Humanities 1100 Reflection Paper #4

HUMA 1100 Reflection Paper #4

            Alfred, Lord Tennyson, the poet of The Charge of the Light Brigade, uses his poetry to convey the experiences of the soldiers involved in the charge by utilizing poem structure to give visual aid of war order, word usage to provide imagery of battle, and dactylic syllables to provide sounds of battle. These three tools each provide a way for the reader to understand the experiences of the soldiers in such short but powerful writing.

            When looking at the poem initially, the reader sees a few things regarding the structure. Firstly, each stanza is roughly the same length give or take a line or two, and each line within each set of stanzas are roughly the same length. This simple observation aids the reader in visualizing soldiers in a line marching forward into battle. Secondly, the reader notices as they begin to read, that there is pattern that follows. Each line is short and to the point, almost as if they are similar to what it would look like to write down the orders or instructions given by the military leaders. Tennyson even writes a few of his lines to imply quotations coming from these imagined military leaders. He writes, "Forward, the Light Brigade! Charge for the guns!" which are to be interpreted as a call to action given by a leader.

            Tennyson's use of imagery aids the reader in imagining for themselves where the soldiers are in battle in regards to enemy lines because he gives a description of their location within each stanza. In the first stanza Tennyson begins by saying "Half a league, half a league, half a league onward," which lets the reader understand that the soldiers are not quite to the enemy lines, but that they are closing in quickly. In the Third Stanza, he gives a description of where the soldiers are in relation to the enemy's cannons as they approach the enemy lines: "Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon in front of them". Then as they progress deeper into battle, the fifth stanza explains their location in regards to the cannons "Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon behind them".

            Along with the imagery of the soldiers location and progression amongst the enemy line of defense, Tennyson provides descriptive word usage that lets the reader imagine the soldiers grueling point of view during the progression of battle. He begins to describe the battle field as the "valley of death" which is very appropriate when he continues onward with the rest of his descriptive words of war such as: " jaws of Death", "mouth of Hell", "battery-smoke", "Storm'd at with shot and shell", and finally "horse and hero fell". Putting Tennyson's gruesome words together leads the reader to understand the difficult battle for the soldiers.

            Dactylic meter is used by Tennyson to provide sound to convey the experience of the soldiers when the reader reads this poem aloud. Dactylic meter is when one stressed syllable is followed by two unstressed syllables, and reading a poem correctly can prove to have more depth to it than just the word meanings. In just two lines of Tennyson's poem ,"Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them" we can hear the intended sounds of cannon fire due to the dactylic meter, and one could arguably say the sound of horses hooves pounding the ground as they gallop into battle.

            Utilizing these three poetry tools, Tennyson is able to convey the experiences of the soldiers in The Charge of the Light Brigade by providing visualization of military order within the stanza's structure, imagery to give perspective of the soldiers location in battle or their view of the battle, and finally Dactylic meter to provide a soundtrack of war cannons. Tennyson understands that in order to enhance and add depth to his writing, application of poetry tools provide the reader with a deeper connection and understanding of his work.

Math 1030 Signature Assignment

      Math 1030/Quantitative Literacy

Signature Assignment

        I chose to upload the Working in the Yard written assignment for my signature assignment. I feel like it gives a pretty good example of some of the essential skills that I learned in my Quantitative Literacy Math 1030 class this semester. 

       This assignment came from our Problem Solving Module at the beginning of the semester. This module really helped change the way I look at story problems, as well as the rest of any of the math problems that we encountered as the semester continued forward. I started to look at math problems critically, and began to break them down into separate parts to know what I needed to solve or organize first in order to help the problem make sense. 

       This class really helped me understand the applications of math in real world problems and situations. That's another reason that I chose this assignment to upload; because it's a math problem that is a real life problem. I want to remember this skill so that I can really look at things from all angles when I have a project or a problem in my life. This assignment showed us how analyzing can help you save time, money, as well as be sure things are done accurately. Great life skill.

Here were the original instructions for the Working in the Yard assignment, as well as the information that was given to us for the problem needing to be solved at hand:

Using this information, figure out whether your neighbor will save money by picking up the soil himself.  Use the results of your calculations to guide your decision:  would you recommend that your neighbor pick up the soil himself, or pay for delivery?

Detail all your assumptions and calculations, and clearly write out your final conclusions. 

