Court Upholds Ban on GE Alfalfa!

Is this appealable? (4.00 / 3)

If it goes to The Supremes, how likely are they to uphold the (liberal) 9th?

And how long would that take? And does the ban go into effect, or is the ban already in effect?

Yankee Frugality: use it up, wear it out, make it last, or do without.

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by: Anonymous Bosch @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 15:27:20 PM CDT

I believe the ban's in effect (4.00 / 3)

and I don't know if it can be appealed. I'll ask. The Supreme Court has really sucked lately, I'll say that!!

"I can understand someone from Iowa promoting corn and soy, but we are not feeding the world, we are feeding animals and soft drink companies." - Jim Goodman

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by: Jill Richardson @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 15:58:57 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

answers: (4.00 / 3)

1. The ban's been in place since 2007
2. Their only recourse would be the Supreme Court but it's highly unlikely. The USDA has been done arguing the case for a while - they have started working on the EIS they were supposed to do in the first place. It was only Monsanto that continued the court fight and lost.

"I can understand someone from Iowa promoting corn and soy, but we are not feeding the world, we are feeding animals and soft drink companies." - Jim Goodman

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by: Jill Richardson @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 16:05:20 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

So, it's a done deal? (4.00 / 3)

That's one for sanity.

Alfalfa starts with "A".

(Roundup Ready) Beets start with "B". So it's going to be a long alphabet, if we live that long. Or if momentum develops.

Ending on a hopeful note; it's a good start.

Yankee Frugality: use it up, wear it out, make it last, or do without.

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by: Anonymous Bosch @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 16:22:31 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

A suggestion... (4.00 / 3)

Sorry for the non sequitur, but I'd like make a suggestion and there's no place else to put it.

The irony is that my suggestion is for Jill or Jay or one of the other front pagers to create an open thread once a day so that we can have a place to make suggestions (like this one) or post thoughts that aren't worth a diary or even just to chat. It could be called "Blue Plate Special" or some other food-themed name (Afternoon Harvest?) and posted around 1 pm Pacific.

I feel like we've reached a critical mass (close to 100 new people have registered since I got here) and having an open thread would help build a sense of community and give new folks a place to ask questions.

Does anyone else think that's a good idea?

I wish I knew half what the flock of them know
Of where all the berries and other things grow,
Cranberries in bogs and raspberries on top
Of the boulder-strewn mountain, and when they will crop.
--"Blueberries" by Robert Frost

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by: wide eyed lib @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 18:06:46 PM CDT

Scratch that... it's been 200 new people since I joined (n/t) (4.00 / 3)

I wish I knew half what the flock of them know
Of where all the berries and other things grow,
Cranberries in bogs and raspberries on top
Of the boulder-strewn mountain, and when they will crop.
--"Blueberries" by Robert Frost

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by: wide eyed lib @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 18:09:31 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

228 to be exact... :) (4.00 / 2)

Are the Pot Lucks too late, do you think?  I was gonna post one in a bit, since I just wanted to share a (form) reply I got from my US Rep (Earl Blumenauer) on the Child Nutrition reauthorization in a bit...

They're always posted at 7 Pacific, as I'm sure you noticed.  Is there a better time to post them, do you think?

I've just been assigned the task of Daily Pot Luck Poster, fwiw...

:)

"Intelligent discontent is the mainspring of civilization." - Eugene V. Debs

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by: JayinPortland @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 18:36:20 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Well, that's a bit late for me (4.00 / 2)

being an old fogey East Coaster and all. By that time I'm brushing my teeth and putting on my jammies.

Ideally for me, it would be no later than 8 pm Eastern (5 Pacific). But if everyone else loves 7 pm Pacific, I can always get in on the action in the morning.

FWIW, there hasn't been a Pot Luck since Sunday. I'd practically forgotten they existed! :)

I wish I knew half what the flock of them know
Of where all the berries and other things grow,
Cranberries in bogs and raspberries on top
Of the boulder-strewn mountain, and when they will crop.
--"Blueberries" by Robert Frost

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by: wide eyed lib @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 19:07:58 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

From here on out... (4.00 / 2)

there will be a Pot Luck every night. :)

Jill just designated me Pot Luck Czar, and I will make the trains run on time!

Lol...

"Intelligent discontent is the mainspring of civilization." - Eugene V. Debs

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by: JayinPortland @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 19:23:56 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

does this mean you'll (4.00 / 2)

be initiating a War on Pot Luck soon?

