Eric Schlosser

I really liked how Eric Schlosser said he still likes fast food, but he knows how it is produced and made, so he doesn't eat it that much. He was a very young guy, and it was interesting to know that he used to write for the Rolling Stone. It is also very interesting that he got the idea of fast food nation from the Rolling Stone, but waited years later to actually write the book. He is a very down to earth kind of guy and that helps him relate to audiences. I wasn't bored at all, he kept me interested. It is odd that he mainly talked about McDonald's and not other fast food restaurants, but McDonald's is the mostly wide known fast food restaurant over the world. Overall it was a good presentation and I learned a lot of new facts.

Eric Schlosser Review

When I first saw Eric Schlosser I was surprised at his age, I thought he'd be much older for some reason. Also he was very laid back in speaking which I assumed he'd be more uptight and would want to tell us what to eat but it was exactly what he didn't want to do, he said "that's for our mother's to do." I never knew he took the job for Rolling Stone which started off as a story for them into a book which he turned down to begin with but he wrote it since he likes to write about things he doesn't know. I thought that was interesting that something he turned down to begin with turned into a hit that many people know him for. But what really shocked me was he likes Fast Food and ate McDonald's french fries on the road. I just assumed that since he wrote this he was against fast food. He even looks up to the people who started KFC and McDonald's. But now he only eats at one fast food place, In and Out Burger, but only since they treat their workers fairly. All in all he just wants us to think about what we're eating. He was a very interesting guy to listen to not one of those boring speakers I could fall asleep to so I didn't mind missing class for him, I learned a lot from him not only about fast food but the government.

I thought the speech Eric Sossler gave was great. It made me have a whole other view of the fast food cmpanies and how evil they really are. I thought he was going to be an older more neglagent man who would try to impose his views on us, but his was not true. You could tell he was very down to earth and really just wanted to hear what we had to say from the minute he stepped on stage. He showed us he used to be just like us and a victim to McDonalds, but not anymore. THe point he brought up saying he would never give those companies a cent of his money really inspired me. It really makes me want to d othe same and never waste any of my money on that horrible food again. I get mad even thinking about hat those companies ave done and that i actually used to support them.

Eric Schlosser

In listening to Eric Schlosser speech i found many things interesting. I found out that this story came about after an assignment Rolling Stone wanted him to do about fast food. They wanted Eric Schlosser to go behind a fast food counter and see how the food was made. He didn't want to take on the assignment because he loved fast food, but after finding out all the interesting research he took on the assignment. He started to need to know the other side of fast food; to make the people think and ask questions. One thing i thought was interesting was that cutting the poorest people pay out of 50% made the success of fast food. One other interesting fact was that in the 70's employees had to take a lie detective test to see if they wanted a union , majority ruled they would shut the restaurant down. The most interesting thing i found out was that every 3 months someone is getting fired or quitting and owners don't care because they know its easy to find another.

Eric Schlasser

During Schlasser's speech, I learned that his book started as an article in the Rolling Stone's magazine. The book was a New York Times best seller for two years and it has been popular ever since it was published eight years ago. His aim of the book was to guide Americans to make a conscious choice about eating fast food. When he was assigned to write the book, he went to the library and got out a big stack of books about the companies that make fast food. Schlasser did not want to be snotty when he wrote the article because he liked fast food and he learned a lot about the corporation. He learned that the fast food companies have transformed our country. He stresses that "Knowledge is Power" and without knowledge we will always be in control of someone with an education. Sclasser explained that the fast food companies have changed the way employees are treated. The author said that in the fast food system workers are indesposible and interchangeable and the typical worker is quiting in three months. He found one quote by McDonald's and I agree that I am a little distribed with the statement, "One taste worldwide." He sided with the In and Out Buger's industry and said that the business is better than McDonald's. He said that the In and Out business is the most profitable fast food business. Finally, the authors ending quote was "Once there is seeing, there must be acting, otherwise what's the point in seeing.''

I found it interesting that Schlosser actually likes the taste of fast food, and what really convinced him to stop eating out was how the employees, and animals are treated. After listening to his speech, I almost decided not to eat out a fast food restaurant, but I did anyway. I also found it interesting that the title of the book was not his original idea, and that he wasn't even going to write about fast food, until he was asked to. All in all, Schlosser's speech was very intriguing, but i think I'm still going to eat fast food.

schlosser review

He loves the taste of fast food and he was talking about how he loved eating all driffrent types of foods all around. When he was writing the book it all started from rolling stones. He talks about when he went to the library to get alot of books about the history of fast foods and how he was amazed by reading them. Also alot of people that he knew didnt even know what was happening behind the counter and thats because the food comapany didnt want them to know how they made it, they just wanted us to buy their products. He talks about how he's making us to think by knowing whats good and bad about to eat and he gave us facts and repeated what knowledge and power was all about. He talks about the mcdonald brothers making a drive thru and them starting to get tired of it and they wanted to shut down the business. Schlosser doesnt want to go to mcdonalds anymore because he doesnt want to give them a penny by knowing how he treats people and they dont deserve it. Also schlosser talks about how alot of things inthis world has changed and more in the future can continue with many positive.

Eric Schlosser Review

While watching Eric Schlosser give his speech, I was humbly dazed with how much sense he makes, how real he was and astonished with the similarities that I and I'm sure others had in common with him. As I was listening, I was using a note book to write down my thoughts in and next thing i know I have taken up four pages worth of space filled with things that I felt inspiration from or agreed with. Bobby Mosely's song went nicely with the Eric Schlosser's book "Fast Food Nation" because it said things such as "fury emanating from the slaughter house","always more more more" and it even says something to the effect of this is a fast food nation. In my opinion, Mr. Schlosser was funny and witty man like when he knocked on wood to hopefully not 'jinx' what he had said. One of the most inspiring this that he said was from someone named Fitch and he quoted, " Once there is seeing, there must be acting. Otherwise whats the point in seeing". He said things like "pursue knowledge or be under the control of people that have it". He discussed alternatives to McDonald's like "in and out" burger from where he lives. Of course many facts were included such as 75 percent of visits to fast foo places are impulsive and he says that it is our choice to live long or die young, make the conscious choice. During one point he also touched on my research topic of kids and advertising such as all the commercials include thin, happy people eating the food. It was intriguing to discover that he is interested in colonel sanders history the most out of all fast food places. At the ending, he left us with a stimulating thought that "the future is not known."

