… check out this tweet from my friend, John Bredehoft:
My favorite illustration goes like this:
In his lifetime, the journalist interviewed JFK, a drug user and philanderer.
Category: Pondering
More news from the Middle East that could affect the oil market and prices
[youtube=https://youtu.be/3ZYVN_7PG_M]
Here are a few articles that caught my interest. Two on Aramco possibly floating an IPO and two on increasing tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
1/7 – The Economist – Saudi Arabia is considering an IPO of Aramco, probably the world’s most valuable company – Continue reading “More news from the Middle East that could affect the oil market and prices”
Stretching my brain on the commercial space launch business
One of the major reasons I blog is to learn. Nothing stretches me more than reading a fascinating article and commenting in public on it. Putting my thoughts out on the never-to-go-away Internet requires a very careful reading of articles.
So if you want to stretch your brain too, stay tuned while I comment on Space News’s coverage on January 6 of a press conference: Arianespace Surpassed SpaceX in Commercial Launch Orders in 2015.
Launch rates
The organization’s CEO provided the following count of commercial orders for 2014. I think this is the count of launches into geo-stationary transfer orbit:
- 9 – Arianespace
- 9 – SpaceX
Article says that reflects Arianespace catching up with SpaceX.
Here is the count of 2015 contracts for geostationary launches: Continue reading “Stretching my brain on the commercial space launch business”
Turmoil in Middle East increases; Saudi Arabia in center of the turmoil
A lot has happened in the last few days around the Middle East, all of which news points toward more turmoil in the region and increases risks of turmoil in the oil market.
If you are really interested, follow along with me as I tried to sort things out. Keep in mind I’m blogging as a way to sort out for myself what is happening around me. So here goes…
On Saturday, Saudi Arabia executed 47 people who had been convicted for various charges. One of them was a very visible Shiite cleric. I think the death sentences have been in place for some time so there was no outwardly visible reason why those sentences were carried out over the weekend. That particular cleric has been under sentence since 2014.
Protests quickly broke out in Iran. The Saudi Embassy in Tehran was attacked and part of it set on fire. I didn’t quite understand from press coverage whether the protesters actually got into the building or how much of the building was damaged by fire. One photo shows one fire burning in one part of the building but does not give a larger context.
Continue reading “Turmoil in Middle East increases; Saudi Arabia in center of the turmoil”
Why I am so optimistic – 3
The number of people working in manufacturing has been declining for many years. Those job losses will continue at the same time as technology disrupts other industries causing the loss of more jobs.
This is not a new concept. Technological advances have devastated farm employment over the last 150 years.
(Cross-post from my other blog, Nonprofit Update.)
Prof. Thomas Tunstall pondered Where the New Jobs Will Come From. Sub headline on his 11/4/15 article said:
In 2007 iPhone application developers didn’t exist. By 2011 Apple had $15 billion in mobile-app revenues.
Consider the percentage of the population employed in agriculture over time: Continue reading “Why I am so optimistic – 3”
Why I am so optimistic – 2
Previously mentioned when I look at long-term economic trends I am incredibly optimistic. When I look at the headlines this morning or news from the political world, I am very discouraged.
(Cross-post from my other blog, Nonprofit Update.)
To see one illustration of why I am so optimistic for the long-term, check out a column by Glenn Reynolds at USA Today: Actually, things are pretty good / Free markets and free inquiry have changed the historic ‘norms’ of poverty and violence.
Earlier post summarized in one paragraph what caused this radical improvement.
Here are a final two points from the article I’d like to highlight:
Second, it is possible for us collectively to turn back history.
Why I am so optimistic – 1
When I look at the political news or any news in general I get very pessimistic about our future.
In contrast, when I look at the amazing things happening beyond the headlines in today’s newspaper I feel incredibly optimistic.
Consider that private companies are developing the technology for space exploration. Consider the energy revolution created by hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling. Consider radical changes in technology that are making so many things easier, faster, and cheaper. Consider that anyone that wants to do so can publish their own book, distribute their own music, or create a feature movie.
As a tiny illustration, look at my company and pastimes. Technology allows me to run a high quality CPA practice without any staff. In my spare time I am a publisher and journalist. Anyone in Europe or North America or most of Asia could easily do the same and at minimal cost.
(Cross post from my other blog, Nonprofit Update.)
When I look at long-term economic trends I am incredibly optimistic.
For yet one more explanation of why that is the case, consider a column by Glenn Reynolds at USA Today: Actually, things are pretty good / Free markets and free inquiry have changed the historic ‘norms’ of poverty and violence.
Until relatively recently, an illness-filled short life of dirt-eating poverty was the normal condition for practically everybody on the planet. In the last 100 or 200 years life has gotten radically better for practically everyone.
“Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.”
Philosiblog discusses this quote from the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius:
Philosiblog ponders the quote in the context of personal relationships. (Check out the link above.) Everything a person tells you is filtered by their worldview and their perspective of what they discuss. Likewise, you filter their comments based on your worldview and your perspective of what they said. You filter everything you see through your perspective.
“Corruption Is Just a Symptom, Not the Disease”
Professors Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson explain Corruption Is Just a Symptom, Not the Disease / To end global poverty, stop tolerating national institutions that serve greedy elites and suck poor countries dry, on 12/5 in the Wall Street Journal.
Corruption is the highly visible symptom of much deeper issues.
The real problem?
The lack of an operating justice system. The lack of accountability. The lack of a free press that can actually get away with challenging those in power – that means reporters don’t get beat up, thrown in jail, or killed when they irritate political leaders.
Continue reading ““Corruption Is Just a Symptom, Not the Disease””
Update on marijuana regulation – #19
Here are a few articles on the status of legalized marijuana in Colorado. Remember I’m following this issue to see what impact heavy-handed regulation has on a newly legalized industry. Two recent articles and an older one I just found.
8/11 – AP at Bismarck Tribune – Colorado may ban ‘candy’ name on marijuana treats – The state government has proposals out that would require better disclosure that an edible product contains THC. A red stop sign with the letters THC would be required on the label. Candy type items won’t be labeled as candy. Liquids would only be produced in single serving containers.
6/6 – Newsweek – The Unexpected Side Effects of Legalizing Weed – Article labels as unexpected a number of side effects from legalizing recreational use of marijuana in Colorado.
News from the open frontier of technology – 7/15
Amazon’s Prime Day sale marks an amazing anniversary. Autonomous robotic ‘cheetah’ can jump over obstacles as it is running. Other fun news from the astounding open frontier of technological innovation.
5/29 – Washington Post – Oh cool, now this robotic cheetah can make running leaps – Extremely cool. A mechanical cheetah that can run is an amazing step. Compound that with been able to clear barriers half its height.
Watch the slow-motion and you can see the complexities of calculations needed to position and push-off for the jump, having to pull in the rear legs to clear, having to absorb the force of the landing, and then resuming the run.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_luhn7TLfWU]
Amazing.
7/15 – The Economist Espresso (via email thus no on-line link) – Amazon at 20: bargains and much, much more –
Continue reading “News from the open frontier of technology – 7/15”
More on the immorality of ethanol
I have a backlog of energy articles. That allows me to group comments together. Today’s focus: the morality of ethanol assessed based on the damage it causes.
12/17/14 – CBS Minnesota – U of M Study Finds Ethanol Worse for Air Quality Than Gasoline – When measured at the tailpipe, ethanol-laden gasoline measures about the same as regular gasoline. Study from the University of Minnesota says that when you count all of the inputs to grow corn and turn it into ethanol it is far worse for the environment than plain gasoline.
The point?
The morality of get rich quick schemes, view from 1875
From the Library of Congress, created by Currier & Ives, circa 1875. No known restrictions on publication.
The way to grow poor, the way to grow rich
In case anyone was wondering, I agree.
(Hat tip: Jason Zweig @jasonzweigwsj)
Why I chose a gun. Evil exists.
General Peter van Uhm is the Netherlands chief of defense. In the following TED presentation, he explains why he chose a gun to make the world a better place. Others choose a pen or brush.
He intentionally picked up a gun.
I’ve not talked about my military service on my blogs. His presentation is a superb proxy for why I took my turn carrying a gun, especially one that held frightening power.
Here’s the reason in one phrase: Continue reading “Why I chose a gun. Evil exists.”
Be careful on the ‘net. It is cruel and unforgiving. Draw wrong attention and you get dissected, then shamed.
If you are in any social media platform at all, you need to be really careful about what you say. You need to be cautious in saying things that are flippant or can be misunderstood.
There are severe dangers that go along with all the supercool technology available today. This article is cross-posted from my other blog, Nonprofit Update.
The twitter shame mob
A PR manager from a company sent smart mouth tweets to her 170 followers. Sent a few before travelling to London. Checked her phone there, found no reaction, and sent a few more smarty-pants comments.
While on the 11 hour flight to Johannesburg, another person saw her tweet, and sent it to his 15,000 followers hinting the person was a bigoted racist.
You know where this is going. Oh, her extended family she was on her way to visit? They are all ANC supporters.
The attack tweet went viral. By the time this person landed in South Africa, there was someone waiting to take pictures of her as she turned on her phone and saw the deluge. Huge numbers of people around the world were trashing her and visiting Orwell’s two minute hate on her.