Campbell Mattix

Is it moral to have a really big lunch? By big, I mean really big- like a thirty-seven-course lunch and thirteen wines. No matter your initial reaction, the answer is not as obvious as you think.  In The New Yorker , Jim Harrison's article "Annals of Eating A Really Big Lunch" argues that over-consuming massive amounts of food might not be as horrible as society assumes .    Harrison recounts- on many occasions- his lavish gluttony, including times when he was not even hungry . This is okay, he argues, because life is far too short to not indulge in the most luxurious aspects of life. He says it best: "Like sex, bathing, sleeping, and drinking, the effects of food don't last. The patterns are repeated but finite. Life is a near-death experience, and our devious minds will do anything to make it interesting." I would like to counter this with the perspective of farmers like Kurt Timmermeister and Andrea Crawford . They prefer to live, consume, and...

In this reflection of Kurt Timmermeister's Growing a Farmer: How I Learned to Live off the Land , I will discuss my thoughts on the chapters “The Slaughter” and “Butchering” as well as his future goals . “The Slaughter” and “Butchering” These chapters were tough to read. I appreciate Timmermeister's ability to discuss the less glamorous aspects of farming. Many pro-farming documentaries conveniently gloss over. But this fact didn’t make reading the details of slaughtering and butchering- the animals that he raised- any more enjoyable . I am torn between appreciating his intentions and wishing that this process didn't last for 25 pages . Future Goals Timmermeister’s main goal, like most farmers, “is to sell enough food to pay the bills so that a job in the city is no longer necessary” (p 282) . He shares the struggle that most citizens face: getting money. But I find it interesting that his goal is not excessive. Kurt’s never says that he wants to get ric...

Partying Would you like to attend party after party and get paid for it? If not, then you might be an introvert. But if that sounds like a dream come true then you haven’t been a children’s party planner and hostess. Let me tell you why.   A children’s party planner and hostess is a person who performs every aspect of a party. Our job is to be everywhere at once as fast as possible. We spend our time setting up, conducting the party, cleaning, and setting up the next party. There’s no time to relax. So don’t confuse attending the party with working at one. Our main duty is to ensure that the children- and more importantly their parents- are always happy. There are three roles that encompass the duties of a party planner and hostess: Babysitter Personal Assistant Actor Babysitter Taking care of people’s children is stressful; taking care of them while their parents watch is exasperating. As a babysitter, my job is to:       Hos...

In this reflection, I will discuss the overall structure, societal pressures, and moral dilemmas of Kurt Timmermeister's Growing a Farmer: How I Learned to Live off the Land . The Overall Structure A great mix of technical and personal explanations made this book interesting to read because it flowed nicely and gave Kurt's experiences credibility as a businessman and farmer. This novel wasn't always chronological, which was an effective storytelling tool because it created clarity and a road map for readers. Occasionally, this structure was unpleasant because Kurt spent multiple pages detailing the process of using bees or making vinegar. For non-farmers, these dull sections were broken up with delightful insights that the average reader could internalize, like believing in your dreams and taking strong stances on public safety issues. For me, these overarching and thought-provoking discussions were the most redeeming aspect of the novel. Societal Pre...

I come from a ridiculously wealthy bubble within Los Angeles called La Canada. During the housing crash of 2008, I was relocated to La Crescenta, the less privileged town next door. Despite the move, I was able to attend school in La Canada from kindergarten through high school. In a pursuit of independence, I left for Boston University after graduation. Shortly after, I returned to LA to shift from special education teaching to human resources management. I am going to the Head of Human Resources at either Six Flags Magic Mountain or Disneyland. Afterwards, I will go back to USC as an adjunct professor in either sociology or HR because my purpose is to help eager students learn how to become leaders. I will get there by attending my internship this summer and continuing to receive high marks in school. I am also creating a new social theory, so I can graduate with honors. By being more marketable and knowledgeable, I will achieve my goals faster. Once I find a career that appeals ...