Throughout the year we've been debating what is meaningful in life. As a class, we've interviewed people on the street, analyzed movies and songs, all in order to gain some sort of sense of what might be the meaning of life. At the beginning of the year, the majority of us all agreed upon a basic three things that are the most meaningful in life- friends, family, and happiness. I feel over the past year, I have developed a greater understanding of what is truly meaningful in the grand scheme of things, both due to our discussions in class and personal growth outside of the classroom.
When we were first asked about the meaning of life in the beginning of the year, we were still only considering it from where we were in relation to the real world. We were answering as high school students who spent all of our time in school preparing for a future we weren’t even very certain of. At that time, my biggest concerns were what party I would go to that weekend, what shirt I should buy later, and keeping my GPA high enough to get into the dream school I eventually got rejected from. When we each answered the question “What is meaningful?” we were only able to consider it from our typical high school point of view. Being in high school, it’s as if we’re sheltered from the rest of the world. Our biggest concerns are the drama that occurs in the hallways, rather than the real issues that we will eventually have to face. We thought the pain we may feel when we get rejected by a crush will be the worst pain we will ever feel. We forget that the rest of the world is capable of so much worse.
I’ve come to feel that, although I still feel friends and family are some of the most important things, that to truly understand our meaning in life, we have to understand our relation to the rest of the real world. We have to understand the impact we can have on others’ lives, without letting it interfere with our own personal happiness. We have to understand the cards we have been dealt, and be aware of the fact that some are dealt shittier hands than others, and that we may not know as much as we’d like to think we do.
Family is very important, I do believe that. But we need to come to a point where we don’t place our parents on pedestal. They are humans too, and they will not always make the right choices. Sometimes they will make decisions that will make it difficult for you to cope with important things in life, and if we can accept that, then maybe it won’t be as crippling when that time does come. Family is important because they are blood, but at the end of the day, they are people just like everyone else. They are capable of hurting someone just as bad as the rest of the world.
The same things go for friends. We will make many friends that are simply based on proximity. We get stuck in a high school with 100 other kids in our grade, and you’re going to end up with friends who you most likely won’t speak to in ten years. Each stage in our life is simply temporary, as are the people in it. I believe that the friends you make who manage to continue with you through every stage are the ones that bridge that gap from friend to a true family member. Someone you don’t force yourself to care for just because of your DNA. Those are the people who I feel are truly meaningful. People who you want the best for. People who you will accept, no matter what they do or the choices they make. These people matter.
But sometimes, you won’t have a lot of those people for a while. Sometimes you won’t be able to trust them like you wish you could. Those are times when you realize that you are the most meaningful part of life. You, yourself, are the meaning. You won’t always be happy with choices you make. You won’t always be happy with the cards you’ve been dealt, and thats when you need to make the choice to put yourself above all else and take care of yourself. You wont be able to go to those parties during the weekend because you think it might set you back in all the work you’ve been doing at your counselor. You won’t go shopping to buy those new shirts because you want to save your money to help your mom pay for college. And although your GPA didn’t stay as high as it should’ve in order to get into the school of your dreams, you’ll find that there’s and even more perfect path for you somewhere else. You’ll realize that you are most important. The drama in school no longer matters. The things they call you when you walk past them in the hall won’t matter. The rumors they spread or the variations of “slut” they use in comments on Facebook wont matter. The world of high school won’t matter. What will matter is where you go after school. Where you go to take care of things that happened a long time ago. It’s where you go to make yourself better that matters, and those that are willing to help you along the way.
Theres a bigger world outside of these classrooms. It just takes us some time to realize it. And we need to understand where we are in it, and learn to be okay with that. There will be a lot that matters a long the way, and a lot that simply doesn’t. But at the end of the day, we are the most important. We are what matter. We are the meaning.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Collapse Assignment 2
Many blockbuster movies involve the crash of our culture or some form of the apocalypse- Day After Tomorrow, Apocalypse Now, I am Legend, etc. But as we watch these movies, comfortable in our air conditioned theatre eating our jumbo popcorn and coke, we rarely consider the actual possibility of our society collapsing. The collapse scientists are most afraid of is not one that involves aliens or explosions, rather a depletion of one of the most used fuels- Oil. The amount of oil that we use a year could reach the moon and back 250 times. In an average day, we use 84 million barrels of oil. And now scientists fear that our supply of oil will not be enough to keep our society running. This is called Peak Oil.
We will not simply run out of oil entirely, because oil runs on a bell curve. As it goes up the curve, there is plenty of oil and it is inexpensive, and as it goes down the curve it becomes scarce and expensive. The "peak" occurs once half of the amount of oil available has depleted.
