The Momsey's Fourth Anniversary

It is the fourth anniversary of 'The Momsey Blog'. To my audience, I thank you so much. There were times I wanted to quit. The 'well' was going dry. I didn't expect to be here, this long. The Momsey Blog has transformed even me. I have learned much from the words that have graced my pages, a site created by my son, and his girlfriend, my editor, without whose talents, The Momsey would simply be a dancing fool moving in the living room with 'Ella' as my partner.

The web is an incredible tool, a forum for all things wonderful, funny, informative, scary and delicious. 'Google university' opens up our minds to new ideas, to new ways of doing things and thoughts never imagined or expressed. It is not a training ground but a changing map upon which to understand and learn about things real or imagined. It is a beginning, not an end. The web is meant to shake us up because some of us are complacent about what we think we know to be true. 

The truth of information can change over time. Growing up, truth came in the form of adults only: teachers and parents. There was never a 'third' party. I am an adult now. I know some things, not everything. The web helps to shake us up.

Over the past two years, I learned that kitties know things, too. We are their emissaries, only. No amount of 'training' can change their minds. They listen to their bodies only. We are loving, committed window dressing to them, that is all. In 2014, our Tiggy was dying, with her hyperthyroid condition, the accomplice. She ate the wrong foods, over many months, changing her diet, in favour of the foods she loved but were also killing her slowly. She listened to her body, as it vomited, over many months. She was doing it her way! As she regained her strength and dignity, Tiggy began to return to a new normal. She realized that Greek yogurt and her special diet were right for her.

I realize that dogs are incredibly stable 'people'. They never seem to have a bad day. Their daily needs are simple and focused: fetching, chewing, play, raw fruit/veg., morsels of yummy, water, and dog food. They change our minds often, if we are paying close attention. ... Then fermentation sparked my interest when Lucy began making sauerkraut at home. It took me places where I had not envisioned. It was the elixir of health and life. I had forgotten making it at home, as a child. My mom was the director of operations. Then I learned about commercially made white bread whose vast network of additives, preservatives tinkered with our health objectives, in serious ways. We were all gaining weight,,,women more than men. 

The Momsey's mind began to realize the miracle of the web, again and again. Then came the biggest shock of all: those funny looking things in a tomato, I saw one day and wrote about. This strange phenomenon  happened again, three more times, in a span of many months. Oh, my. I wondered if this was an ''unintended consequence'' of GMO. Maybe. Then Ace Bakery began to change to Non-GMO Verified. Campbell Soup was following suit in similar ways by labelling their products GMO. The buying consumers were real people with real concerns. They mattered to ACE and Campbell's.  Governments need to realize they are in power for the people – not for themselves. Labelling was a right, not up for discussion. Non-GMO Verified is gaining acceptance, everywhere, in the food aisle.

I am eating less bread, more fat. It's the way to go according to three doctors, all of whom have published books explaining why. And it makes so much sense, really. Sugars and starches are in desserts and are found naturally in mother nature's garden. Safe starches are potatoes and rice. Desserts feed a comfort need not a nutritional one. But now the carbohydrates - sugars and starches - are put in everything we buy, with such deliberation. Why? To eat more recklessly? Appetites are triggered. Then we crave. Not good for us, good for the companies whose profit margins soar. Oh My. We must read the labels and visit the produce aisle, often. 

The secret to longevity lies there amongst the green, orange, blue, yellow, red and purple coloured  live foods. The costs are low compared to the alternative: poor health and medication to correct our poor food choices. (Highly processed, calorie dense foods take their toll on us in so many ways.) Apples nix cravings and hunger, protect the lungs, provide us with muscle building ursolic acid and other valuable things. An apple a day was true! 

Once upon a time, grapefruit juice was the secret to weight loss. I know. I was a follower, then. Now, I know it is much more than that. It must be 'homemade' not store made. And other things matter, too. We were told to eat low fat, fat free. Wrong, again! Healthy fats are our friend, always have been, critical for the absorption of vitamins, A, D, E, K. A 'balanced' diet is the name of the health and financial game. So is dancing. Moving the body is the secret to health, longevity and learning success.

The spry 'young' 106-year-old lady, in the elegant suit, was meeting the president for the first time. She was as excited as she could be. “What's your secret?” the first lady asked. “Just keep moving” and moving she did. Such enthusiasm and optimism in spite of life's hardships. She was contagious! We need to connect more with each other - in person. 

Close down the screens and look into the eyes of a loved one, friend or stranger. Share a laugh, an apple and dance. Let us return to common sense. We all have it. Keep it simple, low cost and homemade. Now, that's a future!

