While on our tour of the garden, we were told that the Queen who commissioned it's design imported over 500 species of plants and animals. Many of those plants were found to not be able to survive in the Mediterranean climate, however, those plants and animals that did survive have now become a part of the surrounding landscape. For instance the duck population has become overrun not only affecting the life of plants in the National Garden but also ducks can be seen throughout the city. We found all of this interesting since it could have a huge impact on people's health within the city.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
The National Garden
While in Athens, we visited the National Garden. Unfortunately, we were only able to visit a small portion of it. However, I could not help but notice that various areas of the ground were raised to what looked like little underground tunnels. I took this as the defense to combat erosion since the city does not have any natural waterways. In fact, Athens has built over all three of its natural rivers.
Friday, December 30, 2011
So far, Athens has been good to us. =]
The Parthenon on the Acropolis.
A view of the city of Athens (ancient and modern cites!).
Today, we first took a Free Walking Tour (for all those planning to travel Europe, this is a really awesome concept- most of the major cities on the continent have a totally free walking tour! So just google whatever city you're planning on going to and find the free tour!). Our guide, George, gave us a really brief outline of the city and it's major, mostly historical, landmarks. The tour ended at the acropolis, after we had seen sites like the Roman Agora, Hadrian's Arch and the Temple of Zeus; we proceeded to explore the acropolis, taking in the Parthenon, the Temple of Nike, and other relics.
We were sitting at the top of the acropolis, looking at the remains of ancient Greece with modern Greece sprawling past the horizon behind it, when we started to wonder just how much this is costing the country and how they're preserving these relics when they're in such a deep recession. As well, the Greeks are petitioning the British- who have a large, very well preserved piece of the Parthenon on display the at British Museum (that we're going to see!!)- for the part of the Parthenon they took many years ago. However, the British Museum has provided a many number of reasons for why they can't return it. This has led to Greece building newer research facilities and museums so that they could better house the missing pieces. Is it possible though, that Britain could use Greece's current economic strain as another reason to not return one of their largest exhibits? Someday, when I can get internet with enough "umph" to actually download videos, I'll show you guys some bits of conversations we've been having about Greece.
Graffiti close to Monastiraki Station.
The Parthenon on the Acropolis.
A view of the city of Athens (ancient and modern cites!).
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Luk and I waiting for Muk at the airport!
But this one is just as good! : )
Today we all finally made it safely to Athens, and tomorrow we will be posting another video and we will be starting our regular blog schedule (each of us posting a blog, 1 every 3 days).
Tuk
Thursday, December 15, 2011
No need to worry Willie...
Luk, Tuk, and I are hugely enthusiastic Willie Nelson fans. Not only is he a boss on the guitar and has the voice of an angel but he is also striving to reduce his own carbon footprint and that of the United States. Willie Nelson has created his own brand of alternative energy called BioWillie. "I knew we needed to have something that would keep us from being so dependent on foreign oil, and when I heard about biodiesel, a light come on, and I said, 'Hey, here's the future for the farmers, the future for the environment, the future for the truckers, it seems like that's good for the whole world if we can start growing our own fuel instead of starting wars over it." You make a great point, Willie.
So on our excursion of Europe we will find ourselves with an entire glorious week in Italy. Rather than spend all of this time in Rome we decided to do a bit of exploring. So being our savvy selves, we decided to rent a car (a Fiat Panda) and drive from Rome to Florence and then onward to Venice and finally back up to Rome to snag our plane ride to the fair city of London. Being environmentally conscious as we are, we have decided to "feed" our Fiat Panda with biofuel whenever possible! Italian chemical groups Mossi & Ghisolfi broke ground on a 13 million gallons per year plant at Crestentino in northwest Italy. Production will begin in January and the new biofuel is predicted to reach most fuel stations. Biofuel is a non- petroleum based fuel composed of natural sources such as algae, animal fat, or vegetable oils. One major advantage of this type of fuel is that it is clean burning and renewable (unlike petroleum). Studies indicate that it can reduce tail pipe emissions by 80%. YOWZA!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Luk's Global Communication and Media Project.
