Thought one:
Initially, it troubled me that Utah House investigators are asking for John Swallow's home emails and for his personal cellphone records. If this is a criminal investigation, with criminal charges at stake, it does seem appropriate, though, and surely they are looking for criminal violations.
The right to privacy should protect Swallow from home searches if the investigators were seeking only for breaches of good conduct and of common moral behavior.
Thought two:
Investigators say it is troubling that records are missing from every electronic device Swallow has had since he became attorney general. They also point to evidence suggesting Swallow knew he was the subject of an investigation. Yes, this is troubling to me, also.
Thought three:
Investigators note they are respectful of the desire not to run up too much of a bill. Back when the investigation was just being started, I questioned the need for an expensive investigation. Seeing the investigators in motion, though, makes me respect the fact it may take money, and makes me think it may be money well spent. I wonder why federal investigators did not search out and try to recover Swallow's electronic records, as it does seem they might not have. Perhaps, this investigation is going to be more thorough, and I respect that.
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Caution is the Better Part of Wisdom, so GMOs Should Wait
Alas, I go to bed understand Washington's Initiative 522 has failed. It would have required that GMOs be labeled as such, and would have made Washington the first state in the Union to require such labeling. I understand proponents of the bill raised $8.4 million, while Monsanto and other opponents donated more than $22 million.
Money persuades more than reason. And, though the anti Initiative 522 folks did have a good argument, I'm thinking it was their money advantage that won the day. Initial polls had shown people favored 522. Then money got to them. The voice that yells the loudest often wins, and, the voice that yells the loudest is almost always the one with the money.
GMOs might be no harm at all, but then, again, they might. Some genetically modified seeds are genetically modified only to increase nutrition. I would think those are safe. But, some are engineered to release chemicals that kill insects. My thought is, if the chemical in the plant will kill an insect, isn't there a chance it might also have an ill effect on a human? I know there has been no scientific proof that GMOs are harmful, but there also hasn't been any scientific proof that they are safe.
GMOs were first released in the mid 1990s. That means we've had them for almost two decades now. Seventy percent of our food is now genetically modified. Maybe we should ask what studies we could conduct, and do them before getting in any deeper. If we have done all the short-term studying we can think of, then perhaps pro cede, but I'm guessing we have not. Nor am I talking studies solely done by the companies, themselves. There should be independent studies.
Discretion is the better part of valour. And, so it could be said, caution is the better part of wisdom, sometimes.
Money persuades more than reason. And, though the anti Initiative 522 folks did have a good argument, I'm thinking it was their money advantage that won the day. Initial polls had shown people favored 522. Then money got to them. The voice that yells the loudest often wins, and, the voice that yells the loudest is almost always the one with the money.
GMOs might be no harm at all, but then, again, they might. Some genetically modified seeds are genetically modified only to increase nutrition. I would think those are safe. But, some are engineered to release chemicals that kill insects. My thought is, if the chemical in the plant will kill an insect, isn't there a chance it might also have an ill effect on a human? I know there has been no scientific proof that GMOs are harmful, but there also hasn't been any scientific proof that they are safe.
GMOs were first released in the mid 1990s. That means we've had them for almost two decades now. Seventy percent of our food is now genetically modified. Maybe we should ask what studies we could conduct, and do them before getting in any deeper. If we have done all the short-term studying we can think of, then perhaps pro cede, but I'm guessing we have not. Nor am I talking studies solely done by the companies, themselves. There should be independent studies.
Discretion is the better part of valour. And, so it could be said, caution is the better part of wisdom, sometimes.
Monday, November 4, 2013
Washington Votes Today on GMO Labeling
Those Washington State folks are at it again, setting the stage for the rest of the nation. Tomorrow's vote on whether to require genetically modified food to be so labeled could make them the first state in the union to require it.
Recently, I blogged against GMOs. My stance has since softened, but I remain tentatively against them. One of the neat things I've learned, is that GM wheat, though tested in hundreds of fields, has not yet been commercially marketed. (Albeit, there is fear some of the test crops have leaked into the general crops.)
It is said, there is no scientific evidence that GMOs are harmful. But, it is also noted the FDA does not test for safety, but, rather, allows the companies to do their own safety testing. I have not studied GMOs enough, yet, but would think that even if the FDA allows the companies to do their own testing, independent testing is, just the same, occurring.
The polls show those in favor of GM labeling well out front, but the GM supporters have far outspent them, so, will the GMOs erase the margin at the end and pull of the victory. Money persuades more than reason, often, and some would say the GMOs also have the better share of reaosn.
