Thursday, February 26, 2009
Second Life
I didn't like second life because we already have several ways to communicate with one another and just like twitter I hate the fact that other people can tap in and follow you. After hearing some of the comments of others it makes me feel better that their are others who feel the same way I do about all these sites. To sum it up in a nut shell it just isn't safe!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Go Green!!!
Drink More Tap!
Glenda and Yohance believe that getting students and staff at the USM Gulf Coasts campuses to drink more tap water would prove to be a worthwhile Go Green cause. Efforts to get consumers to drink more of their local tap is growing around the country, and this is reflected in campaigns such as Tap into the City (2009), which is hosted out of New York City and the national Think Outside the Bottle (2009) campaign which challenges corporate dishonesty in promoting the benefits of drinking bottled water, while stimulating support and less apprehension towards the public water infrastructure. Think Outside the Bottle offers a student guide on its website that describes various actions that students at campuses nationwide are taking to reduce public dependence on bottled water, such as increasing awareness, setting up taste tests challenges and decorating campus water fountains.
Tap Anxiety
Concerns around tap water are understandable; very few of us pause to think about what we may be drinking, when just needing to satisfy a quick thirst, and especially when we’re home where there are apparent safety nets around us. Yet several contaminants like lead, chlorine, arsenic and the bacterium E. coli can be found streaming directly from our faucets. Often people become unaware of these contaminants until health scares are exposed through media outlets. For this reason many have chosen to drink bottled water as a safe and viable alternative. Bottled water is yet somewhat inexpensive, costing no more than the average soda, and considerably less when purchased in bulk. But before forming a permanent reliance on bottled water, consumers are urged to find out what’s exactly in their local tap water, for water conditions vary regionally. This can be accomplished by obtaining the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), which is a report generated by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This report shows the condition of all water systems in a local region and is available to customers yearly. Individuals can also conduct personal test for less than $20 in some cases, which provides quick and accurate results for a lot of contaminants as well as the total hardness of the water (Consumer Reports, 2007).
Bottled Water Waste
There is growing alarm around plastic elimination from products such as bottled water, for because of their slow decomposition, plastic water bottles aren't in the best interest of the environment. There is no denying that recycling programs are a more commonplace, yet according to the EPA more than 75 percent of water bottles still clog up our landfills. Another issue with bottled water has been the limited regulation in place, whereas the EPA strictly regulates tap water. In essence if bottle water is not filtered properly it can contain some of the same contaminants common to tap water (Collins, 2008). Because of improved filtrations processes and lessening costs, along with governmental oversight, consumers and industries should employ tap water filtration systems to improve upon the longevity of our national resources.
Local Tap Support
The primary purpose for supporting tap is to ensure that the water supply is properly filtered. This is accomplished through regulation, but can be supplemented by attaching additional filters to the water units. Tap water filtration requires minimum effort and proves to be less costly in the long run while ensuring the customer is getting clean and healthy drinking water. According to a 2007 WebMD article, common filter types include faucet mounted units which can range in price from $20 to $60, counter-top units, ($50 to $300), undersink units ($55 to $350), and reverse-osmosis filters ($160 to $450). Filter features to consider along with costs, is their susceptibility to clogging, the amount of water filtered, plumbing modifications, replacement requirements and maintenance, and the amount of water waste generated. Several under sink and reverse-osmosis models use simple screw-on plumbing connections instead of saddle valves, which require drilling into the cold water supply line, and can leak. Some filters feature electronic emitting signals that conveniently remind the user of the replacement time. A faucet-mounted model, such as the Brita Disposable, avoids filter replacement maintenance because the entire unit can be discarded each year. Some filters possess an activated carbon filter with certifications that guarantee the device would eliminate most water contaminants (Consumer Reports, 2007). Tap water filtration supports resource conservation by lessening the amount of bottled water waste added to the environment.
The water fountain system in the hall of the Jackson County campus did have an Aqua Pure under sink filter attached. This added confidence in the quality of the drinking water. Yet, to persuade others to drink tap more, or refill water bottles using tap, the fountain attachments and bowls of the fountain should be cleaned consistently, for an unsightly appearance deters usage. Replacing spouts regularly would be a worthy maintenance task causing individuals to drink from the fountains more. Also as shown from other student efforts, the fountains would probably attract more visits if posters and banners could be attached to nearby walls for visual support. Students can be directed to the fountain systems using campus email distribution when time for promotions is limited.
Another effort at promoting tap would be to encourage students and staff to purchase refillable bottles that could be customized with the college logo. It not only serves as a unique memento from the college experience, but also connects the participant with an ongoing notable cause. If not a campus bottle, individuals can easily purchase their own bottles for sometimes less than a buck at local dollar stores. For those who are even more cautious, there are water bottles that come with their own filters such as the Purity Sports Bottle (Aquasanah2o.com, 2009). These bottles are pricier and the filters can be replaced without tossing the bottle.
