Millions Join Earth Day Observances Across the Nation

I really don't know what to think about this piece by Joseph Lelyveld. From what I understand about the piece, it sounds like Lelyveld is just telling us what happened on the first Earth Day. There were many crowds along the streets of New York City either celebrating Earth Day the right way or protesting different opinions about the subject. I believe that Earth Day should not be celebrated the way you might think, by having a party or gathering with people. I think Earth Day should be a work day where nobody has to work and kids don't have to attend school. It should be a day where everyone goes out into ditches, river and streams, and fields and picks up trash to make our world cleaner. I think you would be surprised how much we could pick up in one day.

The Song of the White Pelican

I really enjoyed this piece by Jack Turner. I always like reading about how a certain species lives and interacts with nature. Turner provided a lot of information about pelicans that I never knew. I never really knew anything about pelicans until I read this piece. Turner talks about whee pelicans live, what they eat, and how they interact with their environment. Also, Turner's writing flows smoothly. His transitions are smooth and make you want to keep reading. He asked questions throughout this writing as well which also kept you reading because you wanted to see what the answers were. Lastly, I found it intriging how Turner ended this piece with a question. It makes you think about everything he has set in front of you and it tells you that there is still things that need to be talked about about pelicans, yet we may not know what those things are yet.

A Sand County Almanac

I found this piece by Aldo Leopold somewhat interesting. It wasn't as good as I personally would have liked, but it got the point across. I understand what he was trying to say. He basically just explained how conservation is being used throughout the world and how it has developed over the years. I agree with him in his beliefs that we need to conserve the land as best as possible and not try and harm it unless it is absoulutely needed and can only help the rest of the ecosystem. At times, though, the piece seemed boring to me and it didn't capture my attention too well. I felt like Leopold was basically just repeating himself and I wasn't really focused in on reading his work because I felt it lacked in-depth meaning of conservation.

Introduction to Personal Essay

Throughout my life I have gone on numerous vacations. I have been to Florida, New York, and Washington D.C. I have been to Niagara Falls, Canada, Kentucky, and the Black Hills in South Dakota. I have been to a lot of places, but going to Arizona is my favorite vacation. I have been to Arizona three or four times I believe. I'm not sure because I think I may have gone when I was to young to remember. Anyways, my grandparents live in Arizona during the winter season to get away from the harsh Iowa winters. When my family goes to Arizona, we go during Christmas break because we usually stay for a week or so. My most recent visit to Arizona was this past Christmas. After high school, two of my best friends, Kyle and Blake, and I talked about going on a vacation somewhere for winter break. I mentioned Arizona because I knew we would have a place to stay with my grandparents (my Dad's parents). We didn't really talk about it for a while until I realized that our football team had a chance to play at the Insight Bowl there. It would work out perfect if that was the case; they would be able to enjoy our game and then we could have fun hanging out afterwards. As it turned out, we ended up playing in the Insight Bowl and I flew down to Arizona with the team. Blake and Kyle drove down with my parents, my brother and sister, and my other grandma. They all stayed at my grandparent's house until the game and then my family left and I stayed with my grandparents, Kyle, and Blake for another week! We had a great time enjoying ourselves; just relaxing and living what seemed to be a life in paradise. While we were there, we knew we wanted to climb some mountains. So, we looked into some of the most toured mountains and made our decision on which one to climb. From here, our adventure began.

Buffalo for the Broken Heart (p.3-68)

Questions:

1) Even with a few neighbors, do you think O'Brien is lonely living where he is or do you think he enjoys his time living by himself with the beautiful landscape surrounding him?

2) What do you think will happen to the thirteen buffalo calves O'Brien now has? Will they all survive or will some die? Will O'Brien become very close to them or will they become wild?



Right away this book captured my attention. As Dan O'Brien was driving he encountered a buffalo in the middle of the road. Instead of trying to get the buffalo to get up and move away, he watched it until it moved on its own. This little scene seems like the focus of this book. Buffalo are completely innocent and people should not bother them for they will cause no harm unless aggravated.

