Precis: This documentary will open your eyes to the horrors of the US health care system. A system that is interested in making a profit more than it is helping the many sick and dying Americans, out there living without health insurance and the proper health care. It's time for our health care system to change, which is why I propose health care for everyone.
Evidence: In the film, Moore looks at the health care systems in places like Britain and France and how well the sick are treated with there with their socialized health care system better than the people in the US.
This evidence shows socialized health care as an alternative (a change) to the unequal access to health care and insurance in the US.
Evidence: The Hilary Clinton health care plan for better health care that got crushed by the insurance and pharmacy companies.
This shows that the government isn't interested in health care for everyone but only interested in making a profit.
In the film Moore argues that the health care systems in Britain and France are better and free but he neglects to mention the fact that they pay much higher taxes for their "free" health care. So it seems that their excellent health care is paid for out of their own pockets.So even though the health care in the US is expensive people in France and Britain pay higher taxes. (http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_28/b4042070.htm)
Even though Michael Moore's film was a propaganda piece for socialized health care, I agree that our health care system sucks and it should change. Free universal health care would be the American dream, but it's easier said than done. This film opened my eyes and got me thinking about the health care system and all that is wrong and needs to change about it , like how can doctors and insurance companies allow the sick care and allow them to die because they don't have coverage. Why is this acceptable?
Monday, December 20, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Hw 24
Book: "Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom
Published by Doubleday in September 1997
Precis: Morrie was the greatest teacher, he taught me a great deal about life and what to expect in the future. I could talk about aspects and topics of life that scared me or I was embarrassed to talk about with anyone else. He changed my views on life and our culture and society. I was will him through it all, I witnessed a crippling disease take the life of a dear friend. Who I will never forget.
"Yes. For all things we didn't do. All the things we should have done. You can't get stuck on the regrets of what should have happened . That doesn't help you when you get to where I am."
This makes me think that when I'm on my death bed I don't want to have any regrets about anything in my life. I want to be able to say that I would live my life over without changing anything about it. I don't want to have any " what ifs"...
" Forgive yourself. Forgive others. Don't wait, Mitch. Not everyone gets the time I'm getting. Not everyone is lucky."
This makes me think that I shouldn't hold on to the past and I should make peace with myself and others because it will only lead to regrets.
"If could have had another son, would have liked it to be you."
This shows how close Mitch and Morrie's relationship was.They developed a dear love for one another over the years. They had a father son relationship where Morrie taught Mitch a lot about life and how to see things differently.
This book made me think about the way I'm living my own life and how when I'm on my death bed I would like to have lived a life without regrets. It makes me question all the thinks that matter to me and what I'm doing to live a well lived life like Morrie did.
Published by Doubleday in September 1997
Precis: Morrie was the greatest teacher, he taught me a great deal about life and what to expect in the future. I could talk about aspects and topics of life that scared me or I was embarrassed to talk about with anyone else. He changed my views on life and our culture and society. I was will him through it all, I witnessed a crippling disease take the life of a dear friend. Who I will never forget.
"Yes. For all things we didn't do. All the things we should have done. You can't get stuck on the regrets of what should have happened . That doesn't help you when you get to where I am."
This makes me think that when I'm on my death bed I don't want to have any regrets about anything in my life. I want to be able to say that I would live my life over without changing anything about it. I don't want to have any " what ifs"...
" Forgive yourself. Forgive others. Don't wait, Mitch. Not everyone gets the time I'm getting. Not everyone is lucky."
This makes me think that I shouldn't hold on to the past and I should make peace with myself and others because it will only lead to regrets.
"If could have had another son, would have liked it to be you."
This shows how close Mitch and Morrie's relationship was.They developed a dear love for one another over the years. They had a father son relationship where Morrie taught Mitch a lot about life and how to see things differently.
This book made me think about the way I'm living my own life and how when I'm on my death bed I would like to have lived a life without regrets. It makes me question all the thinks that matter to me and what I'm doing to live a well lived life like Morrie did.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Hw #23
Book: "Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom
Published by Doubleday in September 1997
Precis: Morrie's illness is getting worse. All i can do for him is listen to him and be there for him as a friend. I fear that our time together will end soon, but I've been learning a lot from Morrie's experience with illness and knowing that he is going to die ,that have opened my eyes to living my life differently.
“When you learn how to die, you learn how to live.”
Accepting death is the first step in thinking about and approaching life from a different angle. This is different from Mitch's approach to death, he's worried about all the wrong things according to Morrie and it's not just about dying.
" All right, it's just fear , I don't have to let it control me. I see it for what it is."
Death and illness are scary, but we can't let our fears about them or anything stop us from living. We have to come to terms with our fears.
"We put our values in the wrong things. And it leads to very disillusioned lives."
We tend to focus on and care about things that aren't very important. That if we were to die tomorrow we wouldn't care about. Why is it that we do? Many of us are living meaningless lives because of this.
People start to live and do things differently when they know they are gong to die.
I don't think that we should wait till the end or when it's too late to start approaching the way we live differently. Instead of worrying about stuff that isn't so important we should refocus on the things that are, before we end up on our death beds with regrets. We should try and live more meaningful lives.
Published by Doubleday in September 1997
Precis: Morrie's illness is getting worse. All i can do for him is listen to him and be there for him as a friend. I fear that our time together will end soon, but I've been learning a lot from Morrie's experience with illness and knowing that he is going to die ,that have opened my eyes to living my life differently.
“When you learn how to die, you learn how to live.”
Accepting death is the first step in thinking about and approaching life from a different angle. This is different from Mitch's approach to death, he's worried about all the wrong things according to Morrie and it's not just about dying.
" All right, it's just fear , I don't have to let it control me. I see it for what it is."
Death and illness are scary, but we can't let our fears about them or anything stop us from living. We have to come to terms with our fears.
"We put our values in the wrong things. And it leads to very disillusioned lives."
We tend to focus on and care about things that aren't very important. That if we were to die tomorrow we wouldn't care about. Why is it that we do? Many of us are living meaningless lives because of this.
People start to live and do things differently when they know they are gong to die.
I don't think that we should wait till the end or when it's too late to start approaching the way we live differently. Instead of worrying about stuff that isn't so important we should refocus on the things that are, before we end up on our death beds with regrets. We should try and live more meaningful lives.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
hw 22
Book: "Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom
Published by Doubleday in September 1997
Precis: A former student (Mitch) gets in contact with his old college professor( Morrie) who is dying from ALS. Throughout his illness Mitch visits his professor every Tuesday as his professor teaches him valuable life lessons.
Quotes: " When all this started, I asked myself, Am I going to withdraw from the world, like most people do, or am I going to live? I decided that I'm going to live-or at least try to live-the way I want, with dignity, with courage, with humor, with composure." pg 22
Morrie isn't going to let his illness determine the way he lives the life he has left. He isn't going to let the disease control him. He is going to choose to live his last days according to his own agenda , while making the best of it.
"Sometimes,in the mornings, that's when I mourn . I feel around my body, I move my fingers and my hands-whatever I can still move-and I mourn what I've lost. I mourn the slow, insidious way in which I'm dying. But then I stop mourning." pg 57
Instead of feeling sorry for himself, he's choosing to be positive about it all.
He realizes that the disease is taking over his body,but there is nothing he can do about it. It's just what happens to some people. So he makes it a point not be in a state of self-pity because that doesn't do anyone any good.
" Mitch, the culture doesn't encourage you to think about such things until you're about to die." pg 64
In our culture we tend not to speak about death and illness until it hits us in the face. Even then we still might avoid talking about it. It makes us uncomfortable because it's such a touchy subject.
I think that this book shows a different approach of dealing with death and illness. It offers insights on illness and death that are interesting to think about. It shows that death doesn't have to be seen as a scary thing. It can be seen as a life changing experience ,but in a positive way. Without self-pity or withdrawing from the world, like the people around us or the experience as a whole. Living life with an illness doesn't mean your life has to stop. You can still enjoy life which is a much healthier way of dealing with it all.
Published by Doubleday in September 1997
Precis: A former student (Mitch) gets in contact with his old college professor( Morrie) who is dying from ALS. Throughout his illness Mitch visits his professor every Tuesday as his professor teaches him valuable life lessons.
Quotes: " When all this started, I asked myself, Am I going to withdraw from the world, like most people do, or am I going to live? I decided that I'm going to live-or at least try to live-the way I want, with dignity, with courage, with humor, with composure." pg 22
Morrie isn't going to let his illness determine the way he lives the life he has left. He isn't going to let the disease control him. He is going to choose to live his last days according to his own agenda , while making the best of it.
