No, I'm not going to any exotic locales, ski resorts, or family lakehouses. Instead, this break I get to spend time on a few things that fall to the wayside during school. . .
First, I'm going to heat things up a bit. That's right, I'm finally reading Dante's Inferno.
Second, this break won't mean a thing if it 'aint got that swing. I'm going to work on my jazz improvisation and listen to some good 'ol standards (and maybe some Roy Hargrove too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxeb0cwjE8U )
And of course I'll be spending quality time with friends and family.
Happy Chanukah, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanza, Happy Winter Solstice, and Merry Festivus to all.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Sights Unseen
Every year my high school takes the opportunity to help one organization with a school-wide fundraiser spanning the length of three weeks. We call it School Chest, and have raised thousands upon thousands every year for worthy organizations. This year the beneficiary is Invisible Children, an organization dedicated to ending the violence of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in Uganda. The LRA is run by the warlord Joseph Kony, and abducts children from remote villages and towns. The soldiers force the children to murder their families, then brainwash, abuse, and murder the children themselves, all the while training an army of 5-11 year old killers. Ugandan children (and those living in neighboring countries harassed by the LRA) live in a state of constant fear. They flock from their homes to sleep on the floors of city buildings in great heaps, all of them deathly afraid of abduction. They have no supervision, no food, no beds, nothing.
The crisis is ongoing, and the developed world remains in the dark. Invisible Children is a social action group that uses young people's voices to bring the invisible children of Uganda to the forefront of American sight. They lobby, fund raise, and document relentlessly.
One of the major goals of Invisible Children is the prevention of abductions and murders in villages. Their early warning radio network serves to alert villages (who normally have little outside communication) of LRA risks in their area and enables them to call for help. If my high school raises enough money, we could fund a radio tower and save the lives of children and those living in remote communities.
I am intensely impressed with the dedication of the Invisible Children volunteers and with the dedication of my peers to this cause. I believe they deserve every penny that we earn this school chest, and I am proud to be a part of ending the conflict in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Help make these children visible. Please support school chest and the Invisible Children movement. See the links below for more information on the cause, and for ways to help!
http://invisiblechildren.com/homepage http://www.stayclassy.org/fundraise/ic?fcid=171955
The crisis is ongoing, and the developed world remains in the dark. Invisible Children is a social action group that uses young people's voices to bring the invisible children of Uganda to the forefront of American sight. They lobby, fund raise, and document relentlessly.
One of the major goals of Invisible Children is the prevention of abductions and murders in villages. Their early warning radio network serves to alert villages (who normally have little outside communication) of LRA risks in their area and enables them to call for help. If my high school raises enough money, we could fund a radio tower and save the lives of children and those living in remote communities.
I am intensely impressed with the dedication of the Invisible Children volunteers and with the dedication of my peers to this cause. I believe they deserve every penny that we earn this school chest, and I am proud to be a part of ending the conflict in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Help make these children visible. Please support school chest and the Invisible Children movement. See the links below for more information on the cause, and for ways to help!
http://invisiblechildren.com/homepage http://www.stayclassy.org/fundraise/ic?fcid=171955
Monday, December 5, 2011
The Pits
There's a certain camaraderie that comes from sitting in the dark, in what is effectively a pen, for roughly 16 hours in one week. It's cramped with metal stands and chairs, with papers and empty water bottles littering the ground, and instruments aiming in every direction. Its too hot or too cold, there's a shattered black light releasing it's fumes into the trumpet section, and a box of cookies has spilled somewhere by the mellophones. It's the pit, and at least twice a year, it's the dining room table, the homework desk, and the band/orchestra room to the many musicians involved in student musical productions.
This past week was STUNTS, the student-orchestrated talent show, which includes sketch comedy, musical theater numbers, original acts like magic and bands, and of course, the pit. We play familiar popular tunes like Day Tripper and the theme from Pirates of the Caribbean and when we're not playing we're watching the show. Again and again and again. Sometimes we're doing our french or calculus homework, or grabbing a quick bite of Chipotle, but most of the time, we're sitting, watching, and waiting for our chance to play. Sometimes, however, the pit comes to the rescue. When an act has a glitch, when technical difficulties arise, the pit is there to play Mah Nah Mah Nah and Baila Me with enough fervor to distract the impatient audience.
Though we may not always receive the appreciation we deserve, the pit is the place to be for any production. It's the best seat in the house, with music, magazines, and cookies, and of course, a whole lot of fun.
