Monday, April 14, 2025

Bee Barn

On my trip to the Arboretum,the Bee Barn caught my eye and interested me. I am not sure who made it, but I believe it has stood there for many years and has served many purposes. Currently, some bees are going extinct and others have dwindling numbers. While bees still scare me, I am thankful for the Bee Barn because it gives the bees a safe place to grow their hives and it ensures them safety and protection. The yellow letters have faded from being sun beaten for many years, but the letters are still inviting and telling. Some of the boxes are broken and the wood is rotting in some places, but I think this shows the purpose that the construct has served throughout the years. I am interested to know if anyone will fix it or leave it standing as it is.

Bee Hives

When I see a beehive, I typically run away or become frightened by the life that lives within the construct. But, something changed when I saw the Bee Barn today and thought about the jobs that bees have. Without bees, flowers would not be polinated, the food chain would be thrown off, and humans would not consume honey in teas or in various foods. I started thinking about why bees are so scary when they are performing the job they were destined to do. There were other bee hives in the Arboretum and instead of becoming scared, running away from them or swatting them away, I looked at the few I saw for a second and examined their beauty and purpose.

Bees

However, I did not see many bees in the Bee Barn on this trip and I wonder what happened to them. During the start of the fall semester (the first time I went there), there were hives in a few of the boxes but not anymore. I thought the boxes would provide the bees with protection and I wonder what happened to them. An animal could have gotten to them or maybe the bees decided they were better suited somewhere else. Though the air has been warmer and the sun has shown, it might be too cold for bees to be seen. I hope the bees will come back during the summer months and find protection in the Bee Barn where they can be protected and safe.

Flowers

The trees have no leaves yet and there are no wildflowers to be seen around the grounds. When the plants begin to regrow and bloom, the bees will probably be seen again. Usually bees are seen where blooming flowers are present, so it makes sense that there is no life around the Bee Barn. The Bee Barn was quiet without the hum of bees at work but I hope to hear them again during the summer months. The birds have began to migrate back which is a sign of the summer months headed our way. I wonder if we will see a return of bees during the summer months too?

Not far away from the road, but nicely still tucked into campus, is the Gazebo, a spot that Geneseo students and community famously use to watch the Sunset. It’s not too noisy throughout the day, other than the intermittent foot traffic at 9:45 AM, 10:10 AM, 12:20 PM, etc. I can’t get too far away from campus because I don’t have a car, so my interactions with nature are quite limited to what’s within reasonable walking distance. Each morning, I take the same route to class, leaving from Ward down to Main, then either Across to Bank Street and down to the Union. Sometimes, I sneak down University Drive, into Newton, into Milne, and then through Blake’s outdoor hallway. Whichever route I take, to get to the Union, I have to walk by the Gazebo.

When I was walking up to class this morning, I paid a little extra attention to the green space, the plant life, trees that surrounded the Gazebo. There’s this patch of dark mulch surrounding the gazebo that makes up a bed of bushes and mid-sized trees. Relying just on memory, I might have estimated that there was one tree and about a foot or two of space, but when I counted today and when I looked back at the picture, I saw at least four trees and double that space. I wonder if something about the large presence of brick and concrete around the gazebo have anything to do with the minimization of the presence of green space in my memory.

When I walk up from the Union to the gazebo, it looks like its bushes are peering above the brick wall that contains them. They’re a nice and vivid shade of green and seemed to be a little damp because this morning it had rained a bit. The rain slightly saturated the concrete too, but it was clear the rain had lightened up and that some of it was drying up because I saw some patches of lighter concrete peeking out. I thought to myself today that it’s strange the leaves havent grown back on the trees. I know we’re only approaching the peak of springtime, but the trees looked as dead as they did in the winter time. Maybe just some more patience is required.

I like this space on campus a lot, but its green space seems to be negated by the overwhelming and domineering presence of concrete and brick, and unique to the past couple of and next couple of years, the construction fences, surrounding it. While the physical structure of the gazebo is limited in green space, I think it is one of the best places on campus to realize the beauty and vastness of the valley. I enjoy the sunset at the gazebo, but even more than that, I enjoy looking out at the valley when it’s completely dark and all you can see is the patches of light from probably what is York. Between small patches of light of neighboring towns are large stretches of darkness, where I like to imagine there are deer grazing.

