Geocaching

Placed my first geocache today in the TWRA Percy Priest area. Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment.

The History of Geocaching


On May 2, 2000, at approximately midnight, eastern savings time, the great blue switch* controlling selective availability was pressed. Twenty-four satellites around the globe processed their new orders, and instantly the accuracy of GPS technology improved tenfold. Tens of thousands of GPS receivers around the world had an instant upgrade.

The announcement a day before came as a welcome surprise to everyone who worked with GPS technology. The government had planned to remove selective availability - but had until 2006 to do so. Now, said the White House, anyone could "precisely pinpoint their location or the location of items (such as game) left behind for later recovery." How right they were.
London, Paris, New York, Beavercreek?

For GPS enthusiasts, this was definitely a cause for celebration. Internet newsgroups suddenly teemed with ideas about how the technology could be used.

On May 3, one such enthusiast, Dave Ulmer, a computer consultant, wanted to test the accuracy by hiding a navigational target in the woods. He called the idea the "Great American GPS Stash Hunt" and posted it in an internet GPS users' group. The idea was simple: Hide a container out in the woods and note the coordinates with a GPS unit.

The finder would then have to locate the container with only the use of his or her GPS receiver. The rules for the finder were simple: "Take some stuff, leave some stuff."

On May 3rd he placed his own container, a black bucket, in the woods near Beavercreek, Oregon, near Portland. Along with a logbook and pencil, he left various prize items including videos, books, software, and a slingshot. He shared the waypoint of his "stash" with the online community on sci.geo.satellite-nav:

N 45° 17.460 W 122° 24.800

Within three days, two different readers read about his stash on the Internet, used their own GPS receivers to find the container, and shared their experiences online. Throughout the next week, others excited by the prospect of hiding and finding stashes began hiding their own containers and posting coordinates. Like many new and innovative ideas on the Internet, the concept spread quickly - but this one required leaving your computer to participate.

Within the first month, Mike Teague, the first person to find Ulmer's stash, began gathering the online posts of coordinates around the world and documenting them on his personal home page. The "GPS Stash Hunt" mailing list was created to discuss the emerging activity. Names were even tossed about to replace the name "stash" due to the negative connotations of that name. One such name was "geocaching."
The Origins of Geocaching

Geocaching, first coined by Matt Stum on the "GPS Stash Hunt" mailing list on May 30, 2000, was the joining of two familiar words. The prefix geo, for Earth, was used to describe the global nature of the activity, but also for its use in familiar topics in gps such as geography.

Caching, from the word cache, has two different meanings, which makes it very appropriate for the activity. A french word invented in 1797, the original definition referred to a hiding place someone would use to temporarily store items. The word cache stirs up visions of pioneers, gold miners, and even pirates. Today the word is still even used in the news to describe hidden weapons locations.

The second use of cache has more recently been used in technology. Memory cache is computer storage that is used to quickly retrieve frequently used information. Your web browser, for example, stores images on disk so you don't have to retrieve the same image every time you visit similar pages.

The combination of Earth, hiding, and technology made geocaching an excellent term for the activity. However the "GPS Stash Hunt" was the original and most widely used term until Mike Teague passed the torch to Jeremy Irish in September 2000.
The Birth of Geocaching.com

For the first few months, geocaching was confined to existing experienced GPS users who already used the technology for outdoor activities such as backpacking and boating. Most users had an existing knowledge of GPS and a firm grasp of obscure lingo like datums and WGS84. Due to both the player base and the newness of the activity, players had a steep learning curve before going out on their first cache hunt. Tools were scarce for determining whether a cache was nearby, if one existed at all.

As with most participants, Jeremy Irish, a web developer for a Seattle company, stumbled upon Mike Teague's web site in July while doing research on GPS technology. The idea of treasure hunting and using tech-gadgets represented the marriage of two of his biggest interests. Discovering one was hidden nearby, Jeremy purchased his first GPS unit and went on his first hunt the following weekend.

After experiencing the thrill of finding his first cache, Irish decided to start a hobby site for the activity. Adopting the term geocaching, he created Geocaching.com and applied his professional web skills to create tools to improve the cache-hunting experience. The cache listings were still added by hand, but a database helped to standardize the listings. Additional features, like searching for caches around zip codes, made it easier for new players to find listings for nearby caches.

With Mike Teague's valuable input, the new site was completed and announced to the stash-hunting community on September 2, 2000. At the time the site was launched there were 75 known caches in the world.
If You Hide It, They Will Come

Slashdot, a popular online magazine for techies, reported the new activity on September 25, 2000, introducing a larger group of technology professionals to the activity. The New York Times picked up the story and featured it in its "Circuits" section in October, starting a domino effect of articles written in magazines, newspapers, and other media outlets around the world. CNN even did a segment in December 2000 to profile the new hobby.

However, because there were so few caches in the world, many would-be participants discovered they didn't have a cache listed nearby. Many wondered whether anyone would bother looking for a cache if they hid one in their area. The growing community chanted the mantra "If you hide it, they will come" to the newer players. After some reassurances, pioneers of the hobby started placing caches just to see whether people would go find them. They did.

