Michael Yon was featured on NPR yesterday. At his own personal expense, he has embedded himself in the U.S. Army as an independent correspondent, photographer, etc. He is working on a book of his experience, and has several pictures posted on his blog.
I have skimmed his postings and they ready very well, in my opinion, despite being published "RUB."
Keeping ourselves apprised of situations around the world is important for us to do as American citizens. It is our money and our lives that travel abroad, in the service of our government, and therefore it is our responsibility to hold those we elect accountable and responsible. This seems to be Michael Yon's mission, to clarify and verify news that issues from Iraq and the immediate region.
According to one comment, Michael's site cannot be viewed by servicepeople abroad, as his site has been blocked by the DoD. Maybe because he called the violence in Iraq a "civil war" a year before our news media identified it as such.
Independent voices are important. Otherwise, we all end up drinking our own Kool-Aid.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Adobe Illustrator + ArcMap
I am branching out in my map-making skills. Finally, I have found a resource that has helped me hurdle the Adobe Illustrator-to-ArcMap transition. If I actually had put my mind to this issue I might have solved this conundrum independent of Google. Google is like the calculator of the '80s; everyone would rather use it than their own brain. *Guilty*
I can't post the PDF but I discovered an ESRI UC paper presented by Ralph Wagnitz. In the paper, he outlines how one can export an ArcMap layout to .AI format, then import to Adobe Illustrator. Very simple, should not have required a Google search, but I fell into that trap.
I have found that in some cases, particularly with raster data, the PDF format works better, as the transparency comes along. I have experienced issues maintaining transparency with raster files with the .AI format.
Now, I can add vignetting to a map to simulate water depth without having to create a buffer. Representing shapes in 3D is also a plus. I disdain creating a 3D surface in 3D analyst and then being restricted cartographically when I want to develop a 3D map or cartographic representation. Ugh.
I originally hit upon this by following a very good blog, CartoTalk. Some good cartography/map-making discussion, there is.
My map-making, i.e. cartography has already improved!
I can't post the PDF but I discovered an ESRI UC paper presented by Ralph Wagnitz. In the paper, he outlines how one can export an ArcMap layout to .AI format, then import to Adobe Illustrator. Very simple, should not have required a Google search, but I fell into that trap.
I have found that in some cases, particularly with raster data, the PDF format works better, as the transparency comes along. I have experienced issues maintaining transparency with raster files with the .AI format.
Now, I can add vignetting to a map to simulate water depth without having to create a buffer. Representing shapes in 3D is also a plus. I disdain creating a 3D surface in 3D analyst and then being restricted cartographically when I want to develop a 3D map or cartographic representation. Ugh.
I originally hit upon this by following a very good blog, CartoTalk. Some good cartography/map-making discussion, there is.
My map-making, i.e. cartography has already improved!
Yahoo NewsGlobe
Is this the twilight of Geographic Illiteracy?
Eventually, perhaps not with my generation; some of them still go kicking and screaming to the fountain of knowledge and refuse to drink.
Perhaps the day is coming, though, when the omnipresence of technology will be so great that one must actually live in a cave not to be aware of the world around them.
What if we could view television not by selecting a channel but by selecting choices based on geography? Select on North America and view possible feeds, and if we are bored with that, we tap into Europe, or South Asia, or East Asia.
Eventually, perhaps not with my generation; some of them still go kicking and screaming to the fountain of knowledge and refuse to drink.
Perhaps the day is coming, though, when the omnipresence of technology will be so great that one must actually live in a cave not to be aware of the world around them.
What if we could view television not by selecting a channel but by selecting choices based on geography? Select on North America and view possible feeds, and if we are bored with that, we tap into Europe, or South Asia, or East Asia.
Google + YouTube = GoogleTube
GoogleTube - that is my word for what happens when you allow people to geotag their videos. I have been ranting about this for about a month, since classes began. Which is funny, as I had no idea this was in the works at YouTube, as my site visits to YouTube can be counted on one hand.
The idea of geotagging videos came to me in my sleep one night. Prior to teaching my geography class for that night, I checked my mailbox and found a brochure for geography videos. The costs of these videos was outrageous; $200 for a 20-yr old video. Forget it! Neither I nor my department(s) have money to shell out for a 15-minute that is two decades old.
Anyway, it dawned on me that when university faculty travel to some place, they ought to take a DV recorder with them, video something that could be educational, and post it to YouTube. No more than 5-10 minutes, keeping it short, and focusing on one theme or topic.
Now, that is possible through Google Earth and YouTube. Excellent!
Now, get busy everyone! DV the earth!
The idea of geotagging videos came to me in my sleep one night. Prior to teaching my geography class for that night, I checked my mailbox and found a brochure for geography videos. The costs of these videos was outrageous; $200 for a 20-yr old video. Forget it! Neither I nor my department(s) have money to shell out for a 15-minute that is two decades old.
Anyway, it dawned on me that when university faculty travel to some place, they ought to take a DV recorder with them, video something that could be educational, and post it to YouTube. No more than 5-10 minutes, keeping it short, and focusing on one theme or topic.
Now, that is possible through Google Earth and YouTube. Excellent!
Now, get busy everyone! DV the earth!
Friday, February 08, 2008
Child Labor - Forbes.com
Child Labor - Forbes.com
Geographers have a difficult road ahead of them. The irresistable force of Globalization extends its tendrils into all facets of our lives. We are not even safe from the malevolent aspect of globalization when we purchase a soccer ball. That soccer ball may have been sewn together by a child, according to this story by Megha Bahree.
Not only do soccer balls represent a negative aspect of globalization, but so do embroidered jeans, beaded purses, or those little decorative boxes available at many department stores. These products could also, potentially, have been constructed by children.
Child labor is nothing new. Even our society in the United States has involved a fair amount of its own child labor. Talk to anyone who grew up on a farm. Ask them what it was like for them to grow up. They will probably say, "chores!" I know I worked each summer on my grandparent's farm in Nebraska; and I know that my mother and her brothers worked throughout their childhood on their parent's farm. Child labor in the U.S. is nothing new.
