Organic Vs. Non-Organic

A while back there was an article online about organic versus non-organic food and one of the comments left by someone claimed that organic farm practices are harmful to the environment ....

Hmmm, so for thousands of years, human beings have been doing more harm then good when engaging in agriculture!? As opposed to the plethora of pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, GMO's, hormones, and antibiotics that have proliferated over the last century of human development which is less harmful to the environment?!

Putting that tirade aside, I wanted to conduct a taste test between organic and non-organic bananas and luckily Superstore carried the same brand of banana; Del Monte

Hands down the organic banana was more creamy, smooth, and flavorful as compared to the non-organic banana.

This difference in taste also applies to organic versus non-organic red delicious apples.

I can't speak to nutrition though, which the aforementioned article stated that there is no difference between organic versus non-organic.

I hope to conduct more organic versus non-organic taste tests in the future!

Overheated Economy

China is manipulating it's currency and currency manipulation could spread to other countries.

I read a book called The World is Curved, by David Smick, which had a chapter on China titled Tony Soprano Rides the Red Dragon. The chapter describes China's monetary policy as being run by Tony Soprano behind closed doors.

We might be crying fowl about the lack of transparency and control that led to the Sub-Prime Mortgage Crisis, but if China is hiding debut or manipulating it's currency is questionable ways, and China's economy collapses, watch out!

The US has so much credit tied up in China that if China's economy fails, then all the debt that the US owes China will be called in and there is no way the US can afford to make good on that debt.

I would like to think other more qualified individuals are thinking about these doomsday scenarios, but after the Sub-Prime Mortgage Crisis allowed such obviously toxic financial products to be sold to so many people, I have to wonder ....

It is damn difficult to legislate greed. But we need to try. The consequences for one country will inevitably be transfered to another.

Netflix in Canada!

Well, Blockbuster Video is declaring bankruptcy and Rogers Video is quaking in it's collective boots because of Netflix's entrance into Canada! Ok, maybe not.

If you have a Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, you may have noticed a promo for Netflix where you can get a 30 day free trial.

I was ambivalent about Netflix at first, but after some prodding from my wife, I signed up for the trial via the Playstation network.

There are four headings to choose from, new arrivals, TV series, movies, and genres. And that is pretty much it.

The selection was disappointing, but then again, I think I expected to be able to rent Iron Man 2 and brand new movie releases aren't offered by Netflix.

Movie wise, it is pretty much older titles, though you get some foreign movies thrown in as well. Where Netflix might be your game is in TV shows and documentaries, of which there were a fair number of. Apparently in Canada you are not able to download anything off of Netflix, so when that comes around there will be added value to what is offered.

Is Netflix worth the $8.99 a month? I personally don't think so, but that is just me. If you like TV and documentaries and watching the occasional older movie and don't care about the finest selection of new releases, then Netflix will probably be worth the monthly price.