Besides these farm works, I am reading the bio of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I might mention of him, a theologist as well as a pastor, who used to be killed by Nazis a month prior to the end of the WWII in Germany due to his commitment in assasination plan for Hitler. In this time when totaltareanism seems to rule the world, his life and works have come in my mind. I used to read his "Nachfolge" when I was a student at a reading club lead by an evangelist. He was a really excellent theologist as well, who used to study and get the PhD in theology in Germany not too long after the end of WWII. I have never imagined recalling of that reading club and Bonhoeffer so long after. There are a lot of differences in the situation between the Nazis era and present days. Now the super rich is trying to rule the world and there are people following those oligarch. A kind of quasi religion which is quite similar to Nazis era. I may mention about it in relation with the life of Bonhoeffer later.
A Nuttycellist's Monologue
A semiretired pediatrician living in a countryside in Japan will describe what he thinks of his hobbies, life and the events around himself.
3/31/2025
Tree flowers, vegetables and Bonhoeffer
3/22/2025
Magnolia starting blooming
When a nation hides or discards its administrative data
Federa Economic Statistic Advisory Committee, FESAC, has put an end to its activity. It is a committee composed of economic statistics researchers, who have joined almost in volunteer. They have advised the related administration organizations on statistical methodology and other technical matters related to the collection, tabulation, and analysis of federal economic statistics.
The Trump administration has started discarding or hiding the statistics data which are incompatible with their policy and/or the result of the policy. Historically, those countries which have hidden the administration data have always perished sooner or later. The most recent example is USSR.
When the administration discards or hides the related statistics, they won't be able to evaluate a certain policy. The politics and administration stray into a mess. Without proper evaluation of certain policy, how could they make the next move? It is quite doubtful if the administration could be run appropriately.
The US seems to be in a real peril at present, I am afraid.
3/21/2025
An unforgettable ham radio friend Ken K6HPX
3/17/2025
Consequence of the tariff war
How come the US president has started the tariff war? I am afraid it will have the economy of the US plummeted sooner or later. This tariff war is totally against the spirit of GATT and, later, of WTO. If they have any problem in the trade, they could sue it to WTO. As I told before, this tariff war could lead to another Great Recession.
All I could guess is that Trump has started it in the vibes of "You are fired!". It is causing too much turmoil and even victims. The US could lose the key currency status for USD in the world market, which has enabled to attract investments from all over the world.
Don't they have any specialists of economy and/or international trade who could give the administration proper advice?
It seems to, at least, for Musk of Tesla to be defeated in this war. The consumers are the next victim of this war.
https://news.usstareveryday.com/thanhhtv/bad-news-for-tesla-musk-finally-gets-what-he-deserves-htt/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJD9aFleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHQ49-yHvnqtd_MsztDO2w7T-hiNYgRpdXklHazH4gDHF4QPaYTdiy_P_gg_aem_VfBIV41jNIf-DdiEhM3few
3/16/2025
Climate change and crop foreseen
This interesting article shows how the upstick temperature changes the diversity and the cropland suitable for particular vegetables. Even 2 degrees C increase would cause drastic changes. The temperate areas may increase crop harvest. But the total harvest may drastically drop with that climate changein the world. The developing countries, mostly located in the tropics, may undergo food shortage and could become politically unstable. There could be more refugees to the developing countries due to food shortage as well as commotion and conflict.
This study tells us to make efforts to rewind the climate change. If it is inevitable, we should prepare for the food shortage. Maybe, both actions are required for now.
https://www.carbonbrief.org/half-of-global-croplands-could-see-a-drop-in-suitable-crops-at-2c-of-warming/?utm_content=buffer789f2&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Last fall, the hot wave has lasted long here. Vegetables, mainly leaf ones, have not grown as usual. At grodery stores the prices of leaf vegetables were even 3 times higher than usual year. Other kinds of vegetables were also more or less expensive compared with them before.
Even at my tiny farm, due to hot spell with drought, leaf vegetables were almost no crop this winter. I have learned how plants were vulnerable to a climate change. This change may not be temporary but go on long time. It should lead to food deficit. Those in big cities who are not involved with farming may not feel this sense of crisis coming in the near future. They falsely believe they could get vegetables or crops with money any time.
I have replanted green onions, divided from grown ones, in a corner of the farm. Only with a shovel, I could do with vegetables in this size. It's good enough for us to have this coming summer. Dozens of potatoes have been planted as well. Imagining whom I would give them to when harvested enough, I planted carefully one potato to another on the soil mixed with home brew compost. Trying to grow seedlings like broccoli indoor, I find again a green house and warming system necessary. I should purchase those seedlings of summer vegetables next month. The only success to grow seedling is of sweet potato. It has started rooting in water. I may plant it in soil in a few weeks. It may given a lot o stalks which would be buried in soil. Anyway, it will be a busy season for a farmer for the coming few months.