Abstract
This paper reviews Douglas H. Erwin's book "Extinction," which addresses one of several mass extinctions that have been found in the history of life on earth. The author describes the books format, as well as some of Erwin's theories behind the end-Permian mass extinction. The reviewer concludes by describing how Erwin's book can be applied to today's climatic changes. The book can thus be a warning as well as an informative discussion of the past.

From the Paper
"The author also begins by considering some of the other mass extinctions that took place at a much earlier date, in part to see what caused those extinctions in order to see if the same causes applied to the Permian extinction. The evidence from the extinction at the K-T boundary (between the Cretaceous and the Triassic) has been much analyzed because of the discovery of higher deposits of iridium from that period. Iridium is found primarily in meteors or in some volcanic explosions, and so the higher levels have caused many to see the extinction of the dinosaurs as caused by a large meteor crashing into the earth and depositing iridium around the world on the same geologic level. Another substance found at the site of extinctions has been fullerenes, which can be produced by lightning strikes, forest fires, and meteorite impacts. Some evidence exists for an impact around the time of the Permian extinction, but the author says this is inconclusive at this time."

Tags:Douglas, H., Erwin, Extinction, end-Permian, mass, extinction, global, warming, climatic, changes

Abstract
The paper posits that Mike Davis's new book, "Planet of Slums", has been correctly described as "groundbreaking, mind-stretching stuff" (Davis, back cover). The paper points out that Davis is well-known as a provocative commentator on contemporary urban landscapes, and is the author of "Dead Cities", which deals with American West Coast urbanism, and in the process goes off at tangents to investigate pressing matters such as Victorian disaster fiction and prehistoric mass extinctions. The paper mentions that Davis also penned "City of Quartz", which is an examination of the social geography of Los Angeles.

From the Paper
"Mike Davis's new book, "Planet of Slums", has been correctly described as "groundbreaking, mind-stretching stuff" (Davis, back cover). Davis is well-known as a provocative commentator on contemporary urban landscapes, and is the author of Dead Cities, which deals with American West Coast urbanism, and in the process goes off at tangents to investigate pressing matters such as Victorian disaster fiction and prehistoric mass extinctions. Davis also penned City of Quartz, which is an examination of the social geography of Los Angeles. This book showed once again that..."

Tags:book, review, slums

Abstract
This paper reviews R. Dawkins' concept of the "meme," sociobiology, and its relationship to education reform. The paper first reviews ten articles about sociobiology and education reform. It then discusses Dawkins' evidence for the evolution of animal behavior through natural selection of the selfish gene. It relates the meme concept to the inequalities in educational resources and looks at the cultural value changes that would have to occur if an evolution of value memes would take place.

Table of Contents:
Literature Review
The Selfish Gene? (Marxist 2007)
Against Sociobiology (Bethell 2001)
Reform Math Education (Reys 2002)
Selfish Genes and Social Darwinism (Midgely 1981)
Sociobiology(Holcomb, Sociobiology 2005)
Memes: Marketing in the 21st Century (Meyerson 2007)
Third World Traveler--Jonathan Kozol (Kozol 2007)
International Conference on Secondary Education (Mulford 2002)
Education Programs Constitutional; Growth Steady (CER 2007)
Early Education Shows No Benefit (HSLDA 2007)
Discussion
Dawkins' Arguments for the Selfish Gene
The Concept of "Meme" and Kozol's Concerns about Education
Cultural Evolution through Meme Changes in order to Reform Education
What Cultural Changes Need to Take Place to Reform Education?
Conclusion

From the Paper
"A black student who graduates from high school has the same lifetime income as a white or Asian graduating from high school. He or she is also just as likely to obtain a college degree. The problem is that half of blacks and Hispanics fail to graduate from high school. While one can blame a series of factors for this dismal performance, the result is incontrovertible. One quarter of black males has been incarcerated before the age of 30. The increasing competitiveness of the global labor force has taken many of the low-education, low-skilled jobs away from those who have no education. As a result, this underclass of the uneducated will never be able to catch up."