Through word of mouth, press articles, and even accidental cache discoveries, more and more people have become involved in geocaching. First started by technology and GPS enthusiasts, the ranks of geocachers now include couples, families, and groups from all walks of life. The excitement of the hunt appeals to both the inner (and outer) child. Today you can do a search on just about anywhere in the world and be able to walk, bike, or drive to a nearby hidden cache.
The Creation of Groundspeak

After the increased traffic from Slashdot, Irish realized that the ongoing management of the web site would quickly grow out of the lone computer on his home DSL line. So in late 2000, he partnered with Elias Alvord and Bryan Roth, two coworkers at Sunrise Identity, to start a new company called Groundspeak Inc. (originally "Grounded Inc."). With the proceeds from sales of 144 geocaching t-shirts, they moved the machines into a hosted environment in downtown Seattle. The founders continued to work for Sunrise Identity while managing the new company and the web site in their off hours.

After several years of working on the web site, Jeremy and Elias were able to raise enough through Premium Memberships to make Groundspeak a full time job. In late 2005, Bryan Roth finally became a full time employee at the company.

Jeremy Irish, Elias Alvord and Bryan Roth continue to own and operate the web site today. They are supported by a small team of Groundspeak Lackeys and over 100 geocaching volunteers worldwide.

When was the first swiss army knife made?

It was in Ibach, in 1884, that Karl Elsener opened a cutlery cooperative that produced the first knives sold to the Swiss Army. The original soldier knife was made for troops who needed a foldable tool that could open canned food and disassemble a rifle. It included a blade, a reamer, a can opener, a screwdriver, and oak handles. Today, similar knives roll off the line at victorinox and wenger at a rate of more than 15 mil per year. -outsideonline.com

Venison Stew/Gravy Gumbo

One of my best:
CROCKPOT VENISON STEW


1 3-5 lb. tenderloin or shoulder, cubed
1/4 c. oil
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 can cream of broccoli soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can of chicken broth
4 med. size potatoes, cubed
6 carrots, sliced
1 med. white onion, quartered

1. Add all ingredients to crockpot, cook at 6hrs. Season to taste.
2. Prepare rice 20 minutes prior to service
3. Butter bread
4. Serve it up

Grateful Dead Live at Capitol Theater on 1970-06-24
Late Show, Electric Set
1. Introduction (Mountain Jam tuning)
2. Not Fade Away
3. Easy Wind
4. Stage Talk
5. Me and My Uncle
6. Stage Talk
7. Dark Star >
8. Attics of my Life >
9. Dark Star >
10. Sugar Magnolia >
11. Dark Star >
12. St. Stephen >
13. China Cat Sunflower >
14. I Know You Rider

Check out:
Dark Star > Attics > Dark Star > Sugar Mag > Dark Star > St. Stephen > China > Rider

Top Ten: Times to be an A**hole

No.10 At a boring bachelor party

Ever been to a bachelor party where it seems like nothing is happening (nor will anything happen) because everyone in the group is being incredibly blaaaahhhh? I’m not saying every bachelor party has to be a knock-down, drunken occasion when everyone blacks out Hangover-style, but if men can’t make up their minds on simple decisions like where to eat, drink and be merry, then it’s time to act like an a**hole and kick the party into high gear. If the groom and the rest of the gaggle are going to lollygag around, you have to choose the direction for the rest of the evening. It’s time to step up and make this a night to remember -- at least for yourself.

No.9 With rude people that you have been polite to

This is an ultimate pet peeve: You may find this occurs when you go out of your way to be polite (almost overly polite) to a stranger by holding the door for longer than necessary, letting him or her cut into line with less items, or allowing another car to merge into traffic. A simple gesture of “thank you” must be given in these situations. If the person doesn’t even have the decency to give thanks for the kind gesture, then you don’t have to have the decency to let it go without making mention. Be an a**hole and call them out on it. Yell out “you’re welcome” as they pass through the door, take a couple of items off the counter when they aren’t looking, or beep the horn for however long they drive in front of your car.

No.8 When you’re getting screwed by customer service

Customer service is there to help the customer have a better user experience. Some places and customer service reps act as if they are doing people a favor by listening to complaints. Unless things get accomplished, there is no use for customer service. Always remember you’re the person that is right and that you hold the power, because in the end you can just take your money elsewhere.

No.7 When you’re getting screwed at work

If your boss is treating you like crap, sometimes it’s good for the ego to step up and defend yourself, but most of the time it will just end up hurting your career. You have to deal with jerk bosses. Where you can’t get pushed around is in situations with other coworkers. These are the people who feel they can pass along all the work just because they have seniority or because they know you’ll probably do it without making it an issue. The buck stops in your inbox. Give the work right back to them and let them know you’re not their lackey or assistant. If they have an issue, you should all have a sit-down with the boss and air it out. I’m sure that jerk would love to know the people who actually do nothing all day.

No.6 When she’s nagging you (again)

Men do have to keep up their end of the relationship. There are certain things that must be done. I’m sure there are things she does for you that she hates but she sucks it up and does them anyway (probably all sexual). You have to lend a hand around the house -- but on your own terms. Tell her you will do everything she wants, but when you have the time, energy and, frankly, when there's nothing else better to do. And you'll do it. Just at your own pace. Tell her it will get done, but the more she busts your chops about it, the more you’ll put it off. Of course that doesn’t make sense. We are men. Who said our thinking made sense?

No.5 When someone is talking behind your back

Talk is cheap. So are boots with straps. I just looked it up. People are always going to gossip (even a**holes), but when people are saying negative things behind your back that are actually negatively affecting your life, it’s time to put a stop to the noise. Confront the person face-to-face. Tell them you want to air out your differences and come to some type of understanding about this situation. Of course they will probably deny ever saying anything, but at least now they know you’ve got wind of the words flying around and you’re not going to let it happen again.

