Newslog #24

Co-op Canyon Demonstrates How Food Can Be Integrated Into Architecture

 
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/04/co-op-canyon-integrates-food-into-architecture.php

The Re:Vision Dallas competition was set up by a New York/Los Angeles architecture firm called Standard. The purpose was to create a way for people to "live cooperatively, produce their own food and work together to build a community." This has not happened....yet. The winner was Co-op Canyon, which would overlooks a canyon and would be worked on by 1,000 people. These individuals would all gain equity by building the area, growing food, keeping up with maintenance, providing education, and creating conservation programs. The group would create the Community Farm, which would be located throughout backyards. Small cookouts would take place in the terraces of some of the workers. There would be a farmer's market in the area, as well as a Community Kitchen, where produce from the Community Farm would be eaten. There would be great communication amongst the people, in which healthy diet tips and cooking ideas would be exchanged in the Kitchen. Additionally, there would be a day care center, a fitness center, and food nutrition/taste testing classes in the Co-op Canyon.


I really like the idea of the Co-op Canyon because I think it would be great for the environment. These 1,000 people would want to be a part of the group because of their passion for helping the Earth. However, this article did not mention if outsiders were allowed in for a visit or to join. It also did not say how long these people would be living in this type of environment and if the buildings and resources were environmentally friendly. With the descriptions given, Co-op Canyon almost seems like a cult, in my opinion.

Newslog #23

8 Best Supermarket Sweets

http://health.yahoo.net/experts/eatthis/8-best-supermarket-sweets

Each year, the average American consumes over 130 pounds of sugar. Thirteen percent of calories taken in every day by women were added sugars, while men have fifteen percent, found by the University of Minnesota. Also there, they found that increasing added sugar intake has paralleled to increased BMIs, which has been linked to obesity. But the American Heart Association does not think that people should cut out added sugar entirely. They say that women can have 100 calories per day and men can have 150 per day. Without going on a diet, there are ways to still eat junk food and still lose weight. Such foods, like Krispy Kreme doughnuts, Werther's Original, and Hershey's Take 5 Bars, are actually the best kinds of junk food to eat out of their types.

I was surprised by the percentages of added sugar intake everyday because I know that I don't eat well all the time. This percentage was actually somewhat low in my opinion. But it was comforting to know that I don't have to completely cut out foods with added sugar. I was also shocked to find out that the types of food mentioned were not the worst of their kind.

Newslog #22

Grammys Cutting More Than 30 Categories

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/06/grammys-to-cut-more-than-30-categories/?ref=music

 

For the next Grammy Awards in February 2012, over thirty awards will be cut. There has been a lot of criticism that the current 109 categories were taking away from the award show's impact. However, on the show, only a dozen are given out. The rest are given out before the show airs at a separate ceremony. For the next show, there will only be 78 awards. Such genres, like R&B, pop, and country, have had around eight categories for each, but for next year, will only have four. Bill Werde, the editorial director of Billboard thinks, "Too many categories can confuse consumers and reduce the overall value of the prize."

I like the idea that the Grammys are reducing the number of awards. So many of the categories are alike, so by cutting down the number of awards, there will be less confusion. Also, there is a constant list of award winners on the bottom of the screen during the show. These winners are awarded before the show airs. I obviously don't expect to have all of the awards presented during the show. But in my opinion, because these awards are not televised, they don't have as much significance as those that are televised.