YAY FOR BOKO'S LIVING ROOM!

The class presentations were really neat. I really enjoyed meeting at a different location and learning more about my classmates. Cheyenne and I discovered Boko's living room the other day while we were at Chick-Fil-A, we thought it was a super creepy place. Turns out it was really cool. Speaking in front of a class kind of scares me so... I'm a little nervous. I've started on the questions, I just don't know how I'm going to go about presenting them. It should be interesting. So, I'm sure all of you can agree with me on the fact that Cheyenne is the best person/leader EVER. I honestly don't know what any of us would have done if she didn't give the initial push. Decorating and planting with a bunch of cool kids should be super fun!

autobiography presentations

It was my first time in Boko's living room. It looked like a cool place to just chill and stuff. The presentations were good. I'm a little nervous about doing mine, but I think I'll end up doing a good job.
PLANTING
I'm pretty sure it's a unanimous decision that Cheyenne is group leader. I'm glad we're finally starting to go along with this planting idea. It's going to be legit. You can pretty much call me the best pot decorator/planter in the world...

Presentations

I definitly did not know that Boko's Livingroom even existed until monday. And quite frankly, im still a little confused as to what it is. I saw people taking naps with blankets and pillows, and other people watching tv in seperate rooms. Some were on the computer, while we were in a theater? It seemed like a pretty cool place though. I was a little nervous about presenting because I wrote a kids story instead of answering the questions BUT I liked drawing the stick figures with highlighter yellow hair (:. I loved learning about everyone elses life before their college experience! I hope yall have a great week and see you next class!

Group meeting

So I wasnt able to make it to the class on the 18th but we did meet up on sunday night to discuss what we are going to do as our group project. I am pretty excited about it and I think painting the pots next week will be pretty fun. We figured out about how much soil we will need, and how many more seeds so hopefully it all works out and everyone gets the right change! I know the spearamint will smell really good in all of our rooms!

CONFUSED!

Hmmmm okay so I have no idea what to do about Monday since well there is no more space for presentations and I emailed Mrs. Lopez but she has yet to answer. I hope I get to present!
I enjoyed most of the presentations this past Monday they were awesome! And i cannot wait for our pot painting thingy! and our planting too of course. See ya'll next Monday!

first presentations

Te presentations I saw monday were really great. I think everybody did a fantastic job at presenting their autobiography. I thought there were also some really creative presentations that got my attention. I'm looking forward to watching the presentations next week. I thinkthat the presentations really reveal what kind of people we are and where we come from, and ths gives me an understanding of who they are. The whole college experience is to make new connections and to communicate with people, which is extremely beneficial.

Class Presentations Day 1

Class was pretty interesting learning about everyone's backgrounds. I was a little unsure exactly how to do mine and which helpful key to use.. but now i'm pretty sure i know what to do. It was pretty informative on everyones ideas about the no impact part as well.. i think we all kinda did the same thing. There's not really much else we can do or relate to. Look forward to next class!

FIrst day of presentations

Todays presentations definately helped with understand what needed to be accomplished on this assignment. It was also very interesting to hear about where people are from and what their lifestyle was like in highschool. We all live in the same area and are part of res college so it was cool to get on a closer level with everyone. It was also interesting to hear how people participated in no impact week and shows that even the little things make a difference.

Class 10/25

Today I enjoyed the autobiography presentations because it allowed for a change of location and I love change! I'm nervous about my presentation next week...ew public speaking. But I'm glad we have one more class out of the normal classroom.
I'm happy that this class project is starting to smooth out a little bit. And I'm more than happy to have given the initial push. So thanks for the thanks, guys :)
I hope everyone brings some money so I can get all of the supplies at once and we can do the actual painting and planting as a group! Thank you for being so patient and cooperative class...I know it's definitely frustrating sometimes.
Ya'll are awesome and I'll see ya'll next week!

-Cheyenne

P.S. Check your email if you haven't paid yet!

Presentations

It was nice today how we just got to sit back and listen to people present their projects about themselves. I'm not looking forward to presenting mine, because I don't like talking in front of a group of people, but I am looking forward to hearing more presentations next monday!

Also, BIG thanks to Cheyenne for getting the group project going! I'm glad someone stepped up to get the ball rolling. (:

Chelsea Lovercamp

Today I forgot that we had to meet at Boko's Living Area even though I was going to present today but I found the room. I presented with a PowerPoint and saw other classmate's projects and it was interesting to see where they lived and their background. I am excited because things are happening with our group project of growing mint in pots to decorate the dorms
Cant wait for next class to watch the other presentations!:)

Presentation Day

I really like hearing the presentations today. I was nervous to get up there and talk because I hate public speaking, but it actually wasn't too bad. I wish that I had said more of the things that I was planning on saying, but for some reason my nerves always get the best of me. Im excited to hear the rest of the presentations because I think this is a great way to get to know each other.

Oh and the planting mint idea is great! Thank you Cheyenne for stepping up and getting things going :)

Boko's Living Room

Ok so class today was interesting. I was prepared to give a better presentation than I did but once I got up there, my nerves seemed to get the best of me. Sorry :(

I liked hearing other people answer the questions but I seemed to hear the same things repeated over, as far as the sustainability portion goes because I think we all feel the same way about cars and being "eco-friendly".

I also think that planting mint will be cool and I am excited for our lunch thing, or whatever we're calling it.

That's all for now

-Christi

Class - Last Week

I felt a bit disappointed in last week's session of US 1100. As said by Stephanie in an earlier blog post, there was a sense of lacking clarity regarding our assignments. Perhaps this was amplified because that was the same day as early registration for students in rescollege, the marching band, athletics, and honors programs. Hopefully, as many people as possible got the schedule that they wanted.

Additionally, while it seems to possibly be improving, I hope that our class will continue to try to become more open and social to each other in the future. Having been the drum major of my high school's band, though it may already seem obvious to many, I really saw how a close group-- a family, if you will-- can win even when everyone else seems to be on the "opposing team."

