Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Australian Values Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Australian Values - Essay Example roup characterized by common residence, economic cooperation, and reproduction." Murdock states that the families universally perform certain functions in the society in order to be of existence. He identified four critical functions that families ought to fulfill, namely the sexual, reproduction, educational and economic function (Bottomley, 1985). However, through industrialization and development in technology, the family in the present modern society is undergoing alterations. In this essay, we will discuss the changes in respect to Murdochs theory of the four functions the family performs. The sexual function claims that two individuals set up a family as the family is a legitimate platform for the bearing and rearing of children, and marriage is the accepted union for sexual relationships between two adults in society (Aspin, 1982). This is proclaimed to be beneficial to social order as the family allows sexual expression between a couple and regulates sexual activity in ways that foster a disciplined society (Bessant and Watts, 2002). However, improved methods of contraception allow people to indulge in sexual activity even when they are not in a marriage. Also, there seemed to be greater acceptance to de facto relationships, as noted from the increase in cohabitation between Australian couples. Statistics shows that in 1975, only 16% of couples cohabitated prior to marriage, the figures then increased to 27% in 1983 and in the year 2003, it shot to an alarmingly 75% (ABS, 2004). In deviance to Murdocks claim, sexual activity is no longer confined to a legalized uni on. The willingness of couples to live together in a sexual relationship without the formality of a marriage contract marks a major shift in family patterns (Briggs, 1994). People are resources to the society and people are the constitutes of a society. The family enables the making of a society by producing and rearing children to substitute people who die off (Strong and Devault, 1986). The

Monday, October 28, 2019

Library system Essay Example for Free

Library system Essay Introduction The world of Information Technology transformed and made the life of human beings easier through the innovation of different machines and software applications. Faster and reliable sources have been offered by search engines which are all over the web. But even though this is the case, many schools and universities are still requiring their students to use library materials in their researches and school works. From the statement of purpose, the compute’rized library system: meeting information needs of the people of Saint Michael College of Caraga, Nasipit, Agusan del Norte. Our proposed system, the Saint Michael College of Caraga Library Management System, is a system wherein there is no need of manual library transactions. This will carry out different processes such as searching books, keep records of the books, borrowing of books and return of books. Hence, at present, Saint Michael College of Caraga is maintaining the School Library in a manual basis. Handling bulky records in a manual method is very difficult. And the process of updating could not be done easily and accurately. Likewise, a manual procedure of handling bulky record is very slow and is prone to manual errors. Consequently, it is proposed that Saint Michael College of Caraga shall maintain an electronic data base management system (DBMS) for the purpose of maintaining the records of the School Library for easy, fast and accurate processing and maintenance of these records that will enhance management decisions and for the improvement of its services to all the stakeholders of Saint Michael College of Caraga. Library is regarded as the brain of any institute; many institutes understand the importance of the library to the growth of the institute and their esteem users (students). Library Management System of Saint Michael College of Caraga supports the general requirement of the library like acquisition, cataloguing, circulation that offers many flexible and convenient features, allowing librarians and library users to maximize time and efficiency. Library System gives the all detailed information about students, staff and books. It will track on the how many books available in library and books issued to the students. It shows popular book among the students. It will provide book lost in library. It keeps the record of the suppliers and book binders. It generates MIS reports for management. Our software is customizable for any library requirement. In this chapter we take opportunity to consider changes in the library services, not in terms of minor, short term change in equilibrium of the sort just noted above, but in longer term. There has been continuing concern about the future of the libraries. Given the extent to which the provision used and the libraries are influenced by the social environment, and given possibilities by the use of new information technology; it would be unreasonable to expect libraries to remain  static. But if not, what would be the nature of the change? The issue is not whether there is a change but what will be the change. If we are to make a claim to understand the nature of library services, the surely we ought to have notions, some forecasts, about how library system might change. Purpose and Description In setting up a library, one aspect that should be considered, what are the resources the library has and what are the ways to provide a better service to the students? Well, one of the easiest ways is having a system to organize all the transactions in the library. A library system is software that will handle basic and systematic organization of function in the library. The system would provide basic set of features to add/update student’s information, add/update books information, search for books and manage check-in/check-out processes. In this application we can maintain the records of students and books and enable to determine how many books are issued and likewise determine the available books in the library. The proposed library system will greatly improve the efficiency of the school library. This study has the following hypothesis: The profiles of the respondents taken are their names, Student ID Number, Year and Course, and Title and Author of the Book Borrowed. The manual system is very time consuming, inconvenient when it comes to recording, organizing and retrieving borrower’s record in the log book. There are few solutions but many a times, we making them works by finding ways to work around system inadequacies. Moreover we have limited staff resources, these work around waste time, effort, and skills that should be spent on user services. solutions do not keep up with the technological changes and hence prove to be time wasters. Library Management system is a small footprint software suitable for personal /individual Libraries. You can store the information about the books and other material and control the movement of the same. Silent Features †¢ Control the movement of books and other material and avoid losing the same. †¢ Search if you have a specific book in your collection based on t he title, author etc. †¢ Print the spine labels for the book. †¢ Find what a specific person has borrowed from you. Objectives The main objective of the application is to automate the existing system of manually maintain the records of the Book Issue, Book Return from the student, Stock Maintenance, and Book Search to be computerized. And to develop a database which stores user details and book details, give reliable search facility for the user, create an easy to understand user friendly environment. So the Book Issue, Return, Searching will be faster. This application can be used by any Library to automate the process of manually maintaining the records related to the subject of maintaining the stock  and Book Issues. The general objective of this study is to design and develop a library system that will serve as a proposal to help librarians save time with the automation of its daily operation. Specific Objectives: †¢To computerize records keeping of books; †¢To allow librarians to retrieve complete information of the book and its borrowers. †¢To check the availability of the books and penalties. †¢To search, issue and return of books. †¢It can only be utilized by the librarian Scope and Limitation The study only focuses on the Information Technology Library Management System of  Saint Michael College of Caraga. Without computers, as some libraries are, all of them are dependent on paper work. When compared to computerized systems, data backup and data retrieval systems are inefficient and labor intensive. Users of a paper based system become almost wholly reliant on the librarians, for all levels of service, whether they are enquiries about existing books, inter-library loans, or the availability of books. There is additionally no real involvement of a user in the entire process. The transactions that the system accommodates are the attendance of every student that  enter the library, book registration and deletion, updating book information and searching thesis references, Borrowing of books, and keeping the record of transaction. Review of Related Literature This chapter contains the relevant outline of literatures related to the study of Library system. This study composed of programming languages, Database and Graphical User Interface (GUI) that is used in the system. This system would be used by members who may be students or professors of that University to check the availability of the books and borrow the books using  automated device, and by the librarian to update the databases. Thepurposeofthisdocumentistoanalyzeandelaborateonthehigh-levelneedsand features of the Library Management System. It focuses on the capabilities and facilities provided by a Library. The details of what all are the needs of the Library Management System and if it fulfils these needs are detailed in the use-case and supplementary specifications. Automated book monitoring system helps to reduce the effect of entering the wrong quantity and the amount of staff time devoted to repetitive activities. Related Studies  According to ACRL (1994) suggested that institution should be prepared to utilized new technologies for accessing information as they are developed. This is why operating the library operations is quite a welcome idea. According to Jeff Kaplan (05/08/2007 A new generation of automated network management software and services is helping in-house staff address this challenge. These let network professionals establish regular patch-management procedures to safeguard against escalating security threats; and create system monitoring routines to identify load imbalances, which could cause service disruptions or performance problems. They also discover, inventory and track assets to make sure that hardware and software licenses are up-to-date and that problems can be resolved faster. According to Voustin Sweere (Aug. 2001) Nowadays every book keeping system used in practice is automated. Most book keeping software an integrated information system are based on database. In this paper, we develop a conceptual book keeping model which is not based on manual techniques, but which is applicable in database environment. Technical Background In this chapter, it provides an overview of all the overall system design, features and  functionalities. The system is design to implement a computerize library management system in Saint Michael College of Caraga. This system consists of one user, the administrator. The administrator can access the system by having first the login security which they have to input his/her user name and password. Once the inputted username and password did not match, the required/registered information it displays â€Å"Invalid Username and Password†. If the username and password match the registered information, the next form will display depending on the role of the administrator.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

penning a legacy :: essays research papers

Penning a Legacy is a significant title because the article speaks about William Penn and the lasting legacy of him and the colony that he had started. He is a legacy because he stood up for what he believed in even when he was imprisoned. He started a government from scratch in his colony, which was named after his father. In his colony all faiths were looked at as equal.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In this article William Penn is looked at as a legend. He was born on October 14, 1644. His father was an Admiral who was close friends with King Charles II. The King constantly borrowed money from the Admiral. Penn was kicked out of Oxford then sent by his father to Paris to study abroad. When Penn returned he had adopted the lifestyle of a Quaker. He believed that every man was equal. Being well educated and smarter then most he began to write pamphlets and publish them. Penn was ridiculed in the pamphlet, which in turn started verbal attacks. This led to Penn’s incarceration. He was imprisoned in a tower for nine months. Threatened by life in prison, Penn refused to back down. He was released from jail due to his father’s connection to the King. In 1672 Penn married Gulielma Springett and had seven children. In the 1670’s Penn switched his attention to the New World.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Penn’s father died without ever collecting the debt owed to him from the king. In 1680 Penn asked the King for a piece of land in the New World in exchange for a settled debt. The King agreed and named the piece of land Pennsylvania. After Penn moved there he had the unsettling task of establishing a government. He mandated his own constitution having freedom of religion, voting rights, and penal reform. When arriving in the new land, Penn made a treaty with the Indians wishing to live in harmony.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After living on the land for two years Penn ran into trouble with neighboring colony Maryland, and retreated back to England. Upon returning home Penn came to the conclusion that his financial advisor defrauded him, therefore leaving Penn with serious debt. At age 63 Penn was imprisoned again in debtor’s prison.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Historical Interpretations Role in The of a national or international policy for Cultural Heritage Protection Essay

