Finding Utah

LOL

2008-09-30T09:46:00.000-07:00

I couldn't help it. I had to put this on here.

Freud

2008-09-25T09:12:00.000-07:00

Sigmund Freud got it all wrong. There are only two things on a man's mind.

1. Hunting season

2. Getting ready for hunting season.

Ask anyone

The Tragedy of the Commons

2008-09-16T17:31:00.000-07:00

If you are a Weber State student pursuing your bachelor degree you are required to take a class called Environment Appreciation. This class is all about stirring the pot. It focuses on the American view (or better the western view) of the world and of society, and its pursuit on destroying the world one parcel at a time--as I have interpreted from my instructor. The instructor will outline and then challenge our beliefs and values at their unequivocal core. For example, we spent about half a class period talking about "Paul Bunion and Babe the Blue Ox," and how it was a story designed to condition our adolescent minds towards the value of development and progression and how you cannot stop development. With some fore sight not given in the story, eventually there will be nowhere left to develop and our population has reached its maximum. I personally get a kick out of it, but there is not a class that goes by where one of the students doesn't STAND UP in protest of the information presented. The instructor challenges the basic understanding of the world as whole, if we have any at all.

For our first paper, we are required to read a short essay called "Tragedy of the Commons," written by Garrett Hardin, circa 1968, and give a completely objective review. We are not allowed to editorialize any points he makes or subject he discusses. This makes the task extremely difficult. It has long been revered as a focal critique in the environmentalist movement, and I thought, if you are interested, of presenting you an excerpt from this paper; giving you the chance to read it and possibly give me some feedback as to your opinion. I am curious what others think when presented with this material.

THE TRAGEDY OF THE COMMONS
GARRETT HARDIN (1968)

"...Population tends to grow geometrically, or as we now say exponentially... In a finite world this means that the per-ca pita share of the world's good must decrease...space is no escape... A finite world can only support a finite population; therefore, population growth must eventually equal zero... However, given an infinite amount of energy, population growth still produces and inescapable problem...."

That is part one, this is part two.

"...the rational herdsman concludes that the only sensible course for him to pursue is to add another animal to his herd; and another.... But this is the conclusion reached by each and every rational herdsman sharing the commons. Therein is the tragedy. Each man is locked into a system that compels him to increase his herd without limit -- in a world that is limited. To ruin is the destination toward which all men rush, each pursuing his own best interest in a society that believes in the freedom of the commons. Freedom in commons brings ruin to all. Some would say this is platitude...it was learned thousands of years ago, but natural selection favors the forces of psychological denial. The individual benefits as an individual from his ability to deny the truth even though society as a whole, of which he is part of, suffers...."

Okay, that's it. I took out a lot of the mumbo jumbo to try and make it easier to read. This is probably the hardest paper I've ever read.

2008-09-16T09:15:00.000-07:00

Thoughts by Jack Handy-- "As I sat at a stop light watching it turn from red to green, to yellow, and back to red, I thought to my self, 'Is this world just a bunch of honking and yelling.'"

Thoughts from somewhere-- When life throws you lemons, find someone who's life is throwing them tequila and have a party.

The little turtle that could

2008-07-02T17:02:00.000-07:00

Currently, I think I'm a nature lover. While sitting at a nearby pond I watched droves of duck and goose move in and out of the water, fight amongst themselves, flap, quack, and hiss (at me). While pondering the beauty and wonder that is mother nature, I noticed out of the corner of my eye a small creature emerging from the deep. I studied for a minute, watching it edge closer and closer to the land. After it came into view, the round hump across its back was a dead give away. It was a turtle. Now, turtle are not native to this particular mountain side and I couldn't help but think of a young boy mourning the loss of his pet turtle. I watched him fight to keep his little head above water while it waded around in the shallows. His neck was streched as far as I would imaging a turles neck could. Currently, I think I am a nature lover.

Getting old must be great

2008-05-29T14:51:00.001-07:00

INTO THE WILD

2008-05-13T11:21:00.000-07:00

This movie is the best I have seen in a long time. It truly makes me want to run off and see the world. "Alexander Supertramp" leaves behind his family, his home, his money, and his car to set out on the journey of a lifetime. One week after he graduates college (cum lade-FYI) Alex leaves the world behind to set out on a two year journey across the United States and some of Mexico, eventually finding his way deep in the Alaskan tundra. During his adventure he will meet people and have experiences that will change his life dramatically and make a significant imact on his understanding of life and his place in this big world. This movie is about a young man, torn apart by his bickering soulless parents, searching to find truth in himself and truth in this world. Born and raised in a web of lies he travels the country searching for solitude and answers, and in the end he discovers that the answer layed before him during the whole of his journey. Alexander meets many interesting and influential characters along the way. This movie would make anyone long for the life of a drifter and the beauty one would find in it.

