Food Inc. – a review

I saw the movie Food Inc. at least a month ago.  It was a great movie at the same time it as disturbing to see. It reminded me of the time I learned of Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle in college.  I couldn’t finish reading it. My boyfriend did and he gave me an overview of it. I didn’t have to read it for a class, so this approach worked well enough for me. I know, cowardly. In both instances, both have stayed with me. A month later, the movie still resonates. I can’t drive by a farm and not smile when I see cows eating grass. It’s a great sight to see.

I admit, when it comes to animals, any animal, I have a really hard time with cruelty.  If I learn of any animal experiencing pain, neglect, or abuse, I cannot handle it and personally feel it.

In Food Inc., the movie talks about factory farming and how things have changed due to big business and consumer demand.  Chickens have been bred to be much larger than their legs can handle. Chicken farmers show footage how chickens can only take a step or two and then they plop down because their legs cannot handle their weight. It was sad to see. Many die under their own weight and their inability to get to the food to stay alive. They showed one farmer constantly going through to clear out the dead chickens. So very sad.  What was also amazing was the pressure by big business on the farmers, demanding changes in their chicken houses. The latest is that the houses must be completely dark – no light coming in at all.  One farmer refused to change her chicken house and because of it, her contract was terminated as was her source of income. Other farmers wouldn’t let cameras into their chicken houses to see what it was like for chickens to never see the light of day. They were warned not to; I guess their contracts were in jeopardy as well.

They showed the footage of the downed cows from California.  I still hate seeing that.  Doesn’t the risk of mad cow disease enter their minds? They also talk about cows being fed corn now instead of allowing them to graze in pastures,  to save space and to breed more cows. Cows are meant to eat grass not corn. So farmers have to manipulate their stomachs to reduce E.coli in their stomachs. They actually showed a farmer with his arm up to his elbow in the cows stomach. Really, this is what we have to do to raise cattle? I was impressed when they interviewed one farmer, Joel Salatin, who still has all of his animals doing what animals are supposed to. His cows graze in the pastures and explains how that is how it is meant to be and yes, then slaughtered for the world’s tables.  They showed him killing chickens and I had to turn away despite how humane he was being and how much more clean his process is compared to factory processing of chickens.

There were related topics in the movie, such as poor worker conditions and treatment, genetic engineering of seeds and how Monsanto has dominated this area of farming, and foodborne illnesses.

All in all, despite its many disturbing aspects, it is still very worthy of seeing. They premise that you will never look at food the same way again is very true. I rarely eat meat and haven’t in many years. But now I notice so much more about the food I eat and what I choose to buy. I have explored other means instead of Saturday morning farmers markets. I have researched what foods are actually in season so I don’t buy ones that have been genetically produced so we have them year round.  This is how much this movie affected the way I see food.

The movie will touch you differently as it did with my friends that I saw the movie with based on our discussions afterword.  That I think is the greatest benefit of all – that each of us looks at our relationship to food and determines what changes we want (or don’t) want to make. I hope you will see it, if you have the opportunity.

ADDENDUM – a note from HSUS today 09/17/09:

Denny’s does it. Burger King does, too. Wendy’s got on board earlier this year. All these major restaurant chains buy some (my note: wish it were ALL and not some) of their eggs from cage-free farms that don’t cruelly confine hens in barren battery cages.

But the restaurant chain most known for its breakfasts refuses to take this modest step. When IHOP serves its pancakes and eggs, you can be sure the eggs come from hens crammed into wire cages so small the animals can barely move for their entire lives.

IHOP’s refusal took on new urgency this week with the release of this undercover video that reveals shocking abuses at IHOP’s primary egg supplier. As you can see, the footage reveals filthy conditions, sick and injured hens, and birds forced to live in cages with the decomposing corpses of dead birds.

You can help to move IHOP away from this cruelty. Please urge IHOP to follow its competitors’ lead and start switching away from battery cage eggs. Here’s how:

TAKE ACTION
Please make a brief, polite phone call to Argonne, a company that owns hundreds of IHOP restaurants, at 404-364-2984 (if voicemail picks up, press ‘1′ for Argonne President Michael Klump). You can say something like this:

“Hello, my name is [your name] and I am calling to ask IHOP to start using eggs that don’t come from hens crammed into cages. I just watched the undercover video of your egg supplier, and the images of animal cruelty are appalling. Please start switching to cage-free eggs. Thank you.”

I called. Will you?

What is your theme?

I have received a few emails lately from readers asking in different ways what my specific blog theme is and where I get my ideas for topics. I thought they were both interesting questions and got me thinking.

