Review of Part 3 of Omnivore’s Dilemma

Review of Part 3 of The Omnivore’s Dilemma ENGL-135 Advanced Composition Professor Edmondson William McGuire In Part 3, Chapters 15, 16, and 17 of The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Michael Pollan explores looking foraging for different foods, the ethics of hunting animals and harvesting the meat from them, and giving a brief look into what brought about the paradox of The Omnivore’s Dilemma.Chapters 15, 16, and 17 bring up a lot of good points about foraging and hunting and Pollan provides through detail and research on the topics, but upon reading these chapters you find it lacking content that will keep you engaged and the material can be pretty dry at times while you get a little bit of disorganization from random topics. Chapter 15 of Omnivore's Dilemma was a short chapter on how Pollan is preparing to make a meal from all of the foraging groups. Fruits, vegetables, fungi, and meat were the components that made up this meal, he wanted to find and gather enough from eac h group to make his first.Pollan had just moved to California, so his unfamiliarity with the area was a disadvantage, so he decided to hire a companion to help him on his quest. Chapter 16 takes the reader to a different venue, Pollan discusses the beginnings of The Omnivore’s Dilemma through a research paper that was written in 1976 by Paul Rozin and titled The Selection of Foods by Rats, Humans, and Other Animals. Pollan expresses how similar we are to rats that we are omnivores, but unlike rats, we have lost our instinct of choosing food and follow advertisements as our guide.He then goes on to suggest that the problems stem from capitalistic gains and the pursuit of revenue. In chapter 17 we are taken back to Pollan on his foraging quest he started in chapter 15. This chapter looks more at the ethics of hunting and eating animals that are not processed in processing plants like we are so use to seeing. Pollan brings up reasoning on why he is a meat eater and battles with the struggle on if eating meat at a steakhouse is morally right and ethical. He goes into detail about the way the animal lived and if the animal had a long, happy, humane life.The author concludes that if we look away from how the animal goes from being on the farm to a freezer in the supermarket then people turn vegetarian and if we can’t look away then we have to find a way to accept it and determine if the animal endured a lifetime of suffering. Part 3 in the book meets two out of the three common expectations and displays some strong descriptive wording to give you a sense of imagery when you read certain parts of the book as well as give you a good understanding on the point he is trying to get across.An example of one of the statements that he uses to paint a picture for you and try to bring you there is â€Å"I began to notice things. I noticed the soft yellow globes of chamomile edging the path I hiked most afternoons, and spotted clumps of miner’s lettuce of f in the shade (Claytonia, a succulent coin-shaped green I had once grown in my Connecticut garden) and wild mustard out in the sun. (Angelo called it rapini, and said the young leaves were delicious sauteed in olive oil and garlic. ) There were blackberries in flower and the occasional edible bird: a few quail, a pair of doves. (Pollan, pg. 285) Another strength in this book is the subject matter that pertains to what the author is trying to convey to the reader, Pollan is trying to show the readers that the way we use to obtain and eat food is ever changing and will continue to change and we are easy to influence as it pertains to our diets, he does well in keeping to the theme of his book. The weaknesses of Part 3 cover two of the three common expectations and they are the lack of engagement for the reader and the order in which the subject matter is presented.This book is not tailored for someone who loves to read fantasy or action, something that will leave you hanging on the e dge of your seat wanting more. Instead what you get is someone detailing his experiences and research that supports a lot of his ideas, ethics of eating animals, and corn sex, alas no explosions or protagonist/antagonist struggle. I found myself dozing off a few times feeling like I was in an agriculture lecture or biology class.The subject matter is laid out well in some parts of the book, but Pollan jumps around a lot with the material, for instance, in chapter 15 he is foraging for food then chapter 16 is about a research article that gave him inspiration to write The Omnivore’s Dilemma, and then chapter 17 is about his moral conflict of eating steak at a steakhouse and whether or not the animal had to suffer to get to his plate. I think the book needs some improvement in this regard so the author is not jumping to different topics at random.In The Omnivore’s Dilemma, the author Michael Pollan is somewhat successful in satisfying the common expectations for the chap ters I have read, one of the expectations is both a strength and a weakness for this part of the book. I think that the book as a whole does not satisfy the common expectations with the big one being engagement, there will be people who are interested in this book but it is only a small facet of the readers out there today. The book does deliver on the use of imagery and the subject matter stays on topic most of the time and supports his ideas and theories.Later on in part 3 in the next three chapters he goes on the hunt and he elaborates on the history of pigs that are not native to California and his feelings after the kill. He then finds some wild mushrooms to pair with the meat he has acquired from harvesting the pig and talks about his adventures trying to find non-poisonous mushrooms; and the final chapter presents the author preparing the meal with all of the components he has foraged for and harvested. Works Cited Pollan, M. (2006). The Omnivore's Dilemma. New York, New York : Penguin Books.

