GMO

Genetic- Of, or relating to heredity.

Modify- Make partial or minor changes to (something), typically so as to improve it or to make it less extreme.

Organism- An individual animal, plant, or single-celled life form.

All definitions taken from Google.com’s ‘define:’ feature.

 Genetically Modified Organisms. It sounds dirty just rolling off your tongue, doesn’t it? It should. They’re dirtier than the streets of Bangkok.

Monsanto is a name I am sure you’ve heard of. If you haven’t, Monsanto was founded in 1901 by a man named John Queeny. Monsanto’s past is dark. They are responsible for DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane), which was used in World War II to combat malaria and typhus. Since the end of the war, it has been used as an insecticide. DDT has been proven to cause cancer and was banned world-wide in 1972.

Monsanto took over the production of PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyl) in 1929. PCBs are used as coolant fluid for vehicles, plasticizers, lubricating oils, paints, de-dusting agents, flame retardants, PVC coating, caulking, and the list goes on and on. In 1936, Monsanto employees exhibited reactions to the PCB exposure. In 1973, the US banned PCBs in “open” or “dissipative” items (think paints, fire retardants, and caulking). They are still legal. They are probably sitting in your lap right now. Capacitors. Your computer is full of them. Transformers. Is there one right outside on your power lines? Hydraulic fluid. Do you drive anywhere?

In the 1940′s, Monsanto was a major producer of plastics. Polystyrene and synthetic fibers were also mass-produced by Monsanto during this time. Polystyrene makes up one of the most common plastics in our homes. Containers for our food and drinks. The styrene monomer is a known cancer-causing agent. Japanese scientists did a study regarding the styrene trimer, in which they discovered that when these containers are microwaved (to warm up the food inside), they increase thyroid hormone levels in lab rats. Do you know anyone with a thyroid problem? I know many…

Agent Orange. During the Vietnam War, the US dumped 20,000,000 (thats Twenty MILLION) gallons of this concoction on Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia during Operation Ranch Hand. 400,000 people were killed or maimed because of this. Another 500,000 children were born with birth defects because of it’s use.

Monsanto is also responsible for synthetic fibers like Nylon, Acrylic, and Carbon Fiber. They were also the first company to mass-produce Light Emitting Diodes, or LEDs.

It wasn’t until the late 1970′s that Monsanto got into the biotechnology industry. In 1983 their team of scientists announce the first modified plant cell. In 1987, they moved to genetically modified crops. Whole fields of this stuff. Acres. Through the years of 1997 and 2002, Monsanto evolved. They were no longer the company responsible for cancer, death, and sickness. They were now a respectable biotech food-related company, right? Wrong.

You ingest their poison every day. You give it to babies, children, animals, your elderly parents, hospital patients, etc. Give up, yet? rBST, or Bovine somatotropin, has been injected into our dairy cows since 1982. Canada, Japan, Australia, Israel, New Zealand, and ALL European Union Countries (there are 27, total) have banned it’s use since 2000 or earlier. The use of this artificial hormone is linked to a number of problems within the dairy cow community- a 25% increase in mastitis, a 40% reduction in fertility, and a 55% increased risk of lameness. It increases milk production 11-16% by stimulating the production of insulin-like growth hormone, or IGF-1. IGF-1 is linked to the development and growth of human cancers.

Monsanto, with it’s proven track record, has now taken on developing our seeds. Many studies conducted by Monsanto’s own labs show no results indicating cancer-related problems. However, many scientists have conducted their own experiments regarding their new line of GMO foods. “Gilles-Eric Seralini of the University of Caen and colleagues said rats fed on a diet containing NK603 – a seed variety made tolerant to dousings of Roundup – or given water containing Roundup at levels permitted in the United States died earlier than those on a standard diet. The animals on the GM diet suffered mammary tumours, as well as severe liver and kidney damage. The researchers said 50 percent of males and 70 percent of females died prematurely, compared with only 30 percent and 20 percent in the control group.” – The Huffington Post.

