GMO FOODS

GMO FOODS

 

A cranky opinion for

CRANKY OPINION SATURDAY

This Saturday’s cranky opinion differs from most in that I not only have very little knowledge on the subject (nothing different there) but my opinion is also subject to change.  This week, opposing opinions are not only welcome, but might even change my thinking.  As always, in all comments, no name calling please, and that means you, you big stupid head.

The FDA is about to allow production of GMO salmon (genetically modified organism.)   This would be the first non-plant GMO food allowed for general consumption.  Environmentalists are steadfast against GMO salmon.  The new salmon is modified to grow quickly in fish farms.

I have read several complaints against this so-called Frankenfish.  One is that it could be released into the wild and decimate the wild salmon population by being more competitive for natural resources.   The second complaint is a legal issue.  Would corporations hold the patent to these fish?  The third is how do we know these fish are truly safe for consumption?

The developers claim that since these fish are all maintained inland there is no chance of them disturbing the wild population.  I would think that there is very little chance, but certainly not “no chance,” but I am not sure how they could decimate the wild salmon anyway.

The legal issue doesn't really bother me.  Let the developers patent their fish.  I’m not sure why that is a problem.  They spend the money to create a superior food, they should profit from it just as the developers of a better mouse trap would profit from their invention.

I would hope the FDA would test these fish to determine if they are safe for consumption.  It is not as if they are radioactive or fed chemicals.  It seems to me that all organisms via evolution are products of very slow genetic modification.  I understand that 90% of corn and soy beans are genetically modified to resist disease and grow faster.  If corn is corn and soy is soy, then salmon would be salmon.

I don’t understand the big worry about GMO food.   Is it hysteria over anything not “natural?”  I understand people wanting to eat organic food.  I understand the concern about food treated with chemicals and pesticides.  I am not sure what those concerns have to do with genetic modification.

Luther Burbank was a genius who gave us hundreds of different varieties of potatoes and other fruits and vegetables.  He did this through cross breeding, grafting, and hybridization.  I’m not sure what all those processes are about, but they sound a bit scary, and they don’t sound natural, but we have been eating his varieties and thousands of other varieties of foods produced with these processes for over one hundred years.

Genetically modifying organisms just sounds to me like altering organisms with the ability to use more beneficial characteristics then are currently available through traditional crossbreeding.

What is the danger of GMO food?  Why the hysteria in some circles?  Is it political?  Is it economic?  Is it scientific?

Is corn just corn?  Is salmon just salmon?  How difficult is it to test for differences which could be dangerous?  What is the problem?

I believe these GMO foods are and will be safe.  They are easier to produce and will have beneficial characteristics.   They will grow faster and require less fertilizer.  They will be disease resistant and require fewer pesticides.  They will grow faster and have a smaller carbon footprint.

It seems to me that GMO foods are full of pluses with no drawbacks.  That is my opinion.  It is subject to change.  Go ahead, enlighten me.

The preceding wishy-washy opinion is that of a cranky old man, and not necessarily that of management…Mrs. Cranky.

HEY, HOW’s IT GOING?

HEY, HOW’s IT GOING?

The other day I read a post from…somebody.  The post was about remembering names.  I can’t remember names worth a hoot.  I never could.  It is just one more reason why I never broke through the glass ceiling in the corporate world…I never even got close enough to wash the glass ceiling.  I don’t really know if the offices of big wigs have glass ceilings.  Suffice it to say not remembering your bosses name when he says good morning to you is not a ticket to the top.

Much of my problem is that I never pay attention when I am introduced to someone.   I know you should repeat a name when you are introduced,

“Joe this is Harry Smithwelder.”

“Harry Smithwelder, so nice to meet you.”  

Then you should picture a way to remember the name (Think to yourself, a Hairy welder named smith.)

That is how you should learn to remember names.  I’ve read this; I’ve heard it on TV shows.  I can’t seem to do it.  Instead my introductions usually go like this:

“Joe this is Harry Smithwelder.”

“It’s nice to meet you.” (Wow, this guy has scrawny arms, and look at the size of those ears…are those donuts on the table?)

The result is I never remember anyone’s name.  The next time I meet I resort to the always embarrassing “Hey, how ya doing?”

“Joe…its Joe isn’t it?  Remember we met at the conference last week.”

“Hey, how ya doing?”

It does not make a good impression when you don’t remember a person’s name.   It makes people think you just don’t care enough to remember their name.  It probably wouldn’t do any good if I answered,

“Yeah, scrawny arms, big ears, the name just slipped my mind.”

It is not just introductions where I forget a name; I forget names of people I interact with every day.  When I was working, half the people in my office were named “Hey, how ya doing.”

It was really bad when I was in school.  Coming to school after summer vacation I would have to relearn the names of people who the previous year were in half of my classes.  Kids I played ball with, the girl who was my lab partner,  the kid whose locker was next to mine…all these kids were “Hey, how ya doing” for the first week of school.

Maybe the only benefit of getting older is I can now use age as an excuse for forgetting a name.

Mrs. C sometimes gets exasperated with me.  Like when we are going someplace and I ask,

“Is what’s her name going to be there?”

“What’s her name?”

“You know, the short one, with the nice…you know.”

“My sister?”

“Yeah, Dina.”

“It’s Donna!”

“Yeah, Donna.”

“Jerk!”

TO PEE OR NOT TO PEE

TO PEE OR NOT TO PEE

I just got back from the doctor’s office.  X-rays showed I am clear of kidney stones.  That gels with the way I feel; it’s been two weeks without pain or discomfort.

About five weeks ago I had a large kidney stone blasted into little stones.  The doctor’s job was to blast the stone into the little bits.  Getting rid of the little bits was my job.

I was warned that the getting rid part could be very painful.  Some people even compared it to giving birth.  My experience was that either giving birth is way less difficult than women lead men to believe, or the doctor did a pretty good job of blasting the stone into very little bits.  I am going to assume the latter.

The process was mostly annoying and uncomfortable.  It is annoying as hell to feel like you could put out a fire, only to pee like Mr. Coffee.  It is annoying to get up to pee every eight minutes and never feel that Ahh relief we all know and love so well. 

On the plus side, when you do pass material, it is like hitting a home run!

Anyway, I am done for now.  The doctor advised the odds of creating another stone within five years are very high, so I need to avoid certain foods and drinks.  Dark soda is a no-no.  Not an issue, I generally stay away from soda anyway.  Tea, iced or otherwise, is discouraged.  Dark green and leafy vegetables are discouraged.   High on the list are spinach and broccoli.  Outside of veal saltimbocca I seldom eat spinach.  Broccoli will also be easy to avoid.  My second wife fed me that friggin vegetable almost every meal.  Now I think she knew something and did it on purpose.

I have been instructed to drink lots of water.  Lemonade, not the fake stuff is excellent, a glass per day is suggested.  I used to have a glass of iced tea with dinner when we eat out, now I guess I will have to substitute a Tom Collins instead.  I really shouldn't drink, but if it is medicinal…

Anyway, the stone thing is done.  I still can’t pee like my grandsons but at least I no longer pee in Morris Code.

                                            ____________________

Thank you everyone, for your prayers in response to yesterday's post:  
HERO’s DON’T ALWAYS MAKE THE 6 O’CLOCK NEWS http://nblo.gs/UZKr6 
I am a hard headed, conservative, cranky old man but I believe that prayer works and it never hurts!