A Guide to the History of Mongooses

A Guide to the History of Mongooses Mongooses are members of the Herpestidae family, and they are small carnivorous mammals with 34 separate species found in about 20 genera. As adults, they range in size from 1-6 kilograms (2 to 13 pounds) in weight, and their body lengths range between 23-75 centimeters (9 to 30 inches). They are primarily African in origin, although one genus is widespread throughout Asia and southern Europe, and several genera are found only on Madagascar. Recent research on domestication issues (in the English language academic press, anyway), has principally focused on the Egyptian or white-tailed mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon). The Egyptian mongoose (H. ichneumon) is a medium-sized mongoose, adults weighing about 2-4 kg (4-8 lb.), with a slender body, about 50-60 cm (9-24 in) long, and a tail about 45-60 cm (20-24 in) long. The fur is grizzled gray, with a markedly darker head and lower limbs. It has small, rounded ears, a pointed muzzle, and a tasseled tail. The mongoose has a generalized diet that includes small to medium-sized invertebrates such as rabbits, rodents, birds, and reptiles, and they have no objections to eating the carrion of larger mammals. Its modern distribution is all over Africa, in the Levant from the Sinai peninsula to southern Turkey and in Europe in the southwestern part of the Iberian peninsula. Mongooses and Human Beings The earliest Egyptian mongoose found at archaeological sites occupied by humans or our ancestors is at Laetoli, in Tanzania. H. ichneumon remains have also been recovered at several South African Middle Stone Age sites such as Klasies River, Nelson Bay, and Elandsfontein. In the Levant, it has been recovered from Natufian (12,500-10,200 BP) sites of el-Wad and Mount Carmel. In Africa, H. ichneumon has been identified in Holocene sites and in the early Neolithic site of Nabta Playa (11-9,000 cal BP) in Egypt. Other mongooses, specifically the Indian gray mongoose, H. edwardsi, are known from Chalcolithic sites in India (2600-1500 BC). A small H. edwardsii was recovered from the Harrappan civilization site of Lothal, ca 2300-1750 BC; mongooses appear in sculptures and associated with specific deities in both Indian and Egyptian cultures. None of these appearances necessarily represent domesticate animals. Domesticated Mongooses In fact, mongooses dont seem to have ever been domesticated in the true sense of the word. They dont require feeding: like cats, they are hunters and can get their own dinners. Like cats, they can mate with their wild cousins; like cats, given the opportunity, mongooses will return to the wild. There are no physical changes in mongooses over time which suggest some domestication process at work. But, also like cats, Egyptian mongooses can make great pets  if you catch them at an early age; and, also like cats, they are good at keeping the vermin down to a minimum: a useful trait for humans to exploit. The relationship between mongooses and people seems to have taken at least a step towards domestication in the New Kingdom of Egypt (1539-1075 BC). New Kingdom mummies of Egyptian mongooses were found at the 20th dynasty site of Bubastis, and in Roman period Dendereh and Abydos. In his Natural History written in the first century AD, Pliny the elder reported on a mongoose he saw in Egypt. It was almost certainly the expansion of the Islamic civilization that brought the Egyptian mongoose into southwestern Iberian peninsula, likely during the Umayyad dynasty (AD 661-750). Archaeological evidence indicates that prior to the eighth century AD, no mongooses were to be found in Europe more recently than the Pliocene. Early Specimens of Egyptian Mongoose in Europe One nearly complete H. ichneumon was found in the Cave of Nerja, Portugal. Nerja has several millennia of occupations, including an Islamic period occupation. The skull was recovered from the Las Fantasmas room in 1959, and although the cultural deposits in this room date to the latter Chalcolithic, AMS radiocarbon dates indicate that the animal went into the cave between the 6th and 8th centuries (885-40 RCYBP) and was trapped. An earlier discovery was four bones (cranium, pelvis and two complete right ulnae) recovered from the Muge Mesolithic period shell middens of central Portugal. Although Muge itself is securely dated to between 8000 AD 7600 cal BP, the mongoose bones themselves date to 780-970 cal AD, indicating that it too burrowed into early deposits where it died. Both of these discoveries support the intimation that Egyptian mongooses were brought into southwestern Iberia during the expansion of the Islamic civilization of the 6th-8th centuries AD, likely the Ummayad emirate of Cordoba, 756-929 AD. Sources Detry C, Bicho N, Fernandes H, and Fernandes C. 2011.  The Emirate of Cà ³rdoba (756–929 AD) and the introduction of the Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) in Iberia: the remains from Muge, Portugal.  Journal of Archaeological Science  38(12):3518-3523.Encyclopedia of Life.  Herpestes. Accessed January 22, 2012Gaubert P, Machordom A, Morales A, Là ³pez-Bao JV, Veron G, Amin M, Barros T,  Basuony  M, Djagoun CAMS, San EDL et al. 2011.  Comparative phylogeography of two African carnivorans presumably introduced into Europe: disentangling natural versus human-mediated dispersal across the Strait of Gibraltar.  Journal of Biogeography  38(2):341-358.Palomares F, and Delibes M. 1993.  Social organization in the Egyptian mongoose: group size, spatial behaviour and inter-individual contacts in adults.  Animal Behaviour  45(5):917-925.Myers, P. 2000. Herpestidae (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed January 22, 2012 http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich. edu/site/accounts/information/Herpestidae.html.Riquelme-Cantala JA, Simà ³n-Vallejo MD, Palmqvist P, and Cortà ©s-Snchez M. 2008.  The oldest mongoose of Europe.  Journal of Archaeological Science 35(9):2471-2473. Ritchie EG, and Johnson CN. 2009.  Predator interactions, mesopredator release and biodiversity conservation.  Ecology Letters 12(9):982-998.Sarmento P, Cruz J, Eira C, and Fonseca C. 2011.  Modeling the occupancy of sympatric carnivorans in a Mediterranean ecosystem.  European Journal of Wildlife Research  57(1):119-131.van der Geer, A. 2008  Animals in Stone: Indian mammals sculptured through time.  Brill: Leiden.

