Biomimicry

Sunset the other night

I had to watch this video for an Environmental Studies assignment, it's AMAZING! If you have about 23 minutes to spare, please consider watching it. It's about biomimicry, which is mimicking nature to come up with smart technologies. It's a pretty obvious idea, but I'm glad there are intelligent dedicated people working on it, since it is challenging work. Nature seems to have a lot of things figured out pretty well, so we might as well use the intelligence already living in our world to change the way we built, make, and create.

A beautiful day!

Today was a BEAUTIFUL day. Perfect weather, sunny and warm.

I went to my first football game EVER, because it was against our biggest rival. We got killed, 0-42, but it was fun to be in the sunshine with my friends! There will be very few of these days left before winter!

Copenhagen!

For anyone who didn't know, the need HUGE climate conference is happening in Copenhagen from December 7-18th. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT! This conference will have huge implications for future climate treaties etc.

Here is the official website.

Here is some commentary.

A lot is happening, so keep and eye on it!

How to be informed!

I have decided that I need to make a better effort to be informed about what's going on in the environment on a daily basis. Maybe you have too! So here are some websites I have found that should make that task easier!

The Environmental News Network and Grist, which has "environmental news, commentary, and advice", are both pretty awesome.

One especially interesting article I came across today was about a man who drinks raw milk he has to buy illegally. It's interesting what we perceive has harmful or not harmful... worth thinking about. Personally, I think raw milk is far more healthy than drinking the milk offered in kid's meals at McDonalds...

exactly my point...

I want a time machine

I have decided that I would like a time machine.

I want to go back at least 100 years...

before we all had cars

before we deforested most of the world

before we led thousands of species to extinction

before we homogenized crops

before we became dependent on oil

before we let ppm CO2 get to above 350

before we decided that our GDP was more important than the air we breathe and the water we drink

before we dumped ballast water on foreign shores and spread invasive marine species

before we allowed the tropical rain forests to disappear at a rate of 100,000 acres a day

before we decided highways were better than public transportation

before we manufactured chemicals that we didn't know about

before we forgot to be stewards of the Earth

before we decided we didn't care about the destruction

But I don't have a time machine, so this will have to do for now.

Take some time today to think.

Take some time to be overwhelmed.

Because even though I am thoroughly frustrated, I am thoroughly committed and invigorated and determined.

And on the bright side, it is the 40th anniversary of Sesame Street...

One of those days...

Some lovely woods at Green Oaks yesterday

Today has been one of those days where you realize how lucky you are. Classes were good- I got some papers and tests back and did well, and the weather was nice. I don't have practice for the first time all year, and I don't have classes tomorrow, so I can relax tonight. I'm feeling fully here. I'm feeling pretty darn lucky to be at a college learning and living with amazing strong people.

The ladies in my suite are some pretty extraordinary people, and they make me remember how lucky I am to have family that love me, love each other, and allow me to be who I am. I've got one girl whose parents will cut her off if she comes out, another who dealt with her best friend attempting suicide a few weeks ago, and another who found out today that her mom has cancer again. Even though all these horrible things keep happening, we all take care of each other. And these women who are going through so much still manage to be sweet and care for others, and excel academically. I'm gonna miss them all when I go home for winter break! Overall, I'm feeling lucky today.

Prairie fire that wonders about...

What a week. I was sick (again, but thankfully not swine!!!). Then I had to make up all the work from being sick. And go to practice! But Saturday was the official end of volleyball season. Even though I am going to miss it, it will be nice to have more time to myself and to dedicate to studying! Exams are in two and half weeks! Where did the time go!?!?

It was one of those weeks where you don't have a minute to slow down, catch your breath, and actually look around. Today for my Intro to Environmental Studies class we went to the prairie reserve owned my my college. It is 750 acres of prairie and woodlands. There is hardly any prairie left in Illinois, mostly because of conversion to agricultural lands.

It was amazing. The grass was taller than me! It was beautiful and it made me feel rejuvenated! It also made me think of the Sufjan Stevens song "Prairie Fire That Wanders About". It's mostly instrumental, but here are the lyrics to ponder...

Peoria! Destroyia!
Infinity! Divinity!
For Lydia! Octavia!
And Jack-of-Trades!
The Cubs! Hooray!
The Opera House
Where Emma sang!
America! Oh will it play?
And Santa Clause!
The Great Parade!
Peoria!
You have it made!
Into the crossfire
faithfully run
Middle America,
one on one
Peoria!
we saddle the fun times