Okay, so last week I presented my senior thesis research at BYU’s Inquiry Conference (mentioned in a previous post). Everyone said I did well, although I feel I did better the week before when I presented at the Utah Conference for Undergraduate Research. If you are bored enough to want to watch my presentation then click on the following link “Click Here to Watch My Presentation: The Waking Tiger and the American Dream” and you will be guided to the Inquiry Conference website. I tried to put the video into this post but it was not happening.
Secondly, Kate and I went to a presentation by Jane Goodall called, “Reason for Hope,” and it was wonderful (click for previous post). The presentation was inspiring, motivating, and fun. Afterward Kate, being the greatest of all companions, waited in line with me for an hour to get our books signed by her.
Oh and a photo taken with her.
Tonight I am going to a lecture by Michael Pollan (book review), one of my favorite authors about food culture and the American food-like-substances system that is killing our environment, our health, and our happiness, I will try and get a picture with him for the site. Actually my goal is to get him to sign a copy of one of his books personalized to www.KateandNeil.com, we’ll see how it goes.
I can’t wait. This Tuesday evening, I am going to a speech and book signing by Jane Goodall, one of my childhood heroes. I actually listened to her two times before while attending the International School of Kenya. Her work in the Gombe Stream National Park has always fascinated me. I mean, she was the woman that discovered animal tool making and forced the educated gentry to rethink and redefine what it meant to be human. That and she named her son Grub. I don’t think you can get much cooler then that. I am also very excited to see Michael Pollan when he comes to speak in a few weeks. March must be Utah’s lucky month.
Michael Pollan’s newest book, In Defense of Food, looks like it is quite amazing. I am barely getting started on it. His main premise is that nutritional advice can be summed up into the 7 words of the title. Americans (myself included) fret and freak about what we should and shouldn’t eat. We agonize over our, often, poor decisions that are contrary to our common sense. Should I eat steamed asparagus or should I east cheese fries? This was my actual dilemma last night. Guess which delicious option I chose? The fries + a milkshake. Guess how I feel this morning? Awful physically, and quite lethargic.
I didn’t need any professional advice to arrive at a choice that would have left me a little less… uneasy… intestinally speaking. All I needed was common sense I learned from Captain Vegetable as a child watching Sesame Street.
It is I, Captain Vegetable, with my carrot & my celery.
Eating crunchy vegetables is good for me.
And they’re good for you, so eat them too!
For teeth so strong your whole life long,
eat celery & carrots by the bunch.
Three cheers for me, Captain Vegetable.
CRUNCH, CRUNCH, CRUNCH!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzbbqVZ-eFo[/youtube]
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