Too Much

Earlier last week I saw a program I occasionally watch called Top Chef. In the after the season reunion special, there was an awkward and uncomfortable debate between a contestant on the show, Elia Aboumrad, and a judge on the show, professional chef Tom Colicchio. The debate was over Tom Colicchio's commercial endorsement of Diet Coke, and whether or not that was something a chef of his caliber should endorse. The contestant had said to the press that the chef was "selling out". There was also an implication by Ms. Aboumrad and others that Chef Colicchio should not be selling corn-fed beef in his restaurants, but should support the ethical treatment of cattle by selling grass-fed beef only (the clip is the top video on this link). I also saw an ad last week for an episode of Oprah, and I Tivo'd the show which included many food experts, including Michael Pollan. Michael Pollan wrote the book that I am reading for my Junior Theme, The Omnivore's Dilemma, and is one of the leading experts in the world on the politics of food production. During the week, I also interviewed a corn and soybean expert who told me that corn prices were currently at one of the highest levels ever, if not the highest. The reason I originally chose "food" for my Junior Theme are the current controversies that make the topic all the more interesting to learn about. Every day I learn something new, such as the reasons meat is so cheap, where commodity corn comes from, or how beneficial organic food really is.  With all sorts of interesting current news about food in the media, I am having a hard time knowing what I will and will not include in my Junior Theme.  I wonder, is anyone else having a hard time knowing what not to include in their paper?