"Sometimes,in the mornings, that's when I mourn . I feel around my body, I move my fingers and my hands-whatever I can still move-and I mourn what I've lost. I mourn the slow, insidious way in which I'm dying. But then I stop mourning." pg 57
Instead of feeling sorry for himself, he's choosing to be positive about it all.
He realizes that the disease is taking over his body,but there is nothing he can do about it. It's just what happens to some people. So he makes it a point not be in a state of self-pity because that doesn't do anyone any good.
" Mitch, the culture doesn't encourage you to think about such things until you're about to die." pg 64
In our culture we tend not to speak about death and illness until it hits us in the face. Even then we still might avoid talking about it. It makes us uncomfortable because it's such a touchy subject.
I think that this book shows a different approach of dealing with death and illness. It offers insights on illness and death that are interesting to think about. It shows that death doesn't have to be seen as a scary thing. It can be seen as a life changing experience ,but in a positive way. Without self-pity or withdrawing from the world, like the people around us or the experience as a whole. Living life with an illness doesn't mean your life has to stop. You can still enjoy life which is a much healthier way of dealing with it all.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Hw 21 b
Below are the comments I posted on my thinking/writing members post:
Willie,
I thought you listed some good insights from the guest speaker that you could have talked about further. I liked how in your first paragraph you connected with some of the things the speaker said when your grandfather died. However, the assignment was to write three paragraphs addressing the insights you got from the speaker and your own thoughts /connections regarding them. I definitely think you could have expanded on your thoughts and made further connections by writing more about your experiences with illness or death. You were off to a good start.
Brandon,
I though that this was a good post, but it could have been better. I would just suggest that you proofread your post before posting like in the second paragraph, the last couple of sentences i noticed a few spelling mistakes.
Willie,
I thought you listed some good insights from the guest speaker that you could have talked about further. I liked how in your first paragraph you connected with some of the things the speaker said when your grandfather died. However, the assignment was to write three paragraphs addressing the insights you got from the speaker and your own thoughts /connections regarding them. I definitely think you could have expanded on your thoughts and made further connections by writing more about your experiences with illness or death. You were off to a good start.
Brandon,
I though that this was a good post, but it could have been better. I would just suggest that you proofread your post before posting like in the second paragraph, the last couple of sentences i noticed a few spelling mistakes.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Hw 21
Experiences and insights from guest speaker Beth Bernett on her husbands illness and death:
1.) Illness and dying look different in real life compared to what it looks like on TV and in movies. "It's not pretty."
2.) She continues her husband's work after his death. She feels he is "alive" wherever she goes.
3.)Illness suddenly struck her husband. He was very healthy and never sick.
4.) Generally men tend to resist medical care more than women. He never went to the doctor till the illness.
5.)She didn't want people to treat her husband like a disease but like a human being ( father, husband,etc)
6.)Illness and dying is "not a straight line"
7.)Her husband began to push death away towards the end.
8.)They never spoke about death or dying through out her husbands illness.
9.)It's important to say nice things to loved ones because you never know when you'll run out of time.
10.)There was an indescribable stillness in the room when her husband passed away.
After hearing Beth Bernett's first hand account of her experiences and insights
regarding her husbands death and illness, it got me thinking a lot more about how she mentioned that it's important to tell loved ones nice things like " I love you" because you never know if you'll get another chance to because death can suddenly take anyone at any moment. Time is not promised to anyone neither is life. When someone dies we tend to regret not spending enough time with that person or telling them all the things we wanted to tell them. We feel as if we've run out of time that is why it is important to make time for the things that matter most in our lives like family because you never know when they might be gone.Just like Beth who spent all her time with her husband during his last months alive. So that when that time comes we'll have no regrets and have done and said the things we wanted before the time comes.
Another insight I found interesting was how her and her family and everyone involved during her husbands illness never spoke about death or dying even though they knew that could end up happening. I find it interesting how people tend to be selective of the reality they choose to accept during hard times, like illness and dying. Whether they are the ones with the illness and dying or witness someone else fighting an illness and death. They tend not to speak about it as a way of dealing with it or they push it away so they don't have to deal with it. We can also be in denial when a situation doesn't look good like when you witness someone going through a potentially fatal illness. Which allows you to create hope, that everything will turn around and get better even if that may not be the case. Everyone is gonna deal with and approach death differently. It's whatever is going to make the process a little easier and less stressful to handle that works for them. Whether you choose to make the most of it or push it away.
I think we can all learn from others experiences and insights on illness and dying that can help us to know what to expect when we experience it. Some questions that the guest speaker sparked were why do we keep dying and illness separate in our lives? why don't we discuss it before we come face to face with it? Instead of making the most of their situation like Beth's husband, why do people tend to feel sorry for themselves during illness and death?
1.) Illness and dying look different in real life compared to what it looks like on TV and in movies. "It's not pretty."
2.) She continues her husband's work after his death. She feels he is "alive" wherever she goes.
3.)Illness suddenly struck her husband. He was very healthy and never sick.
4.) Generally men tend to resist medical care more than women. He never went to the doctor till the illness.
5.)She didn't want people to treat her husband like a disease but like a human being ( father, husband,etc)
6.)Illness and dying is "not a straight line"
7.)Her husband began to push death away towards the end.
8.)They never spoke about death or dying through out her husbands illness.
9.)It's important to say nice things to loved ones because you never know when you'll run out of time.
10.)There was an indescribable stillness in the room when her husband passed away.
After hearing Beth Bernett's first hand account of her experiences and insights
regarding her husbands death and illness, it got me thinking a lot more about how she mentioned that it's important to tell loved ones nice things like " I love you" because you never know if you'll get another chance to because death can suddenly take anyone at any moment. Time is not promised to anyone neither is life. When someone dies we tend to regret not spending enough time with that person or telling them all the things we wanted to tell them. We feel as if we've run out of time that is why it is important to make time for the things that matter most in our lives like family because you never know when they might be gone.Just like Beth who spent all her time with her husband during his last months alive. So that when that time comes we'll have no regrets and have done and said the things we wanted before the time comes.
Another insight I found interesting was how her and her family and everyone involved during her husbands illness never spoke about death or dying even though they knew that could end up happening. I find it interesting how people tend to be selective of the reality they choose to accept during hard times, like illness and dying. Whether they are the ones with the illness and dying or witness someone else fighting an illness and death. They tend not to speak about it as a way of dealing with it or they push it away so they don't have to deal with it. We can also be in denial when a situation doesn't look good like when you witness someone going through a potentially fatal illness. Which allows you to create hope, that everything will turn around and get better even if that may not be the case. Everyone is gonna deal with and approach death differently. It's whatever is going to make the process a little easier and less stressful to handle that works for them. Whether you choose to make the most of it or push it away.
I think we can all learn from others experiences and insights on illness and dying that can help us to know what to expect when we experience it. Some questions that the guest speaker sparked were why do we keep dying and illness separate in our lives? why don't we discuss it before we come face to face with it? Instead of making the most of their situation like Beth's husband, why do people tend to feel sorry for themselves during illness and death?
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
HW 19
When I spoke to my parents about illness and dying they said the obvious, that dying is apart of life and we are all apart of the ultimate statistic that 10 out of 10 people die. However,they did mention that they believe when you die it's not the end of it. Both of my parents were brought up to believe that when you die you either go to heaven or hell. Their religious beliefs affect how they come to terms and cope with death. They have taught me that dying is not something to be feared if you're the one doing the dying because that's what they were taught by their parents. While I think for others death can be a very scary thing to face.
This was the first time I really had a conversation about illness and dying with my family. It's something that when it happens we tend not to talk about. My parents said that they didn't really discuss it with their parents either.But I noticed that whenever someone dies in the family we get in touch with our own mortality realizing we're gonna die one day too and sometimes life can be too short. It hits you that suddenly you can go from being healthy to sick to eventually dead, that is unexpected for some people.
My parents mentioned that they feel a sense of loss and sadness when loved ones pass away, and at funerals they remember the person fondly. Celebrating that person's life, having food and people over after the funeral service. They believe that I should live everyday as if it were my last because one day it will be.
This was the first time I really had a conversation about illness and dying with my family. It's something that when it happens we tend not to talk about. My parents said that they didn't really discuss it with their parents either.But I noticed that whenever someone dies in the family we get in touch with our own mortality realizing we're gonna die one day too and sometimes life can be too short. It hits you that suddenly you can go from being healthy to sick to eventually dead, that is unexpected for some people.
