Saturday, November 30, 2019

Teenagers Having Access to Free Condoms free essay sample

The issue on teenagers having access to condoms has long been a controversial one. While many people oppose the availability of condoms to teenagers, many others agree with it. Teenagers having access to condoms is an issue that needs to be addressed at home with their parents. It is the parent’s responsibility to educate their teenagers on sex and the responsibilities that follow. Because, teenagers are not going to ask their parents for condoms, is when programs like The Availability Program have been put into place to educate and promote responsible sexual behavior. Having access to condoms can promote good and bad behaviors; it is an individual’s decision. Society can only hope that parents have educated their teens on sex and how to be responsible and safe if indeed they do choose to engage in sexual activities. For example, being responsible is about making the right choices when he/she decides to engage in sexual activity. We will write a custom essay sample on Teenagers Having Access to Free Condoms or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page One of the most important things is to have one partner at a time, preferably a longtime boyfriend/girlfriend. One who loves and respects their partner. When two people are comfortable with each other sexually, most often there is no awkwardness in asking their partner to wear a condom. In contrast, some believe teenagers should practice abstinence until marriage. Second example, of contrast opinions on teens having access to condoms and making unsafe decisions, is just that an opinion. Teenagers will make unsafe decisions with or without the availability of condoms. On the other hand, having condoms available is a great idea. Choosing to use a condom is a safe and responsible decision that a teen can make if they are sexually active

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Get The Ultimate Social Media Automation Tool (Coming Soon)

Get The Ultimate Social Media Automation Tool (Coming Soon) What if you could have a robot that automatically re-shared your most popular social media messages every time it found a gap in your social sharing schedule- 365 days per year, 24 hours a day? Pretty cool, right? Well, today we’re letting the ‘robot’ out of the bag- we’re building a Social Media Automation tool for that will do just that. What if you could have a robot automatically share your most popular #socialmedia messages? Of course, is already the best tool in the world for planning, creating, and publishing your content and social media, but we want to add another time-saving solution to your perfect content marketing workflow. Cue, automation! When we started building , we knew that too many publishers were creating great content, but not promoting it enough via their social marketing channels. We called it the â€Å"one-and-done social media plan†. Think about when you publish a new blog post for a minute- how many social media posts do you schedule and share when your content goes live? Do you ever go back to re-promote your hard created content? If not, it’s a missed opportunity for traffic and ROI. Social automation will make sure that never happens again. The automation feature will allow you to reuse all of the #socialmedia messages!The automation feature that we’re working on will allow you to reuse all of the social media messages created in your social queue- for as along as youd like. In a nutshell, we’ll automatically re-share and re-promote your best social messages whenever we find gaps in your schedule. Well make sure your social presence stays consistent, and that your social profiles get the engagement they deserve. Recommended Reading: 8 Social Media Best Practices That Will Save You 25.5 Hours In A 2-Week Sprint How Your Social Automation Tool Will Work: Fill your social queue with social media messages that you want to send- just like you do now. Turn on automation! We’ll automatically re-share those messages when we see gaps in your future social sharing schedule. Specify how long you would like your messages to be re-used and how heavily you would like your content promoted. Don’t worry, you will always have full control over your sharing frequency. (No spam!) Sit back and let us share your content for you! Well pick your best content and the best times to publish so that your automated messages get the most engagement for your time. It’s literally going to be as set-it-and-forget-it as social media gets. Sit back and let us share your content for you! #blogging #socialmediaA few of the things it will do: Social automation will allow you to re-use your best social media messages so they don’t go to waste. Social automation will help you promote your best evergreen content more than once to drive traffic and content engagement. Social automation will make sure you get ROI for every message you create by using it more than once. Social automation will help you run your entire marketing workflow in one handy tool. What could be better? It’s also important to note that we’re designing social media automation to do more than just re-promote your content. You will also be able to create stand-alone social media messages and campaigns that can be included on your automation calendar. It’s going to be non-stop social media awesomeness, and it’s coming soon. Of course, we have a lot of work to do and we may need your help! For regular feature updates, opportunities to provide feedback, and details on our timeline to launch, please join this ‘super-special’ email listto stay in the loop. We plan to post regular updates along the way. Recommended Reading: How To Improve Your Social Media Management In 30 Days

Friday, November 22, 2019

How to Prepare for Exams While Distance Studying

How to Prepare for Exams While Distance Studying Once upon a time the only way to get a good quality education was to spend thousands of dollars and go and sit in a classroom for several years. Even though the cost and the time commitment were often prohibitive, people found ways to do it because it was their only option. Today, however, things have changed. Distance learning, once only for students of small vocational school is now there for everyone to take advantage of. A student can participate in a class that is offered on the other side of the globe, they can get degrees on just about any subject, and never have to leave their home. It is an exciting time to get an education. Challenges You Face While Distance Studying Distance studying usually requires a unique mindset and special skills and disciplines that are often lacking in the traditional setting. Though distance learning gives you the opportunity to study while working, there are still some issues you need to deal with. The job of time management and studying fall entirely on your shoulders.To be a successful distance learner you need to not only learn and develop these qualities to a higher degree but master them. Finding the balance between education, work and family is crucial. Most people who are in an online study program do so because they also have jobs, family, and other demands on their time. This means that it is not just about getting through each lesson but managing your life in a way that gives enough attention to your both your studies and your normal daily routine. You’ll be evaluated more strictly than students who attend educational affiliations. When students attend educational institutions, professors know them personally and tend to be more sympathetic to them. When you are studying distantly, it’s hard to build such a connection with teachers. Tips on How to Prepare for Exams for Distant Learners When exam time comes, tension tends to increase and the cycle escalates. Below are a few tips and suggestions that can help you to prepare for that all important exam without derailing your life. Tip #1: Have a Schedule It helps to organize your life and study together. This can be difficult if you have a family but you will have to learn how to prioritize and as you prepare for your exams accept the fact that some things will have to be put on the back burner until exams are over. Separate your schedule into the things that must be done and those you want to do. Remind yourself that this will only be a temporary adjustment and you’ll be free to do all those things again once exams are completed. It is important that you don’t keep your schedule to yourself. Let your family and friends know about it. That way, they are less likely to intrude upon your time and will be more supportive. Tip #2: Don’t Procrastinate Don’t put it off. In the absence of a tangible classroom environment, the responsibility for managing your time falls entirely on your shoulders. It can become very easy to put it off when Big Brother is not watching. If you’re having trouble getting yourself to focus on your studies then try setting up study intervals. Rather than cramming all night before the exam try studying for 30 minutes or an hour and then giving yourself a break in between. It can help you to get in the habit of studying. Before long, you’ll find that your 30 minute study sessions will naturally get longer as you get used to the routine. Tip #3: Trust Your Instincts Traditional school by nature, is about programming minds to conform. Everyone starts their study at the same time, break at the same time, and end at the same time. However, when you are distance learning, you learn to be more flexible. So, when scheduling your study time think about yourself and your instincts. What time of day are you the most productive. If you are a morning person, get up an hour early to do your research. If you’re more active during the evening hours, you might want to stay up longer than normal. Tip #4: Get Your Resources Together Before you start your study, make sure all your resources are in order. This will help to prevent you from getting distracted during study time. Your goal is to try to remain focused for as long as you can. If you have all your resources, reference materials, and anything else you need right at your fingertips it will be much easier to stay on point. If you are struggling with a particular point in the study, it is also helpful to have phone numbers, email addresses, or other contact information available for contacting your professors, advisors, or experts close when you need to ask a question. Tip #5: Join an Online Library Getting the time to break away to a library for research can also be difficult. If you have an online library service you can join it can be extremely beneficial. It will give you access to excellent resource material right at your fingertips. Tip #6: Take Practice Tests Some students like to highlight information they read in their texts, others prefer re-reading or summarizing after they read. While these things have proven to be very beneficial for some students there are other ways to get the most out of their study time. In many cases, you can find practice tests online that will help you to prepare. Practice tests give you immediate feedback on areas you might be weak in so you can hone up your studies by focusing on those areas where you need the most help. Tip #7: Organize Your Nutrition To prevent even more stress, you should think of food preemptively. Many students tend to drink dozens cups of coffee or energetics, eat fast food or just refuse from eating. This will not serve you right. Instead of coffee, you can and perhaps should drink green tea and instead of fast food, cook healthy and quick-made dishes. There are many recipes on the web that you can use to prepare healthy food. You can read more about the best food to eat before test here. No matter what tricks you use to study, it is best to go about it in an organized and systematic way. Approaching study sporadically encourages a lack of focus and confusion, which could eventually take its toll on a student. When you factor in the heightened level of stress students experience when exam time approaches it just makes sense to have a good and solid system that will help to ease the anxiety. Finally, study time is different for each student so when you develop a study program that suits your personality and disposition, you’ll find you remember a lot more of what you study.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Civilizations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Civilizations - Essay Example The ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, which is largely known as modern-day Iraq, Egypt, India, and China were the first to qualify as classical civilizations of the axial age. According to the majority of famous historians, a civilization is basically a process in which people belonging to a specific area shape their cultural and religious beliefs. By the same definition, the ancient Greeks qualified themselves as a unique civilization with one remarkable difference, which was the dominating priesthood that claimed a control on the sole lines of communication with the powers of mystery. In this paper, we will discuss the environmental, economic, and socio-political attributes of Greece, Roman Civilization, India, and China and compare them in order to highlight similarities and differences, which influenced the development in human history. Along with the discussion on similarities and differences, we will also discuss the decline of these famous civilizations in order to get a b etter understanding of the causes of their decline. The Axial Age The period from 800 B.C. to 200 B.C.E. is generally known as the Axial Age. It was the period when a large number of today’s most famous religions were introduced to the people of that time. Modern day Iraq, Greece, and Persia are some of the most prominent civilizations of the Axial Age. At this time, the politics of the whole world mostly revolved around the area of the Middle East, which was the most stable area of that time. In that age, the civilization of Greece was reaching its peak in all aspects of life whether it was philosophy, politics, culture, or any other aspect of a good civilization. Muesse found that the rise of Zoroastrianism in Persia, emergence of Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism on the Indian subcontinent, and the introduction of Daoism and Confucianism in China are some of main religious development s related to the Axial Age.1 Major Ancient River-Valley Civilizations Let us now discuss th e environmental, economic, and socio-political attributes of the ancient civilizations of Greece, Roman Empire, India, and China in detail. There are remarkable coincidences which allowed these ancient societies to attain a high degree of development which qualified them to be called as civilizations. It was a coincidence that all of these ancient civilizations were located in highly fertile geographical regions of the world. This was a strategic similarity because without the fertility of the soil, these ancient civilizations would not be able to develop further from their previous precarious existence. The locations of Greece, China, India, and Rome allowed the people to develop quickly from a hunting or gathering way of life to a more peaceful and respectable way of life. Mesopotamia itself lied between the rivers Tigris and Euphrates that encompassed parts of northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and southwestern Iran. Gunnell states, â€Å"They developed in the valley betwee n the Tigris and Euphrates, along the Nile, the Indus and Ganges, and Yellow Rivers respectively†.2 Both rivers had origins in the Armenian region of modern-day Turkey fed by tributaries from the Zagros mountains. The early people of Mesopotamia used to harness the fertility of soil only if they had

