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The Need for Historical Perspective

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Weed Science - A Plea for Thought - Revisited

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Agriculture ((BRIEFSAGRO))

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Abstract

Prometheus, the Titan, employed by Zeus to make men out of mud and water, stole fire from the heavens and gave its power to man. With the gift of fire, Prometheus fulfilled his destiny to be creative and a courageously original life-giver. With fire, man had the power to become toolmaker, explorer, and food grower. However, Zeus did not appreciate disobedience by a lesser god and punished Prometheus by chaining him to Mount Caucasus where an eagle came each day to eat out his liver, which Zeus renewed each night.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The text of the first electronic missive consisted of “something like QWERTYUIOP.” It was sent by computer engineer Ray Tomlinson in 1971. It was simply a test message to himself, sent from one computer to another sitting right beside it in Cambridge, Massachusetts. See http://ask.yahoo.com/20010824.HTML—Accessed October 27, 2010.

  2. 2.

    Martin Cooper invented the first portable hand phone (the predecessor of today’s cell phone) in 1973, Today there are 5 billion in the world. 285.6 million (91%) Americans had cell phones in 2010.

  3. 3.

    It is reasonable to argue that government funding priorities in a democratic society represent the will of the people. It is also reasonable to claim that industry funding of research follows market forces which, in a free market system, reflect societal priorities. One could also claim that priorities are heavily influenced by those with money. Discussing these competing claims is beyond the scope of this essay.

  4. 4.

    This aphorism is frequently and incorrectly attributed to the Talmud. Its source is quotes from Covey (HTTP://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/1538.Stephen_R_Covey, Accessed January 2011). Similar words are found on pages 17 and 32 of Covey 1989.

  5. 5.

    An invasive species is non-native (or alien) to the ecosystem under consideration and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. (Presidential Executive Order 13112 Feb 3, 1999).

  6. 6.

    An externality is a cost that is not reflected in price or more technically, a cost or benefit for which no market mechanism exists. In the accounting sense, it is a cost that a decision maker does not have to bear, or a benefit that cannot be captured. From a self-interested view, an externality is a secondary cost or benefit that does not affect the decision maker.

  7. 7.

    Personal communication, J. Lancaster, Weed Science Soc. of America, Lawrence, KS, November, 2010.

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  1. Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, Colorado State University, Campus Delivery 1177, Fort Collins, CO, 80523-1177, USA

    Robert L. Zimdahl

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Zimdahl, R.L. (2011). The Need for Historical Perspective. In: Weed Science - A Plea for Thought - Revisited. SpringerBriefs in Agriculture. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2088-6_1

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