permaculture

[KNat <knat@sprintmail.com>]

jedd wrote:
>  It's possible to be hypersensitive to common misuses of various
>  words in the language.  Or perhaps I mean inappropriate adoptions
>  of wrong meanings to otherwise very useful and previously well-
>  understood words.
>
>  Engineer doesn't imply GM.  I've done lots of engineering (earthworks,
>  design of layout) that isn't sinister, all under the auspices of Pc.
>
>  I don't know if they're talking about GM'ing or just doing selections
>  (something we don't frown upon, as it got us things like 7,000
>  types of apples to choose from).  I'd have assumed selections as they
>  are far easier and cheaper to assess - particularly on things with
>  conveniently short life cycles.
>   
Can we adjust language to be "beings" with conveniently short life 
cycles? I don't need to "frown on" personal selection substituting for 
(or enhancing) natural selection but it also got us hemophilia when we 
selected the right people, and blight prone as well as blight resistant 
strains in crops. Genetic modification within code lines seems much 
safer, but  let's admit breeding is manipulating genes in their lineage. 
If we breed for gas production vs bioenergetics I'd personally lose a 
lot. I love eating algae.
My first reaction to biodiesel from algae was, "Great, I have a pond." 
Then I realized I was feeling even odder about grinding up marine bodies 
to feed my machines than I was about plant bodies. I fuel myself from 
other beings but fueling my machines seems different.

Kathyann