French Immersion and More!

In Canada, officially bilingual, a French Immersion education is a prized program for many parents, in all parts of the country. Has the time arrived, perhaps, to include other languages, such as mandarin, beginning by age 2? Some educators think so. By the age of 3, we've learned, a child's word-count can easily top one million, depending upon the environment in which he lives. Would a second language thrown into the mix amount to another million words that the child could amass in his 'foreign' language vocabulary?

With language, we have structure (grammar), vocabulary, comprehension, fluency, pronunciation and conversation, these profound academic milestones of the developing human 'plastic' brain. Is it ever too early to begin immersion in a new language? ... In learning a new language, a better, stronger brain is created by virtue of it being stimulated to produce these new 'foreign' sounds. In learning a musical instrument or composing a song, different parts of the brain are worked. In much the same way as musical 'training', speaking any language begins to reconfigure the brain as these audible 'modes of communication' become the building blocks of stored memory, ideas and thought. If dogs are able to associate words and phrases with actions and gestures, then teaching a child one or more new languages is far more easily done. ... Throughout the course of my day with Mr. Wiggles and his sister, Sally, language is all I have to communicate with them. My furry children are a foreign species, learning a 'foreign' language called English. I adore these creatures but speak to them with a certain 'expectation' of understanding me, using language. I endeavour to teach them. “Listen to me or go to your room.”, I say. Ha. Ha. Hand gesturing and the accompanying words help convey meaning in their everyday doggy world. “Go back”, “Do you want to eat?” “Are you hungry?” “Do you want breakfast?' “Do you want eggs?” “Is it apple time?” “Where's the ball?”, “Lie down”, “Take the ball or Rudy, (the reindeer) to daddy'. They cannot speak but understand what is expected of them. Daily reminders of the spoken word aids in building the foundation of dialogue and language.

Our retriever pups know when Mall Cop and Ella are coming to visit. I simply tell them. Their heads turn in the direction of past visits from their cousins: the front door and side door. The carpet bedding is prepared in my clean-up dog and cat world. This action reminds them something special is about to happen. They recognize the car as the 'sound' approaches. I put words to what they hear. The abstract of thought resonates with them. They look towards the door or outside, beyond the glass doors of their room, to see if their cousins have arrived. With all four dogs, the language I speak is understood by all. (The coupling of abstract thought with real everyday objects/places are imperatives in the learning game for dogs.) A gentle touch on the head, back or paw attaches significance to their learning game. ... Mall Cop, this 20-pound dynamo, tilts his head from side to side, his gaze unmoved, wondering if maybe, just maybe, a fruit and veggie platter is being served soon. Ella, his little sister, waits patiently to see what I will do next. Not quite yet, my sweet little one. Mall Cop stares and hopes for the dream. I understand and act accordingly. The  familiar platter is brought, for all to enjoy. Children and animals are attuned to the language they speak to one another. They are one with each other.

Growing up, I was fascinated by language, yet my parents spoke only English to their children: my two brothers and me. ... Regardless of my attempts to change her mind, my mom continued to speak in the language of Canada, the country to which she had immigrated, years earlier as a teen. Though I could read Ukrainian and attended 'school' on Saturdays, I never spoke it fluently or understood its meaning, very well. How could I? My parents rarely spoke the language of their birth country. (Socializing brings context to language.) Being bilingual is a highly developed skill, honed over a lifetime of daily social moments. As a high school student, I was entranced by two languages - Latin and French - in my tough eight-credit final grade 13 year. In those times, English was a mandated two-part subject called literature and composition. It is odd how I struggled in both, yet came alive, as if by magic, in French or Latin class, where speaking these languages was expected.

If we are to ignite a child's learning potential, languages should be a part of his learning from the beginning. The child must be encouraged to speak for this simple act is the beginning of thought!The act of listening and speaking has a dramatic effect on thought processing, problem-solving, attention and memory. The brain gets a workout. Let us not worry about how to start language instruction. Simply speaking the words of any language aids in its burgeoning mastery. I look to Mr. Wiggles and Sally for verification here as I am reminded daily of the power of language on them. ... Music is another 'foreign' language, the child's earliest form of communication. As babies, our children are introduced to lullabies, poetry set to music. ... (Within days of his premature birth, our first-born son had a music box, his first toy, placed inside his incubator to help soothe and comfort him in the healing process.) Language can both soothe and comfort through storytelling dialogue, over and over again. Imagine having the tools to retell a story, in many different languages, day after day, time after time.

