Roy Chapman Andrews - A Profile of the Famous Paleontologist

Name: Roy Chapman Andrews Born/Died: 1884-1960 Nationality: American Dinosaurs Discovered: Oviraptor, Velociraptor, Saurornithoides; also discovered numerous prehistoric mammals and other animals About Roy Chapman Andrews Although he had a long, active career in paleontology--he was director of the prestigious American Museum of Natural History from 1935 to 1942--Roy Chapman Andrews is best known for his fossil-hunting excursions to Mongolia in the early 1920s. At this time, Mongolia was a truly exotic destination, not yet dominated by China, virtually inaccessible by mass transport, and rife with political instability. During his expeditions, Andrews used both automobiles and camels to traverse the hostile terrain, and he had a number of narrow escapes that added to his reputation as a dashing adventurer (he was later said to have been the inspiration for Steven Spielbergs Indiana Jones movies). Andrews Mongolian expeditions were not only newsworthy; they also immeasurably advanced  the worlds knowledge  about dinosaurs. Andrews discovered numerous dinosaur fossils at the Flaming Cliffs formation in Mongolia, including the type specimens of Oviraptor and Velociraptor, but today hes most famous for unearthing the first indisputable evidence of dinosaur eggs (before the 1920s, scientists were unsure if dinosaurs laid eggs or gave birth to live young). Even then, he managed to make a huge (if understandable) blunder: Andrews believed his Oviraptor specimen had stolen the eggs of a nearby Protoceratops, but in fact thisegg thief turned out to be hatching its own young! ​Oddly enough, when he embarked for Mongolia, Andrews did not have dinosaurs or other prehistoric fauna uppermost in his mind. ​Along with his fellow paleontologist Henry Fairfield Osborn, Andrews believed that the ultimate ancestors of humans originated in Asia, rather than Africa, and he wanted to find indisputable fossil evidence to support this theory. Although its possible that an early offshoot of hominids branched off into Asia millions of years ago, the bulk of the evidence today  is that human beings did in fact originate in Africa. Roy Chapman Andrews is most often associated with his dinosaur discoveries, but he was responsible for  excavating and/or naming a respectable number of prehistoric mammals as well, including a specimen of the giant terrestrial grazer  Indricotherium and the giant  Eocene predator Andrewsarchus (which was named by a paleontologist on one of Andrews central Asian expeditions in honor of his fearless leader). As far as we know, these two mammals were the largest terrestrial herbivore and the largest terrestrial carnivore, respectively, ever to roam the face of the earth.

