My favorite dinosaur is the Velociraptor, Velociraptor means "swift seizer". They lived between 71-75 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous Period. Other dinosaurs which lived during this time period included Gallimimus, Oviraptor, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Albertosaurus, Ankylosaurus, Pachycephalosaurus, Parasaurolophus , and Triceratops to name a few.
The Late Cretaceous Period was the very last in which the dinosaurs were around. The era lasted from about 80-65 million years ago. At the end of this time period was the peak of dinosaurs, but nobody knows what happened to make them extinct; we can only guess.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Wartburg College Social Change Wheel
The Wartburg College Social Change Wheel explains many aspects of how to be a good person, and help others in your community. The Wartburg example in specific gives many examples which pertain to the campus and what students can do to be involved while at Wartburg. These can include such things as being intentionally involved in large projects, or doing simple things to make life on campus more enjoyable for everyone.
There are eight different branches -Direct Service, Community/ Economic Development, Voting/ Formal Political Activities, Direct Action Strategies, Grass-roots Political Activity/ Public Policy Work, Community Building, Advocacy through Community Education, and Socially Responsible Daily Behavior. These areas include such activities as Service Trips, or being a Resident Assistant. It also includes things which each of us can carry out in our day-to-day lives; helping keep the bathrooms and common areas clean, recycling, greeting everyone on campus (regardless of whether or not you know them), confronting inappropriate behavior, and many more.
There are eight different branches -Direct Service, Community/ Economic Development, Voting/ Formal Political Activities, Direct Action Strategies, Grass-roots Political Activity/ Public Policy Work, Community Building, Advocacy through Community Education, and Socially Responsible Daily Behavior. These areas include such activities as Service Trips, or being a Resident Assistant. It also includes things which each of us can carry out in our day-to-day lives; helping keep the bathrooms and common areas clean, recycling, greeting everyone on campus (regardless of whether or not you know them), confronting inappropriate behavior, and many more.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Piano
I have enjoyed the musical tone of a piano since I was a kid. Composers such as Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, and Mendelssohn. These composers have always inspired me to learn to play many instruments and appreciate music. I always wanted to learn how to play the piano.
I never actually motivated myself to begin playing until I arrived at Wartburg. I discovered that Wartburg has many accessible practice rooms which each contain a piano. I had learned how to read sheet music a long time ago, in 5th grade when I began to play trumpet for the school band. I have been playing for roughly 2 months, and the most current piece I have been working on is Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum, by Claude Debussy. It is a difficult piece, but a beautiful song. Hopefully I can pull it off!
Knights
In medieval times, the knight was considered a brave man; a courageous, chivalrous man to be. Everyone wanted to be a knight. They were the loyally dutiful men who carried out a king's orders. Whatever the king wished, a knight must do. Occasionally the king's bidding would arrange a battle of which the knights would fight on the front lines.
Knights often wore shining, ironclad armor into battle and carried sturdy, iron longswords. They were experienced, well-trained warriors. They would ride horses into battle, for increased versatility and agility, to get the upper hand. Many times, the side with more knights would win, and the side with no knights would fall into a dark oblivion and off the face of the Earth.
Knights often wore shining, ironclad armor into battle and carried sturdy, iron longswords. They were experienced, well-trained warriors. They would ride horses into battle, for increased versatility and agility, to get the upper hand. Many times, the side with more knights would win, and the side with no knights would fall into a dark oblivion and off the face of the Earth.
Christmas
I am very excited for Christmas Break, and Christmas in particular! Every year, for Christmas, my family goes to my grandma and grandpa's house in West Union for a family gathering of my mom's side of my family. This includes my grandma and grandpa, as well as my two aunts, uncle, and my immediate family (parents and siblings). We usually open presents, eat a large dinner, and spend the day enjoying each other's company. We also go to my dad's parents' house and do roughly the same things.
On Christmas Day, we usually spend the whole day at our house. First, we wake up in the morning and open presents then we get ready to have a large family get-together. This consists of my grandparents on both sides, all my aunts and uncles, cousins, and my immediate family. We spend the day feasting on food, and then we hang out around my house, talking and playing games.
On Christmas Day, we usually spend the whole day at our house. First, we wake up in the morning and open presents then we get ready to have a large family get-together. This consists of my grandparents on both sides, all my aunts and uncles, cousins, and my immediate family. We spend the day feasting on food, and then we hang out around my house, talking and playing games.
Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology is the study, research and development of manipulating matter on a molecular scale. Often it deals with designing and creating contraptions, materials, etc. with at least one aspect of the overall product containing a dimension under 100 nanometers. Recently, this has been done by using an AFM (Atomic Force Microscope), which is an extremely high resolution microscope, to control these tiny devices.
One particular area of nanotechnology is nanorobotics. Nanobots are incredibly small robots, used for many different potential purposes. One purpose being researched is the potential medical benefits. Not necessarily meaning that these nanobots are nutritious to consume, but rather they are potentially used as a camera. This camera could move through the human body -particularly the bloodstream -taking pictures, or even stream live video in order to analyze what is happening, or to diagnose a condition.