What is my specific blog theme? Do I have one? I read quite a few blogs and am an active subscriber to at least 30 or more.  I love to read their posts via Google Reader over breakfast. Some I get via email.  Some folks have very specific themes, like productivity, marketing, saving money, home organization, workplace issues, leadership, etc. All of their posts are specific and refer back to their main blog theme in a very consistent way. It is in large part while I subscribe; I like hearing their perspectives on certain themes or issues.

It’s interesting, I do have a blog for my company that is specific to leadership coaching and related topics. So, I understand the questions I received.

But my personal blog is more about life in general. I tend to write about things that have happened to me or things I have observed. From my perspective, I just want to have the opportunity to share my dorky view of the world based on my own experiences or just things about myself in general.  This really comes in any form and is not predetermined by a specific topic or issue that every post revolves. What do you think – is that distracting to you as a reader that my posts can range from talking about the greatness of the holidays, or books, or movies, or school supplies, or life and whatnot? Feel free to share your comments or email me!

NOTE 9/19/09:

Read a post via email today from Write to Done talking about blog theme’s in which his lead into his post stated “Blogging and writing shouldn’t be just about talking about what you did today, or rambling about things in general — at least, not in my mind, not if it’s done well”.  I found this interesting but it is a sentiment I don’t agree.  I think the point of blogging is based on the writer. If you are like Leo Babauta, his desire with his blog is enlighten but what seems even more prevalent to me over the past few months, is his overwhelming desire to sell things especially his books and ebooks.  That is his prerogative and I don’t dislike him for it. It has however changed my personal desire to read his blog and have done so with much less frequency due to this feeling like I am being sold to.

What you choose to do with your blog and its content are entirely up to you.  Do what you want and be happy with what you do.

The Art of Nonconformity and Twitter

I seem to hear two things about Twitter lately.  First, those that say they have no idea what it is or what is the point. And ultimately think it’s a waste of time. The others love it and are either just getting used to it or are die-hard converts.

I am in the second camp. I have been using it since I don’t know even know when. I have met some great people through the site that I have subsequently met in person. I have also been able to talk with some researchers in the field of positive psychology that previously the closest I had gotten to them was by reading their research or their books.   To me, Twitter is an awesome tool to connect, socialize, share, network, or brand build. Or all of the above.  I use it mostly for connecting and sharing, especially when it comes to all things Omaha.

I was a fly on the wall of the SXSW conference, through all of the connections I have that were there for the conference earlier this year.  Now, I get to see some of these same persons vying for a spot at next year’s SXSW as panelists.  By the way, please vote for Silicon Prairie to be one of those panelists!

Recently, I have become attached to @chrisguillebeau and his blog, The Art of NonConformity.  He shares his tips for traveling, as well as great bargains he uncovers. He shares other awesome tips, such as how to use the social web to your advantage.  He is a very unique voice and I have enjoyed reading his stuff. I would never have learned of him if it weren’t for twitter.  For those of you interested in his latest offering about getting your message out to the world, click here.  Check out his latest post on authenticity. It’s a heckuva lot better than a post I wrote on the same topic a few years ago.

So for you who don’t understand it, think it useless or a time waster, that’s fine. But me, I have been able to talk to and meet some amazing people, which has greatly enhanced my world.

Wild About Omaha

The weekend is coming!  Come out this weekend, July 24th and 25th!

Don’t Miss Mutual of Omaha’s Wild About Omaha Weekend!

Join Mutual of Omaha in celebrating 100 years! Wild about Omaha Weekend will be two days of fun-filled events at several Omaha arts & entertainment venues. Whether you’re young, old, somewhere in between, single or want to bring the family – there’s something for everyone. And – it’s FREE!

Thanks to SPN for the great picture!!

Do you want a flat stomach?

Well, that picture appears to have the answer (courtesy of my fave dose of daily laughter)!  All you need to do is position yourself so that you smush your stomach and all is taken care of. Ta da!

Am I the only one who thinks that all of these ads  on Google, Facebook, spam emails, etc. to flatten your stomach are ridiculous?  Hasn’t the world pretty much refuted the success of diets, quick-loss schemes, and other fads?  We are a nation that is fatter than ever. This stuff isn’t working folks! So apparently, buying into the hype is just that – buying!  Save your money and love yourself just the way you are.

Laugh more. Live more. Enjoy more.  That is what life is about, not about the quest for the flattest stomach.

