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Thinking About Commodities and the American Defense Industrial Base

2023-02-23T00:00:00+00:00

One of the defining attributes of American excellence that sets us apart from other nations is our abundance of natural resources. It is essential to remember that the ability to cultivate and process these resources via industrial technologies form the backbone of America’s war-fighting capability.

The 10,000 foot view is that a straight-forward method for increasing US war-fighting capability includes:

A) Extracting more natural resources and creating more agricultural output to form a basis for an increase in overall American commodities production.

B) Increasing the size and sophistication of the American defense industrial base, which uses these commodities to produce essential war-fighting goods.

When examining our near-peer competitors, it’s important to note that one of their core disadvantages lies in their varying levels of exposure to non-abundant resources. To put it simply: food, oil, coal, gas, and fertilizer are all essential to these near-peer competitors and industrialized nation-states, most of which import multiple categories.

While the US is not failing in its commodity production or industrial output, we can certainly do better. Consider the case of food production. According to the USDA, crop yields are roughly 4 times larger today than 1947. At the same time, the amount of actively-cultivated American farmland has significantly decreased. With the rise of the American service economy and the growth of cities, many historic family farms have been abandoned. In some states, there has been significantly more farmland than the market can handle, resulting in farm abandonment and a return of the property to its natural state.

While the overall agricultural production picture is rosy, the increased consolidation of production does raise concerns about resilience and efficiency. Having a less-centralized agricultural base, with a wider diversity of crops that are all produced at immense scale, would be a beneficial approach to ensuring stability in the face of unforeseen challenges. As an example of the benefits of decentralization - if the availability of fertilizer for American farmers were suddenly impacted, having more overall land in a productive posture versus less could mean the difference between manageable food-shortages and localized famine.

As I continue to collect my scattered thoughts on further strengthening the American defense industrial base, I’ll be paying particular attention to areas where I see greenfield opportunities or existing process improvements. At least for me, the promotion of increased natural commodity production, the growth of American self-sufficiency, and the decentralization of production capacity are areas of interest worth exploring.

Note: This essay was originally published off-site on February 23, 2023. This is a tool-assisted and agent-assisted product and has been edited for clarity.

Rediscovering Artisanal Manufacturing: Building the Foundation for Future Growth

2023-02-19T00:00:00+00:00

“There’s no chemical solution to a spiritual problem” - Christopher Moltisanti, The Sopranos

I often reflect on this insightful quote from one of the more troubled characters in HBO’s “The Sopranos.” It accurately identifies that many problems we face have spiritual roots, and perceived quick fixes, whether they are technological, chemical, or otherwise, often fail to address the underlying causes.

Over the years, countless discussions have revolved around the restoration of American manufacturing and the revitalization of the American defense industrial base. These discussions are typically filled with lofty aspirations, calling for grand endeavors and paradigm-shifting ventures. However, one aspect that hasn’t received sufficient attention in this discourse is the resurgence of American artisanal manufacturing.

Artisanal manufacturing, also known as light industry, is characterized as small-scale manufacturing that is primarily focused on producing goods for individual consumers rather than businesses. Professions that fall under artisanal labor include the historical examples of the local butcher, baker, and candlestick maker.

While today, these roles are often associated with heavy-industry operations optimized for meeting customer demands at scale, there are still professionals who maintain smaller artisanal operations. These small businesses serve local communities, relying on human labor for production, in contrast to automated machinery. This doesn’t negate the existence of capital expenses for necessities like infrastructure and tools, but it emphasizes that today’s local butchers, bakers, and candlestick makers uphold traditional craftsmanship reminiscent of their counterparts before widespread industrialization.

What light industry may lack in scale, it compensates for in other crucial ways. Investing in artisanal manufacturing could be an essential strategy for diversifying the defense industrial base, reducing our collective dependence on a few large suppliers, and decentralizing the system as a whole.

One particularly intriguing aspect is how artisanal manufacturing operations lay the foundation for small businesses to grow into more significant entities, creating the essential infrastructure on which larger companies can be built. What often begins as a small individual endeavor evolves into a laboratory of experimentation and a cultural hub that enables entrepreneurs, their families, friends, and communities to actively participate in the process of business development.

When evaluating how a business can best contribute to the American defense industrial base, factors such as longevity and stability often outweigh short-term gross profits. Prior to the software era, nearly every large business began as a small one. Beretta, for instance, originated as an artisanal forge producing arquebus barrels. Today, it stands as one of the largest firearms manufacturers and remains a family-run business for almost 500 years. In the realm of industrial operations at an artisanal scale, Honda’s journey started with bicycles before transitioning to cars, Lamborghini began with tractors before venturing into automobiles, and even Walmart, the colossal retail giant, had humble beginnings as a single store before expanding into a global shopping empire.

As we navigate the complexities of modern industry and defense, we must not overlook the enduring value of artisanal manufacturing. These small-scale operations offer a path to diversification, decentralization, and resilience, echoing the timeless wisdom that there’s no chemical solution to a spiritual problem.

Note: This essay was originally published off-site on February 19, 2023. This is a tool-assisted and agent-assisted product and has been edited for clarity.

The Coming VFX Revolution

2020-06-30T00:00:00+00:00

Video Link for Part 1:

Click HERE

Video Link for Part 2:

Click HERE

Video Link for Part 3:

Click HERE

Episode summary:

We unveil the website that has been built over the last week.

