User:Stevenarntson/group spaces/Archive/English Composition/group 6

NOUN:JUICE.

MEMBERS:COLIN, BLAKE, MASAKI


 * Colinfergusonrichardward 19:45, 15 January 2009 (UTC)
 * Blakeedwards

overview
Our group chose the noun "juice." We explored its different definitions through research on fruit juice, short stories incorporating its more abstract and metaphorical uses, and poetry written basically just with all different types of "juice" in mind.

summary
Our group explored the noun "juice" most successfully after narrowing our focus down to one of it's meanings. You will see below that the dictionary has presented multiple meanings and definitions. In our research portion, you will find information and differing angles on fruit juice's health benefits and roles in many different tasty beverages. We have two fictional stories: one incorporating science fiction elements and zen-like themes, revolving around the protagonist's involvement in some sort of future ritual in a dream world or something. The other story revolves around life and death, after-life, "too much juice" consumption, presented in a nightmarish way, an "out of body experience." Our poetry section includes the 2 renga-style poems we did in class, both about parties. One of them seems to be "pro-partying", the other "anti-partying".

reflective assessment
1. good We worked together with people that we may have not expected to, and meeting people who maybe you wouldn't have met otherwise is awesome. There was a very wide variety of information on the "noun" juice, which made the research component challenging in a good way. Looking at a certain "noun" in various ways and expressing what we looked at through various means was interesting. Our group got along well, and was polite and patient with each other, while collaborating on ideas very open-mindedly.

2. bad There could have been more communication outside of class about the assignment. We did utilize emailing, but not until some of the last weeks of the class. This could have been started earlier. It was tough for our group to make decisions on "who did what portion" of the assignment, so in the last weeks, we just sort of started to do whatever and pieced it together. If we had made earlier choices on "who did what's", it may have made the assignment go more smoothly.

3. future strategies Exchanging phone numbers and calls consistently! This will be helpful in any group-oriented task. I think we've learned that phones are VERY HELPFUL in a team-effort. In the future, we shall utilize these things that everyone owns. And as always, procrastinating is not great. We will strive to get things together earlier in future efforts. Phones will help with this as well.

research
DEFINITIONS AND USAGES OF THE NOUN "JUICE" (as presented by the Merriam-Webster dictionary) 1] the extractable fluid contents of cells or tissues 2] a/ plural: the natural fluids of an animal body
 * b/ the liquid or moisture contained in something

3] a/ the inherent quality of a thing (essence, strength, vigor, vitality) 4] a medium (as electricity or gasoline) that supplies power 5] slang: liquor 6] slang: exorbitant interest exacted of a borrower under the threat of violence 7] slang: influence, clout 8] a motivating, inspiring, or enabling force or factor

Drinking 100% fruit juice during the day has always been thought of to be an awesome part of a healthy diet. Recently, and probably due to its sweet taste, people have been confused about juice. As recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, 8-12 ounces of 100% fruit juice daily is an appropriate amount. It has been thought that fruit juice has high sugar and calorie amounts. If a juice is to be called a “fruit juice” in any store, than it means that in the bottle its contained in, there is nothing besides actual juice from fruits.

There are many different kinds of juice drinks, however, which are not to be confused with fruit juice. Juice drinks contain added sugar and blended juices from concentrate, as well as preservatives and coloring agents. Perhaps this could be some of the reason why over the last decade or so, many people have been questioning the affects that juice as a product has on health. People have been especially concerned about children’s juice intake, because it is cheaper for public schools to serve juice drinks rather than fruit juice.

Fruit juice has the same sugar profile as the fruit that it came from. Therefore, it is a safe assumption to say that 100% fruit juice has extremely similar roles to play in one’s health as the fruit that it was juiced from. The amount of juice from a fruit counts as much nutritionally as the fruit itself on the food pyramid. For instance, if you have half a cup of orange juice, it has roughly the same nutritional value as half a cup of dried oranges, or even half a cup of fresh orange slices. Drinking a cup of 100% fruit juice is hardly different from eating a cup of fruit, nutritionally speaking. Fresh fruit is really good too, so mix it up. Eat some fruit. Drink some fruit. It’s good either way and in both ways individually.

