The Power Team Response

While reading Sharon Mazer's passage about The Power Team and their "evangecial crusades" as the author puts it, I can't help but feel a bit irritated.  I guess it goes back to my childhood and how I was raised, but the thought of putting on a huge spectacle to get people to donate money while being pulled into faith just doesn't sit right with me.  A person should develop their own beliefs and it seems that the main point of The Power Team's performances is to do just the opposite.  A perfect example of this is when the author is explaining how John Jacobs believes a man should run his family. Mazer states, "...but a truly devoted husband and father should build his family - and his community - in his image; he should, that is, control and constrain them as well as himself."  The main point in the performance is for people to conform to this one type of worship and to make those who think for themselves to feel like unwelcome outcasts.  If you ask me that is not what faith should be like.  Also, I found disheartening and cold to use the team members children in a plot to get more donations out of the observers.  I feel that this act alone diminishes a certain amount of their credibility.  Causing people to feel pity and therefore making them for susceptible to give the team their money.  Finally,  although their tactics are overbearing, deep down The Power Team is trying to open peoples minds up to a higher power and that I can encourage.  But the way in which they try to do this is often times for off-putting than not. A person should be allowed to come to their belief conclusions on their own unless they want otherwise.

Sedaris Response.

While reading the passage "A plague of tics" by David Sedaris I couldn't help but feel connected to the concept of the passage.  I know all to well what this child in the story is going through.  Maybe not to the extreme of repetitive actions like licking objects or taking over and hour to walk home from school because of one tic or another, but other are very similar to what experienced as a child.  Because I grew up dealing with similar experiences, as well as, watching my little brother go through it, I think that I can give a different perspective on the subject.

Throughout the passage I couldn't help but feel saddened by the fact that his parents and teachers were treating him as if he had a behavioral problem.  In the passage the adult figures aren't doing anything to help the child with his problem and just made jokes about it.  This aspect of the passage aggravated me.  Instead of trying to figure out how to help their son his parents just pushed it aside and let him deal with it himself.  I know this is a story but for a child to have tics and not know why or what they are is a little terrifying.  Just the small act of explaining what may be happening can help.

Also, I found it very interesting how the child explains the impulses for doing these actions.  For example, when he talks about rolling his eyes to feel a split second of pain.  I didn't realize this before reading this passage but thinking back now, I did the same thing when I was younger.  The feeling of not being able to relax until you complete the tic and the satisfaction of the feeling the action is described accurately.

Overall I really enjoyed reading this passage and want to learn as much as I can about the subject.

Research Topic

After starting my research process I have decided to go with the topic of genetically modified foods and why people react the way they do towards them.  This topic is one that is very controversial. Over the past few years debates on the topic of genetically modified foods has increased. There are many opposing views on the subject, but after some preliminary research I have found where I stand on the topic.  Genetically modified foods are becoming a great assets to the agricultural world and can have a positive effect in many different areas.

From the research that I have conducted to so, I have found that genetically modified foods have many advantages.  Genetically modified foods can help create more crops that will help feed countries in poverty, effect the economy in a positive way and are created to allow crops to grow without the disturbance of bugs.  I have also found information about the safety precautions that are being taken to help prevent any health hazards.  Although I have found a lot of useful information there are still some areas that I would like to do more research on.  For example, I would like to find out more information from the opposing side.  By understanding how they feel about genetically modified foods it may help me to better explain my point of view. Those who oppose genetically modified foods are concerned about the health effects that these foods could have on own bodies.  Because we do not know a lot of the long term effects people think that altering foods is a bad idea.  Another reason for people to oppose is that some think that by planting genetically modified crops we will start to erase naturally grown crops. Also, I would like to find our more information about specific crops that are being altered and the research being done about the health risks. 

Some of my sources so far are from the Annual Review of Anthropology, Environmental Health Perspectives, and various books about genetically modified foods, as well as, food and culture.  I plan to continue my research to help me finalize my stand on genetically modified foods.

Klosterman Response.

Before reading Chuck Klosterman's article on laugh tracks in sitcoms I had never really given the fact much thought.  Now thinking back to all the times I watched shows like Friends or Two and A Half Men, like Klosterman mentioned, I realize that the material really wasn't that funny and yet I was laughing.  The author makes the point that we are only laughing in these instances because we feel like we should. And I completely agree with that.  We all know the feeling of watching a show and laughing just because we either don't know what else to do or because everyone else thinks it is funny.  Klosterman also discusses the TV shows that do not have laugh tracks.  He states, "...comedy without canned laughter is supposed to be smarter, hipper, and less predictable...," which I think a lot of people find out to be true.  I personally prefer shows like The Office or It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia to the predictable comedy sitcoms. 