Feedback from Episode #01:

It was suggested to me to build a better desk streaming setup. Two resources I was directed to: Garry Tan’s streaming setup guide and Lowko’s streaming setup.¹ ² Presently I’m operating on a limited budget + logistical limitations of COVID-19. Going to proceed with clever hacks and upgrade where necessary.
It was suggested I check out Garry Tan’s tweet on the importance of Youtube thumbnails.³ This was utilized. I think this is “not there yet” and will be improving. On my To Do list for this: get a thicker red circle, figure out if better thumbnail text is appropriate.

Observations:

Using Loom was good for this video.
For the next video, I will likely shoot via two separate Looms, the first focusing on video of me and the second doing the picture-in-picture for focusing primarily on what’s happening on screen.

References

^{1. Garry Tan’s streaming setup guide. ↩}

^{2. Lowko’s Streaming Setup ↩}

^{3. Garry Tan’s Youtube Thumbnail Tweet ↩}

Lessons Learned with Dan Downs #03 - Swift Playgrounds Review

2020-06-23T00:00:00+00:00

Episode Link:

Click HERE

Episode summary:

DD does a review of Swift Playgrounds, Apple’s education-focused development environment for learning the Swift Language. ¹

Feedback from Episode #02:

It was suggested to me to start with a full-face opener going forward.

Observations:

Using 2 separate Looms to make this was A+. Will continue to do so in the future.
Picture-in-picture was not used for the deep dive into Swift. Will likely integrate in the future; this episode had technical issues which prevented use.
Need to make a thicker red circle for the Youtube thumbnail.
Technically, this is a “Swift Playgrounds Review” versus a “Swift Review” as described in the thumbnail. Getting “Swift Playgrounds Review” to fit in an elegant manner was tough. Clocking in at just over 14 minutes - I do indeed consider this review to be speedy. It certainly is swift. ;)

References

^{1. Wikipedia page on Apple’s Swift Playgrounds. ↩}

On Career Longevity and Tom Cruise

2020-06-20T00:00:00+00:00

The noted European politics commentator Niccolo Soldo recently shared a real gem of a forum post - pictured below - that provides a spirited defense on the unassailability of Tom Cruise’s status as this era’s preeminent Hollywood leading man.¹

With his unchanging and almost-unaged face continuing to dominate one sheets in a landscape of passing faces, temporary fads, and stamina-lacking upstarts, Cruise seems to be the immovable object personified. ²

For those of us focused on building things, it is a pleasure to admire the work of those in other industries. For me, Cruise’s commitment to continued excellence is much appreciated.

It is nice knowing there is someone out there who refuses to rest on their laurels, who insists on unceasingly refining their art. Over a 39 year film career, Cruise has cranked out 45 films - most as leading man - in what I imagine is the pursuit of perfection.

Thank you, Tom Cruise.

References

^{1. “[A] skin stretched over ambition” is a delightful turn of phrase that served as the inspiration for writing this. ↩}

^{2. Alternatively - In the Glanton Gang that is Hollywood’s cinematic juggernaut, Tom Cruise is undoubtedly its Judge Holden. Ageless and a force of nature more than anything else, his singular philosophy expressed by the ceaseless execution of his craft characterizes him above all else. ↩}

Lessons Learned with Dan Downs #02 - Personal Website Unveiling

2020-06-16T00:00:00+00:00

Episode Link:

Click HERE

Episode summary:

We unveil the website that has been built over the last week.

Feedback from Episode #01:

It was suggested to me to build a better desk streaming setup. Two resources I was directed to: Garry Tan’s streaming setup guide and Lowko’s streaming setup.¹ ² Presently I’m operating on a limited budget + logistical limitations of COVID-19. Going to proceed with clever hacks and upgrade where necessary.
It was suggested I check out Garry Tan’s tweet on the importance of Youtube thumbnails.³ This was utilized. I think this is “not there yet” and will be improving. On my To Do list for this: get a thicker red circle, figure out if better thumbnail text is appropriate.

Observations:

Using Loom was good for this video.
For the next video, I will likely shoot via two separate Looms, the first focusing on video of me and the second doing the picture-in-picture for focusing primarily on what’s happening on screen.

References

^{1. Garry Tan’s streaming setup guide. ↩}

^{2. Lowko’s Streaming Setup ↩}

^{3. Garry Tan’s Youtube Thumbnail Tweet ↩}

Inaugurating This Venture

2020-05-26T00:00:00+00:00

A friend recently asked why I chose now to establish a personal website for cataloging my thoughts and productions.

It would be tough to assert that now is a not challenging time to launch a new project.

I believe that building now is more important than ever.

Regardless of whether you are launching a business, developing a novel product, crafting an innovative art project, or inaugurating some other endeavor, it is essential that we build.

At this time, humanity as a species is again reminded that our supposed omnipotent dominion of Earth was merely a façade.

We are reminded of our mortality, our fragility, and our station in an unforgiving Universe.

This is not a bad thing. Seeing the world as it is allows one to take appropriate action.

Homo sapiens did not outcompete other human species & spread to all corners of our globe by fleeing adversity, but through identifying challenges on the road ahead and dealing with them appropriately.¹

At this time we should take stock, figure out where we want to go from here, decide a course of action, and execute.²

For us as individuals and organizations - as families and communities - the choice is ours for what we want to see in a post-crisis world.

Now is the time to roll up our shirtsleeves and get to work.

References

^{1. The specific method by which Homo sapiens ended up on top is still debated. All we know is that we’re here and Homo neanderthalensis are not. ↩}

^{2. Summing up my execution philosophy in one sentence, “Act Stoic and do the OODA Loop.”.↩}