I have this Facebook friend who posts some of the best links on his profile page. He's literally done half the research for one of my papers because when he posts the link, he also posts his opinion on it which, as you may know, can be highly productive in getting through writer's block (and no, I don't plagiarize this poor guy...). The coolest thing about this is that this is a Facebook friend who I wouldn't see on a regular basis because we live in different countries.
You guys may have heard about the "Facebook Revolution" that happened in Egypt? Part of the Arab Spring, per chance? These mass protests and political coups were organized through the online networking site Facebook. The Facebook group that sparked the revolution in Egypt? Formed in America. The world is becoming more connected. Because of this, ideals are being more quickly shared and in that, assimilating to the same basic principles. On a macro scale, this means that democracy, and likely with it capitalism, is moving its way into more and more countries around the world.
So how does the Middle East apply to Europe? Connectivity, my friend.
The same guy who's been doing my research posted a link about how Iceland re-wrote their constitution over the internet. Consequently, I decided to make my Global Comm and Media project on how this same concept can be applied to Greece. If you're reading this, I feel that it is safe to assume that you know Greece is fixing to default something major on a shit ton of loans. However, could this situation be bettered if the people of Greece were allowed to re-write their Constitution, like the Icelanders, and decide their own fate- as opposed to the owners of their bonds and treasury bills? Is it possible that Greece is even in a place technologically, socially and politically where the country would benefit from such actions?
I guess what you think depends on where your money is.
You guys may have heard about the "Facebook Revolution" that happened in Egypt? Part of the Arab Spring, per chance? These mass protests and political coups were organized through the online networking site Facebook. The Facebook group that sparked the revolution in Egypt? Formed in America. The world is becoming more connected. Because of this, ideals are being more quickly shared and in that, assimilating to the same basic principles. On a macro scale, this means that democracy, and likely with it capitalism, is moving its way into more and more countries around the world.
So how does the Middle East apply to Europe? Connectivity, my friend.
The same guy who's been doing my research posted a link about how Iceland re-wrote their constitution over the internet. Consequently, I decided to make my Global Comm and Media project on how this same concept can be applied to Greece. If you're reading this, I feel that it is safe to assume that you know Greece is fixing to default something major on a shit ton of loans. However, could this situation be bettered if the people of Greece were allowed to re-write their Constitution, like the Icelanders, and decide their own fate- as opposed to the owners of their bonds and treasury bills? Is it possible that Greece is even in a place technologically, socially and politically where the country would benefit from such actions?
I guess what you think depends on where your money is.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Killer Algae!!!
Don't worry, no poorly acting damsel in distressed or flailing armed monster here...just the invasive specie, Caulerpa taxifolia.
Caulerpa taxifolia gets the name Killer Algae from being highly adaptable to any habitat, rapid growth, and capabilities to produce high concentrations of toxic secondary compounds, out-competing native seaweed species.
The algae is popular for being aquarium tank decoration. In the early 1980's a professor at the University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis (France), found a patch of the algae in front of the Oceanographic Museum in Monaco. Theories say the algae was released after an aquarium cleaning. (Analysis showed that it was the genetically altered aquarium specie not the wild strand, so natural dispersion is not an option)
Once introduced to the Mediterranean it easily multiplied throughout the coastline due to anchors, fishing nets, and dumping ballast water.
Its has a highly toxic chemical defense, so it's barely eaten by herbivores, having no competition the average growth rate is 1 cm per day.
The species is conflicting with many ecosystems, threatening biological stability in the marine environment. Caulerpa taxifolia is known to kill many fish species, it also is harming tourism, decreases the pleasure of boating, recreational, and has a financial impact on commercial fishing.
The removal process:
Many removal ideas have been tested, to manual removal, suction pump, hot water, electrolysis with copper electrodes, copper ions through an ionic selective membrane, and the use of chlorine. Some biological control ideas are to introduce grazing tropical species but it might lead to unexpected consequences.
But the most effective methods of removal is to seal off a patch of Caulerpa taxifolia cover it with a heavy plastic sheet that is sealed to the bottom, at the top is a small port that releases a herbicide. But that can only treat on the small scale, large scale removal is still out of reach, due to low public awareness and low priority. But this killer algae is a full threat to the marine biodiversity.
