Breaking down the draft
Draft Needs:
1. Wide Receiver
2. Free Safety
Draft Picks:
Round 2, Pick 17 (49 Overall): Traded to Seattle for 68th and 105th overall picks
The trade was a bit of a headscratcher since the consensus opinion was that the Bears would pick the best available 2nd tier wide receiver, the likes of which included Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi. Otherwise, they would consider taking a defensive back like Safety William Moore. Robiskie was gone with the 36th pick, but Massaquoi was there for the taking. This draft was regarded as a generally low talent one overall but one with a lot of good second round talent. And of course the Bears drafted out of the second. Consequently Massaquoi was taken with the 50th overall and Moore with the 55th overall. More on the WR debate later.
Round 3, Pick 4 (68 Overall): Jarron Gilbert, DT San Jose St.
Scout.com Ranking: 69 Overall / 9 DE / 4 Stars
CBS Sports Ranking: 49 Overall / 7 DE
ESPN Scouts Inc. Ranking: 60 Overall / 5 DT / Grade - 80
Jarron Gilbert is regarded as a physical freak. He became a youtube phenomenon when he jumped straight out of a swimming pool: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXDSPbZ_OUw
He's 6'5", 290 lbs, strong, and fast. He has experience at DT, but was regarded at being a good fit at DE in the NFL and possible Elephant LB in a 3-4. He was climbing up draft boards as a straight up physical talent. He could fit at DT considering the Bears' needs, and Jerry Angelo has said he likes him most as an under tackle. He doesn't have great technique yet, and his motivation has been questioned. It might not do him justice to call him a project, but he's likely not a starter. It's also notable that Mel Kiper Jr. picked Gilbert as his steal of the draft.
Round 3, Pick 35 (99 Overall): Juaquin Iglesias, WR Oklahoma
Scout.com Ranking: 54 Overall / 8 WR / 4 Stars
CBS Sports Ranking: 79 Overall / 10 WR
ESPN Scouts Inc. Ranking: 111 Overall / 14 WR / Grade - 66
To get a better feel for this pick, we'll compare him to Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie.
Brian Robiskie, WR Ohio State
Scout.com Ranking: 47 Overall / 7 WR / 4 Stars
CBS Sports Ranking: 30 Overall / 5 WR
ESPN Scouts Inc. Ranking: 72 Overall / 10 WR / Grade - 77
Mohamed Massaquoi, WR Goergia
Scout.com Ranking: 115 Overall / 19 WR / 3 Stars
CBS Sports Ranking: 71 Overall / 9 WR
ESPN Scouts Inc. Ranking: 53 Overall / 7 WR / Grade - 83
There's a great degree of disagreement between sources on the 2nd Tier WR's. It seems that Jerry Angelo was hoping for Robiskie to fall to 49, but when that didn't happen they passed on Massaquoi in hopes of getting value in the later rounds. I would say Iglesias with the 99th is indeed value, but Massaquoi was expected by many to be the Bears' choice for WR. The Bears have locked Hester in as the #1, and expect Earl Bennett to be the starter at #2. They were looking for a large possession receiver to lineup across from Hester, and all three prospects would have fit the needs of the Bears. We can see how Massaquoi and Iglesias ranked on team draft boards based on their respective draft positions, so it's hard to buy that Iglesias was a better prospect than Massaquoi.
That being said, Iglesias seems to have all the tools to be a starting receiver. He's a solid route runner who's known for his toughness. The only real knock on him is that he doesn't have a second gear, but he does have great speed out of the blocks with a 4.46 40 time. He can be a very good player and has all the tools to contribute right away but is unlikely to become anything more than that. At 6'1" 210 lbs, he has good size to matchup against NFL defenses. On paper, he does seem to fit all the requirements, and his production at Oklahoma does not show many weaknesses. However, no one expects him to become a great player. We won't see whether passing up on Massaquoi was a mistake for a while, but the jury's out on the Bears' WR choice until we see what happens even though Iglesias appears to have been great value for the compensatory pick. I wasn't watching the draft at the time, but if I had been I imagine I would have been hoping that the Bears would go for Iglesias.