The main difference between approaches to Cultural Heritage Protection, as discussed by Muller, namely between â€Å"object-centrism† and â€Å"functionalism† is associated with the fact that the first approach regards the cultural object and its protection as a value in its own right, while the latter focuses on the cultural object in the context of its meaning for society and its processes of acculturation and socialization. Object-centrism advocates primacy of the cultural object rather than its value, be it artistic or economic (Muller, 1998). Artworks of the past are seen as valuable treasures, and the integrity of entire set of objects produced by a certain culture has to be protected. Object-centrism scholars â€Å"focus on the primacy of the heritage object, considering that it has a value existing independently of people that should not be susceptible to any change† (Loulanski, 2006, p. 215). This approach also argues for the necessity of protection of information about a given culture, and cultural objects serve as a source of such information. Thus, while archaeology is a typical example of the philosophy of object-centrism, anthropology also fits in the picture by virtue of preserving information and data about cultures. As concerns the answer to the question which is at the heart of the debate on Cultural Heritage Protection, namely whether nation state or international community should be the guardian of cultural heritage, object-centrism only cares about the safety and integrity of the cultural object and not the nature of its stewardship. Proponents of object-centrism argue that practical value of the cultural object is hard to determine, since it might have little utility now but be of great importance for future generations. And in the light of little connection between ancient and modern societies, ancient heritage is worth preservation in it own right. However, this approach has come in for much criticism: â€Å"Although the object-centric approach seems more sensible for guaranteeing the rights of existence for all cultural heritage, and modern because it prioritizes the integrity of cultural heritage, it proves to be somewhat illogical and unrealistic† (Loulanski, 2006, p. 216). Cultural objects are inherently connected to human societies and histories, thus it is unproductive to view them outside of their natural context. Rather than regarding heritage as a set of cultural objects, it should be regarded in the light of public good it is able to create: â€Å"Increasingly cultural heritage is seen as a much broader phenomenon which can contribute to political ideals, to economic prosperity and to social cohesion† (Council of Europe, 2000, p. 3). Cultural heritage has been linked to national unity, citizenship, appreciation of diversity, cultural identity and memory, amenity, sustainable development and quality of life. Graham (2002) suggests â€Å"the concept of heritage as a social construction, imagined, defined and articulated within cultural and economic practice† (p. 1003). In my view, functionalism is a more productive approach to cultural heritage protection. However, it poses dome difficulties for historical interpretation, since it denies the idea that cultural objects have value in their own right. Each nation has its own approach to assigning value to and defining functions of cultural objects. Thus, international community might disagree with interpretations suggested by nation stares. It imperative to separate historical interpretation from other forms of interpretation: â€Å"Historical interpretation must be based on a multidisciplinary archaeological and/or historical study of the site and its surroundings, yet must also indicate clearly and honestly where conjecture, hypothesis or philosophical reflection begin† (Pathways to Cultural Landscapes, 2002 p. 5). The solution to the problem is to engage all interested stakeholders in the process of historical interpretation, be they different groups within one society or different countries in the global community.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

A Borderless World Does Not Preclude the Idea of a Home

A Borderless World Does Not Preclude the Idea of a Home The speech given by Patricia Evangelista was mainly about nationalism. According to her, a borderless world does not preclude or rule out one’s idea of a home. It is about being proud and appreciating our own country and appreciating even ourselves. A â€Å"borderless world† refers to an open world which can bring influences upon people. It may bring about changes in their culture, beliefs, traditions and others. There are many reasons why people, especially Filipinos, migrate to other countries. One of them is poverty. Most Filipinos think that if they go to other countries, they will have a happy and comfortable life. Many Filipinos are working abroad instead of working in the Philippines, their own country. There are a lot of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) especially in the Middle East. There are also others serving as domestic helpers, care givers, nurses, etc. The main cause for this is probably because the salary offered in other countries is higher compared to that in the Philippines. In spite of these, there are also Filipinos who became successful in other countries that are still here in the Philippines. Some may have been famous in the field of science and sports. Others may have been popular singers and actors or actresses. I was just like the speaker when I was little. I usually imagine myself being white and blonde; similar to what I see when I watch the television. While I grow older, I slowly learned to appreciate and be contented of myself. I also learned to love and be used of the country’s traditions and beliefs. I am proud to be a Filipino, and I am a true Filipino at heart.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

A Successful Life essays

A Successful Life essays Dr. Temple Grandin has a disorder known as autism. What this means is that words are translated into pictures in her mind. This disorder has made life into a struggle for her because she is not able to understand words very easily. Words are like that of a second language to her. That is why I find it incredible that she has written such an awesome book. Thinking in Pictures, her third book, is about her life, and the hardships and joys that she has encountered because of autism. I have come to the conclusion that Dr. Grandin must be a very dedicated person from what I have read. The specific topic of this book is what the life of an autistic person is like. She really seems to tell her life story in this book. She helps the reader visualize her life and the struggles that were in it. She might not call them struggles though. I believe that to her autism was just an obstacle in life and she seems to have went right around it. I think that the reason she wrote her book was to help people better understand what an autistic person has to deal with. She has found a way to get around her problems unlike many other people with this disorder, so I believe she is kind of speaking for all the people with autism in the world. What I mean by this is that some autistic people are not able to explain themselves due to their disorder, and her book does this for them. For me, it was obvious that Dr. Grandin was writing this book to people who do not have this disorder. This was so obvious because she is constantly repeating what it is like to be autistic. She kno ws that it is not easy for language-based thinkers to comprehend an autistic and she even states this in the first paragraph of the book. It is also my belief that this book is written for other people who have autism. I think that she wrote it to encourage them and help them realize that they can get past most of the trials and tribulations of a life with autism. She ...

Monday, October 21, 2019

Chapter 14 Essays

Chapter 14 Essays Chapter 14 Essay Chapter 14 Essay Name: Course: Lecturer: Date: Chapter 14 1. Case Incident 1 1.1 Principles of Distributive negotiations used by Sherman Sherman used aggressive distributive principles of negotiations where he pushed for a first offer in order to be at an advantage. He knew there was a blind spot that would make the deal unsuccessful, and took advantage of the blind spot. He aim was to extract the best deal from Bristol-Myers for Apotex. He inserted the clause requiring Bristol-Myers to pay $60 million if Federal Trade Commission would reject their agreement. His aim was to get as much as he could from Bristol-Myers, and never at one time considered what Bristol-Myers would get in turn. 1.2 Behavior of Sherman Sherman did not act ethically considering he launched their generic drug before the negotiations were done. This is not ethical considering he was only entering into the negotiation on the bet of the Federal Trade Commission rejecting the deal that would result. When he realized it might not be so, he decides to go ahead with the launching of the generic drug before the negotiations were over. His misrepresenting of facts was unethical. 1.3 The Role of Deception in Negotiations Evidence from several cases has indicated that deception does allow short-term benefits from the negotiation. However, in this case, the deception used will put the company at a long-term advantage considering Apotex will be selling the drug for quite a long time. However, deception above anything else leads to lack of trust from the other party involved, and this could hinder future negotiations. Deceptions can also be used to get as much as one can from the negotiations, or putting the company at the best position as possible. 2. Case Incident 2 2.1 Factors determining success of mediation Mediation can never be successful if both parties to the dispute are not willing to come to an agreement. Both parties should be willing to consider the other party’s concerns in order for a solution to be realized. In situations where there cannot be a fair agreement, it is hard for mediation to be successful considering mediations are supposed to provide a deal that is fair to both parties to the conflict. In addition, when the issue is so detrimental to one side, mediation might fail to come to a fair solution. 2.2 Seeking justice When two parties are seeking justice from their dispute, it is hard to use mediation to come up with a solution. The purpose of mediation is to have a fair solution for both parties, one that will provide a win-win situation. However, this is not the purpose of justice. Justice seeks to make the one with the mistakes pay for them. Therefore, mediation cannot provide justice. 2.3 Mediators Should Have the Reasons the Parties Are Making Their Demand In order for mediators to know what will be best for both parties to a dispute, they will need to know that the reasons for their claims are. I think knowing the reasons for the parties to make their claim assesses whether it will be fair for the other party. Fire instance, if workers were demanding a higher pay, it would be worth to know the reasons in order to find out whether it will be fair to the employer. 2.3 Disparity between Employers and Employees in the Use of Mediation According to the EEOC, 85% of employees agree to mediation, while only 30% of employers agree to it. I think the disparity exists from the belief that the employees are the ones to gain from the employer, while the employer will have to part with more money in most cases considering majority of disputes will involve extra costs such as improved working conditions, pay hike among other reasons. In most cases, the employers want to maintain the status quo while the employees want improvements on some things.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Ideas for Engineering Science Fair Projects

