Muscle is highly plastic and many changes occur in muscle as a result Essay - 1

Muscle is highly plastic and many changes occur in muscle as a result of neurological disease. Critically evaluate this statement - Essay Example Notably, in MS disease, the muscles loses their elasticity, spasm and rigidity ensue (Nylander & Hafler, 2012). Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is one of the conditions of neurons origin that causes extensive muscles involvement. After extensive research, it was established that the disorder was of one the muscles-involving disease that continue to impair muscles plasticity. Together with other diseases such as Myasthenia gravis, Parkinson, it has been established that muscular involvement in these diseases arises from the neuromuscular connection. Multiple sclerosis refers to a neuron disease that occurs when nerves undergo degeneration resulting in loss of functions. The exact cause of the disease is largely unknown. However, existing studies links it to an autoimmune disorder that cause destruction of nerves (Compston & Coles, 2002, 2008b). In other severe cases, loss of nerves functioning causes permanent disability since nerves cannot be regenerated. This focus will examine existing literature to provide an association of muscles properties and neurological involvement. Muscle is an integral part of the skeletal and even visceral parts of the human body. There are of either skeletal or visceral origin. Irrespective of their types, they are needed for normal body function. More specifically, skeletal muscles are necessary in support and movement and visceral muscles are primary parts of internal organs. Besides, they facilitate tissues and organ varied degree of changes including peristalsis. However, in MS, muscles are significantly impaired depending on their location and severity of the disease. To understand the basis of muscles involvement in MS, it is important to look at the Central Nervous System (CNS) and more specifically structural components of a nerve. One way to understand this is to consider myelin sheath autoimmune destruction. During MS, there is gradual attack of the myelin

Systems and Operations Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Systems and Operations Management - Essay Example Competition has progressed from one that is based on specific organisational practises to one that is highly influenced by the supply chains of an organization. Supply chain management has been conceptualized into five dimensions that posses the potential to determine the competitive advantage of a business especially in the manufacturing sector. Supply chain dimension are the determinant factors that influences the excellence of a specific supply chain model adopted by a company specifically in the chemical specialty sector. These dimensions include but are not limited to alignment of the overall business strategies and the supply chain strategy and the execution of such strategies. Strategic depth of every supply chain management plan also forms an important element of supply chain dimension that a company must consider. All the steps taken in enhancing the competitiveness of a business targets the customers who must register utmost satisfaction with the supply chain performance, a n important dimension in strategic management of supply chains. Proper supply chain management also creates competitive advantage by providing the link between demand creation and demand fulfilment by improving the ability of a business to design its products based on the desires and tastes of the customers. ... Speciality chemicals include materials such as adhesives, agrichemicals, polymers, fragrances, food additives and surfactants. As products that are majorly used based on the basis of their performance and function, supply chain management plays a significant role in the development of proper products that can suit the demands of other industries and individuals. Speciality companies belong to different associations depending on their country of origin and the nature of products that they generally produce. In the United Kingdom, speciality industries belong to the British association of chemical specialties while American version is the society of chemical manufacturers and affiliates. Apex industrial chemicals is a British based company with its headquarters in Aberdeen and supplies companies and individual client’s different products for use in specific specialty industries. The products manufactured by the company include cleaners, degreasers, scale dissolvers, lubricants, corrosion preventives and hand care products. The products form Apex industrial chemicals targets players in other industries including the vehicle exterior cleaning and maintenance, electrical equipment maintenance and fabrication and engineering among others (Berning et al, 2002). Apex also manufactures products that targets offshore marine companies that are used in mining and offshore oil drilling. The widespread market presence of AIC across Europe and other parts of the world can be attributed to the sound supply management strategy that the company has employed. This has enabled the company to manufacture products that meets the demands and specifications of the clients found within different sectors of the economy. Example would be low cost

