A Domesticated Killer

       A study done by Nature.com has just opened my eyes to an unseen and widely disregarded problem. Cats are causing more deaths of birds and mammals each year than all other human causes.

Cat after killing rabbit

The estimated numbers are:

1.4-3.7 billion birds killed each year
6.9-20.7 billion mammals killed each year

According to Nautre.com, "Our findings suggest that free-ranging cats likely the single greatest source of anthropogenic mortality for US birds and mammals". 

This new discovery is truly staggering. Although stated that the majority of the cats are un-owned, a significant percentage is still from the exact domesticated cats that owners across the nation have come to love. Cat owners may argue that it's just the nature of their cats, but that's truly insensitive in regards to the widespread deaths they are causing for really no reason. Cats of all shapes, sizes and domestication are contributing to the tens of billions of deaths annually.

I think though that it is an incredible American value to disregard such findings. For Americans, (me included with my dog) we think that our pets could never be the brunt of atrocities. Cat owners included may think that their cat can't possibly be the cause of such deaths. They're wrong. Instead of just disregarding such findings, Americans need to become more aware of occurrences around them, like their pets killing more birds and mammals than themselves each year.

What do you think? Do Americans have a problem of disregarding information possibly pertaining to themselves? Any personal experiences? Please share in the comments!

Show Me The Money!

While watching a Christmas special of the popular television show, Duck Dynasty- a reality show about the hilarious and unorthodox family behind a duck hunting company (for those who don't know the show, an overview can be seen through this link) - something really spoke to me about american ideals.

The character, Si

The company threw a holiday party for local children, with the CEO of the company, Willie, playing Santa Claus while the always entertaining and unpredictable uncle and employee of Willie named "Si" being Santa's helper. When one little girl was asked by Willie what she wanted for Christmas, she replied that she wanted art supplies because she wanted to be an artist. Si sharply butted in by saying that there isn't any money to be made in the art profession.



I feel that the point he made was incredibly applicable to american ideals of occupations. It's all about where the money is. It's heard so incredibly often the terms of people having "good" or "bad" jobs. Just as we have discussed in class, "good" and "bad" by no means reflect the quality of the person performing the jobs or even quality of work, just the job's pay. Personally, I've heard it and seen it time and time again the obsession with one's income. For example, extremely reputable and widely subscribed to Forbes magazine releases the annually anticipated "Forbes 400" list. This list profiles the 400 wealthiest Americans for all subscribes to revere in their wealthy aura. The "list" speaks wonders about american ideals.

It's somewhat eye-opening that one's occupation in the american culture is viewed upon based on the money that they make and not the quality or purpose of the work.

What do you think about American values of one's occupations purpose? How can media change this ideal? Please let me know your thoughts!

Just Another Day Off?

(Original 10/8/12)

(Revised 10/26/12)

Although Mr. Bolos has already created a blog post like this one, I feel the topic is pertinent enough to create another one similar to it, but with a whole different twist.

To many students across the nation, Columbus Day is just another break in the schedule of their school years. In my mind however, this day does not deserve the recognition that it has received.

Cristoforo Colombo and crew

Christopher Columbus (Americanized from actual name Cristoforo Colombo) stole the discovery of America from a Viking group led by Leif Eriksson. Yes, Cristoforo Colombo was the first official Spaniard to discover the United States we know today, but not even near the first one to do so.

Leif Eriksson discovered America 500 years before Colombo did and hasn't received even close to the amount of recognition Colombo does. Well, Leif Eriksson does have his own day of recognition, but it's hardly known at all and happens to be the day after Columbus Day.

Leif Eriksson

Americans in general tend to favor being regarded as a civil and progressive. The Spanish undoubtedly were civil and progressive at the time of Colombo's discovery of America, whereas the Vikings weren't as much. For these reasons, I think that Columbus Day is widely commemorated. Why not just credit the discovery of America to respected and notable Spaniards instead of the less impressive Vikings? It's truly a highway robbery. 

In contradiction, Americans love being first, the best, however you want to describe it. With this said, it comes as a shock in my mind that Americans continue to regard Columbus as the first person to discover America. With our incredible transfixion on being the first person or people to do something, it would only seem like the American norm to commemorate the first person to discover America -- Leif Eriksson. However, this is not the case and Columbus Day, celebrating the "runner-up",  is continued annually; directly contradicting the strong American value of being first. 

What do you think? Do you believe that Leif Eriksson day should be celebrated to conquer American values instead of Columbus Day? and or, should Americans continue to celebrate Columbus Day for purposes of relation with a progressive culture? Please weigh in with your thoughts.