24 Hours of No EATING Part 1a
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3gKJoHMYaA
24 Hours of No Eating Part 2b
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ap3KwU1gZO0
24 Hours of No Eating Part 2
(I was doing exercises before I ate and I found that I only did one less rep from the day that I had food. This was Chinese Food and I think this was mostly because of the soreness from the previous day. I went from 11 reps in 20 minutes to 10 reps. I also struggled more the second time but knowing that I would be able to eat shortly made me less hungry)
24 Hours of No Eating Part 3
24 Hours of No Eating Part 4
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
HW 12 Final Food Project 2 Outline
Thesis: The Dominant practices of food in the United States are often nightmarish industrial atrocities; these atrocities have evolved to fit the United States culture and cannot easily be changed by people with completely different ideas.
Major Claim: The lack of exposure of the way food is being consumed, what is being consumed, and the amount of what is being consumed, shows that these food ways will not change because it isn't being brought to the society's attention.
Supporting Claim 1: Even with the food movement, the way food is shown in the media is glamorized.
Evidence: Fast Food Commericals
http://www.thewvsr.com/adsvsreality.htm
http://www.naturalnews.com/022105.html
http://www.thewvsr.com/adsvsreality.htm
http://www.naturalnews.com/022105.html
Evidence: Value Meals in Fast Food Places
http://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/food/food_quality/nutrition_choices.html
http://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/food/food_quality/nutrition_choices.html
Evidence: Targeting Younger Ages by Promoting Animated Movies
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/05/health/main591325.shtml
http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100209_obesity.htm
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/05/health/main591325.shtml
http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100209_obesity.htm
Evidence: Food Network TV; Shows like Man vs Food, Ace of Cakes,
http://www.cinemablend.com/television/Too-Fat-For-Reality-Is-TV-Exploiting-Obesity-23618.html
http://www.cinemablend.com/television/Too-Fat-For-Reality-Is-TV-Exploiting-Obesity-23618.html
Evidence: Increasing amount of obese people on TV (However the 'Idle Person' is skinny)
http://www.weightymatters.ca/2010/09/obesity-and-overeating-are-hilarious.html
http://www.tvscoop.tv/2010/10/36129.html
http://pastaqueen.com/blog/2004/10/fat-people-on-tv/
http://www.weightymatters.ca/2010/09/obesity-and-overeating-are-hilarious.html
http://www.tvscoop.tv/2010/10/36129.html
http://pastaqueen.com/blog/2004/10/fat-people-on-tv/
Supporting Claim 2: Eating Fast Food is promoted more.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/724650
http://www.organicauthority.com/blog/health/kids-see-fewer-sweetsbeverages-ads-but-more-fast-food-ads/
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/724650
http://www.organicauthority.com/blog/health/kids-see-fewer-sweetsbeverages-ads-but-more-fast-food-ads/
Evidence: Professional Sports Players Endorse these foods.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/27646672/Dwight_Howard_Loves_McDonald_s_AND_Wendy_s
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4867029
http://advertising.about.com/od/kobebryant/a/bryantsendorse.htm
http://www.cnbc.com/id/27646672/Dwight_Howard_Loves_McDonald_s_AND_Wendy_s
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4867029
http://advertising.about.com/od/kobebryant/a/bryantsendorse.htm
Evidence: Differences in Packaging on the food. (More or less attractive)
http://www.mrc.org/bmi/commentary/2005/A_Beef_with_the_Media_Over_Obesity_Bias.html
http://www.ewg.org/node/26641
http://www.mrc.org/bmi/commentary/2005/A_Beef_with_the_Media_Over_Obesity_Bias.html
http://www.ewg.org/node/26641
Evidence: Magazine Ads, TV Ads, Newspaper Ads
http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100209_obesity.htm
Evidence: Falsifying Appearance of Food on Advertisements.http://www.world-science.net/othernews/100209_obesity.htm
http://www.naturalnews.com/022105.html
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Food Inc. Homework
Chris R
The film Food Inc is a combination of both books Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan and the book Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser. From the beginning the film reveals more and more about the food industry that the average person does not know about what happens to their food. The main idea of the movie is the industry does not want you to know about the food you are eating because you might not want to eat it. The story takes a look into the ideas behind the place where food comes from. The way these animals are treated and all of the additives that go into food which aren’t know about. This big mass production industry is up against farmers who have a healthier way of choosing how to raise animals. Whereas industries are only focused on getting as much as possible in the quickest amount of times many farmers like to care for the animals they have and find alternatives to the additives packaged in fast food and foods in the supermarket. Even people are treated without respect in this industry. Many people are given the same mentality towards as the pigs are given. It’s all about efficiency of making as much food as possible instead of making the highest quality of food as possible.
The book offers a overview of everything. This is something that the book does not offer. Each book Fast Food Nation and Omnivore’s Dilemma both talk about different things that are centered on the same idea. However the film gives a bit of insight into what both of the books are about. Each section of the movie also brings a conclusion and continues to tieback to the main idea. Also in Omnivore’s Dilemma Michael Pollan does quote some people who have statements that support his argument however seeing these people support him is something that the book doesn’t have. When the book tells you what someone says it is just words on paper but when you hear the person talk about what they think it creates a connection to that person as well and not just the author. Something that the book offers that does not show up in the movie is the part where Michael Pollan tries to become a hunter gatherer himself. This is something that he believes is important to how humans use to eat and going through this experience would be something that could help the perspective he has on food and farmers. This does not show up in the movie however it does show up in the book and it is one of the closing arguments used in the book.
I feel like the most powerful thing about this was the way that the animals are treated. The animals are forced to eat things that they usually don’t eat and because of this they become sick and so we don’t also get this sickness it makes the food more chemical filled. It seems like for us to get what we want from these animals we have to risk their health and at the same time we risk our own.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
HW 7D
Chapter 18
Summary- While hunting for food, I became more aware of everything that was going on around me. The slightest things even drew my attention. With Angel and a rifle in hand I killed a pig. After not knowing much about the gun for example if the safety was on and only having shot it once at a gun range. Then the pig had to be tended to and prepared which was completely disgusting. However with killing this pig it made me think about how I had the first hand experience with killing the pig. Humans justify these killings with attacking like animals don't feel pain like humans.
