Sociologists Take Historic Stand on Racism and Police Brutality

The 2014 annual meeting of the American Sociological Association (ASA) took place in San Francisco on the heels of the killing of unarmed black teen, Michael Brown, at the hands of a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. It also happened during a community uprising shrouded in police brutality, so many sociologists in attendance had the national crises of police brutality and racism on their minds. The ASA, however, created no official space for discussion of these issues, nor had the 109-year-old organization made any kind of public statement on them, despite the fact that the amount of published sociological research on these issues could fill a library. Frustrated by this lack of action and dialog, some attendees created a grassroots discussion group and task force to address these crises. Neda Maghbouleh, Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Toronto-Scarborough, was one of those who took the lead. Explaining why, she said, â€Å"We had a critical mass of thousands of trained sociologists within two blocks of each other at ASA—equipped to marshal history, theory, data, and hard facts toward a social crisis like Ferguson. So ten of us, complete strangers, met for thirty minutes in a hotel lobby to hash out a plan to get as many concerned sociologists as possible to contribute to, edit, and sign a document. I was committed to helping in any way possible because it’s moments like these that affirm the value of social science for society.† The document† Dr. Maghbouleh refers to is an open letter to U.S. society at-large, that was signed by over 1,800 sociologists, this author among them. The letter began by pointing out that what transpired in Ferguson was born of â€Å"deeply ingrained racial, political, social and economic inequities,† and then specifically named the conduct of policing, especially in black communities and in the context of protest, as a serious social problem. The authors and signatories  implored â€Å"law enforcement, policymakers, media, and the nation to consider decades of sociological analysis and research that can inform the necessary conversations and solutions required to address the systemic issues that the events in Ferguson have raised.† The authors pointed out that much sociological research has already established the existence of society-wide problems present in the case of Ferguson, like â€Å"a pattern of racialized policing,† historically rooted â€Å"institutionalized racism within police departments and the criminal justice system more broadly,†Ã‚  the â€Å"hyper-surveillance of black and brown youth,† and the disproportionate targeting and disrespectful treatment of black men and women by police.  These troubling phenomena foster  suspicion about people of color, create an environment in which it is impossible for people of color to trust police, which in turn undermines the ability of police to do their job: serve and protect. The authors wrote, â€Å"Instead of feeling protected by police, many African Americans are intimidated and live in daily fear that their children will face abuse, arrest, and death at the hands of police officers who may be acting on implicit biases or institutional policies based on stereotypes and assumptions of black criminality.† They then  explained that brutal police treatment of protestors is â€Å"rooted in the history of repression of African American protest movements and attitudes about blacks that often drive contemporary police practices.† In response, sociologists called for â€Å"greater attention to the conditions (e.g., joblessness and political disenfranchisement) that have contributed to the marginalization of residents† of Ferguson and other communities, and explained that â€Å"focused and sustained government and community attention on these issues is required to bring about healing and a change in the economic and political structures that have thus far ignored and left many in such areas vulnerable to police abuse.† The letter concluded with a list of demands required for â€Å"an appropriate response to the death of Michael Brown,† and to address the larger, nation-wide issue of racist police policies and practices: Immediate assurance from law enforcement authorities in Missouri and the federal government that constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of the press will be protected.A civil rights investigation into the incidents related to the death of Michael Brown and general police practices in Ferguson.The establishment of an independent committee to study and analyze the failures of the policing efforts during the week following Michael Brown’s death. Ferguson residents, including leaders of grassroots organizations, should be included on the committee throughout this process. The committee must provide a clear roadmap for resetting community-police relations in a way that grants oversight power to residents.An independent comprehensive national study of the role of implicit bias and systemic racism in policing. Federal funding should be allocated to support police departments in implementing the recommendations from the study and ongoing monitoring and public reporting of key benchmarks (e.g., use of force, arrests by race) and improvements in police practices.Legislation requiring the use of dash and body-worn cameras to record all police interactions. Data from these devices should be immediately stored in tamper-proof databases, and there should be clear procedures for public access to any such recordings.Increased transparency of public law enforcement, including independent oversight agencies with guaranteed full access to law enforcement policies and on-the-ground operations; and more streamlined, transparent and efficient procedures for the processing of complaints and FOIA requests.Federal legislation, currently being developed by Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA), to halt the transfer of military equipment to local police departments, and additional legislation to curtail the use of such equipment against domestic civilian populations.Establishment of a ‘Ferguson Fund’ that will support long term strategies grounded in the principles of social justice, systems reform and racial equity to bring about substantial and sustained change in Ferguson and other communities facing similar challenges. To learn more about the underlying issues of systemic racism and police brutality, check out The Ferguson Syllabus compiled by  Sociologists for Justice. Many of the readings included are available online.

The Collision of Ones Conscience and Human Law - 1113 Words

The collision of ones conscience and human law is inevitable. Human law is a law generated and made by man. These laws contribute to how society functions and how society is controlled legally. Human law is more familiar to us because our ways of thinking have lived, grown and developed in a society where conforming to human law is practiced by majority. The interference of ones conscience and human law creates an ongoing debate of whether the law or personal morals should come first when a conflict regarding the two presents itself. When choosing between the two, man commonly chooses to trust human law and ignore their conscience in order to feel accepted into society. This diminishes the chances for man to counter and test the unjustness’s in society. The conscience is an aptitude, faculty, intuition or judgment that assists in distinguishing right from wrong. The corruption of governmental control over society leads man to doubt his own ethics and consciousness. The Human Law destructs and damages the most important law of all: Natural Law. Natural law, the law that was bestowed upon us by a higher power, allows man to use his conscience to apply our personal ethics to the world around us. In order to find the moral and ethical solution to a conflict, mans conscience should be trusted and chosen when a conflict between the two arises. In the analogical words of Henry David Thoreau, when man is presented with an unjust law he can do three things: follow it, break it andShow MoreRelatedThe Conflict Perspective Views Society Less as a Cohesive System and More as an Arena of Conflict and Power Struggles. Compare and Contrast the Main Tenets of the Functionalist and Conflict Perspectives.1319 Words   |  6 PagesThe â€Å"Collective Conscience† is the force which influences the behavior of the people. 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Mill argues that the only restraints set upon people are those in order to prevent someone from doing direct harm to another1 . Rawls goes one step further, where he solves not only the idea of freedom but also the issue of equality in freedom that is not touched upon by previous philosophers. Although the ideas presented by John Rawls may seem far fetched in their mechanisms, I feel thatRead MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain2951 Words   |  12 Pagesâ€Å"The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn† by Mark Twain is one of the most successful literature novels in American literature. St. Petersburg, a town on the banks of the Mississippi River, is where the story plot unfolds in times leading to the Civil War. The main characters come from different backgrounds, but combine their willingness to escape what they can’t control. Huckleberry Fin â€Å"Huck Finn† is an uneducated but independent boy who gains intellect through his newly acquired experiences and from