Dexter Opening Sequence | Analysis

Dexter Opening Sequence | Analysis In this assignment, I analyse Dexters opening sequence by employing semiotic tools and interpret the intended meaning in the polysemic signs which anchor to the connotative associations in the narrative structure of this generic text. I have opted to carry out a semiotic analysis of Dexters opening credits that airs on premium cable, Showtime. In order to develop an unequivocal semiotic analysis, the meaning of the terms and different aspects of semiology must be made clear. There is a set of analytical tools used to examine a media text such as a sign, a signifier and a signified, iconic, indexical, symbolic, polysemic, intertexuality, codes, paradigms and syntagms. Semiotics is the study of how signs make meaning while a sign could be anything that represents something else. The signifier is the sign itself and the signified refers to the mental concept. Iconic describes a sign which resembles the signified whereas Symbolic refers to a sign which does not resemble the signified but is purely conventional. Indexical represents a sign which is innately connected in some way to the signified. Paradigm refers to a set of signs that are put together to induce meaning. Syntagm, on the other hand, is the term used to d escribe the construction of a sequence of signs in a particular relationship to one another. A media text containing many meanings is known as polysemia and its existence in relation to other media texts is called intertexuality. Now it is feasible to delve into the semiotic analyses of Dexters opening sequence as the basic terms of the semiotics are comprehensible. One of Barthes arguments in Rhetoric of the Image is that all images are polysemous; they imply, underlying their signifiers, a floating chain of signifieds, the reader able to choose some and ignore others (1977, p.32-55). The narrative structure of the opening is filled with polysemic codes where the paradigm of signs are combined to show a man going through his morning routine, the interpretation of the coded message actually convey a different meaning depending on the analysis of the syntagmatic relations of the signifiers. The signifiers not only represent their denotation but also contain malicious belligerent connotations leading the audience to an entirely different signifieds or notion of discernment based on their construal. The genre is the crime and suspense drama series as the use of verbal rhetoric and paradigm is particular of this type of generic text. The title scene of Dexter is a complex combination of signs where every element is signifying the message of murder. This view is supported by Fiske (1990, p.40) who states: The conveyance of messages takes place through the development and use of codes, the form and existence that these take depends on the society and culture within which they operate. The blood drops are an indexical sign which has connotation of murder. The title Dexter is an iconic linguistic sign written with blood stains spewed across it. The typography is indicative of murder and crime, using the Soda Script font in red which is yet another signifier. It contains connotative value as its signifieds are danger and devil that is usually depicted as coloured red and wearing a red costume in both iconography and popular culture. Further association of the red colour sign connotes to the phrase caught red-handed, meaning either caught in an act of crime or caught with the blood of murder still on ones hands. It also sets a tone of violence which could be interpreted as a significant characteristic of the show. By deciphering these codes we can construe the intended meaning of the media text. In regards to coded messages Robert Innis (1986, HYPERLINK http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Documents/S4B/sem13.html#Innis_1986p.88) writes that an articulated code has a vocabulary of basic units together with syntactical rules which can be used to generate larger meaningful combinations. The very first shot in the opening scene shows a mosquito sucking blood out of the mans arm that he then slaps and kills. The mosquito is a signifier and signified is it sucks blood. It denotes to the viewer that killing a mosquito is good. The close up facial expression of the man is a presentational code after he kills the mosquito a subsequent self-satisfied smile spreads on his face. When you interpret the coded message being used you get a connotative implication that this is a man who likes killing or that is how he starts his daily routine. The narrative structure of the text also employs syntagmatic value by the linking of signs from paradigm