Fast Food Addiction=Sad Food Choices

I could only shake my head in astonishment at what I was hearing! I  had to keep remembering to close my mouth as I was sitting there with it just hanging open in disbelief! Here is an example of the food mentality all too common today with children.

A woman and her two adopted children:  she’s in her early 60′s, they are in their early teens. All are (no surprise) overweight, one of the girls who is quite short, probably under 5 feet, is well over 100 pounds over weight.  The other is a bit taller and probably close to 75 pounds heavier than she should be.

I listened in horror at this story.  Because their food is charged to a credit card, last month the food expenses were about $1800.00.  Four hundred dollars of that was spend at McDonald’s.  Some days they eat there 2 or 3 times a day. Their other favorites are Burger King, Pizza Hut and Wendy’s.  The girls eat no vegetables; the Mom doesn’t cook because she’s too busy.  Their beverage of choice is sweetened ice tea.  They buy 5 pounds of sugar a week for the tea.  Yes — you read correctly:  five POUNDS. With the exception of a Sunday dinner, there don’t seem to be any other homemade meals that are served.

The sad thing is they don’t seem to care.  THIS is food to them! They laughed at the whole thing;  howled as they told the story! The long-term consequences of this is absolutely frightening!  The Mom is compounding her medical problems by eating this diet.  The girls are surely headed (if not already) for diabetes, heart disease, cancer, stroke, high blood pressure, hardening of the arteries and other ailments cause by fast food or a diet lacking in essential vitamins and minerals. They get no exercise at all.

Neither of the girls knows how to cook even a simple meal.  They aren’t inclined to learn, either.  Why should they… when McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Burger King are so readily available?

Part of this is from advertising, part from convenience.  Mickey D’s (and others) with their campaigns and never ending product offerings have hoodwinked these woman, and millions like them. They’re TOLD it’s good food.  They’re promised that their fast food has gotten healthier, but HOW can this be healthy when the meat comes from animals treated with antibiotics, growth hormones, fed offal from dead chickens and processed in a way that could essentially make them sick from fecal contamination? Then there are the additives and chemicals used to make the buns, flavor the meat, breading and make up the ‘ice cream’ and flavor the shakes.  What about the pesticides that the cows and chickens have eaten on their grain or are in the vegetables (what little there are) on the sandwiches.  All ingredients in these meals undoubtedly come from fields treated with pesticides and herbicides such as Round-Up and are probably all made from GMO crops!

I later told the Mom and IF… for ONE MONTH… they ate real food, no fast food and used a sweetener such as stevia for their tea… that they all would lose weight, probably without exercising. Their calorie intake as it is right now must be thousands of calories a day…, never mind the salt, sugar and fat consumption! Of course, they’d have to be willing to TRY new food such as eggs, fruits, breads, grains, beans, salads and consume far less meat and processed food.  Their tastes at present are addicted to fast food and it’s a sad testimony.

Is it too much to make a simple breakfast between the three of them in the morning?  How difficult would it be, with all of them participating every evening, to make a home-cooked meal?  Is it so impossible to cook something beforehand, freeze it and have it on a night when they might be in a hurry to be elsewhere?

I still say it:  required reading in schools should be “Fast Food Nation”  by Eric Schlosser and Morton Spurlock’s “Don’t Eat This Book-The Supersizing of America”.  Required movies should be “Fresh, The Movie” and “Food, Inc”

Kids like these are heading toward health problems and an early death. Their generation is the first one that studies show,  that may not outlive their parents.  Already rampant are health issues never seen before in their age group.  These two girls are very likely to have a major health event such as a stroke, cancer of some kind or heart attack by their 40′s or 50′s.

It’s their food choices, bite at a time, that will doom them!

Texting for Jesus

As if spam on our e-mails isn’t bad enough, or telemarketers, now I’ve got the JESUS FREAKS sending me text messages!

Why don’t these people leave everybody alone?  Why do they think that it IS God’s will that they convert every last human to believe in something that supposedly happened two thousand years ago.  I say ‘supposedly’ not because I don’t doubt that Jesus did exist, rather I question what has been written about him for it’s accuracy.  As explained in my previous post, “WHAT’S IN YOUR BIBLE?” it’s all hearsay!  How do we know something actually occurred?

