Ray Oldenburg Crtique essays

Ray Oldenburg Crtique essays Stress is a common problem in America today. The cause however, is often times debated. Ray Oldenburg, a sociologist at the University of West Florida, argues that the reason we (Americas) are stressed out is due to a lack of a third place. I couldnt agree more. Oldenburgs effective use of communication, his witty comments, and the examples that he uses apply to us today as much as they did in the past. Oldenburg claims that Americans lives are fragmented due to the lack of an informal social life. He argues that the automobile suburb ruined the informal social life by taking away the possibility of having a village pub or caf that allows people to informally meet together. Oldenburg groups our lives into three places: the first place being home, the second place being work, and the third place being an informal social gathering place (such as a village pub or caf). Because of the lack of a third place, Oldenburg believes that Americans are forced to have social relationships with those that they work with, and in doing so, do not allow for a separation between work and social life. In addition, the introduction of the television and various other technologies has also aided in the breakdown of the informal social life, causing Americans to stay inside their homes. All these, he feels, is the reason why Americans lead a jangled and fragmented life. One of the very first arguments that Oldenburg makes is that Americans lack an informal social life. By saying this, Oldenburg is arguing that we do not have the type of social life that allows us to bump into each other, but instead, we must make appointments. How true this thought process is! I think about the times when I have wanted to see a close friend, and how we were forced to make an appointment with them in order to spend time together. I believe that if anyone were to accurately examine their social life, the...

The Difference Between Sea Lions and Seals

The Difference Between Sea Lions and Seals The term seal is often used to refer to both seals and sea lions, but there are several characteristics that set seals and sea lions apart. Below you can learn about the differences that set seals and sea lions.   Seals, sea lions, and walruses are all in the order Carnivora and suborder Pinnipedia, thus they are called â€Å"pinnipeds.† Pinnipeds are mammals that are well-adapted for swimming. They usually have a streamlined barrel shape and four flippers at the end of each limb.  As mammals, they also give birth to live young and nurse their young. Pinnipeds are insulated with blubber and fur.   Pinniped Families There are three families of pinnipeds: the Phocidae, the earless or true seals; the Otariidae, the eared seals, and the Odobenidae, the walrus. This article focuses on the difference between the earless seals (seals) and the eared seals (sea lions). Characteristics of Phocidae (Earless or True Seals) Earless seals have no visible ear flaps, although they still have ears, which may be visible as a dark spot or small hole on the side of their head.   True seals: Have no external ear flaps.Swim with their hind flippers. Their hind flippers always face backward and are furred.Have front flippers that are short, furry and stubby in appearance.Have two or four teats.Can be found in both marine and freshwater environments. Examples of earless (true) seals: Harbor (common) seal (Phoca vitulina), grey seal (Halichoerus grypus), hooded seal (Cystophora cristata), harp seal (Phoca groenlandica), elephant seal (Mirounga leonina), and monk seal  (Monachus schauinslandi). Characteristics ofOtariidae (Eared Seals, Including Fur Seals and Sea Lions) One of the most noticeable features of eared seals is their ears, but they also move around differently than true seals.   Eared seals: Have external ear flaps.Have four teats.Are only found in marine environments.  Swim with their front flippers. Unlike earless seals, their hind flippers can turn forward, and they are better able to walk, and even run, on their flippers. The seals you may see performing at marine parks are often sea lions.May congregate in larger groups than true seals. Sea lions are much more vocal than true  seals, and make a variety of loud, barking noises. Examples of eared seals: Steller’s sea lion (​Eumetopias jubatus), California sea lion (Zalophus californianus), and Northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus). Characteristics of Walruses Wondering about walruses, and how they differ from seals and sea lions? Walruses are pinnipeds, but they are in the family, Odobenidae. One obvious difference between walruses, seals and sea lions is that walruses are the only pinnipeds with tusks. These tusks are  present in both males and females. Other than tusks, walruses have some similarities to both seals and sea lions. Like true seals, walruses dont have visible ear flaps. But, like eared seals, walruses can walk on their flippers by rotating their hind flippers under their body.   References and Further Information Berta, A. Pinnipedia, Overview. In  Perrin, W.F., Wursig, B. and J.G.M. Thewissen. Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals. Academic Press. p. 903-911. NOAA National Ocean Service. Whats the Difference Between Seals and Sea Lions?. Accessed September 29, 2015. NOAA Office of Protected Resources. 2008. †Pinnipeds: Seals, Sea Lions (Online). NOAA. Retrieved November 23, 2008.and Walruses† Waller, Geoffrey, ed. 1996. SeaLife: A Complete Guide to the Marine Environment. Smithsonian Institution Press. Washington, D.C.