sets for an intended meaning. The one scene shows the man using a dental floss which is a signifier and its denotative of removing food and dental plaque from teeth. He wraps it around his fingers tightly that we can see the fingers areas turn white which connotes to his use of strength and force. In the next shot we see a close up of hi s neck which consists of syntagmatic relationship signifying connotative aspect if we compare it with preceding and following shots. Subsequently the next coded message is a close up shot showing a rope swaddled around the hands that is being pulled making the blood rush to the sides and turning the area around the ropes on his hands turn white. These syntagmatic signs consist of coded message and rely on the intertextuality of the text. Kristeva referred to texts in terms of two axes: a horizontal axis connecting the author and reader of a text, and a vertical axis, which connects the text to other texts (1980, p.69). The interpretations of the meaning of these juxtaposed coded signs rely on the readers previous experience of seeing strangulation scenes in other texts. After examination and coalesces of the signifiers and signifieds in the following shots, its denotative of a man clearly tying his shoes in the morning. The aesthetic codes and conventions used to show a close up shot of a grapefruit being sliced contains polysemic signs. The paradigm method in which the slow motion and graphic slicing of the grapefruit splatters the juice is denotative but also operates indexically indicative of blood spatter at a connotative level. The extreme close up shot of the grapefruit is a sign which resembles distorted flesh. The close up scene of opening the shower null with force making a fist and the shot of his biceps are metonyms of his vindictive personality which signifies his use of force, strength and power. There is an extreme close up shot of slicing of the meat which is still wrapped in a plastic bag connotes to a corpse in a bag. In this context, signifiers not only represent denotation but also carry connotation leading the audience to different signifieds. The visual rhetoric of the man when he is looking at himself through the mirror is a blurred close up shot which is an artifice of connotation. With regard to media artefacts Long and Wall (2009, p.40) stated that a text is manufactured or constructed out of elements of language and existing meanings. The deliberate blurring of his reflection on the mirror presents us with a constructed signifier. The blur is a symbolic sign which distorts the vision, making it harder to identify anything or anyone. The blur could signify the mans secrete persona as his facial features are obscured. Furthermore, it connotes to the implication that he is hiding a dark secret or his true self and does not want to be perceptible. Serial killers are invisible: they look like anyone else is, they could be anyone else. At the denotative level of the syntagmatic structure of the scenes we see the man simply putting a white t-shirt on, however, these coded signifiers also anchor to the connotative signified. The codes and conventions employed anchor to the intended meaning thus exhibit possible polysemia of the signs. The polysemic visual signifier is a symbolic close up shot of the mans face where he is pulling the t-shirt tightly over his head which provides anchorage to the connotative association of a bag over a suffocation victim. The conventions used to provide a connotational framework at this echelon is a cultural code. The big close up shot of his face is an indexical sign and denotative of him trying to catch his breath and reinforces the polysemic connotation of suffocation. The polysemic analysis of the contours of his face emerging from behind the stretching fabric could be interpreted as him being the victim or his close connection with the murder or crime. The purposely use of the sign s has connotative implications that he could be a victim or he could be a criminal and predator who commits the murders. At a mythic level we understand this sign as activating the myth of murderers: Most killers lead lives that appear normal to anyone in the general public. Connotatively, the semiotic analysis of these coded signs interpret the simple relatable morning rituals of the man who takes pleasure in cutting into objects and cooking things that could have been alive signify the delight he gets in killing living and non-living things e.g mosquito, fruit, meat. The narrative structure of this text is a superb paradigm composition of signifiers and signifieds that has polysemic signs which once decoded connotes to menacing and destructive meaning. The rhetorical manner in which he holds his neck in the shaving scene is a symbolic sign containing coded message of strangulation. The drops of blood from the shaving accident are signifiers and the implication of murder is signified. Subsequent combining of signifiers and signifieds in a sequential close up shots denotes