Sidewalk Repair Ordinance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Sidewalk Repair Ordinance - Essay Example The quality of the sidewalks reflects on the quality of life for all the citizens of the city as well as the visitors who come here. It is only reasonable to have the burden of the repair costs shouldered by the city. The sidewalk is not the property of the owner of the adjacent property. The tactics of the Department of Public Works have been abusive, as they have threatened property owners with fines and unreasonable deadlines. The city should find taxpayer money to finance the repairs and leave the property owners alone. The estimated cost of repairing the nearly 5,200 blocks of city sidewalk has been quoted as $1.5 million. This is a reasonable amount and the city would benefit from this improvement. However, the cost of enforcing the ordinance has been put at $1.3 million. Instead of spending the money on enforcement, the city should spend the money to do the needed repairs. It does not make sense to spend $1.3 million to enforce a law that will only save the city $1.5 million. Financially, this is a break-even proposition. However, it will cause hardship to those citizens that are required to pay for the repairs. It will leave bitterness and resentment in its wake as property owners get slapped with a bill for a public works project. I am proud of our fine city and am fully in support of the efforts to renovate and repair

Truth and Socrates Essay Example for Free

Truth and Socrates Essay Euthyphro – Plato Explain how the concept of holiness emerges in the dialogue and why it takes a prominent position in the conversation between Socrates and Euthyphro. â€Å"Euthyphro answers that there is no difference of opinion, either among gods or men, as to the propriety of punishing a murderer. Yes, rejoins Socrates, when they know him to be a murderer; but you are assuming the point at issue. If all the circumstances of the case are considered, are you able to show that your father was guilty of murder, or that all the gods are agreed in approving of our prosecution of him? And must you not allow that what is hated by one god may be liked by another? Waiving this last, however, Socrates proposes to amend the definition, and say that what all the gods love is pious, and what they all hate is impious. To this Euthyphro agrees. † But the pious or holy is loved by the gods because it is pious or holy, which is equivalent to saying, that it is loved by them because it is dear to them. Here then appears to be a contradiction,Euthyphro has been giving an attribute or accident of piety only, and not the essence. Euthyphro acknowledges himself that his explanations seem to walk away or go round in a circle, like the moving figures of Daedalus, the ancestor of Socrates, who has communicated his art to his descendants. Present the three definitions that Euthyphro uses in his response to Socrates, and then explain how Socrates refutes each of Euthyphro’s definitions. 1) Euthyphro answers that there is no difference of opinion, either among gods or men, as to the propriety of punishing a murderer. Yes, rejoins Socrates, when they know him to be a murderer; but you are assuming the point at issue. If all the circumstances of the case are considered, are you able to show that your father was guilty of murder, or that all the gods are agreed in approving of our prosecution of him? And must you not allow that what is hated by one god may be liked by another? Socrates proceeds to analyze the new form of the definition. He shows that in other cases the act precedes the state; e. g. the act of being carried, loved, etc. precedes the state of being carried, loved, etc. , and therefore that which is dear to the gods is dear to the gods because it is first loved of them, not loved of them because it is dear to them. 2) The next definition, Piety is that which is loved of the gods, is shipwrecked on a refined distinction between the state and the act, corresponding respectively to the adjective (philon) and the participle (philoumenon), or rather perhaps to the participle and the verb (philoumenon and phileitai). The act is prior to the state (as in Aristotle the energeia precedes the dunamis); and the state of being loved is preceded by the act of being loved. But piety or holiness is preceded by the act of being pious, not by the act of being loved; and therefore piety and the state of being loved are different. Through such subtleties of dialectic Socrates is working his way into a deeper region of thought and feeling. He means to say that the words loved of the gods express an attribute only, and not the essence of piety. 3) Then follows the third and last definition, Piety is a part of justice. Thus far Socrates has proceeded in placing religion on a moral foundation. He is seeking to realize the harmony of religion and morality, which the great poets Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Pindar had unconsciously anticipated, and which is the universal want of all men. To this the soothsayer adds the ceremonial element, attending upon the gods. When further interrogated by Socrates as to the nature of this attention to the gods, he replies, that piety is an affair of business, a science of giving and asking, and the like. Socrates points out the anthropomorphism of these notions, (compare Symp. ; Republic; Politicus. ) But when we expect him to go on and show that the true service of the gods is the service of the spirit and the co-operation Formulate your own argument as to what you think Socrates’s goal is in this dialogue. How do you know that is his goal? What features of the dialogue align with your interpretation of his goal? Generally, we do assume that we know things, although the skeptic is always around to remind us that maybe our confidence shouldnt be too high. The correspondence theorist insists that our knowledge claims are true, or at least very reliable, if our claims match up, or correspond, to the way the world actually is. The coherence theorist, in contrast, suggests that our various beliefs all must fit together, or cohere, correctly. Kant offers an alternative that combines a correspondence theory of truth (that is, our claims are true if they correspond to the world) and a rule–oriented theory of knowledge (that is, what we call knowledge must not break any of the rules that give us the ability to make those knowledge claims in the first place). a. Provide your own definition of piety/holiness and then create a Socratic response/critique of your definition. After you present your definition, take on the role of Socrates and respond to your own definition as you think he would.

