'Field Notes' Chapters 5+6

The beginning of chapter 5 was definately a surprise. I felt like I was reading a history text as opposed to a book that is suppose to inform me about global warming and the effect it has on the earth presently. I understood the idea that Kolbert had in her mind about the comparison between climate change hundreds of years ago to today, but I think it would have been more effective if she did not go so in depth with describing basically the whole life on this King. It seemed so irrelevant to inform the audience that as a baby he was discovered and compared him to Moses.

I enjoyed the illustrations that Kolbert used because with topics like this I believe it is more effective to give readers something to look at instead of words all the time. Something that I have noted about Kolbert's writing style is that some of the words she uses to describe things seem childish and are not effective as she would like it to be.

What I like about chapter 6 is that Kolbert talks about the ads in Netherlands to enforce her point and it is effective because the description is short and straight to the point which was lacking in the previous chapter. I also liked the length of chapter 6 because sometimes long chapters, on oftentimes boring topics, can hinder a reader's interpretationa and intake of the material.

'Field Notes' Chapter 4

As I read on through the chapters in the book I am noticing that Kolbert is becoming more direct in presenting her information, and she is seemingly loosing the flair that attracted readers in the beginning of the book.

I actually thought the information that she presented to be pertinent to the subject of global warming, but the way in which she presented it was for lack of a better word boring. She tried to personalize it with her cute, little descriptions of the people she spoke with but after the first couple of chapters that trait had completely lost its initial effect.

Another thing that bothered me with the writing was that some of the sentences were too long. This had me confused as to what Kolbert was trying to say, and I found myself having to go back up the page to read again on more that one occasion.

What I did like about this chapter was that she focused on a few examples but really delved into explaining what was taking place with these creatures. I think this was very effective, and it allowed me to really see the extent to which global warming is having an effect.

Evidence to support Global Warming in chapter 2+3 of 'Field Notes'

The evidence that is put forth in 'Field Notes' to support global warming is extensive and strong as it is the role of the author to provide information that will showcase the 'truth' behind the theory. In chapter 2 when the author discusses the Irish physicist John Tyndall and his usage of a radio spectrophotometer which allowed him 'to compare the way different gases absorb and transmit radiation.' These tests with varying gases resulted in modern term of 'natural greenhouse effect.'

The author then when into the description of the effect that these greenhouse gases can have on the earth and its atmosphere. I liked the authors flow into how the research of Tyndall created an opening for the Swedish chemist Svante Arrhenius. It allowed the reader to also see how science is something that develops over time and that one of its key characteristics is change.

Arrhenius brought about the notion that industrialization and climate change go hand in hand. Chapter 3 focuses more on the issues of recognizing global warming.

One of the doubts that I still have about this issue is whether the effects are not simply a gradual change that is occuring naturally?

The writing style has definately improved from the opening chapter. The author gets more thorough with her description and provides all the possible information that she can while still remaining to have her own flair.

Field Notes

The first observation that got my attention was the fact that the book began in a very unorthodox manner more so as it is dealing with the supposedly serious issue of global warming. The beginning seems to characterize a book that can be classified as a fiction novel. I guess this can be a clever tactic in drawing in readers on a topic that they might not normally be interested in.

Personally I know a lot of people might like the fact that the writing style is so simple and easy to understand, but I would have preferred a more informative and thorough explanation of different terms and 'lingo' used for global warming. I think when you are trying to educate an audience you need to write a little more formal if you want the knowledge to stick in their minds.

The tone of the first few pages was so easy to pick up and this turned me off because I think it should be neutral unless she simply wants the audience to get the story as she sees it.

The pictures were a good addition because it can often explain things that words can't.

Why do people crave certain foods?

Q&A: Why do people crave certain foods?

I NEED CHOCOLATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Everyone has those special foods that they love to eat in abundance and those feelings of 'I am going to die if I dont eat it right now' always seem to happen when you are not in the position to get any sought of food. Go figure. But why do we get these sudden urges and why are they always so strong?

According to 'Psychology Today', "Up to 97 percent of Americans get seized by strong and specific urges to indulge."

The causes of cravings have ranged from the effects of hormones in the body to stress to emotional instability. Pregnant women showcase a unique variety of cravings and this has been linked to the hormone fluctuations that are taking place in their body during their pregnancy as well to ensure that the fetus is being properly fed. Stress, lack of sleep and other activities that affect the wellness of the body can also cause cravings for certain foods that are not always good for the body. These may be our comfort foods, which are foods that make us feel full and happy and therefore we crave for them often. Serotonin is the feel-good hormone in the body and many simple sugars and carbohydrates release a small amount of serotonin which will allow us to feel good for a small period of time and then we regress to our former stressed disposition and the cravings will continue.

Simpler things like seeing food in commercials can also trigger cravings. Food cravings usually last 4-12 minutes. A way to break these cravings is to realize that after a few minutes they will no longer be there and giving in to them as you feel them is not always the best decision for your body.

That being said I think allowing your body to have what it wants is sometimes a good thing especially when it wants a slice of pizza.

Why does water expand when it freezes?

A: When most liquids are cooled in a stable environment the same affects takes place on all of them: They shrink. This is not the case for the greatest biological solvent: water. When water is cooled is shrinks until a temperarture of 4 Degrees Celcius is reached then it begins to expand until it reaches the freezing point when it continues to expand more. This strange occurrence has to do with the fact that the structure of the water molecule is very unique.

Water is formed when a hydrogen atom bonds with two oxygen atoms. This bond gets stronger as the temperature decreases. The solid form of water which is ice is completely hydrogen bonded.

'Stephen Hawking Is Making His Comeback'

This article journeyed through the life and career of Stephen Hawking and it thoroughly showcased the amazing accomplishments that he gained even while suffering from a crippling disease. The different headings within the article captivated me because I saw it as different time periods in Hawkings's own life and that forced me to read on because they were so unique and informative. The type of science that Hawking's focuses on does not really intrigue me but the way the article interfused his illness with his career was impressive.

Lede: The lede did not impress me at all. I found it to be boring and much too long. It would have been better if the author condensed some facts that would have created a better flow into the second paragraph. It was the second paragrapgh and third that got me into the story. I would give this lede 14 out of 20.

Content: This article was crammed with information and what astonished me was that everything seemed relevant to the story. 20 out of 20.

Organization: Like I stated above I love the different headings in the article. It just made it easier to understand when reading and gave it a better structure. 20 out 0f 20.

Quality of Writing: This confused me somewhat because it seemed that the style changed throughout the aricle. At some points in the story I was fully engrossed in what was being stated and then at other points I was drifting off while still reading. 17 out of 20

Clarity of Expression: I understood mostly everthing that was written and this shocked me because I don't consider myself that well informed about science terminology and culture. A few things did perplex me but I was still able to formulate some idea of what was being said. 17 out of 20.