*Note: No AI was used in the making of this Blog Post.

Natural Phenomena

• In my time, I’ve found that I’m rather limited in my abilities to experience the outdoors and consequentially I end up missing out on the delightful phenomena nature oft provides to us. It’s peculiar to write in the eyes of someone else and thus this feels almost obligatory to say, but I digress.
• I took a comforting, albeit short, walk to experience some of nature’s strongest features, with a focus on the fauna we so often neglect. My observations of which will be described in greater detail below. The standout was the squirrel I watched and followed for quite some time.

The Fast and the Fluffy Squirrel

• On my walk I noticed this squirrel wandering about nearby and decided to take a seat and observe it. It was nimbly hopping about and foraging in the trees and the dirt I walked nearby to. I dared to get closer to get a better look at exactly what it was looking for, but each time I did, it ended up running further away again!

• It seemed delicately aware of my presence- as most animals tend to be, but it curiously approached and bounded around as I sat and watched. In hindsight I wished I took a video of it rather than just a few photos. It jumped up onto a brick wall and sprinted around in this picture- then it immediately jumped off off it, eccentric little thing.

  

• I noted a particular instance of the squirrel climbing up a tree for a moment only to immediately climb back down and sprint off. I didn’t see the squirrel again after that and merely focused on continuing my walk to see if I noted anything else that was interesting.

• The squirrel didn’t stick around beyond these two pictures, but it stood out to me due to just how eccentric and rapid its movements were- it reminded me of someone sprinting around seeking to find something they lost, only much fluffier and smaller.

Following the Clouds

• The other included image is of the rainy road I encountered on my route back to my dorm. You’ll note the location almost immediately if you’ve been around campus- that’s right, it’s right outside Monroe Hall.
• The rain had started quite soon after my walk had started, so I spent some time in it. I listened to the drops on the pavement, felt the water gently stream into my shoes and onto my hands, taking in the tears of the environment. It was comforting and cooling after a hot walk and I certainly don’t mind that.
• I sat in the rain for a while wondering why I was given the limitations I was given- I’m someone who loves the outdoors but has grown to hate the experience due to my allergies and my other physical constraints- It’s frustrating.

My Perspective on Nature

• If I may be reflective for a moment, my perspective on the natural world has always been very warped- I cannot experience something I care deeply about, and something I would have put forth in my life so much more had I not been limited by what I have. I love nature, especially marine biology, and have always been fascinated by it. But I wonder if my fascination with it comes from my lack of being able to spend time in it…

Being Inside

My first thought, when presented with the opportunity to focus on something outside, was rain. And more importantly, how present it is even when I’m inside and dry. It is comforting to listen to when you’re inside working, it’s calming, and has found its way into a lot of people’s study culture and general work settings. I won’t lie, I do in fact also listen to “studying in an old library in the melancholic rain (dark academia playlist).” It is a type of serene calm I don’t think can be found elsewhere, and has been vastly important to my own work. I included the exact video I’ve frequented during my studies below. Example

Being Inside (2)

Though, being inside my own dorm isn’t exactly the point of this sort of assignment. So, to fit within the spirit of enclosed spaces and comfort, I’m hoping to focus on a past visit of mine’s to Howe Caverns, truly a place I wish to never return to. To provide a brief description of the location before you analyze the picture I’ve included below, it is a tight, colorfully lit and wet piece of space. To be away from natural lighting was, for a short period of time, beyond terrifying of course. At one point during the tour they take you on, the guide will call for the crew to shut off the lights, and leave those in attendance in both uncomfortable silence and darkness. I have this very distinct memory of the event though, not of the quiet or the dark, but of the water slowly shifting as the awkward small shuffles of the people on board rocked the row boats. Each small movement causing a ripple that was just about all you could hear, underneath the breathing of most every other person on the same boat as me. It in a very similar sense to the rain and music I discussed above, felt beyond comforting. To sit amongst so many peers, yet feel alone in such a meaningful way was an experience without comparison. The waves were slow, pushing against only the rocks holding us. It is a calm I hope to reach again, and have actively sought out via noise-cancelled headphones. Yes, this is the incredible reveal that the things I wear around my head, sometimes referred to as headphones, do tend to have sound coming out of them as I find it calming.

