Food Deserts
Columbia Journalism Review might complain about the use of the term “food apartheid,” but I’m more interested in the story itself: A councilwoman from South Central Los Angeles is trying to get fast food restaurants banned from the community, citing higher rates of obesity and health problems due to the absence of other dining options. This is the kind of stuff I like to see. While the term “food apartheid” might be a bit much, people who live in economically depressed neighborhoods have far fewer choices, and less healthy choices, when it comes to their diets.
I live across the street from a housing project, and every night I see young families buying their “dinners” at a crappy convenience store, dinners that generally consist of sugar-flavored water, potato chips, candy, and frozen, processed food. The market does sell some produce, but none of it looks that good. The closest grocery store is an overpriced food co-op that I often can’t even afford to shop in, and I’m not trying to feed small children on a super limited budget. The restaurants in the neighborhood are mostly pubs, sub shops, or high priced bistros. There is a very clear demarcation in my neighborhood between the people who have money and can afford to eat well, and those who don’t, and therefore, can’t.
I am all for using the power of the government to get better, healthier food into neighborhoods that need it. Frankly, when a company like McDonald’s claims its free speech rights are being violated when it’s pushed out of a neighborhood, I feel more nauseous than I would if I had eaten one of their crap burgers. We’ve let corporations have free reign far too long, and it’s been proven that they aren’t doing us any favors. I’m fully behind a community telling them to get the hell out, even if they do use overblown rhetoric to do so.
Elections in the news
Here we are, deep in the throes of another election season. And you know, politics still frustrates and sickens me. And at this point it is the media even more than the politicians throwing me into fits of apoplexy. I mean, sure, politicians say ridiculous, calculated, un-nuanced things and I get very upset with them. But journalists are supposed to uncover this ridiculousness, reveal the truth behind it. They are NOT supposed to simply report on the asinine things politicians say as though they are true.
Frankly, Columbia Journalism Review does a far better job than I uncovering the stupidity of the media. I would just end up saying the same things over and over: “You idiotic assholes!”
Sigh. Is there any hope that this will get better? Not as long as people like the fine citizens of Findlay, Ohio still believe every stupid ass rumor that gets spread around and not properly contradicted by journalists who are falling down on the job.
Double sigh.
I just read this article on how people in Cuba use technology to get around the bans on internet connectivity put in place by the government (“Cyber-Rebels in Cuba Defy State’s Limits,” in NYTimes). While I do think the writer is a little bit leading (“cyber-rebels?”) in his language and whatnot, it’s an interesting glimpse at how information technologies evade containment, and at the ways people will use whatever they can to communicate and share information. It’s an open information world (or at least, it’s headed in that direction) which will force closed and controlling governments (including, in some ways, our own) to react, and hopefully change.
And oh, I thought this was pretty funny, in my anti-capitalist way: Some students forced a government official into an impromptu press conference, demanding to know the reasons for some of the restrictions placed on them. His answer regarding travel limitations set on Cuban citizens: He “suggested that if everyone who wished to were allowed to travel, there would not be enough airspace for the planes.” Heehee. Well, we take care of that here in the capitalist world by ensuring that not everyone who wishes to travel can afford it! Problem taken care of, plenty of airspace for the planes.
New job new school new stuff
I am now officially a student. I had my first class yesterday, Technology for Information Professionals. Thankfully, not as basic and mind-numbing as I was expecting. My second class, Reference, is this afternoon. I love being back on a college campus. I'm excited about everything. I'm a little surprised to see the the librarian stereotype is kind of true: I'm surrounded by some seriously dorky people. With social interaction issues. It'll be interesting to be one of the most put together, attractive people in the room for once. Hah.
I did, also, get that job at the Schlesinger library. I work there two days a week and so far I love it. Everyone is very nice and friendly. My boss is already showing an interest in my professional development, which is more than I can say for any boss I had in my last job. The library is beautiful and a very pleasant place to spend a few days a week. Everything is falling into place.
Of course, the fact that Crystal isn't just on vacation but has, in fact, moved is also starting to make itself real to me. Our new housemate hasn't moved in yet, but I"m sure that once she does the final bring in the Crystal's-really-gone wall will be cemented into place. I'm not sure how well that metaphor works, but whatever. She's doing well in Spain, although I'm sure a little bit overwhelmed.
I should head off to school now. Boy, I love saying that.
Q of a few D’s ago…Kitchen Essentials
What are the ten essential things that are always in my kitchen? This question is right up my alley, so despite the fact that it's not actually today's question, I'm going to answer it anyway. Because I'm a rebel like that. You can always find
- coffee, whole bean, dark roast
- peanut butter, natural, salted
- dried pasta
- white and whole wheat flours (is that two things? Whatever…)
- whole wheat bread
- yogurt
- wild rice
- a can of tuna, preferably Italian, in oil
- a large can of whole or diced tomatoes
- a pint of heavy cream
There you have it, those are my kitchen staples. There are other things we always have, too, but these are the things I actually use on a regular basis. Like, almost daily.
