Giving Thanks & Thanksgiving : 11/22/10

     In light of Thanksgiving being just around the corner, I just thought I would list a few of the many people and things I am thankful for.

I am thankful for:

- My Family
- My Parents

- My Brothers

- My Grandparents

- My Friends
- My Faith
- My Lifestyle
- My Talents
- My Strengths
- My Education
- The Opportunity to attend St. Olaf
- My Past, Present, and Future Opportunities

I am truly thankful for everyone who influences my life every day.  Thank you for being a part of mine!

WR

Jefferson's Crop Rotation and Other Interesting Practices : 1/16/10

     I never realized how scientific Thomas Jefferson really was.  After reading the material this week, I have come to appreciate Jefferson's attention to detail and precision.  Being from a farm, I found it especially interesting that Jefferson experimented crop rotation.  As any farmer knows, crop rotation is a practice that should be implemented on most farms.  Planting different crops each year on the same field helps combat problems like erosion and lack of nitrogenous soil.   Not only did he implement crop rotation at Monticello, but he documented his crop rotation scheme. I applaud Thomas Jefferson for practicing the trend of crop rotation: his concern of knowledge and science is evident.
     Not only was Jefferson interested in science and agriculture, but his hunger for books and writing is also evident.  Two fascinating contraptions come to my mind when I think about Jefferson's love of reading and writing.  The first is his five-sided, walnut bookstand.  This bookstand, which is thought to be an invention of Jefferson's, reveals Jefferson's true passion for reading.  The functionality of the bookstand should also be noted--I wish I had one!  The second object Jefferson often used was his coping machine.  The machine, created by John Hawkins, was used by Jefferson when writing letters and other important documents.  By using Hawkins machine, Jefferson was able to keep copies of his writings; a sign that Jefferson cared about the information he was sending and writing.
     In brief, Jefferson's passion of crop rotation, reading, and documentation can be seen throughout his many books, inventions, and machines.    

Jefferson's Crop Rotation Documentation

Jefferson's 5-Sided Bookstand

Jefferson's Copy Machine

Caricatures About the Tea Party : 11/15/10

     While doing some dense fact research for my editorial, I found some really cool caricatures done by Henry Payne.  I actually used one for my dense fact.  I wish I could have used more, but I thought I would share them because they really are cool!  Most of Payne's drawings illustrate the Tea Party's influence on the other political parties in our government.  I hope you enjoy them!  (The first one is the drawing I chose as my dense fact.)

Holland Hall: A Dense Fact for St. Olaf College : 11/11/10

     After reading the article, "New Norman Gothic 'Mount St. Olaf',"written by Carl Melby, I was immediately interested in discussing my thoughts on the buildings of St. Olaf's campus.  I especially enjoyed Melby's point about the style in which the new administration building--now called Holland Hall--was to be modeled.  The building was inspired by the "Merveille" building, which is one of the many buildings that make up the Mount St. Michael Castle in Normandy, France.  Isn't it fascinating to think some of our buildings here at St. Olaf were modeled after ancient castles?  Castles--prestigious and timeless buildings--are perfect models for St. Olaf College as well.  The institution represents outstanding students and a long heritage.  By modeling Holland Hall after Mount St. Michael, the college highlights its distinguished and everlasting reputation.  Not only is the architecture itself impressive, but the architects themselves played a large part as to why Holland Hall was created.  Melby's article states that the architectures of Mount St. Michael were Normans, or Scandinavian immigrants.  With that in mind, remember that St. Olaf College was founded by early immigrants from Norway and Scandinavia.  Therefore, not only was the college building created to invoke the castle feel of Mount St. Michael, but it was also erected to honor the college's heritage as well.  Obviously, the thought process that went into the plan for the Holland Hall was well-planned.  I find it fascinating that one way the college invokes its heritage is by constructing buildings.  Thus, Holland Hall serves as a dense fact for St. Olaf College by representing its reputation and Scandinavian heritage.

Here is a links you may find interesting about Holland Hall and the St. Olaf Campus:

http://www.stolaf.edu/map/HollandHall.html

I also did some research on the architects who build Holland Hall.  Being from Nebraska, I couldn't help but notice that the same architects also created many building for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  Here is a link to that information:

http://historicbuildings.unl.edu/people.php?peopleID=8&cid=15

The Tea Party Declaration of Independence : 11/10/10

Here is a link to a website that describes outlines the Tea Party's Declaration of Independence.  It's very interesting!

Insight to the Declaration of Independence : 11/10/10

I feel it would be interesting to travel back in time to the writing of Declaration of Independence.  Not only would it be interesting to experience early America, but it would be a great way to gain insight about the founding fathers of our country.  When I think of the founding fathers, the thoughts of very smart, influential people come into my mind.  However, by traveling back in time, I feel we would attain a much different view of America's founding fathers.  To see their everyday faults and to learn their actual feelings on a first-person basis would be fascinating.  While we cannot travel back in time, we can only imagine our founding fathers though the historical texts.

Picture Blog 12 : The Declaration of Independance

The Declaration of Independence

July 4, 1776