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Nick Stocker's discussion

2008-09-05T13:02:00.002-05:00

I would have to agree with Andrew below about not being at our cultural climax. I think the plains are still evolving. It's inevitable the plains will still be changing when were long and gone.I was thinking of the table for Webbs thesis with the Eastern tools and the great plains adaption, I was wondering what would Webb put in that table today. They became adaptions in the plains, but could those adaptions moved back east too after their adaption? Perhaps become tools of the east.

Discussion

2008-09-05T11:33:00.003-05:00

Hey guys, I was just thinking about the lecture and I remembered that I was having trouble buying into the argument against Webbs environmental determinism. (The part about how germans and norwegians all brought their own culture so the environment can't completely decide culture) My thoughts were that it would take time for our culture to "completely" adapt to life on the plains, like how a prairie field doesn't instantly go to its ecological climax after you plow it up. The first plants introduced are not ideally suited to live there. It takes awhile for it to go through the phases of change. We as a region are still evolving and adapting, to our individual and global environments and I don't believe we have achieved "cultural climax" in the plains at this point. Maybe we're still moving toward it and these other cultures are being slowly phased out. I can't say for sure.

I'm not saying that I completely buy into Webb's determinism, but I don't think this line of reasoning really argues against it. Thoughts?

Discussion & Responses

2008-09-04T10:29:00.002-05:00

OK, by now you should be digging into the Webb text. With the lecture material we've covered, you should have a pretty good idea what Webb was trying to do with the book in 1931. A little later, by the deadline posted in the calendar, you'll have to post a response to the Webb text; that's a required assignment. In addition, though, beginning now, feel free to post preliminary comments and impressions, just getting a discussion started, as a matter of participation. Preliminary discussion might actually help to form up your laer response to the book. Also, today in class we'll finish up Lecture 1, and so you can post responses to it after class today. Here again, too, while a lecture is in progress, it's always in order to post comments and questions as a matter of informal participation. The gist of this message: let's get the blog going as a forum.

Posting Here

2008-09-04T09:38:00.001-05:00

Was anyone else having trouble posting to the blog the past couple of days? I found my posts were getting hung up, and so I changed a server setting, and after that, things worked better.

hello

2008-09-02T14:03:00.002-05:00

Hi, my name is Frank. I am from Cavalier N.D. My major is construction management, this is my third year in college, and i dont plan on leaving anytime soon.

Introduction

2008-09-02T11:55:00.003-05:00

Hello!

I'm Chris from Rugby, ND. I am a fifth year student applying to dental school. My major is Exercise Science (I started off looking to become a physical therapist but changed my mind my Sophomore year). I grew up on a farm outside of Rugby, and have a backyard full of Native American artifacts. I hope to learn a great deal about the history of the plains.~Chris Schmaltz

Hello

2008-09-02T09:51:00.001-05:00

I am Connon Ollila. I am from Frazee High School. I first went to college at MSCTC Fergus Falls and now transferred to NDSU for Recreation Management.

Intro from Nancy Hart

2008-09-01T23:00:00.006-05:00

Hi my name is Nancy Hart I am a Junior majoring in history education and minoring in coaching and public relations. I am originally from Parkers Prairie MN. I use to be in Minnesota high school rodeo where I received Mrs. Congeniality. Now I spend my time training horses, working, hanging out with friends and of course school.

Introduction

2008-09-01T22:35:00.004-05:00

Hello Everyone!

My name is Dain Sullivan and I am from Perham, MN. I'm very excited about being in this class because I love the North American Plains. Last year, I moved to Perham, MN from Oakes, ND. I lived in Oakes for sixteen years, but my family visited Minnesota a lot to see family and visit lake resorts. Plus, my family has many ties to Minnesota through our history. For example, my great great grandparents owned and operated a lake resort on Dead Lake back when my dad was a young boy. So, I guess you could say that my ties to Minnesota have made me who I am today. Speaking of ties to Minnesota, I really liked Stegner's line. "I may not know who I am, but I know where I come from." This line really means a lot to me. It reminds me that no matter where I go or what I do, I should always remember where life originated for me. I can't wait to hear more quotes in this class! - Dain Sullivan

Introduction

2008-09-01T21:55:00.001-05:00

My name is Melissa Weinreis and this is my first year at NDSU. I am technically a sophomore majoring in dietetics. I am from Golva, ND, a tiny town in southwestern ND. I love traveling, going to concerts, and spending time with my family.

Introduction

2008-09-01T20:41:00.005-05:00

Hi, my name is Evan Hacker. I'm originally from Canby, MN, a town of 2,000, located in the southwest corner of Minnesota. I am currently majoring in Social Science Education, and I am also currently wrestling heavyweight for the Bison. I enjoy many outdoor activities including hunting and fishing. I am looking forward to an enjoyable semester.

Intro

2008-09-01T19:29:00.002-05:00

Hi, my name is Matthew Lee from Fargo. I am going into Mechanical engineering and business. I like pretty much all sports, and I'm looking forward to learning a lot in this class.

Intro

2008-09-01T18:46:00.003-05:00

Hi my name is Hunter Ristvedt from Savage, MN a suburb south of the Twin Cities. I'm going for business administration here at NDSU. I enjoy the outdoors, hunting, fishing, sports and most of all family and friends. Looking forward to learning about the North American plains.

