Issue 4

The Knothole FREE

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February, 2015

Volume 70, Issue 1

Isabella’s Trip: Part Two

By Isabella Kaplan

After a quick break at a cafe, we began our “Paris by mouth” food tour. We walked around a cute little neighborhood, stopping at different shops to pick up cheese, pork, pastries and chocolates. While eating I learned that cheese making is an intricate and diverse science, and to become to a cheese monger it takes around 20 years to attain.

After a delicious meal Yael and I ventured to do some more touristy things. Wandering through the labyrinth of the subway, we were able to see the Arc of de Triomphe and the magniicent Eiffel Tower!

At ten thirty, with sore feet but happy stomachs we returned to our rooms!

Day 4 I used more French today than I ever thought I would.

At 9 am this morning, Yael abruptly woke me up, apologetically explaining that there was a man at the door. Being the only French speaker of the two of us, I slowly got out of bed and answered the door. Through my broken French and a lot of hand gestures, I igured out he was the apartment’s electrician, who checked the electric box and left.

Later that morning, Yael and I left our snug temporary home and embarked on the next leg of Day 5 our journey.

This morning, although Our irst stop in Paris no one was knocking at our was none other than the door, we were out on the Louvre. On the way there streets at 8:30 sharp. For we stopped at a bakery. today was the day we left After ordering in French the romantic city of Paris the girl at the register apfor Versailles. plauded me (in English) for After a breakfast of my attempt. On the walk to freshly baked chocolate the Louvre we saw beautiful croissants (ordered in Parisian apartments, hunFrench) and an hour of riddreds of little dogs, bikes, ing on a super-cool-doubleand more cigarettes then decker-subway, we inally I had ever seen in my life. reached the home of the Through the nicotine-satugreat Sun King. Only arrivrated-air we inally arrived ing a half an hour after the at the destination. Yael had gates opened for the day, previously bought a multithere was already a long museum pass, which saved Image Credit: Isabella Kaplan line bending and twisting in us an hour, for it let us pass front of the Palace entrance. The Multi pass covthe line. After a few selies, we went inside. ered Versailles, but unfortunately did not allowed The museum was huge. us to cut in front of the crowd. As we waited in line Even with the sea of people pouring into the I stood in aw awe of the ornate palace that stood in Louvre, the large museum dispersed her visitors front of me I wondered how similar wandering the so that there were no crowds- unless of course, you halls would be to Louvre. were at the Mona Lisa. But there were many other It was very different. great things to see along with Di Vinci’s famous Unlike the Louvre, the line moved quickly. Howpainting. We saw Hammurabi’s code, Napoleon ever, also unlike the Louvre every room was packed the III(‘s) ornate rooms {or the ornate rooms of tightly with people from all over of the world, Napoleon the III}, roman and Egyptian artifacts as talking excitingly, snapping photos, and pushing well as 17 hundreds (18th century would be better) and shoving. We had no need to plan a route for we European paintings. were swept by the tide of visitors. This force carried Using my French and Yael’s map we were able us past intricate desks, beautiful chairs, the elegant to navigate throughout the colossal museum.

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halls and the extravagant bedroom of the king.

Both being short, we were able to move to the front of the crowd for a few moments, but every time we were pulled back into the fast lowing crowd.

Eventually we found ourselves in the courtyard and walked to the garden. The gardens were insanely trimmed and organized beyond perfection, but lacked the beauty of its fountains and statuesthey were all covered up for the winter months. But nevertheless, it was wonderful to stroll through the maze of green hedges as Marie Antoinette might have done before the Revolution. After continuously being in cities, trains stations, and airports for so long, it was wonderful to breathe in the sweet fresh air, not embedded with the smells of nicotine, gasoline, and other pollutants.

Returning to Paris, we stopped at a cafe to regain our energy. Excitedly I ordered a croque madame (a grilled cheese with an egg on top), for every year in French class the teacher would talk about this strange sandwich.

It tasted like an egg-amufin, nothing crazy, but it is another thing crossed of my bucket list. We left the cafe and walked over to the museum D’Orsay.

