How Was Dilophosaurus Discovered

Of the dozen or so dinosaurs that every kid knows by heart, Dilophosaurus occupies the strangest position. This theropods popularity can be attributed almost entirely to its colorful cameo in the first Jurassic Park movie, but almost all the details presented in that blockbuster were completely made up--including Dilophosaurus petite size, prominent neck frill, and (most egregiously of all) its presumed ability to spit poison. One way to bring Dilophosaurus down to earth is to describe the fairly unremarkable details of its discovery. In 1942, a young paleontologist named Sam Welles went on a fossil-hunting expedition to the Navajo country, a sparsely populated portion of the southwest U.S. that includes much of Arizona. Welles, who later become a professor at the prestigious University of California Museum of Paleontology, offers his eyewitness account on a taped UCMP Dilophosaurus tour: [A colleague] asked me to look up the report of a skeleton found in the Kayenta Formation, which might possibly be dinosaurian. I tried to find this and failed...and got hold of Jesse Williams, a Navajo who had discovered these bones in 1940. There were three dinosaurs in a triangle about twenty feet apart, and one was almost worthless, having been completely eroded. The second was a good skeleton showing everything except the front part of the skull. The third gave us the front part of the skull and much of the front part of the skeleton. These we collected in a ten-day rush job, loaded them into the car, and brought them back to Berkeley. Introducing Dilophosaurus - By Way of Megalosaurus The above account is pretty straightforward, but the next installment of the Dilophosaurus saga is fairly twisty. It took over a dozen years for Welles bones to be cleaned and mounted, and it was only in 1954 that the type specimen was given the name Megalosaurus wetherelli. This must have been hugely anticlimactic to its discoverer, since Megalosaurus had been a wastebasket taxon for over a hundred years, comprising a huge number of poorly understood theropod species (many of which later turned out to deserve their own genus). Determined to give his dinosaur a more secure identity, Welles returned to Navajo territory in 1964. This time he unearthed a fossil bearing a characteristic double crest on its skull, which was all the evidence he needed to erect a new genus and species, Dilophosaurus wetherelli. (In real time, this happened fairly slowly; it was only in 1970, six years after this latter expedition, that Welles felt he had made a solid enough case for his two-crested lizard.) There is a second named species of Dilophosaurus, D. sinensis, to which a Chinese paleontologist assigned a theropod fossil discovered in Yunnan province in 1987. Some experts believe that this may actually be a specimen of Cryolophosaurus, the cold-crested lizard (and close relative of Dilophosaurus) that was discovered in Antarctica in the early 1990s. Before he died, Welles designated a third species of Dilophosaurus, D. breedorum, but never got around to publishing it. Dilophosaurus - The Facts and the Fantasy What, exactly, set Dilophosaurus apart from other theropod dinosaurs of early Jurassic North America (and possibly Asia)? Aside from the distinctive crest on its head, not much--this was your average, voracious, 1,000 to 2,000-pound meat eater, certainly no match for the likes of Allosaurus or Tyrannosaurus Rex. Its unclear why Jurassic Park author Michael Crichton even seized on Dilophosaurus in the first place, or why he chose to endow this dinosaur with its mythical features. (Not only did Dilophosaurus not spit poison, but, to date, paleontologists have yet to conclusively identify any genus of dinosaur that did!) The details we do know about Dilophosaurus probably wouldnt make for a very good movie. For example, one specimen of D. wetherelli has an abscess on its humerus (arm bone), most likely the result of a disease process, and another specimen has a weirdly foreshortened left humerus, which may have been a birth defect or a reaction to environmental conditions 190 million years ago. Limping, groaning, feverish theropods dont exactly make for big box office, which may partly excuse Michael Crichtons (and Steven Spielbergs) flights of fancy!