Round 4, Pick 5 (105 Overall): Henry Melton, DE Texas
Scout.com Ranking: 261 Overall / 20 DE / 2 Stars
CBS Sports Ranking: 206 Overall / 17 DE
ESPN Scouts Inc. Ranking: 206 Overall / 17 DE / Grade - 44
Henry Who? This was the Bears' reach of the draft. The DE pool in this year's draft was considered weak, and so the Bears chose to pick based on potential. Melton is a big, quick, and strong talent who is still learning the position. He started at Texas as a fullback, and shows great speed for his size with a 4.65 40 time. Melton is a project at a position the Bears have no immediate need. There were a bunch of higher rated DE's still available, but the assumption is that the Bears think they have the time and depth to turn Melton into a pro-level player. It'll still be a long time before we find out if he was worth it.
Round 4, Pick 19 (119 Overall): D.J. Moore, CB Vanderbilt
Scout.com Ranking: 43 Overall / 6 CB / 4 Stars
CBS Sports Ranking: 56 Overall / 6 DE
ESPN Scouts Inc. Ranking: 38 Overall / 5 DE / Grade - 87
Chicago is quickly becoming Vanderbilt North, but D.J. Moore can play. At one time, he was considered a fringe 1st round pick. He has the tools to play safety, but seeing as how the Bears haven't had much luck converting corners to safeties, he'll likely challenge Vasher and Graham to start at corner. At 5'9", he's undersized but has shown that he has the tools to play the position with 12 interceptions and 17 pass defenses last year. He doesn't have great speed but was fast enough to be a return specialist in college. He was projected to be a good fit as a Cover-2 cornerback. Moore is just plain effective; he plays the position with great instinct and reacts quickly to routes. He does show good strength for his size as well as good ball-handling ability. He likely slipped so far because of his size, but the Bears have enough depth at CB to give a chance to a player who has proved he's effective. He's confident and will likely come into the season with a chip on his shoulder.
Round 5, Pick 4 (140 Overall): Johnny Knox, WR Abilene Christian
Scout.com Ranking: 249 Overall / 31 WR / 2 Stars
CBS Sports Ranking: 151 Overall / 20 WR
ESPN Scouts Inc. Ranking: 115 Overall / 15 DE / Grade - 65
Johnny Knox is the fastest receiver available in this year's draft. He was productive at a small school, and climbed draft boards after the combine. He has Devin Hester speed but needs to work on his route running. At 5'11" 185 lbs, he has below-average bulk, but that hasn't prevented him from playing physical. He also needs to improve his footwork getting in and out of breaks. Knox is another upside pick. His speed is highly coveted, and he does have decent hands. With the Bears' current pool of WR's, they have more than enough room to add another prospect, but it's hard to say if they did enough to complement their acquisition of Cutler.
Round 5, Pick 18 (154 Overall): Marcus Freeman, OLB Ohio State
Scout.com Ranking: 81 Overall / 6 OLB / 4 Stars
CBS Sports Ranking: 67 Overall / 8 OLB
ESPN Scouts Inc. Ranking: 85 Overall / 8 OLB / Grade - 72
Marcus Freeman is a talented athlete with good speed at the Linebacker position. He is maybe a bit undersized, but had great production paired with Laurinitus at OSU. He's a good tackler but has some difficulty shedding blocks. There are some questions about his durability, but in general he's a great talent with the tools, speed, and strength to play anywhere at LB. This was a straight up value pick. The Bears have no great need here, but since he was available they went ahead and built some depth. He'll likely be a special teamer as well.
Round 6, Pick 17 (190 Overall): Al Afalava, SS Oregon State
Scout.com Ranking: 290 Overall / 23 S / 2 Stars
CBS Sports Ranking: 257 Overall / 9 SS
ESPN Scouts Inc. Ranking: 28 S / Grade - 30
Afalava has good size for the safety position, but he's really built for Strong Safety. He has decent speed with a 4.48 40 time, but lacks the range to play the Free Safety position. 6 rounds so far and no Free Safety. Was there a better Free Safety available here? It's hard to say, but chances are the Bears won't be making an attempt to convert Afalava. So where does Afalava fit. He's also likely to be a special teamer, but he's being billed as a run stopping safety. He's a huge hitter and has a reputation for his knockout blows.
Round 7, Pick 37 (246 Overall): Lance Louis, OG San Diego State
Scout.com Ranking: 290 Overall / 23 S / 2 Stars
CBS Sports Ranking: 233 Overall / 12 OG
ESPN Scouts Inc. Ranking: 28 OG / Grade - 30
Lance Louis is a quick Offensive Guard. He's currently lacking in skills, but the Bears have plans to convert him to a run-blocking tight end due to his size and speed. He'll likely compete for a roster spot.
