OK, it’s not quite that simple, but it’s pretty darned easy. If you choose the right plants, that is.

“The best plants for college students are probably the cactus and succulents,” said Joanne Rice, who has been working in the horticultural field for over 15 years.

“They are able to store water for long periods of time, in case you leave town or forget to water them,” Rice said.

She also suggests putting a layer of rocks on top, which looks nice and keeps the mess-factor to a minimum.

Aloe Vera plants are succulents which serve as more than just a little greenery. The leaves can be peeled open to reveal a cool, clear gel. The fresh Aloe Vera can be spread on skin to relieve the pain of sunburns.

Jonathan Felts, the volunteer and educational coordinator at the UNF Wildlife Sanctuary and the Co-Director/Horticulturalist for the Beaches Local Food Network, said window gardens are a growing trend.

Felts said students can grow micro greens on a windowsill, sprouts like alfalfa in jars, radishes, onions and broccoli, lettuce in a tray, strawberries and herbs in a hanging basket.

Felts is overseeing the VERB — vegetable and herb — garden in front of the UNF Eco-Center. The garden comprises of six, large raised beds full of plants like peppers, carrots, lettuce, squash, tomatoes and cucumbers and a half dozen fruit trees such as citrus, peach, fig and pomegranate.

He said they also have many strange perennials that most people haven’t heard of like the Sunset Edible Hibiscus and New
Zealand Spinach.

“The goal is to supplement Chartwells,” Felts said.

But that is a long way off. Right now, the produce is being divided between the volunteers working at the garden, with talks
of eventually making the food available for students to purchase at Market Days at the Student Union.

Felts is offering workshops free to UNF students at the Eco-Center about organic gardening, composting, plant propagation, seed sowing and organic fertilizer and pest control. The first class will be at 10 a.m. Aug. 30. He will be teaching plant propagation (the science of growing plants from seeds or cuttings) and will be seeding fall vegetables.

“I’ve had plenty of salads, and I had a honey dew the other day that was pretty tasty,” said Kevin Rodriguez, who works at the Eco-Center and has
helped in the garden.

“It’s super tasty, especially when you put in time, it’s really rewarding.”

For more information about the workshops check out the VERB garden board at Eco-Adventures or e-mail the Eco-Center at rectrail@unf.edu.

Click the image below to learn more about three plants that will grow on a windowsill that gets a minimum of five hours of sunlight:

E-mail Emily Hartford and Ashlee Gannon
features@unfspinnaker.com

Professor Sarah Clarke Stuart (top) teaches a class about "Lost" (below)

Smoke monsters, time travel and alternate realities are the topics of discussion in UNF Professor Sarah Clarke Stuart’s
English classes.

Many UNF students are getting the chance to discuss and write about the television phenomenon “Lost,” comparing the show to
works of literature similar to or talked about in the hit ABC show.

Stuart, an adjunct English professor, began incorporating themes and elements from ABC’s hit show into classroom discussions two years ago. She enjoys watching science fiction shows such as “Fringe” and “Battlestar Galactica” but said she also enjoys watching “Glee” here and there.

Stuart felt using television shows would allow easier consumption of the complex books used in the course, such as Henry James’ “Turn of the Screw.”

“It’s the most passive form of entertainment, you just sit there,” she said.

She feels the students benefit from this method tremendously, and the craze which comes with the show increases vocal interactions between students.

“They benefit in that they’re doing a critical reading, a critical interpretation of something that normally you would passively consume: television,” Stuart said.

One of the works the students talked about in Stuart’s spring 2010 class “Lost and Found: Finding Religion in Science Fiction
Television,” was “Alice in Wonderland.”

The students received the chance to compare the themes of altered identity and different states of reality to “Lost” and conduct analysis of the parallels between the different forms of media. When discussing the connections between ‘Alice’ and “Lost,” Stuart said one similarity is the use of “holes” — the rabbit hole in ‘Alice’ and the hatch in “Lost” — to enter new and unfamiliar areas.