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Discussion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Discussion - Essay Example Actions that are evil or bad, result from ignorance. Socrates connected knowledge with virtue and linked virtue with happiness. Summing up Socrates philosophy of ethics we conclude that, the wiser man knows the right thing so he does good and thus stays happy. In contrast to Socrates, Aristotle suggested an ethical system termed "self-realizationism". Aristotle said, "Nature does nothing in vain." Hence, a person must act according to his nature and enhance his hidden talents, so to be happy and satisfied. In his view, a person will do good deeds and be content when he operates in harmony with his nature and grasps his full potential. When a baby is born, he is a â€Å"potential person†. The innate potential of that child must be realized for him to become a "real" person. He believed that discontent and aggravation are resulted when a person is unable to realize his potential. Moreover, he emphasized that for a person to become virtuous, he had to practically do virtuous activities than just simply studying what virtue is. Plato upholds a virtue-based eudemonistic ethics. This means that human well-being (eudemonia) is the chief aim of moral notion and demeanor. Platos views on an ethics of happiness seem rather passive because of his differing perception of happiness. He observes happiness as a state of precision which is very hard to realize as it is based on metaphysical conjecture which may seem both obscure and beyond ordinary understanding. As per discussing the consistencies and differences, we generally observe that Socrates and Plato believe in the moral imperative. Socrates and Plato had a higher opinion of Humanity than Aristotle. Plato was more interested in understanding the relationship between the everlasting and absolute, and in what is more concise and flows in nature. Socrates sustained that there were fixed rules for right and wrong. He believed in unending, absolute laws as

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Human Communication Process in the Small Group Context Essay Example for Free

Human Communication Process in the Small Group Context Essay Question #5 How would you rewrite some of Lam’s comments to show how he could have paraphrased what Kelli, Ryan, and Tamika said? â€Å"Tyler has been late to meetings, because he has been caring for his sick parents. Because he his late and missing meetings, we are missing his part of our assignment. Let’s just go ahead and get started and try to finish tonight. If we need another meeting, we can meet at my place to give us more room, instead of meeting in this old stuffy room. † It’s good to paraphrase because, it lets to previous speaker know if you understood what was said. If incorrect, the message can then be delivered in another way, so that the listener understands the message the speaker it trying to make (Galanes Adams, 2010). This allows for effective communication. Question #6 Which of the eight major categories of nonverbal behaviors are most relevant to this study group? Several of the eight major categories of nonverbal behaviors are expressed in this study group. First of all space and seating play a part because, the group was sitting in a circle, and when Tamika pulled away from the table, it showed that she was upset about Tyler not being present; demonstrating â€Å"kinesics.† In addition, Tamika was using â€Å"time cues† by complaining that Tyler was late and that 20 minutes had gone by. When Kelli began to pack up her things, her movements expressed that she too was unhappy about the situation. â€Å"Paralanguage† was used when the pitch of Tamika’s voice changed as she asked the question â€Å"Man, what time is it.† It is evident that there was no â€Å"transactional process† within the group as a whole. Tamika and Kelli were expressing how they felt about Tyler on being present at the meetings. They were clearly sending a â€Å"message† throughout the group. As Ryan was demonstrating â€Å"paraphrase† by reminding the group the everyone knew that Tyler’s parents was sick and Lam â€Å"action-oriented listening† turned everyone’s attention back to the task of completing the project. It is clear that there was plenty of â€Å"nonverbal behavior† with this group. Nonverbal behaviors can be interpreted by other in ways not intended. Our text states â€Å"nonverbal behaviors can contradict verbal behaviors (Galanes Adams, 2010).† As we speak to another person or a group, our tone of voice and body language are also speaking for us. It’s important to be aware, so that our actions aren’t taking away from what we are trying to speak. By observing nonverbal ques, we are able to recognize if what we are saying is being taken serious, upsetting someone, confusing or if people are in agreement. Question #7 How might computer-mediated communication been used by our student group? What precautions might they take should they choose to use it to compensate for absences from meetings? Computer mediated communication could have been used in the form of video conference where every member can see and hear their team member, or a chat room where all team members can post their work and respond to other members work. They could attach their assigned work to an email and forward the work to all the members of the group; this would have eliminated Tyler missing meets and Tamika being in that stuffy room. The first precaution is making sure each member has a computer or access to one. If the group is going to use the video conference, then the group need to make sure everyone has the proper equipment and software to participate in the group project. Once the group establishes everyone has a computer or access, they need to understand how to upload their work if they decide to use the chat room as a communication channel. Question #8 Given your understanding of communication principals, including nonverbal messages, what advice would you give to this student group? The group in chapter two should have, communicated differently. Communication is the key to an effective group. You must communicate with your fellow team members, be open about what you are feeling so that way tension does not build and explode making thing much worse than they have to be. Lam could have paraphrased the group feeling when he took control, and decided to start. If lam would have paraphrased, it would have let the other member’s know that he was listening to their concerns. The group should be more mindful of their nonverbal behavior. Lam did do a great job displaying â€Å"action-oriented† listening and getting the team back on track. As a group they should have focused on a solution to get Tyler’s part of the assignment, since they know his pattern with the group. Email and video conferencing are a couple of solutions. References Galanes, G. J., Adams, K. (2010). Human Communication Process in the Small Group Context. In Effective Group Discussion (pp. 22-47, Chapter 2, pgs. 39 46, Chapter 3). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Injection or protection? :: essays research papers

