Thursday, November 12, 2009

Read 'n' Seed 4: Third quarter of "Don't Eat This Book, Fast Food and the Super Sizing of America"

Chapters and Pages
For the third quarter of Read 'n' Seed I read chapters 9-12, pages 130 to 198.


Main Topics
One main topic was a study done by Morgan Spurlock, he left some fast food restaurant foods in a jar. Most of the foods in the jars took a while to go bad, with the french fries lasting the longest. It turned into a joke between him and his friend to leave food, specifically fast food, in each others desk. Most of the time the food was found when it started to smell. In another instance food was found after one Morgan Spurlock had left the company, the food had been placed there at least eight months before, the food was not discovered because of the smell but simply because the other person was looking in his desk for an item behind books. This item behind the books that had been there for at least eight months was a cheeseburger from McDonald's. It lasted that long without smelling, that is not normal. It was stated in the book that it lasted that long because of the added chemicals.
Another Main topic was how Morgan Spurlocks 30 day diet had been going. Spurlock complained of his chest feeling heavy, headaches until he ate the food again,and zits and pimples on his face. These reactions were all within the first week of Spurlocks attempt at 30 days of McDonald's. A rather funny part of this book is that a lot of the words he uses start with Mcblank, for example his 30 day diet is called the McMonth. 
The book also suggested the next time you get a burger from your favorite fast food joint, scrape off the added toppings take of the bun and see what the burger actually looks like. Does it look like that normal burger that you cook up on the grill.


Terminology
I did not have any terminology so instead I made this an interesting fact. Most American's don't know the basics about their health, including what a calorie is. A calorie is a measure of the energy content of food. One calorie, the kind that you usually see when you see the caloric content on food labels, is the amount of energy that's needed to raise the temperature of a liter of water by one degree centigrade (Source: Marion Nestle, nutritionist).


Implications
This is very important of society to know, because although this food may make your headache go away, that headache is only being caused as a result of eating the fast food. I think this is also important to realize because as people eat this food more and more they will be think it is normal and not seek any care or change their eating habits.

Share & Voice: Too much paper?

I think everyone should take a look at this. As I was walking around campus the other day I saw this huge stack of books. I went over to see what they were and the sign read: CAMPUS DIRECTORY 2009-2010 take one!



Personally I think this is a big waste of paper and money by our school. To my understanding this is the directory that every student, faculty, or any website visitor can see on the campus website simply be searching people (website link). I would be interested to hear what everyone else has to say about the use of paper and money spent on these. Please leave a comment I would love to hear your opinion.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 6: Weekly Update

SMART Goal: 
My SMART goal is to use a reusable water bottle instead of a plastic water bottle everyday for the rest of the semester and hopefully the rest of my life.I was able to achieve my smart goal because last week because I used my reusable water bottle every day of the week! I also achieved my goal of doing other peoples goals. This week I again walked to school one day, took a shower in under two songs, and used reusable bags when I went to the store.


Success and Challenges:
 This week was not full of any challenges, mainly successes! I felt I was successful in doing my goal and attempting others goals. When I went to the store I remembered to bring a reusable bag to pack my stuff in. I also walked to school on Monday. On Tuesday I took a shower in under two songs, it was great I was able to watch more of the Today Show before going to catch the bus. 
 

Feelings:
I felt really good about this week. Not only did I feel like I got more exercise in the day when walking to school but I also got time to enjoy the nice weather while it lasts. I also felt happy that I used reusable bags because I have them so why not use them. I also was impressed that I was able to shower in about 5 minutes. I really didn't think it was possible, although I had the feeling of being rushed, which normally the shower is really relaxing. 
 

I Learned:  
I learned to take it day by day and slow down. With these last few days being really nice outside I have really taken the time to go outside and enjoy it before there is snow on the ground. I also learned that if I really set my mind to it I can accomplish these goals. For instance I thought there was no way I could get a shower in, in under 6 minutes and I did it in 5 minutes.


Next Week: 
http://yalesustainability.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/bottled-water.jpgNext week I would like to continue to try other peoples goals, perhaps a day of only four sheets of toilet paper. I thought about limiting my caffeine intake but I rarely drink pop, probably 2 pops a month. I also want to try to eat more vegetables and less red meat. Red meat and more vegetables might be a bit of a challenge because I am trying to eat the food I currently have at my apartment before going to the store again. Unfortunately I have left over tacos and no fresh vegetables. 





Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 6 hosted by Amy@Eco-Chic with Amy

Monday, November 9, 2009

Advocacy Project: My Political Representatives

President : Barack Obama (Democratic Party)
                1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
                Washington, DC 20500         
                (202) 456-1111

U.S. Representative : Congressman John Kline (Republican Party)
                                101 West Burnsville Parkway, Suite 201
                                Burnsville, MN 55337
                                (952) 808-1213

Senator District 38: Jim Carlson (Democratic Party)
                              75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
                              Capitol Building, Room G-9
                              St. Paul, MN 55155-1606
                              (651)297-8073

State Representative: Sandra Masin (Democratic Party)
                                 527 State Office Building
                                100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
                                Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155
                                (651)296-3533

Governor: Tim Pawlenty (Republican Party)
                130 State Capitol
                75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
                St. Paul, MN 55155
                (651)296-3391
                


U.S. Senate: Alan Franken (Democratic Party)               
                     60 East Plato Blvd., Suite 220
                     Saint Paul, MN 55107
                     (651) 221-1016
                     Amy Klobuchar (Democratic Party)
                     1200 Washington Avenue South, Suite 250
                     Minneapolis, MN 55415
                     (612) 727-5220

County Board President: Kathleen Gaylord (Democratic Party)
                                     1590 Highway 55
                                     Hastings MN 55033
                                     (651) 438-4428

City of Eagan Mayor: Mike Maguire (Non-Partisan)
                                 3830 Pilot Knob Road
                                 Eagan, MN  55122
                                 (651) 675-5001

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Advance Blog Feature: My Sign

amanda Made with My Cool Signs.Net

Share & Voice: Sustainability in Health Care

http://www.recycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/who_healthcare-300x198.jpg

I am a health care management major and last week in my health care class we discussed sustainability within health care. Some of it goes along with what we have talked about in  our environmental health class. I found many a lot of what we talked about in class to be very interesting and wanted to share it with everyone.

Greening the Industry:
In my health care class we talked about ways to green the industry. Some of these ways are to have evidence based medicine, diagnostics, treatment that involves working with the body, devices and pharmaceuticals, coordination across disciplines with allopathic and alternative medicine, and green research.

The Suspects:
Some of the suspects in health care are waste such as medical waste and recycling, chemical management, device management, environmentally preferable purchasing such as packaging and production, sustainable foods such as local or organic, and facility management and green buildings.

Interesting Facts:
-Health care is the second highest engergy using industry behind transportation. If you think about it all over the United States hospitals are open 24 hours a day seven days a week, this causes a lot of energy use. As new hospitals are being build or renewed it is important that they are finding ways to make the building more environmentally friendly.
-Although it is not possible for a hospital to buy locally grown foods because of the amount of food they must have the health care industry seems to be moving towards more friendly products. The reason a hospital like St. Luke's, here in Duluth cannot buy locally is due to the fact that if St. Luke's wanted to buy tomatoes here, the entire years supply of tomatoes grown in Duluth would only last St. Luke's one month.

Current Green Health Care Participants:
-Pharmaceutical Manufactures
-Supply Manufacturers
-Architects
-Community Members
-Foundations
-International Provider Organizations
-World Health Organization (WHO)

I hope this is as interesting for you to learn about as it was for me.