If Washington does require labeling, it will impact the food supply of the entire nation, potentially. It could lead to other states requiring labeling. Some have suggested, the label amounts to placing a skull and crossbones on the product, causing fear of the product, and cutting into its sales.
I, along with so many, wonder if we know enough about GMOs. There are no long term studies. If there is not yet scientific determinations, it does seem there is anecdotal evidence, at least from the early roll out in the 1990s. I do wonder but what a slow down of GMOs might be beneficial, allowing us to study them more.
I also note this: Not all GMOs are equal. Some seeds are engineered to excrete chemicals that are poisonous to bugs, and it does seem to me that should be more of a concern than a seed that is modfied simply to be more nutritious. I would think a see modified just to be more nutritious has greater odds to be safe. I would probably even say, bring them on.
Me, I tentatively favor not only labeling, but labeling as to what the modification seeks to do. If it seeks to ward off pesticides, that should be on the label.
(This column undated Tuesday, Nov. 5.)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/11/04/everything-you-need-to-know-about-washingtons-fight-over-labeling-gmos/
http://news.yahoo.com/column-food-fight-vote-gmos-could-alter-u-204821798.html
Recently, I blogged against GMOs. My stance has since softened, but I remain tentatively against them. One of the neat things I've learned, is that GM wheat, though tested in hundreds of fields, has not yet been commercially marketed. (Albeit, there is fear some of the test crops have leaked into the general crops.)
It is said, there is no scientific evidence that GMOs are harmful. But, it is also noted the FDA does not test for safety, but, rather, allows the companies to do their own safety testing. I have not studied GMOs enough, yet, but would think that even if the FDA allows the companies to do their own testing, independent testing is, just the same, occurring.
The polls show those in favor of GM labeling well out front, but the GM supporters have far outspent them, so, will the GMOs erase the margin at the end and pull of the victory. Money persuades more than reason, often, and some would say the GMOs also have the better share of reaosn.
If Washington does require labeling, it will impact the food supply of the entire nation, potentially. It could lead to other states requiring labeling. Some have suggested, the label amounts to placing a skull and crossbones on the product, causing fear of the product, and cutting into its sales.
I, along with so many, wonder if we know enough about GMOs. There are no long term studies. If there is not yet scientific determinations, it does seem there is anecdotal evidence, at least from the early roll out in the 1990s. I do wonder but what a slow down of GMOs might be beneficial, allowing us to study them more.
I also note this: Not all GMOs are equal. Some seeds are engineered to excrete chemicals that are poisonous to bugs, and it does seem to me that should be more of a concern than a seed that is modfied simply to be more nutritious. I would think a see modified just to be more nutritious has greater odds to be safe. I would probably even say, bring them on.
Me, I tentatively favor not only labeling, but labeling as to what the modification seeks to do. If it seeks to ward off pesticides, that should be on the label.
(This column undated Tuesday, Nov. 5.)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/11/04/everything-you-need-to-know-about-washingtons-fight-over-labeling-gmos/
http://news.yahoo.com/column-food-fight-vote-gmos-could-alter-u-204821798.html
I Will Not be Voting
I will not be voting in tomorrow's municipal elections, for I know next to nothing about the candidates. What would my vote accomplish? It would be like a roll of the dice in hopes my vote would end up with the person I would have voted for had I studied the candidates.
I am derelict of not having studied them, it is true, but, just the same, I would not serve the process well by voting. My vote would but cancel out that of someone who did study the candidates.
'Tis my decision a reflection that the republican form of government is better than the democratic? In the democratic form, we have everyone vote. In the republican, it often calls for the informed to vote on behalf of the uninformed.
I would say, if the people will inform themselves of the candidates, the democratic form is better. But, if they will not, the republican form is to be preferred.
I am derelict of not having studied them, it is true, but, just the same, I would not serve the process well by voting. My vote would but cancel out that of someone who did study the candidates.
'Tis my decision a reflection that the republican form of government is better than the democratic? In the democratic form, we have everyone vote. In the republican, it often calls for the informed to vote on behalf of the uninformed.
I would say, if the people will inform themselves of the candidates, the democratic form is better. But, if they will not, the republican form is to be preferred.
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Israelis Must Treat Palestinians Well
Jimmy Carter has called Israel's treatment of Palestinians one of the worse human rights crimes of our day. The son of an Israeli general, Miko Peled, speaks with disgust of how the Palestinians are treated.
