Tuesdays with Morrie By Mitch Albom Published by Doubleday in September 1997
PRECIS: As morrie's death becomes more and more evident, Morrie's life becomes more and more inspirational. Morrie shares his experiences and feels the need to make sure people understand that they cannot let the materialistic things in life, get in the way of tasting what life has to offer.
"Lets begin with this idea Morrie says. Everyone knows they're going to die, but nobody believes it."p.80
Death is a part of life, we all will someday cross that path. Everyone is so caught up trying to "live as if today is their last" but according to Morrie's standards people don't do that until it is too late. People live their lives wasting time when they should be spending it doing something actually worth while to themselves, something that they can say makes them feel good.
"The fact is there is no foundation, no secure ground, upon which people may stand today if it isn't the family...Love is so supremely important. As our great poet Auden said, Love each other or perish." p.91
The importance of love is in my mind obvious. Connections, feelings and emotions are things that run deep in our veins as human beings and we all feel the need and the desire to love and to be loved in return. We all want that acceptance from within. The feeling that we can be loved. Life should be filled with love, I think that without it you cannot truly live life.
"I grin at my brother and we are united by childish pride. That wasn't so hard we think, and we are ready to take on death again."p.99
Children are so innocent and eager. They have no idea about real danger and real issues, they live in a bubble of safety and fun. Maybe we as adults or growing adults need to return to that time. We need to remember that life isn't that serious and having fun while living it is actually fun.
Throughout this book I am finding that Morrie is not only insightful, but relatable. I feel as if I have known Morrie before I read his story. It gives me a weird sense of home. I think that Morrie has become that mentor figure in the sense that he has been there and he has a very original opinion about life, he makes you think about your own life and what areas you're slacking in and how you can make your life better in that sense.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Saturday, December 11, 2010
HW 21- comments
Leticia-
I love how fluid your writing is. You can write as if you're thinking and I think that is important when you are a writer. Your personal thoughts and insights are interesting I think that you have a lot to say. "In our society, we try to make things work out best for the person is sick is by going to the hospital. Which can help, but there’s also something missing" I think that this line is particularly insightful and full of feeling.
Chris-
Hey chris, I thought that your blog was insightful and it made a lot of sense, but I think that one thing you can do is try and talk a little bit more beautifully. Ask yourself what can you do to make this have feeling. Instead of just retelling the situation, help it so that the reader's can feel what you felt when Beth came in and spoke about her husband's death.
I love how fluid your writing is. You can write as if you're thinking and I think that is important when you are a writer. Your personal thoughts and insights are interesting I think that you have a lot to say. "In our society, we try to make things work out best for the person is sick is by going to the hospital. Which can help, but there’s also something missing" I think that this line is particularly insightful and full of feeling.
Chris-
Hey chris, I thought that your blog was insightful and it made a lot of sense, but I think that one thing you can do is try and talk a little bit more beautifully. Ask yourself what can you do to make this have feeling. Instead of just retelling the situation, help it so that the reader's can feel what you felt when Beth came in and spoke about her husband's death.
HW 22 - Illness & Dying Book Part 1
Tuesdays with Morrie By Mitch Albom Published by Doubleday in September 1997
PRECIS: Morrie is an inspirational, loving and unique individual. He offers more then the usual teacher would. In more you find motivation, beauty and love. As he dies slowly he can now offer life.
"Have you found someone to share your heart with? Are you giving to your community? Are you at peace with yourself? Are you trying to be as human as you can be?" P. 34
-I think that it is interesting that Morrie would want to know so much about the successes Mitch has achieved. Morrie thinks that these things are considered success, not what job title he obtains or how much he makes. But real things, it's as if he thinks Mitch can survive only on these things.
"The culture we have does not make people feel good about themselves. And you have to be strong enough to say if the culture doesn't work,don't buy it." P.42
-Morrie's ideas and theories make so much sense to me. Like why accept a culture if it doesn't fully make you happy or feel good about yourself? But it's not that easy, like it actually might be harder to reject the culture of America. But maybe your happiness is worth it, maybe the idea of telling anyone who has something to say "Fuck off." is the sweet satisfaction of it all.
"Because it's the ultimate sign of dependency. Someone wiping your bottom. But I'm working on it. I'm trying to enjoy the process. Enjoy it? Yes. After all I get to be a baby one more time." P.49
-You have to accept things that you have no control over. Once you have accepted them then you can learn to live around them. There is no point in making the little amount of time that you have left on earth miserable.
Morrie is having the inspirational accepting death. And I can only hope that when I go, I not only have time but that I can feel as optimistic about it, I would like to be able to reflect on my life, not only on the successes because despite what I think morrie believes those do matter, but on the relationships I've made and the relationships i've lost. I want to be able to tell people about love and how I lived my life so that they can take it and apply it to their own lives and maybe have a happier one.
PRECIS: Morrie is an inspirational, loving and unique individual. He offers more then the usual teacher would. In more you find motivation, beauty and love. As he dies slowly he can now offer life.
"Have you found someone to share your heart with? Are you giving to your community? Are you at peace with yourself? Are you trying to be as human as you can be?" P. 34
-I think that it is interesting that Morrie would want to know so much about the successes Mitch has achieved. Morrie thinks that these things are considered success, not what job title he obtains or how much he makes. But real things, it's as if he thinks Mitch can survive only on these things.
"The culture we have does not make people feel good about themselves. And you have to be strong enough to say if the culture doesn't work,don't buy it." P.42
-Morrie's ideas and theories make so much sense to me. Like why accept a culture if it doesn't fully make you happy or feel good about yourself? But it's not that easy, like it actually might be harder to reject the culture of America. But maybe your happiness is worth it, maybe the idea of telling anyone who has something to say "Fuck off." is the sweet satisfaction of it all.
