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.

How I feel about Global Warming

There's no doubt global warming presents a serious scare to those who feel it's true. The idea is that coal-powered & sulphur emitting power plants are blocking the sun's heat. In turn the drastic climate change is increasing the volume of water worldwide. Just recently the blame was shifted to China's industrial bubble, but I have my own cynicism on the matter. It's clear we have been beyond reckless with the O-Zone layer and our natural environment. But after doing research it's become clear to me that we've blamed the entire thing on CO-2 emissions. And around the year 2000 the temperatures stopped rising with the CO-2 levels. This proved that we really had no idea what was causing Global Warming or if it even existed. I believe the theory is nothing more then a gambling chip for politicians, after all billions of dollars pour into "global warming prevention".

My View on Recycling

I believe we are reaching a peak of our wastefulness, if we continue to waste on this level we could reach a point of no return. All of our waste is dumped into monstrous landfills where it accumulates much more volume than can be held. One of the unfortunate solutions is incineration which unfortunately vaporizes the debris into dangerous toxins. Recycling is a loop hole to this entire process, your output has no need to be transformed into toxins when in can be transformed into new product. Not only does it directly help by reusing, but it slows down the creation of new mass for new products. All in all I think Recycling has increased significantly over the pass decade or so. Nearly every home has a recycling bin, and a recycled goods pick up day. Places like the FGCU dorms have not implemented a recycling program yet, but I feel eventually this will have to take place on such a green campus.

Koreshan State Park

After only completing five hours at Calusa Nature Center, I needed one more service learning day of 5hrs to reach the 10 hour limit for Colloquium. Me and Sara Rieverley traveled to 41 and Corkscrew at 8AM with no idea what would be at hand. A park ranger had us fill out a few papers and then gave us a guide to the facility. He gave us a quick education that the Koreshan Settlers brought in many exotic plants that were endangering native plants and wildlife. The only way to control these devastating native plants was by routine controlled burnings. Unfortunately the Summer in FL is too humid and controlled burns present a potential threat of forest fires.

Me and Sarah entered the settlement with no idea what would be in store for us. I was expecting another nature preserve like the previous field trips, but Koreshan Park was nothing like this. An abandoned city holding no more then 10 buildings stood with a wild assortment of plants. The small settlement bordered Estero River, and once was home to over 200 citizens. The town was founded by Cyrus Teed, an alchemist and religious pioneer. Koresh itself is hebrew for Cyrus, which was the name of the religion he created "Koreshanity". He believed the town would be a "New Jerusalem" and ultimately he'd become the "New Messiah". Teed had many crazy theories including the hollow earth theory, which is absurd with the knowledge we've attained today.

  

                                                Sara with Teed's actual Hollow Earth model


Teed was severely injured in a scuffle with a Fort Myer's Marshall, and these injuries would eventually lead to his death. The Koreshan people left his body in a tub, awaiting his resurrection to no avail. His body would then be buried on Fort Myers Beach under 24hr guard until he was finally washed away. This would be the beginning of the end. By 1983 the last Koreshan would die on the grounds of the State Park. The Koreshans had great intent at building a city that would house a population of 10 million. Unfortunately for us the plants they brought with them would outlive that dream, and to this day we are battling these exotic plants.

                                                             Cyrus Teed's New Jerusalem

Clair, a park ranger at the grounds had us help remove some of these dangerous plants by hand. She explained that plants like the Bamboo, and Monkey Puzzle Trees were traded between the Koreshan's and Edison. The Bamboo in particular has been one of the most rampant spreaders, it can be found far outside the grounds of the state park. We were told to remove two plants in particular Cesar Weed (an invasive weed that grows sharp thorns), and Rosary Weed which is infamous for climbing and destroying other plants.

                                      Bamboo spreading rapidly on the Koreshan Nature Walk

Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium

After receiving an email from all the Colloquium teachers I went to an event off a Colonial at the Calusa nature center. The event was aimed mainly at children with arts and crafts, water balloon fights, face painting, and youth raffles. When me and my buddy Corey first got there we had no idea how much wildlife the center contained. After walking for less then a minute we saw Eagles, Hawks, an Albino Raccoon, and a Gator pit.

We volunteered with the kids for about an hour, and set up some of the heavier tables. The head of the department Melinda found us and told us she could use some volunteers in the Planetarium. I hadn't been to a planetarium in years but I thoroughly enjoyed running it.

                                                                 Planetarium CP

                                                  The Planetarium Cat and my buddy Corey

Feildtrip 4 - Downtown Fort Myers

Search the internet for New Urbanism, what is it? Does your place fit this description or not?  Why?

New Urbanism is defined by Wikipedia as "an urban design movement, which promotes walkable neighborhoods that contain a range of housing and job types." I felt Downtown Fort Myers definitely had a feeling of walkability. There range of housing varied significantly, I feel any social class would be able to fit it their. While they had basic Pizzerias there was also dockside dining. The jobs varied significantly from city workers, to artist, to realtor agencies. 

Where in the city or urban space makes you feel most comfortable and energized? 

I feel most comfortable sitting on a bench with a friend.  Metaphysically everyone wishes they could pause time but thats impossible (for now). Sitting down on a bench or even the curb for at least five minutes can sometimes be the best way to understand ways of the human race. Take in your surroundings and "People Watch" those unsuspecting bystanders. 

How does the urban landscape make you feel? 

I'm a city kid so I always feel more at home in a modern landscape setting. I was brought up in a highly populated area, and I go to NYC at any chance I get. To me there's a feeling a of completion, and that everything I need is within a few blocks of me. When I'm out of the country I don't have this calmness, I suppose this is part of the modern weakness. This is where my strongest feeling of sense of place exist. 

How much does parking cost? Where is it most expensive?How much of the city space is devoted to vehicles….traffic, parking, service of vehicles compared to space for people to enjoy the city?

 
Parking cost me $4 dollars in the Fort Myers city parking garage, only because I'm awful at parallel parking. A dollar fifty gets you about an hr on the meters near where I was parked. Before reading this question I never thought about it, but I'd say 50% of the landscape is devoted to traffic, and parking. This number should not be so high. Fort Myers is not that  crowded that parking garages should exist on every block. 


What is the biggest generator of parking need e.g. retailing businesses, service business, or government centers?
I'd say majority of the parking is for visiting traffic, or tourist. The next largest would have to be city workers involved with the courthouse and city maintenance. 


Is there evidence of shared or cooperative parking arrangements between churches and businesses or government entities that use parking at different times? 

Much of the parking is recycled for event parking or use between city workers and visitors. The church parking lots appear to be shared during non-church hours.

What is the current economic lifeblood of the city? 

I'd say the aim is middle class in downtown fort myers. Some of the galleries can be extremely pricey, but the city itself is very old. With only a small portion of the city being renovated the price increase has not changed much since I moved here four years ago. I feel after the city sees a larger renovation we could see a huge spike in prices. 

Where do people who live in the inner city shop for groceries?

Honestly I personally never saw anywhere within the city that sold groceries. 

Are there signs of homelessness, graffiti, and crime in the urban spaces? If so, what indicators provide your evidence? Do you feel comfortable traveling in all parts of the city day or night? Are tourists safe in this urban area? Would you consider living here?

Honestly I did not see any homelessness, graffiti or crime. This is one of the cleanest cities I've ever been to. I feel perfectly safe traveling there anytime of day because it seems fairly safe. I'd say tourist are just as safe, no crime. The city was to small for my liking,I could live there but it wouldn't be my first choice.