Mahabharata

Ethics and Values Introduction Values are the rules by which we make decisions about right and wrong, should and shouldn't, good and bad. They also tell us which are more or less important, which is useful when we have to trade off meeting one value over another. Ethics tend to be codified into a formal system or set of rules which are explicitly adopted by a group of people. Ethics, are how we actually do behave in the face of difficult situations that test our moral fiber. It has been said that values, morals and ethics are inextricably tied together.Ethics and values deeply integrated in Mahabharata/Vidur Niti Mahabharata is considered as an encyclopedia of reference for human life. It is said to contain all that a man should know towards achieving the four human goals, Dharma (righteousness), Artha (human Endeavour towards material pursuits), Kama (desire) and Moksha (salvation). The Mahabharata is called the fifth Veda as it contains the essence of the four Vedas. This encompass es a whole lot of knowledge in it, like Vidura Neeti, Srimad Bhagwadgita etc. re a part of this scripture only. Vidur Niti by Mahatama Vidur is one of the prominent Niti Sastras containing ethical values, having relevance even for today. Once Dritarastra,who was having a sleepless night, called Vidur to seek the way for solace.The preaching which Vidur delivered during that time and subsequently, in continuation, is even today known as Vidur Niti. It contains not only the fundamental principles and deep knowledge of politics, but also deals greatly about ethics and values, i. e. ow should an administrator run his government efficiently by following the DHARMA and not resorting to unfair means which are not in the benefit of the stakeholders. In today’s modern management when ethical judgment and importance of recognizing the ethical dimensions is talked about, Mahabharat gives excellent analogies to identify the ethical boundaries. â€Å"Rules of ethical conduct†, dhar mayuddha, for the war were framed by the supreme commanders of each side. Vidura explains codes of conduct and how one should act in different situations. His teachings are aimed at kings, ordinary citizens as well as at ascetics.Brief summary/story of Mahabharata enlightened with Ethics and Values Vidura respected his elder brother Dhrtrastra , and all along he tried to guide him on the right path. During the fratricidal war of Kuruksetra, Vidura repeatedly implored his elder brother Dhrtrastra to do justice to the sons of Pandu, but his son Duryodhana did not like such interference by his uncle Vidur, and rather practically insulted Vidura. Vidura was very prudent, wise, polite, religious, well- mannered and devoted to the Lord Krishna. As a minister to Dhrtarastra, he used to give him good advice.When Duryodhana was born, Vidur had cautioned him that his child would be the cause of the Kauravas’ destruction, but due to the attachment for his child, Dhritarashtra did not pa y heed to his advice and as a result suffered a lot all along his life just because of Duryodhana. Because of Duryodhana's atrocities, Mahatma Vidur developed sympathy for the Pandavas and he helped them and protected them directly or indirectly. He knew that despite any crisis, the Pandavas would win the battle eventually. They were blessed with a long life and hence no one could kill them.Kunti was convinced of Vidur's words as she knew that he was a man of truth. Vidur had also cautioned Yudhishtir of the imminent danger that was lurking in Barnavata and also told him the way to escape the danger. It was Vidur who had planned the digging of a tunnel from Lakshagriha to the bank of the Ganges and had arranged for the boat to emerge on the river and finally cross it. Thus, acting prudently, Vidur saved the lives of the Pandavas. Vidur did not discriminate in his affection for the Pandavas and the Kauravas and he used to give them good advice as well.But Duryodhana never liked his a dvice. Even then, Vidur tried his level best to put Dritarastra on the right track. But under the influence of his sons, Dritarastra never followed Vidur's advice, although assuming him to be his well -wisher, he always sought his advice. Following Shakuni's advice, Duryodhana informed the proposal of inviting the Pandavas over a game of dice. Vidur cautioned Dritarastra that such a game would only increase the enmity between the two sides, as the game of dice was inauspicious for both the sides.Praising Vidur, Dritarastra then persuaded Duryodhana to give up the plan. But Duryodhana was determined to humiliate the Pandavas, hence he made Dritarastra accept his plan. Ultimately, it was Vidur who went to Indraprastha with the proposal of the game. Yudhishtir too did not like the game of dice but to honour his uncle's desire, he accepted the proposal. Even when the game was being played, Vidur tried to convince Dritarastra that he still had enough of time to come around and drop his s ubmissive stance for Duryodhana and save his clan and not to make the Pandavas their enemy.Again after the Pandavas had left for exile, Dritarastra was worried as to how to convince the subjects and how to please the Pandavas to return. Vidur then said: â€Å"O King, Artha, Dharma and Kama (wealth, religion and pleasure) are received through Dharma only. Dharma is the pedestal of the state. Hence, you should protect yourself and the Pandavas. Your sons have snatched everything from the Pandavas. It is against the Dharma. Hence, you should first get Duryodhana arrested and hand over the kingdom to Yudhishtir. Yudhishtir has no envy or jealousy, hence he will rule the kingdom religiously.Ask Dushasana to beg for pardon from Draupadi and Bheema in the court. Doing these things, you will be free from your worries. † But Dritarastra did not like this advice and he told Vidur as to how he could give up his sons just for the Pandavas sake†,and ordered Vidur to leave. Anticipat ing the imminent fall of the Kauravas, Vidur visited Kamyaka Vana to meet the Pandavas and told them a few things for their benefit. Dritarastra having come to know of Vidur's visit to the Pandavas began to suspect that with the help of Vidur, the Pandavas would become stronger.So, he called Vidur back and begged him for pardon. At that Vidur told Dritarastra that he did not differentiate between the Kauravas and the Pandavas but seeing the Pandavas in such a hapless condition, it was but natural to help them, in any case, he did not have any partiality for the Kauravas. Vidura was also very loyal to Lord Krishna. When Krishna came to Hastinapur with the peace proposal, he preferred to stay with Vidur relishing the plain food offered by him in contrast to the royal meal, which was being served at the palace.It is thus easy to guess the intense love of Lord Krishna for Vidur. Next day when Duryodhana tried to tie Krishna in the palace, Vidur cautioned him and told him that Shri Krish na is the Lord Himself and any kind of disrespect for him would destroy him like a flame destroys a moth. Thereafter the Lord appeared in his cosmic form and seeing which all except Vidur, Bheeshma, Sanjay and Drona closed their eyes. After the battle was over, Vidur consoled Dritarastra that whoever died in the battle had attained salvation, hence one should not mourn for them.Every time a human is born, he makes new relations but after his death these relations crumble like a castle made out of sand Hence, it is useless to mourn for the dead relatives. Events like comforts and miseries, crisis and fortune and misfortune etc. is due to the result of one's own good or bad deeds. Every living being has to bear the fruits of his deeds. Thereafter Vidur preached the ways of observing the right conduct and how to be rid of the miseries. After the coronation of Yudhishtir, Dritarastra came to stay with him.Vidur also stayed with him and used to be engaged in religious discussions. Eventu ally, he accompanied Dritarastra, Gandhari and Kunti in their penance. Conclusion From above epic/story/discussion, it will be observed that many gems of ethical values are contained in the Vidura Niti and in the Mahabharata as whole, which is still relevant in the modern times, when the degradation of ethical values has become rampant all around the world. Let us ponder over some of them to be more wise, prudent, and successful in the ultimate reckoning.

