If you use Facebook, you know there is a Like button you can click on to show you like, support, approve or think positively of it in some way. There is no Dislike button, probably to keep the social experience positive, among other reasons. However, this lack of a Dislike button isn’t serving the need on identifying true social public opinion on any matter that might be controversial. If all you ever saw were all the people who Liked something controversial, how would you ever know how many people might Dislike it like in a real poll?
Tag Archive: christian
Today (Feb 4), the H.J. Heinz Ketchup Co. introduced a more user-friendly ketchup package that isn’t so messy (press release and graphics). In it, Heinz will also put healthier ketchup made from better ingredients, and in three times the amount per new packet compared to the current (old) one. This packaging change is the first Heinz has made in 42 years, though the new packets will appear along side the old packets, not replace them, for those people who just won’t change. Smart move! However, I question if the new ketchup and packaging will really make things better for the consumer for reasons of waste and larger packet size. But let’s get the deal first for context to compare.
New package
Traditionally, Heinz’ ketchup packets have been those tear at the tip packets that can get a little messy pending your usage situation and level of motor skills. Now, it looks like a bottle-shaped jam packet, which looks more like branding than revolutionary. You can lift up one corner to dip when eating in a car, or you can open it at the tip and squeeze out the ketchup. The latter isn’t common to jam but you don’t squeeze your jam to dip, either. Or at least most people I know don’t. As for performance, please have a look at the news summary and Popular Mechanics test videos below.
I know, Popular Mechanics test. Pretty rad!
Better ingredients
In March, Heinz’ ketchup will be made from sugar instead of high fructose and corn sweetener. So that’s what they’ve been putting in the stuff for 40+ years, eh? High fructose and corn sweetener. Well, good on Heinz cause there’s no sense crying about spilled ketchup now. In the summer, the product, called Simply Heinz Tomato Ketchup, will also contain 15% less sodium than currently. Very good, but this will be a bit like changing the taste of Coke, as far as I’m concerned. We’ll see how things go and if they’ll switch back or make both versions, current and new, available. If so, I’d recommend labeling the current version Less Healthy Heinz Tomato Ketchup (to be kind). That should keep a few people from using it.
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BUT WAIT A MINUTE!!!
The changes made by Heinz are good to some extent, but they seemed to have forgotten about a few other issues.
Excess ketchup waste caused by larger volume packets
People often hand out more ketchup packets than one needs, in part because the packets are small. I make it a point to give back the unused packets, as unsanitary as that might seem to some. But if the new packages are 3X as large, even if given out 1 packet per customer unless more is asked for, there’s going to be more waste because any opened packet has 3X the potential amount of ketchup to be wasted. I only consume two of the current packages at a time, for example, so I’d be wasting 1/3 of the new packet if I get it every time out. Overall, it’s good for Heinz’s bottom line cause they make money on packets sold, not packets consumed, and have no penalties on food and packaging of packets thrown away.
New packaging waste not environmentally friendly
As far as anyone can tell, the new packaging is not environmentally friendly. There was not any such word on the Heinz press release, and the Christian Science Monitor reports no such indication, either, with a call to Heinz not returned. That’s terribly disappointing for a company with an environmental section on their website. Their annual report (5.8 MB PDF) talks a lot about 20% solid waste reduction, but that’s not in the packaging. It’s all plant reductions and potential outcomes of awareness sessions for employees. In other words, if environmental sustainability were sweetness, Heinz is still on the high fructose corn sweetener route, and not sugar. The current packaging is not recyclable, by the way, and the rigid new packaging is only potentially more damaging, even if a tad smaller in overall volume and weight than 3 of the old packets.
Excess waste from more personalized packaging
With the new packaging being more portable, each person could have his/her own packet to dip in, which may not have been done previously. That is, you and your friends could have just had a few mounds of ketchup for a half a dozen of you to dip your fries (or chips) in before. Now, you each might well just get your own packet, each wasting a bit of ketchup rather than a bit left over in two mounds, not to mention more packages wasted.
Excess ketchup not good for the diet
Given more ketchup in a packet, people will just tend to eat more of it, especially if they think about it as being healthier than before. Then there will be the crowd who won’t let any food go to waste unless they have to. For them, a little excess ketchup is not worthy to discard, so they will also consume more ketchup. Sure, the ingredient improvements are good, but will it be a net benefit? Sugar isn’t exactly good in excess, even if better than high fructose corn sweetener. As for the 15% reduction in sodium, well, if you consume 15% more ketchup because you think it’s healthier or eat more due to the larger packets, you just negated that. You do worst eating greater than 15% more. Now, how many do you think will only eat 15% more?
