The Impulsive Farmer

Meet Sparky!

Sat, 25 May 2013 14:53:53 -0400

Meet Sparky!

government-hookers replied to your post: My mom bought Tanner a mini horse at the… Name it...

Sat, 25 May 2013 14:06:58 -0400

government-hookers replied to your post: My mom bought Tanner a mini horse at the…

Name it lil sebastian!

He’s already named Sparky… which sounds like a hyperactive poodle’s name. So I might change it.

My mom bought Tanner a mini horse at the auction…. WTF am I gonna do with a mini horse!?

Sat, 25 May 2013 13:59:46 -0400

My mom bought Tanner a mini horse at the auction….

WTF am I gonna do with a mini horse!?

I give up on doing homework for the night. I should just ask if I can do my local issues assignment...

Sat, 25 May 2013 01:35:21 -0400

I give up on doing homework for the night. I should just ask if I can do my local issues assignment on something in upstate. I’m a lot more familiar with the issues up there than down here.

I’ll I’ve found really so far is an issue with weeds in Chautauqua Lake, but there is very little info and the articles are very brief. There is also the Tonawanda Coke pollution and dumping, but it’s far too in-depth an issue for me to cover when I’ve just learned about it. Also it’s not that local, Tonawanda being over an hour away from here.

Fracking seemed promising, but it’s very convoluted issue and the hydraulic fracking hasn’t really taken place around these parts. For a simple article write up this is turning into a nightmare.

I could cover zebra mussels in Lake Erie, at least that’s a topic I’m fairly familiar with and Lake Erie is very close to here. But I can’t find any articles in local papers about it, which is where the information has to come from for this particular assignment.

everwest replied to your post: I made the mistake of looking at some of the comments from the boy...

Sat, 25 May 2013 01:23:47 -0400

everwest replied to your post: I made the mistake of looking at some of the comments from the boy scout poll. These commenters can’t be serious, can they???

I live in a pretty tolerant area and the people who comment on our online newspaper are still terrible! Hopefully your newspaper commenters don’t represent your area very well either.

It could just be that all my husband’s family and high school friends are just bigots, so I see a lot of it. Thankfully my husband’s time in college and Vermont has broadened his world view a bit more than his family. Although I notice he tends to go along with his family when they start in with their less than savory talk - which earns him a good tongue lashing and a reminder I will not have my daughter speaking that way so he better watch himself. His family knows not to say anything with me around, but there is no controlling his father’s mouth. He’s been kicked off jobs before because of the way he talked to a POC.

I made the mistake of looking at some of the comments from the boy scout poll. These commenters can't be serious, can they???

Sat, 25 May 2013 00:10:06 -0400

Rascism, sexcism, and homophobia run rampant around here. So yeah, unfortunately they probably are. It’s much more diverse around here so I can’t figure out why there seems to be so much more discrimination than back in upstate - where it’s primarily white (there were two POC in our entire elementary school).

Although, because we border Vermont it’s always been very inclusive. So I’m having a hard time adjusting to the homophobia around here. I can smack my brother-in-laws upside the head when they say something I don’t like, unfortunately, I can’t do the same with my father-in-law.

One of the local papers has a poll about Boy Scout’s...

Fri, 24 May 2013 23:39:00 -0400

One of the local papers has a poll about Boy Scout’s decision on inclusion. Could we maybe tumblr bomb it? The bigots seem to be a majority around here. LINK

thepeoplesrecord: Dr. Vandana Shiva: the “GOLDEN RICE” hoax -...

Fri, 24 May 2013 10:45:06 -0400

thepeoplesrecord:

Dr. Vandana Shiva: the “GOLDEN RICE” hoax - when public relations replaces science to promote a technology for creating Vitamin A deficiency
May 15, 2013

Golden rice has been heralded as the miracle cure for malnutrition and hunger of which 800m members of the human community suffer. Herbicide resistant and toxin producing genetically engineered plants can be objectionable because of their ecological and social costs. But who could possibly object to rice engineered to produce vitamin A, a deficiency found in nearly 3 million children, largely in the Third World?

As remarked by Mary Lou Guerinot, the author of the Commentary on Vitamin A rice in Science, one can only hope that this application of plant genetic engineering to ameliorate human misery without regard to short term profit will restore this technology to political acceptability. Unfortunately, Vitamin A rice is a hoax, and will bring further dispute to plant genetic engineering where public relations exercises seem to have replaced science in promotion of untested, unproven and unnecessary technology.

The problem is that vitamin A rice will not remove vitamin A deficiency (VAD). It will seriously aggravate it. It is a technology that fails in its promise. Currently, it is not even known how much vitamin JA the genetically engineered rice will produce. The goal is 33.3% micrograms/100g of rice. Even if this goal is reached after a few years, it will be totally ineffective in removing VAD.

