You may think that the Big Mac you ate for lunch today is only going to affect your hips, but think again. Eric Schlosser shows that the fast food industry not only tips the scale for customers, but has in fact changed the world. From the way land is settled to the competition of agriculture, Scholser gives a detailed account of every aspect of the world that the fast food industry has stuck their greasy fingers in. If you think this will be another one of those books that ultimately persuades the reader to not step foot in another McDonalds again because they have learned how much saturated fat is in some fries, this isn't the book for you. Scholsser doesn't even delve into the topic of obesity until the very end. Rather, he mainly talks about what you don't immediately think about when you walk order your food. How did those fries got on your plate? why do they taste the way they do? Who made them?
Don't expect your assumptions to be met about how bad fast food is, as because Schlosser never comes out and actually says its bad. You will learn about the hard-working risen-from-nothing farmers who work tirelessly to create wholesome, delicious foods for the consumer. You will feel the connection they have with their food, and realize that fast food isn't made in a factory (sort of). You may even gain an appreciation and awe at how smart fast food companies like McDonalds are.
Having said that, don't expect an epiphany of how fast food is actually healthy for you, because its not. You will learn about the horrors of labor unions, the frightening scenes of meatpacking, the terrible robberies in resturaunts, and the pain that is inflicted upon farmers do to the empowerment of these large fast food companies.
McDonalds isn't the only restaurant you will learn about. You will learn how that store actually pioneered the boom of the fast food industry and learn about other restaurants clever tactics to market and get people to eat.
You will realize that fast food has been playing with the world for the past 70 years. It has globalized the world for its own personal benefit of sales. Now you can eat the same food in Japan that you can in Germany, and unfortunately it is pushing aside the traits that made every country unique.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that has ever eaten at a fast food restaurant. Before opening the bood I thought I would never want to sink my teeth into a Mcanything ever again. But despite my distaste for some of the companies practices, I ultimately got a better appreciation of how smart these companies are and how dedicated the farmers are to produce the best food for you and me.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Halloween memories
Here are a few of my Halloween memories
- In 3rd grade, I lived in Utah. This was the only halloween that I had experienced when it was snowing. IT WAS AWESOME and cold. I remember I was a witch and when I took my had off there was about 2 inches of snow piled on it. And then when we came home my grandma and mom had made soup in some bread bowls. YUM. I also remember my grandpa counting how many trick-or-treaters we got.
- I think it was that same Halloween that I tried putting fake blood in my mouth. It was in this pill-like-thing and you were supposed to break it open in your mouth. What they failed to say on the package was that it was the most bitter and repulsive taste I have ever experienced. I spent the next ten minutes spitting out fake blood into the sink.
- We always have a halloween party at our church. and instead of trick-or-treating we do trunk-or-treating where we walk around to everyones car trunk and get candy. Then afterwords we have a chili cookoff. Well, my friends mom had saved me a deliciously moist pumpkin frosted sugar coated cupcake. I was eating it when all the sudden one of the girls at church started talking to me and all the sudden purposely smashed the cupcake in my face. It fell to the ground frosting side down. Who does that? ya people say they are going to stuff things in your face but do they ever actually do it so you can't eat the food? no. I didn't know whether to cry or tell my parents, or get angry. Luckily people from church saw her do it and guilted tripped her and made her feel really bad for what she did. Then she bought me 6 cupcakes. so it all worked out.
- When Halloween falls on a sunday, my family chooses not to go trick-or-treating for religious purposes. But let me tell you that it is a lot more fun receiving the candy than handing it out. I don't know why parents like doing that.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
You say we aren't motivated? I beg to differ
I have always been motivated. I've never really had the problem of not wanting to do well in school or just not caring about my grades (even though sometimes I wish I was a little less stressed over them). I have attributed this motivation two a combination of a couple of things: my parents and family members, the school environment that I am in, my teachers, my own fear of not being doing something important in life.
-My parents and family members are a huge influence in my motivation because they have a genuine interest in my schooling and are always helping me find new ways to excel and learn more. Basically they take time to be involved.
-The school environment that I am in keeps me motivated because their is an increasing amount of competition for top spots in schools or scholarships. There are so many above average people at Wayzata that they are constantly pushing me to do better or else I won't get a scholarship or into that college. If there were more below average people at WHS, why would I need to push myself at all? Plus Wayzata offers so many different opportunities to excel and so many different classes and after school activities, how could you not be motivated?
