Hwk 12

Thesis:
Many of the dominant social practices in our society - practices that define a "normal" life - on further investigation turn out to involve nightmares and industrial atrocities.

Major Claim:
The American food industry decides to conceal the acerbic truth about the food they produce from their consumers in order to keep them coming back for more.

Supporting Claim 1:
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations are unhealthy for the animals and the environment.
Evidence 1.1: The waste from the animals increases potential impact to the air, water and land quality.
Evidence 1.2: The digestive systems of cows are not built to digest corn which they are forced to feed on.
Evidence 1.3: Bacteria become resistant to antibiotics.

Supporting Claim 2:
Consumers are brainwashed into thinking they are consuming "organic" food, when in reality the producer has made a false claim.
Evidence 2.1: Food claiming to be organic has the same amount of nutrients as non-organic foods.
Evidence 2.2: After investigating the leading organic farms in our society, we find that they are not always completely truthful, or more beneficial.
Evidence 2.3: Whole Foods is not always honest to their customers about the products shelved in their markets.

Citations:
1.1: "Region 7 Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs)."http://www.epa.gov. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 30 Jul 2010. Web. 31 Oct 2010. .

1.2: "Sustainable Table: serving up healthy food choices."http://www.sustainabletable.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Oct 2010. .

1.3: Ebner, Paul. "CAFOs and Public Health: The Issue of Antibiotic Resistance."http://www.extension.purdue.edu. Purdue University, n.d. Web. 31 Oct 2010. .
2.1: Daly, Jessica. "Study: Organic food not more nutritional." CNN Tech. CNN, 19 Aug 2008. Web. 31 Oct 2010. .

2.2: Pollan, Michael. The Omnivore's Dilemma A Natural History of Four Meals. USA: Penguin Group, 2007. 158. Print.

2.3: Cain, Sarah. "The Health Wyze Report." healthwyze.org. N.p., 15 Feb 2010. Web. 31 Oct 2010. http://healthwyze.org/index.php/component/content/article/323-whole-foods-market-can-no-longer-be-trusted-for-safe-wholesome-foods-or-even-to-tell-the-truth-anymore.html.

Hyper links:
1.1: http://www.epa.gov/region7/water/cafo/cafo_impact_environment.htm
1.2: http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/feed/
1.3: http://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/ID/cafo/ID-349.pdf
2.1: http://articles.cnn.com/2008-08-19/tech/organic.cooking.pv_1_organic-food-organic-trade-association-organic-products?_s=PM:TECH
2.2: The Omnivore's Dilemma, Pg. 158
2.3: http://healthwyze.org/index.php/component/content/article/323-whole-foods-market-can-no-longer-be-trusted-for-safe-wholesome-foods-or-even-to-tell-the-truth-anymore.html

Hwk 11

Modality: Academic

Pollan discussed many different aspects regarding food, such as the meat many Americans consume; where it comes from, and the process an animal goes through in order to become a meat product shelved in a grocery store. He talked about this in his book: The Omnivore’s Dilemma and in a documentary he starred in titled Food Inc. He tries to show his readers and viewers that the American way of slaughtering animals does not consider the animals, but only the consumers. Pollan lacked information on other methods of slaughtering and how it compares to the method used by many Americans. For example many individuals claim that the Islamic method of slaughtering treats the animal with respect and saves the animal from severe pain, while the meat produced using the Western method does not. I wanted to dig deeper to try and figure out the differences regarding the treatment of animals being slaughtered the Haram way vs. the Halal way.

I decided to do my research online; doing so, I came across a website claiming: “Non-Halal meat is unhealthy and indisposed.” I decided to read this article which starts by discussing quotes from The Holy Quran. Reading further on, it talks about the role of human beings and other animals living in this world with us, and what is and is not to be consumed by a member of the Islamic religion. Later on they get to what I was looking for by discussing the topic of slaughtering animals two different ways, the Halal way and the Haram way. According to Kamoonpuri, slaughtering an animal the Halal way does not harm the creature in any way at all, whereas slaughtering the animal using the method practiced in many Western societies (Haram way) causes the poor creature to suffer from severe pain.

To prove this claim, they decided to conduct an experiment which involved slaughtering animals two different ways: by using a sharp knife to make a deep incision on the neck, while cutting the jugular veins and carotid arteries of sides and the trachea and esophagus (Halal), or by stunning the animal using a CBP (Captive Bolt Pistol) which is considered Haram. Before slaughtering the animals, electrodes were surgically implanted at different points on the skull of the animal to record results. Electroencephalographs and electrocardiograms were used to record the condition of the heart and brain of the animal. At the end it was concluded that the Islamic method uses a much more compassionate way of slaughter; there was no evidence of pain suffered by the animal, and the animal went into a sudden state of deep sleep since there was a large amount of blood loss from the body. Slaughtering the creature using the Western method of captive bolt stunning caused severe pain to the animal. After discussing the results of the experiment conducted, the many things taken into account when slaughtering a creature using the Islamic method were discussed. The sharpening of the knife should not be done in front of the animal, animals should not be slaughtered in front of one another, animals should be given water before being slaughtered, and the animal should be laid on its sides, while being soothed and stroked gently.

It is forbidden in Islam to tamper with the lives of animals and inflict torture upon them. After reading through this article, I found that the Islamic way of slaughtering the animal indeed shows much care and concern for the animal. I compared this to what I saw and read about the American food industry and their treatment with animals while taking a part of this food unit. The research I did connects to the issue of animal cruelty discussed in Food Inc. and shown in Our Daily Bread. Michael Pollan also talked about it in his book The Omnivore’s Dilemma. There were parts in the film and the book where the poor treatment of animals was used to aware the reader/viewer about the “behind the scenes” of the American food industry. This was done by discussing/showing the environment they live in and how they are handled in the process of slaughtering. Many individuals claim that when slaughtering the animal using the method many Westerners use, animals are treated as if they have no feeling or emotion. This is why I decided to research an alternate way of slaughtering animals. I think Pollan should have discussed different ways of slaughter such as the Halal and Kosher way to present alternatives to the Western way of slaughtering an animal, which lacks on care of the animal, and makes the creature become a victim of severe pain.

