Xiphactinus - Facts and Figures

Xiphactinus - Facts and Figures Name: Xiphactinus (combination Latin and Greek for sword ray); pronounced zih-FACK-tih-nuss Habitat: Shallow waters of North America, western Europe and Australia Historical Period: Late Cretaceous (90-65 million years ago) Size and Weight: About 20 feet long and 500-1,000 pounds Diet: Fish Distinguishing Characteristics: Large size; slender body; prominent teeth with distinctive underbite    About Xiphactinus At 20 feet long and up to half a ton, Xiphactinus was the largest bony fish of the Cretaceous period, but it was far from the top predator of its North American ecosystemas we can tell from the fact that specimens of the prehistoric sharks Squalicorax and Cretoxyrhina have been discovered containing Xiphactinus remains. It was a fish-eat-fish world back in the Mesozoic Era, though, so you shouldnt be surprised to learn that numerous Xiphactinus fossils have been discovered containing the partially digested remains of smaller fish. (Finding a fish inside a fish inside a shark would be a true fossil trifecta!) One of the most famous Xiphactinus fossils contains the almost-intact remains of an obscure, 10-foot-long Cretaceous fish called Gillicus. Paleontologists speculate that the Xiphactinus died right after swallowing the fish, possibly because its still-living prey managed to puncture its stomach in a desperate attempt at escape, like the grisly extraterrestrial in the movie Alien. If this is really what happened, Xiphactinus would be the first fish known to have died from acute indigestion! One of the odd things about Xiphactinus is that its fossils have been discovered in just about the last place youd expect, the landlocked state of Kansas. In fact, during the late Cretaceous period, much of the American midwest was submerged under a shallow body of water, the Western Interior Sea. For this reason, Kansas has been a rich fossil source of all sorts of marine animals from the Mesozoic Era, not only giant fish like Xiphactinus, but various marine reptiles as well, including plesiosaurs, pliosaurs, ichthyosaurs and mosasaurs.

The Health Communication Campaign Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

The Health Communication Campaign - Essay Example A health communication campaign is believed influential if it employs the psychology of persuasion through advertising, which is more elaborate and expensive.   This clashes with the more popular view that package warning labels incorporating all the necessary information and warning will serve the purpose, at less cost and effort.   Remember that the bottom line in every risk communication program is to change consumers’ attitudes and behavior, a complex task that calls for designing methods that would yield optimal results (Stewart & Martin, 1994).  Ã‚   The warning label strategy was primarily used in the anti-smoking campaigns in public places in some American states and in a nationwide alert against alcohol consumption during pregnancy.  Ã‚   Both communication programs failed to realize measurable results (Pechmann & Reibling, 2000; Hainkin, et al., 1998).  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A cursory observation of consumer behavior shows that few if any read product labels for their risk content.   For most consumers, product labels, as in the case of food products, are generally a source of information for their nutritional elements.  Ã‚   It follows that a health warning squeezed into the product label is less likely to be noticed.   On the other hand, a health warning disseminated through the regular modes of advertising offers greater chances of breaking into the consciousness of consumers.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Advertising today is planned with increasing attention on the psychology of marketing, factoring in such considerations as age, personality, message relevance, consumer trends, social and group pressures.  Ã‚   Advertisers also target specific markets for better positioning of the product or idea that is being promoted.  Ã‚   Without market segmentation, targeting and positioning, advertising is conceded as a haphazard affair, unlikely to achieve its object ives. This supports the contention that communicating consumer risks through advertising has better possibilities of success than doing it through package warning labels.  Ã‚  