Round 7, Pick 42 (251 Overall): Derek Kinder, WR Pittsburgh
Kinder has good size and hands at the position, but is lacking in speed. Not sure what Angelo especially liked about him, but was higly endorsed by Pitt coach, Wannstedt.
Undrafted Signings
Eric Peterman, WR, Northwestern
Mike Rivera, LB, Kansas
Dahna Deleston, SS, UConn
Will Taufoou, FB, Cal
Dennis Conley, OG, Hampton
Johan Asiata, OG, UNLV
Kevin Malast, LB, Rutgers
Tyrell Fenroy, RB, Louisiana-Lafayette
Overview
The Bears did manage to replenish their receiving corps, but it's hard to say how effective this group of receivers will be. Angelo seems to think that with Cutler as the QB, the receivers are bound to get better; however, we'll have to see how things turn out to get a good reading on all the young players. Iglesias fits in with what they had in mind, and Knox was a talent expected to go much higher.
The Bears don't seem to have addressed their needs at Free Safety. The majority of the undrafted signees they brought on will be special teamers. Taufoou was a coveted Fullback prospect, and many teams were competing to sign him. There is some word that Afalava may work out at FS, and he has experience at both Safety positions. Afalava was expected to go undrafted, so this was biggest reach pick the Bears made.
The 2nd round pick turned into two defensive ends in Gilbert and Melton. Both will be projects, but with DE contracts expiring next year, they were needed for the future anyway. It's hard to tell if they will pan out and be ready in time.
It's difficult to say that the Bears met their needs, but they did get some great value for their picks. They seemed to have stressed athleticism this year and added a mix of experienced players, ready to contribute and projects with very high ceilings. Overall, I would give them a B, but the results of this draft won't bear fruit for a while to come.
Part 2 to come: Breaking Down the Roster
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
MSG
Nong Shim's Onion Flavored Rings have always been an enjoyable snack, and with only 130 calories per serving (50 calories from fat) and 3 servings per package, they're a lesser evil in the chips and snacks universe.
http://www.amazon.com/Nong-Shim-Onion-3-17-Ounce-Package/dp/B0024L3FDW
Yet, one look at the nutrition facts gives the consumer reason to stop gorging on them. That's right. One of the handful on ingredients that go into the Onion Rings is monosodium glutamate, better known as MSG.
MSG has a bad rap today, but that wasn't always the case. MSG has been associated with dozens of different food evils. Some say it's a preservative; others claim it's only a taste enhancer. It has been labeled as a carcinogen and blamed for causing "Chinese Restaurant Syndrome."
Here in the U.S., the MSG industry has suffered from a windfall of bad press; however, until recently, MSG was still being used in copious amounts in Asia. With the Asian consumer becoming increasingly concerned about the effects of MSG, food manufacturers have been reducing, eliminating, and masking the use of it.
It had been several months since I picked up a bag of Onion Rings, and they tasted the same as they always had. But something was distinctively different about the ingredients list; replacing MSG was a different ingredient going by the name of hydrolysed soy protein. The MSG enemy claims that hydrolyzed protein is simply another name for monosodium glutamate. So the questions are:
"What exactly am I eating?"
and
"Exactly how bad is it for me?"
Monosodium glutamate is a sodium salt of glutamic acid, also called glutamate. Glutamic acid is an amino acid naturally occuring in certain foods and is present in protein in its bound form. In its pure form it is a white crystalline powder looking and behaving similar to salt in food. The first and largest producer of MSG is Ajinomoto. Japanese researcher, Dr. Ikeda first isolated glutamate and identified it as being responsible for a fifth taste, which he labeled 'umami.' 'Umami' can be roughly translated to 'Yumminess' and is more commonly referred to as 'Savoury' in English. There is some disagreement as to whether umami really exists as a fifth taste, or glutamate simply enhances some of the other tastes like saltiness. It's identified as a brothy perhaps meaty flavor identified best in foods like cheese, mushrooms, and tomatoes.
