My name is Winston Poindexter and this class, from the moment it was mentioned, has ignited a fire of higher education within me. I have always loved travel and how it catapults your education high into the atmosphere. Going to Costa Rica would have this effect on me, and my goal of enriching my knowledge of the wild. Ever since walking became a regular activity I have been blazing trails, but only blazing. Now this class is providing me with the opportunity to grab the fruit from the trees as I blaze by. I couldn't be happier with the amount of possibility on this class's horizon. I am going to be blogging every week about our classes book and I hope that you will follow my blogging.
There is still the monumental task of fundraising eighteen hundred dollars for the Costa Rica trip. In the future there will be a way to donate to my trip on this site. But in the mean time you can send a check to Robert J. Lister Academy, attn: Bryan Mascio, 35 Sherburne Rd Portsmouth, NH 03801 made out to Lister Academy/ Costa Rica class.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Walking With Wolf: Chapter Two
In this chapter we find out a lot of information about Wolfs Quaker background. In about the mid-seventeenth century a man by the name of George Fox founded the Society of Friends of Truth. Originally the Quaker religion was called the " religious society of friends" . Their belief system was that of a peace loving and life loving people. The main subject of their focus was silently revering god. The term Quaker was originally a derogatory term, but was eventually adopted by the society. For Quakers not even the word of the bible is the ultimate authority, they also do not claim that theirs is the only way. All of this provided Wolf with a great start on his journey.
Wolf Guindon went to a school much like my very own. They not only grade you based on your scholastic accomplishments but on you're behavioral ones as well. This system helps you turn an inward eye, assuming that you take advantage of the tools before you. I know for me personally had it not been for this system I would be far further from my current mind set. For Wilford Guindon and I alike, this method is far more effective than traditional schooling. This point system is also what turned Wolf onto hiking . Every day before school he would walk up to 8 miles through the woods, and at one point per mile the points quickly added up. On page sixteen Wolf is quoted saying " In my four years at boarding school, the hiking I did was enough to go to Alabama and back to Ohio." Two thousand four hundred and thirty miles, that's quite an accomplishment!
Wolf Guindon was not one to go off to war. It was completely against his beliefs to wage war. During the summer of nineteen forty eight these beliefs were tested. The Universal Military Training Act of nineteen forty eight would take any person from the age eighteen to twenty-six. Wolf along with most people of his belief system thought that there would be a sort of peaceful program for objectors of violence to contribute so they would not have to go to jail. This was not the case. Any and all draft dodgers would be either fined or imprisoned. The maximum sentence was a five thousand dollar fine or five years in prison. Wolf and three of his fellow Quaker friends decided not to sign up for the peace time draft. In December of nineteen forty eight they were arrested. On October, the twenty-sixth Wolf and his friends were sentenced to a year and a day, to be served in the Federal Correctional Institution in Tallahassee Florida. They caught a slight bit of luck in the form of a well timed parole. They managed to only spend four months in prison. They were released on February twenty seventh, nineteen fifty.
While in prison Wolfs father had an accident. His father was using a pry lever to lift and pivot a large cement watering tank. It slipped of the fulcrum and the lever came down on his head. After much physical pain he decided to see a doctor. He was told that he had a blood clot, and so a brain surgeon from Birmingham preformed the operation. It was a success. but at his age, fifty-six, his brain was shrinking. within a few days he died. Later on when Wolf would be making plans for Costa Rica, his fathers absence would make it easier for him to leave.
This chapter is a brilliant way to give readers perspective on what drives Wilford Guindon. Knowing much of what he has done in his life I know him as a very considerate and caring person, in all regards. Now, with this chapter under my belt, it really boosts my opinions and thoughts of this flabbergasting man. I cant wait for what this next chapter is going to teach me and my peers.
