As Thinking Made Visible

My hometown was a wonderful (or choose your own adjective) place to grow up.
My hometown was a wooded area, that always smelled of pine and burning wood.  It was a small neighborhood, but people were close and always helpful. It was a marvelous place to grow up.

Laci had a rather eccentric style.
Laci wore vibrant colors such as reds, purples and oranges, and also had extraordinary designs like floral, stripes and paisleys that she would mix and match.  This is what gave Laci her atypical style.

Mr. Brown is the worst teacher I’ve ever had.
Mr. Brown always smelled like stale cigars and dog.  When he taught it was very monotone and, so slow paced that you could have fallen asleep in his class.  Mr. Brown was the least efficient teacher I have ever had. 

The room seemed very institutional.
The room had very high windows with bars that barely let any light in.  People were heavily medicated and sat in rooms that were bright white with no other colors.  The room had beds that looked like cots and it seemed very institutional. 

 A Stale Food Fight

By Michael Pollan and Eric Schlosser

 

    This article is based on the FDA Food Safety Modernization Bill that would benefit the consumers without harming small farms or local food producers, and would also help protect Americans from unsafe food produced overseas, for the first time.  This Bill probably could have prevented an outbreak of salmonella in Iowa hen houses.

  What really upset me was that the Government doesn't see a need for this bill.  One Governor in particular had stated that only 10 or 20 Americans a year die from food-borne illness.  Are you kidding, the word only alone shows me how much the Government can be so callous about the seriousness of these issues.  The Government's main concern is the cost of the new food safety requirements which they say is prohibitively expensive, around $300 million.  How can you put a price on life or death, I thought the whole point of having FDA standards was to protect us from an outbreak from food-borne illness.  I would like to know where the Governor got this information, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 5,000 Americans die annually from food-borne illness.  The average annual cost of food-borne illness in the U.S. is about $152 billion.

   We need the FDA and more importantly this new Bill.  If the Government doesn't want to protect us from food-borne illness, because their excuse is the cost, then who will.  They need to take a good look at the statistics of how many Americans are dying each year, and the cost of everything, which to me is menial anyway, compared to the lives of Americans.


http://michaelpollan.com/articles-archive/a-stale-food-fight/ 

Memoir



  I was born, Jamie Michele Clark, on February 17, 1968.  I don't remember being born but, I do have visions of my childhood.  I remember my favorite teddy bear, his name was Teddy, and yes you guessed it he was my teddy bear. He was black and white with sewn on eyes.  My first slinky that "would walk downstairs,"  I thought was a miracle.  Most of my fondest childhood memories are that of my Grandmother, Delia Lee Camara, born April 24, 1912. They will always be in my heart forever.

  Ever since I can remember, I always spent time at my grandma's house.  She lived in Tiverton along the water with my grandfather in a two story house.  It had white aluminum siding with green aluminum shutters.  My grandmother's yard was huge.  The front yard had a garden off to the right, filled with vibrant red, plump tomatoes, crispy green cucumbers, and large green peppers, the kind you can stuff with rice.  The center of the yard had a beautiful Cherry Blossom tree which we use to love to picnic under on warm breezy days.  All around the yard there was a metal green fence, and every Spring, daffodils use to grow all around.  In the back yard was a screened in porch that overlooked the ocean. It's salty breeze smelled so clean and fresh on a summers nite.  To the left of the backyard was a brick grill that my grandfather had built. My grandmother cooked her delicious clamboils on that grill, heated by freshly chopped wood.

  My grandmother was always in the kitchen cooking.  She had a gas oven built into the wall, an electric stove, a dishwasher, and a sink that had a window which overlooked the front yard.  Whether it be breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert, there would always be a great aroma of foods coming from the kitchen, no matter what time of day it was.  Every Sunday after church, she would make lunch for us. Whether it be roasted chicken, roast beef, pork and beans, chicken cacciatore, roast pork, basically anything, she would always give us the choice of what we would like to have.  My grandmother just loved to cook and I loved to watch her.  Everything she prepared was made from scratch.  She enjoyed cooking so much she didn't even have to measure anything.  I used to bake with her a lot, we made cookies for holidays, birthday cakes, bisquits, pudding, the kind you actually cooked, and many other delicious foods.

