Ecosphere and Ecosystem Services

 I started a new course on Ecosystem services that has a game in it to illustrate points about the costs of selecting or using land for producing food for humans with agriculture and ranching. Ecosystems provide free services to the human economy that may or may not be sustainable. They provide free grass for grazing and water for watering yet overuse can reduce the service.

Ecosystems sustain human life and biologically speaking all of the life on Earth is embeded within the ecosphere. As the ecosphere is destroyed, insulted, reduced in extent so is human security to exist in a viable ecosphere. The ecosystem trade off game in the course lesson one has the player select land squares to locate ranches and farms. The land selections have cost values for water, carbon sequestration and so forth rated from low to high and values for producing income from low to high. The combination of values alltogether determines the productivity of land selections.

I suppose one wants the lowest possible ecosystem costs and highest possible income. I wrote a comment on the game and how to improve it...

Agriculture in some areas with ranching seemed to reduce income or vice versa. Ecoservice regions with low value tended to have low income too, yet not always.

Maybe clarifying productivity and income would be useful; are they the same? Does maximizing productivity invariably equal maximizing income? In real economics doesn't over-production reduce price per unit sometimes?

Sometimes in the game the symbol for ranching or agriculture would disappear when working on the other and one would need to quit the ranching or agriculture and replace it after going into the other mode. The symbols should be immutable when working in the alternate mode (ranching vs agriculture).

The old game of battleship had players picking out squares they couldn't see rather randomly to try to locate and sink enemy ships. The trade off game round one reminded me of that. There didn't seem to be much information about how to get positive scores, and that is time consuming in regard to opportunity cost. Some information should be provided a priori in order to maximize the score through making informed decisions/choices of squares, acres etc to exploit for producing food.

Aesthetic values of wild areas should be valued too. Making ecosystem slums has very negative value too. It may be that ecosystem services is an area where sensibilities of good art and human survival coincide.

When assigning paradigms to evaluate the ecosystem for its value to the human economy on a sustainable basis (for it is too obvious that to use and destroy the ecosphere entirely might snuff out all human life on Earth) one must wonder how politically one would implment the value system and set its parameters. Would one intitialize the system by calculating the total food production requirements needed to sustain the human race and them find the least harmful acres of the planet to host production? Alternatively would it be possible to use a trial and error, piecemeal private sector, free enterprise approach to production and land use and gamble on the outcome?

https://www.coursera.org/learn/ecosystem-services/home/welcome

Depleting and overusing natural capital is like creating vast public debt that will likely never be repayed. Planetary Boundaries of natural capital illustration below. I should note that the oxfam source of the illustration also has many politically highly charged and divisive measures that are entirely part of the post-modern, Democrat Party moral relativism agenda such as homosexual marriage and the promotion of homosexuality politically. Those are completely irrelevant and external to the paradigm of producing enough food and manufactures for humanity while keeping the ecosphere and biodiveristy intact. Unfortunately the time lost to the divisive platform solidly retards the difficulty transition to a sustainable economy.

A New Phase of the Ukraine Conflict

 The war in Ukraine that began with a Russian invasion of land areas that were part of traditional Russia; in example, Crimea and later into areas claimed by Ukraine and supported by the Democrat Party and select European nations appears to have entered a new phase with the appointment of General Gerasimov to lead the war. Gerasimov is also Army Chief of Staff and one of three Russian with a nuclear football- nuclear codes, able with discretionary powers to use nuclear weapons.

After the Crimean conquest and years of increasingly tight sanctions with no end in sight Russia apparently choose to go whole hog and enter the dragon of full scale war on Ukraine. After the western response with loads of high tech military weapons and cash, information and all of its propaganda engines lined up in a row of resupplying Ukraine the counteroffensive occurred driving Russian forces back and away from the Dnepr and some eastern regions toward the edge. Notably Ukraine attacked point targets inside Russia. Winter developed and the realignment from what may be viewed as the warm up to the serious fight has shaped up.

