kate likes cats and cupcakes and canteloupe

To Do Today

2007-11-28T08:49:00.000-08:00

Today I can write about the dangerous effects of rBGH and antibiotics

i got 2 paragraphs done
coming back to it after i go to my room and do some other things

goal for today

2007-11-26T08:40:00.000-08:00

i'm still reviewing sources today. i didn't anything for thanksgiving break.
i'll be writing later in the day.

(at least i'm honest)

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ok actually, i wrote about this study evaluating irish consumers' concerns regarding several possible hazards in the meat industry

Next Step

2007-11-21T09:29:00.000-08:00

My next steps will be to continue hilighting my research and extracting the points I want to use specifically. Then, I'll outline my essay and begin writing.

revision plan

2007-11-14T09:13:00.000-08:00

~ include category headings

~ explain classifications of entries

the end!

Annotations

2007-11-14T08:43:00.000-08:00

Kate Grube

Annotated Bibliography

The Addition of Antibiotics and Growth Hormones into the Meat and Dairy Industries

In researching, I was inspired by a segment I had seen in the documentary The Corporation. Two reporters lost their jobs over unveiling some shocking information regarding the Monsanto group and the bovine growth hormone rBGH. Thus, I sought to answer this question: In light of this exposure, how could growth hormones and antibiotics in the meat industry effect humans, and to what lengths will supporters of these additives go to ensure that their use remains legal and socially acceptable? I direct this question (and subsequent answer) to both agricultural and food science majors as well as majors in marketing as a way to both explore the science of how these chemicals would be effecting future customers and to additionally investigate the ethics of techniques used by corporations who aim to push their product.

In summation of my findings, there was a general agreement that the addition of growth hormones and antibiotics into the diets of livestock was in no way beneficial to the human body. The degree of potential for harm has ranged from the inevitability of an (even more) immensely obese America to complete ignorance of the additives at all. Advocates for the growth hormone rBGH (which some claim has been linked to various forms of cancer) have included farmers using the hormone to generate a higher milk yield to the Monsanto corporation, the manufacturer of rBGH. Furthermore, an economics report from the USDA interjected that the discontinuation of the use of antibiotics in animal feed would drastically increase the price of meat products. (Go vegetarian, I say, but I digress.) I will illustrate, according to my sources, the necessity for the discontinuation of the employment of chemical additives in the meat and dairy industry and provide scenarios of possible results of this procedure.

1. Baille-Hamilton, P (2002).Chemical toxins: A hypothesis to explain the global obesity epidemic. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 8, 185-192.

In the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, Paula F. Baille-Hamilton asserts that the recent influx of obesity in the United States is not due to overeating and a lack of exercise, but to the growth hormones and chemicals in the food we eat that disrupt our body’s “natural weight control mechanisms.” The epidemic occurred so quickly that an environmental factor must be in play, she says. The average caloric intake for humans has decreased recently, she contests, and the drop in physical activity wouldn’t have caused such a change in body weight so quickly. I will use this information as a presentation of another hypothesis as to how growth hormones in food animals are effecting humans. Baille-Hamilton seems to be a reliable source, but the information she provides is only a hypothesis. While she does have studies to support her hypothesis, there is no test as to whether or not growth hormones do cause weight gain.

2. Gray, Thomas W (2006, Nov). Dairy dilemma: Ban on rBGH use by tillamook sparks conflict. Rural Cooperatives, [73(6)], 4-7, 36-37.

Rural Sociologist with the USDA Thomas W Gray, Ph. D writes in this issue of “Rural Cooperatives” magazine about the ban on rBGH milk and the subsequent conflict within the Tillamook dairy cooperative. Responding to an outcry from their consumers, Gray says, Tillamook discontinued the allowance of rBGH. The Monsanto group, however, protested this ban and sided with the few farmers that wished to continue to use rBGH, as the hormone had been approved by the FDA and not shown to cause any damage to humans and supposedly negligible harm to the cows injected with it. Gray also cites other examples of Monsanto’s dissent regarding rBGH bans in different areas of the United States. In my paper, I will cover the consumer reactions to rBGH, as well as some valuable points made by supporters of rBGH. Furthermore, I can use this article to illustrate the economic disadvantages of banning rBGH.

3. Kleinman, AuthorDaniel L. , & Kinchy, A (2003). Boundaries in science policy making: Bovine growth hormone in the european union. Sociology Quarterly. 44, 577-595.