The Life Of Konstantin Serseyevich Stanislavski Film Studies Essay

The Life Of Konstantin Serseyevich Stanislavski Film Studies Essay The American theatre is renown throughout the world for its acting and glamour. It has its beginnings in the early Eighteenth Century and was notably introduced by The Hallams in the year 1752. Though the acting at the time was noted to be above par, there was still room for improvement. Additionally, there was the lack of proper acting methods or procedures which would help actors to improve their acting. Although today the American theatre is widely known throughout the world for the production of thought provoking as well as entertaining plays, it should be noted that this is due to early pioneers of modern acting. One such pioneer is Konstantin Sergeyevich Stanislavski. Many of the current thespians consider acting techniques before the innovation of Konstantin s universal system to be archaic. Close research, thus shall be paid to this revolutionary theory in this paper and this is necessary when focusing on the evolution of theatre to its current level. In early acting productions, especially those of social signifance, it is noted that most of the acting techniques were based on Stanislavsky s Moscow Art theatre. Hence, it can be said that most of modern acting ideas and practices were drawn from Stanislavsky. This paper is therefore an in-depth analysis into the life of Konstantin Serseyevich Stanislavski. It will include research into areas such as his biography and the acting methods that he developed. Additionally, it will include research on how he influenced the acting industry both during his lifetime and after his death. Moreover, it will include his achievements as well as the contributions that he made towards modern acting. An understanding of the American theatre is essential for development of the film industry. Biography Konstantin (or Constantin) Sergeyevich Stanislavsky was born in Moscow on January 5th 1863 during the transition from the serfdom of Czar-ruled Russia under Peter the Great, to the free enterprise of the Industrial revolution. Stanislavsky s father was a manufacturer while his mother was born of a French actress. He is renowned for having impacted or influenced the acting process more than anyone else in the twentieth century. His acting career began when Stanislavski was 14. At that time he joined a theatrical group known as the Alekyseyev circle in which he soon became the main attraction. During the late 1800s, his acting improved and soon he was producing and directing plays. For Konstantin, being brought up by a wealthy father meant that he did not experience financial hindrances during his early stage performance days. In 1885, at age 25, he adopted the stage name Stanislavsky and a while later, established the Society of Art and Literature at the Maly Theatre, where he got experience in ethics, aesthetics and stagecraft. It wasn t long before he began to question and pose challenges to the traditional stage approach. In 1888, he formally married Maria Perevoshchikova who was a school teacher. She eventually became his devoted disciple and a gifted actress. She went by the name Lilina. In 1898, together with Vladimir Nemirovich Danchenko, Stanislavsky founded the Moscow Art Theatre, Russia s first ensemble theatre. Vladimir was responsible for administrative and literary matters while Stanislavsky catered for production and stage. In this capacity, he was not only stern, but also uncompromising in training of actors. He was strict on the genuineness of the performance on stage. The theatre emphasized on a realistic presentation and attention to every minute detail of a production. Consequent productions became legendary under the careful, often autocratic, direction of Stanislavski, achieving classical status in the coming years. Apart from being an actor, a director, coach and a successful businessman, Stanislavsky was also a teacher. Stanislavsky is renowned for developing the Stanislavsky system/method which is a theory of acting. In it, he explained that actors had to achieve an emotional identification with their characters, while at the same time remaining independent of the role in order to help it to the needs of the play. In a nutshell, Stanislavsky demanded the reproduction of genuine emotions at every performance in order to fully convey the character s emotions. As both a director and actor, Stanislavsky showed an amazing subtlety in rendering psychological patterns and a rare gift for satirical characterization. He eventually became a dominant influence on the Russian elite of the time. In 1912, he founded the First Studio. This is where many of his innovations were adopted by many upcoming actors. On October 29, 1928, Stanislavsky suffered a heart attack while acting in The Three Sisters during the Moscow Art Theatre s 30th anniversary. From then on, he put acting aside and focused on directing and educating actors and directors alike for the rest of his life. Stanislavski died on August 7th 1938, just before the start of World War II, maintaining the ideal of a peaceful, socially ethical world. Method Acting Method acting can be explained as an approach to acting based on the idea that an actor should have an emotional identification with their characters. This is important to come up with an enticing film. For the purposes of production several methods have been applied in a bid to expound on film science. Stanislavski viewed the theatre especially that of Russia to be one whose function is not only to entertain but to affect the audience directly with the life of the theatre. Method acting strives to aid actors develop a sincere and deeply felt performances. Vital features of method acting are derived from the work of Konstantin. He formulated an approach that dealt with the psychological and emotional aspects of acting. In his argument, Stanislavsky maintained that the core business for an actor was to be believable rather than to be understood. Stanislavsky implemented methods such as emotional memory to achieve this believable truth . In this case, he suggested that for a performer to get into character where he or she is expected to be frightened, the performer had to remember an occurrence in which they experienced fear, and physically reenact the fear that they felt when acting. Stanislavski further emphasized the need for an actor to take their own personality on stage when playing a character. This was in contrast to earlier methods of acting which encouraged the actor to become the character putting their emotions at bay. Method acting is the most common approach by most modern actors. The actor tries to think and feel the same way as what the character would. Stanislavsky protested against the old manner of acting where emotional rhetoric and non-stylized props, sets and costumes were used. Instead, he chose to show a different form of drama realism. In this setting, the dialogue involved more of everyday speech. Another distinct feature of method acting is that the actors perform to each other rather than to the audience. The play unfolds on stage in such a manner that to the audience, it is as if one wall to a house is transparent or invisible so they can see what is unfolding inside. Therefore, the actors perform without acknowledging the presence of the audience. In Stanislavsky s theory/method, the actor strives to achieve several objectives. Firstly, the actor aims to project the character s actions making them seemingly natural and convincing. Secondly, the actor is supposed to portray the character s inner drive, that is, their aims or objectives. Third, develop the character convincingly. Then most importantly, the ability and willingness to work as a team with fellow actors. Acting exercises and activities Actors implementing the Stanislavsky system perform several exercises to generally improve their performance on stage. Relaxation exercises are primarily designed to help the performer to release tension and anxiety and to make the use of their limbs and voices effortless and fluid. Some actors achieve this through yoga. During yoga, the body and mind are in state of calm, balance and tranquility and this enables the actor to be whatever character they are required to be. Concentration exercises are designed to help nurture the performer s ability to concentrate on an event, person or object on stage. Stanislavsky referred to the specific points of this focus as circles of attention . Actors focus on an object or position/location and afford it their utmost attention ignoring everything else. For this type of exercise, the actor can be done in numerous different ways. For instance, the actor can recite the alphabet backwards severally, or engage in a more challenging exercise that demands concentration. Observation is an acquired skill. The performers are required to observe different people from various backgrounds and ages. From this observation, they are expected to analyze how the subjects go along their daily business and then incorporate those details into their performances. An actor can easily and frequently engage in observation exercises. For example, an actor can try to remember the model, color and number plates, gender and approximate age of the drivers of vehicles passing at a street or outside their apartment. One such acting exercise developed by Konstantin Stanislavski was the Magic If Exercise. It basically requires the actor to question himself in order to proper assimilate the character s role that the actor will be playing. A sample of the exercise is as follows: 1. (Magic If) Sit, stand and walk with justification. (Sit by the window to see why there was shouting on the adjacent street. Sit in order to read the paper. Stand in order to better see the cause of shouting. Stand in order to stretch one s legs. Walk to take a walk. Walk to see what the commotion was all about. Stanislavski influence on the film/theatre industry during his time The Seagull a play produced by Anton Chekhov had been a failure in its original production in St Petersburg in 1896. However, and with a lot of challenges, Stanislavsky was authorized by Chekhov to restage it. Under Stanislavsky s and Danchenko s direction, The Seagull became a success, catapulting Moscow Art Theatre as a new force in the world stage. This led to the acknowledgement of Chekhov as a great playwright whereas after the failure of The Seagull during its debut, Chekhov had vowed never to write again. Consequently, after the success of The seagull , Chekhov wrote, The Three Sisters (1901) and the The Cherry Orchard (1903) exclusively for the Moscow Art Theatre. Were it not for Stanislavsky, it is safe to assume that Chekhov s career would have never made a come-back and the world would have been robbed of such a great playwright as Chekhov. Apart from helping actors get in touch with the concept of showing genuine emotions and feelings on stage breaking from the old system where the actor kept strictly to the exact words and actions dictated on script, Stanislavsky s method of acting also demanded that they acknowledge the unsaid messages within the script. This in turn influenced playwrights like Chekhov to make a change in their mode of writing in order to accommodate more elusive emotionally engaging work. In 1902 Stanislavski continued with his success streak when he staged Maksim Gorky s The Petty Bourgeois and The Lower Depths. Stanislavsky played several powerful roles including; Astrov in Uncle Vanya in 1899 and Gayev in The Cherry Orchard by Chekhov in 1904; Doctor Stockman in Henrik Ibsen s An Enemy of the People in 1900; and Satin in The Lower Depths. In these roles, Stanislavsky made yet another great contribution to theatre by being a great actor and setting the bar for young actors. He was shaping the world of acting not only as a director, but also as an accomplished actor in his own right. In 1912, Stanislavsky founded the First Studio and there, his models and ideas were undertaken by many young actors. By 1918, Stanislavsky was managing the Bolshoi Opera Studio, which was later named after him. In 1922, he staged Eugene Onegin by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky at the Bolshoi Opera Studio which was accredited as a major reform in opera. Stanislavsky made tremendous contribution in not only stage theatre, but also through excellent performance at the opera, sparked what may be termed as a revolution in opera at the time. Stanislavski realized that theatre was at its best when profound emotions content was in tandem with expressive theatrical form and oversaw the production of William Shakespeare s Twelfth Night in 1917 at the First Studio. From 1922 to 1924, Stanislavsky and the Moscow Art Theatre toured Europe and the United States. During this tour, Stanislavsky went in the capacity of the director and leading actor. He also, of course as the founder, had an administrative position in the group. As Stanislavsky travelled the world and introduced his system wherever they toured, many expressed great interest in his system. Therefore, he also contributed greatly in helping spread his system across the world and creating awareness among the circles of film and theatre at the time. It was also during this time that he wrote his autobiography which he called My Life in Art. Stanislavski went on to stage Aleksandr Ostrovsky s An Ardent Heart in 1926 and The Marriage of Figaro by Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais in 1927. The latter demonstrated very bold attempts at theatricality. What proved to mark a milestone in the soviet theatre was Armoured Train 14-69 which was V.V. Ivanov s play about the Russian Revolution in 1927. Stanislavski continued his experiments and more research on finding what he termed as a conscious means to the sub-conscious which basically meant the search for an actor s emotions. In 1935, with the advantage of modern scientific research on the interaction of the brain and the body, he started on his final approach called method of physical actions. This approach was based on emotional creativity. It demanded that the actors assimilate the character s physical and psychological emotions at any given time. This approach also had another impact. It influenced the playwright s writing and structuring of the play. Stanislavsky s influence on the film/theatre industry after his time After the death of Stanislavsky, his work was advanced by Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio from the 1940s. The success of Stanislavsky s work was clearly shown in the fact that some of the most successful actors/performers even after his death, had been educated using his system, being Strasberg s students. Some of those now renowned actors include: Al Pacino, Marilyn Monroe, Paul Newman, Robert De Niro, Alec Baldwin, and Dennis Hopper, just to name a few. Therefore, it is no assumption that Stanislavsky has had a tremendous impact on the film/theatre industry to this day. When a comparison is done between Lee Strasberg and Konstantin Stanislavsky s method, it is noted that Lee s method is heavily influenced by Affective Memory. Stella Adler, who was taught the Method of Physical Action, introduced Lee Strasberg to the new system or method of physical action. Lee who understood the differences rejected the method. He insisted that acting was recollection of emotion. However, it should be noted that Lee Strasberg was based on Stanislavsky s approach. Lee was a student of Boleslavski, the founder of the American Laboratory theatre, who was originally taught by Constantine Stanislavski. The famous actor Charlie Chaplin was quoted as saying that Stanislavski s book, An actor Prepares, tells what an actor needs to inspire himself or herself to profoundly express his emotions. Many other actors acknowledge that his books on acting preparation have been inspiring and his Universal Method has greatly impacted on their acting. Based on Stanislavski s system, many more approaches have been formulated by scholars over the years. Many of these are just a variation of Stanislavsky s system. Nevertheless, they have factored in new trends and colossal changes in the film and theatre industry since the 20s while trying to improve and build on the ideas of Stanislavsky making his system a kind of a framework on which many more innovations are designed to serve specific demands in a performance, or to formulate universally sound approaches to better performance by actors. Research has been carried out on the various works of Stanislavski in an attempt to better understand and implement his universal system. The system which he innovated is also the basis for which many modern acting schools were formed. Research has also shown that method acting is widely practiced among modern American actors. His theories are the used during study by many actors, some of who have become very successful. With Stanislavski s method acting approach still being taught in many acting schools his model is still very much in use in the modern world and has had impeccable effects on performance both in film and theatre. His books are crucial reading materials for aspiring actors and are used in many acing schools. His works (plays and theatre films) are subject to critical study and analysis in modern acting and film-making schools. His mansion in Moscow is currently a public museum and research centre containing the original manuscripts written by Stanislavski, his library collection and the collection of theatre costumes and stage sets used by Stanislavski. Summary Stanislavski s life was wholly emerged in acting. He devoted himself to perfecting his acting skills and of those around him. His mentors and coaches can be regarded as inspiring him and pushing him into visualizing and eventually realizing this dream. Stanislavski not only produced a system that was adopted by actors the world over, he was also a revered playwright, actor as well as director. His notable works which are now classics, many of which were adapted into black and white films include: Stanislasvski s single handedly changed the acting world by the introduction of seemingly simple methods. By many actors he is regarded as the father of acting. He taught actors the simple fact that in order to properly depict the character they are acting, it is necessary for the actor to fit himself in the actors shoes, thus his universal system. By the use of simple techniques, Stanislavski s was able to completely remodel how actors prepare for themselves. His contributions to the acting world can indeed not be ignored for without him the current acting scene would not be as captivating as it is now. Thus, Stanislavski has contributed greatly towards the evolution of modern acting through his universal method. His books, his films, and his universal system have enabled actors to greatly improve their own acting and are highly regarded in the acting world.

Film Analysis of Bowling for Columbine by Michael Moore Essay -- Movie

Film Analysis of Bowling for Columbine by Michael Moore In the recent film â€Å"Bowling for Columbine,† Michael Moore claims that fear drives people to violence; a short animation clip is also used by Michael Moore to depict the history of the United States in the documentary. The animation brought out a number of issues that set people thinking. Issues on race, fear and violence are also discussed in the documentary (as well as the interview of Oprah Winfrey and Michael Moore.)It is shocking to realize how people have got involved in the culture of fear, and violence. The discrimination of the blacks in America is also discussed in the film. Having watched this documentary, I was totally appalled. Thoughts went through my head, and questions were left unanswered. Are people treated justly and equally? It seems to me that the answer is no. The world did not seem safe anymore, and an example of that being that bullets were made easily available in stores such as â€Å"K-mart†. â€Å"It’s an American tradition; it’s an American responsibility to be armed. If you’re not armed you’re not responsible.† is a quote given by a militia member. It seems to me that the Americans are caught up in their own world only worried about themselves. There is some form of self-obsession going on in the country, as people only care about their own well being, and another example is a quote given by a female militia member â€Å"Because, being a female, for one, I felt it was important to be able to protect myself with the best means possible. And one of those means is having a gun. When a criminal breaks in to your house, who is the first person you’re going to call? M... ... of guns, for example the killings of student in Columbine. In my opinion, â€Å"The biggest problem has been the gun possession by these adolescents in suburbia.† The six year old boy killing his classmate as the gun was of easy accessibility. All of these could have been avoided if fewer guns are involved. And with fewer guns, there would be less violence, more peace and security for the citizens of America. Thus in conclusion, I believe that more effort could be put in to stop all the issues of fear, killings and discrimination. Most of the issues could be avoided if people stopped being so paranoid and self-centred. I believe that the issues on killings and violence can be resolved peacefully without the involvement of guns. If people were to trust each other more, the world would be a much better place to live in.