Same Sex Marriage Should Be Legal - 1182 Words

Lester Nguyen American Government Professor Margot Bowlby 22 February 2017 Same Sex Marriage Our society today is greatly influenced through controversial issues over same-sex marriage in America, leaving many stumped and concerned about the ongoing conflict. For some time now, it has been an expanding problem to legalize same sex marriage. A vast majority of the population believe that marriage should be between two genders due to it’s being biblical. The opposition upon same-sex marriage has led to the misconception of civil rights, playing a role in many political injustices and confliction in our economy. In addition, the media has played a key factor in notifying us about this issues in different political viewpoints. For instance,†¦show more content†¦This source has shown enormous amounts of favoritism by declaring same-sex marriage as a civil right, allowing the right to marry whomever based on preference. The enforcement of adopting same-sex marriage as a civil right will gradually affect the area of the religious factor. As it slow ly adapts into the environment, the people within those religious communities will come to an agreement of a being’s choice to marry another. Despite the sexuality of that being, the choice will inevitably change the opinion of another sooner or later. As stated in Fox News, â€Å"I don’t deny this is going to be an issue†¦ an issue not only for religious colleges but also for churches that refuse to honor same-sex marriage...may face government sanctions...† In other words, the church may not agree to perform any matrimonial ceremonies if it goes against their beliefs and concerns. Therefore, there s concern that churches who refuse to perform same sex marriage ceremonies may face government enforcement, including loss of tax-exempt status. Overall, the article has shown unjust treatment towards the religious whom refuse to perform matrimonial ceremonies, having their tax-exempt lowered for refusal of same-sex marriages. An important factor when discussing about same sex marriage can beShow MoreRelatedSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal1288 Words   |  6 Pages Marriage is not precisely the same as it used to be interpreted. For example, women used to be their husband’s property. Sometimes the women were forced to marry whoever their parents wanted them to marry and most of the time they couldn’t leave the marriage. Nowadays women have more freedom. They can vote, they can run their own business, and they can marry whichever man they want to. The laws change as the people’s mind change. As they get more comfortable with the idea, they become more openRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal Essay1475 Words   |  6 PagesSame sex relationships relate to when a man or woman are attracted to someone of the same gender of themselves. It is being rejected as same gender marriage denies the obvious purpose between a man and a women which is procreation (Richardson-Self, 2012). Den ying same sex couples the legal right to get married, could mean that they are being denied their basic human rights to enjoy human benefits (Richardson-Self, 2012). However, the opposing view is that if gay marriage was granted the legal rightsRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal1403 Words   |  6 PagesSame-Sex Marriage â€Å"I now pronounce you†¦Ã¢â‚¬  At some point in a person’s life, they have heard or will hear those words. What follows, however, has changed somewhat over the years; although, the commitment has remained the same. 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Before the Supreme CourtRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal899 Words   |  4 Pages In the United States, same sex marriage became legal nationwide on June 26, 2015, when the United States Supreme Court overruled the court in favor of same sex freedom and marriage. The victory of same sex marriage came to be recognized from the Obergefell v. Hodges case which was submitted when an American Ohio man was denied and regretted to get his name on his late husband’s death certificate. Same sex marriage has been a controversial social issue in the United States for several decades. SinceRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal1491 Words   |  6 PagesSame sex marriage is one of the most debatable issues in the modern world. Marriage has been accepted as the social union between a man and a woman for the past thousand years. Homosexuality was viewed with scorn, and marriages among same sex couples were prohibited in most cultures across the globe. However, gay relationships are slowly obtaining acceptance, as homosexuals have come to be expressive in fighting their rights to marry in the early 90’s. As homosexuality grows in acceptance in theRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal2253 Words   |  10 Pages1776). The recognition of same-sex marriage is an issue influenced by numerous factors, and debates continue to arise over whether people in same-sex relationships have the right to marriage. Marriage provides many benefits, legally, financially, and personally. Same-sex marriage can open up those in same-sex relationships to tax benefits and financial demands comparable to those afforded to and required of people in opposite-sex marriages. Same-sex marriage also gives them legal pr otections, such asRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Should Be Legal892 Words   |  4 PagesLove Same sex marriage is now allowed in all states across the country. But it took years and years for this â€Å"issue† to be finally laid to rest. The first state to legalize same-sex marriage was Massachusetts in 2004. There was not a last state to legalize gay marriage. The supreme court realized how many states were now legalizing it, so they just had all of the states left legalize it as well. ProCon.org supplies information that â€Å"Twenty-six states were forced to legalize gay marriage because