Ideas for Engineering Science Fair Projects Engineering science fair projects can involve designing, building, analyzing, modeling, or improving a device. You can also test or create materials. Here are some specific ideas for engineering science fair projects. What is the best material to put in a sandbag to block water, such as during a flood?How tall can you build a tower using only a sheet of ​paper? You can cut it, fold it, crumple it, but only use that single material. What works best?Compare the characteristics of a structure that is made using different materials. You can compare strength, corrosion resistance, and elasticity. Be creative. The trick is to make certain your measurements are truly comparable to each other.What can you do with a swim cap to optimize its ability to decrease drag in water? Can you alter the shape? Does one material work substantially better than another?Which type of paper towel absorbs the most water? Which brand absorbs the most oil? Are they the same brand?What differences do you note in the ability of different soils to support a structure?What type of paper airplane flies the furthest and stays aloft the longest?How can you map a magnetic field? Can you construct a device, using iron filings, that can be reused for field mapping? Construct a Lego building. Now try to make the same building on an incline, such as a 30-degree slope. What changes do you need to make in order to make it stable?How does a change in the construction of a parachute affect flight? Parameters you could examine include size, shape, material, and/or method of attachment.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Amnesty International Australia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Amnesty International Australia - Essay Example Despite all efforts from the Dalai Lama, the Olympics 2008 in Being are the event that draws finally the attention to the problems of the occupation. The whole world is protesting right right now. And what Amnesty shows us explains why. Amnesty (2008): "According to information published by the Tibetan Center on Human Rights and Democracy, 15 Tibetan monks were detained on 10 March for staging a peaceful demonstration in Barkhor, Lhasa, the capital of Tibetan Autonomous Region in China. There is no information of their current whereabouts or of any charges brought against them. They are at high risk of torture and other ill- treatment." Besides this significant and important action there is also the important issue on the Human Rights situation in China. Amnesty (2008): " Expressing an opinion online in China can result in jail, torture and death. People are silenced and what happens in China is often clouded in secrecy. Sign up to take the pledge to stop the Chinese Government and l arge internet companies restricting freedom of expression on the Internet, and we'll keep you up-to-date with ways you can help create a more transparent society in China." You can directly participate in signing the form online.... and to express their peaceful beliefs online without fear or interference. I call on the Chinese Government and large internet companies to stop the unwarranted restriction of freedom of expression on the Internet." The pledge is typical, any person can participate in the actions of Amnesty. China is a powerful country in the World, the economic position has grown immense over the last years. Cheap labour, hardly any costs drives many companies to China to build factory's. China is important, it is number 4 of the list in fast growing Economics, important trading partner for many countries in the world including Australia. However in the part of human rights nothing changed at all. Till this very moment people still die or are prisonised. 10489 3 Shocking to read is this part Amnesty (2008) "By allowing Beijing to host the Games you will help in the development of human rights" Liu Jingmin, Vice- President of Beijing Olympic Bid Committee, April 2001 . What can be said after reading this Dit we miss something in the last couple of years or is China changing here and there Many questions we may ask ourselves. Amnesty remains however optimistic as we can read. Amnesty (2008) "The 2008 Beijing Olympics provides us with an unprecedented opportunity to help create a more transparent society in China. Freedom of expression is a universal human right, and Amnesty International believes the Games can be used as a positive step towards creating a society in China that upholds basic human rights. In Australia, our campaign will challenge the Chinese system of internet repression. We want to see freedom of expression in China. We would like citizens everywhere to have the same access to the

Friday, October 18, 2019

Target Market Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Target Market - Essay Example From a layman’s point of view, the governmental and institutional sectors provide good growth opportunities. However, on a broader horizon, it can be seen that world markets other than USA provide exponential growth opportunities. These regions include Pakistan, the 2nd largest consumer of CNG vehicles where government has heavily invested in the CNG infrastructure, Bangladesh and India. Due to the increased environmental awareness amongst the target market and the technological innovations which have improved the quality and efficiency of CNG buses to match the diesel buses. Moreover, the experience of Argentina and Pakistan has shown that it is tried and tested and the investment of the investors will not sink. Moreover, it would save the huge bill on fuel and is economical. The present hike in fuel prices (petrol and diesel) is another factor which is in favor of converting fleets to CNG powered vehicles. The common observation is that even though the capital investment on a CNG bus might be US $ 25000 expensive as compared to traditional diesel buses, but the savings due to fuel economy are enough to cover up this gap in as small a time frame as 1 year. Moreover, CNG, contrary to traditional belief, has been proven to be a safe and hazard proof fuel. Considering the above now is the perfect timing to enter into this sector. Considering the above statistics, it can be concluded that Asian markets are the fastest growing markets for the CNG industry. The North and South American regions together hold immense unexploited potential and growth is expected in upcoming years. Growing global markets: the greatest opportunity for CNG Buses is the dynamic growth being experienced in the CNG sector in economies like Latin America (Argentina, Brazil), Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Thailand. Awareness in Institutional Clients: Over a period of years, the environmental awareness has been increasing. This is

Chmistry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Chmistry - Essay Example The molecule is "locked" into a conformation with the isopropyl groups on the exterior. It is not actually locked into configuration because the size of the molecule makes it highly flexible, but the potassium ion gives some degree of coordination to the macromolecule (Metzeler 2001) Question 1b Valinomycin is a dodecadepsipeptide, that is, it is made of twelve alternating amino acids and esters to form a macro cyclic molecule. The twelve carbonyl groups are essential for the binding of metal ions, and also for solvation in polar solvent. The isopropyl and methyl groups are responsible for solvation in nonpolar solvents. Along with its shape and size this molecular duality is the main reason for its binding properties. K+ ions are octahedral coordinated in a square bi-pyramidal geometry by 6 carbonyl bonds in this space of 1.33 Angstrom, leading to a 10,000x selectivity for K+ ions. For polar solvents, valinomycin will mainly expose the carbonyls to the solvent and in nonpolar solven ts the isopropyl groups are located predominantly on the exterior of the molecule. This conformation changes when valinomycin is bound to a potassium ion. The molecule is "locked" into a conformation with the isopropyl groups on the exterior. It is not actually locked into configuration because the size of the molecule makes it highly flexible, but the potassium ion gives some degree of coordination to the macromolecule. Conformational and ionophoric properties of 3 valinomycin analogs cyclo n (n = 2, 3, 4) were studied by spectral and extraction methods. Conformations of dodeca- and hexadecaisoleucinomycins in nonpolar media practically do not differ from that of valinomycin, whereas for octaisoleucinomycin and octavalinomycin the conformations change significantly. Spatial structures of complexes of the investigated compounds are analogous to structures of complexes of valinomycin cyclopolymerhomologs (Metzeler 2001) The presence of isoleucine residues in dodeca- and hexadecaisole ucinomycins results in substantial increase in their ability of transfer the cat ions from aqueous to organic phase. Each complex has a characteristic spectrum which differs from that of uncomplexed valinomycin, suggesting several distinct structures for each of the metal-valinomycin complexes. The biologically active K complex shows the most significant changes in its spectrum, especially in the intensity of the symmetric C-H stretching vibration of CH3 and the convergence of the 2 ester carbonyl stretching vibration bands into 1 upon complex formation. These results are due to the unique orientation of the ester carbonyl groups toward the caged K ion and the resulting more free rotation of isopropyl side chains, thus they are poor cat ions transporters, assumptions made are that valinomycin has a complex structure as compared to octa-isoleucinomycin and hexadecaisoleucinomycin, differs in bonding in the methyl groups and the space in orientation make it superior in terms of bondin g and having a chelate effect as compared to its

Thursday, October 17, 2019

How might a youth worker assist young people with the development of Essay

How might a youth worker assist young people with the development of moral thinking What are the issues for undertaking this kind of work - Essay Example Late adolescence is when the youth comprehends separation from the family and living an independent life. There are a lot of directions that these adolescents need. The physical and mental changes that come about develop their identity and character. It is quite natural for parents to expect a change for the better. Expectations from parents and society increase. This is a time when a youth, if not guided properly, can end up being a liability to society. Parents need to be careful in the way they handle their children at this time. Children can get carried away and be influenced by the people around them. A time when they are told to 'grow up' or 'act you age', these children must be counseled in knowing the right from wrong. This must be done professionally. Children are now in a position to understand their role in society and take a firm decision on their career. Many youths come through their adolescent years without problems. However, for some, it is a difficult period, necessitating a great deal more of understanding, patience and support. No two children are alike. Each child will have his/her own thoughts and views on life and parents experience different challenges along the way in the growth of their child. However, through their journey of adolescence, analogical situations faced by almost all adolescents are: Measuring the society's values and moral standards Identifying themselves with others; a personal identity Rebellion of authority Moodiness To an extent, an interest in the opposite sex This is the time when all the training and guidance thought to them will be of importance. There is no point in trying to impose on them, for the simple reason that they would rebel. The youth should be taken into confidence and taught the aspects of life. 2.0 Executive Summary Moral education is an integral part of psychology and education. Never before have the reports of increased violent juvenile crime, teen pregnancy, and suicide been highlighted as now. The reason: The numbers of cases just got longer and longer, outnumbering all other news reports in newspaper every day. While not all of these social concerns are moral in nature, they are complex. There is a need to find solutions to these problems so that children are better prepared to face the challenges of life more socially. It is much easier said than done. There are many potholes on the way to success. Adolescence is often stereotyped as a period of stress and turbulence, though this may be far from true. Many adolescents have shown a lot more resilience in the face of challenges and stress, quite a few have engaged in behaviours involving risk, and there are others

Basic Summary of Elliot Aronson's 'Social Animal' Essay

Basic Summary of Elliot Aronson's 'Social Animal' - Essay Example Aronson has fundamentally asserted that people tend to move along with the mob in general because if they do not, they are offered social resistance. They may change their personal opinion in favor of the majority either to escape a punishment, seek a reward or else, because of lack of confidence in their personal judgment. Conformity is essentially compliance if the objective is reward/punishment centered. It is identification if the individual’s intention is to develop affiliation, and it is internalization, if the individual conforms if he/she actually thinks it is rational. Aronson has also discussed some personality variables like self esteem, courage and experience that determine the level of conformity in an individual’s attitude. Then Aronson discussed obedience in context of conformity, and finally, the role of an uninvolved bystander as that of a conformist, because he/she overlooks the tragedy because everybody else does the same. Overall, the article is a ve ry comprehensive and though provoking demonstration of