An article from a journal of sociology, this discusses the process with which policies are made in the EU. This specific case concerns rBGH, and then this will be used to illustrate the EU’s feelings.

4. Mathews, K (2001, may). Antimicrobial drug use and veterinary costs in u.s. livestock production. Agriculture Information Bulletin, 766, Retrieved Nov 12, 2007, from http://ers.usda.org

Mathews, with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service alleges that with a decreased use of antimicrobial drugs in animal feed, almost immediately the market would experience higher veterinary costs, reduced production, and thus higher costs to consumers. The risk of transmission of a resistant bacteria from animal to human is very low, as these cases account for only 10% of bacterial resistance cases. Many European countries have foreseen this as a problem, however, and have placed a ban on antimicrobial use in food animals. This will be used as reasons as to how a ban on antibiotics could be dangerous to the market. Patterns in the organic food movement could be indicative of this.

5. Schlosser, E (2006, Nov). Cheap food nation. Sierra, [91(6)], [36-39].

Eric Schlosser, author of Fast Food Nation, comments on the current status of America’s meat industry. He claims that the damage that can be potentially done to various aspects of the industry isn’t worth the lower cost. This will be used as a contrast to naysayers who contest that the economic hardships that could be places on a growth hormone ban should be enough to eliminate it.

6. Wilson, Steve (2000, Jan 10). How murdoch gave in to monsanto. New Statesman, [129(4468)], 15-19.

This article in the UK’s New Statesman magazine gives reporter Steve Wilson the opportunity to finally make known the practices he and his wife Jane unveiled about the dairy industry in Tampa, FL and the extent to which it was attempted to be covered up. After finding a possible carcinogenic component in milk from rBGH injected cows and conducting interviews with several dairy farms that insisted on continuing use of the hormone, Steve and Jane submitted their story to go on the air. Upon receiving several threatening faxes from the company that manufactures rBGH, Fox news decided too much was at stake, pulled the program, and fired the Wilsons. From a leftist magazine, there may be some bias against large corporations such as Monsanto, this will be useful to illustrate the amount of unjust repression this topic has gotten.

SURPRISE

2007-11-05T09:13:00.001-08:00

experts opinions of the use of antibiotics and growth hormones in livestock.

the end

Annotation 2

2007-11-05T08:41:00.000-08:00

http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2006/12.07/11-dairy.html

From Harvard University's Gazette, Ganmaa Davaasambuu, a medical doctor from Mongolia, contests that American milk is supplying people with excessive amounts of hormones because US cows are milked 300 days a year, while pregnant, whereas Mongolian cows are milked only 5 months a year during times of infertility. As a summation of a discussion between scientific peers at an accredited university, the article reflects Davaasambuu's personal views. This will be used as aid for the argument that additives in food are dangerous.

Annotated Bib

2007-11-02T09:01:00.000-07:00

Baxter, G.A., Ferguson, J.P., O'Connor, M.C., and Elliott, C.T.
J. Agric. Food Chem., 49, 7, 3204 - 3207, 2001, 10.1021/jf001484l

http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/article.cgi/jafcau/2001/49/i07/pdf/jf001484l.pdf

This study evaluates the presence of a particular antibiotic (streptomycin) in whole milk in comparison to the US limit. It cites the dangers of excess of this antibiotic in foods among an outbreak of allergic reactions, humans resistance to antibiotics as a means of combating bacterial diseases, and decreased "starter cultures" in milk, leading to a decrease in yogurt and cheese production. The percentage of the antibacterial agent was found to be marginally lower than the posted tolerance limit. The Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry is a highly reputable source, including only studies that exercise the scientific method to its full potential. This research will be used to illustrate the possible dangers of the presence of antibiotics in dairy products. Furthermore, I will be able to state with conviction that the current stroptomycin content in whole milk is below the tolerance level.

Source Plans

2007-10-29T09:04:00.000-07:00

Question: To what extent has addition of hormones, antibiotics, and pesticides in mass marketed livestock and vegetation been harmful?

Primary Sources: Owner of the Bleeding Heart Bakery, the first organic certified bakery
Regulations (via the FDA) about what kinds of chemicals are allowed
Scientific studies on the effects of antibiotics in meat (resistance to antibiotics)

Also, I plan to look at specific companies to see what kind of practices they have regarding production.