"Because it's the ultimate sign of dependency. Someone wiping your bottom. But I'm working on it. I'm trying to enjoy the process. Enjoy it? Yes. After all I get to be a baby one more time." P.49
-You have to accept things that you have no control over. Once you have accepted them then you can learn to live around them. There is no point in making the little amount of time that you have left on earth miserable.
Morrie is having the inspirational accepting death. And I can only hope that when I go, I not only have time but that I can feel as optimistic about it, I would like to be able to reflect on my life, not only on the successes because despite what I think morrie believes those do matter, but on the relationships I've made and the relationships i've lost. I want to be able to tell people about love and how I lived my life so that they can take it and apply it to their own lives and maybe have a happier one.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
HW 21 - Expert #1
Some insights and experiences that stood out to me:
"In denial, and a man."
Once he was insured, he was given the best treatment, magnificent.
Fortunate enough to take time off and spend it with her husband, the best times of their marriage.
DNR- Do Not Resuscitate form.
Death is not pretty like in the movies, the body begins to deteriorate right before your eyes.
Sprinkling himself with water, cooling method or "return to the womb".
Buddist Monk told her that the signs of death would include his lack of desire to eat, and he would push his hands away as if he were pushing death away.
When Beth Bernett came and spoke about the death of her husband for 26 years, I didn't expect for it to touch me the way that it did. It was more then the typical sad story about a wife who loses her soulmate. It was more about the way she altered her life for death. Instead of her being completely sorrowful and mournful she accepted it. She learned that being sad about something you cannot change did nothing but made you more miserable. By accepting fate she found that she had some of the happiest times with her husband in all of their 26 years together. I think that that was the biggest lesson I learned from her, to not be completely sad. Enjoy death while you can because once its finalized, then thats it.
I've never heard of the idea that when people die they begin to push away as if they were pushing death away. I think it makes a lot of sense though, like if I were sick I too would push death away with all of the strength that I had left inside of my body. I wonder if that happens to the people left inside of hospitals do die, the ones addicted to pain medications that are meant to help them. I wonder if that happens to the people that no one cares about, do they welcome the grim reaper because he promises that someone will be there to finally care for them? This theory brings me a lot of questions. But it kind of makes me fell better. It gives me a sense if assurance that when someone I know is going I can kind of know exactly when they will time out of the world.
There were many things that I have learned from Beth Bernett. Her story was touching and I found that I myself felt the familiar sensation in my throat. The burning one that you try and wash down with your saliva but the thickness of it makes it nearly impossible. This is the same feeling I felt when my grandfather died. Why is it that we can feel so completely connected to a person we have never met through such a complex experience? Im still scared of death, but I fell that listening to Mrs. Bernett and reading these books I want to appreciate my life and when things like death happen around me I would like to be a little bit more accepting of it. It should help with the pain.
"In denial, and a man."
Once he was insured, he was given the best treatment, magnificent.
Fortunate enough to take time off and spend it with her husband, the best times of their marriage.
DNR- Do Not Resuscitate form.
Death is not pretty like in the movies, the body begins to deteriorate right before your eyes.
Sprinkling himself with water, cooling method or "return to the womb".
Buddist Monk told her that the signs of death would include his lack of desire to eat, and he would push his hands away as if he were pushing death away.
When Beth Bernett came and spoke about the death of her husband for 26 years, I didn't expect for it to touch me the way that it did. It was more then the typical sad story about a wife who loses her soulmate. It was more about the way she altered her life for death. Instead of her being completely sorrowful and mournful she accepted it. She learned that being sad about something you cannot change did nothing but made you more miserable. By accepting fate she found that she had some of the happiest times with her husband in all of their 26 years together. I think that that was the biggest lesson I learned from her, to not be completely sad. Enjoy death while you can because once its finalized, then thats it.
I've never heard of the idea that when people die they begin to push away as if they were pushing death away. I think it makes a lot of sense though, like if I were sick I too would push death away with all of the strength that I had left inside of my body. I wonder if that happens to the people left inside of hospitals do die, the ones addicted to pain medications that are meant to help them. I wonder if that happens to the people that no one cares about, do they welcome the grim reaper because he promises that someone will be there to finally care for them? This theory brings me a lot of questions. But it kind of makes me fell better. It gives me a sense if assurance that when someone I know is going I can kind of know exactly when they will time out of the world.
There were many things that I have learned from Beth Bernett. Her story was touching and I found that I myself felt the familiar sensation in my throat. The burning one that you try and wash down with your saliva but the thickness of it makes it nearly impossible. This is the same feeling I felt when my grandfather died. Why is it that we can feel so completely connected to a person we have never met through such a complex experience? Im still scared of death, but I fell that listening to Mrs. Bernett and reading these books I want to appreciate my life and when things like death happen around me I would like to be a little bit more accepting of it. It should help with the pain.
Friday, December 3, 2010
HW 20 - Thinking/Writing Groups
Luz Leon
Luz_leon93@yahoo.com
Normalisweirdluz.blogspot.com
My partners:
Christopher M. Lilcmm@gmail.com chrism23.blogspot.com
Letcia P. pichardleticia@yahoo.com LP-leticia.blogspot.com
Steven
More skilled: Luz my mom LLucyleon3@gmail.com
Less skilled: Serica my younger sister sweetyselena19@gmail.com
Luz_leon93@yahoo.com
Normalisweirdluz.blogspot.com
My partners:
Christopher M. Lilcmm@gmail.com chrism23.blogspot.com
Letcia P. pichardleticia@yahoo.com LP-leticia.blogspot.com
Steven
More skilled: Luz my mom LLucyleon3@gmail.com
Less skilled: Serica my younger sister sweetyselena19@gmail.com
Monday, November 29, 2010
HW 18 - Health & Illness & Feasting
Well this year my family and I had a very quiet thanksgiving. Usually we have some people over and everyone eats and talks then talks and eats some more, but not this year. It was just my mom my younger sisters and myself. My stepdad unfortunately had to work till 11 that night. He does that every thanksgiving, but usually never this late. This lack of family involvement had nothing to do with death or anything drastic...it was like everyone did their own thing. Everyone had their own personal household family dinners.