Take a picture, or scan your work and submit it with your written explanation.

• Is he redoing the whole yard or just the front?
• He's redoing the whole yard
• How much topsoil does he need?
• I'm not sure, you'll have to figure that out.  Remember he's putting a new 4 inch layer down over all the area currently covered by grass in the overhead picture above.
• How big is the yard?  
• I'm not sure, but you can probably estimate it using the overhead picture.
• What kind of pickup truck does he drive?  
• A 2003 Ford F-150 XL.
• How much can the pickup carry?  
• The truck bed is 80 inches long, 69 inches wide, and 20 inches tall.
• How much is the delivery charge?  
• $30 per truckload on top of the soil cost.  Each truckload can deliver up to 18 cubic yards.
• How much does the topsoil cost?  
• $18 per cubic yard (sold in 1/4 yard increments).
• How far is the soil store?  
• It is 9 miles away.  It takes about 20 minutes to drive there.
• What gas mileage does the pickup truck get?  
• It averages 17 miles to the gallon.
• What is the current gas cost?  
• Assume it's $3.79/gallon.

Here I have uploaded my assignment sheet. This shows the steps I needed to take in order to do the calculations properly, as well as in which order I needed to do them to make sense of the information:

Here I share my written portion to go along with my calculations to help make sense of my thought process and explain my reasoning:

       From my calculations I figured that having the soil delivered to his house from the store would cost around $928.89 dollars including the cost of the soil as well as the cost regarding the amount of truckloads delivered. I then figured that it would cost him around $866.98 if he took care of the truckloads himself with his truck. This cost came from the price of the soil, and how much money in gas he would be paying in total. From these two costs, I would let him know that it would save him around $61.91 which is a good amount of money, but I also calculated how long it would take him to drive back and forth from the store. It would take him around 4.66 hours of driving time. That doesn't include the amount of time he would have to wait to have them fill his truck, and then unload his truck once he got home. If he is looking to save every penny I would suggest that he does the whole job himself. But when it comes down to it, if he is also doing all of the yard work I think that it would be worth it to have the soil delivered. If he did that, as soon as the first load comes he could start spreading it around the yard, and get his work done a lot faster.

Exercise And a Sense of Wellbeing

Hunter Tanner

HLAC

Exercise And a Sense of Wellbeing:

            I personally believe that to really have a sense of wellbeing you must feel well physically as well as mentally. These two points go hand in hand, and help create that balance in your life that creates that sense of wellbeing. What isn’t understood by many though is the aspect of mental health and being physically active.

            The NHS (National Health System) in the UK have an entire section on their website regarding mental health and exercise. This direct quote helps explain in one way that physical activity aids in relieving symptoms of mental illness:

“Evidence shows that there is a link between being physically active and good mental wellbeing.

Being active doesn’t mean you need to spend hours in the gym, if that doesn't appeal to you. Find physical activities that you enjoy and think about how to fit more of them into your daily life.”

I personally believe that the overall point of this quote is very true regarding the relationship between participating in a physical activity that you enjoy, physical health benefits that come from that exercise, as well as the joy that you will have doing something that enjoy and making time for that in your everyday life.

In my experience, I have found that I will put of exercise and probably not do it if it is honestly something that I do not find fun or enjoyable. Even though I know that it is healthy, and good for me, that is not enough of a motivation to get me to the point that I personally want to participate. For example, going for a run. I do not find that fun, I find it difficult, un-enjoyable, and that I am watching the time and counting down until I can just be done already.

In contrast, I have found that I look for any possible time that I can fit into my day an activity that I truly do enjoy. I love to go hiking, and instead of taking my dog just for a walk around the neighborhood, I look for opportunities to take my dog on a hiking trail. I must make sure that I block out a pretty large amount of time to do so because unlike running, I lose track of time and could easily be up on a trail for a good two hours before I realize that I should probably be finished soon.

Looking at the scientific side of things, this sense of happiness and wellbeing doesn’t just magically come from doing something that you love to do. HelpGuide.org explains what happens inside your brain that creates a better sense of wellbeing when you are physically active, and even combat symptoms of mild to moderate depression. Their website states:

“It [exercise] promotes all kinds of changes in the brain, including neural growth, reduced inflammation, and new activity patterns that promote feelings of calm and well-being. It also releases endorphins, powerful chemicals in your brain that energize your spirits and make you feel good. Finally, exercise can also serve as a distraction, allowing you to find some quiet time to break out of the cycle of negative thoughts that feed depression.”

