Sunday, February 28, 2010

Chapter 1: The Founding Fathers

1. What restaurant chain did Carl Karcher start?

Carl Karcher opened his own barbeque restaurant called Carl Jr's Restaurant.

2. Why did General Motors want to buy trolley systems throughtout the U.S.?

General Motors wanted to buy trolley sytstems so they could rip up the tracks and take down overhead wires so that the trolly systems could be turned into bus lines. Those new buses were manufactured by GM.

3.What was the "Speedee Service System" and how was it different form what other fast food restaurants were doing.

The speedee service system revolutionized the restaurant system. This system was different from what other fast food restaurants were doing because it didn't have carhops, waitresses, dishwashers, and or bus boys. Unlike the other fast food restaurants that had those benfits, this system was self-service.

Chapter 10: Global Realization

1. Why did the author visit Plauen, Germany?

The author visited Plauen, Germany because he says that "the impact of fast food is readily apparent in Germany, which has become one of McDonald's most profitable overseas markets." He also states that "The McDonald's would be the first new building errected in Plauen since the coming of new Germany."

2. In foreign countries, what group does most fast food advertising target?

Most fast food in foreign countries target young children. For example McDonald's entices young gets by putting toys in their happy meal.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Classport Compare and Contrast

My neighborhood is very different from The Village at Baldwin Park that I observed. Me and my Partner Sarah Thompson noticed many characteristics that we contrasted with my neighborhood at Cedar Ridge. The houses at The Village had manicured lawns, upper class cars, and numerous amenities not offered in my neighborhood.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Chapter 9: What's In The Meat

1. What are the effects of E. coli 0157:H7 on the human body?

E. coli 0157:H7 can relase a powerful toxin called a "verotoxin" or a "Shiga toxin". This toxin attacks the lining of the intestine. Some people infected don't become ill but others can suffer mild diarrhea. In most cases, severe abdominal cramps are followed by watery, then bloody, diarrhea that subsides within a week or so. Sometimes diarrhea is accompanied by vomiting and low-grade fever.

2. What are some of the ways people can be infected with E. coli 0157:H7?

The most common way of getting infected is by eating undercooked ground beef but you can also get it by swimming in contaminated waters. E. coli 0157:H7 outbreaks have been caused by contaminated by bean sprouts, ssalad greens, cantalouope, salami, raw milk, and unpasteurixed apple cider.

3. What was the Streamlined Inspection System launched by the USDA?

The Streamlined Inspection System program was designed to reduce the presence of federal inspectors in the nation's slaughterhoused, allowing company employees to assume most of the food asfety tasks.

4. What kind of meat is selected for consumption in public schools?

During the 1980's and the 1990's, the USDA chose meat suppliers for public school consumption based on the lowest prices available, without imposing additional food safety requirements. The author states that "The cheapest ground beef was not only the most likely to be contaminated with pathogens, but also the most likely to contain pieces of spinal cord, bone, and gristle left behing by Automated Meat Recovery Systems."
Although i do understand why the USDA would want to purchase the cheapest meat available i think that's not the best decision to be feeding to our youth. Even if healthy meat costs more at least we know we'd be eating meat without spinal cords, bones, and gristle.

Chapter 8: The Most Dangerous Job

1. How does the injury rate in meatpacking compare with the injury rate in other occupations?

The injury rate in meatpacking is much higher than the rate in any other American industry. It is about 33 times higher than the National average in industry. I couldn't believe this when I read it, i know that meatpacking is a dangerous job but I never would of guessed that it would be 33 times higher.

2. What kinds of injuries do workers in meatpacking plants typically suffer?

Workers in the meatpacking industry suffer numerous injuries that include lacerations, tendinitis and cumulative trauma disorders, back and shoulder problems, carpal tunnel syndrome, and trigger finger (which is when a persons fingers become frozen in a curled position) are developed throughout time. These are the different injuries typically suffered by workers in the meatpacking plant industry.

3. What's the impact on workers of speeding up the line in meatpacking plants?

The leading determinants of injury rate at a slaughterhouses today is the speed of the disassembly line. The faster the line runs, the more likely it is that the workers will get hurt. Because the line moves so fast, workers often have to resharpen their knives which puts more stress on their bodies. Once the pace of the machine increases tempo, so does the risk of accidental cuts and or stabbings.

4. How has the authority of OSHA changed over time?

The authority of OSHA has changed over time because OSHA inspectors were eventually cut by 20% and in 1981 the agency had adopted a new policy of "voluntary compliance." This new policy didn't allow inspections to be unannounced. OSHA employees had to look at a company's injury log before going to the plant. If the records showed that injury rate was lower then the national average for all manufacturers, the inspector had to turn around and leave without inspecting the place.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Chapter 7: Cogs in the Great Machine

1. What changes did IBP introduce to the meat packing industry?

The new IBP was a one-story structure with a dissembly line. Along this dissembly line works stood in one spot performing the same task over and over again with eight-hour shifts. I believe that this process is not the way people should work. The workers shouldn't work eight hours performing the same task cause with all the equiptment they have in the factories it could be dangerous for that person and the people around them.

2. What were the links between IBP and organized crime?

Links between IBP and organized crime is that many horrific injuries happened throughout the work day. The brutal injuries included severe back and shoulder injuries, lacerations, amputations, expsure to dangerous chemicals, and at times a person would fall into a vat and get turned into lard. With all of these brutal injuries I don't see how a person could stay and work for that company. Although, they have families to take care of so I admire that they would to this kind of work to provide for their family.

3. How do wages in meat packing plants today compare with wages in the early
1900's, after the workers became unionized?


Workers had gained union representation by the end of the depression. With this the workers wages had greatly improved and were soon exceeding the national average for workers in manufacturing. The wages provided the workers with stable, middle-class income.

4. Where do meat packing companies go to recruite new employee's? What is the new industrial migrant?

Meat packing companies recruite new employee's from Mexico, Central America, and Southeast Asia. The new industrial migrant are people that travel from their home to slaughterhouses and meat processing plants.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Classport OSAE

Observation:
The Village at Baldwin Park had nice looking (inside and out) apartments. The place looked a little crowded but still gorgeous. They have a pool and hot tub right next to the service building. The apartments are dorm styled. Standard has 2 bed, 2 bath for $1,100 while the upgrade has 3 bed, 2 1/2 bath for $2,175. This complex was built on an Old Navy Base about 10-15 years ago. The model apartment that we had viewed was very sheek with the ammenities, decor, and lovely designs.

Speculation:
Our tour guide said that this complex was built here mostly for it's location but also because it's located near downtown and major roads. Also because it's built on an old Navy Base with a historical past that could draw customers as well.

Analysis:
During our interview we learned that because of it's location to Orlando many people want to live here because it's less of a commute for them to get to work. Also with all the places around there like hospitials and the downtown area that draws people in, as well as that it's built on an old navy base. But we did learn that this complex "The Village" was the last one to be built becaus ethe property was bought a long time ago but they waited to see what would be needed.

Evaluation:
The Village at Baldwin Park is at the location it's at because of it's reference to the places around it (hospitals, downtown, and Orlando). This is a plus because the buyer will have less driving to do to get to their job because of where they live. Also it's located near many major roadways so that less of a commute as well.