As IF Times

Source: Why Amazon is eating the world | TechCrunch

By now we know that Amazon has become ubiquitous in our modern lives.  The erstwhile bookseller has become THE 800 pound gorilla in the retail space as its shadow looms over all types of commerce.  Not content to just sell books, Amazon’s reach extends to every consumable product imaginable and recently, they’ve made a foray into the grocery business by buying upscale grocer, Whole Foods.   Lesser known perhaps was the purchase of the Washington Post newspaper by owner Jeff Bezos, giving them a political platform as well.

After reading the convincing story in the above link, we feel that Amazon is not done with world domination.  There’s no reason to think that they would not one day push into the field of pharmaceutical delivery or even for medical services.  Why not legal services, dating services and pet adoption?  Home and car buying are probably already in the works.  How much easier would it be to get a new spouse online?  A few convenient clicks, no expensive dating required and especially if they have the no hassle return policy.

Amazon is not as some think, a technology company.  They are the epitome of the most efficient logistics company.  They are able to provide consumers with the cheapest, largest selection of goods in the most convenient way for customers.  As Bezos famously said, “I’ve never had someone come to me asking to be charged more and to have it delivered more slowly”.  That is the nub of the business model: people want convenience.

How lazy have we become as a society when we can’t even be bothered to go to the mall to buy shoes?  Are we really that busy?  What are we doing that’s so important that we can’t do a stroll to buy something?  There was a story today which claimed in despondent terms, how customers at McDonald’s would now have to wait….one extra minute for their burgers because they were going to  use fresh meat instead of frozen!  The horror!  How is the company going to survive?

In unrelated developments, the rush is on to introduce self driving cars, because apparently, driving and parking are too much trouble for a stressed populace; and besides it’s easier to use Amazon apps to buy stuff if you’re not actually driving.  It all sounds good as a marketing ploy; convenience, cheap and likely green, but aren’t many of these inventions and services created in search of a use? Sort of like an electric dog polisher or an automatic nose picker? How did the world get along before expecting things to happen instantly?  How are we better off because we received the latest shoe 3 days earlier than by standard means?  How did our time become so precious, that saving a bit here and there is essential for happiness?

A friend remarked about how purchasing the latest space age bicycle seat post on his $7000 road bicycle would shave 150 grams from the curb weight of the machine.  In reality, a quick trip to the bathroom would save just as much if not more weight.  But it all sounds good, so it must be better.

Source: Trump Will Withdraw U.S. From Paris Climate Agreement – The New York Times

Since the election of Donald Trump, the media world has become a never ending  low budget TV melodrama.  Every day brings some new alleged transgression against another segment of mankind on the part of the Donald.  Apparently, no one is safe from his crazy and depraved policies.  Every utterance brings forth indignant wails akin to keening at an Irish funeral. Personalities from all quarters of the media take their obligatory turns at denouncing every breath that Trump takes.

The latest round of chest beating and wailing is coming from the usual  and expected places after the announcement of the decision to withdraw the US from the Paris agreement on global warming so beloved by his predecessor.  The cacophony of baleful moaning makes one’s eyes spin like pinwheels because of their abject stupidity.

Consider the critics: If there was ever an all star team of disingenuous double talkers, hypocrites, drama queens and just plain bald face liars, then these are all among the top candidates.  Only Joe Izuzu is missing.   We’re talking Ben Rhodes, John Kerry, Dan Rather,  Al Gore, CNN and of course the previous President who signed on to the agreement.  Let’s not forget the famous climate intellectual,  Leo Decaprio.  And of course, the ACLU thinks this is racist.  Can’t make that stuff up.  All of those mentioned have advanced degrees in hyperbole and they couldn’t communicate at all without the hysterical exclamation point.

The narrative goes that to withdraw from this agreement is tantamount to no less than a death sentence for the world.  Nobody points out that the expiry date tipping point forecast by such as Al Gore, has already passed.  If that is to be believed, then it makes no difference what happens now.

Few will admit to a naïve public that the Paris accord was not an environmental agreement to restrict warming, but rather an economic one designed to transfer wealth from the US to other countries.  It’s essentially an income redistribution scheme so loved by socialists, in the guise of climate alarmism.  Few things are as effective as pictures of sad polar bears on dwindling ice floes to capture the sentiment of those naively being sold this fairy tale.  A radically rational viewpoint on this can be viewed here.

Some may be old enough to recall the hysteria half a century ago about the ‘imminent’ calamity of world overpopulation.  Now, years later, the earth still spins and its population has probably doubled.  There’s no money in restricting births….but there is money in taxing a larger population.  They’ve got that figured out.