For some children in the U.S. things are somewhat different. Children, and I should say that the definition of a "child" depends. For some, those people under 13 are consider children. For others, the age might be 14. From other viewpoints, those 18 and under are children. But as I was saying, things for some U.S. children are different. They get paid.
Many farmers pay their labor fairly well. According to Ms. Bahree's article, some teenagers may make as much as $7/hr. The other difference is where the money is spent. U.S. teenagers are probably not going to use their income to pay for food for their family, or to help pay off family debt. Children in other countries may make $0.20/hr, or perhaps $1-$2/day. This money is then used to help pay for family expenses-food or debt, not for shopping at the mall, buying Miley Cyrus' new CD.
But is Globalization really that bad?
I argue that Globalization is an amoral force - it doesn't care, really, one way or the other if children are employed or not. The people behind the force have the responsibility of these decisions, however. Guns don't kill people, bullets do not kill people - it is the person wielding the tool that decides how the tool is used.
It can be argued that Globalization may be a potential savior for some of these children. The outsourcing of jobs overseas, not only from the U.S. but also from Europe, Mexico (yes, even Mexico outsources), and Japan, can push technology and new jobs and higher wages into new regions. As wages increase, children may be less likely to have to work outside the home. Families won't feel compelled to "sell" their children's services to others to help the family survive. The children would then be able to educate themselves, further increasing their income potential.
But all of this occurs slowly, and the distribution of these activities is spotty. However, this is the way of Diffusion. Just like disease outbreaks begin slowly, sometimes in isolated areas, pretty soon, under the correct conditions, the disease begins to thrive.
Globalization may act this way, becoming spatially diffuse, and, unlike an infection, may gradually improve the standards of living of millions of people abroad.
Geographers have a difficult road ahead of them. The irresistable force of Globalization extends its tendrils into all facets of our lives. We are not even safe from the malevolent aspect of globalization when we purchase a soccer ball. That soccer ball may have been sewn together by a child, according to this story by Megha Bahree.
Not only do soccer balls represent a negative aspect of globalization, but so do embroidered jeans, beaded purses, or those little decorative boxes available at many department stores. These products could also, potentially, have been constructed by children.
Child labor is nothing new. Even our society in the United States has involved a fair amount of its own child labor. Talk to anyone who grew up on a farm. Ask them what it was like for them to grow up. They will probably say, "chores!" I know I worked each summer on my grandparent's farm in Nebraska; and I know that my mother and her brothers worked throughout their childhood on their parent's farm. Child labor in the U.S. is nothing new.
For some children in the U.S. things are somewhat different. Children, and I should say that the definition of a "child" depends. For some, those people under 13 are consider children. For others, the age might be 14. From other viewpoints, those 18 and under are children. But as I was saying, things for some U.S. children are different. They get paid.
Many farmers pay their labor fairly well. According to Ms. Bahree's article, some teenagers may make as much as $7/hr. The other difference is where the money is spent. U.S. teenagers are probably not going to use their income to pay for food for their family, or to help pay off family debt. Children in other countries may make $0.20/hr, or perhaps $1-$2/day. This money is then used to help pay for family expenses-food or debt, not for shopping at the mall, buying Miley Cyrus' new CD.
But is Globalization really that bad?
I argue that Globalization is an amoral force - it doesn't care, really, one way or the other if children are employed or not. The people behind the force have the responsibility of these decisions, however. Guns don't kill people, bullets do not kill people - it is the person wielding the tool that decides how the tool is used.
It can be argued that Globalization may be a potential savior for some of these children. The outsourcing of jobs overseas, not only from the U.S. but also from Europe, Mexico (yes, even Mexico outsources), and Japan, can push technology and new jobs and higher wages into new regions. As wages increase, children may be less likely to have to work outside the home. Families won't feel compelled to "sell" their children's services to others to help the family survive. The children would then be able to educate themselves, further increasing their income potential.
But all of this occurs slowly, and the distribution of these activities is spotty. However, this is the way of Diffusion. Just like disease outbreaks begin slowly, sometimes in isolated areas, pretty soon, under the correct conditions, the disease begins to thrive.
Globalization may act this way, becoming spatially diffuse, and, unlike an infection, may gradually improve the standards of living of millions of people abroad.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Middle East Reality
Not only a good blog on the Middle East but also contains links to other interesting blogs, as well.
Blog: Inside Iraq
"Inside Iraq" is a blog updated by Iraqi journalists working for McClatchy Newspapers. They are based in Baghdad and outlying provinces. These are firsthand accounts of their experiences. Their complete names are withheld for security purposes. [This is a cut-and-paste job, as it was easier to post their own "About" than write my own.]
Firsthand experiences are always better than heresay, and that is what this blog is about. Not a visit but a resident, the blog's author shares with us the details of her life. I appreciate this insight much, as I feel it helps us as Americans get a feel for the daily issues of Iraqis. I personally do not care what Wolf Blitzer has to say about Iraq, I want to know what the citizen Iraqi has to say.
Firsthand experiences are always better than heresay, and that is what this blog is about. Not a visit but a resident, the blog's author shares with us the details of her life. I appreciate this insight much, as I feel it helps us as Americans get a feel for the daily issues of Iraqis. I personally do not care what Wolf Blitzer has to say about Iraq, I want to know what the citizen Iraqi has to say.
Four Tiers of Growth and Prosperity
Former World Bank President James Wolfensohn makes a good pitch in this recent article. Within, he describes the transition from our traditional First World, Second World, Third World mentality - which within the last decade or so has migrated towards High Income, Middle Income, Low Income nomenclature - to a new paradigm.
The world now consists, or will soon consist of, a different structure. First Tier is used to describe Western and Northern Europe, the United States and Canada, and Japan.
The second tier, comprised of former middle- and low-income nations, is represented by countries like India and China.
The third tier are represented by countries in the Middle East and South America. These countries have significant economies yet do not have the influence within the world economy to either require significant help or have the ability to significantly influence world economic policy. At least according Wolfensohn. I would suggest that while, overall, this may be true, certain economic sectors are certainly influenced by countries in these regions. The Middle East is a significant player in petroleum, which influences energy prices. Brazil and Argentina are significant players in agriculture, which carries over to subsidies, food costs, and perhaps energy (think ethanol).
