BROTHERLY LOVE: THE RUSH FOR THE-SCHOOL-BELL. With 6" of new snowfall, the slight incline Amy's Ford Ranger was parked on was enough to prevent her from getting traction this morning.
So her brother Caleb hooked up a chain to his off-road 4WD Ranger and yanked her out. Amy may or may not get to school by 8am startup.
The ground had thawed before this snow so its tough to plow it off. The sun should return tomorrow and that will speed the melting. Jim

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RESEARCHERS BEHIND EUROPEAN UNION STUDY OF MONSTANTO GE CORNS REACH UNSUBSTANTIATED CONCLUSIONS. The UN's IARC made clear that Monsanto's Glyphosate-based 'Roundup' herbicide is "probably carcinogenic to humans."
But what is the RISK WITH GE CROPS THEMSELVES? Restrictive American patent laws prevent our scientists from researching patented GE crops without the blessing of patent-owners like Monsanto. So, answers to GE-crops-safety must come from beyond America's shores where enlightened patent laws exempt research from corporate-inspired patent limitations.
With the blockbuster serial exposure of Monsanto's heavy-handed influence towards academic research, it is understandable why there would be skepticism for these researcher's odd conclusions on two types of Monsanto GE corn.
Credible Claire Robinson of GM Watch offers this insightful report on suspect research conclusions.

"An EU taxpayer-funded rat feeding study on two GM maize varieties found significant differences in the rats that ate the GM diets. These differences could indicate adverse health impacts, but the authors dismissed them as not biologically relevant, without proper scientific justification.

"In fact the relevance of the changes is unknown because the study was too short to measure long-term effects, which can take one to two years to show up, and because it was confined to one generation of rats.

"The GMO90+ study tested two types of GM maize, NK603 and MON810, over a 6-month period. It was published in December 2018 in the journal Toxicological Sciences under the self-explanatory title, 'The GMO90+ project: lack of evidence for biologically significant effects of genetically modified maize based-diets on Wistar rats after 6-months feeding comparative trial'. The authors reported no adverse health effects that could be attributed to the GM diets tested.

"However, on closer examination of the study, this conclusion is scientifically unjustified. Statistically significant differences found in the GM maize-fed animals when compared with animals fed non-GM maize include alterations in the blood and urine biochemistry as well as changes in urine metabolites and hormone levels. Such alterations could lead to ill health…

"But Dr Michael Antoniou, a London university-based molecular geneticist, said, 'The authors’ conclusion of absence of biologically meaningful effects of the GM maize diets is based on an assumption that we know all there is to know about the biology of the animal under test. But this is far from being the case. There is still much that remains to be discovered and understood about how the physiology works in health and disease.'"

Deceptive reporting of GMO90+ EU-funded feeding study on GM maize

GMO90+ study is falsely claimed to show the GM diets had no adverse effects and to refute the Séralini long-term study on GM maize and Roundup


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THE ANGELUS (L'Angelus). Circa 1859. Oil-on-canvas painting by Jean-Francois Millet (1814-1875).
Wikipedia: "The painting depicts two peasants bowing in a field over a basket of potatoes to say a prayer, the Angelus, that together with the ringing of the bell from the church on the horizon marks the end of a day's work." Caleb, Megan & Jim

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MAINE'S BRILLIANT BILL TO REWARD ITS PEOPLE FOR STEWARDSHIP SERVICES AND MAKE LEVERAGED INVESTMENTS IN MAINE'S FUTURE. The results of our community sacrifice is evident in the State of Maine's pure habitat and crystal clear waters.
For many generations Mainers have put protection of the environment FIRST and that dedication has not come without economic cost in terms of constraints to economic growth common in many other States.
LD 1074 (http://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp…) would reasonably require mega water bottlers to give back to the people of Maine for their enduring stewardship of our natural resources.
The proposed modest tax ($0.12/gal) is exclusive to huge water bottlers (over 1.5 millions gallons/yr, such as Swiss-owned 'Poland Springs'). The bill would generate revenue of $80-$100 million annually which would then be invested in expanded high-speed broadband for rural Maine and tuition grants to Maine college students.
As is to be expected, the usual naysayer suspects are whining their tired and worn out songs of despair.
Since 95% of sales by mega water bottlers occur OUTSIDE of Maine, this bill represents a win-win reward for Maine's faithful devotion to conservation. Caleb, Megan & Jim