Tags:graduate, race, poverty

Abstract
The paper explains that the "Neanderthal Problem" is a debate regarding the nature of the relationship between the ancestors of modern humans - early homo sapiens or "anatomically modern" (AM) populations - and the distinct species of the "homo" genus known as the Neanderthals who are generally believed to have co-existed in the remote past. This paper examines a number of the dominant theories concerning the nature of this relationship and the fate of the Neanderthals. As is seen, there exist two main groups of theories: replacement theory, which suggests that through violence and/or natural extinction, early homo sapiens replaced Neanderthals, and the interbreeding theory, which contends that Neanderthals may have interbred with early humans, and thus their heritage is carried to present-day humanity.

From the Paper
"The "Neanderthal Problem" is a debate regarding the nature of the relationship between the ancestors of modern humans - early homo sapiens or "anatomically modern" (AM) populations - and the distinct species of the "homo" genus known as the Neanderthals who are generally believed to have co-existed in the remote past. This essay will examine a number of the dominant theories concerning the nature of this relationship and the fate of the Neanderthals. As will be seen, there exist two main groups of theories: replacement theory, which suggests that through violence and/or natural extinction, early homo sapiens replaced Neanderthals, and the..."

Tags:neanderthal, homo sapiens, history

Abstract
This paper examines Louis Gerstner's book, "Who Says Elephants Can't Dance", which chronicles the dramatic turnaround of business giant, IBM, under his capable hand. It looks at how, when Gerstner took over the company's reins in 1993, it was on the brink of being sold off in parts and how, through his capable and determined vision, he changed the company's culture to one that once again responded to the needs of the marketplace. It also discusses how Gerstner, indeed, demonstrates that a giant company like IBM can be rescued from the brink of extinction and respond to the ever-changing marketplace, proving, indeed, that elephants can dance.

From the Paper
"When Gerstner took over the reigns of IBM, they were faced with the challenge of providing mainframe computing to a marketplace that viewed the is a negative light. Competitors had created a climate where mainframe technology was seen as obsolete, expensive, or at best inaccessible. However, IBM new that their technology was reliable, powerful, and useful, and yet the company seemed unable to relay this to the company. It took Gerstner's leadership to re-engineer the company, and return the customer to IBM through expanded service and software lines."

Tags:marketplace, technology, software

Abstract
This paper examines Louise Erdrich's novel, "Tracks" about the starving Native American Chippewa tribe in North America moving toward extinction due mostly in part because of the Industrial Revolution. The path of Erdrich's novel consists of a series of tracks that connects the present to the past. It analyzes how through colorful characters and conscious detail, Erdrich portrays a realistic account of the struggles of the Chippewa tribe. It looks at how by consciously selecting descriptive details and portraying dynamic characters, Erdrich successfully reveals to the reader a side of Native American culture that is often not taught. and how she demonstrates the importance of culture and family, as well as the art of storytelling.

From the Paper
"Tracks, is also a novel of sorcery and love within the traditional realm of the Chippewa people. Throughout the novel, there are several references to love and relationship triangles; Erdrich uses the character of Fleur to help make some of these situations real. Erdrich adheres closely to known Chippewa myth portraying her characters. She calls upon many legends to enhance them including animal folklore, evil forces, love medicine and Christianity, in constructing Fleur. Fleur is the traditional Indian woman in the story. She does not conform to the white ways and, as a result, conflict arises between her and Pauline. Pauline's dislike for Fleur is evident throughout the book. She despises her and attempts to spread unflattering rumors about her. Pauline's description of Fleur includes a wide range of emotions, ranging from hatred to respect to envy. Pauline senses that Fleur's spirit is stronger and more powerful than her own; therefore she never misses an opportunity to do her reputation harm. Pauline cannot help but observe Fleur; she is drawn to her."

Tags:chippewa, tribe, tradition, sorcery, love

Abstract
This paper reviews the Canadian film industry, one that is said to be a composite of three different unique bodies that have combined to create a dynamic film environment; albeit not a uniquely Canadian one. The paper goes on to discuss how while the indigenous Canadian film industry is still extant it might be described as moribund at best. If not for governmental support for the indigenous film industry, independent Canadian film making might already be extinct. The Canadian film industry is relatively healthy overall but the figures indicate strictly indigenous Canadian films, outside of one or two major production houses, may suffer revenue and market difficulties in the years ahead.