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Whether we find advertisements on radio, television, Internet, newspapers, or roads, they have become a part of our daily life. Basically, wherever we look, we will certainly find an advertisement that Is somewhere. Advertisements are a tool to promote a certain product in various ways so it can reach potential customers or just to inform people of what product they produce. Frank (2005) illustrates that advertisements seek to convince costumers to buy products. Advertisers use it publish advertisements Just to manipulate the people without taking in consideration if it is ethical or not.So, advertisers manipulate people by the use of weasel word, and pathos. Words have the power that can Inspire and attract humans. Advertisers use words to convince customers to buy their product, but they can't advertise words that break the law in their country. So advertisers found a way that will prevent them from a facing legal action which is weasel words. Weasel words â€Å"appear to say one thing when in fact they say the opposite or nothing at all,† (Lutz, 2012, p. 248). This means that weasel words imply something, but in reality nothing has been said or eel Information has been delivered.Let's take the phrase â€Å"Up to 50% or whatever percentage off' as an example. First when we read this, we think and look only on the number 50% because it means it is half of the original price and we ignore the phrase â€Å"up to† which is the most important part. â€Å"Up to† is a misleading statement that does not mean exactly the number that comes after it, but it means that, for example, the discount can either be 30, 20 percent or no discount at all. This statement is technically correct, but it tricks and misleads people by the number that allows.Advertising can effectively manipulate people by weasel words through many ways as people Just pay attention the words that come after the weasel word. Though weasel words perhaps the most common way of manipu lating people, there is another technique used in the advertising manipulation, which is the use of pathos. Pathos is considered as one of the most powerful tool that can easily change one's emotions toward something. Armstrong (2010) explained that advertisement can achieve the satisfaction of consumers when they use the product by using emotional element In advertising.Manipulate people through emotions Is an effective way to mislead people because people can't refuse or Ignore emotions. Let's take the example of women being concerned about their appearance. Not just that, but also what they are required to do in order to be perfect. Advertisers use this weakness to promote cream products in which they show women how they are going to look after using the product. They promote the ads in many places, especially In fashion magazines, as they know that women like to read this type of magazines. As a result, omen go ahead and buy the product beveling that It will benefit them.After u sing it, they realize that they have been fooled by the advertisement. The problem here is that they know that the cream wont change anything, but the emotional appeal they face forces and convinces them to buy it. Another example is the use of celebrities to promote a certain product. Advertisers use celebrities to try and play with their emotions. When a female, especially a teenage girl, sees her lovely celebrity wearing something new or anything related to the new fashion, she Is very likely to try to liberty ‘look and are given tips on how to ‘get her look† (2012, p 92).Moreover, they did not only find a way to manipulate females, but also they are targeting males. Even though men are less emotional, but when it comes to women portraying a product in a certain way, their emotions start to emerge. â€Å"In advertising, the use of highly attractive models is believed to be effective in increasing sales† (TTS & Change, 2007, p. 1). For example, my friend w anted to buy an off-road light from eBay. When he searched, many products appeared to him and all of them were at the same price. One of the advertisements was a woman carrying the light.Once he saw this, he was attracted to the advertisement, which made him buy this particular product and not any of the rests. Hence, advertisers know exactly where they can trick people, especially by targeting their emotions. However, though advertisements are known to manipulate people, it is important to know that it has a positive side. Advertisements can be informative somehow. For instance, there are many advertisements about health, government services, and new products. Advertisements create awareness about useful events and donation aiming.For example, as people know, donating blood is very important because it can save a life. So, through advertisements, we can know when and where we can donate. Also, it keeps us updated with the latest technology. For example, when Mercedes-Benz released the new S-Class model, they informed us about the new functions are included in the new model. After all, advertisements are here Just to inform us and tell us about the products and services that are available. Also it is a consumer's decision to buy or not because it is their responsibility to distinguish teen harmful and beneficial advertisements.But in reality, some people do not want to think before buying. They rush quickly after they see the ad without even thinking for a second. In addition to that, it does not make the advertisement innocents because they are really manipulating us to buy their products. They have to recognize that it is not ethical, and the government should censor the content of advertisements, which will prevent them from using the techniques that I mentioned above and also other hidden ways they use to manipulate us. In conclusion, advertisements have a negative impact on people.

