outline ideas for project 12

Thesis: dominant social practices in the u.s are seen as 'normal' but in reality they are nightmarish atrocities that result in an unhealthy environment.

 *Major claim: the fast food industries major concern is getting profit not supporting their consumers health  and they do this by targeting certain age groups .

(a couple sentences of info leading into claims )

-Evidence:

• super size me film. (outcome of fast food)

~ Claim 1: their number one consumers are kids and teenagers causing them to be  obese and putting them at a high risk of diabetes at such a young age.

-Evidence:    CBS News: Health Watch

• article: "fast food linked to child obesity" . . . quote => "Every day, nearly one-third of U.S. children aged 4 to 19 eat fast food, which likely packs on about six extra pounds per child per year and increases the risk of obesity, a study of 6,212 youngsters found." (link: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/05/health/main591325.shtml)
• article: "fast food linked to child obesity"  . . . quote=> "The numbers, though alarming, are not surprising since billions of dollars are spent each year on fast-food advertising directed at kids, said lead author Dr. David Ludwig, director of the obesity program at Children's Hospital Boston." (link:http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/05/health/main591325.shtml)
• article: "fast food linked to child obesity" . . . Quote=> "Children's current levels of fast-food consumption probably are even higher because of an increase in the number of fast-food restaurants and in fast-food marketing since the late 1990s, Ludwig said." (link:http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/05/health/main591325.shtml)

hw 11

2 thesis versions:

1-     Fast food restaurants are dominant social practices that the U.S. finds “normal”, although in reality they are nightmarish industrial atrocities causing an unhealthy environment.

2-     In the U.S. we have dominant social practices such as fast food restaurants that we find “normal”, but in reality they are nightmarish industrial atrocities causing an unhealthy environment.

2 proposals:

1-     Go vegan for two weeks. I am vegetarian trying to go vegan. I want to challenge myself to see how I do.

2-     A diet. Try a month diet. I want to stop eating all sorts of junk and also only drink water.

hw 7b- chapters 4,5,and6.

*Chapter 4:

Précis- brief summary over old franchisees and new franchisees. How Colorado progresses as new business continue to open. Also, it states the willingness of the banks over lending money in order to start new industries of business. He discusses some of the differences between some of the old and new franchises. In the author’s point of view, it seems to be like he believes you would be able to pursue more back then than you can now. But then again it seems as if he thinks you couldn’t become rich quicker. In a way he sort of contradicts himself.

Gems:

• Colorado
• Success
• Golden days
• Comparison between fast-food chains back then and now.

Thoughts: I think that the economy certainly was much better back then. I agree with him because I feel like anyone really had the possibility to pursue their purposes. Now a day it’s not that easy to start a business specially if it’s not well sold.

Question:

-What are some statistics of the business being successful now compared to those back then?

 *Chapter 5:

Précis- J.R. Simplot grew up working on his family’s farm in Idaho. He was born in 1909. Simplot pursued great business. He went from being a simple farmer to being one of the larger potato distributors. He was the potato distributor for McDonalds. simplot figured fast food restaurants would need potatoes so he started supplying for them. what gave the fries their signature taste was that hey were cooked in oil that had lots of saturated fat. This is the reason that so many people like fries but what they don’t realize is that its unhealthy. Distributing potatoes has its pros and cons. Pros being that if you’re a large distributor you will make good money. Cons being that you have to sell it for a cheaper price in order for companies to demand from your supply. This causes farmers to gain less than what the fries are sold for.

Gems:

• J.R. Simplot
• Pros/cons of distributing potatoes
• Why the fries taste good.

Thoughts: I feel like this whole process is not fair to farmers. Some work so hard for a misery of money. Why should they work for so little when others are making more money off them?

hw 7- Fast Food Nation chapters 1,2,and 3.

*Chapter one:
Précis- Overview of how Anaheim went from farming towns to buildings and businesses. Mentions Carl Archer and portrays his success as an example of how great the economy was. He went from working with his uncle, to a hot dog stand, to owning several stands, having his barbecue restaurant, and then becoming the founder of Carl’s Jr. with success of more than 300 fast food restaurants. Any dream could have been pursued in that time line. Also contains some historical content of post world war II and the Ku Klux Klan.
Gems:

·        Post world war II era and economy

·        Ku Klux Klan pg14

·        Race relations

·        Carl Karcher’s success w

Thoughts: there were Mexicans Americans suffering through racism and he only speaks about them to his convenience.
Questions:
-Why doesn’t he speak about the race relations? In other words, the racist remarks against Mexican Americans?

- Why were Mexican Americans being convicted to jail for murders they did not commit and why doesn’t he expand on that?

-Is he racist against the Mexican nationality?

*Chapter two:

Précis- McDonald’s and Disneyland have not much but something in common. Their primary goal is to make money. The effective way of making that money is through advertising which in my perspective means brainwashing. Advertising has its way of getting to you because there are various methods of doing so. Some of them consist of flyers, radio, TV, bill boards, schools, amusement parks, etc. They are shrewd businessmen that could care less about the health being of their consumers. It shoes their success in making money thanks to their consumers who buy their ‘bs’ from their advertisements.

Gems:

• Comparison between Disney and McDonald’s
• Expansion of business
• Advertisements success
• Poor nutrition
• School systems needs
• Their ‘catch’

Thoughts: “Super Size Me” the movie, is the perfect example of why McDonalds is not the way to go. Lots of children now a day are becoming obese at a very young age. Their consuming things that are super bad for their health and are becoming less physically active. Parents should make better food choices for their well being. The better you eat the more energetic and active you will feel not to mention it’s an advantage for a longer and healthier life period. Negative outcomes can be obesity, cholesterol, diabetes, etc. last but not least its affordable so more customers are attracted to that. And that is what I consider their ‘catch’.

Question:

-Why doesn’t he include more statistics to back up his arguments? He should include some info on what are the better choices in his perspective.

*Chapter three:

Précis- Mainly focuses on the working conditions of McDonalds for unskilled workers such as the elderly, disabled, and immigrants. But on how it solemnly focuses on teenagers as well.  Teenagers are willing to work more to purchase technology, apparel, and unnecessary things they really don’t need. This causes a percentage of teenagers their education because they know they can just quit and jump onto the next job.

Gems:

• Working conditions
• Teenagers
• Disadvantages
• Low wage
• Education

Thoughts: as a teenager I agree. We do love to spend. I am all about fashion sense, the latest technology, make-up, etc. I am and independent student I work for what I have. It does take up some time I have to say. But we don’t all necessarily leave our education. It all depends on whether you have ambition or conform yourself with what you have. There are definitely those who have poor working conditions as well as low wage and then those who strive for better. I have an ambition for money to buy anything I want because there will never be enough. I look forward for a bright future where I will be able to purchase anything I want. But that is why I only work part time. A part time job makes you responsible and gives you time to focus on school as well. So things can change if you cause change. It’s all a matter of time.

Questions:

-Is there even a benefit in the fast food workforce?

-What in it for us as teenagers, obesity?

-If we don’t have an education we will be on the poverty line.

- How can we contradict fast food and begin a healthier food chain?