Catching Up

I am glad that Cheyenne put in as much time as she did towards our class project. I was unavailable to work with our group yesterday, but I hope to make up for it in the near future. Perhaps our class did not really kick things into gear as soon as possible, but we are showing signs of the beginning of some nice progress. For this, I am glad.

To me, planting seems like a good idea for our project because of the nature theme that can be found around TSU's campus.

Getting things done (:

Im glad that even though it was tough we got to meet with people from class for our group project last night! Im excited about decorating pots and growing mint to be sustainable XD
This class has been pretty hard to keep up with because of all the random issues: like no class, weird assgnment dates, mis-communications and what not. Hopefully this new assignment (autobiography) will come together and class will run smooth the rest of the semester

well there are my thoughts ...
and there posted ha cause its a blog,and
we are allowed to share our opinions!!!
hah


-NATALIE

Waiting...

So last class was kindof confusing cuz nobody really knew what we wanted to do but cheyanne really stepped up this past week so thanks :) i'll be meeting with everyone tonight in the lobby so hopefully this will be funn! But besides class what ive found even more confusing is this autobiography... does anyone know if we are supposed to only answer 2 question from the sustainability section or the whole section?? if you could help thatll be great!
see most of yall tonight,
ashley kathleen :)

Class 10/18

So class was pretty stressful last week. Everyone was pretty unsure about what our assignments were since they were pretty unclear. On top of that, it was the day we were supposed to sign up for our spring classes which was pretty crazy due to the server crashing. The planting thing should be fun but it seemed very hectic last week. Thankfully we have a leader and it will all come together hopefully. Also, the autobiographies should be fun tomorrow. We'll just wait and see!

US 1100

so last class we seemed really unprepared for our group project. Cheyenne really took charge and e-mailed the whole class and let everyone know the cost of everything and no one should be spending more that $5. we are all meeting in the laurel lobby tonight at 10:30 to have a group meeting. Hopefully tomorrow during class we will be prepared.

Class

I unfortunately couldn't make it to class on Monday, and it really seems like I missed a lot. I've been working on my autobiography presentation little by little, and I'm really hoping it'll come together well for tomorrow, but since I wasn't there for the explanation I'm worried I've been doing it all wrong.

Oh well, that's what happens when you have to miss class I suppose!

Total Cost

So it was a little disappointed in the lack of response from the class. Since just about the only responses I got were emails that were interested in my offer to go get everything for them, I have estimated the total cost per person to be $3.78. It could be a little more or a little less depending on what is available in the store. WE WILL NOT BE SPENDING MORE THAN $5 PER PERSON, like previously mentioned. So if you want to bring this $3.78 by room 401 today (Thursday), I will be happy to get your supplies for you while I get mine. Make sure you tell either Jordyn or myself your name or Put it in an envelope with your name and the amount in the envelope and whether you need change. I will only be in my room til 12 then from 2 to 3:15 then after 5 today until I go to Home Depot at around 8:30pm. If you are comfortable slipping it under the door if you have it IN AN ENVELOPE with your name, etc. then that's fine too. Or if you see me around you can hand it to me. If not then I'll see you all Sunday and hopefully we can paint our pots together then or just discuss the plans if you have yet to get your supplies.

Thanks,

Cheyenne =)

There are 20 $.87 pots at Home Depot. And there are pots for sale there that are 2 inches bigger for $1.27. And I called and asked to hold them but the only way to do that is to buy everything over the phone. So I guess the small pots will be first come first serve. I will probably just get the 6 inch one so that's one more left for someone that wants the cheaper one. And I'm sure a few others would not mind going up like 40 cents. And the employee told me that those specific seeds were not in stock but that is not for sure because they usually show seeds not there when they are.

New Suggestion for Pots

Hey guys! Sorry, for some reason I just looked for pots at Hobby Lobby because Ariel worked there and suggested a possible discount. But since the seeds are at Home Depot and the pots are $ 0.87 (link below) there we can get everything one stop. Home Depot is in Kyle, Texas. About 15 minutes away off of 35. If ya'll would like me to go and buy all of these then just let me know and bring me some cash ROOM 401. A few of us are going tonight and we were going to make examples so we can buy our stuff and tell ya'll the exact price then everyone can send us with money or they can buy their own if they prefer. Just let me know. So far I've only gotten a few responses so either people don't care or they're just planning on coming Sunday. Which is cool, that's what the meeting is for. If everyone can meet before Sunday that would be awesome but in class everyone seemed like they were too busy this week. Just let me know :)

Someone has also sent a request to carve pumpkins instead. If ya'll would like to co.mment on that and suggest places to buy them, costs and utensils for them then if there is a clear consensus then we can switch projects. It's whatever ya'll want. But there is no way to know what you want unless you voice your opinion

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xh6/R-100332408/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

The 6th day

Ok well I came into class relly late because of the registration on catsweb, and I missed a whole lot of what happend, but I got the gist of it from a friend in class. So i think the idea of planting some plants for are class project is a constructive idea and is creative in its own way, but I dont want to go out and buy my own pots, soil, and seeds for just a class project. However, there are several ways to get around that buy looking for free things. Oh and the autobiography sounds pretty simple and straight forward, it doesnt seem like its going to be that hard of an assignment like some people were thinking. So overall i like class and the ideas for our project, and I also wanted to add that the conversation in class is getting to be a little more formal because were starting to feel more comfortable with each other...

Plantinggg

I read Cheyenne's email and think that you made a lot of valid points. I am willing to plant whatever the class thinks is best. I really like the idea of mint but that is just because I like the way it smells compared to lavender. It should not be that big of deal for everyone to pitch in some money to buy a pot and decorate it, since this goes towards our grade and such, but if anyone has an idea where to get free pots, that would be great. Also getting a better understanding about what the autobiography was about helped me a lot, but I am pretty nervous because I suck at public speaking. Oh well.

Hope to see everyone on sunday to plant something!

