What is an endangered species?
An endangered Species doesn't only refer to animals, but also fish and plants. An animal, fish, or plant becomes endangered when it becomes in danger of extinction. An animal becomes endangered when it's population of a whole across the world is limited not just in specific areas.
What animals are on the endangered species list?
Tigers, Giant Pandas, Rhinoceros's, Polar Bears, Whales and Dolphins, Elephants, Marine Turtles, Great Apes and many other species are considered endangered. Though Polar Bears are not yet officially on the list, researches believe it is not far off in the future. Less than 4,000 Tigers and Giant Pandas remain in the wild.
What causes endangerment?
one of the biggest factors leading to extinction is habitat destruction. Changes in our planet and from human effects play a big part. When changes occur at fast paces it doesn't give species the time the need to adjust. This is the main cause of extinction. Another factor is the introduction of exoctic species. Humans tend to place new exoctic species in habitats they do not belong it. This can lead to the native species of that area being prayed on by the foreign species.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Robotic Nation Summary
In “robotic nation” Marshall Brain talks about how the evolution of technology will greatly impact our economy’s future. He begins the article talking about a kiosk in a McDonalds he brings his kids to. This kiosk takes your order and gives you a number to place on your table in which your food will be delivered to. He goes on using this kiosk at a McDonalds to describe the millions of jobs to be lost by robots in the next 30-40 years.
He explains that with the growth of technology in just ten short years only gives us a peek of what can be created in 50. he states that by 2055 more than half of the American jobs that are done by humans now will be lost to robots that can not only perform three times better but also in a third of the time it takes a human to do. This will lead to a skyrocketing increase in unemployment and homeless rates in America. Marshall Brain also explained that with such a high unemployment rate American society would have no way to deal with it. It is said that “during the Great Depression at its very worse 25% of the population was unemployed.” We have the potential for a 50% unemployment rate in the robotic future.
He stated an interesting fact that goes back to the beginning of the 1900s and how technology has changed since then. This quote stated “imagine that you stand on a soap box on a city street corner in 1900 and you say to the gathering crowd, “By 1955 people will be flying at supersonic speeds in a sleek aircraft and traveling coast to coast in just a few hours”.” The point he was trying to make with this quote is that back then everyone thought that that would never happen. It was impossible to even think of. But yet in 1903 Orville and Wilbur made the first flight, and by 1947 there were aircrafts that were traveling at supersonic speeds.
Marshall Brain also discusses facts about computer chips and gives a timeline of when computer chips were first created and how much they have improved. He explains Moore’s Law which states that “CPU power doubles every 18-24 months or so.” This is just one of the many facts Brain gives that backs up his opinion on how robots will take over in the future.
To think that a suggestion like this is impossible is very likely for most people. I as well thought the same way when I first began reading. This was until he stated the fact about people flying at supersonic speeds in 50 years and I realized that what we think is impossible really having great potential of becoming reality. Just like it was impossible for our ancestors to believe humans would ever fly, we react the same way to robots taking over our jobs. I think as far as half of America’s population being unemployed by 2055 is a bit of a stretch but I still believe robots will be a big part in our everyday lives in the near future.
Brain had a bunch of facts the supported his “robotic nation” theory. Many people would look at this and say no way, impossible, or never going to happen. But with the everyday evolution of computer chips and technology, the creation of these robots that can do these kinds of tasks are right around the corner from being created. He stated proof of how fast technology evolves which will make these robots possible. It’s a scary thought to know that robots created by humans will be the cause to millions of jobs lost in just 50 short years.
He explains that with the growth of technology in just ten short years only gives us a peek of what can be created in 50. he states that by 2055 more than half of the American jobs that are done by humans now will be lost to robots that can not only perform three times better but also in a third of the time it takes a human to do. This will lead to a skyrocketing increase in unemployment and homeless rates in America. Marshall Brain also explained that with such a high unemployment rate American society would have no way to deal with it. It is said that “during the Great Depression at its very worse 25% of the population was unemployed.” We have the potential for a 50% unemployment rate in the robotic future.