As for the rest of the book so far, I believe that it can be a good book, but it hasn't quite got there for me. I am interested in all of the parts where he is actuallly talking about the buffalo rather than his property adn how he came to be a rancher. there just seems to be some dull parts scattered throughout the reading. I'm sure there is reason behind these scenes. I know they are creating background information that many readers may like to know, but I don't really have as muchg interest in those topics as I do when he talks about the buffalo. Personally, I would like to learn more about how the buffalo live. And when O'Brien explains how buffalo once thrived and how they live today, it really captures my interest.

Now, looking ahead, I am expecting to learn more about the trhirteen buffalo calves O'Brien picked up. I hope the other readers and I see how the calves grow and how O'Brien cares for them. I would rather like to read about the present than the past in this book.

American Behavior "snapshot"

Americans view the world as if they have control over everything. They seem to stick our nose into anything that captures our attention. If something clear across the world hardly has any effect on them, they always barge right in and think it has to be fixed for their better well-being. On the other hand, Americans are caring people. They help poverty throughout the world and the resources and wealth they have usually go to good causes. Some may say Americans are lazy. This may be true in some cases, but in reality it goes to show how technologically advanced Americans have become. Without America, just imagine what our world would be like today.

The Making of a Marginal Farm

I really like Wendell Berry's writing in this piece. It was a relaxing tone and was an interesting, yet somber reading. There was no real affect it had on me, except that it made me feel good. The character in the writing was just living life as it was set before him. He never really wanted to be a farmer, but he turned into one. It was almost like it was his destiny. He loved nature and the Kentucky area, and his father was also a farmer. I think it would be cool to live in such a way. Today, I am striving to achiece an education for what I think I want to do. Berry's character didn't have to do any of that. He did go to school and stuff, but not to be a farmer. It's almost like life is cyclical. Where you started in life as a child is where you will eventually end up when elderly. Inbetween is when you explore and discover the world that you don't know.

Smokey the Bear Sutra

In all honesty, I did not really follow or understand this reading. It was hard for me to figure out what was being said and what I was supposed to get out of it. If I had to guess, I would say that Gary Snyder was saying what the world was like through his analogy of Smokey the Bear. He begins by how our world used to be and then talks about how people have influenced our land. When he's talking about the people, he is referring to Smokey the Bear in his writing. I did think his writing style was interesting, but difficult to follow. He jumped around a lot, and he also made certain things stand out by making a phrase in all capital letters. Personally, this was not one of my favorite readings. It seemed to far out there for me to comprehend very well.

Having Faith

I find this writing by Sandra Steingraber very interesting. It's hard for me to believe everything that she is saying. She says that breastfeeding is dangerous or harmful to infants and that they are at the top of the food chain. I do understand how she thinks infants are at the top of the food chain, but I grew up being taught that breastfeeding was good for infants. I'm not sure why, but I believe I was told that infants will be "stronger" if they drink breast milk. Steingraber talks about all the dioxins in breast milk and the dangers they have on infants. I believe this to a certain extent. I'm sure there are some cases where human breast milk can be dangerous, but I think that the majority of breast milk is healthy. I bet there are more healthy things about breast milk than bad things. Steingraber just didn't mention the good things that breast milk provides. If there are dioxins in breast milk, I'm sure the good things about it cancel the bad things out and therefore would be similar to formula milk.

Silent Spring

I believe that this piece of writing by Rachel Carson really shows how humans are such a big influence towards how the environment operates. Our technological advances are meant to help us and us only. We never take in to account what the consequences are for everything around us. It is evident that in Carson's writing that the birds were severely affected by us. The way that Carson wrote this piece made it even more recognizable. At first, she began talking about how beautiful the world is. She does this to make you feel like this will be an enlightening piece. Then, suddenly, while you are feeling good, she talks about all the negative things that our environment endures. This drastic change makes the reader feel like what is happening is even worse that it really is. I mean, I know it's bad, but it wouldn't be as bad if she hadn't started off by talking about all the beautiful things in the world. For the most part, I feel that Carson has brought up a good point. We, humans, are destroying the environment and all its organisms. We need to make the world a more friendly place for other species, rather than just killing them away.

