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kewp
ParticipantI don’t see your point.
My point is that hybrid cars are an entirely Western innovation.
I’m not doubting that Japan is currently the world-leader in getting these into the hands of American Consumers (thanks in no small part to Japanese government regulation). But they are still capitalizing on what is ultimately an American design.
There’s no argument from me that our university structure is superior to the typical Asian counter part, for now. Saying the university is great doesn’t back up your point though. Look at who’s enrolling in those universities in engineering majors.
Yes, but Asian’s account for 60% of the worlds population. And we clearly have the best engineering schools combined with the best opportunities for graduates to make the most money in the global economy. Hence from a purely statistical (not cultural) standpoint it comes as no surprise to me that our institutes of higher education are loaded with foreigners (or their second-gen descendants).
American students don’t have to compete against just the best of their peers anymore. They are against the best the *world* has to offer. And from my experience they are doing about as well as can be expected, given the amount of competition.
ParticipantI don’t see your point.
My point is that hybrid cars are an entirely Western innovation.
I’m not doubting that Japan is currently the world-leader in getting these into the hands of American Consumers (thanks in no small part to Japanese government regulation). But they are still capitalizing on what is ultimately an American design.
There’s no argument from me that our university structure is superior to the typical Asian counter part, for now. Saying the university is great doesn’t back up your point though. Look at who’s enrolling in those universities in engineering majors.
Yes, but Asian’s account for 60% of the worlds population. And we clearly have the best engineering schools combined with the best opportunities for graduates to make the most money in the global economy. Hence from a purely statistical (not cultural) standpoint it comes as no surprise to me that our institutes of higher education are loaded with foreigners (or their second-gen descendants).
American students don’t have to compete against just the best of their peers anymore. They are against the best the *world* has to offer. And from my experience they are doing about as well as can be expected, given the amount of competition.
ParticipantTell me which car company first produced hybrid cars?
That would be Lohner-Porche in 1898.
The first regenerative-braking hybrid (that all modern hybrid designs are based off of) was designed by Electrical Engineer David Arthurs around 1978. These and more fun facts about the history of technology are available at Wikipedia (another ‘merkin innovation!)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum_electric_hybrid_vehicle#History
Anyways, the point I’m making is that for all this American bashing I see we are still world-leaders from a technological standpoint. And have been for at least the last 100 years. And I think *much* of it has to do with encouraging independence, innovation and creativity, even at the expense of not producing as many high-quality worker bee’s as Asia does.
Not bad given North America is fourth-largest in population after Asia, Africa, and Europe. Maybe the next hundred years will be different, but I have yet to see much evidence of it.
Btw, we must be doing something right, as Asians are still immigrating and enrolling in US uni’s in record numbers!
ParticipantTell me which car company first produced hybrid cars?
That would be Lohner-Porche in 1898.
The first regenerative-braking hybrid (that all modern hybrid designs are based off of) was designed by Electrical Engineer David Arthurs around 1978. These and more fun facts about the history of technology are available at Wikipedia (another ‘merkin innovation!)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum_electric_hybrid_vehicle#History
Anyways, the point I’m making is that for all this American bashing I see we are still world-leaders from a technological standpoint. And have been for at least the last 100 years. And I think *much* of it has to do with encouraging independence, innovation and creativity, even at the expense of not producing as many high-quality worker bee’s as Asia does.
Not bad given North America is fourth-largest in population after Asia, Africa, and Europe. Maybe the next hundred years will be different, but I have yet to see much evidence of it.
Btw, we must be doing something right, as Asians are still immigrating and enrolling in US uni’s in record numbers!
Participantasianautica,
Hmmm, I will agree that I see a difference between the 2nd generation asian students vs. the ones from overseas along the lines you describe. I wonder if it will take the third-gen to become fat, lazy americans? ;).
Re: the depression, suicide connection. It’s a very real issue unfortunately:
http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/April06/Chung.ksr.html
http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/05/16/asian.suicides/index.html
Oh, but you are. I’m sure most of the development done on Windows OS are done by Indian engineers and most of the CPU that run those OS are made in China.
Sorry, I’m a Unix guy. Proudly produced in New Jersey and California. By American’s (I’ve met most of them in fact!).
I think there is world of difference between a culture that encourages innovation vs. one of replication (not passing judgment either way). American seems to excel at the former at the expense of the latter where Asia is vice-versa. Toyota is a great example, Ford pioneered the personal automobile, where Toyota perfected the production and distribution of it.
The world is a better place for having both, of course.
As an aside, I think bringing Japan into the discussion is very interesting. Much of the griping I hear about China and India reminds me of what folks were saying about Japan when I was a youngster. Last I checked things didn’t exactly turn out in their favor. I suspect the average American enjoys a higher quality of life due to our respective countries relationship, vs. the average Japanese.
Participantasianautica,
Hmmm, I will agree that I see a difference between the 2nd generation asian students vs. the ones from overseas along the lines you describe. I wonder if it will take the third-gen to become fat, lazy americans? ;).
Re: the depression, suicide connection. It’s a very real issue unfortunately:
http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/April06/Chung.ksr.html
http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/05/16/asian.suicides/index.html
Oh, but you are. I’m sure most of the development done on Windows OS are done by Indian engineers and most of the CPU that run those OS are made in China.
Sorry, I’m a Unix guy. Proudly produced in New Jersey and California. By American’s (I’ve met most of them in fact!).
I think there is world of difference between a culture that encourages innovation vs. one of replication (not passing judgment either way). American seems to excel at the former at the expense of the latter where Asia is vice-versa. Toyota is a great example, Ford pioneered the personal automobile, where Toyota perfected the production and distribution of it.
The world is a better place for having both, of course.
