No Blog for Wednesday, October 29

Hi All,

I hope you all enjoyed fall break and finished reading Prodigal Summer. There is no blog tonight, but be ready to talk about the book and your responses to it tomorrow in class. See you bright and early in the morning!

Dr. Ramsey

exotic pet trade

The exotic animals industry has led to some very large problems facing our world today. Many people love the idea of having something unique as a pet whether it is a snake or a big cat. The problem with many of these animals is that often people do not know what they are getting themselves into. A Biremes Python may start off as only a few inches long but within a few years they can grow long enough of kill an alligator. It may seem like a great idea to keep a cute little baby raccoon or tiger as a pet but before you know it they grow big and become aggressive. The exotic animal trade is a large supporter of the animal black market, the illegal trade of animals and there parts, it is second only to drugs in the amount of money made in a given year. Many exotic pets are trap in the wide and smuggled through horrific means to arrive at a home were often the conditions are not much better. Many of these animals are endangered and those that are not will pose great threat to endangered ecosystems if they manage to escape or are released.

African Agriculture

I changed my topic to African agriculture and why it is important for Africa and the rest of the world.

William, M. A. (2005, Spring). Paying for Prosperity: How and Why to Invest in Agricultural Research
    and Development in Africa. Journal of International Affairs, 58(2). Retrieved October 20, 008,
    from Proquest database: http://proquest.umi.com/
    pqdweb?index=3&sid=7&srchmode=1&vinst=PROD&fmt=6&startpage=-1&clientid=11123&vname=PQD&RQT=309&did=83
    3053371&scaling=FULL&ts=1224546704&vtype=PQD&rqt=309&TS=1224546719&clientId=11123

Massoud Karshenas (2001). Agriculture and economic development in sub-Saharan Africa and
Asia. Cambridge Journal of Economics, 25(3), 315-342. Retrieved October 20, 2008, from
Business Module database. (Document ID: 73205766).

Blog Assignment for Monday, October 20

Last week we spent time in the library learning how to use databases and find sources for the second essay: The Environmental Debate. For this blog, you need to create TWO correct citations for two of your sources. You need to indicate which citation style you are using (MLA, APA, Chicago Style) and then follow that with the two correct citations. These should be citations as they appear on the Works Cited Page or the Bibliography Page.

Do not create a new post, just use the "comment" link below this post.

Animal lovers

There are many different kinds of animal lovers. There are those who sympathize with animals out of compassion (even if they don’t quite understand them) , those who understand them because they depend on them for sport or livelihood, and those who love them because they feel a strong, powerful connection to the way animals behave and fit in with nature.
In Prodigal Summer, Eddie Bondo is one who understands animals because they gave his family sustenance, growing up on a sheep farm. He is well versed in what it means to own a farm, to have or perhaps hope for that perfect balance, being “on the edge of busted all the time” (180). His relationship with animals is based on need and want; he hunts coyotes because more coyotes mean less sheep. Also, hunting a predator is on some level an assertion of dominance, more of a thrill and adventure then hunting a mere herbivore such as a deer. When Eddie relates to animals, it is not in a selfless way.
Deanna is a different kind of animal lover. She does not blindly love all animals, as many so-called animal lovers do. She doesn’t even love individual animals; she loves individual species as a whole. She prefers to love animals from a distance. She goes as far as to say she would kill a stray cat if it came into the woods and wreak havoc on the natural forest ecosystem. Deanna shares a connection with animals that consumes her. She understands and justices her feelings about Eddie Bondo by relating to the way animals do. She responds to Eddie’s breath behind her earlobe “like a moth to a flame” (97). The entire chapter is called “Predators” symbolic of many things, one being how Eddie stalks and preys upon Deanna, upon her desire. Deanna is not easy prey; she refuses to trust him, warning him that if he shoots her precious coyote pups, she’ll put a bullet in his leg.

Question C: Due Wednesday, October 15

Reader's Choice:

I'm curious to hear your reactions to Prodigal Summer. What passages would you like to talk about? What interests you? What questions would you like to pose? Use this post as a chance to have an input in the direction of class discussions.

Rather than creating a new post, use the "comment" link below.

Question B: Due Wednesday, October 15

On pages 177-180 Deanna and Eddie talk about their own connections to animals, specifically predators. What does it mean for Deanna to be an animal lover? And for Eddie? Which position do you find yourself supporting or agreeing with? For either person, what is the relationship of humans and animals?

Rather than creating a new post, use the "comment" link below this post.