My First Summer in the Sierra

I liked John Muir's writing a lot more in this piece that I did from the last one we read. It made more sense to me. The point he was making is that the world is a beautiful place and you can see almost all aspects of it in the sierras. There is plenty of diverse wildlife and different climates throughout the mountains.
I specifically like how Muir described the encounters with the bear and grasshopper. To him, they were both beautiful to the world. They both seemed to enjoy life and live in a fun, relaxing environment. Muir grabbed my attention more during this writing. I guess I'm not sure why, but it could be because I like to enjoy life also and this whole writing was about him talking about how great the world is.

A Thousand-Mile Walk to the Gulf

I understand what John Muir was trying to say during this piece of writing. The point that he was trying to get across was that this world was meant for all organisms and objects. It is not only just for man-kind. I agree with his argument. Humans are "taking over the world," and other creatures can do nothing to stop us. They just want to mind their own business and feel just as important as every other animal is to the world.
Muir's writing was very thought out, but for me, it was almost too much. It seemed like he dragged on sentences forever and it began to lose my attention. Also, the way he worded many things were hard for me to understand, along with some of his vocabulary. But, after reading this piece, I think it is a good model of what our world is coming to.

Polemic: Industrial Tourism and the National Parks

For me, this reading has been one of the most interesting pieces we've looked over so far. I agree with just about everything said by Edward Abbey. National Parks are becoming more and more humanized. They are turning into urban areas and have people that visit that don't treat the land with great respect. Edward Abbey talks about Industrial Tourism as the killer of National Parks. I agree completely. Society's innovations and technologies are becoming ever more apparent in National Parks. So much of what is done in National Parks is un-needed, and so much money is going to waste. If we would stop industrializing National Parks, the environment would become cleanlier and survive much longer. Also, I think if we carry out the ideas that Abbey proposed, people would be healthier. They would be forced to get out and exercise and explore by themselves, instead of being lazy and just looking out from a vehicle.

A First American Views His Land

I really enjoyed this piece of writing. I think N. Scott Momaday did a great job portraying what things were like in the history of the land in which we live in now. You could really tell how much he loves the environment. He shows how people that lived long ago, lived alongside the land. These people knew the land was powerful and therefore they did not harm it. They absorbed its beauty and used its resources cautiously. Resources such as food, water, and shelter are all available. The Indians that lived in this time period understood the importance of the land and held it sacred. Also, within the writing, I liked how Momaday inserted parts of one of his poems throughout the piece. It kind of gave me a moment to reflect on what he had previously said in his writing, yet it leads you to the next section of his writing.

Walden; or Life in the Woods

I believe that this piece was well written, but it didn't seem very appealing to me. I do think it was interesting finding out how Walden adapted to the environment he was living in, but I feel like he went off on too many tangents. Throughout the piece, he would start talking about random things in life when all I really was looking for to reading was how life was living in the forest. I know that most of the things he talked about did relate to living in the woods, but I really wasn't looking for comparisons or contrasts. I just wanted to know exactly what it was like living by yourself and with nature in the woods. Also, his writing was different; he jumped around all the time and carried on sentences forever it seemed. It kind of lost my interest because I just wanted to know what would happen next, but he just dragged certain topics out. Lastly, I do think it is interesting and cool how he even attempted to do this. I just wish he would have talked more about what it was like living like that, rather than talking about everything he was thinking about.

Symposium "Snapshot" #2

The Symposium

The Memorial Union looked almost empty at first. Nobody would have ever thought that great, thoughtful writers were present. But, back in the Sun Room, the commotion became more noticeable. The MU became alive and an energetic and excited crowd grew as the time neared for each of the writers to speak. Many different people attended. People of all ages and races were there to listen to the beauty that these writers had to offer.