-teachers are soooo important because they get a student interested in the subject that they are learning. I have been fortunate to have awesome teachers. But the really great ones are the ones that are so in love with the subject that they make you want to learn more out of class. to give an example I have had some amazing science/biology teachers that make me really grasp the topic being taught and has made me want to go into medecine when I get older. If kids don't have teachers that get them excited about learning and about school, why would they want to go to school? Why would they want to keep learning a boring subject. Great teachers help make a seemingly boring topic turn fascinating.
-I also think just the way that I am is what keeps me motivated. I want to actually do something in life and make a profound impact on something. Plus my perfectionist personality won't let me settle for mediocrity. Some people aren't born with this trait unfortunately and can settle for average.
these are the arguments to the movie and readings:
2 mm: American students have less motivation in school than foreign students do and because of it we are falling behind in world rankings
I just wanna be average: motivation is dependent upon the environment that you are in and the teachers you have to motivate and teach you
blame it on the students: failure in the classroom is due to student lack of motivation.
My overall point is that our parents in america have already made it. they are well off and have provided a comfortable environment for us. The parents in foreign countries though, had to go through the pain of making it and still may be struggling. This is why they push their own kids to do better and work harder, because they know what is like to not have common luxuries. Plus, since our parents are already living comfortably, they don't want us to have to deal with "making it", so they don't push us and give us whatever we want. This is a common cycle. one generation works hard to make it. the next one then becomes spoiled because they are used to common luxuries and don't work hard, then their own kids (next generation) have to work hard again. So the next asian generation could quite possibly become less motivated like we are right now. who knows. So, yes, all the arguments to the three things we have read and watched are true to an extent, just on a different part in the cycle
2 Million minutes: It is true that American students tend to have less of a desire toward school. You know that saying you don't know what you have until you don't have it? This applies for American students. They don't know what it is like to have the fear of if they don't succeed in school they may not survive. they most often will have parents to fall back on. And because of this lack of need to "make it" in the world, they create a lack of motivation, and a fall in world rankings. Most americans don't understand the idea of competition because they think that america is number 1 and no one can top that.
I just wanna be average: This idea of needing good teachers and being in a good environment IS important. As shown in 2 mm, the asian families are fully submerged in their kids schooling and won't let them settle for less. They know what it is like to not have the privilege of schooling. We as americans don't know what that is like and therefore live in an environment where it is not essential to go to school because you can make a livelihood in other areas. Plus, as in my example, you do need good teachers to succeed because they are the ones that will spark that fire for you to enjoy a subject which will make you want to learn about it more.
blame it on the students: this idea of failure in classes is partly due to student lack of motivation. But the lack of motivation comes from the fact that parents aren't pushing them to try or work hard. It has to stem from somewhere. Plus, if all schools had great mind-blowing teachers, then there wouldn't be this problem of lack of motivation, so the lack of motivation can be helped by teachers, BUT there needs to be a change in the home environment and school environment of the students.
Now, This obviously does not apply to every person in america and every person in the foreign countries. Take like 95% of Wayzata students. We have motivation that comes from within us, from great teachers, and the safe but competing environment we live in. So this blanket statement of nobody in America having motivation is false, otherwise our country would be in BIG trouble.
-My parents and family members are a huge influence in my motivation because they have a genuine interest in my schooling and are always helping me find new ways to excel and learn more. Basically they take time to be involved.
-The school environment that I am in keeps me motivated because their is an increasing amount of competition for top spots in schools or scholarships. There are so many above average people at Wayzata that they are constantly pushing me to do better or else I won't get a scholarship or into that college. If there were more below average people at WHS, why would I need to push myself at all? Plus Wayzata offers so many different opportunities to excel and so many different classes and after school activities, how could you not be motivated?
-teachers are soooo important because they get a student interested in the subject that they are learning. I have been fortunate to have awesome teachers. But the really great ones are the ones that are so in love with the subject that they make you want to learn more out of class. to give an example I have had some amazing science/biology teachers that make me really grasp the topic being taught and has made me want to go into medecine when I get older. If kids don't have teachers that get them excited about learning and about school, why would they want to go to school? Why would they want to keep learning a boring subject. Great teachers help make a seemingly boring topic turn fascinating.
