Comments on: People of the Corn http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/26/people-of-the-corn/ Sat, 10 Jan 2009 01:14:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Attack of the Clones? - Asymptotia http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/26/people-of-the-corn/#comment-22714 Attack of the Clones? - Asymptotia Thu, 28 Dec 2006 04:43:09 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/26/people-of-the-corn/#comment-22714 [...] Actually, I think that I phrased things too nicely in the above, using the word “nice” to be able to do so. I think that we as customers should very much have the right to do so. Just as we should have the right to know a lot more about the food we are presented with right now - its points of origin, additives used, etc. I do find myself dismayed by the state the food production and distribution industry is in when its current practices - driven almost entirely by economic concerns - are weighed against the negative impact on the nutritional needs of the populace (a huge lack of diversity in our diet), the damage to local economies, and several other concerns that you may have heard about. (See my earlier article “People of the Corn” and the books cited therein.) The small changes that are being made here and there to improve things have come in large part from members of the public being able to read labels and vote with their wallets. It seems to me that not labelling cloned animal products - right at the beginning of their appearance in the food supply when it should be relatively easier to figure out a tracking system and code of practice - is a mistake, and a misguided act of depriving the consumer of some of their rights to know where their food comes from, and take part in shaping the process. [...] [...] Actually, I think that I phrased things too nicely in the above, using the word “nice” to be able to do so. I think that we as customers should very much have the right to do so. Just as we should have the right to know a lot more about the food we are presented with right now - its points of origin, additives used, etc. I do find myself dismayed by the state the food production and distribution industry is in when its current practices - driven almost entirely by economic concerns - are weighed against the negative impact on the nutritional needs of the populace (a huge lack of diversity in our diet), the damage to local economies, and several other concerns that you may have heard about. (See my earlier article “People of the Corn” and the books cited therein.) The small changes that are being made here and there to improve things have come in large part from members of the public being able to read labels and vote with their wallets. It seems to me that not labelling cloned animal products - right at the beginning of their appearance in the food supply when it should be relatively easier to figure out a tracking system and code of practice - is a mistake, and a misguided act of depriving the consumer of some of their rights to know where their food comes from, and take part in shaping the process. [...]

]]> By: Cynthia http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/26/people-of-the-corn/#comment-6272 Cynthia Tue, 28 Nov 2006 01:17:12 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/26/people-of-the-corn/#comment-6272 Just to reaffirm the DancingBear: Cynthia is, sorry to say, no DancingBear! Just to reaffirm the DancingBear: Cynthia is, sorry to say, no DancingBear!

]]> By: DancingBear http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/26/people-of-the-corn/#comment-6268 DancingBear Tue, 28 Nov 2006 00:21:02 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/26/people-of-the-corn/#comment-6268 No, we're not the same... I was only pointing out (cryptically, as it turns out), that I agree that "Hollywood Farmer's Market" does sound like an oxymoron. But many of the best things in life are :) (Also, oxymora are commonly defined as contradictions in terms---but not necessarily in substance.) No, we’re not the same…

I was only pointing out (cryptically, as it turns out), that I agree that “Hollywood Farmer’s Market” does sound like an oxymoron. But many of the best things in life are :)

(Also, oxymora are commonly defined as contradictions in terms—but not necessarily in substance.)

]]> By: Clifford http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/26/people-of-the-corn/#comment-6260 Clifford Mon, 27 Nov 2006 22:45:36 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/26/people-of-the-corn/#comment-6260 Yes.. support them! And the stuff taste's <em>great</em>, as a bonus! I'm confused. Is DancingBear=Cynthia? Not sure.... clarify if you will. -cvj Yes.. support them! And the stuff taste’s great, as a bonus!

I’m confused. Is DancingBear=Cynthia? Not sure…. clarify if you will.

-cvj

]]> By: DancingBear http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/26/people-of-the-corn/#comment-6254 DancingBear Mon, 27 Nov 2006 20:50:10 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/26/people-of-the-corn/#comment-6254 No misconception. But it's worth noting that (perhaps contrary to apparence) the economics of farmers' markets are still marginal. Cutting out the middleman does not quite make up for all the time and work needed to assemble, stock, and man the stands. Except perhaps in Hollywood, where the farmers may be able to charge a higher premium, a bit like Toyota does for its Priuses. I'm saying this just to encourage everybody to support farmers' markets, go local, and keep the movement growing. It's a worthy cause, and one that stands a very reasonable chance of success. No misconception. But it’s worth noting that (perhaps contrary to apparence) the economics of farmers’ markets are still marginal. Cutting out the middleman does not quite make up for all the time and work needed to assemble, stock, and man the stands. Except perhaps in Hollywood, where the farmers may be able to charge a higher premium, a bit like Toyota does for its Priuses.

I’m saying this just to encourage everybody to support farmers’ markets, go local, and keep the movement growing. It’s a worthy cause, and one that stands a very reasonable chance of success.