To be honest living as a Muslim consuming only Halal meat my whole life, I wasn’t much aware about all this. I mean I knew about the method since I have witnessed it a couple of times when I was young, but I never really took time to do my own research on this topic. I decided to look more into this during the food unit since I became fully aware of the slaughtering methods practiced in the Western culture, which is indeed cruel to the animal. I researched the different methods the United States uses to slaughter an animal; the USDA approves all the following methods of slaughter: chemical (carbon dioxide), mechanical (gunshot), mechanical (captive bolt) and electrical (stunning or slaughtering the animal using electrical current). This matters to me because I find it disturbing that the Western way of slaughtering animals does not seem to show much concern for the treatment of their animals, and this is not what I am taught by the religion I follow.


Citations:
"NON-HALAL MEAT IS UNHEALTHY AND INDISPOSED A SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATION." http://www.islamic-laws.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct 2010. .

"Animal Slaughter." www.Wikipedia.com. N.p., 20 Oct 2010. Web. 30 Oct 2010. .

Hwk 10

Precis:
Food Inc stars Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore's Dilemma, and Eric Schlosser, author of Fast Food Nation. This documentary attempts to aware viewers about American food consumption and how as consumers are digging a deeper hole by creating a number of conflicts; many having to do with our environment and economy. The government and subsidies are to blame for this food industry catastrophe; because of this reason, the United States is basically being ruled by industrial corporations. Over the past fifty years or so, the food eaten by many Americans has been touched with chemicals, pesticides or been through a process of genetic modification. Both, Pollan and Schlosser reveal the truth about the food we eat, and this truth is not pretty at all. This documentary goes behind the scenes of slaughter houses and farms showing viewers what really goes on behind closed space. The government and the companies are the ones in charge of the safety and the health of the food, workers, consumers and animals. Animal cruelty is also brought up in the film; footage shows animals forced to feed on antibiotics and corn. In order to make a stop to this, Americans need to consume food which benefits themselves and the environment. We need to lift the veil and aware others about what we consume while getting the government to change their ideas about food production.

Movie vs. Book:
There were many similarities and differences between The Omnivore's Dilemma and Food Inc. While reading the book, the reader has to create his/her own images in their mind; they make their own interpretations. It gives an in depth explanation of the author's daily experiences regarding different topics about food; he is able to inform the reader about experiments done in the past while quoting individuals and gathering more evidence and using statistics. I would personally prefer the book over the movie; although the movie offers footage of many topics, the book is able to give more factual truth, while the movie tends to be a bit more biased. The book offers personal thoughts about the author and how he spends his time in a certain environment; the writing is much more detailed since it makes the reader almost picture the setting, as if they were with Pollan on his investigation. The book is like Pollan’s personal diary while he is in a quest to figure out where the food Americans consume comes from. The movie however ties the findings and thoughts of Pollan and Schlosser. The book only offers words, while the movie offers both words and visuals. While reading the book, the reader has to spend time understanding the criteria being discussed, by creating visuals in their mind and making connections to themselves. The movie provides visuals which can make the viewer realize how real the situations discussed in the book are. Sometimes while reading, the text doesn't impact the reader as much as the text would. In the end, the movie and the book both discuss the locked up truth about companies in charge of the food consumed by Americans; comparing the past and the present regarding food, and the effects of food on the human being. The book and the movie both make the main point about how the food "industry does not want you to know the truth about what you are eating, because if you know then you will probably not eat it."

Thoughts:
At this point, I don’t have any questions left unanswered. There were a few times where the documentary discussed statistics about certain topics regarding the consumers and America’s food industry. There was a part in which the health of Americans was discussed in concern. One of these health concerns had to do with diabetes. One in three Americans born after the year 2000 will be a diabetic. This is a very scary fact; this proves how unhealthy we are as a country. There was a scene where the topic of diabetes was being discussed in a health class at a school; the students were asked how many of them had known someone who was a diabetic. Almost all of the students raised their hands. Even though before viewing this documentary I was aware about the problem with diabetics in America, viewing this part of the film shocked me. It made me realize that as a country we are in deep trouble, and if we don’t try to come up with a solution in time, there will be no way to turn back. The average American consumer eats their food without any knowledge what so ever about what is being consumed. I am sure that many viewers who take part of an unhealthy diet will realize their wrong doings towards themselves and the environment. Hopefully many Americans become aware of this bitter truth and make a change in their food ways.

Hwk 9

While viewing the film version of Freakonomics, there were many "tools" the film repeatedly incorporated in different examples. Some "tools" used throughout the film included: interviews, experiments, and gathering data. There were many topics that the movie used, such as the existence of cheating in sumo wrestling, the effects of parenting on education, and the impact of a child's name on his or her life.

When magnifying into the issue of cheating involved in the sport of sumo wrestling, Levitt and Dubner drew many questions when they found a pattern after looking into a number of sumo wrestling matches. Levitt gathered statistics which suggested that a wrestler which has seven loses and seven wins will win the match against a wrestler who has eight wins and six loses around 80% of the time. Towards the end, Levitt concludes that wrestlers who have eight wins will let the opponent with seven wins win the match because the wrestler who already owns the eight wins has a secured position for the next match. In order to figure this out for sure, Levitt turns to retired sumo wrestlers for support in gathering evidence. One retired sumo wrestler states that he himself and other sumo wrestlers he was close with were responsible for cheating in many of the matches they had fought. In addition, Levitt gathers evidence from other people who are just as interested in the topic as he is; together they are able to answer multiple questions regarding the topic of cheating in the sport of sumo wrestling.

Experimenting was another "tool" used from the "Freakanomics tool box". Levitt and Dubner investigated around the topic of a baby's name and its impact on his/her life. One experiment regarding this topic involved a situation where a resume containing the exact same information, but different names being sent out to a number of job offices around the United States. While keeping all the information the same, the only thing that differed between the two sets of resumes was the names. Half of the resumes were titled with a common name for a white person, and the other half read a common name for an African American individual. After a few weeks of waiting, the job offices that received the resumes with the common name for a white individual started to receive many calls. After waiting a couple more weeks, the job offices that received the resume with the common African American name started to call. When all the data was collected from the experiment, it was concluded that a resume with a typical name for a white individual will probably get a call back a couple weeks earlier than a resume titled with a common African American name.