Gems-"This is another example of the cultural contradictions of capitalism- the tendency over time for the economic impulse to erode the moral underpinnings of society. Mercy toward the animals in our care is one such casualty."
"My emotions were as surging and confused as the knot of panicked pigs had been on this spot just a moment before." (Pollan 343)
Thoughts- I feel like even though Michael Pollan did go out and do his own hunting, and now I know that the next chapter will be gathering, Michael Pollan did kill a pig which is what his chapter seventeen is all about. How humans are convinced that it is okay to kill animals because they are animals. No other reason. It is a kind of racism and although this is probably the easiest way to get the food from the animal it also is in support of what the previous chapter is against and killing animals to eat them is also something that has been done as far as we can remember. I feel like if the case was, animals get killed for no reason that would be spe but as shown in this chapter its necessary.
Chapter 19-
Summary- Gathering was next on the schedule. Gathering was surprisingly hard but I managed to gather a few mushrooms with Angelo. Usually Americans do not see food as something sacred but when it comes to gathering these mushrooms it is a completely different story. Managing to find a handful myself was even a feat because it was that difficult to find them. Its hard to tell the patterns of fungi even now a day. There are so many variables about what would be considered a good mushroom and a bad one that it makes my finds even greater.
Gems-"After the first pig hunt Jean-Pierre had driven me home, and I used the captive car time to probe him once again on the subject of mushrooms" (Pollan 378)
"Morel hunting didn't sound like much fun, more like survival training than a walk in the woods. I crossed my finger that Anthony was just trying to scare me and set my alarm from 4:30AM, wondering why it is all these hunting-gathering expeditions had to big at such ungodly hours" (Pollan 379)
Thoughts- I feel again like this is a good closing to the book. Although its not the last chapter it is a very good way to make the story come in a complete circle. It has a person talking about what they believe and at the end he makes the advance to help and experience a new thing. For example in school after watching Food Inc. Naima said that many people don't do what they say they will do when it comes to making commitments. Michael Pollan could have written an entire book about what should happen but as Michael Jackson says change starts with the man in the mirror (NOT A CLICHE JUST A REALLY GOOD WAY TO USE THAT SONG IN A B-LOG POST).
Chapter 20
Summary- Eating the food was next. All day was spent preparing the food and getting ready by cooking with the ingredients that were gathered and food that was hunted. Eating food how it was eaten many years ago. The meal included Egg Fettuccine, grilled loin from the Wild Pig. Local Garden Salad, Fava bean, Angelo Garro Petite Syrah Wine of 2003.The meal was not the best tasting meal however making this meal personally made it all the better.Unlike most food which comes from a fast food place this was a "homemade meal".
Gems- "I prized, too, the almost perfect transparency of this meal, the brevity and simplicity of the food chain that linked it to the wider world." (Pollan 409)
"Another thing cooking is, or can be, is a way to honor the things we're eating, the animal and plants and fungi that have been sacrificed to gratify our needs and desires, as well as the place and the people that produced them" (Pollan 404)
Thoughts- I find it interesting that compared to the meal Michael Pollan had, i'm mostly used to eating foods from fast food places. When you go into these places it is in your head that these are the places to get food and because its so common, you trust these people with your food and health. However this experience is something that should be experienced by everyone. Many people think they are eating food like this without much knowledge of what goes in their mouth. The only question that is asked is what tastes better.
Summary- While hunting for food, I became more aware of everything that was going on around me. The slightest things even drew my attention. With Angel and a rifle in hand I killed a pig. After not knowing much about the gun for example if the safety was on and only having shot it once at a gun range. Then the pig had to be tended to and prepared which was completely disgusting. However with killing this pig it made me think about how I had the first hand experience with killing the pig. Humans justify these killings with attacking like animals don't feel pain like humans.
Gems-"This is another example of the cultural contradictions of capitalism- the tendency over time for the economic impulse to erode the moral underpinnings of society. Mercy toward the animals in our care is one such casualty."
"My emotions were as surging and confused as the knot of panicked pigs had been on this spot just a moment before." (Pollan 343)
Thoughts- I feel like even though Michael Pollan did go out and do his own hunting, and now I know that the next chapter will be gathering, Michael Pollan did kill a pig which is what his chapter seventeen is all about. How humans are convinced that it is okay to kill animals because they are animals. No other reason. It is a kind of racism and although this is probably the easiest way to get the food from the animal it also is in support of what the previous chapter is against and killing animals to eat them is also something that has been done as far as we can remember. I feel like if the case was, animals get killed for no reason that would be spe but as shown in this chapter its necessary.
Chapter 19-
Summary- Gathering was next on the schedule. Gathering was surprisingly hard but I managed to gather a few mushrooms with Angelo. Usually Americans do not see food as something sacred but when it comes to gathering these mushrooms it is a completely different story. Managing to find a handful myself was even a feat because it was that difficult to find them. Its hard to tell the patterns of fungi even now a day. There are so many variables about what would be considered a good mushroom and a bad one that it makes my finds even greater.
Gems-"After the first pig hunt Jean-Pierre had driven me home, and I used the captive car time to probe him once again on the subject of mushrooms" (Pollan 378)
"Morel hunting didn't sound like much fun, more like survival training than a walk in the woods. I crossed my finger that Anthony was just trying to scare me and set my alarm from 4:30AM, wondering why it is all these hunting-gathering expeditions had to big at such ungodly hours" (Pollan 379)
Thoughts- I feel again like this is a good closing to the book. Although its not the last chapter it is a very good way to make the story come in a complete circle. It has a person talking about what they believe and at the end he makes the advance to help and experience a new thing. For example in school after watching Food Inc. Naima said that many people don't do what they say they will do when it comes to making commitments. Michael Pollan could have written an entire book about what should happen but as Michael Jackson says change starts with the man in the mirror (NOT A CLICHE JUST A REALLY GOOD WAY TO USE THAT SONG IN A B-LOG POST).