Well, it pissed me off to the extent that I called my cell carrier.  I am not a text person – see no reason in it…,  and don’t do it.  I put a block on all text msgs to my phone.  I have told all my friends not to text me, so they don’t.  Why should I have to PAY for text messages from someone else;  someone I don’t even know?

Yeah…, Jesus died for MY sins?  Oh, ‘cmon!  He didn’t die for anybody’s sins, you fools!  That’s just the guilt trip the church has cooked up to scare everybody and keep them in line.  That goes with the ‘devil’ stuff, too.  The ‘devil’ is only the ‘darkness’ in man; lower tendencies.  No, you blithering brainwashed idiots – Jesus did not DIE for ‘YOUR’ sins or those of anybody  else.  He was an example, just like other teachers:  Buddha, Mohammad and on down the line. He wanted to show the possibilities of man, not his own superiority!

Don’t try to show this stuff down my throat.  Believe what you want to believe but keep it to yourself.  I have no use nor patience for those who think it’s their job to ‘save’ others.

I don’t need saving from anything, thank you!

More Toxic Imports From China

Indoor environments are thought to be safe, right?  Not so if you have a house constructed with Chinese wallboard and ceiling tiles

Following the devastating hurricanes in the south in 2005,  and building supply shortages, millions of pounds of Chinese wallboard was imported.  It has been found to give off fumes ( strontium sulfide)  which corrode copper pipes,  emits a rotten egg stench, tarnish silver and make people sick.  Researchers have identified highly toxic compounds in the drywall, including hydrogen sulfide, sulfuric acid, sulfur dioxide and carbon disulphide.   Investigators have found that the components, unlike U.S. manufactured wallboard, contained a coal product, fly ash, and have fumigants sprayed on the ingredients inside it.

This is just the latest in the round of contaminated Chinese products.  From baby formula to pet food ingredients, toys and cough syrup, U.S. officials are wondering ‘what’s next?’

What IS next?

The level of GREED and TOTAL DISREGARD for HUMAN LIFE from not only corporations here in America but overseas, has reached epidemic proportions.  Shortcuts are taken in secret to save money with no concern for  the potential for deaths and illness.  Chinese officials in the baby formula debacle purposely laced it with melamine to boost protein content.

Is nothing safe?

Green Cars: It Takes The Little Guys To Do It

The ‘Big 3′ in Detroit are crumbling.  After years of dragging their feet, buying off Washington and sleeping with the oil lobbyists, the empire is coming down.

In an interesting article on the hottest cars at the 2009 New York Auto Show, it’s the green start up companies who are coming out on top!  The Big 3 are outnumbered by innovative small companies; dozens of them with guts enough to take the dream off the drafting board and make it into a car.  As a result, this country will have more choices for cars not seen since about 1910!

Innovation is born of hard times.  Some of these tiny companies feel, as I do, that the government mandated 35 mpg for cars is ridiculously low. One would think that since the gas crisis of the 1970′s (which I remember vividly) would have spurred the industry to new heights.  Nope – the government, the automakers and the oil industry and God knows who else, continued business as usual and now the oil producing nations have got us by the short ones!

WHY has it taken the ‘little guys’ to be the ones to bring this to the forefront?  Why NOT Detroit?  WHY?  Because the OIL INDUSTRY does not have them in their pocket.  They aren’t buddy-buddy with the lobbyists!  They have the balls to do what should have been done 35 years ago!

Environmentally, we are one step from disaster.  With climate change wracking every part of the Earth, pollution, waste and degradation of the planet rampant, things MUST change.

The auto industry needs to get out of its own way: get serious instead of shoving out ‘quasi-green vehicles’! There is SO MUCH MORE that can be done and should be done NOW…. not in 10 or 20 years!

So, let’s say HOORAY to these brave LITTLE GUYS for stepping up and being a hell of a lot greener than Detroit.

Tellin’ It Like It Is

I’m just tellin’ it like it is for me and maybe for a lot of other folks, too.  THANKS for the cudos to those who have written saying they like the post.

As I said in ‘About’ – I’m not going to pull punches.  If I want to rant on the slugs who collect welfare, who have no right to, or spread the knowledge I’ve gained on the food industry – hey – I’m just writing here.  Hopefully somebody will listen.