Klosterman also explains that Americans have three types of laughter. They include a real laugh, a fake real laugh, and a filler laugh.  He explains that in America we tend to laugh in situations where we do not know what or have anything to say.  I find this very amusing, because it is true. Next time you are having a conversation, take note of how they respond to unimportant statements.  Klosterman hits the nail on the head with his idea because everyone does this and you can definitely tell the difference between the three.  I really enjoyed reading this article. I found it entertaining and hilarious.

Possible Research Topics.

I am considering doing my paper on the anthropology of food.  How food had effected cultures throughout time is something that really interests me. I find it fascinating to read about how food had brought people differnt cultures together.  Also, the physical changes it has had on people.  The only this that makes me unsure is whether or not I can find opposing views on the subject.  Another topic that I am thinking about doesn't have anything to do with hospitality but I find it so intriguing.  Egyptian history had always been an interst of mine. Mainly the anthropological aspect of how people interacted with each other. Also, the technology that has been created to help provide valid dna for remains is amazing. I'm still on the fence though and finding a topic has been more difficult that I thought it would be.

Annotaion on Porter Article.

Porter, Michael E. "How Competitive Forces Shape Strategy." Harvard Business Review Mar-Apr. (1979): 91-101. Web. 2 Feb. 2011.

This article is not specific to the hospitality industry but the components discussed are very useful.  Mr. Porter discusses the five forces that govern competition in an industry.  At the center is the rivalry amongst competitors.  Porter explains that a business within any industry must fight for control with competitors.  Bringing attention to your business and becoming a strong, dominate force is what every business wants and what every industry needs.  Circling around this statement are four aspects that can help or hurt an industry.  First is the threat of new entrants.  With every new business that arises Porter explains, it will cause changes economically and create more competition.  Second, is the threat of substitute products or services.  What this means is that companies will try and sell substitute brands of certain products or services at cheaper prices.  By doing so, they become more appealing to customers than the original simply due to the price.  Third is the bargaining power of suppliers.  Porter explains that suppliers can raise prices and reduce quality of products or services at their own will.  At the same time the fourth aspect, the bargaining powers of buyers can do the same.  Customers can influence industries to lower prices but still demand a high quality product or service.  Porter’s theory is that to have a successful industry strategy there must be a balance between all five forces. 

I think that this article can be very useful to me throughout my career.  Mr. Porters theory makes perfect sense.  All five points that he talks about are influences that any business will have to deal with.  This is why Dr. Shiring recommended it because he know that what Mr. Porter said is very important.  I think that if a manager were to take this concept and apply it to their field of study that it would work.  Once actually in the industry I feel that Porters Model will be something that I apply to my work. But at the moment I do not know whether or not this article will help me with my research. Simply because I have not yet chosen a topic.

Richtel Response.

After I finished reading Matt Richtel's article on technology I felt nothing but sadness for the Campbell family. To be so addicted to various devices sounds like the absolute worst.  Not being able to disconnect and enjoy family and surroundings is not something that Mr. Campbell and his children should be proud off.  Although they may feel that nothing is being lost while they are all engulfed in devices, I feel that they are sadly mistaken.  As Mr. Nass, an employee at Stanford said, " The way we become more human is by paying attention to each other. It shows how much you care. A significant fraction of people's experiences are now fragmented."  I completely agree with this statement. How is this family supposed to function around others if they can't go more than an hour without using some type of technology.  The story about a vacation taken in California was almost tragic.  For family time to be pushed aside due to the inability to unplug should be a sign to them that something needs to change.

On the other hand, I understand that the Campbell's are an extreme case scenario and where chosen to prove a point.  One of the main topics throughout the article was whether or not the brain can continue to develop in adulthood.  Adapting to new ways of multitasking is a subject that many scientists are interested in studying.  Steven Yantis, a professor of brain sciences at Johns Hopkins University stated, "The bottom line is, the brain is wired to adapt."  It makes sense that as we grow and experience new things our brain should do the same.  But at times the growing distractions of multitasking can turn that adaption into something that is unuseful.  Richtel explains that scientists found that from sorting through e-mails, texts, various information found on the web and phone calls people are changing the way they think and act.  Which, inevitably changes their ability to fully foucs and comprehend single pieces of information.  Some even say that the excitement that comes from finding new information is what drives people the most, which is a very intresting concept.  These studies are going further to try and figure out whether these new technological advances are doing good or bad and I for one and looking forward to seeing what they find.

Introduction.

Hey, my name is Gabby Rahn and I am twenty-one years old.  I am currently a junior at IUP majoring in Hospitality Management.  I spent two years at the IUP Academy of Culinary Arts where I became certified in culinary and baking and pastry arts.