Kolbert argues the importance of the western honeybee, which is the single most important pollinator in North America. Kolbert also argues that the populations of honeybees in North America are in jeopardy of becoming extinct because of a disease called colony-collapse disorder, which may be cause by a newly introduced insecticide called neonicotinoids.
The difference between this essay and what a newspaper would report is the in depth investigation of the story. The detail, in which Kolbert depicted the story of the western honeybee and their keepers, came from a beekeepers point of view not a reporter. A newspaper would not have as much detail and would leave the reader wanting more of the story. Kolbert left no questions to ask.
Three sources
Mid-Atlantic Apiculture – Informational page about CCD also other links to more information. http://www.ento.psu.edu/MAAREC/ColonyCollapseDisorder.html
Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) – Informational site on the honeybee. Includes links to more information. http://pelotes.jea.com/honeybee.htm
Advanced Beekeeping 301 – Informational page about commercial beekeeping.
http://www.beeclass.com/DTS/301commercialbk.htm
Insect Pollinators – Informational page about insect pollinators, other links to types of pollinators. http://hometown.aol.com/insectpollinator/
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Monday, October 8, 2007
Exploratory Essay
As I child, I can remember running into the house headed straight for the bathroom sink, tuning the handle and plunging my head as deep into the sink as I could. My mouth open as wide as I could get it trying to get as much water as I could. I’m not sure when, but some years later I can remember the same scenario happing but with a different out come. As I run in to the bathroom turned on the sink, I could hear my mother calling me. So I turned off the water and went to see what she wanted. She told me that she wanted to show me something, and all I could think about what rapping my lips around the bathroom sink and drinking until my belly was full, not until my thirst was quenched but until I got my full. So, I cleared my head and asked what to you want to show me. She told me to get a clear glass out of the cabinet and go to the bathroom and get some water, do not drink it she stated. So in my confusion, I staggered to the bathroom wondering what the old wise one could possible trying to show me. In the bathroom, I had visions of dunking my head into the sink and shaking it back and forth, as if I were a pig at play. I filled the glass with water and as I walked back to my mother, I liked at the glass and noticed something floating in the glass. I thought the glass must have been dirty, so I poured out the water and rinsed the glass and filled it again. Gazing into the glass, I could still see things floating around in the glass. My mother could see the confusion on my face and in a motherly voice said, “That is what I wanted to show you”, still confused I asked show me what? She went on to explain as well as she could that the water that I just loved to drink had germs in it. As she was explaining how this could happen she handed me a bottle of water. The look was the same, the taste was the same but there was nothing floating. That was my first experience with bottled water Vs tap water. Although bottled water presents the illusion of a high quality product, the quality of some leading bottled water companies has come into question because of testes conducted by the Natural Resources Defense Council, controversies surrounding the Coke-Cola bottling company.
From that, point on I was a bottled waterman, refusing to drink anything but bottled water and when bottled water was not available, I cringed as I felt the water hit my lips. In the world of bottled water, we as consumers have a plethora of water to choose from, the difficult part is selecting which water to drink. There is spring water, purified water, mineral water, sparkling water, artesian water, well water, and my al time favorite municipal/tap water. I have tried all types of bottled water Dasani, Aquafina, Deer Park to name a few. The best water that I have ever tasted is Evian water; I think I am partial to Evian because I spent 4 wonderful months in France TDY for the Air Force. Evian was provided to us free of charge, so I drank until I could not drink any more. My experiences in France were I drank Evian every day has turned me into an Evian man. The only thing is in America Evian is very expensive. If given a choice I will always buy Evian. It was not until I started to become interested in the difference between spring water and purified water that I realized the aspects of bottled water. Spring water comes from the ground, purified water as been treated.
