"Inside the Meltdown" Response

     There are several factors that caused the Economic Crisis in 2008. The first problem was that Bear Stearns gambled on the housing market, allowed credit default swamps, had sup-premium mortgages, had borrowed heavily then a rumor started that Bear Stearns is running out of cash. In response to this the CEO gave a news company an interview, but it went bad. This all lead to Bear Stearns beginning to go under. In return this lead to the government lending JP Morgan money to give to Bear Stearns, but the government told JP Morgan to sell Bear Stearn stocks for $2 per share, all this made people lost faith in Banks. Then Fannie Mar and Freddie Mac lost 60% of their stocks due to miscalculations and bad bussiness, leading the government to fire and take over the two companies. Once this happened the Lehman Brothers company began to fail, but since the government told the banks they would bail no one else out, banks stopped lending money so the market froze, and Lehman Brothers had to declare bankruptcy. All this lead to a major crisis which was furthered by the fact the AIG went into major deficit, because they had major stock hold in Lehman Brothers. Seeing that AIG needed help or the entire economy system would fail the government lent AIG $85 billion, making AIG nationalized. When the government realized they had to take action they proposed a full scale bank bailout, but the first bill failed in Congress, which lead to the Dow downfall making the market crashed. Due to the market crashing Congress passed a revised bill. All these factors lead to an entire global economy, making the US government call a meeting with the nin e largest banks and making them sign a deal. This deal consisted of the government loaning all the banks money, meaning they took a stake in all the banks. These factors made Obama spend $350 billion so far in his first term.
     These factors stated above can all be found in the flow chart at the beginning of this post.

Response To "Guy Fieri, Chef-Dude, Is in the House" NEw York Times

What Questions did Julia Moskin ask Guy Fieri in the interview?

1.      How old are you?

2.      Where did you attend college?

3.      When did you graduate college?

4.      What was your major in college?

5.      Who were your parents, what type of people were they?

6.      Where did you grow up?

7.      What kind of things did you have to eat growing up?

8.      What inspired you to start cooking?

9.      What people do you need in life?

10.  When and why did you earn your first series on the Food Network?

11.  Did you do anything exciting in high school, like visit another country?

12.  How many tattoos do you have and what do they mean?

13.  What is the weirdest reaction you have received from a live crowd?

14.  How many cars do you own and what type are they?

15.  Where have you visited?

16.  Who have you cooked for that means a lot to you?

17.  Who is your idol?

18.  How did a chef like you get to host NBC’s “Minute to Win it?”

19.  What is your next new series coming up and what is it about?

20.  What are your passions and do they reflect your persona?

21.  Why are you doing so much on the Food Network right now?

22.  Do you believe there will be a time when the fame fades?

23.  What are the names of your children, wife, and parents?

24.  What type of names do your friends go by?

25.  Where do you currently live?

26.  What restaurants do you own currently, are they with partners?

27.  What type of food do these restaurants serve?

28.  How do you compensate for people who do not like certain foods?

29.  What do you feel is the difference between you and other chefs in the industry?

30.  What are some of the dishes that you could not stand on the show “Diners, Drive Ins and Dives?”

31.  What did your parents do when you were a kid?

32.  After college what did you do?

33.  What do you feel are the biggest issues facing the culinary world today and are there any solutions to those problems you see?

34.  What are the craziest questions you have received from fans?

Assignment #4 Social Criticism Poem

Preferential Treatment

You ask her, your friend, courtesy favors.

Yet, me, the one you are stuck with, just assume

The answer is in your favor.

You have learned it from them,

The world at large.

Here is a hint,

They have lost their manners.

Oh what a culture we live in.

Curious yet what my answer is?

No! Guess you should have asked first.