My parents mentioned that they feel a sense of loss and sadness when loved ones pass away, and at funerals they remember the person fondly. Celebrating that person's life, having food and people over after the funeral service. They believe that I should live everyday as if it were my last because one day it will be.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Hw #18
Over the thanksgiving holiday , A lot of my family gathered together to enjoy a lot of good food. We all greeted each other with open arms and kisses. It was very loving. We embraced each other instead of ignoring "the body". Throughout the meal we had conversations with each other. It was a very comfortable setting. Sitting around the table then making our way to the couches, where some of my family members fell asleep. We enjoyed each others company and playing games together like the wii and pool. So after we ate some of us went into my uncle's game room, where we where moving our bodies instead of crashing on the couch. There was also some dancing going on. So it wasn't about neglecting our bodies. But rather living in the moment and being fully present with our bodies and minds.
On thanksgiving family members were thankful for a year of good health and for being able to be together. There was a lot of feasting going on since everyone made different dishes to eat. We all ate a lot. It was all about the food. We all ate more than we should have. It's one of those days of the year when I feel it's okay to eat till you can't walk.
Family members got up for second helpings and felt "stuffed" after eating so much. There were a lot of comments made on how good the food was and being careful of eating too much. Even after everyone had second helpings there was still a lot of food left over. Which everyone ended up taking some home because there was just too much and no place to store it all.
On thanksgiving family members were thankful for a year of good health and for being able to be together. There was a lot of feasting going on since everyone made different dishes to eat. We all ate a lot. It was all about the food. We all ate more than we should have. It's one of those days of the year when I feel it's okay to eat till you can't walk.
Family members got up for second helpings and felt "stuffed" after eating so much. There were a lot of comments made on how good the food was and being careful of eating too much. Even after everyone had second helpings there was still a lot of food left over. Which everyone ended up taking some home because there was just too much and no place to store it all.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Hw # 17
The topic of illness and dying is a very sensitive and depressing topic to think and talk about. It conjures up feelings of sadness for me based on personal experience, having lost someone close to me to illness. The image that comes to mind when I think of this topic is that of a beautiful and vibrant blossoming flower that stem slowly begins to bend over as the flower begins to wither and lose its vibrant color leading it to fall apart and die. Flowers are also usually given to the ill in hospitals and are present at peoples funerals. Why are flowers given why not something else?
Illness and dying for those who have personal experience with it know that it can be difficult and overwhelming to deal with. It makes me think about my own life and how eventually it will come to an end. I'm not necessarily afraid of dying but how I will die. I don't want to die from a terminal illness because that could be a potentially painful experience. I would want to avoid any possible suffering knowing that I'm going to die. I don't allow myself to be consumed by thoughts of dying. It makes me think of the quote "death is certain , life is not". Dying is inevitable. I rather focus on living my life so that if I were to die tomorrow it would be okay and I would have no regrets.
I think in our society illness and dying is a touchy subject for many to broach because of the fear that is associated with them. There is that uncertainty that people have of how to cope with it. Everyone deals with it differently so there is no right or wrong way when dealing with dying or knowing someone who has.Some questions I have on this topic are:why do people turn to religion or spirituality during times of illness and dying? How do you support someone who is terminally ill and knows they are going to die?
Illness and dying for those who have personal experience with it know that it can be difficult and overwhelming to deal with. It makes me think about my own life and how eventually it will come to an end. I'm not necessarily afraid of dying but how I will die. I don't want to die from a terminal illness because that could be a potentially painful experience. I would want to avoid any possible suffering knowing that I'm going to die. I don't allow myself to be consumed by thoughts of dying. It makes me think of the quote "death is certain , life is not". Dying is inevitable. I rather focus on living my life so that if I were to die tomorrow it would be okay and I would have no regrets.
I think in our society illness and dying is a touchy subject for many to broach because of the fear that is associated with them. There is that uncertainty that people have of how to cope with it. Everyone deals with it differently so there is no right or wrong way when dealing with dying or knowing someone who has.Some questions I have on this topic are:why do people turn to religion or spirituality during times of illness and dying? How do you support someone who is terminally ill and knows they are going to die?
Thursday, October 28, 2010
hw #12
Outline
Thesis: Many of the dominant social practices in our society-practices that define a "normal" life- on further investigation turn out to involve nightmares and industrial atrocities.
Major Claim: The food industry doesn't want people to know what is in the foods they are consuming, where it comes from and how it reached their plates so they are deliberately keeping them in the dark while making them unhealthy.
Supporting claim: The labels on foods are misleading.
Evidence : Genetically Modified Foods
Evidence : Feedlots and slaughter houses, animals mistreatment.
Evidence : Industrial farming
Evidence : Chemicals in the food
Supporting claim: It's all about succeeding in the market place.
Evidence : Mass production of corn and animals
Evidence : Cheap foods
Evidence : Farmers being paid subsidies by the government
Supporting claim: We are what we eat
Evidence: fast food and cheap foods
Evidence: obesity and diabetes
Works cited:
Genetically modified foods:
http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/gmfood/overview.php
The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan
Food , inc
fast food and obesity:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/05/health/main591325.shtml
fast food and diabetes:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/healthscience/stories/043008dnnatfastfood.24f4a15.html
Thesis: Many of the dominant social practices in our society-practices that define a "normal" life- on further investigation turn out to involve nightmares and industrial atrocities.
Major Claim: The food industry doesn't want people to know what is in the foods they are consuming, where it comes from and how it reached their plates so they are deliberately keeping them in the dark while making them unhealthy.
Supporting claim: The labels on foods are misleading.
Evidence : Genetically Modified Foods
Evidence : Feedlots and slaughter houses, animals mistreatment.
Evidence : Industrial farming
Evidence : Chemicals in the food
Supporting claim: It's all about succeeding in the market place.
Evidence : Mass production of corn and animals
Evidence : Cheap foods
Evidence : Farmers being paid subsidies by the government
Supporting claim: We are what we eat
Evidence: fast food and cheap foods
Evidence: obesity and diabetes
Works cited:
Genetically modified foods:
http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/gmfood/overview.php
The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan
Food , inc
fast food and obesity:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/05/health/main591325.shtml
fast food and diabetes:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/healthscience/stories/043008dnnatfastfood.24f4a15.html
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Hw #11
As an experiment I decided to cut down of my meat consumption. I eat a lot of meat so it was hard to cut down on my intake at first, but instead off eating so much meat I started to eat more raw foods,like vegetables and fruits. I didn't eat chicken at all during this experiment and the other meats that I did eat I decided to only have small portions of. Eating a lot of vegetables like in a salad and fruits is a lot healthier than eating meat. After watching Food, Inc and reading The Omnivore's Dilemma on slaughterhouses and feedlots I wanted to stop eating meat based on the information I found out on how it's all processed. It grossed me out and made me want to change my diet.
I found that it's hard to just change your diet. It takes time, it's a process. Going from eating meat on a daily basis to completely cutting meat out is not going to happen overnight. So starting off small and slowly is one's best bet to being successful. I also found that I felt much better introducing more fruits and vegetables in my diet and eating other stuff instead of meat.
I found that it's hard to just change your diet. It takes time, it's a process. Going from eating meat on a daily basis to completely cutting meat out is not going to happen overnight. So starting off small and slowly is one's best bet to being successful. I also found that I felt much better introducing more fruits and vegetables in my diet and eating other stuff instead of meat.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Hw #10
Food companies are intentionally keeping consumers blinded about how food is processed and produced. But they need to be exposed and the public has to know what is going on behind closed doors. If there is any chance of changing the way people eat and finding alternatives for them to make better informative decisions on what they choose to eat. The consumers ultimately need to be informed about the food industry. So the companies and the government can feel pressure from the consumers to make changes to the laws and regulations regarding their food and health.
The book goes into more detail about certain topics ,whereas the movie just mentioned or touched on something about it. There's a lot more the book informs the reader about than the movie. I liked that the movie provided visuals that the book might have made hard to imagine while reading. For example like what goes on in a slaughterhouse and what a feedlot looks like and how the animals are treated. The book tells it( describes it), but the movie showed it.
The movie made me realize all the things that are wrong with the food industry. How there are only a few large companies that control they way that everyone eats. Who are deliberately keeping consumers in the dark about their products because if we knew then we wouldn't want to buy their products anymore which would be bad for business. There needs to be new ways of thinking about food ways and where our food comes from in order for changes to be made.
The book goes into more detail about certain topics ,whereas the movie just mentioned or touched on something about it. There's a lot more the book informs the reader about than the movie. I liked that the movie provided visuals that the book might have made hard to imagine while reading. For example like what goes on in a slaughterhouse and what a feedlot looks like and how the animals are treated. The book tells it( describes it), but the movie showed it.