Are you convinced yet? Monsanto and companies who use their products (Sunny Delight, Kellogg’s, Bumble Bee Foods, Bimbo Bakeries, Campbell Soup, Land O’Lakes, Hormel Foods, Dole Packaged Foods, Del Monte Foods, Pepsi-Co, Coca-Cola, Ocean Spray Cranberries, and many, many more) have spent billions lobbying against the labeling of GMO foods in our supermarkets. http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/277-75/13062-a-list-of-food-companies-that-hide-gmos Monsanto has also begun modifying Salmon and Strawberries. What are they hiding?

After reading about how Monsanto came to be the biotech giant that they are, do you still trust them with your food supply? Didn’t think so.

Now, how to avoid their frankenfoods? Start with a list of fresh foods to buy organic: Tomatoes (modified since 1994), Papaya (modified since 1999), Rice, Potatoes, Corn, Soy, Milk, Sugar Beets, Cotton, Zucchini, Canola Oil, and Aspartame are among the most common. If you’re browsing the produce area, anything with a 4-digit code is conventionally grown. If it is a 5-digit code and begins with an 8, it is organically grown. 5-digit code beginning with a 9? GMO. Grass-fed beef, if you eat meat, is typically GMO-free as it is not ingesting GMO corn- a food cows do not naturally eat. Seek out products labeled GMO-free or Organic. Shop locally. Grow your own heirloom seeds. Do your own research. Educate yourself, your family, your friends, and your colleagues.

Monsanto recently settled a 10-year battle with their biggest competitor, DuPont. DuPont must pay out S1.75 billion over the course of the next ten years to Monsanto for infringing upon their roundup-ready soy beans since 2002.

Last month, our government voted to protect Monsanto with the Monsanto Protection Act. They cannot be touched now. If their seed cross-pollinates with yours, Monsanto now owns your crop. You also owe them for theft of property now. In 2007, Obama stated, and I quote, “Here’s what I’ll do as President. I’ll immediately implement Country of Origin labeling, because Americans should know where their food comes from. …We’ll let folks know whether their food has been genetically modified, because Americans should know what they’re buying.”

Good luck.

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Britney Layne, 26, is a wedding photographer, freelance writer, blogger, and mom residing in Northern Maine. Originally from Texas, Britney moved to Maine in 2012 with her two dogs, daughter, and long-time boyfriend. When she isn’t photographing memories, you can find her tending to her organic garden.

www.BritneyLaynePhotography.com

Diddy is not behind this as the girls met with new management. Aubrey O’Day Tweeted “I got a proposition if you want it… #DanityKane” with a picture of herself Aundrea, Shannon, and Dawn with D woods missing. Its unclear if D Woods will join, but source don’t believe that will happen.

Danity Kane were originally signed to Bad Boy Records back in 2005 and formed the third installment of MTV’s Making The band a Reality show. In 2006 Danity Kane released their first album with so much success in the United States selling over a million copies, plus having two singles in the top ten hits “Show Stopper” and “Ride For You”. The final album released in 2008 tittle “Welcome To The Doll House” released on March 18,2008. The hit single “Damaged” made it to the top ten, Making Danity Kane the first female group in Billboard history to have two debut albums at the top of the charts.

What do you think of Danity Kane’s rumored reunion?

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Casper via: Universal Pictures

567,648,000 seconds.

9,460,800 minutes.

157,680 hours.

6,570 days.

18 years.

That is how long it has been (roughly, I'm no mathematician!) since I first saw Casper. Who cares, right? I care. That movie changed my life in a fairly major way. Okay, okay, maybe the movie didn't change my life, but it did help me realize something about myself.

I was eight years young when I realized I was attracted to the same sex. In particular, Christina Ricci is why I realized such things about myself. Laugh all you want, but have you seen Black Snake Moan? Then you know where I'm coming from.

I am not a lesbian.

I am bisexual and we do exist. Over the 26 years of living my life and moving to and fro (28 times total, for those counting), I've met a lot of people. So many people! The majority of these people were decent human beings, leading totally normal lives. I've also crossed a bigot or two, who hasn't, right?