Some say that Russia begins its war battles rather slowly. It is good to take them out in the opening rounds of the fight because over time their determination and stamina for battle may win out. Such analogies have limited value yet western leaders may need to set aside rose colored glasses about the war of attrition where the Ukraine wins with so much support from the west with HIMARS, tanks etc and Russian supplies are depleted and consider what Russian leadership might do in an existential conflict with the west.

Gerasimov has a philosophy of total control apparently that became eponymous for a doctrine somewhat reflected in American social media and the Democrat Party; the importance of controlling the information space and the real-time coordination of all aspects of a campaign, in addition to the use of targeted strikes deep in enemy territory and the destruction of critical civilian as well as military infrastructure."-Gerasimov. That is much like the Obama doctrine promoting homosexual marriage and social media attrition of conservative writers in social media.

The new phase of the war may be a more dangerous time- even as Russia may have internal conflicts and competition for leadership exacerbated by covert and overt support by the west. The entire affair reminds me a little of the true story of a skydiver whose parachute and reserve didn't deploy and yet photographed himself and the ground as he fell to Earth.

Democrat Post-Modernist Build Dictatorship of the Proletariat

 I realized that the Democrat party's forceful approach in government infused with the convenience of post-modernist moral and truth relativism; with an intolerance for dissent or respect for political pluralism, is what Karl Marx meant when he invented the term Dictatorship of the Proletariat.

In a Dictatorship of the Proletariat individuals may have any opinion oif they don't publically express it and those ideas expressed need be sycophantic verbiage reinforcing the values of the ruling party. Even if the Dictatorship of the Proletariat's political agenda is set by puppet leaders such as party elite or plutocrats, nominally the ideas reflect those of the Dictatorship that are the only moral and authorized opinions.

Rebuilding History for Video Games with a bowl of Hair of the Dog

 If there was an ice cream named Hair of the Dog that would make for innumerable Humphrey Bogart comedy lines. If playing video games built with accurate historical settings, scripts. reconstructions and movements one could take a break in game play with a bowl of Hair of the Dog.

I would think the coursera.org course I finished recently named The Fall and Rise of Jerusalem would be a good source material for a video game with vast people movements between Babylon and Judah, wars, evolutions of empires (Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian/Achaemenid), dynasties like the Hasmonean (Maccabees), interesting dynamic politics between kingdoms and empires, purges, slaves and so forth. Reconstructing the Temple some time after the destruction of the first and razing of Jerusalem would make great video too. The more historical knowledge on has the more full, complete and instructive the game could be inclusive of numerous false historical lines to take that result in somme sort of corrective action.

Ukraine War Exemplifies Ultima ratio regum

 The United States is funding a war in Ukraine with billions and billions of dollars and equipment going to that nation to prop up its military power. When all that required for peace is to recognize Russia's historical and arguably valid claims to be the real owners of much of Ukraine would the rational thing be to just cut the baby in half like Solomon and give each party a large chunk?

So Russia gets Crimea and the far east of Ukraine, a demilitarized zone is established of some thirty miles in width- although civilians can live in it, and both parties of the contested divorce are happy for Valentine's day with love and balloons instead of more massacres. Unless the west did intend and continues to intend to beat down Russia until it has immoral values of the Democrat Party and Plutocrats, a peace settlement with free trade and maybe no taxes on businesses located in the demilitarized zone from anyone for twenty years will make the issue of national ownership of piddling importance.

Europeans and leftists forever have descried nationalism as the source of wars (in error I.M.O.); now would be their opportunity to prove it and quite supporting Ukrainian nationalism to own all of the formerly Russian regions of Ukraine.

The war is a perfect illustration of the rule of law meaning the rule of force. Because the west supports total annexation of Ukraine from Russia in regard to the end of the Cold War 1.0 and there is no appeal to any higher, non-western power for Russia, the logic principle of Ultima ratio regum- the logic of kings, is bared; with Russia fighting against the west side to retake its former land. 