Nobody really denies the fact that MSG makes things taste good, but the majority of consumers believe that there are enough negative side effects for one to avoid it at all costs. There is a lot of conflicting opinions out there, but the consensus is that MSG can be responsible for an allergy like syndrome. A 1995 independent study identified MSG as being responsible for 'MSG Symptom Complex' in an unknown percentage of individuals. The trigger amount was a dosage between 0.5g and 2.5g.
As for other effects of MSG, the research out there is very conflicting. A lot of pro-MSG finds have been funded by the glutamate industry, and a lot of anti-MSG finds have utilized questionable research methods. A 2002 study attempted to link MSG with retinal thinning in rats. It turns out they were putting in 20g of MSG for every 100g of rat food. A 1970 study by Dr. Olney found that MSG consumption of 1g/kg body weight was enough to produce brain lesions in baby monkeys. This study effectively eliminated MSG from baby food at the time. Glutamates are back in baby food today, but considering that human milk has ten times the glutamic acid as cow milk, baby food MSG quantities are relatively small. MSG critics today claim that the food industry has shut down funding for MSG research. Author of Excitotoxins, Dr. Blaylock stands out as an authority who seems to blame MSG for everything. Realistically, others believe that the scientific community has become bored with the subject.
MSG has not been effectively linked to cancer and is not a preservative. One source states that the production of hydrolyzed protein can introduce carginogenic propanols in unknown quantities, but nobody seems to claim that there is enough of a carcinogenic effect in whatever glutamate product to be concerned. Glutamic acid has been linked to overeating by way of hypoglycemia. Glutamic acid receptors in the pancreas instruct it to release insulin causing blood sugar levels to drop and in turn causing the person to become hungry. The levels to which this is true has not yet been quantified.
The one side effect of MSG that government and health organizations warn against is the 'MSG Symptom Complex.' So how prevalent is it? The enemies of MSG claim that as much as 25-30% of the population suffers from it. A 1970 independent study fed 11 humans 147 grams of it every day for 6 weeks and found no negative side effects.
It's easy enough to simply say that if you think you suffer from eating MSG, then just avoid it. In that case, you would have to avoid KFC, Burger King, Doritos and millions of other food that contain some amount of it. Most of the time you won't even realize you're eating it because if goes by a different name.
Remember my Onion Rings? The hydrolyzed soy protein is basically in there to replace MSG. Hydrolyzation of protein occurs when isolated protein is broken down into its free amino acids by boiling it in hydrochloric acid. Some claim that hydrolyzed protein is just another name for MSG, but in reality you have all those other amino acids as well, and MSG only accounts for 10-20% of the composition of hydrolyzed proteins. The FDA doesn't require manufacturers to label hydrolyzed protein as MSG because "the chemical breakdown of proteins may result in the formation of free glutamate that joins with free sodium to form MSG. " But when you take your highly acidic hydrolyzed solution and neutralize it with sodium hydroxide, those free sodium atoms happen to be there for the free glutamate to join with.
How many are willing to give up their favorite foods in an attempt to eliminate glutamates from their diet? They won't be very successful. Some people differentiate between free glutamates and bound glutamates, amino acids connected to each other in the form of protein, but much of the protein you eat is broken down into free glutamates via cooking or digestion. The International Food Information Council estimates that the average daily consumsuption of glutamate at 11g in the form of protein and less than 1g from MSG. Another source estimates MSG consumption at 4g per week.
The days of Chinese restaurants using packets of MSG are gone, and although you may eat a lot of it every once in a while, on a day to day basis there isn't much need for worry. It's hardly convincing that the relatively small amounts of MSG can cause people to overeat to the point of obesity. Even the critics have difficulty differentiating between manufactured glutamates and natural glutamates. And considering that 1.5 oz of Parmesan cheese is the equivalent of 1g of glutamate, you will be eating a decent amount of it regardless.
The Japanese in particular embrace cooking with umami, and there are enough natural sources of free glutamic acid to make it a tasty part of your diet. My take on MSG in general? Don't worry about it too much. I don't think my Onion Rings are going to trigger the negative side effects of MSG. If you're eating enough of the fast food and snack items that frequently contain more MSG, 'MSG Symptom Complex' and insulin production should be the least of your worries. You might need to be more concerned about things like heart failure. On the other hand, natural foods contain free glutamates in just enough quantities to make your food delicious. Now you know why your pizza tastes so good.
Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monosodium_glutamate
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glutamic_acid_(flavor)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umami
MSG Critics:
http://www.truthinlabeling.org/index.html
http://www.healthdangers.com/drugs/MSG/msg-research.htm
http://westonaprice.org/msg/index.html
http://www.msgtruth.org/
Organizations:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Help/FAQs_Flavorings/index.asp
http://www.fda.gov/FDAC/features/2003/103_msg.html
http://www.ific.org/publications/brochures/msgbroch.cfm
Fairly Objective:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2005/jul/10/foodanddrink.features3
http://chinesefood.about.com/od/healthconcerns/p/MSG.htm
Ajinomoto:
http://www.msginfo.com/msg_faq_saf.asp?bhcd2=1240282756
Cooking with Umami:
http://www.justhungry.com/dashi-stock-granules-ajinomoto-msg-and-health-considerations
http://ilhamilyas.blogspot.com/2008/09/delicious-miso-soup.html
http://digitaltelevision.wetpaint.com/page/UMAMI+AND+GLUTAMATE+SPICES?t=anon
http://www.amazon.com/Nong-Shim-Onion-3-17-Ounce-Package/dp/B0024L3FDW
Yet, one look at the nutrition facts gives the consumer reason to stop gorging on them. That's right. One of the handful on ingredients that go into the Onion Rings is monosodium glutamate, better known as MSG.
MSG has a bad rap today, but that wasn't always the case. MSG has been associated with dozens of different food evils. Some say it's a preservative; others claim it's only a taste enhancer. It has been labeled as a carcinogen and blamed for causing "Chinese Restaurant Syndrome."
Here in the U.S., the MSG industry has suffered from a windfall of bad press; however, until recently, MSG was still being used in copious amounts in Asia. With the Asian consumer becoming increasingly concerned about the effects of MSG, food manufacturers have been reducing, eliminating, and masking the use of it.
It had been several months since I picked up a bag of Onion Rings, and they tasted the same as they always had. But something was distinctively different about the ingredients list; replacing MSG was a different ingredient going by the name of hydrolysed soy protein. The MSG enemy claims that hydrolyzed protein is simply another name for monosodium glutamate. So the questions are:
"What exactly am I eating?"
and
"Exactly how bad is it for me?"
Monosodium glutamate is a sodium salt of glutamic acid, also called glutamate. Glutamic acid is an amino acid naturally occuring in certain foods and is present in protein in its bound form. In its pure form it is a white crystalline powder looking and behaving similar to salt in food. The first and largest producer of MSG is Ajinomoto. Japanese researcher, Dr. Ikeda first isolated glutamate and identified it as being responsible for a fifth taste, which he labeled 'umami.' 'Umami' can be roughly translated to 'Yumminess' and is more commonly referred to as 'Savoury' in English. There is some disagreement as to whether umami really exists as a fifth taste, or glutamate simply enhances some of the other tastes like saltiness. It's identified as a brothy perhaps meaty flavor identified best in foods like cheese, mushrooms, and tomatoes.
Nobody really denies the fact that MSG makes things taste good, but the majority of consumers believe that there are enough negative side effects for one to avoid it at all costs. There is a lot of conflicting opinions out there, but the consensus is that MSG can be responsible for an allergy like syndrome. A 1995 independent study identified MSG as being responsible for 'MSG Symptom Complex' in an unknown percentage of individuals. The trigger amount was a dosage between 0.5g and 2.5g.
As for other effects of MSG, the research out there is very conflicting. A lot of pro-MSG finds have been funded by the glutamate industry, and a lot of anti-MSG finds have utilized questionable research methods. A 2002 study attempted to link MSG with retinal thinning in rats. It turns out they were putting in 20g of MSG for every 100g of rat food. A 1970 study by Dr. Olney found that MSG consumption of 1g/kg body weight was enough to produce brain lesions in baby monkeys. This study effectively eliminated MSG from baby food at the time. Glutamates are back in baby food today, but considering that human milk has ten times the glutamic acid as cow milk, baby food MSG quantities are relatively small. MSG critics today claim that the food industry has shut down funding for MSG research. Author of Excitotoxins, Dr. Blaylock stands out as an authority who seems to blame MSG for everything. Realistically, others believe that the scientific community has become bored with the subject.
