Comments for Alec's thoughts

Comment on I want to know what I should know about GMO by Alien

Alien — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:11:36 +0000

In principle genetically modified crops (and therefore food) can be good. But I don’t think we are nowhere near the level of knowledge that would let us do that safely. I think it should all still be handled in the laboratory.

First of all the current technology of genetic modification can be described as shooting a bunch of biomaterial with a shotgun at another blob of biomaterial and seeing what happens.

The second problem is that nature and all living things in it (including us) is intertwined in incredibly complex ways. We don’t see how it all fits together. So even if our technology gets perfect and we only change very explicit properties of organisms, we still don’t know how that is going to affect the system as a whole.

Comment on Almost done! by rachel

rachel — Wed, 20 May 2009 04:29:39 +0000

so did u ever become a teacher????

Comment on Want to teach in California? by Tricia

Tricia — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 23:56:04 +0000

Hi Alex,
I would like to teach music in CA public schools. I have an undergrad in Journalism and am thinking about going back to school for undergrad in music, can you refer me to anyone who might know whether I need to or should? Or whether being proficient, getting a credential and having any undergrad degree are the only requirements.
Thanks! starscape38@yahoo.com

Comment on Want to teach in California? by paula

paula — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 20:10:45 +0000

I am an elementary technology teacher in NJ with a K-12 Business Education certification from NY an NJ. I also have an elementary ed certification in NJ, a supervisor certificate, a principal license, and 14 years experience (3 in HS and 11 in elementary).

I am interested in finding out if I can teach in CA without having to take and additional tests and if I can buy back my pension from NJ into the CA system?

Thanks!
Paula

Comment on Welcome back.. by Reid

Reid — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 23:33:21 +0000

Excellent! Looking forward to your timely posts!

Nyuck.

Comment on Why NOT to eat organic by Andrea

Andrea — Tue, 20 May 2008 23:59:22 +0000

I was going to go organic but that makes me sick.

Comment on Why NOT to eat organic by Whitney

Whitney — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 22:36:37 +0000

We are going on one year with no updates from Alec…

Comment on Why NOT to eat organic by Reid

Reid — Wed, 19 Apr 2006 19:01:31 +0000

We are starved for Alec news. Throw us a bone!

Comment on Why NOT to eat organic by Heather

Heather — Fri, 13 Jan 2006 20:09:39 +0000

Hey there – when to and when not to eat organic has been a hot topic. This handy dandy wallet card recommends the 12 fruits and veggies to always get organic and the 12 where it doesn’t matter as much!

http://www.foodnews.org/pdf/walletguide.pdf

Comment on Andy Rooney on Iraq by John Noname

John Noname — Thu, 13 Oct 2005 18:50:50 +0000

On 9,000 vs 10,000 are you counting the Dept of Ed expenditures also?

On the teacher salary, I rounded up to cover benefits, etc.

- Buildings and capital maintenance – Building is paid for. Bonds are issued to fund construction. They are repaid out of general fund. But think of maintenance, it is not cheap but it ain’t that much. We have 3 janitors and no security guards (low crime rural area). The cafeteria is break even.

- Other staff: Agreed.

- Educational Resources: Books are not that much. I bought a copy of all my daughter main books, and it was $200. The school plans to use the books for 8-10 years. That’s about $20-$30/kid-year. Except for a couple of piano’s amd specialty instruments (like French Horn) they are all student owned.

- Student resources: Agreed

- Staff development: Agreed

- School district: Agreed

I think what really set me off was a report that in inflation adjusted dollars the amount spent per child is almost twice what is was when I was a kid. The only difference I see between then and now is ~100 PC’s a massive increase in the number of administrators.