The untold story of food safety, that ground beef is too familiar with 

        Parts of the animals, also known as “meat”, are incorporated into Americans diets everyday as a source of energy, protein, and just all around taste. But what Americans do not know is the hard facts and hidden details that hide within the fried, grilled, and baked substances that are placed into their mouths. An average person will consume at least one type of meat once a day, when doing that, the chances of getting the virus E. coli go up compared to someone that is a strict vegetarian. Researching this underestimated and grisly topic not only has educated me in the untold details of the meat district, but also has furthered my lifestyle and choosing of being a vegan in many aspects. 

          The virus E. coli is a harmless virus usually when coming into contact with, but with the exception of the worst cases, the virus can result in permanent damage and can mentally change the perspective of ones opinion on meat. On October 3, 2009 a article was published, in The New York Times, telling a woman's story about her devastating experience with the virus E. coli and her last encounter with a hamburger. She starts with saying that she first experienced cramping and aches in her lower abdomen, which is the common symptom of E. coli. But very soon after her stomach cramps and aches, her kidneys completely shut down, seizures knocked her out, and a series of non stop convulsions made doctors put her into a nine week coma. Minnesota officials traced back in the early fall of 2007, the woman's mother had cooked her a hamburger and that was the cause of her ravaged nervous system and paralysis. From eating this ground beef substance, the woman had received a extreme strand of E. coli and eating that one hamburger changed her life forever. 

          A majority of Americans don't know that the chances of eating just a regular burger can kill them within matter of days. A outbreak of E. coli, at the restaurant Jack in the Box in 1993, injured 623 in the western U.S and ended up killing four children. Just a year later after all the results the outbreak, Michael Taylor, a food inspector announced and required that scrutiny to protect consumers from microbes. Now, for the first time, a microorganism in the gut of the cow would become illegal substance if made into ground beef. With the industry changing and the baseline government regulations, E. coli infections have been majorly reduced in the past 20 years. This outbreak was a wake up call since no body wanted to be the next “Jack in the Box” but without this public tragedy the United States would be a ticking time bomb when it came to when the next outbreak is going to be and what will make everyones eyes open when dealing with safe meat. 

       Just like the ridiculous WWE fighters that everyone sees on the television, a majority of cattle everyday are given hormones to get bigger and to look better. Traditionally raised cattle go from being 80 pounds to 1,200 pounds in fourteen months, these results are from being fed or being implanted with various drugs and hormones. When coming into contact with these hormones, scientists believe that the consumption of estrogen from hormone-fed beef can result in cancer, premature puberty, and falling sperm counts. But not just hormones are being weaved into ground beef, 90 million pounds of antibiotic feed are used annually in raising cattle. Americans don’t realize that the largest use of antibiotics in the U.S are fed to animals but not just to make the animal bigger, but to also to prevent disease outbreaks that could easily fester since the animals are raised in such disgusting and crowded environments. These antibiotics are contributing to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance in humans. These two sort of substances not only effect the animal but the human that consumes these substances which can result in a long term deficiency.  

          Just like scientists thinking the hormone Estrogen, that is fed to cattle, may cause cancer, there is other factors that both physicians and scientists think cause cancer. Cancer researchers believe that the people who avoid any meat consumption will dodge such diseases like cancer. In 2007, the American Institute of Cancer Research revealed through publishing their second review on certain nutrition, food, and cancer preventions. They declared that individuals have a high risk of getting cancers such as oesophagus, lung, pancreas, stomach, collorectum, endometrium, and prostate from eating red meats and processed meats. The causes of these cancers come from that meat is devoid of fiber and other nutrients that have a protective effect. "Meat also has animal protein, saturated fat, and sometimes, carcinogenic compounds such as heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons which is made when cooking. When cooking and burning both heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons it is said to cause high risk for cancers"(National Research Council). It is also said that the high fat content in meat and other animal products increase hormone productions, which increases the risk of hormone related cancers such as breast and prostate cancer. 

           Dealing with such risks, different diseases, and viruses when eating different meats is always a good idea to focus on how to properly eat and or serve meat the right and safe way. The most important way to eat meat safely, is to always make sure that any ground beef and ground meats are fully cooked all the way through. According to U.S Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 160 fahrenheit. Making sure the meat you are cooking is safe, It is advised to just place a thermometer in the thickest part of the meat and read the device properly for 160 fahrenheit. Focusing on all meats when eating is very important but when it comes to ground beef or any ground meats, one should be extra cautious. When beef is ground, bacteria from its surface is mixed into the meat as it is chopped into tiny pieces. Taking the extra steps on whether the meat in front of you is cooked to safety regulation, can help you in the long run. 

