Magazine Week II: Endangered Rhinos, Potatoes, Coptics and Goddesses

As it turned out, this past week was magazine week, so I did not finish the history of the Mayflower colony. But I did read a variety of interesting articles in Smithsonian. One I thought particularly poignant was the story, "Defending the Rhino," in the November 2011 issue. It was about an alarming increase in the poaching of rhinoceroses in Africa, due in part to a recent (false) rumor that rhino horn cured someone's cancer.  One of the photos showed a dead rhino covered with blood streaming from where his horn used to be.  But fortunately, new techniques using DNA are helping to put at least some of the poachers in jail.  When shipments are intercepted, the confiscated horns can be matched to killed animals, thereby connecting the poached horns to captured poachers.  But so far, it's a drop in the bucket; the amount of money the horns bring on the black market keeps the animals in grave danger and conservationists very busy.

Another very interesting article in that issue was about potatoes.  "The Eyes Have It" told the story of potatoes' origin in the Americas and how they became a staple food in Europe following their discovery by Spaniards in the 16th century.  It also told of the pests that have plagued potatoes (due in large part to the industrialization of agriculture), one of which was the potato blight of the 19th century that destroyed the Irish potato crop and caused famine.  Such pests still plague potato farms today and for the same reason--lack of variety in the mass-produced strains.

Other articles of interest in the November issue involved Coptic Christians in Egypt and how they are being targeted following the revolution there; Shanghai's building boom; and the repatriation of stolen ancient art treasures from Italy, most notably a large statue of a Roman goddess.

I enjoy these little interludes of magazine reading.  They remind me that magazines are still producing interesting and informative articles, and that the well-written essay has not given way entirely to the photograph or the video.

But it's back to books next week.  Stay tuned for my next post on Mayflower.