The Strugle for the California Condor essays

The Strugle for the California Condor essays THE STRUGGLE FOR THE CALIFORNIA CONDOR The natural environment of the modern world has been under siege for the better part of the past century. This has been due to many factors. The waste produced by an ever-expanding human population has tainted much of the natural resources available to both humans and animals alike. Efforts to curb this waste output and to more effectively dispose of the waste have failed in the mainstream. The constant change of the common environment instituted by humans who have collectively sought to modify their own habitat has exacted a high toll on the available habitat for lesser creatures. Constant waste production, poor disposal, and habitat encroachment have combined to render the balance of the natural world asunder. The delicate and intricate balance of the natural world has been damaged by a dominant species that has commonly disregarded its inherent responsibility to garnish its actions concurrent with the world it shares with the rest of nature (Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species. p3). An all too common result of this imbalance is the expiration of entire species of animals that are dependent on precious resources. Historically, the presence of humans has exponentially accelerated the natural rate at which fringe species have met with extinction. Modern humans have followed their own ancient precedent in this regard. Recorded evidence of early human settlement has shown that human presence alone had accelerated extinction rates to several times its natural rate (Center for the Reproduction of Endangered Species. p4). However, it is a different precedent that modern humans have sought with the advent of a new and more complete awareness of our collective role as the dominant species. Several recent advances in waste treatment are offering alternatives to the usual high-output, wasteful societal paradigm. Although habitat encroachment continues to be a s...

Hamstrings and Hamstringing

Hamstrings and Hamstringing Hamstrings and Hamstringing Hamstrings and Hamstringing By Maeve Maddox A frequent injury among athletes is that of the hamstring: Dixon suffers hamstring injury Stewart suffers Hamstring injury Brandon Johnson suffers hamstring injury According to the orthopedics article at About.com, The hamstring muscle is a group of large, powerful muscles that span the back of the thigh, from the lower pelvis to the back of the shin bone. The hamstring is the important muscle that functions to extend the hip joint and flex the knee joint. In horses and other large four-footed animals, The hamstrings are a group of three muscles that go from the very top back of [the leg] to the stifle [The joint at the junction of the hind leg and the body that corresponds anatomically to the knee in man]. The hamstrings’ primary action is to extend the hip. They also aid in lateral movement and kicking. Like human athletes, horses can suffer hamstring injuries. If they’re not too severe, the horse can be treated. In severe cases, the animal is destroyed. As a verb to hamstring means to cut the hamstring muscles in order to lame or disable a person or an animal. Hamstringing one’s enemy or captured animals goes way back. Bible heroes Joshua and David practiced hamstringing: Joshua did to them as the LORD had directed: He hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots. Joshua 11:9 (New International Version) David captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand charioteers and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung all but a hundred of the chariot horses. 2Samuel 8:4 (New International Version) About 800 years later, during a battle between Romans and Carthaginians in 216 BCE, fleeing Romans were hamstrung as they ran. The Carthaginians concentrated on the Romans who were still fighting and went back later to kill the crippled soldiers at their leisure. According to this quotation found on many forums, hamstringing is being used as a tactic of war in Zimbabwe: The latest atrocities, as seen on CNN, are mutilations committed by the dissidents to serve as a warning to farmers not to return. Dogs are hung alive from hooks on farm gates, childrens pet ponies are having one of their front hooves chopped off and cows and sheep are being hamstrung. Used figuratively, to hamstring means â€Å"To disable as if by hamstringing; to cripple, destroy the activity or efficiency of.† Fortunately, it’s this figurative use that is seen most frequently: Hamstrung by Bobby Kennedys laws against interstate traffic in gambling, the illegal horse parlor is vanishing The regulators are hamstrung. NZ farmers hamstrung by world economy Citigroup Shares Hamstrung Since Report Hamstrung by stodgy storytelling Hamstrung by a crisis of leadership Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Math or Maths?Round vs. Around30 Words Invented by Shakespeare