The web has bestowed upon us the greatest tool to ever exist. We now have access to the world, a place never envisioned in Momsey's day. We must be ready. The 'walls' today, are not rigid but 'permeable' membranes that afford us untold opportunities to move beyond the boundaries of yesterday using language. ... All things begin with a word, phrase or simple sentence. Words enable us to learn about life, to put meaning into it and let those words take us into the future. When or how we start learning language is much less important then simply starting. To quote the American first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, “The way to begin is to begin.” There is no disputing that simple fact.

Bees. Butterflies,the GMO Effect?

The story of our lives continues. TheMomsey trusts that the food she eats is healthy. Food is food or it's not! I have read countless news stories on the catastrophic demise of bee colonies, important miniature airborne critters which are central to the health and well being of our food: agriculture, plant species and us. GMO seeds, Roundup, organics, mother nature's pollinators, plants, blossoms and the meat industry are not separate entities but parts of the same basic conundrum referred to as health and human life!

Late last year, when the weird tomato event happened, in my kitchen, I began to think, “What is this?” I took note. Never in my life had an event of this magnitude ever happened to Momsey. It was troubling. Then it happened, again, several days later. Nothing since. Then came the strange looking strawberries whose profiles reminded me of salmon. I only buy organic strawberries when I can, now. (Trusting 'invisible' third parties can be dangerous). Hm. Strange Momsey or strange observations? Are these events all connected in some sinister way? Then I began thinking of the bees. Where have they been hiding? I have not seen them for years. Are they doomed? Are we? Bee deaths are a cyclical thing, some say. I understand yet do not. Is more happening, here, than we realize? I began to worry about the bees, those tiny buzzing flying critters last year. Bees give plants their mission statements by mixing traits from one family with those of another. Bees are responsible for giving us 25-30% of the food we eat. Bees work hard to do their jobs. They do not bite us when we visit their 'living room' provided we do not interfere. But having read so much on flying animal species, on the decline, that pollinate our food, TheMomsey had to take another look. And it was troubling.

It was the early 80's when RoundUp came to my attention, from an ad in Reader's Digest. This new product could kill weeds in between the patio stones, bricks or ground cover. Wow, I thought. Great idea. It was a quick look into a future I knew nothing about. (Momsey was so gullible and naive, back then.) I trust that companies tell the truth, at all times. They are supposed to be selling safe/healthy products to the buying public. I trust that our various levels of governments have laws in place for this to happen. ... We voted these people, now called politicians, into power. We are their employers, are we not? ... There are agencies to monitor the world of free enterprise. I now wonder how free we are when information is kept from us like little children. That is unacceptable! RoundUp was not purchased, that day, decades ago, after reading, “Kills all vegetation”. We stood firm. That is not good. RoundUp is still with us today. It seems to be part of a package deal with other 'cides', on the menu, that are harming bees, butterflies, birds and our food supply. There is something called neonicotinoids, implicated in bee deaths. In the quest to grow more food, resistant to disease, insects and drought for an ever expanding world population, have we gone too far in producing hardier crops? Whatever harms the plants we grow also harms us. They are not mutually exclusive. Are frogs being affected, too, in a similar way? Are we, the trusting public, being duped profoundly while 'walking in the dark?' We have glyphosate, a chemical ingredient, whose trade name is RoundUP, the herbicide designed to kill 'all weeds'. Can this chemical differentiate between weeds and vegetables/fruits?

Strengthening crops through the genetic modification of their seeds is having a profound effect on the innocent bystanders in the game called agriculture and food production. The death of bees, butterflies and other pollinators is troubling. Living in the country puts us in their midst, time and time again. But I never see them. Where are they? Reading about the dire consequences of newer and stronger seed 'coatings' designed to kill bugs, plant diseases and make crops hardier has me wondering, “What is the collateral damage here, to the environment and to us?” Where are those butterflies and bees? Even the birds: cardinals, blue-jays are rarely seen. The frogs. Where are they, too? Are we next? Are the health challenges of celiac disease, autoimmune disorders, allergies, diabetes, obesity, the results of a toxic world of food, water and air? 