No.4 When no one else is stepping up

In many situations, people just refuse to step up and say how everyone else is feeling (this is a bigger moment than the bachelor party scenario). It’s your job to be the a**hole and take charge. If it’s at work, call a meeting to talk to management on behalf of the staff. If it’s in your personal life, talk for the people who refuse to use their voice. An a**hole always stands up and leads. Don’t let anyone else do the talking for you.

No.3 With your deadbeat friend

Everyone has that friend who’s been in their life for years. Over time, things and people change, but sometimes people continue to hang on to relationships that really no longer serve a purpose. People are especially prone to keeping connected to friends who are incredible emotional, physical and sometimes financial drains. Time to cut ties and let the deadbeat know you’re no longer going to be an enabler or a friend. Wish them well with no hard feelings, and go your separate ways.

No.2 In divorce court

When the marriage hits the skids and it’s time to divvy up the goods, men usually get the raw deal. If it’s a guy’s fault that the relationship is heading for divorce (meaning he cheated), then he’s just going to have to live with the decision. If both partners are to blame, then there is no reason to make too many concessions. You’ve earned everything you have, and you’ve earned the right to fight for it. If she isn’t willing to do things amicably, then you have to be the biggest a**hole you could possibly be.

No.1 With another asshole

It’s a face-off: a**hole versus a**hole. Sounds like the hype around a UFC fight on pay-per-view. Actually, it’s very possible in any of the above situations to come face-to-face with another a**hole. It’s always vital in these situations to come out on top. This is probably the most important chapter in the book.


The way to handle another a**hole is actually rather simple: You’ve just got to... buy the book! It's on page 168. I can’t tell people for free. I’m an a**hole, but I’m not an idiot.
 from Askmen.com

Cheers to the black man for taking it in stride

yeah im tired of this. if anyone can tell me a good reason why people still feel the need to call black people niggers or why black folks still think somw white people have some sort of racism toward them, ill give you a lollypop. i see more and more of the bull on the television about white oppression, racism through politics, and crime moves with blacks. SHUT UP YOU IDIOTS. you are just making it worse. these are situations from the 60s and 70s that just dont fly today. and whatever this crap is about creating segregation in school. if a person doesnt have what it takes, they dont get in to that college. simple as that. we need not to promote this movement of conjuring up fake-racism. the advertisement of segregation will cause hystaria (sp?) and the white dudes who like to say nigger alot or think that the black dude is out to oppress them, they are not....so get a life, the south already did rise again.....we rose to help katrina, we rose to came together for 9/11, we rose again during the 80's and 90's as white and black communications and love and improved. just hit me up. peace im out

Adolescent Anti-Smoking, A scientific paper on findings and effects, what is working?

Preface

This paper is written so that I may bring to light what research has been gathered by a number of different schools and journals. This report will describe the findings in the journals and will then take a look at what is working and what is not working. The gathered articles may give the United States an insight into what will actually help lower the percentage of adolescent smoking. Hundreds of programs, advertisements, and commercials have spent much time in the effort, what is working?
The Report

In this paper, an adolescent will be among the ages of 11-18 years of age, also may be know as a teen. The articles gathered start generally the same way, telling how most current smokers began smoking in their teens(Hersch 1143), that smoking among high school kids has risen very rapidly since the 1990s(Gruber 193), and that the smoking among adolescents is a health concern(McAlister et al. 24). Joni Hersch goes on to describe that in an effort of the campaigns to forbid smoking in school and to target the tobacco companies, because they seem to target their ads towards teens, dont appear to be working. Adolescents do continue to smoke. Because adult smokers generally begins smoking in their teens, the behavior of teenagers largely determines the size of the future smoking population(Hersh 1145). Hersh made a good point in this sentence, then she went on to describe how with teens that live with both parents, plan to attend college, and consider religion important have lower smoking percentages. The understanding from this may be that the adolescents that are smokers today and have been for twenty years may have started when they were in their teens and because of the other pressures of life styles, or lack of education, the teen continued to smoke. This could be a problem that may be reported to the city schools and city councils, to be of some interest. If by large numbers the people as a whole can start proving that better academic performance, a hopeful future in a career, and a well built church may help deter teen smoking, then a city can use these necessities. The turnout would even mean better schools and funding for college education for adolescents who dont have these promises. The adolescents that start smoking at the young age start for some reason, the theory that social learning is provided by McAlister et al. describing that the theory proposes that direct and vicarious experiences with rewards and punishments in ones environment lead to the acquisition of behaviors and circumstances. That means that the environment an adolescent presides shapes his/her personality, belief system, and probably behavior (McAlister et al. 24). McAlister et al. describes a model that may sheed some light on what influences what.
A model to ponder

The model describes the casual relationships between environment, beliefs, personality, and behavior. The beliefs are influenced by their environment and behavior directly while personality is the driving factor between the beliefs and behavior and environment. The environment influences the personality but the personality doesnt influence the environment, the same way neither does the belief. These personality characteristics might be described as self-esteem, anxiety, and responsiveness to parents along with other adults and using peers and models and the source of their ideas; the beliefs would consider peer and parental reactions and psychopharmacological and heath effects (Mcalister et al. 25). The study in this article, using the model, they formulated some hypotheses. The first is because of persuasive information on the health hazards of cigarettes, most children who do not frequently observe smoking by others will tend to hold unfavorable beliefs about cigarettes. Teach your kids to not be around people who smoke, being around the smoke is dangerous, dangerous like running with scissors. The next hypothesis is children who observe smoking by family and peers will tend to develop favorable beliefs about cigarettes. Their third hypothesis states that depending on the individuals model of their life will set the standard of the tendency to begin smoking. Mcalister et al., from the Social Psychology Quarterly, describes some ideas that can be adjusted to mention once more.