2007-10-26T08:39:00.000-07:00

http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=1&hid=114&sid=0165d042-353f-45ed-88f6-92c236490203%40sessionmgr108

http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=UkAAZPNS9b4C&oi=fnd&pg=PA1&dq=genetically+modified+food&ots=NqXa_38PFv&sig=uDr_OU4R4mVLHGk9lucv_81K6tM

http://jac.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/extract/54/1/276

So far, I've learned about some of the dangers of genetically modified food. Specifically, how altering the genes of particular plants can be beneficial because of the increased ability to be shipped well and the creating of seedless plants. Also, some crops are made to be larger and more fruitful, thus more inexpensive. However, these fruits and vegetables often lose much of the flavor and nutrients that their smaller, less yielding ancestors possessed. Furthermore, I've learned about the amount of antibiotics and pesticides used in animal products, as well as in fruits and vegetables. Along with the amount of medicine we are allowing ourselves to be prescribed, more bacteria are becoming resistant to the antibiotics in our bodies.

What I still need to figure out is whether or not I want to talk about chemical use in plants and animals (pesticides, antibiotics, RBGH) or genetic modification (in which I can cover the green revolution as well). Doing both together might get a little complicated in that I wouldn't be able to cover either in detail very much.

Rhetorical Goals

2007-10-19T08:48:00.000-07:00

My audience could be the general consumer, economists, agricultural scientists, restaurant owners, environmentalists, and the common foodie.

My purpose would be to open their minds and make them aware of the benefits of shopping organic and locally vs. buying modified imports. I'd want to argue that, while possibly more economic, modified imported fruits and vegetables can be harmful both to the environment, people's health, and local farmers. Furthermore, I want to persuade the readers to shop more locally and to buy organic foods.

papier

2007-10-17T08:35:00.000-07:00

Part I: Exploration
1. Identify the issue or problem that you plan to focus on in your research project.
As consumers are becoming more health conscious, theres been some speculation over whether or not buying organically and locally, small-farm grown crops are worth the entra price for their benefits

2. What is your personal connection to and interest in this topic?
As a (hopefully) future baker, I really like the idea of using organic and locally sustainable ingredients, but they're expensive. I try to eat organic when I can, but, as a college student, its really busting my wallet's chops.

3. What opinions do you already hold about this topic?
I think that it is worth the price, and that there are legitimate reasons as to why its so expensive. Furthermore, local farmers need to be supported to stay afloat. Nobody is going to fund small Illinois farmers than Illinois residents. We don't want big business to take over EVERYTHING. Plus. Local food uses less fssil fuel for transportation, and is fresher.

4. What knowledge do you already have about this topic. What are your main questions about this topic? What are you most curious about?
I don't know a whole lot. I know some basic information just form talking to people in the food industry. I want to know what classifies things as organic, and some hypothesis about where the organic/ local market is going to be in a few years.

6. Within what scholarly discipline (such as history, biology, psychology) do you expect to do most of your research? How does this discipline approach or study this topic?
Wow. I don't know. Economics?

7. How could you research this topic outside the library (for example, through interviews and/or observations)?
Interviews with the owner of the Bleeding Heart Bakery, mission statements from small farms, environmental science magazines, farmers at farmers markets, consumers that buy all organic... etc

Part II: Focusing
Write an initial claim, or an open-ended question, to guide your research on this topic. Make it specific but exploratory. Remember that a good claim opens up an area of inquiry about a topic; a claim should invite evidence, support, and debate.

Are the numerous positive effects of buying organic and locally worth the price for an environmentally conscious yet fiscally challenged consumer?

RESEARCH PAPER

2007-10-15T09:02:00.000-07:00

ok so, here i am at elmhurst for art and business, but im going to culinary school to be a pastry chef after this.

options:

how has dessert been an integral part of family functions in the united states? (or something)

how is food indicative of culture?

how has the bakery industry been effected by low carb diets?

the benefits of buying organic/ local crop sustainability

Summary (which i totally typed yesterday but is deciding not to show up now)

2007-10-03T08:37:00.000-07:00

Provision of Sex Education

"One of the most dramatic findings from the national survey ofsexual attitudes and lifestyles was the sharp fall in the ageat which people become sexually active," K Wellings says. As a result, sex-education has been targeted as the cause for this drop, and many advocate abstinence-only education as a way to keep teens safe from STDs and pregnancy. In Welling et al's paper, "Provision of sex education and early sexual experience: the relation examined," no significant difference was found in the age of first sexual intercourse experience and exposure to sex education. Yet, there was a significant increase in use of contraception in teens that had enrolled in a sex-education as opposed to abstinence-only course. The sample included over 18000 participants, all aged 16-59. More than 2/3 of the group felt like they don't know enough about sexual matters.