Do you ever wonder why …

• life can’t be easier?
• people don’t smile more than they do?
• opening a door for another isn’t very common anymore?
• men feel the need to NOT walk through a door that a woman has opened for them?
• people can’t just say thank you when you compliment them?
• love is battlefield?
• all’s fair in love and war?
• time goes by so fast when you don’t want it to but is slow as molasses when you do?
• forgiving is so hard but it’s so beneficial?
• we forget the happy things but more easily remember the negative?
• there are debates over man’s best friend?
• people just can’t get along?
• someone uses information against you when they claim to be your friend?
• others don’t take responsibility for their actions?
• people gossip?
• we become our parents even though we swear we won’t?
• people hurt animals? or children?
• there are so many choices for everything?
• more people don’t live a life they want?
• some people are so argumentative?
• reading isn’t more popular?
• we talk about the weather so much?
• we all can’t just love and appreciate each other EXACTLY as we are?
• we ask why so darn much?

Movin’ on up …

In some ways, focusing on customer service is a no-brainer. But some companies think they have revolutionized the idea. Whereas others, still have absolutely no concept of this.  As an example, I moved to Omaha without knowing anyone or even the area. I selected an apartment based on the amenities I needed and to be near a particular organization. However, the leasing agent assumed I was referring to the company’s location nearest to the complex and I, not having a clue, didn’t realize there was more than one company location in Omaha.  It really didn’t bother me once we realized the error upon move-in day, as most things in Omaha are not very far (at least not in my opinion).

My first year in the apartment was, for the most part, great.  I had some incredibly jerky neighbors below me (I am on the 3rd floor) who seemed to sleep during the day and up all night long – partying, playing loud music, shouting on their balcony (right under my bedroom window), and always slamming doors. Not good for a working stiff – at least not during the week. The leasing agent and I had challenges over this but she always did what she could to assist and eventually, for many other violations, they moved out.  Blissful became my home.

Second year-I thought of renting or buying a house, except I still could not decide where I wanted to put roots. I really like quite a few areas in Omaha, Bellevue and Lincoln.  I couldn’t decide and didn’t find anything in time, so I signed a lease for another year thinking that I would find the right place eventually.  During this time, new leasing management took over and in one short month, I have been accused of failing to pay rent, threatened with eviction, and told that I was violating Omaha law by having a propane tank on my balcony based on a visual outside scan. When I called, from India, about the rent situation and left a message, I received NO return message indicating “oops, we did get your payment after all, sorry”. NOTHING.  Interestingly, I had paid rent early that month due to my trip to India and even more interestingly, I do not own a propane tank. In all of my years on this planet, I have NEVER owned a propane tank, let alone a grill. I doubt I will receive a callback or apology for that accusation either.

Is it me or is the customer experience lacking? I am a paying customer who chooses to live here (albeit I won’t be when the lease ends this September).  The operative word in that sentence – chooses.  There are websites dedicated to sharing reviews of apartment communities and leasing companies/apartment managers. Do apartment complexes really think that renters are trapped with no options? I have many options and again, I will be making a choice this September to be elsewhere. Coincidentally, I heard a fantastic saying today “we believe in customer care, not service.  You service a car.”   I think that says it all.

National Napping Day

Did you know such a thing existed? I didn’t and believe me, I have considered napping a hobby at various times in my life.  National Napping Day is always the Monday after Daylight Savings Time. I don’t know about you, but I could use that hour back so I am going to squeeze in a nap or two this week. Hope you do too!!

Naps …

Naps matter … hope you partake every now and again … naps are great!

The Gift Card Conundrum

Gift cards have definitely become the go-to gift for many.  I have been reading and hearing much from the media that this is not a good use of our money.  In fact, Good Morning America and other morning shows refuted a hoax email that was going around stating that gift cards for certain retailers were not going to be honored.  Again, it was a hoax.

I take issue with this dismissal of gift cards as a good gift idea.  If you are getting a gift card that you know the person will enjoy and get use out of, then by all means, buy it!  I love getting a chai at Starbucks.  Yes, it’s the only thing I get at Starbucks, but it’s a great little pick-me-up on the way to work, on a weekend, or just because.  I have tried all of the other coffee places in the area and theirs is the best (in my opinion).  I am also a huge Amazon.com fan. I buy just about all my books there (or at Half Price Books) plus a ton of other things. That site is the tops and there isn’t a day that I don’t visit it.  Target and Petsmart are other fantastic places for me; it’s where I do all my grocery and pet shopping.  To be given a gift card to any of these places is a truly magical gift to me because I know the person had me in my mind when they got it and knows how much I would appreciate it.

When you give a gift card, keep the person in mind just as you would if you were purchasing them clothing, tchotchkes, or other goodies.  If you are unable to find that special something to give, a gift card to a place they frequent is still a great gift!  So, if time has passed you by and your holiday shopping has gotten away from you, remember that this “stand by” is still a great gift. And if you really want to stump someone, put the gift card in an odd shaped box or other deceiving package!