Eric Schlosser Review

The most important thing I learn from Eric Schlosser’s speech was when he said that the food we eat determine how we are going to live, whether to live or to die. He also said that he didn’t write the Fast Food Nation for people to hate fast food or to think like him rather he wrote it for people to educate and think for them selves because knowledge is power. He points out that the fast food mentality is uniformity and control and Ray Kroc is a good example of that method. He also said that the McDonald brothers brought the factory method to the kitchen there by making money by taken advantage of the poorest workers and fought against union. Eric Schlosser ended his speech with a quote “Once there is seeing there must be acting, otherwise what is the important of seeing”. That means we as a society should do our part by not buying foods from those fast food restaurant that treat their workers poorly.

Schlosser Presentation

While at the presentation with Eric Schlosser there were a couple interesting facts that caught my eye. He said that he wnated people to analyze his material and make people think about the material but at the same time not to tell us what to think. I liked this because even though he wrote this book called Fast Food Nation and he talkes about fast food restaurants and the downfall about them he is not trying to turn everyone against fast food. I agreed with him when he said this generation has been exposed to more advertisement then any generation before. Schlosser said that seventy five percent of all visits are impulsive. Personally when I go to a fast food restaurant it is not planned ; I just go because I am in a hurry.

Schlosser review

I was surprised that Schlosser did not come to present us with radical anti-fast food pro vegetarian views but instead stressed the importance of individual thinking. The fact that Schlosser still eats meat even after revealing some of the most gruesome truths behind its production is astounding. The book was a huge eye opener in itself but I think that the overall goal of the book was really unveiled with the accompaniment of the speech. I don't think that I could live a vegetarian lifestyle forever but his information has definitely made me think twice about getting a burger from our local fast food distributors. I feel like his comments about Bush were in the best interest of maintaining a professional attitude, but he really did not seem to care. He even mentioned that he really did not care if we agreed or disagreed with him, his only goal was to provide the facts and allow us to formulate our own individual opinions. It is because of his firm stance behind this idea that I would rate the presentation so highly.

Response to Eric Schlosser

In listening to Eric Schlosser's speech I was pleasantly surprised for the most part. I expected him to be very anti fast food. I was glad to hear that he wrote the book so that people would be more informed about fast food so they could make the choice for themselves whether or not to eat it. Going in I thought he had some grudge or an agenda to try and scare people into not eating fast food. Although reading Fast Food Nation, and listening to Eric Schlosser has not changed my view on fast food I think the work he has done is valuable and allows people who have questions about what they eat to gain some awareness. Except for his remark about hating our former president I enjoyed listening to Mr. Schlosser speak.

Eric Schlosser Review

I think that Eric Schlosser did a wonderful presetation today. I particularly like the part of his speech when he said that he actually likes the taste of fast food. I found that to be shocking because I thought since you wrote a book about how the fast food industry is so bad, I thought he didn't like it anymore but he fooled me. I agreed with Schlosser when he said that the big fast food companies are transforming the country with there persuavise advertising. He explained that 75% of people visit fast food restaurants are basically from impulses and another 75% of people out of no where will decided to go eat a fast food place. Me personally, I believe that statement because I hear all the time that people say that they want a cheeseburger and fries and it could be clearly out of the blue. I too have thought about doing the same thing, but I restrain myself from the tempations that the markets advertise. I like the fact that he stated that there is a hided world behind the counter, he made it seem like the people who work behind there, do not comprehend what the order was and that they would keep asking you," what did you say". That has happened to me before a few times. Overall, I think Mr. Schlosser did a wonder job today speaking to his audience about his work. I really enjoyed his lecture and I look forward to hearing about his newer book.

Fast Food Nation Response: Knowledge is Power

When I first heard that Eric Schlosser was coming to CCBC- Essex, I did not really think much of it, and I was not planning on attending. However, I am glad I did! I enjoyed listening to Eric Schlosser so much more than I thought I would. I liked how down to earth he was , and I was able to relate to a lot of the things he said. There were a lot of things that stood out to me. For example, when Eric Schlosser pointed out that my age group was the most lied to made me feel uncomfortable. Researching and writing about advertising to children, I somewhat know about the propaganda and manipulation of food- based companies. However, listening to Eric Schlosser I realized that I actually don't know that much.
Eric Schlosser was very insightful and knowledgeable about everything he talked about, and admire that he has such strong opinions. Overall, I am glad Mr. Kizzier made this mandatory, because I would have missed out on a really great opportunity.

Eric Schlosser Review

I considered the lecture given by Eric Schlosser to acceptional and very well informative. What shocked me most about what he talked about was that he enjoys eating fast food; considering how his book he the fast food industry out to be evil and fast food a greasy addiction. What really intrigued me was the reason behind him writing the book in the first place. Instead of it being something deeply personal, like everybody had thought, it in fact was that he wanted the public to be "conscious" of what they are putting inside them when they eat fast food. I considered it a privlege to to intend the lecture and I cant wait to sewe what he writes next.

questions

Content

If so many people love fast food, why did you write a book about its history and consequences?


Personal

Are you a vegetarian? If not do you still eat at fast food places?

Fast Food Questions

1) Content
Since you exposed the deep dark secrets of the fast food industry has anything about them changed??


2) Personal
Whats next is my question I mean you have dropped such a vaulable jewel of information on the public about the inner workings of the fast food industry what happens now is the question though???

Eric Schlosser

1.What made you choose Kenny Dobbins from all other Monfost employees?
2. Do you think you will publish a nother book about fast food nation in ten to compare the changes in fast food after Fast Food Nation was published?

fast food question

1. What are the main effects from fast food that are caused to increase?

2. What opportunites in the book can you suggest to people about fast food of whats healthy and not unhealthy?

Fast Food Nation Questions

1. What would you like to see change in the fast food industry?
2. How have you changed after writing this book?

Fast Food Questions

From reading your book Ive come to realize how much money goes into fast food chains, do you believe if we were to cut out fast food entirely, that in the long run society would benefit?

Besides the danger of obesity, addiction and how much it plays a part in everyday life, what was the main thing that you hoped to alert to the public about fast food

1. When you were younger did your parents used to take you to fast food places? How often would you go? Did your experiences with fast food restaurants make you write this book?
2. What are you doing now to promote your cause? Do you just keep promoting your book or do you have other ways you help bring awareness to the problem?Did your book accomplish what you wanted it to accomplish?