The movie made me realize all the things that are wrong with the food industry. How there are only a few large companies that control they way that everyone eats. Who are deliberately keeping consumers in the dark about their products because if we knew then we wouldn't want to buy their products anymore which would be bad for business. There needs to be new ways of thinking about food ways and where our food comes from in order for changes to be made.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Hw#9
In the movie “Freakanomics” the protagonists look at certain topics in particular ways in order to make sense of them. In the movie one of the tools they used in order to make sense of their topics and theories was by conducting street interviews to find answers to their questions and get people’s perspectives on certain topics like “what are typical black names and what are typical white names”.
In the movie by the protagonists use the tool of conducting experiments, to use as evidence to prove their theories on certain topics. One of the experiments they conducted was to find out if they could bribe a ninth grader to succeed. So they went to one school to see if they could get the ninth graders to pick up their grades and pass all of their classes with a C or above by awarding them 50 dollars a month if their grades improved. They wanted to see if the incentive of giving the students cash would be motivation enough for them to want to do better in school. The results turned out to be surprising.
Another tool that was used was analyzing the data and results of the experiments they conducted. Going back to their experiment of seeing if bribery would work in getting ninth graders to do better in school, they analyzed the data to draw conclusion to see if their experiment actually worked. It turned out that only 5-7% of the students passed, who wouldn’t have passed otherwise. This meant that their experiment didn’t have the desired effect on the students as they hoped for. So they proposed targeting the experiment towards even younger kids to if they would get better results.
In the movie the protagonists address the issue of correlation versus causation. For example in the film when they addressed if a person’s name had anything to do with their success in life. If a person with a more unique name had less of a chance of making it than a person with a more traditional name. They did an experiment to find out if a person’s name has anything to do with their success in life. One professor argued that a person’s name does have an effect on their success. So he conducted an experiment to prove his theory by sending out identical resumes to companies, just changing the name on them by putting unique ( recognizably black) names on half and traditional ( recognizably white) names on the other half, to see which resume would get called back first. By doing this experiment he was trying to figure out if a person’s name has anything to do with if they will be more likely to get the job or not. It turned out that the resumes with the more traditional names got called back than the ones with the unique names. While another professor argued that a person’s name is correlated to their success in life but not what’s causing it. What causes a person to be unsuccessful is dependent on the type of neighborhood they come from, whether they live in poverty, family background, etc. He argues that a person’s success is based on where they come from not about the name they have. So success and a person’s name are correlated to one another but the causation of a person’s success is based on their backgrounds and where they come from.
I agree that “Freakonomics” served as an inspiration and good example of our attempt to explore the "hidden-in-plain-sight" weirdness of dominant social practices. In the ways that they took a look at social issues in a different way that got people thinking differently. It explored people’s behaviors and reactions that tested if incentives work and it turned out some incentives work better than others. This can be related to food ways because farmers are given incentives by the government. They are paid subsidies to grow lots of cheap corn that turns into all the unhealthy processed foods we consume, but if the corn growers weren’t being paid subsidies by the government then they wouldn’t have the incentive to grow corn. Therefore encouraging people to eat healthier.
In the movie by the protagonists use the tool of conducting experiments, to use as evidence to prove their theories on certain topics. One of the experiments they conducted was to find out if they could bribe a ninth grader to succeed. So they went to one school to see if they could get the ninth graders to pick up their grades and pass all of their classes with a C or above by awarding them 50 dollars a month if their grades improved. They wanted to see if the incentive of giving the students cash would be motivation enough for them to want to do better in school. The results turned out to be surprising.
Another tool that was used was analyzing the data and results of the experiments they conducted. Going back to their experiment of seeing if bribery would work in getting ninth graders to do better in school, they analyzed the data to draw conclusion to see if their experiment actually worked. It turned out that only 5-7% of the students passed, who wouldn’t have passed otherwise. This meant that their experiment didn’t have the desired effect on the students as they hoped for. So they proposed targeting the experiment towards even younger kids to if they would get better results.
In the movie the protagonists address the issue of correlation versus causation. For example in the film when they addressed if a person’s name had anything to do with their success in life. If a person with a more unique name had less of a chance of making it than a person with a more traditional name. They did an experiment to find out if a person’s name has anything to do with their success in life. One professor argued that a person’s name does have an effect on their success. So he conducted an experiment to prove his theory by sending out identical resumes to companies, just changing the name on them by putting unique ( recognizably black) names on half and traditional ( recognizably white) names on the other half, to see which resume would get called back first. By doing this experiment he was trying to figure out if a person’s name has anything to do with if they will be more likely to get the job or not. It turned out that the resumes with the more traditional names got called back than the ones with the unique names. While another professor argued that a person’s name is correlated to their success in life but not what’s causing it. What causes a person to be unsuccessful is dependent on the type of neighborhood they come from, whether they live in poverty, family background, etc. He argues that a person’s success is based on where they come from not about the name they have. So success and a person’s name are correlated to one another but the causation of a person’s success is based on their backgrounds and where they come from.
I agree that “Freakonomics” served as an inspiration and good example of our attempt to explore the "hidden-in-plain-sight" weirdness of dominant social practices. In the ways that they took a look at social issues in a different way that got people thinking differently. It explored people’s behaviors and reactions that tested if incentives work and it turned out some incentives work better than others. This can be related to food ways because farmers are given incentives by the government. They are paid subsidies to grow lots of cheap corn that turns into all the unhealthy processed foods we consume, but if the corn growers weren’t being paid subsidies by the government then they wouldn’t have the incentive to grow corn. Therefore encouraging people to eat healthier.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Hw # 7c
Chapter 11: Farmers like Joel Salatin's methods of farming are different to industrial farmers. Even though industrial farming is simpler and efficient , Salatin would argue that his system of farming the more natural way is just as efficient and minimizes his farming costs because he understand how everything is connected to one another on the farm and his animals can be used to help each other (feeding) and the farm stay healthy and produce better quality (tasting) foods.
Gems:"I'm just the orchestra conductor ,making sure everybody's in the right place at the right time" (212)
"Most of the efficiencies in an industrial system are achieved through simplification: doing lots of the same thing over and over.In agriculture, this usually means a monoculture of a single animal or crop."(214)
Thoughts: Why don't more farmers use the same natural system and methods of farming and caring for their farm as Joel ?
It seems that more natural ways of farming and using the animals to work together is less unhealthy for the animals and the conditions on the farm itself unlike industrial farming which is harmful to the animals and unsanitary.
Joel's farming methods appear to cut costs of things that industrial farmers need and use on their farms that he doesn't , but his methods seem to take longer unlike on industrial farms.
Chapter 12: When it comes to the final stage of the animals on the farm -the slaughter house. Taking into consideration how these animals are slaughtered is important. The USDA is responsible for inspecting the environments the animals are killed in ,but they take issue with farmers like Joel who prefers killing the animals he grows on his own farm, which turns out to be cleaner and the animals are more humanely killed than if they were in other slaughter houses.
Gems:"Processing but a few days a month means we actually think about what were doing, and be as careful and humane as possible." (pg 233)
"we do not allow the government to dictate what religion you can observe, so why should we allow them to dictate what kind of food you can buy?" (236)
Thoughts: Just reading about how these animals are slaughtered made me nauseous,what if people were able to see how the food they buy from supermarkets are slaughtered behind closed doors? Would there be as many meat eaters?
I don't think the government should interfere with the way the animals are slaughtered on Joels farm because if he were doing anything wrong or if it were inhumane then he wouldn't open it up for his customers to watch and inspect how their dinner is being killed.
Chapter 13: Salatin believes in finding ways to change the food system. He believes people need to change the way they eat and buy their foods. That supporting local foods is better because they factor in all the costs and are honest with the consumers about the food they are eating.
Gems: “Don’t you find it odd that people will put more work into choosing their mechanic or house contractor than they will into choosing the person who grows their food. –pg 240.
“If we could just level the playing field-take away the regulations, the subsidies, and factor in the health care and environmental cleanup costs of cheap food-we could compete on price with anyone.”
“You can buy honestly priced food or you can buy irresponsibly priced food.”
Thoughts: I don’t think that many people are willing to pay more for local foods (buying directly from their food source) because they tend to pick cheaper and more convenient food choices.
The big companies that control the food system have the power over the consumers while the farmers are trying to fight for theirs. The farms don’t have the advantage in this case.
If organic food cost less I think more people would become healthier eaters.
Chapter 14: There’s nothing better than the satisfaction of eating a delicious meal. The taste is everything, but not everything we eat is the same. We are deceived by what’s in our foods and how it reached our plates.
Gems: “The species of animal you eat may matter less than what the animal you’re eating has itself eaten.”
“When chickens get to live like chickens they’ll taste like chickens.”
Thoughts: This made me think, why don’t people usually consider the quality of their meals or the food they buy instead of focusing on the cost?
