patrick.net

SunnyvaleCA says

the total costs (money, energy, time, damage to earth, etc) of transportation are far less than the total costs of trying to produce food "locally" in places where growing that kind of food isn't efficient. For example, it's far more efficient to transport vegetables grown closer to the equator than growing locally in indoor hothouses in the winter.

It's harder to reach an economy of scale growing warm loving crops at higher latitudes, but at small to medium scales, don't underestimate how much can be done with how little energy input. There's a guy in Nebraska who made geo-moderated earthen greenhouses where he actually grows decent oranges with little to no fuel burned for heat annually. Also look into the "microgreens" revolution, with urban ultra-local "farm to table" using stacked dense indoor LED-lit optimized growing systems.

SunnyvaleCA says

Paul Erlich was famously wrong and instead we had the "green revolution" (yes, THAT green revolution was exactly the opposite of what is now called by the same name). Non-organic farming practices massively increased yields while excellent long-distance transportation allowed food to be grown in more suitable conditions.

The "economy of scale" farming practices, like many other mass enterprises, thrive and derive much of their economy by massively EXTERNALIZING costs.

Falling water tables, collapsing aquifers, rivers sucked so dry they don't reach the sea, or with such diminished volume that saltwater intrusion into deltas and water tables becomes a huge issue, agricultural runoff like the Salton Sea we were just discussing which in 30 years went from a world class resort and fishing/boating destination to a fetid dead sea with all the human settlement around it abandoned, extraction and burning costs of fuel to fly bananas and oranges across the globe constantly, even fuel costs to ship them. Refrigeration costs in storage, transport, and retailing for many exotic fruits. Cattle feedlots and 25,000 bird chicken barns, whose practices outright endanger not only the local environment, but export danger into the food chain from salmonella to CJD.

I'm not saying it's unnecessary or immoral or that we need to stop these practices and return to unspoilt natual pastoral farming practices; I'm not THAT kind of hippie-dippy idealist. I'm saying, don't ignore these externalities when considering and ranking modern mass farming practices against "local" farming. Especially on the basis of one particular analysis that was probably commissioned by some special interest or another to "prove" a specific point of theirs anyway.

Automan Empire says

The "economy of scale" farming practices, like many other mass enterprises, thrive and derive much of their economy by massively EXTERNALIZING costs.

+1000. And that is aggravated by farm subsidies that encourage overproduction. And to reach high output for the subsidies, the farmers rape the land by ignoring contour plowing and crop rotation, plus overuse of fertilizers, soil treatment, and pesticides.

HeadSet says

Automan Empire says

The "economy of scale" farming practices, like many other mass enterprises, thrive and derive much of their economy by massively EXTERNALIZING costs.

+1000. And that is aggravated by farm subsidies that encourage overproduction. And to reach high output for the subsidies, the farmers rape the land by ignoring contour plowing and crop rotation, plus overuse of fertilizers, soil treatment, and pesticides.

Agreed.

Not as bad as the one above, but still:

2022 Honda Passport Base Price Rises by $5080
The mid-size SUV drops its previous base Sport trim, and the new TrailSport off-road model starts at $43,695.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a38438462/2022-honda-passport-price/?source=patrick.net

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10280709/Number-cargo-ships-LA-coast-time-high-despite-claims-port-officials.html?source=patrick.net

Cargo ship bottleneck off LA coast is STILL at all-time high - with nearly 100 ships waiting to berth - despite port officials claiming number had HALVED
The number of ships docked off the California coast is still at an all-time high - contradicting claims from officials the number has dwindled in recent weeks
On Tuesday, Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka announced there were 46 boats stationed off the shores of Long Beach and Los Angeles
However, according to data provided by ship-tracking outfit MarineTraffic, there are currently 96 cargo ships docked near the two popular ports
The inconsistency in the number of ships stems from a new policy recently employed by shipping trade groups
The new policy encourages boats traversing the Pacific, often hailing from Asia, to sit 150 miles offshore as they wait to unload their precious cargo
Some ships have been waiting to berth since October, amid the US' continuing supply chain crisis
The policy, put into effect of November 16, encourages incoming vessels to wait out in the open ocean amid the traffic jams - rather than at the backed-up ports

What? Would Brandon lie to us?

