A Response to New Scientific American Article Dismissing GMO Concerns

“Why People Oppose GMOs Even Though Science Says They Are Safe” by Stefaan Blancke, Ghent University, Belgium

Hi Stefann,

There are so many obvious falsehoods in your Scientific American opinion piece, I’m surprised it didn’t come with a warning label. I’m all for free discourse, but when you state as fact information that is actually incorrect, it requires addressing.

The Wisdom of Brugh Joy

“The second half of life has to do with discovering whether you are really in service to the vaster Life – what is it that you can surrender, what do you devote or dedicate yourself to. Initially you may be with someone who does things for you, like a teacher, but afterwards you need to find the resources and the discoveries and illuminations within. Find a glimpse of the Transcendent not based on dogma, but that is a living experience for you.”

When Times Were Simpler

In 1947, Disney-themed DDT-impregnated wallpaper was advertised in Woman’s Day magazine. It was  “Certified to be absolutely safe for home use,” and it was “guaranteed effective” for one year – noting that ‘actual tests have proven the insect-killing properties still effective after 2 years of use. And “Tested and commended by Parents Magazine.”

New England Journal of Medicine Article Recommends GMO Labeling, Questions Safety

A new article in the New England Journal of Medicine questions GMO safety and recommends GMO labeling. “GMOs, Herbicides, and Public Health” by Dr. Philip J. Landrigan, M.D. and Charles Benbrook, Ph.D, concludes: “We believe the time has come to revisit the United States’ reluctance to label GM foods. Labeling will deliver multiple benefits. It is essential for tracking emergence of novel food allergies and assessing effects of chemical herbicides applied to GM crops. GM crops are now the agricultural products most heavily treated with herbicides and that two of these herbicides may pose risks of cancer.”

Worst Airlines in the World

A couple of years back Business Insider published an article on the worst airlines in the world. So for your reading amusement here are the Top 4 assembled from reviews on the airline rating site Skytrax, with some choice comments from disgruntled passengers.

Lambert & Stamp & The Who

Any fan of The Who is going to love the new documentary “Lambert & Stamp,” out now on DVD. Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp were the masterminds behind The Who’s rise to fame. Just like Brian Epstein helped shape the Beatles, Lambert and Stamp were the magicians behind the scenes guiding one of the world’s greatest rock bands.

Aircraft Cabin Air – Toxic? Air Rage?

In June NBC News reported that four flight attendants have sued plane manufacturer Boeing, accusing the company of knowing about a defect that allows toxic fumes to leak through the engines and into the cabin – fumes that can cause serious illness.

The air we breathe on most commercial passenger jets is provided to passengers and crews from the compression section of the engine in a process known as “bleed air.” The bleed air is not filtered, and if a seal inside the engine leaks, burning oil can mix with the cabin air. The flight attendants’ attorneys said that happens once a day, somewhere in the world.

The Correlation Between Lead, Gas and Crime

Could there be a link between crime and lead ingestion? Back in 1996 a study in Pittsburgh (“Bone Lead Levels & Delinquent Behavior”), suggested there’s a link between childhood lead exposure and juvenile delinquency later on, Even moderate levels of lead in the bloodstream of an infant or toddler significantly increase the odds that he will suffer behavioral disorders in childhood, and will engage in delinquency and criminal behavior later on.

A Marriage to Jesus

Hundreds of people attended a wedding at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana, on Saturday morning. The bride’s name was Jessica Hayes, the groom was Jesus Christ.

Mobile Phones & Cognitive Failure

People who use mobile phones and Internet heavily are more likely to forget things, make blunders and be less aware of their surroundings, according to research by Dr Lee Hadlington of the UK’s De Montfort University Leicester.  In the first academic study of its kind into how our ability to concentrate is affected by Internet and mobile phone use, Dr Hadlington studied 210 people aged 18-65 and asked them to rate their behavior in key areas linked to perception, memory and motor function.