The Slave Crucible Analysis - 1266 Words

â€Å"The Slave Crucibles† and â€Å"A Federal Assault† provide different perspectives on the experiences of slaves. â€Å"The Slave Crucibles† contributes personal insight into the different aspects of the lives of slaves while â€Å"A Federal Assault† exhibits a generalized viewpoint on the effects of laws such as the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 on the majority of the slave population. Both pieces of literature demonstrate the injustices and demeaning treatment towards African Americans during the 19th century. Pargas’ â€Å"The Slave Crucibles† is structured to provide the personal experiences of slaves by including specific examples and testimonies from those who endured slavery or had first hand encounters with enslaved African Americans. By including such†¦show more content†¦However, fictive kin and these new established relationships on shared experiences did not completely extinguish the feelings of longing for loved ones or diminish the oppression faced by these people. Reunion with family members was one of the major motives for interstate migrants to escape but sometimes it proved to be more difficult than expected because migrants came from longer distances. Therefore, when attempts to escape were made they were more permanent and â€Å"...fugitives were not intending to ‘visit’ loved ones but rather escape their new destinations for good†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Pargas 243). These feelings of depression and isolation, removal from loved ones, and demeaning treatment incited many slaves to escape. Escaping was never easy and there were laws set in place to punish those who tried to do so. These laws, specifically the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, and their effects are closely examined in Horton’s article, â€Å"A Federal Assault.† Horton provides a more generalized approach and the use of anecdotes is present but is not as intense as in â€Å"The Slave Crucibles.† Horton presents the actions taken by the government and the states in order to deal with fugitives. He examines the impact of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 on the general slave population and the people associated with it. Information is also presented on what was done in order to combat the Fugitive Slave Act and allow African Americans to experience the freedom that theyShow MoreRelatedAccusation And Defense Of The Salem Witchcraft Trials1658 Words   |  7 PagesHistory 1301-73001-73002 JOE L. MCCAMBRIDGE - HISTORY 1301-1302 One of the most infamous Trial in history took place on March 1, 1692. According, to the Library of Congress, Massachusetts authorities catechized Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne, and an Indian Slave, Tituba regarding their practice in witchcraft. The trial resulted in more than 150 men and women in and around Salem jailed on charges of practicing Witchcraft and Sorceries. 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Reflecting this tactic, cases involving slavery and the treatment of slaves rarely made it into the courtroom, although it was constantly at the forefront of the court of public opinion. It seemed that everyone desired to keep enslavement as it was, for fear of ruffling the feathers of some dangerous birds. America was, atRead MoreRace And Gender Politics : Purple Hibiscus1487 Words   |  6 Pagesand inequality of class and culture. From there, I hoped to comprehend how gender politics was a reflection of Nigerian politics and its gender perceptions in the social structure as a whole. As my work proceeded, however, a third dimension of analysis became equally significant, for it became clear that, as much as African women in this novel speak from physical environments shaped by race, there is also an element of silence, censorship and domestic violence. The narrative of this novel, theRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of Winthrop Delivered Sermon Called A Modell Of Christian Charity2205 Words   |  9 Pagesin Bradford s piece, it becomes the main point of interest and analysis as I read it. Have you ever watched an award show, and when someone wins an Oscar, Grammy, Tony, etc., they thank God, and you wonder why they would blindly attribute their remarkable successes to something so intangible? That s what I was thinking when I read this short section, and that s why I chose to include the first quote in this reflection and analysis. The pilgrims give all the credit to God for their survival acrossRead MoreSupernatural in American Fiction Essay2928 Words   |  12 PagesMankind would never submit to this. He will immediately turn to the darkness. 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Should a moment of silence be legal in public scho Essay Example For Students

Should a moment of silence be legal in public scho Essay ols?In 1962 the Supreme Court decided that public schools did not have the power to authorize school prayer. This decision made public school in the U.S. more atheistic than many European nations. For example, crosses still hang on the classroom walls in Poland, and the Ten Commandments are displayed in Hungary. There are prayers held at the beginning of legislative and judicial sessions and every President has mentioned a divine power in his inaugural speech. In keeping with a spirit of religious freedom as stated in the First Amendment, there is no reason why students should not be allowed to have a moment of silence during the school day when they can pray or do as they choose.The case Engel v. Vitale in 1962 decided that school prayer is unconstitutional. With this case, it was pointed out that the students were to voluntarily recite the following prayer:Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers, and our country. The court ruled that this rule was unconstitutional according to the First Amendments establishment clause, which states Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion. In response to the Engel v.Vitale case some schools adopted a moment of silence. In 1963, another case was brought before the court dealing with school prayer, Abington School District v. Schempp. The Schempp family challenged a law in Pennsylvania requiring the students to say ten verses of the Bible before school. These readings from the Bible were declared unconstitutional. Members of the board felt reading the Bible would give the children more moral values. The Schempp family strongly disagreed. Members of Congress attempted to find a compromise. From this effort came the adoption of the moment of silence, which is guaranteed by the First Amendments Free Exercise clause. Six states now permit silent moments-Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Alabama. Silent prayer was ruled constitutional in 1985 as long as it had no religious intent or purpose. (Newsweek, October 3, 1994)Prayer has been banned in schools for thirty-three years. The moment of silence has been ruled constitutional, however. Every student fills a moment of silence in a different way: through song, a prayer, or a memory.