-Christi

Planting!!! I've got some ideas/plans =)

LAUREL HALL LOBBY

SUNDAY 10:30PM

AND/OR

ROOM 401 Wed. October 20th 5-7pm

So I went on the Hobby Lobby website and found this clay pot set. It's supposed to be for children so it's perfect for us ;)

the link is http://shop.hobbylobby.com/products/clay-pots-kit-143537/

When you bring it up, don't freak out. Yes, it is $11.99 but it comes with 5 pots. So 11.99 X 6 (the number of sets we will need) is $71.94. And $71.94/30 (# of individual pots) = $2.40 (ish) so therefore everyone will pay $2.40 each and we will each have our own pot and the paint comes with it. I know there is only 29 of us, so if Ms. Lopez would like to pitch in and buy the 30th one so she can join our project that would be sweeet and if not I will buy the extra and plant some more because these are going to be freakin adorable!!

**And Ariel, if you can still get us a discount that would be awesome because then we will be saving some muuulllaaa! Then we will recalculate and accept the discounted rate from everyone. But if you can't then I think $2.40 is a pretty sweet deal. If you do disagree then perhaps we could consider letting some people pair up and just notify Ms. Lopez that way they are both credited for participation or lack there of. **

And of course we will need some soil. I think one bag for all of us...maybe 2 will do. I don't know very much about soil but here is some flower and plant miracle grow:

http://www.lowes.com:80/pd_12796-446-73451400_4294822958_4294937087_?productId=3010668&Ns=p_product_prd_lis_ord_nbr|0||p_product_quantity_sold|1&pl=1&currentURL=%2Fpl_Bagged%2BSoil_4294822958_4294937087_%3FNs%3Dp_product_prd_lis_ord_nbr%7C0%7C%7Cp_product_quantity_sold%7C1

Seeds: ok so Lavender is a no go I think. I read that it takes about a year to bloom and that's just not going to fly. So I think that mint is a super idea. And I read (online, so it may not be reliable) that it starts to sprout in about 2 weeks or less then of course grows wild for about 90 to 200 days. So we will get to see it grow and keep these awesome bonding projects for a long time! Any other ideas on seeds will be greatly appreciated and we can even have 5 or 6 different types if the timing on all of them is about the same. So just let me know. I was looking into Lowes for seeds but that was a fail. ANY suggestions would be great! I found some at Home Depot for $1.59. So that's pretty good in my opinion. And maybe we could split these too. I'm not sure how many we each need so all of you Green Thumbs should help me out here ;) I also saw Basil at Home Depot and that would be cool too.

The link for the mint is below:

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xh6/R-100198797/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

So that should be all that we need. We should not be spending more than around $5 each but of course I understand that we're all broke college kids so not everyone has $5 or wants to spend it if they do. So just comment and let me know what you're thinking. I feel like this is great info and good resources.

I also feel like we should meet this week. Tomorrow is good for me, it's a slow day. So I am opening up our room (So heads up Jordyn) and from like 5pm to 7pm (you can try anytime but that is when I'm definitely in the room) to ROOM 401 just stop by and tell me if you have any ideas or cheaper products. I think Sunday night we should ALL try to get together in Laurel Hall (sorry Brogdon and Beretta folks but we have the majority) and figure out the exact cost so we can start collecting money and/or go on a fun shopping trip soon! We want to get this started and see these babies (I'm referring to the Mint plants) blossom! So I am going to just plan:

LAUREL HALL LOBBY

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2010

***** 10:30 PM (If it is your bedtime already, I envy you and possibly could you stay up and meet with us?)

COME WITH IDEAS AND A FRIENDLY ATTITUDE AND AN OPTIMISTIC VIEW

**comment if this conflicts and if it does, then please suggest a possible time for you. if it is necessary, we can have 2 meetings.

It would be great if we didn't look so unprepared on Monday--Again. So please make it to this meeting or at least make the effort to comment on this. AND hopefully BOTH. And I think I just might email this to all of you so there's no excuse!

The 6th(ish) Class

Class on monday was pretty uneventful but I'm glad we cleared up the whole autobiography project and started lighting some fire under the group project thing :) I have some ideas and found some things for our project so I will post that next so everyone can comment on it! See ya'll soon!!

-Cheyenne

plants plants planting

So this planting idea is good. Having individual pots seems like the best idea because that way we take care of our own. So I think a good idea would be having that meeting soon like what Maggie said below and from there get the details...just saying because this is a grade for all of us

Class

I agree that class yesterday was confusing. We need to get on this plant thing asap, considering it's part of everyone's overall grade. I also don't have a lot of cash and I understand that we're buying in bulk...but who's buying it? I think the general consensus was we keep one plant per dorm, right?

Registering was a pain to me too. I had it loaded and everything and when I came back from class, Catsweb had crashed. So instead of taking 30 minutes, it took me 4 hours.

-Meghan

super confusing class gathering...

This class was a weird one. Nobody seemed to know what was going on with the group project and autobiography assignment. I couldn't understand why it confused everyone! Today was very stressful going between registering for classes and taking an english literature test. EW. I'm really looking forward to this planting project with you guys! I think it's going to be a cute little way for us to get to know each other and help the environment out. XOXO.

Oh and by the way, I'm free for the rest of the week so I'm down for any meeting time. I think there is ONE day out of all of our schedules that should work for everyone. All of the supplies for the project shouldn't be that expensive, especially since we are buying them in bulk.

Oct 18 Class

Today was kind of confusing because we don't seem to know what we are doing with this group project. I'm really confused as to how we are supposed to get all the materials we would need to plant some seeds. And how much will all this cost? I don't exactly have a lot of cash lying around, so I really hope this wont add up!

The good thing about today was that I registered for classes and I got that over with. Luckily, I got all the classes/times I wanted. So no more stupid 8AM classes for me next semester! Yay! It was a pain trying to register though...Catsweb was constantly either not working or offline.

Chelsea Lovercamp

WOAH, NO IMPACT!