The chemicals in your brain, and your neuro pathways have a larger impact on your personal sense of wellbeing than most people give credit for. So not only is exercise helping your body literally be healthier by building muscles, burning fat, and creating endurance. It is helping your brain to do similar things in its’ own way. Those endorphins that your brain creates when you are physically active are later craved by your body, and can become a good habit for you to consistently achieve.

            I have found personally that I have a clearer sense of thought, a better outlook on life, and more positive thoughts about myself as I have strived to incorporate more physical activity into my life. I have learned from my HLAC class this semester how to have fun and be physically active. There are countless types of physical activity out there in the world, something for everybody. It is nice to have a class where you can set out a time each week to participate in physical activity, and I have found that it helps me with my focus in other secular classes that I am taking this semester as well.

Citations:

“Get Active for Mental Wellbeing - Stress, Anxiety and Depression.” NHS Choices, NHS, www.nhs.uk/Conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/Pages/mental-benefits-of-exercise.aspx. Accessed 24 Apr. 2017.

            “The Mental Health Benefits of Exercise.” The Mental Health Benefits of Exercise: The Exercise Prescription for Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and More, HELPGUIDE.org, www.helpguide.org/articles/exercise-fitness/emotional-benefits-of-exercise.htm. Accessed 24 Apr. 2017.

English 2010- Look Back Revision and Reflection

Open Letter

Dear Monsanto Food Corporation,

            There is no easy way to say this Monsanto, but I think that you are evil. Pure evil actually. The way that you run your agrochemical, agricultural biotechnology corporation is wrong. I am a consumer of food like every single human being living on the planet, because if you forgot, food is actually something that we need live and stay alive. I'm not sure if you have forgotten this simple fact, you never were taught this concept, or if you really just don't care. The reason I bring this up is that you definitely  do not run your food business in a way that shows that you are grasping the gravity of what you are claiming to have "control" over. Your genetically modified organisms, and your excessive use of pesticides actually do have an incredibly negative side affect that you are willfully ignoring. Come on, there is no way that you are that oblivious.

            I'm writing to you in the first place to not only tell you how much I hate your guts, but why I hate your guts, and to explain to you just how wrong you are going about doing things. Someone needs to. You seem to be completely oblivious of your actions and their consequences, and frankly, it's disgusting how little you care.

            Here's the lowdown Monsanto; you are messing with things that ethically should not be messed with. Do you remember what I was saying about the human race? The fact that everybody alive needs to eat to live, and that they have the right to do so? Yeah, food is kind of an essential thing to life. The fact that you are taking this food, these seeds and these products and genetically modifying them for your own selfish gain isn't right. You own 282 million acres of farmland in the U.S., which act as you selfish empire of 1,676 seeds and other types of genetically modified organisms, GMO's that you own the patent for (Organic Consumers Association). This monopoly that you are creating has some grim consequences if you continue running your business in the way that you currently are.

            Answer this question for me: What's going to happen when all of the original seed, plant, and animal organisms are completely wiped out by your patented and modified seeds and organisms? You have the ability to do your ethical part and make your products affordable to everyone, so that no one goes hungry. My guess is that this won't be the case. You won't be the hero of the day by lowering your prices on these GMO's and the foods that they go into, the only food that will be available in this scenario (Karlin Hauter). No, I know that you are just waiting for that day to come, and as soon as it does, bam, your GMO seeds and food products will skyrocket in price. You will have what people need, but they can only have it if they pay the right price. You need to stop before you take this too far. You have more control than anyone should in regards to such an ethical dilemma.

            I want to address for just a moment your complete and utter obsession with Round-Up weed killer. I honestly think that if you could, you would marry that stuff. It's really sad. What's more sad about your obsession is the affects that it has on far more than just your ability to grow more crops without the weeds getting in your way. By genetically modifying your seeds to be resistant  to this pesticide, farmers are able to spray as much Round-Up as they please. They can spray acres and acres of this poison all over their crops and be completely content with doing so. I can't picture exactly what you will be saying out loud right now; "What's wrong with that? Our crops are able to grow more than our competitors because we have solved the weed problem!" This is where I am honestly surprised at how obtuse you are about any type of issue that you cause. I can think of three major problems that this excess Round-Up causes. How can you not see these?

