This is a repost from Reality Me.

My oldest son is doing a class project in ecology. He is writing two posts a week and soliciting comments which he will compile or aggregate into his report. He cannot complete his project without comments. Please take a moment and read his posts. If you are so compelled, please comment on as many as you can. Thank you!

His posts to date:

• Mountaintop Mining
• Tellico
• UT Environmental Ethics
• Busing
• Paper, plastic, or fabric?
• Water Dispute

Please make the comments on Tommy's blog.

His project's success depends on actually getting some feedback. Thank you!

Memphis born and bred Cary Fowler is in charge of the “Doomsday Vault” seed bank in Svalbard, Norway. The Vault, which opened last week, will store seeds from every country on earth, and from every variety of food crop.

He will be in Memphis at the Pink Palace Museum, Monday, March 10, 2008, for a free public lecture entitled, “Seed Banks and Polar Bears: The Quest to Save Agriculture’s Past and Our Future.” This is one of a series of free public lectures in connection with our new exhibit, “Gregor Mendel: Planting the Seeds of Genetics.” More details are available on the Pink Palace Museum page on Art Museum Touring.com (Link...).

Fowler grew up in Memphis, graduated from White Station High School and spent his summers on his grandmother’s farm near Madison, Tennessee. That is where his interest in agriculture began. Fowler is the Executive Director Global Crop Diversity Trust based in Rome.

This is a tremendous opportunity to learn more about this fantastic project to protect one of the world's most basic resources, food, and perhaps our species. If you can, you should make an effort to go to this lecture and reception to meet Fowler. The importance of the seed bank makes all the political squabbling pale in comparison. It would be a nice break!

Sherrie

I've been seeing numerous caravans of large dump trucks marked "radioactive" hauling material to the Mt. Olive community. Is this something we South Knoxvillians should be alarmed with or do we just ignore it and be thankful that it is helping us save money on our heating bills? I have also noticed the glowing night sky's have lessened the need for porch lights, and flashlights lately.

You've probably heard about the growing concerns regarding Colony Collapse Disorder, which is wiping out honeybee populations around the world. The cause is a mystery, and there is concern that the disappearance of bees could lead the disappearance of the food crops they pollinate.

Today's Knoxville News Sentinel has an article about the findings of two U.T. associate professors of entomology and plant biology suggesting that infection by tiny tracheal mites could be the cause of the problem.

Other theories include:

• Genetically altered crops

• Fungus

• Pesticides

• Cell phones

• Fulfillment of Bible prophecy

Whatever the cause, the consensus is clear: It's not nice to mess with Mother Nature!

An open letter to Mayor Larry Waters and the Sevier County Commission.

Several articles have been written in the past couple of years regarding the lack of funding for infrastructure needs in Sevier County. A TACIR report states that Sevier County is short by approximately $300 million. A bond issuance was recently passed. Schools lack needed funds. A new hospital needs to be built.

I have attended commission meetings, planning commission meetings and have hosted Mayor Waters at a Friends of Wears Valley meeting. Citizens have repeatedly been told by county leaders that development / developers projects do not create additional burdens on infrastructure because 1. Rental cabins are not used full time. 2. Renters do not send their children to our schools. 3. Additional tax moneys collected on sales to tourists more than offset the burden they place on our system.

More after the jump...