He stated an interesting fact that goes back to the beginning of the 1900s and how technology has changed since then. This quote stated “imagine that you stand on a soap box on a city street corner in 1900 and you say to the gathering crowd, “By 1955 people will be flying at supersonic speeds in a sleek aircraft and traveling coast to coast in just a few hours”.” The point he was trying to make with this quote is that back then everyone thought that that would never happen. It was impossible to even think of. But yet in 1903 Orville and Wilbur made the first flight, and by 1947 there were aircrafts that were traveling at supersonic speeds.
Marshall Brain also discusses facts about computer chips and gives a timeline of when computer chips were first created and how much they have improved. He explains Moore’s Law which states that “CPU power doubles every 18-24 months or so.” This is just one of the many facts Brain gives that backs up his opinion on how robots will take over in the future.
To think that a suggestion like this is impossible is very likely for most people. I as well thought the same way when I first began reading. This was until he stated the fact about people flying at supersonic speeds in 50 years and I realized that what we think is impossible really having great potential of becoming reality. Just like it was impossible for our ancestors to believe humans would ever fly, we react the same way to robots taking over our jobs. I think as far as half of America’s population being unemployed by 2055 is a bit of a stretch but I still believe robots will be a big part in our everyday lives in the near future.
Brain had a bunch of facts the supported his “robotic nation” theory. Many people would look at this and say no way, impossible, or never going to happen. But with the everyday evolution of computer chips and technology, the creation of these robots that can do these kinds of tasks are right around the corner from being created. He stated proof of how fast technology evolves which will make these robots possible. It’s a scary thought to know that robots created by humans will be the cause to millions of jobs lost in just 50 short years.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Robotic Nation
In “robotic nation” Marshall Brain talks about how the evolution of technology will greatly impact our economy’s future. He begins the article talking about a kiosk in a McDonalds he brings his kids to. This kiosk takes your order and gives you a number to place on your table in which your food will be delivered to. He goes on using this kiosk at a McDonalds to describe the millions of jobs to be lost by robots in the next 30-40 years.
He explains that with the growth of technology in just ten short years only gives us a peek of what can be created in 50. he states that by 2055 more than half of the American jobs that are done by humans now will be lost to robots that can not only perform three times better but also in a third of the time it takes a human to do. This will lead to a skyrocketing increase in unemployment and homeless rates in America. Marshall Brain also explained that with such a high unemployment rate American society would have no way to deal with it. It is said that “during the Great Depression at its very worse 25% of the population was unemployed.” We have the potential for a 50% unemployment rate in the robotic future.
He stated an interesting fact that goes back to the beginning of the 1900s and how technology has changed since then. This quote stated “imagine that you stand on a soap box on a city street corner in 1900 and you say to the gathering crowd, “By 1955 people will be flying at supersonic speeds in a sleek aircraft and traveling coast to coast in just a few hours”.” The point he was trying to make with this quote is that back then everyone thought that that would never happen. It was impossible to even think of. But yet in 1903 Orville and Wilbur made the first flight, and by 1947 there were aircrafts that were traveling at supersonic speeds.
Marshall Brain also discusses facts about computer chips and gives a timeline of when computer chips were first created and how much they have improved. He explains Moore’s Law which states that “CPU power doubles every 18-24 months or so.” This is just one of the many facts Brain gives that backs up his opinion on how robots will take over in the future.
He explains that with the growth of technology in just ten short years only gives us a peek of what can be created in 50. he states that by 2055 more than half of the American jobs that are done by humans now will be lost to robots that can not only perform three times better but also in a third of the time it takes a human to do. This will lead to a skyrocketing increase in unemployment and homeless rates in America. Marshall Brain also explained that with such a high unemployment rate American society would have no way to deal with it. It is said that “during the Great Depression at its very worse 25% of the population was unemployed.” We have the potential for a 50% unemployment rate in the robotic future.
He stated an interesting fact that goes back to the beginning of the 1900s and how technology has changed since then. This quote stated “imagine that you stand on a soap box on a city street corner in 1900 and you say to the gathering crowd, “By 1955 people will be flying at supersonic speeds in a sleek aircraft and traveling coast to coast in just a few hours”.” The point he was trying to make with this quote is that back then everyone thought that that would never happen. It was impossible to even think of. But yet in 1903 Orville and Wilbur made the first flight, and by 1947 there were aircrafts that were traveling at supersonic speeds.