Is what they say true? I believe we should at least listen, search out if the Israelis are doing these people wrong. Oh, I will remain a backer of Israel, a lover of Israel, but I cannot condone that nation if it is killing and depriving the Palestinians of water and such. I am not against Israel's placing settlements in the Palestinian parts of Israel, but I am against this. I wish we could rise up in indignation, outrage, horror, and demand that the Israelis treat the Palestinians well.
Well, I am a casual student from afar. I do not know much (do not know enough) of what is allegedly happening, but I do believe wrong is wrong. If these things are happening -- if there are murders being committed -- we cannot condone them, but must oppose them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQuOHwJeVMI&feature=youtu.be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etXAm-OylQQ
Is what they say true? I believe we should at least listen, search out if the Israelis are doing these people wrong. Oh, I will remain a backer of Israel, a lover of Israel, but I cannot condone that nation if it is killing and depriving the Palestinians of water and such. I am not against Israel's placing settlements in the Palestinian parts of Israel, but I am against this. I wish we could rise up in indignation, outrage, horror, and demand that the Israelis treat the Palestinians well.
Well, I am a casual student from afar. I do not know much (do not know enough) of what is allegedly happening, but I do believe wrong is wrong. If these things are happening -- if there are murders being committed -- we cannot condone them, but must oppose them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQuOHwJeVMI&feature=youtu.be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etXAm-OylQQ
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Storynopolis turned Halloween into Hollyween
Storynopolis, population 21,006, is now the reigning champion of cities which have given Halloween a makeover.
The city, just of the I-714 and north of Bottlesville, did it not just by changing up the holiday, but by producing some of the best acting this side of Hollywood. See, this last October, when Halloween rolled around, Storynopolis rolled out a Halloween like no one has ever seen.
They tossed away the scary and macabre, but kept the costumes and playfulness. They turned the day into a day of acting -- everybody doing the acting. At school and in the neighborhoods, everone was in a 10-minute skit of some kind. Oh, what made it such a big deal was not that they held all these little skits, but how well they did them. They were polished, professional and admittedly expensive. No live shows were ever better.
When folks went trick or treating, they performed their skits right on the doorsteps. Indeed, they weren't to get any candy unless the homeowner dubbed the skit worthy of reward.
Oh, and they renamed the holiday, crossing the words "Halloween" and "Hollywood" to come up with "Hollyween."
The city, just of the I-714 and north of Bottlesville, did it not just by changing up the holiday, but by producing some of the best acting this side of Hollywood. See, this last October, when Halloween rolled around, Storynopolis rolled out a Halloween like no one has ever seen.
They tossed away the scary and macabre, but kept the costumes and playfulness. They turned the day into a day of acting -- everybody doing the acting. At school and in the neighborhoods, everone was in a 10-minute skit of some kind. Oh, what made it such a big deal was not that they held all these little skits, but how well they did them. They were polished, professional and admittedly expensive. No live shows were ever better.
When folks went trick or treating, they performed their skits right on the doorsteps. Indeed, they weren't to get any candy unless the homeowner dubbed the skit worthy of reward.
Oh, and they renamed the holiday, crossing the words "Halloween" and "Hollywood" to come up with "Hollyween."
Friday, November 1, 2013
Blood Flows in Town that Frowns on Bloody Halloweens
I met the mayor of that town the same year they revamped their Halloween celebration. See, the people of Bottlesville were all up late one night, thinking about the approaching Halloween, talking about it, and they got tending to the mind that it really wasn't such a good idea.
Halloween, I mean.
"You know, all the girls use it as an excuse to dress trampy," said old Bob Saunders.
"Yeh, and everybody dresses up like something evil," Buddy Thompson added.
"The thing I don't like, is we take kids -- impressionable young kids -- and glamorize the dark side of life before them," said Dutch Matthews.
"Oh, and look how we feed them," Bernie Myers shot in. "We give them all kinds of candy, and its not just that we feed them candy, we glamorize it. That's what the night is all about, trick 'er treating. No wonder this nation is so fat and obese, we glamorize sugar with a holiday devoted to it."
Well, I guess it wasn't the first time folks in this wonderful nation of ours have questioned the propriety of Fright Night. Most folks just roll with it, though, not wanting to dash a good time, and not seeing much of a harm, anyway.
Not the people of Bottlesville, though. As I was saying, they were all sitting around talking, and they came up with this idea of revamping their Halloween. And, I don't mean revamping as in revampiring it, for they were dead-set on taking them vampires out.