Because Sadie MADE ME

2008-04-30T21:33:00.000-07:00

I was tagged by Miss Sadie Kay Love.

4 things I was doing 10 years ago..
1. Skateboarding every where.
2. Finishing up the Eighth Grade.
3. Looking for someone to buy me and my friends beer. ;)
4. Started Fly Fishing

4 things I was doing 5 years ago.
1. Framing houses for Love Construction.
2. Thinking about going to college.
3. Living with 4 of the coolest guys in a house in Kaysville.
4. Going to welding school at the DATC.

4 things I'll be doing this year
1. Starting my final academic year in college...see #2 above.
2. Working on the beginnings of my career in const. management
3. Going on a real vacation for the first time.
4. Meeting new people and making new friends.

4 of my favorite shows
1. Good Eats
2. Family Guy
3. Scrubs
4. Simpsons

4 of my biggest Joys
1. Long Boarding
2. Sadie
3. Getting out into the mountains
4. My FAM

I now tag Annie, Melissa, Megs and Chels

Tile

2008-04-20T15:18:00.000-07:00

I have unofficially declared myself the tile master. Although my skills were once thought to be outdated and lacking the accuracy to reach masterdom. That is no longer the case. I have been approved by the international tile council and you may begin kissing my feet immediately. Please be mindful of the ceremonial grout between the toes...

I'm SOOO Tired of School

2008-02-27T14:08:00.001-08:00

Do you ever wish you could just wake up and find out someone fed strick nine to the monkeys on your back the night before? Well, I do.

On the five

2007-11-10T10:13:00.000-08:00

K, so far I have three.

I met a guy named Kevin, he is an undergrad from BYU pusuing a new degree in CM form Weber. He still lives in Utah county and Drives up to Weber for night classes two nights a week. In the same instance I met a guy named Dave. He has just left a 12 yr career with the military flying helecoptors to pursue a degree at Weber. He showed me some pictures of the copter he has flown and some of the exercises they do in training--aka freaking cool stuff. This friday I was at BYU for a competition in estimating. I went up and talked to a kid I had seen in previous competitions but never spoke to. I asked him how he was doing and how well he did in the competition. He thought his team did well on the estimate, but not on the presentation. They hadn't left themselves enough time to practice. He is graduating this spring and wants to move back to Florida, his home state, and find a job working in commercial constuction. Also, as huge side note my team took third place in the estimating competition. That means we won 500 monies for tuition next year, compliments of the Americas Society of Professional Estimators. YEE Haaaaaa.

Goal Setting

2007-10-17T18:17:00.000-07:00

Past Accomplishment: Making it to college. This accomplishment was important to me because I have pretty much been a slacker my whole life. In school, I was never slow or dumb, just lazy. I never ever ever did my homework. Honestly from like third grade on...

New Goal: I like to graduate leaving a legacy. I want to graduate with good grades as well, but leaving something behind would mean a lot more to me. I would like to know that the time and work I put into school was noticed.

Steps to get there: This goal poses a challenge for setting steps. I can start small. I am already the pres. for my club. I can contribute as much time as possible making systems for the club to run smoothly. I already have one idea in mind. I would like to leave a binder for future presidents. It would have the competition handbook, letter to send out for sponsors, constitution, ect ect. This semester I would mostly focus on what needs to be in the folder, all the time keeping copies of documents and such that I would like to see in the binder. In the spring I could start a basic run-through of the book; organizing and setting things in the proper order. Over the summer can be the finalizing of the binder. Put everything together; Start with a forward to president and constitution, leave off with a suggestions and What if categories.

Who, Why, and How: For this idea I can use a lot of people. I can use my mother to read over anything I will be including. She is a technical writer for Morgan-Stanley Online. She is great with my papers. My faculty advisor plays a key role. When the book is completed I will be leaving it with him to give to future presidents. I think my biggest asset is going to be myself. The majority of the work is going to have to be done by me. My constituents (the junior presidents) will also be a great help. If I can manage it right, they can do a lot of the leg work. For example, one of the juniors has already composed a letter to sponsors asking to support a team in the Reno competition. The others are working ahead on their tasks. I can just keep copies to put in the book--with credit going to the proper authors.