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

How might a youth worker assist young people with the development of Essay

How might a youth worker assist young people with the development of moral thinking What are the issues for undertaking this kind of work - Essay Example Late adolescence is when the youth comprehends separation from the family and living an independent life. There are a lot of directions that these adolescents need. The physical and mental changes that come about develop their identity and character. It is quite natural for parents to expect a change for the better. Expectations from parents and society increase. This is a time when a youth, if not guided properly, can end up being a liability to society. Parents need to be careful in the way they handle their children at this time. Children can get carried away and be influenced by the people around them. A time when they are told to 'grow up' or 'act you age', these children must be counseled in knowing the right from wrong. This must be done professionally. Children are now in a position to understand their role in society and take a firm decision on their career. Many youths come through their adolescent years without problems. However, for some, it is a difficult period, necessitating a great deal more of understanding, patience and support. No two children are alike. Each child will have his/her own thoughts and views on life and parents experience different challenges along the way in the growth of their child. However, through their journey of adolescence, analogical situations faced by almost all adolescents are: Measuring the society's values and moral standards Identifying themselves with others; a personal identity Rebellion of authority Moodiness To an extent, an interest in the opposite sex This is the time when all the training and guidance thought to them will be of importance. There is no point in trying to impose on them, for the simple reason that they would rebel. The youth should be taken into confidence and taught the aspects of life. 2.0 Executive Summary Moral education is an integral part of psychology and education. Never before have the reports of increased violent juvenile crime, teen pregnancy, and suicide been highlighted as now. The reason: The numbers of cases just got longer and longer, outnumbering all other news reports in newspaper every day. While not all of these social concerns are moral in nature, they are complex. There is a need to find solutions to these problems so that children are better prepared to face the challenges of life more socially. It is much easier said than done. There are many potholes on the way to success. Adolescence is often stereotyped as a period of stress and turbulence, though this may be far from true. Many adolescents have shown a lot more resilience in the face of challenges and stress, quite a few have engaged in behaviours involving risk, and there are others

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

BILL GATES Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

BILL GATES - Research Proposal Example He remains as one of the largest shareholders within Microsoft and has more than 8 percent of the common stock. Gates’ family comprised of his father who was a rich and famous lawyer, his mother being on the board of directors for United Way and First Interstate Banc System. Bill’s elder sister Kristianne and younger sister Libby completed the family. Gates used to visualize a pretty low career for his own life, right from the very beginning. As he was a bright student his parents registered him at Lakeside School, where he first made his acquaintance with computers. As for as his personal family is concerned, he married Melinda French in 1994. He and French have three children from their marriage – Jennifer, Rory and Phoebe. The house in which his family resides looks like a 21st century earth-sheltered home overlooking the Lake Washington, in Medina, Washington. Bill Gates has been a very avid reader and enjoys spending time playing golf, bridge and tennis. (Fridson, 2001) In January 1975, after reading the copy of â€Å"Popular Electronics† that showed Altair 8800, Bill Gates contacted the makers of the new microcomputer, known as MITS (Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems), and told them that he and his friend Paul Allen had developed a BASIC Programming Language that could be used on the Altair. Bill Gates did not have an analyst nor did he have an Altair system but still he and Paul Allen developed the interpreter, eight weeks before the demonstration. MITS agreed to dispense Altair Basic after the interpreter worked at the demonstration. Bill Gates shifted to New Mexico where MITS was situated and where he established Microsoft. The name Microsoft became a registered trademark in 1976. Microsofts name originally is a combination of "microcomputer software". Microsoft is an American multinational computer technology corporation that has yearly sales of more than $41.36 Billion, globally. They have around 64,000 employees

Monday, October 14, 2019

Aryabhata I and How He Influenced Math Essay Example for Free

Aryabhata I and How He Influenced Math Essay Aryabhata I was born in Kerala, India, but moved to Kusumapura early in life. His contribution to mathematics and science is vast, from approximating Pi better than anyone in his time period to deducing the Earth is round. He had many scientific and mathematic discoveries, which he wrote about in his book, the Aryabhatiya. He declared that the Earth rotates on its own axis and used logic to determine that this is what created night and day. (Jain) Part of Aryabhata’s fame was brought by his debunking myths of both religious and general varieties. Instead of the previously believed â€Å"fact† distributed by the Hindu priests that it was a demon’s head named Rahu swallowing the sun and moon, Aryabhata proved them wrong by driving the theory that eclipses happen because of the shadow given off by the earth and moon in place of the Hindu myth. Another myth he disproved by declaration was the thought that the moon gave off its own light, giving it the glow that dominated the night sky. In 499 A.D., at age 23, he wrote Aryabhatiya, which would be known as his famous astronomical opus. As a result of his paper, the Gupta dynasty ruler, Buddhagupta, gave him the title of Head of the Nalanda University to recognize his intellect (Kumar). Later, it is believed that he wrote another book, called the Aryabhata-siddhanta, but it is now lost (Jain). The book is split into three parts: the Ganita, which translates to Mathematics; the Kala-Kriya, which contains Time Calculations; and the Gola, which is mainly sphere mathemati cs. The Ganita is astonishing because of its lack of proof concerning the 66 rules it provides (â€Å"Aryabhata I†). Aryabhata’s mind is also the basis of algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. He created the equation for finding the circumference of a circle using the radius instead of the diameter, like the Greeks used. For  this equation, C = 2Ï€r2, he had to have a close value for Ï€, which he successfully approximated somehow, and shared his discovery in Aryabhatiya: â€Å"’Add four to one hundred, multiply by eight and then add sixty-two thousand. The result is approximately the circumference of a circle of diameter twenty thousand. By this rule the relation of the circumference to diameter is given.’ In other words, n = 62382/20000 = 3.1416, correct to four rounded-off decimal places† (Jacobs). The advancements on finding the numerical value of Ï€ have dramatically increased since then, having calculated numbers on the upside of 5 trillion. His contributions to the mathematical world are still vast, and his discoveries are the foundation for modern algebr a and through that, most of math overall. Aryabhata I calculated the length of a sidereal rotation and year in his book as well. As for the sidereal rotation, he used the stars to determine that the time per day was 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4.1 seconds. The present value is 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4.091 seconds. For the sidereal year, he found it to be 365 days, 6 hours, 12 minutes, and 30 seconds, when the modern calculation is a mere 3 minutes and 20 seconds less than Aryabhata’s value. Aryabhata also impacted Trigonometry by his definitions of sine (jya), cosine (kojya), versine (utkrama-jya), and inverse sine (otkram jya). â€Å"He was the first to specify sine and versine (1-cos x) tables, in 3.75 ° intervals from 0 ° to 90 °, to an accuracy of 4 decimal places† (Kumar). The modern names â€Å"sine† and â€Å"cosine† are also believed to be mistranslations of the words introduced by Aryabhata, Jya and Kojya. In the field of Algebra, he provided results for the summation of series of squares: He did not disappoint the series of cubes: As for remembering the great Aryabhata, he has many colleges named after him, such as the Aryabhata Knowledge University in Bihar and the Aryabhata Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIOS) near Nainital, India. India’s first satellite also shared his name. (Kumar) Works Cited Aryabhata I. Medieval History. About.com, 2014. Web. 27 Apr. 2014. . Jacobs, James Q. The Àryabhatà ­ya of Àryabhata. The Àryabhatà ­ya of Àryabhata by J. Q. Jacobs. J.Q. Jacobs, 1997. Web. 15 Mar. 2014. . Jain, Ankur. Aryabhatta Biography. Aryabhatta Scientists | Biography. Study Helpline, 2011. Web. 27 Apr. 2014. . Kumar, Amit. Aryabhatta- The Great Indian Mathematician. The Braves and Smarts. Web. 10 Mar. 2014. . OConnor, J.J., and E.F. Robertson. Aryabhata the Elder. School of Mathematics and Statistics University of St. Andrews, Scotland. Nov. 2000. Web. 10 Mar. 2014. .

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Employment Of People With Mental Illness Social Work Essay

