OT: Great Book

[horshack.sixpack]

How the World Really Works: The Science Behind How We Got Here and Where We're Going

This book is incredibly interesting and informative. Each chapter piles on topical data from farming/food supply to use of plastics, etc. Example: Without synthetic fertilizers (i.e. ammonia based nitrogen), we couldn't feed but 40% of the world's population. So without that, roughly 4 billion people would not be living today. He cites Ammonia as the number one chemical need in the world.

Also interesting that in the US, 2% of the population farm all of our food. That speaks to a need to maintain farming subsidies to some extent just to preserve that knowledge. At the end of the day, we all owe folks like @DesotoCountyDawg a big thanks!

 

[stateu1]

How the World Really Works: The Science Behind How We Got Here and Where We're Going
He cites Ammonia as the number one chemical need in the world.

Also key to meth production....

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

Also key to meth production....

Some friends of ours that farm next to us had an old anhydrous ammonia tank they used to fill to fertilize their cotton. They had meth heads constantly coming in the middle of the night to try and get some out of it. Come to find out there was a map on the internet with directions on how to get there the back way so you wouldn’t be seen.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

How the World Really Works: The Science Behind How We Got Here and Where We're Going

This book is incredibly interesting and informative. Each chapter piles on topical data from farming/food supply to use of plastics, etc. Example: Without synthetic fertilizers (i.e. ammonia based nitrogen), we couldn't feed but 40% of the world's population. So without that, roughly 4 billion people would not be living today. He cites Ammonia as the number one chemical need in the world.

Also interesting that in the US, 2% of the population farm all of our food. That speaks to a need to maintain farming subsidies to some extent just to preserve that knowledge. At the end of the day, we all owe folks like @DesotoCountyDawg a big thanks!

Subsidizing agriculture will never go away. It’s what is used to maintain a cheap food supply and every major agricultural power in the world does the same. The mechanisms how we are subsidized have changed over the years but it’s still there.

 

[BoDawg.sixpack]

Subsidizing agriculture will never go away. It’s what is used to maintain a cheap food supply and every major agricultural power in the world does the same. The mechanisms how we are subsidized have changed over the years but it’s still there.

While we're on the topic, which farm products tend to have the highest net return for the farmer or agricultural businessmen?

 

[jethreauxdawg]

I thought this was going to be a review of The Art of the Deal
************************

 

[Shmuley]

While we're on the topic, which farm products tend to have the highest net return for the farmer or agricultural businessmen?

Mary Jane

 

[horshack.sixpack]

Subsidizing agriculture will never go away. It’s what is used to maintain a cheap food supply and every major agricultural power in the world does the same. The mechanisms how we are subsidized have changed over the years but it’s still there.

Agree. It was telling to me when you see how few people our entire existence depends on. I could technically grow enough on my land to feed my family, but I’d have to learn a lot, actually find heirloom seeds, learn to propagate those, etc. and that still doesn’t get me meat so I’d have to set aside room for that and have enough to produce my fertilizer and feed me. Oh yeah, I’d need a well. At least I know how to butcher some stuff from hunting. I would argue that most folks can’t do that…

 

[CochiseCowbell]

At least I know how to butcher some stuff from hunting. I would argue that most folks can’t do that…

Shove pointy stick into anus and exit it through mouth. Rotate over flame. Eat every scorched thing. Why cut it up?**

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

While we're on the topic, which farm products tend to have the highest net return for the farmer or agricultural businessmen?

As far as grains and cotton goes, rice and maybe corn are the only ones right now that will get close to break even. Soybeans, cotton, and wheat are in the red with today’s prices and cost of production.

Specialty crops can turn profits but it’s been up and down and there’s labor issues there now.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

Agree. It was telling to me when you see how few people our entire existence depends on. I could technically grow enough on my land to feed my family, but I’d have to learn a lot, actually find heirloom seeds, learn to propagate those, etc. and that still doesn’t get me meat so I’d have to set aside room for that and have enough to produce my fertilizer and feed me. Oh yeah, I’d need a well. At least I know how to butcher some stuff from hunting. I would argue that most folks can’t do that…

And those are good points. Growing your own food on a large scale to provide for your family is pretty much impossible. A seasonal garden is one thing but beyond that is asking alot

 

[stateu1]

Specialty crops can turn profits but it’s been up and down and there’s labor issues there now.

Also cap ex issue right?

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

Also cap ex issue right?

H2A

99 percent of your truck crop/ specialty crop labor is immigrant labor whether it’s H2A or undocumented.

In Mississippi there’s been an effort by certain people in Congress to thwart the H2A worker process to make it so strict and unattractive that they will hire local workers. Hundreds of Department of Labor officers were brought in to go to every H2A farmer and comb over their entire operation and housing setup for those workers. The list of requirements is quite extensive and they didn’t leave any stones unturned. Needless to say it left a sour taste in a lot of people’s mouths.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

H2A

99 percent of your truck crop/ specialty crop labor is immigrant labor whether it’s H2A or undocumented.

In Mississippi there’s been an effort by certain people in Congress to thwart the H2A worker process to make it so strict and unattractive that they will hire local workers. Hundreds of Department of Labor officers were brought in to go to every H2A farmer and comb over their entire operation and housing setup for those workers. The list of requirements is quite extensive and they didn’t leave any stones unturned. Needless to say it left a sour taste in a lot of people’s mouths.

How a nation of immigrants got fooled into thinking that we should be afraid of immigrants is a study in psychology...

 

[thatsbaseball]

How a nation of immigrants got fooled into thinking that we should be afraid of immigrants is a study in psychology...