History †MapQuest Chapters Essay

WebQuest Chapter 19: The Pullman Strike 1. ) George Pullman explained that the benefits of having his workers living in his company town was that he believed that the surroundings would remove the workers from the â€Å"Feeling of discontent† which â€Å"Characterized the American Workman†. This would protect his company from the economic loss that the discontented worker would suffer if he was living under bad conditions. He also took the rent that was due directly out of the paychecks of his employees. 2. ) The readings do not state a dollar amount for the hourly wage. The Parable of Pullman states that the workers wages were close to subsistence level. The amount of the pay cut averaged 25% 3. ) Eugene Deb was a Locomotive Fireman. It was under him that the American Railway Union was organized in June of 1893. He was the president of the ARU. It was a single organization that represented all types of railroad employees. In August of 1893 they had had success over the Great Northern Railway in a wage cut dispute. The Pullman workers also joined the ARU. When they went on strike in May of 1894, the ARU supported the strike and it became a nationwide strike between railroads and the American Railway Union. After the strike was broken by federal intervention, Debs was jailed for six months for his role in the strike,, specifically for violating a federal injunction and interfering with the mail. 4. ) The strike ended because the ARU members had refused to work any train that had Pullman’s cars included in it. The companies purposefully attached Pullman cars to mail trains. This caused the mail to be delayed. The result was the Federal Government issuing an injunction and President Cleveland sending Federal troops to enforce it, in order to stop the mail delay. A â€Å"yellow dog† contract is a contract that a worker signs promising not to join a labor union while he is an employee of the company who holds the contract. 5. ) The appellants had been refused employment, had no viable way to leave the Town of Pullman, and their families were starving. Instead of employing these individuals, Pullman had brought in substitute workers. Governor Altgeld wrote Pullman a letter basically stating that he should bear some responsibility for the plight of those in his town. He also stated that he was going to conduct a personal investigation. He made good on his word for the investigation. 6. ) The investigations found that the letter of complaint was indeed valid. There were 1600 families that were without the basic necessities of life, such as food. The investigators also found that there were 600 new workers but 1600 old workers that were still unemployed. HISTORY PAGE 2 of 3 7. ) Pullman blamed the workers for their plight, stating that if they had not gone on strike, they would not be suffering. WebQuest Chapter 20: The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire 1. ) The workforce was mainly made up of young immigrant women. There were also men employed, and boys as elevator attendants. There were other boys and girls present during the fire. 2. ) There were a total of 146 people who died in the fire. Most of these were young women. The readings do not break out the deaths by gender. There were also men and boys who died in the fire. About a third jumped from the ledges to avoid burning to death. The rest died of burns, some at their sewing machines. 3. ) The exit doors on the ninth floor were locked, ostensibly to prevent employee theft. The one fire exit that was available was inadequate for the number of workers. The conditions existed because fire inspections and precautions were inadequate. The workers feared that if they spoke out about the conditions, that they would lose their job. Economics also played a role in why the conditions were not corrected. 4. ) The citizens of New York, from every physical and economic part of the City, demanded justice. Workers offered testimony and support. There were protests in the streets. They demanded a safer work environment. 5. ) The unions became strong after this tragedy. Many workers saw the benefit in having an organization speak on their behalf. The other legacy is the building codes and worker safety legislation that was passed after the fire. WebQuest Chapter 22: The Platt Amendment 1. ) The Platt Amendment was attached to the Cuban Constitution. The Cuban Government, with reluctance, included the amendment in their constitution. The United States was already occupying Cuba. The United States was not going to relinquish any control without the amendment in place. 2. ) The Platt Amendment was drafted by Secretary of War Elihu Root, and presented by Senator Orville Platt. It was attached as a rider to the Army Appropriations Bill of 1901. The intent was to protect Cuba from foreign intervention and allow the United States to exercise authority in Cuba if the situation warranted it. It was passed by the Senate HISTORY PAGE 3 of 3 3. ) The Platt Amendment barred Cuba from going into debt, making treaties with other nations that gave those nations any power over Cuban affairs, or stopping the US from creating a sanitation system. It restricted Cuban Sovereignty by giving the United States broad latitude of power over the domestic and foreign relations of Cuba. 4. ) The Platt Amendment was used by the United States as an excuse for intervention in Cuba in 1906, 1912, 1917, and 1920. The Platt Amendment was also used for the creation of the base at Guantanamo Bay. 5. ) The Cubans were reluctant to attach it to their Constitution. They feared rampant US intervention. Widespread criticism of the amendment and rising nationalism in Cuba resulted in President Franklin Roosevelt’s repeal of the Amendment in 1934, except for the lease of Guantanamo Bay. 6. ) Whereas the Platt Amendment specifically provided causes for the intervention in Cuba by the United States, the Teller Amendment stated that the United States disclaims sovereign claims to Cuba, and will leave control of the island to the Cubans, and will not claim jurisdiction. The two documents are in sharp contrast to one another.

confusion economics essays

confusion economics essays The Chinese Economy, Culture The social values and history have shaped and formed the economical developments and the current environment of business in the People's Republic of China. They have determined the patterns for negotiation and the Chinese perceptions of business, and their feelings towards westerners. The implicit and explicit rules that the Chinese society has on the development of businesses, and the economy in general, are very important issues for any person going into China to understand and consider. In order to achieve a successful partnership between Chinese and Western cultures it is essential to have a basic understanding of history and cultural developments that have shaped the current environment of business. The three pillars of China are economy, culture, and society. The Chinese economy has been formed as a result of centuries of history and development, which reflect the philosophy of China and its current economical position. China started as a mainly agricultural based society with the subsistence group; the family. For more than 2000 years the Chinese economy operated under a type of feudal system; land was concentrated in the hands of a relatively small group of landowners whose income depended on rents from their peasant tenants. Agricultural taxes levied by the imperial government and crop yields subject to drought and floods kept agriculture relatively underdeveloped and organized in small units with the use of primitive methods for basic subsistence. The conclusion of the Opium War of 1840 formally initiated a period of Western penetration of China from the coastal treaty ports. Railroads and highways were constructed, and some industrial development began. Such activity had little impact, however, on the overall Chinese economy. In effect, China was carved up into a number of competing colonial spheres of influence. Japan, which tried to attach China to its East Asia prosperity...

“Speak When You Are Angry- and You Will Make the Best Speech You Will Ever Regret” Essays

â€Å"Speak When You Are Angry- and You Will Make the Best Speech You Will Ever Regret† Essays â€Å"Speak When You Are Angry- and You Will Make the Best Speech You Will Ever Regret† Paper â€Å"Speak When You Are Angry- and You Will Make the Best Speech You Will Ever Regret† Paper â€Å"Speak when you are angry- and you will make the best speech you will ever regret† Dr. Laurence J. Peter How does the above quote relate to the use of language as a tool for expressing one’s emotion? There are many ways of expressing our emotions. We can do this by our face expressions, by our movements and acts, using our body language but the most powerful and common way is using the ordinary language. Ordinary language is the ability of people to communicate between them to share ideas, to make plans, and understand each other by using words. But it is also a way of sharing feelings and expressing emotions. Behind each word there are many thoughts and feelings hidden. Each one of us through out his life has learnt almost all that words and become aware of the deep meaning and the hidden feelings of that words. This is the reason why when we grow up we become able not to talk passive but with sentimentalism. Therefore language is one of the best ways of expressive our emotions. â€Å"Speak when you are angry- and you will make the best speech you will ever regret†, is a quote of Dr. Laurence J. Peter an educator and a hierarchiologist. From this quote we could see that our emotions are expressed by our speeches, words or otherwise that our words are effected by our emotions. Anger is a feeling that overcomes any other feeling of fear or depression, even though love. When you are angry according to Dr. Laurence J. Peter you can make the best speech because the only emotion coming out of that speech is anger, therefore your speech will be clear, and focusing only to the aim of it. This speech will have passion and zeal. All of this anger will come out of the speech, will eventually enter people hearts when they heard the tone of your voice pronouncing heartlessly words loudly, clearly with no doubt and coming out from a hard heart. Then by leaving them recording to their minds each word they will be able to understand what your feelings are, when you speak to them. If your words are full of anger that brings on that they will be barbed words. As people are sensitive living things, they will be hurt psychologically by those words. Your words might damage their lives immeasurable. Your words might sound to their ears forever and no excuse or apology can take them back. And when you finally discover this you will eventually regret about what you had said, you will feel ashamed of yourself because you let your anger to speak, instead of yourself. But if we change the concept and you are fell happiness instead of anger, then what you will give out will be totally different. The same speech, with the same point of view, might sound exactly different. What you will give out will be emotions of happiness and calmness. The atmosphere will change colour becoming lighter, as your voice will be lighter and calmer, full of joy. Language consists of so many words, and you will find yourself many times, want it or not, showing emotions but shouting small words or telling phrases. For example when you are impressed or enthusiastic with something, you will say â€Å"wow†, when you are disgust you will say â€Å"yuk† or when you’re in pain you will say â€Å"outs†. There are infinite examples of phrases too, showing emotions. The most common one is â€Å"I love you†, expressing love. Sometimes you might find yourself so depressed or full emotions; therefore you will need to expresses yourself in a way. The most common and effective way is to call a relative or a friend and talk to him. Or emotional people often become writers. They express themselves by writing their feelings on a paper. Then people reading those graven words can feel what the writer was feeling when he was witting the book. That are proves of how important is language for the expression of emotion. In some cases words can be misleading and expressing emotions that they don’t really exists. This is also the job of an actor. To get into the spirit of a film and say what he has to, with an emotion so it can sound real. How emotions are expressed by language is a topic that anthropologists and sociolinguistics had spend time about it, but it is also a topic that we are getting through every day and we are researching it with our own way. Dr. Laurence J. Peter taught us by his phrase that we have to control our words and don’t let our emotions to build sentences that will destroy friendships or create misunderstandings. Words been driven by bad emotions can kill positive feelings and this is the worst death a person can have. This bond between people’s emotions and language will never brake, and if it is controlled and used correctly can express all types of feelings with a beautiful way and draw smiles to people’s faces and hearts. References: A. http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Laurence_J. _Peter B. consistent-parenting-advice. com/raising-emotional-intelligence. html C. Cambridge University Press 0521641632 Metaphor and Emotion: Language, Culture, and Body in Human Feeling Zoltan Kovecses

