Carolyn's Blog

According to the fishermen along the west coast, there  have been an influx of zooids known as pyrosomes. They are small, gelatinous, pickle-shaped organisms. Until 2012, they had rarely been seen anywhere along the west coast. Now they have spread all the way to the Gulf of Alaska. The fishermen are frustrated by this migration because the pyrosomes are clogging up their fishing gear and making it much harder for them to make money. Jellied Sea Creatures Confound Scientists, Fishermen on U.S. Pacific Coast

 One of the hardest things about being a marine biologist is the fact that you can't easily study your subjects. Janet Voigt attests to this, as she has finally found a way to distinguish between two different octopod species of the same genus after twenty years. She did this by studying 72 specimens from both species and sat there counting and patterning the warts lining their bodies. According to the article, the team of scientists discovered that " G. pacifica  had warts that slowly petered out along its body, while much of  G. verrucosa  remained covered in warts." You can tell these adorable octopuses apart by their warts.

        According to Andy Crouch, today’s America is nothing like how it was in the earlier days. How Crouch described the young America, he made it seem like people would randomly burst out singing anywhere and everywhere. Like America was some sort of Disney movie filled with dreams coming true and happy endings. Of course, the reality was much less charming. I think that what our society deems acceptable these days reflects this generations desire to move past the horrors of the older generations, and sadly, that included getting rid of public singing.         Then again, I couldn’t imagine an America where we all sang together, at anything -other than birthdays. Andy did recognize the fact that the singing wasn’t necessarily the best, but it was the meaning behind the act. In our society, we are afraid to express ourselves in ways that could expose our soul. Singing happens to be something that could reveal a lot about the person, and we are criticized on our ability to sing. It

According to the article written by LiveScience.com, the mating habits of the narwhal are for the most part a mystery. Due to their choice in habitat and migrations with in response to sea ice, scientists have little to no knowledge of the actual mating process of these whales. While scientists do know about the reproductive age of both males and females, and the gestation period for these whales, there is almost nothing when it comes to how narwhals copulate. It doesn't help that these whales do not produce songs; a tool utilized by the baleen whales. All scientists really know is that mating usually occurs in winter and the tusks on the males are possibly used to display dominance. Animal Sex: How Narwhals Do It

Rapid City, South Dakota is an ever-growing town nestled in the Black Hills. It’s trying to be a big city in an area that doesn’t have enough residents to achieve it. There’s always construction somewhere in the town; for what point, I don’t know. The only time the city is really busy is during the summer, with the influx of tourism. However, I don’t find Rapid City that terrible, but I definitely don’t want to stay here. You may find a place beautiful and exciting, but living there is a different story. I, myself, have lived in Rapid City on three separate occasions, and the city has definitely developed since I last remember. Then again, the last time I was here was in 2007. Despite the fact that I have been away for seven years, I still remember many places vividly. In my experience, the smaller towns -Rapid City included- make the best places to raise a family. I know this because I grew up all over the country, and out of it. Rapid City is my second favorite of the places I’ve

Who am I? That is a very interesting question. I am the collections of my experiences and my limited time on Earth, but that doesn't mean this is who I will continue to be. I am an ever-changing being, fluid as life. There is not one thing about me that hasn't changed every second of every day. I am constantly gaining new knowledge and reevaluating who I want to be and how I can change myself to better fit that. All I know at this point in my life is that I am a human being capable of deep thoughts and emotions, forming new opinions on everything. The physical attributes of me are permanent, they will never change, but I don't consider my vessel to be me. I am the brain and the soul, not a body. I am thoughts, feelings, opinions, memories, and knowledge. I am an experience. I think all humans are an experience. That’s what makes us all individuals; the fact that none of us will experience the world in the same way. For me, life has been moving just about every