           Finding out all of the information has not only really opened my eyes on how much I have learned about ground beef, but has made me realize and understand the hidden facts not one talks about with the meat district. Without researching the ground beef fiasco, my desire to stay a vegan might not be as high, since the risks of getting any disease, virus, and or un healthy being is most common in meat eaters. When it comes to eating meat, everyone opinions seem to take a toll in dealing with the fact of what the humane and inhumane things to do with meat is. With finding this out, I hope my information is carried out and I will take in to consideration the next barbecue or even family dinner I attend. 

Annotations/Hyperlinks to my paper 

This cite taught me what E. Coli exactly is and gave me just background information on the bacteria. 

I learned from this cite the outbreak of E.Coli in Jack in the Boxes restaurants in 1993. This certain and well detailed cite gave me exact  numbers of people injured, permanently damaged, and dead victims of the out break. 

This cite taught me a interesting story of a girl whom almost died and was emotionally and physically damaged by eating just a hamburger. This cite also gave me the tip off of the Jack in a Box. This source was very successful and helpful when explaining what the hamburger did to the girl and the causes of E.Coli. 

This cite gave me background information on cattle and ground beef. This cite gave me well detailed information about hormones, feeding grains, antibiotics..ect. This was a great source for information when talking about ground beef. It also gave me information on how cattle kept inhuman. 

I learned from this cite the causes of cancers that have to do with meat consumption's. This website gave me a lot of information and details on specific facts on cancers risks that involve certain meats. I like this source because for my fifth paragraph I focused on cancers when eating meats, and this website gave me a lot of information so that I could talk about certain cancers and risks when eating meat. 

I got a lot of information regarding how to safely cook and serve meat the right way. This website also gave me requirements on what the safe temperature for cooking is, and the recommended advice from U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service. This cite was good for on how to safely cook ground beef and what methods are true on not about if the bacteria in/on the meat is killed. 

Pictures to my paper 

 This is a picture of a raw patty invested with E. coli 

 This is a demonstration of what a safe burger is, it is clearly cooked all the way, and what a not-safe burger. You can clearly see the difference. 

                This is a sign of a Jack in the Box, which was the restaurant that changed the way safe      burgers were served around the country. 

Dairy Queen reassuring buyers of their non infested burgers. 

I wanted to compare these two different restaurants, and how the out break of Jack in the Box influenced different restaurants around the world. 

This is a picture of the woman whom's life was shattered by eating a E. coli infested hamburger. 

Cinderella Man

   

Sources: This source talks about the upper class and how they felt with both the great depression and the lower class during the 1930’s. 

I chose prompt one and I am disagreeing with it. 

   Watching a movie, now a days, seems to be almost a routine for American people and everyone around the world. 

Movies not only fill our “too much time on your hands” problem but also is said to teach a certain thought or lesson, through an artistic way. Just like first quarter, analyzing a film is a skill everyone has adapted since watching 12 Years a Slave and Glory back in August. As a class, our next task was to watch the tear jerking film about the Great Depression, called Cinderella Man. Now, only briefly talking about this certain topic, going into this movie us, as the audience, had our minds opened and ready to feel some empathy towards what the Great Depression was about.This certain movie opened up the audiences minds and thoughts to what people going through a rough patch would be during the 1930’s. The audience learns certain emotions and a true story about a struggling boxer, but this particular film only focused on the lower class rather than the upper class.  

      I do agree that the movie, Cinderella Man, did shine some light and took the audience back to the 1930’s during is said to be the hardest time in American History. The inspirational true story really reaches out to the audiences emotions, and also teaches some aspects on how people lived in the 1930’s. When watching this well known movie, I couldn't help but notice one specific thing that only occurred very briefly through out the whole movie. It seemed a majority of the movie only showed and interpreted how the lower class was affected by the Stock Market crashing. From watching and analyzing this movie, I did learn certain things, but in my perspective, this story was mainly about a famous boxers life and emotions he struggled and dealt with. People now a days, when talking about this topic fail to understand that the upper class did too have, not the same struggles, but new struggles during the Great Depression time period. Even though a lot of people in America were hit hard and lost a lot of money, there still was an upper class that was scattered across the states. 