Questions for Schlosser

1. What influenced you to write this book? How long did it take you to write it? Have you ever had a bad experience with fast food and do you still eat it after writing this if you ever ate it to begin with? What was the most shocking thing you found out?
2. After reading your book it really opened up my eyes to fast food and everything involved with it. When i read about how you asked a person at taco bell how everything is made and he said just add hot water it shocked me and made me wonder how I could ever eat that and make me never want to have fast food again, how was your affect to everything you were finding out?

Fast food questions

1. After writing your book do you still eat at fast food restaurants or did you ever eat at fast food restaurants.? Did you think your feelings would change about fast food after finding out your research?

2. I have never been to a slaughterhouse and never plan to after reading the chapter The most dangerous job. When you went to the slaughterhouse was it what you expected or were you surprised?

Questions for Schlosser

1. Has there been any improvement in government regulations on food safety since Fast Food Nation was published? Have companies been held more accountable?

2. In reading Fast Food Nation I have noticed that you only mention Republican Presidents and Republican Congresses as causing the problem of having insufficient testing of the food that is produced in America. Do you believe that only one political party has a hand in this, and was it your intention to prove that Republicans do not care about food safety?

My questions for Eric Schlosser

Content -1. How have the American people acctepted that fact that you took it upon yourself to expose the insides and outs of the fast food industry? What results were you looking for?

Personal Experience:
After I read your chapter on "Whats in the Meat", it really upsetted my stomach. My choices of eating meat at all has made me think about what I read in the chapter. My question is did you want to expose the dangers of bacteria that can contaminate our meats for the sake of the health of people's well being or did you just want to expose the darkside of the dangers of mis handling of food period?

Questions for Schlosser

1. Content: How has the stubbornness of the American population with regards to meat consumption influenced your feelings toward your culture as a whole?

2. Personal experience: Personally, I have never and will never visit a slaughterhouse but after reading "The Most Dangerous Job" my eyes were opened wide to the reality of meat production. Would you consider the horrors that lie within the typical American slaughterhouse as one of your top reasons for writing Fast Food Nation?

Extra Credit

I thought the presentation was very educational. He mentioned three main points that we should think about before eating fast food. The three main points were, know about the food you eat, know about where the the food is manufactored or raised, and how it effects you .He really caught my attention when he told me about the chickens not having room to spread their wings, and pigs being stationed in stalls where they could not even turn around. This was just horrifying to hear because I presonally love animals and to know that they are being raised in such cruel places is unbelievable. He mentioned that the cows are now being shot with steroids. I understand why they called the presentation ethics of what you eat because there is nothing ethic most of the food we eat.

Presentation

This presentation taught me a lot about fast food. It also changed how i feel about the food that I eat. At the beggining of the presentation he explained how the chickens that we get out eggs from are raised. He explained how they are kept in extremly small cages with about four birds in one cage. The would not have enough room to expand their wings with just one bird in that cage. Also, he explains how when the birds are young their beaks are cut off at the tips so that they do not attack eachother. This makes me second think about eating the chicken. Also, he talked about how the cows that are raised for the fast food industries are fed with grain. He explains that more grain is waisted then cows that we eat. Overal we waist food by raising the cows. At the end he explains that organic food might be a little more expensive but they are better for you and for the environment and animals.

Fast Food Nation

Chapter 3

Many areas of research can be found in chapter three including one area on page 60. The author writes that "Every few miles, clusters of fast food joints seem to repeat themselves, Burger King, Wendy's, and McDonald's, Subways, Pizza Huts, and Taco Bells, they keep appearing along the road, the same buildings and signage replaying like a tape loop". Based off of this topic, an area of research could be about how easy and accessible fast food is so everyone like myself can grab an unhealthy 'meal' if I'm running late or don't have enough money for healthier food which continues to perpetuate the unhealthy, obese country that we live in. Not to mention the fact that each of those fast food businesses can survive and even thrive when they are positioned right next door from their competition. This area of research could include that since each fast food place is succeeding while their strongest opponents in the fast food industry are around the corner, imagine how many people must eat fast food a day to keep all of the fast food businesses open. Another area of research could be from where the author writes, "they build large sign to attract motorists and look at cars the way predators view herd of prey" , on page 65. This could be an area of research about the marketing and advertising that fast food corporations use in order to attempt to persuade customers to come to their specific business.

Chapter 7

In chapter seven, one area of research could be on the state of health that the cows are based off of when the author writes, " The industrialization of cattle-raising and meatpacking over the past two decades has completely altered how beef is produced - and the towns that produce it." This is because people give cattle real grain and steroids so they are bigger creating ore meat and that meat that everyone eats even myself, so what ever the cattle are eating can affect us also. A second example of an area of research from chapter seven could be how one of the most necessary and important jobs needed in today's society is low paying, unsafe and often within a bad environment as well as bad working conditions because the author writes, "Responding to the demands of the fast food and supermarket chains, the meatpacking giants have cut costs by cutting wages. They have turned one of the nation's best-paying manufacturing jobs into one of the lowest-paying, created a migrant industrial workforce of poor immigrants high, tolerated high injury rates, and spawned rural ghettos in the American heartland" which affects some of my friends and I'm sure many families due to their parents working at places like this.

FFN Research Areas

Chapter 3:
An interesting area of research in chapter 3 would be on how fast food restaurants capitalize on young inexperienced labor. It is interesting to see how profitable busisnesses are by taking advantage of workers that will work long hours for minimum wage. This relates to my own life because I work in the restaurant business and was paid minimum wage for quite a while and many of the people that started working around the same time I did are barely making more than minimum wage.
Another area of research would be the effects of fast food chains in an area's high school dropout rate. FFN reports that many kids like the experience of the real world, and would much rather be making money than sitting in class without pay. This was important to me through my high school years because I had to make many decisions about whether or not to stay in school or drop out and get a job. It was not hard to decide that education was an important investment I would have to make in myself.

Chapter 7:
Low wages in the meatpacking industry and their effect(s) on the quality of work/cleanliness of the meat would also be an interesting area of research. Meat plays a key role in many of our diets and if we are provided with meat that has been processed in unsanitary conditions, the consumer deserves to know.

