BRIDGES

January 15, 2016 by elliejayo Leave a Comment

Ellie Jay

1.02 Your Lens

History

1/15/16

The Brooklyn Bridge is far older than the Golden Gate Bridge. Both of these structures capture so much beauty and history in our world that many people do not realize. The Brooklyn Bridge was completed in 1883 this bridge was known for being the first steel wire bridge. This bridge is absolutely stunning especially what it is lit up at night sitting above water with the lights of New York City behind it. This bridge has been seen in many movies because of the beauty that it captures. The structure of this building contains many different elements, from limestone to granite. It’s literally breathing taking. The Golden Gate Bridge is also a very well know and eye catching structure. This bridge is located in San Francisco California this bridge was constructed far after the Brooklyn Bridge, in 1933 construction began and was completed in 1937. This bridge offers a more simplistic view and far more rural atmosphere. It does not have the lights or busy traffic the Brooklyn Bridge does, although it is known to be far more peaceful and out of the way of the busy city life compared to the Brooklyn bridge. It does not offer the beautiful stone work the Brooklyn Bridge does but what it does offer is a beautiful scenery or mountainous terrain surrounding it. I believe that both of these areas value these structures more than most people realize. They have made sure to keep these bridges safe and fully functioning not only because they are a high source of transport but they are a huge mark in these areas and it’s important to people to still have these types of treasure around and catching people’s eye. Many people go out of their way to travel just to see these bridges in their lifetime and if one were to visit either bridge they would see why, they are part of our history and a treasurable sight to see. These are not your typical bridges you see every day unless of course you live in these areas.

Wikipedia. Golden Gate Bridge Vs. Brooklyn Bridge. WEB. 15 Jan 2016

My Lens – Jake Hinson

January 15, 2016 by jakehinson 2 Comments

Hi everyone, my name is Jake Hinson, I am a senior at Boise State studying Construction Management and this is “My Lens”:

Where did you grow up, and how did that place, as well as the people around you, influence you?

I grew up in a small town where everyone knew everyone. When I was in high school I could not wait to get out and move to somewhere new, now I miss not being able to go to the grocery store or church without running into people that I have known forever. Growing up here influenced me in many ways, and it wasn’t until I started college that I realized that. For one, there was really only one type of people that lived in my hometown. So after beginning college I realized that I was very hesitant to talk or acknowledge people that were different than me. I think that my lens, in this aspect, has changed drastically since I began school here at Boise State and for the better.

What kinds of books or other texts did you read in school? On your own?

I have always been a fan of Louis L’amour. For those of you not familiar with this author, he wrote western and war novels mostly. I have always been fascinated by these two topics and the way that he researches facts and writes his stories to parallel actual history is so intriguing to me.

Where (e.g., specific website, television news channels, friends and family, church, etc.) do you learn about what’s going on in the U.S. and the rest of the world?

Growing up my family would usually talk about news and politics around the the dinner table. Now that I have moved away most of my news comes from the internet. I try to watch the news as much as possible but it is aggravating to me that every channel is so one sided and to find real facts is almost impossible.

How do you spend your leisure time, and how might it shape your view of the world?

I try to spend as much time as I can up in the mountains. Whether I’m hunting, fishing, shed hunting, or even just up snowboarding I love being away from society. I used to rodeo in high school but I had to sell my horses to pay for college. I am hoping to get horses again soon and start team roping.

How has your religious or spiritual journey influenced how you view other people and their decisions?

My religious views have no influence on how I view people.

Did your parents or guardians come from different cultures? If so, how did these cultures appear in your home when you were growing up?

My parents were friends since they were six years old, that being said, they have no culture differences. This really created a strong cultural background for my brothers and I to grow up in.

How has your perspective on the world changed as you have matured and gained more life experience?

Like I mentioned earlier, my perspective on the world has changed dramatically. Not in a way that I agree that we should be burning our nations flag, or protesting that our education should be free; but in a way where I can accept people for who they are and feel more comfortable in situations where I may have to hang around people that come from completely different background than mine.

Are there people or experiences that you consider formative in your life—that is, they are or were essential to shaping the person you are today? Explain.

My Grandpa. He is the person that I have always looked up to. Until I was about 5 we lived with my grandparents, I can remember my grandpa, dad, and uncle coming home from work and my grandpa had been finishing concrete for so long that he couldn’t walk from his truck to the house. So my dad and uncle would have to carry him inside and put him on the couch for his back to rest. And at 5 am the next day he would be up for work to make sure that he could provide for his family. It is because of this work ethic that he had installed in my father that has allowed me all the opportunities that I have received in life. I hope some day that I can do the same for my family.

Kyle Mitsunaga Bridges

January 15, 2016 by kylemitsunaga 5 Comments

When it comes to these two very historical bridges you may think they are so very similar. Although I have been on both bridges, there is a key difference that you may not know if you haven’t done any research about them. Looking at both bridges you think of historical landscapes that tourist may come and see if they are in the area. They are both larger in person than you’d expect it to be. But to get down into it one may say they would rather travel on the Brooklyn Bridge over the Golden Gate because there is no toll fee to travel on it. Aside from the toll fee on the Golden Gate there are many other differences. After a little bit of researching the Golden Gate is made of pure metal, whereas the Brooklyn Bridge is made of iron and steel, both bridges are suspension bridges as well. The Brooklyn Bridge has cables suspended all going towards the middle of the bridge looking like a spider web. The Golden Gate has cables going straight up and down. It seems as if people frame these bridges in photos as “breathtaking”. Most pictures that you see online all have a nice sunset, or has the city and large buildings behind it. The pictures are very catching to the eye and make it seem very real.

As we know the Brooklyn Bridge is older. I you look at the bridge it looks like there is a bigger base in the middle of the bridge. Again like I said with the cables all are connected to the middle it seems. Now the Golden Gate looks thinner, not as big of base. One may say that building the Brooklyn Bridge was a new project for the contract workers that they have never worked with. Maybe the Brooklyn Bridge has a bigger base because of the lack of knowledge of how sturdy it would be. The Golden Gate seems like it has less of a base, though it is new than the Brooklyn would they have that knowledge? Could the base just add to the esthetics?

Another hypothesis I have about the different makeup of the bridges is due to the likelihood of earthquakes. As we know California has a history with some large earthquakes, New York on the other hand has had some but not on the same scale as California. Now does the construction differ because the Golden Gate is more prone to an earthquake?

Lastly, the fact that both cities haven’t made any major changes to the bridges say that they are proud of their cities history. Both cities believe that they have the most famous most beautiful bridge in the United States. With high traffic volumes on both bridges you can say it has revolutionized both cities. They are both historical cities with monumental landmarks which both happen to be bridges.