After talking to my friend Carlos, whom which I interviewed, I heard a different angle on fruit juice. Carlos works at Super Supplements, a health care products store. He is also hypo-glycemic, meaning that he is super sensitive to sugar content in foods. I asked him about his opinion on juice and he straight up said that fruit juice wasn't good for you. I think his opinion is totally valid because of his condition, however it may not apply to all of us. He did have some interesting and valid points though. Carlos said that when it comes to fruit's nutritional value, its basically all fiber and sugar. He stated that, "when you juice a fruit, the fiber is left behind and you are left with all that sugar." His suggestion is that you dilute the juice with water, for instance, drinking a glass half full of water and half full of orange or apple juice. "That'll take the sugar content down, but you'll still get some of the taste if you really like juice that much", he says. "That's why you hear about peoples' stomachs not getting along well with Jamba Juice," he continued. "Its just a bunch of different sugary juices put together." After he said that, I agreed, because I don't really like Jamba Juice even though I love drinking fruit juice. "Yeah," he replied, "Like, when I get a Jamba Juice drink, I just end up running to the bathroom because it makes my stomach all upset, but that's not just me, lots of people get tummy aches from that place." I laughed after he said that, and thanked him for his opinion. Carlos does condone drinking vegetable juice though. "Veggie juice is super good for you," were his words. "Like vegetables have more in them than fruits, and less that can be lost through like mashing them up and stuff," he elaborated. So if your really sensitive to sugar like Carlos is, maybe dilute your fruit juice with water or tea, or go for vegetable juice instead.

It seems that since fruit juice has sugar, it is believed to be unhealthy and contribute to obesity. BUT, the sugars in fruit juice are different than the sugars added to many sweets and snacks also believed to contribute to obesity. In fact, it has been demonstrated that children consuming fruit juice have a higher intake of essential vitamins such as vitamin C and iron, and a lower intake of saturated fat and added sugars. It could be the confusion and misunderstanding of the differences between 100% fruit juice and juice drinks. In the nutritional realm, it cannot be stressed enough that they are almost two completely different beverages. The rumor that juice adds to obesity could very well be concocted out of syrupy juice drinks confused for fruit juice.

Fruit juice has always been a great way to get essential vitamins incorporated into a healthy diet. The “2005 dietary guidelines for Americans” suggests that several cups of fruits and vegetables should be consumed daily, and that 100% fruit juices can play a vital role in this consumption. However, if an individual is consuming more juice than they’re body can handle due to its natural caloric intake, it can do some funny things with their body, especially if the individual is a child or teenager still undergoing many physical changes. As with all things though, over intake could be detrimental. The people at work in the science of health recommend balance in everything.

Fruit juice contains healthy levels of phytonutrients. Phytonutrients are active compounds found in fruits and vegetables. They are chemically prone to fighting against disease and promoting balanced health. They act as anti-oxidants mainly. There are believed to be more than 900 phytonutrients that have been identified by researchers and scientists.

The book “Healing Tonics” by Jeannine Pollak is more or less a recipe book with information on home made remedy beverages. Almost all of the recipes contain fruit juice. Before opening the book and looking through it more extensively I can already draw the assumption that fruit juice plays a huge role in the “healing” portion of each “tonic.” My assumption is based on fruit juice’s nutritional value, and its ability to blend with other nutritional compounds to produce a smoothie, tincture, tonic, or any sort of healthy beverage other than itself as an individual fluid.

A tonic is a collection of herbs, juices, extracts, and roots, each one with a specific purpose. For instance, the “Supercharger Morning Smoothie” incorporates tangerine juice, bananas, peaches, ginkgo tincture, spirulina powder, and Siberian ginseng. Its purpose, I guess, is too be a healthy smoothie for the morning. Healthy smoothies for the morning are great!!!! And guess what you need for most of it, well, juice. Fruit juice. Fruit juice is awesome. With all these different things combined into different “tonics”, each individual drink turns into some form of “juice”. What is juice to begin with? : The nectar taken from a fruit into fluid form. Now, as I’m looking through this book, its obvious to me that juice than serves a role into a bigger something, a “tonic”. Then after ingesting a certain tonic, it is the consumer that is apparently supposed to feel revived, or chilled out, or energized, or anything that the different compounds of the tonic should work together to make you feel like.