Being

Sound, from the rain hitting windows, to waves launching into each other, means so much to me. My appreciation for sound isn’t something I see going away anytime soon, and though not mentioned, this love extends beyond the water you can find underground. Thoreau shares this love as well, within the section of Walden dedicated to the bodies of water surrounding him, he shows it the same care. We certainly get rain here, but it certainly feels like bodies of water have a much more subtle presence up here. Though that doesn’t make them any less deserving of appreciation. And yes, the title is a reference to that one movie I have not watched.

“A lake is the landscape’s most beautiful and expressive feature.”

I got the picture working! It is now here.

Was I totally digital? (How much did I come here with?)

No, not really. Somewhere deep in a closet back home my medal for “excellence in Computer Science” has been gathering dust. Though I’ve never really lost my love for seeing code come together into an end-product. My AP Computer Science Principles course in highschool was of course, not the most in-depth guide to coding or putting together my own projects outside of the class, but I’d be lying if I denied that it didn’t set me up to explore further. A short bit of exploration into HTML and Python, plus a few subsections within the latter, was really all it took to set up the smallest seed of hope that I’d return to coding in the future. And now, in my second semester at SUNY Geneseo, I’ve found a class that mixes my primary interest of English, with something I hadn’t properly thought of since leaving highschool!

Am I a little more digital now? (Where am I now?)

Yeah, actually. Through this course I’ve moved past using websites with built in tips as a mediator between me and my attempts at making a button produce music, and started to actually explore my computer as a system I’m able to make use of. My hope moving forward both through this class, and once I’m past it, is to take this information and use it as a path to explore further. Whereas my highschool’s application of coding and similar topics felt closed off and even just confined to random websites I wouldn’t have a subscription to by the end of the year, but what I’ve gained here isn’t something I can lose access to unless by my own choice, and I truly appreciate that. I won’t leave a list of commands we learned here, but even those are just a starting point for exploring and understanding what I’ve got going on, a strong point to build upon. And I kind of just love that a lot.

What about the non-digital? (Did I read?)

Of course. Through our reading of Broad Band I got to learn about a very important section of the history of something I’ve made use of all my life. Without this context, I miss out on the importance of my ability to access and make use of my own computer. Through being treated as little more than a throwaway project, these women provided us with more than just a starting point for a concept so important to what we do BEYOND this class. It is a history that cannot be avoided, one that requires the willingness to express respect no matter how far ago it was. This applies to so many things, history isn’t something that we can EVER sotp exploring. There is also, and yes this is an excuse to take us back to my starting section, a history medal up in the same closet. And that is a combo I am genuinely proud of, and that I will not let go of even if the medals were plastic and worthless. I cannot, at any point and especially as an English major, ever stop paying attention to both techonology and the history surrounding me and anyone else.

I wasn’t reading can you recap in two sentences? (Why?)

I love technology, history, and reading. I love where they meet up even more.

In the frigid I sat in one of my favorite spots in which I had forgotten about. In my youth I spent hours here. It was never empty, even in the winter you could find teens walking the car path, even though it was closed, in search of the bench that overlooked Honeoye Lake, watching the sunset and doing whatever teenagers did.

I now sit in this spot, watching the sunset, in the quiet, as all the teenagers who once grew up in this place, are now grown and have forgotten about the bench and the sunset in which they spent most of their time.

Without getting to the spot by car, it is a good walk through the wooded trees to get there. During the daylight hours the trees stand still, the bushes do not make any noise because you do not notice it. The slight movement of footsteps on the gravel and birds singing in secret spots in the trees are the only sounds that can be heard by the ears. Although walking to the exit at dark unleashes an entirely new set of noises, with which I was familiar. The trees tapped amongst one another in the wind that always seemed to be there in the dark, even on the calmest of nights; the bushes violently shook with whatever animal hid within its coverage, and your footsteps hitting the gravel always seemed to pick up its pace in fear of what is lurking.