The last tier of countries are chiefly found within Subsaharan Africa. There are a few other countries that fit into this are found outside the region, such as Haiti.. These countries have extreme human poverty, benefit little from the forces of globalization, and unless there is outside intervention (which may have been the initial catalyst for their problems), will probably continue to lag behind the rest of the world - at best.
The article is very detail-rich and Wolfensohn does offer some advice to counteract some of the forces currently at work that undermine potentials across the globe that seek to elevate countries to higher tiers. Finally, being European, I would guess, he challenges Europe to rise up and take a leadership role in eradicating the extreme differences in growth and wealth around the world.
A certain amount of income-disparity is important to have, I believe. In fact, in a free-market world, there will certainly be a stratification of wealth and income. Not everyone is predisposed to risk, entrepreneurial attitudes, climbing the corporation ladder, or the means-justifies-the-end type mentality. Thusly, there will also be disparity in wealth. One cannot eliminate the ability to achieve a better standard of living, however. Maybe it could be likened to a football game (American), where one team gets down so far, becomes demoralized, and loses. There are examples of comebacks, however.
The Houston Oilers and the Buffalo Bills game comes to mind.
The world now consists, or will soon consist of, a different structure. First Tier is used to describe Western and Northern Europe, the United States and Canada, and Japan.
The second tier, comprised of former middle- and low-income nations, is represented by countries like India and China.
The third tier are represented by countries in the Middle East and South America. These countries have significant economies yet do not have the influence within the world economy to either require significant help or have the ability to significantly influence world economic policy. At least according Wolfensohn. I would suggest that while, overall, this may be true, certain economic sectors are certainly influenced by countries in these regions. The Middle East is a significant player in petroleum, which influences energy prices. Brazil and Argentina are significant players in agriculture, which carries over to subsidies, food costs, and perhaps energy (think ethanol).
The last tier of countries are chiefly found within Subsaharan Africa. There are a few other countries that fit into this are found outside the region, such as Haiti.. These countries have extreme human poverty, benefit little from the forces of globalization, and unless there is outside intervention (which may have been the initial catalyst for their problems), will probably continue to lag behind the rest of the world - at best.
The article is very detail-rich and Wolfensohn does offer some advice to counteract some of the forces currently at work that undermine potentials across the globe that seek to elevate countries to higher tiers. Finally, being European, I would guess, he challenges Europe to rise up and take a leadership role in eradicating the extreme differences in growth and wealth around the world.
A certain amount of income-disparity is important to have, I believe. In fact, in a free-market world, there will certainly be a stratification of wealth and income. Not everyone is predisposed to risk, entrepreneurial attitudes, climbing the corporation ladder, or the means-justifies-the-end type mentality. Thusly, there will also be disparity in wealth. One cannot eliminate the ability to achieve a better standard of living, however. Maybe it could be likened to a football game (American), where one team gets down so far, becomes demoralized, and loses. There are examples of comebacks, however.
The Houston Oilers and the Buffalo Bills game comes to mind.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Foreigners Keep Out! High Tech Mapping Starts to Redefine International Borders
Foreigners Keep Out! High Tech Mapping Starts to Redefine International Borders
This is a big deal, now, and into the future. Consider that the seas and oceans really represent uncharted territory. The resources contained within these water bodies have hardly been studied, let alone the seafloor.
Last summer, the Russians made big news regarding their efforts, setting a plaque on the seafloor, much like the authors stated in this article, the astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin on the moon. The Russians are being much more progressive about their research. Their ships capable of caring out such research outnumber the U.S. flotilla of ships by about 3 to 1 (they have around 17 to the approximately 3 that we have; I realized I need a reference here, too).
As the search for new energy sources continues to heat up (yes, a pun), the United States needs to develop a more well-defined energy policy and energy goals. We need to be more pro-active in these efforts, listen less to lobbyists, and more to the scientists and researchers who study this issues.
But, back to the real path here. The U.S. may have some issues in determining new boundaries. These issues will pale in comparison to the issues faced by Southeast Asian and Pacific Island nations. These nations already have issues with overlapping boundaries. The research will allow them to effectively map seafloor structures, eliminate 'mystery' and allow for better decisions. Maybe.
This is a big deal, now, and into the future. Consider that the seas and oceans really represent uncharted territory. The resources contained within these water bodies have hardly been studied, let alone the seafloor.
Last summer, the Russians made big news regarding their efforts, setting a plaque on the seafloor, much like the authors stated in this article, the astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin on the moon. The Russians are being much more progressive about their research. Their ships capable of caring out such research outnumber the U.S. flotilla of ships by about 3 to 1 (they have around 17 to the approximately 3 that we have; I realized I need a reference here, too).
As the search for new energy sources continues to heat up (yes, a pun), the United States needs to develop a more well-defined energy policy and energy goals. We need to be more pro-active in these efforts, listen less to lobbyists, and more to the scientists and researchers who study this issues.
But, back to the real path here. The U.S. may have some issues in determining new boundaries. These issues will pale in comparison to the issues faced by Southeast Asian and Pacific Island nations. These nations already have issues with overlapping boundaries. The research will allow them to effectively map seafloor structures, eliminate 'mystery' and allow for better decisions. Maybe.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
The Associated Press: GPS Adds Dimension to Online Photos
The Associated Press: GPS Adds Dimension to Online Photos
Hot of the AP wire, this news item is probably old news to many. Geotagging photos I first discovered through Google Earth and Panoramio. I have since discovered another source of geotagged photos at Trekearth.com.
These sites are wonderful in being able to examine places around the globe, to get an idea of culture, landscape, and the general diversity around us.
I use these sites in teaching World Geography, and students really seem to appreciate the efforts that the photographers go through to acquire their image and post.
My only complaint is this: most of the dialogue about the photos deals mostly with composition issues. People state whether or not they like how objects are framed, colors captured, etc. Ideally, for me any way, would be the time and date of image acquisition, plus some discussion of what we are looking at, the culture of the people, the type of food, the type of crop, something that will enhance the story-telling ability of the image, and put that image in a context that we can understand.