Han vs Rome Ap World Free Essays

Comparative Essay The massively extensive classical empires of Imperial Rome (31BCE-476CE) and Han China (206BCE-220CE) were extremely influential when it came to the world around them. In essence, the two empires were virtually the same in terms of political structure and military protocols, yet greatly different in the area of religious tolerance. Both Han China and Imperial Rome had a political system structure consisting of a sovereign emperor who made executive, almost dictator-like, decisions and directed the affairs of the empire. We will write a custom essay sample on Han vs Rome Ap World or any similar topic only for you Order Now However, in both empires, emperors relied on regional governors to regulated affairs in their respective regions due to the fact that both empires were so massive and consisted of an enormous population. These leaders would also collect a tax that was imposed on free peasants of the empire. In both empires, the emperor was seen as a god-like figure, for example the Mandate of Heaven in Han China was used to persuade the citizens that the emperor was a direct link to the gods. Both Han China and Imperial Rome used religion as a helper in political culture. Confucianism was enforced by the government and promoted obedience, loyalty, and reverence to one’s social superiors. In Rome, Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity in 312CE, and used the church as a sort of guidance/advisor. Both civilizations established a type of â€Å"civil service† based on educated members of the middle class. As far as military protocols go, both militaries worked extensively on projects for the empire such as roads to expedite troop movement. Late in the histories of both empires, foreign soldiers were enlisted in the military due to a drop in population of plagues hit the society. The Roman’s enlisted the help of the Germanic tribes while the Hans enlisted the help of the Mongols. These â€Å"mercenary† soldiers lacked greatly in motivation and pride. Both civilizations enlisted the help of soldiers of the people who were invading them. The military prowess of both civilizations was used to hold and maintain peace once expansion was accomplished. While both civilizations consisted of one sovereign emperor, the methods in which emperors imposed their authorities differed between each. In Rome, the emperors resorted to threats and promises, where as in Han China, the emperors relied mostly on the Mandate of Heaven institution and tributes/gifts from the citizens. Both rulers had a slightly different role as well. The Emperor of China was judge, jury, and executioner, whereas the Emperor of Rome could not act without the senate’s approval. With military expedition and empire expansion, the methods were quite different. When the Romans conquered a new region, they would enforce soldiers in that region until the tax was collected. After the tax was paid, the Romans allowed the conquered peoples to keep their cultural ways. This also applied to religion. Conquered peoples could remain with their religion as long as they followed the system. In fact, in 212CE, Rome offered citizenship to conquered peoples in exchange for adopting Roman culture. This offer was extended to all free people of the conquered region, and citizenship for them meant they had the right to hold office, serve in legions, and others. However, becoming a citizen did not erase their other identities like religious views. Rome also collected many foreign religions, making the entire empire a college of religious views. Unlike Rome, Han China forced Confucian beliefs upon their conquered areas. When the Han invaded and conquered Korea and Vietnam, they established a Chinese-style rule upon the people and forced Confucian beliefs upon them. Han did not collect foreign religions with the exception of Buddhism. Han China and Imperial Roman political structure, military protocols, and religious tolerance share various similarities in political structure and military protocols, and are more different in the area of religious tolerance. While both political structures involved a sovereign emperor who used regional leaders as a way to extend his control to the outskirts of the empire, they differed in the ways the emperor imposed his authority. With military protocols, both militaries were involved in the construction of roads that expanded all over the empire. However, the militaries differed in how they treated their conquered peoples with religion and culture. Both empires had some form of religious tolerance. Han Chinese citizens were allowed to practice Buddhism while the Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity. However, Romans had more tolerance for foreign religions in the empire than Han China did. How to cite Han vs Rome Ap World, Papers

