Blog #5

a. What does Pollan mean when he says, “Men have become tools of their tools” (150-200).
b. Men, too, face pressures concerning their diet and body image. What are some of those pressures?

a. Pollan is not referring just to farmers when he writes, “Men have become tools of their tools”, but to modern men in general. Aren't we all the tools of our tools. I am talking about our newest i phones, i pods, stunning black BMW's, a bigger house that we cannot afford and the luxurious vacation charged to our credit cards. We might think that Bill the Farmer is pathetic, but there is no difference between him and the rest of the America. He is driving a truck on a lonely highway to pay for his tools, to show Iowa that he is the man: 220 bushels an acre of corn harvested this year. The same corn that might bring him close to a bankruptcy next year. Sound familiar?
Don't we all own some tool that we paid way to much for. Had to take an extra job for summer to pay if off, or maxing out the "pay for the collage expenses" credit card for the newest laptop.
Some of us are lucky to have parents who've bought all these great gadgets for us, for them its no worries. It might be your dad, lonely at night on the highway of debt.

b.
I am sure men are as concerned with their weight and body shape as women. They are probably not as obsessed with the desire to be skinny as cover models, but men like to be in shape. What I mean here, is the muscular image. This desire is fulfilled mainly in the gym and the healthy diet is a big part of muscle building. The men have to watch very carefully their carbohydrates intake and try to ensure that their bodies receive the right amount of a protein.

One of the most stereotypical male concerns is the hair lost. I get it, even women are obsessed with their partner's hair line. Pretending to kiss them with passion, while pulling on the guys hair to make sure there is a plenty of nourished locks. The next thing is to meet the father, to get an idea of how far this hair loss can go.

Well enough jokes, this is a serious subject. One that can bring an interesting discussion to the class, especially while reading The Omnivore's Dilemma. Hopefully we will realize how important the food we eat is. It nourishes our beautiful hair, it builds our bones, it shapes our bodies. Our skin is the mirror of our diet.

Even though the most pressure comes from the outside, we can be in charge of our image by treating it as an inside job. Eat healthy and your body will thank you by representing itself in a new light.