Bigots are here to stay. There will always be a fanatic group (or two) that hate you for some reason or another. Totally normal. What I've come across over the years that I find more appalling than religious zealots, is a puritan in my own back yard. What do I mean by that?

I mean the LGBT community has its own faults (and failures) within its structure. While living in San Marcos, Texas, I met an average-looking lesbian that we will call Shelly. Shelly was invited to the Grey Horse that night by a mutual friend of ours. Things were going well with the whole group until Shelly got wind of my sexuality. She called me out. In front of (god and) everybody.

Shelly believes all bisexuals (included men) are just confused. Shelly is not alone.

How did you feel when someone told you, “Oh, you're not gay.” or, “You'll grow out of it. It's just a phase.”? Sucked pretty bad, right? Did you want to scream at them, or worse? Then why in the world would you turn around and say the same thing to a bisexual? How dare you!

“United we stand. Divided we fall” is a good slogan; not only for our country's war efforts, but for our efforts. We all want the same thing: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We shouldn't be tearing each other apart from the inside.

There is so much hatred towards the LGBT community and I cannot believe we are engaging in it. People kill themselves regularly because they feel the 'pressure' of being gay in America in 2013. We have an affordable, private, in-home HIV tests; we've risen an extinct frog from the dead; we can make a cloud indoors and watch it rain at our command. Why is there a war waging within a community for acceptance, when it's all the same love?

I recently watched a video by the ever popular Macklemore, and it brought tears to my eyes. “Same Love” features Ryan Lewis and Mary Lambert. The video is below. If you've ever struggled with your sexuality, go get a Kleenex.
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Britney Layne, 26, is a wedding photographer, freelance writer, blogger, and mom residing in Northern Maine. Originally from Texas, Britney moved to Maine in 2012 with her two dogs, daughter, and long-time boyfriend. When she isn't photographing memories, you can find her tending to her organic garden.

www.BritneyLaynePhotography.com

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Observance.  It’s a strong word that carries a different meaning to some of us, and yet, it’s something that I’ve repeatedly had to do over the years since observance and objectivity should, but oftentimes does not, run hand in hand.

I’ve watched my brothers from all races transcend stereotypes…watched them as they loved and lived, and I thought, without trying to come off preachy, maybe I could compose an open letter to them and perhaps open and eye or two.

Not I don’t believe for one moment that I’m some know-it-all guru, perhaps looking to be the next Dr. Phil.  Those are shoes that I couldn’t begin to fill on my best day.  Still, I’d like to think that me approaching fifty buys me some wisdom, or at least my interpretation of it anyway.

When we elected President Barack Obama to office, we were all in agreement that it was time for a change.  However, at the time, I didn’t realize the depths of how true those words would be.  You see, it really is time for us to change not only how we view ourselves, but how we view our race as a whole.  For African Americans, we as a people have been divided for far too long, probably for as long as we as a people have been in this country.  It was always us versus us – field niggra versus house niggra, light-skinned versus dark skinned, have versus have nots…and the list continues.

We’ve been taught to degrade our women in music, television and literature.  At times, we don’t allow for anyone else’s opinion but our own, as if an opinion that conflicts with what we believe somehow translates to we are not being disrespected, no matter how articulate the words presented are spoken.

Somehow, we as African American men have brought into the hype that we don’t have value – as if somehow, we are not deserving of a high paying position outside of sports or music which directly impacts our right to live in affluent neighborhoods, afford a comfortable lifestyle and leave a legacy to our children.

Somehow, we’ve taken the terminology of respect and morphed it into something that we are deserving of, but yet we don’t always feel the need to give it.  This is not to say that all of us live by these principalities, but enough of us do that it warrants a letter.

So here’s a thought…and take from it whatever you may.  What if we begin and ended everything with love?  As simplistic as it may sound, it really isn’t as easy as it sounds.