Agencies And Information Classification Criminology Essay

Agencies And Information Classification Criminology Essay Individual agencies classify criminal information that is compiled in a report as Uniform Crime Reporting. The Uniform reports are usually compiled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and they consist of criminal data that belongs to all the states that form United States of America. This program began in 1929. It was the idea of police commanders, who saw the need of creating a reliable criminal statistics for the country (Anderson and Dyson, 2002). Today, the reports form an important element of fighting criminal activities within United States of America. This is because they necessary information that law enforcement officers can rely on for purposes of fighting criminal activities. For instance, the reports provide the names of the most wanted criminals, and the patterns of crime within a certain locality (Anderson and Dyson, 2002). The reports also help policy makers in the department of homeland security on how to develop policies that will help in making the country secu re. The various law enforcement agencies within the country have the responsibility of collecting these reports, and thereafter present them to the FBI for compilation. Currently, there are three Uniform Crime Reports published by the FBI, namely; Hate Crime Statistics 2011. Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted 2011. The Preliminary Uniform Crime report 2012. Resources Available for Sheriffs and Police Chiefs: One of the resources that public safety officials like police officers and Sheriffs have in classifying crimes in their locations is the fusion centers. A fusion center is an institution formed by the department of homeland security for purposes of receiving, analyzing, and disseminating intelligence information from to the relevant security bodies. These centers can therefore guide security officers and Sheriffs on how to classify the various crimes within their areas of jurisdiction. They have the capability of identifying whether a crime falls under terrorism, or i t is a murder/ homicide. The Central Investigative Agency is also another resource that police chiefs and sheriffs have that can help them in classifying and analyzing crimes (Dunn, 2012). The agency has the responsibility of collecting intelligence information, and provides it for assessment by senior policy makers in United States of America. On this note, Sheriffs and local police chiefs can benefit from their facilities and experience in analyzing and classifying the various criminal activities within their locality. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is another resource unit that the Sheriffs and local police chiefs can use to classify and categorize criminal activities. This is a Federal Agency that has the responsibility of fighting crimes within the United States of America. The department is well equipped to handle any forms of criminal activities. The department also has experts who can categorize and analyze various criminal activities within the state, and therefore She riffs and local police chiefs can use their experiences in analyzing the various criminal activities within their areas of jurisdictions. Pros and Cons of UCR: The Uniform Crime Reporting system is advantageous because people are able to know the crime rate of their locality. For instance, women who are concerned with the security of their children might know the crime rates of the schools in which they take their children to, or the surrounding environment where their children play or pass through. The report also provides information on the various crimes that occur within the state, and tries to project their occurrence in future (Dunn, 2012).

Secularism as an Emerging Social Movement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Secularism as an Emerging Social Movement - Essay Example Secularization is not a result of widening gap between the church and the state, but a slow change in the outlook of a culture that sees and perceives the established religion in a different way. Is Secularism a New Trend and a Social Phenomenon? The concept of secularism has remained a historical phenomenon in the American mainstream of personal and social life since many hundred years. Above all, it has remained homogenous or even anomalous within the American way of life. However, the secular way of thinking was really kept confined out of emerging political forums for at least a century. In fact, equilibrium was maintained in two diverging viewpoints, one that laid full belief in the tenets of Christianity, and the other that veered a bit away from practice of religion in political and public life. Article 6, Section 3 declares that "No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States;' and the First Amendment guarantees that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion." (Kellman, 2004) Is Secularism an American way of life? It is very difficult to answer as this phenomenon is regulated to a certain section of people and their beliefs. However religion is increasingly being perceived as one of the major factor in, how you look at the state of the nation in today’s turbulent times. There is a distinct possibility of a large number of people relating the concepts of secularism vis-Ã  -vis religion, to the existing political scenarios and emerging world politics.

THE BLIND ASSASSIN BOOK BY MAGARET ATWOOD (Book Report) Essay

THE BLIND ASSASSIN BOOK BY MAGARET ATWOOD (Book Report) - Essay Example This sense that somehow Iris was once whole and is now damaged is communicated, when she calls herself â€Å"†¦a brick-strewn vacant lot where some important building used to stand.† (Atwood 43)1 It becomes clear later that her ruin is of her own making, brought about through her deliberate blindness towards her own motivations that underlay the choices she made. Thus she says: I did believe, at first, that I only wanted justice. I thought my heart was pure. We do like to have such good opinions of our own motives when we’re about to do something harmful, to someone else. (497) In old age, Iris is painfully aware of at least some of her motives. However, she is still not entirely honest because it is quite clear that she knew ‘back then’ as well. Thus â€Å"we do like to have such good opinions of our own motives† (497) communicates a sense of ‘deliberate’ self-deception. Her primary punishment is reserved for Laura, for the role she played in the lives of Richard and Alex and perhaps also because she was ‘good’. She also vindictively destroyed her husband’s career. What was it she wanted? Nothing much. Just a memorial of some kind. But what is a memorial, when you come right down to it, but a commemoration of wounds endured? Endured and resented. Without memory there is no revenge.† (508) Revenge then was what Iris had wanted all along. This manifests itself also clearly in the spiteful way in which she communicates Alex’s death to Laura. â€Å"Laura, I hate to tell you this, I said, but whatever it was you did, it didn’t save Alex. Alex is dead.† (488) This ‘whatever’ Laura did to save Alex was giving in to Richard’s sexual demands and Iris was fully aware of Laura’s ‘martyr’ mindset. Her sister had been a heavy burden to the young Iris and once, after Laura tried to sacrifice herself for her dead mother, Iris had been close to ‘letting go’. Now destroying Laura’s