I don’t think that organic food necessarily tastes better than conventional foods even though eating organic maybe the better choice.
Food would taste so much better if the food we ate were handled differently by the farmers, the way Salatin handles his farm animals and crops.
Chapter 15: We’re in trouble; agriculture has eliminated any chance we have of living longer and healthier lives. Our food chain and the way we see food has changed because of agriculture. Now people aren’t aware of what is involved in our foods the way hunter-gathers did. Now we may never get the chance to return to hunting and gathering our food they way it used to be.
Gems: “ To look as far into the food chains that support us as I could look, and recover the fundamental biological realities that the complexities of modern industrialized eating keep from our view.”
For most of us today hunting and gathering and growing our own food is by and large a form of play.”
Thoughts: Agriculture has ruined our food chain. If people were able to hunt and gather their food instead of moving toward agriculture people would be so much healthier and live longer lives. Why isn’t the food system changing?
Chapter 16: Humans are able to eat almost anything thanks to natural selection, but deciding exactly what to eat is the problem. With so many different choices, how does one determine which to choose? We decide by following a couple of food rules and whether or not what we are eating is good for both our bodies and minds.
Gems: “"The fact that we humans indeed omnivorous is deeply inscribed in our bodies, which natural selection has equipped to handle a remarkably wide ranging diet."
“Being an omnivore occupying a cognitive niche in nature is a boon and a challenge, a source of tremendous power as well as anxiety."
Thoughts: We are facing many health issues because of the dilemma of what we choose to eat. I think people need to weigh the pros and cons of different foods like organic vs. conventional. I thought it was interesting that the author mentioned that our food not only has to taste good but we think about whether or not it is “ethically defensible to eat meat”.
Chapter 17: The less people know about the way meat is processed the better off the meat industry is and the less they seem to care. People don’t focus on how the meat as once being a living animal but rather something that just tastes good. Some would argue that animals shouldn’t be cruelly slaughtered and eaten by humans because it causes them suffering and is inhumane.
Gems: “We tolerate this schizophrenia because the life of the pig has moved out of view; when’s the last time you saw a pig in person? Meat comes from the grocery store, where it is cut and packaged to look as little like parts of animals as possible.”
“The one all-important interest humans share with pigs, as with all sentient creatures, is an interest in avoiding pain.”
Thoughts: If people actually got to see the way these animals are slaughtered less people will be willing to eat meat which would be bad for the meat industry business. It’s easier for people to not think about the slaughtering of animals. It makes the connection less personal. They just see it as a meal available for purchase.
Chapter 18: Hunting brings us closer to who we really are. Hunting should be seen valuable because it brings us closer to nature. Hunting for your food is an exhilarating feeling. The animals are there for us to eat them but we should still pay them gratitude.
Gems: “Humanity sees itself as something emerging from animality, but it cannot be sure of having transcended that state completely. The animal remains too close for us not to feel mysterious communication with it.”
“The experience of hunting suggests another theory. Could it be that the cannabinoid network is precisely the sort of adaptation that natural selection would favor in the evolution of a creature who survives by hunting?”
Thoughts: The hunt is what the hunter lives for, that feeling they get after capturing their prey successfully. I don’t think that people should mercilessly hunt animals for sport. Hunting is a good way for people to naturally eat. They can be sure their prey has been kept from the industrial factories.
Chapter 19: Hunting mushrooms is a difficult task because there is a lot you need to know about them first. Picking and eating the wrong mushrooms can end up being fatal. We hunt and eat what we want but we have to make sure it’s safe to eat it.
Gems: “Just imagine if had to decide every such edibility question on our own; only the bravest or most foolish of us would ever decide to eat a mushroom.”
“The field guides contain our culture’s accumulated wisdom on the subject of mushrooms. Curiously, though, the process of imparting and absorbing this life-and-death information works much better in person than it does on paper, whether through writing or even photography.”
Thoughts: Hunting and gathering a meal provides one with a connection to food. They know directly where it comes from. Nature plays a huge role. Knowing exactly what we are eating and if it is potentially dangerous to our health is important like eating wild mushrooms or foods produced by industrial food companies.
Chapter 20: It has finally all come together, everything to make the perfect meal. All the hunting, gathering and research I have done over a period of time has prepared me for this meal. It’s a meal that I had everything to do with from the start.
Gems:” Another thing cooking is, or can be, is a way to honor the things we are eating, the animals and plants and fungi that have been sacrificed to gratify our needs and desires…”
““The meal was more ritual than realistic because it dwelled on such things, reminding us how very much nature offers to the omnivore, the forests as much as the fields, the oceans as much as the meadows. If I had to give this dinner a name, it would have to be the Omnivore’s Thanksgiving.”
Thoughts: This reminded me of the sprouts we grew and ate and the feelings we had about growing our own foods. What it’s like to have that connection with our food. The author used his knowledge on food in order to prepare this meal which made it that more special to him. It’s important to know where our food comes from and what we are nourishing our bodies with in order to make changes.
Gems:"I'm just the orchestra conductor ,making sure everybody's in the right place at the right time" (212)
"Most of the efficiencies in an industrial system are achieved through simplification: doing lots of the same thing over and over.In agriculture, this usually means a monoculture of a single animal or crop."(214)
Thoughts: Why don't more farmers use the same natural system and methods of farming and caring for their farm as Joel ?
It seems that more natural ways of farming and using the animals to work together is less unhealthy for the animals and the conditions on the farm itself unlike industrial farming which is harmful to the animals and unsanitary.
Joel's farming methods appear to cut costs of things that industrial farmers need and use on their farms that he doesn't , but his methods seem to take longer unlike on industrial farms.
Chapter 12: When it comes to the final stage of the animals on the farm -the slaughter house. Taking into consideration how these animals are slaughtered is important. The USDA is responsible for inspecting the environments the animals are killed in ,but they take issue with farmers like Joel who prefers killing the animals he grows on his own farm, which turns out to be cleaner and the animals are more humanely killed than if they were in other slaughter houses.
Gems:"Processing but a few days a month means we actually think about what were doing, and be as careful and humane as possible." (pg 233)
"we do not allow the government to dictate what religion you can observe, so why should we allow them to dictate what kind of food you can buy?" (236)
Thoughts: Just reading about how these animals are slaughtered made me nauseous,what if people were able to see how the food they buy from supermarkets are slaughtered behind closed doors? Would there be as many meat eaters?
I don't think the government should interfere with the way the animals are slaughtered on Joels farm because if he were doing anything wrong or if it were inhumane then he wouldn't open it up for his customers to watch and inspect how their dinner is being killed.
Chapter 13: Salatin believes in finding ways to change the food system. He believes people need to change the way they eat and buy their foods. That supporting local foods is better because they factor in all the costs and are honest with the consumers about the food they are eating.
Gems: “Don’t you find it odd that people will put more work into choosing their mechanic or house contractor than they will into choosing the person who grows their food. –pg 240.
“If we could just level the playing field-take away the regulations, the subsidies, and factor in the health care and environmental cleanup costs of cheap food-we could compete on price with anyone.”
“You can buy honestly priced food or you can buy irresponsibly priced food.”
Thoughts: I don’t think that many people are willing to pay more for local foods (buying directly from their food source) because they tend to pick cheaper and more convenient food choices.
The big companies that control the food system have the power over the consumers while the farmers are trying to fight for theirs. The farms don’t have the advantage in this case.
If organic food cost less I think more people would become healthier eaters.
Chapter 14: There’s nothing better than the satisfaction of eating a delicious meal. The taste is everything, but not everything we eat is the same. We are deceived by what’s in our foods and how it reached our plates.
Gems: “The species of animal you eat may matter less than what the animal you’re eating has itself eaten.”
“When chickens get to live like chickens they’ll taste like chickens.”
Thoughts: This made me think, why don’t people usually consider the quality of their meals or the food they buy instead of focusing on the cost?
I don’t think that organic food necessarily tastes better than conventional foods even though eating organic maybe the better choice.
Food would taste so much better if the food we ate were handled differently by the farmers, the way Salatin handles his farm animals and crops.
Chapter 15: We’re in trouble; agriculture has eliminated any chance we have of living longer and healthier lives. Our food chain and the way we see food has changed because of agriculture. Now people aren’t aware of what is involved in our foods the way hunter-gathers did. Now we may never get the chance to return to hunting and gathering our food they way it used to be.
Gems: “ To look as far into the food chains that support us as I could look, and recover the fundamental biological realities that the complexities of modern industrialized eating keep from our view.”
For most of us today hunting and gathering and growing our own food is by and large a form of play.”
Thoughts: Agriculture has ruined our food chain. If people were able to hunt and gather their food instead of moving toward agriculture people would be so much healthier and live longer lives. Why isn’t the food system changing?