This past week was STUNTS, the student-orchestrated talent show, which includes sketch comedy, musical theater numbers, original acts like magic and bands, and of course, the pit. We play familiar popular tunes like Day Tripper and the theme from Pirates of the Caribbean and when we're not playing we're watching the show. Again and again and again. Sometimes we're doing our french or calculus homework, or grabbing a quick bite of Chipotle, but most of the time, we're sitting, watching, and waiting for our chance to play. Sometimes, however, the pit comes to the rescue. When an act has a glitch, when technical difficulties arise, the pit is there to play Mah Nah Mah Nah and Baila Me with enough fervor to distract the impatient audience.
Though we may not always receive the appreciation we deserve, the pit is the place to be for any production. It's the best seat in the house, with music, magazines, and cookies, and of course, a whole lot of fun.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
The Freedom to Choose
The abortion is issue is about choice. Should women have the option to choose to terminate their pregnancy or should the state be in charge of women's bodies? Personally, I am pro-choice. I do not believe that the government should have the power to make such a personal, emotionally decision for its citizens. Eliminating the possibility of legal abortion will only lead to overcrowded adoption centers, dangerous "back alley" abortions, and children that do not receive proper care because they were unwanted/unplanned.
Having perused two websites, the NARAL Pro-Choice America site and the National Right to Life site, I am still pro-choice. I found the NARAL site to be informative and easy to navigate, with information on not only abortion but birth control, sex ed, and adoption possibilities. I found the Right to Life site nauseating. I appreciate the interest NARAL takes in helping women and their dedication to getting the care and information they need, no matter what they end up choosing for their individual pregnancy. On the right to life site, I could hardly read the information, having been distracted by hideous graphic images and nauseating descriptions of abortion. Unfortunately, it seems the anti-choice party is winning this debate in small but permanent steps of legislation and with emotionally wrenching imagery. Nevertheless, I still believe that the pro-choice argument is more convincing.
While I am pro-choice, I do believe that parents should have knowledge of whether or not their child is seeking an abortion. They should be able to offer their opinions to the minor. However, I still believe that the ultimate decision should be up to the pregnant woman. After all, it is her body and her risk. I feel the same way about paternal notification. The father of the child should be notified, but the decision should still rest with the mother. He is not the one who will have to make sacrifices, carry a child, and face health risks and pain that accompany pregnancy and delivery.
I agree with the law that states that refusal to administer an abortion cannot be cause for discrimination or criminal liability. This is a heated issue, laced with emotional and religious undertones. Persons should never be forced to perform something as potentially compromising as an abortion. However, other laws seem to blatantly deny women access to proper care. Similar to the previous law, another piece of legislation allows medical personnel to deny women access to information on all of their options, specifically abortion. These and other laws do not help women in any way. While their name, TRAP laws, implies extreme bias towards the pro-choice movement, it cannot be denied that the laws restrict facilities where abortions could be provided, thus preventing women from getting the care they need in their home town, city, or even state. IL laws on abortion place unnecessary burdens on women who need options.
Having perused two websites, the NARAL Pro-Choice America site and the National Right to Life site, I am still pro-choice. I found the NARAL site to be informative and easy to navigate, with information on not only abortion but birth control, sex ed, and adoption possibilities. I found the Right to Life site nauseating. I appreciate the interest NARAL takes in helping women and their dedication to getting the care and information they need, no matter what they end up choosing for their individual pregnancy. On the right to life site, I could hardly read the information, having been distracted by hideous graphic images and nauseating descriptions of abortion. Unfortunately, it seems the anti-choice party is winning this debate in small but permanent steps of legislation and with emotionally wrenching imagery. Nevertheless, I still believe that the pro-choice argument is more convincing.
While I am pro-choice, I do believe that parents should have knowledge of whether or not their child is seeking an abortion. They should be able to offer their opinions to the minor. However, I still believe that the ultimate decision should be up to the pregnant woman. After all, it is her body and her risk. I feel the same way about paternal notification. The father of the child should be notified, but the decision should still rest with the mother. He is not the one who will have to make sacrifices, carry a child, and face health risks and pain that accompany pregnancy and delivery.
I agree with the law that states that refusal to administer an abortion cannot be cause for discrimination or criminal liability. This is a heated issue, laced with emotional and religious undertones. Persons should never be forced to perform something as potentially compromising as an abortion. However, other laws seem to blatantly deny women access to proper care. Similar to the previous law, another piece of legislation allows medical personnel to deny women access to information on all of their options, specifically abortion. These and other laws do not help women in any way. While their name, TRAP laws, implies extreme bias towards the pro-choice movement, it cannot be denied that the laws restrict facilities where abortions could be provided, thus preventing women from getting the care they need in their home town, city, or even state. IL laws on abortion place unnecessary burdens on women who need options.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Giving Thanks
This Thanksgiving we ordered a pizza. While many cooks and tradition enthusiasts would consider this a travesty, I consider it a victory. My family was responsible for the death of not a single turkey this holiday. We enjoyed not only grilled vegetables, baked mac n' cheese, and pizza, but a long conversation about the food industry and food philosophy. While my extended family may not leave the dark side any time soon, I appreciate their consideration of us vegetarian folk.
