Missouri farmer wins $265 million against Monsanto

A federal jury determined that German agribusiness giants Bayer and BASF will have to pay $250 million in punitive damages to Bader Farms, the largest peach farm in Missouri, for damage caused by their dicamba-related products.   Bayer acquired Monsanto in 2018.  https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/missouri-farmer-wins-265-million-verdict-against-monsanto

Photo by JJ Goulin/iStock

Earth turns cleaner and wilder

Getty Images

As people across the globe stay home to stop the spread of the new coronavirus, the air has cleaned up, albeit temporarily.  https://wgntv.com/news/coronavirus/as-people-stay-home-earth-turns-wilder-and-cleaner/

A story worth telling

Kenneth Garrett/National Geographic Image Collection

https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-insights/perspectives/story-worth-telling-molecule-giulio-boccaletti/

Man 2020

And the original:

Magnolia

This magnolia was laden with pinky-white spring blooms - on today's walk.

Photo: Marge Ishmael

Darwinism

Typhoid Mary and the "super-spreaders"

Getty Images

According to Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, "somewhere between 25% and 50% of people infected with the new coronavirus may never show symptoms or fall ill - but can still transmit the illness to others."

Another famous super-spreader was Typhoid Mary. Mary Mallon was an Irish-born cook who infected over 50 people, some that died, with typhoid fever in the early 1900s.  She was the first person identified as an asymptomatic carrier of the disease in the United States .

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-52291327

Happy Earth Day

Air pollution falls

Delhi is one of many capitals enjoying improved air quality since restrictions were introduced due to the coronavirus: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/11/positively-alpine-disbelief-air-pollution-falls-lockdown-coronavirus?utm_source=pocket-newtab

Northern Cardinal

A Northern Cardinal, official State Bird of Illinois, at our feeder earlier:
https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/northern-cardinal

Photo: Marge Ishmael

Tulips in snow

I was surprised to see snow this morning...on 15th April.

Photo: Marge Ishmael

Raccoon

A raccoon caught on our trophy cam last night....you can just make it out.  Below is an Earth Unplugged raccoon video.

Little Free Library

These little free libraries are popping up all over the place, including this one on my regular walking route, that encourages passersby to take a book and leave a book. https://littlefreelibrary.org/

Photo: Marge Ishmael

Magnolia in bloom

Magnolia in bloom earlier today.

Photos: Marge Ishmael

Lack of PPE during global coronavirus pandemic

Heard from a friend that her daughter, a nurse, has contracted the Covid-19 coronavirus. It sounds like the personal protective equipment (PPE) was sadly lacking at her hospital.

Wild turkey and coyote

Wild turkey and coyote caught on our woodland trophy cam this week:

1st April 2020