            Over spray of crops does go elsewhere Monsanto. It doesn't just stop at the crops while they are in the fields. Take a second to think about how much of that poisonous residue is coated on your agricultural products that leave the fields, and are now being sold in grocery stores to be purchased and then eaten. Now think about what happens to the excess spray that either drips off of the crops, or is sprayed directly onto the soil. That poison sinks down through the soil and is then carried away by the water in the ground, and the irrigation systems that are set up around these farming fields.

            You are literally putting poison into the water system like a traditional super villain from a comic book. Want some proof? Our good friends from the USGS (U.S. Geological Survey) took some samples from a few different water ways in a 38 states and found Glyphosate, Round-Up's main chemical ingredient in all samples of water. 70% of rain samples they took during their study contained this chemical as well. Those aren't small numbers, how can you not acknowledge that?

            I guess that there is only one backlash of your evil doings that has the potential to upset you at least a little bit. You know those weeds you are working oh so hard to keep from your selfishly used crop yields? Yeah, here's the thing... they are beginning to gain a resistance to the pesticides used to kill them. Pretty soon, your loved Round-Up probably won't even work and you are going to be faced with a problem that you finally won't be able to ignore.

            Not only are you causing the extinction of organisms, but you are also causing all consumers to suffer from the wrath of your love affair with Round-up.

            Monsanto, you're a jerk.

          

           Sincerely,

           Disgusted

 Reflection

                I feel like I have learned a lot more this semester in English 2010 then I have in my past English classes, and they definitely have helped me improve as a writer. I'm not just saying this because this is an assignment and I'm trying to write exactly what my professor is looking for. I honestly and truly learned a lot of valuable skills this semester through my writing assignments. Some bigger things like how to correctly format and write a works cited page and how important good in depth research and sources are to being able to write an effective persuasive piece. Some smaller things, like the importance of creating a proper rough draft to work from and make revisions to, as well as taking the time given to write assignments to actually write and not wait until the last minute.

                The works cited activities and lessons we had in class helped immensely in my understanding of how to make sure you are citing things correctly and not just trusting an online citation generator to do a perfect job. I was surprised at how much was left out when I would rely on the online generator to do the whole thing for me. It was also helpful to not only learn the correct formatting, but to also learn why you arrange things in certain orders for different types of citations like MLA and APA.

                From the very first assignment to the very last assignment, I feel like I gained a greater understanding of the importance of finding good reliable sources for research. My first assignment, I feel like I ran out of things to talk about, as well as that my information really didn't come together very well as a whole. As I did each project, I found out how to weed out different sources and really stick to ones that I could work with and that really had information that pertained to my subject. For my "look back affect" project I decided to revise my very first assignment, the open letter, so I could rewrite it with the knowledge that I have now regarding sources and reliable useful information. It made it a lot easier to revise, and I even ended up taking out a whole paragraph and replacing it with new information from sources that I found when doing my information project.

                Doing this look back project gave me the opportunity to learn for myself just how important creating a proper rough draft to revise and analyze is. Throughout the semester, my rough drafts were quite rough looking, and resembled more of a bulleted list or outline of what my plan would be. It took a lot more effort to work from that than to just type up a rough draft to fix, but I didn't really understand until I revised my open letter for this look back project. I took the time to work from a hard copy of my original assignment, and made markings with pen areas that needed to be clarified, and even wrote out an entire new paragraph to replace the one that didn't fit well with the original. It also made a huge difference working on the revisions in my spare time at work, and not waiting until the last day to get it all figured out. It not only helped my assignment turn out nicely, but I also didn't have the stress that I usually have when I have to work with a very minimal amount of time to do a lot of work.

                I would have to say that my biggest accomplishment during this class was that I wasn't afraid to get feedback from people and put it towards my work without being offended or scared. I have always hated peer reviews. Always. I didn't look at them with the right mindset, and I took it as a personal attack on my work instead of as constructive feedback like I should have. I made it a goal at the beginning of the semester to really try to change my attitude about the whole feedback thing. At first it was super hard. I was really proud of my first draft of my open letter until I read it out loud and didn't feel like I got any positive feedback whatsoever. I thought to myself that this goal of mine was going to be a lot more difficult than just making up my mind to feel differently about feedback in general.

