Creemee Season

Summertime is rapidly approaching and many are starting to count the days until they can return to the water, eat some corn on the cob, and/or take a break from schoolwork. However, when I picture summer in my head, I don’t see swimsuits and open calendars; I see creemees.

            The Vermont version of regular soft-serve ice cream has swept the state, making it a staple in summer time activities. One does not go out for ice cream in the summer, it is always a creemee. Creemee stands begin to pop up around the middle of April and remain in business until the end of August, making them a precious seasonal treat. The Thread, a local magazine rooted in Burlington, ranked the top cree-mee stands in Vermont to direct tourists and adventurous locals to expand from their regular stands and try the best of what Vermont has to offer. Al’s restaurant, my personal favorite creemee producer, ranked in the top five, probably because there is more fat in the cream they use.

            Thread talked a bit about how nothing sets a creemee apart from traditional soft-serve ice cream, besides the buzz Vermonter’s created. Ben & Jerry’s is widely known as Vermont created ice cream, yet during the summer, it is like it disappears for a few months. Creemees usually only come in four different flavors: vanilla, chocolate, twist, and maple. Some stands even refuse to supply sprinkles to decorate the creemee. Do creemees actually taste better than other summer treats? Probably not, but the selling point is the experience. Vermonter’s take pride in their weird quirks, and creemee stands are one of the most popular.

            My friends and I are usually looking out for signs and waving creemee flags this time of year to find our first creemee of the season. Sure, I am excited to see my family this summer, but I am counting down the days until I can get my hands on a creemee.

Taylor Swift Versus Middle School Music Teachers

Music plays a huge role in my life. Although I lack the talent to play an instrument or sing in key, I love listening to artists that possess those skills. One artist that I have always loved, despite some ridicule, is Taylor Swift. I listened to her albums when they were still considered country and have stayed a fan ever since. After reading Nate’s blog and the list of salaries some major athletes received per year, I started to think about how much celebrities made a year, especially those who are extremely popular. So, I went online and searched for Taylor Swift’s net worth and holy moly was I surprised. Through album, ticket, and merchandise sales, Taylor Swift makes more than 60 million dollars a year, making her net worth around 200 million dollars. In comparison, as Nate pointed out in his blog, an average high school teacher makes about $45,000 a year.

Now, as I previously stated, I love music. However, if I had to choose which was more important, education or music, I would have to go with education. It is astonishing the differing sums of money between popular entertainers or athletes and educators. The variation between salaries goes to show how cultures praise and reward certain talents. The popular idiom, “those who can, do; those who can’t, teach” represents the issue quite nicely. In society, those who are graced with a certain talent and are considered superior to all the other people with the same skill are regarded extremely highly and receive not only incredible popularity, but also financial rewards. However, those who couldn’t please agencies or scouts and turn to teaching a particular skill are not only paid poorly, but are also seen as a kind of failure.

My middle school music teacher was in a band that was signed to a label and they put out an album. For whatever reason, whether it was their music wasn’t catchy enough or the members weren’t attractive enough, the album flopped. Students made fun of his failure and ridiculed him because he was teaching in a basement of a school in Vermont instead of selling out Madison Square Garden.

Why is teaching a skill worthy of millions looked down upon?  

http://www.celebritynetworth.com/dl/taylor-swift/ 

Population Crisis and TLC Shows

I have a great love for reality shows, specifically, those that TLC produces. Little People, Big World, John and Kate Plus Eight, and Cake Boss are just a few examples of my favorite shows on TLC. It’s not that I think these programs are Emmy worthy or anything, but I am compelled to watch because I have a weakness for what people label “stupid” or “worthless” television. What can I say? It’s my kryptonite.

One TLC show that I have always been particularly intrigued by is 19 Kids and Counting. The lifestyle of the ginormous family is unlike any I have personally experienced, so learning their unique way of life has always pulled me in season after season. One of the oldest daughters of the 19 children recently married and today, had her first baby. Hearing the news made me think about how large the family is and wonder if each child will continue in their parent’s footsteps by creating their own lengthy family tree. In my sustainability science class, we have talked about the global limitation of population growth and how we are currently going toward the Earth’s carrying capacity of humans.

Previously in China, policies were passed that limited families into having only one child due to the huge population. Now, however, the policies have relaxed, but most people have reported having no interest in having another child. Other reports have been made suggesting that countries everywhere should practice the policy China created due to the population crisis, which relates to the problems of decreased land space available and huge demand for agriculture to increase production that we currently face. This argument has been shot down due to the ethical and moral beliefs in regulating family size.

I know that when I get older and have a family, I will want to judge what size family I want by taking into account my own personal economic situation and if I am up for multiple kids. Although 19 Kids and Counting is an extreme example of producing as many kids as people want, I think the right to decide family size isn’t something that can be taken away.