Marshall Brain also discusses facts about computer chips and gives a timeline of when computer chips were first created and how much they have improved. He explains Moore’s Law which states that “CPU power doubles every 18-24 months or so.” This is just one of the many facts Brain gives that backs up his opinion on how robots will take over in the future.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Ethnography Rough Draft
Most weekday nights you would find many people at home relaxing, at work, or students of all ages working on homework or some even taking classes. While we’re all busy doing our own things there is a whole other world going on over at Dudek’s in Warren, RI. Dudek is a bowling alley that is strictly duck pin bowling; duck pin bowling is when you use the tiny bowling balls and very small bowling pins. Duck pin bowling is very different from normal bowling. Here at Dudek in Warren they have bowling leagues that meet on different days during the week. My friend Jocelyn is in a bowling league here and she attends her meets on Friday nights, her father is also on a league at this bowling alley and attends his meets on Tuesday nights. Bowling leagues include many different ages, including from age five to age seventy.
My friend Jocelyn is always telling me stories about something happening at bowling from the previous Friday night. These stories is what reeled in my interest to research this specific group of people, from what she told me it seemed like just a fun night out, one big hang out with a group of people who are there for the same reason you are. That’s literally what a bowling league is, it’s a group of people brought together for a common interest. Within no time they become close friends and look forward to seeing each other every week on the scheduled day. This is something I believe everyone to have, now I’m not telling you to go join a bowling league, but to find something in common with different people. It is a great way to meet new people and in the end make new friends as well.
When I first got to the Dudek with Jocelyn the parking lot was very full, hardly any parking, at this point I couldn’t even imagine how crowded it would be inside once we got to her lane. Finally we found a parking spot and I followed her into the building for what would be a routine Friday night for her. When I walked in I immediately noticed the crowd of people where all down at there lanes already preparing for their games. I also noticed the lighting wasn’t very bright; they were dimmed down but not to dark so you couldn’t see where you were walking. The inside of the bowling alley is set up with the arcade games right when you walk in, and then a long counter that’s divided into the snacks and shoe rentals. Across from the counter are where the lanes are located and where the leagues meet. At the top of each lane there are two different sitting areas, one for waiting for your turn to bowl and another for food and drinks. As they began their typical night of bowling I sat back and watched.
Soon I became aware of the sounds that filled the bowling alley. The constant sound of the bowling balls hitting the lanes as they roll down towards the pins at fairly fast pace and then slamming into them causing the pins to fly all over the back wall of the lane. The sound of a bowling ball hitting pins is a very distinct popping noise. These aren’t the only sounds I heard here, there were also conversations going on all around me as well as people cheering. I also picked up on a few technical terms used amongst the bowling leagues. These terms included phrases like “he chopped”, “got a turkey”, “four bagga”, “five bagga”, and the usual “spare” or “strike”. I had never heard any other expression other than spare and strike so I asked Jocelyn what these phrases meant and she told me. The phrase “he chopped” means they hit the center pins only, “got a turkey” is called when a person gets 3 strikes in a row, and “four bagga” and “five bagga” are phrases used when somebody gets more than four strikes in a row.
As I continued sitting and watching them bowl I noticed distinct smells of the greasy foods that are of course no good for you, but we all enjoy them. Foods like chicken tenders, curly fries and pizza created an aroma throughout the lanes. Jocelyn was telling me that some nights depending on who was working the snack counter all you smell is burnt pizza, luckily that wasn’t the night I was there.
The main vibe I got from her league was much like that of a big family or a group of very close friends. Everyone knows everyone in Dudek even if you’re not on the same league you always end up meeting other members at one point or another. A benefit Jocelyn told me about when on a league at Dudek is that if you go bowling there on a different day and time other than your meet to practice or just to bowl with friends they will give you money off however many games you buy.
There isn’t really any specific clothing for the leagues like you see on television or in movies. Its casual wear for most of them, at Dudek there is only one league that has an actual uniform type of apparel. One thing that you will find common amongst all the leagues is the majority of league members have their own personalized bowling balls.