Kool-Aid Plus with Centrum Free Essays

Kool-Aid has been a drink of choice for kids for the past two decades. It is known for a tasty, cool, and refreshing taste for many generations of children and their parents. Kool-Aid has been able to identify their target market and market towards the specific needs of these families. We will write a custom essay sample on Kool-Aid Plus with Centrum or any similar topic only for you Order Now Kool-Aid has always been very affordable however, not the most healthiest of choices. The environment of marketing towards families today has swayed towards being more health conscious. Health issues are becoming a main concern for parents because of the growing number of obese and inactive children who live in the United States. Kool-aid has now found a way to make its product new and improved to the more health conscious consumer. It’s called Kool-Aid Plus. The company is strongly committed to providing moms and kids a product that combines the great flavor of Kool-Aid while providing a â€Å"better for kids† beverage option to help support a healthier lifestyle. The goals are to make a real difference for kids that are growing for a healthy lifestyle. The consumer target market: Families, especially mothers, with average incomes and a kid or kids that are over 18 months old to 12 years old. How are we going to target our market: We will attempt to reach our target market by advertising through channels read and watched by mothers. Magazines, such as Better Homes and Gardens or Oprah, are the perfect channels to reach these mothers with families. We will also advertise our product on major television networks watched by women. The Lifetime Network, The Home and Garden Network, The Cooking Channel, and The Oxygen Channel are all good examples of networks watched by women. Major retailers like Wal-Mart or Target would carry our products because they are major superstores. These superstores are great one stop destinations for mothers because these stores carry many products. Mothers will not have to give up their precious time traveling from store to store. The company will also give specific details on how we want our product placed on shelves or displays. Grocery stores will also be primary targets of which we will distribute the product because of the amount of mothers who shop there. These consumers also have the desirable amount of income needed to buy our product. Product development: The idea to make an alternative solution besides regular Kool-Aid was developed because parents are becoming more educated about kid’s health and fighting child obesity that has been an issue across America. Since Kool-aid has instructions to add a significant amount of sugar content rather higher than other kid’s drinks, we decided to make the product with less added sugar and cobrand it with Centrum for kids. Parents will have to worry less about their child’s daily vitamin intake. The product will still not be the healthiest of products however, it provides competition with healthier drinks like V8 and milk. The product will also be able to compete with soda. It may not provide the taste of soda however, it is a significantly healthier solution. [pic] As you can see from the Nutrition Facts there is low fat and cholesterol however, there is a significant amount of sugar. Instead of 7 grams of sugar the company would like to lower the amount to around 5 grams. The less sugar intake along with Centrum Vitamins will allows the company not to sway too far from the original taste of the product. Price Point: The price will vary depending on the product of quantity. Kool-aid plus will be priced slightly higher than the regular kool-aid products. Regular Kool-Aid packets are around 50 cents, the company plans on selling Kool-aid Plus for 55 cents. This will keep our existing customers because of the slight differential however, allows the company to sustain higher revenues. The price will also help place the product as being better than the previous Kool aid products. Promotion: The Kool-aid mascot is seen by mothers and children and is easily identifiable. We have decided to add a headband to the Kool-aid mascot to show that he is more health conscious now. He will emphasize the importance of daily vitamins in child’s lives. Placement: We will try to hit heavily on commercials between 8:00 a. m – 12:00p. m on Saturdays because of cartoons. Our hope is that children will be excited about the Kool-aid mascot and will encourage their mothers to buy it. We will also have the product placed at the end of the aisles in grocery stores to bring attention with people who walk by. The marketing mix will have to be perfectly used in order to promote and sell Kool-aid Plus. By identifying our target market which are mothers and families with children and average incomes, and advertising towards that market, we hope that our product will sell. Advertising will need to be directed towards these mothers by using media channels directed towards mothers. Magazines, such as Better Homes and Gardens and Oprah, are examples of where printed advertisements will be effective. There are media channels such as commercials on networks largely watched by mothers such as lifetime and The Soap Opera Network where women could see the commercials. The product will be located in one stop superstores as well as grocery stores so the product will be easily accessible for women. We want to position our product on ends of aisles as well as near water so the product will be seen as complementary with other groceries. Our hope is to offer a product that is healthier than our previous products and still has that great Kool-Aid taste. How to cite Kool-Aid Plus with Centrum, Papers

Medical Care as a Right A Refutation

Question: Who does this support? Who has medical rights? What does this say about patients rights? How does this relate to modern day medical care? Do you feel people are deprived of services? Why? How do you feel regarding this authors opinion? Answer: R.M. Sade, Medical Care as a Right: A Refutation, New England Journal of Medicine 285 (1971): 1281, 1289 Sades research on medical care, he supports the doctor stating that medical care is service payables at a fee for his upkeep, indicating that it is immoral for patients to expect provision of care without paying for it. Patients right to seek medical care is entirely dependent on their ability to pay the doctor providing medical services, and; hence, provision of care without remuneration is not a privilege. Concerning modern day care, Sade is of the opinion that patients in need of care get a turn down due to lack of funds to pay for the services denying them the medical care they need. Patients in need of care experience deprivation of the services when they are not able to pay for the service either in cash or by use of insurance cover, which is basically because the provision of care is dependent on the patients ability to pay. Sades opinion reveals that there is the need to have remuneration for the provision of services to the professionals providing care as this money is put to use by them to meet their needs. However, Sades opinion has a bias as it only focuses on the money thus not giving any regard to patients right to access care even without money especially in emergency cases where there is no financial preparedness. P.H. Elias, (Letter to Editor), New England Journal of Medicine 314, no. 6 (1986):391 Elias research supports that insurance companies providing medical cover have made provision of care a business placing the patient lower than the company. In turn, this depicts physicians as those who have a money-orientation and lack dedication to their work. He is of the opinion that patients have rights to access care with or without a medical cover. Elias reveals that patients have the rights to medical care but due to the influx of insurance companies, it has; however, become a business for the companies. In modern day, care for patients from physicians has become a business depriving those patients who are not financially capable medical care. Patients without a cover or cash have no access to care. Provision of medical care to patients ought to be offered even without payment as it is their right. Physicians have been depicted as money-oriented and professions without a dedication to their work or have a concern to the patients. However, the opinion does not have any consideration of the source of income for the professions if they chose to treat without any remuneration. References R.M. Sade, Medical Care as a Right: A Refutation, New England Journal of Medicine 285 (1971): 1281, 1289 P.H. Elias, (Letter to Editor), New England Journal of Medicine 314, no. 6 (1986):391

Case Conceptualization of Tricia Davis

Abstract Psychological counseling has become an important way of ensuring people manage their personal and family problems. This paper presents a case of Tricia Davis and explains how the Psychoanalytic Theory can be used to counsel her and ensure she manages her challenges.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Case Conceptualization of Tricia Davis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In addition, it examines the interventions described by the theory and how they can be applied to alleviate her problems. A spiritual application to the case is also discussed and examines how religious aspects may be important in ensuring that this victim escapes and manages her challenges. Lastly, it presents other options like the use of family members, religious leaders and legal system in looking for solutions to her problems. Conceptualization Theory: Psychoanalytic Theory This theory is based on the works of Sigmund Feud and it is a good approach to solving mental health problems (American Psychoanalytic Association 2009). It examines how the unconscious mind of individuals influences their behavior and thoughts and traces early childhood experiences and how they may have influenced the present situation of a victim or perpetrator. Victims of abuse that seek this therapy should meet with their counselors at least once in a week and ensure they keep this contact until when the doctor will confirm that they are in stable mental conditions. Application of the Theory in Tricia’s case Tricia has never shared her problems with anybody and this may be the reason why they affect her very much. This theory explains that counselors should spend reasonable time with victims of abuse and ensure they enable them to share their experiences.Advertising Looking for case study on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This approach is also known as  "talking-listening cure† because therapists must observe their patients and make deductions from what they hear from them (Solomon 2003). Significant past events usually form the basis of treating patients and thus therapists are supposed to listen very carefully and ask questions that will enable victims to talk about their childhood experiences. The therapist should encourage Tricia to talk about her early childhood encounters with her father and other family members. This will ensure the therapist understands that she was raised in an abusive family. Tricia must tell the therapist how her father used to prefer taking her brothers for shopping and ignoring her. In addition, she must ensure she explains that her father used to beat her mother even before she was born. This will enable the therapist to understand that her father despised women and that he was not happy when she was born. In addition, she must tell the therapist about her present boyfriend and how his behavior started changing from bad to worse. The therapist must be very careful in making comparisons between the behavior of their father and boyfriend. There are major similarities regarding how these behaviors develop from verbal to physical abuse (American Psychoanalytic Association 2009). It is necessary to explain that the discussion sessions will ensure Tricia opens her mind and heart and speaks as if she is accusing her father and boyfriend. This will be an effective way of ensuring the therapist understands the personality traits of her abusers (Eysenk 1952). In addition, the therapist will be in a position to understand how her past experiences in developing maladaptive behavior and mental illness of Tricia.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Case Conceptualization of Tricia Davis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The therapist should ensure that Tricia is comfortable, willing and ready to share her childhood experience. This will enable her to be free with the therapist and pour her heart out without hiding important details of her life. The success of this therapy technique is determined by the level of transparency from the victim and how the therapist cultivates a comfortable environment for counseling discussions. Interventions and Techniques The therapist must make use of the following three techniques that are important in ensuring psychoanalytical therapy succeeds. First, there must be free association between the therapist and Tricia. This can be achieved by ensuring that the counseling sessions are conducted in places that she is free and comfortable (Solomon 2003). This means that she must not be counseled from her house or school the place must be located in an area where her husband, father or friends cannot notice her. This will make her comfortable and ensure she is free and ready to talk. In addition, the therapist should inform her before counseling that the information she shared will not be exposed to third parties and will be kept ads confidential as possible (Summers 2013). Secondly, role play is another important technique that the therapist should use to ensure Tricia understands her condition and is ready for counseling (American Psychoanalytic Association 2009). This technique can be done through simulation, use of fictitious stories and information obtained from the internet.Advertising Looking for case study on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This will help her to understand that she is not a unique case and that her condition can be improved if she takes the counseling sessions seriously. Lastly, dream interpretation is an important technique the therapist should not ignore during therapy (Jones and Butman 2011). Tricia has suffered gender abuse from her childhood and the problem seems to follow her wherever she goes. Therefore, there are high possibilities that she usually experiences nightmares, especially because her mother was abused while she watched. In addition, she has been abused by people that are very close to her and this means that she must be thinking about this issue most of her free time. Therefore, the therapist must ensure Tricia shares her dreams and what she thinks about her abusers to help the therapist to diagnose and counsel her properly. Spiritual Application There are various spiritual concerns in this case. First, it is necessary for Tricia to understand that people do not have the abilities to determine the sex of their children. Therefore, she should be advised that her father may be ignorant of the fact that it is only God who can control the sex of a child before it is born (Corey 2012). Secondly, she should understand that it is not right for a lady to live with a man if they are not married. Her parents will be furious if they discover that she is cohabiting with her boyfriend. Thirdly, she should know that her healing process will start with her forging her father r and boyfriend. She should consider the importance of forgiveness as a way of creating room for cordial relationships between enemies and helping her to forget the past. I will advise her to forgive her abusers and focus on establishing a friendly relationship with them. However, this method faces a serious challenge because her abusers may not be ready and willing to accept their mistakes and change their behavior (Eysenk 1952). Religious counseling is compatible with psychoanalytic counseling theory in the following ways. First, both cases require Tricia to explain what she went through from childhood to her present condition. Secondly, they require her to be ready to forgive her abusers and forget the past. Lastly, they recommend that she works hard to ensure that she develops a healthy relationship with her tormentors to avoid a repeat of the problems she experienced. The differences between these approaches include the following. First, religious counseling will enable her to choose a person she knows and who can help her to overcome her problems but the psychoanalytic approach will force her to seek assistance from service providers she may not know (Corey 2012). Secondly, religious leaders may not have adequate experience and knowledge about counseling while a psychoanalytic therapist is a professionally trained individual (Jones and Butman 2011). Lastly, there is no way of measuring or determining whether a religious approach has solved her problems due to lack of measureme nt tools to determine her recovery progress. Other Counseling Resources There are many counseling resources that I will recommend for Tricia to recover from her mental problem. First, I will advise her to start participating in sports and other outdoor activities that will ensure she is busy. This will help her to stop focusing on her problems and view the world from positive perspective. Secondly, I will ask her to look for a female and male friend that she has no emotional attraction to them. These friends will ensure she develops a positive personality and stops thinking that the whole world is against her. Lastly, I will advise her to ask her boyfriend to stop abusing her and look for his own house. She should stop living with a man that is not married to her. This will separate her from him and ensure she has space and time to focus on her education. Conclusion I expect the outcome of this therapy to take a long time before its fruits are realized because Tricia has suffered si nce childhood and continue to experience the same challenges. It will not be easy to persuade her father sand boyfriend to apologize and this may delay her recovery or worsen her condition for some time. In addition, it will not be easy to persuade Tricia to ask her boyfriend to look for his own house and stop seeing her. She will recover regardless of the time taken to achieve the fruits of psychoanalytic therapy. References American Psychoanalytic Association. (2009). About Psychoanalysis. Web. Corey, G. (2012). Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy. New York: Cengage Learning. Jones, S. L. and Butman, R. E. (2011). Modern Psychotherapies: A Comprehensive  Christian Appraisal. Illinois: Intervarsity Press. Eysenk, H. J. (1952). The Effects of Psychotherapy: An Evaluation. Journal of  Consulting Psychology, 16, 319-324. Solomon, D. (2003). The Professorial Provocateur. The New York Times. Web. Summers, F. (2013). The Psychoanalytic Vision: The Experiencing Subjec t,  Transcendence, and the Therapeutic Process. London: Routledge. This case study on Case Conceptualization of Tricia Davis was written and submitted by user Moderate Pheasant to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Free Essays on VOIP

