This class has helped create a lot of internal dialogue for me, but I would have enjoyed some more engaging activities instead of just talking. I understand that it's an interdisciplinary course, but I think it was much too easy to not pay attention. I think the whole system needs to be redesigned to require more physical action. In my opinion, the 40 or 80 hour service learning requirement should be the class itself. However, I can imagine some logistical problems with that idea. I think at the very least there should be more hands-on experience. Also, one of my other professors has been pretty open about his opinion on global warming, and it directly conflicts with what I've been told in Colloquium. Now, I'm smart enough to know that he's full of crap, but the younger students are usually quite impressionable. It seems to me that if Colloquium is an interdisciplinary graduation requirement, then all the professors should be on the same page and not undermine each other's credibility.
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Blog 9
The Downtown Ft Myers field trip was much more interesting than I expected. I knew about Edison moving down here, but I thought it was just because he was an early snowbird. I've only lived here for a few years but I've walked around the downtown area quite a bit, but I never noticed anything with any historical significance until this field trip. The story about the young boy that was lynched was new to me, and just like Dr. Morris said, not a single white person I told had heard that story. As an aside -When I went to artwalk last week with a black friend of mine, we went inside the art gallery only to leave shortly after my friend's hand was slapped away from the donation vase as he was attempting to make a donation.
Blog 8
I really hated Plan B 4.0. I think Lester Brown is a terrible author. I don't believe a lot of his claims, and I'm on his side! That tells me that there probably aren't that many people that converted after reading his work, so then all Lester has really done is alienated people that agree with him. My opinion of the book matches my opinion about the anti-smoking commercials - the message is great, but the exaggeration and obvious manipulation of statistics destroys all your credibility. The real consequences are bad enough, you don't need to make stuff up!
Blog 7
Lover's Key is one of my favorite beaches, mostly because it has an entrance fee which deters a lot of people. I just wish there was a section of shoreline where I could sit without having to look at Ft. Myers Beach, which is really quite ugly. Now that I think about it, there really aren't many places in SW FL where you can completely escape civilization. Even when I was kayaking in between relatively thick mangroves I could still see a cell phone tower in the distance.
Blog 6
I always forget to water my plants, so I was very curious about the drip irrigation system that used a wicking material as a growing medium. I decided to make my own, with a few modifications. I had no intention of soaking a blanket in manure tea and laying it in my backyard, so that was the first thing that I changed. ECHO's design is just a simple siphon; the problem with that design is the water will flow continuously until it's gone, and plants have dynamic water needs. I wanted a system that only gives the plant water when it needs it. I inverted a full 5 gallon jug and then put it inside a 5 gallon bucket, and this dispenses water just like an office water cooler. Then I ran a siphon tube to a second reservoir of water from which the plants can draw water as needed, and when the water level drops below the bucket's water level it makes that characteristic "glug" sound and refills the second reservoir.
Blog 5
The ECHO visit was my favorite because they have so much information for growing that is specific for our climate. I have very limited experience in gardening, and zero experience in a tropical/subtropical environment. I will definitely be going back for more research.
Blog 4
When we were watching the video about the overall health of the ecosystems of the world, there was one statement that really struck a chord in me. Someone from the logging company said "We care about what you care about, as long as you care what we care about: economic viability". This really made me angry, because what she was really saying is that they don't care at all. The more I think about it, the angrier I get. They're essentially holding the planet hostage and saying they won't pull the trigger until they get their ransom money. They destroy the planet to make money, then they wait for everyone else to spend their own money to come up with ways to fix the problem, and then they have the nerve to say that they won't implement those solutions unless it will make them even more money. It's really quite disgusting.