José González - The Nest

Saw them gathering sticks from the ground
by the thicket while assembling a nest.

On alert for any lingering threats.
Building frantically without rest.

Walls grew dense and blocked out the sun.
Caving in everyone.

Darkness fell wiped out a once joyous tone.
Then famished, like possessed ended up eating their own.

Saw them gathering sticks from the ground
by the thicket while assembling the nest. 








I believe this song is about us destroying our environment. Gathering thicket refers to us cutting down trees and also building where ever we feel fit. A nest represents our world, we were born, we'll live, and die. "Walls grew dense and blocked out the sun", could very well be a reference to carbon emissions & Global Warming. I choose this song because it has a very natural feel being played on an acoustic, and Jose Gonzalez's voice is also very natural. I think his message is that we need to slow down and stop "building frantically", look at the world around and understand that we only have one world, there won't be a second chance. 

10x 10 x 10 ft Cube House

LED lighting, cork flooring, many storing places, and Composting toilet. This has to be one of the coolest sustainability attempts I've ever seen. The stair design is something I've never seen before. The whole house is powered by Solar Panels.

A New Society

One of the smartest people I've been so lucky to know, has created his on ecosystem. In a cage thats about 7ft long 5ft tall and holds a width of about 2 ft inside he is housing finches. Guy Borge (My best friend Addison's father) has built probably one of the coolest cages I've ever seen in his backyard. At the bottom of the cage there's about 4 quails. The bird house has a series of heat lamps to keep them warm at night, and normal lights so they can see before they go to sleep. A problem took place initially that after two birds would mate and create offspring, they had no idea how to take are of their babies. Guy explained to me that this was because they were domestic and bought in a pet store. Pet store born birds are breed in animal farms where it isn't necessary for the mother to raise there babies. Without being taught this directly they literally had to create their own instinct. After about 2 months in finally the Finches figured out how to take care of their young, and the younger generation was already showing that they had received the knowledge.

Living in Southwest Florida

Southwest Florida is one of the most natural places to live. It's very clear that at one time Florida was nothing more then a massive swamp. While we have moved in an taken over a large majority of the natural area some of the native animals have still managed to survive in their ever changing habitat. This photo was taken in my old apartment where the same massive spider would visit me every day around the same time.

Modern Man

One of my favorite bands arcade fire recently came out with an album, one the tracks entitled "Modern Man"is very fitting to this class. The idea is that the Modern Man has something missing, but he has no idea what this thing is. I think the importance is that as a contemporary modern society we've made the greatest technological/scientific advancements known to man. We have everything laid out in front of us, nothing else is really required. Before we modernized and turned into what we are today we longed for something natural. To this day we find nature extremely therapeutic, this is because it's in our nature. 

So I wait my turn, I'm a modern man
And the people behind me, they can't understand
Makes me feel like
Makes me feel like

So I wait in line, I'm a modern man
And the people behind me, they can't understand
Makes me feel like
Something don't feel right

Like a record that's skipping
I'm a modern man
And the clock keeps ticking
I'm a modern man
Makes me feel like
Makes me feel like

In my dream I was almost there
And you pulled me aside and said you're going nowhere
They say we are the chosen few
But we're wasted
And that's why we're still waiting
On a number from the modern man
Maybe when you're older you will understand
Why you don't feel right
Why you can't sleep at night now

In line for a number but you don't understand
Like a modern man
In line for a number but you don't understand
Like a modern man

Oh I had a dream I was dreaming
And I feel I'm losing the feeling
Makes me feel like
Like something don't feel right
I erase the number of the modern man
Want to break the mirror of the modern man
Makes me feel like
Makes me feel like

In my dream I was almost there
But you pulled me aside and said you're going nowhere
I know we are the chosen few
But we're wasted
And that's why we're still waiting
In line for a number but you don't understand
Like a modern man
In like for a number but you don't understand
Like a modern man

And you feel so right
But how come you can't sleep at night?
In line for a number but you don't understand
Like a modern man

I'm a modern man
I'm a modern man
I'm a modern man

I'm a modern man 

Shy Wolf Sanctuary Project

This is a video I created, and edited for Shy Wolf Sanctuary. Even if you don't plan on volunteering everyone should take a trip out there and check it out.

Reflection on My Educational Experience

This class hasn't changed my perspective on how treat the world around us. I believe the resources on this earth our for us to thrive, and progress as earth citizens. Colloquium has taught me there are many different ways to go through with this though. We can enjoy the resources of the earth while still replenishing what we use, and making sure not to endanger/extinct anything. I believe the main ideology of this course is to be a responsible citizen. From the education, to the field trips, to the ten hours of volunteer hrs it really immerses you in what it takes to become a responsible citizen.