The food was amazing, my mom made everything that we all wanted and then some. I thought it was interesting, she had recently had mouth surgery and even though she couldn't eat her food she still made sure that we were all satisfied. I asked her if she enjoyed cooking all this food and spending all day preparing it and she replied with a simple "yea, it makes me happy". I hope that I have that same joy cooking a feast for my family too. My mom also made food for other people, like she made extra trays of lasagna and baked macaroni and cheese for people to pick up and cook at home. My mom is one of the most generous people I know, and that had nothing to do with the holiday she's like this all year round. :)
No one watched sports ( this is household where mostly females reside) we literally ate some food then sat back hoping to digest it only to overstuff ourselves some more. My little sisters played their wii, my parents fixed the sensor so that they could once again enjoy their game my cat ruined. I wouldn't say that my thanksgiving had anything to do with health, it was all about eating good food. So I guess you can say I had a very "body-centered" meal. It wasn't specifically healthy but it was for our pleasure. No one wanted to eat tasteless things that didn't make them appreciate life a little bit more. We all wanted the sugary fattening cheesy meals that would send messages saying yes..this is GREAT.
The food was amazing, my mom made everything that we all wanted and then some. I thought it was interesting, she had recently had mouth surgery and even though she couldn't eat her food she still made sure that we were all satisfied. I asked her if she enjoyed cooking all this food and spending all day preparing it and she replied with a simple "yea, it makes me happy". I hope that I have that same joy cooking a feast for my family too. My mom also made food for other people, like she made extra trays of lasagna and baked macaroni and cheese for people to pick up and cook at home. My mom is one of the most generous people I know, and that had nothing to do with the holiday she's like this all year round. :)
No one watched sports ( this is household where mostly females reside) we literally ate some food then sat back hoping to digest it only to overstuff ourselves some more. My little sisters played their wii, my parents fixed the sensor so that they could once again enjoy their game my cat ruined. I wouldn't say that my thanksgiving had anything to do with health, it was all about eating good food. So I guess you can say I had a very "body-centered" meal. It wasn't specifically healthy but it was for our pleasure. No one wanted to eat tasteless things that didn't make them appreciate life a little bit more. We all wanted the sugary fattening cheesy meals that would send messages saying yes..this is GREAT.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
HW 17 - First Thoughts on the Illness & Dying Unit
I'm not sure how to write this blog with out sounding a little bit cliche.
I think the" traditional" things about illness and death. Illness is miserable, you are sick and scared all the time. You don't know if it will lead to death or just more suffering. You just know that you want to stop suffering. Death is scary you don't know what is on the other end of the stick. We try to comfort ourselves by thinking that there is some sort of life on the other end of the road, one that is better then the one we're living now; but we will never know until we die. I think my life and the people in it helped form these ideas. My religion tells me to behave now and I will live in the land of milk and honey later. And I believe it. I believe that there is a meaning to this madness we call life and it is a test of our strength and faith, in ourselves. I like to think of it on a more personal spiritual level. Either way, with out a doubt I do not want to go suffering. I do not want to suffer for years the way my grandfather did because of his failing organs. I was five and he was my world. I loved my Papi. (That's what I called him.) I've seen a lot of family members go, and they all did so slowly because they were ill. I think it's safe to say that because of my family history and the things that I've read about doctors saying a lot of these diseases will be hereditary, there isn't much I can do but wait and see what the future brings for me.
In society we are told these things about living healthier and better lives. We are given statistics about how certain diseases affect our age, gender and race groups. Yet we all live the way we do...I don't think that these are 100% affective in preventing illnesses but they are helpful. We are supposed to live these cautious lives, doing everything by the book, but we are also supposed to live life to the fullest. Enjoy that milkshake eat those fries, you never know when life will end. We can't do one with out the other, there needs to be a balance, but where is that balance? Does the balance even exist? I don't think so. I think that at some point if you are healthy now and enjoying life without rules then it will catch-up to you in the end. Maybe that is just my biased opinion speaking.
The truth is you are born, you eat to survive, make bad choices, make good choices, then you die. But after that death you are to be worshipped. Well in most societies you are. In america we spend money to make the funeral extravagant and feed everyone. (Food really is comfort) You dress the dead in appropriate clothes that you hope they will like and have them in make-up because you want them to look good as they lay there. You hope that when they're looking down at you they're saying "at least I went out in style" And then you forget them. Not literally but life goes on. It has to. We bury them in the ground and get a fancy and beautiful tombstone that we rarely will see. Maybe on occasions like they're birthday or they day they died. But we usually bury the essence of the people along with the thousand dollar coffin they're in. I don't want to sound judgmental, because if I were then I would also be a hypocrite but I this is just the way things are. Well at least to me.
I think the" traditional" things about illness and death. Illness is miserable, you are sick and scared all the time. You don't know if it will lead to death or just more suffering. You just know that you want to stop suffering. Death is scary you don't know what is on the other end of the stick. We try to comfort ourselves by thinking that there is some sort of life on the other end of the road, one that is better then the one we're living now; but we will never know until we die. I think my life and the people in it helped form these ideas. My religion tells me to behave now and I will live in the land of milk and honey later. And I believe it. I believe that there is a meaning to this madness we call life and it is a test of our strength and faith, in ourselves. I like to think of it on a more personal spiritual level. Either way, with out a doubt I do not want to go suffering. I do not want to suffer for years the way my grandfather did because of his failing organs. I was five and he was my world. I loved my Papi. (That's what I called him.) I've seen a lot of family members go, and they all did so slowly because they were ill. I think it's safe to say that because of my family history and the things that I've read about doctors saying a lot of these diseases will be hereditary, there isn't much I can do but wait and see what the future brings for me.