Ethics within any organization of the world is an important Essay

Ethics within any organization of the world is an important manifestation - Essay Example What is needed is courage and vigor to do things right and that too with a sense of understanding and empathy. As far as an individual ethical definition is concerned, nearly every human being has a distinctive meaning for the same. There are certain people who believe in it while others do not care much. However, what is definitive is the fact that ethics shall be embedded within the lives of the people in their personal and professional realms, because they are answerable to others and to their religious perspectives nonetheless. The workplace domains are therefore reliant on the ethical repercussions because ethics takes care of how well these organizations would comprise of success and how boldly they can defy the negatives which come their way. What is important is to realize that the ethical discussions are held in good stead, and without much trouble at any end. The people who are behind such discussions should always be taken seriously because they are doing something worthwh ile, and must therefore be accepted for who they are and what they bring to the organization in essence. As far as an evaluation of my own ethical values is concerned, I am one of the few people around who comply fully with whatever comes under the aegis of ethics. This is the reason why I have always believed staunchly in the ethical manifestations and have given my best no matter how difficult it has been. This has made me into a strong-willed and determined moral individual, which remains significant to me than anything else. I can easily translate the same within my professional domains since my personal one is covered in a proper manner. I have understood that if people are treated fairly, then they respond in a positive way. However, when the dealing is more on the negative lines, the feedback that is received from them is all the more critical and this is where one can draw the line between the ethical realms and the unethical behaviors. It is important that the people realiz e the kind of ethical consequences they are looking forward to receiving at the hands of others. This is the reason why ethics is deemed as something that brings true value for the people no matter how tough it is to document. Ethics is therefore being seen as a major force that if employed properly, can bring about success for one and all. It can draw in productivity towards the workplace settings and give solace to the ones who actually believe in it quite a lot (Rasberry, 2000). Then again, there are some individuals who might not completely adhere with it yet somehow or the other have inkling that ethical undertakings are geared to be incorporated in the most righteous way. I am of the belief that ethics should always be employed because it has a sense of optimism attached with it that benefits the people and their work related measures in entirety. I have always envisioned ethics to be one of the most desired forms of human behavior. This is because it completes an individual a nd makes him feel empowered in the most basic way. It allows him to manifest his truest self without the fear of anyone, which is very significant if seen within the related scheme of things. When the same understandings are reached upon in an organizational setting, the focus seems all the more pertinent. There is reason enough to believe such a premise, largely so because the ethical boundaries are defined by the actions and the people who undertake

Nitrogen Recovery in WasteWater Treatment Term Paper

Nitrogen Recovery in WasteWater Treatment - Term Paper Example Nitrogen in domestic wastewater consists of approximately 60 to 70 percent ammonia?nitrogen and 30 to 40 percent organic nitrogen (Tchobanoglous et al. 2003; Crites and Tchobanoglous 1998). Environmental Effects Health Effects from Drinking Groundwater Contaminated with Nitrates- Human health concerns from nitrates in groundwater used as a drinking water source primarily focus on methemoglobinemia, however some studies suggest that nitrates may increase the risk of birth defects and development of certain cancers in adults. Surface Water Pollution with Nitrogen- The harmful effects of eutrophication due to excessive nitrogen concentrations in the aquatic environment have been well documented. Algae and phytoplankton growth can be accelerated by higher concentrations of nutrients, leading to harmful algal blooms, hypoxia, and loss of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV). In addition to stimulating eutrophication, nitrogen in the form of ammonia can exert a direct demand on dissolved oxy gen (DO) and can be toxic to aquatic life. Even if a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) converts ammonia to nitrate by a biological nitrification process, the resultant nitrate can stimulate algae and phytoplankton growth. Removal of nitrogen from wastewater is a complex process, even for large wastewater treatment plants. Quality control of nitrogen removal processes from individual onsite wastewater systems is even more difficult to manage. Most of the nitrogen is released as nitrate (NO3-), which is highly mobile in the soil water. Wastewater treatment has generally been defined as containing one or more of the following four processes: (1) preliminary, (2) primary, (3) secondary, and (4) advanced (or tertiary) treatment. Preliminary treatment consists of grit removal, which removes dense inert particles, and screening to remove rags and other large debris. Primary treatment involves gravity settling tanks to remove settleable solids, including settleable organic solids. The perfo rmance of primary settling tanks can be enhanced by adding chemicals to capture and flocculate smaller solid particles for the precipitation and removal of phosphorus. Secondary treatment follows primary treatment in most plants and employs biological processes to remove colloidal and soluble organic matter. EPA classifies advanced treatment as â€Å"a level of treatment that is more stringent than secondary or produces a significant reduction in conventional, non?conventional, or toxic pollutants present in the wastewater† (U.S. Public Health Service and USEPA 2008). Effluent filtration and nutrient removal are the most common advanced treatment processes. Nitrogen Removal Processes The biological removal of nitrogen is carried out through a three-step process: (1) the conversion of ammonia from organic nitrogen by hydrolysis and microbial activities, called ammonification; (2) the aerobic conversion of ammonia to nitrate by reacting the ammonia with oxygen in a process call ed nitrification; and (3) the conversion of nitrate to nitrogen gas by reacting the nitrate with organic carbon under anoxic conditions in a process called denitrification. The nitrification process is accompanied by the destruction of alkalinity (e.g., bicarbonate, HCO3-, is neutralized to carbonic acid, H2CO3). Alkalinity is recovered as part of the denitrification process with the generation of hydroxide. The chemical equations involved in the biological conversion of nitrogen are as follows: 1. Formation of ammonia fro