(VoIP) INTRODUCTION: In the eyes of most, all packets are created equal. One of the most active areas of telecommunications today is in the area of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). The logic behind this trend makes perfect sense. If we have invested heavily in an Internet Protocol (IP) network, why can't we make full use of it? This is a question posed by many managers and Information Technology (IT) professionals in a wide range of businesses. Many businesses would prefer to have one network in and out of their business for reasons ranging from cost effectiveness to manageability. IP telephony offers a promise of consolidation. This will allow an enterprise to converge its traditional phone system and newer data network for greater efficiency. Arieh Dranger, president of neXTel Systems LLC says, "I don't think it's a question of whether we need VoIP, but when it will come together, because it represents a natural progress of integrating data- period. The IP protocol is probably the most efficient at combining a universal communications network." Basically, IP telephony is taking the telecom world by storm. It has evolved from a little known and used application in 1995 to an application that is poised for global adoption. But as with all technology, there is a price to be paid, and several entities vying for a piece of the pie. WHAT IS VoIP and HOW DOES IT WORK? To put it simply, VoIP means Voice over Internet Protocol. It's a technology that allows network managers to route phone call over the network they use for data transmission. A voice travels over a corporate Intranet or the Internet instead of the public telephone system. Special gateways installed at both the sending and receiving end of a communications channel converts voice to IP packets and back again to voice. This process must take place in a time frame of less than 100 milliseconds to sustain the Quality of Service (QoS) that users are acc... Free Essays on Voip Free Essays on Voip (VoIP) INTRODUCTION: In the eyes of most, all packets are created equal. One of the most active areas of telecommunications today is in the area of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). The logic behind this trend makes perfect sense. If we have invested heavily in an Internet Protocol (IP) network, why can't we make full use of it? This is a question posed by many managers and Information Technology (IT) professionals in a wide range of businesses. Many businesses would prefer to have one network in and out of their business for reasons ranging from cost effectiveness to manageability. IP telephony offers a promise of consolidation. This will allow an enterprise to converge its traditional phone system and newer data network for greater efficiency. Arieh Dranger, president of neXTel Systems LLC says, "I don't think it's a question of whether we need VoIP, but when it will come together, because it represents a natural progress of integrating data- period. The IP protocol is probably the most efficient at combining a universal communications network." Basically, IP telephony is taking the telecom world by storm. It has evolved from a little known and used application in 1995 to an application that is poised for global adoption. But as with all technology, there is a price to be paid, and several entities vying for a piece of the pie. WHAT IS VoIP and HOW DOES IT WORK? To put it simply, VoIP means Voice over Internet Protocol. It's a technology that allows network managers to route phone call over the network they use for data transmission. A voice travels over a corporate Intranet or the Internet instead of the public telephone system. Special gateways installed at both the sending and receiving end of a communications channel converts voice to IP packets and back again to voice. This process must take place in a time frame of less than 100 milliseconds to sustain the Quality of Service (QoS) that users are acc... Free Essays on VOIP INTRODUCTION VOIP means voice over Internet Protocol. A term used in IP telephony to manage the delivery of voice information using the Internet Protocol. It is used to send voice information in digital form in packets rather than using the telephone network. VOIP uses a real-time protocol to help ensure timely and prompt delivery. It also has the potential to change communication and to speed up the delivery of advanced services to all Americans. ADVANTAGES A major advantage of VOIP and Internet telephony is that it avoids the tolls charged by ordinary telephone services. Other advantages include, integration of voice and data, simplification, network efficiency, cost reduction, and many more. The comparison between data and voice network is very similar and the Internet is a huge part for both. The industry trends work over telephone services also. However, the benefits of using IP as a generic platform for both data and real-time application are compelling enough to resolve all issues. MAJOR SYSTEMS A major system component would be the gateways. They are devices that control the communication between the telephone signals and the IP endpoints. It is also an information services that delivers voice communications and joins voice coverage with other data applications and devices. The gateways perform six functions, search function, connection function, digitizing function, demodulation functions, compression function, and decompression and remodulation functions. When the gateway is still performing steps it also receives packets that is where gatekeepers take place. The gatekeeper performs address translation, admissions control, bandwidth management and zone management. An IP telephone is another system component. These devices replace the old telephones by providing enhanced services that are best used for VOIP. QUALITY The voice quality is very important to VOIP technology. There are certain factors tha...