Injections OR Protection Although testing on animals seems the only way to further advance our medicine, technologies, and prevent products from harming people, it doesn’t necessarily make it right. I think we can all agree that injecting defenseless animals with dangerous chemicals resulting in serious side effects or possible death is cruel and unusual. Coincidently, in the U.S. we consider such acts as illegal forms of punishment. Yet in the case of animals, it’s called science. Which leads to the question, what rights do animals have? Aren’t animals and humans different which therefore lead to a different set of rules? So what exactly separates the two species? The answer might lie in searching for the differences between man and beast. Let us test the senses in order to see a difference there. Sight, smell, hearing, touch, and taste are all common characteristics that both species share, except for a few instances in certain animals and certain disabled humans. Moving on, both are a ble to sense danger, evade danger, feel pain, sense positive and negative emotions, display affection and dislike. The fact that we even test on animals is an admittance of the distinct similarities between the two. If man and animal were so different, there would be no gain in knowledge due to experimentation. This supports my claim that animals share the same intrinsic rights as humans. Therefore, animal rights should be protected somewhere in our nations constitution. Is it something so minute as having less legs, a set of thumbs and the ability to walk upright? Some would argue that animals are soulless beasts that walk the earth and exist only to serve man’s purpose. So why would there be such a thing as wild and untamed animals? They do not exist for the purpose of man and are able to carry on their lives self sufficiently. It is now obvious that animals can exist and thrive without human intervention. This refutes the possibility that animals are here only to serve und er and function for the betterment of man. It is only through our intervention that we have dominated and controlled animal nature. Through our own perceived superiority, man has decided that animals are expendable for the greater good. As necessary as it may be to preserve human life, I don’t think it’s ethical to use animals as the testing ground for vanity products. When I say vanity products I’m referring to hair, body, and make-up accessories.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Latino History and Culture