ECE420 Journal Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

ECE420 Journal Report - Essay Example It is important to use simple functions and basic algebra to achieve this goal. The curriculum also reveals that it is important to intertwine mathematical concept with real life situations. This will act as an eye opener for the children into the actual applicability of mathematics in the tangible real world (Aiken, 2009). A good example is creating a real life simulation, for example, a pharmacy. The unit also taught me that an effective teacher is one who appeals to each student individually. In essence, an effective teacher has to relate to each student on a personal level and in the process empower the child. This interaction will enable the teacher to pinpoint weaknesses relative to each child and formulate a mechanism to deal with these weaknesses at an early stage. The teacher should also engage the students in setting up class activities. These activities are primarily aimed at teaching students while at the same time keeping them entertained and excited, in the process streamlining early childhood development with the child’s development process (Aiken,

Food Inc. Essay Example for Free

Food Inc. Essay 1. Incorporation (Inc. ) means to form a legal association of individuals, created by law or under the authority of law, with a continuous existence independent of the existences of its members, and with powers and liabilities distinct from those of its members. Therefore, Food Inc. implies that food system of the modern day has become more of a combination of monopolized businesses, whom only care about their profits, rather than the farmers from the obsolete agricultural system. 2. Walking through a supermarket many food items are plastered with images of farms and pastures creating a facade to the true factory farming that’s occurring in today’s society. These images are creating a pastoral fantasy of the agrarian America of the 1930’s. 3. Using Monsanto’s soy beans for this timeline all seeds begin in a lab. Seeds are genetically altered (GMOs). They are then sold to farmers who have a contract with the Monsanto Company. Then they harvested in large amounts and shipped out to be processed, but some of the beans are used a feed for cattle and other livestock. At the factory they are packaged, and are shipped out to local supermarkets for national consumption. 4. The McDonald brothers revolutionized the fast food industry. They â€Å"brought the factory system to the kitchen. † Increasing profit, while decreasing costs, and with this came an increase in the unhealthiness of food by focusing on the three things humans’ desire most: sugar, fat, and salt. 5. Factory farming is the precise systematic farming of livestock in a factory setting an example being chickens. Today, chickens are often raised in huge metal buildings with no access to light or fresh air, confined together with thousands of birds in one building, and made to grow so quickly that often their bones cannot keep up and they can lose their ability to walk. 6. In Food Inc. the phrase â€Å"growing chickens† creates a negative connotation. It would seem that the process that’s usually referred to as raising chickens has become so systematic that there is no longer a personal connection between the farmer, and his chickens. They become property, which are only used for financial profit. 7. With all the diversity found in the supermarket, one would think there are hundreds of different companies that provide the different foods. Truthfully, about eighty percent of all products in the supermarket are produced, and distributed by four major companies. This creates an illusion of diversity which, unfortunately, most consumers are unaware of. 8. Monsanto Company, Tyson Foods, Smithfield Foods, and Perdue Farms were all asked to be interviewed for Food Inc. and all declined the opportunity. Declining the opportunity to explain their motives give many a reason for doubt. Showing they have secrets or motives that would not be explainable without legal confrontations. 9. Environmental contamination is a major result of the newly developed farming system. Manure mixed with run-off water can contaminate surrounding vegetable farms causing Salmonella and E. coli contamination in plants such as spinach and lettuce. In South America, a major beef producer, deforestation has become a huge problem which is created by companies trying to make space for factory farms. This deforestation causes the displacement of animals and ecosystems. Smoke produced by factories can lead to smog, and air pollution in concentrated amounts. 10. Not only does the modern food system have a negative effect on the environment it harms humans as well. With animal feed being treated with antibiotics any bacteria present has a chance to become immune. This bacteria can then be acquired by consumption of raw meat, and with it being immune to some antibiotics, it will cause an increase the difficulty of treatment, and may result in death. With the food system being based so highly on the consumption of fat, salt, and sugar, a major concern for humans is heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. Type two diabetes, acquired diabetes, used to only be contracted in adulthood, but now its arising as early as age seven. 11. There is a direct relationship between food and health. The major goal of the new industrial agricultural system is to grow everything faster, fatter, and bigger. We’ve grown right along with the companies who own these farms. Michael Pollan evaluates the problem by comparing it to the past: â€Å"Over the course of human history, we were struggling to make sure we had enough food and enough calories for a sizable percentage of the human race. Now the problem is too many calories. † 12. GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organism. Companies such as Tyson may use GMOs to produce more efficient and more profitable livestock. GMOs should be clearly labeled when present in food. Although not all GMOs are harmful, a customer should be privileged to know what their food contains. Labeling the presence of a GMO may also prevent a lawsuit against the major corporations if anything was to happen. 13. The documentary Food Inc. , being very factual, used many different sources to acquire all the information needed. Sources such as first-hand accounts on what occur, hidden cameras, accredited websites, other documentaries, classical farmers, award winning authors familiar with the topic, and many well educated informants. 14. Food Inc. is sectioned into chapters. Each chapter pulls the veil away from the consumers eyes on somewhat different, but connected topics: fast food, food contents, food safety, right to healthy food, meat industry, chicken industry, major companies, lives lost, and what consumers can do to change the system. 15. Being a documentary the main purpose of Food Inc.is to educate people on the problems of food production, and to persuade consumers to make healthier food choices. It may also be trying to inspire change in the everyday persons eating habits. 16. Food Inc. is directed towards middle class citizens who shop at the supermarket without really knowing what they are eating. 17. The strategies used throughout Food Inc. covered a wide range of tactics. Rhetorical questions, hidden camera footage, creditable statistics, personal anecdotes, music, religion, and the most heart wrenching strategy used was on location filming of the factory farms. 18. Food Inc. had a very informative, and cautious tone. There were many facts, and just as many warnings. 19. An interesting revelation made in the duration of Food Inc. is how naive people can ben to their surroundings. Maria Gonzalez believed that â€Å"everything was healthy† which justified her family visiting Burger King for almost every meal. It would be understandable to know that she couldn’t afford anything healthier, but to not know that the food she was consuming was unhealthy, it just shows how manipulative large corporations can be.