       Believe it or not, during the Great Depression the upper class was still shining with too much money in their grasp, and that seemed to what the lower class envied. Even with the Stock Market crashing and a majority of American citizens losing their jobs and money, this certain event only seemed to make a small dent in the upper classes bank accounts. The film failed to show some historical facts about the conflict between the upper and lower class. The much more fortunate upper class was actually infuriated because they had to pay certain taxes because they had a income, unlike a majority of America. As the upper class tended to not only not want to pay taxes on New Deal Programs, but they also now, flaunted there money teasing every starving and struggling person on the streets. Even though the populations of the upper class was small, the movie only focused on one mans story that maybe more than one person could relate to at the time. During the 1930’s the upper class did come with their stereotypical attitudes towards the lower class, but the movie never mentioned or showed how the upper class reacted to the poor boxer winning the boxing match. I would of liked to learn the perspective of maybe a rich person and the poor people in this time frame  

     In total, the audience has some perspectives on how the Great Depression was but the audience also seemed to only learn about one perspective, compared to both realistically. Now, if ever, watching this movie again the audience may find that they would like to do some research on the upper class since this film failed to show the interpretation. The one sided film did teach the boxers life story and showed his hard times, but now only leaves a questionable thought on why the upper class wasn't mentioned at all through out the movie. I disagree with the first prompt when stating “A person can learn quite a bit about life in America during the Great Depression just from watching the film, Cinderella Man.” 

                                This is a photo taken in the !930's and its some upper class people going the the movies.

Traveling to Birmingham

        I learned, when traveling to Birmingham, a lot about the visual concepts of the segregation era, the 16th Street Baptist Church, and history on "bombingham" during the 1950s. One of the most interesting information I learned was about the bombing of the church and how the former KKK was finally brought to court and arrested fourteen years later. When traveling to Birmingham, it brought the whole sitting in a desk and watching a film to reality when we actually stood on the grounds that held so much history background. As I sat in the 16th street church staring at the real and somewhat famous Jesus window, which had Jesus's head punched out after the bombing, I felt excited and moved by actually experiencing the church with my own eye perspective. After experiencing and learning all about the historical 16th Street Baptist Church, Park, and the civil rights museum I feel more educated and sympathetic for this certain time era and my thoughts are changed.
        I would recommend next years class going on this well educated and experiencing this time era with their own perspectives. I would agree with letting them have as much freedom as we did this year, such as going to lunch with a group of three. Im actually really glad I experienced this trip with some of my closest friends, and that I could share my own experience with my family. I would have wished we would had just a few more days of learning more about the segregation era, since this museum impacted my thoughts and opinion.

                                            This is the Jesus window I described in my first paragraph.

Questions about WWI

Sources

firstworldwar.com 

americaslibrary.gov

history.com

Questions and Answers 

1. When did World War I (The Great War) begin, and Why?  (What was the immediate cause?) Between what two groups of allies was it fought?  Give the name and member countries for each of the opposing sides.

            

            1. The spark that actually caused World War I to happen was on June 28 1914 when Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which whom was the heir of Austro-Hungarian throne, was assassinated. The two groups that fought were the Allies and the Central Powers. The Allies were Great Britain, Russia, and France and the Central Powers were Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Turkey.

1. When and why did the United States enter the war?

2. The United States finally entered the war on April 6, 1917 when Germany’s policy of unrestricted submarine warfare seriously threatened America’s commercial shipping.

1. When and why did World War I come to an end?  

3. World War I finally came to halt on November 11, 1918 when Germany had formally surrendered and all the nations agreed to stop fighting while they negotiated terms of peace. On June 28 1919, Germany and all the Allied Nations signed the Treaty of Versailles which formally ended the World War I. 

1. What were the terms of the major agreement ending the war?  Why did the United States not ratify this treaty, even though President Wilson had played such a major role in negotiating it?

             4. The terms of the major agreement that ended the war were negotiated among the Allied powers its 15 parts and 440 articles reassigned German boundaries and assigned liability for reparations. After five years, Germany agreed to pay reparations under the Dawes Plan and Young Plan. But those plans were soon cancelled in 1932, and Hitlers rise to power rendered moot the remaining terms of the treaty. The United States did not ratify the Treaty of Versailles because it objected to its terms, specifically, the responsibility that Germany was going to claim since they were the aggressor. 

1. Come up with a question of your own.  What would you like to know?  What do the facts about World War I make you wonder?

               

 5. When I started these questions I automatically compared World War I to World War II and it crossed my mind do the people in Germany, now a days, still talk about the two wars and the major losses of both of them. It also dawned on me the differences of allies in the two wars, and how the allies are completely different in World War II….weird. 