15 Hilarious Things People Have Put on Their Resume

15 Hilarious Things People Have Put on Their Resume Here at TheJobNetwork, we have scoured every nook and cranny  of the internet and have compiled a list of epic proportions. Here are the top 15 most hilarious  things people have put on their resume. Most people take their resumes seriously, but not these guys. First thing first, if you are serious about making a great resume, make sure to download our resume samples for your specific job title.1.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"None of my references really like me, so please don’t believe what they say.†2.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"I came up with the idea for Windows.†3. â€Å"I’ll introduce you to my wife if you hire me.†4. â€Å"I am proficient in Internet Explorer, Firefox, and all related search engines.†5.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"I’m a level 90 Shamanistic natural healer.†6.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"I quit  being a  porn actor and took a job at a gas station. They fired me because of ‘job performance issues.’ Right before the tank was full I’d pull the nozzle ou t and spray gas all over the car’s headlights.†7.   Werk Xperince: â€Å"i werked at da keyfuuud az da best bhag boiii†8.   Leadership Skills: â€Å"World of Warcraft Guild Leader9.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If yes, please explain.†Ã‚  Answer:  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Yes. Arson.  He deserved it. Will discuss in interview.†10. â€Å"List your most notable accomplishments.† Answer: â€Å"I learned how to store crumbs in the flaps of my fat for safe-keeping.†11. Skills: â€Å"I’m a BOSS at working.†12. Talents: â€Å"I am adored by my entire village. All of the villagers want me to marry their daughters.†13. Special skills: â€Å"I have destroyed the president of Nicaragua in tennis.†14. Languages: â€Å"I can speak Klingon.†15.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"This isn’t my real contact information. I need to conceal my identity because I am being followed. If you need to contact me, flip a coin into the sunlight and look north. I will be there.†If you don’t want to end up looking like anyone above, make sure to go over to our resume library to download a resume template for your desired job title.

Cybersecurity Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Cybersecurity - Personal Statement Example My academic objectives can be divided into two sections, long term and short term objectives. My general objective at the moment is the acquirement of additional knowledge that would serve me in my career operations. Taking cyber security classes would increase my basis of knowledge in IT and related subjects thus allowing me to not only expand my area of expertise, but improve on the existing ones as well. The overall objective mentioned above can be seen as the leading long term objective in my academic path. I am aware that this would require my whole concentration on the achievement of these objectives in order to progress in this particular aim. I believe that my previous experiences, however, will serve me in successfully achieving this endeavor. My previous studies in India concerning web programming languages enabled me to develop a steady and applicable approach to new academic challenges in my life. This was because apart from the study of the various languages (which inclu ded PHP, MySQL and asp.net), I also enrolled for an online course on DB analyzing on www.coursera.com. This was at the same time as my web language courses that helped develop my personal organization and prioritization skills. My research interests lie in the world of E-commerce, and my main career plan is growing the business that I established with two other partners after my studies. This company offers web solutions for any company with (or in need of) an online platform. This business will be able to achieve this growth through the additional expertise I will gain from the cyber security classes. About my qualifications, I have a number of past achievements that I believe puts me in the driver’s seat for additional success should I continue to apply myself. As a student, my graduation project was able to win first place in Salman bin Abdulaziz University in the

