Amber Waves of Grain

Those words from "America the Beautiful" bring home to me the fact that the strength of this nation rests, to a large degree, on the fields of corn, wheat, soybeans and other crops that provide the protein to feed our people and millions more around the world. Even more so, it rests on the farmers who tend those crops.

Today, genetically engineered cultivars make up a major portion of the acres for many of these grain crops. As someone who has studied and worked in agriculture for over twenty years, you might wonder if that concerns me. It doesn't. The reason? In one word, science.

Consider the scientist. She observes a phenomenon and develops a hypothesis to explain it. She devises an experiment to test the hypothesis. If the experiment produces valid data, the scientist will publish their results.

Now, up to that point, there are many things that could go wrong. The scientist could be incompetent. The scientist could alter or fabricate data due to pressure from funders or the stress of getting tenure or due to a personal agenda. The results could be a fluke due to some factor the scientist failed to see. Just to name a few.

But it doesn't stop there. Once the results are published, other scientists will critically review the experimental design, data and conclusions. They will look for and challenge any inconsistencies or faulty reasoning.

And then it goes even further. If the studied phenomenon is significant to society, other scientists will attempt to repeat the experiment, or devise their own experiment to test the hypothesis.

Ultimately, for important questions, we begin to generate a body of documented experimental evidence. And this is what we have regarding the safety of genetically engineered crops, a large body of documented experimental evidence.

Yes, there are many voices who would dispute that statement. From what I have observed, most of those voices are coming from the mouths of bloggers, journalists, authors and activists. Those voices often quote or refer to scientific studies. And while I believe most of those voices have admirable intentions, a close read usually reveals misinterpretation and exaggeration. In fact, I have great respect for many bloggers, journalists, authors and activists, but for questions like the safety of genetically engineered crops, I will turn to the scientists.

Does that mean we need to stop questioning? NO! Does it mean we don't need to make changes to our food system? NO!

But I personally am very confident (again, thanks to science) about the steps I need to take to stay healthy, which is to eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains, moderate amounts of meat, fat and sugar, and to be careful and informed about safe food handling practices from farm to table (because an under-cooked hamburger, for example, or a bacteria-infested cantaloupe, could lead to serious long-term health problems).

And I am also confident (yay for scientists!) about things we need to do to protect the environment, which includes reducing soil erosion, conserving natural habitat, and improving pesticide safety in less developed countries.

Did you eat healthy food today? If so, thank a farmer. And then thank a scientist.

Here's a good article with more information:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jonentine/2013/10/14/2000-reasons-why-gmos-are-safe-to-eat-and-environmentally-sustainable/

How to Split Wood

1. Split one cord of wood with a maul.
2. Look at calendar. Remember you're not 25 anymore and maybe that's why your arm hurts. Go to doctor for cortizone shot. Wait six months to heal.
3. Go to Agri-Supply and buy hydraulic wood-splitter. Don't tell wife how much you spent, but let her know that it was cheaper than arm surgery.
4. Bring wood splitter home. Attach to tractor and realize you need some hoses to make it work.
5. Go to local tractor store for hoses. They ask you what type of fittings you need. You have no idea.
6. Go back home and take pictures of tractor and wood splitter so you can show the parts guy at the tractor store and figure out what type of fittings you need.
7. Go back to tractor store. Find out that hydraulic hose is $4.75 per foot, cut to order and non-refundable. Go back home to re-measure how much hose you need.
8. Go back to tractor store. Buy hose and fittings. Don't tell wife how much you spent.
9. Go home and realize the fittings don't fit. Return fittings.
10. Call another tractor store and order (hopefully) the right fittings.
11. Wake up in the middle of the night and realize that the way you were planning to connect the hoses is not going to work. Per item 7 above, panic.
12. Wake up in the morning, take a look at wood splitter and figure out another way to attach hoses. Relax.
13. Second set of fittings arrive. They fit! Look at invoice and hide immediately from wife.
14. Start work on connecting hoses from splitter to tractor. Realize you still need half-inch couplings. Run to tractor store.
15. Tractor store is out of half-inch couplings. Go to hardware store and buy couplings.
16. Connect hoses, find a good helper,
    
    start tractor, and split wood. Rock and roll!
17. Notice vast amounts of hydraulic oil leaking from hoses. Tighten fitting you forgot to tighten, and wrap teflon tape around threads you forgot to wrap.
18. Continue splitting wood. Rock and roll!
19. Spend 45 minutes putting away all the tools strewn about from your project. Find out you had 1/2 inch couplings all along.
20. Keep smiling!