Tuk
Caulerpa taxifolia gets the name Killer Algae from being highly adaptable to any habitat, rapid growth, and capabilities to produce high concentrations of toxic secondary compounds, out-competing native seaweed species.
The algae is popular for being aquarium tank decoration. In the early 1980's a professor at the University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis (France), found a patch of the algae in front of the Oceanographic Museum in Monaco. Theories say the algae was released after an aquarium cleaning. (Analysis showed that it was the genetically altered aquarium specie not the wild strand, so natural dispersion is not an option)
Once introduced to the Mediterranean it easily multiplied throughout the coastline due to anchors, fishing nets, and dumping ballast water.
Its has a highly toxic chemical defense, so it's barely eaten by herbivores, having no competition the average growth rate is 1 cm per day.
The species is conflicting with many ecosystems, threatening biological stability in the marine environment. Caulerpa taxifolia is known to kill many fish species, it also is harming tourism, decreases the pleasure of boating, recreational, and has a financial impact on commercial fishing.
The removal process:
Many removal ideas have been tested, to manual removal, suction pump, hot water, electrolysis with copper electrodes, copper ions through an ionic selective membrane, and the use of chlorine. Some biological control ideas are to introduce grazing tropical species but it might lead to unexpected consequences.
But the most effective methods of removal is to seal off a patch of Caulerpa taxifolia cover it with a heavy plastic sheet that is sealed to the bottom, at the top is a small port that releases a herbicide. But that can only treat on the small scale, large scale removal is still out of reach, due to low public awareness and low priority. But this killer algae is a full threat to the marine biodiversity.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Cliffs of Moher...Bird Haven and Tower Controled.
On the west coast of Ireland lies the Cliffs of Moher.
The Cliffs were originally a huge river delta but over 320 million years they formed into what they are now, standing at 214m (708 feet),at the highest point.
A long long long time ago (1st Century BC) Fort Mothar stood, but during the Napoleonic wars it was demolished to make room for a signal tower (1803).
Luckily the original fort was use to generate the name of the cliffs, Cliffs of Moher.
Not only are the Cliffs in great position for towers and forts, it also is a sea bird haven!
The area is designated as a Special Protection Area (SPA) for birds under the EU Birds Directive in 1986. Some of the seabirds found are the Atlantic Puffin, Razorbill, Chough, and the Common gull.
In 1835 O'Brien's Tower was built, by Cornelius O'Brien (sort of rolls off the tongue, right?).
Cornelius was a descendant of Brian Boru, Kings of Thomond, He built the tower to serve as an observation point. During that time hundreds of tourist came to stand gallantly on the majestic Cliffs of Moher.
http://www.cliffsofmoher.ie/TheCliffs.aspx
The Cliffs were originally a huge river delta but over 320 million years they formed into what they are now, standing at 214m (708 feet),at the highest point.
A long long long time ago (1st Century BC) Fort Mothar stood, but during the Napoleonic wars it was demolished to make room for a signal tower (1803).
Luckily the original fort was use to generate the name of the cliffs, Cliffs of Moher.
Not only are the Cliffs in great position for towers and forts, it also is a sea bird haven!
The area is designated as a Special Protection Area (SPA) for birds under the EU Birds Directive in 1986. Some of the seabirds found are the Atlantic Puffin, Razorbill, Chough, and the Common gull.
In 1835 O'Brien's Tower was built, by Cornelius O'Brien (sort of rolls off the tongue, right?).
Cornelius was a descendant of Brian Boru, Kings of Thomond, He built the tower to serve as an observation point. During that time hundreds of tourist came to stand gallantly on the majestic Cliffs of Moher.
http://www.cliffsofmoher.ie/TheCliffs.aspx
Pictures taken by yours truly!
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Speak Italian... Without knowing how!
When you think about it, language is pretty awesome.
You can learn it without meaning to (I will forever know that "aray" means "ouch" in Filipino from working with a woman from the Philippines) or you can study it diligently (how else do you expect to learn Ancient Greek?). However it came to be in your brain, language is really the height of human technology so far (and please please please don't try and pull Steve Jobs into this...).
