Tiny kitten in the scenic ruins of Malta, which I'd like to see one day.
Posted on 10/06/2018 2:02:35 PM PDT by BenLurkin
Pentagon research project called "Insect Allies." Funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the project involves using gene-editing techniques like CRISPR to infect insects with modified viruses that could help make America's crops more resilient. If a cornfield were hit by an unexpected drought or suddenly exposed to a pathogen, for example, Insect Allies might deploy an army of aphids carrying a genetically modified virus to slow the corn plant's growth rate.
According to the DARPA website, these "targeted therapies" could take effect in a single growing season, potentially protecting the American crop system from food security threats like disease, flooding, frost and even "threats introduced by state or non-state actors.
… Insect Allies, is less concerned. "Anytime you're developing a new and revolutionary technology, there is that potential for [both offensive and defensive] capability," Bextine told The Washington Post. "But that is not what we are doing. We are delivering positive traits to plants… We want to make sure we ensure food security, because food security is national security in our eyes."
Insect Allies is still in the early stages of development, and at least four U.S. colleges (Boyce Thompson Institute, Penn State University, The Ohio State University and the University of Texas at Austin)have received funding to carry out research. Bextine told The Washington Post that the project recently achieved its first milestone — testing whether an aphid could infect a stalk of corn with a designer virus that caused fluorescence. According to the Washington Post, "the corn glowed."
(Excerpt) Read more at livescience.com ...
That and rosebuds...
I’m not that fond of hostas. They’re just all leaves and stuff.
You buy a bunch of hostas, and gift them to the neighbors.
But the bambis love hostas. And other lilies. And roses. And raspberry bushes.
They have no use for the advanced grass substitute.
And on another note, one of our in/outdoor cats presented himself at the back door requesting entrance. Mrs. NoC obliged. As a token of his gratitude, inoutdoor cat presented Mrs. NoC with a small rodent offering which he placed at her feet. Small rodent promptly scampered underneath my tool chest.
This caused a hunting party consisting of 75% of the black cat population nasally investigating under things and poking into assorted nooks and crannies (of which, being Old Farm House, there are plenty.) As of this writing small rodent has not been apprehended. It will either become an animated cat toy or will find its way to a location containing one of my electronic rodent hotels where it will promptly be lulled to sleep. After which it will provide organic material to augment the clay soil in my by the back door minigarden plot.
I have more electronic rodent hotels I can quickly ready for business if small rodent is not quickly dispatched.
Oh, that’s a great idea!
I hope the new rodent companion didn’t keep you up all night. Things are all bird-noises and teenaged-boy groans here this morning. We’re going to the zoo in Columbia, SC, if we can pull all the parties together in reasonable condition.
I hope the new rodent companion didn’t keep you up all night. Things are all bird-noises and teenaged-boy groans here this morning. We’re going to the zoo in Columbia, SC, if we can pull all the parties together in reasonable condition.
Tiny kitten in the scenic ruins of Malta, which I'd like to see one day.
Good morning, Ganag!
My phone got me lost yesterday when I went to St George, and I think I was half-way to the Slot Canyon before I realized I should have turned right about three miles earlier. I called them and rescheduled the appointment for the 23rd, and since I’ll have the router hooked up by then, I’ll check on MapQuest or its counterpart and write the directions in case the phone decides to get wonky again. (That will be my next purchase...)
So Darks, why don’t you check with Ben Lurkin? He always seems to snag some good threads.
It seems like the rain hasn’t stopped for the last three weeks, and today is no exception. We might have a day with no rain, but its always ugly and overcast. (And I’m asking me why I didn’t move south instead of north!)
(I’m at McDonald’s, listening to the “Elders of the Village” discussing current affairs and the topic rolled around to Las Vegas and one old wag said, “Well, they’re all Democrats down there, anyway!”)
I have to go back to Wally’s in a bit because I want some salad. If anyone looked in my fridge, they’d think I was on a starvation diet. There really isn’t anything in there for “normal” people to eat.
I’ve learned a lot in the 40 minutes I’ve been sitting here! Rain for the next three or four days. Gah!
I just checked my email, and the router won’t be here until the 16th. So happy late birthday to me! I’m glad it wasn’t too expensive!
Well, Undeaders, I’m outta here until tomorrow. I’m watching lots of movies in the meantime!!
Ta!
I am Achmed, your server for this evening.
To me, it’s the best explanation for why the Dims want so many Hispanics in the U.S. They’re trying to erase the distinction between the U.S. and Mexico (and the border) to make Mexico the 51st State. Ultimately they want a United North America like the European Union, but run out of Washington. Brexit caused them to think it would be better if the nations in North America just became part of the U.S. instead of having a treaty.
Mexico and Canada should be backing Trump so they can keep their sovereignty.
Happy Friday, all.
Hopefully I can get some peace around here. I may just have to figure out how to take over. Nudging leadership into the right direction is taking way too much energy.
But then I’d have to run things.
Thank you, and I hope you get to Malta!
Coleus—solid choice!
Reminds me of Middle Earth and Korea, for some reason.
Dear Saints, preserve us. Appetite suppressant extraordinaire. Argghh.
Running things sounds too much like commitment or like too much commitment.
That depends on how well the things know how to run.
Here, it would be a lot of work, at least to start.
For me, it’s whether or not the revenue is worth the tradeoff.
Nobody’s offering me more money. I could just sit here and take my pay and let things fall apart.
Except I can’t.
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