Genetic modification has become a Pandora's box, none of us envisioned. Science and research supports the mistrust we feel of the food we think we know and eat. Are we too accepting of the blame in the food choices we make? Does home cooking automatically conjure up a more wholesome cornucopia of nutrition? It would seem so, unless we look at some or many of the GMO ingredients we are unknowingly using to make that delicious stew or soup. Should we now look in another direction to the cause of these maladies we have inherited? If some of the food supply is contaminated then it stands to reason that the water table and the air we breathe can't be doing too well, either. ... Are the 'unintended consequences' as mentioned in “The Science of GMOs, Part 2” beginning to unfold? Do we simply ignore all these coincidences and trust 'invisible' third parties, whose jobs are primarily to provide us with safe food? The problems are real and troubling. Campbell's Soup, a 147 year old company, is now beginning to transform itself, going NON-GMO wherever possible and labeling the remainder of its product lineup, GMO. This conglomerate is following Vermont's lead as the state enacts legislation requiring the labelling of GMOs in food, by July 1^st. ... 

Campbell Soup is now doing the right thing for its customers. Yay Team! Ace Bakery began its cleansing process of NON-GMO Verified, this month. To both companies, I salute you! (Get rid of the high fructose corn syrup and other non-ingredients, Campbell's Soup, wherever it is used and we have a deal!) ... We can play with the truth when our children are young, tell them what to do, what to think, what and who to believe. But eventually, one day, our children grow up! Momsey is now all grown up!

Ace, The Canadian Bakery That Did!

I dropped by hoping to buy a loaf of sour dough bread. Its elixir of health was now known and fast becoming a noteworthy addition to our diet. I spoke to 'Mary', the bakery head, whose welcoming smile was always worth a visit. Sourdough would be available tomorrow, she replied. Then I spotted the sign: 'NON-GMO Project Verified' above the full-size baguettes of the famous Ace Bakery chain. I was shocked! What was happening here?

The famous Canadian bakery was now in the midst of a major company overhaul, a time-consuming and costly one, to make its products NON-GMO. The company is widely known for its delicious artisan breads. Its journey towards NON-GMO Project VERIFIED began February 1^st. Are other food companies going to following suit? Too soon to tell. By the summer of 2016, all of Ace's artisan breads would be audited by an independent third party for the NON-GMO seal of approval, I learned later that day, after visiting their website. I was thrilled.

The labelling of all GMO foods is not required nor is it law in North America as mentioned in Genetically Modified Us, (Jan. 16/2016) and The Science Of GMOs, Part II., (Jan. 24/2016.) ... ACE Bakery seems to disagree. The company is removing all uncertainty for its customers and is now in the process of monumental change. ACE is now setting a new precedent for all bakeries, if not all food companies. Its basic tenet, to bring the absolute best, in artisan bread, to the marketplace, was setting a new level of excellence for all. The company was changing the status quo. It cared deeply that its customers listed GMO-free foods as a major concern when grocery shopping. How could it not be, I wondered? This 'scientific' introduction into the food supply, known as GMO, genetically modified organism or GE, genetically engineered, was showcasing itself to the world, in troubling ways. It was fast becoming an unwelcome guest.

GMO entered our lives, long ago, without our knowledge of its surreal mission. GMO is not the saviour of the food supply as it was touted long ago. Many have expressed concerns over its deleterious affects on mother nature's pollinators, plants and human health. Scientists have been sounding the alarm bells for a while now. (Sadly, the cows have it worse.) Years ago, while viewing a documentary on food, I listened as the spokesman of a grocery organization remarked that each year 10,000 new products were created. I was aghast at the statement! How could that be? There are only 5 food groups: meat, dairy, fruits, vegetables and breads/grains. Even with a tiny tweak here and there to create a new product/ product line, how could that translate into 10,000 new items each year? If there are newly created artificial flavours, textures, colours being 'engineered' in the lab, then I suppose new dishes could result, created from these artificial ingredients, considered food. Oh, My.

In 1983, two food connoisseurs, began to change the face of the retail bakery landscape. They left Canada in search of masters in the craft of artisan bread-making. This dynamic couple, wanting to make the best baguette in the world, left their Canadian home-kitchen, a place of research and experimentation, to travel, extensively, throughout the United States and Europe to source the best of artisan breads and bring that knowledge and skill set home to Canada. ... Eleven years later, Ace bakery was born. From its small beginnings, the bakery has grown to its present size, impressively dominating the retail bakery landscape across Canada, the United States and the Caribbean since 2013. It is a preeminent force to reckon with, in becoming NON-GMO certified. Its mission statement: to provide the simplest, healthiest, premium ingredients, using the much maligned 'unbleached wheat flour', sourced from certified NON-GMO farms has helped restore bread's luster in the hearts and minds of bread lovers, everywhere. The standard of bread excellence has now been raised to an unprecedented level. (It was bought in 2010 by a large Canadian grocery store chain to improve their product line.)
 