Chapter 20
Summary- Eating the food was next. All day was spent preparing the food and getting ready by cooking with the ingredients that were gathered and food that was hunted. Eating food how it was eaten many years ago. The meal included Egg Fettuccine, grilled loin from the Wild Pig. Local Garden Salad, Fava bean, Angelo Garro Petite Syrah Wine of 2003.The meal was not the best tasting meal however making this meal personally made it all the better.Unlike most food which comes from a fast food place this was a "homemade meal".
Gems- "I prized, too, the almost perfect transparency of this meal, the brevity and simplicity of the food chain that linked it to the wider world." (Pollan 409)
"Another thing cooking is, or can be, is a way to honor the things we're eating, the animal and plants and fungi that have been sacrificed to gratify our needs and desires, as well as the place and the people that produced them" (Pollan 404)
Thoughts- I find it interesting that compared to the meal Michael Pollan had, i'm mostly used to eating foods from fast food places. When you go into these places it is in your head that these are the places to get food and because its so common, you trust these people with your food and health. However this experience is something that should be experienced by everyone. Many people think they are eating food like this without much knowledge of what goes in their mouth. The only question that is asked is what tastes better.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
HW 7C
Chapter 11
Summary- Joel Satalin has a farm that is independent. Some animal depend on others any all of the animals on the Satalin farm use each others resources to live. The grass feeds the cows, the cows manure can feed the hens, the hens and it all works as a functioning ecosystem. Everything is planned so there is not much pollution and the production level also helps to keep the ecosystem intact. Increasing one thing would mean you have to increase many others which would throw off everything.
Gems- "The idea is to not slavishly imitate nature, but to model a natural ecosystem in all its diversity and interdependence, one where all the species "fully express their physiological distinctiveness."
Summary- Joel Satalin has a farm that is independent. Some animal depend on others any all of the animals on the Satalin farm use each others resources to live. The grass feeds the cows, the cows manure can feed the hens, the hens and it all works as a functioning ecosystem. Everything is planned so there is not much pollution and the production level also helps to keep the ecosystem intact. Increasing one thing would mean you have to increase many others which would throw off everything.
Gems- "The idea is to not slavishly imitate nature, but to model a natural ecosystem in all its diversity and interdependence, one where all the species "fully express their physiological distinctiveness."
"I asked Joel how much food Polyface produces in a season, and he rattled off these figures:
30,000 eggs,12,00 broilers,800 stewing hens,50 beeves (representing 25,00 pounds of beef),250 hogs (50,00 pounds of pork),800 turkeys,500 rabbits. (Pollan 222)"
Thoughts- I feel like this chapter shows a lot about the farm life but it also shows how crucial some parts of the farm are to each other. The farm is running itself.
Chapter 12
Summary- Not only does Joel Satalin raise the animals on his farm. But he also has to slaughter them when it is time for them to be shipped away. Unable to sell the processed food from his own farm Joel finds that killing his own chickens is another way to show that his animals makes a statement and it also can reassure customers that everything about the chicken was done by him on his farm. Killing the chickens was something that Joel had no problem doing however it was not easy for someone who has never done it before. The chickens bleed and are eviscerated all on the farm. Doing this to a chicken could change the mine of how people see chicken but to Joel it isn't as bad.
Gems-"The viscera were unexpectedly beautiful, glistening in a whole palette of slightly electric colors, from the steely blue striations of the heat muscle to the sleek milk chocolate liver to the dull mustard of the gallbladder" (Pollan 234).
"It was hard to watch. I told myself the spasms were involuntary, and they probably were, I told myself that the birds waiting their turn appeared to have no idea what was going on in the cone next to them. I told myself that their suffering, once their throats were slit , was brief." (Pollan 231)
Thoughts- Everyone knows that this happens but when eating food its better to not think about the suffering another animal had to go through to make you feel better. I guess I see why vegetarians choose not to eat meat however many animals are grown for the sole purpose of eating. SO eat them.
Chapter 13
Summary- Polyface Farm only sells the things found on their farm to other markets, restaurants, and food places which are local to the area. Although the Polyface products are sold for slightly more expensive prices it is worth it. Compared to other farms Polyface Farm products don't have as much pollution and added medicines that are inserted in the food. Selling to local businesses Polyface can keep a relationship with the people who they sell to oppose to industrial farms who sell to everyone.
Gems- "I spent the better part of Thursday riding shotgun in Art's panel truck, an old orange Dodge Caravan with a cranky compressor on the roof and a sign on the side that says 'On Delievery From Polyface Inc. Follow Me to the Best Restuarants In Town'" (Pollan 251)
"Sitting around the trailer's tiny kitchen table drinking sodas, Bev and Joel talked about the economics of selling food locally." (Pollan 247)
Thoughts- It seems like a good idea economically to sell to the local restaurants and markets because this way people know where the food comes from and you can create a relationship with them probably gaining a lot of respect which could mean you can expand your business from these people who are promoting your product.
Chapter 14
Summary- I took the products from the Polyface Farm and composed a dinner from items found directly on the farm grown by Joel Satalin himself. The meal consisted of two roasted chickens, corn and salad. The meal was great. It goes to show that the way Joel grows his food is a good alternative to the way most farmers grown through chemicals and medicines.
Gems-"So it makes evolutionary sense that pastured meats, the nutritional profile of which closely resembles that of wild game, would be better for us." (Pollan 267)
"Unless of course an industrail diet of easy sugars has dulled your taste for the earthy sweetness of corn, now that it has to compete with things like soda." (Pollan 266)
Thoughts- At the beginning of this part, the author seemed almost disturbed by the idea of eating the food in which he personally killed or saw die but now he is eating roasted chicken. I find that is what everyone does down. We look at the possibility of how good something might taste and how it got on the plate but the taste ALWAYS wins.
Chapter 15
Summary- Making my own meal was the next step in the adventure. Hunting and gathering things to eat, killing something to eat and getting the experience with this way of eating. Completely making my own meal and being the one who does every part of creating this meal.
Gems- "My wager in undertaking this experiment is that hunting and gathering (and growing) a meal would preforce teach me things about the ecology and ethics of eating that I could not get in a supermarket or fast-food chain or even on a farm" (Pollan 280)
"Agriculture brought humans a great many blessings, but it also brought infectious disease (from living in close quarters with one another and our animals) and malnutrition (from eating too much of the same thing when crops were good, and not enough of anything when they weren't" (page 279).
