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[Mokoa]

Sydneyb wrote:
As a related sidenote:

Is there a way on this new board to block someone's comments and PM's? It would be a useful tool for unuseful tools.

Originally Posted by John Bull

DG is correct. There is much you can do within your CP. However, you cannot edit out someone's publically posted comments.

What about the Ignore List?

[texastongue4u2]

I learned in Estes Park and went fly fishing on the Roaring Fork at the 8,000 foot level. Pack lite as you will have to carry your gear if you go into the wilderness. Watch out for tree limbs which can snag your hook easily. The pass is ok this time of year unless windy. Have a great time. Your fiscal conservative/social liberal friend.

[WTF]

Originally Posted by Sydneyb

I hear things have changed in the last ten years.

[Sydneyb]

Originally Posted by pjorourke

And what do YOU mean by "Sustainable Capitalism"?

Teehee...spose you're right: this business is a capitalistic as it gets and with the onset of the little pill, sustainable is an understatement

Actually the representative of the fund that I referred to invests 6.5 b in sustainable businesses. My question to you all was it is possible for business models that are held to a standard of fair trade or ecologically sound products (i.e. sustainable) an area one can make money. I think whole foods is a great example of that -- they pay more for better product and we pay them more for sourcing it and providing it.

One of the things Mr Blood said is what sustainable is not - that is, it is not philanthropy, it is also not all talk - surface stuff. So no free rides and no greenwashing. My question to him was is Fair Trade philanthropy? - he said absolutely not. As someone who is looking at fair trade as part of my business model (another business), it certainly feels like philanthropy - at least at the outset. I think that may be an area that I will have to delay until I have enough profits for it to make sense for me.

But I fully intend to implement as many sustainable components to my product as I can afford. And I believe (because of the target market; mothers and yogini's) that the fact that it IS organic and ecologically sound as I can get it, will assist in selling more. Which would make it an example of sustainable capitalism, yes?

[pjorourke]

Originally Posted by Sydneyb

But I fully intend to implement as many sustainable components to my product as I can afford. And I believe (because of the target market; mothers and yogini's) that the fact that it IS organic and ecologically sound as I can get it, will assist in selling more. Which would make it an example of sustainable capitalism, yes?

See, that is the key right there. Your target market might value that sort of thing -- others not so much. IMO, business is not about philanthropy or changing the world -- its about filling market needs at a price that earns a competitive return -- no more, no less. Now that doesn't mean that your marketing strategy can't be creating a need in your consumers for the benefit of the "good stuff" you are selling, but at its root, its filling the need.

[..]

The only problem with an honest or sustainable buck is they're so hard to make - the margins are too low, and too many people are doing it or trying to do it.

[pjorourke]

Originally Posted by ..

The only problem with an honest or sustainable buck is they're so hard to make - the margins are too low, and too many people are doing it or trying to do it.

Not necessarily true. Assuming competent management, low margins imply lack of product differentiation - i.e., a commodity. Businesses that appeal to a niche (e.g., the sustainable crowd) typically have higher margins. Low margins in a niche business implies that the niche doesn't suitably value what makes your product different.

Oh wait a minute. Maybe you are right. Liberals only believe their bullshit when someone else is paying. I guess that is what we have here. Sustainable business is something that someone else should pay for while I bask in the glory of my virtue.

[John Bull]

Originally Posted by Mokoa

[/i]


What about the Ignore List?

That blocks PM's but has nothing to do with thread posts.

[..]

Originally Posted by pjorourke

Not necessarily true. Assuming competent management, low margins imply lack of product differentiation - i.e., a commodity. Businesses that appeal to a niche (e.g., the sustainable crowd) typically have higher margins. Low margins in a niche business implies that the niche doesn't suitably value what makes your product different.

but sustainable business as practiced David Blood and Al Gore has no products. they make their money differently:

"About a decade ago, Goldman executives recognized that personal fortunes could be made with the invention of a carbon trading system through the passage of a U.S. cap-and-trade bill. This area was well suited to Goldman Sachs, the architects behind the complex world of futures trading and exotic derivatives.

Goldman joined Al Gore in 2004 and capitalized his investment company, Generation Investment Management. Strangely for a man who was a heartbeat away from the presidency, Gore decided to register his company in London — not the United States.

In November 2004, Gore unveiled GIM. Standing at his side was David Blood, the CEO of Goldman Asset Management. Blood was to become his co-founder (the new company was quickly nicknamed “Blood & Gore”). It was established with the initial capital of $206 million, much of it from Blood clients at Goldman Sachs.

Gore also turned to Goldman Sachs guru (and later Bush Treasury Secretary) Henry Paulson to help him establish GIM. At the time, Paulson himself was an eco-warrior of sorts, serving as chairman of the board of the Nature Conservancy.

Today, seven of Gore’s GIM chief partners are from Goldman Sachs. The company is now valued [1] at $2.2 billion.

It doesn’t stop there. The Goldman Sachs/Gore team then established the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX), a new cap-and-trade carbon trading platform, and partnered with the UK-based Climate Exchange, Plc (CLE), a holding company [2] listed on the London Stock Exchange [3]. CLE does carbon trading in Europe. In late 2004, they also created the Chicago Climate Futures Exchange [4] (CCFX)."

http://bsimmons.wordpress.com/2010/0...or-other-dems/

Disclaimer: while i actually disagree with most of this blog, the facts re. Blood & Gore are correct; and i'm too lazy too write about this shit for myself.

[SophieSimone]

Have fun fly fishing! I've always wanted to learn after watching the movie "A River Runs Through It". I recently went camping in the Santa Fe National Forest, it seems like everyone there was fly fishing. I can't wait to go back and take lessons. I heard women catch on better to it then men, btw. Something about mastering the flick of the wrist versus trying to use your strength to cast like men tend to do. I dunno if that's true or not though.

How high of an altitude does it take before the sickness kicks in? When we went camping it was 8,000+ ft, but I didn't feel any side effects. The only thing that caught me off guard was how COLD it was at night even though it was July.

Best of luck during your drive...

xoxo Sophie

[oden]

I always thought that fly fishing was phooffy fishing until i got the opportunity to fish with a guide in Ketchum that specialized in teaching fly fishing to beginners. Seeing the fish and being rewarded for the perfect cast reminded me of those things I love so much about fishing for redfish in the oyster beds off South Padre Island.

And an additional benefit, you can't use a jet ski in a trout stream.

[charlestudor2005]

Originally Posted by SophieSimone

I heard women catch on better to it then men, btw. Something about mastering the flick of the wrist versus trying to use your strength to cast like men tend to do.

xoxo Sophie

I always thought is was the art of mastering the swing of something other than the wrist. LOL

[Sydneyb]

Originally Posted by SophieSimone

about mastering the flick of the wrist versus trying to use your strength to cast like men tend to do.

Well, I had a man teaching me, who insisted I wasn't to move my wrist, but keep a smooth rhythm of back and forth. I wasnt' a very good fisherwoman. But I got my feet wet (literally) and the conditions were good for dry fly fishing, so it was a good day for casting a wide net. It was really fun;

Didn't do Independence Pass this visit because my friend had some health issues, but we really did enjoy the drive, even without it. Its a special part of the country, Colorado - I've not been before. If you can get there for your fishing lesson, I would.