MANAGEMENT OF HEALTH PROGRAMS (Module 2 SLP Topic - Quality Essay

MANAGEMENT OF HEALTH PROGRAMS (Module 2 SLP Topic - Quality Management) - Essay Example The Arizona Department of Corrections Division of Health Services, even in the face of the questions posed above and many more, established a Total Quality Management (TQM) model in 2000 (2008). Several benefits have been reaped already due to this move including large savings to a constrained budget. It can be appreciated that under such dynamic conditions as being under a correctional facility, the departments under this division host several cultures and the issue of diversity cannot be ignored. Health Services offers comprehensive services covering medicinal, dental, mental health, occupational health and pharmaceutical help just to name a few. These services are carried out as per TQM policies, are well documented and backed up with continuous staff development programs (Shriro, 2003, p. 4). The use of modern technology in services such as the Remote Correctional Pharmacy System Access (CIPS) and Telemedicine reduces constrains on the labor force. These systems make it possible for secure transfer of medical details of transferred inmates from the county office to the requisite correctional facility without need for the physical presence of a corrections officer cutting down on internal failure costs. Video conferencing under the telemedicine program make it possible to gain medical interventions for provision of professional care to patients without actually leaving the facility thus reducing the exposure of the general populace in conventional clinics and hospitals to i nmates, a saving on prevention costs. e-Business solutions reduce travel and time as well as promotes continuity of care (24 - 31). The division competes for services of health care professionals with all other government departments and has not been spared from staffing problems. This increases the cost of care due to contraction of services to part-time staff that require higher

Smart Goals for Internship Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Smart Goals for Internship - Assignment Example During my time in the organization, I worked as a marketing research intern in the marketing department. The marketing department performed the task of conducting market research, advertising, website development, email marketing, blogging and public relations. As a marketing intern, my job involved a plethora of duties, such as conducting consumer, database and media research, participating in public relations, email marketing and product management. I was therefore responsible for communicating with potential clients, customer follow-up, responding to emails, studying the relevant demographic information regarding the customers amongst others. During my internship period in Aboutsla, I had three major goals. First, I purposed to understand how the organization advertises its products and services. This means that I would aid in product management and brand development. My second goal involved acquiring in-depth information based on the target market. The action taken to achieve this goal includes participating in consumer, and business to business market research in the company. My third goal involves acquiring the relevant skills for conducting both qualitative and quantitative market research. In order to achieve this goal, I would be required to actively participate in the departmental activities, for example, helping to compile and prioritize product features, conducting media research and participate in the formation of strategies geared at reaching the target consumers. â€Æ' The overall goal statement is to acquire the relevant skills and knowledge necessary to conduct market research, identify target consumers, product development and management of current consumers so as to achieve the organizations goals. As an intern, the achievement of the set goals will be determined by my proficiency in the carrying out of the responsibilities imparted on a market researcher. For example, when I am able to gather and analyse

