I started reading The Omnivores Dilemma last year (about 7 books ago) and what I read before my eventual distraction was interesting enough to make me think twice about what has to happen before food that I buy makes it to my local grocery store. A few times a year I become a (temporary) vegetarian until I crack under the pressure of chicken or a cheeseburger. Now there is a movie coming out, Food Inc. I want to see it and I don't. Willful ignorance. About the film:
In Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government's regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation's food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment. We have bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, herbicide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes that won't go bad, but we also have new strains of E. coli—the harmful bacteria that causes illness for an estimated 73,000 Americans annually. We are riddled with widespread obesity, particularly among children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults.
Featuring interviews with such experts as Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation), Michael Pollan (The Omnivore's Dilemma, In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto) along with forward thinking social entrepreneurs like Stonyfield's Gary Hirshberg and Polyface Farms' Joel Salatin, Food, Inc. reveals surprising—and often shocking truths—about what we eat, how it's produced, who we have become as a nation and where we are going from here.
My best friend and I went to a get-together last week and as soon as we walked in the house we were overtaken by the scent of brownies baking in the oven. I don't care how old you are brownies are always exciting. Although I know my best friend better than about anyone else, except her husband, I didn't know that she is a "corner" and not a "center" person. But there she was with crusty little brownie corners on her plate. It is like I hardly know her at all. Who is this stranger? (I am a center person, mainly because I don't like to eat scratchy things.) I have seen this pan before and always wondered who would ever want a whole pan of those........corners. Now I know.
I heard with my very own ears, a mother tell another parent (that's right, I was eavesdropping) about a conversation with her son's teacher, who said her son's penmanship needed to improve. She responded to the teacher by saying, "His handwriting doesn't matter because he is going to be a doctor and everyone knows they have bad handwriting." Ok lady, I am sure that your little genius is going to be a doctor with his natural attention to detail, especially if the respect that you show his teachers is taken into account. Maybe the mother is right and he will be a doctor. Prediction: Due to his poor penmanship his prescriptions will be illegible, causing a man to get birth control pills instead of his Viagra prescription because the pharmacist won't be able to read his writing either. (7,000 people a year die and another 1.5 million people are injured as a result of doctors' sloppy handwriting)
I was unaware that the world's largest landfill is actually floating in the Pacific Ocean, stretches from the coast of California to Japan, is twice the size of Texas and the trash is 90 feet deep in some places. The majority (90%) of the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch" is made up of plastic that ended up in the ocean from locations as far away as Iowa, mostly as a result of littering. This crap patch is killing plankton, sea turtles and beluga whales. Beluga are dying form breast cancer that scientists believe is caused by the chemicals in the plastic waste. (It is kind of scary how much plastic we surround ourselves with.) So gross and easy to solve. I hate litterers, who do they think is supposed to pick up their mess? Octopus apparently.
This isn't at my house but I think I will add it to my imaginary cottage's blueprints. The concrete chaise lounge can be hosed off easily and made really comfortable with cushions from any home improvement store. I imagine a moderately sized shade tree planted at the head of my chaise and I will also plant jasmine and lavender around the edges. So relaxing. This is genius in it's simplicity, I don't know why these aren't more common.
More than ago I came across the "Daily Monster" blog and since I last visited his blog things seem to have really taken off. The artist, Stefan Bucher, challenged himself to draw a monster everyday for 100 days. Sounds simple enough. He uses the same basic supplies every time; white paper, black ink, a toothbrush, a straw and black Sharpie markers. (every once in a while he mixes it up with a tan marker) He is off and going with a few drops of black ink, a swish of the toothbrush or a puff from the straw. But wait there's more, he films the whole thing. (each monster video is only a couple minutes long)
One of my best friends used to have a 100% jersey cotton requirement for the clothes she purchased. The bottom line goal was everything needed to feel like pajamas. Comfort was priority #1. I completely understand why one would want to feel that comfortable all the time but it doesn't always make for the most attractive outfits. This sweater may be about the softest garment ever made and cute! Can it be? It is also cashmere. Is it a coincidence that the first four letters of cashmere spell out "cash"? Perhaps it is a warning. But to be able to walk around in a sweater/blanket on a "stretchy pant day" and not look like I am clinically depressed is priceless. The bracelet is a jazzy touch that can be used as a distraction while I reach for a second helping of fruit tart with my free hand.
The good thing about dresses is that when you put it on you are done getting dressed. You have a complete outfit, all with only one article of clothing. The hard part is finding a dress that isn't a glorified shirt with missing pants and finding a dress that is flattering on my hobbit body.
Most times being nice is a recipe for happiness. But "nice" is also underrated and unappreciated. Especially at a time when everyone is supposed to be themselves and tell the "truth". One person's "truth" is another's torture, it can also be unnecessarily hurtful. Nice people trust that others will be nice in return. Nice people also tend to be taken advantage of. There is a point where people are "too nice" and neglect themselves because they are always in demand and can't say no (It isn't nice to say no). Nice people are helpful and can be counted on. Everyone enjoys a nice person. Nice people want to be around other nice people. Jerks want to be around nice people, not other jerks.
When I was younger my peers used to describe the way I spoke as "proper" (not always a compliment). I didn't care and my mother was a teacher so there weren't other options. Now with texting and reality t.v. it has become increasingly difficult to remember what proper english sounds or looks like. When translation to proper english is necessary a friend referred me to UrbanDictionary.com. Website visitors constantly update words and definitions with usage guidelines. Holla!
