Management

Today we got back from our 5 day camp out in the Serengeti. It was an incredible experience, although a little claustrophobic. We weren’t allowed to even get near the ankle-high grass just outside the campsite (some of the other guys tried) and anytime spent out of the campsite was in the Land Cruisers. It still was amazing, and we saw way more animals than expected. We even got to see a portion of the migration on the way out (there were so many zebra and wildebeest!).
One of the most interesting things I saw was a troop of baboons trapping a leopard and her cubs. They had chased them under a log, and the mother was staying there because she knew as soon as she left to fight the baboons some would dart under and kill the cubs. Of course there was a huge pile up of land cruisers to see this thing. Luckily we were able to get up next to Daniel, a guy we met who is the research assistant (the one who stays in the park and does the work) of the Serengeti lion research project, the second longest animal behavior research project (right behind the chimpanzees). Some tourist cars then went off-roading (which is obviously illegal), chasing the baboons away. It really shocked all of us, and Daniel was angry. He took videos and told us to send our pictures to TANAPA (the Tanzanian park authorities) so they could fine the drivers (even though they’ll only get a $100 fine, which they will get way more from tips because they did it. There were rumors that a TANAPA car came and killed one of the baboons, but our car left before that happened. It was a definite wake-up call to me about how little respect we sometimes show to the world. It would be sad to have leopard cubs die but there are times you have to let nature take its course. One of the things Daniel told us is that when he saw an injured lion he only called vets in if it was a human caused injury (gunshot wound, snare, etc.), not for any natural injuries. If you treated lions for any injury not only would it throw off data, making the research biased, you are dealing with an ethical issue. Who are we to say that a particular lion should be saved, that the leopard cubs should be saved? The baboons were only acting in their own best interest, something that humans do all the time. Wildlife management was described to me by Christian, my Wildlife Management Professor, to be more about managing humans than wildlife. And this is true. The trouble is not wildlife encroaching on human areas, it’s residential, industrial and agricultural areas encroaching on wildlife areas. There needs to found and implemented a lifestyle that is more in line with conservation of resources, and this is completely possible as long as there is a drive to and a willingness to respect this earth and all the life which supports us.

Richard's leaving, but I'm not bitter...

Hello everyone,

As it is his last couple days, I thought I would do a Richard-themed post! Why, you ask?

Richard is leaving Tuesday! Because he doesn't love us.... :'(

What does a Richard-themed post entail? Not much of note. Mainly, I just compiled a couple of Richard-quotes from the quotebook:

Andrew’s Eagle Project. Adrianna and Johnny had been singing for quite some time.

Dad: Will you two be quiet?

Richard: You can’t get them to stop singing. It’s like asking birds not to fly… You have to break their wings.

  

Johnny: This brick cheese does not taste like bricks.

Richard: I think that is what it is supposed to not taste like.

Talking about the priest-laurel prom.

Ruth: So Richard, what are you wearing to it?

Adrianna: He’s wearing this really cool vest and this purple shirt.

Richard: It’s not purple. It’s a black purple.

Later.

Ruth: What’s your dress look like anyway Dri?

Richard: It’s black.

Adrianna: Actually it’s purple. Like a red purple.

Richard: Mine’s a lighter red purple.

Richard: And take your dead skin with you!

Richard: By the time I’d graduate I’d be like Pluto.

Ruth: You mean Plato?

Richard: Yeah, Plato...

Playing twenty questions:
Joseph: Is it male?
Dad: No
Joseph: Is it female?
Dad: Nope
Joseph: Is it asexual?
Dad: Yes
Richard: Is it a panda?

Richard's turn at twenty questions:
Dad: Is it in this room?
Richard: Yes
Ruth: Are you laying on it?
Richard: Maybe....
Johnny: Is it that pillow?
Richard: Dang it.

Ruth: Fats was making a weird noise on the way to pick up Richard.
Richard: Like a broccoli noise?
Ruth (taking it in stride): No, not a broccoli noise. More of a circular cricket noise.

Richard (with a face of absolute despair): Guh!...Oh No!

Johnny/Joseph: Richard, are you ok?!
Richard: Uh oh.
Dad: Did you throw up?
Richard: No, I swallowed a quarter. 

 

Dad is eating pulkogi from a pot in the car.  "Do you want some Richard?"

Richard:  Do you have a fork?

Dad: Yes

Richard: is the fork named your fingers?

Dad: Yes

Richard:  I always have to ask these qualifying questions.  Do you have a fork not named your fingers?

Dad: No

So, maybe that was more than a couple...

In any case, Richard we will all miss you very much.  You must write to us every week, with a three page minimum per email. Try not to work too hard, because then they'll make you a DL or a ZL or even an AP, and you will have less time to write us.  

In all seriousness though, I am very proud of you for sacrificing so much to do what you believe in. Don't do anything too crazy while you're gone. Stay safe (we want you in one piece for Joseph's wedding reception). Read the blog if you can (if not we can include posts in emails I suppose...?). Also, don't be too nervous; We know you'll be awesome!

In closing, everyone should write the things they love about Richard in the comments!

Love you all.

NB: Everyone else who has flown the coop (Andrew to Tanzania, Adrianna to Arkansas, Johnny to UVA, Joseph who never came home, and [inversely I guess] Dad): Sorry I didn't think to do this thing earlier. Maybe this should become a series theme!

Wot wot?

What?! It's not friday! I'm 87% positive that it isn't friday!

So why is Joseph posting? Are the social contracts governing the blog decaying? Is civilization collapsing? Is this-  ANARCHY?

Heh, No.

Sillies, anarchy is where there is no law or order and everybody just does what they want. In our current situation, it's just me doing whatever I want.

