![[F]](../_images/site.gif) New York Times on the Web Forums  Science
Russian military leaders have expressed concern about US plans
for a national missile defense system. Will defense technology be
limited by possibilities for a strategic imbalance? Is this just SDI
all over again?
    (6371 previous messages)
lunarchick
- 07:48am Jul 1, 2001 EST (#6372
of 6381)
lunarchick@www.com
Interesting posts re Casey, Showalter. What you seem to be saying
is that the US wanted to get rid of the 'Stalin' aspect of Russian
communism - at any price. Even so, when it came to an end, had
Cassey - the old critter, still been around, he would have still
been looking for solutions to limit the pain and time-span of
transition. (You're kinder to Casey than the Obituary
comentator-links (above) seach Casey.
Putin must be working some magic over in Russia. The reports in
the financial times are worth looking at today.
I know there's conflict here re the State taking more control,
but, it seems to be a fight between State that may do things right
for the people - if well lead, and the Russian Maffia types, who
look after themselves.
The Russian state firmly reinforced its control over Gazprom,
the Russian gas giant, yesterday when it won six of the 11 seats
on the company...
Pilgrim Russia is up 59 per cent year-to-date, outpacing the
main Russian index, the RTS, which is up 54.8 per cent
In an acknowledgement of Russia's economic growth and
increased political stability, Standard & Poor's on Thursday
upgraded the country's debt... see www.ft.com (using FT only /
search / Putin)
lunarchick
- 08:07am Jul 1, 2001 EST (#6373
of 6381)
lunarchick@www.com
Russia is picking itself up off the floor, that's why the growth
figures look good, as cp to a developed economy that would only grow
up to 4% p.a.. Perhaps there's money to be made from lending money
.. via that Share Market ... (there's always risk).
rshowalter
- 08:14am Jul 1, 2001 EST (#6374
of 6381) 
Robert Showalter
showalte@macc.wisc.edu
People like Casey weren't as sure as they should have been (Casey
knew this) about the connection between "collective aspects of
life" and "loss of freedom" . The fact that all
real, working sociotechnical systems need both individual action
and discretion and some things , like law enforcement, and all
sorts of other things, like water utilities that absolutely have
to be collective.
There's that conflict, deep in Republican psychology, still.
It is a muddle - but, too often, a lethal muddle.
* *
Russia is picking herself up -- and Putin and his people seem
clear that they need a mixed economy -- with both individual
and collective values set out reasonably, and in balance.
ALL effective modern economies are mixed economies in this
sense.
lunarchick
- 08:19am Jul 1, 2001 EST (#6375
of 6381)
lunarchick@www.com
It seems that in the 'mixed' economy, the State steps in
regarding those innovations and services that require a huge
amount of capital to set up. Advanced technical systems and
transport and logistical systems seem to rely on State
establishment. These may later be sold off to the private sector
if desirable. The money thereby gained can be re-invested into the
next required State setup .. ad infinitum !
lunarchick
- 08:23am Jul 1, 2001 EST (#6376
of 6381)
lunarchick@www.com
Problems!
Small problems are simple
They're pick-up and run
Most
folks can do them
Yet may not find them fun
Some problems are solvable
The patterns are known
You
take them in stages
If you want - to get home
Other problems are process
If complex they be
Teams
may make them simplex
Root to tips - of branched tree
!?? Showalter problems ??!
You might speak some on this
For most they're too awesome
Can't be done in a Jiff
dR Showalter, excuse the above :)
You say that your
special area is problem solving, there are lots of big, complex
problems that have been in need of solutions for aeons - or at least
it seems that way - how is it that regular folk can't work their way
through to get solutions ?
Some posts back i put in the links (way above) related to simple
problem solving .. where it was important to follow a six step
pattern. In some refs weighting figured. There were also posts
related to decision trees etc..
Be interesting to hear how Showalter was trained to solve
problems, the kinds and types of problems you were trained to solve,
and if they are 'big' problems do you approach them with some
trepidation, in consideration of the longer time element and
committment incurred.
Is there anything regarding this specialist problem solving
approach that would be of interest to this board ?
rshowalter
- 08:45am Jul 1, 2001 EST (#6377
of 6381)
Robert Showalter
showalte@macc.wisc.edu
I was supposed to solve (and this is the phrase the people used
to describe the job "Robert Showalter problems.") Problems that were
stark, and big, and simple in a way -- but that took a long
attention span, and some attention to basics.
"Stumpers."
I was trained - pushed -- educated - - motivated, to go after
these kinds of problems. To the neglect of a lot of other stuff.
Let me collect my thoughts and courage - and some examples -- and
get back.
lunarchick
- 09:02am Jul 1, 2001 EST (#6378
of 6381)
lunarchick@www.com
v.
stumped, stump·ing, stumps :
To cause to be at a loss;
baffle
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