Random, Random 2.0

[ponchi101]

What are the main exports of Colombia?

Did you really needed to ask that?
Coffee, a little white powder, more coffee, there is this plant that holds "medicinal" powers , more coffee, they are large producers of beef but that is exported to regional markets, flowers, some fruits, coffee...
They are self reliant on agricultural products, so no need to import.
It is another subject we have spoken about. As long as we do not produce any sort of even mid-tech products (appliances, tools) we will always be screwed. So, if on top of that we will get average AI to replace our intellectual output....
I'm a broken record.

[Suliso]

Colombia and I guess large parts of South America are very different from India even if wealth levels are comparable. India makes and exports a LOT of things in pretty much every tech category except the very top.

[ponchi101]

Yes. It is one of my main concerns with our region. Very little technological output, with the exception of Brazil. They do produce some serious technology such as airplanes.
Colombia and the rest of the Andean region is basically unable to produce, competitively, even household appliances. There are some automobile assembly lines (Venezuela used to have that, Colombia does) but not much more.

[Suliso]

Those are the facts, but I'm yet to understand really well why. Security situation is reasonable in most of South America, education ok for middle tech, infrastructure not completely bad either, but still not much happens. There must be some reason...

[ponchi101]

All my life, I have asked the same. Some ideas (from me) are:
Very high financial costs, because our currencies are continuously devaluating.
Infrastructure. This is a vicious circle, because no infrastructure (roads especially) means lack of development which leads to less funding to create the infrastructure.
Policies. Countries like Bolivia and Venezuela drown themselves in red-tape.
It is easier to import than develop an in-country industry. The importer makes a killing, he has the money to grease the proper wheels, and it is impossible for local start ups to get a footing.
Corruption. Not only the red tape, but direct corruption in which you have to pay for "services"; therefore, your cost of production is increased.

Just some ideas. A proper study would be needed.

[JazzNU]

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers, grandmothers, aunts, godmothers, and mother figures here on TAT! Hope you are having a wonderful day with your loved ones. Or not, if your wish was a break from it all, I think you should get whatever the heck you ask for today.

[ti-amie]

[ponchi101]

[ti-amie]

I don't know how many people know about the bedlam the Waffle House chain is known for. I haven't watched SNL in a long time but this is one of their best skits in a long time. You may have to watch two or three times to get everything that's going on inside the Waffle House.

[ti-amie]

Bob the Traveler
@bobthetraveler@mastodon.world
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, born OTD in 1689, was the wife of the British ambassador to Turkey where she learned about smallpox inoculation; she introduced it to Britain upon her return https://cromwell-intl.com/travel/turkey/istanbul/?s=mb #history #PublicHealth

https://mastodon.world/@bobthetraveler/ ... 2422636933

[ponchi101]

One city that several people tell me has to be visited.

[ti-amie]

Tri da Villain
@THEEEhottie
·
1h
Once they stopped at the 19th precinct, NYPD officers continued to yell at paparazzi to move back. NYPD already stated footage is under investigation. Two days ago, Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office arrested Kevin Garcia Valdovinos for stalking them

[ti-amie]

[ti-amie]

[Owendonovan]

One of my students accidentally swung an aluminum bat into my left arm full force, only a 4th grader, but man, I am feeling it. (teaching is not for the meek)