Genetically Modified Crops

This week in class we watched a video about the creation and effects of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Besides the environmental and health concerns, they also touched upon ethical concerns. Should developing countries grow GMOs?

The video showed testimonies of both sides: activists from groups like Greenpeace and the Earth Liberation Front argued against GMOs while scientists and researchers argued for it.

Although I personally feel a little ambivalent about the consumption and use of GMOs, I feel like there are more benefits to using GMOs than not. GMOs are often made to provide resistance to a particular disease or pest. As a result, the overall productivity is increased without the excessive use of pesticides.

I'm not here to argue for any particular side or another. What I want to point out is that while the side supporting GMOs often say that using GMOs will help and benefit people, the activists arguing against claim that we should not create GMOs because the companies that engineer these crops will make profits.

In other words, those that want GMOs want to help, while those against GMOs just want to prevent profit.

It is my opinion that while groups like Greenpeace and the ELF are completely entitled to protesting the use of GMOs, they should have a better reason than just trying to prevent companies making profits. They should put their effort and money to better use. If they feel that distribution is the problem with world hunger, then they should look into ways to better transport that food. Stop trying to prevent the world from moving foward.

Black Friday

And thus ends Thanksgiving and Black Friday. Pros? Seeing family again. Cons? Saying goodbye to family.

I should be thankful (har har) that I actually got to see my family this year. Usually it's too expensive to buy tickets and I end up just doing something with whoever got left behind at school. This year though, my parents decided to make the 8 hour drive since all of their kids were in the same area anyways.

I love my family. Like ridiculous amounts. I always feel happier, safer, warmer, more secure when my family's around. Too bad we can't stay together all the time or we'd drive each other nuts.

This visit will have to hold me through until March, when I see my family again.

P.S. I bought a fun thing on Black Friday.

TEST: Embed pdf into post

Wells' List

Bleach

What the heck is happening?? Is the series over? Is there going to be some sort of ridiculous plot twist? To be honest, I haven't really been keeping up or even really reading the manga. I've just been browsing summaries and checking in every now and then to see how it's been progressing. But with what I've seen of the ending, I'm convinced that current events in the storyline are disappointing. After all these years, the artist has the guts to pull this kind of crap, and we're all left feeling like we've got a knife in the back, twisting as each successive chapter comes out. Thanks, Tite Kubo, thanks.

Sick

Being sick sucks. Nothing works properly, and you feel like crap. Screw you, pathogen, screw you. I hope you get torn up by my B cells and T cells and macrophages.

Learning Languages

It's really hard. But when you finally get things right, it feels as if, against all odds, there is some hope for you, and perhaps there is some potential hidden deep, deep, deep inside of you. That's when you're on top of the world. Rock on, language learners, rock on.