to a man eating an omelette which also anchors to the connotative meaning of the signifiers. The razor-sharp knife he uses to slice the omelette is a signifier. Even the black colour of the sharp knife is a coded signifier. We can interpret the polysemic meaning of the metaphorical sign of knife taking into account that it is not a bread knife which is generally used. The knife symbolises murder and the colour black stands for death, enigma, and pain. The red liquid is a signifier and the ketchup is signified. However, employing analytical tools of semiology we can interpret the connotative meaning of calculated use of the fluid to represent blood. The use of ketch up instead of mayonnaise or sauce is a premeditated sign. The signs have connotation of obsession with blood of the main character of the show which signifies that he could be a killer or he is closely associated with the blood and criminal activities. Moreover the analysis of indexical sign of blood epitomise the symbol of life or of taking it. The close up shot towards the end is a signifier where we get to see the clear view of Dexters face for the first time which abstracts him from the context and places the main focus on his face and presentational rhetoric of the text. The facial expression on his face is denotative and also connotes to a disturbing underlining meaning as he looks us in the eye. The shot lingers for just a little too long which provokes uncomfortable and agitated reaction and connotes that the man is hiding a dark secret. The suggestive sly smile spreads on his face that connotes his devious, vicious and cunning personality traits. It also connotes to the ability of the man to present himself as a normal face to the world but underneath he knows he is hiding his true nature from the world. The most common nonliteral sound to accentuate character personality or emotion is music. (Sonnenschein 2001). In this generic text, the presentational rhetoric is employed in encoding the non-diegetic music to convey the connotative meaning of playfulness and ominous. The music and digenetic sound evoke emotional and dramatic reaction through a combination of its elements: rhythm, melody, chords and instrumentation. The music signifier contains sassy and sinister horns that punctuate the visual signs in the paradigmatic narrative structure to direct our attention and induce particular meaning. For example the blood drops falling on the sink which connotes to a more sinister meaning in this context. This clearly relates to the Saussurean analytical division of the sign into a sound-image (signifier) and the mood of the generic text is signified. This notion is further supported by Cook (1998, p.8) who writes By working with the image the sound seeks to explain the events, emotions an d meaning, to transfer its clarity of meaning to the other. The diegetic environmental sounds aid in accentuating the actions of the character and anchor to the connotative meaning of the signifiers. The music and sound are very successful in providing a multi-accentuate meaning to the text which connotes to the menacing, sinister, mysterious and ambiguous characteristics of the man and the generic text. Gibbs (2002, p.82) articulates Mise-en-scà ¨ne enables you to anchor your understanding of a film In this text mise-en-scà ¨ne of the narrative structure of lighting, actor, cinematography and camera makes possible a series of suggestive meanings. The careful use of paradigm and syntagm in the narration abet us to decode the connotative association and experience nonliteral meaning as well as literary one. The paradigm use of graphic and gritty nature of close up shots in the entire narrative anchors to the connotation of intimacy, closeness, asphyxiatation, leaving no room for the viewer to breath. With regard to Close-Up shot frames Munsterberg (1970, p.33) writes The close-up heightens the vividness of that on which our mind is concentrating on. Editing, extreme CU frames, lighting, sound, and swiftness of the images reveal polysemia with notion of perception. Every signifier is polysemic, emotionally poignant and revealing. The indication of fear, concealment and murder is the ultimate goal of each scene. The intensity, saturation, hue and depth of colours play a significant role in the syntagmatic structure of the text anchoring to dark, mysterious, fiend mood. The enhancement of the colour red directs our attention on this particular element of the composition and also connotes to a more sinister meaning. The long shot of the man when he is leaving is a sign and alteration in the tone of the light also has polysemic meaning as it renders our own notion of vision (and judgement) as unreliable or at least questionable. The purpose of the change in the lighting signifies that the man leads a double life or he has two personalities. When he is alone in his room he is himself as the tone of colours are saturated presenting a darker and baleful disposition of the man. But once he is outside