If I Could

This blog is in response to the honors presentation of Millennium Development Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability. This group decided specifically to focus on improving Minneapolis slums through the implementation of sustainability. They came to this decision after finding that many of the apartments in Minneapolis are being converted to condominiums, and that the residents are not able to buy them afterwards, being left without a home.

They also explored some green buildings and how they were beneficial. One of the buildings they looked at was the SC Johnson Co. headquarters in Wisconsin. They noted that it was cheaper to build and decreased the utility bill drastically. Another example that they looked at was the near north apartments that had a 1500 gallon rainwater collection system that used rainwater to flush toilets. After exploring these buildings, they decided to focus on water conservation and lowering energy costs for new high density, low-income housing IN the city.

Specifically, they came up with ideas to renovate the Riverside Plaza using green technologies. These are the proposals:
1. Install water re-use systems (rainwater collection, shower sink water reuse to flush toilets)
2. Use compact fluorescent bulbs
3. Install vertical recycling chutes in all 6 towers
4. Replace old windows with high-efficiency triple-paned glass
5. Replace outside panels with new environment-friendly wooden panels
6. Repaint concrete
7. Use solar panels
8. Apply Energy Star roof coating to reduce solar absorption
9. Install new Energy Star appliances
10. Use KONE elevators which use less energy because they’re gearless

Overall, I thought that this group’s presentation of their Millennium Development Goal was done very well. They communicated very effectively and were not too boring like some of the other groups. They had just the right amount of information on the slides and then verbalized the other important information. Their solution was very clear and I thought it was interesting because it seemed like something that could be done rather simply.

Picture Citations:
http://www.mdgmonitor.org/goal7.cfm
http://www.ecosherpa.com/images/logo_green.gif
http://www.ci.wilmington.nc.us/Portals/0/pubutilities/images/water%20use%20it%20wisely_white%20bkgd.jpg
http://images.publicradio.org/content/2006/06/07/20060607_aptbulding1_2.jpg
http://veganmuse.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/green-light.jpg http://www.procurement.duke.edu/procurement/buygreen/EnergyStar.jpg

Posted by Daniel at 7:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This blog is in response to the honors presentation of Millennium Development Goal 8: Develop a global partnership for development. Broc Blegan and Kelly Berry decided to focus their investigation and implementation of this goal in the capital city of Somalia, Mogadishu. They chose this place for two main reasons. First, it was behind the “technological curve� and was the last country to offer the internet in 1999. And second, only 10% of their population use mobile technology. Both of these statistics were very valid reasons for Broc and Kelly to choose to develop a partnership with Mogadishu.

They decided to come up with a solution that would lead to a society of mobile communications, through the internet and cell phones. In doing research, they looked to Kenya as an example for technological progress. Cell phone use increased there and it ended up helping produce record high turnouts for their last political election. Since 2000, cell phone use in Somalia has increased from 1.1% to 6.1% in 2005. Telecom, Nationlink, and Hormund are competing to provide Somalia with affordable communication options.

The two presenters decided that it was important for Somalia to leapfrog landline communications in order to catch up because wireless is both easier and cheaper than landlines. They included a quote from Dr. Sugata Mitra in which he said, “technology should be designed for education, not be adapted for it.� I felt that this was great and that it really resembled my feelings toward technology.

Another solution this team explored was the One Laptop Per Child program set up by an old professor at MIT. This charity designs cheap personal laptops (about $150) and distributes them to children in developing countries to improve their education and communication capabilities. The laptops have educational games, wireless internet, a word processor, and are very durable so that they can be implemented effectively in the third world. The only problem with this service is that they require the recipient country to have an established, stable government (something that Somalia lacks).

I think this group did an excellent job presenting their research, ideas, and goals for their Millennium Development Goal. The layout of the slide show was easy to read and not too busy. They kept the audience’s attention rather well and presented their conclusion very clearly

Picture Citations:
http://www.mdgmonitor.org/goal8.cfm
http://mogadishu.info/map.somalia.mogadishu.jpg
http://weblogs.jupiterresearch.com/analysts/ask/archives/AMB%20Single%20Masai%20on%20Cell%20Phone.jpg
http://www.mentalfloss.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/ball_of_wires_2.jpg
http://www.topnews.in/files/OlpcGreenLaptopRCOM222.jpg

Posted by Daniel at 7:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Posted by Daniel at 11:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

There are many different types of presentation/ documentation styles including both 3-dimensional and 2-dimensional ones.