Historians are still unclear on when the first Latinos appeared in North America. The most prevalent theory is that they were nomadic hunters who came from the Asia mainland and across the then frozen Bering Straight into Alaska. Regardless of their origins their main region is now the Americas, both North and South and it is expected that the Latino population in the United States will increase by 40% in the next ten years (US Census 2010). Their culture and society is steeped in tradition and understanding and appreciating their culture is imperative for any person working in the social services field.Latino Traditions and Culture The Latino culture contains many diverse sub-cultures, however there is a common theme and religion that run through all Latino cultures. An important cultural trend that is prevalent among many Latinos is the closeness of the society; the lack of personal space in their culture is very important as they are more open to physical contact and showing affec tion. Social Expectations Time orientation tends to be different for Latinos who are generally more concerned with the present than with the future or planning ahead.Due to this trend, it is often helpful to remind Latino’s the day before an appointment or activity. This also relates to why many Latinos tend to focus more on work than advancing their education. Latino’s see work as a way of receiving money now which is a way they can improve their lives now and if needed have enough to send money to relatives back in their countries of origin. However, advancing their education would mean that they make more in the future but less in the short term where their focus is.The Latino family, including extended family, is the primary social unit, and source of support. Often Latino men who are in the United States come looking for a way to support their family’s back in their home town. Even making minimum wage or less here the amount that these Latino’s send home can make a significant change for the families in their home country. This support of family also extends to those who come to the United States. Often when Latino’s migrate to the United States they stay with family or friends who have previously immigrated. Respect and Interpersonal RelationshipsRespect is important in Latino culture as it indicates appropriate behavior towards others based on age, gender, social and economic position and authority. Formality is seen as a sign of respect, including the use of suffixes such as Senor/ Don, Senora/ Dona. Another sign of respect in Latino culture is avoiding eye contact with authority figures. This is often confusing to Americans who see maintaining eye contact as a way of showing several things including respect, listening, understanding, and honesty. Latinos tend to stress the importance of personal rather than institutional relationships.Interpersonal contact is very important to develop trust when interacting with a pe rson of Latino culture. It is common that Latino clients find it uncomfortable to leave messages in office voicemails for this reason. Trust is built on mutual respect over time. Showing personal interest in Latino individual may help establishing trust. Latino families are characterized by traditional gender roles. Men are expected to have machismo or prominently exhibited masculinity this means men should be rational, strong, authoritarian, and independent.Women are expected to be submissive, dependant, as well as take care of the children and the household. Many Latino’s believe that events are meant to happen because of fate, a power that they cannot control. Many Latino clients will say â€Å"It’s my cross to bear†, or â€Å"If God wishes so†. This fatalism may prevent them from seeking help. Because of this fatalism, spiritual healers play an important role in helping people with physical as well as mental concerns. Some Latinos believe that bewitch ing is often the cause of a change in behavior or illness.Bewitching involves the use of magical acts and supernatural powers either by humans or supernatural beings. This may simply involve the casting of a spell. Religion and Traditions In general Latinos are very religious, 90% of Latinos are Catholic or Protestant. The church serves as a guide for perceptions and behaviors, influencing decisions and judgments. The church is often an important source for social support and interaction. Latino churches also teach the value of family and are often a place where there are Spanish language masses.The communal nature of Latinos is represented by the use of food in the culture, sharing and offering food to guests is important and often relates to the holidays that Latino’s often celebrate. Holidays are an important part of Latino culture, some holidays relate to the religious, while others relate to anniversaries of major battles in Mexican history. All the major catholic holida ys are celebrated by Latinos such as Christmas, Lent and Easter as well as the Catholic rites of passage Baptism, Holy Communion, and Confirmation. The Day of the Virgin Guadalupe is December 12.The Virgin of Guadalupe is Mexico's most popular religious and cultural image, with the titles â€Å"Queen of Mexico†, â€Å"Empress of the Americas† and â€Å"Patroness of the Americas†, both Miguel Hidalgo (in the Mexican War of Independence) and Emiliano Zapata (during the Mexican Revolution) carried Flags bearing the Our Lady of Guadalupe, and Guadalupe Victoria, the first Mexican president changed his name in her honor. The shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City is the most visited Catholic shrine in the world. (Elizondo, 1997) The Day of the dead is another holiday celebrated by Latinos which is connected to the Catholic church.November 2 is the Catholic holiday of All Souls Day, for Latinos it becomes The Day of the Dead. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. Shrines and food are prepared and often brought to the cemetery where loved ones are buried. The flower type Marigold also play a part in the celebrations. Cinco de Mayo is a holiday held on May 5 that commemorates the Mexican army's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.Mexican Independence Day had its bicentennial on September 16, 2010. Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Catholic priest, known for his progressive ideas, declared Mexican independence in the town of Dolores on September 16, 1810. History and Immigration Waves of migrants came into the Americas starting around 50,000 B. C. during the Pleistoncene Ice Age, and the migration ended when a melting trend came about around 9,000 B. C. The first Mexicans were hunter-gatherers until around 8000 B. C. when they started to breed Maize plants. In 1800 B. C. he most intensive Maize farming began. Maize or corn, along with squash and beans were a staple of the early Mexican diet and are still a major part of Mexican diets today. ((Meyer, Sherman & Deeds, 1999)). Between 1800 B. C. and 1521 A. D. complex cultures began to form, some becoming very advanced, such as the Maya, and the Aztec. These cultures along with others made significant technological, cultural, and scientific advances, such as building pyramid-temple complexes, sophisticated mathematics and astronomy, and the creation of the Long Count Calendar.These civilizations had large cites and militaries and ruled over the Valley of Mexico until the Spanish Conquest begin in 1517 A. D. ((Meyer, Sherman & Deeds, 1999)). The Spanish Conquest Fifteen century Spanish explorers discovered what we know today as Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti. In the following years, Spain expanded its empire into the â€Å"new world† by force. The conquistadores had more advanced weapons and were thought to be gods by the indigenous people because they were unstoppable.Spain claimed Mexico as part of its empire, although it took 200 more years to complete the conquest. Spanish culture spread from Mexico to Central and South America, and over what is now the southwest United States. Early Spanish settlements were established in what became Florida, New Mexico and California. ((Meyer, Sherman & Deeds, 1999)). Conquistadores claimed treasures for the Spanish crown and brought Catholic missionaries to forcibly convert indigenous inhabitants. Some indigenous populations became extinct during this period.Over the three centuries of Spanish rule less than 700,000 Spaniards, mostly men settled in Mexico, this led to intermarriage of Spaniards and indigenous natives that produced persons of mixed blood which the term Mestizos represents. The Spanish also brought diseases such as small pox which the indigenous peoples had no immunity to it and eventually died in the hundreds of thousands. (Meyer, Sherman & Deeds, 1999). The Co lonial Period: 1650-1810 During this period Mexico was a part of the much larger Viceroyalty of New Spain, which included Cuba, Puerto Rico, Central America, the south estern United States, and the Philippines. Colonial law was destructive and unfair to the natives, as no Mexican native, even one with pure Spanish blood, could hold an administrative office. From an economic point of view, New Spain was administered not to compete with Spain in terms of exports, such as grapes and olives. Only two ports were open to foreign trade, one on the Atlantic and the other on the Pacific. Foreigners had to obtain a special permit to travel in Mexico and few Mexicans were permitted to travel abroad. Few books were available and education was discouraged.Mexican natives live in serfdom. ((Meyer, Sherman & Deeds, 1999). Mexican Independence: 1807- 1910 In 1807 Napoleon I invaded Spain and placed his brother on the Spanish throne. Mexican conservatives and rich landowners who supported Spain†™s royal family objected to the liberal policies that Napoleon favored. Mexican liberals who wanted a democratic Mexico allied with the Mexican conservatives who wanted a Spanish monarch rather than Napoleon’s brother, these two sides agreed only that Mexico must achieve independence. ((Meyer, Sherman & Deeds, 1999).Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Catholic priest, known for his progressive ideas, declared Mexican independence in the town of Dolores on September 16, 1810. This declaration started a drawn out war that lasted 11 years, with liberating troops entering Mexico City in 1821. The Treaty of Cordoba, signed August 24, 1821 verified that Mexico was now a sovereign nation. After achieving freedom from Spain, Mexico struggled with the decision to be an empire or a republic. The Mexican government went through many changes often by co-ops during this period of instability.One example of this is when federalists asked General Santa Anna to overthrow the current president, Bu stamante. Santa Anna did this and later went on to serve as president 11 times, including when Texas declared itself a sovereign nation and later during the Mexican-American War. The Mexican-American war was when The United States occupied California and attacked Mexico City. The war ended with the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which stated that Mexico must sell its northern territories to the United States for 15 million dollars. However, after war with The United States, Mexico’s political nrest continued (Meyer, Sherman & Deeds, 1999). The Mexican Revolution: 1910-1929 Many Mexican were unhappy with their government, so after blatant election fraud, from an incumbent president, riots broke out and the revolution began.The revolutionary forces led by, among others, Pancho Villa, Emiliano Zapata, and Venustiano Carranza defeated the Federal Army, but later disagreed on how to organize the government. These disagreements became a political standoff that led to a violent strugg le for control that lasted for more than 20 years. The Constitution created in 1917 still governs Mexico today. (Meyer, Sherman & Deeds, 1999)) The PRI and the rise of Contemporary Mexico: 1929- present In 1929 the National Mexican Party was formed by the president, General Plutarco Elias Calles. The National Mexican Party convinced most of the remaining revolutionary generals to hand over their personal armies to the Mexican Army, this act ended the Mexican revolution. Later renamed Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI) this new party ruled Mexico for the rest of the 20th century. The PRI is referred to as the three-legged stool, in reference to Mexican workers, peasants, and bureaucrats.The PRI did not lose a senate seat until 1988 or a gubernatorial race until 1989. It was not until July 2, 2000 that Vicente Fox of the opposition, National Action Party, won the presidency, ending the PRIs 71 year hold on the presidency (Meyer, Sherman & Deeds, 1999). The PRI achieved economi c growth and prosperity until the late 1960s when the party’s management of the economy led to several crises and political unrest that led to the Tlatelolco massacre in 1968. More economic crisis in 1976 and again in 1982 led to the nationalization of Mexico’s banks.In 1994, Mexico became a full member of the North American Free Trade Agreement, this strengthened Mexico’s economy. Mexico now has a free market economy that has entered the trillion dollar class (Meyer, Sherman & Deeds, 1999). Mexico is a major drug producing nation, an estimated 90% of the cocaine smuggled into the United States every year moves through Mexico. Mexico is also a major supplier of heroin, ecstasy, and the largest foreign supplier of marijuana and methamphetamines to the US market. Major drug syndicates control the majority of drug trafficking in the country.The Mexican government conducts the largest independent illicit crop eradication program in the world, however, Mexico continu es to be the primary shipment point for U. S. bound cocaine from South America. (CIA. gov, 2010). One the other hand there are also many negative adjustment for Latinos who migrate to the United States. Stigmatization of Latino immigrants is common in the United States; Americans often assume that anyone who is Latino and doesn’t speak English perfectly is an illegal immigrant and look down on them. Institutionalized racism is another negative adjustment factor as well.Laws are being passed in Arizona that requires Latinos to carry documentation of their citizen status at all times. Latino’s are often segregated from other parts of the community because they live in the poorer neighborhoods with many other immigrants. The language difference often hinders communication and keeps Latino’s in lower class communities, where others speak Spanish. Because Latino’s are oriented on the present time they focus more on work the education which could increase their socio-economic status and help their adjustment to The United States.There is a lack of support for education that would help immigrants learn English or would help Latino children prepare for higher education. Because of this lack of education many Latino’s have low level or under skilled jobs. Latinos: Oppression and Marginalization Latinos are one of the largest minority groups in America. The number of Latinos had steadily increased over the last forty years in the United States (Bergad & Klein, 2010). Census data from the year 1970 indicates that there were 9. million Latinos in the United States, and it is estimated that the census data from 2010 will indicate that there are 48. 7 million Latinos living in the US. Census projections for the year 2050 indicate that there will be 102. 6 million Latinos in America (US Census Bureau, 2010). Although the numbers of Latinos has steadily increased and are expected to continue to rise, the level of marginalization and oppressi on they endure on a regular basis has not changed substantially over the years.Contributing factors to the oppression and marginalization of Latinos in American society include limited or lack of opportunities in the areas of economic stability, fair access to housing, marginal or no access to affordable health care, poor access and quality of education, and limited political representation. Latinos are marginalized based on economic factors, which play a predominant role in their ability to achieve a higher standard of living. Obtaining higher paying jobs, adequate housing and education for themselves and their children is often much more difficult than it is for other populations in America.As reported above, Latinos often migrate to America with the desire and hope to earn a living wage to support themselves and their families. Unfortunately, Latinos often work in service jobs which offer low wages and few benefits. They are often hired for jobs such as landscaping, janitorial, a nd various service jobs which require little to no formal training or education. These jobs are considered menial jobs in our society and often fail to meet the basic needs of the workers, let alone offer disposable income that can be used to obtain a greater quality of life.Our group interviewed two men who are undocumented workers. These are some of the most marginalized and oppressed Latinos in America due to the fact that they have no documents indicating that they are able to work in the United States legally. Economic reasons were cited by both men; one who was in his mid-forties and the other who was in his early twenties, as factors for their immigration to the United States. Both men indicated that the job opportunities were far greater for them in American then in their home countries of El Salvador and Honduras.These men indicated that they are fully aware that they are discriminated against and oppressed here in the United States because of their legal status, and both m en reported feeling powerless to change the system without obtaining legal status to work freely in America. They reported subminimum wages and long hours as landscapers. They also reported that they often get taken advantage of by those â€Å"hiring† them for the day as laborers, as sometimes they are not paid at all and they feel they have no recourse under the legal system.The wages they do make are barely sufficient for them to live on, so they find themselves living in large group situations with other immigrants to pool their resources. They report that communal living in their only option for survival at this time, especially during the current economic depression. The few dollars they may have each month after their own basic needs are met are sent to their families in their homelands to assist them in meeting their basic living needs.They reported that they would need approximately two thousand dollars each to become documented, which is a tremendous and impossible