Wellings, K, J Wadsworth, and A M Johnson. "Provision of sex education and early sexual experience: the relation examined." BMJ 311: 12 AUG 1995 417-420. 02 OCT 2007 .

A study conducted of over 18000 16-59 year olds in the UK discovered that there is no significant relationship to sexual education and age of first sexual experience, contrary to the belief that it encourages sexual activity. Additionally, a significant increase in contraception use was found in those who had had sex education.

ooo abstinence only?

2007-10-02T22:41:00.000-07:00

http://www.heritage.org/Research/Abstinence/BG1533.cfm

http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=1&hid=113&sid=dd744cf8-66a4-4476-aba1-8f878d8b772a%40sessionmgr104

http://www.jstor.org/view/01976664/ap020080/02a00100/0

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/311/7002/403

2007-10-01T09:24:00.001-07:00

http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20040501faessay83301/daniel-w-drezner/the-outsourcing-bogeyman.html

Why? Who Cares?

2007-09-26T09:11:00.002-07:00

Ok, so, in this, I give general points, but I don't really say why it's important.
Here's a revision.

How ironic that as my brain is doing flip flops debating whether or not technology in schools is a good idea, I am sitting in my college composition class, sitting in front of a computer, just like I do every class. You wouldn't think that a composition class would need to take place in a computer lab, or involve a blog, but it does. This is common nowadays. Technology is used for everything. So, thus comes the argument over whether or not this is appropriate. Will students be harmed by technology? Or is this a powerful learning tool? Without some mutual understanding of a common goal, I feel like each will continue to emphasize their own point and not come to a conclusion that is the best for the children.

While parties on both sides of the fence will turn themselves blue arguing either way, I think what they both may not be seeing is that nobody is arguing for complete inclusion or removal of technology. The main problem Stoll cites as a problem is that computers will seem "provide a answer" to all the world's problems, but not provide much of an answer at all. Schaffer, on the other hand, argues that the "epistemic learning processes that computers provide" are close to an actual physical experience, and will help students.

Essentially, what I'm really getting at is that in the long run, though, the common goal is to teach students in a way that gets them to actually think differently and more complexly. Ideally, a combination of those "epistemic video games" and of personal teacher-student work would be the best, and I think that's what everyone should be arguing for.

Why? Who Cares?

2007-09-26T09:11:00.001-07:00

Draft

2007-09-24T09:09:00.000-07:00

How ironic that as my brain is doing flip flops debating whether or not technology in schools is a good idea, I am sitting in my college composition class, sitting in front of a computer, just like I do every class. You wouldn't think that a composition class would need to take place in a computer lab, or involve a blog, but it does. This is common nowadays. Technology is used for everything. So, thus comes the argument over whether or not this is appropriate. Will students be harmed by technology? Or is this a powerful learning tool?
While parties on both sides of the fence will turn themselves blue arguing either way, I think what they both may not be seeing is that nobody is arguing for complete inclusion or removal of technology. The main problem Stoll cites as a problem is that computers will seem "provide a answer" to all the world's problems, but not provide much of an answer at all. Schaffer, on the other hand, argues that the epistemic learning processes that computers provide are close to an actual physical experience, and will help students.
In the long run, though, the common goal is to teach students in a way that gets them to actually think differently and more complexly. Ideally, a combination of those "epistemic video games" and of personal teacher-student work would be the best, and I think that's what everyone should be arguing for.

(photo)synthesis

2007-09-21T08:58:00.000-07:00

The technological revolution, while proven to be beneficial in some situations, may not be appropriate for a blanket form of education, as it may be harmful to some students.