I’ve never seen anything so wonderful in my Image Credit: Isabella Kaplan life.

Many years ago this building was an elegant and important train station of Paris. I cannot express my joy and excitement when I walked into this special place. Looking at the layout of the museum I recognized the many traits of the old-1940’s-train stations I saw in the movies. Massive clocks embedded the walls, huge but delicately carved ceilings looked over the space where coal powered trains once waited patiently for the hustling and rushing passengers. That same area now holds statues instead of trains and visitors instead of passengers.

Wandering these transformed halls I saw some

of the most amazing art I have ever seen. There in front of me were Monet’s Lillie’s, Van Goghs’ selfportrait, Seurat landscapes, and Degas’s ballerinas.

The museum carried so many wonderful painting that I recognized from books and magazines and others I did not, but were equally as impressive.

After seeing this treasure, I must have looked very conident for on our way to the Christmas market and a church, I was asked for directions multiple times. Visiting churches are never my favorite thing for I don’t adore the gothic curves and columns of old cathedrals as Yael does, but there is something special about European churches. Inside these holy buildings are massive and beautiful, but rarely seen pieces of art.

As Yael marveled at the architecture, I observed the church’s little gallery.

Exhausted from our long day we went out for dinner at a Thai restaurant and returned to our room. However, being our parents’ daughters, we were back out 45 minuets minutes later.

Again, thanks to Yael’s wonderful navigation skills, we ran train to train, until we came to the last stop- Moulin Rouge. To our disappointment there was not much there and we took a quick picture and left. Our last destination was the Sacre Coeur, the tallest point in Paris. The view with the city lights sparkling and the Eiffel tower and Notre Dame shining brightly was breath taking. After just staring at the city we visited the Sacre Coeur (church). Unlike the churches I’ve seen in Europe, which had dark brown interior with poorly lit paintings, Sacre Coeur was bright and full of light. On nearly every dome (it had many) were brightly colored mosaics. What a day!

Student Life & The Environment • THE KNOTHOLE • 3

Environmental News Katie Oran A Train Carrying Crude Oil Derails in West Virginia

Image Credit: npr.org

A train carrying more than three million gallons of crude oil from North Dakota derailed in West Virginia following a year that saw 114 of these types of incidents. One resident was treated for smoke inhalation after their house burned down, but there were no other injuries. Hundreds of other houses were evacuated as a precaution after electric and water services were compromised.

The Governor of West Virginia has declared a state of emergency, and there are fears that the oil could contaminate a river that provides drinking water.

Fire crews were forced to let the 19 cars, each carrying 30,000 gallons of oil, burn out after the cars caught ire. This crash happened after another recent deadly train derailment in Quebec, Canada that killed 47 people in 2013, and a crash two days before in which 29 cars derailed in Ontario, Canada.

President Obama has announced regulations for stricter safety requirements for trains carrying crude oil. Industry professionals say that the upgrades would cost billions of dollars to implement and would not have prevented the West Virginia derailment from happening.

Mega Drought Predicted by the End of the Century A new NASA study says that if greenhouse emissions are continually produced at the same rate as they are currently, the southwestern and central plains regions of the United States are in for a mega drought before the century is over. A drought of this magnitude hasn’t been seen in the last thousand years, and the current droughts in these regions wont even come close to the severity

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of a mega drought.

NASA is predicting that lakes, rivers, and reservoirs would empty leaving cities stranded without water. These droughts would last decades forcing those who live in the drought zones to lee east or heavily restrict water usage. If we do not curb greenhouse emissions, there is an eighty percent chance of this type of drought coming to southwest America.

The dustbowl of the 1930s would not compare to the environmental, societal, and cultural devastation that a mega drought would cause in the affected areas. In the past, similar droughts have caused the collapse of civilizations, and it is believed that a mega drought caused the collapse of Ancestral Pueblo culture.