And for those diehards who would rather drink water from any other source than the tap, our final proposal is to install water dispensers on opposite sides of the campus halls or buildings. By doing so students, faculty, and staff can rest assured they’re getting crisp, clean and refreshing water. The cost for each dispenser and a five gallon bottle of water is relatively inexpensive. Kentwood dispensers cost roughly around $9.75 and a five gallon bottle of water is $7.49. Water is delivered every two weeks upon settling a monthly invoice, and the service is available at sites such as www.water.com (2009).
Conclusion
An important aspect of persuading more people to drink from the tap is getting the word out about the importance of conserving natural resources. Education is the key, and there is no better place to promote this awareness than from a prominent educational institution such as the University of Southern MS, which is a pivotal part of the Gulf Coast community.
References:
1. Aquasanah2o.com (2009) Retrieved February 17, 2009 from
http://www.aquasanah2o.com/Water-Filters/Purity-Sport-Bottle-Filter-PSB3.html.
2. Collins, C. (March 6, 2008) Go Green: Bottled Water. Retrieved February 11, 2009 from
http://arkansasmatters.com/content/green_is_universal_Fulltext/?cid=66534.
3. Consumerreports.org (May, 2007) Water filters: simple, effective options. Retrieved on February
11, 2009 from http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/home-garden/kitchen/water-filters/water-filters-5-07/overview/0507_filter_ov.htm?resultPageIndex=1&resultIndex=1&searchTerm=water-filters-5-07.
4. Tapintothecity.com (2009) Retrieved on February 17, 2009 from
http://www.tapintothecity.com/tapintothecity/Home.html.
5. Think Outside the Bottle (2009) Retrieved on February 17, 2009 from
http://thinkoutsidethebottle.org.
6. Water.com (2009) Retrieved February 17, 2009 from www.water.com.
7. Webmd.com (2007) Many tap water filters work well. Retrieved February 11, 2009
from http://www.webmd.com/news/20070409/many-tap-water-filters-work-well?page=2.
Glenda and Yohance believe that getting students and staff at the USM Gulf Coasts campuses to drink more tap water would prove to be a worthwhile Go Green cause. Efforts to get consumers to drink more of their local tap is growing around the country, and this is reflected in campaigns such as Tap into the City (2009), which is hosted out of New York City and the national Think Outside the Bottle (2009) campaign which challenges corporate dishonesty in promoting the benefits of drinking bottled water, while stimulating support and less apprehension towards the public water infrastructure. Think Outside the Bottle offers a student guide on its website that describes various actions that students at campuses nationwide are taking to reduce public dependence on bottled water, such as increasing awareness, setting up taste tests challenges and decorating campus water fountains.
Tap Anxiety
Concerns around tap water are understandable; very few of us pause to think about what we may be drinking, when just needing to satisfy a quick thirst, and especially when we’re home where there are apparent safety nets around us. Yet several contaminants like lead, chlorine, arsenic and the bacterium E. coli can be found streaming directly from our faucets. Often people become unaware of these contaminants until health scares are exposed through media outlets. For this reason many have chosen to drink bottled water as a safe and viable alternative. Bottled water is yet somewhat inexpensive, costing no more than the average soda, and considerably less when purchased in bulk. But before forming a permanent reliance on bottled water, consumers are urged to find out what’s exactly in their local tap water, for water conditions vary regionally. This can be accomplished by obtaining the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), which is a report generated by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This report shows the condition of all water systems in a local region and is available to customers yearly. Individuals can also conduct personal test for less than $20 in some cases, which provides quick and accurate results for a lot of contaminants as well as the total hardness of the water (Consumer Reports, 2007).
Bottled Water Waste
There is growing alarm around plastic elimination from products such as bottled water, for because of their slow decomposition, plastic water bottles aren't in the best interest of the environment. There is no denying that recycling programs are a more commonplace, yet according to the EPA more than 75 percent of water bottles still clog up our landfills. Another issue with bottled water has been the limited regulation in place, whereas the EPA strictly regulates tap water. In essence if bottle water is not filtered properly it can contain some of the same contaminants common to tap water (Collins, 2008). Because of improved filtrations processes and lessening costs, along with governmental oversight, consumers and industries should employ tap water filtration systems to improve upon the longevity of our national resources.
Local Tap Support
The primary purpose for supporting tap is to ensure that the water supply is properly filtered. This is accomplished through regulation, but can be supplemented by attaching additional filters to the water units. Tap water filtration requires minimum effort and proves to be less costly in the long run while ensuring the customer is getting clean and healthy drinking water. According to a 2007 WebMD article, common filter types include faucet mounted units which can range in price from $20 to $60, counter-top units, ($50 to $300), undersink units ($55 to $350), and reverse-osmosis filters ($160 to $450). Filter features to consider along with costs, is their susceptibility to clogging, the amount of water filtered, plumbing modifications, replacement requirements and maintenance, and the amount of water waste generated. Several under sink and reverse-osmosis models use simple screw-on plumbing connections instead of saddle valves, which require drilling into the cold water supply line, and can leak. Some filters feature electronic emitting signals that conveniently remind the user of the replacement time. A faucet-mounted model, such as the Brita Disposable, avoids filter replacement maintenance because the entire unit can be discarded each year. Some filters possess an activated carbon filter with certifications that guarantee the device would eliminate most water contaminants (Consumer Reports, 2007). Tap water filtration supports resource conservation by lessening the amount of bottled water waste added to the environment.