Some adolescents will have a tendency to smoke from the appearance on the media and from peers, and may begin very quickly due to a rebellious personality (Mcalister et al. 30) or some depressing lifestyle; other kids will just look at people who smoke and think gross. The key to solving some of our problems with adolescent smoking is to ask your self what type of adolescent did I raise, or raising, and how will the belief system and manners I teach that child affect the way they view smoking. The results from the quarerly proved positive results.

The results state that parents smoking affects health beliefs (more parents smoke, the less one is likely to believe smoking has health consequences), friends smoking affects popularity beliefs, enjoyment beliefs, and health beliefs (the more of ones friends who smoke the more likely one is to believe that smoking has popularity consequences and the less likely one is to believe smoking has health consequences), and parents instructions affect popularity beliefs such that the more parents encourage smoking, the more likely one is to believe smoking will make him or her more popular. A parent that isnt say no might as well be saying yes.

The adolescents have access to all types of stimuli; magazines are one that can advertise. (Ratneshwar and Pechmann 237) If adolescents are viewing these magazines with advertisements, then why do we still allow the adolescents to view these magazines? The adolescent may see the glamour in smoking a cigarette and think their other wise about smoking than to not.
Regulation

Why is smoking legal? It kills you. It destroys you. It brings you good luck. When one does smoke it helps relax but where are these people smoking? Why is it legal for a smoker to sit down next to you and smoke, maybe you dont want to smell smoke. Maybe it is harmful to my health that you smoke around me, if you are able to smoke then I should be about to bonk you on the shoulder with my baseball bat. The United States has outlawed smoking in restaurants in most states, has made age to buy cigarettes at the low 18-21( Gruber 198 and 1149), and excise taxation. (Gruber 197) Gruber also describes that there is strong penalty for the sale to any minor at any establishment. These are all great movements towards the perfect smoke free society that we dream about.

Smoking is legal because the people made it legal and it will not change. The articles I gathered and read, all said the same thing. Grubers article describes a very intense description on the regulations that our fine country has mandated. Hersch told all about her study and how adolescents are effected by their peers beliefs that despite all the regulations, teens still say its easy to get cigarettes. Mcalister et al. told me how adults became smokers while Ratneshwar and Pechmann and Kirby talk about perception of peers and parents that influence adolescent smoking.
Conclusion

The general census among the articles brings to light the ideas that peer pressure, parental example, adolescent behavior and view on life, and regulations have played a major role in the adolescent movement to continue buying and smoking cigarettes. The summary I gain from the articles is that parents can teach their children to not smoke. If a parent can teach an adolescent to now play with guns then the parents can teach that same child to stay away from smoking cigarettes.

A few years back I remember the movement for adolescents to preserve their virginity. That movement is still taking place to this day; with all the diseases and unhealthy effects that come from promiscuous sex, adolescents have taught themselves that maybe its not cool. Teach the adolescent to be a leader in his/her community and dont smoke. One can deter that the reverse effect of NOT smoking may be even cooler than smoking.














Works cited

Jonathan Gruber. Tobacco at the Crossroads: The Past and Future of Smoking Regulation in the United States. The Journal of Economic Perspectives, Vol. 15, No. 2. (Spring, 2001), pp. 193-212.



Alfred L. McAlister; Jon A. Krosnick; Michael A. Milburn. Causes of Adolescent Cigarette Smoking: Tests of a Structural Equation Model. Social Psychology Quarterly, Vol. 47, No. 1. (Mar., 1984), pp. 24-36.



Joni Hersch. Teen Smoking Behavior and the Regulatory Environment. Duke Law Journal, Vol. 47, No. 6, Twenty-Ninth Annual Administrative Law Issue. (Apr., 1998), pp. 1143-1170.



Robert A. Johnson; John P. Hoffmann. Adolescent Cigarette Smoking in U.S. Racial/Ethnic Subgroups: Findings from the National Education Longitudinal Study. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, Vol. 41, No. 4. (Dec., 2000), pp. 392-407.



Phyllis L. Ellickson et al. Social Context and Adolescent Health Behavior: Does School-Level Smoking Prevalence Affect Students' Subsequent Smoking Behavior? Journal of Health and Social Behavior, Vol. 44, No. 4. (Dec., 2003), pp. 525-535.



James B. Kirby. The Influence of Parental Separation on Smoking Initiation in Adolescents. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, Vol. 43, No. 1. (Mar., 2002), pp. 56-71.



Cornelia Pechmann; S. Ratneshwar. The Effects of Antismoking and Cigarette Advertiseing on Young Adolescents Perceptions of Peers Who Smoke. The Journal of Consumer Research, Vol. 21, No. 2. (Sep., 1994), pp. 236-251.

We Want More Than This World Has To Offer

To whom it may concern,
hum...to whom it may concern. Such an interesting start to such a paper. So many times I have written letters to an editor or a favorite teacher with their name or "to whom it may concern" and it has never dawned on me that it could have such a strong meaning for a paper written to describe views on our generation's responsibilities to the future generations. If youre not concerned with this outstanding topic, stop...right here, dont continue reading, if you are interested, please continue, critique, and by all mean take a minute to gather your thoughts on this subject whenever you fell the need. This paper will use the wording "the people" or "our people" to refer to today's society of persons involved in the daily routine consumption and regeneration of the world, its localities and animals it houses.