Two students who took the ‘Lost and Found’ class weighed in on their experience in the classroom. Leigha Carter, a psychology
junior, found the class intriguing and used other shows such as “Dexter” and ‘Battlestar’ to discuss themes found in the shows. Carter enjoyed studying the topic of fate versus free will in relation to the television shows.

“It made me take an academic standpoint on something that I was just a crazy fan of,” she said.

Christian Telmosse, an education sophomore, said he will be looking closer at the programs he watches on television.

“There’s certain aspects of television that you watch, and you don’t necessarily find religion,” Telmosse said. “There’s hidden messages [or] hidden symbols in the movies, in the television that you don’t necessarily find when you watch it sitting down at home.”

“Lost” is not the only television series discussed in Stuart’s classes. The ‘Lost and Found’ class also used other popular shows, including “V,” “Flash Forward” and ‘Battlestar’ as tools to reignite interest in the books the students were required to read earlier on in the course.

Stuart uses Kurt Vonnegut’s “Slaughterhouse Five” in many of her classes to discuss the topics of time travel, identity and redemption.

Religion is a topic discussed frequently in her “Lost”-centric classes, and — spoiler warning — with the reveal that the characters in the show all end up in the afterlife, it seems like an appropriate topic to discuss about the show.

The class finds theological concepts and imagery from several major world religions — including Christianity, Hinduism and
Buddhism — to spark discussion in the show.

The professor hopes her classes will get students to look at other media like you would a classic work of literature.

“They can go back to other forms of media, maybe even video games, other television shows, films and engage actively rather than just being a passive viewer,” Stuart said.

She is currently working on a book, “Literary Lost,” which discusses themes the show delved into during the show’s six-season run. She discusses books like ‘Slaughterhouse’ and “Robinson Crusoe” to explore the ideas of group dynamics and rebirth.

E-mail Tyler White at
staff2@unfspinnaker.com.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, Jacksonville’s UV index is 11+, putting us in the extreme category — the highest category on the scale.

And while we’re aware of the damage UV radiation has on our skin, we often overlook our eyes. But they, too, are victim to sun damage, which can lead to cancer and even blindness.

“UV exposure in Florida is the biggest cause of eye damage,” said Richard Hillyard, a licensed optician at Nicoltz, a Jacksonville eye clinic. “And that’s probably the biggest cause for everyone.”

Not everyone lives by the beach, though; reflective surfaces like sand and water are especially harmful to the eyes. A day at the beach without sunglasses could cause a temporary and painful burn to the cornea called Photokeratitis. Reflections off snow and concrete and exposure to artificial light sources such as tanning beds can also cause it, according to epa.gov.

Prolonged UV radiation increases the risk of other, more permanent damage like cataracts, Pterygium and skin cancer around the eyelids.

Cataracts are the result of gradually accumulating damage to the proteins of the lens, which becomes fogged and cause a loss of vision. Only expensive surgery can cure cataracts.

Ptergium is a tissue growth on the cornea which could spread to cover the pupil, affecting vision. Ptergium is more common in sunny climates among 20- to 40-yearolds; surgery can also remove it.

More information about these diseases can be found at nei.nih.gov.

There are ways to prevent eye damage, though. Hillyard provided a list of ways we can protect our eyes from UV radiation.

“Wear sunglasses and wear hats. Even if you aren’t wearing sunglasses, wear some sort of lens with ultraviolet protection in them … teardrops and routine vision care with your eye doctor help, too.”

Not all sunglasses are created equal, though. It’s a common misconception that the darker the tint, the better the protection. The fact is, sunglasses without UV radiation protection can actually cause more harm to your eyes than good. The tint allows your pupils to dilate, letting
more sunlight into your eye and without UV protection, all the harmful radiation that comes with it.

“If they [sunglasses] are not UV protected, let’s say they just use a lens and they don’t add the additional protection and it’s only 70 percent [UV protected], you are dilating the eye a little bit so you’re going to get some damage because there’s 30 percent of the damage getting through,”
Hillyard said.

