Drug And The Drug Court System Essay - 1788 Words

â€Å"A drug court is a special court given responsibility to handle cases involving substance-abusing offenders through comprehensive supervision, drug testing, treatment services and immediate sanctions and incentives† (â€Å"what are drug courts?†). â€Å"These offenders have alcohol, drug addiction, and depending problems. Drug courts keep individuals in treatment long enough for it to work, while supervising them closely† (â€Å"what are drug courts?†). â€Å"In 1989, the first drug court was built in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The Miami-Dade drug court sparked a national revolution that has forever changed our justice system† (â€Å"what are drug courts?†). â€Å"Circuit court Judge Herbert M. Klein had become troubled by the negative effects of drug offenses on Dade County. He became determined to address the problem caused by widespread drug use. This first drug court became a model program for the nation† (â€Å"Drug Courtsà ¢â‚¬ , 2005). The main purpose of the drug court system is mainly to utilize the programs set in place to help serve the community better, and to deal with drug offenders in the local community. Each offender, whether they are a drug user or another offense, have drug courts that specifically tailor to the needs and certain interventions needed. Drug courts aim to monitor drug addicted criminal offenders and provide them treatment. It also helps these individuals from obtaining any more drugs, committing crimes due to drug use, helps them to complete their education, and helps them toShow MoreRelatedDrug Courts And The Criminal Justice System1506 Words   |  7 PagesDrug courts are considered to be one of the most successful innovations to be implemented in the criminal justice system. It was first implemented during the height of the drug war hysteria and the long epidemic of the skyrocketing rates of incarceration. According to the Bureau of Justice Assistance (2010), drug co urts are a â€Å"specially designed court docket, whose purpose is to achieve a reduction in recidivism and substance abuse among nonviolent substance abusing offenders and to increase theRead MoreCriminal Behavior And The Justice System Essay1361 Words   |  6 Pagesthe justice system has attempted to narrow down the causes of criminal behavior. The justice system has also put into place specialty courts that are designed to better address these particular causes of criminal behavior. The goal of these courts is to better address the individual’s reason that they engaged in criminal behavior in hopes that with the additional support, in the future the individual will become a productive member of society. What are specialty Courts? Specialty courts are becomingRead MoreIs Drug Treatment a Viable Alternative to Prison Time? Essay1113 Words   |  5 Pagesjustice system and taxpayers more money to transfer inmates to other facilities and in lawsuits brought by inmates against the prisons. With the prisons and county jails facing major overcrowding issues and drug treatment programs being a viable alternative to prison time, more states need to be implementing drug / treatment programs. Treatment / Drug Courts are specialized courts to help stop drug, alcohol, and related criminal activity (U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration,2011). These courts closelyRead MorePros And Cons Of Juvenile Drug Courts1589 Words   |  7 Pages Drug Courts Haley Klimesh Community-Based Corrections September 29, 2017 Drug Courts Drug courts are problem solving courts that take a public health approach using a specialized model in which the judiciary, prosecution, defense bar, probation, law enforcement, mental health, social service, and treatment communities work together to help addicted offenders into long-term recovery. Drug courts began in 1989 in Florida, because it was assumed that people that had first timeRead MoreDifferences Between The Success Rate Of Drug Courts974 Words   |  4 Pagesrate of drug courts? A. History of Drug Courts 1. Brief history of drug courts 2. Where was the first drug court? 3. Explain drug court model 4. Who is eligible for drug court treatment? 5. What happens after successful completion of drug courts 6. Penalties for drug court failure. B. Drug Addictions 1. Are there gender differences in drug addiction? 2. What causes female drug addiction/dependency? 3. What causes male drug addiction/dependency? C. Drug Court Recidivism Rates 1. Female drug offender’sRead MoreThe Drug Of Drug Addiction Essay1270 Words   |  6 Pagesolder brother struggle with drug addiction has taught me more in my life than anything else. He was a smart kid with a good head on his shoulders.   As he grew older he made some unwise choices with regard to substance abuse that quickly turned into a full blown addiction lasting over five years and landed him in and out of four different rehabs.   He was striving to get clean, but every time he took one step forward he fell three steps back.   