This paper is written to examine the subject on how this generation of people might or should have an obligation to the future generations. The populations are expanding, the consumption is rising, and everyone is trying to buy whatever they can to fill up their homes with whatever useless materials they can get their hands on. What responsibilities does our generation have to future generations? It is a very dynamic type of question. The responsibilities are almost endless.

The population of the world is growing at a substantial rate. About every 12-15 years the population of the world goes up by roughly one billion. At this rate our planet could have more people than it can hold by the year 2050. That would be nearly 9-10 billion people in the entire world. With the population in such an out-of-control rise, consumption is going to become out of hand, or people with start to go hungry. This is where the question starts to get drawn. How does the planet prepare for such events that the world has over crowding and not enough supplies to feed everyone? Right now the world should be considering two main planes of thought, consumption and population. What is going to happen when the system breaks? Do the populations of people have to rely on something more different than what they already have, or will our people have backup plans set in place for such a break down event in resources.

First off, lets consider that "the system breaks" and the world runs out of essential resources, say, Oil. Without this resource our world starts to become a sort of junk yard with no way of using most of the devices that are in it. All of today's cars, trucks, boats, airplanes, heavy machinery, trains, and power plants...just to name a few, all run on some byproduct of Oil. Oil is a resource that is being consumed faster than it is used, well it is burned but I will get to that later. This resource is mostly in the eastern hemisphere and it does run out. As a geology major, Ill tell you it seems to this student that the people can not find enough oil resources on the planet fast enough to keep our barrels per day numbers where they need to be to sustain descent efficiency. The problem is not widespread, in the Middle East oil is everywhere and in the oceans oil is abundant, but the oil is not made at the rate at which it is consumed. Got that? I hope so. How about some new ways to run the machines that the oil runs on. The technology for rechargeable batteries is getting better and every day people are riding bikes, something to consider..... Whose oil is all the oil, anyway? Can the people really think for very much longer that all this oil is theirs for the taking? People should know that carpools and taking the bus is consumption. Walking to work and riding your bike are great ways to not even use any type of fossil foil at all, get this...your body runs on air! Our second most abundant resource on the planet. What is the most abundant resource on the planet you ask? I think its water, or there is a toss up between the two, and both water and air completement the work your body does. What if 15 people on a bus-bike could really work? Everyone could actually ride bikes, wouldnt that be a rip-roaring better time than a thousand people lined up on the interstate cause some idiot was going 102mph and slammed his car into a wall? All Im saying is I think today's people do really have an obligation to the the future generations to do what it takes to slow the consumption of oil. Consumption of oil and the fossil fuels is not just the only concern; another mentioned by David Henderson is the water tables.

The water tables in the planet are not in danger of being consumed faster than replenished; the water is in danger of becoming polluted and undrinkable. The water tables in the earth are where most of the drinking water in the US comes from. Even in California water is pumped in from other states for their outrageous populations. When people start putting in landfills, the seapage from the landfills do actually reach water sources. Memphis, TN is an example of such a place. The Shelby farms landfill has been there for years, covered by soil, and make into a park. Bellow the surface is where the trouble is, where near the bottom of the landfill seepage is taking place. Right below the Shelby farms landfill is the Tennessee and Arkansas aquifers. The water in these aquifers is replaced every year, considering normal wet season, near Nashville and dips under the Mississippi river. The Shelby farms landfill's seepage is moving thousands of meters a year toward the aquifers, creating a big problem for our future generations. This example shows one reason for planning for the future generations. Polluting the soils and water ways can damage these precious water supplies and render them useless in the future. Can people recycle, the answer is yes. Research has been done in that people are physically able to recycle their goods (i.e. aluminum cans, glassware, band aids, Styrofoam) so that people of tomorrow dont have to worry about their nasty soils and ruined water tables and focus on treating each other with respect and destroying war between "the people". Even our toddlers and middle schoolers are showing this recycle attitude, instead of just throwing their gum on the useful soil or in the water, they put it under the desk at their schools; preventing the pollution of our soils and water tables. If the system does break and the aquifers of the US, or even the world, start to become polluted, what then? Our generations should be on top of this matter in that they are planning on backup plans of changing salt-water to drinking water by the thousands of gallons or finding new waters to reproduce water or recycle water to drinking standards. Without ways to go without the aquifers, millions and millions of people could be relying on unfit drinking water or shortages and droughts on water. 'People of today are already finding new ways to recycle their water. From my notes...My teacher, We are typically willing to hold people responsible for actions that could cause harm at later times". With landfills and nuclear power plants around, their is a wonder if any of these localities will one day go bad and destroy the surrounding area. Both localities being dangerous either it being the nuclear power plant to pollute the surrounding areas with fallout, or the landfill to bust or something and pollute the surrounding soils and water tables. A good questions asked, what bout your obligation to your future self, also from my notes. I see this as in yourself or your future family (kids, brother's kids, your kid's kids), whom must live in the world in the future. You future self must maintain healthy living conditions to stay alive for many years. You might even have that obligation to produce savings in bank accounts or property where your family down the line will have something to rely on such that they wont have to scratch for resources, or just die off. Giant water treatment plants work around the clock to reproduce water that run through your toilets and sinks. Is this enough? I say its not. If everybody did something to help recycle, reduce, and reuse products, then I believe the consumption of products would slow down and the pollution in direct connection would also drop.

A utilitarian belief is in maximum happiness, or trying to keep from unhappy results. A look at history and it has not been perfectly constant.....