Investigating Friction Essays

Investigating Friction Essays Investigating Friction Essay Investigating Friction Essay Purpose: In order to understand why a force is needed to keep something moving. It is important to understand something about the force of friction. I investigated the force of friction between a block and my work surface. To find out the relationship between the amount of mass and the force needed to move it; to find out if a block of a different material can affect the force needed. Plan: See the attach page. Modifications: I should do more trials to prove if my data is accurate or not while I said only do one trial in the original plan. The methods of both questions should change because I did not mention the reason why I was doing each step. Method for question 1: Set up the apparatus like the above diagram (see the plan), with a 100g mass on the block (to see how much force we need to move 100g). Gently pull on the force meter until the block is moving at steady speed (it has to be constant speed because we want to find out more accurate force). While this happens, take a reading on the force meter and record in the table (therefore, I can analysis my results and draw graphs, do calculations, etc). Repeat that step several times, each time add another 100g mass to the pile on the block until I have all the forces for 10 different forces. Finally, record all the readings in the table. Method for question 3: I will start up with the metal iron side first (dun have any special reason, just feel like it). Set up the apparatus like the above diagram (see the plan), with a 100g mass on the block (to see how much force we need to move 100g by using the metal iron block). Make two tables to record two kinds of block materials (the force needed for each material block will be different as my hypothesis said). Gently pull on the force meter until the block is moving at steady speed (it has to be constant speed because we want to find out the more accurate force). While this happens, take a reading on the force meter and record in the table (therefore, I can analysis my results and draw graphs, do calculations, etc). Repeat the step several times, each time add another 100g mass to the pile on the block until I have all the forces for 10 different forces. Finally, record all the reading in the table. Repeat the above steps again, but this time use the cork side (to see if d ifferent surfaces/materials can affect the force needed). Table for question 1: Wooden block Mass on block in kilograms Force, needed to pull block steadily, in Newton 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.6 0.3 0.9 0.4 1.2 0.5 1.5 0.6 1.8 0.7 2.1 0.8 2.4 0.9 2.7 1.0 3.0 Table for question 3: Metal iron block Cork block Mass on block in Kilograms Force, needed to pull block steadily, in Newton Mass on block in Kilograms Force, needed to pull block steadily, in Newton 0.1 1.2 0.1 3.5 0.2 1.4 0.2 4.0 0.3 1.6 0.3 4.5 0.4 1.8 0.4 5.0 0.5 2.0 0.5 5.5 0.6 2.2 0.6 6.0 0.7 2.4 0.7 6.5 0.8 2.6 0.8 7.0 0.9 2.8 0.9 7.5 1.0 3.0 1.0 8.0 P.S. The table in question 1 cannot compare with the table in question 3. This is because although all of those three blocks have the same thickness, they dun have the same weight. The block in questions is much heavier than the one in question 1. Question 1 and question 3 are totally independent to each other. Analysis: Please see the attach pages for the graphs. From the first graph, we can obviously see that the force is increasing at constant values (0.3 Newton) as more masses are put on. From the second graph, we can clearly see that we need more force to move the masses on the cork block than the masses on the metal iron block. The force needed for metal iron block to move masses is increasing at constant values (0.2 Newton) while the force needed for cork block to move masses is increasing at constant values (0.5 Newton). Conclusion: The results proved that my hypothesis was right. The strength of frictional force depends on the nature of the surfaces that are in contact and the force pushing them together. This force is usually related to the weight of the object or objects. More force will be needed to move more mass and different material surfaces will affect the friction/force. Smoother materials will create less friction while rougher materials will create more friction. (Please see the research on the other page to find out more information about the force created by each material surface. Evaluation: There are only one thing went wrong during the experiment. Some of the force meter is not accurate, because the pointer does not go back to zero, therefore, there will be some error occurred. To overcome that problem, I find a better force meter, which the pointer goes back to zero. Everything else went quite well, there were just one or two odd results made. What I did with the odd results is I compared the odd results to the normal results and found out what was wrong, and then changed it. I could improve accuracy by doing more trials; unfortunately, I did not have much time to do more trials. I made my own question 4, which I later found that it is too hard for me to do it. In cases involving fluid friction, the force depends upon the shape and speed of an object as it moves through air, water, or other fluid. I wanted to find out more about fluid friction and see the shape and speed of an object will affect the friction or not. I learnt more about friction during the experiment, how friction works, how does the material affect the forceetc. Research: Friction coefficients can be used to calculate the effects of friction on stationary or moving objects. Static friction prevents two stationary objects in contact from moving, while kinetic friction slows the movement of one object in contact with another surface. The amount of friction, and therefore the size of the friction coefficient, depends on the materials that make up the contacting surfaces.

Term paper of Cyberpunk Film class Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Of Cyberpunk Film class - Term Paper Example Through the hacking activity, Neo, Anderson’s hacking alias makes acquaintance of Morpheus who told him that none of the things he knew is real. Everything and everyone is a victim of â€Å"The Matrix†, an artificial intelligence system that uses their brains and bodies for energy while creating an illusion of a real world. Morpheus and his team are looking for â€Å"The One† whom they believe is Neo. The Matrix is where the people exist in the movie. It is a computer-generated dream world, a false reality that is created for humans to hide the truth. The truth according to Morpheus is that the humans are enslaved by the artificial intelligence to provide them the energy like a battery. In the Matrix, Neo worked in Metacortex, a leading software company and worked as a hacker at the same time where he made acquaintance of Morpheus. However, Zizek (2002) described the Matrix as the â€Å"Lacanian â€Å"big Other†, the virtual symbolic order, the network that structures reality for us.† This â€Å"big Other† is the name for the social Substance, for all that on account of which the subject never fully dominates the effects of his acts, on account of which the final outcome of his activity is always something other than what he aimed at or anticipated (Zizek 244). The â€Å"big Other† in the movie is the existing Mega-Computer which controls the Matrix and that there has to be an existence of the Matrix to illustrate that there are things that seems to be out of place, opportunities that are missed and things go wrong (Zizek 245). According to Zizek (2002), there this no ultimate reality, instead, there are infinite series of virtual realities, another Matrix after the Matrix. According to Zizek (2002), this â€Å"big Other† also stands for the â€Å"field of common sense at which one can arrive after free deliberation; philosophically, its last great version of Habermas’ communicative community with its regulative ideal of agreement.† This idea of â€Å"big

Monopolistic behavior of facbook, is it a monopoly Essay

Monopolistic behavior of facbook, is it a monopoly - Essay Example 3). A monopoly refers to a market with only one seller of a particular good or service. A monopoly is characterized by a single seller in the market and, therefore, no competition. In connection to this, the seller makes abnormal profits as a result of market domination. Abnormal profits are realized because there are many buyers in the market, and the seller is the price maker. Moreover, the seller controls the good or service prices in that market; there is information asymmetry; consumers do not have complete information; the product does not have close substitutes and there are barriers to entry. (Sexton 332) An oligopoly is a market that is dominated by few sellers. It has two to ten firms in the business competing with each other. Oligopoly mostly results from collusion where several firms come together to form a single firm and, therefore, reduce competition. Oligopolies compete on the basis of prices, technological innovation, quantity, reputation, or advertising. Oligopolies are characterized by few firms in the business such that the actions of one firm influence those of another. The products may be homogenous or differentiated; there is non-price competition where firms compete on other terms apart from prices including differentiated products, loyalty schemes or advertisement; oligopolistic firm are so large that their individual actions affect the market conditions; the firms have perfect information, but buyers have imperfect information. (Sexton 332-333). From the description Facebook is not a pure monopoly since there are other firms in the business as twitter, LinkedIn and MySpace among others. It would be considered a leading oligopoly since collusion and acquisition of other firms has given it an advantage over other social network firms. However given the recent efforts example buying Oculus Rift and WhatsApp there is concern that this

Architecture and Environment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Architecture and Environment - Assignment Example The relationship between the ecology and architectural development has always been a very tangible one. Since the start of urbanization the ecologists and naturalists have been raving about the cutting of trees to build cities and its harmful effect on the ecology. But the fact is we cannot stop the architectural development and modernization because of the requirements of the increasing human population. We have to develop plans so that the ecology can be preserved and the urbanization can also take place. Trees are a fundamental part of our environment and it is a fact that we cannot survive without trees because firstly they are responsible for processing excess carbon di oxide from our environment, secondly we are dependent on the plants for our food directly though fruits and vegetables and indirectly through animals whose meat we consume. The second most important effect that urbanization has created on our ecology is the rupture in ozone layer due to the greenhouse effect. Thi s major issue had rattled the scientists to a measure that they are starting to think about developing the cities in such a way that the sustainability remains intact. Researchers have come up with a new ideal known as Green Plot Index; it is based on a parameter known as Leaf Area Index (LAI), which is the single side leaf area per unit ground area. It means that on every unit of ground area there should be a single side of leaf to maintain the proper ecology and environment of that unit area. Green plot Index is the average of LAI of the vegetation on the building site. It is similar to the Building Plot ratio which is used to measure the maximum flooring that can be done on a building site. (Ong et al 2003) With the urbanization of an area the boundaries between the natural habitat and the urban area become convoluted, and because of this convolution there are shifts in the microclimatic