a mount of money for them to save considering the meager earnings they have each month. The poor overall economic conditions of Latinos have a severely limiting effect on their ability to purchase a home and enjoy home ownership, which is touted as part of â€Å"success† here in America. Research indicates that Hispanic or Latino households have less than ten cents for every dollar in wealth owned by white households.Growing wage inequality makes it very difficult to emerge from the cycle of poverty or to accumulate assets and increase their net worth (News Batch, 2008, p. 1). Only one in four Latino households owns no assets other than a car or unsecured debt (Lowery, 2010, p. 1). In 2007, the median non-Hispanic white family reported $171,200 in net worth versus only $28,300 for non-white and Hispanic families. Latinos have been far more likely than whites to receive higher-priced loans, when they are given loans, and carry higher debt relative to their incomes.Loan approval is difficult for most Latinos in good economic times, and almost impossible in recessionary times. Communities of color commonly experience higher crime rates and lower tax bases than predominately white neighborhoods. Latinos are a relatively young group or population. They are not as highly educated, and they tend to be concentrated in high cost regions of the country, such as New York and California, where homeownership can be less attainable, or it forces them into low income neighborhoods. As well, in these areas, Latinos are much more likely to be immigrants (Dugan, 2004).In the current economic conditions the rates of foreclosures disproportionately impact communities of color. The income gap continues to deepen in America between the wealthy and the poor at an alarming rate, with the poorer class increasing in numbers with each passing year. Research indicates that these economic and social disparities stand to grow worse in the years to come, which further oppresses Latinos and other people of color. Not only are poor economic opportunities and access to adequate housing real issues for Latinos in America, heath care is a serious concern.Many Latinos work in menial jobs earning minimum wage or less. These jobs often do not offer health insurance benefits and the cost of purchasing health insurance is prohibitive for many Latinos and their families. Often they must rely upon government programs such as Medicaid, which is a needs based health insurance program for the indigent. This in turn leads to negative perceptions of Latinos â€Å"draining the system† and further fuels oppressive and discriminatory acts against them. Other contributing factors facing Latinos in the area of health related issues are poor diets and access to adequate nutrition.Research indicates that there are a disproportionately high number of fast food establishments in economically depressed areas in which predominately people of color reside (Freeman, 2007, p. 2225). Thi s leads to increased health risks, including heart disease, obesity, and diabetes in these populations. Low income families often cannot afford healthy, nutritious foods from grocery stores, and grocery stores are often not easily found in low income areas, whereas fast food establishments are plentiful (Freeman, 2007). This is a marginalizing factor that often goes unnoticed by society.Between 1991 and 2001, the obesity rate among Latinos has gone up from 11. 6% to 23. 7% within the United States. 23% of Hispanic men are obese, and 27. 5% of women are obese. These statistics are higher than those of non-Hispanics within the U. S. Also, Latinos are twice more likely to have diabetes and to suffer from various diabetes-related illnesses such as kidney and eye disease. Studies have found that these ailments can stem from poor eating habits, and tend to increase with immigration (Arizona State University, 2010).Lack of access to quality educational opportunities and support is another contributing factor to the oppression and marginalization of Latinos in American society. The high school dropout rate among Latinos is higher than any other minority group, with only four in ten high school aged students obtaining a high school diploma. The statistics for the Latino high school dropout rate in Nevada is currently one of the highest in the nation with only 42% of Latino students earning a high school diploma (Sitwell, 2010).Young men still have higher dropout rates then young women, however the gap is closing in this area, and society is seeing more young women exit the school setting without graduating from high school, which sets them up for a life time of menial employment opportunities and low wages. As well, research indicates that by age 26, thirty eight percent of white high school graduates have obtained a bachelor’s degree, in comparison to 18 percent of Hispanic high school graduates. The U. S. Department of Education identifies seven undergraduate attributes negatively associated with postsecondary degree attainment.The risk characteristics are delayed college entry, part-time attendance, financial independent status, single parent status, having dependents, not having a regular high school diploma, and working full-time. The average number of risk attributes for Latino undergraduates is 2. 4, in comparison to 2. 0 for white undergraduates. Often the level of education individuals obtain is directly related to their quality of life as they are better able to afford a higher standard of living with increased education. Many Latinos do not have the basic education required to ensure financial security in American society.One of the major barriers for Latinos obtaining adequate educational levels is in their use and understanding of the English language. For many Latino families, English is often a second language which makes it difficult for learning to take place in the American culture. Additionally, the recent political camp aigns here in Nevada offered a clear indication that political discrimination is rampant in our society. The recent negative political ads ran by candidate Sharon Angle were a blatant example of institutional discrimination against Latinos.The television ads ran by Sharon Angle for Senate showed Latinos dressed up as gang bangers with a narrator  warning â€Å"waves of illegal aliens are streaming across our borders, joining violent gangs and forcing families to live in fear†. These types of negative ads only enforce the long standing stereotypes about Latinos. The Latino population is split over whether immigrant and native-born Latinos are working together to achieve common political goals. About half (45%) say they are, and half (46%) say they are not.Both the native born (who comprise 47% of the adult Latino population) and the foreign born (who comprise 53%) are roughly equally divided on their perceptions of political solidarity. On every level, from the micro, mezzo and macro levels, Latinos face inequities as a result of our social system that supports it. As social workers we must be aware that the issues of oppression, marginalization and discrimination against Latinos are a result of a social system that promotes and justifies marginalizing others. We must look oward changing the systems that support oppression, rather than looking to change the people who are victims of the system. Push and Pull factors Latinos travel and migration to the United States can be understood in terms of pull and push factors, these factors that would pull Latinos to the United States include the Network theory, those who migrated first would help their family and friends come to US, who would then help others, and so on. The United States has higher living standards than some places in Mexico where some places the water is not safe to drink among other factors.The United States has higher wages, even those who make less than minimum wage make more than they cou ld make in some areas of Mexico. Factors that push Latinos out of their native country include shortage of jobs, unemployment, and low wages. Political conflicts are common in some areas of Latin America as well as government conflicts with drug rings, Latinos do not want to be caught in the middle of a conflict or have their family caught and so they migrate to the United States. These conflicts can also lead to forced displacement, especially in Central America where there is insufficient lands.Some countries in Latin America violate human rights, have high levels of corruption and crime. In Latin American countries there is often persistent poverty and parts of the population go hungry at times. Positive-Adjustment Factors Latinos have some positive adjustment factors for migration, such as a strong desire for a better life for their family. They have supportive families, especially when some family members have previously migrated. These family members help in many ways includin g lodging, food, networking, finding jobs, and financially.Friends also help in the ways mentioned above. With Latino’s becoming one of the largest minorities in the United States they are beginning to have a significant political voice. Negative- Adjustment Factors One the other hand there are also many negative adjustment for Latino’s who migrate to the United States. Stigmatization of Latino immigrants is common in the United States; Americans often assume that anyone who is Latino and doesn’t speak English perfectly is an illegal immigrant and look down on them. Institutionalized racism is another negative adjustment factor as well.Laws are being passed in Arizona that require Latino’s to carry documentation of their citizen status at all times. Latino’s are often segregated from other parts of the community because they live in the poorer neighborhoods with many other immigrants. The language difference often hinders communication and keeps La tino’s in lower class communities, where others speak Spanish. Because Latino’s are oriented on the present time they focus more on work the education which could increase their socio-economic status and help their adjustment to The United States.There is a lack of support for education that would help immigrants learn English or would help Latino children prepare for higher education. Because of this lack of education many Latino’s have low level or under skilled jobs. Society looks to place blame on individuals and groups in hard economic times rather than examine and blame hard times on a dysfunctional systems which is inherently imbalanced and discriminatory. A profound example of â€Å"blaming† can be witnessed with the recent passage of the Arizona law against Latino immigrants.These types of laws justify institutional discrimination and oppression against minorities (Goodwin, 2010). The vast majority of Latinos-79%-disapprove of the first-of-its-ki nd Arizona law enacted this year that gives police broad powers to check the immigration status of people. By contrast, the general population approves of the measure by a ratio of two-to-one. This amounts to racial profiling, and would not be tolerated by other ethnic groups. Research further indicates that 25 more states may try to pass similar anti-illegal-immigration laws next year (Goodwin, 2010).Misunderstanding of Cultural Values There are several misunderstanding of cultural value this is due to a lack of bilingual staff in agencies and organizations which lead to misunderstandings of cultural believes and values in our society. Language barriers: Lack of interpreters or bilingual staff available, Legal Status and Fear of deportation are many causes of lack of communication from Hispanics to service providers. Many of the Hispanics will be not be eligible for services for being undocumented, Lack of knowledge on how the US health care system works.They may think it’s cheaper to go to the ER than to a PCP, Many of the Hispanic families won’t have access to health insurance coverage. Latino children who are not US citizens or legal residents will not be eligible for the health insurance state programs, Lack of knowledge on how the US educational and legal system works. Hispanics may think they can’t file for protective orders or custody, Lack of information that leads to misconceptions about resources in the community. Many Hispanics may think that they are not eligible for WIC, Food Stamps, etc. his is anther misunderstanding but for many Hispanics a large majority who have children born in the United States or what is known by many as â€Å"Anchor Babies† may be eligible for government related services and assistance. Practice Issues As a service provide it is important to incorporate a positive environment to all cultures. Any and all services such as written materials and audiovisual tools should be presented in Spanish wh en available. When working in the Latino Culture it is important to follow a set of guidelines that focus on what makes the Latino Culture and those within it comfortable.As a Service provider using the guidelines below will help to effectively work within this culture. †¢ The effectiveness of word-of-mouth referrals to the center should be recommended. It is not uncommon that referrals are made because a neighbor or family member had been under treatment at the center. Once individuals and families are aware that the center offers low-cost mental-health services in Spanish and that the services offered are respectful of Latino values and beliefs, the good reputation becomes a viable source for future referrals and treatment compliance. validation, generational life reviews, and ceremonies and rituals.When working within the Latino culture it is important to focus on appropriate ways that incorporate an understanding of another’s culture. There are ways you can promote a comfortable environment using the guidelines below. One can have a clearer understanding of what can be done and what cannot. ? Strive to spell and pronounce names correctly. ? Don’t assume all Latino’s are Mexican ask of origin and recognize differences among Latino culture. ? Avoid asking if a person speaks â€Å"Mexican or† Puerto Rican†. Spanish is Spanish. ? Use qualified interpreters. Children should never be asked to act as interpreters. Try to learn Spanish. Speaking in Spanish facilitates a greater level of comfort. ? Identify and address the decision-maker or spokesperson, the Patriarch and Matriarch. ? Be formal in interactions with older Hispanic. ? Encourage the family to ask questions. Explain thoroughly and confirm understanding. ? Check to make sure recommendations will fit into the family lifestyle. ? And finally listening is the key ? Use Spanish words you know when comfortable. Latino Education In our current educational system there ha ve been some studies that discuss the differences with Mexican American children and American children.To better understand these differences one must first identify that Mexican American Children have a different learning style. There are four important aspects that can improve the way that these children learn. These four aspects are; Environmental Learning Style, Emotional Learning Style, Physiological and Sociological Learning Style. They may be homesick for their families, friends, language, and customs. Economic survival is the primary concern for immigrant families. Teachers need to recognize that it is likely that the children of these newly arrived Hispanic families will be motivated, hard-working students.Their parents have sacrificed their old life to provide a better life for them and their children. Immigrant children might suffer from culture shock when arriving to the United States. They may be homesick for their families, friends, language, and customs. Many times th e need for economic survival is the primary concern for immigrant families. Empowering Teachers Teachers need to develop a multicultural curriculum that celebrates Mexican Americans for their Mexican American students. The following contributed to the effectiveness of teaching Mexican American students: ?Teachers who accepted full responsibility for helping students. ? Teachers who were extremely caring and nurturing to students. ? The encouragement of collaborative learning. ? Student access to a wide variety of learning materials. ? If allowed in a teacher’s school district, the utilization of both Spanish and English when needed to enhance learning. Conclusion Latinos are politically marginalized and oppressed in the United States. Inequity is the virtually inevitable result of two powerful forces: prejudice on the level of the individual and political imbalance on the social level.Through Building Effective Communications, Increase Partnerships between schools and Latino Hispanic Communities, Establish linkages and dialogue, and Seed new initiatives that foster change with immigration reform. We can begin building a better foundation for current and future immigrants. Research indicates that when sources of inequity are built into the social system, resulting differences are neither trivial nor discrete. Such inequities persist over time and space. Often, the inequities and oppression is blamed on the discriminated-against (Power Inequities by M.Dugan). Mexican American students face many challenges. Many are from poor backgrounds. Their families may lack the communication skills, knowledge, and experience to take advantage of educational, cultural, and social opportunities. Some Mexican American students are newly arrived immigrants who may experience culture shock and limited English proficiency. However, with proper education that includes caring teachers who have high expectations for these students, Mexican American students can become high ach ieving, successful adults.ReferencesIssue Brief). Retrieved from The American Independent News Network: http://minnesotaindependent. com/60416/foreclosure-crisis-race Arizona State University. (2010).Latino Health Issues: Diet and Health. Retrieved from Arizona State University: College of Liberal Arts : http://www. asu. edu/courses/css335/ Bergad, L. W. , & Klein, H. S. (2010).Hispanics in the United States: A demographic, social, and economic history, 1980-2005. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Dugan, M. A. (204, February 2004).Power Inequities (White Paper). Retrieved from Beyond Intractability: http://www. beyondintractability. org/essay/power_inequities/ Freeman, A. (2007). Fast Food: Oppression through Poor Nutrition. California Law Review, 6, 2221-2259. Goodwin, L. (2010, October 28, 2010).Report: 25 states considering Arizona-style immigration laws. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www. nytimes. com/2010/04/24/us/politics/24immig. html