Integration - Its Time for a Change Essay -- Current Events

Integration - It's Time for a Change Integration is definitely not working, or being used the way it was intended. Sure it's working in the sense that the schools are more diverse then when they were segregated, but integration is no where near where it should be and where it was intended to be. There are a few key points that demonstrate why integration isn't working like it should. The most obvious is the lack of integrations in a lot of schools, and the lack of diversity in our classes. Like we saw in the documentary, the schools are integrated, but the classes are segregated. Integration in some schools has led to tracking, which essentially is institutionalized racism- the opposite of what integration is for. Although we have programs like METCO, we don't have nearly enough. There isn't enough integration in our schools, and there isn't anything changing that. Programs that did have volunteer integration have been cancelled because of lack of funding, and support by the community and government. I think that districts themselves need to be more involved in tryi...

Azerbaijan Place of Interest

Azerbaijan place of interest Azerbaijan is one of the ancient countries in the world. History of country plays main rule in culture. History of Azerbaijan start form 3rd – 5th century till now. Our country has glorious history. For this point this glorious reflected in our culture. This culture includes monuments, folklore, literature and so on. In the 21st , new oil and gas boom helped to improve tourism in Azerbaijan. So government has been spending money for restores this historical building. And this factor affect to our budget.Each year many tourist come to our country. Caravansarai historical monument was built by Sheki Khan. This place was built as resting place for caravans that passed Silk Road through Azerbaijan. Cravansarai was one of the biggest stopover in Caucasus in these years. There are also other interesting and historical places in Sheki. For example Khansari, Juma Masjidi, Silk factory. Gelersen-Gorersen castle is famous their historical accident. Khansarai is popular their special infrastructure in the world.Another interesting places in regions include Nizami`s mausoleum, Shah Abbas Mosque, Old Prison & Lighthouse, Mosque of Sheik Yusuf and so on. Baku is not only capital but also cultural centre of Azerbaijan. Baku is city which is the mix of modern and historical places. Maiden tower is one of the most dominant architecture. It is one of the world's largest Zoroastrian temples . Tower had surrounded Caspian sea many years ago. Atashkag Fire Temple is situated at Surakhani near Baku. This museum was originally the private residence of one of Baku's most famous and oil-millionaires,  H. Z. Taghiyev

