“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.)
Thursday, October 28, 2010
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.
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