the use of cheerful morning bright colours reinforces the connotation of the man leading a double life and keeping a secret. The nod he gives to the camera or audience is a sign which signify his ackno wledgement that we know his secret. The question arises that if he is portrayed as an antihero seeing that he is the main character of the show and has connotation of close associated of blood and murder. It also fortifies the myth of killers that the murderers could be anyone at all and are quite indistinguishable from ordinary people as we see the narrative structure following the man doing daily rituals with polysemic relationship. (Cameron Elizabeth 1987) The rich use of symbolic metonymies in the narrative structure to create malevolent connotations out of a denotatively peaceful routine which we can all relate to makes this media text fascinating to analyse semiotically. The codes and conventions used in the rhetoric construe syntagmic relationship which instantly conveys one sign or denotation to the audience but semiotic analysis of these signs decipher the true intended meaning. At the connotation level all the visual symbols are interacting to create a sinister, darker, destructive notion of perception which insinuates murder. REFERENCES: Barthes, Roland (1977), The Rhetoric of the Image in Heath, Stephen (Trans) Image, Music, Text. New York: Hill and Wang. pp. 32-51 Innis, Robert E. (1986), Semiotics: An Introductory Reade. London: Hutchinson. pp. 88 Kristeva, Julia (1980), Desire in Language: A Semiotic Approach to Literature and Art. New York: Columbia University Press. pp.69 Long, Paul and Wall, Tim (2009), Media Studies: Texts, Production and Context. England: Longman. pp. 40 Sonnenschein, David (2001), Sound Design: The Expressive Power Of Music,Voice and Sound Effects in Cinema. USA: Michael Wiese. pp. 178 Saussure, Ferdinand de (1974), Course in General Linguistics. London: Fontana. pp. 128 Cook, Nicholas (1998), Analysing Musical Multimedia. London: Oxford University Press. pp.8 Gibbs, John (2002), Mise-en-scà ¨ne:Film Style And Interpretation. London: Wallflower Press. pp.82 Munsterberg, Hugo (1970), The Film: A Psychological Study. New York: Dover Publications. pp.33 Cameron, Deborah and Frazer, Elizabeth (1987), The Lust To Kill. Cambridge: Polity Press. pp.158

Comparison of Hurstons Their Eyes Were Watching God and Walkers Color

A Comparison of Their Eyes Were Watching God and The Color Purple    Of Zora Neale Hurston's novel Their Eyes Were Watching God, Alice Walker says "it speaks to me as no novel, past or present, has ever done."   Though 45 years separate Their Eyes Were Watching God and The Color Purple, the two novels embody many similar concerns and methods. Hurston and Walker write of the experience of uneducated rural southern black women. They find a wisdom that can transform our communal relations and our spiritual lives. As Celie in The Color Purple says, referring to God: "If he ever listened to poor colored women the world would be a different place, I can tell you." Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God depicts the process of a woman's coming to consciousness, finding her voice and developing the power to tell her story. This fresh and much-needed perspective was met with incomprehension by the male literary establishment. In his review in New Masses, Richard Wright said the novel lacked "a basic idea or theme that lends itself to significant interpretation." Hurston's dialogue, he said, "manages to catch the psychological movements of the Negro folk mind in their pure simplicity, but that's as far as it goes. . . . . The sensory sweep of her novel carries no theme, no message, no thought." Many male reviewers and critics have reacted with similar hostility and incomprehension to The Color Purple. But to be blind to the definitions these and other women writers give to women's experience is to deny the validity of that experience. For Hurston's heroine, Janie, self-discovery and self-definition consist of learning to recognize and trust her inner voice, while rejecting the formulations others try to impose upon her. Increasin... ...: 181-202. Tate, Linda. "No Place Like Home": Learning to Read Two Writers' Maps // A Southern Weave of Women. Fiction of the Contemporary South. The University of Georgia Press, Athens, Georgia & London, 1994 Wade-Gayler, Gloria. Black, Southern, Womanist: The Genius of Alice Walker // Southern Women Writers. The New Generation. Ed. By Tonette Bond Inge. The University of Alabama Press, Touscaloosa & London, 1990 Critical Essays on Alice Walker. Ed. By Ikenna Dieke. Greenwood Press, Westpoint, Connecticut, London, 1999 Modern Critical Views. Alice Walker. Ed. by Harold Bloom. Chelsea House Publishers. New York & Philadelphia, 1989 Walker, Alice. The Color Purple. Harcourt Bruce Jovanovich, Publishers. New York, San Diego, London, 1992 --. "Finding Celie's Voice," Ms., December 1985, 72 --. Meridian. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1976.

