The Green Revolution

If you had to name the problems that need to be solved most, what would it be? Many people would say world hunger is among the most pressing problems that need to be solved; and numerous people have indeed tried to solve it. In the 1960s, in fact, several specialists in science and agriculture (specifically, a communication specialist, an agronomist, a potato specialist, and two maize specialists) came together to address the hunger problem. What is amazing is that, even though we still have world hunger, the men involved in this project were able to increase grain production so much that the lead scientist (named Norman Borlaug) “has been credited with saving over a billion people from starvation.” How did they do it? They did it with genetic engineering. They saw that a certain type of grain would yield a lot of rice, wheat, or maize; but they also knew that these types of grains also fell over before harvest time because they became too tall. What the scientists did to solve this was they bred into the grains a “semi-dwarfing gene” from other grains. This meant that these high-yielding plants would stay short enough so that they wouldn’t fall over and be ruined, and still produce a higher amount of grain. They also made the grains resistant to disease. The result was that a number of countries that had formerly been short of food were now actually exporting food (Mexico and India are examples).

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A White Post-Christmas

I just came back from my brother's renewal of vows. He lives in Wisconsin, and this particular week, they experienced colder-than-average temperatures. I could tell because my hands began to go numb as I attempted to tie down a trailer after last night's reception. As a result, I appreciated the fact that the temperature in Stockton was in the mid-sixties when I came back. It was, however, good to take part in this, a dream of my brother and sister-in-law, after at least two years without seeing them. I saw the incredible support of their friends, who helped set up the day before, took part on the day of the event, and stayed late to help clean up. Aware of how tired everyone was late last night, one of Chris's friends even lent Chris his truck to take the last of the decorations home, a favor that allowed the family to return home before two o'clock in the morning last night. Here are some of the highlights: 1. Hearing on a plane what sounded like a baby's fi...

Heroes

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The Nice Guy Fallacy

I read part of a poem recently by one of my favorite poets. It reads: I envy not in any moods The captive void of noble rage The linnet born within the cage That never knew the summer woods. I envy not the beast that takes His license in the field of time Unfetter'd by the sense of crime To whom a conscience never wakes. Nor what may call itself as bles't The heart that never plighted troth But stagnates in the weeds of sloth Nor any want-begotten rest. I hold it true, whate'er befall I feel it, when I sorrow most 'Tis better to have loved and lost Than never to have loved at all. At base, Tennyson contrasted a life of risk, and consequent pain, with one of security. He sides conclusively with the life of risk, and says he fails to envy those who have faced no hardship. I agree with him; and, for good or ill, his words are just as relevant today as they were in the nineteenth century. Like then, there are those today who choose to live their lives with as little risk as...

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