From that, point on I was a bottled waterman, refusing to drink anything but bottled water and when bottled water was not available, I cringed as I felt the water hit my lips. In the world of bottled water, we as consumers have a plethora of water to choose from, the difficult part is selecting which water to drink. There is spring water, purified water, mineral water, sparkling water, artesian water, well water, and my al time favorite municipal/tap water. I have tried all types of bottled water Dasani, Aquafina, Deer Park to name a few. The best water that I have ever tasted is Evian water; I think I am partial to Evian because I spent 4 wonderful months in France TDY for the Air Force. Evian was provided to us free of charge, so I drank until I could not drink any more. My experiences in France were I drank Evian every day has turned me into an Evian man. The only thing is in America Evian is very expensive. If given a choice I will always buy Evian. It was not until I started to become interested in the difference between spring water and purified water that I realized the aspects of bottled water. Spring water comes from the ground, purified water as been treated.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
How Far Does My Food Travel
Breakfast
Folgers Coffee – Distributed by Procter and Gamble
Cherry Lane eggs – National food corp. Spokane, WA
Lunch
Land O Frost Turkey meat – land O’ Frost Inc. Lansing, IL
OROWEAT 12-grain bread – Bimbo Bakeries. Fort worth, TX
Dinner
Hormel canned Breast O Chicken – Hormel Foods Austin, MN
While stationed At Eielson AFB from 1993 – 1997, I had little experience with shopping for food because I lived in the dorms. Once I departed Eielson and arrived at my next duty station things changed. Allowed to reside off base, started my obsession with fresh fruit. Warner Robins, Georgia, the home of the peach is the place where I first tasted fresh fruit. Fresh, meaning plucked right off the tree, sun ripened warm peaches. So rip that the juice squirts from both sides of your mouth when you bite down on it. At that time, the only fresh fruit that I experienced was from the store. Store bought fruit is not that bad, if you can get past the process before it hits the shelves. Plucked, processed, shipped, and stocked; freshness is not guaranteed. The cost of the fruit was another aspect that at the time did not affect me because it did not cost me anything, just the time to pick the fruit. A coworker and my aunt both had peach trees in their yards so access to the peaches was easy. I left Georgia with a basket of just picked peaches heading for Fort Walton Beach, Florida, state of the orange. I missed peaches for a while, that is until I eat a fresh orange. The brightness of the orange color made the orange seem wet. The juice, once I bit into the orange was the sweetest I had ever tasted. Only fresh fruit entered my mouth from that point on. The two southern states that I resided in spoiled me with fresh produce.
Now I am back in Fairbanks, AK, state of long summer and cold winters and no fresh produce. Not only does Alaska not have fresh produce, items that are here are so over priced that I have to think twice before I buy them. Fruits and vegetable are picked before reaching maturity to allow for travel time to Alaska. I love fresh produce; I will have to deal with over priced not so fresh produce. There is a bright side to all of this; it is only for 3 years.
Folgers Coffee – Distributed by Procter and Gamble
Cherry Lane eggs – National food corp. Spokane, WA
Lunch
Land O Frost Turkey meat – land O’ Frost Inc. Lansing, IL
OROWEAT 12-grain bread – Bimbo Bakeries. Fort worth, TX
Dinner
Hormel canned Breast O Chicken – Hormel Foods Austin, MN
While stationed At Eielson AFB from 1993 – 1997, I had little experience with shopping for food because I lived in the dorms. Once I departed Eielson and arrived at my next duty station things changed. Allowed to reside off base, started my obsession with fresh fruit. Warner Robins, Georgia, the home of the peach is the place where I first tasted fresh fruit. Fresh, meaning plucked right off the tree, sun ripened warm peaches. So rip that the juice squirts from both sides of your mouth when you bite down on it. At that time, the only fresh fruit that I experienced was from the store. Store bought fruit is not that bad, if you can get past the process before it hits the shelves. Plucked, processed, shipped, and stocked; freshness is not guaranteed. The cost of the fruit was another aspect that at the time did not affect me because it did not cost me anything, just the time to pick the fruit. A coworker and my aunt both had peach trees in their yards so access to the peaches was easy. I left Georgia with a basket of just picked peaches heading for Fort Walton Beach, Florida, state of the orange. I missed peaches for a while, that is until I eat a fresh orange. The brightness of the orange color made the orange seem wet. The juice, once I bit into the orange was the sweetest I had ever tasted. Only fresh fruit entered my mouth from that point on. The two southern states that I resided in spoiled me with fresh produce.
Now I am back in Fairbanks, AK, state of long summer and cold winters and no fresh produce. Not only does Alaska not have fresh produce, items that are here are so over priced that I have to think twice before I buy them. Fruits and vegetable are picked before reaching maturity to allow for travel time to Alaska. I love fresh produce; I will have to deal with over priced not so fresh produce. There is a bright side to all of this; it is only for 3 years.
Grammar Girl "100 Proof"
In the podcast Grammar Girl explains that typos are going to happen. Typos can happen to even the best of us. She stated that articles written in newspapers and magazines are proof read by three different editors before final print. She gave several suggestions on how to improve your proof reading skills.