So if you have a fruit with a specific and special something that you’d like to add to a tonic, you need to juice it. It is interesting to see how this process works with “healing tonics” as well as it works as a metaphor for different processes throughout life. If you took something else, say a book, and “juiced” it of its theme, then incorporated that theme into a song, which was one part or “tincture” of an album filled with other songs or “tinctures” with other themes making up a whole theme, then those things all added together give you a final product: the collection of songs as many things combined into one: a “tonic”.

It seems that the human body has so many things at work inside it, which then also have many things at work inside those smaller parts of the body. And the beginning “fruit” that started it all could’ve been our parents DNA combined, just like elements are combined into each other to create a tonic. Then here we are as individuals, with juices pumping through all of us (inspiration, drive, motivation, emotions, etc.) We also have physical juices too (blood, bodily fluids, etc.). So then if we look at the individual as the beginning “fruit” that a process starts off as, what tonics does the individual want to contribute to? Thinking of us as individuals being “healing tonics” or smaller parts of them, could be an interesting way to look at the noun “juice”. I’m way stoked to go and try out some of these tonic recipes. I hope I have some of the ingredients at home, some of them look like they’re hard to find at your average grocery store. There are some pretty eclectic items listed.

SOURCES:

Juice Products Association, "Fruit Juice Facts." www.fruitjuicefacts.org. 2008. Juice Products Association. 7 Mar 2009 .

Pollak, Jeanine. Healing Tonics. 1st edition. Canada: Transcontinental Printing, 2000.

Interview w/ Carlos of Super Supplements, who has an alternative opinion about fruit juice's heath benefits, and says "go with veggie juice instead."

Colinfergusonrichardward 00:01, 8 March 2009 (UTC)

fiction
I see a tree in the distance. As I'm walking up towards it some sort of reptilian being about half my height approaches with a mug filled with a frothy liquid. I'm not quite sure whether its a male or a female, but its personality eludes that it is a female. There is a nurturing vibe about this creature. She asks me what I'm doing here. I tell her that I don't know what I'm doing here and in the most polite way I ask, "where am I?" She replies, "you are where you want to be, are you not?". I am comfortable here, so I begin explaining to her why I am comfortable. As I'm telling her that the purple dirt that feels more like "not yet sewn" kashmir fibers under my feet is the main reason, she begins to explain the frothy liquid. I got all tripped out, because I was just about to ask her about her beverage right as she was going to explain it.

It was one of those moments of simultaneous happenings, that makes my insides warm after the emotional response. I want to start telling her about how that is another reason for my being comfortable in this otherwise surreal place, but she starts elaborating on her drink.

"This is the sap from that tree you've been looking over at, boiled with gemstones, and a hint of honey for taste." I look across her scales and am amazed at how the light creates peculiarly colored twinkle bursts on top of them as she moves her head from side to side while what seems like the sun here in this place is going down and rising again at what appears to be 5 second intervals.

As she is explaining her beverage preparation technique with more depth, I am embarrassed to admit to myself that my mind is wandering the more I concentrate on the lighting in this place, and how its relentless at producing the color sparkles reflecting off of her scales and jewelry. "I drop this one in the sap and let it soak for 8 minutes", she continues as she holds up one of her gemstone pendants for me to look at. I stare into it. I start to notice that while I'm staring into it, her eyes are staring into mine, staring into the gemstone. I continue to observe the stone, out of politeness and overall amazement of the whole situation I've somehow found myself in.

It seems that she knows how much I love the way the lighting is here, and its affects on many angled objects. She smiles every time the stone does one of its prism effects in collaboration with the "up-and-down" sun. She smiles every time because I smile every time. She says "do you want it?" I'm speechless. How could I take this as a gift? This is one of her most prized possessions and she uses it for her sap-like beverage. I start to tell her that its a very nice gesture but I'm inclined to say no out of politeness when she interrupts my sentence by putting it into the pocket on the upper left corner of my shirt. I decide to just keep my mouth shut and let her do her thing. She then proceeds to bring out some sort of glitter slug out of her knapsack. She licks the bottom of it and places it over the top fringes of the pocket to make sure that the gemstone she just gave me won't topple out.