Going bowling on a night with actual bowling leagues is very different from any ordinary trip to the bowling alley. When it’s all leagues the atmosphere is much more lively, they all converse with one another where as if you and a couple friends go bowling the only people you talk with would be your group of friends. Bowling leagues are made up of all different people which is why I think is one of the ways you meet so many people. It’s not just one group of individuals; it’s a group of individuals all with the common interest of Bowling.
My friend Jocelyn is always telling me stories about something happening at bowling from the previous Friday night. These stories is what reeled in my interest to research this specific group of people, from what she told me it seemed like just a fun night out, one big hang out with a group of people who are there for the same reason you are. That’s literally what a bowling league is, it’s a group of people brought together for a common interest. Within no time they become close friends and look forward to seeing each other every week on the scheduled day. This is something I believe everyone to have, now I’m not telling you to go join a bowling league, but to find something in common with different people. It is a great way to meet new people and in the end make new friends as well.
When I first got to the Dudek with Jocelyn the parking lot was very full, hardly any parking, at this point I couldn’t even imagine how crowded it would be inside once we got to her lane. Finally we found a parking spot and I followed her into the building for what would be a routine Friday night for her. When I walked in I immediately noticed the crowd of people where all down at there lanes already preparing for their games. I also noticed the lighting wasn’t very bright; they were dimmed down but not to dark so you couldn’t see where you were walking. The inside of the bowling alley is set up with the arcade games right when you walk in, and then a long counter that’s divided into the snacks and shoe rentals. Across from the counter are where the lanes are located and where the leagues meet. At the top of each lane there are two different sitting areas, one for waiting for your turn to bowl and another for food and drinks. As they began their typical night of bowling I sat back and watched.
Soon I became aware of the sounds that filled the bowling alley. The constant sound of the bowling balls hitting the lanes as they roll down towards the pins at fairly fast pace and then slamming into them causing the pins to fly all over the back wall of the lane. The sound of a bowling ball hitting pins is a very distinct popping noise. These aren’t the only sounds I heard here, there were also conversations going on all around me as well as people cheering. I also picked up on a few technical terms used amongst the bowling leagues. These terms included phrases like “he chopped”, “got a turkey”, “four bagga”, “five bagga”, and the usual “spare” or “strike”. I had never heard any other expression other than spare and strike so I asked Jocelyn what these phrases meant and she told me. The phrase “he chopped” means they hit the center pins only, “got a turkey” is called when a person gets 3 strikes in a row, and “four bagga” and “five bagga” are phrases used when somebody gets more than four strikes in a row.
As I continued sitting and watching them bowl I noticed distinct smells of the greasy foods that are of course no good for you, but we all enjoy them. Foods like chicken tenders, curly fries and pizza created an aroma throughout the lanes. Jocelyn was telling me that some nights depending on who was working the snack counter all you smell is burnt pizza, luckily that wasn’t the night I was there.
The main vibe I got from her league was much like that of a big family or a group of very close friends. Everyone knows everyone in Dudek even if you’re not on the same league you always end up meeting other members at one point or another. A benefit Jocelyn told me about when on a league at Dudek is that if you go bowling there on a different day and time other than your meet to practice or just to bowl with friends they will give you money off however many games you buy.
There isn’t really any specific clothing for the leagues like you see on television or in movies. Its casual wear for most of them, at Dudek there is only one league that has an actual uniform type of apparel. One thing that you will find common amongst all the leagues is the majority of league members have their own personalized bowling balls.
Going bowling on a night with actual bowling leagues is very different from any ordinary trip to the bowling alley. When it’s all leagues the atmosphere is much more lively, they all converse with one another where as if you and a couple friends go bowling the only people you talk with would be your group of friends. Bowling leagues are made up of all different people which is why I think is one of the ways you meet so many people. It’s not just one group of individuals; it’s a group of individuals all with the common interest of Bowling.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
7 years and Counting... (cont.)