2-D:

Maps:

http://www.presentationload.com/

http://www.presentationload.com/

These are a great tool to present/ document information that has to do with movement, or connectivity around the world or region. Specific maps, such as this one, can highlight certain areas to make clear what is being presented.

Charts/Graphs:

http://www.presentationload.com/

http://www.presentationload.com/

These are some of the best ways to compare information. A simple graphic, as shown above, can display complex information in a manner that more people can understand.

Written Documentation:

http://blogs.business2.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/08/25/03book.jpg

http://www.fullstopdesign.co.uk/images/new%20images/Book_design_1.jpg

These are very effective ways to document information that is very developed and difficult to present. They allow one to include images, text, graphs, tables, etc. all in one source. This is probably the most common way to present information. This method can be disastrous though, if one is not careful about its design and layout. Too much text or too many pictures can ruin great research. When thought about properly however, this is one of the best ways to document works.

PDF’s & Powerpoints:

http://thestoneriver.com/GoldGlobePage5.jpg

http://www.orangeyouglad.com/images/sg_umg_w.jpg

These tools are also very efficient in presenting and documenting information. Like books, it gives the designer versatility in terms of layout of the presentation. One can include text, charts, photographs, or graphs to document information. PDF’s and Powerpoints are just like books and other written works, except that they are digital and allow for more options such as videos or animation which cannot be displayed in printed works.

Photography:

http://www.photocritic.org/wp-content/uploads/2006/03/Picture-3.jpg

http://www.udeducation.org/teach/course_mods/tauke_images/tauke_fig3b.jpg

Photography is also used to present information to people. It is very useful and fulfills a specific purpose. Photographs, like above, can present a 3-D object in a 2-D form (explaining what an apple looks like when it is shot would not be as effective as showing someone). When photographs are combined with simple text, presentation is enhanced and in my opinion, the most effective.

3-D:

Models:

http://www.archivisionmodels.com/images/index01.gif

http://www.hotzmats.com/images/wild_west_mat2.gif

These are mostly used for designers to better represent 3-D spaces to an audience. They help both the designer and others discover what something will actually look like, and the possible effects a structure could have on its surroundings or users.

All of these types of documentation/ presentation are used to exhibit information and research to others. I don’t think any one of these methods is a universal solution to all presentations of research, but rather, each situation calls for a specific type of documentation. Also, when two or more of the above methods are combined, the presentation is more effective and really enhances the research or information being documented.

Posted by Daniel at 5:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I am only a thing. I take up little space in comparison to the planet we live on. It would seem to be a simple concept if I were not constantly in relation with other ‘things’. The things around me take up little amounts of space, but when we’re all added together, we occupy much of the land available to us. We are arranged all over the place. My current arrangement is the Twin Cities area. Things such as buildings take up space high into the air while others such as the tunnel system occupy those areas underneath the Earth’s surface. Wherever I look, I am encountered with things. All of things around me are in constant interaction, creating a framework around me. My current framework is complex, involving numerous things and places, however, it is rather pathetic as most are related academically through the U.

It is important to see how I am connected to the world around me. I understand that things are connected within frameworks, frameworks connected within clockworks, and clockworks connected within phenomena, but I just don’t necessarily analyze my life in this fashion. I am more interested in the oppositions I face with my surroundings, and those other oppositions that we face in our lives. Maybe it’s just my desire to overcome the impossible or that I just like a challenge, but intertwined things are disinteresting to me until the oppositions are mentioned.

The opposition that I’d like to elaborate on is that of climate and enclosure. I’ve loved the cold my whole life. Summer is nice, but there are always the days that you cannot escape. I guess that extreme climates are always uncomfortable, but they really interest me. The reason I am so interested in this opposition is because it is all around me. After an extremely hot, humid summer where I constantly wanted to be indoors, I found myself to be uncomfortable and frostbite-prone standing in the same place I was 6 months earlier. In both extremes, I wanted to be indoors, in an environment controlled by the systems (things, frameworks, clockworks, etc.) created and built by humans (the built environment).

