Cartoon of the Week

That just says it all!

Not the Eggplant!

Monsanto is screwing with the vegetables. Monsanto and Mahyco have developed a genetically modified (GM) eggplant, or Bt brinjal, that can stave off boring larvae in India. But Indians have put their foot down and said "Hold On!"

An article yesterday in Business Weekly explains though the environment minister feels the new eggplant is safe, the government has put its introduction to the agricultural community on hold for more scientific testing.

According to the article, the European Union has already voiced its concern about GM foods.

While the U.S. and Canada have grown genetically modified crops like corn and soybean for years, resistance remains strong in Europe, where some countries rejected the use of crops changed to increase resistance to drought, pests or specific herbicides. Germany’s BASF SE has had a GM starch potato stuck in the European Union’s approval process for 14 years

The EU has specific guidelines on the importation of GM seeds. But individual countries within the EU have voiced their own opinions on GM seed usage. In 2009, Germany joined five other countries and banned the use of GM maize, or corn, in the country. The proof is just not there that genetically modified seed is not harmful to humans, animals, or the environment.

What is to say that an eggplant that is resistant to certain insects won't harm people who eat it? How will consuming this food alter our own genetics over time? Do I have an answer to how to feed the world? No, I wish I did. I just do not believe that screwing with our earth, and all that lives on it, is the way to go. Look what we have done so far.

Super Bowl

I'm in for the Colts.

Cartoon of the week

Just plain frightening.

The Future

Patty had an interesting book to read for class last semester. So, over winter break I decided I needed to read something NOT planning, NOT environmental, NOT political! Anyone who knows me knows that didn't happen.

What I read was Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. At first, it was a bit difficult to follow. I wanted to know why this story was happening. By the end, I was frightened; not by what I read but what I was seeing in the news. The book is about a nation that was previously the eastern US totally controlled by men, religious men. Due to the pollution, women weren't having babies. I don't want to say more, because I will give away the book. Then I see more of this Tea Party crap. What are they doing? They are seriously brainwashed people. If the country goes the way of Palin's ideas from her Tea Party interview (see last post) then Margaret Atwood's story can come true. The Handmaid's Tale may well be our future. And you shall find me and my family hiding in the northwoods, well fed, warm, and loving nature.

Tea Party and our nations future

This is scary. We have fought the last two years against the Republican and right wing nut religious crowds to have a secular United States. Now we have the Tea Party. Who are these wack jobs? According to guest speak Sarah (I'll use my stage smile from here to tomorrow) Palin, the US has to allow coal, oil, and gas "to come to development". The US must "allow American's spirits to rise again by not being afraid to go back to some of our roots as a god fearing nation." We must admit we don't know everything and "seek divine intervention in this country." This scares the hell out of me. You can watch the Q&A time on CNN.

All I can do is hope that these nut jobs do not make it to office. It's bad enough they vote. My fears are well founded. If we go "back to our roots" we will again be belching black smoke (they don't believe we have caused the weather pattern chaos that is affecting us today), outright hate and discrimination of homosexuals and immigrants, and merger of religion and schools. This is a not too distant past we do not want to revisit. All I can ask is that all of us be patient with the current administration. No, President Obama is not a miracle worker, he can only push his agenda, not make it true. It takes the rest of us to get involved and voice our opinions for a stronger US to complete with the Europeans and Asians most of which have universal health care and free or low cost college education. Capitalism put us in the horrible shape we are on, let's take control of capitalism and put it in its place.

Debt, Debt, and more Debt

In an attempt to save money and become more healthy, my family has given up fast food, eating out at national franchises, and not buying any processed foods. It has helped tremendously. I hope to have the time over winter break (we have a week off in February here in Maine) to get some numbers together. But here is a great way to relieve the burden of finances and place money back into the economy: Forgive Student Loan Debt to Stimulate the Economy.

A friend of mine on Facebook turned me on to this group. What a concept! Ok, I missed the State of the Union address where our dear President mention this. I had class that night! To recap:

To make college more affordable, this bill will finally end the unwarranted taxpayer subsidies that go to banks for student loans. (Applause.) Instead, let's take that money and give families a $10,000 tax credit for four years of college and increase Pell Grants. (Applause.) And let's tell another one million students that when they graduate, they will be required to pay only 10 percent of their income on student loans, and all of their debt will be forgiven after 20 years -- and forgiven after 10 years if they choose a career in public service, because in the United States of America, no one should go broke because they chose to go to college. (Applause.)

What a concept! Can you imagine all the graduates out there being able to buy houses and cars, new appliances, and remodeling! All the money they could begin to dump into the economy if we didn't have to pay back the thousands we owe so we could get a good job.

It's time to bailout the college graduates. We are trying to help the economy but can't because we are weighted down with student loan debt. President Obama, Congress, Please help us!!