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Introduction to Forensic Science

1. What is the NIBIN? NIBIN is the National Integrated Ballistic Identification Network that was created by the FBI and the ATF in 1999. 2. What is rifling? What two types of markings does this produce? Rifling is when each gun is given spiral grooves by the manufacturer. The spiral grooves are cut into the barrel of a gun in order to make a bullet spin as it is fired. Rifling produces grooves and lands. 3. What is a distance determination? How is this done? A distance determination is the process of estimating the distance between where a shot is fired and its target.This is often done by looking at the patterns of powder residue and the shot pattern. 4. What is the Greiss Test? The Greiss Test uses chemicals to develop gunpowder residue patterns, particularly around bullet holes. 5. When a bullet is retrieved, how is it marked for identification purposes? What should be avoided? Once a bullet has been retrieved, it is usually marked with the investigator's initials, often at the ti p or base of the bullet. The sides of the bullet should not be marked.Care has to be taken that this mark does not cover or obscure any striations or markings on the bullet. Critical Thinking Questions 1. If you found a firearm at a crime scene, what steps would you take in order to transport the weapon to the lab? First, I would make a note about the position of the gun’s safety and hammer. Then, I would need to unload the gun before it is transported or handled in analysis. Finally, I would take each round from the firearm and place it in a separate envelope. 2. Why do you think it might be useful to know the distance between a gun fired and its target?It would be useful to know the distance because if you know the distance, you might be able to find more clues as to who committed the crime based on where they shot the victim. 3. If you were in charge of retrieving bullets at a crime scene, what steps would you take to retrieve a bullet and take it to the crime lab? If I we re in charge of retrieving bullets at a crime scene I would first have to find a way to remove the bullet out while preserving any possible markings on the bullet. Then the bullets can be placed into a marked container for identification purposes.Then to transport the bullet to the crime laboratory, I’d wrap the bullet in tissue paper and placed in an envelope or pillbox. I would have to be careful with the handling and packaging of the bullet, because I would have to be careful to preserve any trace evidence that might be present on the bullet. 4. What are some of the challenges in analyzing tool marks? Some of the challenges in analyzing tool marks is it is difficult to duplicate the mark left by tools through tests in the laboratory and tool marks may not always give individual characteristics. 5. What is the Doppler Effect?How can the Doppler Effect be useful for a forensic investigation involving a shooting? It is important for a forensic scientist to determine the dista nce from a gun to a shooter because in some cases a defendant accused of murder may say that the shooting happened in self-defense. Figuring out the distance between the two individuals may give an indication of whether the defendant is telling the truth or not. Similarly, knowing an approximate distance of a shot can help forensic scientists determine if a death was a suicide or a homicide made to look like a suicide. Introduction to Forensic Science 1. What is the NIBIN? NIBIN is the National Integrated Ballistic Identification Network that was created by the FBI and the ATF in 1999.2. What is rifling? What two types of markings does this produce? Rifling is when each gun is given spiral grooves by the manufacturer. The spiral grooves are cut into the barrel of a gun in order to make a bullet spin as it is fired. Rifling produces grooves and lands.3. What is a distance determination? How is this done? A distance determination is the process of estimating the distance between where a shot is fired and its target. This is often done by looking at the patterns of powder residue and the shot pattern.4. What is the Greiss Test? The Greiss Test uses chemicals to develop gunpowder residue patterns, particularly around bullet holes.5. When a bullet is retrieved, how is it marked for identification purposes? What should be avoided? Once a bullet has been retrieved, it is usually marked with the investigator's initials, often at the tip o r base of the bullet. The sides of the bullet should not be marked. Care has to be taken that this mark does not cover or obscure any striations or markings on the bullet. Critical Thinking Questions1. If you found a firearm at a crime scene, what steps would you take in order to transport the weapon to the lab? First, I would make a note about the position of the gun’s safety and hammer. Then, I would need to unload the gun before it is transported or handled in analysis. Finally, I would take each round from the firearm and place it in a separate envelope.2. Why do you think it might be useful to know the distance between a gun fired and its target? It would be useful to know the distance because if you know the distance, you might be able to find more clues as to who committed the crime based on where they shot the victim.3. If you were in charge of retrieving bullets at a crime scene, what steps would you take to retrieve a bullet and take it to the crime lab? If I were i n charge of retrieving bullets at a crime scene I would first have to find a way to remove the bullet out while preserving any possible markings on the bullet. Then the bullets can be placed into a marked container for identification purposes. Then to transport the bullet to the crime laboratory, I’d wrap the bullet in tissue  paper and placed in an envelope or pillbox. I would have to be careful with the handling and packaging of the bullet, because I would have to be careful to preserve any trace evidence that might be present on the bullet.4. What are some of the challenges in analyzing tool marks?  Some of the challenges in analyzing tool marks is it is difficult to duplicate the mark left by tools through tests in the laboratory and tool marks may not always give individual characteristics.5. What is the Doppler Effect? How can the Doppler Effect be useful for a forensic investigation involving a shooting? It is important for a forensic scientist to determine the dis tance from a gun to a shooter because in some cases a defendant accused of murder may say that the shooting happened in self-defense. Figuring out the distance between the two individuals may give an indication of whether the defendant is telling the truth or not. Similarly, knowing an approximate distance of a shot can help forensic scientists determine if a death was a suicide or a homicide made to look like a suicide.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