I am thankful for friends, family, good (cruelty-free) food, and the freedoms I have because I live in the USA. Happy belated Thanksgiving, I hope everyone enjoys a healthy, happy, holiday season.
I am thankful for friends, family, good (cruelty-free) food, and the freedoms I have because I live in the USA. Happy belated Thanksgiving, I hope everyone enjoys a healthy, happy, holiday season.
Eating Animals: Makes Me Sick
This chapter, Foer discusses the role factory farm animals and livestock play in how humanity contracts diseases. He finds that their role is a massive one. While Foer lists the hundreds of ailments and horrific diseases that plague the creatures we eat, I'll focus on one here: influenza.
In 1918, the Spanish flu (so named for the press coverage the death tolls received in Spain), was a pandemic that covered the globe. "Whereas AIDS took roughly twenty-four years to kill 24 million people, the Spanish flu killed as many in twenty-four weeks" (124). 25% of Americans became ill, and not just the elderly and very young, but healthy middle-aged people. Today, a pandemic like the Spanish flu is the World Health Organization (WHO)'s worst nightmare. "Recent history has averaged a pandemic every 27 and a half years" which means we are long overdue (125). WHO predicts 2 million to 7.4 million deaths, conservatively. The disease, be it the predicted H5N1, or another, would ruthlessly destroy not only lives, but nations.
So where would this pending catastrophe originate? Our food. Specifically, the birds. Birds are responsible for carrying "the full spectrum of flu strains as categorized by today's science: H1 through . . . H16, N1 through N9" (128). While this may sound like some Alfred Hitchcock movie, the truth is that we, humans, are susceptible to several strains of avian-carried flu. So are pigs. When an avian virus mutates with a pig virus, it can create a disease that affects humans too. This is how H1N1, the swine flu, was born. Pigs are the only animals that are vulnerable to bird, pig, and human diseases. If they should mix, the possibility of H5N1 would be very real and highly threatening.
We've heard about the horrific living conditions of chickens, the most commonly consumed bird in the USA. We've heard about the cruel and messy business of their slaughter, and we've heard how they're packaged, inflated with salts and chemicals, covered in their own feces, and shipped to our friendly neighborhood groceries. So why it should come as a surprise that "50 billion sickly, drugged birds -- birds that are the primordial source of all flu viruses. . . [and] 500 million pigs with compromised immune systems in confinement facilities. . ." are causing mutations and widespread disease (138).
As Foer goes on to discuss other food borne illnesses, strains of E. Coli, etc. I wonder just what it is that's keeping people from giving up their precious meat, in favor of health. The pathogens and antibacterial medications that farmers are pumping into their animals are being rendered useless to humans, diseases are overcoming them. At what point will we stop, look around, and realize that there is not a single antibiotic left to treat human diseases? At what point will WHO's nightmare come to pass, and the world will be a few billion doses short of life-saving medicine for a disease that came from someone's chicken, or pig meat?
Oh wait, people can't give up disease-ridden, tortured animal flesh. Where would they get their protein?
If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me "but where do you get your protein?" I wouldn't need to get a job, or worry about student loans. However, I never mind answering truthfully: "plants." After reading this chapter, I can now go on to add that "excess animal protein intake is linked with osteoporosis, kidney disease, calcium stones in the urinary tract, and some cancers" (144). Eating animals is a recipe for disease, whether individually devastating, or of pandemic proportions.
I'm less worried about where I'm getting my protein from than what diseases the sick habits of this omnivorous nation have unleashed.
In 1918, the Spanish flu (so named for the press coverage the death tolls received in Spain), was a pandemic that covered the globe. "Whereas AIDS took roughly twenty-four years to kill 24 million people, the Spanish flu killed as many in twenty-four weeks" (124). 25% of Americans became ill, and not just the elderly and very young, but healthy middle-aged people. Today, a pandemic like the Spanish flu is the World Health Organization (WHO)'s worst nightmare. "Recent history has averaged a pandemic every 27 and a half years" which means we are long overdue (125). WHO predicts 2 million to 7.4 million deaths, conservatively. The disease, be it the predicted H5N1, or another, would ruthlessly destroy not only lives, but nations.