Repubs Unify with Democrats on Drag Queen Leadership

 Democrats are up in arms over N.Y. Rep. George Santos election and placement by House Speaker McCarthy's steering committee to a couple of low burning committees. Santos who lied on his campaign qualification resume to help get elected recently also has been named as a fierce competitor in Brazilian drag queen competitions several years ago and a leading homosexual power player. That he is being reinforced by Speaker McCarthy is mildly surprising, that Democrats are attacking Santos is far more so. Santos' actual resume as a lying drag queen should make their guy. Post-modernism in politics could be said to be personified by lying drag queens of the Democrat Party allied with feminazis to form a political majority.

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/embattled-us-rep-santos-was-drag-queen-brazil-pageants-say-associates-2023-01-19/

Rep. Santos has denied ever being a drag queen as reported an hour ago. Yet he could be lying about that as well as killed politicians do.

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/01/19/santos-denies-having-been-a-drag-performer-00078515

There are other charges that have been made against Rep. Santos including one from some New Jersey veterans that he absconded with money given for surgery on a dog that could have saved its life. I recall when old Americans were said to eat canned dog food to stay alive some decades ago. Today some people pay more for cans of dog food than people spend on canned human food. If Santos did redistribute money meant for surgery on a dog some people couldn't care less except for the deceit, for dogs are animals and on the menu of some people anyway.

It is good to know that the nation can be confident in their political system with Democrats and Republicans moving closer together in the effort to provide corrupt, queer leadership supporting escalation toward nuclear war to create nuclear winter to end global warming and bury the national public debt under the mass confusion of political collapse and a debt-free Phoenix like reorganization. Maybe dogs shall be included in Medicare for everyone and cats can pay the bill. Maybe the nation needs a new, non-drag queen party.

https://www.axios.com/2023/01/17/george-santos-committee-assignments-congress

Could Tom Brady Fly with the Seahawks?

 Tom Brady might have a few good games left in the tank. The Seahawks have a great receiving corps without a quarterback who is good all the time. Geno Smith had a fine half a season in 2022, and is 31 years old and is likely to resign with the hawks for less than the sort of bundle than Russell Wilson got. Tom Brady may have a few clutch performances remaining for the right team (and that may be Seattle). There is likerly to be salary room for Brady and Smith to share the job if Coach Carroll would like to use that situation.

Some people would like to throw a Wilson league bundle to Ravens QB Lamar Jackson who might be looking to camp in a different nest and look offshore for new pickins, yet Jackson is a runner-passer rather like a big Michael Vick and that style tends to be shorter lived before fumble-itis sets in after as many hits as running backs take. Passes become more wobbly and knee injuries recurrent. Lots of cash involved too, although jackson might put the Seahawks in the Super Bowl directly.

With the 6th pick in the 2023 NFL draft the Seahawks could draft a greaat developmental prospect from Florida Anthony Richardson. No one better to train the young QB as an example than Tom Brady. There isn't anything wrong with being loaded at the QB position; that worked for the 49ers with Joe Montana and Steve Young and probably remains a valid paradigm for winning.

Its great to have a great edge rusher too. Yet it might be easier to find one than to have a great quarterback with a decade in the tank of stellar play. The Seahawks are strong enough that with a surfeit of 2023 draft picks to reinforce their defense and offense they can afford to pick a quarterback of the future who doesn't need to play right away. If Brady can be a non-kicking George Blanda who plays now and then to charge an offense in a slump, and mentors Anthoiny RIchardson for three or four years, Geno Smith may start week to week and find relief fron Tom Brady when he is less than 100%.

Sea of Nothing (poem)

 

Sea of Nothing

Into the sea of nothing
slips the ship of wings
where time’s echoes stop to sing
and the unknown seems the king
forgotten is the last sting
everyone’s gone lost the string
some hope with the Lord they rise
nothingness’ skies reach a dream.