Knowledge Management Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Knowledge Management - Term Paper Example This discussion stresses that it is always possible to build a network within the organization where data from various departments will be collaborated into a single centralized system before forwarding it to Google’s platform. As far as the use of the database is concerned to, the platform put forth by Google cloud services makes it possible for all individual systems within the organization to have a common access so that organizational roles and functions on the database can be undertaken on a collaborated purpose.As the report highlights  comes with the cloud services offered on Google’s website is that it makes organizational innovation more revealing. That is, is stimulates the act and practice of organizational innovation among the personnel within the organization. This is done in a number of ways. Because of the idea of bringing about collaboration, it becomes almost mandatory that every sector of the organization should be working on its own miniature databa se that would be forwarded into a centralized system before sending it to the Google database. This decentralized system eradicates the temptation that certain departments will be waiting on the centralized system to get all the work done. Rather, the innovative skill of every sector is quickened and brought alive as they all take up a role to deliver within the organization.  Expert systems and neural networks are both components of a technology based management system that is rooted in the principles of knowledge management.... cloud services offered such as replication, patch management and backups require that people within the system get themselves at breast with the technological time to be able to live up such challenges. By so doing, creativity and innovation is highlighted among the people because they will be forced to live up to modernity and time. 2. Generally, expert systems and neural networks are both components of a technology based management system that is rooted in the principles of knowledge management. This is because in both cases, there is that conscious effort by stakeholders to ensuring that the capabilities, insights and experiences available to the human resource base are identified, nurtured, utilized and developed through the use of basic technology (Guo & Sanchez, 2005). As far as expert systems is concerned, it could be said to be tilted more towards artificial intelligence that allows for the use of computer system to undertake the basic processes of decision-making that would have otherwise existed for the human resource to undertake. The process is referred to as expert systems because in its delivery of work, it functions and undertakes processes as a human expert would do. The capabilities available in expert systems thus have to do with the fact that it does not use logical procedures of developers but use consequential logical reasoning to solve complex problems. In the long run, the inadequacies and weaknesses of the creator of the systems are overshadowed by the complex reasoning capabilities of the system and this is a huge advantage to users of expert systems. Neural network is also attributed to artificial intelligence in the manner in which it uses the artificial basis of the biological concept of neurology to solve basic technological problems of

Why Mesopotamia deserves to be called a civilization Essay - 1

Why Mesopotamia deserves to be called a civilization - Essay Example This paper aims to look at all the factors that are successful in calling the cradle of activity in Mesopotamia as a civilization and how the various economic, social and political aspects of life in Mesopotamia come into play when looking at the model. In order to constitute a civilization, a well-knit combination of the following factors must be present. They are – a socially well structured community with an urban environment as well as a rural environment with intensive agricultural activities being able to support the population at large; proper division of labor; a market economy with or without trade of some kind sustaining livelihoods of many; a structured form of a government regulating the activities taking place in the area; defined territories; written laws; a powerful establishment of the military; intrinsic support towards arts and culture constituting creativity in both the work as well as the leisure part of life; a culture with a written language system. These are some of the very important aspects that a civilization constitutes and as we discuss these factors throughout the scope of this paper, we may come across a few more aspects of life that are enough to term Mesopotamia as a proper civilization and a lap of rich culture. (Duiker, W., and J. Spielgovel, p. 7) In order to constitute a civilization, firstly, a culture requires a population that may have migrated from various parts of the world but is living together at the time of the civilization being formed in a large well-structured community. A population of more than 5000 people at the time assisted in establishing the Mesopotamian civilization and at the time, almost 5000 years ago, this number seemed to be a lot more than the value it holds today. With such a vast population at the time, it was believed that a number of problems would be faced

Teaching Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Teaching Reflection - Essay Example My work placement at *****, gave me an invaluable insights into the relevant approach to teaching chemistry. The experience was extremely helpful in understanding the various methods used by teachers in helping their students understand the subject with an in-depth comprehension of concepts. My two-week placement entailed working hand in hand with the chemistry teachers in the school. I was able to observe their methods of teaching the science and I assisted in a number of areas to enable myself be more acquainted with what dissemination of scientific knowledge to secondary school students is all about. In my first week of my work placement, I was able to take charge of some class activities, whereby I was assigned a duty of assisting students with difficulties in chemistry (Ellison 2008, p.46). My interactions with the teachers offered me an opportunity to learn about developing a lesson plan that is suitable for teaching science and chemistry in precision. The plan is an extremely important step, if the teacher wants to remain relevant in the classroom. Here, an instructor starts by identifying what is going to be covered in every particular lesson. Then the objectives of the lessons are determined, so that a teacher can identify the specific behaviours and capabilities that a student should exhibit after every lesson is covered (Sanderson 2002, p.23). Most of the teacher in the school used descriptive objectives. This provides a better platform for the educator to get great feedback on his/her teaching effectiveness, and students’ progress as well. Taking time to determine what the learners already know about the subject matter would enhance the overall success of completion of a lesson. Chemistry is relatively practical lessons, and having this in mind, teachers ensured that the necessary material and apparatus necessary to be used in a particular lesson are identified in the lesson plan in an attempt to accomplish the objectives described. These mat erials are highly useful in facilitating the learning process. Thus, as observed, a lesson plan increases the efficiency of teaching practice and the quality of the students’ learning time (Dorin 2002, p.29). Varieties of teaching approaches were also evident in the school learning processes. Here I actively participated in facilitating group discussions. These activities tend to generate interest in the topic under study and students are able to learn from friends. The teachers were also involved in helping out in explaining the concepts that were beyond the then understanding of the students. The teachers also had a variety of methods that they used to facilitate learning process. They give out assignments that required further reading and research on the subject matter. The main theme here was, â€Å"thinking further†. Learning partnership among student also seemed to develop a longer term learning culture among themselves (Gabel 2004, p.31). As observed, this appro ach helped weak students to learn continuously from their peers and consequently gaining much more understanding on chemistry. I also learnt that the teachers generally applied the three learning theories in identifying a suitable methods and media of teaching in the school. These include the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains. The psychomotor domain is generally skill based. Here the student tends to produce a product. It entails practical instructional levels that include imitation, practice, as well as habit. The psychomotor domain steep in a demonstration, delivery as well as the first level, imitation, which simply is a return of demonstrations that are under the control of the instructor. Additionally, the practice level is a proficiency building experience, which is