In the 1950s, the United States was the largest oil exporter and largest producer of oil. During this time, as the country was reveling in its oil success, M. King Hubbard claimed that oil would peak at sometime in the early 1970s, and from then on would decrease. Many disagreed, assuming that the oil would continue to increase at it had been for the past few years. However, suddenly in 1972, the oil was no longer as available as it was the years prior. The country was beginning to experience the downside of the curve. Even a shortfall of production as small as 5% would result in the price of oil to practically quadruple. Hubbards theory was correct, and really not that surprising.
If oil were to peak, then in a certain amount of years in the future the availability of oil would be equal to the availability as it was that same amount of years in the past. However, as we continue to progress technologically, we find the usage of oil increasing. This shows why peak oil will become and increasingly fateful occurance as we move further and further into the future, as we rely more and more on it.
When considering the fall of certain societies, one must consider the collapse of Easter Island. Easter Islanders pushed their natural resources to the brink, leading to the complete deforestation of their island, therefore losing everything they required to survive. They never considered the long term affects it may have by cutting down all of their trees. We are proving to be more and more like the Easter Islanders as ignore the peak oil crises, and figure that the businessmen and scientists of our world will figure out a way to fix it, when in reality, it will just continue to get worse.
One must also consider the extensive warfare that goes along with oil. In 1963, world oil discovery peaked, and since then, we have been venturing to other countries in order to get the oil we want. As the peak oil crises continue to get worse, the more warfare will occur in order to obtain the oil we will so desperately need. We will completely deconstruct as a society.
We will not simply run out of oil entirely, because oil runs on a bell curve. As it goes up the curve, there is plenty of oil and it is inexpensive, and as it goes down the curve it becomes scarce and expensive. The "peak" occurs once half of the amount of oil available has depleted.
In the 1950s, the United States was the largest oil exporter and largest producer of oil. During this time, as the country was reveling in its oil success, M. King Hubbard claimed that oil would peak at sometime in the early 1970s, and from then on would decrease. Many disagreed, assuming that the oil would continue to increase at it had been for the past few years. However, suddenly in 1972, the oil was no longer as available as it was the years prior. The country was beginning to experience the downside of the curve. Even a shortfall of production as small as 5% would result in the price of oil to practically quadruple. Hubbards theory was correct, and really not that surprising.
If oil were to peak, then in a certain amount of years in the future the availability of oil would be equal to the availability as it was that same amount of years in the past. However, as we continue to progress technologically, we find the usage of oil increasing. This shows why peak oil will become and increasingly fateful occurance as we move further and further into the future, as we rely more and more on it.
When considering the fall of certain societies, one must consider the collapse of Easter Island. Easter Islanders pushed their natural resources to the brink, leading to the complete deforestation of their island, therefore losing everything they required to survive. They never considered the long term affects it may have by cutting down all of their trees. We are proving to be more and more like the Easter Islanders as ignore the peak oil crises, and figure that the businessmen and scientists of our world will figure out a way to fix it, when in reality, it will just continue to get worse.
One must also consider the extensive warfare that goes along with oil. In 1963, world oil discovery peaked, and since then, we have been venturing to other countries in order to get the oil we want. As the peak oil crises continue to get worse, the more warfare will occur in order to obtain the oil we will so desperately need. We will completely deconstruct as a society.
Collapse Assignment 1
I think the idea of a society collapsing is very interesting. Reading the packet on Easter Island seemed strange, knowings theres a place that was once populated that is now empty, while remnants of their society still remains. It seems like something from a movie. It was also amazing how the author described the giant stone sculptures and construction, which the people had to do without the help of any large lifting tools. They were able to survive off of their land, and in turn had many tools to farm with, as well as canoes. However, their forms of farming would be considered damaging by modern farmers.
I noticed some parallels between Easter Island and our own culture. When the author was describing different aspects of Easter Island, it seemed as if the people of Easter Island were descendants of many different places, much like how America is just like a giant melting pot of different cultures.
The reason for Easter Islands demise was because of the extreme deforestation that began to occur. They had to use much of the forrest in order to help build their massive statues, however that led to a wiping out of their forrests, which in turn resulted in a loss of their raw materials and natural resources. The Easter Islanders managed to entirely wipe themselves out by cutting down all of their trees and didn't seems to comprehend the disastrous effects that might have.
This is much like our society, whereas we tend to push our natural resources towards the brink, trying to use as much of it as we can, without considering the consequences. We always assume that someone else or the "wizards" (businessmen and scientists) will solve all of the problems and we won't have to worry. This also just proves that we are on our way to a collapse because the Eastern Islanders managed to completely wipe themselves out with their home-made tools, so there is no doubt that our society full of giant machine-powered things and technologically run society, will follow in the same fate.