Since the daily average requirement of vitamin A is 750 micrograms of vitamin A and 1 serving contains 30g of rice according to dry weight basis, vitamin A rice would only provide 9.9 micrograms which is 1.32% of the required allowance. Even taking the 100g figure of daily consumption of rice used in the technology transfer paper would only provide 4.4% of the RDA.

In order to meet the full needs of 750 micrograms of vitamin A from rice, an adult would have to consume 2 kg 272g of rice per day. This implies that one family member would consume the entire family ration of 10 kg. from the PDS in 4 days to meet vitaminA needs through “Golden rice”.

This is a recipe for creating hunger and malnutrition, not solving it.

Besides creating vitamin A deficiency, vitamin A rice will also create deficiency in other micronutrients and nutrients. Raw milled rice has a low content of Fat (0.5g/100g). Since fat is necessary for vitamin A uptake, this will aggravate vitamin A deficiency. It also has only 6.8g/100g of protein, which means less carrier molecules. It has only 0.7g/100g of iron, which plays a vital role in the conversion of beta-carotene (precursor of vitamin A found in plant sources) to vitamin A. Superior Alternatives exist and are effective.

A far more efficient route to removing vitamin A deficiency is biodiversity conservation and propagation of naturally vitamin A rich plants in agriculture and diets.

The following is a list of sources rich in vitamin A which are used commonly in Indian foods. (microgram/100g)

(Amaranth leaves) Chauli saag= 266-1,166 -

(Coriander leaves) – Dhania = 1,166-1,333

(Cabbage) Bandh gobi = 217

(Curry leaves)-Curry patta = 1,333

(Drumstick leaves)-Saijan patta1 = 283

(Fenugreek leaves)-Methi-ka-saag = 450

(Radish leaves)-Mooli-ka-saag = 750

(Mint)-Pudhina = 300

(Spinach)-Palak saag = 600

(Carrot)-Gajar=217-434

(Pumpkin (yellow))-Kaddu = 100-120

(Mango (ripe))-Aam = 500

(Jackfruit)-Kathal = 54

(Orange)-Santra = 35

(Tomato (ripe))-Tamatar = 32

(Milk (cow, buffalo))-Doodh = 50-60

(Butter)-Makkhan = 720-1,200

(Egg (hen))-Anda = 300-400

(Liver (Goat, sheep))-Kalegi = 6,600 - 10,000

Cod liver oil = 10,000 - 100,000

In spite of the diversity of plants evolved and bred for their rich vitamin A content, a report of the Major Science Academies of the World - Royal Society, U.K., National Academy of Sciences of the USA, The Third World Academy of Science, Indian National Science Academy, Mexican Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Brazilian Academy of Sciences - on Transgenic Plants and World Agriculture has stated, Vitamin A deficiency causes half a million children to become partially or totally blind each year.

Traditional breeding methods have been unsuccessful in producing crops containing a high vitamin A concentration and most national authorities rely on expensive and complicated supplementation programs to address the problem. Researchers have introduced three new genes into rice, two from daffodils and one from a microorganism. The transgenic rice exhibits an increased production of beta-carotene as a precursor to vitamin A and the seed in yellow in colour. Such yellow, or golden rice, may be a useful tool to help treat the problem of vitamin A deficiency in young children living in the tropics.

It appears as if the world’s top scientists suffer a more severe form of blindness than children in poor countries. The statement that “traditional breeding has been unsuccessful in producing crops high in vitamin A” is not true given the diversity of plants and crops that Third World farmers, especially women have bred and used which are rich sources of vitamin A such as coriander, amaranth, carrot, pumpkin, mango, jackfruit.

It is also untrue that vitamin A rice will lead to increased production of beta-carotene. Even if the target of 33.3 microgram of vitamin A in 100g of rice is achieved, it will be only 2.8% of beta-carotene we can obtain from amaranth leaves 2.4% of beta-carotene obtained from coriander leaves, curry leaves and drumstick leaves. Even the World Bank has admitted that rediscovering and use of local plants and conservation of vitamin A rich green leafy vegetables and fruits have dramatically reduced VAD threatened children over the past 20 years in very cheap and efficient ways. Women in Bengal use more than 200 varieties of field greens. Over a 3 million people have benefited greatly from a food based project for removing VAD by increasing vitamin A availability through home gardens. The higher the diversity crops the better the uptake of pro-vitamin A.

The reason there is vitamin A deficiency in India in spite of the rich biodiversity a base and indigenous knowledge base in India is because the Green Revolution technologies wiped out biodiversity by converting mixed cropping systems to monocultures of wheat and rice and by spreading the use of herbicides which destroy field greens.

In spite of effective and proven alternatives, a technology transfer agreement has been signed between the Swiss Government and the Government of India for the transfer of genetically engineered vitamin A rice to India.