It's basically a bunch of noises your mouth makes strung together and it enables you to share observations, ideas, thoughts.... If you couldn't speak, everyone would be using sign language. Not that there is anything wrong with sign language- our ancestors were using it for a good while before they got smart enough to start grunting consistently (sorry if this hurts your feelings about creationism/evolution/whatever; I am personally of a strange belief, not typical evolution, that still has humans crawling from the primordial soup) but could you imagine trying to explain neutrinos or political and economic theory with just your hands? Quit your imagining- it would suck. But now, we've thousands of different languages and dialects, each one just a little different from the other. But today, my friends, we will be discussing Italian.
Italian is a Romance language- for all of you's guys who don't know what this is, it is a language based on the Roman language of Vulgar Latin (because let's be serious, those Romans were some nasty freaks). French and Spanish are also some of the fine languages which are included in the Romance languages (English is actually Germanic, but we get a lot of words from French and Spanish. Go figure...). All of this categorization comes from grammar, where the language originated, and a bunch of other crap that you probably don't care about (just in case you do care). But how exactly can we speak Italian without even knowing it?? By falling back on that old ancestral stand-by, using your hands.
Italian Without Words!!
Check these bad boys out. Hopefully, we'll be gesturing Italian in no time! If not, we'll have try speaking Spanish with an Italian accent...
-LuK!
You can learn it without meaning to (I will forever know that "aray" means "ouch" in Filipino from working with a woman from the Philippines) or you can study it diligently (how else do you expect to learn Ancient Greek?). However it came to be in your brain, language is really the height of human technology so far (and please please please don't try and pull Steve Jobs into this...).
It's basically a bunch of noises your mouth makes strung together and it enables you to share observations, ideas, thoughts.... If you couldn't speak, everyone would be using sign language. Not that there is anything wrong with sign language- our ancestors were using it for a good while before they got smart enough to start grunting consistently (sorry if this hurts your feelings about creationism/evolution/whatever; I am personally of a strange belief, not typical evolution, that still has humans crawling from the primordial soup) but could you imagine trying to explain neutrinos or political and economic theory with just your hands? Quit your imagining- it would suck. But now, we've thousands of different languages and dialects, each one just a little different from the other. But today, my friends, we will be discussing Italian.
Italian is a Romance language- for all of you's guys who don't know what this is, it is a language based on the Roman language of Vulgar Latin (because let's be serious, those Romans were some nasty freaks). French and Spanish are also some of the fine languages which are included in the Romance languages (English is actually Germanic, but we get a lot of words from French and Spanish. Go figure...). All of this categorization comes from grammar, where the language originated, and a bunch of other crap that you probably don't care about (just in case you do care). But how exactly can we speak Italian without even knowing it?? By falling back on that old ancestral stand-by, using your hands.
Italian Without Words!!
Check these bad boys out. Hopefully, we'll be gesturing Italian in no time! If not, we'll have try speaking Spanish with an Italian accent...
-LuK!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Think of bicycles as rideable art that can just about save the world. ~Grant Peterson
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/895He4/www.good.is/post/what-rush-hour-could-look-like-the-glorious-bike-traffic-of-utrecht-holland
Benefits of Riding a bike:
~renewable transportation...so no pollution. yaaay!!
~ on 350 calories a cyclist can travel 10 miles, a person can walk 3.5 miles, and a car can move 100 feet. Lamesauce car. Laaaamesauce.
~bicycles are quiet...unless you have a nice little bell. But definitely less air pollution is generated.
~they are more efficient in taking up street space and are easier to store.
~ per mile traveled, bikes cost the frequent rider less than half as much as public transportation riders and a quarter as much as driving a car costs. Thats some greeeaat extracurricular activities money right there!
Bikes are marvelous economically, environmentally, and socially! Here are some totally stellar types of bikes: http://www.toxel.com/tech/2010/11/03/12-cool-and-unusual-bicycles/
So if you like the water, the outdoors or the comfort of a couch.. there is a bike for you!!
Monday, October 3, 2011
Why do snakephobiaist love Ireland?
Snakephobia= fear of snakes.
The legend is, back in the fifth century St. Patrick himself used his staff to herd the slithering creatures into the sea, banishing them for eternity!
About 100 million years ago during the late Cretaceous period, snakes first evolved.
Early snakes were small and wormy, like the blindsnakes. Ancient snakes fossils are found only on southern continents like Antarctica, South America, Africa, India, and Australia.