In society we are told these things about living healthier and better lives. We are given statistics about how certain diseases affect our age, gender and race groups. Yet we all live the way we do...I don't think that these are 100% affective in preventing illnesses but they are helpful. We are supposed to live these cautious lives, doing everything by the book, but we are also supposed to live life to the fullest. Enjoy that milkshake eat those fries, you never know when life will end. We can't do one with out the other, there needs to be a balance, but where is that balance? Does the balance even exist? I don't think so. I think that at some point if you are healthy now and enjoying life without rules then it will catch-up to you in the end. Maybe that is just my biased opinion speaking.
The truth is you are born, you eat to survive, make bad choices, make good choices, then you die. But after that death you are to be worshipped. Well in most societies you are. In america we spend money to make the funeral extravagant and feed everyone. (Food really is comfort) You dress the dead in appropriate clothes that you hope they will like and have them in make-up because you want them to look good as they lay there. You hope that when they're looking down at you they're saying "at least I went out in style" And then you forget them. Not literally but life goes on. It has to. We bury them in the ground and get a fancy and beautiful tombstone that we rarely will see. Maybe on occasions like they're birthday or they day they died. But we usually bury the essence of the people along with the thousand dollar coffin they're in. I don't want to sound judgmental, because if I were then I would also be a hypocrite but I this is just the way things are. Well at least to me.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
HW 12 Final Project #2
“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: Our attempts to live healthier lives as Americans, has brought a lot frustration and failure; we know the dangers and risks of the food we consume. We see the warning signs, yet we continue to live an unhealthy life.
Supporting claim one: There was an increase in awareness about the dangers of obesity, especially amongst young ethnic children yet fast food chains continue to expand and the prices of vegetables are still more expensive than the price of a bag of chips.
EVIDENCE: fast food chains target ethnic working class families with multiple children, this is dangerous because they (children) are at the highest risk for having type two diabetes and other food related health issues in the future.
EVIDENCE: obesity rates amongst children of different races
EVIDENCE: the amount of fast food chains in dominantly white neighborhoods and the amount of fast food chains in dominantly ethnic neighborhoods.
EVIDENCE: brochures about childhood obesity in places like hospitals or doctors offices
EVIDENCE: fast food chains are required by law to present the nutrition facts about their products on their food and at their restaurants.
Supporting claim two: We continue to live as though we are invincible, eating whatever we want and not thinking about where it comes from, whats inside or how it is made.
EVIDENCE: The Maury show, the amazingly obese toddlers that weigh 300 pounds
EVIDENCE: The exposure of the fast food chains (the books we have read and the movies we watched) yet we still eat these things.
EVIDENCE: New products made by the fast-food chains that offer the “healthy” alternative however, they still do not consider the workers or try to help the farmers make money ( and anyone else involved in the process of making their food products.)
Major Claim: Our attempts to live healthier lives as Americans, has brought a lot frustration and failure; we know the dangers and risks of the food we consume. We see the warning signs, yet we continue to live an unhealthy life.
Supporting claim one: There was an increase in awareness about the dangers of obesity, especially amongst young ethnic children yet fast food chains continue to expand and the prices of vegetables are still more expensive than the price of a bag of chips.
EVIDENCE: fast food chains target ethnic working class families with multiple children, this is dangerous because they (children) are at the highest risk for having type two diabetes and other food related health issues in the future.
EVIDENCE: obesity rates amongst children of different races
EVIDENCE: the amount of fast food chains in dominantly white neighborhoods and the amount of fast food chains in dominantly ethnic neighborhoods.
EVIDENCE: brochures about childhood obesity in places like hospitals or doctors offices
EVIDENCE: fast food chains are required by law to present the nutrition facts about their products on their food and at their restaurants.
Supporting claim two: We continue to live as though we are invincible, eating whatever we want and not thinking about where it comes from, whats inside or how it is made.
EVIDENCE: The Maury show, the amazingly obese toddlers that weigh 300 pounds
EVIDENCE: The exposure of the fast food chains (the books we have read and the movies we watched) yet we still eat these things.
EVIDENCE: New products made by the fast-food chains that offer the “healthy” alternative however, they still do not consider the workers or try to help the farmers make money ( and anyone else involved in the process of making their food products.)
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Food Inc. Response
There is a deliberate veil between us and where our food is coming from. We as the consumers have no actual idea about the treatment of the animals we eat nor the treatment of the workers who help produce and prepare our food. The fast food industry has such an impact in society, they can pay government officials to pass laws and rules of regulation in their favor. They can make it illegal to discuss the origins of one food corporations product and disable people who want to save their own products that have been harmed due to chemical damage. The affects these companies leave on the environment is long lasting, they have cities that smell of manure for miles to come and animal waste flowing into streams. They have allowed the need for mass production to take over the quality and health benefits we as a modernized society need, leaving SHIT IN OUR MEAT.
When comparing Fast Food Nation to e Fast Food Inc. I enjoyed both. I would use the film to make an impact on someone, if I were to become an activist and I wanted people to truly understand this issue; and the book to give someone the background knowledge they would need to understand this a a more intellectual level. I think the film is good for a "act now!" mentality because in the end of the film in offers solutions to this issue. They both provide most of the same factual information I just feel they can be utilized for different purposes.
I wonder how many people look at this film and actually make a change in their lives, will I be able to make a change in my life? I'm not going to pass judgement on those who don't because I know how difficult it is. I know that I need the fastest, most fulfilling and cheap meal I can get. Will it make a difference if I do or if I don't?
When comparing Fast Food Nation to e Fast Food Inc. I enjoyed both. I would use the film to make an impact on someone, if I were to become an activist and I wanted people to truly understand this issue; and the book to give someone the background knowledge they would need to understand this a a more intellectual level. I think the film is good for a "act now!" mentality because in the end of the film in offers solutions to this issue. They both provide most of the same factual information I just feel they can be utilized for different purposes.