Some guys over there want my beautiful piece of land, on the beach, temp is always 77 degrees and partly cloudy. So what do they do, they are forced to try to conquer my land for their better welfare and future out comings. All my people fight against their people; I just think its stupid. Thats some of history; the rest seems to be in the meantime of such events of war.

Maximum happiness is a difficult objective to accomplish for 50 percent of the world, making it in my book as a goal for the world, establishing average happiness and tying to force widespread happiness. Widespread happiness, what is that? Could the world obtain such a maximum that it isnt the best it has ever been, but moreover a happiness that can produce an outcome at the world-wide level. In the words of Biggie Smalls "If everybody could just get along", there would be a better place for everyone. Everybody getting along could mean everyone pitching in to recycle and no war causing distress over resources. Even at average happiness a question of whether someone should be born could be raised. Should the world's poor reproduce? Economically, that would be just more poor folk that are hungry and looking for food or taking up space.


These trends and practices that the people of the world go through every day may be heading toward some type of future unforeseen harm. I agree that the people seem responsible for the harm, but can one really put responsibility on today's people for a preparation for a future people that do not exist yet? Its interesting how people can care so much for them and yet have no idea that a future people will care the same for themselves. Would this cause a default condition for today's people to be made to consider the future? Simple ways of thinking like recycling and reusing plays big roles in these areas. Literature is an example of such an event of conserving or reusing. Literature is a resource that must be maintained as our sources for knowledge and understanding. Taking care of newspaper articles, books, and magazines is the way to reduce timber consumption and to just keep the text knowledge for the future generations. The education that is in our society's schools, colleges, and libraries is vital in technological growth, safety and economics, and even general welfare. If little care is taken in the preserve of such resources, the future will be without alot of information that we take for granted. What can people do to preserve knowledge? Continue educating each other while preserving libraries and school in the public. Not just is the health of the future people at sake, so it the ability to learn and worship. The ability for a people to stay healthy through clean drinking water, better food from clean soils, and clean air yields the ability of the people to be exercised and alert for better health, education, and day to day living; maybe even promoting longer lifestyles and lifetimes.

Think about it...The less oil you use, the less carbon monoxide is produced in our breathing air. The more a person can recycle the less trash is created. The less a person uses per week or month, the more of that resource we can spend over time at a steady amount rather very quickly in mass units.

Then again, what if there is really is no need to worry about anything because our geologist have no idea what they are talking about, the scientist of the air dont know what they are doing, and the environmentalists are just crazy? Imagine an entire earth filled with everything that we need to live for another 400,000 years but just dont have the technology to drill or consume those resources yet. Today's people have no idea that the future people will be like. The future people could discover all new types of combustion for cars and trains and new resources for food and breathing. Today's generations could be just not smart enough yet to realize the speed rate of technology and the types of technologies that have no been invented yet. The new technologies could be the new revolutionizing of resources, from atom splitting to planetary research, even center of the earth discoveries. These ideas must sounds crazy but it is just thought on the reality of the terms exploited in this paper.
Does the planet consume too much? Frederick Kaufman's book Environmental Ethics tends to teach this way. The author displays the idea that the west is consuming much faster its resources than to be reserved and the rest of the world could be starving or 5 times our maximum consumption levels, as in the east. The margins expressed from Kaufman are enormous, not gradual either mister! No, the world is actually doubling its consumption and trash every year. Again, population and consumption. The world doesnt care though. Most of the people of today do not know where to start with this idea, or what is needed. (Kaufman)

Whatver the outcome is after 20 years from now, 100 years, 400 years......will be the times when people start to wake up to realizing that their kids could be in danger. Our kids could fall short of maximum happiness and that is the problem. Our kids, their kids, their kids, their kids and further and further will reap what we sow now. With continue effort and integrity in research and recycling, the world could move towards a brighter future. Does the world today have an obligation to the future peoples? I think so.....just dont let the recycling or looking out for the future hinder YOUR maximum happiness.
The world is falling apart and no one seems to care.

Logical and Constructive Ideas on Anthropocentrism and Ecocentrism

Anthropocentrism seems to be the position, I think, that is closest to correct; my position is Ecocentrism. Anthropocentrism doesnt settle well with me because I have known an idea to never trust the man who builds monuments to himself. I also think that this idea prevents the people of our planet from forming logical and constructive ideas about the environment. The humans of the world are comprised of the same material that constructs the chair you are sitting in, the rocks on the ground outside, and the air you are breathing right now. You may be recycling oxygen in your lungs right now that Caesar once breathed. The molecules that make up your body may be the say molecules that once churned inside the mantle of the earth, some 30 miles below the surface. Anthropocentrism to me looks to answer and satisfy the human economic, spiritual and psychological good as it has so many times been described, but what is Anthropocentrism without an ecosystem to live in. Anthropocentrism wants to not consider nature as a part of the do unto others category or even be involved in karma. In this regard, the position sets itself for issues surrounding the idea and also presents an area of rationality to select as a norm. The belief is that humans are the center of the universe, but with that we still cannot just destroy and use up everything, more of what we should use is according to our health and what we need to stay healthy. Right away humans shouldnt cut down entire rainforests just to have enough wood to have fresh paper and wonderful houses, but rather save the rainforest for as long as possible and only do what you must with the things that dont matter to us, resources of nature. Anthropocentrism wants to go all the way with centering of the human race and its only good towards itself, it seems to be selfish.