I finally found something that's probably not in short supply:
https://www.zerohedge.com/economics/condom-sales-plunge-40-world-tosses-rubbers-aside?source=patrick.net

Patrick says

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10280709/Number-cargo-ships-LA-coast-time-high-despite-claims-port-officials.html?source=patrick.net

Cargo ship bottleneck off LA coast is STILL at all-time high - with nearly 100 ships waiting to berth - despite port officials claiming number had HALVED
The number of ships docked off the California coast is still at an all-time high - contradicting claims from officials the number has dwindled in recent weeks
On Tuesday, Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka announced there were 46 boats stationed off the shores of Long Beach and Los Angeles
However, according to data provided by ship-tracking outfit MarineTraffic, there are currently 96 cargo ships docked near the two popular ports
The inconsistency in the numb...

Same thing reported for SF Bay: all container ships idling in the bay were ordered to go fucking idle in the fucking ocean 50 miles away from the shore. "It's for the air quality!"

zzyzzx says

Not as bad as the one above, but still:
(image of RIP OFF invoice)

Man I hope everyone who saw that WALKED straight off that dealer's lot obviously in response to reading it, then never returned no matter what. The vehicle market IS crazy, but those who can hold out for a year or two won't face this bullshit.

I've been looking at Suburbans to upgrade my dead 99 for heavy towing. 2 years ago when my budget was tighter, people were GIVING the damn things away. Now I'm seeing 20yo quarter million mile trucks with disclosed rust damage and salvage/lemon law buyback titles in Philadelphia getting nationwide bids well into 5 figures.

Automan Empire says

Now I'm seeing 20yo quarter million mile trucks with disclosed rust damage and salvage/lemon law buyback titles in Philadelphia getting nationwide bids well into 5 figures.

There are no cars. We are now in the market again. Hopefully with $30k extra cash, but I'm not sure WTF we're going to get. Never thought we'd buy new, but it might be the only option. We can get what the dealer paid for it from the manufacturer (Toyota) with some sales commission in there, but I've never liked the idea of buying new. I do know it would be nice to have all the bells and whistles though. We're in the car a lot.

Automan Empire says

zzyzzx says

Not as bad as the one above, but still:
(image of RIP OFF invoice)

Man I hope everyone who saw that WALKED straight off that dealer's lot obviously in response to reading it, then never returned no matter what. The vehicle market IS crazy, but those who can hold out for a year or two won't face this bullshit.

I've been looking at Suburbans to upgrade my dead 99 for heavy towing. 2 years ago when my budget was tighter, people were GIVING the damn things away. Now I'm seeing 20yo quarter million mile trucks with disclosed rust damage and salvage/lemon law buyback titles in Philadelphia getting nationwide bids well into 5 figures.

I'm automatically tracking KBB value of my jalopies in a financial planning app I use. Mostly for shits and giggles since I don't consider them "assets". And giggles I got plenty: over the last two years they APPRECIATED between 50% and 100%. =)) My son who was planning to buy one of them from me is sad though because it's the hooptie he wants to buy that went up 100%. Ironicallly, it's the one with the most miles on the clock (but not the oldest one).

https://notthebee.com/article/um-is-anyone-at-all-concerned-that-grocery-stores-around-the-country-seem-to-be-running-out-of-food-at-an-alarming-rate?source=patrick.net

Patrick says

https://notthebee.com/article/um-is-anyone-at-all-concerned-that-grocery-stores-around-the-country-seem-to-be-running-out-of-food-at-an-alarming-rate?source=patrick.net

As fat as we are (collectively) I doubt starvation would be an effective means of wiping out significant numbers of Americans.

Part shortages on the rise, what was once overnight is now pushing 2-3months for industrial equipment I work on. Around here stores seem stocked but prices are up, maybe inventory is moving from poorer cities to wealthier ones for maximized profit.

https://notthebee.com/article/heres-your-bidens-america-photo-of-the-day?source=patrick.net

That's one way to overcome #EmptyshelvesBiden's economy.

Yes, that is one entire produce section of a grocery store containing nothing but heads of iceberg lettuce, all spread out.

Let's zoom in a bit on that.

Patrick says

https://notthebee.com/article/heres-your-bidens-america-photo-of-the-day?source=patrick.net

That's one way to overcome #EmptyshelvesBiden's economy.

Yes, that is one entire produce section of a grocery store containing nothing but heads of iceberg lettuce, all spread out.

Let's zoom in a bit on that.

This is what they used to do in the USSR: spread some goods which were in low demand* over many surfaces to create an illusion that the store is not empty.


*) Some really weird stuff, like "birch juice" or canned seaweed.