Books and books
New job?
Tomorrow is unofficially my last day at Pearson Higher Ed. It seems hard to believe, after over three years of this place. I'm ready, though–three years of not being challenged, not having enough work to do, not being mentored, not enjoying my work at all is more than enough. I am so excited to move into this next "phase of my career" I could about piss myself. If it weren't so messy, and generally unprofessional.
On Monday I interviewed at what is, essentially, my dream job: The Schlesinger Library at Harvard University houses a massive collection of women's history materials, and culinary history materials. It's like they read my mind and created my perfect library. The interview went smashingly–so smashingly that she pretty much offered me the job. She said she wanted to call my references and make sure everything checks out, and if it does, she'd like to hire me. And I can't imagine that anything in my references won't check out–everyone I listed has nothing but good to say about me as an employee. So I guess that means I have the job? I'm a little hesitant to say so, because it is still very unofficial. But…but…but…she did pretty much offer me the job. Right? Ahh ambiguity. I've never been very good with that.
Provided I do, eventually, get this dream job, everything is falling into place quite nicely. I'm registered for classes. I will have a job, and a great job at that, which will also look stellar on my resume. I've got that copyediting thing for Library Student Journal happening, which will be great experience. All kinds of things are happening that will keep me busy and not able to focus too much on how much I will be missing Crystal.
Right, I forgot all about this voxy thing
You know, I completely forgot I had anything up here at all. Too many social networking sites, I tell ya. But I thought a quick update might be nice for anyone who, er, cares.
Life has been crazy hectic here. I keep thinking of what Crystal always says, that no matter how long we are out of school, there is something about this time of year that encourages transitions. And I'm sure that will be even more true now that I'm going back to school.
I still can't quite believe Crystal's moving to Spain. I think I'm emotionally in denial because I don't know what I'm going to do without her. I won't even elaborate on how much it's freaking me out.
Our new housemate, Amelia, is pretty cool, although she is really, really young. She just moved out here from Santa Cruz to go to law school (we're all about the California Contingent), but she's only 22. On the phone we thought she seemed really mature, and she is, relatively. But she's still only 22, and that show sometimes. I'm sure it will be different once school starts and we're all busy, but this summer she's not really doing anything but hanging out around the house. And she doesn't really know anyone in Boston yet, so she just kind of tags along with us everywhere. Which is ok, just sometimes overwhelming. And we still have to find another new housemate to take Crystal's room when she leaves.
I only have three weeks left of work, and then three weeks of vacation, and then I start school. Whoohooo! I'm pretty excited–mostly excited to quit my stupid job. I keep having funny anxiety-about-school dreams, like that I forget to go to class for the entire semester and then have to take a final. Or that I'm late for every class and can't do any of the reading on time. I'm sure none of that will happen, but it has been a long, long time since I was a student.
So that's what's going on around these parts these days. I've been a bit drained by all the transitioning and change makes me a moody, grumpy girl, but I'm sure I'll be fine. Sigh.
Federal Way schools restrict Gore film
Yet another morning when I find myself gaping at my computer screen at something I’ve just read. This article on seattlepi.com showcases two parents who are about as dumb as they can possibly be. Their complaint over showing Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth” revolves around two things: Al Gore doesn’t present creationism, and the fact that “everything will burn up” in the “end times”, anyway, and the film takes a “bad America, bad America” approach.
Ugnnnh. Snnnaerf. Gaaaah. I can’t even respond to this kind of stupidity. I hate people. Hate them. What’s even more disgusting? The Federal Way School district has actually acquiesced, and placed a moratorium on showing the film. They propose that teachers who want to show it should also showcase the opposing view, i.e. the Not Freaking Science view.
New blogs, new blogs, new blogs!!
Well, one new blog so far, anyway–The Kitchen Illiterate (that’s me). The library blog isn’t set up and running yet, but it will be, I promise! I still can’t think of a name…Mr. X suggested Drink Like a Librarian, but I’m not sure my life as a lush needs to be advertised that blatantly. Instead, I set up a food blog.
The Kitchen Illiterate is far from complete, and I might end up switching it over to Blogger eventually, if I find it’s easier to edit CSS in Blogger. Yes, that’s right, I’m teaching myself CSS. Well, that’s the plan anyway. I tend to start these kinds of projects and then forget all about them. Anyway, I’ll keep everyone posted on the haps. In the meantime, you can find out what I ate last night. Exciting, I know.
Smarmy Alligator 