Tree rings give scientists clues about past droughts in the medieval period that turned grasslands into deserts. Those droughts, however, were natural. The droughts that we are experiencing now are linked to the increased level of greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere, and predictions for these mega droughts come as we continue to burn fossil fuels at an alarming rate.

President Obama Vetoes Keystone XL Pipeline On Tuesday, Feb. 24, President Obama vetoed a plan to build the Keystone XL Pipeline. The pipeline, which would transport 830,000 barrels of oil a day through the US to the gulf on Mexico through 1,900 kilometers of pipeline for reining and shipping, has been a highly contentious issue for the past few years. TransCanada, the company that proposed the eight billion dollar pipeline, applied for permits in 2008.

The debate about the pipeline stems from the increased carbon dioxide emissions that would be produced just by extracting it from the tar sands in Canada. Proponents claim that the pipeline will create American jobs, but studies have shown that a total of just 35 permanent jobs would be created if the pipeline were to be built.

Republicans in Congress have vowed to override the veto by March 3rd, but the GOP needs Ocean Acidiication Threat to the United States The one-billion dollar shellish industry, in 15 out of 23 coastal states around the U. S., is under severe threat from ocean acidiication. The

study shows that oysters, clams, and scallops are particularly sensitive to ocean acidiication. The National Science Foundation’s National SocioEnvironmental Synthesis Center funded the irst nationwide risk assessment of the issue, which was recently published in the journal Nature Climate Change.

Regions in the Paciic Northwest, New England, Mid-Atlantic, and the Gulf of Mexico are identiied as at risk. Ocean acidiication in the Paciic Northwest has already cost the area 100 million dollars. Marine ecologists identiied increased greenhouse gasses as the culprit for the rising acidity of the oceans.

The oceans typically absorb about thirty

percent of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, causing the ocean acidity to rise. Nutrient pollution also contributes to the lowering pH levels.

The acidiication of the ocean won’t only harm the marine life in these regions but also the people who depend on the shellish as a living. The study shows that communities that are the most at risk are the least prepared to respond to the crisis.

Southern Massachusetts is the most vulnerable as mentioned in the study. The region includes the county of Cape Cod and the islands to the south. These communities are so vulnerable because they depend on only one source of mollusk.

They cannot easily switch their economies if their only source of potential is gone.

How I Really Got to Buena Vista, Honduras ESF-EWB, the village of Buena Vista, and the US domestic non-governmental organization (NGO)

By Taylor Brown Alfalit. ESF-EWB designed a gravity-fed water system and implemented this system with the help Those moments in life when you all of a sudden ind yourself asking, “How the hell did I get of our partners. Members of ESF-EWB went to Honduras in the spring of 2008, here?” are the moments that the spring of 2011 and during can give you the most perspecthe summer of 2011. This project tive. I had one of these mofaced many challenges, which ments when I was high up in is why it has taken so long to the mountains in the village of complete. Honduras faced a coup Buena Vista, Honduras, digging d’etat in 2009, which caused the a trench while ire ants crawled project to lose funding and the up my leg and the sun was club to be barred from travelblistering the back of my neck. ing to the country by EWB-USA. I could give a simple, logistiHonduras has been suffering from cal answer: that I spent seven criminal and political instabilhours on two planes, six hours ity—the country currently has the in a truck, and an hour hiking. world’s highest murder rate.

But to really understand how The reason I was traveling to I got there, we need to journey Honduras in August 2014 was to back seven years. inally inish what was started Seven years ago, in seven years ago. During my trip, 2007, the ESF Engineers Withwe inished the water supply into out Borders Club (ESF-EWB) Image Credit: Taylor Brown Los Vegas (a hamlet of Buena started a project to bring potable Vista), evaluated needed repairs, water to the village of Buena Vista. The village is and signed a Memorandum of Understanding home to 45 families and most people are subsis(MOU) with the Buena Vista water board, which tence farmers that live off the land. Before this outlined the necessary steps to complete the projproject, their water supply came from a system of ect. As of October 2014, the project is complete and weak rubber hoses that were prone to puncture, ESF-EWB is now iling a close-out assessment. leaks, and contamination, causing water-borne illSo how I really got to Buena Vista was by the hard nesses. It was not a reliable system; the hoses only work and dedication of all who have been involved brought water during the rainy season and only to select homes in the community. The need for a reli- in this project, and my determination to see their work through. able water supply system was indisputable.

