Bill Gates not a philanthropist?

[Iggy]

And for the economy too! Now, who wants to buy a hat? Made of the finest Tin Foil, guaranteed to protect the brain from Aliens/The CIA/MI5/Cliff Richard. Honest.

If the defense from that last individual is true, I want one!

[Iggy]

I have hope and optimism where I believe it's warranted.  But with regard to where the world is heading today, I see nothing but death and destruction coming... soon.  

I prefer the word "realist".  

Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, continues to exist. - Phillip K Dick

"realist" - is that the latest buzz word for depressing?
Phil seemed convinced the world was going to end in nuclear annihilation, instead its still chugging along long after Dick stroked out.
My guess is it will outlast us too (and hopefully the rest of humanity - scourge that it is).

[Iggy]

Which resources?

ALL resources.
Our demands, as "civilized" human beings, greatly outstrips that of our more "primitive" brethren.

[Iggy]

Fossil fuels. They metals and minerals we are force miming form places like Africa to make mobiles and computers.  Food will become an issue in the not too distant future

It isn't already?

[Iggy]

Thus the importance that we all take responsibility for our impact on the world and try to leave it in a better place by the time we leave. Philanthropy is the way to do that, in a considered and developmental way. Sponsoring agri projects and medical initiatives. Just like Bill Gates has.

Look at the amount of money Gates and Microsoft has pumped into the EU and the third world (Spain) through forced donations to corrupt bureaucracy.

A better place?
Naive.
Has Bill Gates and his monopoly REALLY made this world a better place?
Not from my point of view.
Certainly not in relation to the costs imposed in making Gates the richest man on the planet.

[Iggy]

Heh, and Warren Buffet is just a nice old man who likes ice cream.

I must admit I liked that comment.
Don't count on rich philanthropists to solve the world's problems folks, they have their own interests to look after.

As to food production, about 12-15 years ago I looked into this and without much significant improvement we can probably manage to feed about 14 to 15 billion people.
So production is not really an issue.
Distribution and economics, those are the controlling factors.

I think its inevitable that we will see the world's population continue to rise.
It has about doubled in my lifetime alone.

The trick will be raising the general population's standard of living (which tends to inhibit over population) while reducing their impact on the environment.

Trust me, the biggest myth is that we are running out of space. Its a damned big planet.

[Iggy]

Only in 3rd world countries. In western countries it is more or less staying the same.

EXACTLY, which is why, as hard to believe as it may be, we need to encourage the improvement of living standards globally.

Right. Look what they are planning to do in Egypt. Really quite brilliant: http://pavelpodolyak.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/terraforming-sahara-desert.html

Makes sense to me.
That desert was once perfectly useful land.
Desertification need not be irreversible.

[Iggy]

>Improve living standards? I believe the reason why we are not  breeding at the same rate is because of life pressures such as work.  People are too busy to have kids these days. But yes i see your point.

Great! Lets get them jobs then and cut down on their free time to fornicate.

BTW - How the heck did these two posts change places?

[Iggy]

@Blanning. We have the same problem in Australia. We have excellent farming land that isn't being used. Instead we prefer to import our fruit and vegetables at a higher cost :confused:

@Iggy. What happened there?  :huh:

@Iggy. How is your quest for being self sustaining going? I remember you talking about it before.

Believe it or not, at one time I was looking at the Doctorate program in Bio-regenerative Engineering at Cal State Polytechnic in San Luis Obispo.

I have some background in aquaculture and a BS in Preveterinary Animal Science.

I actually built some hydroponic systems at a local community college about 15 years ago that were fed by a few of our smaller aquaculture tanks.

So I have some experience in closed loop agricultural systems.

That being said, I don't think it is possible for us to be completely self sustaining.

I do still like to produce my own vegetables in season though.

And I keep track of the latest creatures that are popular in aquaculture ventures (funny these are often Australian).

Edit: Now that I think about it, a word as to why I would move from computers in the '80s and '90s to agriculture moving into the new millennium is in order.
Simple, I saw an opportunity to apply technology to our oldest profession (well, second oldest), and I find biology infinitely more interesting than electronics (with structures that are considerably more complex).

So OK, is that nerdy enough for you computer geeks?

[Iggy]

Confused.
So you don't think it's a good idea to try to leave the world in a better place?
And you don't think philanthropy is a way to achieve that?
And then you accuse me of nativity by drawing on the assertion that Gates can't be a Philanthropist because of his business exploits in the "first world"

No, I don't think my comments are naive at all. I think they consider a world view beyond the confines and limitations of a western view.

 I actually find your personal accusation insulting.

Trust me...
First, I haven't gotten around to insulting you yet.
Ask anyone around here, if I go that course, you will notice it more than casually.
And second, your views are very western in nature. I'm not the one promoting Bill Gates (who in my opinion is little more than a thief).

[Iggy]

I'd rather have Nicholas (or another member of the Nation of Islam) looking out for me than a member of the US Republican Party.

[Iggy]

And that kids is what grown ups mean when they say "Ad hominem"...

@ 53 years old, with over 160 College credits, I thought I was a grown up, until I read that.
WTF are you talking about Karlos?

[Iggy]

OMFG did you really just say that about feminism. Honestly. Let me guess your wife is one of these old school people who just wants to look after their children and husband. Who is brainwashed again. Women are equal to men they can do as they please. Women having choices has nothing to do with the breakdown in families. Men not pulling their weight is a more likely cause.  I really don't know what to say in flabbergasted.

I didn't even want to touch that one myself.
My mother had her nurses license before I was born, and went on to upgrade that to a Nurse Anesthetist certification when I was 12.
By then end of her over 40 years in medicine, she was pulling in a 6 figure income (probably better than our sexist friend here).
Quite a role model really.

[Iggy]

Seems like people are just posting random personal attacks, anti-feminist rants, and gibberish on this thread now. But since it's staying stuck at the top of the homepage I'll just stick this here. To all you Brits! :bitch:
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OT0yoo9B2Bc
 
 

Being of Irish descent, I'm not sure whether to be amused or offended.
After all, thanks to British land holders, Ireland was a mass exporter of food during the Potato famine, so anti-British sentiment is quite well founded.

Then again, coming from a country that had to kick the British military's ass (and still came to call the country an ally), I find that whole drama is SO over for me.

And...wtf were we talking about again?

[Iggy]

A topic for "Alternative operating systems" it is not, I say.
In fact, in not even sure if this is good coffeehouse fodder.

Sex, religion, politics, the world at large, anything we haven't dismissively commented on yet?