Mario Batali - Living on Food Stamps
Wed May 16, 2012 at 09:48 PM PDT
Mario Batali is taking the whole concept of walking in another's shoes very seriously, he and his family are walking in the shoes of a family of four who is living on food stamps.
“For one week, walk in someone else’s shoes. Knowledge is power, and by truly understanding what our friends and neighbors are going through, we will be better equipped to find solutions,” said celebrity chef Mario Batali, a Food Bank board member, in describing the challenge.Source
Why?
Because as more people go hungry, more cuts are on the block to important food stamp programs. Cuts we cannot afford, especially since food stamps are winners when it comes to stimulus, but it also means feeding people. And right now, what we have as a system isn't even working.
“This is really an awareness campaign. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is under threat in Congress and we have to protect it and protect our neighbors that depend on it,” Purvis said. “We need more people to understand that those who take food stamps are families, people like us, they are our neighbors. “I tried [the challenge] and I can tell you I am not happy,” Purvis said. “When a gallon of milk costs as much as your entire day’s food budget, you’ll never look at grocery shopping the same way again.”Batali joined the challenge to bring publicity to the issue and he's doing a great job of it as you will see under the cut. But he also shows that living on less than $1.50 a person, per meal is not easy, not by a long shot.
Goodbye restaurants, free nibbles on his talk show "The Chew" and all the luxe offerings at Eataly, the high-end New York City market he co-owns. Hello Trader Joe's, Jack's Dollar Store, Gristedes and Western Beef, a low-cost supermarket chain. "I'm (expletive deleted) starving," said Batali, who's on the board of the food relief agency Food Bank for New York City, which issued the challenge to celeb pals like Batali and anybody else who wants to know what it's like.
Batali said his first reaction when asked to join was a big "gulp," then he realized while shopping for Friday's start of the challenge that with a little forethought it wouldn't be all that brutal.
One lesson: forget organic and anything pesticide- or hormone-free. "The organic word slides out and saves you about 50 percent."
...
Associated Press
Of course Fox News is on attack and Lawrence O'Donnell does an
amazing job of taking apart their ignorant and rather heartless take
down of Batali's very important efforts.
So why doesn't Batali just create jobs?
Uh, he has, he runs tons of restaurants.
Why not just give food away?
Oh, yes, well Batali also happens to have given away lots of food as part of the New York Food Bank. Check here, he's the CHAIR.
Then there is the Mario Batali Foundation
The Mario Batali Foundation was established to feed, protect, educate and empower children, encouraging them to dream big while providing them with the necessary tools to become an active force for change in today's world. In an effort to do so, the MBF strives to ensure all children are well read, well fed and well cared for.
Mario Batali - Living on Food Stamps
Wed May 16, 2012 at 09:48 PM PDT
But this isn't just about Fox News and their absurd attack on Mario Batali, we expect as much. This is about bringing attention to real issue.
"We, hopefully, aren't pretending or being like a bunch of yuppies saying, 'Oh yeah, this is how you can do it. Look, we can grind our own oats!' We want people to think about calling and talking to their representation about cuts to the Farm Bill and the food stamp program," he said. Associated PressThis is a CHEF, this man cooks for a living and it was difficult for him. Do not let this happen, call your representative, let them know that this is not the time for more cuts to SNAP, that people cannot give up more than they already have.
-
Tip Jar (439+ / 0-)
My 8-year-old, Charlotte, asked if Herman Cain's tax plan was called, "Mine, mine, mine!" -
Oh my, those folks at Fox News are (132+ / 0-)
so damn entertaining, I just can't get enough.
How many people watch that shit? What is wrong with them, seriously? What the hell happened in their lives that they find this kind of belittling and taunting and laughing, directed at someone who sincerely cares about the plight of poor people, so enjoyable?
Thank you for this Ellinorianne, I never get to see O'Donnell's show. And here's to Mr. Batali.Skeptical scrutiny is the means, in both science and religion, by which deep thoughts can be winnowed from deep nonsense. Carl Sagan -
Do you know anyone that does watch that shit? (18+ / 0-)
Anybody that genuinely finds it entertaining and informative? I know they exist but why is it their mental illness is not being treated? I have to stop asking so many rhetorical questions.
By the way, Charlotte sound like a very clear headed young lady, and I know she must make her Mom very proud.Skeptical scrutiny is the means, in both science and religion, by which deep thoughts can be winnowed from deep nonsense. Carl Sagan[ Parent ] -
I know many who proudly say they watch Fox News. (26+ / 0-)
They claim all other networks are liberal. -
my mom says she gets the American Spectator (10+ / 0-)
to counter how liberal Fox is! -
Holy Shit! (n/t) (6+ / 0-)
-
Well, the Spectator was the rag that pretty much (1+ / 0-)
defined "Bill Clinton Raped and Murdered Hundreds" in the 90s. Even Fox looks halfway reasonable next to that.The last time the Republicans were this radical, they were working to elect former slaves to Congress. What a difference a century and a half makes![ Parent ] -
And email (2+ / 0-)
And blogs, and twitter, and ... -
Have you been in an airport or a local bar or (51+ / 0-)
car repair waiting room lately? All over the place FOX is on in public places where there are televisions. People are exposed to it everywhere. I have requested that the channel be changed when FOX is on in public places, where it's possible to contact a physical living being who has the ability to change the channel. But most people just go about their day with that stuff on in the background as the poisoned aural and visual soundtrack of their everyday lives.That's one more thing to add to my long list of small problems. --my son, age 10[ Parent ] -
got in trouble at work (83+ / 0-)
I got into trouble at work recently - one of the higher-ups insisted that all TVs in the break rooms must be tuned to Fox at all times and never turned off. I got semi-upset, then calmed down and pointed out that Fox has called for the elimination of our prime customer (a government agency which shall remain nameless).