Pulse Check

2007-10-15T15:33:00.000-07:00

As for the grade of the class, I would give it a solid A. We have covered many different strategies and topics; most of which have impacted my every day. I also enjoy the book. What I have read in there makes a great deal of sense. I take notes from the book and try to practice one thing each day to improve my leadership skills (it works our most days). This is also used to improve my memory skills. I have the worst memory on planet earth. Although I don't say much during class, I am a great listener and I have gained many ideas and views that I appreciate. If there is any down fall in the class it is only my lack of participation. I am struggling to complete the weekly assignments--even as easy as they are. Jose is doing a great job. I like the atmosphere in the class room. Everyone can come as they are and participate at their own level. The relaxed atmosphere creates comfort giving ease to the mind when sharing ideas or opinions. If there is anything we need to keep doing, I believe it is focusing on exercises that we can do out of class and in the future. I would like to be able to come back to things I have learned and reinforce my skills as a leader one day when I am taking on a new challenge. Overall, I have enjoyed the class. I like meeting everyone and seeing a life inside of Weber. I have long been under the impression that Weber was only a commuter school and not many people got involved. I have learned to think other wise. It was because of my own ignorance that I have not seen the "night life" at Weber State University. When things cool down for me next year, I would like to get into the college life a little more than I am right now.

Snoboard Club

2007-10-07T19:48:00.000-07:00

OK, so I figured it out. I am joining the snowboard club. The way you get in is to buy a pass and go to practices. I was really surprised at how organized it was once I figured out their system works. The run everything off of a myspace page. The have practices three times a week, and do all sorts of fun activities. I've been saving up the cash for the pass so I should be an official member by mid october. Also, the price through the club is a screaming deal!

Mentor Is?

2007-10-07T19:30:00.000-07:00

A mentor is someone who sets the bar. They have been where you want to go. A mentor is someone who has goals and values that you can identify with. A mentor is someone you look up to. I have never sat down and thought about it before, but everyone should have a mentor. If you have a mentor, someone with good goals and strong ambition, you subconsiously try to duplicate what they have and what they are doing. I mentor in the back of your mind can be your greatest strength. The journey is a lot easier if you know where you want to go.

Leadership Is?

2007-10-07T19:18:00.000-07:00

Leadership is important; leadership is vital; leadership is difficult; leadership is fun; leadership is rewarding. It takes a lot to be a good leader. You not only have to push yourself towards excellence, you must bring others along with you. You must keep in mind everyones goals and ambitions and create the path of success. Being a learder is rewarding. Working in groups can be difficult. Everyone has had different experiences, has different dreams, and different ambitions. It is up to the leader to put differences aside and push for the greater good. If that is accompished the feeling alone has little comparison.

Joining the Club

2007-09-14T10:33:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I logged into my portal, went a little club crazy and joined three clubs. I was glad to see so many different clubs with the same interests as mine, but when I was looking through there sites I noticed that there was little going on in any of them. I joined the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Students Club and noticed that they didn't have anything at their site; no postings, no emails, nothing. The hiking club was a little better. They had topics, comments, conversations. It seemed as though there was a few that wanted to get things done, but little support or interest. Finally I joined the snowboard club, hoping that because we're in Utah with the greatest snow on earth that there would be monds of people, topics, comments and meetings, but there really wasn't. It was the best so far. There were quite a few postings from previous years, and there was a couple for this year. There was even instruction on how to get season passes at a discount through the school. But I still didn't see anything about meetings, or group snowboarding days, or really anything. Am I going to the wrong place? Are there other websites with up dated information? I'm thinking that there is and the portal system is just a place to list all the clubs for freshmen or others new to campus. -----Mike out.

About Me

2007-09-06T09:56:00.000-07:00

I'm 23, going to Weber and like long walks on the beach. JK. During these years at Weber I am studying construction management. I am the Senior President for the CMT's student club, and I participate in estimating competitions against colleges from all over the western United States. I took this leadership class to improve my skill with people, to gain a foundation for being a president, and simply to better myself. Getting to college was no easy task for me. I was kicked out of normal high school and finished up my junior and senior year at an alternative high school. After a couple of years building houses, I knew that I need more than what was in front of me. I signed up for school and never looked back.