MSG has not been effectively linked to cancer and is not a preservative. One source states that the production of hydrolyzed protein can introduce carginogenic propanols in unknown quantities, but nobody seems to claim that there is enough of a carcinogenic effect in whatever glutamate product to be concerned. Glutamic acid has been linked to overeating by way of hypoglycemia. Glutamic acid receptors in the pancreas instruct it to release insulin causing blood sugar levels to drop and in turn causing the person to become hungry. The levels to which this is true has not yet been quantified.
The one side effect of MSG that government and health organizations warn against is the 'MSG Symptom Complex.' So how prevalent is it? The enemies of MSG claim that as much as 25-30% of the population suffers from it. A 1970 independent study fed 11 humans 147 grams of it every day for 6 weeks and found no negative side effects.
It's easy enough to simply say that if you think you suffer from eating MSG, then just avoid it. In that case, you would have to avoid KFC, Burger King, Doritos and millions of other food that contain some amount of it. Most of the time you won't even realize you're eating it because if goes by a different name.
Remember my Onion Rings? The hydrolyzed soy protein is basically in there to replace MSG. Hydrolyzation of protein occurs when isolated protein is broken down into its free amino acids by boiling it in hydrochloric acid. Some claim that hydrolyzed protein is just another name for MSG, but in reality you have all those other amino acids as well, and MSG only accounts for 10-20% of the composition of hydrolyzed proteins. The FDA doesn't require manufacturers to label hydrolyzed protein as MSG because "the chemical breakdown of proteins may result in the formation of free glutamate that joins with free sodium to form MSG. " But when you take your highly acidic hydrolyzed solution and neutralize it with sodium hydroxide, those free sodium atoms happen to be there for the free glutamate to join with.
How many are willing to give up their favorite foods in an attempt to eliminate glutamates from their diet? They won't be very successful. Some people differentiate between free glutamates and bound glutamates, amino acids connected to each other in the form of protein, but much of the protein you eat is broken down into free glutamates via cooking or digestion. The International Food Information Council estimates that the average daily consumsuption of glutamate at 11g in the form of protein and less than 1g from MSG. Another source estimates MSG consumption at 4g per week.
The days of Chinese restaurants using packets of MSG are gone, and although you may eat a lot of it every once in a while, on a day to day basis there isn't much need for worry. It's hardly convincing that the relatively small amounts of MSG can cause people to overeat to the point of obesity. Even the critics have difficulty differentiating between manufactured glutamates and natural glutamates. And considering that 1.5 oz of Parmesan cheese is the equivalent of 1g of glutamate, you will be eating a decent amount of it regardless.
The Japanese in particular embrace cooking with umami, and there are enough natural sources of free glutamic acid to make it a tasty part of your diet. My take on MSG in general? Don't worry about it too much. I don't think my Onion Rings are going to trigger the negative side effects of MSG. If you're eating enough of the fast food and snack items that frequently contain more MSG, 'MSG Symptom Complex' and insulin production should be the least of your worries. You might need to be more concerned about things like heart failure. On the other hand, natural foods contain free glutamates in just enough quantities to make your food delicious. Now you know why your pizza tastes so good.
Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monosodium_glutamate
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glutamic_acid_(flavor)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umami
MSG Critics:
http://www.truthinlabeling.org/index.html
http://www.healthdangers.com/drugs/MSG/msg-research.htm
http://westonaprice.org/msg/index.html
http://www.msgtruth.org/
Organizations:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Help/FAQs_Flavorings/index.asp
http://www.fda.gov/FDAC/features/2003/103_msg.html
http://www.ific.org/publications/brochures/msgbroch.cfm
Fairly Objective:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2005/jul/10/foodanddrink.features3
http://chinesefood.about.com/od/healthconcerns/p/MSG.htm
Ajinomoto:
http://www.msginfo.com/msg_faq_saf.asp?bhcd2=1240282756
Cooking with Umami:
http://www.justhungry.com/dashi-stock-granules-ajinomoto-msg-and-health-considerations
http://ilhamilyas.blogspot.com/2008/09/delicious-miso-soup.html
http://digitaltelevision.wetpaint.com/page/UMAMI+AND+GLUTAMATE+SPICES?t=anon
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Working for Obama
I have no justification for what I'm going to say, but doesn't it seem like there wouldn't be a more fun president to work for? I mean with the exception of Bill Clinton (bad joke). It's only been two months since President Obama took office, and his visibility is leaps and bounds greater than any previous president. Below is an article mentioning a handful of the places he's been and things he's been up to:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iOmBrSJce9WwmkDD2o9EU8KT0RxAD979VRU00
What is missing from this article are his appearance on The Tonight Show as well as his NCAA tournament picks on ESPN. It's clear that not only is he working at a torpid pace, but he has a team behind him working just as hard. Two items that can potentially be on the job description for the Obama's administrative support staff are NCAA Men's Basketball research and playlist selection for the Queen of England's iPod.