The ICAR, ICMR, ICDS, USAIUD, UNICEF, WHO have been identified as potential partners. The breeding and transformation is to be carried out at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack and Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana and University of Delhi, South Campus. The Indian varieties in which the vitamin A traits are expected to be engineered have been identified as IR 64, Pusa Basmati, PR 114 and ASD 16.

Dr. M.S. Swaminathan has been identified as “God father” to ensuring public acceptance of genetically engineered rice. DBT & ICAR are also potential partners for guaranteeing public acceptance and steady progress of the project.

Genetically engineered vitamin A rice will aggravate this destruction since it is part of an industrial agriculture, intensive input package. It will also lead to major water scarcity since it is a water intensive crop and displaces water prudent sources of vitamin A.

The first step in the technology transfer of vitamin A rice requires a need assessment and an assessment of technology availability. One assessment shows that vitamin A rice fails to pass the need test. The technology availability issue is related to whether the various elements and methods used for the construction of transgenic crop plants are covered by intellectual property rights. Licenses for these rights need to be obtained before a product can be commercialized. The Cornell based ISAAA (International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Application) has been identified as the partner for ensuring technology availability by ensuring technology availability by having material transfer agreements signed between the representative authority of the ICAR and the “owners” of the technology, Prof. I. Potrykus and Prof. P. Beyer.

In addition, Novartis and Kerin Breweries have patents on the genes used as constructs for the vitamin A rice. At a public hearing on Biotechnology at U.S. Congress on 29th June 2000, Astra-Zeneca stated they would be giving away royalty free licenses for the development of “Golden rice”.

At a workshop organized by the M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Dr. Barry of Monsanto’s Rice Genome initiative announced that it will provide royalty-free licenses for all its technologies that can help the further development of “golden rice”.

Hence these gene giants Novartis, Astra-Zeneca and Monsanto are claiming exclusive ownership to the basic patents related to rice research. Further, neither Monsanto nor Astra - Zeneca said they will give up their patents on rice - they are merely giving royalty free licenses to public sector scientists for development of “golden rice”. This is an arrangement for a public subsidy to corporate giants for R&D since they do not have the expertise or experience with rice breeding which public institutions have.

Not giving up the patents, but merely giving royalty free licenses implies that the corporations like Monsanto would ultimately like to collect royalties from farmers for rice varieties developed by public sector research systems. Monsanto has stated that it expects long term gains from these IPR arrangements, which implies markets in rice as “intellectual property” which cannot be saved or exchanged for seed. The real test for Monsanto would be its declaration of giving up any patent claims to rice now and in the future and joining the call to remove plants and biodiversity out of TRIPS. Failing such an undertaking by Monsanto the announcement that Monsanto giving royalty free licenses for development of vitamin A rice like the rice itself can only be taken as a hoax to establish monopoly over rice production, and reduce rice farmers of India into bio-serfs.

While the complicated technology transfer package of “Golden Rice” will not solve vitamin A problems in India, it is a very effective strategy for corporate take over of rice production, using the public sector as a Trojan horse.

Source

Photos Source

sheldon-targaryen: stfuconservatives: pilosopogyno: This man,...

Thu, 23 May 2013 14:53:58 -0400

sheldon-targaryen:

stfuconservatives:

pilosopogyno:

This man, James Verone, robbed a bank for one dollar. Why only one dollar? Because he knew that in prison he could get the medical care he could not afford with his part time salary as a convenience store clerk. He was approved for food stamps, but they did little to help his finances. Between his back problems, carpel tunnel, and arthritis, he simply couldn’t handle the pain any longer.

On June 9th, he sent a letter to his local paper, the Gaston Gazette, that stated: “When you receive this a bank robbery will have been committed by me. this robbery is being committed by me for one dollar. I am of sound mind but not so much sound body.”

He then took a cab to the RBC Bank, and handed the teller a note asking for one dollar and medical attention. He quietly took a seat in the lobby and waited for police to arrive.

Since Verone only stole one dollar, he was only charged with larceny. His bail, which he doesn’t plan to pay is set at $2,000, reduced from the normal $100,000. He’s scheduled to see a doctor this Friday, and hopes to get foot surgery, back surgery and to have a protrusion on his check treated.

To me, this is the perfect example of how disturbingly corrupt and unjust our health care system has become under HMO’s. For this man, or any person for that matter, feels that he needs to be imprisoned just to see a doctor, is ridiculous.

This is exactly what I hate about America. Why is it that you can buy an entire house with money you don’t have, but still can’t apply for health care if you don’t meet the requirements? That’s messed up.

This is what sick people in America are resorting to. But BEST HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IN THE WORLD, right guys?

Big Pharma: Mo’ Money, Mo’ Abuse of the Citizenry

For my one online course I’m supposed to find local articles about local environmental...

Thu, 23 May 2013 11:04:36 -0400

For my one online course I’m supposed to find local articles about local environmental issues.