The Many Roads to Perdition

The Many Roads to Perdition Free Online Research Papers Michael Sullivan Jr. is the son of an enforcer for John Rooney, an Irish American crime boss in the Midwest during the great depression. Our first sight of Michael is in the opening of the movie when he is riding his bike to a local convenience store to get paid for a paper route that he has just completed. While Michael is waiting for the store owner to get his pay for the day, he swipes a chocolate bar from the front desk. This lets the audience know that the current economic climate is a dismal one and that the Depression was in fact Great. Michael Jr. is very curious as to what his dad does. He knows that he goes on dangerous missions for John Rooney, an Irish mob boss who treats the Sullivans as his own, but he still doesn’t know what he does exactly. So on a stormy night he decides to stow away in the backseat of his father’s car in order to find out his father supports the family. Michael Sr. and his associate, Connor Rooney, go to a warehouse to have a meeting with Finn McGovern, one of John Rooney’s partners. The meeting goes awry when Connor shoots McGovern and Michael Sr. has to take out two body guards with his Thompson submachine gun, Michael Jr. sees it all through a hole in the warehouse wall. After Michael Sr. and Connor find out that Michael Jr. had seen the whole thing happen, Connor questions if Jr. can or cannot keep quiet about what he witnessed. Sullivan swears that his son can keep a secret but Connor tries to make sure of it on a failed attempt to kill Sullivan, in turn he kills his wife and youngest son. After this, Michael Sr. and Jr. flee the city and make their way to Chicago in order to ask for assistance from Al Capone, but is rejected by Capone’s right hand man, Frank Nitti. The rejection leads Michael Sr. into robbing Chicago banks of Capone’s money; his plan is to trade the money back to Capone for information of Connor’s whereabouts. When Capone and Nitti hear about Sullivan’s robberies, Harlen Maguire is hired to kill Sullivan. Michael Sr. takes a bullet to the shoulder during a fast paced and thrilling gunfight with Maguire. Luckily, Sullivan taught his son to drive and they head to the countryside where they are both taken in by an elderly farm couple. When Michael Sr. is fully recovered he is ready for his revenge on Rooney. John Rooney was a father figure to Sullivan, the killing of Rooney signified the beginning of a new, but short-lived chapter in Sullivan’s life. After Rooney is dead, Nitti figures that there is no need to hide Connor any longer and gives Sullivan his location and Michael Sullivan finally does what he set out to do, kill Connor Rooney. After this, the Sullivans make their way to Perdition, Michigan, where Michael Sr.’s sister in law’s summer home is. Upon arriving at the home, unsurprisingly, Maguire is waiting for them and he shoots Michael Sr. as he is admiring the view of the lake. In a dying effort Sullivan shoots Maguire and Michael Jr. is left alone. Michael makes his way back to the countryside and is raised by the elderly couple. The acting in Road to Perdition is some of the best that I have seen in a movie in a long time. Michael Sullivan, played by Tom Hanks, has a father-son relationship with John Rooney, played by Paul Newman. Rooney took Sullivan in as a child and raised him as one of his own along with his biological son, Connor Rooney, played by Daniel Craig. After Rooney turns on Sullivan and tries to have him killed, Sullivan has to kill Rooney in order for the continuous murder attempts to stop. When the two finally meet in the middle of the street on a rainy and cold Midwest night, Rooney tells Sullivan that he is glad that the person to kill him is Sullivan. Upon shooting Newman’s character, Hanks’ body language is flawless. You can tell in his facial expressions that killing Rooney is the right thing to do and what he must do, but not necessarily what he wants to do. To lose someone so close to you by your own will is unimaginable, but somehow Hanks can pull off this scene with per fection. The audience can tell by the look in Hanks’ eyes that what Sullivan is doing is eating him alive inside, but he carries out the deed. Hanks’ Sullivan is a quiet man who keeps his emotions to himself who does whatever it takes to keep food on the table and he’s happy to do whatever his boss, John Rooney, tells him. Rooney took Sullivan in as a child and was a surrogate father to him; Hanks and Newman are somewhat of a dynamic duo in the movie. You can sense a real emotional tie between them when both of them are participating in a piano duet at the wake in the beginning of the film. Newman treats the Sullivan boys as if they were his own grandsons when he portrays Rooney, asking them for hugs with a warm smile. â€Å"Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some urgent business with these young gentlemen,† is what Newman’s Rooney tells Sullivan as he takes his two boys to shoot a game of dice. But we quickly see Newman switch from a family man to a stone cold mobster when he orders a hit on Sullivan, a son in his eyes. Connor Rooney, who is played by Daniel Craig, is John Rooney’s real son who feels that his father favors Sullivan more than him and Craig does a spectacular job of portraying to role of a jealous and immature son. When Hanks’ Sullivan confronts Rooney for the first time in the middle of the church, they head down to the basement of the church to talk in private. It’s appropriate that they choose the basement for their meeting, being below the church representing Hell where Rooney says later that the both of them are destined to go after they die. Sullivan reveals to Rooney that Connor has been stealing from him for years, keeping the accounts under names of dead men like Finn McGovern. Sullivan thinks that by telling Rooney this that he will forsake Connor and give up his location, but Rooney does not. Instead he protects both of his sons by keeping Connor’s information to himself and telling Michael to flee unless he wants to be harmed. For a movie known for its cinematographic beauty, the dialogue in this scene is awesome. Newman speaks with authority and eloquence as Rooney tells Sullivan to run and make sure that Michael Jr. isn’t tainted by the sinful lifestyl e that surrounds him. Sullivan then threatens Rooney that, â€Å"†¦they’re protecting him (Connor) now, but when you are gone they’re not going to need him anymore.† Hanks delivers this line with a stiff and straight face, letting Rooney know that if he doesn’t tell him Connor’s location that eventually he will die for it. Rooney still doesn’t give up the information telling Sullivan that Connor is no different from either of them, trying to make Sullivan believe that Connor is equal to him. The speech in this scene is powerful and could only be delivered by such talented actors as Newman and Hanks. Symbolism is a big part in Road to Perdition, which isn’t a surprise if you have seen American Beauty that was also directed by Sam Mendes. During the scene where Sullivan kills Rooney, you cannot hear any of the shots being fired, but only music. Rooney attempts to open the door to his car and sees that his driver has taken a turn for the worst. The driver falls forward in his seat and his head presses against the horn. You can tell by the look on Rooney’s face that he knows what is about to happen. One by one Rooney’s goons drop and all we can see is Sullivan’s signature Tommy Gun blazing in the dark corner of the street, although there is only music playing we still know everything that is going on. The rain is falling and it is pitch black, quite a fitting scene for a mass murder. Michael Sullivan emerges from the shadows and confronts Rooney, the first and only words of the whole scene are spoken in which Rooney tells Sullivan that he is glad that the person to kill him is Sullivan. Sullivan takes out Rooney and the scene ends. For a scene with only four words, it is beautifully done. After a botched meeting with Finn McGovern ends with Connor killing the McGovern and Sullivan taking out the two body guards via his Tommy Gun is witnessed by Michael Jr. Connor questions whether or not Michael Jr. can keep quiet. Connor attempts to murder the father and son but instead takes out the youngest son Peter and Sullivan’s wife, Anne. Michael Jr. arrives home and sees the aftermath of Connor’s visit and is apparently in shock. When Sullivan Sr. arrives home from almost being â€Å"wacked† he sees that Michael Jr. is sitting at the table and right away knows that something has gone terribly wrong. Sullivan makes his way to the bathroom and when he sees what Connor has done he breaks down. The look on the face of Michael Jr. is unremarkable and chilling; it is a look of utter disbelief and despair. It is through this that the audience can get a grasp on how seeing the bodies of his deceased mother and brother have affected him. He doesn’t shed a s ingle tear until his father departs him in the church and he is alone and all of his thoughts catch up with him, Michael Jr. had to grow up very quickly in a very short period of time. There are many ways to take in Road to Perdition, but there is one theme that holds true in the end of the movie and that is that living a sinful lifestyle does have its consequences. Sullivan is trying to keep his son on the path of righteousness and protect him from the many evils that surround him and his family. â€Å"†¦there is only one guarantee: none of us will see heaven.† Is what Rooney tells Sullivan in the basement of the church. Sullivan then tells Rooney that Michael Jr. could. They make their way to Perdition, MI and all seems right. Finally they think that they can stop worrying about the constant threats that have been bombarding their lives ever since Connor murdered Anne and Peter. What they don’t know is that Maguire is waiting in the lake house for Michael Jr. and Sr. to walk in so he can finish the job that Rooney gave him. Michael Jr. is outside with the dog admiring the view as his father is doing the same, but from inside the house. Maguire shoots Sullivan in the back; Sullivan didn’t have the slightest clue. Michael Jr. walks in to see his father drenched in blood on the floor. In Sullivan’s last acts he shoots Maguire before he can harm and before Michael Jr. has the opportunity to pull the trigger on Maguire, the movie ends shortly after. Connor, Rooney, Maguire, and Sullivan all had the consequences of their actions shown in the film. All of those men’s lives were filled with crime, sin, and violence. No matter how hard they tried to avoid them, the consequences for their decisions caught up to them when it was all said and done. Michael Jr. had a clean slate and a pure conscience, which is why Sullivan tries so hard to keep Michael Jr. innocent and lead him on the path of morality and not a road to perdition. Research Papers on The Many Roads to PerditionNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceAnalysis Of A Cosmetics AdvertisementTwilight of the UAWCanaanite Influence on the Early Israelite ReligionThe Hockey GameCapital PunishmentBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm X19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraWhere Wild and West MeetThe Fifth Horseman