Symposium "Snapshot" #1

Patricia Smith

The room sat quiet. Listening to her voice made everything seem real. Her voice carried the lines of each of her poems beautifully. The words came deep from within her. As she spoke, a few clicks could be heard as a few people took pictures. The atmosphere had a depressed kind of mood in it. No one moved nor talked. The words made you think and appreciate what you have. Many of us are truly blessed to live such good lives, but numerous people, not only in New Orleans, live in what they can say feels like hell.

Poem: "Eerie Water"

1/27/10

I move slowly through the water
that pulls at my feet
making me mor tired

I have nowhere to go
the water is everywhere
I am walking just to stay alive

Is help on the way
or will the murky, brown water take care of me
washing me away

The smell is horrid
as I pass each of the 10 houses in my neighborhood
wondering if I am the only one alive

All I can do is pray
and hope
and beleive I can survive

Blood Dazzler: "p. 35-end"

1/27/10 ----- The second half of Patricia Smith's series of poems seemed to be much more eventful. I liked it more cause the storm was currently right on top of New Orleans and then the damage could be seen. Unlike the beginning of her series of poems, she left you with little doubt on the outcomes of them. The images that she portrayed really told the story behind the scenes of the storm. She never mentioned the media throughout the book. The details that would normally be forgotten were brought out to have an importance. Each poem added a different element that gave you a good overview of the feelings and turmoil surrounding Katrina. Overall, I enjoyed reading these poems. They gave me a different perspective on many things that Patricia Smith brought up.

Blood Dazzler: "Prologue-p.34"

1/25/10 ----- I like the perspective that Patricia Smith uses throughout each of her pieces. She tells the "story" of hurricane Katrina many ways. She tells us how the hurricane thinks as it gets closer to shore and gathers strengths. Also, she tells the story through a victim's eyes and even a dog. Her writing is very interesting. For me, it's almost confusing because of the odd phrases she uses. But in a sense, that's how it should be because hurricane Katrina was powerful just like her writing. You never knew what would happen next. In some ways, I think that her writing went a little too far. She used some profanity and racial gestures that I don't think were appropriate. Of course, they do make sense within the writing, its just that I would have rather wanted her to phrase things a little differently. For the most part though, I like her writing so far and am looking for to finishing the book.

Three 50-word "Snapshots" from Hut Sheet

The Sky

The sun is setting in the west. It's glow shines above the trees behind my hut and seems to make them stick out above all other things. The moon sits on top of the ocean and the stars twinkle overhead ready for night fall to arrive. Off in the distance, city lights brighten the horizon and you can only imagine the commotion within it.

Gentle Water

Wind whispers outside the hut that stands firm on the sand. The grains of sand seem to fade and disappear into the ocean that sits calmly along the shore. Splash. A fish jumps in the water possibly escaping a predator. Nature's beauty shows its true colors. The image in my head resembles a picture in a dream.

Home

My mother used to say to me, "Make sure your room is clean for our guests." I would reply, "I don't need to worry about that, they won't go in my room anyway." In my hut, everything will be organized and neat for any guests that may visit. The bed will be made tightly with no wrinkles in sight. Books and magazines nicely stacked and the dust-free shelves. Guests will walk in with the sense of cleanliness and feel like they are in true paradise.

Hut Sheet "Photo"

Paradise

As sunset descends on the ocean's edge as the hut glows from the sandbar. Sticks and straw are weaved between the mud that holds the hut upright. The door swings open and the windows sway back and forth in the breeze. A few stars can be seen overlooking the city lights in the distance. And the moon sets shadows amongst the land. Everything looks relaxed as the trees look asleep and the hammock inbetween them sits motionless. You can smell the air and almost taste the food cooking as the smoke rises above the hut. The only noise comes from the ocean's ripples sliding against the sand along the shore.