Market Review Exercise Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Market Review Exercise - Dissertation Example Service proliferation comes from the increasing number of services offered by the financial in their search for new avenues of revenue generation. The search for new avenues of revenue generation by the financial sector has also resulted in growing competition among the various financial organizations in the financial sector. A key reason for the proliferation of financial services is the trend in favour of government de-regulation or the loosening of the control strings of the government on the financial sector. One of the reasons for the deregulation of the financial sector is for the ordinary citizen to earn more interest on savings and this has resulted in the trend for interest sensitive mix of funds. Developments in the field of information technology are used as tools for sharpening the competitive edge among the players in the financial, and also allow the many new services offered to ride piggyback on technology changes including automation. Effective use of the automation p ut in place requires generation of high volumes of sales, which means increased customer base and as a result the trend in consolidation and global expansion. ... Differences between Building Societies and Banks Building societies are mutual institutions in which a major portion of the having a savings account in the building society or a mortgage from the building society are members and in essence operate in the financial markets as financial services providers for meeting housing finance needs. Banks on the other financial enterprises in many cases hold public investment as stocks on which revenue has to be derived for paying out to the stock holders and so offer a plethora of financial services in the market towards revenue generation. Building societies are not so strongly governed by profit motives and so their services for housing purposes tend to be offered at lower costs; however they have a drawback in that there is a limit of 50% of their funds that they can seek from the wholesale market. However, in the new millennium these differences are getting blurred, because of the cross provision of financial services that has seen building societies indulging in selling insurance, unit trust and other such long term investment products and banks also offering competition in these services (Spencer, 2000). Current Building Society Trends By incorporating as public limited companies, building societies are able to overcome the limitations that they have in access to capital from the financial markets. This has seen the trend among building societies to become public limited companies. Such a move also helps them to overcome the restrictions of the UK Building Societies Act and face the challenge of reduced demand for housing finance. To offset the reduced demand for housing financial services, the trend after incorporation as public limited companies is to move into new areas of financial services

Early western civilization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Early western civilization - Essay Example Moving north from the First Cataract, the Nile flows through a comparatively narrow valley. The lands along the banks are characterized by a series of natural basins (called hods), which have been altered by human engineering for the last 7,000 years. As one nears the Delta in the north, the floodplain widens and the basins become less distinct, until in the Delta itself the land is divided not into basins, but into islands and peninsulas formed by the alluvial deposits of soil over thousands of years. In very ancient times "Lower Egypt" began south of the Delta itself, including the broader floodplain from Memphis north. The most important historical-geographic feature of the Lower Nile, of course, is its annual flood, which following the summer rains in Ethiopia, bursts into Egypt in August and typically continues for two months, leaving both destruction and riches in its wake. The flood, although annual, is not uniform. When there is drought in the highlands to the south, the flood may be a comparative trickle. However, in years of abundant rainfall in the watershed, the flood can become a torrent, washing everything before it. It is now thought that early populations, which ventured into the valley of the Nile below the First Cataract, were more concerned to build dikes to protect themselves and their herds against this possibility of a destructive flood than to irrigate crops (Atkins 32; Parker, 7-8). The fact that cattle were important in early Egyptian history brings up another point about the environment in antiquity. In the earliest days of Egyptian development, there was no Sahara Desert. The lands that now form the Sahara enjoyed savanna, rather than desert environments. And as we have already seen, the Saharan peoples had been pioneers of cattle domestication. Until about 2300 BCE, that is well into Pharaonic times, the Lower Nile flowed through an area of rainfall, which supported thriving cattle herding societies. Not only cattle raising, but also fishing and agriculture have a long history in the Nile valley. The upper Nile, in what is now the country of Sudan, was one of the areas that developed fishing settlements during the long era of the African Aquatic Tradition. Since some of these Late Stone Age communities used grinding stones to process wild grains, which they harvested in the fertile alluvial plains, it seems likely that it was their descendants who became the first full time farmers in this part of Africa. Between 5000 BCE and 4000 BCE farming and cattle keeping replaced hunting and fishing as the main ways of life along the Nile. Of course, people continued to both hunt and fish, but they were becoming economically and socially dependent upon cattle raising and farming. Picture, if you can, what the Nile valley (of modern-day Egypt) must have been like in the 2,000 years between the early Neolithic and the beginning of the unified kingdom under the pharaoh Narmer/Menes in about 3,000 BCE. Had you traveled the region early in the period, your journey would have taken you along the higher ground of the valley, inland of the river itself, where encampments of cattle herders or small farming settlements would have hosted you. As you traveled the length of the area, both cultural and linguistic differences would have been apparent, with life centering