Genetically Altered Food Essays - Genetic Engineering,

Genetically Altered Food Genetic modification of organisms in general is a biotechnological process that forces genes to behave according to certain characteristics. Changing characteristics of organisms is based on changing their DNA (tech deoxyribonucleic acid; the acid which carries genetic information in a cell). It is being used for modifying genes in plants, animals or micro-organisms. It is being also used especially with food in order to improve the nutritious quality, make less use of chemicals such as pesticides, which proved to be extremely harmful, and sometimes to add flavour. Genetically modified food (GMF) is considered one of the modern production improvements and the largest food experiments in the world's history. However, it is very vital to dispel misconception about the nature of food. GMF is a mixed blessing which has a lot of benefits but at the same time may arouse problems. It has many good aspects, such as making plants ripen faster, improving the specie's taste and look, and providing Third World countries with healthier and cheaper food. Genetic modification of food has won the admiration of a lot of people, including myself, because of its new and attractive accomplishments, but at the same time we should take into consideration its disadvantages and try to find ways to avoid them. Genetically modified foodstuffs have several disadvantages which I believe are possibly avoidable through research and experiments. Most of the time, the sale of GMFs is being permitted without posing the risks and without informing the public with the possible danger. This of course is a violation of human rights which can Nagi2 easily be avoided by simply informing consumers of the characteristics of the product. When genetic engineers insert new genes into any organism, it can lead to disruption and unpredictable changes in the pattern and structure of the new genetic function. "In fact, the process of inserting genes is quite random and can damage normal genes " (Genetic Engineered Food - A Serious Health Risk 3). Therefore, harmful substances may appear unexpectedly and can possibly create viruses and new dangerous diseases. Therefore, it is the obligation of experts to examine GM products before making them available to the public in order to avoid undesirable diseases. A common example is, when some people who are allergic to certain kinds of food such as fish eat genetically modified products such as tomatoes which were injected with genes similar to these fish, they get easily affected by allergens. Also, GMFs might contain toxins, which may negatively affect human beings. An experiment run on rats by feeding them with GM potatoes affected their digestive tracks caused changes in some of their organ weights and caused adverse effects on their immune system(south pacific consumer protection programme1). Such experiments show the importance of thoroughly examining GM products and making sure of their safety on humans. In addition to that, there are long-term effects with reasons not yet identified. That could also be avoided by further research and continued experiments. GMF is now entering the market with an increasing rate. Products include tomatoes, corn, potatoes and soybeans. A main problem is that the issue of labelling these products is not yet widely used. Most developed countries have adopted laws Nagi 3 that require product labelling of ingredients, fats, vitamin, protein and carbohydrate. These nutrition information provides consumers with a level of awareness and choice. Similarly, GMF producers are obliged to label their products. They have to provide their customers with all necessary information about the produce. This is the least that could be done to preserve the rights of consumers to know and decide for themselves. Labelling is then one possible choice that could help in avoiding some of the GMFs dangers. People have the right to know if the food they are consuming is genetically modified whether it is a matter of health, preference or just a matter of taste" Surveys consistently find that 85-90 % of consumers want clear labelling of all genetically engineered foods"(Genetic Engineered Food- A Serious Health Risk 2). Moreover, it is necessary to label food if the nutritional content is changed. Take tomatoes for example; they are a source of Vitamin C, but if through modification they lose this characteristic (Vitamin C ), consumers definitely have the right to know. The wrong treatment of GM crops may cause several environmental risks. It was proved that GM crops are easy to grow in most kinds of soils. They can grow in land that is prone to drought or erosion in addition to soils with highly salt acid conditions. They are also capable

Cultural Conflicts in Wide Sargasso Sea

Cultural Conflicts in Wide Sargasso Sea 1Cultural Conflicts in Wide Sargasso SeaTayo's experience returning to New Mexico after World War II and Rochester's presence in the Caribbean are excellent examples of characters being torn between being an outsider and being a welcome member of society. Both Tayo as well as Rochester experience being torn from their own cultures. Tayo going to war separates him from his culture while Rochester's going to the Caribbean to find a wife pulls him out of his British culture. Rejection by their families plays a central role in making Tayo and Rochester feel estranged. Dealing with their masculinity is also a problem in both characters stories. Tayo and Rochester both lack a true father figure which makes becoming a man much more difficult. There are many similarities between Tayo and Rochester and their struggles with being torn between cultures, rejected by their families, and coming to terms with their own gender issues.English: High Falls Rochester NYThe similarities between Tayo and Rochester being torn between cultures is contrasted by the fact that Tayo is desperately trying to figure out his identity while Rochester was taken from his English culture and placed in the Caribbean. Throughout his childhood, Tayo is faced with many obstacles that end with him losing his identity. Tayo desperately tries to find balance between his pride in his Indian heritage and his shame for being half-white. Growing up, Tayo goes to Indian school where most of the teachers were Anglo and try to pull him and his cousin Rocky away from their Indian culture by telling them "not to believe in that kind of 'nonsense'"(Silko 19). His cousin Rocky is accepted by the white community because of his status as a football star; and so, in turn, Rocky starts to leave his Indian heritage behind. Tayo looks up to...