I Benefits of Computers
a. video games that simulate activities
b. benefits of thinking epistemically
c. good for supplementing, not as the main

II Problems with Computers
a. digital can never replace reality
b. knowledge without computers isn't necessarily only memorization based
c. computers, though, good for money constraints

Computers and Technology

2007-09-21T08:35:00.000-07:00

Richard Ohmann, in "Computers and Technology" contests that "its easy to get the impression that computers can save the U.S. education." However, he doesn't agree. He contests that education is a business oriented thing and this new demand for computers is something that will benefit this business. His four main points are that education is big business, education is for business, business calls the political tune, and business is privatizing whatever it can. He also argues that this technology trend is giving students the false idea that technology can "bless all our desires." But what, he says, of learning outside of the classroom?
I agree with Ohmann. Business has become a huge part of our nation, as is the natue with capitalism. However, the control over schools can be dangerous. Of course software companies want schools to buy their products, they have a perfectly set up market for the future in the students, and think about how much money they would get. And about learning outside of the classroom, having technologically based learning is good for research, but horrible for so many other things. Many children build social skills through school, and this won't happen without interaction with other students. Furthermore, how can virtually learning about dinosaur bones ever beat seeing Sue at the Field Museum? While technology is a great tool, I feel it should be limited.

2007-09-14T08:22:00.000-07:00

Kate Grube
Draft: Summary
“The Empire of Images in our World of Bodies”

Susan Bordo isn’t beautiful anymore. At least, that’s what society has been telling her. Hollywood no longer embraces her type of woman: the over-50, slightly wrinkly, non-surgically enhanced woman. In her essay “The Empire of Images in our World of Bodies” she debates that women are constantly under societal scrutiny. Having been told that women in their 50s can look good, she says that this refers to “Susan Sarandon, who looked older in 1991's Thelma and Louise than she does in her movies today.” The amount of artificially restructured beauty that runs rampant in the US currently has led Bordo to her disappointment over the popularity of Botox parties and the frequent use of feminism as an excuse to participate. Unlike many of her peers, Bordo believes its impossible to ignore the effect had on women by the media. She gives this riveting example: “If you get rid of it through exercise rather than purging or laxatives, you don't have a problem. Theirs is a world in which groups of dorm girls will plow voraciously through pizzas, chewing and then spitting out each mouthful. Do they have a disorder? Of course not -- look, they're eating pizza.” She’s giving an insight to the problems that many girls have, and how normal these problems seem to be. Particularly upsetting to Bordo was an episode of a talk show where teenage girls who are considered “tomboys” are given a feminine makeover. Bordo exclaims that she wanted to embrace the girls and free them from their captivity in order to protect them from the pressure to look like a classically beautiful woman. Of the same token, she is baffled by the blatantly clear division of boys’ and girls’ toys and room accessories, and why a middle, more unisex ground isn’t taken for girls like her daughter, who love sports. Finally expressing a moment of shared anger between her fellow women, Bordo ends with a statement that yearns for all of her readers to share this disgust with the media.
On the whole, I share Bordo’s feelings, but I feel she may have gotten carried away at points. I feel like it would be hard to find a woman who is so confidant that she hasn’t been affected by these images in the media of beautiful people. Almost everything we do is dictated by things that we’ve seen others doing. We’re all sheep, really. I’ve experienced the things she talks about, and I agree. Growing up in the most technologically advanced generation in history, there’s nowhere where women aren’t exposed to other good-looking women worthy of envy. Even in magazines about things completely unrelated to beauty, we see beautiful women advertising prescription drugs or household appliances. Concurrently, when we do look to beauty-related things, all we see are pictures of women who are as thin as society deems them to be. The example she gives of the girls purging pizza is shocking at the very least. Its depressing. Obviously, they aren’t doing things that are good for them sheerly for the purpose of looking a certain way. This is something to be worried about. How can things be ok in a world where young women do this to themselves? While I am shocked at this, I will say that I found her rant about the Maury Povich show a little much. Honestly, yes, it is harmful to steer girls away from their natural place of happiness. Yes, they are thrusting feminine qualities upon girls who would not normally possess them. And, finally, yes, many of these girls are undoubtedly persuaded by their disappointed mothers, but if they feel as if they look pretty in their made-over state, and they continue to fit this pattern, how is that harmful to them? They have found a niche that they didn’t suspect to feel comfortable in, but is society really completely corrupting their brains to the point that in a matter of hours, these girls have completely changes their perception of what they like and dislike about themselves? Many times, they gain confidence, by feeling feminine and pretty. Why is that bad? Bordo should be proud of the girls who have decided to change. They have made a change that will make them even more capable of functioning in the world as the confidant women that they should be. Finally, her statement about finding appropriate room furnishings for her daughter really only reflects the horrible business decisions made by various dealers. As a majority, boys are more interested in sports than girls, and girls are more interested in stars and shiny things than boys are. Yes, there are many that cross this barrier, but for many families, this is not a problem. I don’t think this is a signal of a greater problem. In conclusion, Bordo really is on the right track and has pointed out some very important things that the world needs to be aware of. And while she occasionally got a little carried away, I am shocked by many statements she made.