Thoughts- The idea of growing your own food is something that we did in class. It was actually very rewarding to do this so i understand why the author would want to experience something like this. it also seems like a large reward to kill your own food instead of buying it because it is something that sounds like it would taste better knowing it came from you.
Chapter 16
Summary- People and rats have similar ways of picking what to eat and similar tendencies of what to eat. Humans tend to aim for a diet of many different things and we also try to eat foods which are tasty and are also culturally appealing and even affordable. Most people see what is good to eat depending on how it how it taste where as people in other countries usually eat things that are nutritionally good when matched together.
Gems-"The set of rules for preparing food we call a cuisine, for example specifies combinations of food and flavors that on examination do great deal to mediate the omnivores dilemma." (Pollan 296)
"Last but not least, cooking abruptly changed thee terms of evolutionary arms race between omnivores and the species they would eat by allowing us to overcome their defenses" (Pollan 293)
Thoughts- I agree with a lot of this chapter. People do usually tend to eat depending on what tastes good because eating has become a kind of activity for example eating contests and all you can eat buffet instead of a way to refresh yourself with nutrients.
Chapter 17
Summary- Humans have a hard time eating meat if they think about everything that the animal has to go through to be on the plate. People don't have much contact with common meats that are eaten (fish, cows, pigs, and chickens). However many humans also think that some animals might not be able to suffer or not exactly feel the same pain humans feel. The question is why is it justified to eat other species and what is the difference between how we treat animals and cruelty to humans. Many people decided to vegetarians because of the way the animals are treated but many animals wouldn't exist without humans eating them.
Gems- "Whether our interest in eating animals outweighs their interest in not being eaten (assuming for a moment that is their interest) ultimately turns on the vexed question of animal suffering" (Pollan 315)
"Vegetarianism doesn't seem an unreasonable response to the existence of such an evil" (Pollan 319)
Thoughts- I think humans are so used to eating meats and we do know where it comes from however the taste of things are what makes someone want to eat certain things and because it taste good is what keeps us eating it. Although people do know what happens to these animals it seems like these are the roles of animals in life.
Chapter 12
Summary- Not only does Joel Satalin raise the animals on his farm. But he also has to slaughter them when it is time for them to be shipped away. Unable to sell the processed food from his own farm Joel finds that killing his own chickens is another way to show that his animals makes a statement and it also can reassure customers that everything about the chicken was done by him on his farm. Killing the chickens was something that Joel had no problem doing however it was not easy for someone who has never done it before. The chickens bleed and are eviscerated all on the farm. Doing this to a chicken could change the mine of how people see chicken but to Joel it isn't as bad.
Gems-"The viscera were unexpectedly beautiful, glistening in a whole palette of slightly electric colors, from the steely blue striations of the heat muscle to the sleek milk chocolate liver to the dull mustard of the gallbladder" (Pollan 234).
"It was hard to watch. I told myself the spasms were involuntary, and they probably were, I told myself that the birds waiting their turn appeared to have no idea what was going on in the cone next to them. I told myself that their suffering, once their throats were slit , was brief." (Pollan 231)
Thoughts- Everyone knows that this happens but when eating food its better to not think about the suffering another animal had to go through to make you feel better. I guess I see why vegetarians choose not to eat meat however many animals are grown for the sole purpose of eating. SO eat them.
Chapter 13
Summary- Polyface Farm only sells the things found on their farm to other markets, restaurants, and food places which are local to the area. Although the Polyface products are sold for slightly more expensive prices it is worth it. Compared to other farms Polyface Farm products don't have as much pollution and added medicines that are inserted in the food. Selling to local businesses Polyface can keep a relationship with the people who they sell to oppose to industrial farms who sell to everyone.
Gems- "I spent the better part of Thursday riding shotgun in Art's panel truck, an old orange Dodge Caravan with a cranky compressor on the roof and a sign on the side that says 'On Delievery From Polyface Inc. Follow Me to the Best Restuarants In Town'" (Pollan 251)
"Sitting around the trailer's tiny kitchen table drinking sodas, Bev and Joel talked about the economics of selling food locally." (Pollan 247)
Thoughts- It seems like a good idea economically to sell to the local restaurants and markets because this way people know where the food comes from and you can create a relationship with them probably gaining a lot of respect which could mean you can expand your business from these people who are promoting your product.
Chapter 14
Summary- I took the products from the Polyface Farm and composed a dinner from items found directly on the farm grown by Joel Satalin himself. The meal consisted of two roasted chickens, corn and salad. The meal was great. It goes to show that the way Joel grows his food is a good alternative to the way most farmers grown through chemicals and medicines.
Gems-"So it makes evolutionary sense that pastured meats, the nutritional profile of which closely resembles that of wild game, would be better for us." (Pollan 267)
"Unless of course an industrail diet of easy sugars has dulled your taste for the earthy sweetness of corn, now that it has to compete with things like soda." (Pollan 266)
Thoughts- At the beginning of this part, the author seemed almost disturbed by the idea of eating the food in which he personally killed or saw die but now he is eating roasted chicken. I find that is what everyone does down. We look at the possibility of how good something might taste and how it got on the plate but the taste ALWAYS wins.
Chapter 15
Summary- Making my own meal was the next step in the adventure. Hunting and gathering things to eat, killing something to eat and getting the experience with this way of eating. Completely making my own meal and being the one who does every part of creating this meal.
Gems- "My wager in undertaking this experiment is that hunting and gathering (and growing) a meal would preforce teach me things about the ecology and ethics of eating that I could not get in a supermarket or fast-food chain or even on a farm" (Pollan 280)
"Agriculture brought humans a great many blessings, but it also brought infectious disease (from living in close quarters with one another and our animals) and malnutrition (from eating too much of the same thing when crops were good, and not enough of anything when they weren't" (page 279).
Thoughts- The idea of growing your own food is something that we did in class. It was actually very rewarding to do this so i understand why the author would want to experience something like this. it also seems like a large reward to kill your own food instead of buying it because it is something that sounds like it would taste better knowing it came from you.