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So is there a NET improvement with the new Heinz ketchup and packet?
Not in my opinion. At least not what I’ve learned from it.
- More food waste
- As much solid waste or more
- Solid waste is potentially more environmentally damaging
- People consuming more ketchup that could easily negate ingredient improvements
- Biased corporate spin to only look at the good side of something when the bad side is potentially greater
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What do you think?
Flesch-Kincaid Grade Reading Level: 7.7
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Book and Theory Background
Daniel J. Levitin wrote an absolutely brilliant book called The World in Six Songs, supported by a great website with the many music samples referenced, among other great related material.
My basic paraphrasing of the concept is this. All the songs in the world could be fit into at least one of six categories providing an evolutionary benefit to humanity, often ultimately tied to our social nature.
The book and website offer far more detailed interpretations, of course, but I will expand on my paraphrasing with each post and the associated topic.
In a series of posts, I will describe each of the six categories in brief, one at a time:
- Friendship
- Joy
- Comfort
- Knowledge
- Religion
- Love
I will describe what the categories are about because they are not as limited in scope as the category names suggest. I will then supply one of my choices and ask all readers to do the same if they so wish. In the seventh post of the series, I will offer the chance to put the song choices all together so readers can read the entire set on one post. I do this because it would be a long post to describe all six categories at once, but to have all the answers in one place might be nice.
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This post focuses on Songs of Knowledge
July 30th add-on in italics, from Dan Levitin in a summary article
Historically, songs have been used to transmit various information such as religious texts, survival and life lessons, and even the ABCs. Studies have shown information set to song is memorized more reliably than when simple rote memory is used. Increasing the reliability of transmitted information provides the next generation with valuable information.
Songs of knowledge are aptly named because they preserve and spread knowledge. However, it’s not that simple since we have language, which is a far more versatile means of conveying and preserving language than music, having far fewer limitations in composition. Language, though, doesn’t have nearly the mnemonic power of music to help preserve the knowledge being conveyed. This was of great value before we had written language, though it should be pointed out that Daniel Levitin did not pick sides whether the musical or linguistic brain came first. Rather, he favoured the likely to be correct idea they developed together. Another limitation of language is that it can be too specific.
For difficult or awkward situations, a little ambiguity afforded by songs might actually help dissolve conflict, or at least manage social uncertainty, benefiting survival. Songs are also more genuine because it is partly an emotional output, not a rational one, and not as easily to fake.
Finally, knowledge songs are performed by many people, and often. That is partly how they are maintained as per oral history. You can neither preserve nor spread songs if only one person knew it and/or it were rarely performed. Too risky to lose those songs and their knowledge forever. These songs are also sometimes sung in groups, which helps identify those who can bond into groups that increase chances of survival and promote evolution.
As for some examples, many kids’ songs like those which teach counting and the alphabets are excellent, albeit simple examples of knowledge songs. With English as my primary language, the Alphabet Song comes to mind.
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This is the same tune as Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star by the way, although the latter helps teach things like rhyme rather than an alphabetical sequence… kind of like the video link demonstrates hilariously.
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However, on the other end of the spectrum is the Oral Torah, which, as a Christian metaphor if you are not familiar with it, is a bit like reciting the Bible by memory by song. That’s not entirely accurate, with the history of the Oral Torah being very interesting compared to the written Torah, but you get the idea. Despite the religious text, though, the “song” is meant to preserve and spread knowledge. Religious songs, covered next, are more about rituals. Finally, in the middle are songs like those sang by traveling minstrels and pop songs that tell of historical events like Gordon Lightfoot’s The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
Audio sample of songs from the Knowledge chapter in The World in Six Songs can be found on the website. No direct link was available, but click on the Songs menu option and appropriate page number range link carrying pages 137 to 188. Please note that not all songs are meant as samples of Knowledge songs. Some are just referenced material in the book text.
Daniel Levitin talks more about the impact of songs in our lives, including songs of knowledge, in this video below.
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Author Daniel Levitin chose
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My choice for Song of Knowledge is
Woodstock, by Joni Mitchell (lyrics).
This was a really tough one for me to answer because I don’t live in a place and time of traveling minstrels and some choices I had thought about were covered (Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald). However, after thinking long and hard, I decided on my choice above. While not a full historical account by any means, Joni at least wasn’t there like most of the minstrel singers would not have been at the events about which they sang.
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What is your choice for Song of Knowledge?
Please leave your choice as a comment.
Lyrics and YouTube/audio link would greatly enhance your answer so readers can know more about your choice. They are not necessary, though, and not possible if no lyrics or version exist.
You can include songs you wrote as a choice, too!
Flesch-Kincaid Grade Reading Level: 10.3