Alrighty, how do I start this? For No Impact Week, I did multiple things to help reduce my waste input on the environment. For a whole week, I refrained from using elevators, went everywhere on foot and recycled some of my clothes. OH! I also continued to recycle water bottles and paper in my dorm. :) No Impact Man taught me about how every little thing we do makes some kind of impact on the environment. Before I read this book, I was not aware of how much I threw away. It is not only about reducing the negative impact, but helping out and making a positive impact on the earth. I'm not going to lie, I was never into this whole "Going Green" thing until now. I think I can start doing more and more without complaining because I've came to the conclusion that it doesn't take much time out of my day to make a difference.
P.S. I'm being sustainable right now by typing on this computer and not wasting paper writing it out. GO ME!

October 18 class

Today in class we discussed the group project and we really need to get together because the planting idea sounds like a good plan. I had realized that just today I had been helping the environment by just not turning on the light and using the sunlight through the blinds as a way to conserve energy. I think I have an idea of what I want to do with my autobiography and so that is what ill be doing this week!
I am glad I am done with my schedule and I got all the classes I wanted for next semester and I hope everyone else did also.
alright well that is all for now...

lavendar@laurel

Soo after class today me and a couple other girls from the 4th floor at Laurel talked about getting everyone together to plan the group project sometime this week...

Where: Laurel lobby

When: -ever is convenient for everyone this week?

Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday? ...post up what times y'all are free.

What: Discuss the specifics of the project.

What plant, how much, $, when we'll plant, where, who's in charge of what

Hopefully we can pick a date this week when everyone can get together to brainstorm this project! Post up y'all's thoughts/when you're free.

If anyone wants to talk about it I'm in Laurel 410! See y'all sooon

Back in the Saddle!

So, it was good to see all of you in class today. I think we started a good conversation about No Impact Man and the book, so I hope that each of you is truly deciding about how you will incorporate the idea of Sustainability into your daily lives. I have stopped using as many disposable plates and cups as possible...my husband I used to use them daily, along with trying to reduce consumables and my use of natural resources. I look forward to hearing about your Sustainability efforts in the presentations the next two weeks.

The things that are pending for class are:

• Class decides on planting of individual pots for lavender (or another plant) and will have evidence at the class meeting on 11/8. Y'all will decide on the date to plant, how to plant them, etc. Ariel said she can get a discount for pots at Holly Lobby and someone mentioned Lowe's. You might also check with the horticulture department of the Ag department on campus and see if they have any extra seeds you can use for your class group project.
• Sign-Up for Presentations: you will need to sign up before Monday for your time to present on either 10/25 or 11/1.
• Presentations: please be sustainable in your presentations, yet creative. I will have a laptop available, in case you need to use it for your presentations. Please remember that I do not want you reading the questions and answers, but rather I would like to see your creativity in the manner in which you present the materials.
• We will be having lunch in a few weeks. Be thinking about what you would like to talk about that day. 
• Registration: Spring Class registration begins today. Please be sure to register early to secure the classes you need for spring 2011.

Have a great week!

Michelle

What did I learn??

After reading No Impact Man I got to thinking about a lot of different things that I did that made my own carbon footprint. I started to change those certain things during no impact week here on campus. I went to the farmer's market and tried organic fruits and spoke with many local farmers. During no impact week I showered every other day and instead of taking a 30 minute shower i tried to cut it down to 15 to 20 minutes. I only ate twice a day instead of 3 times to lessen the amount of trash I produced and I turned out the lights every time I left my room along with unplugging unused electronics.

Ashley Kathleen :)

No Impact

During No Impact week, I went to the Farmer's Market, didn't use elevators, recycled, and would pick up trash here and there on the way to class if I saw any. Eating healthier, getting more activity, and helping the environment definitely contributed to a personal sense of well-being.

This is one thing that stood out to me in No Impact Man-- the fact that living a lifestyle that takes care of you, those around you, and the planet, does make you feel healthier/happier. It makes so much sense but I feel it's hard to live this way just because we're so surrounded by media/society that tells us the opposite: to live for ourselves. Also, I agree with Beavan in his idea that we need a change in lifestyle/mindset, as opposed to "type of fuel/transportation/food." Lastly, his emphasis on our need for community stood out to me too. Like he said, why are we living our lives glued to our computer/TV/Blackberry when we could be living our own actual real lives, with a purpose. Can't wait for this next class to discuss this even more!

Gains from "No Impact Man"

I gained several things from this book. Here they are *tada!* :

With a vast majority of people wanting to acquire or maintain physical fitness in the 21st century, it can be easy for one to turn to technology to help in achieving his or her goals. While this is okay in my opinion, I feel like certain exercise methods can be changed to help the environment. In a part of the book, I recall Colin's wife, Michelle, talking about how many people use treadmills instead of actually running around and exploring their environments. After reading this realization and applying it to my desire to become more physically fit, I have decided that while I might occasionally use a treadmill for running, I will more often run on a track or around TSU's campus.

I also realized that it is very possibly "much easier said than done" to claim that you will not use any paper towels, nor paper plates and plastic eating utensils. Much washing is involved with this practice. However, I do find faith in this feat being possible when I look back at the many decades of people who lived before the creation of these products.

Finally, this book has taught me that living a "no impact" life does not mean that one cannot enjoy life as much. In fact, I theorize that if one goes about this living method in the correct way, his or her fun can significantly increase. One can read interesting articles on the internet, go to live concerts, socialize in a public park, and more!

For these reasons, I appreciate receiving a free copy of "No Impact Man" at the TSU orientation.

No Impact Week!!!

My favorite week of the year.
During No Impact Week I did many things to reduce my small carbon footprint. I went to the farmers market, didn't use any elevators, and recycled more. To travel to places that would require my car, I carpooled with my friends so that it was one less car being on the road. To save water I never even took a shower...my friends loved to hang out with me! I realized if society treated every week like No Impact Week then we could actually make a difference in the world.

p.s. I was just kidding about not taking a shower

No Impact Week

"No Impact Week" seems to have lasted longer than a single week. I am not sure how long some of these changes will last, but I am currently trying to maintain them:

Driving can be fun, but I usually walk (or do parkour :D) to nearby places.

Additionally, I have tried to make more healthy food choices at the campus dining halls. However, this does not mean that I have thrown away the concept of "don't ask, don't tell" when eating non-homemade foods.