Wolf Guindon went to a school much like my very own. They not only grade you based on your scholastic accomplishments but on you're behavioral ones as well. This system helps you turn an inward eye, assuming that you take advantage of the tools before you. I know for me personally had it not been for this system I would be far further from my current mind set. For Wilford Guindon and I alike, this method is far more effective than traditional schooling. This point system is also what turned Wolf onto hiking . Every day before school he would walk up to 8 miles through the woods, and at one point per mile the points quickly added up. On page sixteen Wolf is quoted saying " In my four years at boarding school, the hiking I did was enough to go to Alabama and back to Ohio." Two thousand four hundred and thirty miles, that's quite an accomplishment!
Wolf Guindon was not one to go off to war. It was completely against his beliefs to wage war. During the summer of nineteen forty eight these beliefs were tested. The Universal Military Training Act of nineteen forty eight would take any person from the age eighteen to twenty-six. Wolf along with most people of his belief system thought that there would be a sort of peaceful program for objectors of violence to contribute so they would not have to go to jail. This was not the case. Any and all draft dodgers would be either fined or imprisoned. The maximum sentence was a five thousand dollar fine or five years in prison. Wolf and three of his fellow Quaker friends decided not to sign up for the peace time draft. In December of nineteen forty eight they were arrested. On October, the twenty-sixth Wolf and his friends were sentenced to a year and a day, to be served in the Federal Correctional Institution in Tallahassee Florida. They caught a slight bit of luck in the form of a well timed parole. They managed to only spend four months in prison. They were released on February twenty seventh, nineteen fifty.
While in prison Wolfs father had an accident. His father was using a pry lever to lift and pivot a large cement watering tank. It slipped of the fulcrum and the lever came down on his head. After much physical pain he decided to see a doctor. He was told that he had a blood clot, and so a brain surgeon from Birmingham preformed the operation. It was a success. but at his age, fifty-six, his brain was shrinking. within a few days he died. Later on when Wolf would be making plans for Costa Rica, his fathers absence would make it easier for him to leave.
This chapter is a brilliant way to give readers perspective on what drives Wilford Guindon. Knowing much of what he has done in his life I know him as a very considerate and caring person, in all regards. Now, with this chapter under my belt, it really boosts my opinions and thoughts of this flabbergasting man. I cant wait for what this next chapter is going to teach me and my peers.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Walking With Wolf: Chapter One
In the first chapter we learn that a man who goes by the name of Wolf Guindon has been in Costa Rica for a large part of his life. In his time spent there he has done trail clearing and wildlife and forest preservation. In this chapter one of the topics we hear about is Wolf tracking an animal called the Tapir. This animal is going to be the focus of my studies for this week.
Another very intriguing topic is that most people who go to Costa Rica have this innate fear of snakes, and being bitten by them, but for the most part this rarely happens. This made me think about how a lot of times peoples fears hold more power than the actual object that initiated the feeling of fear. On page five one quote I found worth mentioning is ''the fear people sometimes carry concerning snakes is much more likely to ruin their day than any snake its self.'' Truer words have never been spoken.
Thinking about how the brain works is one of my personal favorite activities. When I read that quote it stopped my in my tracks and lead me on a metaphysical journey, of witch I am happy to have followed to the end. This book and this class really open up my mind to new ways of thinking and learning. I am immensely grateful to Bryan and everyone and everything that has made it a possibility.
Another very intriguing topic is that most people who go to Costa Rica have this innate fear of snakes, and being bitten by them, but for the most part this rarely happens. This made me think about how a lot of times peoples fears hold more power than the actual object that initiated the feeling of fear. On page five one quote I found worth mentioning is ''the fear people sometimes carry concerning snakes is much more likely to ruin their day than any snake its self.'' Truer words have never been spoken.
Thinking about how the brain works is one of my personal favorite activities. When I read that quote it stopped my in my tracks and lead me on a metaphysical journey, of witch I am happy to have followed to the end. This book and this class really open up my mind to new ways of thinking and learning. I am immensely grateful to Bryan and everyone and everything that has made it a possibility.
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