  My grandmother passed in 1995, which was very difficult for me.  Her passion for cooking has touched me so much, watching, learning, listening and just loving the time with her.  Every time I cook, the memories of my grandmother are always around me. I truly believe in my heart that she is watching and smiling down on me.   Thank you, grandma, for your time, your knowledge, your patience and your love.  I always miss you, your love of food will be carried on because of what you have taught me.  I  hope that I can pass the same love and passion of food onto my child.     

 

 



What do you see?

Ads like these are drawing a lot of attention, and I agree.  When I first saw this, I thought it was an ad for bullying,  I never thought that in my life time that I would see an ad for childhood obesity.  After looking at the child, whose name is Bobby, I read the warning and was shocked.  The child, on the lower right is the same child as the one on the left.  Bobby lost weight because of this ad and, so have many other children.

In Georgia, there is one obesity alliance condemning ads that promote negative stigma.  I don't agree.  What about all the fast foods ads that aren't helping children like Bobby? Or the cigarette commercials targeting children?  If the parents aren't recognizing this problem, then I believe an ad like this needs to target children who want a healthier life, but just aren't sure how to do it.

I agree with the Health Officials telling parents to "stop sugar coating".  I believe that parents feel as though they are depriving there children if they don't give them everything they want.  Unfortunately these days there are too many fast food restaurant ads and commercials,  and because of there influence that's what children want.  But, parents shouldn't deprive there children of living a long, happy, and healthy life either.

I like this ad, for me it's a positive twist.  There are a lot more children like Bobby, who took this ad and said "hey this kid is just like me, if he can do it, so can I!"  Children like Bobby have gained more self-confidence and are no longer afraid to look at themselves and say "hey I can be healthier".  Honestly, the obesity alliance, needs to really look at which ads are really promoting negativity.  Take a good look at these children, and what they have accomplished and then ask themselves,  should I replace this ad with a Big Mac.

It's a healthy change, it's not hurting our children, this ad does not make fun of them, or point any wrongs about the child.  It's WARNING us, making us well aware that yes as  Americans we need to open our eyes, this is happening , we need to help our children, for their future and for generations to come. 

This ad is straight and to the point, children like the positive truth, not lies.  These children took a stand and decided to do these ads, to help themselves and other children alike.  Adults want to pull the ads because they say it offends the "Children."  I guess you have to decide the truth here.



 

February 4, 2012            
Jamie Kalesnick - Proposal 1

FOOD

  All my life I was always around food, whether it be my grandmother cooking, or just going to Fancy Restaurants and Fast Food Restaurants.  I've always use to watch my grandmother when she was cooking in the kitchen.  But, my favorite time was when she was baking, and I mean with lard and crisco, and when pudding wasn't instant.  That's where I got my passion for pastry arts and came to BCC just for that. I would like to talk about the differences between the history and present time of food regarding pastries, breads, who introduced the donut, and where did the crescent really originate from. 

   I want to compare the differences between cultures, past and present, of how people use herbs, foods, and seasonings for self-healing, and spiritual rituals.  Also, I would like to talk about the difference between organic,and  non-organic food, hormones and additives.  What are the FDA's approvals on this?

  Obesity is growing more and more.  I would like to compare obesity and anorexia.  Are there more Fast Food Restaurants then Health Food Stores.  What more can we do to help Americans eat healthier?  What do dieticians believe about obesity and anorexia, and what do they suggest? How much has the food pyramid changed from past to present?

  The topic of food has always been interesting to me, but it doesn't mean just the cooking aspect of it.  I like the history of food, and where certain foods derived from.  Remember, "food for thought".
                                                                                                                                            

February 5, 2012
Jamie Kalesnick - Proposal 2

The Enviroment

  I've always loved camping, the open fire, family and friends and of course s'mores.  While camping I used to go for long walks in the woods, along the lake and just watch the birds, people fishing, squirrels, and occassionally I would catch a glimpse of a deer.  It was so peaceful to be at one with nature.  My cousins and I would swim in the lake and play marco polo, we would play basketball and volleyball or we would sit around the fire, we would talk, laugh and just have the best time.