I noticed some parallels between Easter Island and our own culture. When the author was describing different aspects of Easter Island, it seemed as if the people of Easter Island were descendants of many different places, much like how America is just like a giant melting pot of different cultures.
The reason for Easter Islands demise was because of the extreme deforestation that began to occur. They had to use much of the forrest in order to help build their massive statues, however that led to a wiping out of their forrests, which in turn resulted in a loss of their raw materials and natural resources. The Easter Islanders managed to entirely wipe themselves out by cutting down all of their trees and didn't seems to comprehend the disastrous effects that might have.
This is much like our society, whereas we tend to push our natural resources towards the brink, trying to use as much of it as we can, without considering the consequences. We always assume that someone else or the "wizards" (businessmen and scientists) will solve all of the problems and we won't have to worry. This also just proves that we are on our way to a collapse because the Eastern Islanders managed to completely wipe themselves out with their home-made tools, so there is no doubt that our society full of giant machine-powered things and technologically run society, will follow in the same fate.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Final Food Assignment
Bonnie Black
Final Food Assignment
Throughout this Food Culture unit, I think we have just seen more and more of the gluttony of Americans. It has shown me how little of an actual culture we have of our own, and how we as a people treat food as something disposable and wasteful, as if we have a never-ending source. We do not respect the earth enough to honor what we are given from it in order to survive. We are extremely selfish when it comes to the existence of other animals and act as if we are superior from the rest of the world and therefore more than justified to treat animals and food the way we do.
The video Cows With Guns by Dana Lyons, pokes fun at the industrial food culture. The first line shows an example of how people often see the animals that we use for food, “Fat and docile, big and dumb They looks so stupid they aren’t much fun”. We look down on these animals that we are slaughtering, maybe in order to feel as if we are not hurting anything that really has the right to be alive. The next line in the song also shows how we have this selfish one track mind, as if all animals are born simply for the purpose to feed us. “They eat to grow, grow to die, die to be et at the hamburger fry”. The song then begins to discuss what would happen if the cows were to turn on us, seeking out the revenge they deserve because of all the slaughter and torture their kind has had to endure. It’s ridiculous for us to think of, because we know that a cows marching through town with guns is impossible, however it also brings up the point that these cows were not put here simply to fill our needs. We shouldn’t see them as these lifeless things that would not care if they were to live or die. The song hopes to make the listener consider the idea that the animals that we are treating so brutally do actually have feelings and should be treated with respect just as we would any person. In a video about oppressed people, we would cheer as they joined together to rise against those who are keeping them down, and that is how we should react to the idea of the animals rising up against those who has treated them so horribly.
I think the American people are the worst when it comes to treating animals unfairly. The level of obesity in our country is disgusting and it’s all due to our selfishness and laziness. We want food that is quick and ready for us as soon as we want it. According to Pollan, because we have been brought up in a country that has no clear, specific, dominant culture, we have also not been brought up with any specific connection to any type of food. We’re such a melting pot of cultures, that it is the same amongst our food. Because of that, we are left with an overwhelming about of options, and therefore often opt for the quickest and cheapest meals we can find. Meals have become something we do in passing, rarely actually partaking in the making of it, and even if we do, we eat it in such a rush so we can get to the next thing. I believe that is something that has really taken away from our food culture, because we have become so disconnected from the process. We rely on other people to make it for us and serve it to us so we can get it quick and then move on with our day. Unfortunately, those kinds of meals are the most fatty and the ones that have used meat that has most often come from slaughter houses.
In class we watched a video about the animal cruelty that occurs within the slaughter houses. The animals were treated horrifically, their throats being slit while they are still alive, beaks being cut off, being kept in horrible conditions. It seemed as though the people were simply going through the actions as they brutally killed or tortured the animals. I would often have to look away because it was too disturbing, but I would continue to hear the sounds of cows or pigs crying.
After the video, a few people around me proclaimed that they want to stop eating meat because of the video. Although I think I was just as affected by the video, I also think it's difficult for someone to say that they will entirely change their eating habits because of it. I think eating meat is a natural thing, as it's something many animals do out in the wild. However, what I do not think is natural is how the humans involved in these slaughter houses seem more interested in torturing the animal than using it for food. It seems that with industrial food, it's become more about torture and money and excess than the basic necessity of some kinds of food. I think their treatment of fellow animals exemplifies the superiority complex humans have developed when it comes to other animals. That along with their basic selfishness is what has led to them being capable of such disgusting things. I think if we didn't view ourselves as being so superior to other animals, and saw it more about respecting other animals that we need to help us survive, it could be a much more moral process.