The position of Anthropocentrism works for me in a lot of ways, but Ecocentrism fulfills all my concerns for the planet, people and environment. My beliefs grow from the Bible, because that is from which I grow myself. "And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, and upon all that moveth on the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hands they are delivered." Gen 2.6 This verse from the bible says to me that everything on the face of the earth is for our primary use. The resources in the earth such as oil and coal, the animals on the planet and the water and air that fills the atmosphere are all for the use of humans. I think that if humans dont feel like using these resources towards their better good, no harm is done; it is when humans use the resources in an out-of-control manner by improving their lives to a point where the resource is starting to become extinct or polluted. An example is in the time that America was being discovered. The Indians destroyed the land and the animals in their area, living as nomads, moving with the climate and killing all that they needed to survive. The Indians of North America used every part of the Buffalo or the earths resources to build homes and weapons, even create food. When settlers moved through the area the buffalo were all around to be destroyed. The settlers used the buffalo for target practice, food, and simply just the art of killing. The settlers moved across the landscapes killing off the buffalo just for fun. The settlers had no idea the force they were creating, just killing and moving and leaving thousands dead. To me, this was a form of Anthropocentrism in those times. In 1492 there were 600,000,000 buffalo, by 1842 there were 491 (Poster on Indian Reservation in Oklahoma). The settlers were just thinking of themselves, having a good time, eating the meatsometimes, and killing these animals off just for the sake of fun. Now, the United States must preserve these animals to save what was once a thriving time for the buffalo.



Whenever I think about Ecocentrism I think that this idea prevents the world from destroying itself, and ill tell u why: it prevents the people in the world from running amok on one another(war, pollution, total disregard) and prevents anti-anthropocentrism; I think Ecocentrism actually helps promote human excellence and morally considerable ideas. The running amok I refer to is the idea that the world will be okay whenever humans are done with it. If everyone on the planets lacked regard for the well-being of the planet then this earth would be a mess. The air and water pollution would be out of control, cities and towns would be total disasters because people would just move on to the next town to conquer, destroy and not worry about the mess. As for war, the Ecocentrism tells us that if we start bombing one-another with these nuclear bombs, eventually there will be no where to go without radioactive poisoning or just toxic waste. These few problems are scratching the surface on what happens when Ecocentrism isnt considered and slightly observed. Albert Einstein..A human being is part of the whole, called by us 'Universe', a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. Ecosystem definition: all the minerals, energy flows between systems, animals, atmospheres and lithospheres of the planet, the ecosystems retain its own energy and the energies are not exchanged but shared, as the system is, a planet wide sharing of resources. When one part of the system is interrupted, the other parts are affected.



The expansion, the outer and encompassing circle of the David Hendersons position diagram.





Ecocentrism

Biocentrism

H Utilitarianism

Anthropocentrism

Egocentrism



As Leopold said in the book, as social ecology changes so our ethical criteria too changes, freedom of action, limitation put on us, basis of limitation of action. He goes on to say that we (humans) need modes of cooperation, as the same time evolving a mode of constraint as individuals; all ethics rest on a single premise The individual is a member in a distinct society, the ethics of the individual promotes cooperation. When cooperation to preserve the ecosystem and provided limitations on directions of actions in the ecosystem of the planet become a better awareness, I think the harmonies on the earth will begin to achieve something. What that is, I am not sure, but it could mean better resources for power, new forms of transportation or simply, a healthier way of life.



The next expansion from the inner circles of positions is the expansion of moral concern. Each time an expansion takes place, then sentimental expansion and moral expansion take place, I think.., and the Ecocentrism is not the most mature moral concern whereas we probably should have stopped at Anthropocentrism, but as regard for our friends and future family, we have reached such a level. Ecocentrism advertises Preservation. Even if the preservation is artificial, the balance is still encouraged and that makes us a part of the ecosystem. Understanding more about the ecosystem will help us preserve it.

There should be a more appeal to the considerability of the ecosystems. If everyone was to stop the regard, the ecosystems of our planet would suffer, maybe creating greater problems for the health or safety of the sentiment creatures, whoever you consider they are. The ecosystems provide the air we breathe, the water we drink to survive, and the nutrients we rely to grow our food.

Can the features of the ecosystem be no moral concern to the planet. I think the answer is Yes. With no concern for the planet the resources of the planet begin to wilt and fade. With low oil, horrible air, polluted water and soils, and unhealthy living conditions the quality on the planet and the humans and the animals will survive, but what will life be like? The lives under these conditions provide a tough life for everyone. Made it this far has you? Well, simply put, it the resources of the planet are destroyed and not preserved, and the continents are polluted, and the air quality destroyed, and the animals unhealthy, then so goes the green grass, the breathable air quality, the delicious drinking waters; the beauty of nature would be lost, and it isnt an over-night thing to restore such precious entities as fresh water or clean air. I am talking thousands to maybe millions of years to restore.

All of these points bring up many arguments about how the scientist can create artificial living habitats, cloned animals, and artificially created oxygen for trees and breathing; is this the life you want to create for yourself? But you can guess what, humans are not destroying this planet, they are destroying each other with the polluting and lack of regard for the environment. Yep, all humans are to the planet is a minor surface disturbance. The planet is going to snuff our species off the face of the earth soon anyway and make way for the next stupid species. The planet earth with all the plastics and landfills is not destroyed, the planet earth with degrading ozone is not a disaster, and the planet earth with bad water is not a crime. The planet is a self-rejuvenating system that will be an upgraded earth (earth+ plastic); the earth will eventually destroy all the landfills and pollution with extreme heat and pressure and create new fresh soils. The ozone will be very easily replenished by volcanoes and gas releases. The water will simply overtime be churned and recleaned, just as it has done for billions of years. I guess we can worry for the planet, because the planet takes care of us, we dont take care of the planet. The planet was designed to deal with microscopic occurrences like humans, it really just replenishes itself every 10 million 100 million years. The more we take care of the planet, the longer it will protect and take care of us.