"This slug is obviously an adhesive", I think as she runs her finger across it to seal it in place, all the while I can feel its cool slippery body being stuck to my shirt and even skin. I look down at it, its such a small little creature thing, but its cute, and right as I say the word "cute" in my brain, the slug looks up and smiles and whispers ever so loudly though, "do you like my sparkling body?" "Yes, of course, thank you for helping the 3 of us keep the gemstone in my pocket."

After I said that, I looked over at the reptilian medicine woman, and she was just nodding, with the most humble smile. "Continue" she said, but I just heard it in my mind. My voice and hers were mixed, hers was more audibly upfront. "Telepathy?", and her "yes it is" was also heard; but not from her mouth or mine. So I continued to the tree. Up at the front of it, the bark changed colors. The closer I got, the more colors there were. Something from inside the bark hit me in the face and it was wet. "That's how it gives it," her voice happened again in my mind. I looked back at her though and temporarily ignoring my new psychic ability just yelled out of confusion and frustration, "what?, gives what?". "What it gave me, she replied." I touched my face to wipe the sap off, but it was not wet anymore, and my face was covered in scales. "You have it now, and you will stay here." My nerves were raging but my cells were surrendering to the transformation. My back twisted and contorted, and I had lost who I once was. "I am of this place now?" and her "yes you are" were audible simultaneous again in my mind, and my reflection in a puddle revealed the most humble smile, now on my face so new. Colinfergusonrichardward 00:52, 8 March 2009 (UTC)

tale of tomuch juice

Heavy breathing faster, and faster. My body is wet and hot. Its like I'm being microwaved from the inside. Confusion is upon me. I hear yelling and panic, “Wake up  fool. Come on wake up,  you will be all right.”. Sudden euphoria hits, getting cold I can hear nothing, everything turns white then black. Awakened, I look over the room. I see people huddled around someone passed out on the floor. He is face down on the floor and I can’t see his face. I walk around the room seeing people, but they don't acknowledge me. That seems normal now, everyone’s drunk or high. A carton of juice is in my hand. I don't know why, so I set it down, then walk upstairs. I see a girl crying, her vibe seems familiar, but I can’t make out the face, so I assume that it is just another girl that drank to much. she sipped from a bottle of pineapple juice  to help her  self  calm down. So I walk back down the stairs; again my hand feels heavy so I look down and there’s another carton of orange juice in my hand. Walking home I hear the siren of an ambulance. “Probably nothing,” I thought. As I continued to walk home a cop car rolls by me, doesn't even notice I'm there. Everything suddenly gets dimmer. Being rushed, with a light headed feeling, I look to my hand and find a carton of juice. “How did that get here? I didn't leave with  this,” I said. Ignoring the fact, I drink from the juice and continue to walk home. Drinking and drinking. This bottle never ends. Reaching my house something feels awkward. My vision has converted to a black and white movie that is a little bit out of focus. The window I  had left open was just as I left it. I threw away the juice and climbed the side of my house to my window. “I feel nearly weightless,” I thought. I make it to my room and turn on the light, grabbed a book on my bed. “The History of Fruit Juice” was the title. Beginning to read, things seem normal. The more and more I read, the more it gets intensely hard to make out the words. That never happens. Sudden confusion strikes me. “This doesn't seem right, this haze in my eyes, like smoke sitting on my eyes,” I stated. Yet the only thing I can make out clearly is a brightly colored bottle of juice I’ve never seen before. I get hit by that strangely familiar vibe again as the sobbing girl runs into my room. I yell “who the fuck are you, and why are you in my room?” She doesn't hear me. It’s like I'm not even here. Sharp pains like needles pierce my arms over and over, then move to my hands and stops. The girl is still in my room, balling her eyes out. I think to myself, “This girl’s gonna flood my room, why the fuck can’t she hear me and why won’t she leave?” Her presence fills my room with a warm sensation. As she sobs she says my name, again and again. Now I am more confused then before.“Who is she? Why does she feel important, and why can’t she see that I'm right here?” I wondered. An ambulance bolts by my house. I feel as though fluids are being pumped in to my veins, but there is no needle anywhere. The phone rings I go to answer it but my parents answer and my mom has started crying. My dad takes the phone because my mom so shaken for some reason. “What could be going on?” I wondered. Nothing is making sense. I see that same bright colored bottle of juice next to them. He hangs up the phone and says we have to go now. His approach to my room was fast and he tells the woman, this girl in my room, “Everything’s gonna be alright. You should come with us darling.” “What the fuck! Why did my dad call her darling?” I asked myself. I approach my dad. He doesn't say anything to me. He doesn't even see me. Dizziness strikes me, and suddenly I start to cough and wheeze into my hands. The coughing continues as I look at my hands. I shake with the fright of my hands splattered in blood and the orange yellow substance that looked like the contents of the carton of juice I drank that night. “What has happened to me? Something is wrong...” as the girl leaves with my family I finally see her face. It was.......................I know that girl it is my girlfriend. “Why is she crying? I'm right here?” Jolts of pain, followed by convulsions strike me for several minutes. I collapse to the ground. I am alone in this house, but I feel that I'm not here at all. I reach for that bottle of juice I saw last but it’s just out of reach. My lungs feel full and I cant breath. My eyes are getting heavy. More coughing, I begin to cough up more of that substance on my hand. The pain intensifies as my vision fades to black. Left with only my confusion of as to what is going on, I see a bright light. My pain returns. I feel as though I'm at a hospital. I panic and re-enter shock. I remember seeing that guy passed out on the floor at the party. I see my family in the emergency room where I lay grasping for life. A flash of what happened at the party hits me. I saw this guy selling these green pills. I buy two from him I take one and chew, swallow, and then swallow the second and drink my gin and juice. Suddenly I get a very euphoric feeling, followed by an over heating sensation and dehydration. I start to pound all the juice I could find. Then breathing became difficult....then I fell to the ground. Now I'm here in this bed dying. What do I do? What do I say? I speak. “I love you and I'm sorry. I didn't plan for this to happen. I'm so sorry mom and dad.” Every thing fades to black and I here a high pitched ring; then nothing at all. My autopsy showed high doses of Ecstasy in my system, but the cause of my death in this world was accidental. Self drowning from the consumption of a large amount of juice. Just another tale of too much juice. :Blakeedwards

