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.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
.JPG)
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.
.JPG)
Friday, February 12, 2010
Classport
Q: Why was the complex put here?
A: The complex was built on an old navy base and is 10-15 years old. It was the last building build in the complex. People has bought the property a long time ago but this certain complex waited until all the other homes were built so that they could see what was needed.
Q: How much do your apartments range from in price?
A: There apartments range from $1,100 - $2,175. The 1,100 is standard and comes with 2 bed, 2 bath while the $2,175 apartment has 3 bed and 2 1/2 bath.
Q: Why should a customer choose these apartments from another?
A: A customer should choose these apartments compaired to another because they have their own private ammentities and they have lots to offer outdoors. They have a fitness center, computer room, movie center, pool and hot tub, and much more.
Q: What makes your apartments different from one in...sanford?
A: What makes their apartment differnt from other places is the location and the ammenties offered. They have their own private ammenties but mostly it's their location because they are near downtown and hospitals.
Q: How important is it to the buyer to purchase an apartment within this community?
A: To the buyer location is the most important, its whats drawn most of their customers. Other things that attract the buyer is the area around it, it's near downtown so their is less driving and is near big-named roads.
Q: Has the drop in economy affected your sales?
A: Yes, definitly. They have had to look at price range and accomidate it due to the economy. Although their sales are doing good at this time. They have 528 apartments and 94% of them are leased.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Chapter 6: On The Range
1. What are some of the problems facing cattle ranchers?
Schlosser states that "Ranchers are facing a host of economic problems including rising land prices, stagnant beef prices, oversupplies of cattle, increased shipments of live cattle from Canda and Mexico, development pressures, inheritance taxes, and health scares about beef." (pg. 136)
2. What are "captive supplies" of cattles?
"Captive Supplies" are cattle that either are maintained in company-owned feedlots or purchased in advance through forward contracts. As cattle prices start to rise, the large meatpackers can flood the market with their own captive supplies, driving the prices back down. They also have the ability to obtain cattle through confidential agreements with weathly ranchers, with ever revealing the true price being paid. (pg.138)
3. What was the impact of the Chicken McNugget on the poultry industry?
The chicken McNugget turned a bulk agricultural commodity into a manufactured, value-added product and encouraged a system of production that has turned many chicken farmers into little more than serfs. (pg.139)
Schlosser states that "Ranchers are facing a host of economic problems including rising land prices, stagnant beef prices, oversupplies of cattle, increased shipments of live cattle from Canda and Mexico, development pressures, inheritance taxes, and health scares about beef." (pg. 136)
2. What are "captive supplies" of cattles?
"Captive Supplies" are cattle that either are maintained in company-owned feedlots or purchased in advance through forward contracts. As cattle prices start to rise, the large meatpackers can flood the market with their own captive supplies, driving the prices back down. They also have the ability to obtain cattle through confidential agreements with weathly ranchers, with ever revealing the true price being paid. (pg.138)
3. What was the impact of the Chicken McNugget on the poultry industry?
The chicken McNugget turned a bulk agricultural commodity into a manufactured, value-added product and encouraged a system of production that has turned many chicken farmers into little more than serfs. (pg.139)
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Chapter 5: Why the fries taste good
1. Who is J.R. Simplot? What connection does J.R. Simplot have to the fast food industry?
J.R. Simplot built an empire based on french fries. He was born in 1909 and grew up working hard on the farm. When he went threw a rebellion stage against his father, he dropped out of school at the age of 15 and left home. He then found a job at a potato warehouse where he sorted potatoes for 9-10 hours a day for 30 cents an hour. When he was 16 he became a potato farmer and in 1928 purchased an electric potato sorter. Soon he was buying, selling, opening warehouses, and forming relationships with commodities brokers nationwide. Simplot soon became the largest shipper of potatoes in the West. During World War II he sold dehydrated onions to the U.S. army and by the end he was growing his own potatoes, fertilizing them with his own phosphate, processing them at his own factories, shipping them in boxes from his lumber yards, and feeding the leftover potato scraps to his cattle, all at the age of 36. After the war he invested in frozen food technology and assembled chemists to invent the frozen french fry. He started selling frozen french fries in 1953. His sales were initially disappointing but grew better eventually when fast food resturants started to purchase and use his fries.
