Reflection: Weeks 5-8

Over the past four weeks we have done such a great variety of things in class. From checking out and using new and interesting websites, to watching some very eye-opening films, there hasn't been a dull moment yet!

Some of the films we watched include "Future of Food" and "Tapped." I really enjoyed both of these films because they cover some very controversial topics that hit very close to home for a lot of people whether they know it or not. 


Two of my favorite websites we checked out during the last few weeks include Picnik and the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Base. I had never used Picnik before and absolutely loved it. I definitely have developed a new obsession for editing my photos, and how can you go wrong when it's free! I also really liked the Cosmetic Safety Base. Of course being female, I have a ridiculous amount of cosmetic products. It is really great to know that there is a place I can go to look up just how dangerous some of the products are to my health. 


I can't believe how fast the first half of the semester went! It's exciting that we changed up our groups a little and I am really excited to get to read some new blogs! Can't wait to see what the rest of the semester brings! :)

Eye Opener: Junk on the Brain

Part 1
Antiquing: Can refer to two different things. In the first sense, it means going out and shopping or looking for antiques in a variety of locations. In the second sense, it refers to applying special treatments to furniture to make it appear antique. Given that the two concepts have very different meanings, the intent is usually clear from the context.


Junking: The retrieval of ordinarily discarded things and materials. It is a way of redefining the usage of things... not to mention... a way of cleaning up our polluted earth. There are many types of junking, but the most common are street junking and scrapping, both of which can be done for fun or profit.


Flea Market: A flea market is a large, traditionally open-air market where people sell a wide range or goods, typically used. In some regions, people bring their own possessions to a flea market, setting up a small stall to sell various used goods. In other cases, a merchant may actually b e a dealer of used goods who either frequents flea markets or runs a store and travels to flea markets. The name, incidentally, is a reference to flea-laden used clothes which were sold at flea markets in the 17th century. Some people may also call a flea market a bazaar, connecting flea markets with the larger outdoor markets of the Middle East.


Thrift Shop: A retail establishment operated by a charitable organization for the purpose of fundraising. Also can be known as a charity shop, thrift store, hospice shop, resale shop, or op shop.


Upcycling: Converts waste materials into new materials or products of a higher quality or better "environmental value."


Resale Shop: The selling again of something purchased.

Part 2

The above terms are related to environmental health because they all involve the reuse of old products so new ones don't have to be made and also so the old ones aren't taking up space in a landfill somewhere. One's man junk is another man's treasure :)

Antiques: Antique Boutique

357 Canal Park Drive

Duluth, MN 55802

(218)529-7667

Junking: Sellers Auction

2103 1/2 W. 3rd St.

Duluth, MN 55806

(218)722-3360

Flea Market: Studebaker Drivers Club Swap Meet, Flea Market, and Classic Car Show

Lake Superior College

2101 Trinity Road

Duluth, MN 55811

Thrift Shop: Savers

1740 Mall Drive

Duluth, MN

(218)722-1894

Upcycling: Didin't really find anything related in the Duluth area

Resale: Goodwill

700 Garfield Ave.

Duluth, MN 55802

(218)722-6351

I definitely put stores like these to good use. I love shopping for clothes or other goods at places like Goodwill and Plato's Closet. I also love looking around antique shops for fun mostly but once in awhile I will find something that catches my eye that I can't resist buying.

Part 3

Freeze Frame  

I absolutely LOVE this project! I adore different and creative picture frames because you never have to worry about matching them with anything else and you can never have too many around! This is such a great idea!

Paris Lamp

I really liked this project because of the fact that you could put any design you wanted on the outside shade to match where you wanted to put it.

Sometimes It's Ok To Break A Dish... (Or Two)...

I really liked the page on mosaic projects. It's so easy to find really unique plates to use for projects and also left over random tiles. I especially liked this table :)

Images retrieved from: http://empressofdirt.blogspot.com/2007/08/make-your-own-old-tool-art.html

Read 'n' Seed 5: Fourth Quarter of "Global Change: Impacts on Water and Food Security"

For the fourth and final quarter of my book, I read pages 196-248.

Eye Opener: Environmental Working Group

For this eye opener, we were asked to pick and analyze an everyday cosmetic product that we use. In order to analyze our product, we used the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database. Using this website, you can search for different brands or products of cosmetics that you use, and it gives you a rating from 1-10 depending on how dangerous it is to your health according to the ingredients used. 


I chose to examine Garnier Fructis Style Sleek & Shine Anti-Humidity Hairspray. I chose this product because it is the one I use the most. I was really concerned at first when I saw that it was a  high hazard with a score of 7 out of 10. After looking at the ingredients, only the fragrance was in the high hazard zone with concerns of neurotoxicity, allergies, and immunotoxicity while and the rest of the ingredients were about half in the moderate hazard and half in the low hazard.


I have never had any problems using this product, and have been using it for a long time. I know this is a bad thing to say but even though it is considered a high hazard product, I probably won't stop using it.

New Blog Header

Here is the new header I created for my blog. I created this new header using Picnik which is an awesome website that allows you to edit photos for free! I had never used Picnik before and was surprised at how easy it was. Now that I know how, I'll definitely be using it more to edit some more photos of mine!

Read 'n' Seed 4: Third Quarter of "Global Change: Impacts on Water and Food Security"

For the third quarter of my book I read from pages 130-195.


The main focus on this section of the book includes:

• Impacts on the globalization and commercialization of fisheries
• Potential impacts on globalization on water financing
• Financing water for the poor

The authors finish up with their concerns about globalization of fisheries and point out that with globalization comes a negative impact on food security because it gets harder and harder to track and regulate.   

A new section is started looking at water financing. In the next couple of years, the largest increase in funds required will be for the treatment of wastewater from both households and industry which currently is under-provided.