Global Health Strategies and Diversity Awareness Research Paper

Global Health Strategies and Diversity Awareness - Research Paper Example In the rest of this paper, I will reflect on the experience using the Bold and John’s model that was provided in class. Stage 1: Return to the Experience In reflecting on the experience, I understood that the eight goals that are provided are easy for anyone to imagine. According to Beck (2011), the goals are as follows: That poverty and hunger is eliminated so that everyone has plenty of food to meet their needs and has a job that pays well and works well for them. That all children have the opportunity to learn and study all over the world. That women and girls are allowed to bring forward all they can in the world. That people experience vibrant health and everyone can afford to have healthcare. That mother and their babies have clean environments in which to have their babies no matter where they are in the world. That people suffering from diseases like Malaria, HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis are free of these diseases across the world. That people become more concerned with t he environment and begin to take more responsibility for how they individually work with the environment. ... This was a breath-taking speech to me because it showed that one person could do many things in the world by just focusing their attention on these things. I have personally done this in my own life and found that it is rewarding so I could see how focusing around the world on these eight issues could bring about a better world. I decided that I wanted to learn more about the experience. Stage 2: Attend to Feelings At first, I felt that Beck had a good idea, but I did not understand how this could actually be helpful. I decided to look for more information about her and her work. In an article by Beck, Dossey and Kines (2007) a broader explanation of what Beck is attempting to accomplish was revealed. I learned that Beck is attempting to look at the work of Florence Nightingale in nursing. The authors pointed out that there were several countries around the word that see Nightingale’s work as something to be revered. Beck and Dossey decided that there needed a global understan ding of what Nightingale had done and how nurses today could continue what Nightingale started. I was able to develop very good feelings about this project and I felt that I wanted to be a part of it by taking her pledge. I cannot say that I have experience in anything like this, but I can say that it is a good idea. I did not have negative feelings at all when thinking about this because it is a very simple concept. I think that nurses must strive to be the best they can and to help their patients in any way possible. I think that this idea is a good idea because many times, the nurses are holding the example of perfect health for the people they are helping. If one can visualize this on a greater basis, we could possibly heal the

Welfare and Food Stamps Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Welfare and Food Stamps - Research Paper Example The program has tried to reduce hunger and improve food security among low-income Americans. This paper will discuss the high administration costs, alleged fraud cases in the program, and the negative effect on the labor market make it a failure. There is a need for urgent reforms in the food program to reduce enrolment and government spending, and localize it to the state level. The history of food stamps dates back to the 1930s. The Food Stamp program was both a farm price support program as an anti-poverty one. This has been the case since the early days of the program in the 1930s. The depletion of food surpluses and mismanagement saw the phase out of the program. It took several years to re-establish the program and congress passed legislation to provide food stamps to low-income Americans. However, only pilot programs took shape. It was only after President Lyndon Johnson directed congress to pass the Food Stamp Act of 1964 that saw the initiation of the modern food stamp program. The main aim of the program was to boost the agricultural economy and improve nutritional levels of Americans. Presently, it faces several challenges, especially after the 2002 farm bill, the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, and Energy Act of 2008 under the Obama administration, allowed noncitizens to register. This, coupled with easier claiming of benefits, in creased the trend of registration to the program. After the change of name from ‘food stamps’ to the ‘Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program’, President Obama’s 2009 stimulus bill further stretched the program by increasing benefits by 13.6 percent (Tanner 2). Consequently, roughly 48 million Americans receive SNAP benefits today, and in so doing, this gives taxpayers a yearly cost of more than $78 billion (Tanner 2). Because of this surge, critics suggest that food stamps and the farm bill should be two separate entities