Taylor entered Drug Court, after finding himself in a lotRead MoreA Complete Package Of Prevention And Treatment Services1279 Words   |  6 Pagesassociated with drug abuse in southern and eastern Kentucky, which largely included Rogers’ Fifth Congressional District. (Operation UNITE, 2016) UNITE also has several activities throughout the year where the community can be involved, such as a Say no to Drugs Walk a Thon and a Hallowe en Program. Kentucky Drug Court is administered through the Administrative Office of the Courts in Frankfort, which oversees 55 adult programs that serve 115 counties. Drug Court’s mission is to provide court-supervisedRead MoreHistory And Impact Of Drug Treatment Courts1471 Words   |  6 PagesThe History and Impact of Drug Treatment Courts Tincen Vithayathil University of Baltimore The History and Impact of Drug Courts Between 1990 and 1999, individuals who were convicted of a drug crime rose past 100,000, which accounted for 20 percent of our nation’s increased prison population (Lurigio, 2008). Between 1995 and 2003, the number of drug-related offenders constituted the largest increase of criminals in our nation’s prison population (Lurigio, 2008). In 2004, approximatelyRead MoreProblem-Solving Courts are Helping to Reform the Justice System526 Words   |  3 Pages I believe that one of the best reforms to our justice system is the growing number of Problem-Solving Courts. Problem-Solving Courts are specialized courts that focus on specific problems in society, such as drug abuse, prostitution, mental-health, domestic violence, etc (Courts). I have chosen drug courts more specifically to research. According to drugpolicy.org, in 2012 1.55 million people were arrested for non-violent drug charges (Drug Policy Alliance). This is an astounding amount of peopleRead MoreThe Court Syst em Is Not Perfect1697 Words   |  7 PagesOur US court system is not perfect, it is like a mirror that has some scratches on the surface. With some hard work and the right tools, the mirror can be fixed. Jennifer Murphy and Adam Benforado talk about how our court system is flawed. Murphy talks about drug courts and how they are affecting our court system. Benforado talks about the individuals involved in the courtroom and how their mistakes flaw the court system. Though both Jennifer Murphy and Adam Benforado do talk about ways to fix the

Nostalgia in “Where I Come from” Free Essays

â€Å"Where I Come From† is a poem in which Elizabeth Brewster expresses her nostalgic emotions and yearning for the tranquility and yearning for the nature of her hometown. The vivid imagery, which stimulates the readers’ senses plays an important role in intensifying the vehemence of her emotions. Brewster also expresses her nostalgia in a way that makes readers empathic with her strong yearning. We will write a custom essay sample on Nostalgia in â€Å"Where I Come from† or any similar topic only for you Order Now The lack of rhyming scheme in this piece conveys a sense of fickleness and uniqueness. People are made of places,† she says, which I believe specifically meaner that people re made of places that they belong to, that people do not â€Å"carry with them hints of† manmade cities and skyscrapers because they do not belong there, but they belong in the â€Å"Jungles and mountains† as mankind itself is a piece of nature. Furthermore, Brewster uses â€Å"people† as a metaphor for herself, thus being the reason for her intense yearning. â€Å"Smell of smog† in the fourth line radiates a strong imagery of the blurry matter, blinding people from the pathway of their goals. Therefore, the phrase represents Brewster melancholy and strong sense of uncertainty. Her description of the scent f spring as â€Å"the almost-not-smell of tulips† conveys a sense of disappointment as not even a single whole thing of nature remains in the synthetic world of the modern age. Brewster then mentions the scent of museums, the scent of old, once-functional items that are kept only for the sake of history. This serves as a medium to further convey her nostalgia. She then mentions the scent of â€Å"work, glue factories†, â€Å"chromium-plated offices†, and â€Å"subways†. Her choice of mentioning only the dullest and most mundane scents of the contemporary realm depicts her dissatisfaction tit it, in comparison to what her old settlement had to offer. â€Å"Burned-out†, â€Å"old†, and â€Å"battered†, she describes her hometown, yet she still yearns for it. From this, it is concluded that it is not the quality of the items she seeks, but the tranquility and beauty. Brewster included the very fragrant and soothing scent of â€Å"pine woods† and â€Å"blueberry†, further strengthening the former point. â€Å"With yards where hens and chickens circle about,† she says. The image of the Jaunty animals provides an aura of mirthful glee, which is precisely what she experiences while being in the less hectic environment. She also stated that the â€Å"hens and chickens† are â€Å"clucking aimlessly†, depicting a sense of insouciance. Therefore, her wistfulness is caused by her longing for the blithe and airy nature of her hometown. Spring and winter are the mind’s chief seasons†; in this line, Brewster has started to tolerate with the circumstance she is place in in that present and that the benefit in simply yearning is nonexistent. â€Å"Ice and the breaking of ice† symbolisms her adamantly of belonging in a place of nature, as it starts to fade, thus exposing herself Brewster then allows the doo r to her memories to â€Å"blow open† and let the â€Å"frosty mind† that is her haunting memories to be blown and fade away. Her description of her memories as â€Å"frosty† depicts her acknowledgement and awareness of how her nostalgia has turned her into an aloof person whose gaze illustrates none but melancholy. In conclusion, this poem is the tale of Elizabeth Brewster momentary misery and despair due to her nostalgia, which she overcomes as she realizes that the past is not all there is, which is the fickle element of the poem. Therefore, this poem is not a mere chronicle, but Brewster message of counsel too. How to cite Nostalgia in â€Å"Where I Come from†, Papers