That would be a big help.
Also, I have this idea. People need to begin geo-tagging video. Web sites need to be able to geotag videos. I would love to be able to use Google Earth in my class, find an area that I would like to discuss in class, and click on a short video of that particular place to learn more about it. How awesome would that be?
Hot of the AP wire, this news item is probably old news to many. Geotagging photos I first discovered through Google Earth and Panoramio. I have since discovered another source of geotagged photos at Trekearth.com.
These sites are wonderful in being able to examine places around the globe, to get an idea of culture, landscape, and the general diversity around us.
I use these sites in teaching World Geography, and students really seem to appreciate the efforts that the photographers go through to acquire their image and post.
My only complaint is this: most of the dialogue about the photos deals mostly with composition issues. People state whether or not they like how objects are framed, colors captured, etc. Ideally, for me any way, would be the time and date of image acquisition, plus some discussion of what we are looking at, the culture of the people, the type of food, the type of crop, something that will enhance the story-telling ability of the image, and put that image in a context that we can understand.
That would be a big help.
Also, I have this idea. People need to begin geo-tagging video. Web sites need to be able to geotag videos. I would love to be able to use Google Earth in my class, find an area that I would like to discuss in class, and click on a short video of that particular place to learn more about it. How awesome would that be?
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
What is in a Name?
I read the recent Time Magazine article relating Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's news conference. He basically said that he was too young (19) to take over the PPP party's reigns (a sign of maturity) at this point in his life. His father would run the show until he was of age (25, in Pakistan) to be able to run for office. Until then, he would remain a college student. Good choice, in my book.
But his name got me thinking about ethnic names. How do they work? Why is his mother's name Benazir Bhutto and his name Bilawal Bhutto Zardari? What is his father's name?
All things good and inerrant can be found within Wikipedia, so I checked there. I am not sure this is common knowledge, but outside the Western world, names follow considerable different rules.
In Pakistan, names can be drawn from a number of different influences, Arab, Turkish, Afghan, Persian, etc. They can relate to tribal names or pre-Islamic family names. And, there is no single way in which one may write a name. But, there are some general guidelines:
Now, let's look around the world a bit.
Arab/Islamic Names:
These can be confusing. Names can consist of a given name, include lineage, and home region or tribe.
The surname comes first, followed by the given name. For example, Mao Zedong, in Western terms is Zedong Mao, or Mr. Mao, or Chairman Mao. Mao is his surname, Zedong is his given name. Very old names may have a hyphenation, like Sun-Yat Sen; "Sen" is his given name, "Sun-Yat" is his surname.
Thai Names
Thai names have always thrown me. I'm glad that Thais have nicknames. They are long. The reason they are long is that Thai people have tried to translate their Chinese names into their language (Thai). In so doing, they end up with long names. Additionally, in 1920, the Thai government passed a law stating that there can be only one surname per family. One will never see the Thai equivalent of Jones or Smith, in other words. Each surname must be unique. Thankfully, every Thai person has a one or two syllable nickname that is used for greetings. For example, the former Prime Minister's nickname was "Meow," which in Thai, means "cat."
Meow.
But his name got me thinking about ethnic names. How do they work? Why is his mother's name Benazir Bhutto and his name Bilawal Bhutto Zardari? What is his father's name?
All things good and inerrant can be found within Wikipedia, so I checked there. I am not sure this is common knowledge, but outside the Western world, names follow considerable different rules.
In Pakistan, names can be drawn from a number of different influences, Arab, Turkish, Afghan, Persian, etc. They can relate to tribal names or pre-Islamic family names. And, there is no single way in which one may write a name. But, there are some general guidelines:
- Males usually have 2-3 names, a given name or two, with the father's given name tacked on the end.
- Male names may begin with a title, such as one conveyed by a tribe or a caste.
- Females generally have 1-2 names, a given name and perhaps the father's name appended at the end.
Now let's look at Bilawal's name. His mother has two names: Benazir Bhutto; a given name plus her father's given name. His father's name is Asif Ali Zardari; three names, and I am guessing his given name was Zardari. Bilawal is a first given name, followed by another given name, Bhutto (from his mother's father, probably), followed by his father's given name, Zardari. Please correct me if I am wrong.
In Pakistan, to establish your identity, one would need to provide all of your names, plus all of your father's names.Now, let's look around the world a bit.
Arab/Islamic Names:
These can be confusing. Names can consist of a given name, include lineage, and home region or tribe.
- abd means "servant or slave of". If you know an Abdallah or Abdullah, his name means "servant of God".
- abu means "father of". Abu Nidal means "father of Nidal".
- ibn/bin means "son of". So, Usama bin Laden means, "Usama, son of Laden".
- al- arabic names may further consist of an adjective that describes the character of the person.
- al- arabic names may also have a reference to the person's home region or tribe.
The surname comes first, followed by the given name. For example, Mao Zedong, in Western terms is Zedong Mao, or Mr. Mao, or Chairman Mao. Mao is his surname, Zedong is his given name. Very old names may have a hyphenation, like Sun-Yat Sen; "Sen" is his given name, "Sun-Yat" is his surname.
Thai Names
Thai names have always thrown me. I'm glad that Thais have nicknames. They are long. The reason they are long is that Thai people have tried to translate their Chinese names into their language (Thai). In so doing, they end up with long names. Additionally, in 1920, the Thai government passed a law stating that there can be only one surname per family. One will never see the Thai equivalent of Jones or Smith, in other words. Each surname must be unique. Thankfully, every Thai person has a one or two syllable nickname that is used for greetings. For example, the former Prime Minister's nickname was "Meow," which in Thai, means "cat."
Meow.
Tata Motors: Another Wake-Up Call for the Auto Industry
Four Wheels for the Masses: The $2,500 Car (NYT)
This is a great article! It hits the entire global auto industry. In doing so, I think it also communicates an important message: automakes need to focus on affordability, safety, and environmentally-sound engineering.