Things I've Learned from my Dad

My Dad has taught me a lot, and continues to do so. Here are a few items from the past forty years or so.

• How to drive a stick shift - We don't now own a stick shift car, but when I buy that sporty convertible on my 70th birthday, I'll be ready. Also, suppose I had to borrow a car to escape zombies and a stick shift was the only one available. I'd be thanking Dad!

• Things can be fixed - It's not so much that he taught me HOW to fix things. But by example he showed me that it is possible to take apart the broken dryer and put it back together again to make it work.

• Things can be built - I have actually learned a few building skills from Dad. But mostly I learned that, if you need an end table, or a porch, or some shelves, or a bench, you ought to consider building it instead of buying it.

• Patience.

• Don't leave tools out in the rain. 

• How to stay calm (e.g. when teaching your son how to drive stick shift, or when he leaves your tools out in the rain).

• Big tasks can be tackled one step at a time - One time my Dad bought an old house to fix up. After he bought it he found out it had some major structural problems. He figured out how, one step at a time, to fix it. It was a complicated process that took several weeks. I've learned not to be afraid to tackle something big, even if I don't yet have a clear path to the finish.

Have a good flight!

• If you're going to get a hobby, make it something grand - Like becoming a hot air balloon pilot.

• How to buy a car without getting ripped off - And I learned that, even with that knowledge, sometimes you get a lemon. He has, and I have too.

• How to comparison shop.

• To be skeptical.

• How to live within your means and save something for the future.

• How to be married for 54 years. I'm over a third of the way there!

• The musical and poetic genius of John Denver.

• Trust. But verify.

• Base opinions and decisions on credible and independent sources of information, like Consumer Reports and PBS NewsHour.

Clearly I hit the jackpot in the Dad lottery. Mom, of course was pretty amazing too. More on that later.

Some Observations about Public Schools

Below are a few things I've observed about public schools, maybe some things you didn't know. These observations come from time I've spent on projects in local schools through my current job (e.g. school gardens). I also was employed as a high school agriculture teacher for a couple of years, and I'm married to a second grade public school teacher. Most of these observations stem from experiences in Vance County.

First and foremost, there are many fine and dedicated teachers in our public schools. I don't remember meeting a teacher who was in it just for the paycheck. The teachers I've met truly care about their students. They are heartbroken when one of their pupils faces challenges at home (and here in Vance County, many do). They work hard and frequently dip into their own pockets for classroom supplies. They desperately want their students to succeed in school and in life.

The annual salary for a new teacher in NC is $30,800 for the first five years. That's for 10 months of work each year. In many NC counties the local school board will supplement that amount. In 2010-2011, the salary supplement varied from a few hundred dollars to almost $6,000, depending on the school district. Some counties have no supplement at all. In addition, teachers get individual health insurance (free, with the option to pay for upgrades) and qualify for a pension after a certain number of years. They don't get paid over the summer, but health insurance coverage is year-round.

Now for a few observations about working conditions. Restroom breaks can be infrequent since they must be carefully timed and coordinated (students must not be left unsupervised). Lunch breaks are short, around 25 minutes. Often teachers have to supervise students during their lunch, so that doesn't really count as a break. The work day is a full eight hours, mostly standing. And yes, it's true that teachers spend additional hours shopping for supplies, planning lessons and grading papers. A teacher may have up to 30 students in a single class (and sometimes it's a challenge to find places for them all to sit!). Probably half of the work day is consumed with records/reports, student assessment, discipline, behavior management and other non-teaching tasks. On occasion parents can be disagreeable, or worse. Students are sometimes disrespectful in ways that would shock most people. Sometimes students are violent to each other, and, less frequently, to teachers. I know of two teachers who were injured by student assaults during my brief tenure. I personally have been threatened by a parent and assaulted by a student.