Employment and desistance

Abstract As societies Jails become increasingly over populated there seems to be a new question as to why people recommit crime and how to influence the desistance process. For those in the Criminal Justice fields theories on why individuals commit crimes are abundant. Society, biology, genes, and upbringing are all fair game in assessing the why a person commits crimes. Although understanding the etiological reasoning for crime is important, it has now become increasingly important to understand the importance of desistance and curbing criminal behavior.There are everal links that have been associated as positive correlation with deterring further crime. These include marriage, family and employment. It is easy to give a broad reason to why these factors have such a positive influence on crime, but even more important is the understanding policy implications that research into this topic will create. This paper will begin by examining existing research on the topic of employment and desistance. A survey of local employers will be conducted on employers in the Du Page, IL area to identify hiring processes of convicted criminals.Lastly if employment is the key to curbing criminal activity why are we turning away droves of quality employees? Introduction Desistance in Criminology is the cessation of criminal or other antisocial behavior. TA this point criminals have already taken a leap into the criminal world. Etiological theories have already been developed into the reason why these individuals have accepted a life of crime. Whether it is Strain, labeling, Social Learning or disorganization.Although all these theories gives us possible insight on why individuals turn to crime as a society we still need to understand how to successfully urb criminal and anti-social activity. Our corrections model that we currently have has failed in the rehabilitative aspect. It has served as a great method of temporarily removing criminals from the streets but what happens when these convicted labeled individuals are returned to the our streets. Jobless and labeled a criminal by our societies Justice system will most certainly assure a return to criminal enterprise.According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics 67. 5% of the 300,000 prisoners released in 1994 were rearrested within 3 years. There aren't many institutions that succeed ith a success rate as dismal as that, however we keep churning them out. There are approximately 1 3 prisoners at yearend 2012 According to the United S Department of Justice there are approximately 650,000 ex-offenders released from prison every year. According to the same website it is expected that 433,000 of those will return to Jail, that is 2/3 of the p opulation released.That is staggering figure that contributes to the overpopulation of our prisons. One of the issues at the center of this dilemma is lack of employment opportunities for recently released convicts. The fact that the there is no such thing as an ex-con in society doesn't promote smooth reintegration even for those that do intend of becoming productive members of society. Even though these released individuals have, in the eyes of the United States Justice system paid their debt, society is unwilling to assist by denying employment and training opportunities that will make them a viable candidate in the Job market.We will examine the link between gainful employment and desistance from crime. And how will such a large segment of the population find a Job in an ailing economy. Literature Review Learning new skills, asserting ones free will, and accepting additional responsibilities. The fact that the older we get the less likely we are to engage in risky behavior. Davis Matza referred to this concept as Reform† in his 1964 book delinquency and drift. In this piece of literature he explained hoe delinquency is transient and that adolescent would grow out of there delinquent ways (Matza, 1964).This theory of delinquency lends to th e argument â€Å"boys will be boys† John H. Laub and Robert J. Sampson expand on this idea with The Life Course Perspective consists f evaluating causation of change in the desistance of from Crime through social controls that include key elements attributed to aging; a good marriage; securing legal, Stable work; and deciding to â€Å"go straight,† including a reorientation of the costs and benefits of crime† According to research conducted by Phoebe Potter â€Å"The Hazard ratio for employment is Significant at the . 