                I made a plan to give feedback in a way that I would want to get feedback myself if it was intended to be given constructively. So during peer reviews I really focused on the giving aspect. I then took that feedback from the open letter and really tried to utilize on my information project which came next. I didn't have the right perspective on the whole thing. Instead of trying to just improve a little bit, I almost felt like I was working to make the next assignment cover all of the areas that I was told I was lacking in the first project, and that I was trying to prove people wrong. That wasn't the best approach, and I learned that afterwards. I finally figured out by the third project that it was about taking this feedback and just trying to do your best, and that it was a learning process, not something that happens overnight, or even on the very next assignment.

                Working on the look back project gave me the chance to really apply all of these things, and finally use the very first peer feedback in a positive way on my revision. I came out a lot more patient with my work, as well as gained a better perspective on taking my time to write a higher quality paper instead of just bashing it out last minute.

 Works Cited:

Dill, Gerry, Ph.D. "OK, Here Is a Real Question: What Percentage of American Farmland Is              Actually Owned by Monsanto?". GMO Answers. n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2016.      https://gmoanswers.com/ask/ok-here-real-question-what-percentage-american-           farmland-actually-owned-monsanto-opposed-land

Forbes. "Monsanto on Forbes Global 200 List." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, May 2016. Web. 21      Sept. 2016.

Grossman, Elizabeth. "What Do We Really Know About Roundup Weed Killer?" National      Geographic. National Geographic Society, 23 Apr. 2015. Web. 17 Oct. 2016.              http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/04/150422-glyphosate-roundup-          herbicide- weeds/

Karlin, Mark, and Wenonah Hauter. "Our Food Is Being Hijacked by Monopolizing            Corporations." Truthout. N.p., 27 Feb. 2013. Web. 21 Sept. 2016.

Kucinich, Elizabeth. "Monsanto: The Enemy Of Family Farmers." The Huffington Post.      TheHuffingtonPost.com, 04 Feb. 2014. Web. 21 Sept. 2016.

 Monsanto. "Who Is Monsanto | Discover Monsanto." Discover Monsanto. Monsanto, n.d.       Web.  17 Oct. 2016. http://discover.monsanto.com/

Organic Consumers Association. "U.S. and Monsanto Dominate Global Market for GM            Seeds." Organic Consumers Association, n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2016.        https://www.organicconsumers.org/essays/us-and-monsanto-dominate-global-            market-  gm-seeds

Issue Exploration-- English 1010

(Issue Exploration Paper) -English 1010-

SeaWorld marine parks

Does the good outweigh the bad?

            On July 19th 2013 a certain documentary, directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite titled Blackfish, brought to the attention of those who watched it the controversy and animal rights issues that come with SeaWorld marine parks. The Movie's website ("About Blackfish") gives a short synopsis about the film, here is a summary: Blackfish follows the life of one specific orca named Tilikum, who was captured at a young age, taken from his family pod, and forced to live a life of performing for humans. It touches on the cruel treatment of orcas kept in captivity from people as well as the aggression from living in such small enclosures with other whales. The documentary puts an emphasis on these issues of having orcas in captivity by addressing the biggest problem at hand, trainers lives' at danger and even some who have lost their lives to these creatures.

            This film has brought about a lot of questions as well as bringing out in the light a lot of strong viewpoints for and against SeaWorld. Does the good outweigh the bad when it comes to the captivity of Orcas kept in SeaWorld Parks? This question has a lot of controversy and a lot of answers from one opinion to another. The institutions, companies, as well as people whose opinions are involved in this issue are SeaWorld, PETA, whale & dolphin conservation groups, various authors from news publications, and a veterinary specializing in marine life. The focus will be on a few of the main points that come from these various sources and their response to the question in regards to the value of these wild animals being kept in such an environment under human care and jurisdiction.