Chapter 16: Humans are able to eat almost anything thanks to natural selection, but deciding exactly what to eat is the problem. With so many different choices, how does one determine which to choose? We decide by following a couple of food rules and whether or not what we are eating is good for both our bodies and minds.
Gems: “"The fact that we humans indeed omnivorous is deeply inscribed in our bodies, which natural selection has equipped to handle a remarkably wide ranging diet."
“Being an omnivore occupying a cognitive niche in nature is a boon and a challenge, a source of tremendous power as well as anxiety."
Thoughts: We are facing many health issues because of the dilemma of what we choose to eat. I think people need to weigh the pros and cons of different foods like organic vs. conventional. I thought it was interesting that the author mentioned that our food not only has to taste good but we think about whether or not it is “ethically defensible to eat meat”.
Chapter 17: The less people know about the way meat is processed the better off the meat industry is and the less they seem to care. People don’t focus on how the meat as once being a living animal but rather something that just tastes good. Some would argue that animals shouldn’t be cruelly slaughtered and eaten by humans because it causes them suffering and is inhumane.
Gems: “We tolerate this schizophrenia because the life of the pig has moved out of view; when’s the last time you saw a pig in person? Meat comes from the grocery store, where it is cut and packaged to look as little like parts of animals as possible.”
“The one all-important interest humans share with pigs, as with all sentient creatures, is an interest in avoiding pain.”
Thoughts: If people actually got to see the way these animals are slaughtered less people will be willing to eat meat which would be bad for the meat industry business. It’s easier for people to not think about the slaughtering of animals. It makes the connection less personal. They just see it as a meal available for purchase.
Chapter 18: Hunting brings us closer to who we really are. Hunting should be seen valuable because it brings us closer to nature. Hunting for your food is an exhilarating feeling. The animals are there for us to eat them but we should still pay them gratitude.
Gems: “Humanity sees itself as something emerging from animality, but it cannot be sure of having transcended that state completely. The animal remains too close for us not to feel mysterious communication with it.”
“The experience of hunting suggests another theory. Could it be that the cannabinoid network is precisely the sort of adaptation that natural selection would favor in the evolution of a creature who survives by hunting?”
Thoughts: The hunt is what the hunter lives for, that feeling they get after capturing their prey successfully. I don’t think that people should mercilessly hunt animals for sport. Hunting is a good way for people to naturally eat. They can be sure their prey has been kept from the industrial factories.
Chapter 19: Hunting mushrooms is a difficult task because there is a lot you need to know about them first. Picking and eating the wrong mushrooms can end up being fatal. We hunt and eat what we want but we have to make sure it’s safe to eat it.
Gems: “Just imagine if had to decide every such edibility question on our own; only the bravest or most foolish of us would ever decide to eat a mushroom.”
“The field guides contain our culture’s accumulated wisdom on the subject of mushrooms. Curiously, though, the process of imparting and absorbing this life-and-death information works much better in person than it does on paper, whether through writing or even photography.”
Thoughts: Hunting and gathering a meal provides one with a connection to food. They know directly where it comes from. Nature plays a huge role. Knowing exactly what we are eating and if it is potentially dangerous to our health is important like eating wild mushrooms or foods produced by industrial food companies.
Chapter 20: It has finally all come together, everything to make the perfect meal. All the hunting, gathering and research I have done over a period of time has prepared me for this meal. It’s a meal that I had everything to do with from the start.
Gems:” Another thing cooking is, or can be, is a way to honor the things we are eating, the animals and plants and fungi that have been sacrificed to gratify our needs and desires…”
““The meal was more ritual than realistic because it dwelled on such things, reminding us how very much nature offers to the omnivore, the forests as much as the fields, the oceans as much as the meadows. If I had to give this dinner a name, it would have to be the Omnivore’s Thanksgiving.”
Thoughts: This reminded me of the sprouts we grew and ate and the feelings we had about growing our own foods. What it’s like to have that connection with our food. The author used his knowledge on food in order to prepare this meal which made it that more special to him. It’s important to know where our food comes from and what we are nourishing our bodies with in order to make changes.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Hw # 7
The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan
Chapter 1: We are what we eat and that is processed corn,lots of it. Everything we consume traces back to corn which is our most important crop. It plays a major role in our food chain and daily diets. Corn has done extremely well in this industrial age of consumer capitalism.
Gems: "Several human societies have seen fit to worship corn, but perhaps it should be the other way around: For corn, we humans are the contingent beings." (pg 27)
"Corn is the protocapitalist plant." (pg 26)
"We North Americans look like corn chips with legs."
Thoughts: When we eat we never really stop to think about how our food is made or what it's made of or where it comes from as long as it tastes good and we enjoy it, but to come to read and find that almost everything we eat comes from corn was rather surprising.It's funny how we depend on this plant species(Zea mays/corn)so much. We live for corn by growing, producing and consuming it. It's such a huge staple in our diets.I wonder what else our food is made up of?
Chapter 2 : Growing corn in no easy job. It's important to go straight to the source of the corn-the farmers and their farms. Corn is a business, a money making and a money losing business.
Gems: " The demand for food isn't elastic; people don't eat more just because food is cheap."
"Agriculture’s always going to be organized by the government; the question is, for whose benefit? It's certainly not for the farmer.
"The free market has never worked in agriculture and it never will."
Thoughts: I found it interesting that the author is going straight to the sources of our food to find out where it comes from? Farmers supply all the corn we consume but are they making money or losing money over corn? since they grow so much of it but it's sold cheap. It's all about the supply and demand of the crop. It’s all about who benefits from the business and who doesn’t which in this case would be the farmers. Agriculture is not on their side.
Chapter 3: Corn is a commodity that no one cares where it comes from (what farm or farmer)as long as it gets to the consumers. Corn is part of a system that is designed to keep having it produced and then selling it cheap,with the farmers not reaping the benefits as much.
Gems: " Ecology teaches that whenever an excess organic matter arises anywhere in nature, creatures large and small inevitably step forward to consume it, sometimes creating whole new food chains in the process." (62)
Thoughts: I found it interesting how the author is making the distinction between "corn-the-food" and corn-the-commodity" and really breaking it down in the chapters. So much corn is being produced and sold (cheap) and everyone is consuming it from humans to livestock. Corn has one destination and that is to end up on our plates.
Chapter 4: The government and the CAFO -Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation have taken animals like cattle off of the farms and placed them in feedlots. Forcing them to consume corn. While creating more problems and using these animals for their own benefit.
Gems: "Today the most serious environmental harm associated with the cattle industry takes place on the feedlot." (pg 70)
" What gets a steer from 80 to 1,100 pounds in fourteen months is tremendous quantities of corn, protein and fat supplements, and arsenal of new drugs." (pg 71)
Thoughts: I think it's unfair how these animals are taken off the farms where they can roam round and eat grass, only to be placed in feedlots and forced to change their diets. All in the name of making a profit. The feedlots don't sound like a good idea. The cattle are being mistreated.
Chapter 5: Corn has finally reached the stage where it is sent to what is know as "wet mills" where leftover corn is broken down in many different molecules,sugars,vitamins and starches to be processed for consumption.Leading corn to become the most important crop and us to become the ultimate industrial eaters.
Gems:"And so it goes, the rushing stream of ever cheaper agricultural commodities driving food companies to figure out new and ever more elaborate ways to add value and so induce us to buy more." (pg 96)
"Nature has cursed the companies working the middle of the food chain with a recipe for falling rates of profits." (pg 94)
"Exactly what corn is doing in such foods has less to with nutrition or taste than with economics." (pg 93)
Thoughts: I think it's surprising how we have become so dependent on corn considering we eat the most of it (processed foods). Everything is made with processed corn now. It would be interesting to find out what foods aren't made with corn? that is if there are any.
Chapter 6: Corn is being overly produced, therefore making the price of corn drop. Which is being turned into cheap consumer products of calories. Which is being consumed on a daily basis leading us to develop health problems such as obesity and diabetes.
Gems:"The united nation's reported that in 2000 the number of people suffering from over nutrition-a billion-had officially surpassed the number suffering from malnutrition-800-million."(102)
"When food is abundant and cheap, people will eat more of it and get fat."
Thoughts: Not everyone can afford healthier food choices. It cost more to eat healthy while processed foods are cheap.We consume a lot of corn (in our foods) because it's cheap. All this corn is causing health problems for many.
Chapter 7: Not many people know how their food is made or where it comes from. It's like a secret, that most of our meals are made with ingredients derived from corn. It's a major source of all the calories we eat ,thanks to fast food and super size options.
