Response to Shelby's Blog

Shelby Springer wrote a delightful blog post about whether smoking should be banned in public places. She did some research and looked at the pros and cons of banning it. The pros she had looked into specific stories abot people who had died form second hand smoke. Since these are real life stories with very sad endings they would be more likely to make an impact on the reader. But I also believed that the cons made some relatively decent points, but personally I don't think that the points were a strong enough argument for the smokers.

I do believe that smoking should be banned in public places. But I do kind of see how it is taking away from some freedom for the smokers. I see how they do feel that they should have a right to smoke where and when they want for the most part. On the other hand, I am giong to still have to support the ban. I would like to be able to have the freedom to NOT inhale their smoke when and where I want. And since picking up the habit of smoking was the smoker's own conscious decision, I feel like they should respect the wishes of those of us who have decided to make a healthier lifestyle choice. They smoker's are choosing to breathe in the smoke, as second hand recipients, we don't have the choice to not breathe in the infested air around us.

I think that smoking indoors is rude in general if you do it without asking those around you if it is okay first. It does not show respect for those around you that are not smoking. I am sure that certain smokers are irritated with these smoking ban laws but they do not as easily recognize how their smoking can affect the nonsmokers. So for the mean time, I am definitely for the ban on allowing smokers to smoke in public places, for the sake fo the innocent lungs around them.

Image from: http://mylifethinking.com/life/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/second-hand-smoke.jpg

How to do a How to Speech

On Monday, I taught my class how to make Chocolate Peanut Butter Drop Cookies. And they turned out quite nicely if I do day so myself. They are basically a poor man's puppy chow and who really does not enjoy some puppy chow now and then?

The video recording of my presentation did not work so I did not see it but I would say that I covered the basics of the presentation without a doubt. I had a full introduction and conclusion, I stayed within the time limit, and I gave clear and simple instructions. I had all my visual aids and I went throught all the necessary steps in making these cookies. Overall, I would sat that I did pretty well. But I saw some areas that could have stood for improvement. My first faux pas was that I did not look up at my audience enough. I looked down at what I was doing a lot when I could have done some of these things looking up. Also, a little more enthusiam would not have killed anybody. Personally, I think my main problem was that I did not channel my inner Rachael Ray. Also, I believe that I talked myself into corners sometimes. What I said would come out a little unorganized at times, especially during my introduction and conclusion. Those who know me well are used to deciphering this language of word scramble that I have unintentionally invented for myself but it may not be the best way of going about presentations out in the real world.

I believe that I did fairly well and got my points across using simple and clear instructions. If I did this speech again I would work on my eye contact and enthusiasm. I would want to do a different speech next time though because I think that it would be more beneficial for me to challenge myself with another topic to teach an audience.

Image from: http://www.delish.com/cm/delish/images/jc/rachel-ray-in-kitchen-lg.jpg

Mmmm...Raspberries...

There used to be raspberry bushes in my backyard right next to my family's garden. They have grown there on their own ever since my family lived in that house. When I was little I used to casually pick these raspberries and eat then as I walked pass these bushes. Unfortunately, as the years passed, these bushes have yielded less and less of these tasty morsels. Eventually, the bushes were pulled out and that part of the yard was tilled for other purposes that were not as awesome as raspberry bushes. But I still remember picking these berries directly off the bushes and eating them in their most natural and delicous form.

These days, we do not have any more fruit growing in our backyard. If we want fruit we go to the store and get it. I usually do not have raspberries that often anymore but if I do, they come from the store, and usually in some canned or jam form to be put on or in some sort of dessert food. Obviously, these berries do not taste exactly like the real thing; they just get the raspberry flavor point across. Also, these berries have been tampered with to the point where they will most likely not have the same nutrients that the fresh berries did.

Even though the fresh berries were good, I will be sticking to store bought berries for the present time and having real ones in moderation for they are crazy expensive and my dorm's RA tends to frown upon me growing larger trees and bushes in my room. Also, keeping a jade plant alive in the dorm has already proven itself quite a challenge for those of us who have not been blessed with a plant nurturing gene and keep knocking plants over. At my family's home, or one day at a home of my very own I would probably consider having some sort of bush, tree, or plant that would produce some sort of fruit or vegetable though. From your own garden, in my opinion, is where you can get the best food.

Image from: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3234/2843157631_845601e1cb.jpg

Response to "Is Lebron right to endorse McDonald's?"

McDonald's is notorious for using famous people to endorse their franchise. One of the main groups of celebrities that they have targeted for commericals is athletes. This blog has done a good job of stating how these endorsements can benefit both parties. The author also makes good points about how McDonald's chooses athletes because they are usually viewed very positively in the public eye. For McDonald's to show us that they share values with and are supportive of whatever athlete they put in their advertisemenmt they are making themselves look quie good.

It is funny that people like athletes are asked to promote a fast food place like McDonald's. Most of these people have possibly not picked up a greasy hamburger in years. Or if they have, I am sure they do not use McDonald's as their main hamburger supplier. So the whole idea of an athlete implying to us that we should eat this stuff seems a bit ludicrous. But athletes keep coming back to advertise in commercials or have their faces plastered to the supersized soda cups.

The athletes get good money for coming and advertising what they don't believe in while McDonald's gets its money by making their food more appealing to the younger generations and those who admire these stars. But could this be a serious issue for the health of Americans? Obesity rates are already an issue and seeing people who are physically almost as healthy as it gets eating this food distracts us from what this food can do to our bodies if we don't eat it with some caution.

Commerials with a famous Olympic gold medal winner telling us to eat more fruits and vegetables would be more realistic and would have a more positive influence. It would be especially influential for the younger generations. Getting the younger gneration in on eating healthy would be a great step in the right direction for the health of America.

Photo From: http://http://i.tsn.com/i/photos/20080820/94946.jpg

Think Before You Eat

A few days ago, when I was visiting home, I decided that I would make myself a salad for lunch. So I went down to my local grocery store and bought some lettuce and other sundries that I felt would add to the quality of my salad. When I got home, I washed and cut the vegetables to put in this salad and threw them together into two bowls, one for me and one for my mom.Then we sat down and enjoyed the salad which ended up meeting all of our expectations and then some.

Every step it took to make this salad was very important in order to get to the best part of actually eating it. I obviously could not have made it if I did not go to the store to get the food I needed in order to make it. Washing the vegetables is not as demanded in the salad making process as going to the store and getting the vegetables but it is still a good idea. Other things, like cutting the vegetables and putting the vegetables together in bowls are all a part of making the salad just a little easier to eat. Eating the meal with my mom made for good company while eating it.

I agree with Pollan when he says that we feel the need to have a "nutritional philosophy" give to us. We are in a fast paced culture and many of us don't want to take too much time to think about what we are eating so we let the companies tell us what we should eat. Many times we find what is the quickest and cheapest, or what has the most nutritionally appealing looking words stuck on the front label, that we do not stop to think about or savor what we are eating. It is less common these days that families sit down and eat a well cooked meal together at the dinner table. Maybe some famillies should stop, take a moment, and eat together a few times. It does make an impact.

Photo From: http://http://media.onsugar.com/files/ons1/192/1922729/27_2009/050e6c9175c09527_mcdonaldssalad.jpg