Another example used in the film which included the "tools" of interviewing, conducting experiments, and gathering research, involved a scenario at school. In this particular school, there were many students that were doing poorly in their classes, which was determined by their grades. In order to try to solve this problem, the school started a payout program; each month a student receiving a grade of a "C" or higher in all of his/her classes would receive $50. In addition they would have an entry to a raffle which would reward one lucky winner $500.000. There were a few students that the documentary followed, at first their grades were suffering a lot, but after hearing about the payout program their school was taking a part of, it gave them a confidence boost. At the end, one of the few students was able to maintain a "C" for all of his classes; in return he received $50.00 for that month, and became the lucky winner of the raffle. In addition, Levitt interviewed the people behind this pay out program. He questioned them about how well they think the program will work in the future, and if it will make an improvement in the student’s education. After the experiments and interviews were conducted, a conclusion was drawn. The payout program caused some students to do better with their grades, while others didn't show much improvement at all. For example, one student was able to maintain C's, while another didn't give a damn about his school life; he could have cared less about his future.

Levitt and Dubner tend to rely on the interviews and statistics the most when collecting their evidence. This is innovative since it is able to help them draw accurate conclusions, which in return answer many of their questions. By gathering information from an individual’s experience, the source becomes more reliable. The interviews were able to give them a deeper meaning about the certain topic. After all the interviews were done, they were able to make comparisons. The statistics were factual; these were used to compare the facts to what the individuals had to say. After a process of comparing and contrasting, Levitt and Dubner were able to come to a consensus.

I agree; Freakanomics serves as an inspiration and good example to our attempt to explore the "hidden-in-plain-sight" weirdness of dominant social practices. This movie made me realize that we are allowed to question everything in this world; whether it is the simplest of questions. After viewing this movie I have more confidence in myself to figure out answers to questions that may be simple, but tough to draw conclusions for. For example the simple question regarding different names and if they determine how successful an individual will turn out to be. In one part of the film, there is a father who has two sons; he names one of them "Winner" and the other Loser". Just by looking at their names, the average person will assume that Winner will have a perfect life, while Loser won't. After a couple decades pass, Winner ends up in jail, serving for the many crimes he committed, while Loser gains a degree graduating from a top university. At the end, we are able to conclude that the name of an individual does not determine how successful one might turn out to be in their life. This connects to our investigation of food ways in many ways indeed. There are many questions that build up in our minds while we discuss in class, or read our text. Many of these questions are as simple as: "Is processed corn the cause for high numbers regarding the issue of obesity in America?" By conducting an experiment which will hopefully draw some conclusions to this question, we will be able to come closer to an answer. One way to come up with an answer is by comparing the diet of an average American, to the diet of an individual from a society that does not consume processed corn as much as Americans do. We can then compare the rates of obesity in America to the rates of obesity in a society where the consumption of processed corn is not very common.

Hwk 8

Overall I had a great experience growing my own food; I am not used to growing food on my own , but I was glad to take a part of this opportunity. Unfortunatley towrads the end of the "growing my own food" process, I made a mistake which caused my sprouts to die. I was unknown to the fact that putting my sprouts in the fridge would kill them. I was really excited to try some of the sprouts I had grown, but never got the chance. At first I was taking great care of my sprouts, but the day i brought them home I made a poor choice of rinsing them and putting them in the fridge so they can be used the next day. When I went to take a look at my sprouts the next morning, I was saddened by the fact that my sprouts had dried out. I never got the chance to take a picture of the sprouts I had cared for, but I asked my dad to buy some sprouts (shown above) so I can have a taste. Sprouts aren't a common ingredient in the foods I usually consume, but I have tasted them a few times. Since it's been a long time since I have eaten them, I gave them a taste recently; I enjoyed the crisp and clean taste. Even though my sprouts weren't able to live for long, I was content knowing that I had learned many new things throughout this process.

Playing the role of the caretaker for the sprouts I grew, I was able to think in depth about why the food I eat is sacred. Every living thing needs patience and care (sprouts in this case) just as we humans do. I feel that many of us take food for granted; we don't take the time to stop and think about what exactly is being consumed or how it came to be. As a caretaker for the sprouts I grew, I was fully aware of how the sprouts I was planning on consuming were cared for; as for other foods, I am usually taking a risk. The process of growing the sprouts seemed magical yet sacred. I was surprised how the tiny brown seeds were converted into sprouts within a short week with the simple use of water. In addition, I would definitley claim this proceess to be sacred since food is a living thing which needs nourishment just like us. Coming from a family that taught me to respect my food, while growing the sprouts I was able to become fully aware of this concept. This is the first time (from what I remember) I have attempted to grow my own food; now that I have experienced and witnessed the process, I will definitely consider growing my own food more often.

Hwk 7d

Chapter Seventeen – The Ethics of Eating Animals
Precis:
The number of vegetarians is growing rapidly, at the same time many people are becoming aware about animal rights. Every living organism needs to be treated with care; many people argue that animals should be treated the same way humans are. Pollan devotes this entire chapter to the dilemma of eating animals. The meat industry is well aware about the fact that if their customers are educated about the details on how animals turn into meat, the less customers they will have. As meat consumers we need to understand the process of animals turning into meat, hopefully making a change for meat processors to revise their techniques in order for the animals to live a happier life before becoming slaughtered.
Gems:
"The question is not Can they reason? Or Can they talk? But Can they suffer?" (308)
"Humans don't need to kill other creatures in order to survive; carnivorous animals do." (310)
"I have yet to find any serious writer on the subject who still subscribes to Descartes belief that animals cannot feel pain because they lack a soul." (315)
"We'd probably eat a lot less of it, too, but maybe when we did eat animals we'd eat them with the consciousness, ceremony, and respect they deserve." (333)
Thoughts:
What exactly is the right diet to follow when living as a human being? It seems as if there is no correct meal plan out there; no matter what diet we take a part of there will always be pros and cons that linger. After reading this chapter I realized that having a vegetarian diet connects to slaughtering animals; in order to protect certain vegetables, predators need to be killed. Does this means that vegetarians support the slaughter of animals, but don't consume animals because they think it's just too gross of an idea?

