20180630 Adam Smith Thread
As a note of possible interest to any readers who might be thinking of applying for membership in this forum:
It has been established that the Signature Line of your pending membership can be used for communication.
I do not have a way (at present) to see who has logged in recently, but I can check the status of the newest member.
If you have applied for membership in the forum, and no one else has applied after you, then you will be listed as the newest member.
It is easy for me to check the newest member status, because the newest member is listed at the bottom of the main page.
It has been established that while an applicant is waiting for approval by the administrator, I can send Private Mail to the applicant.
It has been established that an applicant who receives Private Mail can reply via the Signature Line of the membership.
This is a curious way to communicate, I admit, but I am interested in hearing from applicants.
I would like to hear from anyone who would like to try the culture of self-directed knowledge accumulation I have tried to demonstrate.
Continuing with the weekly update:
From Reference #1:
Page 1028
Having completed review of “The Wealth of Nations”. I am looking for opportunities to consider more recent writings.
It seems likely that current writers will cite Mr. Smith. While I am able to catch only a small fraction of references which are likely to appear, such references come to my attention frequently, so I'll report them when they seem useful.
This post is for June 30th. The “trade war” instigated by the sitting American President is moving forward. Tariffs are going into effect, and China has announced actions to reciprocate.
The local newspaper contained several items which reflect national interest in this experiment.
Begin Quotation:
Trump's path to success in trade war uncertain
End Quotation.
By Ana Swanson and Neil Irwin
The New York Times
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-wor ... s-unclear/
Begin Quotation:
Both China, US to feel pain from new tariffs
End Quotation.
By Paul Wisemand and Christopher Rugaber
The Associated Press
https://www.boston.com/news/politics/20 ... om-tariffs
I am curious to know what the respective governments are planning to do with the proceeds of the tariffs they are imposing.
Google search: how will us government use tariff income
Result text:
Will Trump's Tariffs Have A Silver Lining Of Raising Revenue? Don't ...
https://www.forbes.com/sites/phillevy/. ... f-revenue/
1.
Apr 12, 2018 - Yes, a tariff is a tax on imports. Here's a scenario in which the government actuallydoes raise money: Suppose that the United States is
End Quotation.
This article by Contributor Phil Levy explains how imposition of tariffs is likely to result in supplier and purchaser changed behavior, so that there is little or no net income to the US government.
In an attempt to understand how new technology might help the United States to address the present dilemma, this thread will include discussion of “FAB” by Neil Gershenfeld. “FAB” was published in 2005, and in 2018 Dr. Gershenfeld has teamed with his brothers Alan and John to update “FAB” and to try to see into the future of “Personal Manufacturing”. The new book is entitled “Designing Reality”. It is my intention to flow directly from “FAB” to “Designing Reality”, although influences from the 2018 book may show up in this thread as the discussion at hand may inspire them.
Reference #4 Pages 133 - 139
Title: “Playing at Work”
These pages contain a review of the story of Seymour Papert and his accidental encounter with a Digital Equipment Corporation PDP-1, which led to his invention of the LOGO language for kids. A connection to Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen of LEGO corporation led to development of Mindstorms robotic construction kits.
Begin Quotation (speaking of kids on Page 139):
They were hooked, and didn't even realize that they were learning how to design engineering control systems.
End Quotation.
Next week this section will feature a young inventor named David.
(th)