Bread has fed the earth, for centuries. We've all been held captive by its appeal, taste, texture and freshly baked aroma. We can now eat bread without that uncertain feeling. We have unlimited choice. The team at ACE bakery uses simple ingredients, time-honoured techniques and complex methods, honed over years of research and experimentation, to create the absolute best in artisan breads and rolls. Now these delectable creations are becoming certified GMO-free. ... In A Simple Loaf of Bread, (2015) Momsey writes about the changes made to speed up commercial bread's production, when, decades ago, the second shift of bakers began to disappear. ... The Ace bakery multi-talented team of mixers and bakers have taken time to new heights. At 3:00 am, they arrive to measure and mix the ingredients required for the day's and the next day's baked creations. Fermenting starters are 'fed' daily, a slow precise process that keeps these 'sticky' batters alive and healthy. It is a job unto itself. Master bakers ensure ACE's high standards are met rigidly, day in, day out. Fermentation alone requires much time, sometimes 6 hours or more. (In excess of 12 hours are required to produce some of the company's artisan breads.) The complex steps of fermentation, mixing, proofing, rising and baking, in special ovens, all combine to produce some of the most incredible artisan bread formulations in the industry. With Ace, bread is not just a simple side dish in the diet. It is real food for human health.

Great bread cannot be made in one hour. Momsey knows. She has made doughnuts, dinner rolls, beaver tails, pizza, challah, many times, in her kitchen and in her classrooms. Hours roll by but the results are well worth the wait! Human health depends on it. Ill health, food intolerances/allergies and obesity were rarely concerns or issues when I was a little girl. Now these chronic conditions dot the health landscape, a rampant menace in our lives. It does not surprise Momsey. How our food is grown is as important as how it is handled and ultimately prepared. Bread a part of life. It graces the tables of fine dining establishments, everywhere. Where Ace bakery is concerned, bread made properly, respectfully and with grace is a part of a healthy diet. It is the hallmark of their philosophy. Momsey would tend to agree.

"Excess Wiggling Is Not Covered"

“The warranty does not cover excess wiggling,” our son reminded 'him'. “There are limits to its coverage”, he continued. ... I guess I should look at the clause nullifying 'excess wiggling'. It was an unusual problem for the most 'wigglingest' male dog we'd ever had. ...

How does a large dog, weighing in at 75 pounds, manage to bend his whole body, non-stop, in a horseshoe style of motion, while wagging his tail, too? And so our precious Mr. Wiggles continues on his merry wiggle way as he happily carries the 'gift' in his gentle, oh so sweet pink mouth. 

 

Mr. Wiggles, our yellow male retriever, is the messenger of all things, good. He is in a perpetually happy state, always happy to see his cousins and his 'brothers' whenever they come to visit. He is Mr. Wiggles and Mr. Happy, all in one. ... 

 

In New Scientist, a look at our animal pets brings us to our senses. They are definitely intelligent, maybe more so than we think they are. They do not possess language skills but intelligence is not necessarily measured by that given standard only. (Wiggling was not mentioned.) Our pets might not like us as much as we think or even hope for but they are knowing and willing to teach us. ... Dogs communicate and show affection in many different ways. They demonstrate to the rest of the world who they truly are, each and every moment. They help us cope. Our mental and physical health are strengthened, immeasurably, by their inclusion in our lives. These animal gems remember and never forget the good, the bad and the ugly. They bark and growl when they feel powerless or in danger. They 'protect' us from danger - real or imagined. Our Mr. Wiggles is no different, except for that one startling quality!

Our furry teen has been a pup-in-motion, most of his young life. Assigning warranty coverage for his never-ending motion had never been considered. The comical idea of warranty coverage for Mr. Wiggles' wiggling had never entered my mind, until it was mentioned, in a comical sort of way. With strangers, however, he is quiet, unmoved, refusing to budge to the absurd or anything else. He is unsure and his actions reflect that. Mr. Wiggles watches intently, to confuse and befuddle us all. He refuses to move. I am uncertain as to what to expect next. It is an unusual side to this magnificent beast. At breakfast, he marches, with great resolve, in quick stride, in a straight line to the dining room, focused on what happens there. Food happens, in all unpredictable manner, especially those delicious morsels of yellow stuff, called eggs, full of the incredible healthy ingredients for life. ...

Mr. Wiggles is a dog, with a purpose, wrapped up in a serene beautiful face. I call him Big Face 'cause he has one, a gentle, large, pink one that is always aware and thinking about the next moment. When I look into his eyes, I see wisdom beyond his species and a future full of wonder and miracles to come. The warranty covering Mr. Wiggles cannot be extended, he is reminded, by his 'brother' on another occasion. (I guess his wiggling is a preexisting condition so excessive wiggling cannot be covered, I muse.) I smile again at the silly thought. 