It is not only the animals that we abuse in the process of eating. In class, we also watching a children’s movie about farming called “VROOM- Farming for Kids”. It played happy music for the kids while these giant tractors that weigh a ton tear apart the earth in order to get some cabbage. These giant tractors have been made to speed up the process of farming and to make it easier. However, it just rips apart the earth, or as some may even say it “rapes” the earth.
I think respecting the earth and the things in it that we need to eat to help us survive is a major thing that we have lost in our culture. I feel that if we were to do that, and view ourselves as a part of the world, equal to all the other living things, rather than these superior beings sent here to take advantage of the world and what it has to offer, then the whole food process can become much more humane and spiritual. Eating is something we do so often in a day, and yet I feel it’s become something we barely acknowledge. It’s such a basic necessity, that I feel we should really treasure. I think we should respect the earth and the places we are getting our food from. I think people should cook more as well, so they can feel more connected to the process. It should become something more sacred, rather than something we just do in passing.
Final Food Assignment
Throughout this Food Culture unit, I think we have just seen more and more of the gluttony of Americans. It has shown me how little of an actual culture we have of our own, and how we as a people treat food as something disposable and wasteful, as if we have a never-ending source. We do not respect the earth enough to honor what we are given from it in order to survive. We are extremely selfish when it comes to the existence of other animals and act as if we are superior from the rest of the world and therefore more than justified to treat animals and food the way we do.
The video Cows With Guns by Dana Lyons, pokes fun at the industrial food culture. The first line shows an example of how people often see the animals that we use for food, “Fat and docile, big and dumb They looks so stupid they aren’t much fun”. We look down on these animals that we are slaughtering, maybe in order to feel as if we are not hurting anything that really has the right to be alive. The next line in the song also shows how we have this selfish one track mind, as if all animals are born simply for the purpose to feed us. “They eat to grow, grow to die, die to be et at the hamburger fry”. The song then begins to discuss what would happen if the cows were to turn on us, seeking out the revenge they deserve because of all the slaughter and torture their kind has had to endure. It’s ridiculous for us to think of, because we know that a cows marching through town with guns is impossible, however it also brings up the point that these cows were not put here simply to fill our needs. We shouldn’t see them as these lifeless things that would not care if they were to live or die. The song hopes to make the listener consider the idea that the animals that we are treating so brutally do actually have feelings and should be treated with respect just as we would any person. In a video about oppressed people, we would cheer as they joined together to rise against those who are keeping them down, and that is how we should react to the idea of the animals rising up against those who has treated them so horribly.
I think the American people are the worst when it comes to treating animals unfairly. The level of obesity in our country is disgusting and it’s all due to our selfishness and laziness. We want food that is quick and ready for us as soon as we want it. According to Pollan, because we have been brought up in a country that has no clear, specific, dominant culture, we have also not been brought up with any specific connection to any type of food. We’re such a melting pot of cultures, that it is the same amongst our food. Because of that, we are left with an overwhelming about of options, and therefore often opt for the quickest and cheapest meals we can find. Meals have become something we do in passing, rarely actually partaking in the making of it, and even if we do, we eat it in such a rush so we can get to the next thing. I believe that is something that has really taken away from our food culture, because we have become so disconnected from the process. We rely on other people to make it for us and serve it to us so we can get it quick and then move on with our day. Unfortunately, those kinds of meals are the most fatty and the ones that have used meat that has most often come from slaughter houses.
In class we watched a video about the animal cruelty that occurs within the slaughter houses. The animals were treated horrifically, their throats being slit while they are still alive, beaks being cut off, being kept in horrible conditions. It seemed as though the people were simply going through the actions as they brutally killed or tortured the animals. I would often have to look away because it was too disturbing, but I would continue to hear the sounds of cows or pigs crying.
After the video, a few people around me proclaimed that they want to stop eating meat because of the video. Although I think I was just as affected by the video, I also think it's difficult for someone to say that they will entirely change their eating habits because of it. I think eating meat is a natural thing, as it's something many animals do out in the wild. However, what I do not think is natural is how the humans involved in these slaughter houses seem more interested in torturing the animal than using it for food. It seems that with industrial food, it's become more about torture and money and excess than the basic necessity of some kinds of food. I think their treatment of fellow animals exemplifies the superiority complex humans have developed when it comes to other animals. That along with their basic selfishness is what has led to them being capable of such disgusting things. I think if we didn't view ourselves as being so superior to other animals, and saw it more about respecting other animals that we need to help us survive, it could be a much more moral process.