J.R. Simplot is the man that invented and sold the frozen french fry, to which fast food restaurants around the globe are feeding to their customers.
2. How have the potato farms in Idaho changed in the last 25 years or so?
Idaho's potato farmers are now facing enormous pressure to get bigger or get out of the business. Farms in Idaho over the past 25 years, have lost about half of its potato farmers. The amount of land devoted to potatoes has increased and family farms are giving way to corporate farms that stretch thousands of acres. Those who have been driven off the land are most often hired to manage them.
3. What is PGI and how successful has it been at organizing potato farmers?
PGI stands for Potato Growers of Idaho and is a nonprofit orgainzation that supplies market information to farmers and helps them negotiate contracts with processors. The PGI hasn't been very successful at organizing potato farmers because the organization needs at least three-quarters of them as members to gain real bargaining power and right now they only have about half. Also not many processors are buying potatoes and when they get close they are underminded by one of the bigger processors.
4. What is the "fallacy of composition"?
The "fallacy of composition" is saying that a food item is, for example, 100% all natural beef is supposedly better for them. The person person eating this "100% all natural beef" thinks that it's good for them compared to a greasy hamburger, consumers prefer to eat something they think is healthier for them.
5. What makes McDonald's french fries taste different from the fries of other fast food restaurants?
The book doesn't tell what makes the french fries taste exactly differnet from the fries of another place but the author revealed that McDonald's did acknowledge that it's fries derive some of their characteristic flavor from "animal products."
6. What are some of the similarities and some of the diferences between "artificial flavors" and "natural flavors?" Where is the "flavor industry" located?
A natural flavor is not necessarily healthier or purer than an artificial one and artificial flavors sell at much lower prices. Both types of flavors are now manufactured at the same chemical plants. Natural flavors and artificial flavors sometimes contain exactly the same chemicals, produced through different methods. The New Jersey Turnpiek runs through the heart of the flavor industy. The world's largest flavor company is in Dayton, New Jersey.
J.R. Simplot built an empire based on french fries. He was born in 1909 and grew up working hard on the farm. When he went threw a rebellion stage against his father, he dropped out of school at the age of 15 and left home. He then found a job at a potato warehouse where he sorted potatoes for 9-10 hours a day for 30 cents an hour. When he was 16 he became a potato farmer and in 1928 purchased an electric potato sorter. Soon he was buying, selling, opening warehouses, and forming relationships with commodities brokers nationwide. Simplot soon became the largest shipper of potatoes in the West. During World War II he sold dehydrated onions to the U.S. army and by the end he was growing his own potatoes, fertilizing them with his own phosphate, processing them at his own factories, shipping them in boxes from his lumber yards, and feeding the leftover potato scraps to his cattle, all at the age of 36. After the war he invested in frozen food technology and assembled chemists to invent the frozen french fry. He started selling frozen french fries in 1953. His sales were initially disappointing but grew better eventually when fast food resturants started to purchase and use his fries.
J.R. Simplot is the man that invented and sold the frozen french fry, to which fast food restaurants around the globe are feeding to their customers.
2. How have the potato farms in Idaho changed in the last 25 years or so?
Idaho's potato farmers are now facing enormous pressure to get bigger or get out of the business. Farms in Idaho over the past 25 years, have lost about half of its potato farmers. The amount of land devoted to potatoes has increased and family farms are giving way to corporate farms that stretch thousands of acres. Those who have been driven off the land are most often hired to manage them.
3. What is PGI and how successful has it been at organizing potato farmers?
PGI stands for Potato Growers of Idaho and is a nonprofit orgainzation that supplies market information to farmers and helps them negotiate contracts with processors. The PGI hasn't been very successful at organizing potato farmers because the organization needs at least three-quarters of them as members to gain real bargaining power and right now they only have about half. Also not many processors are buying potatoes and when they get close they are underminded by one of the bigger processors.