            The main argument of this question has to do with the amount of knowledge gained by having these animals in captivity and being able to work up close and study them. Where better to go with this question first than SeaWorld’s website, where they post their own information regarding the animals care and research they have done. On SeaWorld's Website titled "SeaWorld Cares", the company touches on various different areas of research they have been able to conduct, and the benefits that come from these studies. They begin by stating that SeaWorld parks provide researches with "unique environments" to study these creatures. They own the largest amount of Orca whales in a captive setting, which allows the research to be done in a "controlled setting" and on more orcas than they would be able to anywhere else. Some research performed would be nearly impossible to collect from Orcas living in the wild. Specific types of research explained on "SeaWorld Cares": the study of a whale’s metabolism, as in how much they need to eat each day, taking in consideration calories burned while resting. They perform specific studies around the reproduction, growth, and development of Orca offspring as well. They pioneered have and used artificial insemination in the breeding of their Orcas. This became possible after they trained Tilikum to provide sperm samples, they were able to train other male orcas to do the same according to Todd Robeck, who is the Vice President of Theriogenology (specialized veterinary in the study of animal reproduction) at SeaWorld (Robeck). This is something that would be nearly impossible for field researchers to perform on wild whales.

            The knowledge we now have about Orcas has without a doubt increased, and the field of Marine Biology has SeaWorld to thank for this research. But the question needs to be asked again, after reading these facts. Does the good really outweigh the bad?

            More was found from another source that completely speaks out against what SeaWorld is claiming to be 100% useful and credible. This source provides a completely opposite view and allows another way to look at the issue. PETA's website (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) address the studies done at these marine parks with their own knowledge of studies they have performed regarding the environment these animals live in; that these Orcas are not in a natural setting, therefore they are not acting 100% naturally like they would in the wild. This phrase from a section on the PETA website titled "Zoos: Pitiful Prisons" really makes their point against SeaWorld.

” Most zoo enclosures are very small,... Animals’ normal behavior is seldom discussed, much less observed, because their natural needs are rarely met. Birds’ wings may be clipped so that they cannot fly, aquatic animals often go without adequate water, and many animals who naturally live in large herds or family groups are kept alone or, at most, in pairs. Natural hunting and mating behaviors are virtually eliminated by regulated feeding and breeding regimens. Animals are closely confined, lack privacy, and have little opportunity for mental stimulation or physical exercise. These conditions often result in abnormal and self-destructive behavior, known as “zoochosis.”"

            Even though this comment is regarding Zoos in general, the same logic applies. How can SeaWorld claim to be studying the normal behaviors of these whales when they are not thriving in their natural habitat? When these Orcas are not having the opportunity to search for their food, find a mate, breed naturally, how are they to know for certain the results they are acquiring are just like what they would discover in the wild? How realistic is it in comparison to wild Orcas?

            Taking a look at the average lifespan of an Orca Whale in captivity verses the wild is an important thing to look at when considering the benefits for or against Orca captivity. Taking a look at the WDC’s website, an institution specifically organized for whale and dolphin conservation in the wild, as well as informing people about capturing of these wild animals to keep in captivity. On this website, there is a section to click with the heading, The Fate of Captive Orcas, which discusses the age of Orcas in captivity verses the wild. According to WDC, 92% of the captive Orca whales that have lived in SeaWorld parks have never lived past 25 years old. WDC shows the statistics of Orcas living in the wild, and they can live to 30 years for male Orcas and 50 years for females. Females live longer than Male Orcas, and studies shown by the WDC have evidence that they are capable of living up to 80 years old. Contradicting to these numbers is that SeaWorld has one Female Orca Whale who is 48, nearly 50 years old already ("Corky 2").

            Even though the odds are in Corky's favor, this one killer whale doesn't hide the fact that the majority of captive Orcas are in fact dying earlier than they would in the wild. According to wild Orca research, written about in an article from The Dodo, an animal news publication, there is an Orca in the wild known estimated to be 103 years old; "Granny Orca". In the wild, researchers are able to estimate Orcas age as well as identify them in certain ways. They can tell which whale is which by their dorsal fins, as well as a grayish spot on their backs that is specific to each whale (Cronin). Researches associate their ages with data from the past as well as by the age of their offspring. They have been studying this pod/family of whales, and studies have shown Granny present with that specific pod for years. They not only know the amount off offspring she has, but they know their ages also. According to the facts in Cronin's article from the Dodo, she quotes a researcher named Ken Balcomb who has been a researcher of Granny Orca's family pod for a while. Balcomb said "We have 90% of the population precisely aged now, and the age structure will be completely known within a decade or so... We have very good photographs of J2 "Granny" since 1967 and do not doubt that she is very old." This research being conducted on the life span of wild Orcas is not good news for SeaWorld.