You see, you start off by loving God, or whatever you deem God to be.  It doesn’t matter what you call God.  What works for me may not work for you, but one thing is certain that most of us can agree on. There is something much larger than ourselves at work in our lives.  So let’s start with loving that.  For me, that something is God.  With that being said, it doesn’t matter what your experience with traditional religion has been.  Positive or negative.  Religion is just man’s way of worshipping God as we know Him.

Love yourself.  Don’t let anyone dictate your worth – and if they try, you don’t have to accept it, because no matter what you do, there will always be someone who will think that they are better…perhaps even having a false sense of entitlement which to them translates in their mind that they are better, smarter and more deserving than you. Give yourself your props, take your knocks and keep on going.  If you get hit hard and it knocks you off kilter, dust yourself off and keep it moving.  The world will keep turning whether you are on it or not, so hang on with your head held high and know that you were created in the image of love.

Love your woman or life partner.  This applies to straight and gay alike. At the end of the day, the person that you’ve committed yourself to is the person that you should be laying down with, and at one time if not presently, they should have your back.  So cherish them.  Hopefully, you’ll get that love and adoration right back.

Love your children if you have them.  Teach them, nurture them, lead them. Sometimes, we may associate a bad relationship with them, but they are innocent.  They had nothing to do with whatever happened with their mother, so love them because the simple fact is they need you.

Love your people.  Greet one another.  Look each other in the eye…especially at work.  Take a stand and lead in your community.  Step up and love outside of the box, because believe it or not, someone, somewhere will always have it worse than you.

Brothers…and by brothers I mean all of you.  Black, Asian, Latino, White or whatever culture that you belong to…gay or straight, it doesn’t matter.  It really is time for a change.  And it starts with you.

But as I watched the political talk shows that are typically broadcast on Sunday mornings, one individual caught my attention and held onto it long after he had his two seconds of fame.  He appeared to be a blue collar worker who resides in North Carolina.  He was dead set against the president being re-elected to a second term in office.  When the person conducting the interview asked him why, the North Carolina resident answered that he thought that the president would raise taxes that would severely impact him.

This made me think.  Did my taxes go up within the last four years?  Or for that fact, did anyone’s taxes go up within the last four years?  Personally, I know that I didn’t experience a tax increase.  So where was this coming from?  Are people reacting to what is simply being broadcast in the media?  Are they reacting to the possibility that their taxes will rise if the president is re-elected to a second term in office?  And if so, if they have not personally experienced a rise in the taxes that they pay, where is the aversion to the president really coming from?  Are they buying into the notion that the policies that are currently in place haven’t worked in four years?  Did they think that the economic recovery would take less than ten years when it took eight to take full effect?  Are they buying into the notion that a multi-billionaire cares enough about them that he can successfully run this country, cut taxes for everyone by twenty percent without outlining the means to do it?  Is anyone doing their homework or are they simply listening to what is being broadcast and then making a decision based more on emotion than fact?

I’ve watched both parties at length, evaluated their strategies and observed the polls rise and fall in favor of both candidates like an elevator in a high rise office building.  I’ve agreed and disagreed with some of the things that both parties have to say.  I’m not crazy about mud-slinging tactics.  I never have been.  Instead, I’ve simply thought that if you truly have the American people’s best interests at heart, then run your campaign based on those fundamentals.  It has become increasingly difficult to read between the lines because truth and fiction ride along that same thin line, and many times, that line is blurred if not erased altogether.

Maybe this is what our democratic process has evolved into.  And because of that, with so much at stake, maybe we as the people that stand to lose or gain depending on who is elected into office next month need to be a bit more proactive and do our own homework.  Because both parties are saying the same things about one another, maybe we need to conduct our own investigations into what is fact versus fiction.

Better yet, maybe we need to take emotion out of the equation when considering who to place in office because regardless of who claims the role as president of the United States, one thing is for certain…we will have to live with that choice for four years.