The Existence of God Theories of Thomas Aquinas, St. Anselm, and Wil Essay Example For Students

The Existence of God: Theories of Thomas Aquinas, St. Anselm, and Wil Essay liam PaleyThe Existence of God: Theories of Thomas Aquinas, St. Anselm, and William PaleyThe three readings that form the basis of this essay all deal with the existenceof a God, something that which nothing greater can be conceived and cannot beconceived not to exist. The three readings include: Thomas Aquinas, St. Anselm,and William Paley. First let us start with Thomas Aquinas, a Dominican Monk (1225-1274) whois considered by many to be the greatest theologian in Western religion. Aquanis writes of two opposite theories with reasons for the non-existence of God and then for the existence of God. He starts off with hisviews for the non-existence of God relating this through two objections. In thefirst of the two he defines God as infinite goodness and goes on the say thatif God truly existed, there would be no evil. Since evil does exist in theworld, there must therefore be no God. I agree with this reasoning, for how could God, a being of infinitegoodness create and care for a world of non-perfection and corruption. I havealways questioned, as I am sure we all have, how, if there is a God, he couldallow such terrible things to occur as they do in todays world: The starving inThird World Countries, the destructiveness of war, and especially the anguish oflosing a loved one. In the Bible, a book meant to be the word of God, condemns such thingsas murder, adultery and theft. I find it hard to believe that an all-powerful,all-knowing, infinitely-good being that created this world and everything init would allow any of these things to occur. He would not only condemn them inan ancient book, but abolish them altogether along with any other things evil. If God is supposed to be the heavenly father wouldnt he want and impose ontohis children his goodness and weed out all evil?Aquinas also shows this non-existence through Objective 2 where hewrites how it is expecting too much for something that can be accounted for be afew principles has been produced by many. There are other principles that canaccount for everything we see in our world supposing God did not exist. Allthings can be reduced to one principle, that of nature and therefore there is noneed to suppose Gods existence. Once more I agree with his rationale of this subject, for it is logicalto believe in a simple, visible, measurable concept such as the principle ofnature, instead of something so complex it is near in-conceivable, and not ableto be seen or measured. Nature could have accounted for the gradual developmentof mankind and scientific theories have given us explanations for the existenceof nature and proof of this gradual development. Our planets creation hasbeen explained as a result of The Big Bang and mans development from asingle-cellular organism to the multi-cellular, intelligent man of today byevolution. I agree with both of Thomas Aquinas Objectives and it is mainlybecause of these two arguments that I, myself do not believe in the existence ofGod, something that which nothing greater can be conceived and cannot beconceived not to exist. Aquinas, in the next section of his writings takes the opposite side andgives five arguments for the existence of God. First: The Argument From ChangeIn his first argument Aquinas attempts to prove through theories ofmotion, the existence of God. He writes that since motion exists in the world,and motion is caused by something else, then in order for there to be any motion(life) now, there must have been an original thing, God to cause this motion. For it is impossible for something with potentiality for motion, to advanceitself to actuality of motion. I agree with this theory because I have studied Physics and have read ofthe teachings of Sir Isaac Newton, but as Science explains, there are perfectlylogical explanations as to the formulation of todays motion, Big Bang Gasses,and the evolution of man. In agreeing with this theory I, in no way havecontradicted myself, for I believe there always has been motion of some kind itis through millions upon millions of years occurrences, building up and evolvingthat the current conditions (life) has occurred. Demand for Medical Care EssayHe (St. Anselm) goes on to write later of the conceivement of a beingbetter than God, and the absurdity of this. For if this was to occur theCreature would rise above the Creator. He goes on to explain how conceiving anobject and understanding it are totally different. These two things, conceivingand understanding lay the basis for most of the writing and basically it seemsthat he is talking more about faith than actuality. He seems to restrict mostof his ideas to the minds and hearts of men and leave out the real aspect inquestion: Is there any way of truly proving that God exists? I think not andthrough St. Anselms writings he has done nothing to convince me of otherwise. William Paley: The Watch and the WatchmakerWilliam Paley (1743-1805) was a leading evangelical apologist. Thiswriting comes from the first chapter of his most important work, Natural Theory,or Evidences of the Existence and Attributes of the Deity Collected from theAppearances of Nature (1802). Paley described a scene in which a person finds a stone and assumes thatit has always been there, but when that same person finds a watch andautomatically assumes differently the a question arises: Is finding a watch anydifferent than finding a stone? And ultimately, does a God exist and if not howare we, and everything around us, here? Paley