From this need, a partnership began with Student Life & The Environment • THE KNOTHOLE • 5

Project Learning Tree: A “hands-on” approach to learning

By Morgan Smith Have you ever found yourself doodling or daydreaming in a class or meeting? Ever thought, “I don’t think I can listen to this person talk for another minute.” Now imagine the opposite. Think of a time when you were so interested in a topic or excited about an activity that you did not want it to end.

Many environmental education organizations replace dry lectures with entertaining, “hands-on” activities. An example of one such organization is Project Learning Tree.

Project Learning Tree is an American Forest Foundation program that provides educators with ideas for lessons about the natural world that are suitable for many audiences.

Most of the lessons use hands on activities that include multiple learning styles.

In order to reach these goals, Project Learning Tree holds many workshops designed for teachers.

and Forestry (SUNY ESF) began a two year study that looked into the value of the New York State Project Learning Tree workshops. Sara is an expert in environmental education with a Master’s degree in Environmental Interpretation from SUNY ESF.

How did she do it?

Sara began her study by surveying some of the people in charge of New York State’s Project Learning Tree workshops. The surveys included questions about types of workshops, limitations of workshops, workshop attendance, and what resources may make the workshops more successful.

Educators that had gone to a Project Learning Tree Workshop were also sent an online survey.

The survey asked about when the workshop had taken place, what type of workshop it was, and how each person has used the Project Learning Tree activities in their own lessons since the workshop.

Sara then met with some of the people who had responded to her survey for one-onWhat do you do one interviews. at a workshop? Sara administers a Project Learning Tree activity called “Tree Cookies” in In the interviews, Workwhich participants learn about tree growth through tree rings. (Image credit: she was able to Sara Velardi) shops come in dive deeper into many shapes and the details of their sizes. Types of workshops include Early Childhood, experiences at the workshops. Sara was also able to ask PreK-8, and Secondary Modules, which are designed about how they had used their new knowledge in their for high school and college level students. They range own lessons. in length from two hours, to full weekends, to semesterlong workshops in some cases.

What did she ind?

The main goal of the workshops is for instructors to It turns out that most of the educators do use learn how to use Project Learning Tree materials and the Project Learning Tree activities in their lessons at activities in their own lessons. At the end of the workleast a few times a year. Teachers that went to a workshop, those who attended receive curriculum guides for shop for high school and college level audiences were the age level of that workshop. two to three times more likely to use the Project Learning Tree programs monthly to weekly.

Do the workshops work?

What did the educators like about the workGreat question! In 2012, Sara Velardi, a PhD shops? candidate of SUNY College of Environmental Science Instructors enjoyed the “hands-on” portions of

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the workshops most. They also enjoyed the workshops that took less time, had a clear theme, and focused on a more speciic audience.

Sara did ask workshop members if they would have rather been a part of an online workshop to save them more time. She found that most people preferred the inperson workshops because of the hands-on aspect.

What does this all mean?

In terms of Sara’s irst question that asked about the value of the workshops, the study suggests that Project Learning Tree workshops are a useful tool for teachers.

Sara hoped to learn more about how much of what was

taught at each workshop was used after the fact. Her results suggest that people who attended the Secondary Module workshops used what was taught there more than the other workshops.

This could be due to the fact that they were focused on a more speciic audience, were shorter than most other workshops, and because they tended to have a speciic theme.

It seems that Project Learning Tree is a useful tool for all educators that touch on the natural world even rarely. It is a great way to get ideas for lessons that actively involve the audience and inspire exploration of environmental subjects.