Han vs Rome Ap World Free Essays

Comparative Essay The massively extensive classical empires of Imperial Rome (31BCE-476CE) and Han China (206BCE-220CE) were extremely influential when it came to the world around them. In essence, the two empires were virtually the same in terms of political structure and military protocols, yet greatly different in the area of religious tolerance. Both Han China and Imperial Rome had a political system structure consisting of a sovereign emperor who made executive, almost dictator-like, decisions and directed the affairs of the empire. We will write a custom essay sample on Han vs Rome Ap World or any similar topic only for you Order Now However, in both empires, emperors relied on regional governors to regulated affairs in their respective regions due to the fact that both empires were so massive and consisted of an enormous population. These leaders would also collect a tax that was imposed on free peasants of the empire. In both empires, the emperor was seen as a god-like figure, for example the Mandate of Heaven in Han China was used to persuade the citizens that the emperor was a direct link to the gods. Both Han China and Imperial Rome used religion as a helper in political culture. Confucianism was enforced by the government and promoted obedience, loyalty, and reverence to one’s social superiors. In Rome, Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity in 312CE, and used the church as a sort of guidance/advisor. Both civilizations established a type of â€Å"civil service† based on educated members of the middle class. As far as military protocols go, both militaries worked extensively on projects for the empire such as roads to expedite troop movement. Late in the histories of both empires, foreign soldiers were enlisted in the military due to a drop in population of plagues hit the society. The Roman’s enlisted the help of the Germanic tribes while the Hans enlisted the help of the Mongols. These â€Å"mercenary† soldiers lacked greatly in motivation and pride. Both civilizations enlisted the help of soldiers of the people who were invading them. The military prowess of both civilizations was used to hold and maintain peace once expansion was accomplished. While both civilizations consisted of one sovereign emperor, the methods in which emperors imposed their authorities differed between each. In Rome, the emperors resorted to threats and promises, where as in Han China, the emperors relied mostly on the Mandate of Heaven institution and tributes/gifts from the citizens. Both rulers had a slightly different role as well. The Emperor of China was judge, jury, and executioner, whereas the Emperor of Rome could not act without the senate’s approval. With military expedition and empire expansion, the methods were quite different. When the Romans conquered a new region, they would enforce soldiers in that region until the tax was collected. After the tax was paid, the Romans allowed the conquered peoples to keep their cultural ways. This also applied to religion. Conquered peoples could remain with their religion as long as they followed the system. In fact, in 212CE, Rome offered citizenship to conquered peoples in exchange for adopting Roman culture. This offer was extended to all free people of the conquered region, and citizenship for them meant they had the right to hold office, serve in legions, and others. However, becoming a citizen did not erase their other identities like religious views. Rome also collected many foreign religions, making the entire empire a college of religious views. Unlike Rome, Han China forced Confucian beliefs upon their conquered areas. When the Han invaded and conquered Korea and Vietnam, they established a Chinese-style rule upon the people and forced Confucian beliefs upon them. Han did not collect foreign religions with the exception of Buddhism. Han China and Imperial Roman political structure, military protocols, and religious tolerance share various similarities in political structure and military protocols, and are more different in the area of religious tolerance. While both political structures involved a sovereign emperor who used regional leaders as a way to extend his control to the outskirts of the empire, they differed in the ways the emperor imposed his authority. With military protocols, both militaries were involved in the construction of roads that expanded all over the empire. However, the militaries differed in how they treated their conquered peoples with religion and culture. Both empires had some form of religious tolerance. Han Chinese citizens were allowed to practice Buddhism while the Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity. However, Romans had more tolerance for foreign religions in the empire than Han China did. How to cite Han vs Rome Ap World, Papers