And that's the difference.

Also the difference is that nobody really likes anarchy in real life and it's a sucky state for a  nation/city/state or city-state to be in, and I'm pretty sure that nobody minds me doing whatever I want (I sure don't). Oh, and me doing whatever I want is an awesome state for a nation/city/state or city-state to be in.


So, I haven't been heard from you all for some time via this medium. That is actually because I spent a crazily high percentage of recent Fridays IN YOUR PHYSICAL PRESENCE! That is to say, in the presence of a few of you. And the percentage actually isn't super high, but compared to the rest of the year, it's definitely a small record at least.


Anything you want to know guys? About me? Or just stuff in general, I guess, if you're less interested in me and more interested in general stuff. Like, hydroponics? Or psych things like motivation  and self-handicapping? Self-handicapping is a really intriguing process, it's where you do stupid things to prove that you fail not because you aren't smart/good/talented, but rather because you do stupid things. You've done it, I bet. I do it too! Though I'm trying to kick the habit.

WWHHHHEEeeeeeeeeeeEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeee

I felt like a hang glider!



Me tired? How'd you guess?


I like TED talks. I remember thinking when I was younger that somebody should just talk about cool things and teach people all about them and put them on the internet.
And whadayaknow, they did!
But books are still cooler, even so.


I woke up this morning with a huge bump on the back of my head. Somewhat tender. No idea where it came from. Maybe I somehow smacked my head hard against my headboard (ha "headboard"). Yeah... Without... waking up? Or maybe so hard I stayed/was knocked unconscious.

Anyway, it is late in the particular time zone in which I reside so I will leave you all farewell, and take my bid of you.


 Love,
Joseph



p.s. I was Elphaba today

A dikdik

Today I had my first exam, Wildlife Ecology. It went well I think. I spent most of the rest of the day relaxing and studying for my next two exams tomorrow.

It's been raining (the short rain season started) a lot here. In a few days everything turned from yellow and dead to lush green. Also, the dirt turned from dust into actual dirt. It's quite eye-opening being here where water is a determining factor for so many things and is too often absent. It definitely is going to stick with me and how I use water.

I got to learn some Jiu Jitzu and Judo throws in the rain, getting really muddy. It was a lot of fun.

The coolest thing that happened today was Moses came up to us while we were doing throws and asked us to find a dikdik, which is an antelope that's about a foot tall. We found it behind Okello's (The camp director) house, and it ran out through the hedge out of the camp. Moses wanted us to chase it out so that it wouldn't eat our garden, which is growing very well now that its raining.

On Sunday, when we get past our exams, we leave for the Serengeti! We're their for four or five days, camping. I am super pumped. Hopefully hyenas will sniff around our tents at night.

It's Wednesday and Richard Gets an Encore

Yes, due to popular demand Richard has delayed his departure enough to write a life changing blog post for us one more time next Tuesday!

Actually his visa came through so he'll be flying straight to Brasil on Wednesday instead of heading to SLC on Monday.

We took Joseph and Johnny back to UVA yesterday and Richard is at institute so the house is empty again--and almost clean. The job search continues, although it has slowed a little over the last week--picking up speed again though. Otherwise, check out the quote book if you haven't for a while, and if you don't know what the quote book is check google plus for the same info....

Hope everyone is doing well.

Tuesday Coundown 2, (and maybe 1, and Takeoff all at the same time)

Love you all!

I thought to start it out with that, seeing as how I always ended with it before.
And seeing as how this may be POST FINALE

you must FINALE with an accent;
as in, FI-NAL-E

I thought two "I love you guys" would make up for this fact.
For those who I haven't told yet

and I'm sorry if this is your first hearing of it,

I am leaving for Provo Utah on Monday the 17th
of this selfsame month.
It appears my visa has not gone through yet

which would make some sense,
since I turned in a thing or two late XD

but nonetheless, I get to see Aunt Mindy and Uncle Jordan

Yay!

Though I don't get to go to Texas to see Aunt Kathy, Uncle Kerry, and Kailey...

Not yay

Still, I am going to Brazil soon.
Excited

yes

Ready

probably not

Nervous

only because I don't feel nervous about the things I should be,
like being able to communicate at all.

So I love you all, and wish uma boa viagem, até nos encontrarmos novamente

Thank you, Google Translate :D

Silly me: needs a haircut
:D

Too bad there weren't any good children's books

Yesterday there was a huge used book sale. Christine and I spent the morning rummaging through boxes and boxes of used books. It was absolutely glorious. I only got a couple, but looking through so many books cheered me all the same. Monday after 2pm, the leftover books are all free. I look forward to more rummaging!

Right now I am sitting at a table in Hutchinson Hall, indexing a really faded 1875 NY State Census which is very hard to read. What is Hutchinson Hall, you ask? (Follow the link!!! Really, I promise it's not a trick).

[Space for you to click on the link:]



That's right!!! I'm sitting in a replica of the Harry Potter great hall! Be very jealous.
I actually don't know if it was the great hall, per se, but it looks like it (though it appears a little smaller [according to a helpful sign, occupancy of it by more than 300 people is dangerous and unlawful]).

Well, don't be too jealous. It doesn't mean that there is any more lighting than in Alderman, that the first-years-who-don't-know-how-to-study talk more quietly than those in Clemons, or that my census is any easier to read.
I'm not really complaining; I was just trying to make you all feel better about the fact that you are not here. Did it work?

Walking here this afternoon, I saw a raccoon, crouched by a tree. It looked rather confused.
I also saw some yew bushes and was struck by how very picturebook-ish the berries looked. Does that make any sense? I mean, it's no mimosa tree, but it could still be a plant out of Dr. Seuss, right?

Miss and love you all!