Air and water pollution is generally assumed to come from coal burning factories and not meatpacking industries which gives rise to yet another area of research: the effects of the toxic leftovers on the neighborhoods surrounding the meatpacking plants. Although this does not directly effect me because I am not in close vicinity of a plant, if the industry is required to more strictly regulate its output of contaminants, the cost of meat will most likely rise substantially.

FFN

chapter 3

Fast food restaurants frequently appear at specific exits located along major highway systems and also along roads running trough towns or counties.
"Every few miles clusters of fast food joints seem to repeat themselves." Schlosser shows how fast food chains all over the nation use advertising and the careful positioning of establishments along major highways and other busy roads to attract higher numbers of consumers. This would be an area of research that I am able to relate to because I am familiar with this powerful advertising method. Every time I drive up and down 83 I see a great number of exits for food, especially fast food. It is hard not to want to stop for a quick bite especially when trying to save time.These resteraunts are being placed along highways for convienence and ease of access when traveling for long distances.

I would also research the topic schlosser talks about involving 2/3 of the nations fast food workers being under the age of twenty. He states how most fast food places even frequently hire disadvantaged members of society. Teenagers working long hours are receiving low pay. I know many people in this situation, however this type of job is the only kind they are able to find right now.

Chapter seven

The complex system of the fast food industry keeps a few goals in mind making sure to make money and sell their food at any costs.Even if that means beefing up cattle with grain( which they dont usually eat), and steroids( which can be unhealthy) to produce more meat faster an more efficiently. I would like to know what is in the meat I am eating if i choose to eat at a fast food resteraunt. It's all about profit and how quick they can deliver their product.

I would also want to maybe research the hiring of illegal immigrants and how this effects profit, production, and avaliability of jobs. Fast food corporations are assuring that they hire immigrants due to the fact that they will work hard and they will do so for a cheap price. No experience is really neccessary to work at a fast food place either.

FFN Ch. 3&7

Chapter 3
On area of research I found in chapter 3 was the fact that fast food companies are dominated by teen employees. Eric Schlosser wrote that about two thirds of the nation's fast food workers are under the age of twenty. This relates to my life because, I used to work at McDonald's. It was my first job, and besides the mangers, and maybe three or four people, everyone was under the age of twenty.

Another area of research I found in Chapter 3 was the safety of the employees. Eric Schlosser wrote that four or five fast food workers are now murdered on the job every six months, usually during a robbery. This relates to my life because my older sister, Lily used to work at Domino's Pizza. One night while she was working, the store was robbed. She was held a gun point and this really affected me and my family. She quit the next day.


Chapter 7
One area of research I found in chapter seven, was the health of the cows, and how safe our food really is. The grain that the cattles eat to make them gain so much weight and the fact that they are injected with steriods really disturded me. This relates to me because I eat fast food, and I have watched Super Size Me a couple times, but the information never bothered me enought to want to stop eating fast ffod. However, after reading this, I am actually considering becoming a vegetarian!

Another area of research I found in Chapter seven was the hiring of the illegal immigrants. This does not directly relate to me, but I care about the well being of others, and I do not like the fact that they are being explioted.

Fast food Nation

Chapter 3

On page 71 the books says the fast food industry now employs some of the most disadvantage members of American society. The research question for this is why do they hire disadvantage members of the society. After reading this i now realize when I go to any fast food restaurant I see more teenagers working there or people who people who really need the money.

 

Chapter 7

On page 149 the book says you can smell greeley, Colorado long before you can see it. The smell is hard to forget but not easy to describe a combination of live animals, manure,and dead animals being rendered into dog food. The research question could be how can you turn a whole city into a meat market, killing animals to make food. I think the town would be better off building schools and a descent community. 

chapter 3
"In 1967, Colorado Springs had a total of twenty chain restaurants. Now it has twenty-one McDonald's."
You could research how McDonald's is growing and how it is putting smaller restaurants out of business. Now you could drive down any main road for five minutes and see twenty fast foods restaurants. For the most part, they are some of the only places our generation can go to get food now days. There was never a time in my life I can remember not seeing a fast food restaurant everywhere or anywhere I go. our generation was deprived of going out to small local places to talk to the friendly staff and gwet a good meal to eat. now we are basically given no other option than to walk into the bleak places we call fast food restaurants.
'Computer programs, training manuals, and the machines in the kitchen determine how just about everything must be done."
You could research how machines are taking over jobs in the workplace and really taking away the need to have an actual person working. Everywhere now is using machines to take care of as much work possible. At my job the computer tells me every item on the menu and every possible upgrade. a small child could figure out how to do this just as efficiently as any other person.
Chapter 7
"The intense pressure to return a bigger bag of money each year has prompted a number of conarga employees to break the law.
You could research how these companies will stop at nothing to keep making more money. even tough they make millions if not billions of dollars a year they still need more money. At my job we get plenty of business and always make plenty of money, but now they won't even let us get free food or get take out because plastic containers cost money. We make plenty of money and the business is still growing bigger than ever. it just shows they want to get as much money as possible.
"Monfort began to employ different sort of worker there; recent immigrants, many of them illegals."
You could research how many places eep employing illegal immigrants so they don't have to pay a regular citizen more money to do the same job. Where i work now over half of the employees are all most likely illegal immigrants. Almost all of the chefs and busser are immigrants. Maybe two of them can speak any english at all. I'm sure they don't get paid normal wages for their jobs and they work twice as hard. Restaurants can be this greedy just so they don't have to waste as myuch money paying their employees. If you make millions a year the least you can do is give your employees the money they desreve.

Fast Food Nation Chapters 3 & 7

Chapter 3
The first area of research would be on pg 60 "every few miles clusters of fast food joints seem to repeat themselves." I chose this because it's true every day when I'm driving up and down York Road all I see is fast food chains and it makes me hungry and just want to stop at every one especially when I'm in traffic because the big signs stand out to me. Also on my way to ocean city every summer the whole way there all I see is fast food chains which make my family stop to grab a bite to eat when I just want to get to Ocean City as fast as possible.
The second area of research would be teenagers and how low they get paid and the long hours. It relates to my life because my parents made me get a job at 15 and they paid me as low as possible and made me work a lot to the point I had no free time, it was just work and school. I still work at the same place to this day but I don't work as long or as much.

