briellgiancola

the word: SYSTEM

what are the first systems that you think of….right off the top of your head?

you probably thought of government, eco system, solar system, sound system, monetary, circulatory, digestive, and “the system” (that thing everyone refers to but never knows what “F*** the system!!” really means or why it is to blame).

but now let’s just think for a second….. S – Y – S – T -E – M

what systems are on the line?

well, we have a few major ones. the eco system.
you’re probably saying to yourself “obviously, there is an ecosystem on the line there are eco systems everywhere” and you’re right to say that. but there are different eco systems where ever you end up going. some are in the woods, the creek, the little river, and even the side of the hill with brush everywhere, there is an eco system.
jar of mini eco system parts!!!!

another system on the line is the traffic system.
(ok so alfred only has one traffic light and its not on the line…..but the line intersects the road?) http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=Alfred+University,+1+Saxon+Drive,+Alfred,+NY+14802&aq=0&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=36.042042,79.013672&vpsrc=6&ie=UTF8&hq=Alfred+University,+1+Saxon+Drive,+Alfred,+NY+14802&ll=42.257568,-77.78636&spn=0.016517,0.032015&t=h&layer=c&cbll=42.255742,-77.789933&panoid=p0U3OV05lM8xelCHjeeO-Q&cbp=11,174.17,,0,0&output=svembed
View Larger Map” target=”_blank”>crossing the street

also, we can’t forget about the food system here on campus.
every day, thousands of meals get served to hungry students and staff at powell campus center dining hall. there is an organized system to how we get our food: swipe your card, get into line/grab a plate, wait your turn to pile some food onto your dish, get a beverage, grab some silverware, and go scout out a seat. but if you look into this process deeper, what other systems are within this? there is a system for making a salad. lettuce, toppings, dressing. there is a system that the people making you a sandwich use. bread, meat type, toppings, 2nd slice of bread, and a cut right down the middle.
don’t forget about the dish washing system there too. we put our dirty items on a conveyor belt and somehow, they manage to get transported into the washing room and be cleaned. impressive.

so, for part of my research, i began to look at where, in my own life i had systems and where, if i didn’t have them already, i could implement them.
so here are some of the things i did:

my clothes are now in color order in my closet.
i set up a laundry schedule for myself.
every time i shower or brush my teeth, i do it in the same order.
i have a certain order that i put my books into my bag
i make more concise and effective lists now

those are just a few of any systems that are at work in my life.

as for now, the word system….the IDEA of system has so much to offer. so, I’m using one of my favorite books as a jumping off point. The Book of Embraces by Eduardo Galeano has a few passages that pertain to systems but one in particular stood out.

i think i am going to try and develop my ideas off of this and use this as a basis for a project. but i guess we’ll see where it goes. but for now, here are a few more pictures of my research.

I LOVE HIKING. I LOVE HIKING. I LOVE HIKING (not up wall-like hills). I LOVED HIKING (at some point i think i did…) I WISH I WEREN’T HIKING (i have a ridiculous amount of homework….i should be reading the gospel right now….literally) I’M REALLY NOT LIKING THE HIKING (that rhymed) I DON’T LIKE HIKING. I DISLIKE HIKING. I STRONGLY DISLIKE HIKING. I HATE HIKING. F*$! HIKING. (whoops.)

Well gang, here it is. Welcome to “THE ALFRED LINE”. A line that’s 1 mile long, 5 feet wide and an infinitely extending plane going through the earth all the way into the universe. (now that i think about it, it should be the “Alfred Plane”….but that has less of a ring to it)
Who knows what will happen but for now folks, welcome to the line.
Please place your tray tables in an upright position and secure any loose items in the overhead compartment. In case of an emergency, please make your way to the nearest exit. The pilot would like to welcome you today and would like to thank you for flying with us. Enjoy the line.