Assignment #3 Analyze A Poem

Deferred by Langston Hughes

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

Analyze

A Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes is a poem about Langston experiences, his hardships, and his successes. Hughes poses the question, "What happens to a dream deferred?" (1). to the reader. Deferred means delayed therefore, his question is asking what happens to a dream delayed.  Langston Hughes was the first African American who lived off his writing (Reuben). Knowing this the poem can be seen in a better light, the dream Langston could be referring to is that of African Americas, to be able to live freely, having a career that suits them. This dream was long delayed due to the slavery movement across the world particularly America. Hughes explores what really happens to a dream that is postponed, never coming to a conclusion in his poem. That part is left to the reader's opinion on the topic, though Hughes does give suggestions.

Langston Hughes asks, "Does it dry up/ like a raisin in the sun?" (2-3). This is nice imagery; the reader can visualize a plump raisin drying out when left out in the hot, blazing sun. When dreams are put on hold, it is hard to image them staying the fresh, ripe raisin; instead they lose some of their juice and become sour. However, Hughes also suggests, "Or fester like a sore--/ And then run?" (4-5). Dreams have a healthy, exciting surface, but when those dreams are left on the back burner maybe the bother you, nagging you, until they run their course, leaking out of you slowly. He then plays on the reader's sense of smell by asking, "Does it stink like rotten meat?" (6). With this description the reader can nose turns up, sending their brain whirling into their memories reliving their experience with stinky rotten meat. Hughes continues his poem by

writing, "Or crust and sugar over --. like a syrupy sweet?" (7-8). Dreams, however, could also crust or rust over, becoming sweeter, by the sugar, the longing for the dream, to come true. Lastly, Hughes ends the poem wondering if dreams deferred "Or does it explode?" (9). The main point of this line is to get the reader thinking of, when dreams are delayed for so long do they blow up in your face and soul?

Taking each line separately helps you break down the poem into pieces, and then you have to rebuild the puzzle. On the whole, the poem is referring to the African America fight for rights, citizenship, and equality in the United States since this poem was written during 1951. Others, however, could look at this poem and see only Hughes discussing dreams in generally, but knowing his background a little allows for a better understanding that this poem intent is most likely discussing African Americans in the United States.

Work Cited



Rueben, Paul P. "PAL: Langston Hughes (1902-1967)." California State University Stanislaus | Home. Web. 19 Sept. 2010. <http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap9/hughes.html>.

Personal Narrative: Raymond's Inspiration

Raymond’s Inspiration

            People come in and out of our lives, each making their own individual mark on us; some marks are

deeper than others are. Nevertheless, what happens when you have never met the person who left one of the

deepest marks? What happens when that person died when you were still developing in the womb? How is it

that their legacy still affects you even after eighteen years? For me it was being told story after story and

comment after comment, each one making the original mark deeper and more meaningful.

Livermore, California is the place I called home for the first thirteen years of my life, living in the back corner of a court in a white four-bedroom house. Walking through the entrance hallway there was a family room to the right, a kitchen and dining ahead with the entrance to the living room. Right before the kitchen there was a long hallway leading to the master bedroom and bath, three other bedrooms and a single bathroom. In the living room on the wall shared by the kitchen, hung some of our family pictures and they covered the upper half of the colorless white wall. The room as I recall always smelled of homemade cooking mixed with chlorine, the pool and spa being just out the back door.

For an eight year old, the living room was my second favorite place to be, the first being the library which would later become my room. I would sit on the three-cushioned couch staring at the family wall marveling over the different shapes and sizes of the frames encasing the photos and my massive family. One day, I looked up from the book I was reading and my eye caught on a photo that I assumed was of my father holding my brother. He had dark brown hair, relatively thin, with a mustache and scratchy beard. The baby was covered in a light blue blanket and was staring at the tender smile on the man’s face. After taking in the photo for a couple of minutes I got up off the couch and moved forward stopping a couple feet from the wall, so I could still see the photo. A man a little heavier than in the photo and with a touch of gray hair scooped me and started tickling me.

“Daddy, I was looking at your photo with the baby!” I said between giggles.

