Dinosaurs Are Extinct

My favorite movies growing up were the Land Before Time movies with Little Foot (an adventurous young Apatosaurus). Now, in college, I'm taking a course all about Dinosaurs!! It's called the Life and the Death of the Dinosaurs, but before we get to talk about the fun stuff, we have to discuss plate tectonics, sedimentary strata and how paleontology started. So far, it's not a very fun class.

One of the first things I learned here in college is: you have to find something to keep you entertained if lecture is really boring. Most of the time I rely on witty text messages from my friends who are usually in a boring lecture as well, otherwise if I'm in a lecture with my computer... I tend to play Tetris or SuperMario. I take notes, and I get the information, but sometimes extraordinary measures are needed to stay awake.

This is one of those classes where it's often difficult to stay focused or stay awake (because it's not the fun stuff yet). I was really worried after the first class that I'd really have issues, but then the next class came the interpreter. One of the girls in our class is deaf or hard of hearing, so the interpreter translates what the professor says using ASL. I've found my distraction.

It's great, because not only am I still focusing on the words my professor is saying, I'm also focused on the signs... and have begun to pick up on a few. I can officially sign "Dinosaurs can not swim".

Also, this class is great because the guys that sit in the row behind me make sarcastic remarks (quietly) after the professor explains something that most college students already know. For example, today, she spent about ten minutes explaining the concept of extinction. It was lengthy and by the time she was finished, I had been zoning out and thinking about lunch. She then followed her ridiculously complex definition with "Basically, it means they're gone for good."

The guy behind me whispered in response, "Oh, really? So that's what extinct means.. I guess that's why there aren't any dinosaurs outside. Thanks Deb. Thanks."
Sarcasm = Entertainment.

So, in case you were wondering how this pertained to our effect on the environment, it doesn't. This is definitely going on the "College Experience" map portion of the blog. Unless, we want to link it to the fact that humans are driving many species to the brink of extinction... because truthfully, that's a subject I have to spend a lot more time babbling about.. it's one of my biggest annoyances in the planet.

If you've never read anything about Hellbender Salamanders, Florida Panthers, or any other endangered specie, I encourage you to. In the United States alone, there are over 496 endangered animals and 735 endangered plant species. This isn't something that just happens elsewhere, it's a problem in our own backyard, so get educated.

Well... That worked.

Official Post Day 1:
College Lesson Number 1
Endangered Species

Enjoy the rest of your day :)
I have a World Regional Geography exam to study for.... and distractions (like Facebook) to get to.