Finally, my dormitory requires that its occupants keep recycling bins in their rooms. Although I found the loss of space in my room to be a small annoyance, I have seen an increase of frequency in my choice to recycle. The recycling bin for plastic is overflowing!

With these changes, I am not only noticing a physical benefit, but a mental benefit as well. I feel better about myself in a way for which I cannot find an explanation.

no impact week/man!

Suring no impact week i attended the farmers market and bought homemade salsa that was so delicous, but very spicy! i used my reusable bags when i went to the grocery store. i also took the stairs all week and not the elevators!
What i took most from No Impact Man was about eating healthier. i now get fruits and vegtables that are organic along with other things. i do not use plastic bags anymore i use my reusable bags. and i recycle a lot more then i use to. I also try to let my clothes air dry if i dont need them immedietley.

No Impact Week

During No Impact Week I attended the farmers market, didn't use the elevator, bought nothing new, and many other things I could mention. The most significant was the farmers market. I believe this is so because it is out of the norm. We saw home made honey, organic steaks, fresh veggies and much more. I believe no impact week was a great thing for everyone. And gave a slight change to my perspective, although I do try to be ass un-impactful as I can be.

(Post #2)

The book No Impact Man was a great piece of literature. It allowed me to see through the eyes of someone who has gone all in for no impact. The three things I took from it can't be completely categorized, although I will try my best. One thing is that I am eating a lot healthier. I have tried cutting back on both the sugery drinks and the deep fried categories. I am also walking to more places then I did before. And lastly I have been trying to buy less new things then I used too.

No Impact Week

The activities during No Impact Week were actually pretty cool. I attended the farmers market in the quad as well and I absolutely loved it. My mom and I would go to the farmers markets in downtown Austin every once in a while to check it out and buy fresh breakfast so it was really nice to get fresh local foods again. Every time that I passed the market it was swamped with students buying things and looking around. Im glad it was so popular!

But reading No Impact Man made me change the way I see the world. Everytime I buy things to eat, I think about how much trash I am making and try to change that somehow. I normally will reuse the container the food came in and try to recycle anything else I cannot use. I also became super concious about wasting energy. I am going to paying my electric bill one day and after seeing what my parents paid, I knew I needed to make some changes. I started turning off lights when I wasnt in the room, unplugging electronics not in use, and I no longer keep my computer turned on and plugged into the wall when I am asleep. I have also tried out the drying racks that are provided in our halls. Its not as fast as just shoving my clothes in a dryer but I do like the way my clothes feel after using the drying rack. I am not sure how its different, but they always seem to feel just a little bit softer. I know I am not doing anything as drastic as Beavan, but in my own little way, I am making a difference and I hope to keep up these changes for the rest of my life.

No Impact Week

On no impact week the first thing I did was conserve some paper and I also printed on double sided paper for the first time. The next thing I went to was the farmers market where I bought some honey, a veg. oil liquid hand soap, and some other things like apples, and bananas. I thought the prices were a little outrageous, but I guess thats what quality you get from locally owned farms. I did several other things for impact week like conserve water, save energy, and cut down on driving, but I do this all the time. That sums up my activities I did for no impact week, and I think that the whole community benefited from it.

No Impact Week

So i lost my pamphlet that had most of the activities but i still managed to do some stuff like recycle! But that is part of my everyday life. My friend Kendra & I stopped by at the farmer's market. We didn't buy anything but we looked around. I didn't use plastic lids for my drinks! I also started drinking water from my tin bottle instead of having to use plastic bottles of water. I learned that any little thing can help mother nature but of course a plethora of people would have to join to actually make change nationally.

Hmmmm, for No Impact Week I went to the farmers market, I had some cookies that were really good with types of fruit in them. They were pretty tasty- I didn't get a chance to look around to much but it seemed neat. We asked about the drying racks that our dorms were suppose to have-- however that was a fail and we do not have any. The RA said that he thinks Beretta or Brodgen has one, however it was all broken and stuff.

As for what I will take from the book is a tuff one. I guess I know more about where food comes from and the impact that it has on the environment. Along with how much impact different modes of transportation have and what are the better choices and because of that I know that he probably completely destroyed any sort of "no impact" that he wanted to make traveling around speaking about his book. I highly doubt that he found and eco-friendly way to get to San Marcos and where ever else he has traveled. I get he had "no impact" for a year but wouldn't the probable air plane he took here and every where else he goes to speak completely destroy and go against his efforts?

No Impact Week

So during No Impact Week, I decided to go bold and try really hard to convince myself to use less trash items. I also tried not go without using a dryer for my laundry day. I used the bars that are on the stands that hold my bed up (because it's lofted) and it made our room smell like a magial field of sunflowers.. not really, but it did smell good. :) I visited the famers market and looked around for a bit, but i didn't leave with anything. It was crazy how easy it was to help the environment so i'm deffinately going to do it more!

Reading No Impact Man changed how I looked at things tremendously. I never even realized how many lives are in danger because of carelessness. Learning about the poor sea turtles dying from eating plastic bags broke my heart :/ I'm hopefully going to sign up for this travel thing that lets you go to a different country and volunteer with the sea turtle conservation! I also couldn't believe how much cars give off! I felt SOO bad having to drive 4 and 1/2 hours home.. whoops. But most importantly, I learned that you can stop hurting the environment, but you also need to help out to make up for other people.. but one person cant save the world.. that's why we need to unite to save the world! We should all come up with special super hero names and cool different environmentally friendly powers that help! Just kidding.. but seriously, great book! :)

No Impact Week

During No Impact Week, I went to the Farmers Market! It was really cool, and I loved walking around all the tables and seeing what everyone was selling. It smelled really good around all the tables, it either smelled like food, plants, or soap! It was a wonderful experience. I ended up buying some chocolate peanut butter...it's really good! I took from the book the interest to go to something like the Farmers Market! He made it sound like it was really cool to go to something like that, so I decided I would too. I've also tried drying my clothes by hanging them up, rather than using the dryer. Also, I use my car a lot less now. Since the stores are pretty close to campus, I always just walk to them instead of driving to them. Not only is it better environmentally, but I get extra walking in...which never hurts!