100 million years ago Ireland was under the sea, so migrating to Ireland wasn't an option.
As the world's oceans have risen and fallen over time land bridges have come and gone between Ireland. However, any snake that may have slithered it's way to Ireland would have turned into a popsicle when the ice ages hit.
Tuk
Euro Zone, CPI, and other economics crap.
Just a few updates on the trip!
We're going to be in Greece from the 28th of December to the 1st or 2nd of January. We will fly from Athens to Rome, staying there until the 5th or the 6th. From Rome, we'll fly to London until the 8th, but we plan on taking a day/possible overnight trip to Wales! The plan is that we will be in Edinburgh by the 9th, starting Morgan's three day birthday celebration (IF YOU'RE READING THIS, YOU'RE PROBABLY INVITED! Just send luk a message for all the details. =] On the 12th or 13th, we're heading out to Ireland. We'll leave Dublin on the 30th, doing an overnight at the airport in Madrid and then back to America the 31st. And then Spring Term classes start February 1st. =D
If you're interested in housing us or meeting up at a time during our trips for discussions, debate and/or drinking, comment or send us a message!! (Or comment anyway. Everyone loooooves feedback.)
The Effect of Greece on the World Markets.
While Greece is continuing to spiral closer to default at a time when the EU is in a bit of disarray, the Consumer Price Index of Greece is going up (this means that the amount people who are buying, or consuming, goods and services has increased). However, the manufacturing activity contracted. If looking at this on a supply/demand diagram, one would see a right shift in demand (increase in quantity demanded, or how much is needed/wanted by the consumer) as well as a left shift in the supply curve (a decrease in quantity produced, leading to a decrease in price per unit). I could be wrong though... =]
This could be a good thing for the economy because it will bring the country closer to it's market equilibrium- where the production and price are at a social optimum. However, if this economic crisis is anything like the one budding in America, it's possible that the Greeks might start saving more money than they're spending, so the demand will drop and the supply will be higher than it needs to be. But if demand drops down the zero.... the economy has totally collapsed (and things will probably be on fire).
And in case you were wondering, I did a pretty good on my first economics test! =]
We're going to be in Greece from the 28th of December to the 1st or 2nd of January. We will fly from Athens to Rome, staying there until the 5th or the 6th. From Rome, we'll fly to London until the 8th, but we plan on taking a day/possible overnight trip to Wales! The plan is that we will be in Edinburgh by the 9th, starting Morgan's three day birthday celebration (IF YOU'RE READING THIS, YOU'RE PROBABLY INVITED! Just send luk a message for all the details. =] On the 12th or 13th, we're heading out to Ireland. We'll leave Dublin on the 30th, doing an overnight at the airport in Madrid and then back to America the 31st. And then Spring Term classes start February 1st. =D
If you're interested in housing us or meeting up at a time during our trips for discussions, debate and/or drinking, comment or send us a message!! (Or comment anyway. Everyone loooooves feedback.)
The Effect of Greece on the World Markets.
While Greece is continuing to spiral closer to default at a time when the EU is in a bit of disarray, the Consumer Price Index of Greece is going up (this means that the amount people who are buying, or consuming, goods and services has increased). However, the manufacturing activity contracted. If looking at this on a supply/demand diagram, one would see a right shift in demand (increase in quantity demanded, or how much is needed/wanted by the consumer) as well as a left shift in the supply curve (a decrease in quantity produced, leading to a decrease in price per unit). I could be wrong though... =]
This could be a good thing for the economy because it will bring the country closer to it's market equilibrium- where the production and price are at a social optimum. However, if this economic crisis is anything like the one budding in America, it's possible that the Greeks might start saving more money than they're spending, so the demand will drop and the supply will be higher than it needs to be. But if demand drops down the zero.... the economy has totally collapsed (and things will probably be on fire).
And in case you were wondering, I did a pretty good on my first economics test! =]
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Biodiversity..."Never Wear Anything That Panics the Cat"
The destruction of ecosystems would eventually change all the organisms in the region thereby affecting five different ecological benefits normally gained from biodiversity. The first being the soil and its formation, its ability to cycle nutrients, and its stabilization involving flood and erosion. The second and third benefits being water and air and the ability for each of these to filter, purify, and stabilize the global climate. The fourth being decomposition and waste disposal as well as pest control. The final ecological benefit from biodiversity is energy transformation as a food source. These factors are important and all affect humans because each of these factors has the ability to change the climate, temperature, and therefore biome of an area.