I wonder how many people look at this film and actually make a change in their lives, will I be able to make a change in my life? I'm not going to pass judgement on those who don't because I know how difficult it is. I know that I need the fastest, most fulfilling and cheap meal I can get. Will it make a difference if I do or if I don't?
Thursday, October 21, 2010
hw 7d
Epilogue
PRECIS: Not all farmers that work in America are exploited and under-payed. They do not all use hormones for their meat and genetically altered seeds for feeding purposes. Not all fast food chains deprive the public of knowledge about what the consumers are actually consuming. Some are successful smaller family owned companies that put love and greater quality into their products. (some are even organic!)
GEMS:
"Lasater says that most americans have forgotten what real beef tastes like. Argentine beef is considered a gourmet item, served at expensive resturants and almost all of the cattle in Argentina are grass-fed. "
"There's take-out but no drive-through, and the food is only slightly more expensive than the half-empty Wendy's across the street. One day I met a customer at Conway's who has regularly been having lunch there for fifty years."
"The Snyders have declined countless offers to sell their chain, refuse to franchise it, and have succeeded by rejecting just about everything the rest of the fast food industry has done."
MY THOUGHTS: I think that it is unbelieveable that these major billion dollar fast food companies cannot spend a small quantity of their money to actually do this the right way. They are the leading figures in society, the dominant discourse. We look to them to give us a new great product, the hottest new trend or the best filling meal for five bucks.They choose to spend all of this money to genetically alter nature. Despite the risks taken by their ill payed illegal immigrant workers, the animals that they torture for whatever life they have genetically mutated, making the animals grow faster and larger, or they're "$" signs, the consumers. They have all of the power yet they do not care. Billionaire idiots, I wonder do they even eat this stuff?
PRECIS: Not all farmers that work in America are exploited and under-payed. They do not all use hormones for their meat and genetically altered seeds for feeding purposes. Not all fast food chains deprive the public of knowledge about what the consumers are actually consuming. Some are successful smaller family owned companies that put love and greater quality into their products. (some are even organic!)
GEMS:
"Lasater says that most americans have forgotten what real beef tastes like. Argentine beef is considered a gourmet item, served at expensive resturants and almost all of the cattle in Argentina are grass-fed. "
"There's take-out but no drive-through, and the food is only slightly more expensive than the half-empty Wendy's across the street. One day I met a customer at Conway's who has regularly been having lunch there for fifty years."
"The Snyders have declined countless offers to sell their chain, refuse to franchise it, and have succeeded by rejecting just about everything the rest of the fast food industry has done."
MY THOUGHTS: I think that it is unbelieveable that these major billion dollar fast food companies cannot spend a small quantity of their money to actually do this the right way. They are the leading figures in society, the dominant discourse. We look to them to give us a new great product, the hottest new trend or the best filling meal for five bucks.They choose to spend all of this money to genetically alter nature. Despite the risks taken by their ill payed illegal immigrant workers, the animals that they torture for whatever life they have genetically mutated, making the animals grow faster and larger, or they're "$" signs, the consumers. They have all of the power yet they do not care. Billionaire idiots, I wonder do they even eat this stuff?
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
HW 7D
Chapter 10
PRECIS: Throught history there have been a great many events that changed the world, and the expansion of Mcdonalds into other countries was one of them. There was great competition amongst the major food companies in America however, despite Mcdonald's dominance they still decided to make their success international. They paved the way for other food companies to follow and change the way people ate. The excitement of a new food and the idea of modernization quickly allowed the companies' to once again achieve success.
GEMS:
"Classes at Mcdonald's Hamburger University in Oak Brook. Illinois, are taught in more than two dozen languages. Few places on earth seem too distant or too remote for the golden arches."
"Global realization"
" The Mcdonald's would be the first new building erected in Plauen since the coming of a new Germany"
"As the fast food chains have moved overseas, they have been accompanied by their major suppliers. In order to diminish fears of American imperialism, the chains try to purchase as much food as possible in the countries where they operate."
" ...Teaching Indian farmers how to grow iceburg lettuce with seeds specialy developed for the nation's climate."
MY THOUGHTS:
I thought that it was interesting that the major food corporations seemed to take over internationally with a lot less care than they had in america, they wanted to make sure that they did what they needed to do but they weren't as " socially-friendly". They made sure that they carefully monopolized america (not to say they are in the least bit perfect or they have great ethincs in terms of food production and the treatment of their employees.) In the other countries they seemed to not really give a damn.
PRECIS: Throught history there have been a great many events that changed the world, and the expansion of Mcdonalds into other countries was one of them. There was great competition amongst the major food companies in America however, despite Mcdonald's dominance they still decided to make their success international. They paved the way for other food companies to follow and change the way people ate. The excitement of a new food and the idea of modernization quickly allowed the companies' to once again achieve success.
GEMS:
"Classes at Mcdonald's Hamburger University in Oak Brook. Illinois, are taught in more than two dozen languages. Few places on earth seem too distant or too remote for the golden arches."
"Global realization"
" The Mcdonald's would be the first new building erected in Plauen since the coming of a new Germany"
"As the fast food chains have moved overseas, they have been accompanied by their major suppliers. In order to diminish fears of American imperialism, the chains try to purchase as much food as possible in the countries where they operate."
" ...Teaching Indian farmers how to grow iceburg lettuce with seeds specialy developed for the nation's climate."