Resources:

1. Lecture Notes
2. Foundations of Environmental Philosophy: A Text with Readings, Frederik Kaufman, McGraw Hill. 2003.

The More Simple Life for those who cant read good

The More Simple Life for those who cant read good

I think there was once a time in the world where everything was simple. Everyone could live however they chose and that is how they lived, no conflicts, no interruptions, no nonsense, no matter what those people live a simple life with small creature luxuries. The luxuries I write of are things of sort like fishing and walking, hiking and visiting each other, and even simple reflection. Now is a time of a world of complications, major distractions, people getting into one anothers business and major unrest. This simple time probably never really existed, and even if it did it was created and later destroyed by nature or the human species. If the simple time did exist it existed far from civilization, far from war or discrepancies, and too, far from worry; this existence must have been a place of peace with one another, or justice to create that peace, and equilibrium with nature on a give-take relationship. The simple existence could have been a civilization without a civilization at all, more of a habitat or community where a few families or a couple hundred families lives were more reflectant on each other and the space around themselves.

As the world grows toward a more intensive uplifting and destructive world, the societies gain a better understanding of the richness and meanings of lives. As in that simple existence, the human creature was not forced to develop the brain power to discern on their reasoning on the meaning of their actions or how the moments they spent away from these destructions are better enjoyed. I think before the corruption got out of hand, the world was able to reflect on the intellect, now with such destruction and wars, the worlds societies reflect on themselves and how to improve their general lifestyles, even at the expense of everything around themselves.

Everything that I have ever known has had something to do with the outside world. My preparations have always dealt with school, life, eternity, people and my family; with exceptions and many, many more additions. Everything that I think I have come across since birth has been a learned process of how to treat people until I reached early teens when everything all of a sudden mattered. All-of-a-sudden the world looked at me and judged me right away, the world was a scary place to talk to anyone, the world brought new meaning to the words: friendship, self-esteem and honor. This did not frighten me. Females in mid-teens did, unorderly, emotional, insane and neurotic things were taking place in those girls, and on top of all that something told me they werent ichy anymore. This is a example of how the world throws you in the middle of the river, and expects you to swim. High school was crazy, bonged out experience on how to have good friends, how to treat people, and what to do in good/bad situations. Entering college I have always been weary of the world and its dark side, but it also has caught my attention somewhat to a great deal. The world to me in college showed me, simply, you cant trust anyone and look out for yourself. Clear cut.

The world has grown into a place that I dont recognize. I recognize the grass and the clouds, the bitterness to one another or the lack of appreciation for one another is a stranger to me. I feel like I never really had a good grip on the concerned thought on the philosophies on the environment and the creatures in our world. The Environmental Philosophy class has brought to light many philosophies of the world. I have gained a better appreciation on the creativity of the thoughts on the world and those creative philosophies. My position within these thoughts, or mentions, is a position to reveal ourselves to one another and lower the walls of confusion to promote a better understanding of one another, learn one another in new ways, and bring about better understanding of the improvements of our planets environment. (Environment meaning the space around us, natural and artificial) The class has brought a better understanding of the philosophies toward ethics.

Was I suppose to have any idea about the ways animals are treated and if these animals, though lacking moral concern or cognitive thinking, really care what we are doing to them? The senses an animal displays are recognitions and displays of emotion or character, these animals are in no way really thinking ooooh, the next time that ol fart rolls that newspaper up im gonna get him right where the sun doesnt shineor do they? Animals might have simple ways of understanding but my not really reason together their emotions or gather information for conclusion, these fact have dawn me before, but the rights for the animals was mostly sure or why not. This class really brought our many new ideas toward myself on why do we treat animals how we do, and does it seem right, are they really just for breakfast anymore. I mean some of these animals live better than I do.

General ethics in this class told me to believe what I want to and think with everyone else how ever I feel like, because somewhere in there is creativity in philosophy. Before this class I was in general understanding that everything has a good a moral purpose, after this class I have used the thoughts on why are these things of my moral concern?.

Everything in life has its place, events, people, and ideas. I have learned to try to place my moral concern on things more carefully while allowing my concerns on more important entities such as people and ideas more freely. The classes has really opened my ideas and broaden my horizons on political thought. The science of the political field and environmental aspects of responsibilities is an area of my development that this class has brought a better understanding. My thoughts about how I feel toward the animals and environments of the planet have strengthened and gained better roots.

The preservation of the environment has always been a major aspect of my free time and creative thinking. My thoughts towards the environment are ideas of conservation, recycling, and reuse. The environmental philosophy class has brought me to a newer level of thinking on these subjects. For example, why the need to preserve such a state of cleanliness for people that we have not any need to worry about yet? Should we really be concerned with the future world? If we dont use the resources we need, are we depriving ourselves simple luxuries so that future generations may have some. Everything in the environment has its place in the circle of life. Everything excluding the cosmos replaces and produces a form of environment that we try to control and live in. Whether we are making waste of simple pleasures of naming our pets or filling landfills to no worry cause they are eye sores, the people of the planet must think about one another before themselves, or at least treat the people of the planet, and maybe the environment, how they want to me treated in return. I think this outcome will further our resources, conjure up better spirits towards one another, and the only destruction will be of destruction itself.