Managing Operations and Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Managing Operations and Finance - Essay Example Moving forward, the paper presents a comparison of the current and last year financial performance of the company through financial statement ratio analysis. The primary reason to conduct a ratio analysis is to quantify the results of the operations of a company and compare them with that of the prior year(s) in order to assess different aspects of the financial feasibility. The ratios are divided into profitability, liquidity and gearing ratios. The paper identifies the areas, through ratio analysis, where the company is performing well and where it needs improvements. In conclusion the paper presents a comparison of the financial and operational performance of Marks and Spencer with one of its primary competitors, Debenhams. Major financial ratios are compared and in addition, historical share prices are also analyzed of both companies in order to identify which company has a better market capitalization and better reputation from investor’s perspective. Operating Performanc e of the Company Marks and Spencer, an internationally recognized name considered analogous for high fashion and trend setting quality. Marks and Spencer is regarded as the premier retailer in the United Kingdom catering more than 21 million customers. Keeping in pace with the globalization, the company is planning to expand its business in other frontiers. As per the audited financial statement of the company for the financial year 2010, the company employees more than 76,000 and has its operations expanded to more than 41 countries in the world. Marks and Spencer’s well established business attracts a great deal of consumer base irrespective of demography. The primary business of the company comprises of selling general merchandise which mainly consists of womenswear, menswear and an expanding kid’s wear. The company, through its resilient and effective marketing tactics, has able to capture market share of around 11.0% by value and 11.2% by volume. Another source fr om where the company earns a great deal of its revenue is through selling food items. Marks and Spencer is the leading provider when it comes to selling fine quality food. The company sells everything from fresh meals to canned food items, highly acclaimed and praised range of wines to other groceries products. The company has improved its shelf availability and has adopted the strategy of renewing its food range. The proactive approach has resulted in an increase of 1.8% in sales revenue from food business. The financial year 2010 proved to be another progressive year for Marks and Spencer. During the current year, Marks and Spencer’s revenue increased by 5.2% during the current year to an impressive ?9.5 billion which has caused the operating profit to increase by 9.8%. The company, following its growth strategy, aspires transform its operation into multi channel business. The company has taken major steps in investing its direct sales business which enhanced the revenue by 27% during the current financial year. In addition, the company is actively following its strategy of refurbishing its stores and giving them a new and improved look. The refurbishment has resulted in an increased storage space and has created a fashionable shopping environment. The following table compares the financial results of Marks and Spencer, for

Project Management Scenario Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Project Management Scenario - Essay Example and Down’s staff for the new project, there might be conflict with respect to job responsibilities, particularly, the tasks which will be left unattended by staff movement from Pokorski and Down’s side of the operations to Janet’s new project. The responsibility matrix, together with a resources plan, can help address any potential communication conflicts among Steve Pokorski, Joe Downs and Janet. Meanwhile, an issue management plan will also be handy so that Janet’s team can be prepared to contend with environmental, cultural, technical and project-specific concerns which have already been identified or are being expected to occur in the course of time. This communication tool is very different from a risk management plan in the sense that risks may or may not occur (Pritchard, 2004). Finally, Janet should require each team or group in charge with one or more deliverables to submit status reports at the end of each week so that delays, time gained and other problems which surface in addition to those already identified and expected can be properly addressed, particularly those requiring mobilisation of resources, task redundancies or personnel conflicts. On the other hand, the major risks being considered which may affect the success of the project include: (1) unexpected increase in the price of construction materials during the construction of the manufacturing plant; (2) is fluctuation in the price of raw materials for plastic containers and (3) breakdown of equipment. All three aforementioned risks will definitely affect the scope, cost and schedule of the project. In the case of increase in the price of raw materials for construction, or fluctuation in price of raw materials for manufacturing, including a statistically calculated amount for contingency in the estimation of construction and manufacturing costs can cushion the effect of any price increase. With respect to breakdown of equipment especially in the first four months of operation, weekly