MY THOUGHTS:
I thought that it was interesting that the major food corporations seemed to take over internationally with a lot less care than they had in america, they wanted to make sure that they did what they needed to do but they weren't as " socially-friendly". They made sure that they carefully monopolized america (not to say they are in the least bit perfect or they have great ethincs in terms of food production and the treatment of their employees.) In the other countries they seemed to not really give a damn.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Reading Response chapter 6
Chapter six
PRECIS: The affects that modernization has on the enviornment and the sconomic stability of ranchers in the mid-west. The original cowboys try and preserve the land while making a living, but once again due to the major corporations ranchers are either forced out of their jobs or forced to sell their cattle for much less than they are worth.
GEMS:
"Hank literally lost part of his ranch evry year." p.135
"To get a sense of what an independent rancher now faces imagine how the New York Stock Exchange would function if large investors could keep the terms of all their stock trades secret." p. 138
MY THOUGHTS: I thought that the pattern of everyone being mistreated despite what part they play in society. Im interested to see if Schlosser will expose the major corporations, the inequity amongst them. If there is any, I can't imagine that all of that money would be spread evenly up in their fancy offices on the top floors.
PRECIS: The affects that modernization has on the enviornment and the sconomic stability of ranchers in the mid-west. The original cowboys try and preserve the land while making a living, but once again due to the major corporations ranchers are either forced out of their jobs or forced to sell their cattle for much less than they are worth.
GEMS:
"Hank literally lost part of his ranch evry year." p.135
"To get a sense of what an independent rancher now faces imagine how the New York Stock Exchange would function if large investors could keep the terms of all their stock trades secret." p. 138
MY THOUGHTS: I thought that the pattern of everyone being mistreated despite what part they play in society. Im interested to see if Schlosser will expose the major corporations, the inequity amongst them. If there is any, I can't imagine that all of that money would be spread evenly up in their fancy offices on the top floors.
Growing Our Own Food
Growing sprouts was an experience to say the least. I hated the smell of the sprouts and the appearance of them growing on the inside of a Tostitos salsa jar was gross. I barely wanted them to touch my skin. However, I was proud when they had actually grown! I felt accomplished like I had done something, then it made me wonder “do children who grow food all the time feel this sense of accomplishment?” I was grossed out and proud of my creation. But when I forgot my little guy at school and the mysterious man with a mask disposed of him, I felt sad. I had grown attached to a plant that I hated and felt like it had a life. I felt like I had lost a friend. Weird I know.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Reading Response chapters 4&5
Chapter four
PRECIS: The difference between a franchisee and a franchiser is that the franchisee usually gets ripped off, there are barely any laws protecting franchisee. When a franchisee wishes to go against the major corporation owners rules, there are usually major consequences like the termination of a position.
GEMS:
“He pays some of the college tuition of his regular employees, so long as they maintain a 3.0 grade average or higher.” p.103
“None of it matters. “ p 107
MY THOUGHTS: I surprisingly found this chapter very interesting, I learned a lot about the things behind the scenes, and I get to look at my own experience (working for a major manufacturer like Staples) and question my part in the bigger picture. Kind of makes me feel bad. Like I’m a puppet in their show. However, I still need a job so that also affects how things are perceived and handled within other teenagers like myself.
Chapter Five
PRECIS: Why the fries taste good, the background history of the popularity that lead to fried french fries becoming “the food of America.” The low payment of the actual potato growers, which is about 2 cents for every $1.50 you spend on a large fries at a restaurant.
GEMS:
“Out of every $1.50 you spent on a large fries at a fast food restaurant, perhaps two cents goes to the farmer who grew the potatoes.” p . 117
“The fry companies now tend to be run by outsiders, by MBA’s from Harvard who don’t know if a potato grows on a tree or underground.” p. 118
MY THOUGHTS: I don’t understand how the Idaho potato growers behavior “betrays a type of faulty.” The fallacy of composition; what is good for an individual is in turn good for others. Wouldn’t they not do selfish things, aren’t they the people who get the short end of the stick in this situation? All they want to do is grow their potatoes and make a decent living from it, right?
PRECIS: The difference between a franchisee and a franchiser is that the franchisee usually gets ripped off, there are barely any laws protecting franchisee. When a franchisee wishes to go against the major corporation owners rules, there are usually major consequences like the termination of a position.
GEMS:
“He pays some of the college tuition of his regular employees, so long as they maintain a 3.0 grade average or higher.” p.103
“None of it matters. “ p 107
MY THOUGHTS: I surprisingly found this chapter very interesting, I learned a lot about the things behind the scenes, and I get to look at my own experience (working for a major manufacturer like Staples) and question my part in the bigger picture. Kind of makes me feel bad. Like I’m a puppet in their show. However, I still need a job so that also affects how things are perceived and handled within other teenagers like myself.
Chapter Five
PRECIS: Why the fries taste good, the background history of the popularity that lead to fried french fries becoming “the food of America.” The low payment of the actual potato growers, which is about 2 cents for every $1.50 you spend on a large fries at a restaurant.
GEMS:
“Out of every $1.50 you spent on a large fries at a fast food restaurant, perhaps two cents goes to the farmer who grew the potatoes.” p . 117
“The fry companies now tend to be run by outsiders, by MBA’s from Harvard who don’t know if a potato grows on a tree or underground.” p. 118
MY THOUGHTS: I don’t understand how the Idaho potato growers behavior “betrays a type of faulty.” The fallacy of composition; what is good for an individual is in turn good for others. Wouldn’t they not do selfish things, aren’t they the people who get the short end of the stick in this situation? All they want to do is grow their potatoes and make a decent living from it, right?
Thursday, October 7, 2010
HW 7
Fast food nation By Eric Schlosser
Introduction
PRECIS:The expansion of industrialization modernization and the economic boom contributed to the creation of a “fast life” so to speak. Starting with hot dog vendors in California the idea of receiving food faster became nationally known and eventually a way of life. This idea eventually applied to the now dominant clothing companies.
