Agribusiness is increasingly turning to natural and sustainable alternatives to chemicals as consumers rebuff genetically modified foods and concerns grow over Big Ag's role in climate change. At the heart of the trend are innovations that harness beneficial microorganisms in the soil, including seed-coatings of naturally occurring bacteria and fungi that can do the same work as traditional chemicals, from warding off pests to helping plants flourish, according to a global patent study by research firm GreyB Services. "Both entrepreneurs and investors are saying, 'Hey, the writing is on the wall, we're entering a post-chemical world,'" said Rob LeClerc, chief executive officer of AgFunder, an online venture-capital platform. "The seed companies who have billions in market cap are like 'We need to do something,' and everyone recognizes the opportunity." Much of the handwringing over farm chemicals stems from the recent fate of glyphosate, the most ubiquitous weedkiller ever. Regulators … [Read more...] about ‘Post-chemical world’ takes shape as agribusiness goes green
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Learning to Take the Heat / Author Caroline Paul faced blazes and prejudice as an S.F. firefighter
Searching a burning house for victims, San Francisco firefighter Caroline Paul crawled through the blackness of the living room, up over a sofa and into a clear space. Nobody there. Relieved, she made her way outside, where she learned the truth. "It wasn't a sofa, it was a woman. She was already dead by the time I got there, but I made a mistake," Paul said. The next day, a firefighter she didn't know called to say it could have happened to anybody. "I thought that was a remarkable thing to do," she said, recalling the incident of a year ago. STRONG AND TENACIOUS A vegetarian-leftie journalist with a Stanford pedigree, she was hardly a paisan when she joined the San Francisco Fire Department nearly a decade ago. As if that wasn't enough, her identical twin sister, Alexandra, was one of the "Baywatch" babes on TV, causing titters all around. But Paul was strong and tenacious enough to get through those early, isolating days. In her engrossing memoir "Fighting Fire" ($23.95; … [Read more...] about Learning to Take the Heat / Author Caroline Paul faced blazes and prejudice as an S.F. firefighter
Facebook’s Portal Plus Takes Video Calling To A New Level
Video calling on your phone or tablet is one thing, but seeing and hearing someone through Facebook's Portal Plus is an entirely different experience. This smart display makes you feel like you're in the same room with the person you're talking to, even when they're hundreds of miles away. The Portal Plus has a built-in smart camera that follows the action, keeping you perfectly in frame when you move around the room. When more people join the conversation, the smart camera zooms out to keep everyone in view. You can instantly connect with your contacts from Facebook and Facebook messenger, even if they don't have a Portal device. The Portal Plus is built to be private by design, which means Facebook will never listen to, view or keep the contents of your video calls. You can also disable the camera and microphone with a single tap, or you can block the camera lens with the included camera cover. The Portal Plus has Amazon's Alexa built in, so you can ask questions, set timers, … [Read more...] about Facebook’s Portal Plus Takes Video Calling To A New Level
Randallstown Woman Teaches English to Children in Israel
Princess Agha, an education professional from Randallstown, has brought her skills to Israel, where she teamed up with local educators as a TALMA Fellow to teach English to low income Israeli children. Along with her international work, Agha is a Program Manager at Central Scholarship in Owings Mills, which provides scholarship opportunities, interest free loans, and career training scholarships to deserving students in Maryland. "I've been learning about Israeli culture since middle school, so it was great to experience some of it first-hand while working with TALMA," says Agha, who was based in Kibbutz Mizra in Nahalal and worked with a group of 40 children. "I also enjoyed the delicious food and seeing the different cultures of people represented in Israel." A native of Randallstown, Agha graduated from Western School of Technology and Environmental Science in 2010. In 2014, she earned a B.S. degree in Public Health from University of Maryland. She then went on to earn a Master's of … [Read more...] about Randallstown Woman Teaches English to Children in Israel
Ted Bundy a suspect in Sonoma County cold cases
Among the 7 victims in the 1972-73 Santa Rosa Hitchhiker Murders was Yvonne Weber. Among the 7 victims in the 1972-73 Santa Rosa Hitchhiker Murders was Yvonne Weber. Photo: Front Page Detective Magazine Photo: Front Page Detective Magazine Image 1 of / 14 Caption Close Image 1 of 14 Among the 7 victims in the 1972-73 Santa Rosa Hitchhiker Murders was Yvonne Weber. Among the 7 victims in the 1972-73 Santa Rosa Hitchhiker Murders was Yvonne Weber. Photo: Front Page Detective Magazine Ted Bundy a suspect in Sonoma County cold cases 1 / 14 Back to Gallery Larry Kursa still says a prayer every time he passes by the lonely Sonoma County road where his older sister Lori was found dumped in the weeds 39 … [Read more...] about Ted Bundy a suspect in Sonoma County cold cases