So where would this pending catastrophe originate? Our food. Specifically, the birds. Birds are responsible for carrying "the full spectrum of flu strains as categorized by today's science: H1 through . . . H16, N1 through N9" (128). While this may sound like some Alfred Hitchcock movie, the truth is that we, humans, are susceptible to several strains of avian-carried flu. So are pigs. When an avian virus mutates with a pig virus, it can create a disease that affects humans too. This is how H1N1, the swine flu, was born. Pigs are the only animals that are vulnerable to bird, pig, and human diseases. If they should mix, the possibility of H5N1 would be very real and highly threatening.
We've heard about the horrific living conditions of chickens, the most commonly consumed bird in the USA. We've heard about the cruel and messy business of their slaughter, and we've heard how they're packaged, inflated with salts and chemicals, covered in their own feces, and shipped to our friendly neighborhood groceries. So why it should come as a surprise that "50 billion sickly, drugged birds -- birds that are the primordial source of all flu viruses. . . [and] 500 million pigs with compromised immune systems in confinement facilities. . ." are causing mutations and widespread disease (138).
As Foer goes on to discuss other food borne illnesses, strains of E. Coli, etc. I wonder just what it is that's keeping people from giving up their precious meat, in favor of health. The pathogens and antibacterial medications that farmers are pumping into their animals are being rendered useless to humans, diseases are overcoming them. At what point will we stop, look around, and realize that there is not a single antibiotic left to treat human diseases? At what point will WHO's nightmare come to pass, and the world will be a few billion doses short of life-saving medicine for a disease that came from someone's chicken, or pig meat?
Oh wait, people can't give up disease-ridden, tortured animal flesh. Where would they get their protein?
If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me "but where do you get your protein?" I wouldn't need to get a job, or worry about student loans. However, I never mind answering truthfully: "plants." After reading this chapter, I can now go on to add that "excess animal protein intake is linked with osteoporosis, kidney disease, calcium stones in the urinary tract, and some cancers" (144). Eating animals is a recipe for disease, whether individually devastating, or of pandemic proportions.
I'm less worried about where I'm getting my protein from than what diseases the sick habits of this omnivorous nation have unleashed.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Addicted
I never thought it would happen. It started off harmless enough, an hour or so a day, no more. Then it become two hours, or three, and my homework started to fall to the wayside. I was losing sleep, unable to tear myself away from it.
I was addicted to that big, shiny box we call the TV.
Until now, I'd never been much of a television viewer. The occasional Discovery Channel special, or Project Runway episode when I was sick, and a movie or two when my friends were over. That was it. When people discussed reality television shows, I snorted at their silly fascination with other people's ridiculous lives. When they talked about Glee or some other plot-based show, I zoned out, failing to see the importance of a season finale or a maddening cliff-hanger.
Then a friend of mine introduced me to shows on Netflix. It started slow, with a few episodes of Big Bang Theory (the hilarious tale of a few socially inept physicist and their aspiring actress neighbor), then I got into harder stuff. Soon I was watching a season a day, and not just of Big Bang but of How I Met Your Mother, and even the occasional Better Off Ted (an older show about an optimistic single-dad and his job in a ruthless scientific research corporation).
Eventually, having run out of past seasons to catch up on, my addiction was limited to the occasional weekly episode. But how long will it be before the next relapse? That depends on whether or not there's another original idea on TV anytime soon. For now, the network is caught up in a slew of hospital dramas and law spin offs, all featuring doctors or detectives with quirky personalities. I'll pass on those. But if a network introduces a new pilot, something original and engaging, pass the remote. I'm jonesing for a new series.
I was addicted to that big, shiny box we call the TV.
Until now, I'd never been much of a television viewer. The occasional Discovery Channel special, or Project Runway episode when I was sick, and a movie or two when my friends were over. That was it. When people discussed reality television shows, I snorted at their silly fascination with other people's ridiculous lives. When they talked about Glee or some other plot-based show, I zoned out, failing to see the importance of a season finale or a maddening cliff-hanger.
Then a friend of mine introduced me to shows on Netflix. It started slow, with a few episodes of Big Bang Theory (the hilarious tale of a few socially inept physicist and their aspiring actress neighbor), then I got into harder stuff. Soon I was watching a season a day, and not just of Big Bang but of How I Met Your Mother, and even the occasional Better Off Ted (an older show about an optimistic single-dad and his job in a ruthless scientific research corporation).
Eventually, having run out of past seasons to catch up on, my addiction was limited to the occasional weekly episode. But how long will it be before the next relapse? That depends on whether or not there's another original idea on TV anytime soon. For now, the network is caught up in a slew of hospital dramas and law spin offs, all featuring doctors or detectives with quirky personalities. I'll pass on those. But if a network introduces a new pilot, something original and engaging, pass the remote. I'm jonesing for a new series.
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