While being in a controlled environment is comforting, I find it much more exciting to explore the wilderness and the vastness of the natural world. I feel as though both the built environment and the natural environment shape my life, but right now, more so the built one. This is because I am a student trapped in the Twin Cities going to school every day. I don’t have a car and the busses only go so far out of the cities. The surroundings I find myself in are those completely shaped by humankind.

I feel as though the pinnacle of this opposition is Bear Grylls, the man from the tv show, Man vs. Wild. For those unfamiliar with this man, he overcomes the worst, deadliest environments and climates on the planet all alone. He is dropped off and left alone until he finds civilization. While he does some pretty crazy things, his interaction with his surroundings is quite impressive. His survival is dependent upon his knowledge of the region his is in. I feel that this idea is true in other instances as well; not necessarily dealing with life and death, but someone must know their surroundings, even in a city, to participate effectively in the culture. I, personally, have developed a deeper knowledge of my surroundings in the Twin Cities since this fall. The first weekend I was up here, I remember feeling lost and disconnected. Over time, I familiarized myself with places and things and developed my sense of belonging.

I have definitely deviated from the opposition of climate and enclosure, however, I feel that this is important to note. Beginning with a simple opposition, many other ideas spawned from this as I began writing. This demonstrates the framework, clockwork, and phenomena that connect climate and enclosure to weather, culture, nature, and even Bear Grylls.

Photo Citations:

http://derfotohof.net/autos/mini/arctic/snorkel_parka_IMG_249.jpg
www.keithstrohm.com/storage/sun.jpg
http://www.visi.com/~rsteiner/717skyline1big.jpg
http://www.roadjunky.com/images/900.jpg
http://www.aolcdn.com/aolnews_photos/02/07/20070723134309990013
http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/07_02/BearDM2707_468x349.jpg

Posted by Daniel at 11:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Quite honestly, if I were released from our school program’s constraints, I would not do the same thing day to day. I have so many interests and hobbies that I would try to find a new one each day of the week.

Mondays I would work as a doctor and help those who need medical attention (and earn the money I would need for the rest of the week). While the service is limited to a select few individuals, I would see the benefits directly in my patients. It wouldn’t matter where I worked, but it would be great to help those who really, really need it.

Tuesdays I would build/design houses for those who otherwise couldn’t. This would be an all-in-one experience because I love working with my hands, solving puzzles, and helping people.

Wednesdays I would help at a school (elementary or high), and coach soccer or basketball afterwards (mostly because I’m still a kid at heart).

Thursdays, I would serve in the US Navy and do whatever was asked of me.

Fridays and Saturdays, I would travel all around the world to see the incredible places there are. Depending upon my mood, I would visit landmarks, buildings, nature sites, or people. On Sunday, I would come home and rest because it is needed every week, and because God recommends it.

I know that this is completely unrealistic, but this would be my ideal life without the constraints of our program and profession. I would like to expand the discipline and incorporate all of my other interests into my week.

All in all, I guess if I were released from the constraints of our school’s program, I would live in a dream world where I could learn from people every day. It would be just like having 5 different jobs without any of the pressure or stress. It seems as though I would be helping all of them, but I know that the opportunity given to me by them would be a much bigger help to me. I can see myself doing a multitude of things after I graduate, one thing that I do not want to do however, is be confined to a cubical every single day.

This dream-like weekly scenario would allow me to do all of the things that I am interested in. I would be able to help others, relax, travel, and fulfill the purpose of my life day in, and day out.

