Tricky little buggers

So I saw this article on the Washington Post's website today saying that Bush is planning on cutting farm subsidies by $4.5 billion over the next 10 years which will affect an estimated 80,000 wealthy families that are enjoying the current loopholes in the system. Yep, it's not the small-town farmers that are receiving the greatest benefits from the system.

I emailed one of my professors the article and asked his opinion and this was his response:

The reduction in the "agricultural" subsidies will probably be more than offset by the ethanol subsidies! Those farmers are pretty clever guys, but a rose by any other name is still a rose!

The end.

Chris got published!!!

Chris got one of his photos published in today's edition of the Star Tribune! Here's his post about it:

If you pick up today's Star Tribune, you will find a photo that I took at the bottom of the inside page of the sports section under "the daily buzz." The article discusses Macalester's last home basketball games before they build a new gym and they ran one of my photos, crediting Chris Mitchell, Sport Shot Photo.

I'm so proud! And guess who's going to get a copy of the paper after work :)

Corny new method of measuring CO2 emissions

The Discovery Channel reported that scientists are using a new method to track the emissions of CO2: measure carbon deposits in corn tissue. A great thing about it is that not only is it a cheap way of measurement as well as being able to see the distribution of carbon emissions over the continent, they can also determine the source of the CO2 emissions.

This quote explains a little more:

So where plant tissues are loaded with lots of carbon-12 but little carbon-14, there is more fossil fuel burning. Likewise, where plants have the expected levels of cosmic ray and nuclear-created carbon-14, there is less fossil fuel burning diluting that global signal.

Although the method is imperfect, it may be able to shed some more light onto the subject. Back to the basics.

"I didn't do anything (hee hee)"

I recently moved all of my photos to Shutterfly and in the process, I once again came across this picture of Pokey, the family puppy. She is a huge dork and I love it! She was playing underneath her indoor doghouse (the coffee table).

My Professional Paper Topic

I've finally decided on a topic that I'm actually interested in: exploring the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). The FTAA would combine all countries in both North and South America (excluding Cuba of course - we wouldn't want to associate ourselves with communists) into one gigantic free trade agreement. If it sounds ambitious, it's because it is. I will be looking at the various ways negotiators are proposing to create this trade agreement as well as explore the feasibility of it.

I wrote a paper about the subject last semester for my National Security Policy course, arguing that the agreement was an issue of national security since more economically-integrated countries are more likely to be cooperative and friendly. This argument was of course sparked by my need to write about a national security issue in my "post" on our mock National Security Council: Director of International Economics.

Any suggestions would be very helpful :)

Doha trade talks are set to resume

I was unsure that it could be done, but the Doha round of trade negotiations are going to resume after stalling last July due to disputes over agricultural subsidies and import tariffs. It is unclear if there has been any advances, and it is likely that agricultural policies will continue to be the greatest stumbling block. I am really curious to see how the United States and Europe respond to these challenges. The industrialized countries want access to more markets and the developing countries want to not be priced out of the markets in those industrialized markets. Who will give the concessions? The President loses fast-track authority this July, so the pressure is on to reach an agreement. I am really hoping that the developing countries stick to their guns and insist on lowered subsidies.

Apple isn't feelin' the love

Norway has declared iTunes illegal since any music downloaded from the iTunes store is not compatible with competing devices. Europe is a huge market for them, and although Norway is the only country taking action against Apple at this time, a ruling in their favor could significantly hurt the company.

I for one cannot stand the fact that music purchased from the site as well as any CDs you upload to the program is incompatible with other devices. It makes it a pain in the ass to manage your music. The software is less than desirable as well, and iPods, while great for mobility, have a very short lifespan, making the system all the more irritating. I received an iPod as a gift about a year-and-a-half ago, and I have been having problems with the internal battery for about a year. I also have problems with playing my music in the car. Right now I am playing the iPod through the radio, but the charger that I have, which is less than a year old, already decided to die on me and I have already had to replace the radio receiver. Enough ranting :)

Wanted: Concessions on Doha

The Doha Round of trade negotiations has been stalled for some time, primarily due to the U.S. and E.U.'s reluctance to address their trading practices. The Financial Times posted an article showcasing India pressuring the two economic powers. Recently the U.S. and E.U. have been attempting to hash out a deal between themselves addressing the matters of subsidies and import tariffs, but have been unable to come to an agreement. In the meantime, Doha will remain unfinished business.