Online Assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Online Assessment - Essay Example RESPONSE 1 Samba Bank uses two Cialdini weapons of influence (Polanski 1-6), which includes reciprocity and scarcity intentionally. Notably, reciprocity dictates that whenever we receive value, we get an impulse to give value back (Cialdini 3-8). Indeed, in some cases, we may even get inspired to give back more value than we received. Indeed, whenever we receive value free in the marketing, it is for impelling reciprocity. Hence, we have so many promotions, discounts, and gifts in the market to trigger us into buying more (Cialdini 3-8). In the case of Samba bank, this weapon applies where the bank hospitalizes customers with expensive kinds of coffee, dates, and chocolates, which get customers satisfaction. The reciprocity effect is that the bank will maintain its customers and encourage them to do more transactions. As branch manager, I also use this weapon mostly when dealing with a customer who is out of the country and his time deposit has matured. I seek to satisfy such custome rs when they call the bank for a renewal instead of following the formal paper work process of renewal. As such, I renew their accounts over the phone and wait for their signatures until they come. Hence, I satisfy their needs with an aim of maintaining them and gaining reciprocity when they return. Moreover, I unfreeze customers’ accounts while they are abroad if the cause to freeze was a simple issue like expiry of their ID. In this way, the customers will be able to use the account while travelling and update their ID when they return. This results to reciprocity as such customers invest in the bank for a long time. I also ensure that customers seeking business loans get the money within a short time with an aim of gaining reciprocity when their businesses grow. Scarcity is other weapon used in Samba bank to derive a perception that a financial product or service is limited or diminishing thus, creating more demand for the product (Cialdini 199-207). Indeed, the scarcity w eapon creates promotions, which seemingly end at a certain time but actually never ends. They only encourage more sales at the end of the promotion time (Cialdini 199-207). In Samba bank, there are random offers to attract more customers to the bank or increase the cash flow. Indeed, the bank offers a chance for customers to deposit smaller amounts than normal to upgrade their accounts. For example, the bank allows customers to upgrade from the Blue to Gold segment on depositing only $ 25000 instead of the normal $75000. This compels customers to deposit in their accounts with money from other banks thus increasing Samba’s cash flow. Moreover, the bank offers the customers a chance to enjoy free credit card life at no annual fee for a short period. This attracts new customers to the benefit of the bank. RESPONSE 2 Samba bank uses various marketing strategies that relate to the concepts/theories in Ariely’s Predictably Irrational book. Such concepts include the cost of zero cost concepts and the power of price concept. The concept of cost of zero cost implies that humans consider losses and profits before purchasing but when something is free, customers do not consider the losses (Ariely 50-56). Indeed, customers get the perception that the product on offer has more value than its face value. Indeed, people would wait for long to get a free thing (Ariely 49-54). As such, this concept is very powerful in triggering customer’

Paper 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 5

Paper 2 - Essay Example Instructions to be followed by the bidders in terms of submission of documents will be sated. Tender response will compose of all the questions to be asked by the bidders and answerers by the bidder. The tender will compose if the declarations to be signed by the bidders. The certificate of non-alignment will be signed whereby the bidder will declare that he has not merged with any other bidder for the tender. Finally, there will be the draft of the proposed tender. The tender may be restricted, negotiated or open as per the tendering guidelines. Restricted tenders will have a pre-qualifying questionnaire (PQQ) that will cover the organization, financial details, environmental policies, technical information, health and safety policies of the bidder. The PQQ will be done before the invitation to tender (ITT) in the determination of quality and price basis. Any successful bidder should avail all the required information. Moreover, he should appropriately and correctly answer all the questions. Finally, the bidder should return the needed information at the speculated time. Award of the contract will be awarded after weighing several criteria mainly experience, quality, implementation timetable, pricing schedule, tax clearance certificates, financial stability and suitability. Provided that there will be no challenges encountered, the successful; bidder will be awarded after the contact after 10 days. Unsuccessful bidders will be informed with presence or absence of viable reasons as to why they were not considered. Thereafter, the selected bidder will sign a contract as per the tendering documents. The infrastructure strategy has three main parts mainly operating system, hardware and the networks. The strategy should ensure that the organization is provided with high computing and performance power with a strong bandwidth that is achievable at the lowest cost possible (ECU. 2011, p. 1). The application

The Life of Wilma Rudolph Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Life of Wilma Rudolph - Term Paper Example In 1952, Wilma who had contracted poliomyelitis eventually recovered from the debilitating virus. Poliomyelitis was subsequently eliminated from the United States when Dr. Jonas Salk created the polio vaccine in 1955 (Smith 2). Wilma started wearing a steel brace on her left leg when she was five. She felt psychologically devastated wearing the brace. At age six, her mother noticed that home exercises were not improving her mobility; thus, she took Wilma to Meharry Hospital, the Black medical college of Fisk University in Nashville. In Meharry Hospital, Wilma received heat, water, and massage treatments, supplemented by an exercise routine at home. Two years later, with the help of a metal leg brace, Wilma was able to walk again. Remarkably by age 12, Wilma no longer needed the aid of crutches, brace, or any corrective shoes in walking. The childhood illnesses made it impossible for Wilma to study. Therefore, her mother tutored her at home with basic academic fundamentals.   Howeve r, she felt the need to conquer physical restrictions and enrolled in the local, segregated Burt High School. It was there she discovered her athletic abilities, following the example of her older sister who was a member of the basketball team. Edward Temple, a renowned track coach of Tennessee State University, noticed Wilma and asked her to attend the university’s summer sports camp. Without hesitation, she accepted the offer and Wilma started to make her mark on the basketball court and the track (Smith 13). Wilma practiced with the Tennessee State University team and attended Temple’s daily college practices while still a student at Burt.   Eventually, she entered Tennessee State University as a full-time scholarship student. During the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, Wilma, who was only 16 then, received her first bronze medal as a member of the 4 X 100 relay team.   In 1960 Olympics, in Rome, she won in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash and together wit h her team; they beat the Germans in the 4 X 100 relay. Consequently, she became the first American woman to be a recipient of three gold medals in the international meeting (Smith 55). The 1960 Olympic Games were the first to be televised and Wilma’s victories and inspirational story of overcoming the physical and societal barriers inspired and encourage a lot of people, particularly women who exhibited increasing interests in the track and field event (Smith 55).

Online Assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Online Assessment - Essay Example RESPONSE 1 Samba Bank uses two Cialdini weapons of influence (Polanski 1-6), which includes reciprocity and scarcity intentionally. Notably, reciprocity dictates that whenever we receive value, we get an impulse to give value back (Cialdini 3-8). Indeed, in some cases, we may even get inspired to give back more value than we received. Indeed, whenever we receive value free in the marketing, it is for impelling reciprocity. Hence, we have so many promotions, discounts, and gifts in the market to trigger us into buying more (Cialdini 3-8). In the case of Samba bank, this weapon applies where the bank hospitalizes customers with expensive kinds of coffee, dates, and chocolates, which get customers satisfaction. The reciprocity effect is that the bank will maintain its customers and encourage them to do more transactions. As branch manager, I also use this weapon mostly when dealing with a customer who is out of the country and his time deposit has matured. I seek to satisfy such custome rs when they call the bank for a renewal instead of following the formal paper work process of renewal. As such, I renew their accounts over the phone and wait for their signatures until they come. Hence, I satisfy their needs with an aim of maintaining them and gaining reciprocity when they return. Moreover, I unfreeze customers’ accounts while they are abroad if the cause to freeze was a simple issue like expiry of their ID. In this way, the customers will be able to use the account while travelling and update their ID when they return. This results to reciprocity as such customers invest in the bank for a long time. I also ensure that customers seeking business loans get the money within a short time with an aim of gaining reciprocity when their businesses grow. Scarcity is other weapon used in Samba bank to derive a perception that a financial product or service is limited or diminishing thus, creating more demand for the product (Cialdini 199-207). Indeed, the scarcity w eapon creates promotions, which seemingly end at a certain time but actually never ends. They only encourage more sales at the end of the promotion time (Cialdini 199-207). In Samba bank, there are random offers to attract more customers to the bank or increase the cash flow. Indeed, the bank offers a chance for customers to deposit smaller amounts than normal to upgrade their accounts. For example, the bank allows customers to upgrade from the Blue to Gold segment on depositing only $ 25000 instead of the normal $75000. This compels customers to deposit in their accounts with money from other banks thus increasing Samba’s cash flow. Moreover, the bank offers the customers a chance to enjoy free credit card life at no annual fee for a short period. This attracts new customers to the benefit of the bank. RESPONSE 2 Samba bank uses various marketing strategies that relate to the concepts/theories in Ariely’s Predictably Irrational book. Such concepts include the cost of zero cost concepts and the power of price concept. The concept of cost of zero cost implies that humans consider losses and profits before purchasing but when something is free, customers do not consider the losses (Ariely 50-56). Indeed, customers get the perception that the product on offer has more value than its face value. Indeed, people would wait for long to get a free thing (Ariely 49-54). As such, this concept is very powerful in triggering customer’

The Life of Wilma Rudolph Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Life of Wilma Rudolph - Term Paper Example In 1952, Wilma who had contracted poliomyelitis eventually recovered from the debilitating virus. Poliomyelitis was subsequently eliminated from the United States when Dr. Jonas Salk created the polio vaccine in 1955 (Smith 2). Wilma started wearing a steel brace on her left leg when she was five. She felt psychologically devastated wearing the brace. At age six, her mother noticed that home exercises were not improving her mobility; thus, she took Wilma to Meharry Hospital, the Black medical college of Fisk University in Nashville. In Meharry Hospital, Wilma received heat, water, and massage treatments, supplemented by an exercise routine at home. Two years later, with the help of a metal leg brace, Wilma was able to walk again. Remarkably by age 12, Wilma no longer needed the aid of crutches, brace, or any corrective shoes in walking. The childhood illnesses made it impossible for Wilma to study. Therefore, her mother tutored her at home with basic academic fundamentals.   Howeve r, she felt the need to conquer physical restrictions and enrolled in the local, segregated Burt High School. It was there she discovered her athletic abilities, following the example of her older sister who was a member of the basketball team. Edward Temple, a renowned track coach of Tennessee State University, noticed Wilma and asked her to attend the university’s summer sports camp. Without hesitation, she accepted the offer and Wilma started to make her mark on the basketball court and the track (Smith 13). Wilma practiced with the Tennessee State University team and attended Temple’s daily college practices while still a student at Burt.   Eventually, she entered Tennessee State University as a full-time scholarship student. During the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, Wilma, who was only 16 then, received her first bronze medal as a member of the 4 X 100 relay team.   In 1960 Olympics, in Rome, she won in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash and together wit h her team; they beat the Germans in the 4 X 100 relay. Consequently, she became the first American woman to be a recipient of three gold medals in the international meeting (Smith 55). The 1960 Olympic Games were the first to be televised and Wilma’s victories and inspirational story of overcoming the physical and societal barriers inspired and encourage a lot of people, particularly women who exhibited increasing interests in the track and field event (Smith 55).

