As Americans, we are use to having things go our way. Whatever we want we tend to attain. This however could be ending very shortly due to us being on the brink of financial, natural, and social collapse. The U.S. has used up every inch, invitation, and dime it could possibly use and for this we must now suffer.
Talk about going bankrupt
The United States national debt is exactly $11,033,157,578,669.78 (that's in the trillions in case your wondering). as of March 2009. If we divide this evenly between every man, woman, and child in the U.S. it comes out to 36,000 per person. What in the world could we have possibly bought and how much of it that could have amounted to a debt like that? All the bailouts the government is giving out to banks, industries, and workers just adds to our deficit. The collapse is coming soon because by giving more bailouts, they are devaluing the U.S. dollar. Our money isn't going to be worth cents in other countries if we keep going in this path.
"Who needs trees? Not us. And by the way, global warming is a myth" the U.S. said
Like camping? Being in the beautiful outdoors, enjoying nature's amazing scenery? Too damn bad. The U.S. in 2005 had the seventh largest annual primary forest loss in the world. Global Warming is a myth? The way the weather is changing so drastically and fast, there is no other explanation but global warming. Other natural reasons for a collapse is the fact that we reached our oil peak almost 40 years ago. Yet the U.S. keeps pulling oil out of the earth but they're finding less and less. Have you noticed how the gas prices keep going up and up again? That is because they have to raise the price of the precious little oil we have left. It's not just gas though, it's everything we purchase that has some trace of oil lingering on it. If we've reached the oil peak already and soon we're going to run out what will we use in 10 years when the rest of the supply we have is gone?
Whose your daddy?
Soon the U.S. won't be anymore. We have always been very prideful of being the world's leading country. We take our job seriously and love to bully the other kids in the park (metaphorically of course). Once our financial collapse and natural collapse happen however we will need to depend on other countries and no longer have the upper hand. What will the once so glorious U.S. do when they are invaded and can no longer rule other countries? North Korea is just the beginning of defiance that will happen against the U.S. The only question left to ask is who will be the world's next daddy?
Other Resources
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/03/17/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry4872310.shtml
http://news.mongabay.com/2005/1115-forests.html
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
My Food, Your Food, Our Food
Food is a huge part of the American Way Of Life. People love to eat as a form of socializing, for emotional support, and of course as a necessity. As an American however, I feel like a lot about the food we eat is overlooked. Things like where the food comes from, how the food is made, how it's transferred, how we buy it, and then how we eat it. It comes as a surprise that so many people would ignore all these things about what they consume. This class has opened my eyes to a lot more about food than I've ever thought of. Now this can be seen as a bad or good thing. On the bright side, we see where, how, and what our food actually is but on the negative side we see where, how, and what our food ACTUALLY is. This unit was an eye opener I think we all needed because it helps us see another side to the food world.
While talking about our food ways in class, I came to notice that at school my friends and I have around the same diets. We eat fast food and junk during the day. When we go home however I see that our diets differ and some eat healthier than others. I wonder sometimes what are parents would think if they realized what we eat during the day. I know my father personally would not be very happy about my lunch or snacks. I eat like this though because this is basically all that is available to me around school. Which is a good marketing technique because there are a lot of schools around here and kids usually buy junk away from home. Restaurants know that so they like to build around schools.
The videos we watched in class or on our own brought a lot of attention to animal cruelty that I had not thought of before. I never thought about what the animal I was eating went through or how the meat actually got to me. Thinking about this showed me a whole new perspective to my opinion of food. Though I am not ready to turn vegetarian I have friends that haven't eaten meat since the unit began. Andy also taught us that their our such things as pasture raised eggs. I don't really know how much truth we could recieve from whoever we buy pasture raised things but at least it's a step closer to animal friendly food. I don't really think many Americans know how animals are treated and what they go through. It really is considered animal cruelty. Andy told us of some cultures who have rules against certain things done to animals like letting the animals see the knife. I think this is nicer to do towards the animals because they shouldn't be petrified before they die. I know understand why PETA tries to bring so much awareness to these factors.