Chapter 16
Summary- People and rats have similar ways of picking what to eat and similar tendencies of what to eat. Humans tend to aim for a diet of many different things and we also try to eat foods which are tasty and are also culturally appealing and even affordable. Most people see what is good to eat depending on how it how it taste where as people in other countries usually eat things that are nutritionally good when matched together.
Gems-"The set of rules for preparing food we call a cuisine, for example specifies combinations of food and flavors that on examination do great deal to mediate the omnivores dilemma." (Pollan 296)
"Last but not least, cooking abruptly changed thee terms of evolutionary arms race between omnivores and the species they would eat by allowing us to overcome their defenses" (Pollan 293)
Thoughts- I agree with a lot of this chapter. People do usually tend to eat depending on what tastes good because eating has become a kind of activity for example eating contests and all you can eat buffet instead of a way to refresh yourself with nutrients.
Chapter 17
Summary- Humans have a hard time eating meat if they think about everything that the animal has to go through to be on the plate. People don't have much contact with common meats that are eaten (fish, cows, pigs, and chickens). However many humans also think that some animals might not be able to suffer or not exactly feel the same pain humans feel. The question is why is it justified to eat other species and what is the difference between how we treat animals and cruelty to humans. Many people decided to vegetarians because of the way the animals are treated but many animals wouldn't exist without humans eating them.
Gems- "Whether our interest in eating animals outweighs their interest in not being eaten (assuming for a moment that is their interest) ultimately turns on the vexed question of animal suffering" (Pollan 315)
"Vegetarianism doesn't seem an unreasonable response to the existence of such an evil" (Pollan 319)
Thoughts- I think humans are so used to eating meats and we do know where it comes from however the taste of things are what makes someone want to eat certain things and because it taste good is what keeps us eating it. Although people do know what happens to these animals it seems like these are the roles of animals in life.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Freakonomic Response
During the course of the movie, the Freakonomics authors address correlation versus causation by saying that many cases of correlation are not causation however some correlation are not causation. During the segment about names they look into the correlation between what someone’s name is and how successful they are in life. Many people that had common black names were not always as successful as people who had white names. However it was not because these people had these names that gave them a set fate of being less successful in life. Most of the time someone who had a common black name was someone who had less opportunity because they were not in the same housing as the whites and had a different household. There were many college associates that did tests on the way names were spelled and the general race that certain names came from and there was no one name that would put someone ahead in life. However Freakamonics suggests that in some cases a name could be the cause of the way job searches go from the correlation. An experiment was done to see the correlation between a person who had a common white name and someone who had a common black name. The person with the common white name had the exact same resume as someone who was black but the person who had the common black name had 33% of call backs from places as someone who had a common white name. This would mean that while during a job hunt if it took a person with a white 10 weeks to get a job it would take a person with a black name 15 weeks with the same credentials to get a job. The Freakonomics authors seem to believe that some correlation is causation however in different aspects of a subject it isn’t. According to the film name can’t determine if you do good in life but a name can determine if you might have a slight advantage over other people who may have uncommon names. Another relationship of some correlation is causation is another experiment where children are bribed. The correlation is that when some people are bribed they then try to do better or meet the standard that needs to be met so they can have the reward. In the case of Steve Levitts daughter who was bribed with M&M’s to use the toilet, the M&M’s are what caused her to use the bathroom more. This would be an experiment to support that correlation is causation because she started taking advantage of using the bathroom and just using it more frequently to get the reward. However at the school in Chicago students were bribed with money to do better in school. The school would pay the students to get above C’s and while most students did take this bribe and get C’s that is all they needed to get the money. Also in some cases kids did even worse over a period of time and had to catch up later. Most people didn’t do work because they wanted to learn so they didn’t learn as much however they did the work to get the reward. This is a part of the film that shows correlation is not causation because even though some kids did do better when bribed some kids actually did worse and kids who didn’t get the award the first time around gave up on trying to get it in general.
The Freakonomics authors mostly rely on the evidence of the results taken by different experiments. Cheating in sumo wrestling, names of people leading to success, and the idea that bribery can get someone to do something positive they wouldn’t do without the bribe. In these experiments and research the Freakonomics authors use these numbers to show how something’s in the world work. They also use the interviews of people who are actually experiencing these different subjects instead of only looking at numbers and talking to professors. Instead of just taking all of the results from the school bribery experiment the Freakonomics authors listened to the people who actually experienced this and took this information as part of the film. This is innovative because a lot of the time when people are numbers you don’t understand why the numbers are this way. For example by looking at the numbers of the kids who were bribed to do good in school there were some kids who did worse. However this could just be taken as a skew or an outlier in the data but if you interview these people it gives you an explanation of what happened. Most people like to take math as something that can’t be incorrect and while that is true to some extent when the numbers are from data by people not everyone is in the same situation. So interviewing someone gives more insight to why something happened and not just what happened. Freakonomics serves as an inspiration and good example to our attempt to explore the "hidden-in-plain-sight" weirdness of dominant social practices. Freakonomics serves as an inspiration and good example to our attempt to explore the "hidden-in-plain-sight" weirdness of dominant social practices. I agree with this statement because while some people believe that correlation is causation the Freakonomics takes that and tries to show different aspects of what people see in everyday life to show that it isn’t always as it appears. This is especially true in the sumo wrestling segment. Because some people would see it that sumo’s with 8-6 records usually don’t feel like they need to win the last one and that’s what causes them to lose however there is more to it and sumo’s actually see this as opportunities to put themselves ahead. For US food ways the book Omnivores Dilemma shows that what we think is the cause of some of the ways that we eat aren’t always how they appear.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Homework 8
HW 7B
Chapter 6
Summary- The consumer is responsible for eating billions of bushels of corn. The idea isn't to cut down the numbers of corn processed but instead to eat more of it in different ways. In the nineteenth century the way to consume corn was by drinking alcoholic beverages because there was a lot of corn in alcoholic beverages. The large consumption of alcoholic drinks lead to health problems and helped lead to obesity.