-I also think just the way that I am is what keeps me motivated. I want to actually do something in life and make a profound impact on something. Plus my perfectionist personality won't let me settle for mediocrity. Some people aren't born with this trait unfortunately and can settle for average.
these are the arguments to the movie and readings:
2 mm: American students have less motivation in school than foreign students do and because of it we are falling behind in world rankings
I just wanna be average: motivation is dependent upon the environment that you are in and the teachers you have to motivate and teach you
blame it on the students: failure in the classroom is due to student lack of motivation.
My overall point is that our parents in america have already made it. they are well off and have provided a comfortable environment for us. The parents in foreign countries though, had to go through the pain of making it and still may be struggling. This is why they push their own kids to do better and work harder, because they know what is like to not have common luxuries. Plus, since our parents are already living comfortably, they don't want us to have to deal with "making it", so they don't push us and give us whatever we want. This is a common cycle. one generation works hard to make it. the next one then becomes spoiled because they are used to common luxuries and don't work hard, then their own kids (next generation) have to work hard again. So the next asian generation could quite possibly become less motivated like we are right now. who knows. So, yes, all the arguments to the three things we have read and watched are true to an extent, just on a different part in the cycle
2 Million minutes: It is true that American students tend to have less of a desire toward school. You know that saying you don't know what you have until you don't have it? This applies for American students. They don't know what it is like to have the fear of if they don't succeed in school they may not survive. they most often will have parents to fall back on. And because of this lack of need to "make it" in the world, they create a lack of motivation, and a fall in world rankings. Most americans don't understand the idea of competition because they think that america is number 1 and no one can top that.
I just wanna be average: This idea of needing good teachers and being in a good environment IS important. As shown in 2 mm, the asian families are fully submerged in their kids schooling and won't let them settle for less. They know what it is like to not have the privilege of schooling. We as americans don't know what that is like and therefore live in an environment where it is not essential to go to school because you can make a livelihood in other areas. Plus, as in my example, you do need good teachers to succeed because they are the ones that will spark that fire for you to enjoy a subject which will make you want to learn about it more.
blame it on the students: this idea of failure in classes is partly due to student lack of motivation. But the lack of motivation comes from the fact that parents aren't pushing them to try or work hard. It has to stem from somewhere. Plus, if all schools had great mind-blowing teachers, then there wouldn't be this problem of lack of motivation, so the lack of motivation can be helped by teachers, BUT there needs to be a change in the home environment and school environment of the students.
Now, This obviously does not apply to every person in america and every person in the foreign countries. Take like 95% of Wayzata students. We have motivation that comes from within us, from great teachers, and the safe but competing environment we live in. So this blanket statement of nobody in America having motivation is false, otherwise our country would be in BIG trouble.
What really annoys me/my pet peeves
Wow. It's kind of hilarious that we are writing about this because lately when I am driving me and my brother to and from school I rant about everything and everyone that annoys me and all the pet peeves that I have. Probably to prevent me from punching someone when something comes up
- People chewing. especially with their mouths open. But when It is dead quiet in a room and I can hear you chewing (even if you mouth is closed), it drives me crazy. My brother will always walk up behind me and look at what I'm doing while chewing right in my ear. I literally want to rip his head off and shove the thing he is eating in his ears. He also chews with his mouth open at the dinner table. but it doesn't matter how many times I tell him to stop. He always wonders why I am giving him the death stare at while eating. There's also this guy that I sit next to in one of my classes that will suck on something or chew some type of candy when we are taking a quiz. All I can hear is chomp, chomp, slirp, slirp, askldhteh, dashglewj. I have thought about just walking right out of the class or getting earplugs
- Even when I watch some people chew but can't hear it, its super annoying. I can't really put my finger on which types of people make annoying chewers but they all overexaggerate the motion. disgusting.
- people that raise their hand in class and then start their comment by saying, "I have a question!" and then asking it. Why are you saying that when you are just going to ask it anyway?! or if they apologize for asking a question or commenting. why do that when you are not really sorry. If you were actually sorry you wouldn't have said it in the first place
- People that talk in baby voices to everyone. I'm not a baby, you don't have to sugarcoat your words.