History of the Knothole Isabella Kaplan For those who may not know, this edition is very special. It is the irst edition of The Knothole that, to quote our mission statement, “is eclectic mix of art and articles which spark discussion, inspire creativity, and increase awareness”! To celebrate this renaissance of the Knothole I’m starting a “History of The Knothole and ESF” column for the publication. Here, I will examine the old editions and share how the stumpies of ESF have changed over the years: their concerns, interests and passions! I hope you enjoy learning about our history as I do!

Digging through the illing cabinet in The Knothole ofice I pulled out a dusty folder titled 1945. What lay before me were dusty, colored pages stapled together by twos. Unlike columns and photos depicting world wide environmental events in the current issues, these older editions looked much different. Each page was illed with little paragraphs that talked strictly about events happening on campus, like who is getting married, dances, and advertisements for campus events! Comics called “The Adventures of Joe Stumpy” also accompanied each newspaper.

“Are these really the older knothole articles?” I thought as I looked closer at one of the crumpled pieces of paper which read “Knothole: founded 1938”. “1938!” I exclaimed as I nearly dropped the folder in excitement. Unfortunately, after shifting through the sea of folders, 1954 was the earliest article I could ind. Not too bad, considering

the article is sixty-one years old! What happened that year in 1954? To give you a better time frame, in 1954, McCarthy was on an anti-communist rage, and the Supreme Court said separate but equal was not equal. So what was going on at ESF during these changing times?

Well, irst off in all the articles The Knothole address SUNY-ESF as the College of Forestry! It wasn’t until 1948 did ESF become a SUNY School and not until 1972 did our beautiful school acquire the full name: The New York School of Environmental Science and Forestry.

One of the paragraphs I found pretty interesting is that ESF used to have school dances! So, maybe ESF wasn’t always the worst party school, for the “Woodchoppers Brawls” dance sounded pretty interesting. According to the November 11, 1945 edition the School of Forestry had a dance in Bray Hall complete with pie eating, log-sawing contests, and a Moonshiners Band to perform with the round and square dancing!

Although we don’t have square dancing anymore, what hasn’t changed is our love of useless facts! In the, “ABSOLUTELY USELESS FACTS ABOUT COMPLETELY UNINTERESTING SUBJECTS” section of the article it was stated, “the pelican derives its name from the Greeks. It has a huge beak shaped like the great pelekus, an axe.”

So maybe our activities may have changed, but the stumpie love of fun facts hasn’t. I can’t wait to ind what other secrets hide in these old articles and share it with you!

Student Life & The Environment • THE KNOTHOLE • 7

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Cardinal Recipes Punch dough down and divide in half; return other half to refrigerator.

6. On a well-loured board, working quickly North: Kringle before dough softens, roll into a 15 x 10-inch (whatscookingamerrectangle, approximately 1/4 to 1/2-inch thick ica.net) (if dough gets too warm from handling, return to refrigerator).

Ingredients 7. Spread half of the prepared Nut Filling down the center of the rolled-out dough rect1 package active dry angle in a 2-inch strip. Fold sides of dough over yeast illing, overlapping 1 1/2 inches; pinch edges to 1/4-cup warm water seal.

(110 degree F. to -Oval Shape: Form roll into a circle and pinch 115 degree F.) ends together. Place seam side down on a large 1/2-cup cold butter greased baking sheet. Repeat same process 2 cups all-purpose with remaining dough and illing. Cover and lour let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes or until 1/2-teaspoon salt double in size.

1 tablespoon granu-Pretzel Shape: Lift the illed roll from both Image Credit:whatscookingamerica.net lated sugar ends irmly and center the middle of the roll 1/2-cup warm milk (110 deg. to 115 deg.) onto the baking sheet as if you were forming a 1 egg beaten circle. Pull the ends of the roll so that they make a Nut Filling (recipe follows) cross above the roll, then pull the ends down and Glaze (recipe follows) tuck the ends under the top part of the roll so that 2 tablespoons chopped pecans or walnuts the ends stick out from under the roll.

1 1/2 cups inely chopped pecans or walnuts 8. Cover the dough and let rise in a warm place ap1-cup irmly packed brown sugar proximately 30 minutes or until double in size.