Someone may or may not have alerted one of the customers, who complained on cue. The TVs at work are now all tuned to CNN and may not be changed. -
Was wondering (15+ / 0-)
how this turned out. Glad to hear you're not inflicted with Fox News any more.Are you on the Wreck List? Horde on Garrosh.[ Parent ] -
Gotta love the wizards at the top (11+ / 0-)
and the GREAT AND POWERFUL OZ policies =/
Glad you don't have to watch Fox anymore. -
Why the hell are there TVs there at all? (12+ / 0-)
There's no reason. None.
Get a bunch of magazines. Or not, it really doesn't matter.
Encourage people to take a walk. Put in a treadmill or an exercise bike and let them exercise.
There's absolutely no reason for a TV. The only place I can see having a reason for TVs is a sports bar. That's the purpose of the place, to watch sports.
Any place else, it's just completely unnecessary.
It would save a bunch of money as well.[ Parent ] -
front lobby (1+ / 0-)
It's nice for visitors to have something to watch in the lobby while waiting for the person they're visiting to come sign them in, and the guards are here 24 hours so it's nice for them to have something that makes noise and keeps them awake.
For the lunchroom, I'd really rather have a TV than a treadmill. I don't recommend eating and walking a treadmill at the same time. -
But again, why have a TV at all? (2+ / 0-)
Are your visitors only coming in at half hour intervals? Are they waiting long enough to watch an entire show? Magazines, or newspapers would give them something to pick up and read.
I can understand for the guards - so buy them a radio. You could get a satellite radio for them, and pay for the subscription.
You don't need to watch TV while you're eating. Newspapers would be nice, or magazines, or again, that radio.
[ Parent ] -
Those of us working in (34+ / 0-)
those places are usually powerless to do anything about the station, but if enough customers complain it will. PLEASE say something if you are tired of seeing Fox in waiting rooms and public places. -
Had a dentist with T.V.'s in his OR's (13+ / 0-)
I was watching the golf channel and after he came in and started to work on my mouf he changed the channel to Fox News. With a mouth full of cotton and novacaine I was barely able to mumble, "make it stop" and he said, "does that hurt?" and I pointed to the T.V. and said, "yes, my brain". -
I have wondered if this isn't where most of the (12+ / 0-)
Fox viewership is. It's on everywhere here, from the car dealerships to, of course, McDonald's. I've always felt these public spaces were somehow receiving a kickback or discount for having it on all the time. Can anyone confirm/deny that this might be possible? I don't know anyone that has it on all the time at home.[ Parent ] -
I don't have any actual proof but apparently (4+ / 0-)
in some of those places the TVs are actually paid for by Faux under the condition that they can only be on Faux News. Fortunately, they don't bother to put any IR blocking material in front of the receiver for the remote so I just use my TV-B-Gone and shut it off.There is no saving throw against stupid.[ Parent ] -
I've heard some people claim that their huge (6+ / 0-)
ratings are in great part based on these kinds of public venues, where it is really hard to say whether anyone is even paying attention. The most attentive viewers in such places are really pissed off liberals/progressives, and we're definitely not buying their bullshit.Skeptical scrutiny is the means, in both science and religion, by which deep thoughts can be winnowed from deep nonsense. Carl Sagan[ Parent ] -
There is at least one office tower here in (3+ / 0-)
Colorado Springs which, in addition to Fox on the lobby TVs, also have TVs tuned to Fox in the bloody elevators!"By means of shrewd lies, unremittingly repeated, it is possible to make people believe that heaven is hell -- and hell heaven. The greater the lie, the more readily it will be believed." Adolf Hitler[ Parent ] -
My husband once told (33+ / 0-)
a medical receptionist that Fox News was raising his blood pressure before his appointment and he didn't want our insurance co. to classify him as suffering from high blood pressure.
Now that's a pre-existing condition: Fox Induced HBP. -
I get Republicon Touretts every time one of those (7+ / 0-)
@ssh*les opens their mouth. -
At a hotel in Orange County, CA, the TV in my room (5+ / 0-)
was programmed to be on Fux News every time it was turned on. They also had it on in the breakfast room. I sent a letter to the hotel telling them I would never be staying there again and why. I realize the Orange County is very red, but if you're in a hotel, chances are pretty good you don't live there are may not be a Reichtie. -
I ALWAYS ask that the Fake News Channel be shut (7+ / 0-)
I'm paying my money at a restaurant, hotel, whatever. If it's on, I go to someone in charge and tell them I'm offended that they're showing a right-wing news station that independent studies have shown makes Americans LESS knowledgeable about news. I have yet to have anyone turn me down.
At our blood drives at work, there's usually a TV on while we're donating blood. Once it was turned to the Fake News Channel. I said I wasn't donating blood if I had to listen to that crap. It hasn't been on since. -
Actually, (7+ / 0-)
IIRC, more Americans get their news from the broadcast networks' evening news than any other source.
For what THAT's worth.
Of the cable news networks, Fox leads in ratings, but consider that anyone who's not Fox-faithful is getting info from a variety of sources all of which are less nutso than Fox. The individual sources' ratings might be lower, but more actual people are using them, just splitting their attention everywhere EXCEPT Fox."I've had all I can stands, and I can't stands no more." - Popeye the Sailor Man[ Parent ] -
The woman in the next office listens at work (1+ / 0-)
Then she mutes it (with closed captioning) so she can listen to Rushbo on the radio. Gets REALLY bad when she talks to the TV/radio.
No comments:
Post a Comment