goes on to describe the innerworkings of the watch comparing them to everyday life and the workings of nature. He uses the fact that one in a million men know how the inner workings ofcertain parts of a watch work and still no doubt arises in our minds as to theexistence of its maker. He does this to show that we shouldnt doubt theexistence of God just because we dont know how he works. Also how if we founda watch and it didnt work perfectly we should not expect flawlessness, for itis not necessary for a machine to be perfect for us to see the design it wasmade. Thus explaining evil in the world and the problems in todays societyeven though God exists. He writes how absurd it is to assume that the watch isa result of the common workings of metallic nature and relates this toSciences explanation of the evolution of man in an attempt of discrediting it. In general he compares the watch and how we know it was made to the world welive in and more specifically to us, mankind. Paley has many good points and his use of the watch as a metaphor forlife in his writing is the work of genius. In contrast though, I believe hisarguments to be flawed in that we know there is only one way to construct awatch (a person, a watchmaker, builds it) and when it comes to the question ofthe world we live in and our life itself, there is much uncertainty. We havebeen told by Scientists that there are perfectly good explanations as to theexistence of the universe and that of man. This is the same as in the argumentsof Thomas Aquinas that it is much easier to believe in a visible, measurableconcept such as the principle of nature, instead of something so complex it isnear in-conceivable, and not able to be seen or measured, like the existence ofGod. Although I enjoyed reading Paley and am amazed at the intricate nature ofhis work I am still a skeptic when it comes to the existence of God and nothingshort of first hand experience will change that. In conclusion, I have spent the most time writing on Thomas Aquinas forthe fact that I believe him to be the most thorough and discerning of the three. He argues both sides and although his arguments for the existence of God donothing to convince myself, he does raise some valid points with the logic ofhis arguments being brilliant. He should be recognized as an extraordinaryreligious scholar (as he is) who examines both sides of an argument on a subjectthat at the time (early 1200s) it was forbidden to even question (the existenceof God). I have enjoyed these readings and consider myself more well-versed onthe subject because of them.

The Homeless What Has Been Done To Decrease The Problem Essay Example For Students

The Homeless: What Has Been Done To Decrease The Problem? Essay One of the largest growing concerns in Toronto is the constantlyincreasing number of citizens who are finding themselves living on thestreets. With the decrease in the number of available jobs, the populationof homeless people has literally boomed. My questions are not as simple toanswer as they may appear. Why is a large portion of our community forcedto live on the streets? What has be done to decrease the problem? Theseare the questions I will confront in my essay. With the economical wealth attributed to the name Canada, one wouldhave to wonder why there is a homeless situation at all. This problem isespecially evident in Canadas wealthiest city, Toronto. When it comes tothe affairs of the people, it is the government who should intervene. WhenI look at what the government has done with regard to the homeless problem,I have to doubt that everything is being done to eradicate it. The UnitedNations implemented a universal declaration of human rights. Article 25Section 1 of this declaration states: Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the healthand well being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing,housing, and medical care and necessary social services, and to the rightto security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood,old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control. We will write a custom essay on The Homeless: What Has Been Done To Decrease The Problem? specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now This is a step in the right direction. However, this is not enough. These rights are subject to the discretion of the government of the countrywho decides to obey these universal rights. How much is adequate? The government, both at the federal and municipal levels, is currentlyworking on new spending cuts. These cuts also include spending on welfare,unemployment and social services that are geared towards helping thehomeless. Spending cuts can be seen as a necessity to maintain the countryeconomically, but the reason for having a government in the first place isto take care of the people. How can this be done when money is being takenaway from those services that are necessary to uphold this obligation?Simply put, it cannot. Those obligations are served by nonprofitorganizations who depend on government grants to maintain a standard ofcare for those who need the services. The blame cannot be placed only on the government. Such a system ofassistance depends on its beneficiaries to be honest and have someintegrity. Many recipients of these services attempt to cheat thesystem. With no will to search for work many of these recipients remainat home and reap the benefits of their weekly cheques. This causes thegovernment to create other services to control the amounts of money beingdistributed to those people. This process is costly and would beunnecessary