 Images 

                                               A chart of World War military 1 Deaths

                                                                          A chart of World War 1 causality rates 

Hunger Strike

Aspen Haught

History Essay    

                                                                      Hunger Strike

   Since the furthest era I could think of, it seems like the whole world revolves around one

word, food. Food can make or break a situation, comfort someone, and or make someone who is not

so nice into a new person (such as the snickers commercial). When starting off this research project,

my first instinct was to look up the correct and precise definition of the word Hunger Strike. The

result that Google gave me was a simple and clear definition- "a prolonged refusal to eat, carried out

as a protest, typically by a prisoner."

        As the definition seemed to stick in my mind more and more each day, I was shocked by how

Women could just stop eating and deal with the horrible hunger pains everyone has before lunch. But

researching more it was brought to my attention that the hunger strikes they planned, were actually a

brilliant and effective weapon that Women used during the Women's suffrage. By doing this,

Women made the news and their hunger striking tactic seemed to catch a lot of the publics eyes in the

early 20th Century. The way the Women used the tactic of the hunger strike proved their right to vote

by how smart and manipulated they were, instead of using violence.  When looking at pictures of the

Women's Suffrage, I found a lot of marching in the streets, when in fact women's hunger strikes were

mainly the women in a prison for advocating the right to vote. This effective way not only won by

making the public feel guilty but also changed Americas history forever.

       The women that were imprisoned, because they took a stance for the right for Women to vote,

and plus the big hunger strike made the media coverage go up. With News Papers talking about the

women in the prisons that were involved with the hunger strike, the public became more educated

and the media persuaded their opinion on what was happening behind the scenes. This whole drama

filled story seemed to come from one incident. Giving women the right to vote. Back in the

progressive era, tension was high as only men could vote and women had to be a "House wife". This

winning and reconization the government finally made after weeks and weeks of Women starving

themselvesWomen starting to recognize the sextets culture that was common in the USA. The first

attempt at making this a successful tactic, seemed to influence a modern day incident that happened

only a four hour plane ride from where I live.

      On September 6, 2013, a humongous hunger strike broke out in women's prisons everywhere in

the state of California because of the way prisoners were kept in tiny cells for 22 hours a day. 30,000

inmates refused their state-issued meals, causing a repertory conflict again in America. Precisely two

months later the number of strikers went down to 100 inmates, which still causes the guilt factor of

watching someone die right in front of you. The hunger strike finally ended in the California area

when lawmakers announced they will hold a public hearing on the states use of solitary confinement.

Again, this tactic brought up a lot of social media and public discussion. When comparing the

Progressive hunger strike and the California one they both have a lot in common. Different reasons,

but the same mental tactic of manipulating ones mind to have that feeling of guilt.

       The hunger striking was taken to a heightened measure because without doing so, our history

wouldn't be the same. The results of doing the hunger strike not only effected America but it also

effected the women that were doing it, good and bad. Just like the progressive era, the californians

struggled with the women's bodies as they tried to eat again. Throwing up and not keeping the food

down properly, came no surprise since the Women were on the verge of dying. This tactic was effect

but also damaging since the Women that represented the right to vote not only were mentally scared

but also physically. Yet the results didn't catch the public attention like during the hunger strikes, their

tactic will be remembered and used, creating a non violent and effective way to change history and

problematic situations.

      When comparing the two Hunger Strikes, both the California incident and the start of Women's

Suffrage, the two tactics were a new and brilliant weapon to make what they envisioned happen. In

doing so, they not only both won but opened up the publics eyes on how their world was being

treated by psychiatric mind games.

Clevelandhs.org on Womens Suffrage Movement

historyproject.ucdavis.edu on the Doris Stevens

motherjones.com on a modern day Hunger Strike in California 

The turning point on Women's Suffrage, page 78-79

An Eyewitness History on Women’s Suffrage In America

The National Women’s History Museum on Women in the Progressive Era

Women in front of the White House protesting for Women’s Rights 

Women marching down the streets of Washington D.C and protesting Women’s suffrage

Example of propaganda, supporting Women’s suffrage on the right to vote

This picture is prisoners families protesting about the Hunger Strike in California    

This is a picture of two ladies in the National Woman Suffrage Association

   

How do you analyze a political cartoon?

      I think the way to analyze a political cartoon is to focus on the artists joke/pun and notice of the artist has communicated the truth and comedic aspect. The next thing my eyes focus on analyzing is the actual cartoon itself. I determine whether or not how the artist has portrayed his art piece and connected the political word with the comedy world.