· Read your work out loud
· Read your work backward, last sentence first
· Proof read only printed work
· Give yourself time before you proof read
Another thing that she mentioned that really hit home was that it is very difficult for the writers to proof read their own work. As the writer you know what you are trying to say, therefore when proof reading you will tend to miss errors because you know what it is supposed to say even if it does not read that way. This is something that I struggle with every time I have to write a paper on anything. Even when sending e-mails I have the hardest time proof reading my owe work. I have tried to print the work then proof read, same result. I have printed it and used a ruler trying to proof read, same result. Grammar Girl suggested the best way to proof read work is to have some one else proof your work if you can have two or three people proof your work before submitting it. I have found that the best way to have my work proof read is to have some one else read my work. I must admit that I struggled with having someone else read my papers, but once my grades started to improve, I swallowed my pride.
· Read your work out loud
· Read your work backward, last sentence first
· Proof read only printed work
· Give yourself time before you proof read
Another thing that she mentioned that really hit home was that it is very difficult for the writers to proof read their own work. As the writer you know what you are trying to say, therefore when proof reading you will tend to miss errors because you know what it is supposed to say even if it does not read that way. This is something that I struggle with every time I have to write a paper on anything. Even when sending e-mails I have the hardest time proof reading my owe work. I have tried to print the work then proof read, same result. I have printed it and used a ruler trying to proof read, same result. Grammar Girl suggested the best way to proof read work is to have some one else proof your work if you can have two or three people proof your work before submitting it. I have found that the best way to have my work proof read is to have some one else read my work. I must admit that I struggled with having someone else read my papers, but once my grades started to improve, I swallowed my pride.
Positive Black Images
Positive African American Images
The black race is struggling to find it’s purpose in society. The African American people have nothing to follow. Negative images flood the television stations and airways. Black athletes with no regard for their influence over the youth of America are continually in trouble with the law. Rap stars telling stories of days gone by, embellishing the life of standing on street corners selling drugs, running from the police, and “putting in work”. The same rap stars living in multi-million dollar homes far away from the street life they once knew. Driving cars worth more than five average families will make in a year. These are the people that are going to help the African American community grow help them reach new heights? Although the efforts of civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King, Malcolm X and Linda Brown made great strides, the lack of next generation leaders have caused the African American race to struggle in finding a place in American society. Because of the lack of parental support in the homes of some African American families, the promotion of negative people and images and the lack of positive role models in the media and local African American communities.
As an African American before and during the civil rights movement, it was easy to find positive role models. There were plenty of movements meant to improve the quality of life for African Americans. The Supreme Court case of Brown Vs the Board of Education ruled the segregation of public schools was illegal. The courage of Oliver Brown and the others involved in this case helped propel the forward motion of the African American people. These types of positive images helped continue the growth of African American people around the world. Today there are no such positive African American images in the media; instead, the images are of overpaid athletes pleading guilty running illegal dog fighting operations. After apologizing to his fans and teammates for not only lying but also committing the crime, tested positive for marijuana. This type of behavior sets the African American race back; because it overshadows any positive that has happened within the community. This recent situation and many more like it is the reason that the African American people need more positive role models. Some will say that the African American people have come as far as any one race could come. That their place in society has improved dramatically over the past 100 years. African Americans are no longer outwardly discriminated against, no longer shackled and whipped, no longer hung from the noose of injustice. It is the African Americans as a race that is promoting these negative images. By idolizing individuals that are convicted criminals and making excuses for inappropriate behavior and bad decisions. By accepting this kind of conduct, the forward progression made by generations before comes to a complete stop.
I would contend these statements, because the lack of positive African American imagery gives generation X nothing to hold on to, nothing to fight for. If the mass media flow of information were flooded with Malcolm X’s and Martin Luther King’s pushing for better education for the inner city children, asking for the halt of violence in the music or demanding that people take responsibility for their action and to stop blaming the “system” or “the man”. This will continue the forward progress of the African American race. Instead, images of “thugs”, “pimps”, and “ballers” bombard the radio and television stations. Artists claim “freedom of speech” when creating songs that glorify glorifying the killing of other African Americans. This only hurts the race; this tarnishes the image of those that lost their lives in the effort to gain equality. There are doctors, lawyers, firefighters, police officers, community programs that are doing positive things in their communities. Reports on these types of people and the positive things they are doing would greatly improve the future of the African American people
The lack of positive African American leaders and positive role models is greatly affecting the African American people. The available images send the wrong message to the communities. The images tell stories of violence, poorly educated people and mistrust in not only the law but of themselves. The effects of these images are felt every day as young African American men are dying in the streets, and young African American mothers are left to care for fatherless children. The affects are felt when the number of incarcerated African Americans has nearly reach 1 million.