Increasing international pressures are being placed on the U.S. to scale back its agricultural subsidies, but continues to disregard the requests. Domestically, it would be political suicide for any politician to succumb to these pressures, making it extremely difficult for anyone to even consider such a move.

Although I am terrible at predictions, I would venture a guess that until another economic power rises up to rival the U.S. and E.U. (and a rival is not, in my opinion, on the immediate radar) both will continue to be stubborn.

Another case against U.S. agricultural subsidies

I know that this story is a bit dated now, but as I was going through the several articles that I have starred in my Google Reader, I saw this little gem: "Canada launches WTO case on US subsidies." The article was published on the Financial Times website describing the case that Canada has brought against the US, attacking specifically the corn subsidies provided in this country.

I think it's time that the US was held accountable for its trade distorting agricultural subsidies, which is probably to the dismay of some of my family members. I thought it was wonderful when Brazil won its case against US cotton subsidies. I feel that given the fact that the US agricultural industry only accounts for less than 1 percent of both GDP contributions and the labor force as well as the fact that the corporate farmers are the ones who most benefit from the subsidies that the US should phase out the subsidies and force the corporate farmers to be competitive in the global markets. I realize, however, that this is highly unlikely given the fact that the Bush administration wants us to start using more ethanol and I'm sure that we would rather "support" our domestic industry rather than importing the needed agricultural products.

Good luck you Canadian hosers.

Ooo...Black Diamonds

Did you know that the exotic black diamonds found in Brazil and the Central African Republic may have actually come from outer space? Although there is some debate which requires further tests, I think that I need to start packing for space...I'm thinking that one of the 3,600 carat diamonds could pay off my education loans :)

Chemicals in Rivers are BAD

Scientists were wondering why male fish in the Potomac River were able to lay eggs. Turns out there is a large number of chemicals in the water that acted to either mimic or block the production of hormones causing the sex of the fish to change. Great to know that we are doing so many wonderful things to our environment isn't it?

Lesson to guys: don't swim in the Potomac.

Amazing photo

There was an article on the Discovery Channel website showing a composite picture of Saturn. Very cool.

and my muscles are spent

A small group of us went rock climbing at Vertical Endeavors this morning, and my muscles hadn't recovered from the last time. Chris, his sister Kim, the Klinkers, and I were laughing our way up the routes - it was a very good time. Kim encouraged me to try a couple of different routes, including one of her favorites in which there is a move that you have to literally jump for and try to hold on. I didn't get it this time, but I'm looking forward to trying it again soon. Also Chris had me try the natural wall, which originally I thought would be a lot easier because I could decide where to place my hands and feet. No surprise though that it is difficult to determine where those good places are; yet another project. The route that I am really looking forward to completing is one in which there is a tricky move that involves careful maneuvering; I think I know the technique that I have to use, so now I just have to do it.

Rock climbing is simply awesome. It is both physically and mentally challenging (most so the latter). The feeling of accomplishment whenever you finish a route is the best, especially finishing one cleanly. I'm really looking forward to climbing outside, but I'll continue getting my butt kicked indoors for now.

I made it!

I cannot even express how proud I was of myself yesterday when I drove from Champlin to uptown Minneapolis to pick up Chris going a completely different way for me (taking 169 to 81 to 25), and I didn't once take a wrong turn and I got there on time! I would say it's about time since I have been living in the Twin Cities area for about a year-and-a-half now, but that's never stopped me before from getting completely lost (I think I'm actually kind of infamous for that - ask anybody whose ridden with me). I have always been able to make it to my destination though at what I call just beyond fashionably late hour. Anyway, small victory for me.

The New Seven Wonders of the World

I didn't know that they revised the list, but the Discovery Channel had an article regarding Petra's candidacy. The new list is going to be revealed July 7th of this year. Hmm....wouldn't that be an interesting trip, traveling to all of the wonders of the world :)

Yes, I'm a huge fan of the sideways smiley faces. It captures my own facial expression so well (haha).

Woohoo!

Here it starts!

I'm hoping to post interesting articles, my musings (haha), and miscellaneous tidbits mainly for my own amusement, but I hope you enjoy it too :)