SWOT analysis paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

SWOT analysis paper - Essay Example taking other social initiatives that are meant to curb the housing discrimination, such as providing housing education and outreach activities (HUD, 2015). The FHIP remains an important component of civil rights advocacy, since most of the groups and organizations fighting against housing discrimination in the USA wholesomely depend on this funding. Therefore, the major function of the FHIP is to help people who believe that they are victims of housing discrimination to identify the relevant government agencies that handle the housing complaints (Civilrights.org, 2015). The FHIP achieves this objective through funding other fair housing advocacy groups and organizations, which in turn help the victims to transmit their complaints of the unfair housing discrimination to the relevant government authorities for subsequent actions. The mission statement of the FHIP is to eliminate any form of housing discrimination and build a secure access to quality housing for Americans (PD&R, 2011). The program has four initiatives operating under its umbrella, which include Fair Housing Organizations Initiative (FHOI), an initiative specifically meant to build capacity among the private non-profit fair housing organizations (Gpo.gov, 1997). The initiative achieves its objectives through funding fair housing enforcement initiatives, as well as education outreach initiatives on fair housing (HUD, 2015). The other initiative under the FHIP umbrella is the Private Enforcement Initiative (PEI), which is an initiative focused on facilitating the activities of nationwide fair housing groups, to prevent housing discriminative practices (HUD, 2015). The third initiative under the FHIP is the Education and Outreach Initiative (EOI), which is an initiative that specifically focuses on the funding the State, local governments or non-profit agencies that are involved in creating awareness among the public and the housing owners on both their rights and responsibilities in complying with the

Is Democracy a Better form of Government Essay Example for Free

Is Democracy a Better form of Government Essay Democracy is the best form of government simply because no other form of government is known to work well. Democracy may have its flaws but all in all it works very fluidly. Socialism, for example, does not even come close to the best form of government. One can easily see this in Greeces current state. Democracy has never led to complete government disorder like one can see Socialism does. Democracy allows us the freedom to choose. The majority of our country is allowed to choose what they feel is best for them. It is not just one person deciding what they think is best for everyone else. Democracy will always win out over other forms of government. This process can happen through voting. Right to vote is a human right of every citizen. Political Rights form a distinct category of Human Rights. Right to vote, right to contest at elections and the right to hold public office are considered important political rights. A democracy seems to be the most stable form of government yet. No one person has power. No one ideology is deemed better than another. In a democracy, if something doesnt work, it can and should be changed by the populace. Theocracies, monarchies and socialism all have their downsides. Democracy isnt perfect, but that form of government seems to be the most peaceful, especially in America. â€Å"What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or in the holy name of liberty or democracy? † ? Mahatma Gandhi Peoples democracy is the lifeblood of socialism. As an important part of the overall reform, political restructuring must be constantly deepened along with economic and social development to adapt to the growing enthusiasm of the people for participation in political affairs.

