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I often wonder what the original purpose of computers was...<br>
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<br>
Pete<br>
<br>
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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 1/27/14, 1:14 PM, Ben Brown wrote:<br>
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I'd submit that a computer hacker is often defined as a person
that makes a program or process do something outside of it's
original intended purpose. Perhaps a food hacker is a person who
can make sustenance from materials that aren't intended to be used
as such.<br>
<br>
That person is certainly not me. If I were to consider myself a
food hacker, it's because I'm not very good at cutting vegetables
or trimming meat. Perhaps that means I'm just a food butcherer.<br>
<br>
Ben<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 1/27/2014 1:17 AM, Kevin Mitnick
wrote:<br>
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<div dir="ltr">Hi everyone,
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I am going to open this e-mail thread up with the
following definition from the Oxford dictionary:</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>"[...] gain unauthorized access to data in a system or
computer [...] a piece of computer code providing a quick or
inelegant solution to a particular problem"</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Source: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/hack?q=hacking"
target="_blank" style="font-size: 12pt;">http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/hack?q=hacking</a></div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I then go and look up the definition of "food hacking"
and the best I can find is this description from Reddit:</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>"Food hacks is a place to share quick and simple tips on
making food that has more flavor, more nutritional value, or
both"</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Source: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.reddit.com/r/FoodHacks" target="_blank"
style="font-size: 12pt;">http://www.reddit.com/r/FoodHacks</a></div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Let's look at this real closely here:</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>- Where does "food hacking" come into play where we're
getting unauthorized access to something?</div>
<div>- Where does "food hacking" provide a quick or inelegant
solution to a particular problem?</div>
<div>- How does the Reddit definition of "food hacking" fit
into these previous questions?</div>
<div>- Why do people who are playing with their food want to
be a part of the hacking scene? What should we call it?</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>To address the first question, I am not seeing how
"unauthorized access" is occurring here. When we go and buy
a head of lettuce or a box of cereal, likely we've paid for
it or if we haven't, it wasn't stolen from some other hungry
person. All we're doing when we're playing with our food is
making it, baking it, cooking it, and or eating it.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Does "food hacking" provide an inelegant solution to a
particular problem? Not really. When you make food you're
making it, not hacking it. Perhaps "hacking" could apply if
you're inelegantly taking apart a steak or some sort of
fruit or vegetable, but at no point are you providing a
solution to a problem. Is the invention of modern fast food
a "food hack" by that standard? Or is the gradual adoption
of automated convenience stores that provide you with
whatever without any human intervention other than your own
a "food hack"? It does allow for a quick solution to getting
your food.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>If we look at how Reddit defines a "food hack", we see
that we're making food with more flavor or better
nutritional value. If I go buy some Hamburger Helper and add
avocado to it or add whey protein to chocolate milk, is that
"hacking"? What if I make some Betty Crocker cake and add
whey to that instead? Is that a "food hack"? Because of the
vagueness that the Reddit definition provides and the
definition of what "hacking" is, why don't we call it
baking, cooking, or mixing? Do we call chefs or my dad
cooking on the barbecue with his "secret sauce" a food
hacker?</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I get the impression that people who call themselves
"food hackers" call themselves that because they want to be
considered a part of the "hacker movement". Why don't those
of you who identify with this moniker just call yourself a
"cook", "chef", "baker", "maker", or whatever instead? Why
don't you instead call the food "food" or if you really want
it to be associated with the hacker scene, "food for
hackers"? Is that hard? You're not a hacker and you dilute
the term for those of us who are hackers.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Food for thought. Do not take offense to this if you find
it hits too close to home. </div>
<div><br>
Kevin Mitnick
<div>(May or may not be the Kevin you think I am)</div>
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