Chelsea Lovercamp

No Impact Week

During no impact week, my roommate and I bought some bread from the Farmers Market. It was DELICIOUS! It was so neat to see all of the different products and actually meet the people that make them. I think that If we had the market on campus more often, a lot of people would come on a regular basis.
I also hung my clothes up instead of using the dryer which was a quick and easy way to reduce my carbon footprint.

No Impact Man taught me to be more aware of the impact that I make on a daily basis. It never crossed my mind before how much trash I actually throw away. I also learned that its not only about reducing your negative impact, but also increasing your positive one by helping our the community. Another thing I learned is that how you impact the environment has a lot to do with where you live. Back home in Houston, there are not many places I can walk to, I have to drive. Also, recycling is not picked up all of the time which makes it difficult to store your recyclables.

No Impact Week

Hello everyone! Ok so during No impact week, I attended the Farmer's Market and ate a tamale which was delicious, but of course not better than my grandma's at christmas. I also tried to not use the dryer as much which turned our dorm in to a freaking laundry mat, but that's ok, at least it made the room smell nicer than it did before :]. I also used a recyclable water bottle throughout the week.

After reading No Impact Man, I was more aware of my carbon footprint and tried to really not use styrofoam or throw things away that could be recycled. It made me sad that Colin lost sight of how close his family was, so I tried spending more time with mine. For my last thing, I tried to educate my family about what I learned. Although I just repeated Colin, my dad was at least interested...oh well I tried.

Thats it.

This is the post.

The things I did during No Impact week includes more recycling, washing clothes in cold water and hang drying them, turning off unnecessary lights and other electrical products, I did not drive, I visited the Farmer's Market and many more.

After reading No Impact Man, I learned to pay attention to how much I waste and the carbon footprint that I will one day leave. I took from this book, the fact that families can spend time together instead of in individual rooms watching tv. I also took from this book that I can feel good about myself when I conserve and at the same time help save the earth. And the third thing I took from No Impact Man is the reminder to pay attention to every single thing I use and throw away and think about whether or not it is necessary and how I can live my life without making an impact.

Hope to see you all next monday :)

-Cheyenne

This is my post.

Career library... what can I say about last monday? I found the career presentation very helpful. At first, I didn't even know that this place existed. The speaker was so legit. She knew a lot of information about all 100+ majors. I already have my majors picked out BUT now i'm super confused on exactly what I want to do after I graduate. The career center seemed like it could help me out with this problem. Done. I'm sad I didn't get to see all you beautiful people in class today. Boo to that.

post.

During No Impact Week, I went to the Farmer's Market and I recycled a lot more than what I usually recycle. I was going to use a drying rack, but I am way too impatient to wait for the sun to dry my clothes. From the book, I understand his way of "saving the planet." I also had a cold. I used a handkerchief instead of kleenex and that made a world of difference. I'll probably keep doing that.

-Meghan

Career Services

Im not going to lie, I wasnt too sure why class wasnt just canceled last week BUT I did enjoy learning about the career services area in LBJ. I even checked out some of the websites that she gave us to look at, which were pretty helpful in showing me what im interested in. I think I will be checking out the Career Services department soon to ask about job shadowing!

NO CLASS!

I just found out that we didn't have class today and so i am blogging about how impact week really impacted me and about the book No Impact Man. During no impact week there were so many things to do especially out in the Quad. I actually went to the market they had with all the fruits and fresh foods. The book No Impact Man really opened my eyes to see that people can actually survive without things that I thought were a must to live on. His ideas of not just cutting cold turkey but to do it in little steps really let me see the effect on him and his family. What really got me was the use of paper towels, plates and napkins. This was not a guilt trip book that pointed their fingers at us telling us that we are doing things wrong but an inspirational book about a man who wanted to change a little part of the world and what he did about it. I have learned that there is so much stuff that really isn't necessary in my life, the effect on the environment when it comes to even elevators and cars, to not give up even when people think you are an idiot.
That is all for today and see you guys next week and I hope Mrs. Lopez feels better soon:)

No Class Today, 10-11 - Please read

I apologize for the late notice, but I have not been feeling well. My plan was to drive into campus for class and return home, but I have not been able to carry a conversation without coughing, so that would make our class discussion a bit difficult.

Since we are not meeting in person, I would like you to blog this week about two things to spark our discussion next week:

• What did you participate in during No Impact Week
• What three things did you take with you from the boook, No Impact Man

Also, your Texas State Autobiography is due soon. With us moving classes back a week from the syllabus, they will be due October 25 and November 1. I will be creating the sign up via TRACS for you to select the day you would like to present. The questions to answer are under the Resources section on TRACS and the assignment is in your Syllabus, also under the resources section of TRACS. I had planned to talk about this assignment today, but will do so next Monday. I just wanted to be sure you are all working on it.

Our lunch would have been planned for 10/18, but I think we will do this in November either during the leadership discussion or the day that you are selecting the topic.

I know that the group project is still lingering out there. We'll make final decisons on Monday.

Again, I am so sorry for the last minute cancellation. Have a great week and I'll see you all next Monday. If you need to ask any questions, don't hesitate to call, text or email me.

Michelle

SO CONFUSED

I'm blogging as homework really late but also wondering what is going on in class , cause I get we are moved back a week and all but there is alot of stuff unanswered and I just dont see why it is this way.

Career Services

I'm really glad we got the opportunity to go to career services earlier than we were supposed to. It got me thinking about whether or not I want to minor in what I had previously thought. Of course, my major is set in stone, it's Creative Writing and that's what I want to do. But I'll also need at least one minor so that, when I graduate from college, I'm qualified for some sort of job that will actually allow me to earn a salary.

I haven't yet, but hopefully if things slow down a bit as far as tests go I will make an appointment with career services. There just never seems to be much of a break anymore.

Speaking of breaks, does anyone know why Texas State doesn't have a fall break, as so many other colleges do? I thought that was kind of a jip.