“And what photo would that be K.C.” my dad inquired with a smile. In response I pointed to the photo, I looked up just in time to see a change of expression on his face, being eight I could not even began to describe what I saw. Now, I would call a mixture of surprise and sadness. “That is not me princess, that’s Raymond with your brother Gregory Jr.”

Looking at this scene from a window, one would just see a tender family moment, but to me that moment was the turning point, the opening of a path that would lead me on an expedition into the culinary world and a college far away from that comfortable place. My face scrunched up with confusion, trying to remember that name and coming up with a blank. I saw my dad bite back a chuckle when he saw my expression, “Raymond was my second oldest brother, and he died before you were born.”

Numbers started to flicker through my head, counting my father’s siblings, finally realizing he was the seventh I never really heard about before. “How did he die daddy? And why does he look like you?”

“Raymond died of a cancer that spread throughout his body; he was too weak from the AIDS to fight it off. And all Shreeve brothers look alike, our family traits are strong.” I nodded as if I understood what any of this meant, but I did not fool my dad. “You will understand when you are older.” My face puckered and I wished I could understand now and meet this uncle this man, I had never had the chance to know.

Dad walked me to the couch and began to tell me about Raymond, a man who died too young.

His voice was gruff with a tint of softness, “Raymond was a self taught chef who worked in major restaurants at one point and cooked for senators at another.” Dad looked at the family wall when he told the story, occasionally sneaking peeks at me to see if I was following the story. That day, my ideas of life changed, I finally understood life had to end at some point, no matter how good the person is. This first story of my Uncle Raymond also planted the seed of culinary arts in my soul.

Ten years later, after many, more stories and comments about Uncle Raymond, I was in the car with my mom and dad driving home. Home for me then was a two-story house in Discovery Bay, California approximately one hour away from my original home. It was May, the weather starting to warm up even at night, the road only lit up by the cars headlights, trees lining the road. Darkness began to envelop us as our conversation became deeper and more emotional. I had already been accepted to Johnson and Wales University in the Honors Program for Culinary Arts and Food Service Management, already counting the days until I left for college. My parents and I were discussing my career choice and my inspirations, including that my parents meeting while working in a restaurant.

Dad turned around in the passenger seat, “Raymond would have loved you, and you two would have become friends quickly. I smile in return, sadness once again climbing its way to the surface, wishing Raymond did not die so young, wishing he could be my mentor. Anger rose up inside me at the AIDS and the cancer that took his life excessively soon.

            “He is one of my biggest inspirations to becoming a chef, besides it being in my blood with all the other family member who are or were in the business at some point. I hope he is proud of me and knows how much he means to me.” My voice became a tender sadness, tears in my eyes.

            Mom smiled, “I am sure he is sweetie.” However, I was not so sure, both my parents believe in a higher power, but I am currently still not sure. Her voice was soft and endearing, “You know, Raymond made your father and me dinner on our honeymoon at the high end restaurant he was working at. Raymond took care of the whole thing, his generous wedding present. This story had been told hundreds of times to me before, but each time with a different light.

            Raymond’s mark on me is deep and only surpassed by those of my parents, siblings, and Alan’s’ marks. Every story told about him makes Raymond seem all the more alive to me as if he were still alive here, and only estranged. For me, my own culinary story begins with Raymond, no matter that I will never be able to meet him. Every person that enters our life leaves a mark, leaving us forever changed just the way Raymond did for me.

Assignment #2: Article Summary & Response: Does Your Language Shape How You Think? By Guy Deutscher The New York Times

