Washington Post
Kenya must be one of the poorest counties in the world, but it has a factory making these masks. These women work in 8-hour shifts and sleep in dormitories, provided by the company. Working conditions are brutal, and most of the workers are women, who are used to being abused.
The US, masks are being made as a cottage industry, a few at a time.
Bad local conditions here are having a beneficial global effect.
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
Tuesday, April 7, 2020
Good Coffee has to Smell good and Taste good
I bought some yesterday because it combined the taste of chocolate with the taste of coffee. These tastes, however, are not compatible.
I made some this morning, and the smell was great! But the taste was not.
Into the trash, it goes.
I made some this morning, and the smell was great! But the taste was not.
Into the trash, it goes.
Educational Apps
Schools are now using Chromebooks and Educational Apps, instead of teachers, because this solution is cheaper.
They are not asking if this solution is better - they just ask if it is cheaper.
I am taking an online course now, and it is excellent. The instructor understands the subject, and the company supports him with good instructional software.
People do not understand that the computer is stupid, and people have to make it smart. If this combination is not in place, the overall combination is stupid.
They are not asking if this solution is better - they just ask if it is cheaper.
I am taking an online course now, and it is excellent. The instructor understands the subject, and the company supports him with good instructional software.
People do not understand that the computer is stupid, and people have to make it smart. If this combination is not in place, the overall combination is stupid.
Me and the Virus in Cartago
I had to do my weekly grocery shopping in Cartago yesterday. virus or no virus. I got the job done. bur it took longer than usual because many employees were not working.
I got to see for myself how dependent we are on each other, to order to meet our basic human needs.
One of these basic needs is for face coverings - which are not available.
These are simple devices, but they have to be made properly, of the right materials, that are not available in the usual home.
They have to force the air coming into the mouth and nose to be filtered through the material of the covering.
I got to see for myself how dependent we are on each other, to order to meet our basic human needs.
One of these basic needs is for face coverings - which are not available.
These are simple devices, but they have to be made properly, of the right materials, that are not available in the usual home.
They have to force the air coming into the mouth and nose to be filtered through the material of the covering.
Monday, April 6, 2020
The Computer will not Save us
I was learning the Python programming language, but I have lost interest in this. Why?
Because I have realized how inadequate the computer is for solving our important problems.
I am not speaking of the coronavirus, that the Computer can help us with. I am speaking of our self-destructive tendencies, that we cannot control, and which the computer has made worse.
I am qualified to speak of this. I worked in the Computer Industry from 1980-2000. I served my time in the trenches, with bombs going off all around me.
The software did improve from 2000-2020 but these improvements were so technical most people could not understand them. They elected Trump, and will probably elect him again.
His message was simple "I will save you." And Americans believe him.
Because I have realized how inadequate the computer is for solving our important problems.
I am not speaking of the coronavirus, that the Computer can help us with. I am speaking of our self-destructive tendencies, that we cannot control, and which the computer has made worse.
I am qualified to speak of this. I worked in the Computer Industry from 1980-2000. I served my time in the trenches, with bombs going off all around me.
The software did improve from 2000-2020 but these improvements were so technical most people could not understand them. They elected Trump, and will probably elect him again.
His message was simple "I will save you." And Americans believe him.
Sunday, April 5, 2020
Photography and my Father
My Father had a Photography Studio in Ft. Madison, Iowa.
He had joined the Marine Corp in 1930 (because of the Depression) and developed an interest in photography, especially home movies, in the next four years. He sent all his money home to his mother, and when he returned home, he bought a photography studio and got married.
I arrived in 1936. People were still having babies, even though they could not afford them. We could not afford a car, and Dad rode a bicycle to his Studio.
Then WWII happened, and we were rich, having the only photography studio in town. Everyone was rich then. We moved into a new house, with a garage for our new car!
Dad's studio moved to a better location, and he was in his prime! His favorite room was the Darkroom. and I got a box to stand on, while I worked the prints through the Hypo. Then the prints then went to the Washer, and Dad made little paddleboats I could use there.
Photography in those days was a complicated business, requiring lots of machinery and chemicals. But Dad could use all of them. He was a small businessman, and could not work for anyone else.
After the war, returning soldiers opened their own studios and charged lower prices. Dad's studio went out of business.
In 1947 we moved across the Mississippi River to my Mother's home town of Nauvoo, Illinois. It was a beautiful, fruit-growing place that grew lots of table grapes (and grapes for wine also).
I liked living in a small town, and I live in one now - in Costa Rica.
He had joined the Marine Corp in 1930 (because of the Depression) and developed an interest in photography, especially home movies, in the next four years. He sent all his money home to his mother, and when he returned home, he bought a photography studio and got married.
I arrived in 1936. People were still having babies, even though they could not afford them. We could not afford a car, and Dad rode a bicycle to his Studio.
Then WWII happened, and we were rich, having the only photography studio in town. Everyone was rich then. We moved into a new house, with a garage for our new car!
Dad's studio moved to a better location, and he was in his prime! His favorite room was the Darkroom. and I got a box to stand on, while I worked the prints through the Hypo. Then the prints then went to the Washer, and Dad made little paddleboats I could use there.
Photography in those days was a complicated business, requiring lots of machinery and chemicals. But Dad could use all of them. He was a small businessman, and could not work for anyone else.
After the war, returning soldiers opened their own studios and charged lower prices. Dad's studio went out of business.
In 1947 we moved across the Mississippi River to my Mother's home town of Nauvoo, Illinois. It was a beautiful, fruit-growing place that grew lots of table grapes (and grapes for wine also).
I liked living in a small town, and I live in one now - in Costa Rica.
Saturday, April 4, 2020
Polygamy and Industry
You probably know what I am going to say, just from reading the title.
Mormonism was caused by the Industrial Revolution. A huge event we have never understood very well.
Joseph Smith, the creator of Mormonism, was also a spokesperson for Industrialization.
This emphasized more of everything, and to Smith's mind, this meant more wives.
This was not accepted by Joseph Smith's own wife Emma, who threatened to divorce him. To prevent this, he gave her a lot of his property. Which forced her to stay in Nauvoo after his death.
She never mentioned any of this to her sons, who became involved in the RLDS church.
Mormonism was caused by the Industrial Revolution. A huge event we have never understood very well.
Joseph Smith, the creator of Mormonism, was also a spokesperson for Industrialization.
This emphasized more of everything, and to Smith's mind, this meant more wives.
This was not accepted by Joseph Smith's own wife Emma, who threatened to divorce him. To prevent this, he gave her a lot of his property. Which forced her to stay in Nauvoo after his death.
She never mentioned any of this to her sons, who became involved in the RLDS church.
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