1/2-cup butter, room temperature 9. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. 1 cup powdered (confectioners) sugar 10. After the dough has risen, bake approximately 4 to 5 teaspoons water 20 minutes until golden brown or when the internal 1/2-teaspoon pure vanilla extract temperature registers approximately 205 to 209 degrees F. on your cooking thermometer. Remove Procedure from oven and let cool for 15 minutes.

11. Spread prepared Glaze over the warm Kringle.

Nut Filling: Sprinkle with chopped pecans or walnuts. Serve 1. In a large bowl, combine pecans or walnuts, Kringles warm or at room temperature. brown sugar, and butter.

12. To re-warm, preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Glaze: Slide a whole, uncut Kringle onto a baking sheet 1. In a medium bowl, combine powdered sugar, lined with aluminum foil. Cover loosely with a large water, and vanilla. piece of aluminum foil and heat for 12 to 15 minKringle: utes. Remove from oven and remove aluminum foil 1.Dissolve yeast in warm water in a small bowl before slicing.

2. Using a pastry blender or two knives, cut but-Makes 2 Kringles (each serves 10 to 12). ter into lour and salt until particles are the size of small peas in a large bowl West: Sourdough (allrecipes.com) 3. Add yeast mixture, sugar, warm milk, and egg; beat until smooth (dough will be very soft).

Ingredients 4. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours but not more than 24 hours.

4 3/4 cups bread lour 5. When ready to use, remove from refrigerator.

3 tablespoons white sugar

Eleanor Clark

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2 1/2 teaspoons salt 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast 1-cup warm milk 2 tablespoons margarine, softened 1 1/2 cups sourdough starter 1 extra large egg 1-tablespoon water 1/4 cup chopped onion Procedure 1. In a large bowl, combine 1 cup lour, sugar, salt, and dry yeast.

2. Add milk and softened butter or margarine. Stir in starter.

3. Mix in up to 3 3/4 cups lour gradually; you may need more depending on your climate.

4. Turn dough out onto a loured surface, and knead for 8 to 10 minutes.

5. Place in a greased bowl; turn once to oil surface, and cover. Let dough rise for 1 hour, or until doubled in volume.

6. Punch down, and let rest 15 minutes.

7. Shape into loaves. Place on a greased baking pan. Let loaves rise for 1 hour, or until doubled.

8. Brush egg wash over tops of loaves, and sprinkle with chopped onion.

9. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 30 minutes, or till done.

East-blueberry cream mufins: (food.com) Ingredients 1-cup fresh blueberries 2 cups all-purpose lour, divided Image Credit: food.com 3/4-cup sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2-teaspoon baking soda 1 pinch salt 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, cut into cubes 3 teaspoons lemon juice 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1/4-cup butter or 1/4 cup margarine (melted) 1/2-cup milk 2 eggs

Procedure 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Toss blueberries with about 2 tablespoons lour and set aside.

3. Combine remaining lour with the other dry ingredients and set aside.

4. In a large mixer bowl, cream the cream cheese, lemon juice and vanilla until smooth.

5. Add eggs, then lour mixture, butter and milk and mix until just moistened.

6. Fold in the blueberries.

7. Fill paper-lined mufin pans 2/3 full.

8. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until lightly browned.

9. Remove from pan immediately.

South-sausage bread: (Aunt Karan) Ingredients 2 Pillsbury French loaves 1 egg 1 teaspoon Par- Image Credit: freestylecookery.com mesan cheese 1 package Jimmy Dean spicy breakfast sausage 1 package cheddar cheese Procedure 1. Take 2 Pillsbury French loaves, then knead and roll the dough out to a 9 inch by 12 inch rectangle 2. In a small bowl, beat the egg and add the Parmesan cheese 3. Line the center of the dough with the mixture of egg and cheese.