When I was a Certified Nursing Assist Essay Example for Free

When I was a Certified Nursing Assist Essay I first wanted to be a Certified Nursing Assist (CNA) at the age 16. I had to do community service for Graffiti. I was given a job as an activity assistant at a nursing home. I enjoyed it so much! The people there are so much fun to work with. The best part about it was being able to help them read the paper, play bingo, or whatever they wanted to do. Once a lady and her sister were pushing chairs down the hallway and I asked â€Å"what are you doing?† They told me they were taking a train ride to see their father for his birthday. It made me feel sad because I had to explain to them that they were going the wrong way, so I helped them back to their room. Once there, I explained to them that they lived here at the nursing home and were not going anywhere. It was at that moment, I wanted to really be in the nursing field to be able to make a positive impression on someone else’s life. I have found that being passionate and having empathy are some important traits to have as a CNA you it help you understand better as to why they might feel some different emotions in the new environment. Since residents have many nurses taking care of them it can make them feel anxious, sad, or depressed. Being responsible by using your gait belt can ensure safety or resident and yourself. A typical day for a CNA would start at 6 am. We would report to the charge nurse and get a report. Then, about 6:15, one would prepare a linen cart for their hall. Between 6:30-8, we start getting residents up and showered and bathed. We answer call lights between residents when we have time, as we’re taking residents to and from breakfast. As residents are coming back from breakfast, we are laying some down or changing them. CNA’s take a 15 min break around 9:15. After our break, we come back and answer call lights, take residents to therapy or activities, and do vitals or weigh the resident for the day. We continue to toilet people and give showers to those that did not get showered before breakfast. By 10:30 most CNA’s take a 30 min lunch. We come back at 11 to get people up that are in bed and change those who need to be changed; by noon all resident should be at lunch. At 12:30 the residents should be coming back from lunch. We would toilet those that want to stay up and take them to afternoon activities. And lay down ones that need to be laid down then answer call lights. CNA’s take their last 15 min break around 1:15 When we come back at 1:30 everyone should be taken care of. Then, we check our rooms to ensure safety and make sure everyone has been changed and toileted. At 2pm, we should be finishing up and giving reports to the next CNA and charting for the day. By 2:30 you should be ready to go home. In 2011, I worked at a nursing home. I cared for individuals who had Alzheimer, who had injuries that required Occupational Therapy, who permanently resided there. When we first get to work, we would report to the Registered Nurse (R.N) and then get our supplies ready for our shift. Afterwards, we would prepare clothes and help one get dressed for the day. After one was dressed and beds were made, we would go to the cafeteria and have breakfast. There would be individuals who needed assistance eating and drinking so we would find someone who needed help. Once breakfast was done, we would help everyone get back to their rooms and assist with restroom breaks, change and get them relaxed, or take them to the next activity. I would get my 10-12 residents vitals and report it to the R.N. on my hall. At 11:30, it’s lunch time, so we get everyone to the cafeteria and assist as needed. Between the 8 hour shifts, we give showers to the residents. We sometimes use a Hoyer lift and always wear our gait belt to help us lift the resident to ensure safety. It is very cumbersome to work as a CNA. The people are so sweet and we have the best of times! After lunch, we continue activities and showers. After the CNA’s take a break, we come back, and check our residents and change them. At the end of the day we clean our area and report back to the R.N. There are a lot of advantages and disadvantages to being a CNA. First, being patient with the resident is important because they are delicate. Since most of the residents are older in age, they cannot move as fast and their skin gets thinner with age and disease. Making sure you have ample time with each resident is a MUST! If you don’t make time then you could hurt someone or yourself. Another advantage to being a CNA is the pay, normally one is paid at least $10 an hour or more if you are part time nurse (PRN) or as needed you could get paid as much as 1 5-20 and hr. Stability is important because you really get to know your job and you’ll be the best to your ability. Working in the nursing field you have lots of job opportunities to meet and get to know people. Most places offer benefits for you and your family. Such as health, dental, and other benefits as well. Some disadvantages to working as a CNA, are standing on your feet for long periods of time and lifting pe ople all day. It can cause you to have back aches and swollen ankles. Dealing with death is another disadvantage because you really get to know your residents and it is like having a close friend die. It can take a toll on one. Family can be difficult as well. Being that some family members have taken care of their loved one, they have a schedule and like it to be kept but when the environment changes things seem to change. One last disadvantage I’d like to add, is nursing homes and hospitals are always understaffed which means a lot of overtime and pressure on one person so try your best to stay focused and not to take it out on your residents. Given that I have extensive experience in the medical field, I have found that you can make an awesome CNA if you listen to your charge nurse and follow all policies and regulations that are in your scope of nurse assist practice. If you are not sure of something, ask your Director of nursing (DON). The residents look to CNA’s as Angels of Mercy, so try your absolute best to always put them first. Have respect and show consideration of their belongings.You would not want someone coming to your house and going through your belongings or mistreating you.