Lecture 1 review

2008-09-01T14:03:00.003-05:00

The first lecture for the class took us through a quick overview of a few of the first people to study the plains. These people included turner, innis , bessey and stegner. We discussed how Turner was the first to study the American plains, saying that if you look at the plains you will see "successive waves of settlement". Then we talked about innis and the staple theory. Innis was an economic historian that believed in order to be a country you needed to be self-sufficient in all of the staples of life. Then we ended talking about grassland ecology and Charles Bessey and his students at the U of Nebraska. They were interested in the study of the prairies as an ecological climax. We also talked about how range management is the applied understanding of grassland ecology.

Introduction

2008-08-29T20:57:00.002-05:00

Greetings. I'm Sutton Goodman, I graduated in 1999 from Upham ND (population 149), its a small town in north central North Dakota. Upham is 2 miles away from the headquarters of the J. Clark Salyer Refuge, one of the largest refuges in the lower 48 states. I have 2 daughters, my oldest turned 4 the end of May and my youngest will turn 2 the end of September. I work fulltime at Upstream here in Fargo and go to college full time also. In my very limited free time I like to spend time with my kids, work on my truck; I also enjoy shooting my AR-15, playing video games, fishing and watching football (GO BRONCOS!). I am currently working on a History degree and plan to attend law school when I am finished.

Sutton

My intro

2008-08-29T12:22:00.002-05:00

Hi my name is Rebecca Auld but you can call me Becky. I'm a sophmore majoring in Animal Science. I grew up on a farm and have 2 horses that I love dearly. I have a small, but confusing family. Im very glad to be back at NDSU! Go Bison!!

Intro

2008-08-29T12:18:00.002-05:00

Hello, Im Rebecca Peterson from Casselton, ND. I'm majoring in Art and should hopefully be graduating in May. In my free time I like to spend time with my friends, shop, take photos, pretty much I am up for anything new and exciting.

Work-Study Opportunity

2008-08-29T08:09:00.002-05:00

Are you eligible for work-study at NDSU? Are you looking for a part-time job that is History-related? Then contact Dr. Isern (isern@plainsfolk.com). He's looking for work-study help in the Center for Heritage Renewal.

Intro

2008-08-28T23:15:00.002-05:00

Hi, I am Jordan Voller. I am a sophmore and am working towards a degree in Mechanical Engineering. I am from Rochester, Minnesota, home of the Mayo Clinic. Anyway I like to fish any time of year and I like to wakeboard, although the best think I like to do in life is snowboard. I cant wait for winter. To me that is the best time of year! the only downer to fargo is there are no hills..... but winter is longer! anyway see ya later.

Jordan Voller

Introduction

2008-08-28T22:37:00.002-05:00

Hi,

My name is Alex Jensen I'm from Battle Lake, MN and I am a sophomore majoring in history.

Intro.

2008-08-28T21:09:00.003-05:00

Hey-

My name is Casie Hawkinson. I am a junior majoring in Business Administration and just transferred here from Grand Forks. I currently live in south Fargo, but am originally from Britton, South Dakota. In my time away from school I enjoy any and all music, spending time with family and friends, and watching HGTV.

intro

2008-08-28T16:40:00.002-05:00

hi,
my naqme is nick stocker from savage,mn majoring in zoology wildlife and fisheries, i like history so i took this class and getting my gen eds out of the way.

Lecture 1

2008-08-28T16:24:00.006-05:00

During Lecture 1, we discussed a lot of people like Darwin, Stegner, Turner, and Bessey but I thought the most interesting topic was from Innis. When we discussed the Staple Theory and how Canada thrived from economic trading of wheat, fish and fur. I began thinking about how my homestate of Minnesota started as its seperate place in the nation. The frontier discovered the Mississippi River eventually and I'm sure that settlers traveled North & South to use it as a food,water, and cleaning source. They eventually reached Lake Itaska, MN to find a land with 10K lakes and even the Great Lakes which were the cornerstones of fishing, farming, trading, and transportation industries in Minnesota. The mighty Mississippi fuels the nations agriculture.
I'm sure every state has an interesting history & Beginning!

The settlers had to adapt to a very different environment and ecosystem when they arrived in Minnesota.
Which industry do you think thrived the fastest in Minnesota during its beginnings?
a. Fishing c. Transportation
b. Trading d. Agriculture My Answer-D

Introduction

2008-08-28T16:24:00.005-05:00

Hello everyone,
My name is Kenny Meyer, I also go by The Doc or Doctor. I grew up in Grand Rapids, MN but now live in South Fargo with my Wife. I am a Senior at NDSU and Should graduate this spring with a BSU degree, emphasis in Business, Music, and Philosophy. In my very limited free time I like to play, listen to, and write guitar music. I am married and have a baby on the way due exactically one month from today. After I graduate I plan to look into getting a job as a business advisor with Eide Baily here in Fargo. I am currently working full-time as a Kitchen Leader for Carino's Italian Grill in Fargo, and also part-time as a Quicklube tech for Gateway Chevrolet.

Introduction

2008-08-28T15:57:00.002-05:00

My name is Adam Wolfe. I'm currently in my senior chemistry classes and I don't have a future job set in stone. I grew up in Coon Rapids, MN and graduated in 2004. I like to play poker, soccer, golf, and frolf. I'm working on campus as a chemistry tutor this semester (SI for Chem121).