Chapter 7
The first area I would research is how many immigrants are there really working there and what is their pay and if they get paid vacation. I chose this because I work with Mexicans at my job they're usually the ones with the worse job, they come in late at night around 2 and leave around 12 the next morning and put all the groceries on the shelves. They do the jobs no one else wants to that's why there's so many in the U.S. now a days just look at any job and you'll find them and who knows if they're illegal and most of them can only speak a little English or like McDonald's said they speak "McDonald's English" since that's all they're trained to know.
The second area I would research would be what's actually in the grain that the cattle eat to gain weight fast and why steroids. I chose this because I eat fast food and I want to know what's actually in it and what they're doing is obviously not healthy but the food is so addicting you can't seem to stay away. So all of this really makes you wonder what's in the food.

chap 3
having fast food joints near schools makes it hard for a sixteen year old to say no when they see they need help. making your own money and not haveing to beg for it anymore is the best feeling in the world it is another step to being an adult. and haveing them so close to a high school is not good as the say in the fast food nation you can be sixteen to drop out and as they also state in the eyes of a sixteen your odl school is borning and working and making money beats that any day. which can make a huge drop out rate because there a place that you dont need anything to work there meanign a high shool diploma. they take anyone which is hardly good since they can drop out of school and live there life as a hard worker at a fast food place which no parents want there children doing. they should be in school .

chap 7
this chapter opens your eyes in so many different ways from the kinds of meat to the employees . from the food with the different meats or better words for it the cow meat with different ingredients to keep it fresh or in thier words fresh which if we all know it really is not. now to the emplyers that they higher from high schoolers who would rather be working earning money then in a class room. to immgrants who may even be ilgual but they dont care as long as they have some one behind the counter. they should do a better look at people before highering .

ch 3 and 7

Ch 3

The first area of resarch I found is on page 60 about the fast food restaurants appearing very frequently on the road. I can relate to this because I remember all of the road trips that I have taken in the past. Driving the three hour drive to rehobeth down route 40 and every few miles it is guaranteed to find at least one fast food chain. Secondly, the effect of after school jobs on teenagers still attending school. I can definately relate to this considering I have been working and focused on succeeding since I was fourteen. I am currently still working in the fast food business in the mall. It can be very stressful at times, I would dig a deep hole for myself because I would never say no when I was asked to work. I did not focus on school as much as I wish that I had however I made myself look good.

Ch 7
On page 150 I found a good area to research was the idea Warren Monfort came up with to fatten up his cows. It opens my eyes as to how demanding the fast food chains really are and how they will do anything to speed up the delivery of their merchandise. Another area of research that also opened my eyes to how much fast food chains care about their demanding business is the immigrants they support. These businesses take advantage of immigrants because usually they are cheaper to pay and they work hard. The corporations are also breaking the law in some cases where the employees could be illegal immigrants and in this case I believe that an American should deserve the job over an illegal immigrant. I am not trying to be rascist against it, but especially during this recession many Americans are unemployeed and places are going to pay illegal immigrants instead it just does not seem fair to me.

Ch 3.
page 68
Schlosser wrote that No other industry in the United States has a workforce so dominated by adolescents.About two-thirds of the nation's fast food workers are under the age of twenty .Even the managers are sometimes in their late teens.I have alwasy noticed that teh majority of the employees in the fast food industry were younger but I never would have thought two-thirds were. I was shocked thought when he wrote that even the managers were in their late teens. That scares me knowning that a teenager is managing a fast food restaurant. How much experience can they really have at a young age to take on the commitment of that job.


page 83
He stated that roughly four or five fast food workers are now murdered on the job every 6 month, usually during the course of a robbery. This is scary because my sister friends are around the age of 16 and they are starting to work in the fast food industry and knowning that they could have a chance of this happening to them. The industry is made of mostly people under the age of twenty so this is a young child life that is at stake. They also said in 1998 more restaurant workers were murdered on the job in the United States than police officers. There has to be something that can be done so that this statistics can go down because I would not have thought that you have more of a chance getting murdered in a fast food restaurant then being a cop.

Ch 7.
page 161
I hyave always heard that a lot of industrys hire people from Mexico,Guuatemala and El Salvador because they will work for half the money Americns will work for but never really thought it was true. After reading this I now know that this is true. This is hard labor and it is not fair to choose one race over another because they will work for less. In the book they stated that two thirds if the workers can not speak english. This is crazy because they are using machine and need direction and understanding. If the owner can not speak their language then who knows what the workers are talking about and how much can they really understand how much they should be paid for tehir labor.

page 165
I could not believe what I read about the smell in Lexington. When a resident from Lexington said that they had three odors and that they were burning hair and blood,greasy smell, and the odor of rotten eggs I just could imagine how awful that smell was. I complain about the smell of gas or the smell of something burnt but imagining waking up every morning to that smell is crazy. This smell comes from slaughterhouse wastewater lagoons, and it causes respiratory problems and headaches and at high levels it can cause damage to the nervous system. I do not understand how this is legal. It grosses me out knowning that this is all related to the food we eat for convience and that people have to actually go through this day by day.

fast food 3 and 7

On chapter3 of the research talks about how food can be very addicting and also how food are the most popular area in the Restaurants and any other fast food areas. It relates to my life alot becuase I've been working at pizza hut for five years now and im still working there. I try my best to stay away from the fast food but its hard because one, it smells so good and two, its free lol but as life goes on, eating junk food is very unhealthy.

On Chapter 7 of the research talks about how so many meat of animals are being polluted with diffrent ingredients to make it even more caleries than it is and also learning about having workers being involved by the wages for there work on diffrent position on what they work for, for the for the food industries. It relatates to me because I've learned so much on why foods are being added with diffrent ingredients to having more oil when cooking, frying, or baking, haveing more good taste, and the better look on the food because of what is being add into the fast food

Fast Food Nation

Chapter 3

1. On page 60 it talks about how the restaurants and surrounding neighborhoods look as if they were manufactured by a gigantic machine and not really showing and real difference from one another. I can relate to this because in my life I struggle trying to be an individual and being seen as my own person rather than just part of the group.
2. On page 61 it explains how developments in the Rocky's of Colorado are being imitated from those in California. I can relate to this because people around me are having ideas and values being pushed onto them regardless of whether or not they are interested.
3. An area of boader research that could come from this chapter would have to be how in today's society, how individualism is becoming less and less.

