TB12

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On November 20, 2016, TB12 commented on Blending of Science and Buddhism at Chinese Temple :

This is something about which I had absolutely no idea, so thank you for the eye-opening post. The mix of modern technology and Buddhist monks is completely incongruous to my mind, but Longquan seems to be making it work. I must imagine, though, that there has been pushback from the wider Buddhist community, something you allude to at the end of your post. Have there been any open rebukes against the temple from the wider community, or is it mostly rumblings and questions? It can become easy to question their motives as they serve as a networking hub and place of spiritual discovery at the same time, and I’ll be curious to see how the monks at Longquan strike that delicate balance going forward.

On November 20, 2016, TB12 commented on The Kings’ Way: How the Sacramento Kings have Gone Digital :

I’ll echo Andrew’s questions and add one of my own: does the Kings’ incredibly robust use of technology and connectivity in the fan experience translate at all to their approach to on-court analytics and analysis? There are pretty amazing technologies, in use by most NBA teams at this point, that allow players, coaches and the front office to track individual dribbles, player angles, distances, etc. in order to more effectively allocate and value talent, as well as scout competitors. With such a deep investment in the technology for the fans, you’d imagine that there would be a matching focus on the competitive side, but (as both you and Andrew mentioned), there has been no discernible improvement in on-court performance during this time. I’ll be watching closely to see if the on-court product catches up to the fan experience any time soon.

On November 20, 2016, TB12 commented on Bean Counters in Space: How Orbital Insights Sees the World :

Dan, this is really incredible stuff that I did not know was happening – the use of satellite imagery as a means to market predictions is a pretty innovative way of thinking (and executing). I’m curious if there is any indication that Orbital Insight is working to mold their future business model to account for the potential threats from Google and others, or if they are truly, as you surmise, overconfident in their unassailability. Regardless, I can see this space (pun intended) becoming increasingly competitive and highly-contested as the capabilities become more accurate and reliable, and the stakes get even higher. Has there been any pushback from the investment community or increased efforts to partner with Orbital Insights, specifically from those who do not have access to this data and may feel at a disadvantage?

On November 20, 2016, TB12 commented on Thriving Cities: GE’s Bright Idea :

Paige, this is fascinating stuff. The potential in these technologies is absolutely massive, and GE is as well-positioned as any company to work with local governments to actually implement these ideas. GE has their own self-driving car programs, solar, etc. but as these elements become more common around the country, does GE have a plan in place to interface with the Teslas and SolarCitys of the world? To have a truly connected network that benefits all its users, various companies and brands will have to “lower the shields” around their data and processes in order to effectively work together and achieve the true network effects available at large scale. It seems like GE is doing pretty incredible things on its own, and I’ll bet that the effects will increase exponentially if they can bring others onboard with this vision as well (as partners, not competitors).

On November 20, 2016, TB12 commented on Will Telemedicine Re-shape Our Healthcare Industry? :

I actually used a telemedicine app (OneMedical) for the first time recently in order to get a doctor’s opinion without scheduling an appointment or leaving my house. I found the experience to be very friendly and easy, but unsatisfactory when it came to quality of care. Through no fault of her own, the Nurse Practitioner I was connected with was unable to diagnose my injury or offer much insight other than “you’ll need to schedule an actual doctor’s appointment to find out more.” It is an injury that will require x-ray/MRI, so there wasn’t much that could be done over a smartphone interface, but I had higher hopes they’d actually be able to tell me more about the possibilities, but I was left disappointed. That, to me, is the greatest drawback of telemedicine – the inability to run x-ray or MRI or have a doctor actually “push and pull” to find out what’s really going on. I’d be concerned about a higher rate of misdiagnosis, as well.

On November 7, 2016, TB12 commented on Tesla races towards a sustainable ecosystem :

I am a huge Elon Musk believer, and I will be fascinated to see how this plays out. His Master Plan (Part Two) is inspiring reading, and his past delivery on promises makes me optimistic for the future. I wonder how realistic the volume projections can be, however – ambitious is understating it. To make a true, widespread impact, Musk and Tesla will not only need to hit those numbers by 2018/2020 but continue to grow rapidly far beyond that volume in the years following. The potential impact here is far greater than just transportation, and the execution will depend not only on Tesla/SolarCity’s ability to perform, but also on the market’s willingness to adopt these technologies and incorporate them into their lives.

On November 7, 2016, TB12 commented on Intrawest: In Search of Snow :

As someone who lives to ski, this post is extremely relevant to some of my most frequent nightmares. The result of shorter seasons has been an almost universal increase in prices by resorts trying to make up for fewer skiers skiing on less snow during a shorter season each year. Prices for lift tickets, lodging, food and entertainment in and around ski areas have skyrocketed in the last decade, and they’ll continue to increase as ski seasons continue to shorten. As prices have increased, skiers have been even less incentivized to give these resorts their patronage, as they’re often paying more to ski on crappier snow. I agree with Gabby’s comment regarding expanding other activities year-round; many mountains offer great outdoor activities during non-ski seasons, and while the awareness and traffic have not caught up to expectations, it may be the resorts’ only hopes.

On November 7, 2016, TB12 commented on Fish Out of Water? :

To answer the original question – I would not eat a fish that’s never been in the sea (more specifically, raised in a tank – I’d eat freshwater fish!). My reasons are similar to what Alexandra mentioned, but the main one is the prevalence of disease/parasites in farmed fish that result from so many animals being grown in such an enclosed space. Even open-water fish farms can negatively affect the surrounding ocean ecosystem by allowing food/chemicals/disease to filter out into the larger ecosystem. I’m curious to see what Marine Harvest does going forward, but I think you have done a good job laying out the case that there is no easy fix, and the crisis is only worsening.

Interesting read, Alejandra. It is especially interesting that Nissan has made such strides in R&D without that intermediary step, perhaps because their single-minded focus has allowed them to achieve results faster and more reliably than if they had split attention in going after the hybrid marker also. How do you see Nissan’s products and sales changing as various providers like Uber begin to plan for a sustainable future by buying entire fleets of electric (and self-driving) cars years ahead of the actual release of those vehicles? Does Nissan want to play in that “corporate transit” space or are they focused on the consumer for the long term?

On November 7, 2016, TB12 commented on … Still Got Milk? :

Interesting read – do you think that the changes you recommended are within grasp for a company like Maitree Fresh or will they be too capital-intensive to achieve on a short timescale? What do you think the timeline/horizon looks like for companies trying to make these shifts toward sustainability? How urgent are these measures, and will they potentially lead to some consolidation in the dairy industry in India? And how should these companies prioritize shelf life, etc. vs innovations closer to the top of the supply chain (combating lower yield, e.g.)?

On November 6, 2016, TB12 commented on Califia Farms: Cracking the Drought in California :

Dan – I thought your post did a great job summarizing the issues facing California not only at a broader agricultural level, but also within a more specific industry. Your points about the difference between almond trees and traditional row crops are key to understanding the longer-term effects on the water table in California. I actually worked on a deal with Califia in my last job, and they made a huge show of their sustainability in terms of climate change, etc. because they don’t have the same environmental impact as cows (methane, etc.) but provide a milk alternative. They were extremely careful in their avoidance of discussing the water crisis and their effect on the water table and the availability of fresh water in California, I believe because they are well aware of these issues but not taking much substantial action to address them. You do a good job laying out why they need to take action, and why their ownership of the issue is key for any potential solution.