1. The author’s credibility and background: Do you think this author has the authority or experience to speak about this issue? What are the author's credentials? What might bias the author's argument?
When I read this book I feel as thought. Yes, Jarred Diamond has the authority to speak about this issue! Why you may ask? Well For many reasons but the most part being that all of this is his theory on history and the rise and fall of civilizations! Though he may have no credentials when has there ever been a requirement to write about a theory you mat have about something? There is not much that is biased in his writing so far due to the fact that he never focuses on just one settlement or one race, but Europe does come up a lot mostly likely due to the fact that they were a large race and they were constantly looking for more land.
2. Thesis/Purpose: Identify the author’s purpose and thesis, and add your reactions.
The author Jarred Diamond brings up the idea in history that maybe there was more to history than terrible people taking other peoples land and killing them with guns. Maybe there is a pattern, a pattern which repeats it’s self over and over again no matter the difference in what was used more! The three that made the scale of balance in each world tip when ever new settlers arrived in a new land. They were guns, our technology was far more advanced than theirs, germs, because we were covered in them so when settlers arrived where ever they killed thousands just by giving them influenza, and steel, which is our resources and what we had since most civilizations only knew rock as the hardest thing. I reacted sort of indifferently towards the beginning but became more interested at civilizations I’d never heard of before became mentioned.
3. The author’s persona, tone, and intended audience: Which persona does the author adopt? How does the author manipulate tone to serve his/her purpose? Who is the intended audience for this book? How does the author tailor his/her argument to suit the intended audience?
The author adopts the persona of pointing out that were not always the direct cause of killing thousands, because germs were something that we could not stop. The author will manipulate his tone so that we may understand both sides with out calling him biased for a certain race. The intended audience is just about anyone, though it may focus more on those who look and debate on who is responsible for a races death or endangerment. Diamond tried to make it so that we understand that his theory is inevitable no matter what.
4. The book’s structure & rhetorical strategies/style: How is the book organized? Which primary rhetorical mode does it employ, and does that mode serve the author’s purpose? How would you define the author’s style? Which rhetorical choices does the author use often, and are they effective? Address the author’s point of view (1st, 2nd or 3rd person) as well.
The book is organized so that it is like a time line coming slowly back to the present. It gives of a sense of organized chaos in a way so that while we can understand the timeline slowly going up to present time he never stays with one civilization. The author likes to keep his writing well kept but give it some excitement to avoid boring his audience.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Guns, Germs, and Steel Book Review
This is a curious book indeed, written by Jared Diamond, this book looks into the history of the world. It tests the balance of all civilizations, pushing deeply into what causes the scale of chaos to tip. The author Jared dug his way through history and discovered a pattern which reoccurred over and over again. He pointed out this theory several times, each time connecting the fall of a civilization no matter how big or how small. He made many other connections with none civilized lands as well, pointing out the pattern in extinctions of wild life like the Dodo bird that was wiped out by domestic dogs and over hunting. He brilliantly explains everything throughout the book making sure to clarify things as not to confuse his audience. He does his best to avoid being biased about just one side of the story, but does not shy away form any details that are important for the book. There may be hints of bias argument within the book making Europeans to look like a villain but he tries his best to avoid this in the many pages of the book.
This book brings more light to societies like sub-Saharan Africa, the Americas (before they were discovered by the Europeans), Islands of Southeast Asia, Australia, New Guinea, and the Pacific Islands. Most history only becomes known to us through brief writings dating back to 3000 b.c. He continues to go through and explain the significance of his thesis which is very well put in his title. He points out the difference in advancement between societies that would clash, like the Spanish and the Mayan’s or the Aztec’s who were also conquered. The Spanish had guns and explosives, while the Mayan’s had only spears and arrows. The Spanish were too technologically advanced and quickly overwrought the Mayan’s. But slaughter of innocent lives through the purposefully harmful use of guns, wasn’t the only way that these kinds of societies were wiped out.
When the British and the Spanish came over to America, they not only brought over their keepsakes and lives, they brought over diseases which quickly killed thousands of local natives. The Spanish and British lived so close to animals that their bodies carried many kinds of sicknesses like influenza, measles, mumps, smallpox, and more. The Native Americans were so used to living in healthy expanse environments that when the Spanish and British came their virgin immune systems failed and thousands paid the price. This part of their immigration here is mostly unintentional because they didn’t realized what they were doing until it was too late for many. Those who survived became more cautious of the settlers thus expanding to more conflict.