Chapter 7

1. On pages 150-151 it goes on to talk about how a man named Warren Monfort was the first to start feeding his cattle grain instead of following everyone else and letting them eat grass. In the end after killed, the meat from his cattle was alot meatier and thicker than the cattle of those who were grass fed; it soon started to catch on. I can really relate to this because most of the time I dont do what everyone else does; I do things my way and most of the time my way is faster and better.
2. On pages 152-153 it talks about how at the meatpacking factory in Chicago in 1906 was cutting corners on safety and health. There were even cases where actual people accidently fell into vats, turned into lard, and sold to unknowing customers. I can really relate to this because at my job the superiors always cut corners on almost everything making it so that they benefit more than anyone in the end.
3. An area of broader research that could come from this chapter would most likely be how a good thing over time can become bad.

Fast Food Nation Ch. 3 and 7

While reading I found out that my area of research that came to me was on pg. 60 of Chapter 3 was: " Every few miles, clusters of fast food joints seem to repeat themselves, Burger Kings, Wendys and McDonalds etc... I can relate to this because when I was driving in Hunt Valley yesterday I did notice that there are so many of this fast food chains almost every where that you go. It just seems to me that it is redunant to see the same ones over and over again. When I was driving yesterday, I saw about 5 McDonalds, 3 Burger Kings, No Taco Bells at all. But the two big chains were very common.
2. On pg 65, this would have to be the biggest thing to me: " They build large sign to attract motorists and look at cars the way predators view herds of prey. Now from personal expericence I can look at a huge borad of food and immeaditely get very very weak for food. No matter if I had already eaten,, I can just go to the fast food chain and just get food for later in the week. I will admit, I am weak when it comes to food.

Ch. 7 Oh goodness:
As I was reading Ch. 7 the thing that stuck out to me that I could relate to was on pg. 150, they would feed the cows grains to fatten them up instead of feeding them all natural green grass that grows in the pasture. Then they put anabolic steriods?!!!! Come on, I went to a farm not to long ago and actually saw some cows eat natural grass, not grains to make them fat. So fat, they would gain 400 pounds in weight from eating threes thousand pounds of grain. That is completely just wrong on so many levels. On the farm, the cows were actually roaming on the farm, not coupe up in some small cramped space for three months. Ugh, that is just terrible.
2.Something that we can all relate to, the mis use of the talented workers. I am not where trying to be prejudice or anything but I nave noticed that the highly skilled workers are being replaced by the Latinos. They are everywhere now almost. I went to a Chick Fila in Towson not to long ago and I saw about maybe 5 Latinos and Latinas together working in the back of the wall preparing the food. I am like, well what happened to the other group of young adults I just saw two weeks ago. Who knows, but yeah, I can relate to this research because it is every where now.

Fast Food Nation

Chap.3
The area of research that I found is on p.60, the cluster of fast food joints that seems to repeat them selves, Burger Kings, Wendy’s, and Mc Donald’s, Subways, Pizza Huts, and Taco Bells. The keep appearing along the road, the same buildings and signage replaying like a tape loop. It relates to my life in the sense that when I am driving along the road, I keep on seeing so many fast food restaurant, I can drive for twenty minutes, pass another fast food cluster and feels like I’ve gotten nowhere.
2) Another area of research is on p.65. The building of large signs to attract motorists and look at cars the way predators views herds of prey. The chains thrive on traffic, and put new restaurants at intersections where traffic is likely to increase and where development is heading. It relates to my life in the way that fast food restaurants are every where and the prey on us. When a Mc Donald’s opens, other fast food restaurants soon open nearby on the assumption that it must be a good location.

In chap.7 the area of research that I found is the increase of hamburgers that Americans eats now has lead to industrialization of cattle-raising, and meatpacking over the past two decades has completely altered how beef is produced and the towns that produced it. It relate to Americans in general because responding to the demands of the fast food and supermarket chains, the meatpacking giants have cut costs by cutting wages. They have turned one of the nation’s best- paying manufacturing jobs into one of lowest-paying job in America.

Another area of research is the meatpacking industries eliminating the skill workers and employing the de-skilled workforce. It relates to all of us because we still see it going on today. The Mc Donald’s uses the same system that the meatpacking industries use, that is disassembly line to making hamburgers and also to cut wages and make more profit.

Fast Food Nation

Chapter 3

The first area of research in chapter 3 is the standardization of training and equipment in fast food restaurants. This relates to my life in a couple of ways. The job I have now at the Greene Turtle, which is becoming increasingly "corporate" now has a standardized training program. There are certified trainers in each restaurant to train new employees for each position. In my case I had been bar tending for 8yrs when I started but had to train for 4 days without tips by a person who has about 2 yrs of experience. Both of us thought that the training was pointless but it had to be done. In the book Schlosser showed examples of companies using equipment that could only be used one way so that the employees could be very unskilled and not make any mistakes. To me this is typical of what I call "dumbing down America." I have two sisters who are in high school and the difference in the way they were taught basic skills and the way I was taught shocks me. When I was in school we were not allowed to use calculators for math, now that is how they are taught. My mother tells me of my sisters friends who can not tell time on a normal clock because they are taught to tell time on digital clocks. The fast food model is relative to this because they to train low paid, young people to do one simple task that they can not mess up on but not actual work skills or thinking skills.

The next area of research in chapter 3 is the effect of after school jobs on teenagers. I always had a job as a teenager since the age of 14. I often worked later than I was supposed to and more hours than I was supposed to. Just like Schossler says in the book it was so I could have a car when I was 16. However looking back I see all of the things I missed out on as a teenager. I only played one year of high school baseball because I would rather make money. I only went to one high school dance and missed prom because I had to work. This lead to me getting in trouble, having financial difficulties, not doing well in school, and it was the start of my alcohol use.

Chapter 7

The first area of research in chapter 7 is the loss of the small, locally or family owned meat packing and butcher shops in America today caused by the larger corporate meat packing plants and grocery store chains. This relates to my family directly. My grandfather opened a butcher shop/slaughter house in the late fifties. At the beginning they did everything there from slaughter the cattle to cutting it up and packaging then shipping to individuals and restaurant all over the area. For almost fifty years it was a successful business that employed a good amount of workers in Harford county including my father since he was was 12yrs old. As time went on however and more of the chain grocery stores moved into Harford county with lower prices albeit for lesser quality the business dwindled. I can remember when they had 7 trucks then 5 then 2 then they just stopped the delivery all together. they stopped slaughtering the cattle because of the increased insurance and government regulation costs. Towards the end it was more of a niche store. The only people who would come were the ones who were more well to do and didn't mind paying top dollar for high quality. In 1994 we closed the business because we just could not compete price wise with the larger chains.