I think Americans have to start putting more thought into the food they eat. This way we can do something about the poor animals that are suffering just for us to have something to eat. So think twice the next time you are eating meat and have a moment of silence for the animal who died to give you a full belly.
While talking about our food ways in class, I came to notice that at school my friends and I have around the same diets. We eat fast food and junk during the day. When we go home however I see that our diets differ and some eat healthier than others. I wonder sometimes what are parents would think if they realized what we eat during the day. I know my father personally would not be very happy about my lunch or snacks. I eat like this though because this is basically all that is available to me around school. Which is a good marketing technique because there are a lot of schools around here and kids usually buy junk away from home. Restaurants know that so they like to build around schools.
The videos we watched in class or on our own brought a lot of attention to animal cruelty that I had not thought of before. I never thought about what the animal I was eating went through or how the meat actually got to me. Thinking about this showed me a whole new perspective to my opinion of food. Though I am not ready to turn vegetarian I have friends that haven't eaten meat since the unit began. Andy also taught us that their our such things as pasture raised eggs. I don't really know how much truth we could recieve from whoever we buy pasture raised things but at least it's a step closer to animal friendly food. I don't really think many Americans know how animals are treated and what they go through. It really is considered animal cruelty. Andy told us of some cultures who have rules against certain things done to animals like letting the animals see the knife. I think this is nicer to do towards the animals because they shouldn't be petrified before they die. I know understand why PETA tries to bring so much awareness to these factors.
I think Americans have to start putting more thought into the food they eat. This way we can do something about the poor animals that are suffering just for us to have something to eat. So think twice the next time you are eating meat and have a moment of silence for the animal who died to give you a full belly.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
I'll Be At The Market....
In my family, we go to the supermarket every week. When my parents go to the supermarket, they buy tons of junk and snacks for us to munch on. We get a lot of vegetables just because when my parents do cook they like vegetables in their meals. We don't buy a lot of fruits usually but my stepmother has been having cravings for fruit so we've been buying more than usual. We buy lots and lots of pastas, bread, and rice. We make almost every type of pasta in the world. Overall I think we shop pretty much normal. We're all extremely picky in the house so my parents buy according to everyone's needs. Dinner is also made according to everyone's needs.
When I do accompany them though I noticed that supermarkets try to push the junk food a lot. An example of them doing this would be putting candy bars right by the register. They do this so that children can pester their parents right at the register for sugar. Supermarkets also put junk food in every aisle of the supermarket. Even if it is just at the beginning or end of the aisle. I think they do this so that children can constantly keep bringing up these bad foods to their parents and the parents eventually give in. My parents never really make me eat anything I don't like so they taught me to eat according to my taste buds. My favorite meal is pizza. I love pizza for some strange reason. My favorite home-cooked meal is arroz con fidellos and chuletas. I have no idea how to write that in English so just guess at what it is. I don't really have a eating plan. I eat when I'm hungry and I eat whatever I feel like eating.
When I do accompany them though I noticed that supermarkets try to push the junk food a lot. An example of them doing this would be putting candy bars right by the register. They do this so that children can pester their parents right at the register for sugar. Supermarkets also put junk food in every aisle of the supermarket. Even if it is just at the beginning or end of the aisle. I think they do this so that children can constantly keep bringing up these bad foods to their parents and the parents eventually give in. My parents never really make me eat anything I don't like so they taught me to eat according to my taste buds. My favorite meal is pizza. I love pizza for some strange reason. My favorite home-cooked meal is arroz con fidellos and chuletas. I have no idea how to write that in English so just guess at what it is. I don't really have a eating plan. I eat when I'm hungry and I eat whatever I feel like eating.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Food Ways At Home, Food Ways Of Mainstream Americans
Now at home, I grew up with my mother eating homeade food most of the time. Rarely did we eat out from other places. I hated this because I saw my friends eating McDonalds and American-Chinese food for dinner and I was jealous. As my siblings and I got older however she changed our diets to mostly eating out. When we had homecooked meals I was extremely grateful because I hated eating out all the time. Now that I live with my father and stepmother, I noticed we eat out most of the time as well. At the beginning, I didn't mind it as much as I normally would have but then I started gaining weight and it became a big problem. Now I would rather eat homeade food again but no one in my house except my father whose working all the time likes to cook so we settle for takeout.
