While researching world hunger, I stumbled over this guy. Norman E. Borlaug

“Dr. Norman Borlaug is the first person in history to save a billion human lives. But he must also get credit for saving the wild creatures and diverse plant species on 12 million square miles of global forest that would long since have been plowed down without the high-yield farming he pioneered. The two accomplishments combined make him dramatically unique. I am proud to work with the Center for Global Food Issues, of which he is Chairman Emeritus.”

* Senator Rudy Boschwitz, R-MN, former member of the US Senate Agriculture Committee

A billion lives saved.

A *BILLION*.

A *BILLION* lives spared from starvation.

I can’t even properly conceive of that. 1/6th of the planet’s population?

Why had I never heard of him? That’ll teach me not to watch the West Wing or Penn & Teller’s TV show.

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I apologize for all of the thighbones. as penance, I present the superhero database and a bunch of cartoons.

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Cats that look like Hitler and a big-eyed kitty bath.

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Handy Guide to wildflowers. and NatureServe has great databases of North American (Explorer) and Latin American (InfoNatura) plants, animals, ecosystems.

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I knew it: (the word pants and trousers were disturbing me a great deal on Saturday, at the salvation army.)

In the early 19th century the words “trousers” and “pants” were considered obscene in England. Woman referred to trousers as “inexpressibles” or “a pair of dittoes.” Later in the century the taboo was carried to such lengths that piano legs were covered up because they reminded people of their human legs. In 1836 Charles Dickens wrote the following lines in Oliver Twist:

” ‘ I tossed off the clothes, got safely in bed, drew on a pair of ________’ ”

” ‘ Ladies present, Mr. Giles,’ murmured the tinker.

” ‘ _________ of shoes, Sir,’ said Mr. Giles, laying great emphasis on the word.”

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Moment of Lyric – mp3

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