The bench seemed older than I remembered. Its smooth wood finish was pealing, causing cracks, making the once comfortable and familiar, unpleasing to rest upon. There were the same old carvings amongst its posts, mostly initials surrounded by the heart of couples who are more than likely not together anymore and the same old cursing’s that were left by people who thought it would be cool. Although there were some fresh ones too drawn on in black sharpies, making the inactive park feel more lively.

I sat on the stiff bench for a while, watching the sun completely fall, and the moon slowly rise, which was as beautiful as I remembered. The sky painted its beautiful rainbow colors over its lake which was empty and quiet besides the few flocks of geese the obnoxiously flew over, disturbing the sky’s peace. The lake slightly reflecting the colors hues making its light blue appear more pink.

During the summer days, the lake will be filled with boats of people who are fishing, occasionally hearing cheers of the people down below who caught a big one. During its spring months the lake is forgotten and still, making its top layer of water appear to be glass, without any sudden movement. I had never actually felt the silence of the lake until now, usually the crowd of teenagers, that once was me, brought in their own noises. The typical teenage music filled the woods, along with the laughter of people who called themselves friends.

Although this place was a distant memory of mine, it is not entirely forgotten. The pieces of trash surrounding the lookout area and the benches deteriation shows that people still come to sit over the lake. Some hoping for the deep reconnection with the power of its beauty and others hanging out with their friends.

Every winter, I like to try and guess how early or late spring is going to begin. I take a wild guess, others I look more closely into. Such include rough/steady our winter was, if the temperature rapidly increases & decreases a ton, and more.

Springs false arrival surprised us in early March; it got our hopes up that spring finally has come, the birds got excited to explore, the trees couldn’t wait to restart their beautiful creations, the clouds allowed the sun to take over, until the second and third winter took over.

I chose to observe Highland Park in Geneseo for a little while on a rainy day. Rainy days at the park are something I have always felt were underappreciated. Some of Earth’s finest pieces of nature are highlighted when it rains. Rainbows, that is, are a symbol of the rain coming to a close. The rain had to step in the way for a minute, then the rainbow acts as a message that the rain has stopped. If rainbows could talk, they would say, “Sorry about that, hope this makes up for it!”.

I heard the sound of the rain hit different objects. The rain landed on the leaves quietly and gently, then landed on the playground slide a bit more harshly, and the rain was heard even louder when it hit the metal fenced batting cage. The park was quiet, nobody was there except for myself. No kids wanted to play in the rain that time of day. Weather around 40 degrees, and a light breeze, the sound of the wind taking the leaves from their original spots, the rustling of wet branches swaying back and forth. In a distance, robins flying around, trying to find some shelter. The flutter of a bird startled me, as I thought I was alone.

Rain brings a unique smell to the air, it smells clean and natural. The air was thick, released a fragrance of wet leaves and fresh mulch and soil just put down. The rain gently fell, weaving a soft veil over the park. Even though the rain soaked through my jacket, the gray sky, quiet surroundings, were peaceful and comforting. It was almost as if the park reserved this time just for me to be there. Each step I took in the grass felt heavy, as my shoe sunk into the wet ground, it took energy and force to pick my foot up from the muddy pathway.

As far as genAI used in this experience, I did use Ai to help me come up with the title, since I am not entirely creative. I wanted to emphasize how spring has started a bit later this year, unlike last year where I was wearing shorts in march, and using sunscreen. This spring is a bit different, which is why I wanted a unique title, to emphasize how my experience was. I also used Ai for a bit of assistance when trying to write my blog post like Henry David Thoreau. Although I have been reading and looking over Thoreau’s texts for quite some time now, I wanted some ideas to brainstorm how to word my experience at the park in the best possible way.

Vitale Park

I took a trip to Vitale Park which is about 10 minutes from our campus. This park is on Conesus Lake. There were not many people at the park with me, just some dogs on walks with their owners. It was serene and still. The sun was shining over the calm waters, casting a golden glow that dances on the lake’s surface. Along the shoreline are houses and tall trees that stand like guardians. The air is filled with a delightful blend of natural fragrances. Imagine the fresh, crisp scent of the lake itself, mingling with the earthy aroma of damp soil. The breeze brings hints of cedar from the surrounding trees. The clouds drift lazily across sky, their white, cotton-like forms casting soft shadows on the lake.