General Gerasimov Enters the Dragon of War

 The war in Ukraine that began with a Russian invasion of land areas that were part of traditional Russia; in example, Crimea and later into areas claimed by Ukraine and supported by the Democrat Party and select European nations appears to have entered a new phase with the appointment of General Gerasimov to lead the war. Gerasimov is also Army Chief of Staff and one of three Russian with a nuclear football- nuclear codes, able with discretionary powers to use nuclear weapons.

After the Crimean conquest and years of increasingly tight sanctions with no end in sight Russia apparently choose to go whole hog and enter the dragon of full scale war on Ukraine. After the western response with loads of high tech military weapons and cash, information and all of its propaganda engines lined up in a row of resupplying Ukraine the counteroffensive occurred driving Russian forces back and away from the Dnepr and some eastern regions toward the edge. Notably Ukraine attacked point targets inside Russia. Winter developed and the realignment from what may be viewed as the warm up to the serious fight has shaped up.

Some say that Russia begins its war battles rather slowly. It is good to take them out in the opening rounds of the fight because over time their determination and stamina for battle may win out. Such analogies have limited value yet western leaders may need to set aside rose colored glasses about the war of attrition where the Ukraine wins with so much support from the west with HIMARS, tanks etc and Russian supplies are depleted and consider what Russian leadership might do in an existential conflict with the west.

Gerasimov has a philosophy of total control apparently that became eponymous for a doctrine somewhat reflected in American social media and the Democrat Party; the importance of controlling the information space and the real-time coordination of all aspects of a campaign, in addition to the use of targeted strikes deep in enemy territory and the destruction of critical civilian as well as military infrastructure."-Gerasimov. That is much like the Obama doctrine promoting homosexual marriage and social media attrition of conservative writers in social media.

The new phase of the war may be a more dangerous time- even as Russia may have internal conflicts and competition for leadership exacerbated by covert and overt support by the west. The entire affair reminds me a little of the true story of a skydiver whose parachute and reserve didn't deploy and yet photographed himself and the ground as he fell to Earth.

Joe Biden Lost Track of Classified Documents 7 Years?

 Apparently when Joe Biden was Vice President he took numerous classified documents from secure government facilities to his home and offices around the country and didn’t return them when he left office. The amazing element to the story is that additional documents continue to turn up nearly seven years after he was no longer the Vice President of the United States. He knew that as a private citizen all of those classified documents should have been returned.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/14/us/biden-classified-documents-delaware.html

So the narrative is that he simply forgot to return them and left them strewn about his offices and home in unsecured locations for seven years or more for unauthorized persons (including himself) to gaze upon at their pleasure. His two or three offices with classified documents might not have been empty and not visited when he wasn’t in them, and people attending parties at his home may have had the opportunity to rummage through his garage to examine any documents there or elsewhere. Former Vice Presidents have one secret service agent with them for life yet one guy watching a politician’s security wouldn’t necessarily be able to watch out for espionage efforts among those frequenting the Biden’s home and offices.

In my opinion loose security and rule breaking for a privileged class of self-entitled government insiders is de rigeur for post-modernists unconcerned with national security including border security in comparison to furthering the global cultural agenda of Democrats and plutocratic sponsors spawning wars to take over the planet’s markets. Evil and its sycophants haven’t a capacity to reason outside the conquest box and will configure affairs, control the media narrative and consolidate matters of political economy in order to rule through the new yet aging world order.

Toynbee’s paradigm of cycles of civilizations include successful civilizations rising to a universal phase of global power. That over-reach is the final phase when followed by internal collapse and disintegration. Though the United States is a part of one world civilization these days that has emerged from one world market, it was not to the advantage of the United States to transform its economy into nothing more than a global plutocratic market place for the world without reservation. It is rather ironic that Aristotle’s idea that democracies break down into tyranny could be supported by another idea of his that common areas become the least well maintained of social areas as people focus more on privately held interests; it seems that the United States as a marketplace owned by global plutocrats will not maintain its social spending or federal budget as the public sector becomes neglected in pursuits of hegemony over Russia and Eurasia.