 

Mr. Wiggles must curtail this non-stop action, lest the warranty become null and void. Over the decades, our canine children, the other species we love, have assisted our human ones to develop into caring, funny men. There was no warranty covering our furry family members, back then. Those furry gems rarely over-indulged in the gifting and wiggling practice, until now, with our newest family member, Mr. Wiggles.

Our pup in-motion is on duty, endlessly, ready to gift, lick and wiggle. I am tired just watching him. How was this wiggling trait of his formed? Granted, he was 'trained' early, by 10 weeks, to 'go outside', though it was good timing, on our part, that probably made that happen. How had this unusual character trait been created? Were we simply the 'environment', triggering his genetic self-expression of wiggling? He does not growl but leaves it up to his companion, 'Sally' to make those sticky 'decisions'. She is his leader, his mentor. His job is to wiggle. It's simply what he does or is it who he is? His sister, however, leaves nothing to chance. All things are potentially evil, she thinks. She barks, he listens, while excited that company is here. 

 

When confused or happy, Mr. Wiggles walks with a purpose while carrying anything, perhaps a sock or mitt he has found. He is always poised to 'change direction', however, should a stranger appear. The floor and adjacent rooms are awash with his continual gifting purpose, his constant need to please and wiggle. The objects are everywhere. He is always on the look-out for that soft squeaky toy or antler bone to offer to his mom, dad, 'brother' or 'sister' and cousins when they are near. Mr. Wiggles desire for food or that special treat has him 'dropping in' for a quick look into the kitchen or dining room to see if it's time to eat. ... Do not forget us, Mr. Wiggles reminds me with his intense look and wiggling. Talk to him directly and his bodily gyrations become even more rapid, more intense - something akin from the Cirque du Soleil. Oh, My. 

 

What an engaged little guy, you are. Calm down. We do not want your 'warranty' to expire, little pup. You have many years to live and a spine that must remain supple, ready to carry you into your golden years. A warranty that does not cover excess wiggling struck me as funny. Never had we been so blessed with a male retriever who was so relaxed, engaged, in harmony, with his environment and the 'creatures' within it, that my adult son, a character in his own right, would remark that Mr. Wiggles' warranty could be in jeopardy. Yes, it could. I took note. Be careful my sweet little guy. Your wiggling is a precious commodity, warranty or not!

The Science of GMOs, Part II

After writing Genetically Modified Us, I thought I was done. ... Then suddenly a link appeared, arising out of the Dr. Mercola's web-site world, illustrating another compelling story of GMOs. In,“Growing Doubt: A Scientist's Experience With GMOs”, Dr. Jonathan Latham, a scientist with a master's degree in crop and a PhD in plant virology began to unravel some horrible truths behind GMOs. The Momsey listened. She had no choice! (Lucy, my editor, would expect it. This 24-year-old, petite human dynamo is demanding; her standards, high. Why me?)

Dr. Latham is a scientist married to a scientist. Imagine the dinner time conversation there! He founded the Bioscience Resource Project, to “provide the highest quality scientific information and analysis to enable a healthy food system and a healthy world.” He is also its editor. His story begins. Dr. Latham talks about the implications of GMOs on human health, in the real world, where we all live. GMOs were an idea, created in the intellectual, artificial world of the laboratory where it all began. He is raising the alarm on GMOs, those things born of ambition. As his professional life unfolded, Dr. Latham began to see the diabolical implications arising out of the 'Let's see what happens if we do this to this species and then add traits of species A to species B in the laboratory.” He became “concerned about the potential implications the commercialization of genetically engineered plants might engender.” He began to see the no-holds barred scenario in the laboratory and to challenge the status-quo. Some plant 'traits' were being transplanted into other species that would never ever occur naturally, in Mother Nature's world. Genetic engineering was here to stay, regardless, making it possible for new food kingdoms to be created - in the lab - now, and travelling to a human body 'near you'. GMO experimentation was creating a potential Pandora's box. In the real world of Mother Nature, certain things could never happen. ... But in the world of GMOs, however, anything could and did!

Dr. Latham worried about these 'agricultural ideas' having a major impact on human health, if implemented, without thought. He is a scientist, a man of science. He would know. Dr. Latham reasoned that no serious person would engage these ideas in the so-called 'real world'. But the doctor was wrong, as it turned out. A Pandora's box had been unleashed into the environment and human health. The “regulatory system was intellectually bankrupt and also corrupt”, he wrote. ... Oh My. Where was this going, I wondered? It was too scary to ponder. Dr. Latham left his job in the United States, knowing that his findings would be dismissed there, as many scientific conclusions are. There is no money to be made in Mother Nature and the truth. He then moved to England.