Unfortunately the local papers don’t seem to really report on environmental issues so I’m having a hell of a time finding anything.

Good news. This means I won’t have much competition if I want to write for a local paper.

teachthemhowtothink: courtneylovedcobain: BAZING I hope this...

Thu, 23 May 2013 10:18:17 -0400

teachthemhowtothink:

courtneylovedcobain:

BAZING

I hope this wonderful woman knows she’s tumblr famous. <3

How she says it, is the best.

Composting At Home | Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Thu, 23 May 2013 10:04:24 -0400

Composting At Home | Reduce, Reuse, Recycle:

usagov:

You can make rich soil for your garden and save space in landfills by composting your food waste. Learn how.

Researcher decodes prairie dog language, discovers they've been talking about us (Video)

Thu, 23 May 2013 09:58:42 -0400

Researcher decodes prairie dog language, discovers they've been talking about us (Video):

nedsecondline:

The results show that praire dogs aren’t only extremely effective communicators, they also pay close attention to detail.

Be sure to dress nice when visiting - they are style conscious too!

I hope you don’t mind me asking, but what kind of camera/lens did you take those zoo photos...

Thu, 23 May 2013 09:54:00 -0400

I hope you don’t mind me asking, but what kind of camera/lens did you take those zoo photos with? They’re great quality shots!!!

Pentax K10D with a 300mm telephoto lens. The lens is actually kinda cheap, but sometimes it takes okay pictures.

If I could take my kidneys out and replace them with once less likely to become cancerous I totally...

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:48:09 -0400

If I could take my kidneys out and replace them with once less likely to become cancerous I totally would, but that’s not an option.

katiacambia replied to your photo: (My rant is about Kanika’s second comment) Yes it… I am...

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:41:25 -0400

katiacambia replied to your photo: (My rant is about Kanika’s second comment) Yes it…

I am so basic, I still can’t get why people even talk about celebrities’ medical procedures.

I don’t normally either, but when dealing with cancer I tend to pay some attention. I have such a family history with cancer (mom, dad, grandmother) that they tend to grab my attention.

She did write an op ed about it in the New York Times, but considering all the commenters who have suffered or have the same gene deformity as her are praising her for speaking out I’m not going to call it an “attention grab”. I don’t think those of us not in a similar position can judge. Mastectomies are so stigmatized that I think what she did was a good thing. As one of the commenters on the op ed in a similar position as Jolie pointed out, if she (the commenter) now decided to have it done it might be easier for her to talk about it and explain it.

Look at all those breast cancer awareness campaigns that say “Save the Boobies”. It’s not about saving breasts, it’s about saving lives.

In amusing news. My husband left a pepsi in the car this morning when he went into work. The car is...

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:24:00 -0400

In amusing news. My husband left a pepsi in the car this morning when he went into work. The car is black. It was in the high 80’s today.

He accidentally brushed his hand over the can when he was driving home, and the can EXPLODED. Not like POP, oh crap now there is soda all over.

More like BOOOOOM, WHAT THE F**K WAS THAT! DID SOMEONE SHOOT A GUN! SHIT I CAN’T HEAR OUT OF MY EAR, exploded.

Thankfully he has nerves of steel and it didn’t cause him to go off the road and crash.

Moral of the story, don’t leave unopened soda cans in the car on a hot day.

(My rant is about Kanika’s second comment) Yes it was...

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:01:00 -0400

(My rant is about Kanika’s second comment)

Yes it was shitty what Brad Pitt said, but there was no reason at ALL to bring up Angelina’s procedure and then call it a publicity stunt. Her mother DIED of ovarian cancer. She had a legitimate reason for having it done (a rare genetic mutation that SIGNIFICANTLY increased her likelihood of developing breast and ovarian cancer). I don’t see how that lessens the plight of non-celebrity people who suffer from breast cancer.

My babies are getting so big! They’re so cute. Hopefully...

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:01:00 -0400

My babies are getting so big! They’re so cute. Hopefully the coops gets done soon. We need our wood shed cleaned out so we can start stacking wood for winter.

Duncan’s stall is going to be closed in and turned into a large walk in coop (at least that’s the plan). This is well away from Luna and the barn cats and goats should ensure the predators leave the chickens alone.

The bantams will have have a separate coop eventually, but I don’t see that happening right away. The main thing right now is to just get all the chickens out of the wood sheds, I’ll worry about setting up my breeding pens later.

So I might have been wrong about it being my guinea laying the...

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:49:36 -0400

So I might have been wrong about it being my guinea laying the eggs. I found three more eggs in the yard this morning and I’m certain they weren’t there last night.

I really wish the coop was done so I had nest boxes for them to lay in. I will just have to be super vigilant and check the yard multiple times a day. They seem to all be laying in the same spot so at least I have a general area in which to look.