Deep in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, incredibly fertile and unimaginably ancient, came the mechanical hum of industrialization, the unmistakable signal of civilization.
This was an awesome read! I had no idea that Ford had ever set his sights outside of the United States. So interesting to see the wild differences of the times. Imagine if Bezos or Musk had the idea to do this today. It would be met with so much hostility, and for good reason.
You got me there! And we all cheer him on. You can't argue with his logic though. If humans want to survive, we will inevitably have to become a multi-planetary species for one reason or another.
While I don't doubt that Musk has his own greedy tendencies, I do believe he just yearns to further our understanding of our place in the universe and help cement the future for humananity. Any sort of greed that he has may ultimately just be to further those goals.
The same couldn't be said for Ford and his Fordlandia, he just wanted everything under his own monopoly.
I think Ford and Musk are both very, very misguided. They both have/had such an incredible understanding within some domains, but they both missed very, very obviously terrible paths they were starting down. I think they both highlight how very complex human beings can be.
This is an absolute tangent but thought you might appreciate it anyway ... my partner's family has a long history of living in the San Francisco Bay Area which isn't all that common in this transient place and his grandfather (? some relative, that might not be right) created what I'm pretty sure was the only car manufactured here in the city. And there's lots of interesting history tidbits like that he lent vehicles out to people no questions asked during the big earthquake to assist with moving.
Wow, that's a pretty big deal... and some very interesting family history. Have you written about this before, or about your partner's history? I think about how Alley's upbringing circumstances, etc affect how my life has turned out. It's that swirl of influence that I find so interesting right now.
I haven't. His uncle wrote about a little book/ pamphlet about it. I bring it up at family things to learn more. It's really interesting stuff. Would love to hear more thoughts on that "swirl of influence" - powerful!
Well, I'm thinking: what makes us who we are? Of course, the simple answer is "genetics and environment." You and I have already briefly touched on the nuance within the former (EG, epigenetics adding a lot of complexity to the classic picture of slow Darwinian evolution), and there's even more nuance within environment, I think.
I'm surely more influenced by my partner than by anyone else, and she has her own set of influences that brought her to where she is today, and then there's a set of circumstances that brought us together. All of these things make me who I am, and much more.
Definitely nuance within environment. And so intriguing and mysterious how it all plays out ... I'm always interested in how siblings can be so similar and so different, starting with me and my siblings. I find myself wondering if it's true for me that I'm more influenced by my partner than anyone else ... I'm not sure I have a clear answer but I want to think on it!
I wanna say: schismogenesis (I wrote something on this and can link it if you would like) can explain a lot of sibling rivalries and differences. It's a pretty new-ish concept for me, and I see it everywhere now.
Ooh I don't know that one. We actually have never had rivalries - they're my best friends. And yet we do have so many differences. I'll have to check that out.
That was a great read, thanks! Note to self: Postpone plans to build a self-sustaining chocolate-chip-cookie factory on the moon. Wait until 2025 when I figure out how to build my own spaceship.
Totally agree. I can definitely see how the feeling would be different about an actor or musician for me vs a jiu jitsu practitioner for you. Classic apples and oranges scenario.
I agree, it's hard to get there sometimes. I run into it with actors when I may strongly disagree with on some issues and feel a real dislike for, but they are still excellent actors who give great performances. Do I stop watching them because I strongly disagree with their politics? I try to separate the person from the performance. It can be challenging.
Very difficult! Remember Mike Tyson? Of course, everyone does. That guy is so amazing to watch in the ring, but then I think about how he was abusive, convicted for rape, prone to sudden violence outside of the ring. But man, how could I stop watching this one of a kind boxer, you know?
The closer it is to home, the less I want to do with that sort of situation. If it's a jiu jitsu practitioner who is toxic, I don't want to learn from them, or amplify them in any way, for instance. Actors and musicians don't exactly get a pass, but it can be easier to compartmentalize... but only to a certain point.
Oh goodness. You can really go down a Ford rabbit hole of insane ideas and vitriol. I'm drawn to the paradox- someone can be so innovative and just generally very good for society, and yet so bad in other spots.
I'm beginning to do less summarizing of a person (I like and dislike such-and-such at once), and more of judging individual actions. "I like that this person has done this, but I hate that they do this."
Went to the Ford River Rouge plant a couple years ago when a bridge was being replaced, so the plant tour went in another entrance and the bus drive through the guts of the complex to the F150 plant (which is worth the cost of the ticket to see). I think they should make the trip through the grounds part of the tour. It was like going back I time.
I think it is about 4k people assembling one F150 every 73 seconds, two shifts per weekday with a factory maintenance shift on the weekends.
Two years after the company sold the land back to Brazil, Ford died at the age of eighty-four. Coincidence?
Ford was the Bezos of his time- he wanted to own everything he could in the world related to making automobiles, and he nearly succeeded.
He was also the Musk of his time. Mercurial, antisemitic, incredibly ambitious and confident.
This was an awesome read! I had no idea that Ford had ever set his sights outside of the United States. So interesting to see the wild differences of the times. Imagine if Bezos or Musk had the idea to do this today. It would be met with so much hostility, and for good reason.
