Reflection on Video

I thought the video was very informational, although hard to understand just because the speaker and audience were highly intelligent so jokes, and statistics were difficult to follow. All in all, the subject that he was talking about was interesting and I liked the way he put off things that he knew wouldn't be possible. He worded things so that it was a impact on the audience, as well as keeping it comedic, seeing how long he talked for I believe he needed the jokes, always in context.

If I myself was to choose one of the solutions that he talked of I would definitely choose the "solar panel state." But I would also take into hand what John said about having communal solar panels that power up cities or states at a time, instead of the whole country, because if a disaster did hit that area, the power of the country would be out, instead of maybe just a city. I missed the first 30% of the film from being sick, but I still learned and got intrigued by the video based on the subject, and the way he kept me focused with the jokes.

Chili Pepper Plant

Origin: Where does your plant originate...does it have an interesting history of how it became domesticated?

Chili peppers have been a part of a humans diet in the Americas since as far back as 7500 BC. There is archaeological evidence at sites within Ecuador that chili peppers were home eaten more than 6000 years ago, and it is one of the first cultivated crops in the Americas that is self pollinating, or in other words, it can a-sexually produce.

Nutrition: What are the nutritional values for your plant? Are there interesting chemicals in your plant (medicinal qualities, antioxidants etc.)

All hot chili peppers contain phytochemicals otherwise known as capsaicinoids. There are many beneficial findings of capsaicin, among the list is killing cancer cells, hope of weight loss, lower the amount of insulin needed by diabetics, as well as a treatment of chronic pain.

Interesting Facts: Anything that has not yet been mentioned.

In India, chili is used with lime to ward off evil spirits and can be seen within vehicles and in homes for just that purpose.

Also include a color picture of your plant.


BBC News Online. 2007. Chillies heated ancient cuisine. Friday, 16 February. Available from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6367299.stm

Bosland, P.W. 1996. Capsicums: Innovative uses of an ancient crop. p. 479-487. In: J. Janick (ed.), Progress in new crops. ASHS Press, Arlington, VA.