History and Art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

History and Art - Essay Example With other major concerns such as economic crisis, war between nations, and population growth, who would pay immediate notice to the fact that behind the aesthetic beauty of an art piece, a battle is being fought against sexism and racism for the sake of the underrepresented artists? While it may be too delicate an issue to dwell on surface as to draw public attention on a larger scale, strong advocates of gender and racial equality like the Guerrilla Girls, as they call themselves, apparently, could not but admit silence is shame and argue: â€Å"You don’t have to have a penis to be a genius† (Guerrilla Girls 202). Most of us may claim to possess different perspectives on the matter and plainly express that besides the problematic social and cultural structure which basically governs the manner by which inequality prevails among sexes and races, there are other deeper troubles that deserve a more adequate focus. However, our attitude of ignoring the issue that merely a bout ten percent of museums or galleries consist of art exhibitions by women and artists of color can be held accountable for the existence of all other chief worries that fail to be attended to in proper terms due to insights and ways of living that maintain their racist and patriarchal nature. As long as there lives lack of empowerment for women and non-whites, it is self-evident that equilibrium and harmony would not settle right where they ought to be unless a balance is struck somewhere for a significant realization that in professing to improve a nation, both sexes regardless of race must come in front to execute equal control of change and progress. Upon thorough examination of the article, I suppose this is the ultimate goal that sustains the principal reason of the Guerrilla Girls for continuing to be â€Å"the conscience of the art world (203).† I admire the Guerrilla Girls for their feminist and anti-racist stance since the 80s especially because despite the gorill a masks they wear for anonymity and the rather annoying taunting style of protest for the main cause, they demonstrate an unconventional approach of hurling insults at prominent sexist and racist figures alike. Having waved their banner with jest-filled pronouncements of deviation from what they perceive as sickening norms of injustice within race and gender, such female organization serves as a degree of innovation to radical feminist groups whose overly serious actions on meeting similar ends cost lives and immunity to the point of dormancy. This is widely evident via the controversial works which earned them huge critique via statements and efforts as â€Å"When Racism & Sexism Are No Longer Fashionable, What Will Your Art Collection Be Worth?† and the gradual transformation of the Whitney Museum Biennials which used to practise racial and sexual exclusion (204). By injecting a concept of provocative humor into ideals, the Guerrilla Girls manage to have weaved an object of interest to which art supporters become naturally drawn. Among the recent fruits of their endeavor I believe was Anya Kivarkis, the recipient of the Sienna Gallery Emerging Artist Award in 2007 for creations like ‘Blind Spot’, ‘Neo-Palatial: Objects of Virtue and Vice’, and ‘Extreme Beauty’. I feel that her projects reflect how the political struggle of the Guerrilla Girls has truly paid off for though female, her expertise in the field of

Methods for Increasing Employee Motivation Research Proposal

Methods for Increasing Employee Motivation - Research Proposal Example The discussion will attempt to address the primary question framed as follows: What programs may be suitable to increase employee productivity and revenue? Taking into account that General Trading has expanded across global boundaries. This problem regarding employee productivity, if remains unsolved may damage the reputation of the company, which has built over the years. It may even lead to compromise the efficiency of the company, which may lead to increased customer dissatisfaction. So a proper analysis of the situation and probable solutions to increase the employee productivity is very vital in this scenario. General Trading is a wholesale food distributor organization with clients abroad to whom they export their product offerings across the borders. For them, maintaining a healthy motivation level among the employees and thereby increasing the productivity is very crucial to the development and flourishing of the company. In order to increase the motivation level among the em ployees, an employee incentive program is very much essential for the company. In today’s world, employees are the biggest assets to an organization. Companies are paying competitive salaries to the employees as compared to other companies, in order to keep them motivated, as well as to retain them. Most of them have already moved towards an ‘Employee Incentive Program’, which is itself a part of performance appraisal. It has also been found out in a study that employee engagement which mainly comprises of commitment to work, as well as employee’s job satisfaction with the company increases through a host of performance appraisal system that happens in a company from time to time. (Scott, â€Å"Introduction†). Employee Incentive Programs has been employed by many companies and is considered as a highly valuable tool to keep the employees in an organization motivated by offering various kinds of incentives on the basis of their performance in the org anization or in similar grounds. Implementing an employee incentive program in the organization has also lead to solutions that exists between the company’s top management and its employees on the production front. It also leads to identification of the most efficient and effective employees in the organization, who can further be moved up in the hierarchy and can be groomed for possible leadership roles in the organization. As a result, it leads to identification of talent within the organization without hunting for the right candidate in the open market.

Compare the influence of the revolutionary leadership on the french Essay

Compare the influence of the revolutionary leadership on the french and Russian revolutions - Essay Example This discourse seeks to compare the influence of revolutionary leadership on French and Russian Revolutions. An analysis of the French Revolution clearly shows that the revolution occurred mainly as a result of poor leadership though the economy also played a part in its establishment. In this respect, historians reveal that in the 1780s just before the beginning of the French Revolution, the leaders of the country made a terrible mistake by allocating a large portion of the budget to finance the lavish estate of King Louis XVI at Versailles (Lucas 1973, p. 86). Surprisingly they did this despite the fact that many French citizens were suffering as the majority were not able to put food on the table. At the same time, the leaders allowed the country to operate without a central bank and paper currency and utilized antiquated tax system that only taxed the poor who had no money with which to buy even food. The continued poor leadership demonstrated by the top leaders of the country angered the French poor comprising mainly of the peasants who started to protest against poor leadership. The angered peasants reportedly invaded the Bastille in search of guns to use against the oppressive leaders. The invasion of Bastille resulted in a revolt against the king all over France. The revolt continued throughout 1789, resulting in the overthrow of King Louis (Lefebvre 2005, p. 34). It was after his toppling that the French established a democratic government. The Declaration of the Rights of Man doctrine was established after that, serving as the ground for the revolutionary French leaders. The French Revolution also resulted in the establishment of a government consisting of three arms, namely the executive, judiciary, and legislature. Under the new system of government, the executive was still headed by the King though the King only served as a figurehead with no real power. Similarly, the chaotic Russian