The Japanese:
Kanban: Just-in-Time delivery of parts. This is what helped Asia automakers overcome U.S. automakers. Plants did not need to keep huge amounts of inventory in stock. It arrived as they needed it. This also helped make more efficient parts. If problems were found, they could be fixed quickly, without leaving huge amounts of defective inventory in stock.
Kaizen: Continuous Improvement meant that production managers were continuously looking for ways to improve the process. This eliminated the painting of parts of components that no one saw, for example, saving paint costs.
These two characteristics have become part of all automakers habits, no longer just within Japanese companies.
What Tata Motors has done has thrown current protocols out the window and started from fresh.
Automakers that poo-poo this notion should be careful. There are a lot of people in this world, Indians and Chinese that cannot afford most vehicles, but would probably happily pay $2,500-$3,000 for a car like this.
I would suspect that some segments of the American population would also purchase such a vehicle. Look at the Toyota Echo, the Scion brand, the new compact offerings of Nissan, the Chevy Aveo, and new this year in the United States, the SMART car.
I can see where people would rather drive an inexpensive auto and use the savings for other things, retirement, education, medical expenses, or just paying off individual debt.
This is a great article! It hits the entire global auto industry. In doing so, I think it also communicates an important message: automakes need to focus on affordability, safety, and environmentally-sound engineering.
The Japanese:
Kanban: Just-in-Time delivery of parts. This is what helped Asia automakers overcome U.S. automakers. Plants did not need to keep huge amounts of inventory in stock. It arrived as they needed it. This also helped make more efficient parts. If problems were found, they could be fixed quickly, without leaving huge amounts of defective inventory in stock.
Kaizen: Continuous Improvement meant that production managers were continuously looking for ways to improve the process. This eliminated the painting of parts of components that no one saw, for example, saving paint costs.
These two characteristics have become part of all automakers habits, no longer just within Japanese companies.
What Tata Motors has done has thrown current protocols out the window and started from fresh.
Automakers that poo-poo this notion should be careful. There are a lot of people in this world, Indians and Chinese that cannot afford most vehicles, but would probably happily pay $2,500-$3,000 for a car like this.
I would suspect that some segments of the American population would also purchase such a vehicle. Look at the Toyota Echo, the Scion brand, the new compact offerings of Nissan, the Chevy Aveo, and new this year in the United States, the SMART car.
I can see where people would rather drive an inexpensive auto and use the savings for other things, retirement, education, medical expenses, or just paying off individual debt.
Charles Taylor & Blood Diamonds
Charles Taylor Trial Starts - TIME
This is an interesting event that bears noting.
As I heard on NPR yesterday, Taylor's trial may cause African leaders to sit up and watch. According to some, this trial will put African leaders on notice that some behavior is intolerable. Not only is their behavior intolerable, but to be a "leader" one cannot feign ignorance of the actions of subordinates. Also, criminal behavior as endemic as it appears to have been in Liberia reflects on the leadership, and leaders should be held as responsible as those that actually pulled the trigger.
All of that is well and good, and I hope the prosecution pulls this one out.
The intriguing part of this event is the role of blood diamonds. Blood diamonds, also called Conflict Diamonds, are diamonds, extracted from the ground by slave or conscripted labor, and sold to unscrupulous traders in exchange for weapons. The weapons are then used to subjugate the indigenous population, fund other illegal activities, to enhance the wealth of the ruling group, or to fund conflict in other countries. Paramilitary groups have been known to round up men and children and put them to work searching for diamonds, threatening families and women in the event that other family members attempt to leave. Workers caught pocketing diamonds, even small ones, are liable to have hands chopped off, family members killed, or be killed themselves.
Many diamond producers, after 1999, vowed never to purchase diamonds obtained by the means described above. The problem is in the policing of these diamonds, and the unscrupulous people that trade in diamonds. Diamonds are smuggled from countries that have oppressive extraction methods to countries that comply with voluntary warranty systems (Kimberley Process). Then, these "legitimate" diamonds are sold on the diamond auction just as those diamonds obtained from more transparent processes.
74 Countries are members of the Kimberley Process, a system where member states can only trade with other member states. These member states must have met certain conditions and requirements to ensure transparency in the movement of diamonds. The issue in Africa is the corruption endemic in many governments, where money changes hands, encouraging people to look the other way.
This is an interesting event that bears noting.
As I heard on NPR yesterday, Taylor's trial may cause African leaders to sit up and watch. According to some, this trial will put African leaders on notice that some behavior is intolerable. Not only is their behavior intolerable, but to be a "leader" one cannot feign ignorance of the actions of subordinates. Also, criminal behavior as endemic as it appears to have been in Liberia reflects on the leadership, and leaders should be held as responsible as those that actually pulled the trigger.
All of that is well and good, and I hope the prosecution pulls this one out.
The intriguing part of this event is the role of blood diamonds. Blood diamonds, also called Conflict Diamonds, are diamonds, extracted from the ground by slave or conscripted labor, and sold to unscrupulous traders in exchange for weapons. The weapons are then used to subjugate the indigenous population, fund other illegal activities, to enhance the wealth of the ruling group, or to fund conflict in other countries. Paramilitary groups have been known to round up men and children and put them to work searching for diamonds, threatening families and women in the event that other family members attempt to leave. Workers caught pocketing diamonds, even small ones, are liable to have hands chopped off, family members killed, or be killed themselves.
Many diamond producers, after 1999, vowed never to purchase diamonds obtained by the means described above. The problem is in the policing of these diamonds, and the unscrupulous people that trade in diamonds. Diamonds are smuggled from countries that have oppressive extraction methods to countries that comply with voluntary warranty systems (Kimberley Process). Then, these "legitimate" diamonds are sold on the diamond auction just as those diamonds obtained from more transparent processes.
74 Countries are members of the Kimberley Process, a system where member states can only trade with other member states. These member states must have met certain conditions and requirements to ensure transparency in the movement of diamonds. The issue in Africa is the corruption endemic in many governments, where money changes hands, encouraging people to look the other way.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Toyota Passes Ford in Sales
As reported in this article, Toyota is now the #2 seller of automobiles in the United States, surpassing Ford.