I've also observed something of a "management vs. labor" vibe regarding the relationship between teachers and school administrators (i.e. the school principal and assistant principal(s)). Don't get me wrong, it's not that principals are evil and callous. In fact, most of the ones I've met are incredibly hard-working and truly dedicated to students. When I was a teacher, I had good working relationships with my principals. Most try very hard to support the teachers in their school. But the school administrators have constant demands from parents, students and the superintendent's office, so sometimes the needs of teachers fall lower on the priority scale.

Of course, there are many wonderful things about working as a teacher. You meet wonderful people in your fellow teachers, many of whom become dear friends. Each year you get to know and love a new crop of students. With more years of experience, the pay gets better, and you have the comfort of a monthly pension and health insurance upon retirement. It's an incredibly rewarding, and often fun occupation. There's nothing quite like the satisfaction of making a real difference in the life of a student.

But it seems pretty obvious to me that student outcomes could be improved with two simple (although not free) changes; hire more teachers to reduce class sizes, and pay them more, especially near the beginning of their careers.

NC Teacher Salary Schedule:
http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/fbs/finance/salary/schedules/2013-14schedules.pdf

Why a cutting-edge hipster like me doesn't have a smartphone

I consider myself fairly tech-savvy. After all I tweet (@pgmckenzie), PLUS I have a blog and a dual-monitor set up on my desk. But I'm still using a feature phone, the kind with a slide-out keyboard (you know, like the Brady Bunch kids used to text their friends while dancing to 8-tracks).

I've thought long and hard about getting a smartphone. I've envied those who have them. I've done extensive comparison shopping. And these days you can pick up a basic Android phone for a c-note and use a pay-as-you-go plan at around $50 per month. Relatively speaking, that's a great deal. And it's patently obvious to everyone that I could afford it, what with all my expensive clothes and designer watches.

My phone and iPod Touch

But instead of using one convenient, modern, sleek device that does calls/texts, internet, photos and GPS, I have four stand-alone gadgets; my aforementioned slider phone, a second-gen iPod touch, a very basic point-and-shoot camera, and a refurb GPS I just bought on eBay for thirty bucks (with free shipping!).

Is it less convenient to have four devices (older ones at that) instead of one? Most definitely. There are times I wish I had my camera with me, but it's at home. My 2006 model GPS has 2006 maps, and the touch screen is small and a bit clunky. As I do more texting, the slider phone is getting tiresome.

But here's what it boils down to. My set up is not great, but in most cases it's good enough. It's also a collection of four amazingly powerful devices that most people could not even contemplate fifteen years ago. They are devices that were cutting-edge and transforming when introduced. And it saves me about $15 bucks a month, compared to the $50 pay-as-you-go plans (and I'll bet many of you are paying much more).

Fifteen bucks may not seem like much, but consider this: $15 per month invested in a retirement account with a return of 4% per year (a very conservative rate) ends up being worth almost $5500 in 20 years. That's a gain of almost $2000.

And of course, there's one huge advantage to not having a smartphone; I don't have to read e-mails when I'm out of the office.

There's also something to be said for getting excited about a "new-to-me" device purchased at 20 or 30 percent of the price when new (again, more to put into that 401-K).

This is not meant to be an indictment against those of you with smartphones. Your needs may differ. Besides, I'm glad you have them so I can ask you to look things up for me when we're out and about and there's no wifi for my iPod Touch. And undoubtedly, one day I will join you (although it will probably be a used iPhone from eBay).

My collection of designer watches.