One of the easiest things for both parties to agree on SHOULD be immigration reform. It would benefit this country in every way possible. If were king I'd lock every legislator in Washington in their chambers and tell them they weren't coming out until they fix immigration first and quit letting our Presidents make policies with EO's.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

One of the easiest things for both parties to agree on SHOULD be immigration reform. It would benefit this country in every way possible. If were king I'd lock every legislator in Washington in their chambers and tell them they weren't coming out until they fix immigration first and quit letting our Presidents make policies with EO's.

amen

 

[Hugh's Burner Phone]

How a nation of immigrants got fooled into thinking that we should be afraid of immigrants is a study in psychology...

Nobody is afraid of immigrants. We just ask they do so in the legally prescribed methods.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

Nobody is afraid of immigrants. We just ask they do so in the legally prescribed methods.

I'll simply say that there is a lot of fear mongering and the idea of only caring about illegal immigration takes a big hit when people load up asylum seekers (i.e. people trying to follow the legal system for entry) onto a bus and ship them to the northeast to own libs stoke the base. If everyone was concerned about legal immigrants, we would have seen widespread condemnation of this act. We did not. Those were families, just like yours.

That notwithstanding, there is a substantial amount of Biblical advice about treating foreigners well that gives me pause with a lot of the way that immigrants are talked about and treated by many people in power...the "otherism" that has overtaken the world right now is at best misplaced and at worst hateful. And it is not well founded. We have a shared human experience. Empathy and kindness should be our values.

Here are just a few notable ones, but there are many more:

1. Leviticus 19:33-34:

"When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God."

1. Deuteronomy 10:18-19:

"He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt."

1. Exodus 22:21:

"Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt."

1. Matthew 25:35:

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in."

 

[Hugh's Burner Phone]

I'll simply say that there is a lot of fear mongering and the idea of only caring about illegal immigration takes a big hit when people load up asylum seekers (i.e. people trying to follow the legal system for entry) onto a bus and ship them to the northeast to own libs stoke the base. If everyone was concerned about legal immigrants, we would have seen widespread condemnation of this act. We did not. Those were families, just like yours.

That notwithstanding, there is a substantial amount of Biblical advice about treating foreigners well that gives me pause with a lot of the way that immigrants are talked about and treated by many people in power...the "otherism" that has overtaken the world right now is at best misplaced and at worst hateful. And it is not well founded. We have a shared human experience. Empathy and kindness should be our values.

Here are just a few notable ones, but there are many more:

1. Leviticus 19:33-34:

1. Deuteronomy 10:18-19:

1. Exodus 22:21:

1. Matthew 25:35:

So how many are you volunteering to take in and shelter with no questions asked as to their background?

 

[jethreauxdawg]

So how many are you volunteering to take in and shelter with no questions asked as to their background?

Bumping, because I guess @horshack.sixpack missed your question. I’m just here to learn.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

So how many are you volunteering to take in and shelter with no questions asked as to their background?

I haven’t seen that proposed by anyone. Surely there’s a way to treat people well, support efforts to help immigrants and get labor we need that don’t include that? Seems extreme and have not seen that happen in America before.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

Bumping, because I guess @horshack.sixpack missed your question. I’m just here to learn.

I answered his question which proved he’s not serious about the issue just the politics of the issue.

 

[11thEagleFan]

This is a good post. I agree with almost all of it. The only disagreement I have (and it’s a big one) is describing people claiming asylum as “going through the legal process.” > 90% of “asylum” claims are not actually legitimate. It’s an abuse of the system that needs to be reformed.

I'll simply say that there is a lot of fear mongering and the idea of only caring about illegal immigration takes a big hit when people load up asylum seekers (i.e. people trying to follow the legal system for entry) onto a bus and ship them to the northeast to own libs stoke the base. If everyone was concerned about legal immigrants, we would have seen widespread condemnation of this act. We did not. Those were families, just like yours.

That notwithstanding, there is a substantial amount of Biblical advice about treating foreigners well that gives me pause with a lot of the way that immigrants are talked about and treated by many people in power...the "otherism" that has overtaken the world right now is at best misplaced and at worst hateful. And it is not well founded. We have a shared human experience. Empathy and kindness should be our values.

 

[greenbean.sixpack]

Some friends of ours that farm next to us had an old anhydrous ammonia tank they used to fill to fertilize their cotton. They had meth heads constantly coming in the middle of the night to try and get some out of it. Come to find out there was a map on the internet with directions on how to get there the back way so you wouldn’t be seen.

Late 1970s, some type of tax man came to the farm (my pops said it was to see how many buildings we had to make sure everything was appropriately taxed - but IDK). I was used to ammonia tanks relieving pressure and the cloud that followed. My dad kept a roll of paper towels in the truck and I'd grab it and cover my eyes when we drove through a cloud. So my ol' man, the revenuer and me are in the truck (light blue chevy square body 4x4 with a 350 - probably mid 70s) and here comes the cloud. Pop was immune and I grabbed the role of paper towels, the poor tax man didn't know how to react. After he left we had a great laugh.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

How a nation of immigrants got fooled into thinking that we should be afraid of immigrants is a study in psychology...

Just so you know the person I was referring to was Bennie Thompson. That may throw a bit of a wrench in your rant.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

Just so you know the person I was referring to was Bennie Thompson. That may throw a bit of a wrench in your rant.

Bennie is a piece of work as well. No shortage of bad politicians and they aren’t bound by party.

 

[Puppers]

How a nation of immigrants got fooled into thinking that we should be afraid of immigrants is a study in psychology...

It's also interesting how a portion of the country thinks that being against open borders is the same as being anti immigration.