       Now, looking at a real cartoon analyzation guide, I would analyze the political cartoon more differently. Looking at the example I first noticed how the guide connected English and History, such as when they first used symbolism. The guide clearly states that "Symbols stand for larger concepts or ideas." Thinking now, this sort of analyzation really makes sense and comes in handy when first analyzing a political cartoon. The second makes the evaluator focus on the term "Exaggerator" and states "A lot of times cartoonists exaggerate people or things to make a point." Labeling came third, because "Cartoonists often label objects or people to make it clear what they are standing for." The last two concepts focus on Analogy and Irony. From all these familiar English terms and details that the guide clearly stated, I have learned how to analyze and political cartoon correctly.

The guide I looked at and talked about when comparing what I thought and what I learned. 

Number One

When analyzing this picture, I first noticed iconic guy in the center. Uncle Sam. When I start to analyze this political cartoon I tried to remember and follow the "Correct way to analyze a political cartoon" guide, which I talked about in my second paragraph. After examining the artists art work, I first look for symbolism. The building in the background and how the gates are wide open really stick out to me and draw symbolism. Second, I really studied and carefully examined the exaggeration in this piece. Of course no one will just let, what looks like,  robbers, carrying a bag of goods, into the gate in plain sight. This exaggeration really seems to fit with comedy because not only is this a sretch from the actual truth but also makes the artists point of oblivion. 

Number Two

Now looking at this specific cartoon, It doesn't really show as much exaggerated and details as the first one, but its unnatural and smoky effect really sets the dreary mood. Th first thing that caches my eye is the skull faced man. This is a little exaggerated but more on the ironic side, when compared to the first image. Yet again, this is Uncle Sam but a dead, yet alive Uncle Same. The next thing that I analyzed is the symbolism with Uncle Sam riding a guy like a horse. This political cartoon really shows the mood and background of the time period. 

Number Three

When analyzing this picture, it clearly states a man (Maybe the President) washing and changing what looks like a Filipino. Also, there is symbolism in this art piece such as the capitol hidden in the trees, and is obvious that the surroundings are America. This image is clearly it is representing America taking over the Philippines and making it better.

My History Speech

Aspen Haught

History 

       Through out this whole semester of my junior year, I have learned and developed 

my attitude and thoughts towards U.S History. From the very beginning of the first quarter I was pleasantly surprised when, as a class, we all watched Steve McQueens Oscar winning film, 12 Years a Slave. As we began to watch the film we had to keep in mind and remember two simple words. Sympathy and empathy. Even taking English since the start of my education career, I never understood how sympathy and empathy could be used in such powerful terms. As the true story of a slave during the harsh 1800’s burned into my innocent mind, those two powerful words surprised me on how the british film maker, could turn the words empathy and sympathy into a beautiful art piece. Even though the film surprised me the most through out the whole semester, this wasn't the only time I was surprised during my time spent in the desk three rows back. 

       As we began to get further and further away from films, our next task in American history, at first, seemed to ring bells of joy in my ears. That expectation was soon shot down when having only little time to write a well written and descriptive essay on Native American Music, lets just say I was unpleasantly surprised. From listening to various flutes and trying to understand the meaning behind modern day and past Native American songs, I couldn't help but feel very reluctant when researching my topic.  

        One of the topics we spent a little time on as a class and mainly by ourselves was the Emerging Industrial Supremacy. When learning about new industrial developments, one of the sections that stuck in my mind was on how women back in the day, didn’t have shopping. Learning this not only fascinated me, but made me appreciate and think about how lucky I am to not have to make my own clothes, or worse my mother having to make my own clothes. If I had to rename this tiny section that is called the “Emerging Industrial Supremacy” I would change the name to The Evolution of Women’s Shopping. Picking this name, in my opinion, draws the attention of the students and clears up what the topic is actually on. 

        Ten years from now if I had to remember and discuss one of the topics we have learned over this semester, I would defiantly remember and gladly talk about the store Zara. Learning about how and why the well known European store isn't so well known in the United States, really stuck in my mind because it showed me how Americans are living an unhealthy and food dominating life. Learning this topic also made me remember the huge debate over the owner of Abercrombie and Fitch and how he said “A lot of people don’t belong [in our clothes], and they can’t belong.” This controversial topic will probably still be a problem in the future and will be conversation in many different groups. 

          Another big controversial topics that happened in the past and still rarely occurring in the present is racial discrimination. Even though racial discrimination has made a huge step in the right direction and has changed from the 1950’s that doesn't mean it still doesn't happen today. From the beginning of the well known topic of slavery, the color of a humans skin has always been a tricky and silent subject to tackle. I have enjoyed and learned a lot of interesting facts in my time spent in the history room,  and I cant wait to learn more next semester.