Clear lenses can also block UV radiation.

“I can build you a pair of non-tinted lenses with 100 percent protection, but it’s just going to be bright,” Hillyard said.

Standard prescription eyeglasses can also be treated with a material that provides UV protection while retaining a clear, non-tinted appearance. Most rigid contact lenses also provide UV protection — but because contact lenses don’t cover the entire eye, it’s still important to wear sunglasses when outdoors, even when it’s overcast.

The good news is that sunglasses don’t have to be expensive to protect your eyes and can usually be found at the local drugstore. And high prices don’t necessarily guarantee the best protection.

“You can get a $5 pair of sunglasses that have 100 percent UV protection or a $500 pair, as long as they both have 100 percent [UV protection] they are equally protected,” Hillyard said.

E-mail Emily Hartford and Chance Ryan at
features@unfspinnaker.com.

My 18-year-old sister Laura has read all the Harry Potter books more times than she can remember, owns all the movies and probably knows how to properly perform more spells than Ron Weasley. So when our grandmother offered to take her on a trip as her graduation gift, it was a no-brainer – The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure, duh.

I tagged along on the magical journey, but I am no Harry Potter aficionado, although I just so happen to know someone who is. Here is what Laura had to say about the park:

“The Harry Potter theme park went above and beyond all that I expected. Simply standing in the middle of the attraction and looking around at the shops and rides was enough to get my heart racing. The architecture was flawless and accurate down to the last detail. The rides were thrilling, the shows made me feel like I was stepping into one of the movies and the staff played their part, all lending to the magical feel of the park. Even the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds didn’t detract from the splendor, though I had the advantage of an Express pass, which is definitely worth the extra money. I wish I could visit every day, just to enjoy an icy cool Butterbeer at the Hog’s Head Inn!”

If you are as, we’ll say, dedicated, to HP as my sister, I think your reaction will be nearly identical. I, on the other hand, wasn’t quite as easy to please. Although, I’ve got to say, Butterbeer – at $3 a pop – was one of the highlights of the visit.

It comes in two forms, liquid and frozen. The liquid one was my favorite: The smooth, lightly carbonated beverage just might be the best non-alcoholic beer ever. It has a butterscotch/vanilla flavor and is topped with a thick white head of creamy-foam goodness. The Boathouse should definitely look into it.

There are three rides in Harry Potter World, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Flight of the Hippogriff and Dragon Challenge. The Forbidden Journey soared about the rest, literally. The ride is inside a massive reproduction of the Hogwarts castle. Walking through the winding lines of Hogwart’s innards to get to the ride was almost as amusing as the ride itself. A massive golden phoenix stands at the entrance to Dumbledore’s office. Inside is more authentic reproductions like the Remembrall, moving, talking pictures, exotic plants, a hanging dragon skeleton and bottles of “potions.” Luckily, the fat lady let us in without a password.

I don’t want to detract from the unexpected wonders that occur once secured onto your broom, but it was awesome. The other two rides were less awe-striking though. Flight of the Hippogriff is a short kid’s coaster but it was fun none-the-less. And Dragon Challenge is what was formerly known as Dueling Dragons – sister roller-coasters in which your dangling feet come close to colliding with the riders on the other track. Fun, but been there, done that.

Walking through Hogsmeade and its shops was amusing at first, but the crowds got thick quick. Ollivander’s is the best. Here’s the ridiculous part, the wait to get into the wand shop averages two to three hours. Before you put your appalled face on, I did not wait in that line. Because we stayed at Royal Pacific, one of Universal’s hotels, we got into HP world two hours before the park opened to the public. We waited about 15 minutes. Inside, Ollivander chooses one of the dozen people in the room to help find a wand. After a brief display of sound and light effects and some moving drawers, us Muggles were funneled into Dervish & Bangs where wands run $38.00, cloaks for $99.99.

Performances from the Frog Choir and representatives from Durmstrang Institute and Beauxbatons Academy of Magic every half hour made it feel almost real.