Many mainstream Americans probably eat like this as well. They eat homemade food occasionally and then takeout the rest of the time. It has become normal to see restaurants and fast food places packed at dinner time because so many people don't want to cook. Even I have grown accustomed to eating out even if I don't really like it.
At home even the takeout we usually eat together. We sit together and talk about our days or what needs to be done the rest of the week. We rarely watch tv while dinner is going on and we are not allowed to use our phones at the table. We must sit up with our legs on the floor. I think our meal is this strict because my father is in the restaurant business and expects us to have really good manners (which we do).
Most Americans may watch tv while they eat but this I don't know for sure. Most of the people I know eat at a table not watching television and with strict rules at the table like me. Then again, Americans have become so dependent on technology that if their "favorite show" is on I'm sure they go watch it.
My food ways are similar yet not similar to mainstream Americans.
Many mainstream Americans probably eat like this as well. They eat homemade food occasionally and then takeout the rest of the time. It has become normal to see restaurants and fast food places packed at dinner time because so many people don't want to cook. Even I have grown accustomed to eating out even if I don't really like it.
At home even the takeout we usually eat together. We sit together and talk about our days or what needs to be done the rest of the week. We rarely watch tv while dinner is going on and we are not allowed to use our phones at the table. We must sit up with our legs on the floor. I think our meal is this strict because my father is in the restaurant business and expects us to have really good manners (which we do).
Most Americans may watch tv while they eat but this I don't know for sure. Most of the people I know eat at a table not watching television and with strict rules at the table like me. Then again, Americans have become so dependent on technology that if their "favorite show" is on I'm sure they go watch it.
My food ways are similar yet not similar to mainstream Americans.
International Worker's Day...
Up until yesterday, I had never even heard of this. This holiday also known as May Day is a day to celebrate all the achievements the international labor movement did. In most countries this day is celebrated with street demonstrations and marches but here in the U.S. we don't even know what it is. Now I am wondering why we don't hold demonstrations, marches, and/or parades for this day that brought so much glory in the older days? I think it's because our government has brainwashed us to forget about these holidays that mark such great achievements done by "the people" for "the people". Why else would most of my class, friends, and family members that I asked not know what May Day is? This holiday was something so big before and has become just another day in the American Way of Life.
What's In The Fridge?
In my fridge right now, we have:
*Ham
*Cheese
*Milk
*Juices
*Mayo
*Leftovers
*Water
*Fruit Juice Boxes
*Dressings
*Cookie Dough (my favorite)
*Eggs
*Turkey
*Turkey bacon
*Turkey hot dogs
*Tomatoes
*Onions
*Lettuce
*Peppers
*Ketchup
*Mustard
*Sauces
I think what this says about my food ways is that we eat a lot of little things too much. What's in the fridge is usually not for dinner except the vegetables and sauces, it's food that we snack on. Our fridge is never really packed because we are never really home. My father works during the weekdays all day, my sister and I go to school and get home late, and my stepmother is usually out running errands. When we are together on the weekends, rarely does anyone want to cook so we just go out for dinner or eat takeout. Many Americans probably do this when the whole family is together.
*Ham
*Cheese
*Milk
*Juices
*Mayo
*Leftovers
*Water
*Fruit Juice Boxes
*Dressings
*Cookie Dough (my favorite)
*Eggs
*Turkey
*Turkey bacon
*Turkey hot dogs
*Tomatoes
*Onions
*Lettuce
*Peppers
*Ketchup
*Mustard
*Sauces
I think what this says about my food ways is that we eat a lot of little things too much. What's in the fridge is usually not for dinner except the vegetables and sauces, it's food that we snack on. Our fridge is never really packed because we are never really home. My father works during the weekdays all day, my sister and I go to school and get home late, and my stepmother is usually out running errands. When we are together on the weekends, rarely does anyone want to cook so we just go out for dinner or eat takeout. Many Americans probably do this when the whole family is together.