FIVE

The carrer services thing was interesting. I learned a lot about what it takes to have the career of my dreams. I went back to my dorm after our discussion and tried the annual salary website. It told me I need to have a $43,000 salary in order to live the way I really want to after I graduate college. WOW!! what an eye opener haha I still want to be an event planner but I think it might take a little longer to achieve my goal of having my own business. I look forward to today's discussion and the rest of this week.

Ashley Kathleen :)

careers galore

The career services center place in the LBJ student center is pretty legit. I already have a major and all but if I didn't know what I wanted to do...like my friend Rob, I would go there. Since Rob is my good friend and all, I showed him where the career center was. It really helped him a lot. He still doesn't have a clue what he wants to do, but this experience helped him realize that there are many majors that are available to him for his choosing. I didn't even know that a 5th floor existed at the LBJ. It was hidden like that place where Harry Potter secretly taught all the students spells in Order of the Phoenix.

p.s. I really dislike my english class

Homework... Enough said.

Why can't the weekend last longer?

Friday I did homework, Saturday I did Student Council and Amtgard, Sunday I did homework... and I still didn't finish it all. You are probably wondering "wow he probably just said he did his homework" though may I put your speculations to rest: I actually did homework, as crazy as it sounds. And to think we didn't even have a game Saturday to attend!

As a member of the Freshmen Council it is going to be my first order of business to introduce an 8th day to the calender: Lokiday (coming from the Norse god for mischief; also following the pattern of how the week days are all named after Norse gods).

Happy future Lokiday everyone!

Homework: A Thorn in the Side

By many people, including myself, homework can often help one with his or her understanding of the curriculum in various classes. However, while a due date usually helps promote "productivity," it is many times quite a troublesome thorn in the side.

Multiple times, I have just wanted to go to class, watch the teacher give his or her lesson, and enjoy the content of the class. For example, I like learning languages. I understand that the homework in my French class is necessary to learning the language, but it is also a bit of a nuisance at times. The work is a double-edged sword, so to speak. When I have homework that is due very soon, classes which I would normally enjoy to a certain degree become an obstacle to passing other classes.

Tonight, I have homework due which I have been too busy to start, yet I still have to go to two more classes (one of which being US 1100) AND marching band practice. In a situation like that, perhaps it is best that I try to look at those classes as breaks, for college can be a complex phenomenon.

Overall, US 1100 has helped me more than hurt me, but I somewhat wish that we didn't have class today. This would help ease my homework worries for the day.

Career Services

I had already heard this before, but it wasn't too bad hearing it again.

I'm really glad I already know what I'm majoring in. I've wanted to major in psychology for quite a while now, so I'm sure it's what I want to continue with. I'm also glad I already know what kind of job I want. I want to be some sort of counselor. I either want to counsel married couples, families, or people with OCD. I haven't decided which one I'll specialize in. Since I want to be a licensed counselor, I have to get my Masters degree...which means additional schooling. I'm not really looking forward to even MORE school after I get my Bachelors, but I really want to be a counselor, so it'll be worth it in the end.

Chelsea Lovercamp

Career Services

My last session US 1100 was held in the career services department in TSU's LBJ Student center. Here, I found a new place to help me sort things out for my future career plans. However, I also experienced a reanalysis of my current career choice to be a United State foreign affairs agent. I wondered if I would be truly happy doing this to make a living.

I am still not sure, regarding my decision when the time comes to make that choice. Luckily, I still have time to sort things out.

As a U.S. foreign affairs agent, I could make a fairly good salary with government benefits including travel, housing, children's education, etc. However, depending on the type of agent I am, I might be assigned to work in a "danger zone" in which I get an additional half of whatever my salary is. As good as that may sound, there's a sort of "catch." In addition to the name of the zone being self-explanatory, I wouldn't be allowed to take any family with me while I'm working there. I might not be able to see my wife/girlfriend/children for up to two years. This is why I have to be careful with how close I get to people. They do not deserve to be seriously hurt because of my job. That being said, depending on the situation at hand, my job could save lives.

Decisions, decisions...

Career Services

This class we went to the LBJ Center to listen to a Career Service speaker. it was very interesting, i did not know about all of the jobs out there for us to apply for in the San Marcos area. She also talked about job shadowing and we can sign up for that coming up very soon. I am very interested in that and would love to have that experience. she also talked about Sigi3 and that was a neat website i plan on getting on that soon. it was a pretty good class and i am looking foward to the next one!

Career Services

In class this week, we met at LBJ to discuss different jobs. I enjoyed be influenced on how much money i would need in the future and what it will be like on my own. All of the websites were pretty neat and i thought it was a really good experience for people our age. That way we're not running out of time and missing opportunities in the future. I'm looking forward to next class!

Career Day

I enjoyed the presentation. I didn't know there were so many jobs offered out there. I soon plan on going to the Sigi 3 website and taking many personal assessment tests. I enjoyed the interactive quiz we did with Haley Way. I didn't even know LBJ had a 5th floor. That was pretty cool. 

-Meghan

Career Services Library

Today's class on the fifth floor of LBJ Center was interesting. I did not even know we had a fifth floor so that was something new. The career center seems as if it would be a great tool if I had any questions at all with my major and anything I can do to become successful. The people seem very friendly and willing to help with just about anything.

career services library

I thought the career service presentation was somewhat helpful mainly because it gave me a bit more info on some careers that are involved with my major I'm choosing. Overall the presentation was ok, decent at best. To me it seemed like it was a little vague and not well put together, but the speaker was very nice and helpful and explained in some detail of what the library can actually do for you.

Career Services

Yesterday's class was held in the 4th dimension! It took us forever to find the fifth floor. Besides the point; I never knew we had these facilities available to us and now that I know I might just go once I actually narrow down my major. I know i want to major in Spanish I just have no idea what I'm going to do with it just yet. Anyway hope everyone is having a great week! I know I'm not..lots of studying to do. "Al mal tiempo, buena cara" meaning be positive in bad situations. See you all next Monday!