Literature and Social Reality Essay Example for Free

Literature and Social Reality Essay In this paper I will discuss and analyze the social forces of immigration and industrialization that shape literature during the period of 1865 to 1912. I will describe the major literary movements of the period. Additionally I will explain how Realism and Naturalism influenced the literature of the period, how immigration and industrialization contributed to the influences. I will illustrate using examples from some of the greatest authors of the period. Immigration and Industrialization The United States’ population grew quickly in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Baym (2008) et al. write that there were 38. million people in 1870 and had grown to 92 million in 1910. This growth resulted mostly from immigration. People came from countries all over the world but predominantly from European and Asian nations. Immigration was also the major cause for urbanization in the United States according to Baym et al. (2008) with a dramatic proportional shift from a mostly rural population to a larger city population. Simultaneously with this mass immigration industrialization was happening creating an abundance of factory jobs and building immense wealth for some while also creating dramatic divides in society. Baym et al. (2008) describe the situation: â€Å"Long-settled white Americans faced newly arrived white people across divides of power, income, and privilege – worker against owner, farm against city, immigrant against native-born, leading to suspicion and social turbulence on a scale that the nation had not seen† (p. 3). The consequences were labor struggles resulting from terrible working conditions. Immigration brought an abundance of workers resulting in low wages as well as â€Å"inhumane and dangerous working conditions† (Baym et al. 2008, p. ). Conflict also arose from farmers being pushed off their land by the railroads and competition between native-born citizens and immigrants. There was also increased suspicion and resentment between the social classes likely based on fear of losing their â€Å"part of the cake† for the upper and middle classes, whereas the lower class was resentful because of how they were treated. Major Literary Movements The major literary movements during this period were realism and naturalism emerging after a long period of idealism and romanticism. Realism shifted literature to a way of describe life as it actually is instead of trying to present an idealized or romantic image. It was an objective style that offered detached perspectives on the everyday lives of the middle-class, working-class and the poor. This style worked well for describing the struggles of the period. Baym et al. (2008) describe W. D. Howells as the â€Å"chief American advocate† of realism (p. 6). Mark Twain, Henry James, Edith Wharton, and others also joined in this movement as well as some distinguished African American writers such as W. E.  B Du Bois, Booker T. Washington, and Ida B. Wells-Barnett (Baym et al. , 2008). The nature of Naturalism has been debated as being the opposite of realism or as â€Å"extension or intensification of realism† (Baym et al. , 2008, p. 7). Naturalism usually describes more extreme settings and circumstances than realism and focuses on harsher conditions and poorer characters. Baym et al. (2008) suggest that while characters in realistic works often overcome difficulties, in naturalistic pieces the characters never stand a chance. It is a much more pessimistic literary style than realism. Crane, Dreiser, London, and Norris are described by Baym et al. (2008) as the leading American naturalistic writers of the period. How Realism and Naturalism Influenced Literature Realism had an immense influence on the literature during this period. Mark Twain was one of the major authors and his â€Å"Adventures of Huckleberry Finn† is an excellent example of his style, which became regarded as a leading piece for the â€Å"American style† (Baym et al. , 2008, p. 6). Twain used colloquial speech and his writing style puts the reader in the position of participant, almost as if in a dialogue with Huck. It is a very intimate and informal way of writing. Huckleberry Finn is uneducated and sees the world through the lens of his own experience as well as the social circumstances and mores of the time. In chapter 23 of â€Å"Adventures of Huckleberry Finn† Huck ponders about Jim, his African American companion on his adventure: â€Å"He was thinking about his wife and his children, away up yonder, and he was low and homesick; because he hadn’t ever been away from home before in his life; and I do believe he cared just as much for his people as white folks do for their’n. It don’t seem natural, but I reckon it is so† (Baym et al. , 2008, p. 204). This passage realistically illustrates the view of a young boy at the time who only knows the world through the social context of his time and place, which included slavery and a very derogatory view of African Americans. Twain was very critical and pessimistic about humankind and his writing often reflected this. However with Huck Finn he appears to be attempting to show that even an uneducated young boy in the 1840s could be open-minded and open-hearted enough to see that people are equals. Henry James writes about â€Å"Daisy Miller,† a young American woman who is a new kind of modern girl. She does not appear to care about the established rules and mores of the time and is both bold and naive in her demeanor. Baym et al. (2008) write that James shows his nature as â€Å"a true cosmopolitan concerned with exploring American national character as it is tested by cultural displacement† (p. 317). James is painting a picture of the old and established strict rules of social class and position and how they become a hindrance in forming true connection between people. The established upper- and middle-class look down on the lower class and the up-and-comers. The result is miscommunication, suspicion, and conflict. Jack London was one of the leading naturalist writers of his time. In his essay â€Å"What Life Means to me† he describes his own experience as a working class youngster who toiled in a variety of jobs until finally he had enough of heavy labor and became a vagrant for a while (Baym et al. , 2008). He describes how he found himself at the bottom of society and how in that place â€Å"life offered nothing but sordidness and wretchedness, both of the flesh and the spirit; for here flesh and spirit were alike starved and tormented† (Baym et al. , 2008, p. 582). He was keenly aware of the inequalities and injustice that industrialization had brought for the working class. He writes that he realizes that a laborer is finished and broken down at 45 or 50 while an intellectual, â€Å"a brain seller† (Baym et al. , 2008, p. 584) comes into his prime at that age or later. He decides to ducate himself to make a difference both for himself and for the working class dear to his heart. London eventually encountered and the Socialist movement and describes in joyful terms finding â€Å"warm faith in then human, glowing idealism, sweetness of unselfishness, renunciation, and martyrdom – all the splendid, stinging things of the spirit† (Baym et al. , 2008, p. 584). He was a masterful naturalist writer describing in exquisite detail and with a detached, scientific narrative how the man slowly succumbs to the cold and freezes to death in his short story â€Å"To Build a Fire. Clearly his own experiences in Alaska had provided him with great fodder for this kind of story. Conclusion In this paper I discussed and analyzed the social forces of immigration and industrialization that shaped literature during the period of 1865 to 1912. I described the major literary movements of the period. Additionally I explained how Realism and Naturalism influenced the literature of the period and illustrated with examples from some of the greatest writers of that time.