What if the consumption of animals by humans being came to a sudden halt; would there be enough land for these animals to live peacefully? Or would we have to think of an alternative to keep the population of certain animals limited? Would they be kept in the wild, or would we make a different use of them?

Chapter Eighteen – Hunting
Precis:
This is my first time hunting and I am accompanied by Angelo; he has been hunting for years now. We are hunting for boars in the “sparsely populated northern reaches of Sonoma County”; we came across a group of pigs and had a chance to aim our rifles at them, unfortunately I was not successful since I was simply not ready. There is something holding me back from taking a part of this hunting activity, but I puss myself to join the “adventure”. During this outing, I witnessed a pig being shot down, and prepared which was not appealing at all. Later on I was able to think about the process of hunting for the pig and killing it, which definitely made me aware about what I eat and where exactly it comes from.
Gems:
“It is a wonder that the cashier didn’t preemptively throw up his hands and offer us the contents of the cash register.” (337)
“It was as if I’d dialed up the gain on all my senses or quieted myself to such an extent that the world itself grew louder and brighter.” (341)
"So much of the human project is concerned with distinguishing ourselves from beasts that we seem strenuously to avoid things that remind us that we are beasts too - animals that urinate, defecate, copulate, bleed, die, stink, and decompose." (357)
Thoughts:
I don’t think Pollan should have taken part in killing any of the pigs. I feel as if he wrote this book to track down where all our food comes from, not take a part of slaughtering animals. At the end of the day he is held responsible for killing a pig. I guess there was a sense of excitement, but I think he should have controlled that. Pollan didn’t really think thoroughly what he will be doing with his gun; instead he seemed to be much more excited about using it, not worrying much about what he will be aiming at.

How has Pollan’s personal diet changed while conducting his research?

Chapter Nineteen – Gathering: The Fungi
Precis: Mushrooms; many of us consume this fruity body of a subterranean network of microscopic hyphae, yet we don’t know much about them. I go out on a search for mushrooms in the wild for this meal; chanterelles and morels in particular. In science today, there are many unsolved questions surrounding mushroom, whether they need to be consumed by humans or not. While I was out in an attempt to gather mushrooms, I suddenly realized how hard it is to collect them. Mushrooms definitely play a role in recycling organic matter. If the wrong types of mushrooms are eaten by humans, the effects can be deadly.
Gems:
“I was the horse who could count, the man who could find a chanterelle using someone else’s eyes.” (369)
“They had a delicate flavor, fruity with a hint of pepper, and a firm but silky texture. “(370)
“You’re looking for the big score, the mother lode. The conditions might be perfect in every way, but you never know what you’re going to find around the next bend-it could be a sea of mushrooms or nothing at all.” (384)
“You can forage in the garden, in the way Adam and Eve presumably did, but there isn’t much to it: no dilemmas, no hunting stories” (386)
Thoughts:
The way this reading was presented, as a reader I felt that gathering mushrooms is a very tough job; it’s definitely no easy walk in the park. As consumers we tend to see food in large quantities when we go out to purchase it; we tend to assume that it got there somehow, as if it just appeared out of nowhere. Let’s take mushrooms for example, even though they are hard to gather, buyers are not aware about this fact. When we go out to purchase mushrooms, we see them in large quantities. What we don’t know is that it probably took a long period of time to search for one single mushroom.

I didn’t know much about mushrooms until I read through this chapter. They don’t really have a reason to be eaten, but we still consume them. I feel like we don’t really care much about what we eat , or what benefits (if there are any) our body will get from eating the product. We simply eat to eat; nothing more, nothing less.

Chapter Twenty – The Perfect Meal
Precis: After all the growing, foraging, hunting and catching was done with, I prepared meals for Angelo, Sue, Anthony, Richard, Judith, Isaac, and myself throughout the whole week. The meal included: Egg Fettuccine, braised leg and grilled loin of Wild Sonoma Pig, Garden Salad grown locally, Fava Bean toasts, and much more. I wouldn't say this was the best meal ever when comparing it to the standards of myself and my guests, but it was the joy and thoughtfulness that made this an awe-inspiring meal. I would definitley take this meal over a meal from a fast food restraunt; this meal proved that genuine meals still exist.
Gems:
"No, little if anything about this meal was what anyone would call 'realistic'. And yet no meal I've ever prepared or eaten has been more real." (392)
"Another thing cooking is, or can be, is a way to honor the things we're eating, the animal and plants and fungi that have been sacrificed to gratify our needs and desires, as well as the place and the people that produced them." (404)
"We eat by the grace of nature, not industry, and what we're eating is never anything more or less than the body of the world." (411)
Thoughts:
This book definitley raises awareness in the reader's mind. While I was reading this book, I was able to apply many of the situations discussed to myself. For example when they discussed topics regarding fast food restaraunts. I rarely consume food from fast food joints; so rarely that I don't remember the last time I had a meal from a fast food restaraunt. I am proud of myself and my family for taking little or no part in fast food consumption. Part of this has to do with my religion, since it tells us to abstain from eating pork, and eating meat that is not properly slaughtered. I can only eat meat that went through the process of proper slaughtering. This is the main reason for why I don't eat from fast food places, simply because I can't consume their meat. A few other things I learned while reading this book was: the process of slaughtering different animals, the mystery behind the consumption of mushrooms, hunting, etc... This book definitley taught many lessons which I wouldn't have been educated about elsewhere.

Many Americans assume that they made a good gesture by purchasing their food from "Whole Foods" or because the product they purchased claims to be organic, or enviornmentally friendly. They are brainwashed into thinking that these food items are good for them and teh enviornment. What they don't know is that everything such as food products have hidden lies...of course the farmers market and stores such as Whole Foods will create a certain label which will draw the attention of many individuals, just so they can make a profit. We as buyers and consumers need to come out of this hypnotized state and try to dig deep into everything we consume...soon many of us will realize that we have been lied all this time...only a few of the sellers tell the truth...very few...such as Joel Salatin...