A brief Google search led me to this site: OICA, and the listings of the world's biggest automakers. Here is a brief summary of the Top 5 (from 2006):
The U.S. auto industry stirs considerable emotion, due to the introduction of foreign autos in the 1970s, the restructuring of the U.S. auto industry, and the construction of foreign-owned and U.S. staffed production facilities.
In researching the automakers, I can across several Feedback-type postings of people lamenting the fall of the U.S. automaker, how U.S. citizens are traitors to their nation by buying foreign automobiles, etc.
Many U.S. are gainfully employed by these automakers. True, wages are not as high as they once were, but the wages are still good, benefits still available, and the product produced still high-quality. Secondly, even automobiles produced by U.S. automakers are not truly U.S.-made autos. Where was your Chevy Avalanche made? Mexico. Where was your Pontiac GTO made? Australia. How about your PT Cruiser? Also, Mexico. The new Ford Fusion is also made in Mexico.
But what about those cars made in wholly in the U.S.? If you drive a Ford Escape, about 35% of the parts making up that auto came from outside the United States/Canada. A Ford Mustang is about 70% American. In comparison, a Toyota Camry, made in Kentucky, is about 75% American. A Nissan Altima, made in MS or TN, is about 65% American.
We, as Americans, tend to want the best value for our dollar. Corporations tend to want to enhanced profitability for both themselves and keep their stockholders happy, so seek to find that balance between quality of product and cost. This is oversimplification, but the relationship here is extremely dynamic and constantly in a state of flux. Besides value, psychology also plays a large role here, in the perceptions that consumers have regarding brands and perceived quality. Additionally, there may also be cultural forces at work, as well.
While it is possible to make a close-to-100% American auto (Ford Expedition-95%), the American consumer market forces, coupled with global economics, tend to work against that reality.
(The source for most of my information was derived from a USA Today article, dated March 22nd, 2007)
A brief Google search led me to this site: OICA, and the listings of the world's biggest automakers. Here is a brief summary of the Top 5 (from 2006):
- General Motors: 8.926 million units
- Toyota: 8.036 million units
- Ford: 6.268 million units
- Volkswagen: 5.684 million units
- Honda: 3.669 million units
The U.S. auto industry stirs considerable emotion, due to the introduction of foreign autos in the 1970s, the restructuring of the U.S. auto industry, and the construction of foreign-owned and U.S. staffed production facilities.
In researching the automakers, I can across several Feedback-type postings of people lamenting the fall of the U.S. automaker, how U.S. citizens are traitors to their nation by buying foreign automobiles, etc.
Many U.S. are gainfully employed by these automakers. True, wages are not as high as they once were, but the wages are still good, benefits still available, and the product produced still high-quality. Secondly, even automobiles produced by U.S. automakers are not truly U.S.-made autos. Where was your Chevy Avalanche made? Mexico. Where was your Pontiac GTO made? Australia. How about your PT Cruiser? Also, Mexico. The new Ford Fusion is also made in Mexico.
But what about those cars made in wholly in the U.S.? If you drive a Ford Escape, about 35% of the parts making up that auto came from outside the United States/Canada. A Ford Mustang is about 70% American. In comparison, a Toyota Camry, made in Kentucky, is about 75% American. A Nissan Altima, made in MS or TN, is about 65% American.
We, as Americans, tend to want the best value for our dollar. Corporations tend to want to enhanced profitability for both themselves and keep their stockholders happy, so seek to find that balance between quality of product and cost. This is oversimplification, but the relationship here is extremely dynamic and constantly in a state of flux. Besides value, psychology also plays a large role here, in the perceptions that consumers have regarding brands and perceived quality. Additionally, there may also be cultural forces at work, as well.
While it is possible to make a close-to-100% American auto (Ford Expedition-95%), the American consumer market forces, coupled with global economics, tend to work against that reality.
(The source for most of my information was derived from a USA Today article, dated March 22nd, 2007)
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Iraqis Resort To Selling Children
Iraqis Resort To Selling Children
I am waiting for Windows XP SP2 to complete installing, and, as I am wont to doing in these episodes of spare time, I examine international news sources. This article in the English Al Jazeera edition caught my eye.
I encourage all of my geography students to go outside the US by examining international news sources. Some of my geography students have no choice, as it is part of their semester assignment. Most do not like to do this, and they protest. Usually, by mid-term, attitudes have changed, as the exposure awakens their minds to issues away from their homes. We cannot trust our media sources to provide us with unbiased news to keep Americans aware and apprised of conditions across the globe. Occasionally, Newsweek (Fareed Zakaria), the Washington Post, the New York Times, or the Wall Street Journal, will help out. The reality is that for us as US citizens to understand life outside our country we have to pro-active in that education.
Like this article. Huckabee wins! Yeah! Obama wins! Yeah! Meanwhile, families are driven to desperation to abide in a war-torn country. Families selling their children in hopes that their lives will be better, i.e. safer, healthier, etc., than their life might have been in Iraq. Some families are missing children, kidnapped and driven across borders, and sold, for who knows what purpose. If this information makes it to the US media, I would be surprised.
Oh, yeah, well, who can trust Al Jeezera, any way? After all, aren't they UBL mouthpiece?
Despite Al Jeezera's connection as UBL media outlet, they do carry legitimate stories and have the unique ability to penetrate into Islamic concerns. I do not think they would contrive this story. Otherwise, they would have no credibility in any region.
Lest you think these episodes do not happen, please visit your library and check out the April 2002 edition of Scientific American. I will be writing about this later - 21st century slavery.
I am waiting for Windows XP SP2 to complete installing, and, as I am wont to doing in these episodes of spare time, I examine international news sources. This article in the English Al Jazeera edition caught my eye.
I encourage all of my geography students to go outside the US by examining international news sources. Some of my geography students have no choice, as it is part of their semester assignment. Most do not like to do this, and they protest. Usually, by mid-term, attitudes have changed, as the exposure awakens their minds to issues away from their homes. We cannot trust our media sources to provide us with unbiased news to keep Americans aware and apprised of conditions across the globe. Occasionally, Newsweek (Fareed Zakaria), the Washington Post, the New York Times, or the Wall Street Journal, will help out. The reality is that for us as US citizens to understand life outside our country we have to pro-active in that education.