Emotional voting is nothing new.  We’ve been doing it for years, mostly in the guise of making life better for ourselves and our children.  We know that some people will vote for President Barack Obama based on nothing more than just the color of his skin.  That is a given.  We also know that there are members of this society that will vote for Governor Mitt Romney for the exact same reason.  We know that some people really genuinely believe that this country is heading in the wrong direction.  Others believe that it is going in the right direction even if it is moving slower than anticipated.

I’ve done my homework.  I am still doing my homework.  Maybe it’s time that the American People do the same…and once you’ve done that, go to the polls and vote for the candidate that you honestly feel with your whole heart will do the best for every person in this country…the poor, the middle class and the wealthy.

Because at the end of the day…the choice is yours and no one else’s.

J.L. Whitehead

J.L. Whitehead is the author of Bruthas, a columnist for the Examiner.com, and is the C.E.O. of Four Brothers Publications.

J.L. Whitehead

I remember all too well coming out to my family and the world back in 1979.  It was an exciting time for me.  I had discovered a world where I didn’t have to hide who I was, and I was free to love who I wanted to love.  At that point, being gay became my sole identity.  I was gay before I was male, young, black and a writer.

But I learned all too quickly that not only was that a false representation of whom I was ultimately to become.  I had misled myself into thinking that I was entering a world where there would be equality given merely because I was immersed in an environment where I was interacting with others just like me.  I thought that since I belonged to a community of individuals whose rights and freedoms have been both compromised and repressed, why would anyone from that same community want to repress me?  I found out very quickly that it happens, and it happens far too frequently.

Now fast forward to 2012 and take a good look around you.  The gay community has been the topic of discussion both pro and con in mainstream society for years.  Stereotypes have been both broken and reinforced.  And yet, every now and then, I am reminded that I am a minority within a minority.  I am reminded that physical beauty and race matters.  It matters very much.

I stood proud when television shows with leading gay characters hit the airwaves.  Shows like Ellen and Will & Grace made us laugh while simultaneously bringing social issues to light.  And slowly, society began to take notice of those issues.  All of the sudden, the gay community wasn’t restricted to being a bunch of degenerates that enjoyed having sex with one another.  We were capable of feeling, loving, being good role models as well as making notable contributions to society.  I was proud.  And I had every reason to be…except for one thing:

For all of the progress that has been made, I still feel as if somehow, I’ve been left behind.  I still feel as if there are two societies…one for the gay community that is accepted into mainstream society and one for the ones that have been left behind; or maybe not so much left behind as pushed to the side.

NBC’s The New Normal will prove to be a triumph for the gay community.  Not so much in promoting the gay agenda; if there ever was such a thing, but in depicting a gay couple as what gay people should be…two people of the same sex that happen to love one another; something that our heterosexual counterparts take for granted every day.

The premise for the show is very simple:  This latest creation from gay TV mastermind Ryan Murphy (“Glee,” “Nip/Tuck,” “American Horror Story”), tells of a happy young gay Los Angeles couple, Bryan (Andrew Rannells) and David (Justin Bartha), who convince new-in-town Goldie (Georgia King) to be a surrogate so they can start a family.

It seems like the show is going to be a hit.  Only time will tell.  And while I’m glad that the gay community has another platform to show the world that we are just like mainstream society, there’s a small part of me that feels as if I’ve somehow been left behind.  Maybe being older, black or Hispanic isn’t a ratings grabber.  After all, I’ve been known to watch episodes of Noah’s Ark from time to time.

I don’t begrudge these mainstream shows.  But I do look forward to the day when the gay community is depicted by more than just the young, twenty-something characters that I’ve come to see depicted on most of these types of programs.  Ratings are important, but realism is everything.  And let’s face it; everyone within the gay community isn’t twenty-something and hot.

I’m hoping that one day, I’ll be able to watch a show that not only represents me as a black man, but me as a gay man.  And I hope that when that day comes, the show won’t depict me as a supporting stereotype that I’ve seen in passing.  Hopefully, the depiction will be strong and confident…with or without all of the physical imperfections.

J.L. Whitehead is the author of Bruthas, a columnist for the Examiner.com, and is the C.E.O. of Four Brothers Publications.