The water fountain system in the hall of the Jackson County campus did have an Aqua Pure under sink filter attached. This added confidence in the quality of the drinking water. Yet, to persuade others to drink tap more, or refill water bottles using tap, the fountain attachments and bowls of the fountain should be cleaned consistently, for an unsightly appearance deters usage. Replacing spouts regularly would be a worthy maintenance task causing individuals to drink from the fountains more. Also as shown from other student efforts, the fountains would probably attract more visits if posters and banners could be attached to nearby walls for visual support. Students can be directed to the fountain systems using campus email distribution when time for promotions is limited.
Another effort at promoting tap would be to encourage students and staff to purchase refillable bottles that could be customized with the college logo. It not only serves as a unique memento from the college experience, but also connects the participant with an ongoing notable cause. If not a campus bottle, individuals can easily purchase their own bottles for sometimes less than a buck at local dollar stores. For those who are even more cautious, there are water bottles that come with their own filters such as the Purity Sports Bottle (Aquasanah2o.com, 2009). These bottles are pricier and the filters can be replaced without tossing the bottle.
And for those diehards who would rather drink water from any other source than the tap, our final proposal is to install water dispensers on opposite sides of the campus halls or buildings. By doing so students, faculty, and staff can rest assured they’re getting crisp, clean and refreshing water. The cost for each dispenser and a five gallon bottle of water is relatively inexpensive. Kentwood dispensers cost roughly around $9.75 and a five gallon bottle of water is $7.49. Water is delivered every two weeks upon settling a monthly invoice, and the service is available at sites such as www.water.com (2009).
Conclusion
An important aspect of persuading more people to drink from the tap is getting the word out about the importance of conserving natural resources. Education is the key, and there is no better place to promote this awareness than from a prominent educational institution such as the University of Southern MS, which is a pivotal part of the Gulf Coast community.
References:
1. Aquasanah2o.com (2009) Retrieved February 17, 2009 from
http://www.aquasanah2o.com/Water-Filters/Purity-Sport-Bottle-Filter-PSB3.html.
2. Collins, C. (March 6, 2008) Go Green: Bottled Water. Retrieved February 11, 2009 from
http://arkansasmatters.com/content/green_is_universal_Fulltext/?cid=66534.
3. Consumerreports.org (May, 2007) Water filters: simple, effective options. Retrieved on February
11, 2009 from http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/home-garden/kitchen/water-filters/water-filters-5-07/overview/0507_filter_ov.htm?resultPageIndex=1&resultIndex=1&searchTerm=water-filters-5-07.
4. Tapintothecity.com (2009) Retrieved on February 17, 2009 from
http://www.tapintothecity.com/tapintothecity/Home.html.
5. Think Outside the Bottle (2009) Retrieved on February 17, 2009 from
http://thinkoutsidethebottle.org.
6. Water.com (2009) Retrieved February 17, 2009 from www.water.com.
7. Webmd.com (2007) Many tap water filters work well. Retrieved February 11, 2009
from http://www.webmd.com/news/20070409/many-tap-water-filters-work-well?page=2.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Thoughts on I Phone
It was good to see how excited the students were to get the phones and I personally think it was a good idea for the school to offer them. The problem I have is that as good as it may sound it is technology and it will fail. By having the phone the students were able to obtain alot of information right at their fingertips. Also the question arises who is paying for these services and what happens if the phone decides not to work causing the students to miss something of inportance. I also feel that they were relying on it entirely too much.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Feelings About Twitter/Article on Using Technology in the Classroom
The class assignment last week was interesting because it allowed me to follow my classsmates and the president, but the fact that I'm not one of those who take time to sit at the computer and chat and who don't like the fact that my picture is posted on the internet allowing others to view it nor do I like others following me and I don't know who they are. The word "twitter" itself sounds pretty juvenile as well. Eventhough I'm not technologically inclined, I certainly believe it is and should continue to be used in the classroom especially in the lower grades as stated by Susan Brooks the author of "What Five-Year-Olds Can Do With Computers".
brooks, susan (1-19-2005). What five year olds can do with computers. Retrieved 02-01-09, from http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech209.shtml
brooks, susan (1-19-2005). What five year olds can do with computers. Retrieved 02-01-09, from http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech209.shtml
Chapter 3
Technology has become an everyday function not only in offices and homes but also in the classrooms, so therefore I will definitely be using it in my classroom. Programs such as Word Processing would be a great way to teach students how to type essays and also how to use grammer and spell check to revise their final work. Electronic spreadsheet would be a good way to manipulate math and science information, and concept mapping will allow the student to have visual learning tools to help them better organize their thoughts in order to produce better papers.
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