2007-09-12T09:29:00.001-07:00

Gerald Graff believes that we have underestimated many of our fellow human beings. In his essay "Hidden Intellectualism" he contests that students apathetic (and seemingly hopeless) in the classroom will flourish in a setting where their personal interests and skills are used to cultivate their academic potential. To go even further, these apathetic students may contain a wealth of knowledge and skills that may not be present in the more classically bookish student. Graff illustrates this through a personal experience when he says, "It was in these discussions with friends about toughness and sports, I think, and in my reading of sports books and magazines, that I began to learn the rudiments of the intellectual life." Inspired by his life outside of school, he fine-tuned his ability to argue academically. Furthermore, when students lack interest in a topic, they'll only produce bland, uninvolved work. The test of a true intellectual is to bring life to even the least highbrow subject. Graff proposes that schools will benefit from providing this gateway between students' personal interests and future academic ventures.

dont blame the eater

2007-09-09T22:59:00.000-07:00

In Davin Zinczenko's "Don't Blame the Eater," the author contests that as a young child with working parents, his diet of fast food made him obese. Further, he claims that the accessability of fast food is much greater than that of a healthier option. Specifically, the ratio in his town of Big Macs to grapefruit was about a million to one.
I may be confused about where his family did their grocery shopping. Did they buy all of their food items at Burger King? They have to eat at home SOME time. And while his busy mom or dad is at the grocery store, why don't they buy a loaf of wonder bread, some american cheese, and some miracle whip. This would last about 2 weeks. Granted, I hate miracle whip, american cheese, and wonder bread, but it is another option. More importantly, it's dirt cheap. Throw it in a plastic bag and eat it on the way to wherever you're going. Easy as McApple Pie.

In David Zinczenko's "Don't Blame the Eater," he observes that the overweight people suing fast food companies really don't have an option because of the ease with which they are decieved by what they are eating. An unassuming cheeseburger may hide enough calories to last you through half of a normal day. He stresses that alot of caloric information is incorrect and leaves out important ingredients.
I wholeheartedly agree. A hungry teen is thinking about one and one thing only; how to achieve ultimate peace between mind and belly. I doubt that in the line of Wendy's, a mother is having much trouble weighing the caloric content of the french fries she is about to give her son against the relief she will have once he stops complaining of hunger pangs when she is already late for a meeting. Possibly, though, making a court case of it will make the situation more of a joke than anything.

First Assignment

2007-09-05T09:25:00.000-07:00

http://www.scrappleface.com/

"

by Scott Ott

(2007-09-05) — Idaho Republican Sen. Larry Craig, who is not gay, today announced that he had reconsidered his decision to leave the Senate following his reconsideration of his guilty plea to disorderly conduct charges related to his arrest in a men’s room in the Minneapolis Airport.

In a poignant memo to Senate colleagues, Sen. Craig said simply: “I can’t quit you.”

A spokesman, who insisted that Mr. Craig is not gay and was not trying to solicit a police officer in a men’s room stall, said that the Idaho lawmaker had initially announced his resignation from the Senate in hopes of avoiding publicity, and “to make the whole thing go away,” after he discovered that pleading guilty to a crime failed to make it go away.

“Essentially, Sen. Craig is still experimenting with ways to make previous mistakes vanish,” the unnamed source said. “If backing out of his resignation and revoking his guilty plea doesn’t work, he may apply for a refund on the airline ticket that took him to Minneapolis in the first place.”'

This humorous blog begins with a fact, then continues on to build on this in a humorous way. The "they" is Senator Craig, who said that he reconsidered leaving the Senate. By giving real information in the beginning prior to making a humorous statement, the writer proves that they are making a joke based on solid information, not jsut blindly making fun of it. In response, the author jokes that the Senator is trying in vain to correct his mistakes, but is failing miserably. The "I can't quit you" joke alludes to the film Brokeback Mountain, and gives the authors opinion that the Senator is, in fact, gay.

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