Employment Of People With Mental Illness Social Work Essay There is no health without mental health (Ki-Moon, 2010, para.2; World Health Organisation, 2005, p.11) and this is why this topic has become at the heart of many discussions. The World Health Organisation (1948) in WHO (2003), approaches this concept holistically and defines mental health as the balance between all the aspects of life; a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (p.100). Barry Jenkins (2007) add that mental health is an attitude that fosters in the individual a sense of control, hope, optimism and the capacity to build and sustain relationships in the society. Thus, mental health is said to be a measure of how people, organizations, and communities think, feel, and function, individually and collectively (Keyes, 2007, in Mc Collam, Mukkala, OSullivan, Rowe, Stengard, 2008, p.6). For this reason, Phillips (2008) affirms that the well-being and mental well-being, in particular, [are] a new frontier in the fight for social justice in the creation of a society which is fair; communities which offer the individual dignity and respect; the evolution of a people confident in their diversity. Given that mental illness has become the leading cause of disability in the European Community, with more than 130 million people expected to experience some kind of mental illness in their life (EUFAMI, 2004), many nations are acknowledging that they cannot ignore mental health and mental illness in their communities and workplaces anymore. As Gauci (2010) argues, countries that adopt legislations, policies and systems that protect vulnerable citizens, including people with mental illness reflects a society that respects and cares for its people (p.7). Extensive is the research carried out about mental illness, but for a common terminology of the different types of disorders, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) has been developed. The DSM-IV states that mental disorders are conceptualized as a clinically significant behavioural or psychological syndrome or pattern that occurs in an individual and that is associated with present distress (e.g., a painful symptom) or disability (i.e., impairment in one or more important areas of functioning) or with a significantly increased risk of suffering death, pain, disability, or an important loss of freedom. (American Psychiatric Association, 2000, p.xxxi) Thus, for behaviour to be considered a disorder, it must be originally caused by a behavioural, psychological, or biological dysfunction in the individual (American Psychiatric Association, 2000, p.xxxi). Conversely, expectable responses to particular events (e.g. the death of significant other), deviant behaviour (e.g. political, religious, and sexual behaviour), conflicts between the individuals and the society are not mental disorders. These only fall into the latter category when the deviance or conflict is a symptom of a dysfunction in the individual (American Psychiatric Association, 2000, p.xxxi), as aforementioned. There is vast spectrum of mental disorders, each having their specific criteria, but for general use, Goldberg Huxley (1992) categorize mental disorders in two ways, namely, common mental illnesses and severe mental illnesses. The former are mostly evident in the community whilst the latter refers to disorders which are more common amongst people who receive mental illness services and thus, contrary to the above, may need special care to convalesce. Goldberg Huxley (1992) add that severe mental illnesses are associated with much greater social disability and are much less likely to resolve spontaneously with time. (p.5) At this point it is important to understand that despite its severity, mental illness does not lead to mental disability, and the two are different from each other. As aforesaid, mental illness impacts a persons behavior and feelings, however, the symptoms can be managed (Inclusion Europe and Mental Health Europe, 2007). On the other hand, mental disability, also known as intellectual disability refers to people who have difficulties in learning and understanding and whose skills in areas such as cognition, language, motor, and social abilities can be permanently impaired (Inclusion Europe and Mental Health Europe, 2007, p.2). Therefore, mental illness is not a disability, but the difficulties derived from the illness, can result in functional disability (Richmond, 2011). Functional disability is defined by the WHO (1976) as disability in which functional limitation and/or impairment is a causative factor, is defined as an existing difficulty in performing one or more activities which, in accordance with the subjects age, sex and normative social role, are generally accepted as essential, basic components of daily living, such as self-care, social relations, and economic activity. (para. 1.2 iii) 2.2 Employment In its simplest definition, work means the exchange of labour for wages (Danto, n.d, p.14). But employment has always had a higher value for humanity. Indeed the Ancient Greeks held that work formed part of the sphere of necessity (Haralambos Holborn, 2004, p.619). Notwithstanding the changes and revolutions that the world went through, work still remained a defining value of our culture (p.12) and this is so because the need to work is deeply rooted in our psychology and social existence (Dante, n.d, p.14). Work can take many forms but its benefits are rather homogenous. Cameron Conley (2010, in Topp, 2010) assert that work is meaningful because it connects individuals to their values and to their community. It is also acknowledged that good working experiences affect the individuals wellbeing and development, leading them to adopt more positive perspectives and attitudes. This is further reinforced by Finch Moxley (2003), who declare that employment offers much promise to people and is fundamental to their development as fully realized human beings (p.10). Underlining all this is the truth that employment is a human right. Hence, all people have the right to work; to free choice of employment; just and favourable conditions of work and protection against unemployment (Article 23, 1948, in United Nations, n.d). In the convention on the rights of persons with Disabilities, the United Nations (2006) accentuate that people who experience disability are also entitled to human rights and f undamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field (Article 2) and discrimination is proscribed, including the failure to provide reasonable accommodations for those who need it. This is sustained by Bassett Llyod (1997) in Bassett, Bassett Llyod (2001), when they claim that involvement in paid employment is a significant life occupation for many people and is a realistic goal for people who have experienced a mental health disorder (para.2). 2.3 The benefits of employment for people experiencing mental illness Therefore, work is not only important to maintain good mental health but also to enhance the improvement of those who are experiencing mental health difficulties. Enabling people to retain or gain employment has a profound effect on more life domains than almost any other medical or social intervention (Boardman, Grove, Perkins Shepherd, 2003,p.467). This is so because employment harbours inclusion, yields a sense of security, happiness and comfort; a sense of living needed for recovery. Recovery from mental illness is a reality nowadays and it has become a goal for many people. Recovery does not mean that symptoms disappear, but it is all about getting on with life beyond the disability (Deegan, 1988). Having experienced it herself, Deegan (1988) adds recovery does not refer to an end product or result. It does not mean that my friend and I were cured. In fact our recovery is marked by an ever-deepening acceptance of our limitations. But now, rather than being an occasion for despair, we find that our personal limitations are the ground from which spring our own unique possibilities (p.56). Work is central to the process of recovery (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2005; HM Government, n.d). This is so because it provides both the financial means for living and also latent benefits. Olsheski Schelat (n.d) assert that employment is beneficial because it provides structures to daily activities, an identity, a sense of achievement, socioeconomic status and a sense of belonging. This is sustained through Hertzbergs theory who believed that work meets human needs in two ways. The acquisition of a salary, the working conditions and interpersonal relationships established at the working site make up the hygiene factors. According to Herzberg, their absence creates dissatisfaction in the individual, but does not lead him to feel satisfied and motivated (Herzberg, 1959, in Gawel, 1997). At this level, any changes towards job performance are only short-lived. Conversely, motivator factors produce long-term positive outcomes which appear to be a consequence of job satisfying events such as appraisals, achievements and advancements (Herzberg, 1959, in Gawel, 1997). Job satisfaction and longer job tenure have been found by Resnick Bond, (n.d) in URBIS (2007) to be co-related. As it is acknowledged above, the benefits of employment for people with mental health difficulties are various, yet the barriers for work are still a reality. In fact, people experiencing mental health difficulties rank low in employment when compared to other disabled groups (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2009; Duncan Peterson, 2007), despite that many of them have the aspirations to work (HM Government, n.d). In addition, Catalano et al (1990) claim that people with mental illness are many often employed in part-time work, characterized by little pay and possible insecurities. The reason behind this is that accessibility of the workplace most often is only associated with the adaptation of the physical environment through the use of various adaptive equipment, and adaptation of the social and emotional environment is often neglected. Accessibility also means opening up the labour market to facilitate participation in the economic activity and social funct ioning. While it is true to say that the illness often acts as an obstacle (Frado, 1993) and may create problems for the employee whilst in employment, but the working environment also lacks the tools to accommodate their interests, abilities and support needs (Bill et al, 2006, in URBIS, 2007, para.4.3.4). Some of the most severe forms of mental illness have their onset in late adolescence and beginning of young adulthood, whilst others strike in middle adulthood. As a matter of fact, both a persons education and working life could be significantly impacted; resulting in fewer credentials which are needed for employability and the disruption of employment for those who are already employed (WHO, n.d, in Richmond Foundation, 2011). Penrose-Wall Bateman (2007) in URBIS (2007) add that people with mental illness may experience a downfall in their confidence, motivation and social skills as a result of the episodic nature of the illness, and as a matter of fact, their employment is understandably disrupted (para.4.3.1). Once again, a persons educational and occupational attainment may be at a disadvantage (Robdale, 2008). Moreover, the level of severity of the illness has been linked to unemployment, with a percentage as high as 85% for people with severe mental illness (Crowther et al 20 01, in Duncan Peterson, 2007). Additionally, the medication used to treat the illness may pose some difficulties for the person whilst on the job. Some of which include drowsiness, tremors, blurred vision, nausea, agitation, bladder problems, dry mouth amongst others (National Institute of Mental Health, 2008). Despite the struggle to cope with the illness, people may also have to deal with bad financial issues that arise when their ability to work is affected. Thus in order to make ends meet, people with mental illness may force themselves back to work before they would have gained their health (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2005). In the light of such delicate situations, Cappe (1999) avows that it is no longer enough to do the right thing, but we must also ensure that we are doing things right. It is no longer sufficient to be a place where people work-the workplace itself must be built around the people and give them the support they need (para.1) A place of work that is built around people is one that welcomes diversity. It signals the enthusiastic acceptance of the value to organizations of workforces that are diverse in terms of gender, age [and] (dis)abilityà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Jackson Joshi, 2001, in Arnold, Burnes, Cooper, Patterson, Robertson Silvester, 2005,p.35). Mental illness is no longer a rare condition but it is has become one of the most common causes of disability with the World Health organization claiming that by the year 2020, depression will become the second leading cause of premature death and disability (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2005). In the light of these statistics, employers cannot fail to acknowledge the concepts of mental health and mental illness in their workplace. It is time to do away with the misconceptions that people with mental illness are violent and have low intellectual abilities. To the contrary, they are usually the victims of violence and their intelligence and abilities are not dissimilar to the rest of the populace (Frado, 1993). Many people experiencing mental illness are able to work, want to work and can carry out their job successfully (Cook ODay, 2006). 