Ethical Debates in Abortion and Euthanasia

Ethical Debates in Abortion and Euthanasia Autonomy can be defined as self-rule and it is a persons or patients basic right. This principle means that an adult who is an informed and competent patient has the right to accept or refuse any treatments, drugs or surgical procedures. These decisions must be taken in to consideration even if these choices are not in the best interest of the patient. It is a healthcare professionals duty and responsibility to respect patients autonomy. Although sometimes this can be difficult as it may conflict with paternalistic attitudes of other healthcare professionals. A persons autonomy could be overridden in cases such as, if an individuals decision puts public health in danger or could potentially harm others, that persons autonomy may be restricted. Autonomy is often used in the ethical debate of euthanasia. Though it is a patients freedom to make decisions on their own treatment, the concept of autonomy is misunderstood in the case of ending an individuals life. In this case, although a patient is capable of giving valid consent, a doctor does not have the authority to treat a patient unless he has signed a written consent. 2. In order to produce a non-maleficence conclusion without reducing the benefits for others the social worker could approach Bernie with the idea of informally admitting himself to hospital. If Bernie was to become unhappy at any time during his stay he would be able to discharge himself without the pressure of feeling isolated, but he would still be offered the help he needs. This would take some of the pressure off his parents, his mother would then feel less threatened knowing that Bernie is being cared for properly and receiving the help he needs to address his problems. (Psychotic episode, grief counselling, family counselling). His mother and father could then start to concentrate on their own problems and try to correct their relationship. If the whole family where to address their individual problems, it could be suggested this would then in turn create a better family life with effective communication. 3. For the justification for Bernie to be sectioned under the Mental Health Act would depend on Bernies state of mind. Bernie is unwilling to be voluntarily admitted to hospital, so if he was to be sectioned this would enable him to be treated with the correct medication such as anti-psychotic medication which would help treat psychosis. Although if Bernie is not actually psychotic and just grieving for his grandmother then being sectioned would not be justified as his problems could be treated with counselling in the community to help resolve his family issues. If Bernie was to be sectioned this could change how people look at Bernie in the future for example job applications and generally within the community. Bernie has often used threatening behaviour towards his parents, if this was to escalate the sectioning of Bernie could be the only option and then would be justified to protect his family and himself from violence. Abortion The ethical debate regarding abortion asks whether it is morally right to deliberately terminate a pregnancy before childbirth. In the early part of the 20th century laws were brought in to reduce access to legal abortion. Many women resorted to seeking out backstreet abortionists, which either permanently damaged their health or even ended their life due to unwanted pregnancies. In 1967 the Abortion Act became law, since then the act has been unsuccessfully challenged many times by pro-life groups who still try to limit the access to abortions. Looking at abortion from a moral view there are many dimensions which are linked to abortion. This debate is very complex and every question leads to sub-questions and sub-parts. There are pro-life enthusiasts who are against abortion and pro-choice groups who are partially or completely in favour of termination of pregnancy. Pro-life groups/people argue that that it is ethically/morally wrong to kill a foetus which has potential to live; they believe that every foetus is alive and has the capacity to develop into a human being like us. So killing a foetus is the same as killing a human being which is wrong. Pro-choice groups regard abortion as acceptable in some circumstances such as there being a serious medical problem which could endanger the foetus or mothers life, the foetus will suffer from mental or physical abnormalities or where the pregnancy was unintentional for example rape of failure of contraception. Two philosophical theories that could be applied to this debate could be natural law and virtue ethics. Natural law main focus is on actions, it asks if an action is good or bad and in accordance with nature. One of the primary precepts is protect and preserve the innocent. From this we get a secondary precept do not abort. This is an absolute moral rule that you should not kill an innocent person. This is how the Catholic Church views abortion and therefore condemns abortion in all instances. The Church of England tries to encourage the issues surrounding abortion, the church recognises that all individuals have different views regarding this sensitive matter. The 1983 resolution of Synod stated: That in situations where the continuance of a pregnancy threatens the life of the mother a termination of pregnancy may be justified and that there must be adequate and safe provision in our society for such situations Church of England General Synod, 1983 There are a few Catholics that disagree with the Vatican regarding abortion. They argue against the total ban on abortion with arguments such as: Theologians such as Aquinas and Augustine who believed that a foetus does not become a person until between 40 and 80 days after conception has occurred. Every Catholic has the right and responsibility to follow their own conscience on moral matters. Though pro-choice Catholics dont see abortion as being morally good they to argue that there could be situations where it is the least bad moral choice that is available at the time. Virtue ethics are concerned with what kind of people we should be. It helps to develop characteristics which help to make moral decisions easier, for example whether to consider and abortion or not. These ethics dont say that abortion is right or wrong but that it is up to the individuals personal character. A decision that a woman makes about an abortion must contribute towards her happiness. A person, who is virtuous and has disciplined themselves in the virtues of temperance, would be in a better state of mind and condition to decide on the important matter of having an abortion. In some countries such as India, aborting foetuses which are to be born girls are becoming a major problem. Some cultures prefer to have baby boys, so request are termination purely on the basis that the child is female. Pro-choice activist and author Janet Hadley, sex selection abortions in India are extremely common: All over India, there are clinics performing amniocentesis and ultrasound scans, even in districts too poor to afford supplies of clean drinking water. Every day, an estimated 3000 female foetuses are aborted. And there are doctors making a mint. Janet Hadley Abortion: between Freedom and Necessity (Great Britain: Virago Press 1996) 88 Female foeticide is more common than male foeticide, countries, in particular India and China, are more likely to have serious consequences on the balance of the genders in the population. The reasons behind these are mostly cultural, rather than religious. When it comes to this very sensitive debate, I feel I can honestly say that I am neither, for or against abortion. I do feel it is every womans right to decide. Until I am placed in a position where I am undecided on whether to continue with a pregnancy or not, I find it very difficult to have an opinion. Working in an operating theatre, it is part of my role to be part of a surgical team which carries out termination of pregnancies. I think doing this job has influenced me to have an impartial view on this matter. I have seen patients use this procedure as a form of contraception, but have also had to be with patients who have made the decision to terminate their pregnancy due to foetal abnormalities and miscarriage. Every womans circumstances are different and should be taken into consideration, and in a lot of these cases we have to consider the fathers feelings which a lot of people tend to forget. Euthanasia Euthanasia is the act of deliberately ending a persons life in order to end their suffering. According to English law both euthanasia and assisted suicide are illegal. This process is sometimes called mercy killing. Euthanasia can fall into categories such as: voluntary euthanasia where a person makes the decision to die and asks for help enable to do this. Non-voluntary euthanasia is when a person is unable to make the decision or give consent to die, for reasons such as being in a coma or being brain damaged, another person will make the decision on their behalf. This could be because the patient expressed their wishes for their life to be ended in these circumstances. Involuntary euthanasia is where someone is killed regardless of their wishes. There has always been lots of controversy surrounding the debate on euthanasia and whether this act should be legal or not. In most countries euthanasia is seen as a criminal homicide or murder. Although in countries such as Belgium, Netherlands and Luxemburg these practices are still considered legal. Killing is inexcusable yet is seen as excusable when used as a criminal punishment? Arguments regarding this debate can often depend on which method is used to carry out the end of life for the patient. There are many arguments on this debate, many of which fall into different categories such as ethical, practical and religious arguments and many more. Some ethical arguments for anti-euthanasia may include: Euthanasia weakening the respect in society and the sanctity of life, and all human beings are valued regardless of age, religion, sex etc. Voluntary euthanasia could be the start of a slippery slope which may lead to involuntary euthanasia; where a person who wants to live is killed regardless of their wishes. Euthanasia can affect other peoples hum rights, not just those of the patients, for example, family, relatives and even medical staff. Practical arguments for anti-euthanasia in this debate could be: If palliative care was to be carried out properly euthanasia would not needed to be necessary, it could help prevent a patient feeling this is the only option. Doctors should not be allowed to decide when a patient should die; legalisation of this would put doctors in a position of power which would be unacceptable. Religious people feel that euthanasia is against the will of god. Although god has given us all free will, they argue that it would be wrong for us to kill ourselves or ask another to do it for them. The slippery slope argument explains the fears of voluntary euthanasia becoming legal and where it may lead, such as involuntary euthanasia. If the law changes and voluntary euthanasia becomes legal, how would we be able to keep it under control? Without official regulations and control mechanisms proponents of euthanasia feel it would never be legalised Where would this slippery slope lead to? Could doctors start killing patients without their permission? Would doctors kill patients to save money and create more free beds? We conclude that is was virtually impossible to ensure that all acts of euthanasia were truly voluntary and that any liberations of the law in the United Kingdom could not be abused. We were also concerned that vulnerable people the elderly, lonely, sick or distressed would feel pressure, whether real or imagined, to request early death. Lord Walton, Chairman, House of Lords Select Committee on Medical Ethics looking into euthanasia, 1993. Why do people want euthanasia? Most people think that the main reason that people choose to seek euthanasia is because of them being in severe and unbearable pain. There are many psychological factors such as depression, feeling like a burden, the loss of their dignity and not wanting to be dependent which cause people to think of euthanasia. People consider what quality of life they are going to have, for example; a terminally ill patient can be damaged by physical conditions e.g. incontinence, vomiting, paralysis and difficulty breathing. Some peoples arguments may include: People have the right to die when and how they would like; being independent gives them the right to carry out decisions about themselves. A libertarian argument believes that if an action is in the best interest of everybody, then it does not violate anybodys rights, so is morally acceptable. Euthanasia happens, so is it not better to legalise it and make it regulated properly. People are allowed to die with dignity and in their own way. Relatives are spared from watching their loved ones suffer and die painfully. Utilitarianism believes that moral rules should produce the greatest happiness of the greatest people. Looking at it from utilitarian point of view, people who are allowed to die a good death when they choose will allow them to be happier in their final days. Utilitarianism looks at total human happiness and not just that of the patient involved. People who agree with this principle would see the negative effect it would have on those around the patient such as the family, friends and the healthcare professionals, these negative effects would outweigh those of the patient. Kants ethical theory has a different perspective to utilitarianism. Kants theory on mortality derived from the Greek deontology, which means obligation. He didnt agree with the making of moral choices out of compassion or kindness. He believed in what was the right thing to do, and choosing to fight the dying process is more important than just simply ending it all because of suffering and pain. Kant felt that the intentions of and act was more important than the actual act itself. I think that euthanasia is one of the most complicated debates to date. Its very hard to say whether you are either for or against euthanasia until you are put in a position where you could choose to live or die. The only way I could possibly have an opinion on this matter would be to imagine if it was a member of my family wanting to die. If I thought that they were going to have no quality of life and there was no hope of recovering then maybe I would consider euthanasia if it was what they wanted, the only way I would do this would be with their consent. I do strongly feel it does depend on each situation and the mental state of the patient, as voluntary euthanasia could be made and easy option if someone was to have suicidal tendencies.

Changes in Macbeths Character throughout the Play Essay -- Drama

How I would advise the actor to portray the Dramatic changes in Macbeth’s Character throughout the play. Macbeth’s character throughout the play would be very complicated for any actor to portray, so there would be a large amount of hard work needed. During the play Macbeth portrays a large variety of different feelings e.g. happiness, sadness, anger, frustration etc, so I would have to thoroughly advise my actor on each scene of the play. Also, I would have to teach him on how to close the finishing speeches of Macbeth’s lines, these are very important because they carry a very big amount of significance and impact. In every single type of play, one of the most significant parts is the first entrance of the main actor. This is eminently important because, when the audience first see how the main actor walks, talks and the type of attire he/she is wearing, they can withdraw a lot of information about them e.g. whether they are honourable, devious, heinous etc. In the first entrance of Macbeth (Act 1 Scene 3), he opens with the line â€Å"So foul and fair a day I have not seen†. I imagine that this line would be said with quite a deep voice. From reading this line I would advise my actor to walk straight, with his head held high as if he was a very dominant and opulent man. Also a little later in the same scene he gets very obsessed with the witch’s predictions and is zealous to hear more, plus he gets a little bewildered when the witches say that he may become the Thane of Cawdor. For my actor to portray this part of the scene I would advise him to elevate the tone of his voice, to show his eagerness, to learn more about the predictions and also, I would tell him to show a very puzzled face to show his bewilderment over one of the predictions. In Act 1 Scene 4 when Macbeth shows his gratitude to King Duncan for the murder of the Thane of Cawdor by saying â€Å"The service and loyalty I owe, in doing it, pays itself† he seems to be very imperturbable. For this part of Scene 4 I would advise my actor to have a very calm expression but to still show a little gratitude for the honour that has been shown to Macbeth by King Duncan. Later in the play when Lady Macbeth appears, you get to know a little bit about Lady Macbeth and Macbeth’s relationship. Firstly when Macbeth and Lady Macbeth meet in the play (Act 1 Scene 5), they seem ... ...ck, and midnight hags! What is’t you do?†. Eventually, the witches bring in three apparitions. The first apparition was an ‘armed head’, he was trying to warn Macbeth of Macduff â€Å"Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth: beware Macduff, Beware the Thane of Fife. Dismiss me. Enough†. This apparition was actually true, because at the end of the play, Macduff decapitates Macbeth. The second apparition was a ‘bloody child’, he said â€Å"Be bloody, bold and resolute; laugh to scorn. The power of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth†. The third apparition was a ‘Crowned child, with a tree in his hand’, he told Macbeth â€Å"Macbeth will never vanquished†. The last two apparitions were actually lying to Macbeth, so he could feel in power. To act these parts, when Macbeth hears the first apparition I would advise my actor to have a very smug look on his ace trying to indicate that no one can murder him because he has so much power and loyalty. When he hears the last two apparitions, I would advise him to become very egotistical because of the compliments they make to him. But, at the same time I would advise my actor to be quite shocked, because he is being told his future, from ghosts.