if all of the recipients decided to take an honest approach tothis service. What can the government do to decrease the homeless population?Although there is no quick and easy answer to solve this difficult problem,Toronto has the means to attempt economical ways to research and come upwith ideas to solve it. Here in Ontario we have many excellentuniversities and colleges with equally excellent students who are takingcourses in the political sciences. If the government were to cooperatewith these universities and colleges and have them work in conjunction withthe current research groups, then the answer to decrease the homelesspopulation would be effectively answered. The government would encounterlittle expense and at the same time give the students a chance to implementwhat they are learning into real life situations. Everyone benefits fromthis idea and there are no losers. .u51e2285e3c2fee61778d3cb3bd6b4be4 , .u51e2285e3c2fee61778d3cb3bd6b4be4 .postImageUrl , .u51e2285e3c2fee61778d3cb3bd6b4be4 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u51e2285e3c2fee61778d3cb3bd6b4be4 , .u51e2285e3c2fee61778d3cb3bd6b4be4:hover , .u51e2285e3c2fee61778d3cb3bd6b4be4:visited , .u51e2285e3c2fee61778d3cb3bd6b4be4:active { border:0!important; } .u51e2285e3c2fee61778d3cb3bd6b4be4 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u51e2285e3c2fee61778d3cb3bd6b4be4 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u51e2285e3c2fee61778d3cb3bd6b4be4:active , .u51e2285e3c2fee61778d3cb3bd6b4be4:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u51e2285e3c2fee61778d3cb3bd6b4be4 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u51e2285e3c2fee61778d3cb3bd6b4be4 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u51e2285e3c2fee61778d3cb3bd6b4be4 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u51e2285e3c2fee61778d3cb3bd6b4be4 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u51e2285e3c2fee61778d3cb3bd6b4be4:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u51e2285e3c2fee61778d3cb3bd6b4be4 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u51e2285e3c2fee61778d3cb3bd6b4be4 .u51e2285e3c2fee61778d3cb3bd6b4be4-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u51e2285e3c2fee61778d3cb3bd6b4be4:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: ROSA pARKS Essay In conclusion I think that our homeless problem could eventually berooted out entirely if everyone were to take part in the care of theirfellow neighbour. If we were to stop being self-centered and startthinking about the other person who has less than us, I am sure that wewould benefit from it. It isnt all that hard. A few advertisements onthe television and radio, a little push from our societys leaders and wewould be off on the right track. That worked for the recycling program. Now we should try employing this idea for even better reasons. I doubt thatI will be around to see this idea in use all around the world, but I dohope that I can one day see it used here in Toronto. To assist all thehomeless here in Toronto would be a very nice thing to see. The best partof it all would be to know that we, as a society, would be able to worktogether despite all the barriers created by racism and our naive naturewhen it comes to other heritages.

How to Stay Motivated in the Final Weeks of School

How to Stay Motivated in the Final Weeks of School If college were easy, more people would be attending- and graduating. And while college can be challenging, there are definitely times when things are more difficult than usual. The end of the semester, for example- and especially the end of the spring semester- can sometimes feel harder to get through than the rest of the year combined. Youre low on energy, time, and resources, and its more challenging than usual to recharge yourself. So just how can you stay motivated at the end of the semester? Try Changing Your Routine How long has it been since you mixed up your schedule? As in...really mixed it up? You might be in a bit of a funk because youre just going through the motions: go to bed late, wake up tired, go to class, procrastinate. If you need to snap yourself out of it, try reworking your routine, if even just for a day or two. Go to bed early. Get enough sleep. Eat a healthy breakfast. Eat a healthy lunch. Do your homework in the morning so you can hang out, without guilt, all afternoon and evening. Go off campus to study. Mix things up so that your brain can engage and recharge in a new context. Add Some Exercise When youre low on energy, adding exercise to your routine sounds positively dreadful. Making the time for physical activity, however, can help relieve your stress, increase your energy, and clear things up mentally. Go for a nice long run outside, if you can, or join an exercise class that youve never been to. Play a pick-up game with friends or just zone out on the rowing machine. No matter what you do, promise yourself youll do it for at least 30 minutes. Chance are youll be amazed at how much better you feel. Schedule in Some Downtime Even if you know youll be hanging out with people throughout the week, it can be hard to really let yourself relax if youre worried about everything else you have to do. Consequently, make an official night out, dinner out, coffee date, or something similar with friends. Put it on your calendar. And then let yourself really relax and rejuvenate while youre out. Get off Campus and Forget Youre a Student for a Little While Everything you do probably revolve around your college life- which, while understandable, can also be wearisome. Leave your backpack behind and head to