What I Ate and How I Ate It
I ate this food in this order from 4/28(dinner time)- 4/29(dinner time):
Pizza- I ate by myself because my family was in the hospital with my stepmother. I was doing homework while I was eating which I'm normally not allowed to do. I tried to eat the pizza really fast in order to finish my homework and do something that I would enjoy. I was also texting during this meal which I'm not allowed to do while I'm eating but my parents weren't there so it's ok. I had the pizza with Arizona Ice Tea. Price was $5.50.
Cinammon bun- This breakfast has so much sugar. I usually only eat this when my hypoglycemia starts to act up. I had it with water so I wouldn't be eating too much sugar in the morning. I got this from the little machines that stand outside the trains. It seems to be where a lot of people get their breakfast. It's fast and cheap, that's probably why. I munched on that for my 1st couple of classes. Price was $2.
Donut- That was a snack while I was eating my cinammon bun. It was chocalate which is suppose to make a person feel happier. I got the donut from my friend Paul and I noticed the whole class wanted junk food because they were all asking for donuts. Free.
Fruit Roll Up- My fast other snack. I ate too much sugar by this point because I wasn't feeling good at this point. I had so many snacks this day because I was menstrating. When I'm menstrating I tend to eat more because of the cravings I get. Free.
McDonalds- I had a Happy Meal with chicken nuggets and fries. The Happy Meal came with this rip off CD that had the 5 worst songs on it. I had a sprite with all this. I noticed how many calories I was eating at this point. I actually didn't pay anything because I had a gift card from McDonalds that I had gotten for Christmas from one of the kid's mothers that I interned with. It took me this long to eat it because I usually don't eat McDonalds. It's gross. After that, Cindy and I both got McSundaes. Felt stuffed and kind of sick which is usually how I feel when I eat there. We noticed how busy it was in there. People like putting this greasy food in their body. I was a typical American for lunch that day. Price on gift card was $6.something.
Subway- We ordered out because my stepmother wasn't feeling well. This was our dinner and we ate together. Asked about each pther's days during the mean. It was a prolonged meal because of how much talking we were doing. I drank Arizona Ice Tea. Price was $23.25.
Pizza- I ate by myself because my family was in the hospital with my stepmother. I was doing homework while I was eating which I'm normally not allowed to do. I tried to eat the pizza really fast in order to finish my homework and do something that I would enjoy. I was also texting during this meal which I'm not allowed to do while I'm eating but my parents weren't there so it's ok. I had the pizza with Arizona Ice Tea. Price was $5.50.
Cinammon bun- This breakfast has so much sugar. I usually only eat this when my hypoglycemia starts to act up. I had it with water so I wouldn't be eating too much sugar in the morning. I got this from the little machines that stand outside the trains. It seems to be where a lot of people get their breakfast. It's fast and cheap, that's probably why. I munched on that for my 1st couple of classes. Price was $2.
Donut- That was a snack while I was eating my cinammon bun. It was chocalate which is suppose to make a person feel happier. I got the donut from my friend Paul and I noticed the whole class wanted junk food because they were all asking for donuts. Free.
Fruit Roll Up- My fast other snack. I ate too much sugar by this point because I wasn't feeling good at this point. I had so many snacks this day because I was menstrating. When I'm menstrating I tend to eat more because of the cravings I get. Free.
McDonalds- I had a Happy Meal with chicken nuggets and fries. The Happy Meal came with this rip off CD that had the 5 worst songs on it. I had a sprite with all this. I noticed how many calories I was eating at this point. I actually didn't pay anything because I had a gift card from McDonalds that I had gotten for Christmas from one of the kid's mothers that I interned with. It took me this long to eat it because I usually don't eat McDonalds. It's gross. After that, Cindy and I both got McSundaes. Felt stuffed and kind of sick which is usually how I feel when I eat there. We noticed how busy it was in there. People like putting this greasy food in their body. I was a typical American for lunch that day. Price on gift card was $6.something.
Subway- We ordered out because my stepmother wasn't feeling well. This was our dinner and we ate together. Asked about each pther's days during the mean. It was a prolonged meal because of how much talking we were doing. I drank Arizona Ice Tea. Price was $23.25.
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