Jim Virkler

Hybrid Vigor

By Jim Virkler / September 23, 2016

Published 9-23-2016 World food security has generally kept pace with the world population explosion of the last 200 years. Regional famines have occurred since man appeared on Planet Earth. A…

Designer Plants

By Jim Virkler / September 19, 2016

Published 9-19-2016 Our post title, Designer Plants, suggests a commonly used meaning: plants of interest to landscape designers and plant retailers—beautiful, utilitarian, exotic, unusual, or even bizarre. In contrast, we…

Food Security

By Jim Virkler / September 14, 2016

Published 9-14-2016 Food security is a term indicating access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet dietary needs for an active and healthy life. One of humanity’s most significant…

Agricultural Bounty

By Jim Virkler / September 9, 2016

Published 9-9-2016 The midwestern US is enjoying the prospect of bountiful crops during the upcoming 2016 harvest season. It is doubtful the corn crop has ever been taller. When the…

Vacation Science and Geography

By Jim Virkler / September 3, 2016

Published 9-3-2016 Summer 2016 provided opportunity for personal travel to three different vacation venues to visit with family in different regions of our country. Two journeys were extended automobile trips;…

Science Appreciation for Kids

By Jim Virkler / August 22, 2016

Published 8-22-2016 Endearing photos of grandchildren may now be instantly shared by grandparents hundreds of miles away. Last week we were apprised of the capture of “Cray-Cray,” a two inch…

Science in the City

By Jim Virkler / August 20, 2016

Published 8-20-2016 Approaching New York City by automobile, bus, train, or aircraft we are struck with the architectural engineering technology applied in the city’s physical construction. Most visitors are impacted…

Progress of Millennia

By Jim Virkler / August 15, 2016

Published 8-15-2016 New York City is a mainstay of family vacations to the United States Northeast. This city is unique for its multiple tourist attractions and has been dubbed the…

A Startling Irony

By Jim Virkler / July 31, 2016

Published 7-31-2016 Irony is defined as a state of affairs or an event that seems contrary to what one would expect. Our focus on the proliferation of data and the…

Message of the Medium

By Jim Virkler / July 29, 2016

Published 7-29-2016 Marshall McCluhan (1911-1980) coined a amusing play on the title of his famous best seller, “The Medium Is the Message.” In humor, McCluhan once substituted “massage” for message.…

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