Hwk 7c

Chapter Eleven – The Animals: Practicing Complexity
Precis:
Rotational grazing is when the animals are basically doing all the work, while the farmers make sure everything is running smoothley. For example, in Joel Salatin's farm each animal has a certain role to play which will benefit other animals. This method causes every living organism on the farm to make a connection to one another. Some jobs these animals take care of in order to maintain a lively farm life include fertilizing and feeding.
Gems:
"I'm just the orchestra conductor, making sure everybody's in the right place at the right time." (212)
"It's all connected. This farm is more like an organism than a machine, and like any organism it has its proper scale. A mouse is the size of a mouse for a good reason, and a mouse that was the size of an elephant wouldn't do very well." (213)
"Koestler felt English lacked a word to express the complex relationship of parts and wholes in a biological or social system." (215)
"So much of the intelligence and local knowledge in agriculture has been removed from the farm to the laboratory, and then returned to the farm in the form of a chemical or machine." (220)
"One of the greatest assets of a farm is the sheer ecstasy of life." (225)
Thoughts:
When comparing the jobs of an industrial farmer to a organic or rational grazing farmer, at the end of the day the organic/rational grazing farmer would have done much more than a industrial farmer. Because of this reason America is more common to having industrail farmers. I think we are just too lazy, and we don't have enough heart. Industrial farmers do their jobs just so they have a certain role to play in their society and have some type of income, they tend to depend to quantity. Rational farmers such as Joel Salatin have more care about the quality of their food; they want to make sure that every plant grown and animal raised on their farm is in no way harmful to the consumer and the enviornment. Industrail farmers tend to take the easier way out of their job, while an organic farmer like Salatin is open to alternatives as long as it benefits the enviornment and the consumer.

Why are organic and rotational grazing farms not common in the United States? I think this is simply because no one is pushing this idea through. It's more of an option, instead of being mandatory. If the governemnt tries to make this idea mandatory for all farms throughout America, we will have more production of healthy foods causing the rates to fall, in return giving friendlier prices to buyers.

Chapter Twelve – Slaughter: In a Glass Abattoir
Precis:
In order to consume the animal, it must go through a messy process of slaughtering. Unlike most farmers, Joel Salatin ignores the criticism he receives from the USDA and slaughters his animals on the farm. The slaughtering process for animals such as chickens is tough. First the chickens are grabbed by their legs while they violentley move around, then placed inside cones in order to slice their necks.
Gems:
"I point out we don't have any walls at all, not to mention doors and windows, because the best disinfectant in the world is fresh air and sunshine." (229)
"After you gut a few thousand chickens," Galen said dryly after I'd torn another chicken, "you'll either get really good at it, or you'll stop gutting chickens." (234)
"We do not allow the government to dictate what religion you can observe, so why should we allow them to dictate what kind of food you can buy?" (236)
Thoughts:
Why does the government create so many strict rules for rotational grazing farmers? In the end of the day these farmers are trying to do what is best for the enviornment and their consumers. Why does the government seem to go against this idea?

In my opinion, the idea of animals being slaughtered in front of the soon to be consumer is great. Many slaughterhouses try to hide the slaughter process...what are they trying to hide from the consumers? Slaughtering animals in front of the customers gives the customer another reason to buy from the seller; they are not afraid to let the slaughtering process be viewed by the open public.

If more slaughterhouses were open to the idea of slaughtering their animals in front of their customers, would there be an increase in the number of people turning into vegans? I think ithere would be a slight increase. The slaughtering process opens the consumers eyes in a new way. It makes them realize much more than they had known before.

Chapter Thirteen – The Market: “Greetings from the Non-Barcode People”
Precis:
When purchasing food from the farm, the customer is well aware about the food they will soon consume; whereas when the customer purchases food from a market, they aren't well educated about the food. Food bought from farms such as the Polyface farm is likely to cost a bit more when compared to the prices in industrial markets; this is all to be blammed on the government. Farmers such as Salatin sell their products locally, since they keep their enviornment in mind at all times.
Gems:
"He believes the only meaningful guarantee of integrity is when buyers and sellers can look one another in the eye, something few of us ever take the trouble to do." (240)
"Don't you find it odd that people will put more work into choosing their mechanic or house contractor than they will into chosing the person who grows their food?" (240)
“I tell them the choice is simple: You can buy honestly priced food or you can buy irresponsibly priced food.” (243)
"The beauty of the internet is that it allows like-minded people to find their tribes, and then for the tribes to find their way to us." (248)
Thoughts:
I think that people are slowly becomming aware of this idea, and they want to change their food ways. But for some people this is tough, because even though they are willing to change their food ways, their pockets won't allow them to do so. They should blame the government for this; if prices for food that is grown in farms such as those owned by Salatin decrease, I predict that many people will be making drastic changes in their food ways.

Farmers that work in rotational grazing farms seem to have a good relationship with their communities. They build a trustworthy relationship with their customers. This is why the community which surrounds Polyface makes their food purchases from their farm because they trust their food, and the farm has nothing to hide from their customers.

Chapter Fourteen – The Meal: Grass Fed
Precis:
Much of the food we consume seems to have the same exterior, but what about the interior? We don't realize the difference between the food grown in farms such as the Polyface farm, and food grown in industrial farms. The Polyface farms feeds grass to their animals, which in return gives many healthy benefits. This food has higher quality because no chemicals are involved when growing it; the animals are not forced to consume corn. Grass fed food is much more nutritional since it has it's own unique taste and benefits such as scaring diseases away.
Gems:
I had made pretty much the same meal on several occasions at home, using the same basic foodstuffs, yet in certain invisible ways this wasn't the same food at all. Apart from the high color of the egg yolks, these eggs looked pretty much like any other eggs, the chicken like the chicken, but the fact that the animals in question had spent their lives outdoors on pastures rather than in a shed eating grain distinguished their flesh and eggs in important, measurable ways. (266)
"When chickens get to live like chickens, they'll taste like chickens, too." (270)
“Every meal we share at a table recapitulates this evolution form nature to culture, as we pass from satisfying our animal appetites in semisilence to the lofting of conversational balloons.” (272)
Thoughts:
While reading through this chapter, I kept questioning myself, what exactly is the "real" taste of a certain food? Have I been living off food that doesn't taste the way it should? Even though we assume that a certain type of food is supposed to have a certain taste, we should be well aware about different tastes for one type of food. I don't think there is a "real" taste for each type of food out there; the taste of the certain food will always vary depending on the way it was brought up and how it was cared for.

