Classes come and they goooooo...

This is the end of yet another class, although not the end of many more new experiences. For the longest while I've regarded Web2.0 technologies as silly, whimsical, a passing fad, a waste of time, the list goes on. What I've come to realize is that they are not passing fads, nowhere near as silly as I once thought they were, and serve a greater purpose.

We have entered a new day and age where technology is a part of who we are as an American culture. Many of us wake up to technology, apps, and tools only to fall asleep to them. Many doors have been opened politically and socially that were never available. We can organize and assemble much more efficiently and create movements that in previous years would have take twice or thrice as long to manifest.

I've had the wrong mentality about Web2.0 all along. It is not a means of hindering the populace by allowing the internet to entrap us with its spindly tentacles, but a means of freeing the people and allowing the truest form of freedom of speech to occur, widespread assembly and sharing of common interests. Much beyond the new tools that I now understand and am able to use, the greatest thing that has happened since the start of this class is a change in mindset and energy. For that I am thankful for having taken this class.

Till next class
Cheers!

Performance Support Project: Climb Strong

After a failed attempt on Yahoo Pipes to create a page to host my Performance Support Project, I turned to WikiSpaces and have been loving it! Unfortunately, like most other things this summer, the bulk of the project has been delayed until the last second...and I mean last second. I would like to blame a majority of this on my frustration with Yahoo Pipes, the desolation I felt after my original idea fell through, and the period of procrastination that I took to find a new platform.

Through Wiki Spaces and Twitter I hope to support the continual pursuit of stronger and healthier rock climbing. I encourage you to follow me on twitter @CassieMNewman via #ClimbStrong and on my Wikispace.

I have signed up as a teacher through Wikispaces; so below I have included a link to the wiki and the join code to the class wiki. Again, please feel free to join even if you don't know a thing about climbing! I hope to share all that I can to both new and more advanced climbers.

Wikispace: ClimbStrong
Join Code: MXPXK7X

Tillandsia Madness

Let me share with you my latest obsession, Tillandsia, or more commonly known as Air Plants!
Most everyone has seen them before, tromped on them, used them as fire kindling, claimed that "red bugs" or chiggers live in them; the list goes on. The most common, and in my opinion the most romantic, air plant in the south is Tillandsia usneoides or Spanish Moss. What are growing in popularity as housing decor are exotic Tillandsia that offer a more visible bloom (because believe it or not, Spanish moss has microscopic flowers that bloom each year). I own about 10 different varieties of Tillandsia, some of which are featured here.

Read on to discover how easy taking care of your own air plants can be!

So versatile, you can stick it everywhere...

Care

Florida has great natural humidity to sustain air plant life, which is great for people with brown thumbs (like myself). But they do require just a little more attention than a pet rock, so don't get too excited.

Air plants need water, like all other plants. Most of this water (and other nutrients) is absorbed from the air through their leafs, but while hosting these plants in your home you should try to water them at least once a week. Some Tillandsia instructions suggest misting every couple days while others suggest either running water over the plants 2 to 4 times a week or a once a week soak for an hour. I myself prefer running my plants under water a couple times a week and giving them a good shake afterwards. What all of these methods have in common is the need to be sure your Tillandsia doesn't have sitting water in between the leaves. Be sure to let them sit on a paper towel or shake 'em out after watering, this will prevent plant rot. 

Brachycaulos in shot glasses

Light
Bright light or filtered sun is best. Just be sure to keep the plants from direct sunlight; remember these plants originate from under the gentle shade of the jungles.

Ventilation
Air plants like air and great air flow...duh. So please don't try to plant your air plant in a pot with soil...

Hidden Tillandsia Atroviridipetala

Reproduction

This is my favorite part; air plants reproduce each year by having 1 to 12 pups. They'll tend to sprout off the side of the parent plant. Once these pups reach at least half the size of the parent, you can carefully remove the pup or if you enjoy keeping the family together you may leave them clustered.

Nothing like Vernicosa and Arhiza to liven up bathroom space!

I hope these pictures inspire you to incorporate live Tillandsia into your home and the ease of care seal the deal!

Happy air planting!

Social Media Blocking

According to Mother Jones there are several countries that block Facebook, Twitter and Youtube. Each do so for their own reasons and I encourage you to delve further into the subject.

I find myself divided as for whether or not I think this should be allowed. Knowledge should be shared and made available to all people and it should be their right to know. But what if some information harms the greater good of the community or country? Wouldn't sharing that information be a disservice?

What are your thoughts? Should there be social media blocking or general web site blocking?

Tallahassee Rock Gym

If you ever stumble upon this place ---------------->
I would suggest that you venture in!

 When you drive around the square, there are many great places to check out. The Buddhist community is friendly and open to visitors, Proof Brewery newly opened, The Other Side and Wonceuponatime thrift shoppes offer great finds, Yogi-G offers his free daily yoga, and then in the center of it all is this place
<------------------------------

You might also find this guy behind the counter. Watch out for these guys, they'll ask you to do copious amounts of paperwork.

If the guys behind the counter don't scare you off with their paperwork, then explore further to climb on some of these awesome walls and maybe meet some of these awesome ladies (and some pretty cool dudes)!

Photo credit above goes to TheMorningFresh.

GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAL to Germany!

If you weren't holed up in an overcrowded bar or restaurant, drinking a glass of wine with friends on the couch, or in the Brasil stadium watching the FIFA World Cup, you missed out! What a victory that Germany won. The game was filled with close calls, lots of action, and two well matched teams.

Mario Goteze was the skilled gentleman who scored the only and the winning goal. Fun fact: Goteze is the only sub in World Cup history to score a goal! Congrats Goteze!

Messi and Hummels after the ball

Although, I have a confession to make. I fell asleep during the second half of the additional 30 minutes. Yes, that is right, I slept through the winning goal to wake up promptly afterwards. I blame it on an action packed day beforehand, a glass of wine afterwards, and the cozy couch from which we watched the game.

Regardless, I hoped everyone enjoyed this year's world cup and is ready for the 2018 FIFA World Cup to take place in Russia...

Wikipedia as a Research Source?

I've watched the progression of the use of Wikipedia in the classroom over my own lifetime. After a few years of cultivation, when Wikipedia first emerged as a resources for a wide variety of topics, I can recall teachers slandering the validity of information posted on Wikipedia and forbidding the use of Wikipedia as a source in research projects.

Then Wikipedia became a source of free entertainment between my friends and myself, set the tumbler on random and read about whatever nonsensical topic popped up. Better yet, we would find a random page and see who could get to Hitler or Jesus in the fewest "clicks" or links.

Further on in my education, in my later high school and collegiate years, professors began to include Wikipedia as a research source. No longer was there a great ban on Wikipedia, but an informal acceptance of the validity of Wikipedia's content.

What changed? Did school teachers and professors alike attend a Wikipedia conference which deemed the source as valid? Or did something in the content of Wikipedia change that teachers favored enough to permit it as a source? Do you agree with this change? I know I do!