Like this article. Huckabee wins! Yeah! Obama wins! Yeah! Meanwhile, families are driven to desperation to abide in a war-torn country. Families selling their children in hopes that their lives will be better, i.e. safer, healthier, etc., than their life might have been in Iraq. Some families are missing children, kidnapped and driven across borders, and sold, for who knows what purpose. If this information makes it to the US media, I would be surprised.
Oh, yeah, well, who can trust Al Jeezera, any way? After all, aren't they UBL mouthpiece?
Despite Al Jeezera's connection as UBL media outlet, they do carry legitimate stories and have the unique ability to penetrate into Islamic concerns. I do not think they would contrive this story. Otherwise, they would have no credibility in any region.
Lest you think these episodes do not happen, please visit your library and check out the April 2002 edition of Scientific American. I will be writing about this later - 21st century slavery.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
An Indian Jaguar
Tata chosen as top bidder for Jaguar, Land Rover
I know Ford Motor Company has been trying to make itself more profitable. Ford has been shedding people and trying to focus on maintaining market share against Toyota. In this article, Tata Motors of India has been identified as the new owner of Jaguar and Land Rover.
The traditional British brands were purchased by the American car maker in 1989 and 2000. Culturally, this is not a big change. Now, it looks as if the South Asian subcontinent will be the new international home of two premier auto brands.
Tata is an interesting story in and of itself. Tata is invested in many different economic sectors throughout India, especially metals. Recently, Tata announced that it would begin production of a very inexpensive auto, priced around $2,500US. Many in the Global Climate Change tribe are concerned about this. The new autos are not expected to be very economically friendly. Secondly, the shear numbers of potential new drivers would put even more strain on a fragile environment.
India is working on improving its road network, but this is literally almost a case of putting the cart before the horse.
I look forward to seeing how this new auto relationship evolves.
I know Ford Motor Company has been trying to make itself more profitable. Ford has been shedding people and trying to focus on maintaining market share against Toyota. In this article, Tata Motors of India has been identified as the new owner of Jaguar and Land Rover.
The traditional British brands were purchased by the American car maker in 1989 and 2000. Culturally, this is not a big change. Now, it looks as if the South Asian subcontinent will be the new international home of two premier auto brands.
Tata is an interesting story in and of itself. Tata is invested in many different economic sectors throughout India, especially metals. Recently, Tata announced that it would begin production of a very inexpensive auto, priced around $2,500US. Many in the Global Climate Change tribe are concerned about this. The new autos are not expected to be very economically friendly. Secondly, the shear numbers of potential new drivers would put even more strain on a fragile environment.
India is working on improving its road network, but this is literally almost a case of putting the cart before the horse.
I look forward to seeing how this new auto relationship evolves.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
The Anti-Statue of Liberty
Thomas Friedman, New Times columnist, writing in a recent column, makes a motion to only support those candidates that unite Americans around "a common purpose, not a common enemy." I second that motion.
For the last six years, our country's leadership has developed an extremely myopic view of American policy, whether it is domestic or foreign. As a result, we have become, as TF states in his column, "The United States of Fighting Terrorism." I would argue that we are not winning that war on any front. Our civil liberties have been soundly thrashed by the continued Executive Privilege power and Justice Department complicity. Not only have U.S. citizens been victimized by this, but we continue to rob others of their human rights. And our leaders continue to admonish others for their human rights abuses.
All the while, China surges every day. China is in Africa, working economic deals, pledging dollars, people, equipment, and support to African states – building relationships. China is in South America, doing the same, building relationships. China is in Southeast Asia, guess what, doing the same thing – building relationships. Not relationships based on fear mongering, but relationships based on mutually agreeable economic terms.
The U.S must live by example of the ideals that have made this country the model against which all other countries are judged. We cannot lead duplicitous lives, saying one thing, "we support freedom," while we repress people at home, or abroad.
The best way to fight terrorism is not by fighting terrorism. Fighting terrorism is not best accomplished by Guantanamo Bay, a void in the world's legal system where du jour rules apply, a hallmark that stands in stark contrast to our Statue of Liberty. Guantanano Bay: The Anti-Statue of Liberty, as labeled by TF.
The best way to fight terrorism is by living right in the first place, by building consistency into our lives, into our actions. By showing the world that not only do we care about our own, but we care about you, too.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Global GDP Comparison
What if we renamed some of our states using the name of the country whose GDP most closely matches the state GDP?
That is the idea behind this map. The idea is not unique to me. I saw a similar map on another blog whose link I have lost. But having a mapping background I decided to obtain my own data and construct my own map.
I could not determine an analog for all states, which I found interesting. I am initially attributing the lack of an analog to the derth of "middle-income" countries that could potentially match-up with our "middle-income" states. If someone else dives into this, please let me know about your findings.
Who Fears Berserkistan?
Lesser Berserkistan, of course!Sorry, Gary T. I didn't get your permission to post. I do think that your treatment of these events hit home, however.
Let's form a sub-committee to investigate the deaths of hundreds, thousands, millions of people, e.g. Sudan/Darfur, Rwanda. Particularly while it is happening. Oh, yeah, while we are at it, I think we need a sub-committee to investigate human-trafficking, as well. We could probably have a 700-1,000 page report out in about 3 years. Then, we could engage Congress to act, and maybe in a couple years, have a resolution to oppose human trafficking. Over the course of the next decade or so, we could put out posters, emails, radio and TV blurbs encouraging people to cut down on their human-trafficking. In 50 years or so, human-trafficking might be as wide-spread as polio is today.
Whose the Greater Destabilizer?
In geography, we talk about devolution. Devolution is the breakdown of a state [country/nation] due to internal division. Some other terms that are also associated with devolution are Balkanization, Shatterbelt, and Failing/Failed States. When people within a region, whether that region be a state, nation, or realm, become disenfranchised with their government or method of governance, conditions are ripe for devolution.