One particular area of nanotechnology is nanorobotics. Nanobots are incredibly small robots, used for many different potential purposes. One purpose being researched is the potential medical benefits. Not necessarily meaning that these nanobots are nutritious to consume, but rather they are potentially used as a camera. This camera could move through the human body -particularly the bloodstream -taking pictures, or even stream live video in order to analyze what is happening, or to diagnose a condition.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Prey
Prey, by Michael Crichton is the book I chose to cover in my final project for IS class. The book begins with Jack Forman describing his life as a stay-at-home dad, and how he never anticipated his life to turn out that way. His wife, Julia, works as an executive in charge of many business commodities at Xymos. Xymos is also where Jack used to work as a software programmer. Jack was fired due to his discovery of an internal scandal, and the fact that he never notified the company of this incident.
Jack believes that Julia is having an affair due to her recently lax personality and new-found infatuation for frequent nighttime showers. Eventually, Jack is offered his job back at Xymos's fabrication plant in the middle of the Nevada desert. He arrives and instantly notices that everyone seems on-edge and uneasy. He soon finds out that this is due to the leakage of their new product PREDPREY, which is a swarm of nano-robots designed to work as an eye for medical research. PREDPREY was recently updated to function as a military weapon/ espionage device, and became self-sustaining, reproducing, and began to hunt small creatures (like the rabbit, and rattlesnake) and eventually, larger creatures like a coyote, and even the characters!
Jack believes that Julia is having an affair due to her recently lax personality and new-found infatuation for frequent nighttime showers. Eventually, Jack is offered his job back at Xymos's fabrication plant in the middle of the Nevada desert. He arrives and instantly notices that everyone seems on-edge and uneasy. He soon finds out that this is due to the leakage of their new product PREDPREY, which is a swarm of nano-robots designed to work as an eye for medical research. PREDPREY was recently updated to function as a military weapon/ espionage device, and became self-sustaining, reproducing, and began to hunt small creatures (like the rabbit, and rattlesnake) and eventually, larger creatures like a coyote, and even the characters!
The Telephone
The telephone is a communication contraption which transmits sound between any two telephones, often for the purpose of allowing people to talk back and forth between one another. Throughout its history, many improvements and updates have been bestowed upon the device. The telephone has become one of the most popular household devices in America, and throughout the entire world.
Alexander Graham Bell is accredited as the first inventor of the telephone, however this is a widely disputed debate. All telephones maintain a microphone and an earphone -which are usually constructed as a handheld device which is held up to the mouth and ear -as well as a ringer of some sort in order to hear when a call is incoming, and a keypad (or in older cases, a dial) to call other telephones.
The telephone was developed in the 1870's and since then has been rapidly evolving into the "smart"phones of today. Telephones started out as a land-line device, which needed an operator; to a slightly more developed version of land-line phones; eventually changing into cellular phones, which required no operator, or external wires, and allowed for heavily increased mobility. Cellular phones developed in a different fashion than land-lines, becoming smaller and smaller, and they can now be used almost all over the world!
Alexander Graham Bell is accredited as the first inventor of the telephone, however this is a widely disputed debate. All telephones maintain a microphone and an earphone -which are usually constructed as a handheld device which is held up to the mouth and ear -as well as a ringer of some sort in order to hear when a call is incoming, and a keypad (or in older cases, a dial) to call other telephones.
The telephone was developed in the 1870's and since then has been rapidly evolving into the "smart"phones of today. Telephones started out as a land-line device, which needed an operator; to a slightly more developed version of land-line phones; eventually changing into cellular phones, which required no operator, or external wires, and allowed for heavily increased mobility. Cellular phones developed in a different fashion than land-lines, becoming smaller and smaller, and they can now be used almost all over the world!
London, England
London, England is the largest and capital city of the entire United Kingdom -which is characteristic of two islands containing Ireland, Scotland, England (Great Britain), and Wales. This city is the largest urbanized city by most standards in all of Europe. London has a strong artistic environment, with other emphases including entertainment, fashion, healthcare, research, and education. London (as well as New York City) is the largest financial center, which means that it contains a high number of banks and/or stock exchanges. London has the largest Gross Domestic Product of any European city, ranking 5th in the world. Next year, in 2012, London will hold the title of being the first city to hold the modern Summer Olympic Games more than twice.
The most widely spoken language in all of the UK is English, however, there are over 300 languages widely spoken within the boundaries of London. Its population totals roughly 13 million people, between 1831 and 1925, London had the largest population of any city in the world. The governing of London consists of two tiers. The first is the GLA (or Greater London Authority), and the smaller tier is made up of 33 smaller authorities. In 2010, the total government expenditure totaled over 22 billion dollars. The London Fire Brigade (a fire & rescue service for all of Greater London and its people) is the third-largest fire department in the entire world.