]]> By: Clifford http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/26/people-of-the-corn/#comment-6253 Clifford Mon, 27 Nov 2006 20:21:54 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/26/people-of-the-corn/#comment-6253 "“Hollywood Farmers’ Market”, I’d admit, is a bit of an oxymoron! " I don't understand... how so? To which misconception are you subscribing in order to come to that conclusion? Do tell. ;-) -cvj ““Hollywood Farmers’ Market”, I’d admit, is a bit of an oxymoron! ”

I don’t understand… how so? To which misconception are you subscribing in order to come to that conclusion? Do tell. ;-)

-cvj

]]> By: Cynthia http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/26/people-of-the-corn/#comment-6249 Cynthia Mon, 27 Nov 2006 19:48:16 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/26/people-of-the-corn/#comment-6249 Clifford, believe it or not, I'm with you on this one! While I'm not an anti-globalization nutcase that sees all globalization (across the board) as isotropically (everywhere) evil, I do, in fact, draw a line between globalization of food products and globalization of non-food products. In contrast to non-nutritional items, such as high-tech, gee whiz gadgetries bombarding us everyday, nutritional items are inherently fraught with potential pitfalls: pitfalls with the potential to undermine our overall health. After all, in a fundamental sense, edible objects, unlike non-edible objects, are directly correlated with the state of our well-being. Come on though, "Hollywood Farmers' Market", I'd admit, is a bit of an oxymoron! Come to think of it, I'll - on the other hand - just simply stick to my "Hillbilly Farmers' Market";) embedded within perhaps the most impoverished part of town. Clifford, believe it or not, I’m with you on this one! While I’m not an anti-globalization nutcase that sees all globalization (across the board) as isotropically (everywhere) evil, I do, in fact, draw a line between globalization of food products and globalization of non-food products.

In contrast to non-nutritional items, such as high-tech, gee whiz gadgetries bombarding us everyday, nutritional items are inherently fraught with potential pitfalls: pitfalls with the potential to undermine our overall health. After all, in a fundamental sense, edible objects, unlike non-edible objects, are directly correlated with the state of our well-being.

Come on though, “Hollywood Farmers’ Market”, I’d admit, is a bit of an oxymoron! Come to think of it, I’ll - on the other hand - just simply stick to my “Hillbilly Farmers’ Market”;) embedded within perhaps the most impoverished part of town.

]]> By: TheGraduate http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/26/people-of-the-corn/#comment-6225 TheGraduate Mon, 27 Nov 2006 16:36:59 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/26/people-of-the-corn/#comment-6225 Aaron F. "Whoa! I always thought that the fossil fuels used in food production just went into machinery and transportation." http://www.harpers.org/TheOilWeEat.html Also don't forget how much fossil fuel is used as raw material in the chemical industry including the pharmaceutical industry. I am also impressed with the pressence of corn in everything. This all comes from over producing corn and the fact that the government subsidizes the industry. An interesting question is, why not make less corn? It all gives a good perspective on why the farm lobby has so much influence in politics. Aaron F.

“Whoa! I always thought that the fossil fuels used in food production just went into machinery and transportation.”

http://www.harpers.org/TheOilWeEat.html

Also don’t forget how much fossil fuel is used as raw material in the chemical industry including the pharmaceutical industry.

I am also impressed with the pressence of corn in everything. This all comes from over producing corn and the fact that the government subsidizes the industry. An interesting question is, why not make less corn?

It all gives a good perspective on why the farm lobby has so much influence in politics.

]]> By: Clifford http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/26/people-of-the-corn/#comment-6222 Clifford Mon, 27 Nov 2006 16:01:16 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/26/people-of-the-corn/#comment-6222 Sure.. there is the soy crop... but the corn-in-absolutely-everything aspect of what he was saying really struck me. cheers, -cvj Sure.. there is the soy crop… but the corn-in-absolutely-everything aspect of what he was saying really struck me.

cheers,

-cvj

]]> By: Warren http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/26/people-of-the-corn/#comment-6211 Warren Mon, 27 Nov 2006 12:45:48 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/26/people-of-the-corn/#comment-6211 Don't forget soybeans. It's a bigger US crop even than corn. The US grows more soybeans than any other country, even China. The US even exports soybeans to the Far East. But most Americans don't like to eat soybeans. So where does it go? Cattle, mostly. (And soybean oil, plastics, etc.) Don’t forget soybeans.
It’s a bigger US crop even than corn.

The US grows more soybeans than any other country, even China.

The US even exports soybeans to the Far East.

But most Americans don’t like to eat soybeans.

So where does it go?

Cattle, mostly. (And soybean oil, plastics, etc.)

]]> By: Aaron F. http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/26/people-of-the-corn/#comment-6195 Aaron F. Mon, 27 Nov 2006 04:06:48 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/2006/11/26/people-of-the-corn/#comment-6195 <blockquote>Corn contains an unusually high proportion of carbon 13, and so it is easy to tag the corn trail in this way. The typical person from the USA is pretty much made of corn.</blockquote> SCARY. <blockquote>All the energy came from the sun, and then found its way to us through various routes along the food chains. Not so anymore. We use fossil fuels a huge amount in our food production too, via the fertilizers, etc, that we extract directly from petroleum and pump it into the corn, etc, which then finds its way into so much of our food.</blockquote> Whoa! I always thought that the fossil fuels used in food production just went into machinery and transportation. I had no idea they were actually being used as fertilizers, to supply energy! I find the fact that we can't survive on the sun's calories to be terribly disheartening. :(

Corn contains an unusually high proportion of carbon 13, and so it is easy to tag the corn trail in this way. The typical person from the USA is pretty much made of corn.

SCARY.

All the energy came from the sun, and then found its way to us through various routes along the food chains. Not so anymore. We use fossil fuels a huge amount in our food production too, via the fertilizers, etc, that we extract directly from petroleum and pump it into the corn, etc, which then finds its way into so much of our food.

Whoa! I always thought that the fossil fuels used in food production just went into machinery and transportation. I had no idea they were actually being used as fertilizers, to supply energy! I find the fact that we can’t survive on the sun’s calories to be terribly disheartening. :(

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