This book gives great detail and cautionary to it’s audience, being cautious on any thing that mat be labeled as biased or unfair. The author Jarred Diamond digs down into the facts of the world, fighting long existing theories with his own. He searches for the truth behind every story, every settlement recorded that occurred in history. He strives to prove the pattern of history, the scale which with the smallest breath tips at fates hand.
This book brings more light to societies like sub-Saharan Africa, the Americas (before they were discovered by the Europeans), Islands of Southeast Asia, Australia, New Guinea, and the Pacific Islands. Most history only becomes known to us through brief writings dating back to 3000 b.c. He continues to go through and explain the significance of his thesis which is very well put in his title. He points out the difference in advancement between societies that would clash, like the Spanish and the Mayan’s or the Aztec’s who were also conquered. The Spanish had guns and explosives, while the Mayan’s had only spears and arrows. The Spanish were too technologically advanced and quickly overwrought the Mayan’s. But slaughter of innocent lives through the purposefully harmful use of guns, wasn’t the only way that these kinds of societies were wiped out.
When the British and the Spanish came over to America, they not only brought over their keepsakes and lives, they brought over diseases which quickly killed thousands of local natives. The Spanish and British lived so close to animals that their bodies carried many kinds of sicknesses like influenza, measles, mumps, smallpox, and more. The Native Americans were so used to living in healthy expanse environments that when the Spanish and British came their virgin immune systems failed and thousands paid the price. This part of their immigration here is mostly unintentional because they didn’t realized what they were doing until it was too late for many. Those who survived became more cautious of the settlers thus expanding to more conflict.
This book gives great detail and cautionary to it’s audience, being cautious on any thing that mat be labeled as biased or unfair. The author Jarred Diamond digs down into the facts of the world, fighting long existing theories with his own. He searches for the truth behind every story, every settlement recorded that occurred in history. He strives to prove the pattern of history, the scale which with the smallest breath tips at fates hand.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Life in a Cubic Foot: Plant Analysis
(Due to this rose bush not blooming we will not be able to identify it until it does so. Basic information will still be posted.)
Most rose bushes (like the one above) are perennial, and bloom once or twice a month. If you want it to continue blooming, cut the flowers off before they are given a chance to pollinate and produce seeds to you can continuously get flowers. Flowers will vary in size based on species and nutrition. Most rose bushes have thorns growing on the stems and branches, though biological bred and certain species have little to none. Violet Carson is a great example of these. Though they don't have many enemies, aphids are a big pest with these flowers.
Sonchus oleraceus
Annual Sowthistle
These perennial wild flowers are often found to be a pest in gardens and get yanked out a lot. Due to their rather large root they must be dug up or carefully pulled out. Since they are just like any other plant they will grow back if you do not remove the entire root. These plants are meant to thrive on very terribly conditions, and have built a useful system for distributing seeds. You may recognise their puffy white tops since most people enjoy picking them and blowing the seeds, allowing them to be distributed. Aphids, as for most plants, it a common pest with this plant but they hardly do damage seeing as they are very strong plants.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Life in a Cubic Foot: Bug Analysis
Spodoptera praefica
Western Yellow Striped Army Worm
Native to the western regions of America.
The worms are a brown color, with a white-yellow/ yellow stripe running down both sides. They typically have a pinkish colored belly. The female can lay between 200 to 500 eggs on the underside of leaves. In the larva stage the worm can grown from 2.0 mm to 35 mm. They eat just about any plant in sight making them a serious threat to crops and agriculture. They then bury themselves into the ground and pupate until they are mature. The adults emerge fully grown with a wing span of 34 to 41 mm. They live for up to 17 days, spending the time reproducing more eggs restarting the whole cycle once again. The worms are vicious little eaters starting on the leaves nearest to them, managing to only skeletonize them. As they grow they disperse over the land consuming whole leaves, fruits, stalks, and plants. These worms can cause serious threat to a crop if not taken care of quickly.
Common enemies are Rogas laphygmae which is a type of wasp that eats the army worms, is a very fast acting and effective species that can quickly take care of these pests and are often bought for crops that are threatened.