GEMS:
“Better living through chemistry” p.6
“...Hope to shed light not only on the workings of an important industry but also on a distinctively American way of viewing the world.” p. 9
MY THOUGHTS: I was surprised to find out that this book would provide much information about not only the food, but other things such as clothing and from where this fast food nation erupted from. I also thought that it was interesting to see that much of our “taste” comes from the New Jersey Turnpike. I also thought the military base in Cheyenne was funny. The idea of it and what they ordered to eat was weird to me.
Chapter One
PRECIS: The rise of one of the leading figures in the fast food industry Carl N. Karchers’ story. The food industry used the idea of uniformity and familiarity to dominate in the food industry. Others began to follow their lead, and the automobile became a way of life.
GEMS:
“Worship as you are...in the family car.” p.19
“for every fast food that swept the nation , there were countless others that flourished briefly - or never had a prayer.” p. 23
MY THOUGHTS:
I thought that it was interesting to see that behind all of this marketing and good cheap food there was actually a plan for this, like this chaos is what goes on behind the scenes and we don’t even think about it as we sit and eat our burgers and fries.
Chapter two
PRECIS: Children are now incorporated in the plan to attract more business and expand. Toys inside of meals and playgrounds are added to bring families from their home cooked meals to their restaurants.
GEMS:
“Your trusted friends.”-title of this chapter
“Look it is ridiculous to call this an industry...this is not. This is a rat eat rat. Dog eat dog.I’ll kill ‘ em and I’m going to kill ‘ em before they kill me. You’re talking about the American way of survival of the fittest.” p. 37
MY THOUGHTS:
What would have happened had they not targeted the youth of America, would there be more home cooked meals? More family time? Is it even considered family time if a family eats fast-food all of the time?
Chapter three
PRECIS: Fast food industries began to abuse their power and take advantage of the young and the immigrant workers. The awakening of Colorado Springs, from a sleepy tourist town to the lively inhabited city is has been since the 1990s.
GEMS:
“Every saturday Elisa Zamot gets up at 5:15 in the morning...after seven hours of standing at a cash register, her feet hurt. She’s wiped out. She comes through the front door, flops onto the living room couch, and turns on the TV. And the next morning she gets up at 5:15 again and starts the same routine.” p. 67-68
MY THOUGHTS:
Why are teenagers and like immigrant workers the target for these fast food industries’ employees? Like why not the wealthy? They don’t need the money. and what ever happened to the idea of everything self done?
Introduction
PRECIS:The expansion of industrialization modernization and the economic boom contributed to the creation of a “fast life” so to speak. Starting with hot dog vendors in California the idea of receiving food faster became nationally known and eventually a way of life. This idea eventually applied to the now dominant clothing companies.
GEMS:
“Better living through chemistry” p.6
“...Hope to shed light not only on the workings of an important industry but also on a distinctively American way of viewing the world.” p. 9
MY THOUGHTS: I was surprised to find out that this book would provide much information about not only the food, but other things such as clothing and from where this fast food nation erupted from. I also thought that it was interesting to see that much of our “taste” comes from the New Jersey Turnpike. I also thought the military base in Cheyenne was funny. The idea of it and what they ordered to eat was weird to me.
Chapter One
PRECIS: The rise of one of the leading figures in the fast food industry Carl N. Karchers’ story. The food industry used the idea of uniformity and familiarity to dominate in the food industry. Others began to follow their lead, and the automobile became a way of life.
GEMS:
“Worship as you are...in the family car.” p.19
“for every fast food that swept the nation , there were countless others that flourished briefly - or never had a prayer.” p. 23
MY THOUGHTS:
I thought that it was interesting to see that behind all of this marketing and good cheap food there was actually a plan for this, like this chaos is what goes on behind the scenes and we don’t even think about it as we sit and eat our burgers and fries.
Chapter two
PRECIS: Children are now incorporated in the plan to attract more business and expand. Toys inside of meals and playgrounds are added to bring families from their home cooked meals to their restaurants.
GEMS:
“Your trusted friends.”-title of this chapter
“Look it is ridiculous to call this an industry...this is not. This is a rat eat rat. Dog eat dog.I’ll kill ‘ em and I’m going to kill ‘ em before they kill me. You’re talking about the American way of survival of the fittest.” p. 37
MY THOUGHTS:
What would have happened had they not targeted the youth of America, would there be more home cooked meals? More family time? Is it even considered family time if a family eats fast-food all of the time?
Chapter three
PRECIS: Fast food industries began to abuse their power and take advantage of the young and the immigrant workers. The awakening of Colorado Springs, from a sleepy tourist town to the lively inhabited city is has been since the 1990s.
GEMS:
“Every saturday Elisa Zamot gets up at 5:15 in the morning...after seven hours of standing at a cash register, her feet hurt. She’s wiped out. She comes through the front door, flops onto the living room couch, and turns on the TV. And the next morning she gets up at 5:15 again and starts the same routine.” p. 67-68
MY THOUGHTS:
Why are teenagers and like immigrant workers the target for these fast food industries’ employees? Like why not the wealthy? They don’t need the money. and what ever happened to the idea of everything self done?
Friday, October 1, 2010
HW 6 - Food Diary
I think that food has a special relationship with a person. Like the scent of food the colors and textures send messages to the mind that scream “ THIS IS GOOD”. I think that this makes the food somewhat sacred because we have a special relationship with the food, it makes us feel special (most of the time). When I like food I usually dance and that says a lot. Food makes someone happy, dancing makes me happy…these both make me feel really good.
Food Diary
BREAKFAST:/28 One cup of coffee with half and half and 5 sugar packets
LUNCH: 9/28 Pizza with sausage peppers pepperoni a lot of parmesan cheese and hot sauce.
DINNER: 9/28 Gyro from stand.
SNACK:9/28 Brownie with a glass of organic milk.
BREAKFAST:9/29 One cup of coffee with half and half and 5 sugar packets 204.16 calories.