The Importance Of Gunshot Residue As Evidence

The Importance Of Gunshot Residue As Evidence Gunshot residue is made of particles that form when gasses coming out of a gun hit a surface and instantly cool and condense. The presence or absence of gunshot residue can suggest whether a person fired the weapon or was the victim. There are many tests to show whether or not gunshot residue is present on a surface. The techniques and methods of testing have gotten much more scientifically advanced and more sensitive to minor details. There have also been many experiments to disprove the concerns of gunshot residue testing, such as false positives, transferability, and destruction of evidence. These facts alone disprove many of the arguments that gunshot residue is unreliable and should not be used as a source of evidence. Strengths and Importance of Gunshot Residue as Evidence in Court Cases Firearms are not a rare commodity in the United States, or the world for that matter, and so a basic understanding of what happens when the trigger of a gun is pulled is necessary. Many people know that when the trigger of a weapon is pulled the hammer strikes the back of the bullet casing, which ignites the primer, and creates pressure and heat in the barrel. This pressure buildup is what propels the projectile down the barrel and towards wherever the gun is pointing. The knowledge of what else comes out of the barrel and what happens with it that is not quite as well known. When the primer is struck, the intense heat causes the chemicals in the primer to vaporize and get mixed in with the gasses that are building up. When the projectile is pushed out of the barrel the gasses and the burning and unburned grains of gunpowder travel with the bullet. These gasses hit a surface such as the hands of the shooter, the victim, or surface that is being fired at. The gasses then condensate on the surface, leaving particles that are composed of the chemicals in the primer. This condensation of chemicals is referred to as gunshot residue, or GSR (Wolten Nesbitt, 1980). Gunshot residue has been used for many years as a source of evidence to not only suggest if a person has fired a gun or how far from a surface a gun was fired, but also if a case was a homicide or a suicide. However, there have been disputes over whether or not GSR is a reliable source of evidence. The points brought up in this argument are that gunshot residue tests can have false positives and false negatives, GSR can be transferred from person to person or surface to surface, and that test results can be different and sometimes inconsistent (Wolten Nesbitt, 1980). Over the years the methods of testing for gunshot residue have dramatically improved and become much more scientific. There are much less false positives due to the increased sensitivity of the tests. Research has been done that shows that even though GSR may transfer, investigators can still tell if a person fired a weapon, or just came in contact with it (DiMaio, 1999). There are also many other uses for gunshot residue analysis other then knowing if a person came in contact with a weapon, such as range determination (Saferstein, 2006). The purpose of this paper is to show the strengths and importance of gunshot residue analysis as substantial evidence in criminal court cases. Literature Review In the detection of GSR, DiMaio (1999) states that scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDX) has a much higher sensitivity because it uses a scanning electron microscope to view questionable GSR particles at a high magnification. Torre, Mattutino, Vasino, and Robino (2004) agree with using SEM-EDX because the technique can distinguish between GSR and brake lining particles. By using an adhesive lifting method the SEM-EDX is even more effective (Nesbitt, Wessel, Jones, 1976). Bird, Agg, Barnett, and Smith (2007) disagree with the use of SEM-EDX. They say that time resolved x-ray fluorescence should be used. On the topic of transferability of gunshot residue, Gialamas, Rhodes, and Sugarman, (1995) states that police officers are very unlikely to transfer GSR to suspects. Vinokurov, Zeichner, Glattstein, Koffman, Levin, and Rosengarten (2001) agree that GSR is not transferred or destroyed very easily with an experiment on the destruction of GSR due to machine washing or brushing. Havekost, Peters, and Koons (1990) state that the investigator also has to look at where the GSR is located on a person to tell if the particles have been transferred or not. Firing distance determination is a common factor in investigations. Saferstein (2006) states that using the Greiss Test method provides a more contrasted view of GSR on a surface. DiMaio (1999) states that using Greiss Test results can help determine whether a case is a homicide or a suicide. Brazeau and Wong (1997) say that using GSR tests can also help determine whether a bullet wound is an entrance or an exit wound. Discussion Detection Methods Gunshot residue detection tests first came to the United States in 1933 in the form of a paraffin test, which was used by covering the hands with paraffin wax and using a color-changing reagent on the wax. Swabs were used instead of wax starting in 1959, but in the 1980s neutron activation and flameless automatic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) were the methods used most commonly. The above methods were effective for the detection of the three main elemental components in GSR, antimony, barium, and lead, but came up with many false positives and negatives (DiMaio, 1999). The occurrence of false negatives and positives is one of the main reasons that gunshot residue is sometimes considered a risky or an unreliable source of evidence. Since the previous tests only tested for the presence of barium, antimony, and lead, any other substance including those elements had the potential to give a false positive result. Defense attorneys could use these false positives as defense tactics to suppress evidence. In the late 1980s a new GSR test, scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDX), started to be used. SEM-EDX has a much higher sensitivity, because this technique uses a scanning electron microscope to view questionable GSR particles at a high magnification and look at the size and shape of the particles. After particles are found under the microscope, x-ray waves are used to identify the elements on and inside the particles (DiMaio, 1999). Since SEM-EDX allows a person to look at the size and shape of a particle, GSR particles can be distinguished from other environmental or chemical particles that may also appear on the tested surfaces. Being able to differentiate between sources of particles diminishes the false positives to a very few occurrences, if any. This also means that gunshot residue tests and results cannot be as easily disputed in court. The theory of having less false positives has been tested on different occasions to show that using SEM-EDX makes GSR tests more reliable. Research by Torre et al. (2004) shows the results of tests involving particles and residue from the hands of people who work with automobiles. Particles from the brake linings and other moving parts of a car contain barium, lead, and antimony similar to GSR. This experiment proved that SEM-EDX successfully differentiates between gunshot residue and automobile particles using blind tests, which are tests where the person running using the SEM-EDX does not know where the sample came from (Torre et al., 2004). Other tests and experiments included testing to see if SEM-EDX can differentiate between leaded gasoline, which has particles most similar to GSR, and gunshot residue. The experiment was also done in a blind test fashion and was completely successful in further proving the reliability of SEM-EDX (Nesbitt, Wessel, Jones, 1976). Another positive benefit of the scanning electron microscope tests is the methodology of the collection of the samples that was used. Instead of swabbing the hands an adhesive lift is used (Nesbitt et al., 1976). Since an adhesive lift collects the particles in their relative spots it is possible to determine the ratio of particles in a particular surface area. This gives a more accurate distribution and concentration ratio than swabbing a surface and analyzing the number of particles on the swab. The scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry method allows a much longer testing window from the time the gun was fired. With SEM-EDX positive results can be received up to twelve hours after the shooting (DiMaio, 1999). This is because SEM-EDX combines visual inspection of individual particles as well as a mass calculation of the elemental concentrations. There is also another test that can have positive results for as long as thirty-six to forty-eight hours after the gun was fired. This is done with the trace metal detection technique (TMDT), which uses reagents that change colors under a ultraviolet light after they have come in contact with the elements in GSR (DiMaio, 1999). With the newest technological advances, x-ray fluorescence microscopy allows for an even more precise look at GSR particles. This method uses the excited state of particles due to x-rays and investigators observe these particles underneath high powered microscopes. The particles fluoresce and appear brighter then the surface (Bird, Agg, Barnett, Smith, 2007). The fluorescing particles make the visualization of GSR particles much easier and allows for a more specific determination of the spread of the residue. Destruction and Transferability Some people may say that allowing more time to pass between the firing of the weapon and when the sample is collected is a detrimental thing. The extra time allows people to wash their clothes or hands or try to at least wipe them off. This is another point argued by people who say GSR is unreliable. There is always the possibility that a suspect can wash their hands and clothes after firing a weapon. The fear is that once that has been done that there will no longer be particles left to detect. In the experiment published by Vinokurov, et al. (2001), tests were done on clothes that had been machine-washed and other tests on clothes that had been brushed with another piece of material. The tests showed that even though a majority of the GSR particles had been removed, there were still enough particles in some circumstances to get a positive GSR detection (Vinokurov, et al., 2001). The results of this experiment proved that even though investigators may allow more time before testing, there are still chances that investigators can get results even after evidence is washed. Besides washing clothes and hands, there is also the possibility that GSR particles can be transferred to another person or surface by direct contact, or if a person is within a close distance when a gun is fired. Gunshot residue is easily rubbed off or transferred to someone else, which sometimes can make deciding what really happened difficult, but not impossible. Even though gunshot residue can be found on a person who did not fire a weapon, there will be certain circumstances in order to prove they didnt fire the gun. A person standing within a close range can have GSR on them. Although a person will test positive the location of the GSR and the concentrations will be different then if that person pulled the trigger and fired the weapon. For instance, if a person puts their hand out in self-defense of a shooter, there will be residue found on the palm of the hand in but very little if any on the back of the hand. If the person fired the gun, there would be a high concentration on the back of the hand (Havekost, Peters, Koons, 1990). Another situation is one that has been argued by defense attorneys. Defense attorneys say that the GSR that was found on the suspect could have been transferred from the hands of the police officer that arrested them. In theory, this may sound possible, but most officers do not even touch their gun on a daily basis, let alone fire it. In a study published by Gialamas, Rhodes, and Sugarman (1995) police officers that had not fired their weapon over a certain period of time were tested for gunshot residue. Forty-three officers were tested, and out of those officers twenty-five showed absolutely no particles that even resembled GSR. Seventeen officers were found to have particles similar to GSR, but were only environmental contaminates, and three officers were found to have only one particle of GSR (Gialamas, et al., 1995). Even though a couple of the officers showed a particle of GSR, there would have to be a much higher concentration of particles in order to conclude that that officer had fired a weapon. Even if the officer had a GSR particle on them, although possible, the likelihood of touch transfer is extremely small. Even if that particle did transfer when an officer touched a person, the particle would be in a place inconsistent with firing a weapon, such as the shoulder, wrists, back of the neck, etc. Range Determination Gunshot residue analysis can be used for purposes other then determining if a suspect was holding the gun that was fired. Gunshot residue can be used to determine how far away from an object the gun was when it was fired. This is done by the GSR pattern left on the surface of the target. There are other tests that can be used to better develop and lift the residue pattern from a surface. One of the methods that can be used is the Greiss test. This test involves the use of a chemically treated gelatin-coated photograph paper. The paper transfers the residue pattern by reacting with the nitrates in the gunshot residue. After the pattern is transferred off of the target surface test fires are done to match the spread and distribution of the GSR and determine the relative distance of the shooter (Saferstein, 2006). Since the Greiss test can be used on clothes and other target surfaces this technique suggests that gunshot residue is very valuable in the determination of distance. Using gunshot residue as a distance determination can also help determine whether the case is a homicide or a suicide (DiMaio, 1999). Sometimes a homicide can be staged to look like a suicide, usually by placing the gun in the hands of the victim. By using the gunshot residue pattern to determine the distance of the weapon when fired, investigators can tell whether or not the victim was holding the weapon. It is only physically possible for a human to hold a gun aimed at themself a certain distance away from their own body and still be able to pull the trigger. This distance is directly related to the victims arm length. If the range determination suggests that the distance between the victim and the gun was much greater then the victims arm length, then the crime was more then likely a homicide (DiMaio, 1999). Gunshot residue cannot only be used to determine the distance that the weapon was fired at, but also whether or not a wound is an entrance or an exit wound. A GSR test can be done on the edges of the wound to see if there is residue present (Brazeau Wong, 1997). A medical examiner may need help determining whether a wound is an entrance or an exit in a couple of circumstances. Sometimes a bullet can ricochet off of another object before hitting the target, which can cause the wound to look different then the normal entrance wound. The medical examiner may also consider using a GSR test to determine if the wound is an entrance wound if the projectile has entered and exited the body multiple times due to the way the victims body is positioned (Brazeau Wong, 1997). Another use of gunshot residue tests around the edges of a wound is to see if the wound is in fact from a firearm. Sometimes wounds can look like a gunshot wound but are actually from other sources. One of the sources for wounds that can appear as a gunshot wound is the hole some insects will make while they are feasting and laying eggs on a dead body (Brazeau Wong, 1997). Conclusion There are no two cases that are completely and indisputably the same. That is why each case has to be looked at individually. Investigators need to take the time to evaluate the results of any tests and evidence, including gunshot residue. Just because a gunshot residue comes back negative does not necessarily mean there was never and residue there. The same goes for a positive result, just because a test comes back positive does not necessarily mean that that person was the shooter or held the gun. With all the new advances in the technology used to test for gunshot residue the downfalls and errors previously associated with GSR have almost completely been eliminated. Many different studies and experiments have disproved many of the concerns over the tests and results of GSR tests being unreliable. GSR also has many other helpful uses in solving cases such as distance determination and the difference between a homicide and a suicide. While gunshot residue may have been made out to have many downfalls and disadvantages, and while it is not absolutely accurate, nothing in the scientific world is absolutely error proof, and therefore GSR is extremely helpful and is reliable enough to be considered substantial evidence not only in cases but also in court.

