Pique the Geek: Sugar, Starch, and Cellulose
Written by Translator on September 21, 2008 – 6:59 pm -Crossposted at Dailykos.com
There was a post the other day on Kos about a promising new source for hydrocarbon fuels from biomass. On further examination, biomass was only part of the feed, the rest being sugars and starches. The poster and a couple of others took offense when I pointed out that cellulose is quite different than starch.
Tags: Carbohydrate, Carbon, Cellulose, Dailykos.com, Energy, Fructose, Galactose, Glucose, Hydrogen, Lactose, Learning, Maltose, Starch, Sucrose, Sugar, Teaching
Posted in Diaries | 5 Comments »
Granddad and the Dog Food
Written by Translator on May 28, 2008 – 9:17 pm -Crossposted at Dailykos.com
Here is a family story that I hope that everyone finds amusing. It is true as well.
My Grandfather lived to be 91 years old, and that was quite a thing in 1968, when he finally died. I was 11, and adored him.
The funny thing was that he HATED kids, but he liked me. Perhaps it was the second childhood thing, or maybe we just connected. All of my relatives told me later that I was the only one that he ever liked. Read more »
Tags: Cereal, Dog Food, Granddad, Kernals, Milk, Sugar
Posted in Food | 2 Comments »
GM Sugar: Another Threat from Monsanto
Written by Asinus Asinum Fricat on May 28, 2008 – 12:47 pm -Look out for genetically modified sugar in a shopping aisle near you by next Fall! American Crystal, a large Wyoming-based sugar company, has announced it will be sourcing its sugar from genetically engineered sugar beets.
However, the increasing presence of GM crops in the US food chain has led to a growing resistance movement. Several activists groups have filed lawsuits in California calling for the USDA to review its approval of the GM sugar beet, while planting of Monsanto’s alfalfa, also genetically modified to resist Roundup, has been delayed after a major campaign against the crop in 2006 calling for a federal environmental review.
GMO sugar beet seeds, supplied by Monsanto, have an inserted gene to make the plant resistant to the company’s Roundup herbicide. Monsanto already once postponed intro of the sugar beet (ready since 2004) when candy makers and other companies fretted - rightly so - that consumers would reject products with sugar from the beets. Read more »
Tags: American Crystal, Citizens for Health, Community, Environment, GMO, ICCR, Meiji Seika, Monsanto, Sugar, Sugar Beets, UOCA
Posted in Diaries | 3 Comments »