LUNCH:9/29 One pint of pasta with vodka sauce a lot of parmesan and mozzarella cheese 1058.8 calories
SNACK:9/29 One slice of pizza and a can of grape soda Calories: 2028.34
SNACK:9/29 One wildberry smoothie from Mcdonalds 180 calories
3471 CALORIES IN THAT ONE DAY.
I noticed that the food I usually eat is salty, and full of something dairy like cheese. I always eat some type of fiber I like bread and cheese. Coffee is also a must I think that the idea of coffee helping me wake up kind of tricks my mind into thinking I’m not tired. Like a fake alarm clock or something. And I like my sweets really sweet. All of the things that they tell you not too eat too much of, I eat too much of.
I consume way too many calories I eat well over the daily-recommended 2,000 calories.
I usually eat a lot throughout the day and I think that it has a lotto do with me eating food with high calories but not enough “good stuff” to keep me going. I feel good about the choices that I’ve made when it comes to my satisfaction and the affordability of the food however when it comes to what I’m feeding myself I actually feel kind of bad. I feel like I should take better care of myself because no one else will. Over the last 48 hours I have eaten food that isn’t that great for me and I should do better.
Food Diary
BREAKFAST:/28 One cup of coffee with half and half and 5 sugar packets
LUNCH: 9/28 Pizza with sausage peppers pepperoni a lot of parmesan cheese and hot sauce.
DINNER: 9/28 Gyro from stand.
SNACK:9/28 Brownie with a glass of organic milk.
BREAKFAST:9/29 One cup of coffee with half and half and 5 sugar packets 204.16 calories.
LUNCH:9/29 One pint of pasta with vodka sauce a lot of parmesan and mozzarella cheese 1058.8 calories
SNACK:9/29 One slice of pizza and a can of grape soda Calories: 2028.34
SNACK:9/29 One wildberry smoothie from Mcdonalds 180 calories
3471 CALORIES IN THAT ONE DAY.
I noticed that the food I usually eat is salty, and full of something dairy like cheese. I always eat some type of fiber I like bread and cheese. Coffee is also a must I think that the idea of coffee helping me wake up kind of tricks my mind into thinking I’m not tired. Like a fake alarm clock or something. And I like my sweets really sweet. All of the things that they tell you not too eat too much of, I eat too much of.
I consume way too many calories I eat well over the daily-recommended 2,000 calories.
I usually eat a lot throughout the day and I think that it has a lotto do with me eating food with high calories but not enough “good stuff” to keep me going. I feel good about the choices that I’ve made when it comes to my satisfaction and the affordability of the food however when it comes to what I’m feeding myself I actually feel kind of bad. I feel like I should take better care of myself because no one else will. Over the last 48 hours I have eaten food that isn’t that great for me and I should do better.
Monday, September 27, 2010
HW 4 - Your Families' Foodways
When my mother was growing up she lived in a house with all of her family members, her aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. As a child food was something that was there however, it s nutritional value was not the first thing on her parent’s minds. They worried more so about quantity. They wanted to make sure that everyone in the house was fed and was full, not if the produce was organic or where it came from. One must also consider the time period; the things we are now exposed to about food weren’t always so obvious. They didn’t talk much about the FDA or about the dangers that a food may contain.
Now, my mom tries to get things that are better for us. Things marked with “organic” and “whole grain” because now she says she knows. Having two younger chubby sisters my mom wants to make sure that they can eat as much as they can and remain healthy. Even though when she grew up, those were not the exact concerns. That difference from her generational childhood to my own is major.
My mother was also raised with a lot more home cooked meals then I have now, my great grandmother would cook for the whole house. That tradition kind of stopped with my mom. Like my aunt still cooks and my grandmother still cooks but my mom doesn't cook as much. I think it has a lot to do with my mother just tired of carrying the weight of feeding everyone and tending to the house, breaking the traditional gender norms. More female empowerment to her. So to kind of make her life easier and to make sure that we eat there is a lot of on the go things to eat that don't rewuire too much prep time to cook.
If I look into my fridge now I see a lot of food that is easy and fast to make. I have two little sisters and they need to eat too but they aren't allowed to use the stove. The food is semi-healthy but not all organic. I see the changes from one generation to another from my fridge to my grandmothers.Maybe its just lazyness from my mom. Which is sunderstandable she comes home late and wants to do nothing but relax after a long and hard day.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
HW 3 - Food - Fast Food Insights and Green Market Realizations
Organic food or fast food, which to choose? I don’t think this question comes across many peoples minds these days, if it ever did. Considering America’s history It seems to have gone from the traditional mother cooks fattening meals to going to Wendy’s one block away. Question is why? Why do we consume these meals that we know contain no nutritious value, is it the affordability, the easy access to a meal or something bigger?
I myself do enjoy all bad things society has to offer in the food industry and I never really looked at the fresh food that may be across the street. I think much of it has to do with what you were raised eating, the eating habits passed down from generation to generation. Although in Puerto Rico I’m sure they grew their own food so I guess you can say that moving here may have changed a few things within my family’s diet. Maybe it is the atmosphere of America, the idea that one can go to America and have no worries. You need food, we got it .99 Burgers with all the dressings and freshly cooked mystery meat.
Can one even blame it on America, maybe we all a bit to lazy to go to the market and pick out fresh food and cook, maybe we like that you can get everything you need in one place and eat it on site. I know I do, I don’t have much time and I’m not exactly a child so my mom barely cooks for me, and I don’t mind. I have to go to work and school and I find that it’s easier for my lifestyle. Now when I can I eat something that isn’t toxic to my being. I enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables and if it says organic it makes me feel better. I think that anything that is stamped with the “100% organic” makes anyone feel good about what they’re eating. Maybe it’s a psychological thing, like maybe one needs to put it in their minds that they need to eat things that are good for them. Instead of compromising one’s future for today’s affordability and convenience.
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