Now, I'm not here to tell you Halloween is such a horrible thing. It does seem to make for a lot of fun. Still, I like what these folks in Bottlesville pulled off. They pulled off one of the neatest little Halloween celebrations you're ever going to get your fangs on.
I met their mayor that year, and he told me about it. Seems they decided they'd bring a circus to town that day, 'cept they respun the circus, even as they were respinning Halloween. Oh, there were the trick ponies, and the aerial artists, and all. But, they made sure their wasn't anything macabre, and they made sure all the participants were clothed a bit better than most circuses have 'em dressed. Didn't allow any soothsayers. Clowns? Yeh, they had clowns, and they brought in that guy that is dropped out of a plane while all handcuffed and in a casket and he makes his escape while freefalling in the sky.
Oh, and Bottlesville renamed the whole day. Since they held their little party down in a hollow, they decided they'd call it, Holloween, instead of Halloween. They only came out of the hollow when they were watching the Blue Angels and that guy freefalling in a casket.
Now, I'd be amiss if I told you it was all about a circus that Halloween. That was a big part of it, but not the biggest part. See Bottlesville folks are giving folks, real good folks, always aiming to do something nice and sweet. So, they really felt like they needed to make it a day they did some giving.
So, they hosted a blood drive. Yep, that's what they did, what with blood being a staple of a good halloween, they decided to go that direction. Why, they had such a blood drive as you've never seen. They didn't have enough blood bank workers in the whole of the town, so they had to bring them in from all the neighboring towns. I suppose every single one of the good folks in Bottlesville gave blood that day.
You probably read about that, though, what with it setting some kind of world record for the most blood donated in a single blood drive. "Blood Flows in Town that Frowns on Bloody Halloweens," read one headline.
Bottles of it.
(My Stories)
Halloween, I mean.
"You know, all the girls use it as an excuse to dress trampy," said old Bob Saunders.
"Yeh, and everybody dresses up like something evil," Buddy Thompson added.
"The thing I don't like, is we take kids -- impressionable young kids -- and glamorize the dark side of life before them," said Dutch Matthews.
"Oh, and look how we feed them," Bernie Myers shot in. "We give them all kinds of candy, and its not just that we feed them candy, we glamorize it. That's what the night is all about, trick 'er treating. No wonder this nation is so fat and obese, we glamorize sugar with a holiday devoted to it."
Well, I guess it wasn't the first time folks in this wonderful nation of ours have questioned the propriety of Fright Night. Most folks just roll with it, though, not wanting to dash a good time, and not seeing much of a harm, anyway.
Not the people of Bottlesville, though. As I was saying, they were all sitting around talking, and they came up with this idea of revamping their Halloween. And, I don't mean revamping as in revampiring it, for they were dead-set on taking them vampires out.
Now, I'm not here to tell you Halloween is such a horrible thing. It does seem to make for a lot of fun. Still, I like what these folks in Bottlesville pulled off. They pulled off one of the neatest little Halloween celebrations you're ever going to get your fangs on.
I met their mayor that year, and he told me about it. Seems they decided they'd bring a circus to town that day, 'cept they respun the circus, even as they were respinning Halloween. Oh, there were the trick ponies, and the aerial artists, and all. But, they made sure their wasn't anything macabre, and they made sure all the participants were clothed a bit better than most circuses have 'em dressed. Didn't allow any soothsayers. Clowns? Yeh, they had clowns, and they brought in that guy that is dropped out of a plane while all handcuffed and in a casket and he makes his escape while freefalling in the sky.
Oh, and Bottlesville renamed the whole day. Since they held their little party down in a hollow, they decided they'd call it, Holloween, instead of Halloween. They only came out of the hollow when they were watching the Blue Angels and that guy freefalling in a casket.
Now, I'd be amiss if I told you it was all about a circus that Halloween. That was a big part of it, but not the biggest part. See Bottlesville folks are giving folks, real good folks, always aiming to do something nice and sweet. So, they really felt like they needed to make it a day they did some giving.
So, they hosted a blood drive. Yep, that's what they did, what with blood being a staple of a good halloween, they decided to go that direction. Why, they had such a blood drive as you've never seen. They didn't have enough blood bank workers in the whole of the town, so they had to bring them in from all the neighboring towns. I suppose every single one of the good folks in Bottlesville gave blood that day.
You probably read about that, though, what with it setting some kind of world record for the most blood donated in a single blood drive. "Blood Flows in Town that Frowns on Bloody Halloweens," read one headline.
Bottles of it.
(My Stories)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)