Pope Francis: crusader or communist?

[GandD 5,966]

For sure. Crops also have a tough time in the tropics.

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

For sure. Crops also have a tough time in the tropics.

Hmm.. Not something I have given much thought about.. But now that you mention it I've driven through a fair amount of SA and can't recall ever seeing any large fields of grains growing.. I have scene large lots of coffee, pineapple, and grapes being grown... not exactly high ROI as far as calorie to effort ratio so you could be right.

On the tropical diseases: seems to still be a huge issue for Africa but looking at a color coded map South America is only one shade darker (some areas two) than north america.. I don't know how that really translates but the number don't seem to be overly burdensome (as far as total effect on economy) these days for SA...

Edited December 13, 2013 by OnMyWayID

[GandD 5,966]

Hmm.. Not something I have given much thought about to have a worthwhile opinion.. But now that you mention it I've driven through a decent amount of SA and can't recall ever seeing any large fields of grains growing.. I have scene large lots of coffee, pineapple, and grapes being grown... not exactly high ROI as far as calorie to effort ratio so you could be right.

On the tropical diseases: seems to still be a huge issue for Africa but looking at a color coded map South America is only one shade darker (some areas two) than north america.. I don't know how that really translates but the number don't seem to be overly burdensome (as far as total effect on economy) these days for SA...

This hypothesizes on how some of the inequalities came to be:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guns,_Germs,_and_Steel

Granted it has received a lot of criticism (what doesn't) if taken with a grain of salt it has some really good points to the rise of the West and Asia vs. some of the other civs. I never considered how important beasts of burden would be to an emerging civilization. The America's had none and very few domesticated animals. These two factors may have limited them growth-wise and immunity-wise considering most viruses Europeans developed immunity to came from close living with domesticated animals.

[Sarah Elle-Même 660]

If that's true, clearly he's a commie, one of those weak livered christians that don't like all that smiting and stoning in the old testament.

Clearly you've never heard of liberation theology. I'm not surprised.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

For sure. Crops also have a tough time in the tropics.

Rice, kasaba, etc. The wife says in the province, there is not shortage of food, only in the heavily populated areas. Many tropical trees bear fruit the year around.

[GandD 5,966]

Rice, kasaba, etc. The wife says in the province, there is not shortage of food, only in the heavily populated areas. Many tropical trees bear fruit the year around.

The strongest civilizations grew on Rice, Wheat, and Corn. Beasts of Burden got the first two areas to the next level. What the doc discussed was how many people in a village would be needed to gather food in tropical areas. The answer was almost always more due to its difficulty to gather and less caloric volume than the big three. This left less villagers available to develop other areas. To my knowledge, Rice was not available in the Americas and does not grow in tropical Africa.

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

This hypothesizes on how some of the inequalities came to be:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guns,_Germs,_and_Steel

Granted it has received a lot of criticism (what doesn't) if taken with a grain of salt it has some really good points to the rise of the West and Asia vs. some of the other civs. I never considered how important beasts of burden would be to an emerging civilization. The America's had none and very few domesticated animals. These two factors may have limited them growth-wise and immunity-wise considering most viruses Europeans developed immunity to came from close living with domesticated animals.

That was a very good read, thanks for sharing the link. I wonder if the documentary is floating around somewhere? I will have to look when I get home.. I'm getting very little work done today

I remember in a class as a kid being told that at one point around 50% of the population in north america was responsible for food creation/distribution.. That number today (well... then) had fallen to under 1%.. Really does make sense.. A couple of advantages lead to changes that in turn lead to other changes, the wheels start cranking and foom! off we go.

[GandD 5,966]

That was a very good read, thanks for sharing the link. I wonder if the documentary is floating around somewhere? I will have to look when I get home.. I'm getting very little work done today

I remember in a class as a kid being told that at one point around 50% of the population in north america was responsible for food creation/distribution.. That number today (well... then) had fallen to under 1%.. Really does make sense.. A couple of advantages lead to changes that in turn lead to other changes, the wheels start cranking and foom! off we go.

It's available on Netflix.