"As it stands, the measure under consideration by the Committee on Taxation would direct 65 percent of the new revenue to a municipal broadband fund and the rest to grants to help Mainers pay for college. But Gramlich said some may be carved out for early childhood education as well."

Poland Spring might get soaked with $100 million state tax

Lawmakers eye an extraction fee of 12 cents per gallon for Maine groundwater.


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RECOLLECTIONS ON GROWING UP GROWING 'ARSH' POTATOES IN EASTERN KENTUCKY'S APPALACHIAN COAL COUNTRY. Interesting memoir by Ike Adams which reveals the central nature of growing and eating potatoes in the hollers of Letcher County.
Despite some ups and downs, thanks to storeability and the remarkable number of high-quality-food-calories a modest potato patch can produce, growing potatoes has provided self-reliant independence for rural families for thousands of years.
Over 40 years ago we were taught by our old farmer-neighbor, Doss – born in 1899 – that 'Irish Cobblers' were the best variety to grow.
Now, Doss' great grandson, Ryan Bradstreet, here in Bridgewater is one of the last farmers in the State of Maine who continues to still grow 'Cobblers' as Certified Seed.
While we believe other varieties have superseded Cobblers (it is pretty susceptible to Late Blight) it's true they are a great eating potato and have a storied history. Jim

"Sixty years is a long time in one man's life, but I'd be willing to bet that I was at least 10-years-old before I equated the term 'Arsh' with 'Irish'. I'm 70 now and still a slow learner.

"When I was a little feller on Blair Branch, the most important rite of spring was plowing up gardens and planting a crop of arsh taters. Of the 50 or so families who encompassed the three-mile stretch of Blair Branch and perhaps a dozen other families who lived nearby, off the main holler, but had kids attending Blair Branch Grade School, there was not a single household in the 1950s that did not make some arrangements to plant and tend a tater patch large enough to keep the spuds stored and then fed for the next 12 months.

"Of course, our subsistence also depended on numerous other vegetable crops, but what we now know as Irish Potatoes were as essential to basic nutrition as life, itself, way back then. We may have had some variety on the rest of the menu, but Blair Branchers and most other rural, mountain families had taters, in one form or another, set on the table two or three times every day at mealtimes.

"Many, if not most, families relied on one or two varieties of 'certified' seed potatoes. We went to the closest neighborhood store and purchased 100-pound sacks of them and/or also kept an heirloom variety called 'Irish Cobblers' that we saved back from year to year."

POINTS EAST: A staple for most meals growing up

Sixty years is a long time in one man's life, but I'd be willing to bet that I was at least 10-years-old before I equated the term "Arsh" with "Irish".


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HOW OUR PURCHASES CAN SUPPORT GOOD AND BRING ABOUT JUSTICE & VIABILITY WORLDWIDE FOR ORGANIC FAMILY-SCALE PRODUCERS. Granted, 'Dr. Bronners' is not your typical company! Yet they do set the high standard. Dr. Bronner's is successful, doing good and treating their suppliers very well
We've been happy customers of Bronner's Peppermint Castile soap for 45 years. Our friend, David Bronner, 'Cosmic Engagement Officer (CEO) of Dr Bronner's (grandson of the original soap-maker) appears in this excelent and inspiring video (7:57).
One example is better than a thousand theories. Watch and see how integrity works. Caleb, Megan & Jim

Dr. Bronner’s

Journey to Pavitramenthe — Learn how Dr. Bronner's is changing the lives of thousands of farmers in India through how it sources its organic mint.