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Edna St. Vincent Millays My Candle Burns at Both Ends

Edna St. Vincent Millay's My Candle Burns at Both Ends When award-winning poet  Edna St. Vincent Millay  died of a heart attack on Oct. 19, 1950, the New York Times noted that she was well known for crafting a poem that ended my candle burns at both ends. The newspaper of record pointed out that critics viewed the line of verse as frivolous, but that hadnt stopped Millay from surfacing as an idol of the younger generation during the 1920s. Today, the poet,  born on Feb.  22, 1892, is no longer an idol to youth, but her poetry is widely taught in schools.  She remains an inspiration to both feminists and the LGBT community. With this brief overview of Millays frivolous work, First Fig, the poem in which the candle line appears, get a better understanding of the verses context and its reception after it was published. Text of First Fig First Fig appeared in Millays poetry collection  A Few Figs from Thistles: Poems and Four  Sonnets, which debuted in  1920. It was just the young poets second collection of poems. Her first, Renascence: and other poems, came out three years earlier.  The critics who dismissed First Fig had no idea that Millay would go on to win the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1923 for  The Ballad of the Harp Weaver. She was only the third woman to win the Pulitzer in the poetry category. Perhaps because First Fig was just a single stanza, it was easily memorized and came to be the work with which Millay is most associated. The poem is as follows: My candle burns at both endsIt will not last the night;But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends -It gives a lovely light. First Fig Analysis and Reception Because First Fig is such a short poem, its easy to think that theres not much to it, but that isnt the case. Think about what it means to have a candle that burns at both ends. Such a candle burns twice as fast as other candles.  Then, think about what a candle may represent. It could symbolize Millays erotic passions, giving the poem an entirely different context. Someone whose desires burn out twice as quickly as anothers may not make for a longtime love but is certainly more passionate than the average mate. According to the Poetry Foundation,  A Few Figs from Thistles cemented Millays reputation of  madcap youth and rebellion, provoking the disapproval of critics. The collection is known for its   flippancy, cynicism and frankness, the foundation notes. More Work by Millay While Millay made a name for herself with Figs, critics seem to think that her next poetry collection,  Second April  (1921), is a better reflection of her skills as a poet. The volume contains both free verse and sonnets, which Millay excelled at as a poet.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Communcation Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Communcation - Assignment Example Distinctive channels have diverse qualities and shortcoming. 4. Decoder: Decoder translates the encoded message to recover the original message. This procedure has to be correct and accurate, or else the message is lost completely. This encoding and decoding will be exceptionally help full in military and versatile correspondences. a) Super Low and Extra Low Frequency bands (SLF and ELF) normally occur natural. This can be very long antennae used by electricity authorities, called power lines radiating 50 or 60 Hz. The signal is experienced as hum. The largest natural source of this radio wave is the interaction between the solar wind and the ionosphere, which results in low frequency currents in the earth and oceans. They are usually studied by geophysicists to understand, inter alia, the availability of ore deposits whose electrical conductance is different from that of the surrounding crust. Like ULF (As illustrated in b) below), these bands achieve applications in communication with submarines, and uses very low information rates. b) 300 Hz - 3 kHz. Ultra Low Frequency (ULF). Water or the earth does not readily consume electromagnetic waves occurring in this range. As such, they might be utilized to communicate among or with submarines and with mines. One drawback is that, with such low frequencies, one can only be in a position to modulate the amplitude sufficiently so they cannot convey much data. This is not a disservice if the stage is needed, as is the situation for systems used for navigation. The wavelengths are long to the point that radio wires may be very long. d) 30 - 300 kHz. Low Frequency (LF). This band advantageous since waves can be propagated around the Earth, using refraction and reflections within the ionosphere or the earth surface. For this reason, these two wave channels form a waveguide for the radio waves in this range, which can hence be tapped for communication purposes across the oceans and around the world. e)