            This is an issue that has been around and questioned long before the film Blackfish, and long before the media had an even greater outreach to readers through so many forma of websites and social media. In 1997 Frontline produced a piece titled A Whale of a Business, spotlighting SeaWorld. PBS interviewed two men, Jim McBain and Brad Andrews, who at the time were the heads of Veterinary services, as well as the head of Zoological Operations for the SeaWorld marine parks. They were asked a lot of questions concerning the business, and how they can justify what they are doing when there are so many people who believe what SeaWorld is doing is unethical. These men, who were answering on the companies behalf, shared some very strong points that really contradict yet support what some of the other sources that were discussed earlier. They stated very true facts concerning the company, saying that as the population grows, and people start becoming more "urbanized" they will decrease their face to face contact with animals living in the wild. McBain and Andrews said "I don't think that it's rational for us to assume that people are going to be able to get experiences with wild animals by all going into the wild, there's too many of us, we'll destroy what little habitat is left by trying to do that." This statement brings about a whole new angel on the question, is SeaWorld causing more harm than good? From what these two men are saying, SeaWorld is in fact doing a good thing. They shared a little calculation in the interview; some people are insisting that SeaWorld releases their Orca's back into the wild, and have boat tours to go and visit these whales in their natural habitat. They took the amount of guests that visit SeaWorld, and calculated how many boat trips a day it would take. His numbers came up to around 2,000 boat trips every day for a year. This would have a devastating effect on these habitats. The point these men are trying to get across this entire interview is this:

            "...if want a public that's knowledgeable about wild animals and has some sensitivity         about them, if we want our children to have a chance to see many of these animals, it's gonna have to be in places like Sea World and the rest of the zoos in the world. These are          gonna be the places where people are gonna be able to get in touch with nature without         destroying habitat."

            It's interesting, before I looked at a couple different sides of this issue, I was very much against what SeaWorld is doing. I agreed a lot with things that PETA had to say about animals being kept in captivity, and the Blackfish film had me completely convinced of this cruelty. But as more research was done, I came to find that a lot of what SeaWorld is doing is a good thing. It's 100% true that not everybody in the world will be able to have an actual experience with these animals in the wild, and if they did, it would be worse for their natural habitat than a few whales being kept in captivity. Research that is being conducted at SeaWorld is benefiting those wild whales by understanding their needs, as well as having these creatures up close allow people to feel a connection to them and be a part of conservation and respect. The animals in captivity now would have no chance if released into the wild, not being accustomed to the pollution of the ocean or being able to catch food to eat. Even though these whales in captivity serve a purpose in helping protect those in the wild, they still deserve more respect than having to perform in shows, or be kept in such miniscule tanks compared to where they were born to live.

Citations:

"About Blackfish." Blackfish. Dogwoof, 2013. Web. 10 Nov. 2015. <http://www.blackfishmovie.com/about/>.

"Corky 2." Orca Pod Wiki. Wikia, 27 June 2015. Web. 12 Nov. 2015. <http://orcapod.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Corky_2>.

Cronin, Melissa. ""Whale Fingerprints": How We Know Granny The Orca Is 103 Years Old." The Dodo. The Dodo, 19 May 2014. Web. 13 Nov. 2015. <https://www.thedodo.com/whale-fingerprints-how-we-know-557089098.html>.

"The Fate of Captive Orcas." WDC, Whale and Dolphin Conservation. WDC. Web. 12 Nov. 2015. <http://us.whales.org/wdc-in-action/fate-of-captive-orcas>.

"Research Helps Wild Whales." SeaWorld Cares. SeaWorld. Web. 6 Nov. 2015. <http://seaworldcares.com/research/research-helps-wild-whales/>.

 Robeck, Todd. "You Ask. We Answer." You Ask We Answer. SeaWorld, 28 Apr. 2015. Web. 12 Nov. 2015. <http://ask.seaworldcares.com/?topic=breeding>.

"A Whale of A Business." PBS. Ed. Neil Docherty and Renata Simone. PBS, 11 Nov. 1997. Web. 4 Dec. 2015. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/whales/etc/script.html>.

"Zoos: Pitiful Prisons." PETA. PETA. Web. 6 Nov. 2015. <http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-in-entertainment/animals-used-entertainment-factsheets/zoos-pitiful-prisons/>.