I liked the way this chapter was written, the way the food and the setting were described. I could almost picture some scences in my head. I suddenly wanted to take a part of the scene where they were consuming the food.

Chapter Fifteen – The Forager
Precis:
The hunter/gatherer technique is not as common as it was before, so I decided to get a feel for this technique. I wanted to learn how it feels to be in charge of creating and capturing my own food. I want to go out to teh wilderness and take part in a first hand experience on how it feels to grow my own food , and kill other creatures in order to make my own food from scratch. In order to become a legal hunterer, I will need to obtain a license by taking a course and completing a test.
Gems:
"She made it sound like it wouldn't take much for a kid to get himself killed snacking in the woods." (278)
“Like other important forms of play, it promises to teach us something about who we are beneath the crust of our civilized, practical, grown-up lives. Foraging for wild plants and animals is, after all, the way the human species has fed itself for 99 percent of its time on earth; this is precisely the food chain natural selection designed for us.” (280)
"When I moved away I would call for recipes and for memory of smell and taste, and now I'm trying to replicate what I left behind." (283)
Thoughts:
How would our lifestyles change if we all suddenly became hunter/gatherers?

After becoming aware of Pollan's desires for having a hunting gathering experience, I am becoming curious with this interest as well. I want to experience it for myself; I want be able to depend on my self if an event occurs where i am stuck in the wilderness and in need of such skills. A hunting/gathering skill is always nice to have under your belt, you never know when you will need it.

Chapter Sixteen – The Omnivore's Dilemma
Precis:
Humans and rats are very similar creatures, in the sense that they are both omnivores. But these creatures have many differences as well; one of the major differences being that humans make their food choices relying on advertisments and scientists unlike rats. Humans want to consume food not only to consume food, but to get a pleasure out of it; we want our food to be affordable, ethical, pleasing to the culture, etc... We make our decisions regarding food based on the way it tastes or how familiar we are with it.
Gems:
"Eating might be simpler as a thimble-brained monophage, but it's also a lot more precarious, which partly explains why there are so many more rats and humans in the world than koalas." (290)
"Cooking, one of the omnivore's cleverest tools, opened up whole new vistas of edibility. Indeed, in doing so it probably made us who we are. " (293)
"Being an omnivore occupying a cognitive niche in nature is both a boon and a challenge, a source of tremendous power as well as anxiety." (295)
Thoughts:
Would humans be able to depend on one type of food in order to survive? Or have we become so used to having a vast variety of foods that we are not capable of having such a thought?

I found it interesting that rats and humans have so many similarities. I thought it was a unique way to learn about rats and how they relate and differ with humans. I didn't know much about rats before this reading, even though some parts were a bit disgusting it was indeed a different way to learn about an omnivore other than the human being.

Hwk 7b

Chapter Six – The Consumer: A Republic of Fat
Precis:
The high figures regarding obesity in America are simply caused by corn being over produced; the overproduction of corn causes this grass to become very cheap. Due to this fact, corn has replaced the use of sugar. Corn syrup can be found in many food items out there, such as soft drinks. The cheapness of corn has caused fast food restaurants and soft drink companies to use it in many of their products, in addition making their portions much larger.
Gems:
"The excess biomass works like a vacuum in reverse: Sooner or later, clever marketers will figure out a way to induce the human omnivore to consume the surfeit of cheap calories." (101)
"Three of every five Americans are overweight; one of every five is obese." (102)
"Corn accounts for most of the surplus calories we're growing and most of the surplus calories we're eating." (103)
"Researchers have found that people (and animals) presented with large portions will eat up to 30 percent more than they would otherwise." (106)
Thoughts:
I think the reason behind obesity in America is the over production of corn, but the marketers are the ones that should take the full blame. They are the ones that choose to promote unhealthy items to catch the eyes of innocent consumers. They take advantage of buyers by using corn in all the products they will consume and create them in larger portions. They seem to mask themselves as if what they are doing is a very good gesture indeed, but behind that mask they are a face of evil causing the percentage of obesity levels to rise. But I guess they are forced to do this, if they don't then what will happen to all that corn being produced? These marketers don't have any other options; going against this idea will cost them their jobs.
"While the surgeon general is raising alarms over the epidemic of obesity, the president is signing farm bills designed to keep the river of cheap corn flowing, guaranteeing that the cheapest calories in the supermarket will continue to be the unhealthiest." (108) Is the president not aware about the outcomes of signing such bills? Is he held responsible for America's struggle with obesity?

Chapter Seven – The Meal: Fast Food
Precis:
While consuming a meal from a local McDonalds, the customer usually doesn't realize that the meal being eaten mainly consists of corn. Majority of the meals sold throughout fast food restaurants wouldn't exist if it weren't for corn. Because fast food is simply fast food, it gives the buyer yet another reason to consume it. What they don't realize at the moment is the number of risks regarding their health that can be caused by eating meals from McDonalds.
Gems:
"My eleven-year-old son, Isaac, was more than happy to join me at McDonald's; he doesn't get there often, so it's a treat. (For most American children today, it is no longer such a treat: One in three of them eat fast food every single day.)" (109)
"Of the thirty-eight ingredients it takes to make a Mcnugget, I counted thirteen that can be derived from corn..." (112-113)
"In the long run, however, the eater pays a high price for these cheap calories: obesity, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease." (117)
"What is it about fast food? Not only is it served in a flash, but more often than not it's eaten that way too: We finished our meal in under ten minutes.(119)
Thoughts:
How does our dependence on corn compare to those of other countries?
Will fast food chains such as McDonald's be able to survive without the use of corn in their products, such as the famous Mcnugget? If this event were to take place in the near future what will replace McDonalds?