Key Civil Rights Legislation, Court Cases Activities

During the 1950s and 1960s, a number of important civil rights activities occurred that helped position the civil rights movement for greater recognition. They also led either directly or indirectly to the passage of key legislation. Following is an overview of the major legislation, Supreme Court cases, and activities that occurred in the civil rights movement at the time. Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955) This began with Rosa Parks refusing to sit in the back of the bus. The boycotts goal was to protest segregation in public buses. It lasted more than a year. It also led to the rise of Martin Luther King, Jr. as the foremost leader of the civil rights movement. Forced Desegregation in Little Rock, Arkansas (1957) After the court case Brown v. Board of Education ordered that schools be desegregated, Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus would not enforce this ruling. He called out the Arkansas National Guard to stop African-Americans from attending all-white schools. President Dwight Eisenhower took control of the National Guard and forced the admission of the students. Sit-Ins Throughout the south, groups of individuals would request services that were denied to them because of their race. Sit-ins were a popular form of protest. One of the first and most famous occurred at Greensboro, North Carolina, where a group of college students, both white and black, asked to be served at a Woolworths lunch counter that was supposed to be segregated. Freedom Rides (1961) Groups of college students would ride on interstate carriers in protest to segregation on interstate buses. President John F. Kennedy actually provided federal marshals to help protect the freedom riders in the south. March on Washington (1963) On August 28, 1963, 250,000 individuals, both black and white, gathered together at the Lincoln Memorial to protest segregation. It was here that King delivered his famous and stirring I Have a Dream speech. Freedom Summer (1964) This was a combination of drives to help get blacks registered to vote. Many areas of the south were denying African-Americans the basic right to vote by not allowing them to register. They used various means, including literacy tests, and more overt means (like intimidation by groups like the Ku Klux Klan). Three volunteers, James Chaney, Michael Schwerner, and Andrew Goodman, were murdered. Seven KKK members were convicted of their murder. Selma, Alabama (1965) Selma was the beginning point of three marches intended to go to the capital of Alabama, Montgomery, in protest of discrimination in voter registration. Two times the marchers were turned back, the first with a lot of violence and the second at the request of King. The third march had its intended effect and helped with the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in Congress. Important Civil Rights Legislation Brown v. Board of Education (1954): This landmark decision allowed for the desegregation of schools.Gideon v. Wainwright (1963): This ruling allowed for any accused individual to have the right to an attorney. Before this case, an attorney would only be provided by the state if the result of the case could be the death penalty.Heart of Atlanta v. United States (1964): Any business that was participating in interstate commerce would be required to follow all rules of the federal civil rights legislation. In this case, a motel that wanted to continue segregation was denied because they did business with people from other states.Civil Rights Act of 1964: This was an important piece of legislation that stopped segregation and discrimination in public accommodations. Further, the U.S. Attorney General would be able to help victims of discrimination. It also forbids employers to discriminate against minorities.24th Amendment (1964): No poll taxes would be allowed in any states. In other wo rds, a state could not charge people to vote.Voting Rights Act (1965): Probably the most successful congressional civil rights legislation. This truly guaranteed what had been promised in the 15th amendment: that no one would be denied the right to vote based on race. It ended literacy tests and gave the U.S. Attorney General the right to intervene on behalf of those who had been discriminated against. He Had a Dream Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr  was the most prominent civil rights leader of the 50s and 60s. He was the head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Through his leadership and example, he led peaceful demonstrations and marches to protest discrimination. Many of his ideas on nonviolence were fashioned on the ideas of  Mahatma Gandhi  in India. In 1968, King was assassinated by James Earl Ray. It is known that Ray was against racial integration, but the exact motivation for the murder has never been determined.