As an aside, I think bringing Japan into the discussion is very interesting. Much of the griping I hear about China and India reminds me of what folks were saying about Japan when I was a youngster. Last I checked things didn’t exactly turn out in their favor. I suspect the average American enjoys a higher quality of life due to our respective countries relationship, vs. the average Japanese.
May 24, 2007 at 1:27 PM in reply to: Temecula: How long till you see a video like this there? #54812ParticipantHmm, Temecula is a nice area. If I could arrange telecommuting three days a week (currently do it one) and work flex time (say 7-3) the rest I might do it (provided good housing hits around 300k). Probably would buy a motorcycle just for the commuting days.
When I used to visit there is seemed an inordinate amount of folks were in RE related businesses (especially construction), so I can see the local economy getting hit pretty hard.
May 24, 2007 at 1:27 PM in reply to: Temecula: How long till you see a video like this there? #54827ParticipantHmm, Temecula is a nice area. If I could arrange telecommuting three days a week (currently do it one) and work flex time (say 7-3) the rest I might do it (provided good housing hits around 300k). Probably would buy a motorcycle just for the commuting days.
When I used to visit there is seemed an inordinate amount of folks were in RE related businesses (especially construction), so I can see the local economy getting hit pretty hard.
ParticipantRe:Cow_tipping
Can’t say I disagree with you! My only comment is that in my limited experience with outsourcing to India, they in turn were outsourcing to China! Unless you are on the bottom of the food chain getting outsourced will always be a risk.
Re:Fat_lazy_union…
That post was somewhat tongue in cheek, as I have little use for MBA’s myself. I will comment that working in higher education that yes the engineering depts are dominated by asian students. One should also keep in mind that globally, asians dominate the world population. If anything, they should be better represented in the global marketplace than they currently are.
However, in my experience the asian kids are in engineering because they believe its a lucrative career path and/or they are pressured by their parents. Lots of grade-grubbin, not alot of passion for the subject matter. This is in turn reflected by the higher rates of depression and suicide amongst this population.
But something I’ve noticed is that the real stars, the kids that love the work, are creative and challenge myself and my staff to keep up, are *exclusively* white-bread ‘mericans. They may be a minority, but its these kids that are going on to found the next Microsoft, Intel and Google. And going to be hiring lots of asian worker-bees to work for them!
I’ll feel otherwise when I’m using an Indian Operating system running on a Chinese microprocessor.
As for the ‘no one in their right mind’ comment, well I guess I’m insane then. I’ve chosen a job that I love, with great stability, benefits, and ton’s of perks. I walk to work, set my own hours, telecommute often and dress how I want. Sure, the pay ain’t great, but being crazy I’m going to suggest that money isn’t everything. I have a high quality of life and am making a genuine positive difference in the world.
I guess I could go work in Manhattan for a hedge fund and make six figures stealing money from old people, but to me immorality isn’t something to be associated with a ‘right mind’.
Food for thought!
ParticipantRe:Cow_tipping
Can’t say I disagree with you! My only comment is that in my limited experience with outsourcing to India, they in turn were outsourcing to China! Unless you are on the bottom of the food chain getting outsourced will always be a risk.
Re:Fat_lazy_union…
That post was somewhat tongue in cheek, as I have little use for MBA’s myself. I will comment that working in higher education that yes the engineering depts are dominated by asian students. One should also keep in mind that globally, asians dominate the world population. If anything, they should be better represented in the global marketplace than they currently are.
However, in my experience the asian kids are in engineering because they believe its a lucrative career path and/or they are pressured by their parents. Lots of grade-grubbin, not alot of passion for the subject matter. This is in turn reflected by the higher rates of depression and suicide amongst this population.
But something I’ve noticed is that the real stars, the kids that love the work, are creative and challenge myself and my staff to keep up, are *exclusively* white-bread ‘mericans. They may be a minority, but its these kids that are going on to found the next Microsoft, Intel and Google. And going to be hiring lots of asian worker-bees to work for them!
I’ll feel otherwise when I’m using an Indian Operating system running on a Chinese microprocessor.
As for the ‘no one in their right mind’ comment, well I guess I’m insane then. I’ve chosen a job that I love, with great stability, benefits, and ton’s of perks. I walk to work, set my own hours, telecommute often and dress how I want. Sure, the pay ain’t great, but being crazy I’m going to suggest that money isn’t everything. I have a high quality of life and am making a genuine positive difference in the world.
I guess I could go work in Manhattan for a hedge fund and make six figures stealing money from old people, but to me immorality isn’t something to be associated with a ‘right mind’.
Food for thought!
May 24, 2007 at 11:54 AM in reply to: Home Sales Soar by Record Amount . . . Are you kidding me? #54770ParticipantUh, this is good right? I.e., it takes increasing sales w/decreasing prices to accelerate the correction?
I would think once folks see that in order to move inventory they have to make steep reductions for the effect to snowball until it bottoms out.
May 24, 2007 at 11:54 AM in reply to: Home Sales Soar by Record Amount . . . Are you kidding me? #54785ParticipantUh, this is good right? I.e., it takes increasing sales w/decreasing prices to accelerate the correction?
I would think once folks see that in order to move inventory they have to make steep reductions for the effect to snowball until it bottoms out.
ParticipantYou know, you guys can’t have it both ways!
If domestic jobs are getting outsourced, thats gonna hit domestic asian job seekers just as hard as anybody. Especially those in the IT jobs that can be most easily sent overseas.
ParticipantYou know, you guys can’t have it both ways!
If domestic jobs are getting outsourced, thats gonna hit domestic asian job seekers just as hard as anybody. Especially those in the IT jobs that can be most easily sent overseas.
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