I wouldn’t go right now if I were you, though. The fake snow on the rooftops of Hogsmeade become annoying as you drip with sweat under the beating sun. The crowds during the middle of the day are difficult to navigate through, and without an express pass, you’ll spend most of the day waiting in lines.

When you do go, get a year pass. It’s the same cost as a three-day pass for Florida residents, $139.99. And with all the other rides at Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios, you will want more than a day, I guarantee it.

The SMC Music Project comes as a joint venture between the city of Jacksonville and music promoters Infintesmal Records. The mayor’s office is funding the project, showing an interest in Jacksonville’s music scene.

Infintesmal Records owners Jimmi Bayer and Nick Schoeppel started the label in late 2008 as a means to get the word out on local artists that they felt needed more exposure. The label released their first compilation CD December 31, 2008. The label has around 20 artists they are supporting.

Bayer and Schoeppel have wanted to play at the Snyder Memorial Church for some time simply because of the look of the building.

“The building alone is incredible,” Bayer said. “We’ve walked by it many times it’s a building we’ve always kinda stared at [and said] ‘I wish we could set up shop in there.’”

Bayer and Schoeppel are optimistic about the local music scene and are looking forward to seeing its rise in the future.

“It’s certainly on the verge of thriving,” Schoeppel said.

Schoeppel hopes the event provides a new look into local cultures people may not know about.

“It’s about getting everybody together and having a good time and supporting local awesome music as well as art in general,” he said.

The night started off with DJ Ian Ranne laying down some old funk and soul tracks on the turn table. Ranne, 30, has been a disc jockey since 2003. Meanwhile, local visual artists set up shop to showcase their work. David Miller, Crystal Floyd and Rebecca Rhyne were some of the artists presenting their work.

Fernandina Beach-based rock group, Friends, started rocking the walls of the church at 9 p.m. The band played some experimental rock that included long interludes of instrumentals reminiscent of dueling guitars. Guitarist Danny Strickland twiddled the frets of his Fender Jazzmaster as the rest of the band continued to play along in syncopated glory. The musical finesse of each band member screamed over accomplished, but the band’s sound as a whole is nonsensical at times. The sound is of course experimental and comes off as a jam band with little attention to structure.

Following Friends, the ocean waves washed in some mellow tunes from Wudun and Honey Chamber. The Jacksonville bands played set lists of moody rock and crunchy pop. Wudun’s drolling moans sounded a bit monotonous at times but after the set list by Friends, it was nice to have a break from the extravagant guitar patterns. The sounds of Wudun made me feel like I was on a bad acid trip, spiraling down the rabbit hole to oblivion. The swooning sounds of Honey Chamber’s rough pop rock came in to end the night with a saccharine flavor.

The bands received a fair amount of people in the crowd, but Bayer and Schoeppel hope more people will get involved in the Jacksonville music scene in order to promote art throughout the city.

“Infintesmal is very much a family and we operate as such,” Bayer said. “We’re just now on the brink of bigger things.”

You can find out more about Infintesmal Records at their MySpace and Facebook.

The Snyder Memorial Church will be hosting events every Friday of the month, with the next show being on July 16. The bands Antarctic, Borromakat vs. Bright Orange and The Great Working will be playing on that date.

I’m here to provide you with some of the top shows to watch over the remainder of the summer. While this list is ranked in relation to Netflix availability and the quality of the show, try and get your hands on these TV shows by any legal means possible. Borrow the DVDs from a friend, rent them from Blockbuster.

These premium shows provide mature-rated television pleasure that don’t hold back on the swearing, sex and violence. But these shows provide something more. Since these shows can include the mature content, the interactions between characters on each are more believable. The writing thrives in these shows, and the audience benefits from that.