0 level, suggesting that being employed does positively influence the decision to desist from crime†. In addition the text suggests a %23 percent likelihood that being employed lowers the risk of recidivating. Given the amount of people returning to Jail such studies need to be seriously looked at and action plans develop that seek to enhance employment opportunities for ex-offenders. Drug Use, Work and Desistance Drug use inherently seems to promote criminal activity for those hat use, sell or traffic. Drug use is also another antagonist to getting a Job.Much like background checks drug testing is common most positions. These drug tests are used Justifiably so to avoid workplace injuries and to minimize turnover associated with attendance issues. Considering that a significant majority of incarcerated adults were active drug sers according to National Institute of Drug Abuse website (NIDA). According to the website a survey conducted in 1997 estimated t O percent ot State and 5 percent of Federal prisoners used drugs regularly prior to incarceration†. (NIDA, 2006).The fact that drug use is so prevalent within the population committing crime serious attention needs to be paid to instituting drug rehab programs. Abstinence from drugs has a dual effect on individuals. One it facilitates finding a Job and second the chances of re-offending goes down. According to O'Connell's research for his paper Working Toward Reco very concludes hat drug treatment during the integration phase serves as a therapeutic reintegration that changes the roll of the individual from drug user and criminal to a socially compatible individual. Abstinence from drugs will then cause a departure from the old self and the new self.This separation will then have positive outcomes on the individuals economic and personnel wellbeing outcomes. (O'Connell, 2007). Allowing individuals to make a cognitive change and be able to correlate positive socially acceptable change, through abstinence from drug use and gainful employment is will contribute to future desistance form crime. It would however be counterproductive to believe that these individuals could do this by themselves. A framework needs to be built that encourages abstinence and gives people the necessary skills to be a productive member of society. Policy Implications.Understanding the link between that lives events that have a deterring effect on future criminal activit y is a significant step in being able to successfully being able to implement policies that promote hiring of this disenfranchised segment of our population. According to Phoebe Potter in her 2011 thesis she suggests certain key spects in the implementation of policies to assist in the re-integration of recently released offenders. Potter suggests that the ban on post-secondary financial assistance be lifted for Felony offenders, employers should have stiffer regulations against the discrimination of individuals with criminal records. Potter, 2011) Combined with lack of training and ever expanding background checks, make finding a Job for the pettiest of criminals a challenging task. Potter adds that there should be more intermediary agencies and re-entry programs to assist in getting ex- offender's additional opportunities (Potter, 34). Given the amount of people returning to Jail such studies need to be seriously looked at and action plans develop that seek to enhance employment o pportunities for ex-offenders. Race meets desistance As a society we are not far removed from days where public areas were segregated and minorities were openly discriminated.It would be irresponsible and naive to assume that race doesn't play a role in recidivism, employment opportunities, and ultimate desistance from crime. â€Å"According to Ryan Schroeder research has indicated that minorities, primarily African Americans, continue serious violent offending after dolescence at a rate twice as high as whites. † (Schroeder, 2005 P. 71) When minorities are released from Jail economic opportunities like employment might not be adequately distributed through society. How then are minorities with a double strike on their record; one a conviction on their background and second uneven opportunities due to race.Methodology In an effort to contribute to some of the previous research on the subject of desistance we will conduct our research. This research will be based on employers hiring practices in the area of Du Page, IL. At the time of hire applicants will be given urveys to establish a baseline of employment characteristics. The employees economic, race, sex, and criminal history will be gauged. Upon determining a baseline of qualified personnel two control groups will be targeted and followed to conduct further research.Offenders will be grouped into those that received a position and those that didn't. Salary, and amount of time subject spends at the work. Our findings should be consistent with previous research. Results should see a disproportionate number of non-employable convict's returning to criminal activity. While those that successfully were able to land a Job should see a more favorable result with desistance numbers. Conclusion Criminology has for the large part had a definite concern in establishing a reason to why individuals embark in criminal activity.More obscured was the reasoning as two why people continued to offend. Maturation sugge sts that engaging in risky criminal activity was to an extent a part of growing up. How then are career criminal classified. Our Jails are overflowing at the brim with continuously re-offending aging criminals. The economic problem is undeniable as recidivism continues to be a problem. With a two thirds rate of likelihood to re-offend and be brought back to a state or federal institution a new framework for dealing with out criminal population needs to be developed.It