Todays class was uhh interesting I suppose. I got free candy from the desk when I walked in so that was exciting :D. But other than that I've had heard the things she talked about before in my other classes. I forgot to blog last week so I figured I'd look up some plants that are good for indoors for our potting thing. I found a list of the best herbs to grow indoors that are-- Basil, Bay, sage, rosemary, parsley. I also found a list of plants that are suppose to help purify your air. Areca palm, lady palm, bamboo palm, rubber plant, dracaena, english ivy, dwarf date palm, ficus alii, boston fern, and the peace lily.

5th class

I found today interesting like always, I was little tired so it was hard to pay attention. The lady seemed nice and told us a lot about the different resources they offer. I liked how they had papers that told you what type of job your degree could get you. They also had a lot of books about finding careers and where to start looking now. I am really interested in studying abroad in Australia over summer but not this summer, maybe after my junior year. I might also want to live somewhere other than America for a year or so because I like traveling and seeing different parts of the world. Just some thoughts, but I don't even have a major yet so I should start there.

:] -Christi

Class 5

Today we had class in the career services library. It was very interesting and I enjoyed learning about the resources available to us. I know plenty of people that are in need of assistance in finding their desired career path and this seems like the perfect place to find help. I pretty much know what path I'm interested in but I think I may make an appointment with a career counselor anyway and make sure I will enjoy my future career. I really liked today's class :)

♥ Cheyenne

Career Service In Class

Today we all met as a class on the 5Th floor of the LBJ to the Career Services and had a counselor giving us advice about how to get around and how to use the services provided. I actually learned a lot of information on how to figure out where i want to be and I'm thinking of taking some of those assessments to see where i stand.
I guess that is all for now so ill see you guys next class!:)

The fourth day

I have not yet used the SLAC lab or any of the other services, but I may very soon...

Traditionally I've been used to being able to study on my own, or not study at all, and get a completely satisfactory grade. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be the case anymore. But, lesson is learned and I'm glad the lady from the SLAC lab came to talk to us, it was just in time for me I think.

I'm interested as to what today will be like, and hopefully I'll be able to find where we are meeting okay.

See you all there!

Green Facts

Today, I was browsing the internet and came across some "green facts." Reading these seems to scream, "LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN DO FOR THIS PLANET!"

There are many benefits of recycling objects. According to recycling-revolution.com, recycling an aluminum can saves enough electricity to power a television for three hours. If one ton of paper gets recycled, it saves 4,100 kilowatts of energy, 17 trees and 60 pounds of air pollution. If a ton of glass gets recycled, it can save 9 gallons of oil. These simple statistics reveal the true importance of recycling, and certainly help us find an alternative way to save our environment.

2. In the US alone, if 1/4^th of the households replace one incandescent bulb with a CFL, it saves as much carbon dioxide as planting more than 200, 000 acres of forest. CFLs come in different types to suit your rooms. “Soft light” CFLs are a perfect replacement for that familiar warm glow emitted by incandescent light bulbs. You can also opt for “daylight” bulbs to emulate natural light. Replacing incandescents with CFLs is a small step to make our planet a better place to live.

3. Using wind turbines is the perfect alternative way to convert wind energy into electricity. Today, eighty countries are harnessing wind energy to create electricity on a commercial basis. In the United States, North Dakota has the ability to produce wind power to meet one fourth of the country’s electricity demand. Almost 20 percent of America’s electricity needs will be provided by wind power alone within a decade, according to Reuters.

Note (Keith): This person seems to think very highly of wind power. While I do not doubt that it could be helpful, there are possibly many places where wind could not be harnessed to meet the demands of the people.

4. Due to global warming and the population boom, most Asian countries will face acute water shortages by the year 2025. Still, many people waste water as if there is plenty available. But the truth is that less than one percent of world’s fresh water is available for human consumption.

Note (Keith): Honestly, the fourth one scares me a little bit at the end.

Here is the article that lists these facts: http://www.brighthub.com/environment/green-living/articles/49599.aspx#ixzz11PWGhDxW

Oh Studying

To paraphrase a quote from The Big Bang Theory: Studying thou art a heartless.... Anyway, last class was interesting how many different kinds of help there is on campus; however, SLAC doesn't help with Honors Calculus. I found that out through personal experience, but oh well. May it seem a rant or not I must also comment that the Writing Center didn't help either.. The instructor, who will remain nameless in all seriousness, said my paper was great and to not change but a few minor things. Which I did, and I still got the same grade as when I didn't use them. Maybe it's just my luck. Try them for yourself though, because I believe they wouldn't be here if they didn't help atleast somebody.

Looking forward to class today, see everyone there!

Studying

Last Monday, someone came to give our class tips for studying and remind us of the tutoring for which we have already paid in our TSU tuition. Perhaps it is obvious to begin with, but I was still a bit surprised when we were told that we need to take breaks that are fun. At one point in my life, studying almost constantly was the trait of a good student. However, it now seems that it is better for one to study, but take FUN breaks in order to avoid losing his or her sanity. This improves one's efficiency of studying because the brain can only absorb a certain amount of information at a time.

Just an FYI, my Spanish teacher from high school (I think she's working on her masters at TSU) once gave us her opinion on study time limits. She suggested studying 25 minutes at a time for most classes, but no more than 20 at a time for a language class.

Soon, I myself must learn to study more efficiently if I am to achieve my major. Now, I think that I much better understand WHY cramming often does not work well!

Day Four!

I really liked the lady who came in and talked to us about study tips. So far I have been keeping up with a planner and doing surprisingly well in my classes but I think that is mainly because the highschool I went to really prepared us for college. I hope that everyone had a fantastic weekend! Ohhh and whats going on tomarrow? Im super confused as to why we are meeting someplace else if we dont have a teacher...

wonderful class gathering #4

Um... So class four was pretty interesting. I'm not going to lie, that speaker from the SLAC lab gave us a lot of helpful tips. For the past month, I've noticed that my studying habits are not as good as they should be. I'm going to take advantage of all these resources offered to me in hope of an A at the end of the semester. :) I'm really happy that we are given the opportunity to have a class like this where we can discuss important issues that pertain to each and everyone of us. Looking forward to seeing all of your beautiful faces tomorrow. :)

PEACE OUT. ☮