The Ninemile Wolves by Rick Bass

1/20/10 ----- I love Rick Bass' appreciation of wolves. It's interesting how he takes you through the wolves' history. He talks about how the wolves once thrived and were then driven out by humans or some unknown phenomenon unknown to us. Now the wolves are on the rise again and invading the US unknowing where they are headed. I like the way Rick Bass goes about writing this essay. He seems to understand how the wolves work. He knows what they eat, where they travel, and how they go about their everyday business. I believe that if people read this essay, they would also have a stronger appreciation for wolves. Yes, they are vicious, but if you really think about it, we are probably more vicious to them.

Refuge: "Epilogue"

1/20/10 ----- Terry Tempest Williams explains how her family has been affected by cancer. I feel bad for her and her family. If it is true, that the nuclear testings are the cause of all the cancer within her family then they should move as a family to a better place or gather a bunch of people and rally against the testing. I know the government mostly thinks otherwise, but it is a much bigger concern for everyone living down-wind of the testings. The plants and animals are being affected and there is nothing they can do about it. I personally don't like the idea of nuclear testing. I believe it is done just to scare other countries and let them notice how powerful a country we can be. Terry seems to be one of only few people who understands the harm that is being done. Many people think that getting cancer is just a way of life since they've been living in the midst of cancer their whole life. Something needed to be done to change the views of people and nuclear testing was something that needed to be stopped.

Hometown Photo

1/20/10 ----- This image represents where I grew up. The ice house museum is a monument to Cedar Falls. It is now called a museum and it has old artifacts of what Cedar Falls used to look like inside. For me, the Ice House Museum reminds me of home.
One thing that is emblematic of me is the area surrounding the museum. Everything is peacefull and looks relaxing and that is how I like to be. I can see myself just sitting on the bench watching the river flow by and not becoming bored at all.



"Photo"

Old and Sturdy

The museum bursts from the ground. Its sturdy frame reveals it strength and all that it has endured. The river lies under the watch of the building that towers over it. Nature seems to welcome its presence, for it does no harm. Trees sway in the breeze in the summer sky. No clouds can be found as the sun illuminates the day. A dark shadow is reflected off the water from the museum as it shows its power. The railing holds back the river keeping the museum safe. And the museum is surrounded by powerlines showing how it has stood the test of time.

Refuge: An Unnatural History of Family and Place

1/18/10 ----- The Great Salt Lake is home to many species. Especially, birds are the most common. They thrive off the Lake's water and the marsh's and wetlands surrounding the Lake. Terry Tempest Williams grew up near the lake. She was fascinated with nature and how life and a beautiful land could coexist. The fact that she was Mormon and from that area meant that she had not gone out and seen much of the outside world. Most of her family was also living not too far away. I think that it would have been very peaceful to live their. Watching the wildlife would have been fun in a way. I felt bad for Terry when she saw the sight the burrowing owl's nest gone. This would only be sign of things to come. The modern society was slowly creeping in to nature's world. The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge was a great addition to the area. It preserved the land and the animals that inhabited it. Without the refuge, the area would most likely be covered with concrete and buildings. But for now, the land surrounding the Lake still thrives without being changed by modern society.

Everything is a Human Being by Alice Walker

1/13/10 -----Alice Walker talks about how humans have been selfish to the Earth. I beleive she is right. We have taken lots of the Earth's resources. We use them in harmful ways that only hurt the Earth. Can you imagine someone letting you have something of theirs and then you turning right around and using it against them. Nothing can be considered free anymore. We have taken all of the Earth's land. Whether it be a city or even a state park. We use all of Earth's resources. I think that Alice Walker was one of few that understood this. She observed nature closely and could tell how civilization had tampered with it. I liked how she talked about the Indians and how they were the only ones who treated nature with respect. Of course they had to build their homes and hunt for their food, but it seems like Indians alway gave back to the Earth.