Gems-"That at least is what we're doing with about 530 million bushel of the annual corn harvest--turning it into 17.5 billion pounds of high-fructose corn syrup.(Pallon 103)"
"Much as today, the astounding productivity of American farmers proved to be their own worst enemy, as well as a threat to public health...Sooner or later, clever marketer will figure out a way to induce the human omnivore to consume surfeit of cheap calories. (Pallon 101)"
Thoughts- This chapter helped to show how much we depend on corn. I feel like knowing that we are forced to consume more and more corn almost frightens me. This could mean that corn is introduced to new products in new ways however the general public might never hear about it because there is much that it needs to be put in products to it doesn't go to waste.
Chapter 7
Summary- McDonald's food is something some people see as a treat. However even in this food there are something things that can't be explained and in many products there is a large amount of corn. In a normal McDonald's meal it is possible to eat almost half of what your supposed to eat in calories. Most of the products on the menu are corn dependent and instead of cutting down on corn the idea is to sell larger amounts of food but to also do this very cheaply. By doing this more corn is consumed and more money is made.
Gems- "I ate a lot of McDonald's as a kid. This was in pre-Wallerstein era, when you still had to order a second little burger or sack of fries if you wanted more, and the chicken nugget had not yet been invented. (Pallon 111)"
"These days 19 percent of American meals are eaten in the car.(Pallon 110)''
Thoughts- I stopped eating McDonald's in the 5th grade but before that I always use to eat McDonald's because it is one block away from my school and it was one block away from the school I attended. I also noticed that getting double the quantity would be just a couple more quarters. I always would look for the upgrades because it was more food for cheaper but this book brings more awareness to exactly how unhealthy that was seeing as the authors wife had a salad and still consumed large amounts of corn and calories.
Chapter 8
Summary- With all of the farms that are feed corn and given medicines there are some farms that do still feed the animals grass.Joel Salatin does have an organic farm. The animals are feed grass, hummus and other natural foods. This is rather uncommon because it is easier and cheaper to feed the animals corn because their are so many bushels of corn to be eaten.
Gems-"Though it was only the third week of June, the pasture beneath me had already seen several rotational turns. Before being cut earlier in the week for the hay that would feed the farm's animals through the winter, it had been grazed twice by beef cattle (Pallon 126)".
Thoughts- I think that having an organic farm would be something that should happen more often however it would cost a lot of money to do this. It is good to see a change however. Knowing that there are some farms that have alternate ways of taking care of their animals.
Chapter 9
Summary- The line between something organic and something that isn't organic is becoming very dim. Some foods are advertised as very organic such as food from Whole Foods and other grocers which are known to be organic however it is not easy to make this statement. Some animals that are treated differently with different kinds of feed then corn such as chickens can be subject to infection even with different lifestyle conditions. In fact sometimes what some people seem to think organic is could in fact be worse than something that isn't considered organic.
Gems- "We were part of the food industry now," he told me. "But I wanted to leverage that position to redefine the way we grow food--not what people want to eat or how we distribute it." (Pallon 133)
"No farms I had ever visited before prepared me for the industrial organic farms I saw in California." (Pallon 158)
Thoughts-I feel like with this being the case what is the advantage to spending a lot of money on a product that might be close to the same as the product however the product would be at a cheaper cost. Also what would happen with the stores such as Whole Foods if they knew information like this.
Chapter 10
Summary- Grass is also something that is very important to humans. Less used than corn because it is much easier and cheaper however grass can also be used to feed animals such as cows and other animals. Grass does need more care and is not as cheap however is a good alternative. Cows can get the suns energy from growing grass and this again is transfered to humans from beef. The government doesn't even give commodity to the grass farmers. However corn farmers like George Naylor gets commodity for his work.
Gems-"At dinner I mentioned that this was probably the all-time most local meal I'd ever eaten." (Pallon 203)
"The farm and the family comprised remarkably self-contained world, in the way I imagine all American farm life once did." (Pallon 204)
Thoughts- Grass does seem like a good alternative because it is more natural. However it makes more sense to use the corn instead because it is cheaper and there is so much corn. My question is what motivates someone to grow grass instead of using the cheaper more easier acquired corn?
Summary- The consumer is responsible for eating billions of bushels of corn. The idea isn't to cut down the numbers of corn processed but instead to eat more of it in different ways. In the nineteenth century the way to consume corn was by drinking alcoholic beverages because there was a lot of corn in alcoholic beverages. The large consumption of alcoholic drinks lead to health problems and helped lead to obesity.
Gems-"That at least is what we're doing with about 530 million bushel of the annual corn harvest--turning it into 17.5 billion pounds of high-fructose corn syrup.(Pallon 103)"
"Much as today, the astounding productivity of American farmers proved to be their own worst enemy, as well as a threat to public health...Sooner or later, clever marketer will figure out a way to induce the human omnivore to consume surfeit of cheap calories. (Pallon 101)"
Thoughts- This chapter helped to show how much we depend on corn. I feel like knowing that we are forced to consume more and more corn almost frightens me. This could mean that corn is introduced to new products in new ways however the general public might never hear about it because there is much that it needs to be put in products to it doesn't go to waste.
Chapter 7
Summary- McDonald's food is something some people see as a treat. However even in this food there are something things that can't be explained and in many products there is a large amount of corn. In a normal McDonald's meal it is possible to eat almost half of what your supposed to eat in calories. Most of the products on the menu are corn dependent and instead of cutting down on corn the idea is to sell larger amounts of food but to also do this very cheaply. By doing this more corn is consumed and more money is made.
Gems- "I ate a lot of McDonald's as a kid. This was in pre-Wallerstein era, when you still had to order a second little burger or sack of fries if you wanted more, and the chicken nugget had not yet been invented. (Pallon 111)"
"These days 19 percent of American meals are eaten in the car.(Pallon 110)''
Thoughts- I stopped eating McDonald's in the 5th grade but before that I always use to eat McDonald's because it is one block away from my school and it was one block away from the school I attended. I also noticed that getting double the quantity would be just a couple more quarters. I always would look for the upgrades because it was more food for cheaper but this book brings more awareness to exactly how unhealthy that was seeing as the authors wife had a salad and still consumed large amounts of corn and calories.