Orangutans :: essays research papers

Orangutans In Malay orang means "person" and utan is defined as "forest'. Thus Orangutan literally means "Person of the Forest". Orangutans are found in the tropical forests of Sumatra and Borneo. They are the most arboreal of the great apes and move amongst the safety of the trees from one feeding site to the next. They are so well adapted to arboreal life that they cannot place their feet on the ground, instead they walk on the outside of their curved foot. There is a scattered population of orangutan in Indonesian Borneo, Malaysia Borneo and northern Sumatra. The different habitats have isolated the orangutan reproductively and geographically from one another creating a "degree of difference" or two subspecies. There are several different characteristics between the two subspecies of orangutans and it has recently been suggested that they may be a separate species. The Borneo male has relatively large cheek pads, a tremendous laryngeal sac and a square shaped face. The Sumatran male has small pads and laryngeal sac, a ginger coloured moustache, a pronounced beard, and a diamond shaped face. Individuals can also be distinguished chromosomally, biochemically, and by their cranial characteristics. There is a great deal of individual variety in the orangutan. "Each orang-utan had a distinct personality and in dealing with such highly intelligent animals in captivity, the keeper's knowledge of the individual was probably more important than the knowledge of the overall behaviour patterns " (Markham, 1980). Orangutan males, however, appear to be totally intolerant of one another, especially the Borneo males who are even aggressive towards females and infants. Male orangutans' participation in social groups is limited to sexual "consortship" with females. However, the Sumatran males tend to stay with females for a longer period of time usually until the birth of the infant. They may stay longer with their partner because of the presence of large predators absent in the Borneo habitat. The orangutan has a menstrual cycle of 29-30 days, menstruation lasting 3-4 days. The Gestation period lasts slightly less than nine months. Offspring pass through three stages, infancy (0-4), juvenile (4-7), and adolescents (7-10). Mother young relationship lasts for a long time, the young usually stay with their mother until they are mature. Female Orangutans are not sexually mature or fully grown until the age of twelve and will not have their first offspring until they are at least fourteen. Males become sexually mature and fully grown at the age of fifteen. The cheek flanges of the male easily recognize the differences between adults and semi-adults. The flanges in the Boreal male curve out ward from the face and develop around the

Eating Disorder Research Paper Outline

Take A Bite On This Attention Getter: February 4, 1983 was the day that opened the eyes of America to the view of the damaging effects of eating disorders. This day marks the death of the very famous singer of the time, Karen Carpenter. Looking glamorous and confident on the outside, most did not know she was suffering from Anorexia Nervosa (B5). Throughout her teenage years, she was overweight. In 1967, weighing 140 pounds, Karen was put on a water diet by her doctor. This brought her down to 120 pounds (B6). Even though she was now at a healthy weight, she was still insecure due to her large amount of celebrity peers who were the ideal, perfect weight. Taking dozens of thyroid pills a day and throwing up the little food she ate, by 1975 Karen weighed 80 pounds. Her body became so weak that during one of her performances in Las Vegas, she collapsed on stage (B7). She was then finally admitted into the hospital, where it was confirmed she was 35 pounds underweight. Shocked by this, Karen consulted with doctors and therapists to do anything she could to return back to a healthy weight. However, it was too late. Due to the excess laxatives and starvation, Karen’s body could not take anymore (B8). Her death was a surprise to America, unaware of the dangers of eating disorders. Defintion of topic/terms: Types of Eating Disorders: The three types of eating disorders are Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge Eating. Anorexia Nervosa: An eating disorder in which a person sees themselves as overweight, even when they are unbelievably skinny. An anorexic might exercise excessively and starve themselves to lose more weight. Bulimia Nervosa: An eating disorder in which a person eats large amounts of food, followed by dangerous measures to control his or her weight. Examples of this are excessive exercise, self-induced vomiting (purging), and the abuse of diuretics and laxatives. Binge Eating: An eating disorder in which one consumes enormous amounts of food at a time, without the self-induced methods of later getting rid of it. One suffering from this will usually eat by themselves out of embarrassment, and will feel like they have lost control. I) The way the media affects eating disorders is a serious problem A) More and more teens are affected by eating disorders every day. 1) The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) has an estimate of 35 million Americans who are affected by anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating. (F1) 2) Eating disorders affect 3% to 5% of the American female population. (B3) 3) 1% to 3% of teenage girls in middle and high school are affected only by bulimia, while 1% to 4% are affected in college. H3) 4) The director of the Renfrew Center of Southern Connecticut, named Burnell, states that one percent of American women are affected by anorexia and five percent are bulimic. The Renfrew Center is an eating disorder clinic in Wilton. (F6) 5) According to Britain’s National Health Service, over the past three years children eight years and younger have been admitted to the hospital for anorexia. From age five to six 98 have been admitted, and from age seven to eight, 99. (A1) B) With more expos ure to the media, more begin to suffer from an eating disorder. ) Dr. Anne Becker, the owner of the Eating Disorder Clinic at Harvard Medical School, did a study after TV was released to the island of Fiji in 1995. After three years, there was an enormous rise in eating disorders, where around 74% of the females said they felt too fat. This culture used to believe â€Å"you gained weight† was a compliment. (B4) 2) Using the self-improvement program Media Smart, doctors Simon Wilksch and Tracey Wade conducted a study of 13 year olds on how to help teens get a better self-image of themselves. After three years, the students who watched the program did not have an increase of body concerns, while the ones that did not watch it, had an increase. (E2) 3) Sarah Murnen, a professor of psychology at Kenyon College in Gambler, Ohio, did a study on how fashion magazines affected body image. Her research reviewed 21 studies of the media’s affect on more than 6,000 girls, 10 years or older. The results showed that the more the girls were exposed to the fashion magazines, the more they struggled to have a positive body image. L2) C) The media should decrease its amount of influence on having the â€Å"perfect† body because more and more people are affected by eating disorders due to the large impact from celebrities, the press, and advertisement. II) Many people look up to celebrities as role models, while most are portrayed as having the ideal, skinny body. A) While many look up and want to be just like them, celebrities are depicted in a way that is unreal and abnorm al. 1) Colleen Thompson, an expert on eating disorders, explains, â€Å"Many teenagers need a role model and someone to look up to. Unfortunately, too many of them choose fashion models or actresses as role models, they paste picture of them all over their rooms, and some will resort to dangerous methods of weight control to try and look like their idols. † (J1) 2) Research shows that the more exposed to models and pictures in the media, the more one is to believe they have to look like that. â€Å"This happens even though women know pictures have clearly been airbrushed,† Tara Diversi, dietitian and co-author of The Good Enough Diet, explains, â€Å"The rational brain knows it’s not real, but the emotional brain doesn’t. (C3) 3) â€Å"These girls are anomalies of nature. They are freaks of nature. They are not average. They are naturally thin and have incredibly long legs compared to the rest of their body. Their eyes are wide set apart. Their cheekbones are high,† explains Kelly Cutrone, the owner of People’s Revolution. This is a very popular company that displays fash ion shows all over the world. She then goes on to say, â€Å"If we get a girl who is bigger than a 4, she is not going to fit the clothes. Clothes look better on thin people. The fabric hangs better. (L3) 4) â€Å"We know more about women who look good than we know about women who do good,† protests Audrey Brasich, a former teen model and author of All Made Up: A Girl’s Guide to Seeing Through Celebrity Hype and Celebrating Real Beauty. (L4) 5) Barbie would be at least five feet, nine inches tall; weighing 100 pounds is she was a real human. (K1) 6) Statistics from a poll conducted by NEDA, show that 64% of adults believe that media is the cause of eating disorders. Out of this amount, 69% are females, and 58% of male’s supported it. F7) 7) Out of every mental illness, anorexia has the highest mortality rate, usually in the form of suicide. (F4) 8) Around 5% to 20% of anorexia patients will die. (H9) B) Celebrities themselves suffer from eating disorders. 1) Me lissa Dehart, a former television reporter, suffers from anorexia and once dropped to 56 pounds. Entertainment Tonight has followed her story since 2003. (F14) 2) Kate Dillon, a popular model, admitted she got the idea to purge from watching a television movie. In the mid-1990’s, she quit modeling when ordered to lose 20 pounds. She only weighed 125. She is now a plus-size model. (F16) 3) According to Beth McGilley, a Wichita Kansa psychologist specializing in eating disorders, trauma, and working with athletes, those suffering with eating disorders need, on average, five to seven years of treatment (K2). 4) The Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD0 state that anorexia treatment cost almost $30,000 a month and $100,000 for outpatient treatments. Insurance usually does not cover any of this. (F8). 4) According to NEDA, out of the 35 million affected by eating disorders, ten million women and one million men suffer from anorexia and bulimia, while the other 25 million suffer from binge eating. (F5) 5) Oprah Winfrey did a huge story about a woman who weighed 38 pounds from Rudine. She dies in 1995. (F15) 6) In 2006, the Madrid fashion show banned any models that did not fall into a healthy weight range. For example, a 5-foot-9 woman would need to weigh at least 125 pounds. L1) III) The press does much research and much damage on the increasing number of those affected by eating disorders. A) The press is a large contributor to the research done on the different disorders. 1) In 2004, the National Center of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion conducted a poll of different methods students used to lose weight. Nationwide, 13. 3% did not eat anything for 24 hours or more, 9. 2% took diet pills, powders, or liquids, and 6% took laxatives or vomited. (F9) 2) 95% of all people on diets will gain back all of their weight within 5 years. D1) 3) In Australia, 50% of girls and 33% of boys believe they are overweight, even though they are considered healthy. (E1) 4) Out of all anorexia patients, 90% to 95% are women, while the other small percentage of 5% to 10% is males. (H7) 5) Out of all bulimia patients, only 20% are males, while the other 80% are females. (H4) B) Considering its large amount of help in research, the press also contributes a large amount to the number of those suffering from eating disorders. ) Tara Diversi says, â€Å"Being overweight reduces your life expectancy by three years, but being unhappy reduces it to nine years. † (C4) 2) Proven by a recent U. S. survey, 97% of women say an everage of 13 things they dislike about themselves every day. (C1) 3) More than 85 million American adults suffer from obesity and binge eating. (F12) 4) Out of every mental illness, eating disor ders contribute to the highest death rate, topping off depression and schizophrenia. (D2) 5) Starvation is performed by almost eleven million Americans who suffer from eating disorders. F10) 6) The serious effects of anorexia are abnormal heart rate, low blood pressure, loss of bone density, weak muscles, dehydration which can lead to kidney failure, fatigue, hair loss, dry skin, and formation of hair all over the body to help keep it warm. (H6). 7) The serious effects of bulimia are electrolyte imbalances from the loss of potassium and sodium from the body, gastric rupture during bingeing, tooth decay and staining from the stomach acids of continuous vomiting, and irregular bowel movements from laxative and diuretic use. H2) IV) Advertisements have a huge affect on one’s eating habits. A) Advertisement has a great affect on obesity. 1) According to research by the Kaiser Family Foundation and researchers at Indiana University, kids 2 to 7 years old view unhealthy food commer cials 12 times a day and around 4,400 times a year. Children 8 to 12 watch around 21 a day, with around 7,600 a year. Teens view these commercials around 17 times a day, with around 6,600 per year. (G1) 2) Out of all the ads viewed by 2 to 7 year-old children, 32% of them are about food and drinks, 25% for 9 to 13 year olds, and 22% for teens. (G6) ) Out of all kid commercials on food, 34% is about candy and snacks, 28% on usually sugared cereals, 10% on fast food, 4% for dairy products, 1% about fruit juices, and nothing for fruits and vegetables. (G7). 4) According to the Kaiser Family Foundation and Indiana University study, which recorded more than 40,000 ads, 9,000 were about food and drinks. (G5) 5) â€Å"If any parent tried to talk to their kids 10 or 20 times a day about healthy eating, they’d be considered the biggest nag ever, and yet that’s how many bad food messages kids are seeing on TV every day,† interprets Margo Wootan of the Center of Science in Public Interest. G4) 6) Every year more than ten billion dollars is spent on advertising food and drinks for children. (G3) 7) Obesity affects more than 66% of all Americans. (B1) 8) Around 25 million or one-third of teens and children are obese or overweight. (G2) B) Negative body image is greatly affected by advertisement. 1) Dove sponsored a study of 445 women, in which 15% admitted they were worried about their image affecting their jobs, while 20% said they dread about their body almost every day. (A2) ) A study done on 2000 women in the UK proved that women’s first impression of other women is their size and weight. (C2) 3) Cocaine, Adderall, and other caffeine-related diet drugs are very commonly used in order for women to lose weight. (B2) C) Advertisement influences girls in both good and bad ways. 1) Ellen Rome is a spokeswoman for the Chicago-based Academy for Eating Disorders, as well as a pediatrician in Cleveland. She states, â€Å"The media reflects and exace rbates the problems. These teen girls watch and read and observe and emulate. † (F13) 2) â€Å"We do not run photos of anybody in magazines who we believe to be at an unhealthy weight,† explains Glamour’s Cynthia Leive who concludes that the media has a huge influence on women’s body images and should represent women of all different sizes. (L5) V) Discuss the Future (Visualization). A) The rates of eating disorders will go down. 1) More will not feel the need to have the perfect â€Å"ideal† body. 2) Without celebrity role models looking flawless, most will not feel the eed to look just like them B) More people will have better body images of themselves. 1) People will have more confidence without the need to be so skinny. 2) More will understand their body weight and shape is fine just the way it is. C) Society will be more accepting. 1) People will not judge others as much because the status quo will include a variety of body shapes. 2) With the celebrities and press influencing less on being perfect, more will accept what others look like. Call to Action: Research more on the causes and effects of eating disorders * Bring about this information of how the media influences this to representatives in your community, state, or Congress * Write letters to popular magazines, newspapers, or television shows explaining how they are affecting society * Spread the word by protesting or bringing up the topic at public events in order for more people to be exposed to this * Get others to help by voting for those who agree that there needs to be a change in how the media exposes the â€Å"perfect† body