5. Californication (Showtime)

Netflix availability: Season one (Streaming), Season two (DVD), Season three (coming soon)

New Season: Fall 2010

David Duchovny wants you to be believe in “Californication.” Duchovny plays washed-up writer Hank Moody who lives in Los Angeles trying to raise his daughter, Becca. Duchovny is hilarious in the show as you see him pick up random girls from the library, only to get punched in the face during sex. Add in an awesome cast of supporting characters, including Evan Handler (Sex and The City), and you will want to go club-hopping every night with Moody and Co.

4. Spartacus: Blood and Sand (Starz)

Netflix availability: Season one (Streaming and DVD)

New Season: 2011

Rome never looked so raunchy in this action-packed new series on Starz. Andy Whitfield plays the role of Spartacus, who becomes enslaved as a gladiator and must fight for his freedom and the hopes to see his family again. The show contains a unique art design for the fights during the violent gladiator battles: flashes of red swipe across the screen as unfit warriors lose their limbs to the unstoppable Spartacus and the blood effects are reminiscent of “Kill Bill Vol. 1.” If you miss the days of “300” and the random shouting of “This is Sparta,” then check out this show.

3. True Blood (HBO)

Netflix availability: Seasons one and two (DVD)

New Season: Now (Summer 2010)

Everyone’s talking about “Eclipse” this summer. Forget about that airhead Edward for an hour or so and check out the already widely popular hit “True Blood.” The show’s premise has vampires coming out of the coffin and walking amongst on an international level. Cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin) becomes romantically involved with vampire Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer) and a slew of unsolved murders plague the town of Bon Temps, La. Oscar-winning screenwriter Alan Ball, who was the mastermind behind the HBI masterpiece “Six Feet Under,” created True Blood. The show has sharp writing and emotional depth that gives the undead so much more life than any Stephanie Meyer novel could ever contain. True Blood is the best thing to happen to vampires since “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” so grab some garlic and slip on a turtleneck for a night and get to watching.

2. Weeds (Showtime)

Netflix availability: Seasons one through five (DVD and Streaming)

New Season: August 16, 2010

What if you had to resort to selling marijuana in a suburban town to make ends meet? Nancy Botwin (Mary-Louise Parker) becomes wrapped up in the illegal drug world in order to keep her upper-class lifestyle afloat and a roof over her kids’ heads in this smart and outrageous comedy. Parker is smooth and vivid on screen as Botwin and the ensemble cast of characters makes this show an awesomely fun watch. Snooty PTA mom Celia Hodes (Elizabeth Perkins) will drive you insane with her ridiculous antics and constant-pot head Doug Wilson (Kevin Nealon) brings the laughs when ever the cannabis is burning. You can easily knock out the first five seasons of the show in less than a week. I say grab the munchies and get lost in this show’s puff of smoke.

1. Dexter (Showtime)

Netflix availability: Seasons one and two (DVD and Streaming), Season three (DVD), Season four (coming soon)

New Season: Fall 2010

Meet Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), a smart and witty blood-spatter analyst for the Miami Metro Police Department. He’s got a foul-mouthed cop for a sister (Jennifer Carpenter) and a beautiful girlfriend (Julie Benz) with two kids. You could say he’s got it all figured out – except for the fact that he’s a serial killer with a large appetite for murder.

Dexter Morgan is a good serial killer though – if that’s even possible. He has a code. He only kills people that slip through the cracks of the judicial system or the people who think they are above the law. He kills murderers, rapists and child molesters. He’s Miami’s dark avenger. It sounds sick, but you begin to empathize with Dexter in ways you never could have fathomed.

This is Showtime’s current flagship series. The powerful, slightly comical writing of the show provides an astounding framework for the actors to truly become alive. Michael C. Hall, who made waves on HBO’s “Six Feet Under,” is brilliant as Dexter Morgan. This is the show you need to catch up on if you haven’t started. The first three seasons are television gold, all leading up to the legendary fourth season that will blow your mind.

