Comments on: Letter from the USDA - APHIS http://s4xton.com/1548/letter-from-the-aphis-usda/ Minneapolis, Minnesota Fri, 08 Aug 2008 21:09:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: taulpaul http://s4xton.com/1548/letter-from-the-aphis-usda/#comment-62144 taulpaul Thu, 31 May 2007 02:52:29 +0000 http://s4xton.com/1548/letter-from-the-aphis-usda/#comment-62144 Is this what you do in your spare time? Besides taking JBL speakers. Is this what you do in your spare time? Besides taking JBL speakers.

]]> By: Reetsyburger http://s4xton.com/1548/letter-from-the-aphis-usda/#comment-61652 Reetsyburger Thu, 10 May 2007 18:33:29 +0000 http://s4xton.com/1548/letter-from-the-aphis-usda/#comment-61652 This is the earliest citation of "superweed". Genetically engineered micro-organisms (GEMs), designed to prevent frost forming on strawberry or potato plants, are being tested in California, under the auspices of the US Environmental Protection Agency, which wants to be sure that any bacteria or fungi with altered genetic characteristics do not harm insects animals, crosp or humans. Another fear is that such organisms might help plants to evolve into 'super weeds', which could become immune to eradication techniques. —Andrew Wiseman, "Spectrum," The Times (London), October 15, 1987 On October 15, 1987 I was turning 10 years old. I got a Hot Rockin' Derek Doll to go with my Barbie and the Rockers. This is the earliest citation of “superweed”.

Genetically engineered micro-organisms (GEMs), designed to prevent frost forming on strawberry or potato plants, are being tested in California, under the auspices of the US Environmental Protection Agency, which wants to be sure that any bacteria or fungi with altered genetic characteristics do not harm insects animals, crosp or humans. Another fear is that such organisms might help plants to evolve into ’super weeds’, which could become immune to eradication techniques.
—Andrew Wiseman, “Spectrum,” The Times (London), October 15, 1987

On October 15, 1987 I was turning 10 years old. I got a Hot Rockin’ Derek Doll to go with my Barbie and the Rockers.

]]> By: s4xton http://s4xton.com/1548/letter-from-the-aphis-usda/#comment-61644 s4xton Wed, 09 May 2007 12:28:51 +0000 http://s4xton.com/1548/letter-from-the-aphis-usda/#comment-61644 Ang- Heh. Did they end up calling you for your <a href="http://s4xton.com/1480/superweed-10/#comments" rel="nofollow">comment involving the president</a>? ;-) Thumper- Yeah, I think it's actually all pretty harmless. Britt- By the time I went around to posting it a few months ago the task was retired... and no need to apologize! Cowbert, Mr. XXX, Andy- The alarms went off when <a href="http://s4xton.com/1480/superweed-10/" rel="nofollow">I posted that I was in possession of a genetic weapon</a>. (I'd like to know who tipped them off, actually!) When all is said and done, they feel that the only thing that I did wrong was the reception of seeds in the mail from a foreign country without proper customs forms and not reporting it when I should have. That is illegal. With this scenario, I have not pleaded guilty to this charge, will not plead guilty and by paying this settlement I do not admit guilt. While I may agree in many, many ways that the government could be spending their dollars differently, I understand why my blog post, which included a link to the theoretical source of the seeds, could have caused alarm. Hedy Dee- As far as everyone else is concerned, we don't in the first place. :-) laespiat- I don't blog about it, actually. :-) Ang- Heh. Did they end up calling you for your comment involving the president? ;-)

Thumper- Yeah, I think it’s actually all pretty harmless.

Britt- By the time I went around to posting it a few months ago the task was retired… and no need to apologize!

Cowbert, Mr. XXX, Andy- The alarms went off when I posted that I was in possession of a genetic weapon. (I’d like to know who tipped them off, actually!) When all is said and done, they feel that the only thing that I did wrong was the reception of seeds in the mail from a foreign country without proper customs forms and not reporting it when I should have. That is illegal. With this scenario, I have not pleaded guilty to this charge, will not plead guilty and by paying this settlement I do not admit guilt. While I may agree in many, many ways that the government could be spending their dollars differently, I understand why my blog post, which included a link to the theoretical source of the seeds, could have caused alarm.

Hedy Dee- As far as everyone else is concerned, we don’t in the first place. :-)

laespiat- I don’t blog about it, actually. :-)

]]> By: laespiat http://s4xton.com/1548/letter-from-the-aphis-usda/#comment-61641 laespiat Tue, 08 May 2007 23:21:41 +0000 http://s4xton.com/1548/letter-from-the-aphis-usda/#comment-61641 Maaaan, what a situation! Well, your international spy skills are obviously waaay off. You never never ever blog about it. ;) Maaaan, what a situation! Well, your international spy skills are obviously waaay off. You never never ever blog about it. ;)

]]> By: Hedy Dee http://s4xton.com/1548/letter-from-the-aphis-usda/#comment-61640 Hedy Dee Tue, 08 May 2007 20:16:44 +0000 http://s4xton.com/1548/letter-from-the-aphis-usda/#comment-61640 Wow. Um, I don't think it's a good idea for me to associate with you anymore. Wow. Um, I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to associate with you anymore.