Yankee Frugality: use it up, wear it out, make it last, or do without.

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by: Anonymous Bosch @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 19:41:16 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Oh, and... (4.00 / 1)

thanks for the feedback.  It's very much appreciated!

Suggestions as to how to make our site (it's for all of us!) and community better are welcome (and wanted!).

Thanks! :)

"Intelligent discontent is the mainspring of civilization." - Eugene V. Debs

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by: JayinPortland @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 19:25:35 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

sure thing (4.00 / 3)

I try to remember to do so at 7pm or so, and the sampler platters are also intended to be used as open threads.

"I can understand someone from Iowa promoting corn and soy, but we are not feeding the world, we are feeding animals and soft drink companies." - Jim Goodman

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by: Jill Richardson @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 18:23:04 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I could be wrong but (4.00 / 2)

I seem to remember an "auto-post" feature mentioned on another soapie (SoapBlox) blog to delay or pre-post diaries.

For rousing discussions, when are the most people on here? There was a diary on last ?week? that gathered over 80 comments in hours. That was exhilarating.

And to the... [546+228-663, ...carry the 1, take off my slippers] uh, 111 since I got here, Welcome Aboard!

Yankee Frugality: use it up, wear it out, make it last, or do without.

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by: Anonymous Bosch @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 19:36:58 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Yeah, we have it here... (4.00 / 2)

Cutting-edge technology isn't just for organic farmers!

:)

"Intelligent discontent is the mainspring of civilization." - Eugene V. Debs

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by: JayinPortland @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 20:17:31 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Nah, nah (4.00 / 2)

I have a lower UID than you. :P

I wish I knew half what the flock of them know
Of where all the berries and other things grow,
Cranberries in bogs and raspberries on top
Of the boulder-strewn mountain, and when they will crop.
--"Blueberries" by Robert Frost

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by: wide eyed lib @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 21:20:38 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

that's me... (4.00 / 2)

always late to the party. Where's my lampshade?

Yankee Frugality: use it up, wear it out, make it last, or do without.

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by: Anonymous Bosch @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 21:27:22 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

We're coming up on One Year now, btw... (4.00 / 1)

Can't remember the exact date, but I think it's July 3.

Lemme go check, brb...

Oops, was off by one day!  It was July 2.  Here is Jill's initial diary here.

Waaaaaaaaaay back then, she even used a different name! :)

"Intelligent discontent is the mainspring of civilization." - Eugene V. Debs

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by: JayinPortland @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 21:28:23 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Speaking of LVL getting around (4.00 / 3)

I'm on Clackamas county's policy advisory committee for the Urban and Rural Reserves process. When we meet (usually once a month but lately we've met more than once/month - lots of work to do and we'll meet again next tuesday after meeting yesterday) we have two public comment periods. Last night's meeting had public comment submittals, one of which had correspondance from Jill regarding organic farming production stats.

Yay Jill! I thought the info looked familiar, and then I saw your name on it and it was from info posted here. I forget the thread, but it was from here.

So, you are making a difference! As is everyone else here.

Regarding locavores as elitists - explain to me how supporting local business is elitist....

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by: Joanne Rigutto @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 21:06:27 PM CDT

That's really cool! (4.00 / 2)

I also know that LVL is getting better SEO (search engine optimization) because I've gotten emails from people with questions about wild plants after stumbling upon my foraging diaries here.

It feels as though LVL has hit critical mass. The front page stories are all generating actual discussions, not just individual comments, if you know what I mean.

It feels more like a community.

I wish I knew half what the flock of them know
Of where all the berries and other things grow,
Cranberries in bogs and raspberries on top
Of the boulder-strewn mountain, and when they will crop.
--"Blueberries" by Robert Frost

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by: wide eyed lib @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 21:17:12 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

You're right (4.00 / 3)

this has turned into a community. Jill has done an absolutely bang up job of providing info on agriculture and policy, as have the moderators. This is one of the first places I come to in the morning to read while I eat breakfast of have my morning coffee, and it's one of the last places I visit on the net.

Regarding my post above, I re-read it, and to clarify, the info from Jill was submitted by one of the people who attended the Reserves PAC meeting, not by Jill herself. The info that was submitted was from Jill via LVL though.

Regarding locavores as elitists - explain to me how supporting local business is elitist....

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by: Joanne Rigutto @ Thu Jun 25, 2009 at 12:19:59 PM CDT

[ Parent ]