The United States is embroiled in a process of nation-building in Iraq. We are encouraging Iraqi people to reduce their cultural ties to their tribes or larger family units and increase their identification with the greater Iraqi state. However, admirable this action might seem, the United States has not proven to be the Great Unifier.
I begin my argument by submitting that the current state of U.S. affairs in Southwest Asia can be traced to 1953. In reality, the creation of the state of Israel might be the birth of the modern era of conflict in Southwest Asia. I choose 1953 as my baseline due to the U.S. support of the Iranian Coup that overthrew the democratically-elected government of Mohammed Mossadeq. The British petroleum company, BP, was the private oil industry in Iran at the time. The Iranians, weary of seeing their oil and oil profits siphoned off to the West, nationalized the oil industry. The West, namely the United States and Great Britain, saw this as a threat. Operation Ajax was born out of the desire to regain control of oil resources in Iran.
Eventually, this would lead to the overthrow of the Shah of Iran, Reza Pahlavi, in 1979, beginning the theocratic rule still in place today.
Let us not forget that Iran was once Persia, which was once the Persian Empire, and is a nation and a people whose history pre-dates that of any European nation.
In 1982, the United States threw their support behind Saddam Hussein in his war 8-yr war against Iran. At that time, the war was turning against Iraq, and the U.S. did not think that it was in its interests for Iraq to lose.
In the meantime, during the decade of the 1980's, the United States cast its lot with the Muslim Afghan rebels in Afghanistan. The effort to help the Afghans against the Soviet march resulted in the most successful covert action in the history of the CIA. We also helped train those we are at war with now, in Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
In 1990, two years after its war with Iran, Iraq found itself at war with its former weapons supplier, the United States.
In 2002, the United States instituted a policy of regime change in Afghanistan, a nation that we were the benefactor of for almost a decade.
In 2003, the United States implemented regime change within Iraq. The coup in Iran in 1953 might also be termed, "regime change."
Currently, the United States has engaged both Syria and Iran in helping resolve conflict within Iraq. Both Syria and Iran have been marginalized through the "Axis of Evil" label. Both the United States and Iran have engaged in finger-pointing - "You're responsible for making this worse!"
Iran is being accused of providing more sophisticated IEDs and other weapons to Iraqi insurgents. In April 2007, ABC News ran a story about our secret efforts in Iran.
Lebanon had parliamentary elections the other day. A predominantly Muslim nation, but with sizable Christian and Armenian minority populations, by the way. The candidate supported by the United States - lost. The former president, Amin Gemayel was trying to win the seat vacated by his son. Analysts believe that the support by the Bush Administration doomed his election.
In closing, I offer this. Destabilization of this region cannot be attributed to any single nation. Russia, China, France, Great Britain, the United States, Iran, Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Libya - who am I leaving out? - are all responsible. Destabilization may have a core cause: Oil.
One thought I do have is this: discounting Oil, the basis for this destabilization is founded on the inherent disrespect that nations have for each other. Nations, and administrators of those nations, lack fundamental respect for differences among themselves, the people they government, and the lives in the far-flung reaches of our global that their policies directly or indirectly affect.
The United States is embroiled in a process of nation-building in Iraq. We are encouraging Iraqi people to reduce their cultural ties to their tribes or larger family units and increase their identification with the greater Iraqi state. However, admirable this action might seem, the United States has not proven to be the Great Unifier.
I begin my argument by submitting that the current state of U.S. affairs in Southwest Asia can be traced to 1953. In reality, the creation of the state of Israel might be the birth of the modern era of conflict in Southwest Asia. I choose 1953 as my baseline due to the U.S. support of the Iranian Coup that overthrew the democratically-elected government of Mohammed Mossadeq. The British petroleum company, BP, was the private oil industry in Iran at the time. The Iranians, weary of seeing their oil and oil profits siphoned off to the West, nationalized the oil industry. The West, namely the United States and Great Britain, saw this as a threat. Operation Ajax was born out of the desire to regain control of oil resources in Iran.
Eventually, this would lead to the overthrow of the Shah of Iran, Reza Pahlavi, in 1979, beginning the theocratic rule still in place today.
Let us not forget that Iran was once Persia, which was once the Persian Empire, and is a nation and a people whose history pre-dates that of any European nation.
In 1982, the United States threw their support behind Saddam Hussein in his war 8-yr war against Iran. At that time, the war was turning against Iraq, and the U.S. did not think that it was in its interests for Iraq to lose.
In the meantime, during the decade of the 1980's, the United States cast its lot with the Muslim Afghan rebels in Afghanistan. The effort to help the Afghans against the Soviet march resulted in the most successful covert action in the history of the CIA. We also helped train those we are at war with now, in Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
In 1990, two years after its war with Iran, Iraq found itself at war with its former weapons supplier, the United States.
In 2002, the United States instituted a policy of regime change in Afghanistan, a nation that we were the benefactor of for almost a decade.
In 2003, the United States implemented regime change within Iraq. The coup in Iran in 1953 might also be termed, "regime change."
Currently, the United States has engaged both Syria and Iran in helping resolve conflict within Iraq. Both Syria and Iran have been marginalized through the "Axis of Evil" label. Both the United States and Iran have engaged in finger-pointing - "You're responsible for making this worse!"
Iran is being accused of providing more sophisticated IEDs and other weapons to Iraqi insurgents. In April 2007, ABC News ran a story about our secret efforts in Iran.
Lebanon had parliamentary elections the other day. A predominantly Muslim nation, but with sizable Christian and Armenian minority populations, by the way. The candidate supported by the United States - lost. The former president, Amin Gemayel was trying to win the seat vacated by his son. Analysts believe that the support by the Bush Administration doomed his election.
In closing, I offer this. Destabilization of this region cannot be attributed to any single nation. Russia, China, France, Great Britain, the United States, Iran, Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Libya - who am I leaving out? - are all responsible. Destabilization may have a core cause: Oil.
One thought I do have is this: discounting Oil, the basis for this destabilization is founded on the inherent disrespect that nations have for each other. Nations, and administrators of those nations, lack fundamental respect for differences among themselves, the people they government, and the lives in the far-flung reaches of our global that their policies directly or indirectly affect.
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