a museum, a musical performance, or even a community event. Forget that youre a student and just let yourself enjoy the moment. Your college responsibilities will wait for you. Remind Yourself of Your Long-term Goals Studying can be exhausting when you think of all you have to read and learn and memorize and write within the last few weeks of the term. However, thinking about your long-term goals- both professionally and personally- can be incredibly motivating. Visualize or even write down what you want your life to be like in 5, 10, and even 20 years. And then use those goals to help you plow through your to-do list. Make Attainable Short-term Goals While looking at your long-term goals can be motivating, focusing on your short-term goals can also be incredibly helpful. Make simple, very-short-term (if not downright immediate) goals that you can reach with a little extra effort. What is the one big thing youd like to get done by the end of the day today? By the end of the day tomorrow? By the end of the week? You dont have to list everything; just list one or two tangible things that you can aim for and reasonably expect to accomplish. Spend an afternoon imagining the details of your life after college. Focus on as many details as possible. Where will you live? What will your house or apartment look like? How will it be decorated? What kinds of things will you have hanging on the walls? What kind of dishes will you have? What kinds of people will you have over? What will your work life be like? What will you wear? What will you eat for lunch? How will you commute? What kinds of situations will make you laugh and feel joyful? Who will be part of your social circle? What will you do to have fun and relax? Spend a good hour or two imagining the details of what your life will be like. And then refocus and recharge yourself so you can finish your semester and make progress toward creating that life. Do something creative. Sometimes, the demands of college mean you end up spending your entire day doing things you have to do. When was the last time you did something you want to do? Allocate an hour or two to do something creative not for a grade, not for an assignment, but because you simply need to let your brain do something else. Do something new and silly. Are you tired of having all of the items on your to-do list be serious and productive? Add something that adds some brevity and good, old-fashioned silliness. Take a cooking class, go fly a kite, read a trashy magazine, finger paint, get in a water gun fight with friends, or run through some sprinklers. It doesnt matter what you do as long as you let yourself be goofy and enjoy it for what it is: ridiculous. Find a new place to study. Even if youre lacking motivation, you still have certain things to do like studying. If you cant change your to-do list, change where you get things done. Find a new place to study on campus so that you at least feel like youre mixing things up instead of repeating the same routine over and over and over again. Set up a reward system for yourself. It doesnt have to be fancy or expensive to be motivating. Pick two things on your to-do list and set an easy reward, like that candy bar in the vending machine youre always daydreaming about. When you finish those two tasks, treat yourself! Similarly, add in other short-term rewards, like a snack, nice cup of coffee, power nap, or other small treasure. Drop something from your to-do list and dont feel bad about it. Do you have a ton to do? Are you tired? Do you just not have the energy to get everything completed? Then instead of focusing on how to motivate yourself to do the impossible, take a hard look at your to-do list. Pick one or two things that are stressing you out and drop them without feeling guilty. If things are stressful and your resources are low, then its time to prioritize. What seemed important a month ago may no longer make the cut, so cross off what you can and focus on what you really need to focus on. You just might surprise yourself with how your energy levels replenish and your stress levels decrease.

The History of Ostrich Domestication

The History of Ostrich Domestication Ostriches (Struthio camelus) are the largest bird alive today, with adults weighing between 200–300 pounds (90-135 kilograms). Adult males attain a height of up to 7.8 feet (2.4 meters) tall; females are slightly smaller. Their immense body size and small wings make them incapable of flying. Ostriches have a remarkable tolerance to heat, withstanding temperatures up to 56 degrees C (132 degrees F) without much stress. Ostriches have been domesticated for only about 150 years, and are truly only partly domesticated, or, rather, are only domesticated for a short period of their lives. Key Takeaways: Ostrich Domestication Ostriches were domesticated (and only partly) in South Africa in the mid-19th century.  South African farmers and their British colonial overlords were responding to an enormous demand for fluffy ostrich feathers used in Victorian-era fashions.Although they are adorable as chicks, ostriches are not good pets, because they quickly grow into bad-tempered giants with sharp claws.   Ostriches as Pets? Keeping ostriches in zoos as exotic pets was practiced in Bronze Age Mesopotamia at least as early as the 18th century BCE. Assyrian annals mention ostrich hunts, and some royal kings and queens kept them in zoos and harvested them for eggs and feathers. Although some modern day people do attempt to keep ostriches as pets, no matter how gently you raise them, within a year, the cute fluffy juvenile ball grows to a 200-pound behemoth with sharp claws and the temperament to use them.