     In 1940, Benjamin Lee Whorf wrote an article revolving around the concept that language has power over one’s mind. In the coming years, people began to believe that their native language actual restrict our ability to think. Whorf’s idea was that each language created a different reality, which would then hinder one’s ability to understand the difference between objects and actions, or the flow of time depending on the language. Years later Whorf was discredited on the account there was no proof his theory was right. In the twenty-first century, however, research is now editing Whorf’s idea as more evidence is collected. Today they are not looking at it as language restricts one’s understanding, but that language obliges one to think about only certain things. For example, many European languages give objects genders, whereas in the English language we do not. In a study done, when Spanish think of bridges they think of masculine traits, because it is el Puente, whereas Germans think of bridges they identify feminine characteristics since a bridge is known as dies Brucke. Another example is the way languages approach space, some use egocentric coordinates, or geographic directions, or both. If a language only uses geographic directions, the people of that mother language will began to think in geographic terms even when retelling stories. Geographic directions are how you remember events and situations. In addition, languages determine how we look at art or our surroundings. If the language does not have a word for blue, that person would see the artwork different from a person whose mother language does have blue. People do not think the same way and their mother language does have some effect on how and what they think.

     This article captures interest due to its critical thinking aspect. One normally does not think about how their mother language effects how they think. Since communication involves language it is a good idea to broaden your mind and see the way you speak and think and why that is. Whorf’s idea opened up a portal of knowledge that is just now being really discovered and widened. However, Whorf’s idea was not completely accurate it did relate language to mind for the first time. Personally, I think there needs to be more scientific research on the brain from people of different languages. Yet, I do believe there is a strong correlation between language and people’s minds. The difference between the ways people think is obvious when listening and understanding different cultures. Most people however, relate it to the culture difference, but when looking closer it could be the language itself. The power of language is not just spoken, but also written, which makes it relevant to any English class. This New York Times article does give a base for changing the way one understands the power of language, at least it did for me.  

This article was found at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/29/magazine/29language-t.html?_r=1&sq=Does%20Your%20Language%20SHape%20Your%20How%20You%20think&st=cse&scp=1&pagewanted=print

Assignment #1: Personal Prompts to White's Once More to the Lake

Page 469: Journal Prompt #1. Describe a place that has special meaning to you. Why is it special?

     The digital clock on the dashboard approached noon just as our van turned off the main road. My mother sung along to the CD player, my two siblings talked amongst themselves about the coming two weeks, while I started fidgeting. We were almost to the legendary Boy Scouts of America Camp Royaneh, to everyone else this was a standard summer, but to me this was an adventure. Gregory Jr, my oldest sibling would be attending as a Webelo, my parents cooking, and my sister Carrie and me would be getting in the way.

     Trees lined the last road to Camp Royaneh, rolling down my window I breathed in the fresh scent of oak and horses. Eventually, the trees break and the Dining Hall and Office comes into view, mom slows down to let a car by making me more impatient. Already, I want to call my father to tell him of the ride up here and my first impressions of camp, but he is working. After parking and unpacking our belongings, we say goodbye to Jr. so he can find his campsite and the three of us head to the kitchen.

    Staring up at the steel kitchen appliances, I felt tiny, unimportant. Barely five years old I was expected to read and color all day long. However, as my mom started preparing the welcoming feast for the staff with her kitchen staff I slyly strolled to her side. Her hazel eyes stared into mine before smiling and moving and a chair to the stove so I could stir the pots. I spent the next two weeks in the kitchen from dawn to past dusk helping my mother in the kitchen. All the kitchen staff members learned to walk around me or let me assist them in their chores, most preferring the latter.

     So while Jr. attending camp and Carrie ran around playing, I stayed inside the kitchen, eagerly learning from my mother. Those two weeks flew by much too quickly for little me. Sadly, in such a short time the van was leaving the forest rode behind itself with me staring back at camp.

     Twelve months later, however, my family was making the drive up to Camp Royaneh again this time my father accompanied us. The whole ride there, there was a little girl in the back of the van fidgeting eager to begin her two weeks of fun.

     Camp Royaneh is special to me, even now thirteen years later, because it was my first experience in a kitchen outside of the home. Three summer ago I had the privilege to work at Camp Royaneh as their Dining Hall Steward for Webelos Camp. Around two months after camp I decided to attend Johnson and Wales University for a bachelors in Culinary Arts. Looking back now I believe Royaneh helped make  my career path decision.