  I love birds, when I  owned my own house I had everything set up outside for them.  I had bird feeders, bird baths, bird houses, and suet cages.  It's just so much fun watching them, they definately have different characteristics.  I had a cardinal family that was with me all year long.  As a matter of fact,  every spring they would bring there babies to eat, it's funny because they always had twins, a boy and a girl.  I loved to watch there colors change as they got older.  I also had nuthatchers, tit mice, chicadee's, woodpeckers, including the red belly wood pecker.  It was hilarious when I saw a baby red belly, they didn't have the red on they're head so they were all white,  I use to joke and call them Uncle Fester, because they looked balled.

  I would like to learn more about the species of birds and animals, and how they adapted, or didn't adapt to they're enviroment.  What species are extinct because of the enviroment and what species are close to extinction.

  Global warming is a scary thing, it effects all animals, humans, and plant life.  Some of the questions I ask my self are, where did we go wrong?  What is different from the past and the future?  Can we change the effects of Global Warming, by recycling, and reducing pollution?  Will it help us now?  And, what do we do if and when it all comes tumbling down?

                                                                                                                                               

February 5, 2012

Jamie Kalesnick  - Proposal 3

Family and Relationships

  Where do I begin?  My grandparents were married for over 50 years.  My mom was divorced when I was three, and I only saw my dad once until I had gone to live with him when I turned 16.  My mom and dad were total opposites I kinda wondered why they got married.  My relationship with my grandparents and my dad were great.  With my mom not so much.

  I have two children myself, 24 and 15.  My kids and I are very close, we talk, laugh, and yes we have occasionally arguments, which are usually resolved.  I always gave my children the confidence that they needed to be whatever they set there minds to.  My mom was the opposite.

  I have had alot of family issues being a single parent, who has been divorced for 14 years, struggling financially.

  I could really delve into family relationships, such as divorce rates, pregnancy, and problems with family relationships.  Trust me, I have had a few.  I can definately relate to all of these issues, and would like to compare my family with others. 

  

 

Jamie Kalesnick                                                                                              January 28, 2012



                                                         Autobiography

  I was born in Newport, RI, on February 17, 1968 the time was 10:06 a.m, and I weighed 9lbs, 6oz.  My mother named me Jamie Michele.  I was named Jamie after my mother's best friend and, Michele is French.  My nationalitie's are, Portuguese, German, Indian, Welch, English, and French.  I am now a single mom, and  I  have two children, girls, Ashley who is 24, and Nicole who is 151/2.
 
  I always, remember my grandmother reading children's books to me as a child.  And, of course, I loved them.  Sometimes I would ask her to read the same book to me over and over again, she would laugh, nod and read again.

  Honestly, I really didn't enjoy reading and writing as a child.  However that all changed at the age of eleven, after reading my first Judy Blume novel, Are You There God? It's Me Margaret.  Finally, stories I could relate to and find amusing.

  When I became older, I attended a retreat for Confirmation.  That's when I started keeping a personal journal. Some of my favorite places to write were along the water and while walking in the woods.  My feelings and ideas would flow from pen to paper.

  As an adult, I have enjoyed reading Romance novels, especially those written by Johanna Lyndsey.  What I admire most about her stories is the time period in which they took place, the 1700's.  The writing kept me captivated in the moment.

  My favorite book of all time is Memoir's of a Geisha.  I love old Japanese culture and tradition.  When I first opened the book and started reading, I knew I wouldn't be able to put it down.  The Japanese culture and traditions were described so perfectly, it felt as though I had transcended into that time.

  Now, whenever I write, it must be a peaceful, quiet, and almost tranquil place to help my mind think more creatively.  I place idea's on paper with the hope that the reader will be captivated, just as I am after reading a well written book.