If what I write   b-o-t-h-e-r-s you, well then maybe you need to look at yourself.

If the stuff about food or chemicals upsets you, perhaps it’s time you learned something.  I sincerely HOPE that I can get you to put down that diet soda, and toss that microwaveable meal in the trash.  Maybe the next time you want to eat out you’ll opt for a healthier choice than the drive thru at Wendy’s, KFC, Hardees, McDonald’s or Burger King! When you’re thirsty you’ll realize your body wants water – not - poison-in-a-can: SODA!

I hope I’ve rattled your cage about pesticides and chemicals.  It ain’t pretty, but YOU PEOPLE have to GET YOUR HEADS OUT OF YOUR BUTTS about pesticides.  We ALL have to do our part.

If you go to blame someone else for something that’s happened, you might remember my post on stupid lawsuits.  Slap yourself one upside the head  because you’ve probably been a dumb ass anyway. The world does NOT revolve around you and as Mick Jagger once said…, “You can’t always get what you want.”  Here in the U.S. you’d never know it, though!

So – off to another rant.

Rock on, fellow ranters!

Why NOT Drug Tests For Welfare?

I think it’s a great idea.  Hey – if your primary purpose every day is to get stoned instead of getting a job…. and you get assistance….YEAH!

Welfare was never intended to be a way of life.  It was supposed to get people up and going then out to get a job.  It was a HAND UP….. not….. a HAND OUT.

Generations of people have been on welfare…… G E N E R A T I O N S…. folks!  They know exactly how to work the system. Some have never known life OFF welfare!  Their parents, grandparents and great grandparents have lived on the dole…. and why shouldn’t they?

There are far too many employable people:  physically able TO work who collect welfare.

Stop having babies to stay on welfare!!!!!  Does New Jersey still have the ’2 child’ limit?  I think the whole country should ave a ‘child limit.’  That would keep some of these women from having baby after baby just to get benefits. GET OFF YOUR BACKS, women!  You are BETTER than just being a baby machine!

There IS such thing as BIRTH CONTROL;  many different ways.  USE IT.

Yes…. we are in an economic crisis and jobs for everyone are hard to come by.  Surely somebody in government could figure out how to revamp it.

No…. better yet – make that…. someone in the private sector, because the government would just screw it up!

Breaking The Cycle of Poverty

I am inspired!  A wonderful man named Geoffrey Canada and his Harlem Children’s Zone is concentrated on getting kids off to a good start.  This Good Morning America video just blew me away, with a fantastic blurb on his ‘Baby College’.

I see this not only as a value to inner city children, but to all children.  Many Hispanic, as well as Black children, can benefit from something like this.  For that matter, any child born into poverty here in the United States or abroad would do well to be in a program such at this.

Although not a sociologist, with not even a college education, I see certain trends.  I once attended a family function of my ‘adopted’ black family.  A group of about 5  young black girls, all under the age of 18;  some closer to 15 – ALL pregnant or with infants, disturbed me.  What is the motivation to get pregnant at 14 or 15?  It stems from generational conditioning and acceptance of children having children. It also shows a lack of self-esteem for herself and a need for love.  False promises by the father to ‘be there’ justifies the pregnancy in her mind.  We all know that words are cheap;  actions speak.

To keep kids out of this endless cycle, this program teaches parents ‘parenting’.  Sadly, many of these moms-to-be were never parented themselves.  From single parent homes, or having been raised by their grandparents or others, they never learned the responsibility of parenting.  Being a parent is not just having a baby, it is accepting the entire responsibility.

Having a baby is not like buying a couch!  You can’t return it if you don’t like it! You can’t put it out on the curb if you’re tired of it!

As it says in the video, children’s minds are like sponges.  Fill them with happiness, love, respect, knowledge, responsibility and self esteem, then you’re on the way to molding a successful child and responsible adult. Ignore them, establish no guidelines and boundaries of respect and responsibility, beat and punish them…, then you’ve instilled anger, resentment, lack of regard for others and a propensity for abuse and crime.  In short, they’ll repeat the cycle all over again because children learn what they are taught.

Check out the above links and see what YOU THINK.

I bet that you too, will be inspired!