The most widely spoken language in all of the UK is English, however, there are over 300 languages widely spoken within the boundaries of London. Its population totals roughly 13 million people, between 1831 and 1925, London had the largest population of any city in the world. The governing of London consists of two tiers. The first is the GLA (or Greater London Authority), and the smaller tier is made up of 33 smaller authorities. In 2010, the total government expenditure totaled over 22 billion dollars. The London Fire Brigade (a fire & rescue service for all of Greater London and its people) is the third-largest fire department in the entire world.
Dubstep
Dubstep is a brand new genre of music that originated in London, England. It is a type of electronic dance music which features copious amounts of low bass lines, persistent drum patterns, clipped samples, and infrequent vocals. This new-wave of music was introduced in 1998, and was more dark and experimental than today's tracks. The main instruments used are turntables, samplers, drum machines (actual drum sets are rarely used), synthesizers, keyboards, and often times a computer is used to create the same sound at a cheaper production standard.
This brand new art form, taking resemblance in musical tones, does not frequently follow the "four-on-the-floor" rhythmic pattern, systematic of other types of electronic dance music, and disco. "Four-on-the-floor" is a steady beat which the bass drum hits on every beat in a 4/4 time signature. This term arrived from the bass pedal being on the floor and when play with a drummer's foot, the pedal is brought to the floor (in this case, four times). This technique is also sometimes seen in some Reggae music and a different style is instigated in Jazz.
This brand new art form, taking resemblance in musical tones, does not frequently follow the "four-on-the-floor" rhythmic pattern, systematic of other types of electronic dance music, and disco. "Four-on-the-floor" is a steady beat which the bass drum hits on every beat in a 4/4 time signature. This term arrived from the bass pedal being on the floor and when play with a drummer's foot, the pedal is brought to the floor (in this case, four times). This technique is also sometimes seen in some Reggae music and a different style is instigated in Jazz.
Prehistoric Warfare
Prehistoric war is defined as all war which took place before writing and the institution of large "social entities" like countries, and states. Come of the differing types of warfare were tribal warfare, bronze age warfare, and iron age warfare. These all consisted of large groups of people united for a cause against another rivaling group. Sometimes, war was waged for land, other times for money, and in some cases for the sole purpose of defense.
Tribal warfare is described as smallish groups of people fighting one another with weapons like spears, throwing spears, axes, and clubs. These weapons were often created from stone and wood, with other materials, such as vines to bind them. Upon the discovery of the metal copper, these tribes began to grow in military might, and overall influential power. The discovery of copper brought forth the copper age, when metal daggers, axes, swords, and arrows (which were shot from longbows) became instigated. Copper weapons existed for many centuries before iron was discovered. This was an outstanding breakthrough because iron is stronger, more malleable and it is lighter. After this discovery, warfare was completely renovated and forever changed.
The Mongol Empire
The Mongol Empire existed during the 13th and 14th centuries. It began under the rule of Genghis Khan. Genghis Khan extended the empires reach from the Caspian Sea to the Pacific Ocean. After his wife was kidnapped at a young age, he brought together the nomadic Mongol and Turkic tribes through military might and political manipulation. With the help of a few friends, he conquered the tribe which kidnapped his wife, and went on to defeat two other tribes. Genghis Khan forbade his men from raping and looting their enemies without his permission. He also divided the spoils of war amongst his warriors and their families instead of giving it solely to the rich and powerful.
After Genghis's death in 1227, rule was given to his third son Ogedei. At this point the Mongol Empire was large and consisted of Central Asia, parts of India and China the Korean peninsula and into Southeast Asia. This empire was twice the size of the Romans's at climax. While Ogedei ruled, the empire stretched each of its boundaries to further its reach into the Middle East, almost all of China, and edged toward present day Europe.
Nearly another century and a half passed before the Mongol Empire reached its peak in landmass. It consumed roughly 24 million kilometers which amounts to 16% of the entire world's landmass. It contained a population of about 100 million people and is still known as the largest contiguous empire ever conquered. This vast empire worked as a cleansing of the old world, bringing in a new wave of technology. This technology included improvements in agriculture, astronomy, cartography and even printing.
(This article includes information from websites such as wikipedia.org)
After Genghis's death in 1227, rule was given to his third son Ogedei. At this point the Mongol Empire was large and consisted of Central Asia, parts of India and China the Korean peninsula and into Southeast Asia. This empire was twice the size of the Romans's at climax. While Ogedei ruled, the empire stretched each of its boundaries to further its reach into the Middle East, almost all of China, and edged toward present day Europe.
Nearly another century and a half passed before the Mongol Empire reached its peak in landmass. It consumed roughly 24 million kilometers which amounts to 16% of the entire world's landmass. It contained a population of about 100 million people and is still known as the largest contiguous empire ever conquered. This vast empire worked as a cleansing of the old world, bringing in a new wave of technology. This technology included improvements in agriculture, astronomy, cartography and even printing.
(This article includes information from websites such as wikipedia.org)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)