Picture Sources:
http://www.donatewaste-usdfa.com/images/v_home_collage2.gif
www.whitehouse.gov/.../images/agencies-1.jpg
http://tlac.tamu.edu/uploads/media/tlac_student_teaching/DSC00083.JPG
http://www.sportsquesttraining.com/images/MVC-010S.JPG
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/United_States_Department_of_the_Navy_Seal.svg/600px-United_States_Department_of_the_Navy_Seal.svg.png
http://www.military.cz/usa/navy/uss/carriers/stennis/jcs_battlegroup.jpg
http://www.navi-travel.com/images/mast/Montage1a.jpg
http://www.access-to-africa.com/images/various.jpg

Posted by Daniel at 7:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

These first two images are what I most identify with as a human being. First, I am a Christian and second, I am an American. As a Christian, I am called to be Christ-like. This first image shows Jesus himself washing his disciples feet. This is an incredibly humble thing to do as feet were crazy-dirty in those days seeing as they always wore sandles. One reason that I like to serve others is because that's what I am here to do. The second image portrays the American military man serving his country. This is similar because it is a kind of service where others come first, and self is last. I identify with these two images very much and I think that they resemble what I would like to become. I would be lying if I were to say that I live like them right now and am never selfish, but they are more of a goal that I am shooting for.

These images shows my belief that all people deserve the same treatment. I am an advocate for universal rights and I feel that the resources that we have as Americans, although nice, should be used to help those less fortunate than us. I feel that everything that we have should be used to help others. This feeling comes from the fact that I believe in an eternal life that will not include worldy things. For this reason, developing relationships and helping others are the best treausres on Earth.

Below are some quotes and songs that also play into my desire to serve and help eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.

"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.�- Galatians 5:13

"A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.�- Matthew 10:24

“Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.�- Matthew 20:26-28

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.�- Philippians 2:5-7

Songs:

If we are the body by Casting Crowns
Love them like Jesus by Casting Crowns
More by Matthew West
Changes by Tupac

Continue reading "Prompt 3: Service ID" »

Posted by Daniel at 11:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Why is it that the most common thing expected of freshman is gaining a “freshman fifteen�? I understand that people gain weight when they have food readily available for them, but whatever happened to exercise?

Since the first day of the fall semester, the rec has been open every single school day. All the students at the University of Minnesota have access to workout facilities and machines that cost thousands of dollars. Why, then, do some students choose to skip out on exercise?

The most probable reasons include laziness, inconvenience, and the weather. Minnesota winters are known to be brutally cold. The tunnel system around campus serves as a very effective system designed to keep students warm when walking to academic buildings. However, the rec fails to connect to these tunnels. This keeps many students from getting the daily exercise that they need in order to stay healthy.

The social-design issue that I intend to bring to everyone’s attention is that of personal fitness and exercise. Personally, I have experienced the feeling of laziness, probably every day. Once the winter weather hits, especially these past couple of weeks, I had no desire to leave my room. Venturing out into the cold to go anywhere would be way too inconvenient. Some brave and determined students still make it to the rec through the sub-zero winter, but what about those students who don’t like to exercise?

Design can be a simple solution to this question. In order to make exercising more convenient, the existing tunnel system could be expanded so students wouldn’t have to freeze when walking there. Also, housing could be built closer to, or on top of, the rec. Another alternative would be adding exercise equipment to the living spaces. These solutions all require more money which some may say is unnecessary. The choice is either to pay up to improve health, or witness freshman classes progressively fatten up as they sit and eat through the cold, icy winter.

Continue reading "Prompt 2: Freshman 15" »

Posted by Daniel at 11:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The sun is not yet up in the sky. The city seems to be still and absent of all energy, but slowly, if you are patient, you can witness it come to life. Newspaper deliverers appear, and after a couple of hours, the streets are bustling with noise and crowds. The city is transformed by those who use it, its clients if you will. Without them, city flow and energy are not present. Cities are static and its citizens and visitors give it its life and voice. There are however, instances when a city’s energy is hindered.

After September 11, 2001, New York City went through numerous changes that led to an altered flow of life. Panic immediately followed the crash, depression and uncertainty coming soon afterward, and eventually, the people acquired a strong sense of passion and began to react. As the city experienced change, its energy changed. People were scared and the city reflected their fear. This proportional change was best seen in the intense national pride people felt after September 11, 2001. The city was revived from its depression and immediately gained back its voice.

September 11, 2001 is just one example of this relation between citizens and their cities. When looked at closely, a city really is no more than its people. It is created by the people, for the people, and is transformed by the people.

Continue reading "Prompt 1: Our City" »

Posted by Daniel at 11:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)