This week was very productive; I finished lots of projects at work, read two books and published a op-ed in the Westminster College Holcad. This morning marked my first attempt at jogging in about a week. I returned to the apartment about twenty minutes after embarking on the run; I really need to get some cold weather gear!
My Holcad op-ed focused on the impact of ethanol on agricultural commodities, consumer products and the political stability of grain-importing (and often oil-exporting) third-world nations. The letter was prompted by speculation over the renewable fuel contents of the State of the Union Address. Upon the announcement of George w. Bush's 35 billion gallon annual target for biofuels, I was forced to amend the letter. I never imagined the bar would be set so high! Producing that amount of renewable fuel would require the conversion of the entire corn and soybean harvest into fuel--unless, of course, new technologies make cellulosic ethanol ecnomically feasible or the nation became more keen on coal-based fuel. There certainly is a valid reason why every President since Richard Nixon has professed the need for "energy independence". There is also a valid reason why none of these leaders have made reasonable progress towards that goal...
Cities, by John Reader, takes a look at the development of urban areas--defined very loosely and partially. The book starts a little slow, but picks up speed as the author gets into European cities. He seemed more comfortable and much more able to provide insights about 19th century London than the development of cities in Sumer. Reader spends a lot of time developing the concept of a city's "footprint"--i.e. the amount of land area required to "support" the urban area. Many cities have developed urban agriculture in response to a stimulus--Havana, for example, in response to the end of Soviet subsidies--and have successfully and economically reduced the urban footprint on the surrounding area. The theory may be an old one, but this is my first experience with it. The idea of an urban footprint, though not the primary focus of the book, is my key takeaway. Rating: B
The Wal-Mart Effect, by Charles Fishman, examines the effect of Wal-Mart on local communities, regions and nations. Fishman writes eloquently about the rise the world's largest company during an age of rapid globalization and increasingly influential megacorporations. The most interesting part of his analysis is certainly the development of the Wal-Mart culture. His analysis breaks down as his argument develops later in the book. For example, the artful author often ignores macroeconomic trends--like the increasingly unprofitable domestic textile industry and the rise of automation in manufacturing--when painting his Mona Lisa. It is without doubt that Wal-Mart has pushed ethical limits when dealing with suppliers and certainly could do more on many fronts, but the boys in Bentonville are not responsible for the effects of capital mobility on domestic industries. The book quickly becomes repetitive; it probably could have done without 60% its length and still managed to get across its intended message. Fishman, to my surprise, steered clear of the typical Wal-Mart bashing that I've come to expect over the past few years. Unfortunately, his work could easily be misappropriated by those who wish to dismantle the company that Sam built. Rating: B+
Christie and I made our first visit to Little Korea last night. We went to a restaurant called Shilla to celebrate one of her friends' birthday. The decor was visually appealing; the food, on the other hand, was not appealing at all. Next time I choose Korean, I think I'll do a little research first.
Expense Report
Day 145:
- Lunch from Sunny's Deli, $6
- Tom's Pizza, $2.25
- Deli, $2.25
- USA Deli, $5.75
- Morton Williams Supermarket, $5.84
Day 146:
- Lunch at Cafeteria, $1.75
Day 147:
- Breakfast at Cafeteria, $2.75
- M&Ms and Skittles at Duane Reade, $10.?
- Shilla, $70
Day 148:
Recent Comments