The role of pressure groups in Britain

The role of pressure groups in Britain Euphrasia ChiguduBritish Government and Politics 20 March 2015 Define pressure groups and critically analyse their role and importance to British democracy. This essay will define pressure groups giving an explanation of each different pressure group, their role and importance to British democracy. The essay will also evaluate the developments and impacts of various political movements, will briefly evaluate the various political governmental systems that underpin British systems of government. It will also identify and offer an analytical account of the elements that make up the British political culture. The essay will analyse and evaluate recent changes to political systems and major political players. Lastly it will analyse and evaluate the role of external influences in British democracy. Pressure groups differ from political parties in various ways. Pressure groups are organisations set up to try to influence what we think about the law and its environment. They can challenge and even change the law by writing letters to MPs, contacting the press, organising marches and even running campaigns (Anon., 2014). They are organisations which campaign for change in the law or new legislation in specific areas. As such, they can have a strong influence on public opinion and voting behaviour. They are a group formed to protect and advance a specific interest or cause through lobbying powerfully rather than elections. They are distinct from political parties because they do not seek power. Instead they aim to influence those already in power. They also do not a have general programme or manifesto, and focus on single issues or areas. Pressure groups allow people the opportunity to participate in democracy by being involved in social change without necessarily joining a politic al party. In some ways, pressure groups may be viewed as essential to democracy because they allow the free expression of opinion and the opportunity to influence governments. Because of this, pressure groups are not tolerated in non-democratic countries (Anon., 2014). Pressure groups developed to defend and promote interests likely to be affected by particular government policies. For its own part, Government has to appreciate pressure groups as valuable sources of information and potential support. The advent of modern media have provided a vast arena in which pressure groups can compete on equal terms with the political parties, to deliver their message to the public (Jones Norton, 2014) Pg 180. A distinction is usually drawn between sectional or interest groups, cause and promotional groups. Sectional or interest groups are the ones that aim to represent the common interests of a particular section of society and are mostly concerned `restricted. They also aim to get as many el igible members as possible to join the group. These are open only to certain individuals, like the members of trade union or the National union of journalist. The cause or promotional groups, they have open membership from public. They promote a cause. They exist to promote an idea not directly related to the personal interests of its members. Pressure groups have species which include peak association these are organisations that represent broad bands of similar groups such as employers, fire brigade groups they form in reaction to a specific problem and disband if and when it has been solved, episodic groups usually are non-political but occasionally throw themselves into campaigning when their interest are affected and the online pressure groups they usually focus on abuse of power, torture and war crimes and mustering hundreds of thousands of signatures to bring pressure to bear, often with remarkable success (BBC, 2014). It should be noted that pressure groups regularly seek to influence each other to maximise impact and often find themselves in direct conflict over certain issues. In several stages of the policy process pressure groups have opportunities to play an important role, in the parliament they may influence the final form of legislation. When governments issue Green papers (setting out policy option for discussion) and White papers (proposals for legislation) pressure groups may lobby backbenchers or civil servants. Pressure groups are often divided into two categories according to their characteristic and methods they interpret; the insider group and the outsider group. Insider groups have close links with the government and they are trusted by the government. They tend to choose more legal and legimate methods such as lobbying to influence the decision making process. They will give advice and will be consulted prior to legislation which may affect that group, for example the British Medical Association will be consulted on the matters relati ng to health, and RSPCA will be consulted with the matters related to animals. Insider pressure groups are most likely to be consulted regularly by governments. Outsider groups often take action of which the government disapproves. Organisations like Greenpeace often engage in civil disobedience or direct action in order to reinforce their point. Outsider groups on the other hand, are either not consulted by government or consulted irregularly and not usually by the senior level. Some outsider groups are wealthy and use a great deal of publicity to attract people to promote their cause (Anon., 2014). Sometimes pressure groups might be seen as a threat to democracy because a relatively small, unelected group of individuals can force a change in the law. They do employ a variety of methods to promote their cause. Political movement is a social group which operates together to obtain a political goal, on a local, regional, national or international scope. They have influence inside Parliament if there is an MP who is a member of the group or is understanding to it. MPs with relationships to pressure groups must declare an interest when speaking on behalf of the group. MPs may also receive payment for promoting the cause but they must declare it. The cabinet is a committee at the centre of the British political system and supreme decision-making body in the government. The British Prime Minister has traditionally been referred to as primus inter pares, which means first among equals and demonstrates that he or she is a member of collective decision-making body of the cabinet, rather than an individual who has powers in their own right. The Prime Minister first among equal simply in recognition of the responsibility held for appointing and dismissing all the other Cabinet members. The Cabinet is made up of the senior members of government. Every Tuesday while Parliament is in session the members of Cabinet (Secretaries of state from all departments and some other ministers) meet in the Cabinet room at 10 Downing Street to discuss the issues of the day and to decide what the most important issues for the government are. The Prime Minister chairs the meeting and sets its agenda; he also decides who speaks around the Cabinet tabl e and sums up at the end of each item. It is this summing up that then becomes the government policy (Anon., 2015). The Cabinet nonetheless remains a core component of British government. The functions ascribed to it in 19th century remain relevant and, in practice, are complemented by important political roles. They have five essential principal roles; they approve policy, resolve disputes, constrain the Prime Minister, unify government and unify the parliamentary party. Parliament is the highest legislative authority in the UK. It has responsibility for checking the work of government and examining, debating and approving new laws. It is also known as the `Legislature` (Anon., 2015). It is an essential part of UK politics. Its main roles are examining and challenging the work of the government (scrutiny), enabling the government to raise taxes. The business of Parliament takes place in two houses: the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Ministers stand at the heart of British government. In legal terms, they are the most powerful figures in government. Legal powers are vested in senior ministers, not in the Prime Minister or Cabinet. Senior ministers are those appointed to head government departments. Their formal designation is Ministers of the Crown. Each Minister of the Crown heads a government department. Each has a number of other ministers, known as junior ministers, to assist in fulfilling the responsibility of the office. Each senior minister has one or more political advisers and also has a body of civil servants – permanent, non-political professionals to advise on policy and to ensure the implementation of policy once it is agreed on (Jones Norton, 2014) Pg 392. They discusses various points of view, weigh up arguments concerning whatever is being discussed and come to a decision that is backed by the majority of the Cabinet. As such it becomes government policy, if supported in the House of Commons, and have the legitimacy of majorit y Cabinet support behind it. This means that decisions have collective responsibility behind them. All Cabinet members would be expected to publicly support and defend such policies. Cabinet ministers would also be expected to defend such policies during parliamentary debates. If Cabinet minister feel that he/she cannot defend a policy, he/she has the option to resign from the Cabinet (Trueman, 2000-2015). The monarchy is the oldest secular institution in England. The formal power that the crown conferred- executive, legislative and judicial- was exercised personally by the monarch. The King has a court to advise him and, as the task of government became more demanding, so various functions were exercised on the King`s behalf by other bodies. Those bodies now exercise power independent of the control of the monarch, but remain formally the instruments of the crown. The courts are Her Majesty`s court`s and the government is Her Majesty`s government. Parliament is summoned and prorogued by royal decree. Civil servants are crown appointees (Jones Norton, 2014) Pg 276. The monarch exercises few powers, but those powers remain important. However, the importance of the monarchy in the 21st century derives more from what it stands for than from what it does. The monarch has been eclipsed as a major political institution not only by the sheer demands of governing a growing kingdom but also by changes in the popular perception of what form of government is legitimate. The policy-making power exercised by a hereditary monarch has given way to the exercise of power by institutions deemed more representative. However, the monarch has retained a claim to be a representative institution in one particular definition of the term. It claims that it largely defines the activities of the monarch today (Jones Norton, 2014) Pg 274. Pressure groups provide an essential freedom for citizens, especially minorities, to organise with like-minded individuals so that their views can be heard by others and taken into account by government. They help to disperse power from the central institutions and provide important checks against possibly over-powerful legislatures and executives. Pressure groups also provide functional representation according to occupation and belief, they allow for continuity of representation between elections, thus enhancing the degree of participation in the democratic system. They provide a safety valve an outlet for the pent-up energies of those who carry grievances or feel hard done by, they apply scrutiny to government activity, publicising poor practice and maladministration (Jones Norton, 2014) Pg 195. As globalisation is one of the external influences in British democracy, it is generally defined with reference to set of economic and technological changes which are held to have dramatically increased economic and communication flows across what are seen as increasingly porous national borders. Hence globalisation is generally associated with nations of the world becoming increasingly interconnected, with good, services, investment, financial transactions and skilled labour moving freely between countries, and of globe effectively `shrinking` in comparison to previous decades, due to rapid developments in telecommunications and the continued growth and expansion of air travel (Jones Norton, 2014) Pg 522. Under globalisation trade tends to grow faster than national input, so that a higher proportion of national production is exported and higher proportion of consumption is imported. In conclusion pressure groups seek to influence policy and not control it. Regardless of the type of pressure group, they eventually aim to make governments aware of public views not shared in political parties. They also often create new ideas and conceive a programme of reform. Some groups have too much influence over government. Overall pressure groups and their features do play a coherent role to promote and enhance democracy as they raise the public awareness and provide direct opportunities to participate. BIBLIOGRAHPY Anon., 2014. GCSE Bitesize. [Online] Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/business/environment/acompetitivemarketrev2.shtml [Accessed 7 March 2015]. Anon., 2014. Higher Bitesize. [Online] Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/higher/modern/uk_gov_politics/central_gov/revision/4/ [Accessed 7 March 2015]. Anon., 2015. GOV UK. [Online] Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/how-government-works#who-runs-government [Accessed 10 March 2015]. Anon., 2015. Parliament UK. [Online] Available at: http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/role/parliament-government/ [Accessed 11 March 2015]. BBC, 2014. Higher Bitesize. [Online] Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/higher/modern/uk_gov_politics/central_gov/revison/4/ [Accessed 10 March 2015]. Jones, B. Norton, P., 2014. POLITICS UK. 8th ed. Oxon: Routledge. Trueman, C., 2000-2015. The Cabinet and British Politics. [Online] Available at: http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk?cabinet_and_british_politics.htm [Accessed 11 March 2015]. 1