​ Far more common and successful is ostrich farming, producing red meat similar to beef or venison, and leather goods from the hides. The ostrich market is variable, and as of the 2012 agricultural census, there are just a few hundred ostrich farms in the U.S. Ostrich Life Cycle There are a handful of recognized modern sub-species of ostrich, including four in Africa, one in Asia (Struthio camelus syriacus, which has been extinct since the 1960s) and one in Arabia (Struthio asiaticus Brodkorb). Wild species are known to have been present in North Africa and Central Asia, although today they are restricted to sub-Saharan Africa. South American ratite species are only distantly related, including Rhea americana and Rhea pennata. Wild ostriches are grass eaters, usually concentrating on a handful of annual grasses and forbs that yield essential protein, fiber, and calcium. When they dont have a choice, they will eat leaves, flowers, and fruits of non-grassy plants. Ostriches mature at between four and five years of age and have a lifespan in the wild of up to 40 years. They are known to travel in the Namib desert between 5 to 12 miles (8–20 kilometers) per day, with an average home range of about 50 mi (80 km). They can run up to 44 mi (70 km) per hour when necessary, with a single stride of up to 26 ft (8 m). It has been suggested that Upper Paleolithic Asian ostriches migrated seasonally, as an adaptation to climate change. Ancient Appearance: Ostrich as Megafauna Ostriches are of course an ancient prehistoric bird, but they show up in the human record as ostrich eggshell (often abbreviated OES) fragments and beads from archaeological sites beginning about 60,000 years ago. Ostriches, along with mammoth, were among the last Asian megafaunal species (defined as animals which weigh more than 100 kg) to become extinct. Radiocarbon dates on archaeological sites associated with OES begin near the end of the Pleistocene, late in Marine Isotope Stage 3 (ca. 60,000–25,000 years ago). Central Asian ostriches went extinct during the Holocene (what archaeologists call the last 12,000 years or so). The east Asian ostrich Struthio anderssoni, native to the Gobi Desert, was among the megafaunal species that went extinct during the Holocene: they survived the Last Glacial Maximum only to apparently be done in by increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide. That increase also increased the number of grasses, but it negatively impacted the forage availability in the Gobi. In addition, it is possible that human over-use during the terminal Pleistocene and early Holocene might have occurred, as mobile hunter-gatherers moved into the region. Human Use and Domestication Beginning in the late Pleistocene, ostriches were hunted for their meat, their feathers, and their eggs. Ostrich shell eggs were likely hunted for the protein in their yolks but were also very useful as light, strong containers for water. Ostrich eggs measure up to 6 inches (16 centimeters) long and can carry up to one quart (about one liter ) of fluid. Ostriches were first kept in captivity during the Bronze Age, in a tamed and semi-domesticated state, in gardens of Babylon, Nineveh, and Egypt, as well as later in Greece and Rome. Tutankhamuns tomb included images of hunting the birds with a bow and arrow, as well as a very fancy ivory ostrich feather fan. There is documented evidence of ostrich riding since the first millennium BCE at the Sumerian site of Kish. European Trade and Domestication The full domestication of the ostrich was not attempted until the mid-19th century when South African farmers established farms solely for harvesting the plumage. At the time, and indeed for several centuries before that and since, ostrich feathers were in high demand by fashionistas from Henry VIII to Mae West. Feathers can be harvested from the ostrich every six to eight months without ill effects. During the first decade of the 20th century, ostrich feathers used in the fashion industry had driven the value per pound to that nearly equal to that of diamonds. Most of the feathers came from Little Karoo, in the Western Cape region of southern Africa. That was because, in the 1860s, the British colonial government had actively facilitated export-oriented ostrich raising. The Darker Side of Ostrich Farming According to historian Sarah Abrevaya Stein, in 1911 the Trans-Saharan Ostrich Expedition took place. That involved a British-government sponsored corporate espionage group who snuck into French Sudan (chased by American and French corporate spies) to steal 150 Barbary ostriches, famed for their double fluff plumes, and brought them back to Cape Town to be inbred with the stock there. By the end of World War II, though, the market for feathers crashed- by 1944, the only market for the fanciest of plumes was on cheap plastic Kewpie dolls. The industry managed to survive by broadening the market to meat and hides. Historian Aomar Boum and Michael Bonine have argued that the European capitalist passion for ostrich plumes decimated both wild animal stocks and African livelihoods based on wild ostriches. Sources Al-Talhi, Dhaifallah. Almulihiah: A Rock Art Site in the Hail Region, Saudi Arabia. Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy 23.1 (2012): 92–98. Print.Bonato, Maud, et al. Extensive Human Presence at an Early Age of Ostriches Improves the Docility of Birds at a Later Stage of Life. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 148.3–4 (2013): 232–39. Print.Boum, Aomar, and Michael Bonine. The Elegant Plume: Ostrich Feathers, African Commercial Networks, and European Capitalism. The Journal of North African Studies 20.1 (2015): 5–26. Print.Brysbaert, Ann. ‘The Chicken or the Egg?’ Interregional Contacts Viewed through a Technological Lens at Late Bronze Age Tiryns, Greece. Oxford Journal of Archaeology 32.3 (2013): 233–56. Print.dErrico, Francesco, et al. Early Evidence of San Material Culture Represented by Organic Artifacts from Border Cave, South Africa. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109.33 (2012): 13214–19. Print.Gegner, Lance E. Ratite Production: Ostrich, Emu and Rhea. Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas: National Center for Appropriate Technology, 2001. 1–8. Print. Janz, Lisa, Robert G. Elston, and George S. Burr. Dating North Asian Surface Assemblages with Ostrich Eggshell: Implications for Palaeoecology and Extirpation. Journal of Archaeological Science 36.9 (2009): 1982–89. Print.Kurochkin, Evgeny N., et al. The Timing of Ostrich Existence in Central Asia: AMS 14c Age of Eggshells from Mongolia and Southern Siberia (a Pilot Study). Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms 268.7–8 (2010): 1091–93. Print.Renault, Marion. Decades after It Crashed, Ostrich Industry Poised to Take Off as Demand Grows. Chicago Tribune September 25. 2016. Print.Shanawany, M. M. Recent Developments in Ostrich Farming. World Animal Review 83.2 (1995). Print.Stein, Sarah Abrevaya. Plumes: Ostrich Feathers, Jews, and a Lost World of Global Commerce. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2008. Print.

Exploring parents views on their roles in their childrens creativity Dissertation

Exploring parents views on their roles in their childrens creativity development - Dissertation Example In today’s world,creativity is a quality that is becoming of great demand.In response to this, the NACCCE has advocated the incorporation of creativity in the curriculum of schools,knowing its significance in children’s growth and development and its value in helping them develop the necessary skills for their future. NACCCE claims that when children are exposed to environments where teachers’ creative abilities are engaged, these children are likely to develop creative abilities themselves (Jeffrey & Craft, 2001). In view of this, provision of environments or opportunities for creativity development also extends to the home setting. This paper intends to explore parental views on their children’s creativity development in both school and home settings. Literature Review Malaguzzi (1998), prominent educator and founder of the Reggio Emilia Approach in education, most appropriately expressed: Creativity seems to emerge from multiple experiences, coupled wit h a well-supported development of personal resources, including a sense of freedom to venture beyond the known. Creativity seems to express itself though cognitive, affective and imaginative processes (p. 76). Some other accepted definitions of Creativity are as follows: the ability to see things in new ways; boundary breaking and going beyond the information given; thinking unconventionally; making something unique or original; and combining unrelated things into something new (Schirrmacher, 1988). Torrance (1965), a proponent in creativity research, defines creativity as the â€Å"process of sensing problems or gaps in information, forming ideas or hypotheses and communicating the results.† Schirrmacher (1988) explains that creativity may be explained in terms of product, process, skill set of personality traits or set of environmental conditions. As a product, it is viewed as a new invention, creation or thought, like the works of creative geniuses such as Mozart, Plato, G alileo, Newton and Einstein, among others. In this explanation, creativity seems to be elitist difficult to achieve for ordinary people (Schirrmacher, 1988). As a process, creativity is more inclusive, as coming up with a product is not a requirement and everyone can do creative processing that includes â€Å"thinking, speaking, playing, writing, dancing, singing, playing a musical instrument, experimenting with objects, transforming materials and manipulating ideas and objects.† (Schirrmacher, 1988). Engaging in the creative process brings a feeling of fulfillment to the person even if the creative expression does not result in a product. Creative individuals are identified by a set of personality traits. Researchers on creativity have come up with their own lists basing from their own research. Torrance (1962) has identified seven indicators of creativity as follows: curiosity, flexibility, sensitivity to problems, redefinition, self-feeling, originality and insight. Origin ally, these indicators were given to identify highly creative children. However, upon further analysis, such indicators likewise describe highly creative adults. Johnson (1972) has compiled a number of research in the field of creativity, and has come up with the main dimensions of creative achievement as intellectual leadership; sensitivity to problems; originality, ingenuity, unusualness; usefulness, appropriateness; and breadth. In terms of explaining creativity developing from a set of environmental conditions, it may be concluded that the greater one’s background of experiences with people, places, objects and life, in general, the greater the scope of possibilities to draw from in the expression of creativity. On the other hand, if one is naive and is not exposed to a variety of life experiences, his creative thinking may be limited to the small environment