Defending Against GMO Contamination

As if it’s not enough work to guard against genetically modified organisms invading your seed-stocks and fields. Now you have to defend against being sued by the source of the malevolent invaders. Eighty-three family farmers, small and family owned seed businesses, and agricultural organizations challenging Monsanto’s patents on genetically modified seed recently filed papers in … Read more

The World’s Best Nano Houses

Driven by a commitment to reduce energy consumption and built space, there’s a growing trend among the eco-conscious to build tiny homes. A new book, Nano House by Phyllis Richardson (Thames & Hudson), gathers 40 of the best-designed examples from around the world–all of which showcase an appreciation for the efficient use of space, materials, … Read more

Wall Street Analysts Have Outsourced Their Brains.

There is a short-sighted methodology for calculating the Internal Rate of Return (IRR) on an investment. It causes some investors to focus on smaller and smaller wins. If something doesn’t pay off for years, the IRR is so unattractive that the addled investor will focus capital on shorter and shorter term wins. The other myopic … Read more

Throughput Accounting

Throughput Accounting (TA) improves profit performance with better management decisions by using measurements that more closely reflect the effect of decisions on three critical monetary variables (throughput, investment (AKA inventory), and operating expense. It is thus part of the management accountants’ toolkit, ensuring efficiency where it matters as well as the overall effectiveness of the … Read more

The Decline of Manufacturing — A Chain Reaction

“Once manufacturing is outsourced, process-engineering expertise can’t be maintained, since it depends on daily interactions with manufacturing. Without process-engineering capabilities, companies find it increasingly difficult to conduct advanced research on next-generation process technologies. Without the ability to develop such new processes, they find they can no longer develop new products. In the long term, then, … Read more

To Be Thankful

We can be thankful to a friend for a few acres, or a little money; and yet for the freedom and command of the whole earth, and for the great benefits of our being, our life, health, and reason, we look upon ourselves as under no obligation. — Lucius Annaeus Seneca Deep Abiding Devotion   … Read more

Like Christ said . . .

Like Christ said, love thee one another. I learned to do that, and I learned to respect and be appreciative and thankful for what I had. — James Brown Deep Abiding Devotion   Aevia — Consider the Source © 2011 The Aevia Charitable Trust — Robert H. Kalk – Lead Trustee