Obama himself is clearly knowledgable about basketball in general, but there is no doubt that someone behind the scenes did all the necessary research. Year after year, a large number of office workers pour over their brackets, trying to determine if Memphis is the same without Derrick Rose or if Ty Lawson will be able to get over his toe injury in time. Someone in Washington poured over a bracket but probably didn't end up making any picks. Instead he provided enough contextual evidence and notes with various recommendations to aid the President in forming a bracket and appear on television.
In the case of the Queen's iPod, I imagine the following events taking place. Obama talks to a small team briefly about how he needs to make an impression on the Queen of England and is thinking about giving her a unique gift. He has some other things to take care of but expects something by the end of the day. So the team sits down and throws a couple of things at each other. People pitch designer, vintage, and rare items to each other; however, the catch is that this gift really has to be something unique. After a little while the team determines that they need to settle on something that's hip yet cultured to match Obama's image. After more discussion and brainstorming, they somehow land on filling an iPod with various Broadway tunes. They decide that 40 would be an appropriate number of songs, and then spend the rest of the day researching and listening to whatever noteworthy song they can get their hands on. At day's close, they reassemble and pick out the 40 that'll make it onto this iPod.
I'm sure the average day for the Obama staff is more mundane and political, but I love the fact that the kinds of things someone might sit down and do for leisure make it onto another's job profile. These kinds of public displays have given Obama much more exposure than his predecessors and not all of it has been good. Notably his "Special Olympics" wisecrack brought criticism, and less notably supporters of women's basketball found fault in Obama's lack of a women's bracket. I take some enjoyment out of these antics, and I've undoubtedly fallen into the President's trap as I view him as less of a politician than the rest.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iOmBrSJce9WwmkDD2o9EU8KT0RxAD979VRU00
What is missing from this article are his appearance on The Tonight Show as well as his NCAA tournament picks on ESPN. It's clear that not only is he working at a torpid pace, but he has a team behind him working just as hard. Two items that can potentially be on the job description for the Obama's administrative support staff are NCAA Men's Basketball research and playlist selection for the Queen of England's iPod.
Obama himself is clearly knowledgable about basketball in general, but there is no doubt that someone behind the scenes did all the necessary research. Year after year, a large number of office workers pour over their brackets, trying to determine if Memphis is the same without Derrick Rose or if Ty Lawson will be able to get over his toe injury in time. Someone in Washington poured over a bracket but probably didn't end up making any picks. Instead he provided enough contextual evidence and notes with various recommendations to aid the President in forming a bracket and appear on television.
In the case of the Queen's iPod, I imagine the following events taking place. Obama talks to a small team briefly about how he needs to make an impression on the Queen of England and is thinking about giving her a unique gift. He has some other things to take care of but expects something by the end of the day. So the team sits down and throws a couple of things at each other. People pitch designer, vintage, and rare items to each other; however, the catch is that this gift really has to be something unique. After a little while the team determines that they need to settle on something that's hip yet cultured to match Obama's image. After more discussion and brainstorming, they somehow land on filling an iPod with various Broadway tunes. They decide that 40 would be an appropriate number of songs, and then spend the rest of the day researching and listening to whatever noteworthy song they can get their hands on. At day's close, they reassemble and pick out the 40 that'll make it onto this iPod.
I'm sure the average day for the Obama staff is more mundane and political, but I love the fact that the kinds of things someone might sit down and do for leisure make it onto another's job profile. These kinds of public displays have given Obama much more exposure than his predecessors and not all of it has been good. Notably his "Special Olympics" wisecrack brought criticism, and less notably supporters of women's basketball found fault in Obama's lack of a women's bracket. I take some enjoyment out of these antics, and I've undoubtedly fallen into the President's trap as I view him as less of a politician than the rest.
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