4. What is the "fallacy of composition"?
The "fallacy of composition" is saying that a food item is, for example, 100% all natural beef is supposedly better for them. The person person eating this "100% all natural beef" thinks that it's good for them compared to a greasy hamburger, consumers prefer to eat something they think is healthier for them.
5. What makes McDonald's french fries taste different from the fries of other fast food restaurants?
The book doesn't tell what makes the french fries taste exactly differnet from the fries of another place but the author revealed that McDonald's did acknowledge that it's fries derive some of their characteristic flavor from "animal products."
6. What are some of the similarities and some of the diferences between "artificial flavors" and "natural flavors?" Where is the "flavor industry" located?
A natural flavor is not necessarily healthier or purer than an artificial one and artificial flavors sell at much lower prices. Both types of flavors are now manufactured at the same chemical plants. Natural flavors and artificial flavors sometimes contain exactly the same chemicals, produced through different methods. The New Jersey Turnpiek runs through the heart of the flavor industy. The world's largest flavor company is in Dayton, New Jersey.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Introduction
1. How does the amount spent on fast food compare with the amount spent on other things in our society?
Americans in 2001 spent more than $110 billion on fast food. We now spend more of our money on fast food then we do on higher education, personal computers, computer software, or new cars. American's spend more on fast food than movies, books, magazines, newspapers, videos, and recorded music combined!
2. Why is fast food worth studying?
Fast food is worth studying because you can learn where the food came from, how it was made, and what it is doing to the community around them.
3. What are some of the observations about McDonald's made by the author?
Some observations made by the author about McDonald's is that they spend more money on advertising and marketing than any other brand. As a result it has replaced Coca-cola as the world's most famous brand. McDonald's operates more playgrounds than any other private entity in the United States and is one of the largest distributors of toys. In addition it has become a powerful symbol of American's service economy, which is now responsible for 90% of the country's new jobs.
4. Where is the hearth of the fast food industry?
The hearth of the fast food industy is southern California.
5. What does the author say about independent farmers?
"Independent farmers whom Thomas Jefferson considered the bedrock of American democracy are a truly vanishing breed. The United States now has more prison inmates than full-time farmers."
6. What does the author say about the political clout of the meat packing industry?
"Aside from the salad greens and tomatoes, most fast food is delivered to the restaurant already frozen, canned, dehydrated, or freeze-dried. A fast food kitchen is merely the final stage in a vast and highly complex system of mass production."
7. According to the author, why did he write this book?
The author wrote this book out of belief that people should know what lies behind the shiny, happy surface of every fast food transaction. He believes that people should know what really lurks between those sesame-seed buns.
Americans in 2001 spent more than $110 billion on fast food. We now spend more of our money on fast food then we do on higher education, personal computers, computer software, or new cars. American's spend more on fast food than movies, books, magazines, newspapers, videos, and recorded music combined!
2. Why is fast food worth studying?
Fast food is worth studying because you can learn where the food came from, how it was made, and what it is doing to the community around them.
3. What are some of the observations about McDonald's made by the author?
Some observations made by the author about McDonald's is that they spend more money on advertising and marketing than any other brand. As a result it has replaced Coca-cola as the world's most famous brand. McDonald's operates more playgrounds than any other private entity in the United States and is one of the largest distributors of toys. In addition it has become a powerful symbol of American's service economy, which is now responsible for 90% of the country's new jobs.
4. Where is the hearth of the fast food industry?
The hearth of the fast food industy is southern California.
5. What does the author say about independent farmers?
"Independent farmers whom Thomas Jefferson considered the bedrock of American democracy are a truly vanishing breed. The United States now has more prison inmates than full-time farmers."
6. What does the author say about the political clout of the meat packing industry?
"Aside from the salad greens and tomatoes, most fast food is delivered to the restaurant already frozen, canned, dehydrated, or freeze-dried. A fast food kitchen is merely the final stage in a vast and highly complex system of mass production."
7. According to the author, why did he write this book?
The author wrote this book out of belief that people should know what lies behind the shiny, happy surface of every fast food transaction. He believes that people should know what really lurks between those sesame-seed buns.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