4. Brown the breakfast sausage and drain out the grease.

5. Place the sausage down the center of the dough and add the cheddar cheese.

6. Fold over the sides of the dough to overlap in the center, and then fold ends to close 7. Bake at 350o for 30 minutes (Onions, bell pepper, and mushroom to sausage if desired)

Student Life & The Environment • THE KNOTHOLE • 11

Ask-a-Nut Dear Nut, College is expensive. Between tuition, housing, food, and books, it seems like I’m getting charged for something new every day. And heaven forbid if I want to splurge and buy something nice or entertain myself. What are some good ways to save and/or make money as a poor college student?

Sincerely, BROKE Dear BROKE, There are plenty of ways to make money as a college student! The irst thing that you should consider is completing dangerous and/or disgusting stunts for money. People love seeing things that make them cringe, so I’m sure they would be willing to pay you to do strange dares.

Another way to make money is by searching the change return in the vending machines for coins.

If you’re persistent, you can sometimes make TWO WHOLE DOLLARS in a single day. With that money, you can maybe actually buy something… from the vending machine.

As far as saving money goes, you can save on housing costs by living in a cardboard box; rent is fairly cheap on cardboard boxes, and utilities usually come free. To save on food, eat Ramen noodles 3 meals a day. Your body will likely become 90% sodium, but the savings are deinitely worth it. Sadly, I can’t think of a good way to save on books. Renting, buying used books, and borrowing from friends are all immoral strategies because they lower the proits of giant publishing corporations. Those millionaire executives have got to eat too, you know!

If all else fails, why not just try being rich?

I’m surprised more people don’t consider that option. The simplest idea is often the best one.

-Nut

Stuck Liam Donaher Time is frozen. I’m stuck in an elevator, and it’s dark. The whole building must have lost power.

Do I call for help?

I think I might have mistakenly swallowed my tonsils. Is that the right word? No wait, vocal chords, that’s what you talk with. Yeah, that’s it.

These things normally have help buttons for situations like this, right?

It’s pretty dark, so I can’t see much.

I try to close my eyes, but accidentally open them instead.

Oh, hey, I can see now. Never mind.

My phone somehow manages to ind its way out of my pocket and into my hand.

I press 9, 1, 1, and then the equal sign.

Wait, am I in the right app?

No service anyway, what a shame.

Back into the purse it goes.

Wait, where did this purse come from?

I then suddenly have three resolutions: 1. My own backpack is missing 2. Some random lady just became $14 richer in fruit snacks and gum wrappers.

3. I meant to say realizations.

4. I need to get out of this elevator.

5. I need to stop making revelations.

I stamp on the ground.

I bang on the walls.

Nothing.

It’s broken. Totally busted.

This elevator isn’t moving anywhere.

Oh wait am I thinking of the right thing? I meant escalator. Damn, those words are similar.

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Weird Creature Spottight Stephen Scaduto In this edition of Weird Creature Spotlight, we travel to the exciting world of plants to meet Welwitschia mirabilis. The main reason that this plant was picked is that its’ name is just so fun to say (Vell-vitch-ya), but it also has some pretty peculiar features that make it very worthy of a Weird Creature Spotlight. Welwitschia makes its’ home in the harsh Namib desert on the Southwest coast of Africa. This area receives little to no rainfall every year. However, Welwitschia thrives despite the desert’s best efforts, due to the plant’s long taproot that can reach underground water. It also contains the ability to absorb water from fog and dew. But that isn’t what makes Welwitschia so strange- despite what one may assume from looking at it, Welwitschia only has two leaves. These leaves grow continuously throughout Welwitschia’s life, and it only appears to have more because the leaves are low to the ground and get shredded by wind, sand, and animals.

Despite its’ simple design, Welwitschia can live a very long time. Many individuals are 500-600 years old, but some can live to be 2,000!

Welwitschia can also get very large. The largest known individual, creatively nicknamed “The Big

About the Weather...

Stephen Scaduto If you’re like me, you may have noticed how infuriatingly cold it has been here in Syracuse lately. Being from Buffalo, I know a thing or two about the cold, and this s**t has been absolutely insane. I’m no meteorologist, but -4˚ F everyday seems downright excessive, even for this area.