]]> By: Andy http://s4xton.com/1548/letter-from-the-aphis-usda/#comment-61635 Andy Mon, 07 May 2007 22:03:14 +0000 http://s4xton.com/1548/letter-from-the-aphis-usda/#comment-61635 I disagree with XXX. There needs to be balance. We don't have the right to ruin someone's crops so I support the USDA's action. I think it's fair and measured response to the circumstances. I disagree with XXX. There needs to be balance. We don’t have the right to ruin someone’s crops so I support the USDA’s action. I think it’s fair and measured response to the circumstances.

]]> By: Mr.XXX ([xxx].mpls.qwest.net) http://s4xton.com/1548/letter-from-the-aphis-usda/#comment-61634 Mr.XXX ([xxx].mpls.qwest.net) Mon, 07 May 2007 19:32:02 +0000 http://s4xton.com/1548/letter-from-the-aphis-usda/#comment-61634 Ah. It is always so comforting to read about our ever increasing in size Federal government managing tax dollars wisely in one of its many frivilious actions against purportedly free citizens. Your a lucky man actually. When any private citizen is confronted by the broad investigatory powers afforded executive agencies of the Federal government, and these massive agencies agree to simply leave your life for a mere $250.00, jump for joy. You could have become financially ruined in a civil matter with the USDA. This is the essence of Big Government and this is exactly what the American people want: Larger government for the sake of more government. This is the new Amerika. In the post cold-war Amerika keeping your head down and your mouth shut is a must. They are watching. Shhhhh. Ah. It is always so comforting to read about our ever increasing in size Federal government managing tax dollars wisely in one of its many frivilious actions against purportedly free citizens. Your a lucky man actually. When any private citizen is confronted by the broad investigatory powers afforded executive agencies of the Federal government, and these massive agencies agree to simply leave your life for a mere $250.00, jump for joy. You could have become financially ruined in a civil matter with the USDA. This is the essence of Big Government and this is exactly what the American people want: Larger government for the sake of more government. This is the new Amerika. In the post cold-war Amerika keeping your head down and your mouth shut is a must. They are watching. Shhhhh.

]]> By: Cowbert http://s4xton.com/1548/letter-from-the-aphis-usda/#comment-61627 Cowbert Sun, 06 May 2007 04:21:18 +0000 http://s4xton.com/1548/letter-from-the-aphis-usda/#comment-61627 Ok after reading the CFRs, it does look like that's what they're going to go after you for. What I would be interested in is to see what would have happened had you quarantined the kit at the usda inspection facility according to the CFRs? Would have been denied importation or not? Ok after reading the CFRs, it does look like that’s what they’re going to go after you for.

What I would be interested in is to see what would have happened had you quarantined the kit at the usda inspection facility according to the CFRs? Would have been denied importation or not?

]]> By: Cowbert http://s4xton.com/1548/letter-from-the-aphis-usda/#comment-61626 Cowbert Sun, 06 May 2007 04:16:30 +0000 http://s4xton.com/1548/letter-from-the-aphis-usda/#comment-61626 Actually now that I think about it, $250 sounds a lot like the fee for testing the seeds. So basically they're charging you for their trouble. If it were something more serious, they would have done something worse. Actually now that I think about it, $250 sounds a lot like the fee for testing the seeds. So basically they’re charging you for their trouble. If it were something more serious, they would have done something worse.

]]> By: Cowbert http://s4xton.com/1548/letter-from-the-aphis-usda/#comment-61625 Cowbert Sun, 06 May 2007 04:10:23 +0000 http://s4xton.com/1548/letter-from-the-aphis-usda/#comment-61625 I would totally take them to court over this. While the expert witnesses I know would probably not want to fly out there from here voluntarily, I'm pretty sure if you went to that state university of yours you could round some up (heh). B. napus is weedy but not invasive in your area, so wtf. I would totally take them to court over this. While the expert witnesses I know would probably not want to fly out there from here voluntarily, I’m pretty sure if you went to that state university of yours you could round some up (heh). B. napus is weedy but not invasive in your area, so wtf.

]]> By: britt http://s4xton.com/1548/letter-from-the-aphis-usda/#comment-61624 britt Sat, 05 May 2007 18:57:29 +0000 http://s4xton.com/1548/letter-from-the-aphis-usda/#comment-61624 This would've made the most spectacular "Run-in with the police" ever. Sorry about the government extortion. This would’ve made the most spectacular “Run-in with the police” ever. Sorry about the government extortion.

]]> By: Benjamin 'thumper' Kaufman http://s4xton.com/1548/letter-from-the-aphis-usda/#comment-61623 Benjamin 'thumper' Kaufman Sat, 05 May 2007 16:53:37 +0000 http://s4xton.com/1548/letter-from-the-aphis-usda/#comment-61623 A quick pass throught wikipedia indicates that none of the ingrediants are anything to get in a hubub about. Very strange. A quick pass throught wikipedia indicates that none of the ingrediants are anything to get in a hubub about.

Very strange.

]]> By: Ang http://s4xton.com/1548/letter-from-the-aphis-usda/#comment-61622 Ang Sat, 05 May 2007 16:14:16 +0000 http://s4xton.com/1548/letter-from-the-aphis-usda/#comment-61622 That's amazing. That’s amazing.

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