The black race is struggling to find it’s purpose in society. The African American people have nothing to follow. Negative images flood the television stations and airways. Black athletes with no regard for their influence over the youth of America are continually in trouble with the law. Rap stars telling stories of days gone by, embellishing the life of standing on street corners selling drugs, running from the police, and “putting in work”. The same rap stars living in multi-million dollar homes far away from the street life they once knew. Driving cars worth more than five average families will make in a year. These are the people that are going to help the African American community grow help them reach new heights? Although the efforts of civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King, Malcolm X and Linda Brown made great strides, the lack of next generation leaders have caused the African American race to struggle in finding a place in American society. Because of the lack of parental support in the homes of some African American families, the promotion of negative people and images and the lack of positive role models in the media and local African American communities.
As an African American before and during the civil rights movement, it was easy to find positive role models. There were plenty of movements meant to improve the quality of life for African Americans. The Supreme Court case of Brown Vs the Board of Education ruled the segregation of public schools was illegal. The courage of Oliver Brown and the others involved in this case helped propel the forward motion of the African American people. These types of positive images helped continue the growth of African American people around the world. Today there are no such positive African American images in the media; instead, the images are of overpaid athletes pleading guilty running illegal dog fighting operations. After apologizing to his fans and teammates for not only lying but also committing the crime, tested positive for marijuana. This type of behavior sets the African American race back; because it overshadows any positive that has happened within the community. This recent situation and many more like it is the reason that the African American people need more positive role models. Some will say that the African American people have come as far as any one race could come. That their place in society has improved dramatically over the past 100 years. African Americans are no longer outwardly discriminated against, no longer shackled and whipped, no longer hung from the noose of injustice. It is the African Americans as a race that is promoting these negative images. By idolizing individuals that are convicted criminals and making excuses for inappropriate behavior and bad decisions. By accepting this kind of conduct, the forward progression made by generations before comes to a complete stop.
I would contend these statements, because the lack of positive African American imagery gives generation X nothing to hold on to, nothing to fight for. If the mass media flow of information were flooded with Malcolm X’s and Martin Luther King’s pushing for better education for the inner city children, asking for the halt of violence in the music or demanding that people take responsibility for their action and to stop blaming the “system” or “the man”. This will continue the forward progress of the African American race. Instead, images of “thugs”, “pimps”, and “ballers” bombard the radio and television stations. Artists claim “freedom of speech” when creating songs that glorify glorifying the killing of other African Americans. This only hurts the race; this tarnishes the image of those that lost their lives in the effort to gain equality. There are doctors, lawyers, firefighters, police officers, community programs that are doing positive things in their communities. Reports on these types of people and the positive things they are doing would greatly improve the future of the African American people
The lack of positive African American leaders and positive role models is greatly affecting the African American people. The available images send the wrong message to the communities. The images tell stories of violence, poorly educated people and mistrust in not only the law but of themselves. The effects of these images are felt every day as young African American men are dying in the streets, and young African American mothers are left to care for fatherless children. The affects are felt when the number of incarcerated African Americans has nearly reach 1 million.
Lead Sentences
People who feel chronically stressed on the job may face an increased risk of depression, a large study suggests.
This is a summary lead. I liked it because stress on the job is something I know all to well. Maybe not chronic stress, but stressed enough.
This is a summary lead. I liked it because stress on the job is something I know all to well. Maybe not chronic stress, but stressed enough.
YouTube: George Carlin: education and the owners of America
Comedians, have the best job in the world. They can say things that most of use only dream of saying or would only say in the comfort of our own homes. Comedians are able to do so by deliver their messages in a non-threating arena. There are many important aspects to this clip. Most of us walk around in our own little world not aware of the problems that surround use. When we become aware of the problems, they do not apply to us. We go about our lives with blinders on, only focused on what we know; work, home, family. Most of use are afraid of what we do not know trapped inside our limited minds. Unable to grasp that we are part of the problem. We need to become part of the solution. How we do this, through education, education opens doors that most of us never even dreamed we would see let alone open. By remaining uneducated, we feed the problem. We help pass laws that lower education test scores in our schools. We help pass laws that take our social security way. By remaining uneducated, we are slowly helping the rich become richer and helping the poor remain poor. If we would just stop for a second and remember that we are a nation ran by the people for the people. This is important because we all have a responsibility to our nations, to our families and to our self. The only way things will become better is through change. Change comes from educating ones self. By reading a book or taking a class, we will be able to make informed decisions. These decisions can range from voting to selecting the best insurance coverage for our families. Education is the answer to most of the world’s problems; we just need to remove the blinders.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccYoVnBc_fk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccYoVnBc_fk
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