2.4 Stigma But stigma has the power to erode this willingness. As HM Government (n.d) outlines, barriers to employment and sustainability of employment for people experiencing mental health difficulties are also found to be derived from society itself, with stigma acting as one of the major obstructions. Stigma can be described as severe social disapproval due to believed or actual individual characteristics, beliefs or behaviors that are against norms, be they economic, political, cultural or social. It is characterized by a lack of knowledge about mental health, fear, prejudice and discrimination. (Mc Daid, 2008, para.2.1) These are also the prevailing beliefs amongst certain employers, who are still afraid to employ and support people with mental illness (Waghorn Lloyd, 2005, in URBIS, 2007; Canadian Mental Health Association, 2005; Mc Daid, 2011). They may have unwarranted fears and see persons with psychiatric disabilities as unskilled, unproductive, unreliable, violent or unable to handle workplace pressures (Fenton Payne, 2005, p.8). But mental illness does not always encroach with the workers job performance or it may affect the ability to work only for a certain time, during which, some limitations may arise (Frado, 1993). These may include consistent late arrivals or frequent absences, decreased productivity, frequent complaints of fatigue or unexplained pains, difficulty concentrating, working excessive overtime and expressions of strange or grandiose ideas, amongst others (Fenton Payne, 2005, p.7). In view of these limitations, the untrained employer and colleague may fail to recognize men tal illness, and interpret inappropriate behavior negatively, thinking that their work mates are violent, dangerous and erratic (Harnois Gabriel, 2000). This is further manifested in incorrect and discriminating behavior as people with mental illness are often given insulting names, refusals by their colleagues to work with them and not considered for promotions (Fenton Payne, 2005). Just like students who tend to see themselves as bright or dull according to their teachers definition of them, people with mental illness may come to believe that they are truly no good. This negative general idea about mental illness is then often internalized within the individual himself, leading to self-stigma. Self-stigma refers to the negative feelings about oneself; manifesting itself into feelings of hopelessness, difference and unworthiness (Barnes, Duncan Peterson, 2008). As a matter of fact, people with mental illness may not be so willing to try new job tasks, opportunities and promotions (Frado, 1993). The media is said to have a profound effect in all this. As findings indicate, Coverage of mental health issues that was biased, negative, sensationalized, or incorrect was seen as contributing to the negative stereotypes that surround mental illness. These in turn influence the attitudes and behavior of the people who believe them, including people with experience of mental illness. (Barnes et al, 2008, p.60) 2.5 Maintaining employment In the essence of a holistic policy that targets mental illness, Maltese citizens who experience functional disability due to mental illness can in the meantime benefit from the provisions of the Equal Opportunities (Persons with Disability) Act (2000). In the light of this situation, Dr. C. Pace, social policy consultant and lecturer at the University of Malta, divulges that while we clearly and strongly distinguished mental health problems from intellectual or learning disability, I think it would be a disservice to persons with mental health problems if we fail to tell them and society that, in the case of a long-term impairment, they can have specific and important legal rights. (in a personal communication, January 2011, regarding how this was dealt with in a recent project) Therefore, under the provisions of this article, people with a mental illness who exhibit functional disability are to enjoy the protection against discrimination as well as reasonable accommodations in their working environment. It is the latter concept which encapsulates the commitment of employment corporations to create the necessary structures, be them legal, administrative or institutional, which facilitate both employability and adaptability at the place of work for persons with mental illness. As the Transition Strategies, LLC (2010) contend, Although the law prohibits discrimination against mentally disabled persons in the workplace, the economic impact of these numbers is so compelling that regardless of any concerns about disability discrimination lawsuits, employers cannot afford to ignore the problem. Even when a problem worker is fired, the odds are excellent that his or her replacement will be one of the remainingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.The solution? (para.2) In view of these emerging needs, the workforce is pressured to understand that people with mental illness may have certain needs to be met. However this does not imply that their skills and capabilities are of a substandard (Boardman, Grove, Perkins Shepherd, 2003). Employers and colleagues are suggested to increase their knowledge about mental illness and respond with anti-discriminative measures and reasonable adjustments so that people with mental illness can function in the working environment like their colleagues counterparts. Indeed, Frado (1993) claims that the antidote to stigma in the workplace is for the environment to be positive, encouraging and welcoming (p.6). However, there are people whose experience of mental illness does not affect their ability to work (Frado, 1993), and thus may not need help to maintain their job. Accommodation measures are in effect some of the tools which the employer can use to help bring about adjustments to the workplace. An accommodation is any change in the work environment or in the way things are customarily done that enables an individual with a disability to enjoy equal employment opportunities, claims the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, (2002, para.2). Research shows that that workers with mental health difficulties does not necessarily cause any excessive burden on the employer (Diksa and Rogers,1996; Tetrick Toney, 2002) but with practical modifications in the social and organizational structure, they can act capably and competently in their work and as contributors to the society (Frado, 1993). Starting a new job may be a stressful experience to people with mental illness (Mc Kee, 1996). This is so because they may be faced with certain challenges and thus may need accommodation to maintain the employment. In fact, Shankar (2005), states that keeping a job is more exigent than obtaining it. This is sustained by a personal disclosure of a person who says that Because of my medication, its really difficult for me to keep to a schedule I mean to get up on time. My employer is happy with my work and as long as I put in my eight hours, she doesnt mind if I dont make it on time every day. This is the first job Ive been able to keep without being fired for lateness. (as cited in Frado,1993, p.15) People experiencing mental illness may find it hard to follow the demands of daily living such as waking up early but a positive and constructive principle like this provides a strong foundation for accommodation. Additional policies include allowing people to work flexible hours or to work at home, enable frequent breaks, allow workers to shift work hours to attend hospital appointments, allow telephone calls to doctors or others for support, and permit a self-paced workload amongst others (Loy, n.d). A working place is not solely run by the manager, but people at different levels constitute different roles and all are important in the running of the company. Thus, even the attitude of the supervisors, colleagues and other staff adds to providing a climate that supports accommodation. Given that people still make negative connotations with mental illness, it is important to address these misconceptions by educating staff and colleagues about these illnesses, its course and consequences. Moreover, supervisors closely working with the employees should be given training on how to improve ones approach and teaching methods. Examples include giving constructive feedback, offering praise and providing direction (Frado, 1993). Nonetheless, in order for the employer to provide such accommodation measures tailored for the specific needs of the employee, people need to disclose about their difficulties but this is not an easy task given the stigma that exists. They may think that the advantages of disclosing about these difficulties are very little compared to the disadvantages and thus they may choose to remain silent. Others may have worked so much to restore their health that they do not want to be categorized as disabled (Frado, 1993). But as Mc Kee (1996) claims, the employee does not necessarily have to give a specific diagnosis of his illness. To the contrary, she suggests people with mental illness to focus on how the disability impacts upon [their] ability to do the job and what positive steps can be taken to accommodate [their] needs (p.7). Such a disclosure can potentially reduce tension whilst increasing support and help on the job. Employing people with mental illness is not only beneficial for t heir health but as the Canadian Mental Health Association, 2005 outlines, it also bring[s] a new perspective to the workplace, and a new level of sensitivity among all employees to one another (p.23). The supported employment scheme is another benchmark in the commitment to provide people with mental illness the necessary services to find and keep employment. It was originally known as the place and train approach which embarked on the idea that people with mental illness shall first be placed in the job and then offered training (EUSE, n.d). The job coach has the imperative role to provide the service users with the necessary support to perform ordinary work requirements such as accompanying them to and from work, training and education of the employee, advocacy, assistive technology, behavioral training skills and other support to make the employment a positive experience both for the employee and the employer (Parent, 2004). The European Union of Supported employment defines this scheme as providing support to people with disabilities or other disadvantaged groups to secure and maintain paid employment in the open labour market (EUSE, n.d, p. 13). Family members and friends may not be able to help in acquiring the skills needed for employment, but they can be a source of support and hope for people with mental illness along their working life experience. These social support networks are described as a nexus of interpersonal ties consisting of family, friends, or other individuals who provide some type of support that leads one to believe that he or she is cared for, loved, valued, and belongs to a network with mutual obligations (Milardo, 1988, in Pernice, 2010, para.2 ). These can aid in making long-term employment a reality (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2005) and recovery a lived-experience (Pernice, 2010). 2.6 The Social Model and Medical Model of disability The measures outlined above are aimed to provide assistance for people with mental illness in finding and retaining employment in the mainstream workforce. However, as aforementioned, difficulties that arise in this scenario are not only a responsibility of the employee, but also of the society at large. Therefore this calls on the need to not view difficulties as the result of the individuals disorder only; as anchored in the medical approach, but to also consider societal factors responsible for difficulties encountered (Mor, 2005). This is the social model of disability which focuses on the complex ways that economic relations, cultural meanings, social practices, and institutional settings participate in the disablement of persons (Mor, 2005, p.22). This shift in locus on the integration of people with mental illness in the society did not happen instantaneously. Although change in the beliefs, perceptions and attitudes towards mental illness seem to be taking a gradual pace, much improvement has been done along the years. Before the means of acquiring knowledge and information increased, people were not educated about mental health. This goes back to few centuries ago when mental illness was thought to be caused by supernatural forces. They were thought to be moonstruck and thus were referred to as lunatic (Pritchard, 2006, p.3). In fact, Mount Carmel Hospital, currently responsible of the rehabilitation of mental illness in Malta, was called the Lunatic Asylum in the 1800s (Savona-Ventura, 2004). These perceptions of madness and possessions lead to the abuse of many people with mental illness. As Cauchi (1999) reported, people with mental illness were beaten and treated badly. People with mental illness were made to believe that they were incurable and insane and were even denied civil rights (Daub, 2006). This is the medical model which rooted in its teachings has the basic ideology that mental illness is just a chemical imbalance or a biological malfunction of the brain (Daub, 2006,p.2). In this period, the mental health practice suggested that people with mental illness who were interested to work should stay away from working in the community. Instead, they were suggested to work in highly protected and isolated settings like the sheltered workshops (Becker Drake, nd). These gave the individual the opportunity to work without having to risk competition and failure experiences which, it was assumed, would occur in normal work environments (Bussone, Cramp, Dakunchak Rosen, 1993,para.2). Activities in this category were meant to shelter persons from normal problems while exposing them to normal task requirements such as time clocks and supervision (Beck er Drake, n,d). But as years passed by, sheltered workshops became less popular because work was demeaning and it offered no prospects since people always remained in an institutional setting (Bussone et al, 1993). Then focus was shifted on teaching people the necessary skills for employability. This was referred to as the train and place approach in which people mental health difficulties were given training in order to find employment. Once trained, they were free to find themselves a job. However this probability was not plausible since the acquisition of the skills alone were not sufficient to gain and maintain employment (EUSE, n.d). The concept of supported employment was the last to be introduced but it is the one which offers much promise to people with mental illness as it emphasizes the need for integration into society and engagement in open paid employment. Whereas before, people with mental illness were only seen in the context of health services, now their strengths are being recognized and are considered to be potential contributors to our society (Frado, 1993). Supported employment schemes and accommodation measures both provide the employee with the opportunity to enjoy a working life that best meets their needs. 2.7 The Current situation It could be that people are no longer beaten and retained due to their illness and sheltered workshops gain less endorsement, yet it is still a struggle for people with mental illness to find and keep jobs. As Gauci, (2010) says, the lack of flexibility at the work place and the stigma and fears, which still exist in our society; most frequently results in the violations of peoples right to work(para.5). Unfortunately, circumstances that defy the rights of persons with mental illness are not always given the prominence that they require (Gauci, 2010). Locally, supported employment services are very limited, even if they proved to be successful. In fact, the Richmond Foundation (2009), in Richmond Foundation (2011) asserts that in the year 2009, a total of twenty six persons with mental illness benefited from this scheme. This service has been unavailable for a period of time but is currently in the process of being re-introduced. Also, the Maltese mental health Act needs to be update d as it continuous to result in the violations of the rights of people experiencing mental illness (Ameen, 2009). To further stress this point, Mc Sween (2002) claims that mental health still receives less government support than general health care (para.1). Indeed, Gauci (2010) avers that it is very basic and superficial when a country has policies and legislation which promote community care when in practice community services are inadequate, scare, uncoordinated, understaffed or staffed by persons who are not trained to deal with persons with mental health difficulties in the community. ( para.4) These support lacking systems are also a major concern to many parents who fear that their children will become unemployed, poor and homeless, with no one to look after them, rotting away and walking around the village looking dirty and alone(Calleja, 2010b, para.16). 2.8 Social work and mental illness Social Work has an imperative role in all this since its core values are crafted to address social problems and challenge social injustices (Johnson Yanca, 2007). Not only should social workers provide people with mental illness with the support and skills needed to help them overcome disadvantage but also seek to transform the society for the benefit of their clients (Payne, 2005). This is so because the social work profession calls on its associates the need to consider the person in environment as sometimes there is a tendency to ignore environmental factors responsible for social problems (Johnson Yanca, 2007, p.60). It is this aspect of social work that moves in line with the social model of disability, as it too takes into consideration the societys attitudes that act as a barrier for people with mental illness to maintain employment. Th