In 2006, Dr. Latham and his wife Dr. Wilson published a scientific paper outlining the consequences of putting DNA of one plant into the genome of another. The data was slowly becoming clear and on point. Genetic engineering was an imprecise science and “making a mess of plant genomes.” Oh My. “The process caused unexpected gene mutations, movement and activation of transposons and DNA damage.” Dr. Mae-Wan Ho, of the Institute for Science in Society, another scientist sounding the alarm on GMOs, warned that “genetic modification can probably never be safe.” and “to take responsible action to ban all environmental releases of GMOs now.” Genetic modification is imprecise, artificial and dangerously simplistic, an 'illusion', Dr. Ho added, while crossbreeding or hybrids are precise, natural processes conducted in real time within the natural world in which we live.

Humans are made of DNA. Were we now becoming mutated targets from the food we are eating? Oh, My! Where do we go now to eat healthy food? Is Mars or Pluto open for the business of breakfast, lunch, and dinner? The mess being created to 'improve' the food supply was becoming difficult to study and 'contain'. 'Pandora' could not leave. The process of these “trans-genetic insertions are so complicated” that it is impossible to figure out what is happening and to know what to do next, the scientists were saying. The foods arising out of these laboratory miscues, found at the market, grocery store and restaurants, were out there for the unsuspecting public to eat and enjoy. A quagmire was developing. And it's here!

Are we now paying for the privilege of our demise? (Is Momsey's sarcasm showing?) To add to the confusion, there are things called viral trans-genes being inserted into the plant genome giving rise to unforeseen consequences called hazardous proteins in an attempt to make the plant resistant to viruses. But these new 'implanted' genes, these hazardous fabricated proteins, are posing extremely high risks to human health since the plant organisms are now more susceptible to the viruses they were originally meant to resist. Oh, My. (We are what we eat.) ... Dr. Latham knew this could happen. He is virologist and his concerns were mounting. ... This experimental tinkering of trans-genes was now moving into the realm of science fiction. (Proteins are the building blocks of all living things) Now what?... Has a global GMO monster been unleashed that will now run amok in our food supply, endangering human and animal health, forever? Are we now poised to become the latest endangered species statistic? ... Sign Rachel's and Gwyneth's petitions. Sign them all! ...

Our gut microbiome, our intestines, our human DNA, it would seem to me, are now up for sale and going cheap. And we wonder why human health is under attack, surprisingly and so relentlessly. ... If 70% of processed foods contain GMOs, as Dr. Ho has vigorously maintained, then it is obvious to the Momsey we need to start eating organic apples, oranges, grapefruits, celery, carrots, onions and garlic, in our meals, with our meals and in-between them. But then are these vital foods accessible, available and affordable for all? When was the last time a salad was the main event?

I need a respite from the storm. Where are my precious Mr. Wiggles and his sister, my animal children? I need to talk, hug and lavish them both with attention. Only then will I be able to relax, sit down and eat something for breakfast without wondering how much of my DNA has been lost to GMOs. Am I malingering? Hopefully, it's not 70%.

Coming soon:
The Canadian bakery that did!
GMO, Roundup and the Bees
Mitochondria and Health!

Genetically Modified Us?

We are now facing the greatest health challenge in history. How did GMOs become so entrenched, in our lives, that every trip to the grocery store is now fraught with the unease of a walk down a dark alley? Everything is under suspicion now, not just food. Oh My! We are entitled to know what is and is not in the foods we eat. Food keeps us alive! 

We think of organics as the panacea to the dilemma of GMOs. Maybe. Hopefully. They are not easily accessible, at affordable prices, however, creating the have/have not world of healthy eaters and everyone else, not envisioned by us. We exist because of the food we eat. There is no escaping that basic fact. Few of us have access to this gold standard of food: organics. Does buying locally, guarantee our food is O.K.? I hope so. I simply do not know. Oh My!! Recently, strange looking interiors in both a tomato and several potatoes I was cutting, had me thinking “What is this? What is going on?”. (My husband refused to ever eat tomatoes again, though I cautioned him not over-react, just now.)  His reluctance to eat tomatoes, had me wondering, “Were the tomatoes reacting to something, not a part of their 'upbringing?" We had never seen such a sight! These unusual things, inside the first tomato, were grotesque squiggly things, never seen, by me, in over 40 years of eating, cooking, and preparing raw tomatoes, making BLTs, sauces, stews and mashed potatoes, galore. Oh, my! "Where were we headed?", I wondered with trepidation.