Another are of research in chapter 7 is the impact illegal immigrants or migrant workers have on the communities around meat packing plants. This is an issue for every American. Illegal immigration costs this country so much money every year in health care, crime prevention, education and regulation that it is no wonder the country is broke. It is an abomination that American companies are facilitating this and that there friends in government are turning a blind eye to it because they are getting contributions from these companies. America was built on immigrants and I welcome all who want to come here and work hard and be positive law abiding members of society. I believe they have to come here legally and we have to get rid of the ones who don't. The jails are full of illegals that the tax payers are paying for we should just send them back to wherever they came from.

Fast Food

Fast Food( effects before reading)

Fast food effects my life in terms of my lifestyle, spending habits, and time management. Recently i ve been doing much better trying to stay away from junk food and eat healthy but previously it always had an underlying effect on my whole schedule. It effected my lifestlye by providing a sensible solution to a fully cooked meal at home. This cut my time dedicated to eating by more than half. This can be very benefitial and i found it to be just that. My time management improved, always being able to save time by eating at a fast food place. I would eat it when i was in a rush either before work or when i had something else to do. This may have been a positive thing but many negative causes of fast food consumption are obvious. It also effected my spending habits. I realized how costly it could be and how much money I was losing to fast food.

Fast Food( effects after)

Not much changed after reading the intoduction. I still realize how fast food basically effected my overall lifestyle for that period of time where i was overconsuming it. I can definetely notice the money I ve been saving by letting mom put food on the table for me. The only thing I consider more now is the entire effect fast food has on our nation and our economy. Fast food resteraunts are hyped up by their biased advertising and supposed effort to improve the quality of their food. This effect on the population, through media or other means, is increased by synergy, the working together of these multi million dollar corporations to advertise and ensure their product will reach the public. I think that no matter what fast food will always be unhealthy, costly over time, and an unwise alternative to a hearty home cooked meal.

Fast Food Nation

Before Reading
Fast food affects my life economically. I know that there are plenty of ways I could use my money in a better way, yet I continuously waste it on fast food. Fast food also affects my like physically. Knowing how bad fast food is for me, I still eat it anyway, allowing it clog my arteries with fat.

After Reading
Fast foos still affects in the same ways I mentioned above, but one I did not realize is the way fast food companies like McDonald's find ways to reach out to people to make them want to go to McDonald's. It is almost as if they are manipukating us. Synergy plays a huge role in fast food companies. The use of advertisement using toys, play places, celebrities is a large part to why fast food companies make a lot of money.

Fast food

1. Fast food restaurants has had an effect on my life because it is so convenient and cheap. whenever I am out and am hungry i go to an fast food restaurant. Fast food restaurants are cheap, so if i have a little amount of cash on me I always have enough for a fast food restaurant.

2. After reading Fast Food Nation fast food still has the same effect on me, but i now have a better understanding on there advertising. In order for fast food restaurants to run a successful business they have to have a strong synergy.  

1. Fast food has a big effect on my life now. Anytime that I am out and need food, I turn to fast food companies. It is the only food I can get for so cheap. When i don't have a lot of money fast food companies are the only place for me to go to.
2. After reading, fast food has no different effect on my life. The companies synergy works incredibly. Even though we know how horrible the food is, somehow we still end up going back. Fast food companies are basically a way of life for most people. I can complain all i want about how bad the food is, but that doesn't change the fact that when i am hungry and have only a few dollars left fast food is the only option. It has been burned into our culture and does not seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.

Fast Food Answer

1) Fast food affected my life in a bad way. I ate KFC’s chicken when I came newly and I felt so sick. I ended up in the hospital and the doctor confirmed it was food poising. Since that day, I am always afraid to eat chicken from any other fast food restaurant because am always thinking that what happen to me before might happen again.
2) After reading the book I still have the same fear. As we know the meaning of synergy is the working together of two or more people, organizations, or thing especially when the result is greater that the sum of their individual effects or capabilities. The companies use this technique to make money not minding whom they affect. Example p.40 when Walt Disney signs an agreement with dozens of firms, granting them the right to use Mickey Mouse on their products for marketing. McDonald Corporation now operates more than eight thousand playgrounds at its restaurants in the United State and Burger King has more two thousand. All these things are means to bring in children, who bring in parents, who bring in money. I have seen how these marketing strategies affect children and their family. Kids will be addicted to fast food from early age and that can lead to health problems.

Fast Food Nation

1. Fast food affects my life a lot I get it atleast twice a week since it's so cheap and easy. Even all the bad stories i've heard and knowing it's bad for you for some reason I just can't stop buying it when it's so cheap and ready so quickly.

2. Fast food still is the same for me after reading the introduction and chapter two. It's addicting and with all the advertising out there it's hard to pass up. Everything in those chapters was true i'd rather go somewhere that I know of then trying something new and not liking it then I would be upset because I wasted money. I would go to those play places every Friday when I was little with my friend's and I'd get yelled at for not finishing my meal when all I really wanted was to play. Also when they talked about the beanie baby toys I was one of those kid's buying those meals almost every day to get all of them so synergy plays a big role in Fast Food restaurants and it definitely works.

nicole

1. fast food affects my life by making food that is not good for you what so ever look like its the best food out there . i hardly eat it but when i do eat it i feel tired and not motivated to do anything i just want to go lay down which doesn't let me work it off.
2.fast food still affects my life the same after reading it but something i never considered was how much money i spend there and how much everyone eles does i know it never seems like alot but in the end if you add it up they make millions us with the dollar menu and food that makes you crave it and brings you back.

Fast Food Nation

Fast food effects my life a lot. I have a very buisy schedlue so i am constently just running to a fast food resturant to grab something fast and easy. Although, i know that this food is very bad for me and effects my health also but it is easy cheap and fast.


After reading the introduction and chapter two the way fast food effects my life has not changed. Synergy plays a big role in fast food companies. They use many famous people and songs to get people attracted to the commercials and want to buy their food.

Fast Food opinion

My personal opinion of fast food is that it is disgusting. The past summer I played the Monopoly game at Mcdonalds and ate way too much of the food. It's addicting. Of course I didn't win the stupid game I just learned that the company got the best of me with the game. I felt completely disgusting, unhealthy, and fat. The food gives consumers feeling their own arterys actually being cloaged as they eat it.