Gems:" processing cheap corn into 45 different McDonald's items is an impressive accomplishment.It presents a solution to the agricultural contradictions of capitalism, the challenge of increasing industry food profits faster than America can increase it's population." (pg117)
"the nugget is the reason chicken has supplanted beef as the most popular meat in America." (114)
Thoughts: Fast food is a cheap option and almost everything on the menu is made with corn. It's a meal that is convenient and it tastes good which makes you want to eat more. It's no surprise it's a huge hit with consumers.
Chapter 8: Grass is important to farmers because it feeds their farm animals. Farmers have a special relationship with their grass. They nurture and care for their grass because it turns into thousands of pounds of meat. Farmers choose to operate their farms differently by going down the more natural route.
Gems:"I kept hearing about this organic farmer in Virginia who had no use for the federal government's new organic standards. I also kept hearing about the exceptional food he was producing." (PG 131)
Thoughts: Organic farms produce natural and more healthier foods than other farms. How "organic" is their food? What are the differences between organic farms and industrial farms?
Chapter 9:Organic food markets are more behind the story of their foods and appeal to their consumers by labeling their products with how their food is made like "naturally grown" and "humanely raised".Is what is printed on the label really true?
Is organic foods that much different than non -certified organic products in terms of how they are grown and produced? The organic food movement is still a
Gems:"We have to go back to nature and to copy the methods to be seen in the forest and prairie." (149)
"The notion of imitating whole natural systems stands in stark opposition to reductionist science, which works by breaking down such systems down into their component parts in order to understand how they work and then manipulating them-one variable at a time."
Thoughts: 1.Are organic farms really "better" than industrial farms?
2.If "organic" is better why isn't everyone eating organic foods?
Chapter 10: Grass and sunlight produces many of the products/foods that grass farms grow on their farms. Grass is dependent on to flourish the farms and in return the products provide us with food energy.
Gems: "All agriculture is at its heart a business of capturing free solar energy in a food product that can then be turned into high-value energy".
" Very much on his own in a very particular place, the grass farmer must continually juggle the various elements of his farm in space as well as time,relying on his powers of observation and organization to arrange the appointed daily meeting of animal and grass in such a way as to ensure maximum benefit for both."
Thoughts: Why don't farmers feed their animals with more grass instead of corn?
It seems grass is better than corn but corn is cheaper.
Chapter 1: We are what we eat and that is processed corn,lots of it. Everything we consume traces back to corn which is our most important crop. It plays a major role in our food chain and daily diets. Corn has done extremely well in this industrial age of consumer capitalism.
Gems: "Several human societies have seen fit to worship corn, but perhaps it should be the other way around: For corn, we humans are the contingent beings." (pg 27)
"Corn is the protocapitalist plant." (pg 26)
"We North Americans look like corn chips with legs."
Thoughts: When we eat we never really stop to think about how our food is made or what it's made of or where it comes from as long as it tastes good and we enjoy it, but to come to read and find that almost everything we eat comes from corn was rather surprising.It's funny how we depend on this plant species(Zea mays/corn)so much. We live for corn by growing, producing and consuming it. It's such a huge staple in our diets.I wonder what else our food is made up of?
Chapter 2 : Growing corn in no easy job. It's important to go straight to the source of the corn-the farmers and their farms. Corn is a business, a money making and a money losing business.
Gems: " The demand for food isn't elastic; people don't eat more just because food is cheap."
"Agriculture’s always going to be organized by the government; the question is, for whose benefit? It's certainly not for the farmer.
"The free market has never worked in agriculture and it never will."
Thoughts: I found it interesting that the author is going straight to the sources of our food to find out where it comes from? Farmers supply all the corn we consume but are they making money or losing money over corn? since they grow so much of it but it's sold cheap. It's all about the supply and demand of the crop. It’s all about who benefits from the business and who doesn’t which in this case would be the farmers. Agriculture is not on their side.
Chapter 3: Corn is a commodity that no one cares where it comes from (what farm or farmer)as long as it gets to the consumers. Corn is part of a system that is designed to keep having it produced and then selling it cheap,with the farmers not reaping the benefits as much.
Gems: " Ecology teaches that whenever an excess organic matter arises anywhere in nature, creatures large and small inevitably step forward to consume it, sometimes creating whole new food chains in the process." (62)
Thoughts: I found it interesting how the author is making the distinction between "corn-the-food" and corn-the-commodity" and really breaking it down in the chapters. So much corn is being produced and sold (cheap) and everyone is consuming it from humans to livestock. Corn has one destination and that is to end up on our plates.
Chapter 4: The government and the CAFO -Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation have taken animals like cattle off of the farms and placed them in feedlots. Forcing them to consume corn. While creating more problems and using these animals for their own benefit.
Gems: "Today the most serious environmental harm associated with the cattle industry takes place on the feedlot." (pg 70)
" What gets a steer from 80 to 1,100 pounds in fourteen months is tremendous quantities of corn, protein and fat supplements, and arsenal of new drugs." (pg 71)
Thoughts: I think it's unfair how these animals are taken off the farms where they can roam round and eat grass, only to be placed in feedlots and forced to change their diets. All in the name of making a profit. The feedlots don't sound like a good idea. The cattle are being mistreated.
Chapter 5: Corn has finally reached the stage where it is sent to what is know as "wet mills" where leftover corn is broken down in many different molecules,sugars,vitamins and starches to be processed for consumption.Leading corn to become the most important crop and us to become the ultimate industrial eaters.
Gems:"And so it goes, the rushing stream of ever cheaper agricultural commodities driving food companies to figure out new and ever more elaborate ways to add value and so induce us to buy more." (pg 96)
"Nature has cursed the companies working the middle of the food chain with a recipe for falling rates of profits." (pg 94)
"Exactly what corn is doing in such foods has less to with nutrition or taste than with economics." (pg 93)
Thoughts: I think it's surprising how we have become so dependent on corn considering we eat the most of it (processed foods). Everything is made with processed corn now. It would be interesting to find out what foods aren't made with corn? that is if there are any.
Chapter 6: Corn is being overly produced, therefore making the price of corn drop. Which is being turned into cheap consumer products of calories. Which is being consumed on a daily basis leading us to develop health problems such as obesity and diabetes.
Gems:"The united nation's reported that in 2000 the number of people suffering from over nutrition-a billion-had officially surpassed the number suffering from malnutrition-800-million."(102)
"When food is abundant and cheap, people will eat more of it and get fat."
Thoughts: Not everyone can afford healthier food choices. It cost more to eat healthy while processed foods are cheap.We consume a lot of corn (in our foods) because it's cheap. All this corn is causing health problems for many.
Chapter 7: Not many people know how their food is made or where it comes from. It's like a secret, that most of our meals are made with ingredients derived from corn. It's a major source of all the calories we eat ,thanks to fast food and super size options.
Gems:" processing cheap corn into 45 different McDonald's items is an impressive accomplishment.It presents a solution to the agricultural contradictions of capitalism, the challenge of increasing industry food profits faster than America can increase it's population." (pg117)
"the nugget is the reason chicken has supplanted beef as the most popular meat in America." (114)
Thoughts: Fast food is a cheap option and almost everything on the menu is made with corn. It's a meal that is convenient and it tastes good which makes you want to eat more. It's no surprise it's a huge hit with consumers.
Chapter 8: Grass is important to farmers because it feeds their farm animals. Farmers have a special relationship with their grass. They nurture and care for their grass because it turns into thousands of pounds of meat. Farmers choose to operate their farms differently by going down the more natural route.
Gems:"I kept hearing about this organic farmer in Virginia who had no use for the federal government's new organic standards. I also kept hearing about the exceptional food he was producing." (PG 131)
Thoughts: Organic farms produce natural and more healthier foods than other farms. How "organic" is their food? What are the differences between organic farms and industrial farms?
Chapter 9:Organic food markets are more behind the story of their foods and appeal to their consumers by labeling their products with how their food is made like "naturally grown" and "humanely raised".Is what is printed on the label really true?
Is organic foods that much different than non -certified organic products in terms of how they are grown and produced? The organic food movement is still a
Gems:"We have to go back to nature and to copy the methods to be seen in the forest and prairie." (149)
"The notion of imitating whole natural systems stands in stark opposition to reductionist science, which works by breaking down such systems down into their component parts in order to understand how they work and then manipulating them-one variable at a time."
Thoughts: 1.Are organic farms really "better" than industrial farms?
2.If "organic" is better why isn't everyone eating organic foods?
Chapter 10: Grass and sunlight produces many of the products/foods that grass farms grow on their farms. Grass is dependent on to flourish the farms and in return the products provide us with food energy.
Gems: "All agriculture is at its heart a business of capturing free solar energy in a food product that can then be turned into high-value energy".