<>'s poem
fluid, your mostly water. all though so much more

ups and yells through cells.

blood is juice too,

words from you too,

even what's in

the batteries

sitting in a game boy resting in small palms

I was restless on

family road trips

twelve years ago

or so.

attention was driven elsewhere

we were driving somewhere and cars need juice too. if we were to get anywhere, both I and pixels on screens needed next levels.

oh,

whoa!

we're

nectar needers,

we're

reliant on what?

depends on what

we're after

oh and whoa!

euphoric throats!

lumps in them

we are so moved we are all so moved and at all times moving

veins swim, wait, what's inside them does

as veins are  still

not complete stillness

but                  still so close to                     hovering

our inside organs feeling safe with moats surrounding, swimmers inside them our cells are professionals

pro's like their juice nutritional

between some whispers

and         some swallows

tasting flavors tongues turn into berry tentacles

[kissable though]

one from many made from many into one.

half-gallon sized and full of enzymes

renga #1
everyone outside laughter is so audible obviously loud

laughter is not everywhere animals outside sleeping large sounds go inside echos between windowsills front lawn still hears them everyone drinking dancing smoking stuff getting higher neighbors are so mad they will dial that number if its loud, it is louder and louder breaking barriers fence got smashed in just because their young doesn't mean that they're dumb, just intoxicated drunk happy laughing's painful one guy still lies in the fence why am i still here? hot messes on all carpets I'm creeped out by this various fluids telling all things they know without words communicating the already obvious told to book away i knew i should anyway lame parties like this

renga #2
I walked in the

room with forty oz in hand

search for orange juice.

my epic plan to get drunk,

brass monkeys sip a way down.

dizziness happens,

gets dark but my brain swims nice

now my body floats

Euphoric feelings warm

bloated talking feels calm

took off my sweater

dancing made my body warm

I want to touch skin

skin is pleasant warm to touch

makes mind wander yearn to touch

oh my goodness oh !

Hormones raging so hardcore

no one with socks on

juice is spilled on all the floors

people cuddling kissing now

naked people lost

missing hiding busy music

still raves some passed out

the guy on the couch out  cold

with sharpie we color him

laughs and giggles spread

he wakes up hungover and lost

stubbles to the toilet

passed the mirror startled

by phallic shape drawn all over him......