Ambiguity and Understanding of Chaucers Troilus and Criseyde Essays

Ambiguity and Understanding of Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the aspects of Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde that seemed most confusing at first was the apparent ambiguity or complete lack of motivation that the author provides for the main characters. Chaucer provides little explanation for why his major characters act the way that they do; when he does, his explanations are often ambiguous or contradictory. Pandarus is an excellent example of a character whose motives are ambiguous. The only motives clearly attributable to him based on the poem's text seem to be the friendship and affection he and Troilus have for each other, which is supported by the narrator's claim that "Pandarus ... [was] desirous to serve his fulle frend." (Chaucer 1.1058-9); a voyeuristic instinct (which could be supported by pointing out that Pandarus seems to arrange opportunities for Troilus and Criseyde to tryst, as much as possible, in his presence -- for instance, his presence for an unspecified length of time during the night Troilus an d Criseyde spend in his guest room); and a wish to vicariously fulfill, through his friend Troilus, those romantic desires which have been thwarted throughout life. This last (and perhaps most supportable) explanation is suggested by the constant identifications that Pandarus makes with Troilus, by saying "myn avys anoon may helpen us" and in asking Troilus if "Fortune oure joie wold han overthrowe," and by his explanation that "I ... nevere felte in my servyse / A frendly cheere or lokyng of an eye." (1.620, 4.385, 4.397-8) All of these motives for Chaucer's Pandarus could be supported, but none seems clearly to be more plausible than any of the others. However, for these vaguely defined motives,... ...uld be portrayed as less happy: he has lost Criseyde, has been denied revenge against her new lover, and is dead. It is hard to imagine a more forceful combination of facts with writing to make a point. As if to drive it home, Chaucer's narrator then refers to "Jove, Apollo, ... Mars" as "swich rascaille," or rabble.    Subtleties of middle English can be confusing for a new reader and first, and "entente" is a word with subtle variations in meaning and a variety of connotations. Properly understood, though, it adds a great deal to an understanding of Chaucer's Troilus.    References Chaucer, Geoffrey. Troilus and Criseyde in The Riverside Chaucer. General Ed. Benson, Larry D. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1987. Tatlock, John S.P., and Arthur G. Kennedy. A Concordance to the Complete Work of Geoffrey Chaucer. Gloucester: Peter Smith, 1963.   

Juvenile Corrections Essay

Juvenile corrections encompasses the portions of the criminal justice system that deal with juvenile offenders. Many of these facilities and programs seem to mirror jails and prisons, but juvenile corrections are not meant for long term sentences. Sometimes sentences for juveniles are only several weeks long. Juvenile corrections also have a strong focus on rehabilitation because studies have shown that juvenile offenders are more prone to rehabilitation than adult offenders. These programs and services were aimed to help to teach these youthful offenders how to better deal with situations and how to avoid entering the into the criminal justice system again. (wisegeek) The judges who handle these juvenile cases specialize in working with juvenile offenders and their crimes. Others who specialize in juvenile crime are a part of the juvenile corrections system as well. This includes social workers, probation officers, as well as others. Their aim is usually not to punish the juveniles alone, but to use the punishment as a way to rehabilitate them as well. (USLegal) Historical Background of Juvenile Corrections The origins of juvenile corrections are not entirely clear. Juvenile and adult offenders have been treated differently for some time, but what ages are considered to be juvenile has changed over time. The United States’ perspective on juvenile ages and law was greatly influenced by English law. In the 1700s, William Blackstone, an English lawyer, published his Commentaries on the Laws of England, where he identified that young persons are incapable of committing crime. Generally, anyone under of the age of seven was incapable of committing crime. Any child over the age of 14 was able to be tried as an adult. Children between the ages of 7 and 14 are a gray area, but were generally not held accountable for their actions unless it could be shown that they knew what was right or wrong. Punishments for being found guilty of crime included the death penalty, even for juvenile offenders. (ABA, 2011) The juvenile corrections system began to change and be reformed in the nineteenth century. â€Å"Social reformers began to create special facilities to rehabilitate troubled juveniles, especially in large cities†, (ABA, 2011, p 5). These reformers stated that they wanted to protect these juvenile offenders by keeping them separate from the adult populations because they were better able to be rehabilitated. The first court system for juveniles in the United States started in 1899 in Illinois. These courts also aimed to rehabilitate the juvenile offenders. They had juvenile court systems in most states by 1824. The courts became the â€Å"guardians† of the juvenile offenders, or their â€Å"parens patriae†. These court proceedings were considered to be civil matters and not considered to be criminal matters. Their basic focus was on rehabilitating the juvenile offenders. (ABA, 2011) The juvenile courts changed again in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1967, the case of Gerald in In re Gault, the Supreme Court granted many juveniles some, but not all, due process rights in the course of their court proceedings. This included the right to be notified of their pending charges, the right to have an attorney, the right to protect themselves against self-incrimination, and the rights to confront and cross-examine their witnesses. Three years later, in In re Winship, the Court also established that the accused must be proven guilty â€Å"beyond a reasonable doubt†. In 1971, in McKeiver v. Pennsylvania, the Courts ruled that juries are not required for juvenile proceedings. In most cases, the judge in charge of the juvenile corrections department will hear the case, judge the offender, and sentence the offender. (ABA, 2011) Recidivism Rates in Juvenile Corrections When it comes to measuring a correctional agency’s facilities and programs, recidivism rates are most frequently used. These rates guide spending and funding decisions aimed to effectively combat crime. While there is no standard rate that is aimed for, the idea is to try to reduce the recidivism rate or even keep it the same opposed to raising it. When the recidivism rates are not progressing in the manner expected, these agencies must try to find other avenues and strategies that will make a positive impact on the recidivism rates, and in the long run, these juvenile’s lives. (CJCA, 2011) â€Å"The Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) defines recidivism as a return to incarceration within three years of the offender’s date of release from a state correctional institution.† (Schelle, 2012) The 2011 recidivism rate for all juvenile offenders was 36.7%. The recidivism rate for African American juvenile offenders was 43.8%. Eighty-two percent of the juveniles who recidivated did so with a new crime, and the other 18% returned because of technical violations. â€Å"Of all juveniles released in 2008, 40.9% of males returned to IDOC, while only 15.8% of females returned,† (Schelle, 2012). Surprisingly, juvenile sex offenders had the lowest recidivism rate at 13.6%. (Schelle, 2012) Risk-Focused Juvenile Crime Prevention Risk factors for juvenile delinquency have been identified from multiple studies. These risk factors are different for older and younger juveniles. When focusing on the individual juvenile between the ages of 6-11, delinquency risk factors include; being male, having a low IQ, having antisocial attitudes and beliefs, dishonesty, having medical and physical problems, hyperactivity, exposure to television violence, petty offenses, having poor attitude and performance at school, and substance use. In this same age group, the child’s family environment can also include risk factors as well. Some of these risk factors are; being in a low socioeconomic status or poverty, having antisocial parents, having poor relationships, receiving harsh or inconsistent discipline, having a broken home, being separated from their parents, and having abusive or neglectful parents. (Przybylski, 2008) For children between the ages of 12 and 14, the individual risk factors include; general offenses, having a low IQ, displaying antisocial behavior, committing crimes against others, using physical violence, being male, displaying risk taking behaviors, displaying aggression, having low concentration, restlessness, and general offenses. Other factors also include having a poor attitude in school, academic failure, having weak social ties, and gang membership. Living in a community with high neighborhood crime, drugs, and disorganization are also factors. In this same age group, the child’s family environment can also include risk factors as well. Some of these risk factors are; lax or harsh discipline by parents, lack of adult or parental supervision, lack of parental involvement, having antisocial parents, having poor relationships, coming from a broken home, living in poverty, being abused, and experiencing family conflict. With all of these risk factors being mentioned, â€Å"It is important to recognize that risk factors cannot be used to identify which particular children will grow up to be offenders,† (Przybylski, 2008, p 84). There are also protective factors that may help counter-act the risk factors mentioned above. These include the individual juvenile; having a strong attitude or being intolerant toward deviance, having a higher IQ, being female, having more positive social skills and orientation, and understanding the sanctions for any transgressions. Some familial protective factors include; having warm, strong, and supporting relationships with caregivers, good monitoring by parents, and the general support of the juvenile’s friends by the juvenile’s parents. Other protective factors include; the juvenile being committed to their education, gaining recognition for extracurricular activities, and having friends who are also against deviant behavior. (Przybylski, 2008) What Rehabilitation Efforts Work for Juveniles and Which Do Not There has been much research on what programs work to rehabilitate juvenile offenders. The general results have been that the majority of the programs have no real effect on the juvenile recidivism rate aside from a few exceptions. The reason why juveniles have lower recidivism rates is believed to be because juveniles are not completely aware of the ramifications of their actions and do not always understand the true damage they inflict on their victims. (Lieb, 1994) The results of multiple studies indicate several approaches to rehabilitation that do not work. Those include; visiting a probation officer one time per month, diagnostic assessments, behavior modification for any complex behaviors, broad discussion groups, attending school as a single approach, field trips, work programs, psychodynamic counseling, and therapeutic camping trips. The research used 50 different juvenile correctional programs and came to the conclusion that the results were, â€Å"far from encouraging,† and â€Å"correctional treatment has little effect on recidivism,† (Lieb, 1994, p 5). The results showed that some behavioral approaches received more positive results. An analysis used 90 residential and community programs for juvenile offenders. The analysis concluded that, â€Å"Behavior approaches had the most success in reducing recidivism although the effects were so small that â€Å"they could not reject the null hypothesis.† Group therapy and transactional analysis programs were more likely to produce negative effects,† (Lieb, 1994, p 5). What does seem to work is using correctional treatment and service utilizing three principles that include; getting service to the high-risk juveniles, paying attention to the risk factors mentioned above, and using different styles of treatment depending on the needs and learning styles of the individual juvenile offender. (Lieb, 1994) References ABA. (2011, June 29). The History of Juvenile Justice. Retrieved November 29, 2012, from American Bar Association: http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/migrated/publiced/features/DYJpart1.authcheckdam.pdf CJCA. (2011). Recidivism Committee. Retrieved December 2, 2012, from Council of Juvenile Correctional Administrators: http://cjca.net/index.php/initiatives/recidivism-committee Lieb, R. (1994). Juvenile Offenders: What Works? ; A Summary of Research Findings. The Evergreen State College. Olympia: Washington State Institute for Public Policy. Przybylski, R. (2008). What Works; Effective Recidivism Reduction and Risk-Focused Prevention Programs. Denver: RKC Group. Schelle, S. (2012). Juvenile Recidivism 2011. Indianapolis: Indiana Department of Correction. USLegal. (n.d.). Juvenile Corrections Law & Legal Definition. Retrieved November 22, 2012, from USLegal.com: http://definitions.uslegal.com/j/juvenile-corrections/ wisegeek. (n.d.). What is Juvenile Corrections? Retrieved November 22, 2012, from wisegeek.com: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-juvenile-corrections.htm