" Very much on his own in a very particular place, the grass farmer must continually juggle the various elements of his farm in space as well as time,relying on his powers of observation and organization to arrange the appointed daily meeting of animal and grass in such a way as to ensure maximum benefit for both."
Thoughts: Why don't farmers feed their animals with more grass instead of corn?
It seems grass is better than corn but corn is cheaper.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Hw# 5
A topic out there on food that seems to be frequently discussed thanks to mass-media is healthy eating vs. unhealthy eating. It seems that the "healthy" side wants the "unhealthy" to change the way they approach food in order to become healthy eaters.It seems that they want people to reform their eating habits so that they can look and feel better about themselves and avoid future health problems. Opposed to the "unhealthy" eaters who exhibit unhealthy eating habits who tend to be overweight. The healthy side are the ones telling you what foods to eat and which ones to avoid because they are "dangerous"(http://www.helpguide.org/life/healthy_eating_diet.htm).
To solve the problem of unhealthy eating they believe in "smart eating habits". They also provide you with tips that will guide you to a better lifestyle. Most of this stuff is coming from dietitians and nutritionists who advocate healthy eating and balanced diets but don't seem to consider how the other side might feel about the certain foods they "should eat" and how difficult it might be to change one's eating habits. This makes one think that eating healthy and food is like "medicine" in a way. It has benefits because food will make you feel better and look better ,if you only eat the "right" foods and avoid the junk and leave your unhealthy eating habits and health problems behind.(http://www.healthyeating.net/he_1.htm)
While the "unhealthy" eaters are saying it's not that easy to change one's eating habits because of the many influences around them. If your family are a bunch of unhealthy eaters it becomes hard for one to change their diet because of the influence of others and the food they eat which has an affect on what you choose to eat. They argue that some people can't fight the temptations of their cravings because some "foods are just addictions", foods taste too good to stop eating them. They feel that eating healthy can also be time consuming because of one's hectic daily schedule. So they eat for convenience.(http://www.livestrong.com/article/74545-eating-hard/)Many of the people on this side are everyday people, families, children and people who struggle with their weight and find it difficult to change to a healthier lifestyle.
To solve the problem of unhealthy eating they believe in "smart eating habits". They also provide you with tips that will guide you to a better lifestyle. Most of this stuff is coming from dietitians and nutritionists who advocate healthy eating and balanced diets but don't seem to consider how the other side might feel about the certain foods they "should eat" and how difficult it might be to change one's eating habits. This makes one think that eating healthy and food is like "medicine" in a way. It has benefits because food will make you feel better and look better ,if you only eat the "right" foods and avoid the junk and leave your unhealthy eating habits and health problems behind.(http://www.healthyeating.net/he_1.htm)
While the "unhealthy" eaters are saying it's not that easy to change one's eating habits because of the many influences around them. If your family are a bunch of unhealthy eaters it becomes hard for one to change their diet because of the influence of others and the food they eat which has an affect on what you choose to eat. They argue that some people can't fight the temptations of their cravings because some "foods are just addictions", foods taste too good to stop eating them. They feel that eating healthy can also be time consuming because of one's hectic daily schedule. So they eat for convenience.(http://www.livestrong.com/article/74545-eating-hard/)Many of the people on this side are everyday people, families, children and people who struggle with their weight and find it difficult to change to a healthier lifestyle.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
HW#4
Food brings my family together .We all get involved in the preparation of the meal.
On most nights once dinner time rolls around no matter what we're doing everyone gathers around the table or the TV to enjoy a meal together. It was the same for my parents growing up, who always sat and ate around the table with their parents. When it comes to food in my family one rule goes: No wasting, because there are others starving. So we are always encouraged to eat all our food and be grateful for the meals we get to eat because there are others less fortunate. That was also the rule in my parents homes growing up.
I think that family has an effect on one's eating habits. My family are healthy eaters for the most part , with my mother incorporating vegetables in almost every meal. My siblings and I have always grow up liking and eating all of our vegetables. It was never a problem for my mom to try and force us to eat them since she's always made them. We're also a bunch of curious eaters who aren't afraid to try something new because my mom makes many dishes that are influenced by other cultures cuisine. I also prefer a home cooked meal over one that's bought because it's usually healthier and my mom likes to cook.
On most nights once dinner time rolls around no matter what we're doing everyone gathers around the table or the TV to enjoy a meal together. It was the same for my parents growing up, who always sat and ate around the table with their parents. When it comes to food in my family one rule goes: No wasting, because there are others starving. So we are always encouraged to eat all our food and be grateful for the meals we get to eat because there are others less fortunate. That was also the rule in my parents homes growing up.
I think that family has an effect on one's eating habits. My family are healthy eaters for the most part , with my mother incorporating vegetables in almost every meal. My siblings and I have always grow up liking and eating all of our vegetables. It was never a problem for my mom to try and force us to eat them since she's always made them. We're also a bunch of curious eaters who aren't afraid to try something new because my mom makes many dishes that are influenced by other cultures cuisine. I also prefer a home cooked meal over one that's bought because it's usually healthier and my mom likes to cook.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Hw#3 -Fast Food
Fast food stays true to its name its food that you can order and be eating in minutes. There are so many different franchise fast food places to choose from the possibilities are endless from McDonald’s to Burger King there are so many fast food restaurants located around the city. Why is this? Why is fast food so popular? What makes eating at these places so irresistible? And why aren’t people exposed to much healthier food options? Whether you’re eating your meal at one of these fast food spots or taking it to go (drive thru) you always end up coming back for more.
Fast food restaurants are convenient for many. They are easy to access, with so many different locations. They feed the masses. They also provide people with a filling meal that they can enjoy in minutes without having to cook it for themselves. Fast food is easy while eating healthier is hard. It’s so much easier for many to enjoy a burger, fries and a milkshake that has already been made than it is to cook a homemade meal.
One of the things I noticed was that there were a lot of younger customers at McDonalds than there were at the Greenmarket where there were a lot of older people. I think that older people tend to be more health conscious than the younger people. They care more about what they eat and how it’s going to affect them in the long run. I think the Greenmarket attracts more of the health conscious that are willing to shell out more money in order to be “healthy”.
Fast food restaurants are convenient for many. They are easy to access, with so many different locations. They feed the masses. They also provide people with a filling meal that they can enjoy in minutes without having to cook it for themselves. Fast food is easy while eating healthier is hard. It’s so much easier for many to enjoy a burger, fries and a milkshake that has already been made than it is to cook a homemade meal.
One of the things I noticed was that there were a lot of younger customers at McDonalds than there were at the Greenmarket where there were a lot of older people. I think that older people tend to be more health conscious than the younger people. They care more about what they eat and how it’s going to affect them in the long run. I think the Greenmarket attracts more of the health conscious that are willing to shell out more money in order to be “healthy”.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Hw- Food-Initial Thoughts
Food is a fundamental part of our survival. For me ,food is sacred because there are many that go without. I appreciate the meals I get to eat because food is a necessity for one's survival. Getting the right nutrition from the foods I eat in order for my body to function properly is important to me.
When I think of food I think about all the different foods out there that I haven't tried yet but am dying to. Food has a lot to do with culture ,the way it is prepared and how it just brings people together. People tend to bond over meals.
When it comes to food it has to taste "good". If I'll eat it or not all depends on the taste. Peoples perception of what tastes "good" might be different from mine, but I usually like spicy foods. What I eat will also depend on what I'm craving. My meal choices all depend on what I crave no matter what the time. For example, If I'm craving pizza in the morning then I'll probably eat it for breakfast.
For me many of my daily food choices are easy to just grab and go. Like fruits,yogurt,sandwiches ,etc. It has to be easy to eat since I don't always have the time to sit down and properly enjoy the meal. So my meal choices tend to be foods that can be eaten while walking or driving, that aren't very messy and don't require a knife and fork.
When I think of food I think about all the different foods out there that I haven't tried yet but am dying to. Food has a lot to do with culture ,the way it is prepared and how it just brings people together. People tend to bond over meals.
When it comes to food it has to taste "good". If I'll eat it or not all depends on the taste. Peoples perception of what tastes "good" might be different from mine, but I usually like spicy foods. What I eat will also depend on what I'm craving. My meal choices all depend on what I crave no matter what the time. For example, If I'm craving pizza in the morning then I'll probably eat it for breakfast.
For me many of my daily food choices are easy to just grab and go. Like fruits,yogurt,sandwiches ,etc. It has to be easy to eat since I don't always have the time to sit down and properly enjoy the meal. So my meal choices tend to be foods that can be eaten while walking or driving, that aren't very messy and don't require a knife and fork.
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