Evolutionary Psychology Short

Evolutionary Psychology Short Buss came up with a theory that aimed at resolving a contextual-evolutionary problem, which is related to mating strategies among individuals. The study established that both men and women have evolved some psychological systems that characterize both short and long-term strategies. His study revealed that human beings tend to resolve short-term mating issues as opposed to long-term.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Evolutionary Psychology: Short-term Mating in Men specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A number of scholar differ on the role of strategy in mating, with some suggesting that it supports it is usually goal-oriented while others believing that it is made up of a force beyond an individual’s control. For some scholars, such as Freud and Jung, their view was that individuals seek in their mates features that resemble the characteristics of their opposite-sex parents. For some scholars, such as W inch, an individual looks for a partner with a characteristic that him or herself does not have. In other words, the individual is interested in complementarily whereby the traits of the partner would strengthen his or her character. Based on this, it is true that mating in human beings is always strategic, which is influenced by an individual’s choice and preference. Studies show that men have always pursued short-term mating, particularly when the benefits of reproduction outweigh the costs of maintaining such a relationship.  Due to some differences between men and women, men would tend to go for short-term mating as opposed to women. Some cultural, social, and technological developments in the western world have shaped the mating system among men. Cultural issues, such as reproductive opportunities, have influenced the development of short-term mating among men in the western societies. Women have to solve issues related to adaptation before engaging in short-term matin g while men have the ability of adapting faster, giving them an opportunity to cope better. This is a cultural issue since the society puts women in an inferior position and they have to understand the behavior of any man before engaging in a serious relationship, otherwise referred to as long-term mating. With some social developments, the issue of partner number has been of great concern to men in the western societies, which affects short-term mating. The idea of having so many women is fading away, with social developments. In the traditional society, a man would engage several women in a relationship, but the current western society does not tolerant polygamy. The issue of accessibility to sex is another technological development that influences short-term mating among men. As a man relates with a woman, he explores the best ways through which sex could be accessed (Buss, 2012).Advertising Looking for critical writing on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get you r first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Based on the prevailing circumstances, short-term mating is more adaptive for men as far as survival is concerned. Consequently, reproduction is not the way it used to be because many factors are considered before committing oneself to a relationship. Men try as much as possible to minimize costs and risks as they attempt to reduce commitment. Men are no longer interested in serious commitments that would consume their time. Short-term mating offers an alternative to men who are interested in wealth accumulation through business. On their side, women are interested in forming relationships that would help them extract resources, the issue of gene quality, and formation of long-term relationships. These are some of the things that short-term mating in men tries to resolve, as it saves men from unnecessary expenditure. Reference Buss, D. (2012). Evolutionary Psychology: The New Science of the Mind. New York: Pearson.