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RECENTLY-RELEASED COURT DEPOSITION REVEALS MONSANTO SPENT $17 MILLION IN-A-SINGLE-YEAR ON PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGN TO PROP UP DEADLY GLYPHOSATE. Jurors in the recent Hardaman Lawsuit – which found Monsanto's weed-killer GUILTY, ordering Monsanto to pay $80 Million in damages – were NOT allowed to see this eye-opening legal deposition by Monsanto public relations lead Sam Murphey.
However, the "Murphey evidence" is now expected to introduced into Monsanto Glyposate Lawsuit #3 ('Pilliod v. Monsanto) now underway.
Only 11,199 lawsuits against self-seving Monsanto to go! Jim

"How badly did Monsanto want to discredit international cancer scientists who found the company’s glyphosate herbicide to be a probable human carcinogen and promote a counter message of glyphosate safety instead? Badly enough to allocate about $17 million for the mission, in just one year alone, according to evidence obtained by lawyers representing cancer victims suing Monsanto.

"That detail and others about the internal workings of Monsanto public relations operations have come to light in a Jan. 22 video-taped deposition of Monsanto executive Sam Murphey. Murphey’s job at Monsanto included directing global media relations and 'advocacy efforts in support of major litigation, policy matters, and reputational threats' involving the company’s glyphosate-based herbicide business. And one of the biggest threats came from those cancer scientists…

"It has been four years since the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reviewed the published and peer-reviewed scientific literature regarding glyphosate and found the herbicide to be probably carcinogenic, with a particular association to non-Hodgkin lymphoma. IARC is part of the World Health Organization and has classified over 1,000 substances as to their cancer hazard, typically without too much controversy.

"But glyphosate was different. Following the March 2015 classification, hundreds, and then thousands, of people diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma after exposures to Monsanto’s herbicides filed suit against the agrochemical giant."

Monsanto Exec Reveals $17 Million Budget For Anti-IARC, Pro-Glyphosate Efforts – U.S. Right to Know

How badly did Monsanto want to discredit international cancer scientists who found the company’s glyphosate herbicide to be a probable human carcinogen and promote a counter message of glyphosate safety instead? Badly enough to allocate about $17 million for the mission, in just one year alone, ac…


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'DON'T MISS' DYNAMITE INTERVIEW OF VANDANA SHIVA BY CHRIS HEDGES. This is a powerful and excellent video (27:38) with fearless journalist Chris Hedges interviewing articulate environmental activist Vandana Shiva.
Covered is not only the war being waged by Industrial Ag on family farmers and the people, but also their sinister alliances with financial, internet, and manufacturing monopolies which are zeroed in on greed and enslaving humankind.
Brew up a pot of tea and take the half hour to soak in this concise connecting-the-dots opportunity.
Vandana's organization 'Navdanya International' was one of the plaintiffs on our landmark 'OSGATA et al v. Monsanto' Federal lawsuit.
Our thanks to Gab Rielle for sharing this video with us. Caleb, Megan & Jim

Chris Hedges: “And yet there is no question these corporations will make war on any alternative autonomous system.”

Vandana Shiva: “Every day, that is where my energy goes. Ninety percent goes in the creative part of creating alternatives and ten percent in getting them off our backs. And thank goodness we had Gandhi who taught us that it is a duty to disobey unjust and crude laws. He did it with salt. We do it with seed. We do it with food.“

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CUTTING ICE IN MARANACOOK, MAINE. Circa 1930s. The crew at the Maranancook Lodge, in the central Maine community of Maranacook, near Augusta, cuts the ice the lodge will need for cooling food in the Summer.
Note the piece of labor-saving equipment in the background at right which lifts the heavy blocks out of the lake and gets them ready for loading. Jim

Image: File:Harvesting your ice supply at Maranacook Lodge, Maranacook …

Found on Google from commons.wikimedia.org


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