is inevitable that most of the incarcerated population at some point will again walk our neighborhood streets. Desistance from criminal activity must be the ultimate goal of the release process. Through existing research we have seen the connection with life achievement i. e. marriage, education, military enlistment and employment contribute to the desistance trom criminal activi ty. In order to promote successtul re- ntegration back into the community. Offenders must be given the necessary tools to do so. There is a s ignificant amount of money going into the incarcerating criminals that have been released.Samson and Laubs's work on Life-Course theory has laid the ground work in criminology in determining what needs to be done to prevent people from re- offending. â€Å"Taking a Job, graduating from high school, entrance into the military, and marriage all represent potentially pivotal periods in a transition. † (Wright, 2004 p. l). Coming from experience I could attest to how Joining the military and staying ainfully employed has helped me stay out of trouble. Truth be told I was quite the shit-bag before entering military service with United States Marine Corps.The same application of pivotal life changing and perspective changing opportunities need to be given to the recently released criminal population. Research into Desistance need to be coupled with policy changes. Re-integration programs must be designed to give offender's the tools to obtain positions. Groups like the safer founda tion in Chicago, IL must be given much needed funds to act a conduit between offenders and society. Society as a whole also needs to be willing to accept that these individuals have already paid for their crime.Background checks need to stop being a discriminating factor in handing out Jobs. An Idol mind is the devils playground is a popular saying that rings very true with our recently released offender population. Sitting at home without social skill, and without a Job will most definitely lead to re-engaging in criminal activity. Society will always need Jails, however these institutions need to also serve a rehabilitative function with the understanding that most criminals will not die in Jail. Money needs to be funneled into programs that keep offenders from returning to Jail.

Bad Influence Cartoon

Life is a learning experience; we live, we learn, and we grow. Sometimes I like to look at life on the monkey see, monkey do saying. Kids especially are known to do this. They tend to mimic everything that they see, and this is how they learn new things. On today’s television there are so many different shows and cartoons that kids learn things from some of the things they learn are great and other things are not so good for children viewing such as the cartoon Family Guy.People may look at Family Guy as a very funny cartoon but in all it’s actually a very rude show. When the creator came up with it I do not think that he/she thought that children would be into this show and I do not think that this cartoon was even made for children viewing because of its contents; but the fact still remains that they are looking at this show. Family Guy is not your ordinary cartoon. It has a lot of violence, sex, bad language, drinking, drugs, and smoking.Majority of the time either s omething has a bad influence or it has a good influence whether it be the friends we surround ourselves around, or the music we listen to but mainly what we visually encounter is what has the greater effect on who what we do and who we become. There is nothing good about Family Guy that would influence a child to head into the right direction. It does not teach children to be respectful in any way. The children that are watching this cartoon begin to mimic the baby whose name is Stewie and the dog named Brian.It does not help the show in anyway with making the dog and the baby the smartest family members of the show. Sometimes parents may be driving or cleaning for example and their child may say something that they never thought their child would say such as â€Å"damn†, and then, they may wonder where they get that from. Parents need to monitor the shows that their children watch because it’s a proven fact that kids imitate what they see.A lot of parents do overlook Family Guy because they may glance at what the kids are watching and just because they see cartoon characters they assume that it is ok. But it is a very rude, nasty, and degrading carton for kids to be viewing. In my opinion cartoons that are rated in the manner that Family Guy is, should not be allowed to be introduced on television as a cartoon. I know that’s what makes the show funny as it is for the adult viewers, but the oint is children are watching this. It’s very misleading to the adults and children that may have never saw the show before. Also since it is a cartoon and on national air, it should come on at very early morning hours such as 3am when kids are sleeping. So parents, take time out to sit down and watch what your children are watching to ensure that its child friendly, and that they are learning positive things, otherwise you will be amazed daily at what your children do and begin to say.