How to take half-decent photos of flowers and insects with a point and shoot camera

You don't need a fancy camera to get decent pictures of flowers and insects. I've never spent more than $60 on a digital camera, but take pictures like this milkweed at the right. Currently I'm using a Nikon Coolpix L610 which I bought used on Amazon for around $50. One reason I haven't upgraded to a DSLR or mirrorless camera is that I want a camera that is compact enough that I will carry it frequently. A fancy camera is no good if you left it at home because it is too bulky.

Now I realize I'm not going to win any competitions (well, maybe a ribbon at the County Fair!), but for sharing on social media or a snapshot to hang in my office, it's perfectly nice.

The first step is to put your camera into "macro" mode, which is designated by a button with a tulip shaped icon (in the six o'clock position on the large round button in this picture). I suspect the higher quality smartphone cameras will automatically switch to macro mode, but you'll have to test it to verify.

Once in macro mode, you can hold the camera very close to the flower when taking the picture. You want to get as close as possible, filling the frame with your subject. Some cameras may allow you to get as close as an inch or even less. Check your product manual, or just experiment. If you get too close, the picture will be out of focus.

Getting as close as possible to the subject is critical. The temptation is to use the zoom feature on the camera, but that is often a mistake. If you can move the camera closer, don't use the zoom. For many of the flower pictures I shoot, I'm literally kneeling on the ground next to the plant.

The exception would be subjects that you simply can't get close to, such as a fast moving insect. In that case, zooming in may be the only option for getting a photo. However, keep in mind that when you zoom in on a subject, you reduce the amount of light that makes it through the lens to create your image. Zoom works best when the light is very bright.

If you are going to use the zoom feature, be sure to turn off the digital zoom on your camera. The only zoom that matters is optical zoom, beyond that you're not gaining anything. If you are shooting with a smartphone, you probably don't have any optical zoom, so you just shouldn't zoom. It's also worth noting that the word "zoom" starts to sound funny when you use it seven times in one sentence.

The next step is to shoot three or four shots with the flash, then turn the flash off and shoot three or four more. Even in very bright light I will try taking a few shots with the flash. Sometimes the results will surprise you. Once you get home and upload them to your computer, you can pick the best one.

As with any photography, the best light is in the morning or late afternoon. When a soft ray of early morning or late afternoon sunlight illuminates the subject, the results can be stunning. If you are shooting in very bright sunlight in the middle of the day, you might try shading the subject with an umbrella. Otherwise, the bright sunlight can wash out the colors. Often I'm shooting wildflowers in the shady woods, so time of day is less critical.

One limitation of my point and shoot camera is that it won't focus on some of the very tiny flower blossoms in the macro setting. A workaround I've discovered is to focus the camera on a leaf or the ground (again, holding the lens just an inch or so from the object). I then hold the focus (button pressed halfway), aim the camera on the subject I want to shoot at about the same distance, and snap the photo. Sometimes I have to experiment with "pre-focusing" on objects of different colors to get the exposure right on the desired subject.

 

Next you want to choose your best shot and make it look even better. That requires the use of some basic photo editing software. There are plenty of free photo editors you can download from the internet. I mostly use Paint.net and Microsoft Photo Gallery, and occasionally GIMP. On a Mac, there are some basic photo editing tools built into iPhoto.

Start by cropping the photo (cropping is like trimming the edges of the picture so you just have the important stuff). If you plan to print the photo, you may want to select a cropping ratio that is the same as the size of the paper on which you plan to print (e.g. 4x6 or 5x7).

Next, play with the brightness and contrast. Most photo editing programs have an "auto-fix" option, but I prefer to do it manually. The results are usually better.

If the focus is not quite as crisp as you want, you can use the sharpen function.

Finally, I often slightly adjust the saturation. It makes the colors more intense.

With any of the adjustments, usually a slight tweak is good, but a big tweak is bad. Also note that I think it's probably better to stick to this sequence, i.e. crop first, then adjust brightness, contrast and saturation.

Finally, save your results. Save it with a new name if you think you might want to go back to the original version at some point.



Swallowtail butterfly larva on fennel. This photo needs cropping.