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Aliens Essay -- essays research papers

For over a thousand years people have reported seeing strange objects flying in the sky. Today the unknown flying objects -UFOs continue to visit us, on a regular basis. A large amount of recorded historical events of this issue have taken place to give the subject of UFOs recognition. Recently, many individuals have claimed to witness or be part of fantastic stories that attract some while are turned away. Videotapes, photographs and pieces of physical evidence do support some of these stories. Even more frightening, small objects called implants have been found in the bodies of some people that have reported strange sightings or encounters with strange objects. Once one begins to put it all together, the history, stories, claims, and evidence that science is to studying, the truth has come clear. We are not alone aliens do exist! Different cultures throughout the world have historical events, in their histories that are very much similar to what we call a UFO today. The oldest recorded sighting belongs to Thutmose, Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt around 1500 (BC) â€Å"†¦A circle of fire coming in the sky†¦ It had no head the breath of its mouth had a foul odor. Its body was one rod (16.5ft[5m]) long and one rod wide. It had no voice.† (Brookesmith, 13). Days after this, the number of objects increased it was said that, â€Å"these things became more numerous in the sky than ever. They shone more in the sky than the brightness of the sun, and extended to the limits of the four supports of the heavens†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Brookesmith, 13). What could shine in the sky more than the sun? These ancient events did occur thousands of years before today’s world of technology and modern aircraft. This supports the fact that these UFOs were that, Unknown Flying Objects. In the past they had to deal with th is any way they could, some cultures used religion and the Bible. There are certain passages in the Bible that could be translated as being sightings of UFOs. In Exodus Chapter 13, verses 21-22, â€Å"†¦the lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night.† (Brookesmith,13). This can be translated to the following as I translate it, it seems like these people were being led by a craft that lit up the night for them. This is a very convincing UFO description. Such an event at that time could only be inter... ... be ignored proves that highly educated people are taking this seriously. That strange has now been seen in the sky for a very long time. Intelligent, honorable people have seen UFO’s and reported them. High-ranking intelligence officers of the military’s first atomic bomb squadron have recovered and examined what they believed to be a flying saucer and parts of it. After shipping it to higher headquarters their general tells them it’s not a flying saucer or UFO. Of all objects it is reported to be what seems like anyone could have identified a weather balloon! People who have observed UFO’s and reported missing time afterwards only to find out later that they became unwittingly extraterrestrial specimens. Surgeons are removing mysterious iron alloy metal objects from these people’s bodies. Some of these objects moving away from the surgeon’s scalpel! Doctors have tested alleged UFO crash material and claimed that it â€Å"†¦should be considered extraterrestrial in origin.† Rancher’s cattle are b eing mutilated with laser like tools before lasers were commercially available. All these reports add up to one a very disturbing conclusion, which worries me and should do so to everyone else.