Chapter 8
Summary- With all of the farms that are feed corn and given medicines there are some farms that do still feed the animals grass.Joel Salatin does have an organic farm. The animals are feed grass, hummus and other natural foods. This is rather uncommon because it is easier and cheaper to feed the animals corn because their are so many bushels of corn to be eaten.
Gems-"Though it was only the third week of June, the pasture beneath me had already seen several rotational turns. Before being cut earlier in the week for the hay that would feed the farm's animals through the winter, it had been grazed twice by beef cattle (Pallon 126)".
Thoughts- I think that having an organic farm would be something that should happen more often however it would cost a lot of money to do this. It is good to see a change however. Knowing that there are some farms that have alternate ways of taking care of their animals.
Chapter 9
Summary- The line between something organic and something that isn't organic is becoming very dim. Some foods are advertised as very organic such as food from Whole Foods and other grocers which are known to be organic however it is not easy to make this statement. Some animals that are treated differently with different kinds of feed then corn such as chickens can be subject to infection even with different lifestyle conditions. In fact sometimes what some people seem to think organic is could in fact be worse than something that isn't considered organic.
Gems- "We were part of the food industry now," he told me. "But I wanted to leverage that position to redefine the way we grow food--not what people want to eat or how we distribute it." (Pallon 133)
"No farms I had ever visited before prepared me for the industrial organic farms I saw in California." (Pallon 158)
Thoughts-I feel like with this being the case what is the advantage to spending a lot of money on a product that might be close to the same as the product however the product would be at a cheaper cost. Also what would happen with the stores such as Whole Foods if they knew information like this.
Chapter 10
Summary- Grass is also something that is very important to humans. Less used than corn because it is much easier and cheaper however grass can also be used to feed animals such as cows and other animals. Grass does need more care and is not as cheap however is a good alternative. Cows can get the suns energy from growing grass and this again is transfered to humans from beef. The government doesn't even give commodity to the grass farmers. However corn farmers like George Naylor gets commodity for his work.
Gems-"At dinner I mentioned that this was probably the all-time most local meal I'd ever eaten." (Pallon 203)
"The farm and the family comprised remarkably self-contained world, in the way I imagine all American farm life once did." (Pallon 204)
Thoughts- Grass does seem like a good alternative because it is more natural. However it makes more sense to use the corn instead because it is cheaper and there is so much corn. My question is what motivates someone to grow grass instead of using the cheaper more easier acquired corn?
Monday, October 4, 2010
Omnivores Dilemma by Michael Pallon
Introduction:
Summary- The introduction gives insight into what the rest of the book is going to be about.The introduction also touches upon the ideas that go through someone's head when deciding to eat. It refers to an experience towards the end of the chapter about the difference between hunting for food and being able to get food from some place like a fast food restaurant or a supermarket. Slowly giving ideas of the view point of the rest of the book.
Gems- "Our cultures codifies the rules of wise eating in an elaborate structure of taboos, rituals, recipes, manners, and culinary traditions that keep us from having to reenact the omnivore's dilemma at every meal.(Pallon 3)"
Thoughts- From reading the Introduction I felt like the book was going to be a lot about science and the way that food is made oppose to addressing a major topic like obesity in America or things of that sort. I also thought from the cover that this book was going to be some kind of dietary book that talks about things such as fruits and vegetables from the cover of the book but it is more about the thinking of people when deciding on food. However the opener was good because it asks a simple question, "what's for dinner tonight?" and that is something I am asked all the time however I never know the answer.
Chapter 1
Summary- In average supermarkets when you first walk in there is usually a produce section. After that you continue to walk into aisles off ketchup and an abundance of cereal many of these foods eaten are associated with corn. There is high fructose corn syrup, corn oil, corn starch and more. It seems like everything we eat either has a little bit of corn in some form or a lot of it. Native Americans used corn and taught the settlers how to use corn. Every part of the corn was used for many different kinds of things. Corn is one of the most vital parts of food to people all over the world.
Gems- "Valuable as corn is as a means of subsistence, the kernel's qualities make is an excellent means of accumulation as well. (Pallon 26)"
Thoughts- I think that this chapter was something very interesting because I've never thought about how much we depend on corn. Usually when you ask someone about the ingredient to the food that they eat they either don't know or won't know that corn is in most of these foods. Seeing that Native Americans used corn a lot also shows how much the human race depends on it and when walking through the supermarket now it will be a bit different because knowing how much of something is in what i eat when I usually take the food I have for granted.
Chapter 2
Summary- The second chapter goes a little deeper into talks about hybrid corn. The hybrid corn is a kind of corn that is more effective because it has corn that is stronger then other corns and there can be a larger supply of this kind of corn. The chapter also talks about farming and it also becomes clear how important the farmers who grow corn are because without them there would be a lot less corn but as talked about in the previous chapter corn is needed.
Gems- "For as long as people have been farming, fat years posed almost as stiff a challenge as lean, since crop surpluses collapse prices and bankrupt farmers who will be needed again when the inevitable lean year return (Pallon 49)".
Thoughts- I personally thought this chapter was more interesting then the others because I was wondering what makes people think about easy ways to get more of a product. It seems this kind of idea of having food on steroids is something that people are either all for or they are afraid of because to them it is something that could potentially harm them. However farmers do have to produce the foods.
Chapter 3
Summary- There wasn't as much of a need for corn as now making tracking corn easier. Now it is more difficult and conveyor belts and rail trains have been used to make transporting corn easier. The corn travels through many different places and most of the corn grown ends up with animals at factory farms to be eaten.
Gems- The Place where most of those kernels wind up -- about three of every five -- is on the American factory farm, a place that could not exist without them (Pallon 64)
Thoughts- I think that this chapter shows the statistical value of how much we depend on corn today and the amount that is made for us to use in everyday life.
Chapter 4
Summary- Cows have to go eat corn bushels that are given to the American Farm Factories. Cows go through poor medical conditions, such as feedlot dust making them blood shot and standing in pools of their own feces. On the feedlot the cows eat until they weigh enough to be big so they can be eaten. Cows also have to be given protein and large amounts of drugs.