Meaning of Edgar Allan Poes The Raven Essay -- Edgar Allan Poe Raven

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" employs a raven itself as a symbol of the torture, mainly the self-inflicted torture, of the narrator over his lost love, Lenore.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The raven, it can be argued, is possibly a figment of the imagination of the narrator, obviously distraught over the death of Lenore. The narrator claims in the first stanza that he is weak and weary (731). He is almost napping as he hears the rapping at the door, which could quite possibly make the sound something he heard in a near dream-like state, not an actual sound. He is terrified of being alone in the chamber he is in when the poem takes place. The "sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain thrilled me-filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before" (731). When the poem opens, he is reading over books of "forgotten lore" (731). His imagination is probably already running wild. His surroundings are conducive to the situation he finds himself in. The word "chamber" itself implies a cold, rigid feel, like the narrator has shut himself away from everything in order to be alone to brood and torture himself. The words "ghost" and "dying ember" give the reader a feeling of discomfort, like something is not quite right with the situation. The narrator opens the chamber door into darkness, deep darkness, and silence. He stands there, fearing what is before him, "dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before" (732). December is also the time of year when most plants are dead, to which extent the narrator remarks that it is a "bleak December", making for a dismal scene both outside and inside the chamber. There is also a "tempest", a storm, brewing outside, not good for calming the spirits of the narrator. Thoughts are running through his head and it is safe to say that he is frightening himself more than the situation merits at this point. He says he has to still the beating of his heart by repeating outside the door, "'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door" (731). He is literally trying to talk himself down from the frightened state he is in. The mind is the most powerful tool of one's imagination, and the narrator's is definitely working in overdrive. Given the language used by the narrator and the surroundings he has placed himself in, one could think that the whole story was a figment of the narrator's imagination. Just like when watching... ...ven sitting on the chair. As the poem comes to a close, we see that the narrator will forever be reminded of death and the fact that he, as a part of his nature, cannot understand it. And he will be forever reminded of Lenore and his loss, as the raven is sitting there above the door-"and the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting on the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door?" (734). The raven plays an important part in the poem, hence the title, "The Raven." The raven has so many meanings: death, sorrow, fear, frustration, and the self-inflicted torture of the narrator. All these things can attest to the mental state of the narrator due to the loss of Lenore. "Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door," he pleads. But the raven will not go. The raven will sit above the narrator's door every day for eternity to remind the narrator that he cannot understand death. And left under the shadow the raven casts on the floor is the soul of the narrator that shall be lifted-nevermore! Works Cited McMichael, George, et al. Anthology of American Literature, 7th ed., vol. 1. Upper Saddle River: Prentice-Hall, 2000.

Learning Styles and Competencies

Especially when the instructor give exactly what they want out of you when learning room them, like precise instructions, directions, and they give the tools needed to complete their course. My three highest results on the competency spectrum are researching, applying expertise, and logical thinking. Researchers learn new task and retains the Information quickly. Also they demonstrate an Immediate understanding of newly presented Information. A researcher supports good decision making due to well done research. Second was applying expertise this is using technology to achieve goals.Demonstrates an understanding of a variety of different things. Third s logical thinking which is using all sources available to complete a task. Logical thinkers have a great understanding of problems and thinks of ways to solve them. Also they think about the future and the action we make today will affect us in the future and to make wise choices. I believe I am a great researcher and I always I am usua lly the one looking up everything and researching everything to know before making decisions. Second is applying expertise which I also agree that I am good at . My friends and family always ask me for my expertise.I am open too variety of different things. Third is logical thinking I believe that is also pretty true about myself. I understand problems and can always come up with a solution that everyone Is happy with. These results did not surprise me. And competencies as determined by these activities. I don't think there are any major alterations to my study techniques to take advantage of my abilities. My study habits and competencies match well with my results.. I strategies my week with what I need to learn and study. I think logically and deduce answers by making rational judgments.I analyze information to find out what it means and how it works. How can knowing your abilities and competencies from the My Career Plan help you prepare for professional environments? I would uti lize my strengths, abilities, and skills that I have to market myself better in a professional environment. I believe there is a place in any company that you work at to make yourself shine above the others by applying your strengths to the best of your abilities. I am quick learner and I research anything I don't know and absorb that knowledge for the future when needed.I coped well with pressure, so anything expected from me in a working environment, I will not falter. I know myself as an individual. I know what my strengths are, and it will benefit me moving forward to prepare me in any professional environment. How would you approach collaborative work in the future given what you now understand about your competencies and abilities? I think by best approach is asking questions with students, teachers, and professional who is already working in the field I am studying in. What is the relationship between your competencies identified in My Career Plan and your results on the pers onality spectrum profile?My three highest results on the rationality spectrum are researching, applying expertise, and logical thinking. My personality was musical and interpersonal . What can you do to Improve on the competencies needed for your career goal? Review the competency development tips for assistance with improving competencies. Improve my personal competencies by evaluating my strengths and weaknesses. Make a commitment to add skills that can improve my quality of life. Take classes on line or in physical classrooms to enhance competencies which is what I'm doing now . Look for ways to improve work-life strategically by expanding my skill-set.