Chapter Eight: All Flesh is Grass
Precis:
Usually when we think of farms we picture beautiful green grass growing everywhere, cattle chewing on some of this grass, while some of it is used for hay; this is not the common case in America. Many farms in America do not depend on nature to keep their animals and plants alive; surprisingly, these include many farms thought to be growing "organic" foods. Many farmers in America don't take the concept of organic as seriously as some other farmers such as Joel Salatin do. Joel is one of the few farmers in America who owns a organic farm in which everything is grown naturally.
Gems:
"We think of grass as soft and hospitable stuff, but once it's been dried in the sun and shredded by machines - once it's become hay - grass is sharp enough to draw blood and dusty enough to thicken lungs." (123)
"Salatin is the choreographer and the grasses are his verdurous stage; the dance has made polyface one of the most productive and influential alternative farms in America". (126)
'Because a healthy soil digests the dead to nourish the living, Salatin calls it the earth's stomach." (127)
"Me and the folks who buy my food are like the Indians - we just want to opt out. That's all the Indians ever wanted -to keep their tepees, to give their kids herbs instead of patent medicines and leeches. They didn't care if there was a Washington, D.C., or a Custer or a USDA; just leave us alone. But the Western mind can't bear an opt - out option. We're going to have to refight the Battle of the Little Bighorn to preserve the right to opt out, or your grandchildren and mine will have no choice but to eat amalgamated, irradiated, genetically prostituted, barcoded, adulterated fecal spam from the centralized processing conglomerate". (132)
Thoughts:
If all American farmers were to follow Joel Salatin's organic way of owning a farm, won't the prices of organic foods drop making the prices friendlier for more individuals?
What if industrial farming came to a sudden stop? How would Americans react? Why do we seem to only worry about the present, yet not the future? Shouldn't we be coming up with new ideas that involve growing our food using natural methods?

Chapter Nine – Big Organic
Precis:
Many stores claiming they sell organic foods are using a web of lies in order to trap their customers, making them feel as if they are purchasing organic products; yet in reality it is the total opposite. After taking a closer look into organic farms and industrial farms, their aren't many significant differences noted in the way they grow their foods. Organic food stores such as Whole Foods create stories, which keep the truth hidden; in return appealing the innocent buyer to purchase more goods from their stores. At times, consuming conventional produce is better than consuming so called organic produce.
Gems:
"The organic movement, as it was once called, has come a remarkably long way in the last thirty years, to the point where it now looks considerably less like a movement than a big business." (138)
“Artificial manures lead to artificial nutrition, artificial food, artificial animals and finally to artificial men and women.” (148)
“And so, today, the organic food industry finds itself in a most unexpected, uncomfortable, and, yes, unsustainable position: floating on a sinking sea of petroleum.” (184)
Thoughts:
How do customers of stores such as Whole Foods react to all this? Will they revolt or accept this fact and move on with their lives keeping their mouths shut?
I think it is absurd the way stores claiming they sell organic foods trick innocent buyers by using a trap of sweet words. We shouldn't be tricked into consuming something unhealthy, while we consider it to be healthy. We are better off consuming food grown in industrial farms; at least when we purchase these foods we are well aware of how it was grown. We are brainwashed by organic food sellers into thinking we are committing a great act while purchasing their products; we are just too afraid face the deadly truth...

Chapter Ten – Grass: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Pasture
Precis:
Many American farmers use corn to keep their farms running, but grass farmers, one of them being Joel Salatin, rely on grass. Grass is a very important necessity for farms owned by grass farmers. Joel Salatin refers to his pastures as the "salad bar"; the "salad bar" provides his cattle a source of energy and nutrients all living organisms need in order to survive. Grass farming does not use any toxic substances in the process of raising their animals and growing their fruits and vegetables. Joel Salatin and other grass farmers produce their food by naturally obtaining energy and nutrients which are packed away in the plants they grow and the animals they raise. Because industrial agriculture is cheap, grass farming is not very common in America.
Gems:
"The animals come and go, but the grasses, which directly or indirectly feed all the animals, abide, and the well - being of the farm depends more than anything else on the well - being of its grass." (187)
"We should call ourselves the sun farmers. The grass is just the way we capture the solar energy." (188)
“Grain is the closest thing in nature to an industrial commodity: storable, portable, fungible, ever the same today as it was yesterday and will be tomorrow.” (201)
Thoughts:
Knowing all the benefits (some regarding global warming) of replacing corn with grass in farms, why are we still relying on corn? Are we too lazy to make this transformation?
If grass farming becomes common in America, will it make a huge impact on its people? Such as the issue regarding obesity...If majority of the farms in America become grass farms, will the high numbers in obesity change drastically for the better?

Hwk 7

The Omnivore's Dilemma A Natural History of Four Meals
By Michael Pollan

Introduction:
Precis:
"What will we be having for dinner tonight?" is a question we all come across in our daily lives. Many Americans have a hard time answering this question since we tend to change our diets every so often. The "Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan pushes individuals to make smart decisions for their next meal. In order for these smart decisions to take place, we must learn how the food that is in front of us got there.
Gems:
“…The three principal food chains that sustain us today: the industrial, the organic, and the hunter-gatherer. Different as they are, all three food chains are systems for doing more or less the same thing: linking us, through what we eat, to the fertility of the of the earth and the energy of the sun.” (5)
"My premise is that like every other creature on earth, humans take part in a food chain, and our place in that food chain, or web determines to a considerable extent what kind of creature we are." (6)
"Daily, our eating turns nature into culture, transforming the body of the world into our bodies and minds." (10)
“Eating is an agricultural act,” as Wendell Berry famously said. It is also an ecological act, and a political act, too.” (11)
Thoughts:
"How are the ways of food in different countries compared to American food ways? Do they have the same ways of processing food as we do?
I found it interesting when the human food ways were compared to animals such as koalas. Humans are aware of different tastes and textures, while the koala will eat anything that tastes like the eucalyptus. Imagine us eating only one sort of food throughout our whole lives. I think it's fascinating for some creatures to depend on only one type of food.