Imagine if one of them was actively trying to colonize another planet.
You got me there! And we all cheer him on. You can't argue with his logic though. If humans want to survive, we will inevitably have to become a multi-planetary species for one reason or another.
While I don't doubt that Musk has his own greedy tendencies, I do believe he just yearns to further our understanding of our place in the universe and help cement the future for humananity. Any sort of greed that he has may ultimately just be to further those goals.
The same couldn't be said for Ford and his Fordlandia, he just wanted everything under his own monopoly.
I think Ford and Musk are both very, very misguided. They both have/had such an incredible understanding within some domains, but they both missed very, very obviously terrible paths they were starting down. I think they both highlight how very complex human beings can be.
I couldn't agree more!
Fantastic parable! Ford reminds me of a man who wants to plant colonies on mars. I just hope what happened to Ford doesn't happen to him.
Excellent observation.
This is an absolute tangent but thought you might appreciate it anyway ... my partner's family has a long history of living in the San Francisco Bay Area which isn't all that common in this transient place and his grandfather (? some relative, that might not be right) created what I'm pretty sure was the only car manufactured here in the city. And there's lots of interesting history tidbits like that he lent vehicles out to people no questions asked during the big earthquake to assist with moving.
https://kleibermotors.com/
https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Motor-Company-of-San-Francisco-One-man-s-13396940.php
Wow, that's a pretty big deal... and some very interesting family history. Have you written about this before, or about your partner's history? I think about how Alley's upbringing circumstances, etc affect how my life has turned out. It's that swirl of influence that I find so interesting right now.
I haven't. His uncle wrote about a little book/ pamphlet about it. I bring it up at family things to learn more. It's really interesting stuff. Would love to hear more thoughts on that "swirl of influence" - powerful!
Well, I'm thinking: what makes us who we are? Of course, the simple answer is "genetics and environment." You and I have already briefly touched on the nuance within the former (EG, epigenetics adding a lot of complexity to the classic picture of slow Darwinian evolution), and there's even more nuance within environment, I think.
I'm surely more influenced by my partner than by anyone else, and she has her own set of influences that brought her to where she is today, and then there's a set of circumstances that brought us together. All of these things make me who I am, and much more.
Definitely nuance within environment. And so intriguing and mysterious how it all plays out ... I'm always interested in how siblings can be so similar and so different, starting with me and my siblings. I find myself wondering if it's true for me that I'm more influenced by my partner than anyone else ... I'm not sure I have a clear answer but I want to think on it!
I wanna say: schismogenesis (I wrote something on this and can link it if you would like) can explain a lot of sibling rivalries and differences. It's a pretty new-ish concept for me, and I see it everywhere now.
Ooh I don't know that one. We actually have never had rivalries - they're my best friends. And yet we do have so many differences. I'll have to check that out.
That was a great read, thanks! Note to self: Postpone plans to build a self-sustaining chocolate-chip-cookie factory on the moon. Wait until 2025 when I figure out how to build my own spaceship.
I see you've learned from the eminent dead.
100%
Totally agree. I can definitely see how the feeling would be different about an actor or musician for me vs a jiu jitsu practitioner for you. Classic apples and oranges scenario.
Yeah. The more personal, the less distance and less ability to segment/compartmentalize, I guess.
I agree, it's hard to get there sometimes. I run into it with actors when I may strongly disagree with on some issues and feel a real dislike for, but they are still excellent actors who give great performances. Do I stop watching them because I strongly disagree with their politics? I try to separate the person from the performance. It can be challenging.
Very difficult! Remember Mike Tyson? Of course, everyone does. That guy is so amazing to watch in the ring, but then I think about how he was abusive, convicted for rape, prone to sudden violence outside of the ring. But man, how could I stop watching this one of a kind boxer, you know?
The closer it is to home, the less I want to do with that sort of situation. If it's a jiu jitsu practitioner who is toxic, I don't want to learn from them, or amplify them in any way, for instance. Actors and musicians don't exactly get a pass, but it can be easier to compartmentalize... but only to a certain point.
Really interesting. I knew about his cars, but not his glaring character flaws.
Oh goodness. You can really go down a Ford rabbit hole of insane ideas and vitriol. I'm drawn to the paradox- someone can be so innovative and just generally very good for society, and yet so bad in other spots.
Yep, I get totally get that. It's weird to like and dislike a person at the same time.
I'm beginning to do less summarizing of a person (I like and dislike such-and-such at once), and more of judging individual actions. "I like that this person has done this, but I hate that they do this."
This is not automatic!
Went to the Ford River Rouge plant a couple years ago when a bridge was being replaced, so the plant tour went in another entrance and the bus drive through the guts of the complex to the F150 plant (which is worth the cost of the ticket to see). I think they should make the trip through the grounds part of the tour. It was like going back I time.
I think it is about 4k people assembling one F150 every 73 seconds, two shifts per weekday with a factory maintenance shift on the weekends.
Really incredible. It's amazing to me that this is the same legacy (unbroken) Ford himself created a century ago and more.
Fascinating, and perfectly written!
Thanks, Mike!
Definitely. I could see the video as I read along.
Was Morgan Freeman the narrator?