Illumination 2.0

On May 31, 2013, I planned on writing this blog but I could not do it. I figured I'd give it a year. So now it is posted on May 31, 2014.  Every time I actually sat down to do it, emotions grabbed me and stopped me.  It was one of the worst days ever- but one of the best days ever.  Two extremes at one time and a harsh ride in between. I'll explain.... My dog Xeenah was exceptional.  Humans keep dogs, or they keep us, they are beasts in our home.  But Xeenah is a dog that became one of us.  She was sweet, strong, smart, funny.  She was with us through some of the worst of times and an ever present contributor to the best of times. The whole story of how I got her  and my first farewell was posted on this blog a year ago, the day she died.  I couldn't write about what I'm preparing here- no way.  here it is 365 days later. This is a story of putting a dog to sleep.  I was not "putting her to sleep".  She was not goi...

Since the dawn of the internet I've been blown away by the beautiful writing, wonderful pictures, and more photos of monkeys smoking than I can browse in a good afternoon. Over the last few weeks I think the crazy people have dialed it up. Can't believe the junk I'm reading! But on the other hand, I've been so excited to read the poignant, concise and beautiful words on Twitter.  The last week was awesome. Thanks Hank, Kellie and Sanjay for these gems...  " Arrogance is the full-bellied 'protecting' the starving from # frankenfoods ." @KellieRyanB "The anti-GMO folks just hate corporations more than they love people." @HankCampbell " anti-GMO come across as privileged urbanites who show startling lack of compassion for the poor and rural." @Sanjaybhatikar "Full belly, full wallet, empty skull=bad food science decisions." @ (well, me)

Here's a story that starts with a simple comment on a website.  It ends with insults, anger, and delusional defiance. A graduate student funded by NSF (the same folks that have funded my work over the years) libeled me in a harsh way.  Complete lies and nonsense.  I got nowhere with her kindly through private correspondence, and therefore just want to make the conversation public. I didn't want it to come to this. There is a level of professionalism that is lost and an unacceptable breech of ethics for an academic.  She overstepped many lines, refuses to correct her falsehoods, and I feel it necessary to tell my story to protect myself from libelous accusations that are simply not true.  I never wanted her to experience any harm or negative effects from her indiscretions.  She refuses to correct her libelous statements, she stands by them, so I'm happy to post my interactions with Valerie Goodness here for all to enjoy. I also contacted her Dean. ...

Why is labeling GMOs a bad idea?  Here's why!  It actually makes us less informed. Labels can be used deceptively to imply danger where none exists, forcing competitors to play defense against false notions.  The creator of this sign at a local Ace Hardware (thanks Dr. Dave Clark!) states clearly that their herb and veggie starts are "NON-GMO".  This implies that there are herb and veggie starts that are GMO, when there are not. I like, "remineralized with 70 trace minerals"... I'm guessing that 65 of these trace minerals are more toxic than any pesticide, herbicide, fungicide, or certainly a transgene! And "open pollinated" ensures that you have no guarantee of the genetic integrity of the "heirloom" you are purchasing- so it is not necessarily an heirloom. Chances are that these plants are the typical garden tomato, pepper, cucumber starts sold everywhere. They are not GMO, they never have been GMO. It is really sl...

Last month I commented on an article on Mother Jones.  It was a good point, so good that the comment thread erupted in the usual mudslide of lies, hoping to discredit reasonable criticisms and the person that levied them. One commentor was especially vicious. She continually made claims about me, my funding and other personal statements.  For instance, she claimed that my science is funded by Monsanto, Jon Entine and the Genetic Literacy Project and that it says so right on my website.  It isn't true, and my website doesn't mention Entine or GLP. The woman graduate student posting false and harmful information about me refuses to correct it after gentle requests.  What is the correct next step?  The most hurtful words were that I harass her children.  As a guy that volunteers in schools and teaches karate to kids at night (for no pay), this is a serious problem. Thanks to the help of others and some of my own sleuthing we were able to dissect h...

Back on November 12, 2013 I patiently sat through a talk by Dr. Don Huber.  Huber is a former professor at Purdue with a really good record.  He was recognized by many as an expert in plant mineral nutrition and disease. Now he travels from audience to audience extolling the perils of glyphosate and GMO crops.  He states, in no unclear way, that even just the process of adding the gene makes the plants dangerous.  (I actually recorded his whole talk, will post it someday).  You can find it anywhere on YouTube. During his presentation he talked about this new virus-fungus, an unknown life form that invades GMO crops.  The organism causes abortions in cattle and infects humans, causing a suite of diseases from autism to cancer.  When he talks about it he shows graphic images of dead calves.  Audiences are visibly shaken and viscerally moved by his presentation. The list of diseases caused by GMOs and glyphosate from Don Huber.  The...

When I was asked to do a point-counterpoint for the Orlando Sentinel I was hesitant. Why give  an activist's  non-scientific opinions the illusion of equal weight to my facts and science?  In anticipation of the other writer preparing a poorly-researched anti-GM rant,  I wrote my counterpoint  to address the vacant arguments, and Dalyn Houser's anti-GM piece fell right into it .  Houser is a representative of Florida PIRG ( Public Interest Research Group - ironically not doing much research, especially in science for the public interest).  Every single point is an argument from ignorance or a typical trot down non-scientific thinking.  Sadly, there is outright false information that further fuels misunderstanding of this topic. I don't know if she's outright lying or just misinformed, but neither adds good science to the public understanding. To further illuminate that point, I've copied it here and go through each point, providing the s...