Tags:canadian, film, industry

Abstract
This paper discusses the book, "Eight Eurocentric Historians": Max Weber, Lynn White, Jr., Robert Brenner, Eric L. Jones, Michael Mann, John A. Hall, Jared Diamond, and David Landes. This paper describes the book's thesis that challenges the concept of European diffusionism, the belief that the rise of Europe to modernity and world dominance is due to some unique European quality of race, environment, culture, mind or spirit and that progress for the rest of the world results from the diffusion of European civilization. The paper author states that the role of each of these eight historians in generating colonialist understandings of history is not only proven to be extinct but also to be based on fallacious assumptions.

From the Paper
"The book first defines the eurocentric diffusionist model of the world as one that invents a permanent world core, an "Inside," in which cultural evolution is natural and continuous, and a permanent periphery, an "Outside," in which cultural evolution is mainly an effect of the diffusion of ideas, commodities, settlers and political control from the core. The ethno history of the doctrine is traced from its 16th-century origins, through its efflorescence in the period of classical colonialism, to its present form in theories of economic development, modernization and new world order. Blaut demonstrates that most "Western" scholarship is to some extent diffusionist and based implicitly on the idea that the world has one permanent center from which culture-changing ideas tend to emanate. Eurocentric diffusionism has shaped our attitudes concerning race and the environment, psychology and society, technology and politics."

Tags:weber, brenner

Abstract
This scope of this dissertation extends to a critical review of past reintroduction efforts, with an emphasis on those involving primates. This includes a discussion of the species' value, as this is debated among scientists and provides a discussion concerning efficacious captive rearing techniques with a focus on what kind of training (via raising, handling, pre and post release training, acclimatization, predator recognition, etc) has been done and how successful each method has been. This paper includes discussions of natural behavior management, the ethics of predator introduction (i.e., is it ethical to put animals under risk of harm in order to increase their ultimate survival in nature). A critical review of the scholarly and relevant literature concerning endangered species conservation efforts in general and regarding gorillas in particular is followed by a recapitulation of the results of observations of six captive gorilla specimens by the author. An analysis of the findings is provided in the concluding chapter.

Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction
Statement of the Problem
Purpose of Study
Importance of Study
Scope of Study
Chapter 2: Review of Related Literature
Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Methodology
Description of the Study Approach
Chapter 4: Data Analysis
Chapter 5: Conclusions, Summary and Recommendations

From the Paper
"Close contact between animals and keepers at Howletts and Port Lympne Parks in England has resulted in a higher than usual success rate for breeding, including clouded leopards, lions, monkeys, rare small cats, and the world's largest captive breeding groups of gorillas, African elephants, tigers and black rhino. To date, the two Parks have been successful in returning Przewalski's horses, black rhino, Sumatran rhino, Cape buffalo, ocelots, pythons and nine gorillas to the wild (About Us, 2004). Not surprisingly, this conservational success has not gone unnoticed or unappreciated. The BBC has described the Parks as being "two of the best wild animal parks in the world" (About Us, 2004, p. 2). The two Parks are home to 70 of gorillas, which is the largest group of gorillas in human care in the world; the facilities have enjoyed over 80 births of gorillas to date."

Tags:monkeys, extinction, breeding

Abstract
The paper reviews the controversy whether Homo sapiens and Neanderthals interbred or Neanderthals were driven to extinction by the arrival of anatomically modern Homo sapiens. The research shows that the Neanderthals were a species genetically similar to modern Homo sapiens with brains as large or larger. The paper notes that Neanderthals were also shown to be rugged survivors, but the research is consistent in emphasizing that they could not compete with the superior technologies and social arrangements of Homo sapiens. The paper concludes that the DNA studies suggest that Neanderthals did not interbreed with Homo sapiens.

Outline:
Introduction
Review and Discussion
Conclusion

From the Paper
"The manner in which the Neanderthals prospered and then died out has been the focus of an increasing amount of research in recent years, and with good reason. According to Tattersail (1999), "Perhaps no extinct species in the entire human fossil record is as germane to the understanding of those origins as is Homo neanderthalensis. There is certainly no better way in which we Homo sapiens can judge our own uniqueness in the living world than by measuring ourselves against the Neanderthals and their achievements". The popular conception of Neanderthals by many people today is one of brutish-looking, fur-clad cavemen wielding clubs and dragging their women by the hair into caves for fun and games, yet the conceptions are misguided."

Tags:genetic, tests, extinct, species, fossils, adapt, sophisticated, linguistic, skills