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/09/26/world/europe/wildlife-photography-uk-awards-duplicate-2/index.html
These photographs not only capture beautiful organisms and landscapes but also raise awareness about how stellar biodiversity is. Booyah! for the UK and it's biodiversity. Check ooouuut thaat fox!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Just to keep you updated on what's happening...
Europe's Debt Crisis.
Here are five essential things you need to know about the debt crisis in Europe. I was wrong in my last post about the stability of Italy- it seems she isn't doing as well as I had initially thought!
We're brainstorming about some awesome things for J-Term. Bet you guys can't wait for December 28th! One of our better thought out plans is to visit a Peat Farm in Ireland. There is increasing research about the usage of peat as an alternate form of energy. We are really hoping that we can get a place that'll walk us through what it is that they do!
Here are five essential things you need to know about the debt crisis in Europe. I was wrong in my last post about the stability of Italy- it seems she isn't doing as well as I had initially thought!
We're brainstorming about some awesome things for J-Term. Bet you guys can't wait for December 28th! One of our better thought out plans is to visit a Peat Farm in Ireland. There is increasing research about the usage of peat as an alternate form of energy. We are really hoping that we can get a place that'll walk us through what it is that they do!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Getting Started.
Morgan here!
We've just gotten everything set up for our independent research project for J-Term 2012 at Hollins University!
And what exactly is it that we are doing, you may ask....?!
Well... we're going to Europe. More specifically, we're going to Greece, Italy, the UK and Ireland. In each of these countries, we plan to study their different environmental, political, economic, cultural and ecological aspects and to blog about them here. Pretty easy, right?
There are three of us going on this trip- myself, Brittany Hanavan and Emily Cook (we'll figure out how to add them on here so they can post and you can creep on them just as much as you'll be creeping on me). Each of us are studying different things at our little liberal arts college. I'm majoring in International Studies with a double minor in Biology and Economics, Brit is majoring and minoring in some combination of Environmental Studies, Political Science and Biology and Emily is simply a Bio major (or so she thinks... She's a Sophomore and hasn't had to declare yet...). We plan on blogging about what we observe and learn everyday on a rotating basis. This way, you won't have to hear it all from one point of view and you'll be privy to learning about the world through our different disciplines of study.
Well... we're going to Europe. More specifically, we're going to Greece, Italy, the UK and Ireland. In each of these countries, we plan to study their different environmental, political, economic, cultural and ecological aspects and to blog about them here. Pretty easy, right?
There are three of us going on this trip- myself, Brittany Hanavan and Emily Cook (we'll figure out how to add them on here so they can post and you can creep on them just as much as you'll be creeping on me). Each of us are studying different things at our little liberal arts college. I'm majoring in International Studies with a double minor in Biology and Economics, Brit is majoring and minoring in some combination of Environmental Studies, Political Science and Biology and Emily is simply a Bio major (or so she thinks... She's a Sophomore and hasn't had to declare yet...). We plan on blogging about what we observe and learn everyday on a rotating basis. This way, you won't have to hear it all from one point of view and you'll be privy to learning about the world through our different disciplines of study.
Right now, we're just doing the paperwork for all of this. Since we're already approved by our advisers, we've bought our plane tickets! We're leaving on December 28th for Athens and coming back January 30th from Dublin. We'll be sleeping on couches, hostel bunks, and if we're lucky, we might even score a bed every once in a while. And why are we suffering all of this hardship of getting to travel the world and see awesome things and meet great new people? To tell you what is really happening in Europe.
Greece's and Ireland's economies aren't in the best of shape (Greece has had some riots; the Irish just aren't the rioting type when they're sober). However, Italy and the UK, also members of the European Union, aren't declining as much as Greece and Ireland. By being in these four countries, we're hoping that we can produce a simplistic understanding of what is truly going down- and we hope to relate it back to you.
Here's some food for thought until our next post:
Until next time! =]
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