Blog #4

Ø What is your plan to get involved on campus? What are your interests? Will you or have you joined any student organizations? Which two events besides UNITED & Career Major Fair do you plan on attending?
My plan on getting involved on campus starts with meeting new people, because so far I've realized that the more people you meet and get to know, you get invited to do more things and a variety of things on campus. So far, the things I've been looking into for getting involved all have one thing in common.... FUN. I have attended a football game and the hypnotist so far, and they were both really fun. I also plan to go to a hockey game and a rugby game this weekend. I haven't joined any organizations yet, but I'm planning on getting involved in Superior Edge.
Ø Fast Food Nation - Chapter 6:
Ø What are some of the problems facing cattle ranchers?
Ranchers are facing problems such as: rising land prices, stagnant beef prices, oversupplies of cattle, increased shipment of live cattle from Canada and Mexico, development procedures, inheritance taxes, and health scares about beef. Also, a lot of the land that ranchers once used is now being used for the building of new and improved buildings and facilities.
Ø What are “captive supplies” of cattle? (“The four major meatpacking companies now control about 20 percent of the live cattle in the U.S. through ‘captive supplies’” (138). (See also p. 142).
Captive supplies are cattle that are either maintained in company-owned feedlots or purchased in advance through forward contracts.
Ø What was the impact of the Chicken McNugget on the poultry industry?
The poultry industry used to sell whole chickens, but now they sell them cut into pieces, cultets, and nuggets. Also, chicken sellers used to grow their own chicken. Now, the industry consists of the big company sellers and then there is the growers. Growers don't even own the chickens they grow; they are owned by the big companies.
Ø How does the nutritional value of a McNugget compare to a hamburger?
Today's McNuggets contain twice as much fat per ounce than a hamburger.
Ø How does the suicide rate for ranchers and farmers compare with the rate for U.S. citizens in general? Why?
The rate of suicide for ranchers is 3 times higher than the national average. This is because or all the pressure put on the ranchers by the influence of fast food chains, the monopoly power in the meatpacking industry, the depressed prices in the cattle market, etc.
Ø Do you feel as if there is any healthy fast food available to consumers? If so, where and why? Give specific examples of products.. Please be honest and support your opinions. For example, I feel that Subway's Veggie Sub is extremely healthy due to its freshly-cut produce, cheese, and fresh-baked breads. I actually talked to a friend who works at Subway and he said in MQT, they slice their own produce. (My fear was that it arrived pre-sliced and filled with preservatives). It's not organic, but it's a start.
I don't think that there is a fast food place that's completely healthy to eat at, but there is Subway which has a healthier menu; as stated above, has the fresh veggies, and Fazoli's which seems to be a bit healthier than places like McDonald's and Burger King just because not all their food is covered with grease.