A Return to Reading...That Is Not Assigned By A College Professor

So, a new term began this week, and now that the accursed (but highly enjoyable) wine class is finito, I seem to have some extra time on my hands.

For how long that extra time will be available, I really cannot say. Perhaps once the trimester is in full swing, I may have none. But for now, I've renewed my vow to read more (and stuff that is not textbook). I started this morning with a quick perusal of Marion Nestle's Food Politics website (the FDA is taking action! Egads!), moved on to a quick Kindle sample download of Chicken: The Dangerous Transformation of America's Favorite Food, and ended this evening in a family read-aloud of Chapter 3 of this book:

Yeah. I know. One of my most favoritely provocative books...in a young readers' edition. Even Elliot (the 9-year-old) has no problem with the words when he read his bit. I will say, while there has not been an AHA moment yet for my kids, they've achieved these objectives (spoken like a true former teacher):

*they've learned what a GMO is, and how they've taken purchasing and growing power away from farmers.

*why people left their farms, and thus, why American farmland has dwindled.

*in what way Americans are a "walking corn chip".

More Face. More Book. Less Facebook. That's my motto for the week.

Comments

From Government Regulations to Chicken

So, I really wanted tonight's post to be whippy and biting and highly intelligent...and I've even got the perfect topic - government wine regulations: Europe vs. the US (subtitle: European Governments Seem to Trust Their Citizens A Whole Lot More The US, Otherwise Why Don't French, et al., Wine Labels Have the Surgeon General's "Pregnant Women Should Not Drink This/This Beverage Impairs Your Brain" Warning). But, I realized that to begin a post like that, I should probably know the answer to the question, yes? Why do American wine labels include the warning, when, I don't know, isn't just common sense? A quick search of this very query lands me at Wikipedia, which is good enough for a rude overview, but nothing that indicates why it's a law in the first place. Hence, more reading is required. I hope to get to it soon. It's almost August, two-thirds of this year is nearly gone, and sometimes I feel as I am moving very, very quickly along...

In Which I Suspect I Have Latent Tendencies...Much Like The Hulk, Or Similar

I find in most normally functioning families, the members have a distinguishing role or legacy or skill of some kind. Like, he's the smart one. Or, he's the religious one. Or...she's the glue that helps the fam together. Or, she's the savvy one, so she's the Power of Attorney. In my family, that system went something like this: My dad was The Dad. Cantankerous, crotchety, and especially tight with daughters' curfew times. Also, not a fan of driving in Big Cities. My mom was the long-suffering, patient, reserved one. My brother was the baby, the one who got away with murder, the namesake, and also, Frosty Hoarder. Me? My legacy? The Ruiner of Remote Controls. No lie. Although I've repressed the memories, my parents claim I destroyed at least two remotes in my tenure as Child Under The Roof. Remote #1: milk spillage; Remote #2: applesauce spillage. So, now you see why my younger brother was the favorite. Anyway, t...

And Now, A Literacy Moment...

Brought to you by the sponsors of Mark Twain Literacy Consortium...because after all, "a man who chooses not to read is no better than one who can't." First day back to school/work after ten+ days off. Urgh. You all know how that is, right? Meh. So let's talk about books today, then. On these long breaks, I never read as much as I think I will...and I'm not sure why that is. Well, okay, I'm fairly sure I know why, and it includes doing something in the kitchen, working on something for the Winery or school, playing those damn free 1-hour demo Hidden Object games at www.bigfishgames.com, doing logic puzzles, or watching The Walking Dead or Downton Abbey or Sherlock. Ugh. How did you guys do that? Get me to confess all that, eh? Anyway, I read: Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. I have read at least three other books by this author, which, for me, is the only criteria needed to be placed on my Favorite Authors List....

To Thine Own Self, Be Food

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