Lepton – any member of a class of subatomic particles that respond only to the electromagnetic force, weak force, and gravitational force and are not affected by the strong force; a former monetary unit of Greece used only in calculations, worth one hundredth of a drachma.
Saturday’s smiles
17/06/2017A couple of robbers entered a bank in a small town.
One of them shouted: “Don’t move. The money belongs to the bank, your lives belong to you.”
Immediately all the people in the bank lay on the floor quietly and without panicking.
This is an example of how the correct wording of a sentence can make everyone change their view of the world.
One woman lay on the floor in a provocative manner.
The robber approached her saying, ” Ma’am, this is a robbery not a seduction. Please behave accordingly.”
This is an example of how to behave professionally, and focus on the goal..
While running from the bank the youngest robber (who had a college degree) said to the oldest robber (who had barely finished primary school): “Hey, maybe we should count how much we stole.” The older man replied: “Don’t be stupid. It’s a lot of money so let’s wait for the news on TV to find out how much money was taken from the bank”
This is an example of how life experience is more important than a degree.
After the robbery, the bank manager said to the accountant: “Let’s call the cops and tell them how much has been stolen.”
“Wait”, said the Accountant, “before we do that, let’s add the $800,000 we took for ourselves a few months ago and just say that it was stolen as part of today’s robbery.”
This is an example of taking advantage of an opportunity.
The following day it was reported in the news that the bank was robbed of $ 3 million. The robbers counted the money, but they found only $1 million so they started to grumble.
“We risked our lives for $1 million, while the bank’s management robbed two million dollars without blinking? Maybe it’s better to learn how to work the system, instead of being a simple robber.”
This is an example of how knowledge can be more useful than power.
Moral of the Story : Give people guns, and they can rob a bank. Give them a bank, and they can rob everyone.
Rural round-up
17/06/2017Riding the dairy rollercoaster – Ian Telfer:
Head just west from Riverton, Southland, turn inland from stony Colac Bay and the wilder waters of Foveaux Strait, and you reach the Mathieson family farm.
Sandwiched between the sea and the bush-covered slopes of Longwood Forest, it’s where Ewen Mathieson was born, and has remained ever since.
“It’s a pretty special place.”
For most of its history, the 650-hectare farm ran mainly sheep and beef, but in 2008 – the year the National-led government was elected – the family decided to convert to dairy.
It turned out to be interesting timing. . .
Researchers confident of pāua comeback after quake:
Researchers studying how pāua have been impacted by the Kaikōura earthquake say it is not yet clear how long it will take the species to recover.
November’s 7.8 magnitude earthquake lifted parts of coastline up by several metres in places, dehydrating and killing thousands of exposed pāua.
Last year the government announced a $2 million research package to look at how marine life was coping after the disaster.
Pāua are one of the species thought to have fared worst in the Kaikōura earthquake. A ban on collecting them and all other shellfish and seaweed in the area, excluding crayfish, is in place until November this year – when it will be reviewed. . .
Green Ribbon Awards showcase farmers’ environmental work:
Federated Farmers is delighted to see farmers’ environmental work being showcased and celebrated at the annual Green Ribbon Awards in Wellington last night.
The Ministers for Environment and Conservation who hosted the event announced two farmer led initiatives as winners; The Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust was honoured in the community leadership category, while Te Rūnanga-ā-Iwi o Ngāti Kahu was winner of the Kaitiaki Leadership category.
In all, there were five farmer led initiatives which were 2017 finalists, underlining kiwi farmers’ commitment to the environment and biodiversity. . .
Grow large with milk – Eric Crampton:
It would be tempting to take these results and make a case for ending Canadian dairy supply management, but there are better reasons for ending Canadian supply management.
A new paper out in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows there’s an association between children drinking non-dairy milk, as opposed to cow’s milk, and lower heights.
The press release doesn’t link to the paper. Here’s the link to the paper if you’re interested.
The press release talks about associations but doesn’t say anything about causality. Nevertheless, the author goes on about the lack of regulation of protein content in non-dairy milk.
And hey, maybe that’s what’s going on. Reduced protein intake could be doing it. . .
Global demand fueling forestry export growth:
Strong demand from key markets is driving up export growth in forestry products, Associate Primary Industries Minister Louise Upston says.
The latest Ministry for Primary Industries’ Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries (SOPI) shows strong growth in the forestry sector.
“Forestry exports are expected to grow 6.4 per cent to $5.5 billion in 2017, before increasing further to $6.3 billion by 2021 as increased volumes of wood become available for harvest,” Ms Upston says. . .
Proud moment as New Zealand farmers take their wool to the world stage:
Seeing their product presented to the North American market was an emotional and triumphant experience for a group of New Zealand wool growers last month.
Just Shorn®, Carrfields Primary Wool (CP Wool)’s range of premium New Zealand wool carpets and rugs, was launched in New York City on May 18 at an event attended by New Zealand Trade Commissioner – Consul General, Beatrice Faumuina.
Craig Carr, managing director of Carrfields, said the farmers who attended the event were immensely proud to see the finished carpets and rugs, which are now available from US luxury flooring specialist Carlisle, presented at the event. . .
Soybeans: Missouri’s Super Crop! Planting #My60Acres – Uptown farms:
It’s ‘s growing day 10 already and I am just now telling the story of planting #My60Acres! Many of you will remember from last year that my farmer husband gave me full access to take over one, 60 acre field on our home farm.
Last year #My60Acres was planted to corn (you can read that story here). I delayed planting a few days (because I didn’t want to take time off from my day job) and it cost me in yield at harvest time because I hit some wet, cold weather right after planting. . .
Sileni Estates wins Platinum at the prestigious Decanter World Wine Awards in London:
Hawke’s Bay producer, Sileni Estates, has been awarded Platinum at the 2017 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) for its 2014 Estate Selection Peak Syrah.
The Decanter World Wine Awards is one of the world’s largest and most influential international wine competitions judged by the top wine experts, Masters of Wine and Master Sommeliers from around the world. . .
Xero urges agri sector to Improve glacial invoicing:
Xero announces new app developments, agri-specific reporting templates and benchmarking capability
As Fieldays is in full swing and businesses have been spending up large, Xero is urging agri businesses to proactively manage their finances.
Craig Hudson, New Zealand Country Manager at Xero, says the agri sector has some of the longest payment terms Xero sees across New Zealand.
“The concept of monthly invoicing is outdated for the agri sector. If you aren’t invoicing as you complete work, you are missing a trick. The sector will be losing out on millions due to the unnecessary cost of financing negative cashflow. . .
Saturday soapbox
17/06/2017Saturday’s soapbox is yours to use as you will – within the bounds of decency and absence of defamation. You’re welcome to look back or forward, discuss issues of the moment, to pontificate, ponder or point us to something of interest, to educate, elucidate or entertain, amuse, bemuse or simply muse, but not abuse.
Stand up for what you believe in, even if you’re standing alone.