Compiled by Tyler White

5. Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg “California Gurls”

Who doesn’t love a nice game of Candyland? The D-O-Double-G plays singer Perry on a wildly colorful board game of “Candyfornia,” a world laced with licorice and candy cane anacondas. Perry, who rocks a cotton candy wig, wears a bustier laden with rhinestones and gumdrops to match her candy wrapper skirt. It’s campy and scrumptious while being equal parts sexy and ridiculous. If you’ve ever wanted to see Perry shoot whipped cream from her breasts, your wish has come true.

Check out the music video at YouTube.

4. Gorillaz “On Melancholy Hill”

The duo just released their new video, and the video sports some high production values with the cartoon style the group is known for using in music videos. The underwater graphics are soothing to match the vibe of the song, and there is a blend of several different art styles to create another visual adventure through a song by the Gorillaz. The fictional band members you’ve come to love are back, as well with their odd characteristics.

Check out the music video here at YouTube.

3. Snoop Dogg “O Sookie”

Snoop Dogg makes a trip to Bon Temps, La. in this great tribute to our favorite fang-banger, Sookie Stackhouse. True Blood fans will appreciate this more than the average viewer, but it’s a great little ditty. There are waitresses from Merlotte’s that dance alongside Snoop in the video, and there are clips from the television series scattered throughout. Watch it for a good laugh. Be glad there are no spinning heads in the video.

Check out the music video here at YouTube.

2. Hanson “Thinking ‘Bout Somethin’”

Say what you want about Hanson, but the Oklahoma trio has matured enough to make some solid music over the past few years. This music video is a tribute to one of the most iconic scenes from the 1980 classic, “The Blues Brothers,” where The Blues Brothers dance and sing “Shake a Tail Feather” with Ray Charles. In this music video, Hanson and the production crew mimic the scene almost identically. There are people dancing in the street, funky guitar riffs and even a cameo by “Weird Al” Yankovic as the tambourine player. Remove the sounds of “MMMBop” from your mind for about four minutes, and check this groovy track from the brothers. Trust me, it’s not horrible.

Check out the music video here at YouTube.

1. Lady GaGa “Alejandro”

Mama monster is back with another music video to make your eyes go ga-ga. The video starts off with shirtless military men in leather performing a dancer’s military march while Miss GaGa watches from above in her tower. GaGa looks like a cross between Queen Amidala and Darth Vader in this video with her odd steampunk outfit. The dancing is top-notch and fluid. The dancers will make you feel like hitting the gym with their chiseled figures. The context of the music video itself is where the strength of the video lies. There are some subtle and blatant messages implied through the video involving a clash between the Catholic church and gays. GaGa seems to be trying to inhabit the inner conflict between the two opposing groups by swallowing rosaries and mimicking sexual positions. This video continues to show GaGa bringing the music video medium back to an art form.

Check out the music video here at Vevo.

Compiled by Tyler White

Does their band name sound familiar? Well it should if you listen to the Velvet Underground.

“We thought it would be a funny oxymoron, because there are two black people in the band and only one white person,” said Mariah Johnson, a UNF accounting junior, who plays guitar and sings for the band.

Consisting of only three members, the band manages to have a variety of sounds and beats throughout most of their songs.  Alongside Johnson are Corey Griffin, who also plays guitar and sings, and Riannon Regan on drums.  This down-to-earth gang seems to get along great, and when they are not practicing, you can find them cooking and eating together.

Johnson said White Light White Heat has a sound all their own, but bands such as The Strokes, New Order and Adam and the Ants inspired them.  Upon listening to them, I get a sense of The Smiths or even The Killers, at times.  These three goofy musicians hope to one day take their variety of sounds north and end up in New York City.  For now, though, us Jacksonville rock ‘n’ rollers get to enjoy their sounds as much as possible.  You can find White Light White Heat at venues from the popular Ocean Club, to intimate house shows.

Take a listen, and decide for yourself just what White Light White Heat is all about, you’ll be glad you did.  Check out their MySpace page below along with a list of their upcoming shows.

myspace.com/insertsomething

Ocean Club at  Ocean Club, Jacksonville Beach

Saturday, June 26 @ 10:00 p.m.