- People that use logical fallacies in an argument. me, "why do you think microsoft is better than apple?" annoying person: "because apple sucks and steve jobs isn't creative!" me: why is that car better than this one?" annoying person: "because it just IS!" seriously people, if you are going to be so ignorant as to come up with that as your reasoning, you are never going to be right.
- People that are close-minded. This includes stark right-wing and left-wing people. When I ask them to explain their point of view, and they give me a logical fallacy. then I give them a legit fact and explain my reasoning, and they give me the same logical fallacy as a response.
- snoring. don't even try to disrupt my sleep, I get cranky.
- when people repeat the same thing over and over again. my brother does this to get across his point. I always say, "stop, I understood it the first time, you don't have to say it 10 more times"
- when people talk in a stupid voice because they are embarrassed or something. My brother does this and it's not going to make me get you any less embarrassed, so just stop, talk in a normal adult voice.
- people that don't cover their mouths when they sneeze or cough or they put their arm up but it doesn't cover their line of fire at all
- stop lights that aren't equal in how long you get a green light
- when two people raise their hands to answer a question and one person gets called and they give the answer. However the other person keeps their hand raised. When the teacher calls on them they say, "I had the same answer as the first guy." Why leave your hand up?
- People that don't know anything but act like they do. I can't take this one and usually keep asking them questions until they say, I don't know or reply with a logical fallacy.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Why golf IS a sport, and why its the hardest one
While trying to come up with something to write about for this post, I racked my brain to try to think of something that really made me tick. While admiring the beautiful weather and thinking I should be golfing rather than reading APUSH, I realized how annoying it is when people say that golf isn't a sport. I would like to blow those people out of the water and say that not only is it a sport, it is the hardest one out there.
Did she just say that golf was the most difficult sport?? Yes. I did.
To see exactly what a "sport was" (since its a farely broad topic), I looked up the defintion. A sport is an athletic activity that requires skill or physical prowess, and involves competition. For all of those golf haters, go out and try hitting a club and see if you can get even par. The reason why you are being so ignorant is because YOU HAVE NO SKILL TO HIT A BALL WITH A CLUB. and you are thus embarrased. Many people think that you don't need any fitness for golf, as they see their fat old grandpas going to the course. Sure, golf can be played by the out of shape, but the best ones need to have strong muscles to swing the club faster and thus have the ball hit farther, and straighter. Right now I'm on a program to increase my swing speed from 95 mph to 115. This involves a lot of weight lifting and stretching. The reason I'm doing this? Because right now I'm not hitting it far enough, and I'm too weak to keep my swing on plane to hit it straight.
That brings up another point. Practice. We golfers have to practice multiple different aspects of the game. This includes making sure our swing is on line, make sure we are putting accurately, having a good feel for chipping, and being mentally prepared for getting that quadruple on the 17 hole. For those other measly sports, they practice one thing, they either throw or run in football, they either throw or catch in baseball, they all just have to work on the fundamentals and what can carry them through the game is that fire underneath their buttocks or the passion and determination that is created when they get angry or are behind.
Golfers can't fall back on that luxury. Our golf outcome is not determined by equal skill and fire or determination. We have to have 20 percent skill and 80 percent mind strength. For other sports, if your team is behind you can get angry, become determined, and work harder because of the anger. When we are hitting hozzle rockets, shanking the ball, or duck hooking it we can't get angry. We have to retain a positive outlook and keep our cool. If we don't, we might as well just walk off the course right there. THAT, is what makes this sport so difficult, we can't get to emotional over the round or else it will mess with our mind and it will mess up our swings. Even the tiniest change in swing can be the difference between hitting it in the fairway or in the water.
Yes, I am slightly biased. But for those people that say that golf isn't a sport, I would just like to point out that that some of the most athletic people play (ei tiger woods). On top of that we walk about 5 miles per 18 holes. Plus, the reason why you are hatin is because you have no skill or mind composure and basically, stink at golf.
Did she just say that golf was the most difficult sport?? Yes. I did.
