Excursion

Ok.
This Monday and Tuesday I went on an excursion with my marine ecology class. It was a very nice trip and we spent a lot of time in the water taking samples of the sediment and of the seagrass Thalassia, and took measures of the abundance, density and coverage of Thalassia. Later that evening we measured the length and width of the leaves and went through 15 sediment samples searching for microscopic animals. I liked it. Although my seriously lacking knowledge about everything that has to do with naming living things is indeed striking. I just don’t know what I am looking at. Same thing apply in Sweden. How does an asp look like… well, I don’t know. I remember a twoday course I took in februray 2006 with the swedish nature conservation organisation, it was about moss and the other green stuff that can grow on trees and rocks… well, when everyone was busy studying the little leaves of these things I found my self being more fascinated by the rock they were attached to. I saw some quite nice magmatic stone formations, but I do not remember one single name of all the different types of mosses and that other thing that we saw.
But anyhow, this doesn´t mean that I don’t keep believing that I one day will be an awesome all-knower and be able to identify every plant or animal that catches my eye! For those who are interested I can send you photos of some of the animals we saw with the proper text explaining what it is. To give one example:
This is a seastar! For some reason this particular name seem to be easier to remember than others. I guess I am progressing, soon soon I will rock!

During the 3 hour trip in the back of a small van we past one of Venezuelas 3-4 big refineries. It is an impressing aparatus, mixed feelings indeed. It is the source of income for all of Venezuela, at the same time it is oil!! Bad bad bad. And further... this very often used expression was printed on the wall.
"Patria, socialismo o muerte" =
native land, socialism or death
Sweet!

The latest in politics... Chavez has gone out and said that voting against the reform is the same as voting against him, and that he will have to reconsider his position as a President if it doesn´t go through at the election on the 2 dec. The opposition is trying hard to separate the two things: still wanting Chavez as president and support the revolution, and voting for or agaisnt the reform.
There are reports every day from the different polls being made and they all say different things. Sí is leading with 14 % or the exact opposite... difficult things these polls. Have never trusted them. I think they are more of a political instrument than a real thermometer of the people.