A Symphony of Ducks

Only ducks gliding gently, their quacks had a cheerful sound. The mother watched as her children bathed and played in the water. The mother duck stands vigilant, her eyes are scanning the surroundings as her ducklings frolic in the shallow waters. I am reminded of the delicate balance of life and the protective instincts that bind us all. The quiet beauty of the lake invites reflection and appreciation of nature’s resilience. Besides the birds, ducks were mainly what I observed. It was very intresting to see how these ducks acted. They would go beak first into the water and their feet would stick up. Their social interactions, marked by a variety of quacks and calls, added to the serene atmosphere. The little ducks, with their feathers and tiny webbed feet, paddle around energetically, exploring their watery playground.

Colors

As I stand on the waters edge, I observe the colors. Instead of the vibrant green you’d expect, the grass has taken on a more subdued, brownish hue. The earthy tone adds a different kind of beauty to the landscape. The blades of grass, though not as lush, still sway gently in the breeze, creating a soft rustling sound that complements the peaceful ambiance of the lake. It is a place where I can escape the hustle of daily life and find solace in the simplicity and beauty of nature. I image myself journaling here in the summer and I enjoy the suns rays. The gentle sounds of the water moving and the rustling of the grass will create a soothing backdrop for my thoughts. I will allow my thoughts to flow freely onto the pages of my journal. I am so glad that this lake is just a short drive away. The atmosphere, reminiscent of Thoreau’s cherished retreats, offers a profound sense of peace.

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Terminal & Visual Studio Code

Both Terminal and Visual Studio Code were foreign to me before this class. Terminal is automatically installed and yet I never thought to look at it, albeit if I had I would have had no clue where to start. It turns out it is really less scary and complicated than it looks as you learn the commands and the language to use it properly. We learned simple commands to begin navigating our Graphical User Interface and file system easier and faster. Terminal allows you to quickly create, organize, and view folders and files. In combination with Visual Studio Code, this allows for a cohesive and organized way to keep notes in class and to keep up with the computer science of it all. Terminal commands are all about memorization or having good command notes. Here is a list of commands we have learned thus far:

• cd
• pwd → to get into the home directory
• cd ~/Folder/ to change directories
• ls to get the contents
• ls -l to get a list view of contents
• cd ~ to get back home
• up arrow to go back to commands → goes through in reverse order
• mkdir – to create a folder
• name file press enter
• cd ~/folder name?
• touch file name → add file to folder

Women in Computer Science/ Broadband

Reading from Broadband also brought some really interesting, and important information about the history of technology and computer science. Broadband focuses heavily on women’s involvement in technology and the technological benefits we reap today. The origin of computers in general lies almost exclusively in the hands of women. Originally “computers” were just people who computed complex math equations using these machines. Early computers were incredibly different from the sleek and efficient models we see today. Then, they were large bulky machines that these women had to individually plug equations into. This was time-consuming and precise work. I felt it was unsurprising and yet fascinating to learn about the role of women in technology and the importance of women in the field. It is disappointing that this is not more mainstream history as we use technology in many aspects of our lives today. Due to gender disparity women’s contributions in the field were often overshadowed by men with more power and influence. Even despite their great work on computers and technology, women were pushed out of the way as men returned home from war. A field originally thought to be for women because of its attention to detail and intricate workings, became a job prioritized for men.

Computers & the Humanities

The humanities and computers intersect in a variety of ways. Computers are an essential tool in compiling and organizing collections of literature or pieces of history. Digital archives place tons of primary sources, research, analyses, and whatever other scholarly works you wish to read. The internet and computers make it possible for far more people to access history and literature through sources associated with libraries, schools, and colleges. This is important because it preserves history on a grander scale. It allows everyone to be able to research topics of their choice, read history they take an interest in, and seek outside points of view on a piece of literature they love. I think this is important to bolster curiosity and encourage people to understand and seek out information relating to the humanities.