Polydesmus Angustus
Flat-backed Millipede
Native to North Western Europe
Such as the name describes, these millipedes are flat with at least 20 sections and from 14 to 25 mm. The most common colors for this species is black or dark brown so that they may blend in with their surroundings. They commonly live under rock, logs, and thick flat piles of dead leaves. Their diet consists of rotting plants and vegetation. They are able to reproduce all throughout late spring to mid fall, creating bunches in the thousands. Though these species are non-native, they are not invasive or threatening to any ecosystem.
Sparganophilus (most likely)
Common Name: Earth Worm
These helpful little guys live in the ground but prefer moist damp soil, which keeps their skin healthy. If it dries out they will die. They love composting plants and vegetables as a big part of their daily diet, eating there body weight's worth. The worm above is not yet mature as his clitella has not formed yet. Clitella is the reproductive system on a worm.
Blapstinus Aciculus
Darkling Beetle
These guys may vary in color from a dark brown to a black or grey coloring. While they are very small they are a common snack to enemies like birds, lizards, and spiders. Their larva are known to most as meal worms, which one can find in just about any pet store. Like butterflies these insects make a cocoon in which they stay in until they have matured into their beetle form. They are able to lay between 400- 500 eggs in the 2 month life span (give or take)that they live.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Photosynthesis Review Questions
1) After Thanksgiving break you return to the HTHMA garden to find that your crops have not been watered in over two weeks. Most of your plants are dead and those that are alive are barely hanging on. In relation to the process of photosynthesis, describe what has happened to your plants.
To help reserve water the guard cells on the underside of the plants leaves have closed off, closing the holes called stomata. The leaves will proceeded to shrivel and die to trap in more moister and nutrition that they hold. The plant will keep shriveling until it goes into the roots which are their last resorts for survival. Beyond this if a plant doesn't get any water after this they will shrivel and die. Young plants are more susceptible that fully grown plants and should always be under close inspection. Vascular are better and more durable for dry areas where they won't get a lot of water.
2) Upon microscopic inspection of the underside of your plant’s leaves, you notice that in an attempt to conserve water the stomata (aka stomates) are closed. Explain in detail how this impacts the light independent reactions of photosynthesis.
The light independent reactions will slow down as the resources that enter through the stomates stop. This is because the other processes will stop to conserve energy. The stomates will close themselves in order to hold all the energy and water they can. The guard cells will swell and closed preventing anything from entering or leaving. The stomates and guard cells are found at the undersides of the leaves working as a strainer/protector for the plant.
To help reserve water the guard cells on the underside of the plants leaves have closed off, closing the holes called stomata. The leaves will proceeded to shrivel and die to trap in more moister and nutrition that they hold. The plant will keep shriveling until it goes into the roots which are their last resorts for survival. Beyond this if a plant doesn't get any water after this they will shrivel and die. Young plants are more susceptible that fully grown plants and should always be under close inspection. Vascular are better and more durable for dry areas where they won't get a lot of water.
2) Upon microscopic inspection of the underside of your plant’s leaves, you notice that in an attempt to conserve water the stomata (aka stomates) are closed. Explain in detail how this impacts the light independent reactions of photosynthesis.
The light independent reactions will slow down as the resources that enter through the stomates stop. This is because the other processes will stop to conserve energy. The stomates will close themselves in order to hold all the energy and water they can. The guard cells will swell and closed preventing anything from entering or leaving. The stomates and guard cells are found at the undersides of the leaves working as a strainer/protector for the plant.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
C&S Seeds
http://www.ted.com/talks/cary_fowler_one_seed_at_a_time_protecting_the_future_of_food.html
Based on this video, various articles, and information I find that while yes there may be some beneficial out come from this Doomsday food storage we must also face the facts that there are other things this money could go to. On a religious basis any person would find you insane. This is because they believe that there will be no world after doomsday so why bother, use the money to fix our economy. On as non-biased of a level as I can get I find while this would be beneficial to our future we should do this gradually and at a slow even pace, so that we don't blow off too much money.
"A seed bank that is trying to collect every type of plant in the world is now under threat from the global financial crisis." The seed bank director says. This points out clearly that we should minimize activity in the collection until the worlds economy can find its feet again.
