It’s All About Corn. Genetically Modified Corn Kills. Top 7 GM Crops. "Don't Buy Any Food You've Ever Seen Advertised". What's Wrong With Our Food System? Landslides in So CA.

 

For “Foodie Friday”: 

“It is truly amazing how much food is derived from corn. Have you noticed how many corn fields there are in the US.”

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“Corn has not conquered the world, it has conquered the US.  Here in Germany corn is pretty rare in foods.  Sugar is from sugar beet, there is no corn syrup.  Bakery products are based mostly on wheat, some and rye etc.  You find corn only for special purposes like tortilla chips or gluten-free food.

When Americans sent war-stricken Germans care packages of corn, the Germans felt offended.  They knew it as animal feed only. They couldn't imagine eating it.”

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Top 7 Genetically Modified Crops

   “Check your pantry. Do you have any cereals, crackers, cookies, snack bars, soy milk or baby formula in there? How about anything with corn syrup or processed food made from corn on your shelves? If so, you are probably eating food containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

GMOs are plant or meat products that have had their DNA altered in a laboratory by genes from other plants, animals, viruses or bacteria.  For example, genetically modified corn contain a pesticide that cannot be washed off.

Most GE food grown in the U.S. is "Roundup Ready," meaning it can withstand spraying of Monsanto's Roundup pesticide and live, while weeds around it die. (Well, that's how it works initially; now resistant "superweeds" have increased the amount of pesticides farmers must spray on their GE crops.)”     More at: http://article.wn.com/view/2012/10/30/Top_7_Genetically_Modified_Crops/

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Genetically modified corn kills rats 2-3 times more often and more quickly

“Researchers in France have found that feeding rats corn which has been genetically modified to be Roundup-resistant increases the number of rats who die and the rate at which they die in comparison to a control group fed non-GMO corn. This study is the first long-term GMO study of its kind having taken two years to complete, giving the rats a lifespan equivalent to 60 human years. The research will be published in the upcoming November issue of Food and Chemical Toxicology.

In the two-year study, researchers fed rats a diet that consisted of either 11 per cent, 22 per cent or 33 per cent corn which had been genetically modified to be resistant to the Monsanto herbicide Roundup. They found that the rats who were fed the GMO diet died earlier and in greater numbers than the rats who were fed a normal, non-GMO diet.” From:  http://www.examiner.com/article/genetically-modified-corn-kills-rats-2-3-times-more-often-and-more-quickly

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"Don't Buy Any Food You've Ever Seen Advertised".

“Michael Pollan is one of the nations leading writers and thinkers in this country on the issue of food. He is author of several books about food, including The Botany of Desire, The Omnivores Dilemma and his latest, In Defense of Food: An Eaters Manifesto. In light of what he calls the processed food industry’s co-option of sustainability and its vast spending on marketing, Pollan advises to be wary of any food that’s advertised.”

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Birke Baehr -"What's Wrong With Our Food System? And How Can We Make A Difference?" 

“Birke Baehr wants us to know how our food is made, where it comes from, and what's in it.”

“11-year-old Birke Baehr presents his take on a major source of our food -- far-away and less-than-picturesque industrial farms. Keeping farms out of sight promotes a rosy, unreal picture of big-box agriculture, he argues, as he outlines the case to green and localize food production.”

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On This Day:

Heavy rain leads to landslides in Southern California, Jan 18, 1969:

“On this day in 1969, a spate of heavy rain begins in Southern California that results in a tragic series of landslides and floods that kills nearly 100 people. This was the worst weather-related disaster in California in the 20th century.

Although January typically features relatively high precipitation in Southern California, the first month of 1969 saw an extraordinary amount of rain throughout the region. Mt. Baldy, east of Los Angeles, received more than 50 inches in the nine-day period beginning January 18. By January 26, the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) had declared it a federal disaster area.

The worst part of the remarkable rainfall was that it caused a series of landslides in the hills of Southern California. In Glendora, 1 million cubic meters of rock and mud slid down a hillside, destroying 200 homes and killing dozens of people. Although there was only one fatality, the plight of Mandeville Canyon, north of Sunset Boulevard in L.A.'s Brentwood section, during the disaster was heavily publicized due to the wealth and fame of its residents.

Mandeville Canyon Road became a flowing river and was impassable for a week. Waves of water three feet high ran through homes, sweeping residents' possessions, including furniture and pianos, away. Film director Robert Altman was trapped in his home for more than a day. Many others had to be evacuated. Michael Riordan, the brother of future Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, was the only person to die in the area. He was killed in his bedroom, as firefighters tried to rescue him. Eventually, the National Guard was brought in assist in the relief efforts.

Overall, 91 people died in the flooding and mudslides. It was the worst storm to hit Southern California since 1938. In February, yet another big storm hit killed 18 people over several days. From 1980 to 2005, approximately 100 people died from floods and landslides in Southern California.”

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Yesterday:

Misty and I drove down to the mailbox in the van, as I wanted to make sure it was running right before I drove into the next town.  So we had our walk-about down there near the pool and the children’s playground.

The van still didn’t feel right, so Jim, the mechanic took it out for a spin.  He said that it wouldn’t hurt it to drive it, but as soon as I got back from Conroe, he would give it a tune up.

This is the first time since I was 17 that I haven’t had two street legal vehicles on the road, and it was a scary thought.

I bought what I needed, returned some items to Walmart, and also stopped at the DMV to buy a $5 One-Way trip ticket for the Puddle Jumper.  It is only valid to drive it from here to the DMV to buy tags for it sometime before the 2nd. February.  That made me feel easier.  I only had my insurance card for the Puddle Jumper with me, so I couldn’t buy the permanent tags.

Now, I need to check all the lights, etc on the Puddle Jumper, so that I can get it inspected, in case I do have to put it back on the road.

Jim picked up my van, and I hope that it will be ready before I go to church on Saturday.