After reading a section of Fast Food Nation I have the same opinion. The companies synergy technique is what helps them make millions each year. They real children and adults into their scheme with playplaces and toys for kids and catchy sayings and songs. Even the meals they come up with for example the 'big kids meal' makes little kids feel like 'big kids' or simply the speed of how quickly they serve their customers. Especially the fast food places that are open 24 hours. Feeding people the food that late is even worse for their health. These places obviously do not care about the customers with the food they are serving. I can only imagine how much they care about their work environment staying clean. Its quite simple to wipe down the front counter. However what about the microwaves? Or any of the machines used to make the food. Possibly even the packaging. Careless employees could drop the products on the floor and continue to use them. I am already predicting that when I am finished reading this book, I will not have any desire to eat anymore fast food.

Fast food affects my life because I usually eat for convience even though I know I should not eat on the go but with my schedule it is hard. I usually stop at a fast food restaurant when I have no time to make a meal in the morning or if I am running late to my daily activities. If I was brought up differently where we did not rely on fast food then I probably would have never got into this bad habit.

After reading it has not changed how fast food will affect me in my life because unless I can change my bad habits I will still go to the closest fast food restaurant to save time. Fast food restaurants have now became a part of the Americans daily life. People do not like to believe that they are using synergy to pull our business in. Most restaurants have the kids meal for the children that come with a toy, and they use the right advertisement colors to help sway our moods so that we are hungry. They have valur meals so that we think we are getting more for less but we are really not saving as much as we think.

Fast Food

Fast Food effects in life big time and its even getting worser now than before over the past few years. Fast food is effected every where from how peoples family eat, going out to resaturants, students eating in school and man more.

Reading the book didnt have much change of whats going on in life with how foods are being produced. Synergy plays a big role in fast food because they give alot of advertisements especially on tv for people to eat and try diffrent type of food.

Fast food

Fast food affects my life on a here and there basis sometimes being the only place to grab something quick to eat i used to frequently run to the closest MccDonalds to get something to eat.

After reading this I still pretty much feel the same I mean the synergy of what fast food restaurants do is simplistic but genius they tempt children with the toys and cool commericals but also grab adults attention with the catchy songs . Even though most of the places are dirty beyond measure the "store front " they show bring in customers.

Fast Food Nation Blog

Fast Food Nation
By: Eric Schlosser


1.) Fast food can affect the lives of millions in numerous ways. The ways that fast food affects life include things such as obesity, depresion, clogged arteries, raised blood pressure as well as a variety of other health related issues. Eating fast food is unhealthy and full of salt which can make you feel sick and that can cause depression. Not to mention the fact that more and more people are depending on fast food for meals each day instead of cooking a nutritious meal. This in turn, does not teach kids to cook healthy meals for themselves. On top of that the families who eat fast food for their meals are less likely to eat together which creates lack of social time and closeness with family. For younger kids, learning that it is alright to eat fast food all the time teaches a bad, unhealthy habit and may affect their social skills due to not eating together with their family.

2.) After reading, I learned that another negative impact caused by fast food is the decreased opportunity of becoming a small independent owned business. Also, I had not considered the struggle of the pre-existing self owned businesses has increased due to competition with the popular franchises and other coporations. Synergy plays a large role in convincing people to come and eat their fast food. Like McDonald's and the toy company that sponsors the toys in the kids 'happy' meals, this would be synergy. Each of these come together in order to try to attract more people. For example, when advertising that every happy meal comes with a toy then more families are attracted to come there for their kids. This creates more customers i.e more food bought and more toys sold to McDonald's from the toy company.

1. My life is greatly affected today by fast food. I actually eat a lot of mcdonalds, and burger king even though it may not look like it. every morning before I come to school, I stop somewhere to get something quick to eat. Usually on my way home from school, I get something as well. Fast food is putting a dent in my wallet as well, but when I need to eat, I need to eat.

2. After reading Fast Food Nation, I have come to realize the mass amount of people that eat fast food across the country. In reality, I probably won't stop eating fast food. However, I know the consequences. Synergy is a way that the food companies are getting people to come in. Basically, the children want to eat there to get the toys, or other attractions, and then as they grow up, they are used to eating at McDonald's or other food places, so they eat there again, and pass it on to their kids. This is truly a smart ploy to get people to eat at these food places. I know it has worked on me.

Fast food nation

1. Fast food effects Americans much more than they realize. Besides all the obvious health issues fast food brings up, it also does much more. Socially It makes some further away because its easier, cheaper, and faster which makes meal times with the family less desirable. When it comes to responsibilities there are a few things people should be able to do for themselves. Cooking should be one of them, when people get use to eating out they have less opportunity to cook for themselves or make a solid schedule unless it involves eating out daily.

2. After reading I realized many other horrible things fast food is responsible for. It has changed our whole economy and demolished independent businesses. Now days mostly everything has been turned into a franchise or chain. Obesity has also become a growing problem in America more so than ever before. Companies are using synergy to make kids want to come in to McDonald's. They combine forces together with toy companies to get toys for McDonald's,more sales for the companies, and bring in children and family's. They use toys and play places as a lure for children bringing costumers in at an early age who will then bring there children in for the fun they remember.

Fast Food

1. My life is not really affected by fast food. I try to stay away from it as much as possible, unless I am on a road trip or something. Yes I think it is convenient and cheap for college students, since most college students have no money, but if you eat at a fast food restaurant everyday, the money adds up and people don't realize how much they're spending on fast food. Whenever I eat fast food, I always feel sick after I finish my meal. I'm glad my life is not run by fast food.
2. After reading the introduction and chapter two of Fast Food Nation, the lives of Americans are run by fast food. Companies like McDonald's, use synergy to market kids into coming to their fast food restaurants. McDonald's is paired up with the top toy companies to give out free toys for kids in happy meals, and they also have play-lands in a lot of the McDonald's around the world. The marketing strategy for all of the fast food restaurants is to grab the attention of children, who bring in family, etc. and result in the restaurant making more profit. It is sad that the world, mainly America, is ran by fast food and how the rising rate of obesity is not considered a problem. I didn't think that fast food restaurants really marketed towards children, but now that I realize it, I think it is disgusting. Children have minds like sponges and are very influenced by things, and having commercials on TV that bring children into fast food restaurants and teach children bad eating habits is terrible.