Gems- "The speed at which these animals will be slaughtered and processed---four hundred an hour at the plant where 534 will go -- means that sooner or later some of the manure caked on these hides gets into the meat we eat.
Thoughts- I feel like this really shows how much we depend on corn however the meat that we get can be very contaminated. The animals also eat this corn to get better however the living conditions of these animals are not always the best and we are eating these animals after they have be around this unsanitary environment.
Chapter 5
Summary- There are not thousands or millions but billions of bushels of corn grown and processed a year. However humans don't eat all of this corn as corn in its actual form. Corn is used in every possible way to make cereal, sugar, and even meat. The corn is milked for all it has. The nutrients of the corn are used for other foods ingredient and its even used to put protein in the feed for animals which make up the meat we eat.
Gems- "Remember the sixties dream of an entire meal served in a pill, like the Jetsons? We've apparently moved from the meal-in-a-pill to the pill-in-a-meal, which is to say, not very far at all. (Pallon 97)"
Thoughts- Is it possible to go a week without eating something that has corn in it in some kind of way?
-After reading the first 100 pages of this book I feel like the answer to the first question at the beginning of the book "Whats for dinner?" would simply be corn and now i also see it as redundant whenever my mom asks me if I want corn with my food.
Summary- The introduction gives insight into what the rest of the book is going to be about.The introduction also touches upon the ideas that go through someone's head when deciding to eat. It refers to an experience towards the end of the chapter about the difference between hunting for food and being able to get food from some place like a fast food restaurant or a supermarket. Slowly giving ideas of the view point of the rest of the book.
Gems- "Our cultures codifies the rules of wise eating in an elaborate structure of taboos, rituals, recipes, manners, and culinary traditions that keep us from having to reenact the omnivore's dilemma at every meal.(Pallon 3)"
Thoughts- From reading the Introduction I felt like the book was going to be a lot about science and the way that food is made oppose to addressing a major topic like obesity in America or things of that sort. I also thought from the cover that this book was going to be some kind of dietary book that talks about things such as fruits and vegetables from the cover of the book but it is more about the thinking of people when deciding on food. However the opener was good because it asks a simple question, "what's for dinner tonight?" and that is something I am asked all the time however I never know the answer.
Chapter 1
Summary- In average supermarkets when you first walk in there is usually a produce section. After that you continue to walk into aisles off ketchup and an abundance of cereal many of these foods eaten are associated with corn. There is high fructose corn syrup, corn oil, corn starch and more. It seems like everything we eat either has a little bit of corn in some form or a lot of it. Native Americans used corn and taught the settlers how to use corn. Every part of the corn was used for many different kinds of things. Corn is one of the most vital parts of food to people all over the world.
Gems- "Valuable as corn is as a means of subsistence, the kernel's qualities make is an excellent means of accumulation as well. (Pallon 26)"
Thoughts- I think that this chapter was something very interesting because I've never thought about how much we depend on corn. Usually when you ask someone about the ingredient to the food that they eat they either don't know or won't know that corn is in most of these foods. Seeing that Native Americans used corn a lot also shows how much the human race depends on it and when walking through the supermarket now it will be a bit different because knowing how much of something is in what i eat when I usually take the food I have for granted.
Chapter 2
Summary- The second chapter goes a little deeper into talks about hybrid corn. The hybrid corn is a kind of corn that is more effective because it has corn that is stronger then other corns and there can be a larger supply of this kind of corn. The chapter also talks about farming and it also becomes clear how important the farmers who grow corn are because without them there would be a lot less corn but as talked about in the previous chapter corn is needed.
Gems- "For as long as people have been farming, fat years posed almost as stiff a challenge as lean, since crop surpluses collapse prices and bankrupt farmers who will be needed again when the inevitable lean year return (Pallon 49)".
Thoughts- I personally thought this chapter was more interesting then the others because I was wondering what makes people think about easy ways to get more of a product. It seems this kind of idea of having food on steroids is something that people are either all for or they are afraid of because to them it is something that could potentially harm them. However farmers do have to produce the foods.
Chapter 3
Summary- There wasn't as much of a need for corn as now making tracking corn easier. Now it is more difficult and conveyor belts and rail trains have been used to make transporting corn easier. The corn travels through many different places and most of the corn grown ends up with animals at factory farms to be eaten.
Gems- The Place where most of those kernels wind up -- about three of every five -- is on the American factory farm, a place that could not exist without them (Pallon 64)
Thoughts- I think that this chapter shows the statistical value of how much we depend on corn today and the amount that is made for us to use in everyday life.
Chapter 4
Summary- Cows have to go eat corn bushels that are given to the American Farm Factories. Cows go through poor medical conditions, such as feedlot dust making them blood shot and standing in pools of their own feces. On the feedlot the cows eat until they weigh enough to be big so they can be eaten. Cows also have to be given protein and large amounts of drugs.
Gems- "The speed at which these animals will be slaughtered and processed---four hundred an hour at the plant where 534 will go -- means that sooner or later some of the manure caked on these hides gets into the meat we eat.
Thoughts- I feel like this really shows how much we depend on corn however the meat that we get can be very contaminated. The animals also eat this corn to get better however the living conditions of these animals are not always the best and we are eating these animals after they have be around this unsanitary environment.
Chapter 5
Summary- There are not thousands or millions but billions of bushels of corn grown and processed a year. However humans don't eat all of this corn as corn in its actual form. Corn is used in every possible way to make cereal, sugar, and even meat. The corn is milked for all it has. The nutrients of the corn are used for other foods ingredient and its even used to put protein in the feed for animals which make up the meat we eat.
Gems- "Remember the sixties dream of an entire meal served in a pill, like the Jetsons? We've apparently moved from the meal-in-a-pill to the pill-in-a-meal, which is to say, not very far at all. (Pallon 97)"
Thoughts- Is it possible to go a week without eating something that has corn in it in some kind of way?
-After reading the first 100 pages of this book I feel like the answer to the first question at the beginning of the book "Whats for dinner?" would simply be corn and now i also see it as redundant whenever my mom asks me if I want corn with my food.
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