"We would say that this is an exceptional bank and that the assets within it, the capital that we have built up, is unique and we can't squander this," says Smith. This is also agreeable in the sense that we do in fact have the only self sustaining seed bank with the largest amount of seeds along with the largest amount of plant species. This goes to show that while this is valuable and must not squandered, we must also not be focus so greatly on it as well. In all it should be a smaller focus in this great economic crisis.
Based on this video, various articles, and information I find that while yes there may be some beneficial out come from this Doomsday food storage we must also face the facts that there are other things this money could go to. On a religious basis any person would find you insane. This is because they believe that there will be no world after doomsday so why bother, use the money to fix our economy. On as non-biased of a level as I can get I find while this would be beneficial to our future we should do this gradually and at a slow even pace, so that we don't blow off too much money.
"A seed bank that is trying to collect every type of plant in the world is now under threat from the global financial crisis." The seed bank director says. This points out clearly that we should minimize activity in the collection until the worlds economy can find its feet again.
"We would say that this is an exceptional bank and that the assets within it, the capital that we have built up, is unique and we can't squander this," says Smith. This is also agreeable in the sense that we do in fact have the only self sustaining seed bank with the largest amount of seeds along with the largest amount of plant species. This goes to show that while this is valuable and must not squandered, we must also not be focus so greatly on it as well. In all it should be a smaller focus in this great economic crisis.
Monday, October 3, 2011
My Garden Plot
Snow Peas
Season: Winter
Germination: Keep soil moist but avoid dampening or soaking.
Days of Maturity: 70 days
Planting Space: 2 to 3 inches between plants.
Soil: Well-drained soil high in organic matter is best; pH 5.5 to 6.8.
Water: Steady, even moisture especially when in bloom.
Red Lion Amaryllis
Season: Winter
Germination: Keep soil moist. Do not cool bulb, does not need it
Days of Maturity: 6-8 weeks
Planting Space: 2 inches.
Soil: Nothing special but if paranoid place all purpose bud fertilized in pot/soil.
Water: Make the soil moist any damper and the flower will drown.
Extra: when the flower begins to wither remove it by cutting it off behind the green lump.
Daikon Radishes
Season: Winter
Germination: Plant the seeds thinly at a depth of about ¾”. Thin out as they grow.
Days of Maturity: 2 or 3 months
Planting Space: 6"
Soil: asic fertilizer or last years fertilizer.
Water: water evenly, never let the soil dry out and reduce the watering amount as they reach maturity.
Seedlings progress of the Sweet pepper, sweet pea, and blue bell.
The sweet peas died out due to miss planting when they weren't close enough to the watered area. The peppers and blue bells are growing at an even rate and should be transplanted soon.
At the smallest for the detailed plants above I will need a plot of land 36" by 12" or more. But don't take this seriously I really suck at math.
Season: Winter
Germination: Keep soil moist but avoid dampening or soaking.
Days of Maturity: 70 days
Planting Space: 2 to 3 inches between plants.
Soil: Well-drained soil high in organic matter is best; pH 5.5 to 6.8.
Water: Steady, even moisture especially when in bloom.
Red Lion Amaryllis
Season: Winter
Germination: Keep soil moist. Do not cool bulb, does not need it
Days of Maturity: 6-8 weeks
Planting Space: 2 inches.
Soil: Nothing special but if paranoid place all purpose bud fertilized in pot/soil.
Water: Make the soil moist any damper and the flower will drown.
Extra: when the flower begins to wither remove it by cutting it off behind the green lump.
Daikon Radishes
Season: Winter
Germination: Plant the seeds thinly at a depth of about ¾”. Thin out as they grow.
Days of Maturity: 2 or 3 months
Planting Space: 6"
Soil: asic fertilizer or last years fertilizer.
Water: water evenly, never let the soil dry out and reduce the watering amount as they reach maturity.
Seedlings progress of the Sweet pepper, sweet pea, and blue bell.
The sweet peas died out due to miss planting when they weren't close enough to the watered area. The peppers and blue bells are growing at an even rate and should be transplanted soon.
At the smallest for the detailed plants above I will need a plot of land 36" by 12" or more. But don't take this seriously I really suck at math.
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