Friday, October 11, 2019

Crime Are Positivist Criminology Essay

Positive Criminology, an approach which attempts to explain criminal actions not as an exercise of free will or of one’s choosing, but rather as a consequence of multiple different internal and external.   Cesare Lombroso (1835 – 1909), an Italian criminologist views that criminals are born not made, and criminal an example of nature, not nurture. Focused on biological and psychological factors to explain criminal behavior, and studied cadavers of executed criminals in an effort to determine scientifically whether criminals were physically any different from non-criminals, he believed that people were born criminals and facial features of criminals included things like enormous jaws and strong canine teeth. â€Å"Atavism† In the 1960s, positivist criminologists argued that criminal behaviour lies in abnormal chromosomes, the XYY theory argued that violent male (genes)criminals have an abnormal XYY (super male) chromosome (XY is the normal pattern in males) The Positivist theory of criminals being born rather than made died out, and there were moral implications with this. Classical criminology is an approach to the legal system that arose during the Enlightenment in the 1700s. Philosophers like Cesare Beccaria, John Locke, and Jeremy Bentham expanded upon social contract theory to explain why people commit crime and how societies could effectively combat crime. The concepts continue to play a large role in the legal systems of many nations today, although the approach in the modern world tends to be a bit more flexible. It is important to understand the context in which classical criminology was developed. During the Enlightenment, Europe was changing radically, with many nations emerging from feudal monarchies and radically reforming their laws. Across Europe, the law was wildly inconsistent and applied even more inconsistently. Judges and other legal officials often lacked extensive training, and prescribed punishments totally out of proportion to some crimes while ignoring others. Many people recognized the  need for a more uniform and effective justice system, and this approach was the result. According to the theorists, human beings are self-interested animals, but they are also extremely rational. While people will tend to do things that are in their own self interest, they also understand that some actions actually conflict with this, and many societies develop a social contract that dictates human behavior, with humans mutually agreeing to refrain from activities that hurt each other or society. People also have free will, which means that they can opt to violate the social contract. For example, someone might steal or murder to accomplish a self-interested goal. By having consistent punishments in place that are proportional to the crime and applied rapidly, classical criminologists argue, the legal system will create deterrents to crime. Rather than committing a crime with a degree of uncertainty about the punishment, people in a nation with a clear and concise legal system will be well aware of the consequences of violating the law and the social contract, and they may think twice before committing crime. One of the big problems with classical criminology is that it does not allow for extenuating circumstances. Someone who robs a business for profit is treated exactly the same as someone who robs a business in order to eat, and some people feel that this is inhumane. Others feel that the assumption of free will is also somewhat questionable, as people may be forced into making decisions as a result of their circumstances or socioeconomic class. Sociological criminology is the largest number of criminological theories have been developed through sociological inquiry. These theories have generally asserted that criminal behavior is a normal response of biologically and psychologically normal individuals to particular kinds of social circumstances. Examples of these approaches include the theory of differential association, which claims that all criminal behavior is learned and that the learning process is influenced by the extent of the individual’s contact with persons who commit crimes. The more an individual associates with such persons, the more likely it becomes that he will learn and adopt criminal values and behaviors.  Ã‚  Sociological criminology include the following theories; Social Disorganization(Chicago School) is identified with neighborhood studies of crime and delinquency that focus particularly on the spatial patterns of such behavior, especially as reflected in maps of their spatial distributions. It assumes crime as a product of geopolitical environmental, or call as urban ecology(by Park and Burgess). The rapid social changes (e.g. population growth, rapid immigration or migration) causes the breakdown of normative structure or community, the left-alone youngsters becomes the delinquent subcultures, the crime is the transitional neighborhoods that manifest social disorganization and value conflict. And the urban ecology urban cities can be compartmentalize in five zones, from centre to outside are 1.Central Business District; 2.Transitional Zone; 3.Working Class Zone; 4.Residental Zone and 5.Commuter Zone, and the crime and social problems are usually happened in Zone 2, which is contained many recent immigrant groups, deteriorated housing, fact ories and abandoned buildings. (OUHK, 2013, tutorial 2, unit 2) Strain Theory is a sociological theory that tries to explain why people may be drawn to delinquency or crime. According to the theory, some crime may be linked to the presence of anger and frustration that is created by societal or personal strain. When a person cannot legitimately achieve the accepted goals of a society, he or she may turn to illicit means to create success. Three of the fundamental goals that contribute to strain-related crime are the pursuit of wealth, achievement of status and respect, and the need for autonomy. Sometimes is known as â€Å"American Dream†. Peoples see crime as a function of relative deprivation, and the theory assumes that the social structure as the source of crime. (OUHK, 2013, tutorial 2, unit 2) Subculture Theory is that human behavior is learned via social interaction, most of the delinquency/ crime is learnt by exposing to anti-social definitions or becoming part of a group were delinquency is already established. (OUHK, 2013, tutori al 2, unit 2) Drift Theory is telling that human beings will look crime in conformist, give excuse to make the crime become reasonable and not as an illegal action, individual drift in/ out of delinquency by ‘neutralization'(e.g. denial). (OUHK, 2013, tutorial 2, unit 2) Social Control Theories tells that there is a non-pathological relationship between a criminal and a  non-criminal, delinquent act due to a weak or the broken of ‘social bond’ (attachment, commitment, involvement, belief) to conventional significant reference groups (e.g. family, school) causes the less reluctant to commit crime. (OUHK, 2013, tutorial 2, unit 2) Labeling Theory assumes that individuals would be influenced by stigmatization, crime/ deviance as a result of labeling / stereotyping, a Primary deviance (yet to be labeled) will be reinforced by limited opportunities and ‘self-fulfilling’ prophecy, and then to become a Secondary deviance (subsequent behavior according to the lable given) . (OUHK, 2013, tutorial 2, unit 2) Critical Criminology is telling that the source of conflicts inside the society is the political interest and inequality (capitalist vs working class), base on this assumption, the criminal law seems only a protection of the dominance, and the crime defined by the powerful. (OUHK, 2013, tutorial 2, unit 2) Environmental Criminology is including four main theories which are Jane Jacobs’s compartmentalization; Oscar Newman’s defensible space; Rational Choice Theory(RCT) and Routine Activity Theory(RAT). Jane Jacobs’s Compartmentalization is a modern design change lead to breakdown of social control hence lead to crime, compartmentalization of urban space into different zones lead to breakdown of social control (e.g. insufficient social interaction, unattended areas )hence lead to crime, the application of compartmentalization theory is to change the land use,(e.g. mixing land use) , or increase security for unattended areas. (OUHK, 2013, tutorial 2, unit 2) Oscar Newman’s defensible space is similarly to Jane Jacobs’s theory, but focus more on building design or location, for example on these main points: 1.Territoriality, 2.Surveillance, 3.Image, 4.Envirnment, the theory thinks that the factors of the high crime rate is because anonymous open public space, many corridors and exits, insufficient lighting, location next to ‘bad areas’, etc, which is a bad design in the building or locations. To solve these problems , Oscar Newman suggest a thinking is call Crime prevention through environmental design(CPTED). (OUHK, 2013, tutorial 2, unit 2) Rational Choice Theory(RCT) emphasize the crime ‘opportunity’, offenders which is rationally weigh information on their personal needs and situational factors involved in the difficult and risk of committing a crime which is gain greater than lose. It will become easier to reduce crime by  increase the risk of the offenders and reduce the opportunity of the offenders to commit crime. (OUHK, 2013, tutorial 2, unit 2) Routine Activity Theory(RAT) emphasize social context, it thinks that crime is a function of 1.motivated o ffender, 2.availability of suitable target and 3.absence of capable guardians. In this theory, assumed that motivated offender can not be change, we have to reduce availability of suitable target and increase security measures to reduce crime. (OUHK, 2013, tutorial 2, unit 2) As a result, Environmental Criminology is the most practical approach to the security manager, consider the Positive Criminology is the theory that criminals are born, and which their biological problems makes them to commit crime, a security manager can not control the customers biological problems and how they are born, so this Positive Criminology is not a suitable approach a security manager to use; the Classical Perspective suggested that the greater punishment issue, the less crime will be, but as a security manager, when they detected crime happen, they can only refer the crime to the legal system and the security manager do not have to right to issue any punishment to the criminals; the Sociological Criminology is telling that criminals are infect by the social structure, economic, social interactions, which are the factors that a security manager can not control any of them, the Environmental Criminology suggested that Crime prevention through environmental design(CPTED), wh ich a security manager can change the design of a shop furnishings, or a plaza settings that can reduce availability of suitable target in the shop or plaza and increase security measures inside to reduce crime happen in a security manager control area. References List The Open University of Hong Kong (2013). LESM A204 tutorial 2 Criminology for the security manager (unit 2). Hong Kong :OUHK http://global.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/143163/criminology/272204/Sociological-theories http://psychologydictionary.org/positivist-criminology/ http://sociologycriminology.wordpress.com/positive-theory-positivism/ http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-classical-criminology.htm

Thursday, October 10, 2019

A Day In Court

Professor Brian D. Heffner 7 December 2012 A Day In Criminal Court This week I had the opportunity to sit In on criminal court proceedings. I chose to visit the Oakland County Court House for the day and noticed quite a few things through out the whole experience. I have been to a few courts In the past, criminal, traffic, and family, but never In the Oakland County bulldlng. There were many details of the proceedings, the Image, and even the condltlons of everything from the bulldlng Itself to the people Involved that I found particularly Interesting.The first thing I hought when I entered the bulldlng was that It was not crowded. In previous vlslts to troy courts the place was packed, let alone confusing. This courthouse was different. The hallways were very modern and clean and it felt fresh to me, not dark and dismal like it could have been. (l guess I have to also consider that I didn' t have any charges against me so I wasn? t entering the building expecting to hate being there ) I was surprised by the security measures. It seemed as if it was too easy to get through. I expected to have three or four metal detectors lined up for a big crowd, but there was only one.Right away I got the sense that the size of the building was not reflective of the amount of cases per day it accommodates. After speaking with one of the guards I was referred to the criminal court room rather than the family court, due to what he called a more interesting day.? . The courtroom itself I thought was way too small. There were only two and a half rows for people to sit and watch, forcing many people to have to wait outside. That I thought was not a well thought out design. There is tons of extra hallway space that they could have stretched the room out to make it bigger so you wouldn't run into those kinds of problems.The room also had extravagant fixtures hanging from the ceiling. I don't really understand the purpose of them, they may even have been lights, but they Just looked l ike a waste of money. I dont think they serve any other reason than to look pretty, and if that's the case, they could have spent the money on the room extension. That's Just my opinion of the building; another thing that struck me was the people involved. As I looked around the court room, I saw lawyers, citizens, guards, and of course the Judge. The Judge, I was informed, was the night Judge filling In for someone.I was warned by my buddy, the guard, that he would be sluggish, but I thought It flowed nicely. I must first speak of the lawyers because they bothered me the most. These lawyers were slobs! I realize that you may not make a whole lot of money being a public defender, but you could at least dress appropriately. One of these lawyers had his whole hem hanging out with string following him everywhere. This guys pants were wrinkled and his hair completely void of any type of brushing. I would never hire any one that looked Ilke that. and I would be scared If I had him assign ed to me.Another lawyer, a woman this time, was the most horrifying thing I have ever seen. Before she even came in the wanted a new lawyer because she was as dizzy. When she walked in I realized they had made a huge understatement. This woman had the most disgusting mess of hair on top of her head and she kept scratching it. It was like a huge crimped, teased, knotty mess. I couldn't believe that she would walk into a courtroom like that. Oh my God she was a mess! I don't understand how she could represent anyone looking like that. There was only one professional looking lawyer and he was the prosecutor.Everyone else looked third rate compared to him. The other group of people I looked at was the criminals. There was definitely a mixed group of people there. There was one lady in her 40's that was wearing a long fur coat and all the Jewelry in the world, and you could Just tell she was ashamed to be there. Her husband wouldn't even sit in the courtroom with her. I really would have loved to know what she did wrong, but with all the bench conversation you never got to hear her crime, Just her dismissal. Another guy that had charges against him wasn't even allowed in the courtroom ecause he didn't have the right shoes.I thought that was completely unfair. He was outside the courtroom explaining that he didn't have any money to buy good shoes for the day, but they still wouldn't let him in. I guess all this stuff has been pretty superficial, but what really bothered me was how each of the cases was handled. I always thought that the public could view any courtroom proceeding, but I felt extremely short changed. In fact I think it was unfair to the criminals as well. It seemed like every case was decided at the bench before even saying what the charges were.I know I sat through three hours of court and left only knowing what two of the cases was really about. When the incarcerated people were brought out it looked like they were clueless as to what was going on, because they couldn't hear any of it. They looked shocked sometimes when hearing the decisions as if they didn't know what was happening to them. I know that I was shocked when I heard some of the verdicts because I had no idea what the crime was For the most part they Just announced codes not allowing the common person to understand a thing they're talking about.After every decision the lawyer had to break it down to their own words to the clients. That annoyed me so much. I was also disgusted with one case in particular where they actually did describe the crime. A man and a woman had both committed armed robbery and in the process hospitalized two victims. Their lawyer had the nerve to ask for $1000 bail for the two of them, pointing out the families of each of the criminals in the courtroom, explaining that they both had newborns to take care of. This lawyer had a 6 year old child in the courtroom to hear his father receive a $50, 000 bail. I Just think that was wrong.The lawyer knew there was no way in the world he was getting his client off, the guy had a rap sheet longer than the Bible from 4 different states, but he chose to put that kid through that. I don't get that. I guess overall my court experience was a pretty good learning experience. I learned to appreciate my lawyer a 100 times more Just for his wardrobe alone. I learned that you always need appropriate shoes even if your clothes are as crappy as ever. I learned that the city of Oakland County prefers style to space accommodations, and most importantly I learned that is cheaper to obey the law than to break it.