinese are buying Western baubles.
It's a strange world.
Bringing Home the Bacon (VT, Uncured)
Walt Jeffreys, whose blog has been rather quiet this year, blogs about the process of getting the bacon, that is creating bacon from his hogs which meets the requisite USDA standards for bacon. Interesting.
Saturday, September 16, 2017
The Changing Dairy Sector
"Since 2000, milk production has doubled in Idaho,"
"Idaho dairy industry representatives estimate that between 85 to 90 percent of on-site dairy workers in the state are foreign-born."
Two excerpts from a long piece at Politico on the complexities and tensions created by the trends, particularly the handling of undocumented immigrants.
"Idaho dairy industry representatives estimate that between 85 to 90 percent of on-site dairy workers in the state are foreign-born."
Two excerpts from a long piece at Politico on the complexities and tensions created by the trends, particularly the handling of undocumented immigrants.
Friday, September 15, 2017
Cost of Farm Programs by Crop
I've been remiss in noting this post from IL extension which goes through a Congressional Research Service report on the expenditures by crop under the 2014 farm legislation.
Good Sentence from the Mc
Megan McArdle: "One almost admires a salesman who’s too brazen to craft a believable
lie, the kind who simply utters obvious falsehoods and hopes you’re too
polite to call them on it."
Thursday, September 14, 2017
The Harshaw Rule Confirmed
What is the "Harshaw rule"? Something I discovered back in my days of innocence, trying to break down silos in USDA--"you never do things right the first time".
Where is it confirmed? In the videos Kottke has linked to here--the Elon Musk videos on landing rockets and our early space endeavors. It's good to see someone paying more than lip service to the idea of learning from your mistakes.
Where is it confirmed? In the videos Kottke has linked to here--the Elon Musk videos on landing rockets and our early space endeavors. It's good to see someone paying more than lip service to the idea of learning from your mistakes.
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Comments on Consolidating USDA Support Services
USDA has a request for comments on the Secretary's proposal to consolidate support services across agency lines. Comments are due before October 7.
I'm very sceptical of the OFR's request for comments process, particulary on clearing forms. We'll see in this case if people like NASCOE etc. get comments in, or prefer to work with Congress.
I'm very sceptical of the OFR's request for comments process, particulary on clearing forms. We'll see in this case if people like NASCOE etc. get comments in, or prefer to work with Congress.
Cottonseed Again
Illinois extension has a piece on the cottonseed provisions of the 2018 Senate Ag appropriations bill. To my jaundiced eye, it looks as if the cotton growers are trying to get a goodie added through the backdoor--using appropriations to change policy. If they do, we'll see what Brazil and the WTO think of it. If they do, the professors will have another example to add to their picture of how government really works.
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