Tampons:
https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-and-other-online-stores-have-run-out-of-tampons-2020-3?source=patrick.net

Given the high inflation rate and possibility of shortages, I've been buying durable goods in bulk. I'm now the go-to person for toilet paper. 😳

US warns that chip shortage could shut down factories
Companies that use semiconductors are down to less than five days of inventory — a sharp drop from 40 days in 2019, according to a department survey of 150 companies. The chips used in the production of automobiles and medical devices are especially scarce.
We're starting to cannibalize old assemblies for chips that are no longer available. Not a good sign...

https://patriotpost.us/articles/85760?source=patrick.net

JANUARY 25, 2022
The Price-Jabbing International Trucking Vax Mandate
Team Biden’s latest diktat will only make the current supply chain crisis worse.

The nation’s supply troubles might have just gotten worse following the Department of Homeland Security issuing yet another COVID vaccine mandate. A new U.S. port regulation recently went into effect mandating that noncitizens may not enter the U.S. through ports of entry unless they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. While the new mandate does not apply to American truck drivers, it does apply to all Canadian and Mexican drivers. Furthermore, both Canada and Mexico have implemented similar rules, effectively preventing U.S. truck drivers from hauling cargo internationally if they have not been vaccinated.

EBGuy says

US warns that chip shortage could shut down factories
Companies that use semiconductors are down to less than five days of inventory — a sharp drop from 40 days in 2019, according to a department survey of 150 companies. The chips used in the production of automobiles and medical devices are especially scarce.
We're starting to cannibalize old assemblies for chips that are no longer available. Not a good sign...

Its really is getting bad, but this is what happens when you outsource everything to slavers to save a few bucks. Outsourcing to China has been hiding true inflation.

RC2006 says

US warns that chip shortage could shut down factories

Remember how Trump wanted to bring back chip production to the US?

I've noticed a shortage of customer service.

It's all small stuff so far.

Here is an example: for the first time ever, after decades, I did not receive a "courtesy call" from the service advisor to tell me my car would be ready for pickup.

I had to call the shop to inquire.

B.A.C.A.H. says

I had to call the shop to inquire.

That's normal and has been the case my entire adult life.

zzyzzx says

That's normal and has been the case my entire adult life.

Yes, I know.

I don't think of myself as an Entitled Princess, nor was I complaining that I didn't get such a phone call. It's just a first time that I didn't receive such a call after using the local Toyota (and Honda and Subaru) dealers for so many services for two decades. Just an observation. Here's another one, again, small sh*t but it may portend of macro economic trends: fewer and fewer tellers at the banks. Yes, I know, automation and cost reduction and all that. Also, less service.

B.A.C.A.H. says

Yes, I know, automation and cost reduction and all that. Also, less service.

Has anyone been to a sit down restaurant where you order from a tablet mounted to the table, and an R2D2 robot brings the food, or something similar?

No, but I don't think I'd like that.

HeadSet says

Has anyone been to a sit down restaurant where you order from a tablet mounted to the table, and an R2D2 robot brings the food, or something similar?

No robot delivering the food. Dealt with plenty of restaurants with the QR codes and ordering on the phone though. Love hate relationship with that process. If a server is busy and takes my order, but doesn't put it in, I'm waiting and pissed. Using the phone you at least know someone got the order either bartender or cook and the potential weak link, server, is taken out of the equation if the place has people running drinks/food to tables and not taking orders.

Geezers are the problem with this system being widely implemented in a meaningful way that would work for 95% of customers. As an introvert I'll do just about anything to not have to deal with a random human. Mind you I'm super social with people I know and trust, but I just can't stand random interactions. It's like nails on a chalkboard sometimes. Like a gas station cashier trying to shoot the shit with you who is clearly a moron, but you have to be polite. It's awkward as fuck. Golfing it is super annoying when the starter/ranger tries to be your buddy at the nicer courses. Or they're complete ass holes telling you to keep pace of play when the fucks in front of you suck at golf.

Honda Civic with outrageous dealer markup:

Hard to read the itemized pricing. Is it the "MVA" line that looks to be $10900?

45k honda civic maybe should go into clown world thread. Devaluing dollar acceleration.

From what I've heard they are having a heck of a time getting soybeans shipped to China.

Karloff says

Hard to read the itemized pricing. Is it the "MVA" line that looks to be $10900?

Market Vehicle Adjustment. Yeah that's dealer add on and only a moron pays it.

Misc says

From what I've heard they are having a heck of a time getting soybeans shipped to China.

Heard the same, and add walnuts, almonds, etc ag crops that used to take a trip across the pacific when the cargo ships would return to asia. Apparently the ships make it back quicker without a return load in order to pick up more shit to bring over here and dump. They’re making more money to have one way trade.