It is not only the animals that we abuse in the process of eating. In class, we also watching a children’s movie about farming called “VROOM- Farming for Kids”. It played happy music for the kids while these giant tractors that weigh a ton tear apart the earth in order to get some cabbage. These giant tractors have been made to speed up the process of farming and to make it easier. However, it just rips apart the earth, or as some may even say it “rapes” the earth.
I think respecting the earth and the things in it that we need to eat to help us survive is a major thing that we have lost in our culture. I feel that if we were to do that, and view ourselves as a part of the world, equal to all the other living things, rather than these superior beings sent here to take advantage of the world and what it has to offer, then the whole food process can become much more humane and spiritual. Eating is something we do so often in a day, and yet I feel it’s become something we barely acknowledge. It’s such a basic necessity, that I feel we should really treasure. I think we should respect the earth and the places we are getting our food from. I think people should cook more as well, so they can feel more connected to the process. It should become something more sacred, rather than something we just do in passing.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Industrial Food (F8)
While watching the video Animal Cruelty, I was really disturbed. The animals were treated horrifically, their throats being slit while they are still alive, beaks being cut off, being kept in horrible conditions. It seemed as though the people were simply going through the actions as they brutally killed or tortured the animals. I would often have to look away because it was too disturbing, but I would continue to hear the sounds of cows or pigs crying.
After the video, a few people around me proclaimed that they want to stop eating meat because of the video. Although I think I was just as affected by the video, I also think it's difficult for someone to say that they will entirely change their eating habits because of it. I think eating meat is a natural thing, as it's something many animals do. However, what I do not think is natural is how the humans involved in these slaughter houses seem more interested in torturing the animal than using it for food. It seems that with industrial food, it's become more about torture and money and excess than the basic necessity of some kinds of food. I think humans are very greedy and selfish and that has what led to them being capable of such disgusting things. I think if we didn't view ourselves and so superior to other animals, and saw it more about respecting other animals that we need to help us survive, it coud be much more moral.
After the video, a few people around me proclaimed that they want to stop eating meat because of the video. Although I think I was just as affected by the video, I also think it's difficult for someone to say that they will entirely change their eating habits because of it. I think eating meat is a natural thing, as it's something many animals do. However, what I do not think is natural is how the humans involved in these slaughter houses seem more interested in torturing the animal than using it for food. It seems that with industrial food, it's become more about torture and money and excess than the basic necessity of some kinds of food. I think humans are very greedy and selfish and that has what led to them being capable of such disgusting things. I think if we didn't view ourselves and so superior to other animals, and saw it more about respecting other animals that we need to help us survive, it coud be much more moral.
LATE F7
Recipe: Appetizer- Chiles con Queso
What you'll need:
- 2 Tbsp of unsalted butter
- 1 white onion
- 2 large ripe tomatoes, finely chopped (reserve juices)
- 2 poblano or anaheim chiles roasted and finely chopped
- 1 jalapeño chile, seeded and minced
- 1/2 tsp of sea salt
- pinch of cayenne pepper
- 6 oz. monterey jack cheese
- 6 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- 3/4 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
- chafing dish
In a large skillet, over medium heat, melt the butter, add the onion, and cook until the onion turns translucent - about 5 minutes. Stir often so onion doesn't stick and burn.
Add the tomatoes and their juices, chiles, salt, and cayenne pepper. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 15 minutes.
Stir in the grated cheeses and continue to stir until the cheese begins to melt and blend in. Slowly add the cream and cook for 10 more minutes. Taste and add salt and more cayenne pepper if needed. Serve immediately in a hot chafing dish.
What you'll need:
- 2 Tbsp of unsalted butter
- 1 white onion
- 2 large ripe tomatoes, finely chopped (reserve juices)
- 2 poblano or anaheim chiles roasted and finely chopped
- 1 jalapeño chile, seeded and minced
- 1/2 tsp of sea salt
- pinch of cayenne pepper
- 6 oz. monterey jack cheese
- 6 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- 3/4 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
- chafing dish
In a large skillet, over medium heat, melt the butter, add the onion, and cook until the onion turns translucent - about 5 minutes. Stir often so onion doesn't stick and burn.
Add the tomatoes and their juices, chiles, salt, and cayenne pepper. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 15 minutes.
Stir in the grated cheeses and continue to stir until the cheese begins to melt and blend in. Slowly add the cream and cook for 10 more minutes. Taste and add salt and more cayenne pepper if needed. Serve immediately in a hot chafing dish.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
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