This journey though has not been all fun and games, it’s had quite a toll on my family with stress and issues amongst my uncle and mother over visitation, seeing my cousin’s mother wasn’t in the picture anymore it was just one less worry my mom had to bare on her shoulders. Over the next few years it felt like a constant battle. Whenever Riely would see his father his behavior would change drastically over coming back home leading to huge temper tantrums, few in which resulting in an ambulance and police to come to our house to get him under control. This caused an enormous amount of stress on my mother for years trying to find an answer for these behavioral issues. I think it was shortly after he turned 7 the doctors had diagnosed him with ADHD. Once he started his medication for ADHD his behavioral issues had become less enraged and more manageable. He was having less and less fits and home and his teachers had noticed a drastic improvement in school as well. It has now been 2 years since his last tantrum. It was the day before school started, he was entering the second grade. I would say his last tantrum this last summer day before school was the hardest to get through. This was because he was so out of control and wouldn’t stop his fit we called my grandfather to come and pick him up. My mom packed up his stuff and handed him off to my grandparents to stay with till he learned it wasn’t okay to treat her that way. My mom was an emotional wreck and it broke her heart to do this but she knew she had to do it for him. He stayed with my grandparents for 3 weeks straight with no communication to us at all; finally he asked my grandfather to call my mom so he could apologize to her and tell her he really misses home. He moved back a week after my mothers birthday at the end of September. It was so weird not having him at the house for a month. After that incident we all had changed for the better. We learned to appreciate what we have more because of how fast it could be taken away. We learned to stop taking things for granted because it’s the ones we love that get hurt by it the most. I was an emotional wreck whenever the thought of him not being able to live with us anymore crossed my mind. Having him come into my life and experience all this has been life changing. It has shaped and molded who I have become today. I am a more caring and nurturing person than I could ever imagined myself being, and I hate turning people down when asked for help but I’m beginning to learn now to say no because there is just some people out there that will use you just to get something out of it. I respect my mom and look up to her every time I look at my cousin for taking him into our home to keep him from going to a stranger’s home. She knew that the road wasn’t going to be easy and it was going to have some ugly times, but she believed in not only herself but in us as a family, that if we worked together we could pull through whatever challenges life threw at us. I can honestly say now looking back at the last 7 years that I would not change anything in the world because of where that little boy has lead me to today. He is now 9 years old and in the fourth grade, his behavior has improved so much. It is truly impossible to think that a child at age 9 has already experienced more than half of us go through in a lifetime. As big of a pain as he can still be sometimes and even after all the hell this situation has put us through, I couldn’t love him anymore if I tried. I look to my cousin as my little brother now and will have been living with us for 7 years as of March 6th, 2010. It has been a remarkable learning experience and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
7 years and Counting...
One experience that really had a huge impact on my life and made me who I am today is when my mother brought my cousin into our home under foster care to raise as her own. I was in the sixth grade, I remember the few years before it when they were just discussing the possibility while the courts were still making their decision. He was only 3 years old at the time he made the biggest transition of his life. He had been living with his grandmother in Florida and had not gotten the chance of meeting us prior to the court order granting my mother long term guardianship. This means that unless ordered by the court then my mom is to have full custody of him until he reaches the age of 18. The excitement of meeting my cousin for the first time was a burst of adrenaline and nerves, worried about how he would adjust to his new life, or what if he didn’t like us? Then what would happen to him. The day finally came for my mom to fly down to Florida to pick him up, luckily he attached to my mom fairly well for being passed to a near stranger at 3 years old. They did not get home until 4 A.M. the next morning, which happened to by my dads’ birthday. My mom and cousin had had a very long day between trains and airplanes and delays. Before my mom put him to bed that night after they got home she sat on the couch with him watching blues clues to settle him down, blues clues was his favorite show. The sound of the tv must have woken me up because I remember waking up shortly after they arrived home and was wide awake. I went in the living room to meet my baby cousin for the first time. It was a plethora of emotions that just rushed over me and at 11 years old I was a little overwhelmed. I was happy, excited, relieved that he was finally here, and scared about what was in store for us in the future. Later that morning my mom was kind enough to let my brother and I stay home from school. My sister who was only 2 years older than my cousin was in kindergarten that year, but lucky for her they cancelled all kindergarten classes due to the snowfall. With my cousin Riely coming all the way from Florida where he had lived since he was born had never experienced snow, lucky for him his firsts day in Massachusetts it snowed, A lot! Seeing and watching him in the snow and how he reacted to how cold it felt amazed us all, it was so much fun.
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