Chapter One – The Plant
Corn’s Conquest
Precis:
While pushing our carts full of a variety of edible items, we struggle to realize that many of these items wouldn't appear before us if it wasn't for corn. Our dependence on corn is growing, with already 25% of grocery store items containing a form of corn as an ingredient. This plant provides humans with lots of carbon. Corn has been consumed for centuries by Native Americans, Mexicans, and Pilgrims.
Gems:
"With out the "fruitfulness" of Indian corn, the nineteenth-century English writer William Cobbett declared, the colonists would never have been able to build "a powerful nation." Maize, he wrote, was "the greatest blessing God ever gave to man." (26)
"...Native Americans had discovered that by taking the pollen from the tassel of one corn plant and dusting it on the silks of another, they could create new plants that combined the traits of both parents." (28)
"...Zea Mays entered the industrial age and, in time, it brought the whole American food chain with it." (31)
Thoughts:
If corn were never to be discovered, what plant would take it's place while bringing the whole American food chain with it?
Since so many Americans have grown very dependent on corn, how would they respond to if a scenario where all corn crops failed? Would they be furious? Would they handle this situation maturley?
Will corn be replaced in the near future with a different plant, perhaps more benficial to our bodies?

Chapter Two – The Farm
Precis:
As time passed by, the choices of farmers regarding farming decreased to a few. Before, they had the freedom to grow a number of fruits and vegetables, while raisng a number of animals. After the prices of corn started to decrease because of over production, farmers were having a hard time making a good amount of money. Farmers started to use different chemicals such as ammonium nitrate to provide their crops nitrogen.
Gems:
"Measured in terms of output per worker, American farmers like Naylor are the most productive humans who have ever lived." (34)
As the Indian farmer activist Vandana Shiva says in her speeches, "We're still eating the leftovers of World War 2." (41)
Thoughts:
Farmers are responsible to produce and care for most of the food we eat; why are they not praised by society for this?
How will the country react if all the farmers went on strike for a higher pay?
In our future do we see technology taking over the jobs of all farmers, in return making them unemployed?

Chapter Three – The Elevator
Precis:
Tons and tons of corn is being produced, but the amount of consumption is limited; what happens to the leftovers? Grain elevators are piled high with leftover corn, which goes through a process of being milled, fractionated, processed and exported. Corn is never wasted under any circumstance, after all it will be used one way or another. In return the over production of corn does not concern many, whereas if corn crops started to fail Americans would find themselves drowning in crisis; this might explain why "the corn" has be renamed as the "commodity corn."
Gems:
What is much harder to see is that all this corn is also the product of government policies, which have done more than anything else to raise that mountain and shrink the prices of each bushel in it." (61)
"My plan when I came to Iowa was to somehow follow George Naylor's corn on it's circuitous path to our plates and into our bodies. I should have known that tracing any single bushel of commodity corn is as impossible as tracing a bucket of water after after it's been poured into a river. " (63)
"These two companies (Cargill and ADM) now guide corn's path at every step of the way: They provide the pesticide and fertilizer to the farmers; operate most of America's grain elevators (Naylor's member-owned cooperative is an exception); broker and ship most of the exports; perform the wet and dry milling; feed the livestock and then slaughter the corn fattened animals; distill the ethanol; and manufacture the high-fructose corn syrup and the numberless other fractions derived from number 2 field corn." (63)
Thoughts:
What alternatives can be found to transport the corn other than the grain elevator?
Is corn to blame for America's eating disorder?

Chapter Four – The Feedlot: Making Meat
Precis:
Beef. How does it get that marbleized texture and succulent taste? Corn; that's right, corn. CAFOs are forcing corn down the throats of farm animals such as cattle; in result making their bodies take shape of a mature steer at an early age. In order to keep up with the high demand of beef, these cows are fed corn to decrease the amount of time needed for them to end up at the slaughter house. Besides corn, cattle is fed protein, fat supplements and drugs.
Gems:
"In my grandfather's time, cows were four or five years old at slaughter, Rich explained. In the fifties, when my father was ranching, it was two or three years old. Now we get there at fourteen to sixteen months. Fast food, indeed." (71)
"A growing body of research suggests that many of the health problems associated with eating beef are really problems with corn-fed beef." (75)
"...thicker across the shoulder and round as a barrel through the middle. He carried himself more like a steer now than a calf, even though his first birthday was still two months away." (80)
Thoughts:
America's diet is getting unhealthier at a very high rate, and this is a concern for many of us. But why isn't the diet of cows a concern as big of a concern for us? Constantly being fed corn, cows look as if they are a steer when in reality they are a calf. Corn is the reason why many Americans are overweight, so why not start from the source and work our way down? Are we just being too lazy?
Cows are considered very sacred in India. Is the country aware about the treatment of cows in the United States? If so, how do they react? Can they change Americans food ways regarding the consumption of beef?

Chapter Five – The Processing Plant: Making Complex Foods
Precis:
Eating corn off the cob is a tradition for many Americans during a barbecue, for some this is the only unprocessed corn that is consumed; which is only a mere fraction when compared to all the heavily processed corn consumed. Corn starch, corn syrup, beer, and cereal are just a few items created from processed corn. All the corn that is leftover from feedlots, is taken to wet mills, breaking down the leftover corn into a variety of edible food items with of course the help of science. Because corn is so cheap, it is used to create new products which will catch the eye of innocent consumers.
Gems:
"Wet milling is an energy-intensive way to make food; for every calorie of processed food it produces, another ten calories of fossil fuel energy are burned." (88)
"Corn syrup became the first cheap domestic substitute for cane sugar." (88)
"The primary difference between the industrial digestion of corn and an animal's is that in this case there is virtually no waste at the end of it." (90)
"This leaves companies like General Mills and McDonald's with two options if they hope to grow faster than the population: figure out how to get people to spend more money for the same three-quarters of ton of food, or entice them to actually eat more than that." (95)
"These dubious substances came to be consumed by humans at their own risk." (97)
Thoughts:
What if out of the blue, all the corn crops in the U.S. started to fail, in return causing the prices of corn to reach rocket high prices...Do Americans have a "plan B" if such an event occurs?
Can an average American survive without consuming products containing processed corn? Or have we become oh so dependent on these items that we will consider death without them?