10 Fascinating Facts About Dragonflies

10 Fascinating Facts About Dragonflies Prehistoric-looking dragonflies can be a little intimidating as they swoop about the summer skies. In fact, according to one dragonfly myth, the uncanny creatures would sew up the lips of unsuspecting humans. Of course, thats not even remotely true. Dragonflies are essentially harmless. Even better, these large-eyed aeronauts love to feed on pests like mosquitoes and midges for which we can be truly grateful- but those arent the only interesting qualities that make them so fascinating. 1. Dragonflies Are Ancient Insects Long before the dinosaurs roamed the Earth, dragonflies took to the air. Griffenflies (Meganisoptera), the gigantic precursors to modern dragonflies could reach lengths of nearly 30 inches and dotted the skies during the Carboniferous period over 300 million years ago. If you could transport yourself back a mere 250 million years, youd likely recognize the familiar sight of dragonflies similar to those of the present day. 2. Dragonfly Nymphs Live In the Water Theres a good reason why you see dragonflies and damselflies around ponds and lakes: theyre aquatic! Female dragonflies deposit their eggs on the waters surface, or in some cases, insert them into aquatic plants or moss. Once hatched, the nymph dragonfly spends its time hunting other aquatic invertebrates. Larger species even dine on the occasional small fish or tadpole. After molting somewhere between nine and 17 times, a dragonfly nymph is finally ready for adulthood and crawls out of the water to shed its final immature skin. 3. Nymphs Breath Through Their Anus The damselfly nymph actually breathes through gills  inside its rectum. Likewise, the dragonfly nymph pulls water into its anus to facilitate gas exchange. When the nymph expels water, it propels itself forward, providing the added benefit of locomotion to its breathing. 4. Most New Dragonfly Adults Are Eaten When a nymph is finally ready for adulthood, it crawls out of the water onto a rock or plant stem and molts one final time. This process takes up to an hour as the dragonfly expands to its full body capacity. These newly emerged dragonflies, known at this stage as teneral adults, are soft-bodied, pale, and highly vulnerable to predators. Until their bodies fully harden they are weak flyers, making them ripe for the picking. Birds and other predators consume a significant number of young dragonflies in the first few days after their emergence. 5. Dragonflies Have Excellent Vision Relative to other insects, dragonflies have extraordinarily keen vision that helps them detect the movement of other flying critters and avoid in-flight collisions. Thanks to two huge compound eyes, the dragonfly has nearly 360 ° vision and can see a wider spectrum of colors than humans. Each compound eye contains as many as 30,000 lenses or ommatidia and a dragonfly uses about 80 percent of its brain to process all of the visual information it receives. 6. Dragonflies Are Masters of Flight Dragonflies are able to move each of their four wings independently. They can flap each wing up and down, and rotate their wings forward and back on an axis. Dragonflies can move straight up or down, fly backward, stop and hover, and make hairpin turns- at full speed or in slow motion. A dragonfly can fly forward at a speed of 100 body lengths per second (up to 30 miles per hour). Using high-speed cameras, Scientists at Harvard University photographed dragonflies taking flight, catching prey, and returning to a perch, all within the time span of between 1 to 1.5 seconds. 7. Male Dragonflies Fight for Territory Competition for females is fierce, leading male dragonflies to aggressively fend off other suitors. In some species, males claim and defend a territory against intrusion from other males. Skimmers, clubtails, and petaltails scout out prime egg-laying locations around ponds. Should a challenger fly into his chosen habitat, the defending male will do all he can to chase away the competition. Other kinds of dragonflies dont defend specific territories but still behave aggressively to other males that cross their flight paths or dare to approach their perches. 8. Male Dragonflies Have Multiple Sex Organs In nearly all insects, the male sex organs are located at the tip of the abdomen. Not so in male dragonflies. Their copulatory organs are on the underside of the abdomen, up around the second and third segments. Dragonfly sperm, however, is stored in an opening of the ninth abdominal segment. Before mating, the dragonfly has to fold his abdomen in order to transfer his sperm to his penis. 9. Some Dragonflies Migrate A number of dragonfly species are known to migrate, either singly or en masse. As with other migratory species, dragonflies relocate to follow or find needed resources or in response to environmental changes such as impending cold weather. Green darners, for example, fly south each fall in sizeable swarms and then migrate north again in the spring. Forced to follow the rains that replenish their breeding sites, the globe skimmer- one of several species thats known to spawn in temporary freshwater pools- set a new insect world record when a biologist documented its 11,000 mile trip between India and Africa. 10. Dragonflies Thermoregulate Their Bodies Like all insects, dragonflies are technically ectotherms (cold-blooded) but that doesnt mean theyre at the mercy of Mother Nature to keep them warm or cool. Dragonflies that patrol (those that habitually fly back and forth) employ a rapid whirring movement of their wings to raise their body temperatures. Perching dragonflies, on the other hand, who rely on solar energy for warmth, skillfully position their bodies to maximize the surface area exposed to sunlight. Some species even use their wings as reflectors, tilting them to direct the solar radiation toward their bodies. Conversely, during hot spells, some dragonflies strategically position themselves to minimize sun exposure, using their wings to deflect sunlight.

Marbury vs. Madison Case Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Marbury vs. Madison Case - Essay Example Some legal scholars have accepted the legitimate reasoning of Marshall while others remain to challenge the decision he made toward the Marbury vs. Madison case. Alexander Bickel question John Marshall ruling, Bickel argued that Marshall Verdict in advocated justice for Marbury vs. Madison case was unconvincing and power-driven interpretation of jurisprudence. Marshall recommended that the Supreme Court had an outright obligation to strike-down every rule it discovers violated the constitution. â€Å"It is emphatically the province and duty of the Judicial Department to say what the law is" Bickel foresees that consenting the constitution to mean whatever the Supreme Court perceives to be right might turn the constitution into a mere document in the hands of the judges. Consequently, judges may twist and shape the constitution into any form that delights them rather than giving the legal decision that will facilitate court attaining decision that depict legitimate, fair and just rul ing. Alexander Mordecai Bickel puts evidently that the aim of John Marshall was using federalist tactic to craft a strong central government over the opposition of Jeffersonian who was alacritous to have a resilient state government. Therefore, John Marshal used the case to establish the Supreme Court as center of power, proficient at overruling the legislature, the president, and the state. Bickel believed that allowing Supreme Court to dictate the constitution might turn it susceptible as judges may desire to shape and twist the constitution towards their lusts, personal gains and egotistical interests2. It is important that Alexander Bickel’s notion is taken into consideration to circumvent future judges from using their positions for personal interest. Conversely, Supreme Court remained to be a vital constitutional independent branch, but it has to incorporate other institution such as congress, and the state interest thus fashioning a holistic relationship for sustainabl e governance of the country.

Response Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Response Paper - Essay Example From Asian culture to African, from Chinese jaw dropping sculptures to European’s art, several magnificent art pieces hung on the wall conveying their messages and showcasing their beauty in the most elegant way. When I browsed the exhibits carefully, I was completely intrigued by the Asian’s amazing artwork. It’s beautifully gigantic structure was something to die for and made me admirable. I was actually not able to grasp one thing: How a human being can make such a thing? The delicacy and perfection made me speechless and left me spell-bound. Art is one of those things which ask for no boundaries. It is something that compels the human mind to do and to make what he likes, what he feels like. This was something our teacher told us in every art class and now I could clearly see the presence of her words in these paintings and sculptures. I was not only seeing these paintings through my eyes but was trying to feel them, the fragrance of the place it belonged to, the culture and the messages it conveyed to the people. There was this one piece of art which demonstrated the mockery of the wealthy and rich people. These were dressed up sculptures of skeletons which startled me and struck my fancy the most. It brought me a unique visual experience I have ever encountered. This Art Museum offered a colourful smorgasbord of remarkable discoveries. Huge wall paintings, miniature statues and hasty sketches provided us a chance to see the most awe-inspiring beauty. Both contemporary art and antiquity art were showcased in these paintings. This was a place which was emphasizing on every type of art and promoting the old cultures being demonstrated in these paintings and sculptures. New York Metropolitan Museum of Art is tagged as a behemoth in such an artistic and intricate world. In the area where Chinese Sculptures were placed, it appeared contemplative across the room to me. There was a deep meaning hidden behind these sculptures, their eyes gazin g trying to say something to the observers. With keen eyes, I scribbled down everything I observed, even the minute details that amalgamated and produced some amazing pieces. I was constantly relating all these artistic pieces with the material I had made so far and whatever we studied in school, it was nothing in front of this mammoth sized paintings and the perfect sculpted figures which showed the perfect picture of numerable cultures, i.e. Buddhism. The collections of painting that were housed in this art museum were uncountable. From every corner of the globe, hundreds of years old history and culture was seen in these amazing art pieces. Artifacts that were exhibited included some European Art that left me speechless. Art holdings from the extensive portfolios of various artists like Van Gogh, Manet, Rembrandt etc were showcased that helped us to go back to what we have studied in our art classes. I could relate all my paintings which were truly inspired from these amazing art ists’ creations hundreds of years old. Some pieces from the Egyptian Era and the Islamic empire were seen in this art museum which gave us a chance to understand the insight of these artists belonging to a completely different cultures and traditions. This is what an art museum does. It brings all the cultures under one roof and enables the observers to see how the whole world is indulged in one thing together, in the magic of art, although belonging to completely differ