Workplace Terms: The Gag Reflex

Certain terms have become commonplace in the workplace & they make me want to throw up! Why do we have to be a TEAM MEMBER? Why do we have to like to WORK UNDER PRESSURE?  How come it is mandatory that we are ENERGETIC, or that we can HANDLE STRESS?

I guess ‘team member’ is supposed to connect us.  What it really means is that, like a dog, you’re expected to be totally enthusiastic, slobbering all over to BE the BEST – suck up, that is. RAH, RAH, SISS BOOM BAH !  Where are the cheerleaders?  Team members are to be blindly devoted completely to the company.  Ask no questions and we’ll tell you no truths.

Yeah, I’m a ‘team member’ – to a point.  I’ll do what my job requires me to do:  show up every day, try to do my best, do it on time and to the specifications to the job.  I draw the line, however, when it becomes obvious that I am being used or lied to or mistreated -OR- if I am expected TO lie and mislead.

WORK UNDER PRESSURE means, “How much can you take before you crack?” How much can we get OUT of you? How far will you go for this company?  How much of yourself, your needs and life outside the company will you give up? How far can we push you?

ENERGETIC means: work like the Energizer Bunny.  That’s GREAT if you’re 25 and just out of college wanting to prove yourself.  When you get to your mid-50′s, forget it.  The bunny needs a recharge!  I’m past killing myself for a job.  Been there, done that when I was in my early 20′s.  Worked 50-70 hour weeks.

WHY ARE WE EXPECTED TO WORK THIS WAY?  Aaaahhhh….. the old GREED factor.  Workers are disposable (see previous post on this) and this has become the new American corporate way.  Like paper towels, we are meant to be thrown away when we’ve been used up.  There are a thousand others waiting in line if we aren’t a team member.

Food & Wacky, Uncontrollable Kids

I picked up a book in a used book  shop:  “Why You Child Is Hyperactive”  by Ben F. Feingold, M.D.

Dr. Feingold was an allergist, who, back in the 70′s proposed that hyperactivity in children could be traced to chemical additives in food colorings.  His ‘Feingold Diet’ advocated strict adherence to a fresh food, chemical free life.  Parents of ADD and ADHD children were encouraged to keep a food diary.  The results were amazing.

Now, 40 years later, diet and the link to all sorts of disorders, in adults as well as children is mainstream medicine…. well,  practically.  There are still some parents and physicians who barely admit that what goes into a kid’s mouth will result in their little darling turning into the  creature from the black lagoon or Mr. Hyde.

If your child, or one you know, is out of their tree after eating a Happy Meal, you might do well to investigate…, that is unless you have stock in the pharmaceutical company that makes Ritalin!  Or maybe you’re totally oblivious to what it’s really doing to your kid and figure it’s just easier to keep shoving pills down his throat! Hey – if you don’t give a damn…. then keep having those prescriptions filled!

RANT: Medicine Bottles & Kids

WHY is it MY RESPONSIBILITY to struggle to get a bottle of aspirin open because some kid ate it and died?

Some ‘childproof’ containers are adult proof, too!  Vitamins, pain medication, household cleaners:  everything is sometimes so difficult to open you want to smash the container rather than have to try to get it open.

Back to the RESPONSIBILITY thing.  If YOU as a parent, leave the medicine or cleaning solutions where the kids can get at them – it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY – not the manufacturer’s!!!!  The manufacturer did NOT come into your home and shove half a bottle of medicine down your kid’s throat!  YOU are the idiot!  YOU left it where the kid could get into it.  YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE!

When I was a kid everything was kept out of reach.  There were no ‘kid locks’ on the cabinets.  All medicines were kept where my sister and I could not get to them.  We were TAUGHT – ‘never take medicine unless Mom, Dad or Grandma gives it to you.’

Nobody wants to be inconvenienced!  Nobody wants to take ANY responsibility for anything. It’s ALWAYS someone else’s fault.

No, America – YOU are a bunch of IDIOTS!  Quit pointing your fingers at manufacturers, blaming them for what should be YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.  Whatever happened to ‘buyer beware?’  The legal system has turned it into ‘manufacturer beware’ because of the stupidity and irresponsibility of consumers.

We should go back to having lids on things that we can open and if your kid eats/drinks something – as the irresponsible parent – you should be fined or thrown in jail!