To see exactly what a "sport was" (since its a farely broad topic), I looked up the defintion. A sport is an athletic activity that requires skill or physical prowess, and involves competition. For all of those golf haters, go out and try hitting a club and see if you can get even par. The reason why you are being so ignorant is because YOU HAVE NO SKILL TO HIT A BALL WITH A CLUB. and you are thus embarrased. Many people think that you don't need any fitness for golf, as they see their fat old grandpas going to the course. Sure, golf can be played by the out of shape, but the best ones need to have strong muscles to swing the club faster and thus have the ball hit farther, and straighter. Right now I'm on a program to increase my swing speed from 95 mph to 115. This involves a lot of weight lifting and stretching. The reason I'm doing this? Because right now I'm not hitting it far enough, and I'm too weak to keep my swing on plane to hit it straight.
That brings up another point. Practice. We golfers have to practice multiple different aspects of the game. This includes making sure our swing is on line, make sure we are putting accurately, having a good feel for chipping, and being mentally prepared for getting that quadruple on the 17 hole. For those other measly sports, they practice one thing, they either throw or run in football, they either throw or catch in baseball, they all just have to work on the fundamentals and what can carry them through the game is that fire underneath their buttocks or the passion and determination that is created when they get angry or are behind.
Golfers can't fall back on that luxury. Our golf outcome is not determined by equal skill and fire or determination. We have to have 20 percent skill and 80 percent mind strength. For other sports, if your team is behind you can get angry, become determined, and work harder because of the anger. When we are hitting hozzle rockets, shanking the ball, or duck hooking it we can't get angry. We have to retain a positive outlook and keep our cool. If we don't, we might as well just walk off the course right there. THAT, is what makes this sport so difficult, we can't get to emotional over the round or else it will mess with our mind and it will mess up our swings. Even the tiniest change in swing can be the difference between hitting it in the fairway or in the water.
Yes, I am slightly biased. But for those people that say that golf isn't a sport, I would just like to point out that that some of the most athletic people play (ei tiger woods). On top of that we walk about 5 miles per 18 holes. Plus, the reason why you are hatin is because you have no skill or mind composure and basically, stink at golf.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
speech to analyze
the speech that I am analyzing is the speech is from the movie we are marshall
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0758794/quotes
http://thebestten.wordpress.com/2009/10/20/the-best-inspiring-pre-game-speeches-from-sports-movies/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0758794/quotes
http://thebestten.wordpress.com/2009/10/20/the-best-inspiring-pre-game-speeches-from-sports-movies/
Obama's Back to School Speech
- Picked a largely minority school to show that minority has a power in the US
- Had only minority people sitting behind him, for same reason as above
- Person introducting him is black, same reason as above
- greeted everyone with a down to earth ,"Hey!"-ethos, talks in everyday informal voice
- Waved and pointed directly at people-ethos, makes people thing they are important
- Directly talked about the girl that introduced him-ethos
- smiled directly at the principal-ethos
- Looked at everyone in the audience throughout his speech
- culture reference to Facebook, Twitter, ethos
- Doesn't beat around the bush about economy
- keeps mentioning that the kids are the future of the country, and that the country will have its best days in the future.
- He always ends his sentences in a lower voice, stops kind of abruptly
- doesn't use many metaphors, says to "color outside the line" though
- is very specific about examples he gives, talks about future jobs like artists, scientists, and in the beginning he mentions sports, music, and theatre
- Gives a personal story about he wasn't the best and perfect student
- His hands are constantly moving, not a lot, but they aren't by his sides
- Brings his story about ethics and applies it to now, how he uses that specific class in his job
- says he believes that students have the power to do many things, multiple times
- talks about the smart students that will go to a four year college and become scientists, but also talks about the ones that could only go to community college, gives both reassurance if they just work at it.
- repeats the saying ," you need to continue your education after college."
- he states facts about students that go to college and that they will need more than a degree for jobs in the future-creates ethos, logos
- lots of if, then statements to make his point very clear
- keeps motivating students by saying that he believes in them and that it all begins with expecting big things for yourself
- he starts new ideas by saying a counterargument or "what the students may think", but then he clarifies and goes into detail
- talks about himself as a dad and as the president, shows ethos, bringing himself dow to the level of his audience
- repeats the phrase ,"You'll be the ones..." and points directly at the audience
- gives people the feeling of need for their ideas ,"America needs young people now. Your country is depending on you."
- gives direct examples of students who have excelled: Will kim, Amy Chow.
- Keeps pausing during the Amy Chow cancer research story to emphasize and lengthen out story.
- very clean cut, formal suit-ethos
- doesn't use big words or hard to understand metaphors, brings diction to the level of his audience
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