What makes it even more infuriating is people who say that you should just suck it up and quit complaining. But, as it turns out, the complainers may be completely justiied in their whining.

Apparently, the average temperature so far this February has been 10.4˚ F, which is 15 degrees below normal for this time of year. This month has been one of the coldest on record since 1902, and could in fact end up being the record holder. As of February 20th, we have yet to get above 32˚ F on any day this month. If that trend continues, Febru-

Image Credit:beautifulbotany.com

Welwitschia”, is 1.4 meters tall and over 4 meters in diameter!

Welwitschia may not be the prettiest of plants, but it has certainly done pretty well for itself. The species has remained nearly unchanged since the Jurassic Period, and is considered a “living fossil”. Currently, the species is neither endangered nor threatened, although it is protected as a preventative measure. Protecting such a weird species is a pretty good idea, because the average Welwitschia is a lot older than even the oldest human, and every half decent human being knows that you should respect your elders! ary 2015 will be the irst month on record that the temperature failed to get above freezing. God have mercy on us. Also of note is that it has snowed every day this month (also as of February 20th), but to me, the snow is less annoying than the relentless cold.

So if you feel like you’ve been traversing the Arctic tundra every time you walk to class, don’t be afraid to complain about it. You’ve earned it.

If you’re the type of person that “doesn’t mind the cold” and “doesn’t get what everyone is complaining about,” then just know that all of us sane people really hate you right now. Thank god February is the shortest month of the year; it’s time for this crap to be over. I’d like to feel my face again.

Written: February 24, 2015 – data retrieved from Syracuse.com/Weather, “Not-So-Fun Facts about CNY’s brutal February”

Student Life & The Environment • THE KNOTHOLE • 13

DIY Egg Carton Greenhouse/Seed Starter WHAT TO DO: 1. Cut the cover-half of the egg carton off with scissors.

WHAT IT IS: An affordable way to prepare seedlings 2. Fill each egg-hole in the carton a little over halfway for planting outside once the danger of frost is gone with soil. (if that ever happens). It its perfectly in a window3. Use your inger to make a hole to the depth sugsill, and keeps the soil moist so minimal watering is gested on the back of the seed packet. needed.

4. Plant the suggested number of seeds in each egg-hole, and gently WHAT YOU NEED: water after covering the seeds with •An egg carton soil.

•Potting soil 5. Wrap one layer of plastic wrap •Seeds over the surface of the egg carton.

•Toothpicks 6. When the seeds germinate and •Plastic wrap begin to grow too tall for the plastic wrap, use the toothpicks to raise the WHEN TO START (in Central plastic wrap covering by a few inches.

NY): 7. If your egg carton comes with the Image Credit: Landongilillan.com clear, egg-shaped protective casing on Early-March: eggplants, onions, petunias, and tomatop of the eggs, this can be used instead of the plastic toes wrap.

Mid-March: lettuce, melons, peppers, daisies and peas 8. Write on the side of the carton to keep track of what Late-March: pumpkins, squash, corn, marigolds and type of seeds were planted in each hole. cucumbers 9. Set in a windowsill in full sun, and water as needed.

By Mimi Scicchitano

14 • THE KNOTHOLE • Student Life & The Environment

Co-Managing Editors Jen Louie Grace Belisle

Head Layout

Terrance caviness

Layout Staff

Mark Tepper Scott Przybyla Editorial Staff Katie Oran Isabella Kaplan Grace Anderson LJ Jerome

Advisor

Writers Stephen Scaduto Isabella Kaplan Katie Oran Liam Donaher Mimi Scicchitano Julia Hart Eleanor Clark Morgan Smith Taylor Brown

The Knothole is a monthly SUNY-ESF publication composed by the student body. It is rooted in the spirit of ESF, and branches out into the broader community to inform and inspire. We hope to provide an eclectic mix of art and articles which spark discussion, inspire creativity, and increase awareness

Karen Moore

Student Life & The Environment • THE KNOTHOLE • 15

16 • THE KNOTHOLE • Student Life & The Environment