We are what we eat, as the saying goes, so it would seem to me that we are slowly becoming genetically modified, too. While shopping for additive-free wild caught seafood, recently, I was told by a 'helpful' store employee, who grows her own food, that strawberry DNA have been spliced with salmon DNA to produce a more resilient berry that can grow in cold temperatures. Was she misinformed? The thought was preposterous! She pointed to the produce aisle, in a sweeping gesture with her hand, indicating the world of GMO. I was suddenly nauseated. I thought we still had time to re-think this GMO strategy. 

Sixty countries have banned GMOs. Is it too late for us to follow suit? I wonder at the secrecy waiting for us in the grocery store. Is the music that is being played simply a divergent tactic to distract us from the 'food' we are putting into our grocery carts? Are the brightly coloured boxes and packages a ploy to entice us into a world of 'fun' eating where paying too much for 'foods' laden with sugars, starches, HFCS and other foreign ingredients, formulated in the chemistry lab, is simply good business? Is the motive for all this, profit driven? Must be. ... While watching an episode of the hit comedy show,“Just For Laughs”, Ron White, the American comedian, spoke of the wisdom in remaining behind when a tornado is predicted, with its destructive, high velocity winds. “It's not that the winds are blowing but what the winds are blowing.”  In the case of agriculture, what happens if GMO seeds, plants and their accompanying entourage of leaves and blossoms become airborne next to a certified organic farm? Contamination is the biggest threat to the healthy food being grown, in the next county, town, region, province or state! But are the efforts of those 'certified' farms being sabotaged, in other ways, too? 

The Suzuki Foundation questions GMO in our food supply. The growing body of research raises questions and more questions about this sinister game being played with our health, with its longterm “unintended consequences”. In 1992, other regulatory bodies - the FDA in the U.S. and the Royal Society of Canada - raised concerns about GMOs hidden “toxins, allergens or substances inhibiting assimilation of nutrients”. That was a quarter of a century ago! We are now presented with an obesity epidemic, widespread gluten and lactose intolerance, even cancer. Twenty-four years later, does scientific data mean anything to those in power? Is anyone listening? ... It would seem from my vantage point that there are serious conflicts of interest within government and governmental agencies and serious errors in judgment. The people we voted into power are not doing their duty: to always protect the public's interest. Why do we accept such a lackluster attitude from these politicians? Who are we entrusting with our lives as we go shopping for food or anything else, for that matter? What does healthy eating really mean, anymore? 

It's a monumental challenge to do what is right, agriculturally, in today's GMO world. If pressure is being brought to bear for the farmer to change his methods but he refuses, then what? Planting seeds is not a simple act, today. Where do the seeds originate? We need heritage ones, now. What hope do our children and future unborn generations have if we stand by and do nothing? Is greed behind the inability to act expeditiously? Profit can be such an evil thing. 

Hybrid plants, unlike genetic engineering, is a simple tinkering slow process with Mother Nature, in charge, involving two parent plants, with the help of farmers, novice gardeners and the all-powerful honey bees, Mother Nature's 'natural' scientific pollinators, the major shareholders in this game called agriculture. A new, hardier generation of plant offspring result. Agriculture is guided by the dedicated farmers, gardeners, Mother Nature and her workaholic bees, these 'master manipulators' of the outdoors. But the bees are struggling to stay alive. Why? Are modern-age pesticides and insecticides giving rise to their demise? Are the bees being ambushed?

TheMomsey is not easily deceived and she is not a scientist. Recently, I found 'farm raised' and 'responsibly farm raised' seafood, while 'sight seeing' in the frozen seafood aisle, of the grocery store. What is the difference and what is the inference here? Is a babysitter involved with the second variation? It's a scary picture when we practice to deceive. 

GMOs are here. Does their sinister presence, in our food supply, make guinea pigs of us all, with every morsel? Remember, we are what we eat! Are we slowly becoming genetically engineered, too? What about our growing children and all future generations of man? Rachael Parent, a 15-year-old Canadian girl is shedding serious light on this global GMO issue, with GMO labeling, a right. Listen to her. Support her. Sign her petition. ... Gwyneth Paltrow, an A-list celebrity, is also fighting to bring sanity back, to the kitchen, with GMO labeling, a human right. We must not get distracted by her wealth, power and connections in shedding light on labeling GMO food. Let us get signing and do our part. We all have a right to know “what's cookin.''

Next: What scientists are saying.