Crime Scene Investigations by First Responders

Crime Scene Investigations by First Responders Crime scenes contain the forensic evidence required to apprehend criminals. The proper collection and processing of physical evidence is of primary importance to most police investigations. Evidence can not only establish the fact of the offense and identify the perpetrator, it may even lead to a conviction. In collecting this evidence we must be conscious of the publics Fourth Amendment rights and not violate them in this collection of evidence. Unfortunately, poorly conducted crime scene investigations can sometimes either destroy evidence or render it useless. Law Enforcement should approach the crime scene investigation as if it will be their only opportunity to preserve and recover these physical clues. They should consider other case information or statements from witnesses or suspects carefully in their objective assessment of the scene. Investigations may change course a number of times during such an inquiry and physical clues, initially thought irrelevant, may become crucial to a successful resolution of the case. The primary responsibilities of the initial responder to a crime include the following: (1) to preserve life; and (2) to control suspects and witnesses. Once these two objectives have been achieved, the initial responder should focus their attention on protecting the crime scene. The initial response to an incident shall be expeditious and methodical. Upon arrival, the officer(s) shall assess the scene and treat the incident as a crime scene. The initial responder should note or log dispatch information such as names, address, time, type of call, and any other relevant information. Be aware of any persons or vehicles leaving the crime scene. The importance of preserving the scene and its adjacent areas in their original condition cannot be overemphasized. Approach the scene cautiously, scan the entire area to thoroughly assess the scene, and note any possible secondary crime scenes. Be aware of any persons and vehicles in the vicinity that may be related to the crime. Remain alert an d attentive; Assume the crime is ongoing until determined to be otherwise. also treat the location as a crime scene until assessed and determined to be otherwise. It is usually the uniformed peace officer who first arrives at the scene of a crime. After controlling any dangerous situations or persons, the initial responding officers next responsibility is to ensure that medical attention is provided to injured persons while minimizing contamination of the scene. The initial responding officer shall ensure that medical attention is provided with minimal contamination of the scene by guiding medical personnel to the victim to minimize contamination or alteration of the crime scene. Point out potential physical evidence to medical personnel, instruct them to minimize contact with such evidence (e.g., ensure that medical personnel preserve all clothing and personal effects without cutting through bullet holes, knife tears), and document movement of persons or items by medical personnel. Instruct medical personnel not to clean up the scene and to avoid removal or alteration of items originating from the scene. Protecting the evidence typically involves the establishing a perimeter. In fact, for some crime scenes, two perimeters may be appropriate (Garrison, 1994, pp. 18-20). Only the investigator in charge and those personnel that he gives permission to should be allowed to cross these boundaries (Dienstein, 1962, pp. 16-26). Detectives and supervisors are normally in charge of investigations. There should, however, only be one person in charge of the crime scene itself. The first question that the investigator will ask when he arrives is as follows: Has anyone been allowed to enter the scene? (Dienstein, 1962, pp. 16-26)? The investigator should then use whatever resources are available (e.g., barricades or other uniformed officers) to further protect the area. Such measures exclude both curious bystanders and curious officials. Investigators often must turn away any number of officialsboth in and out of uniformwho could unintentionally destroy evidence. Once the area has been secured, the investigator then carries out the duties of search commander. Initially, the commander must obtain the following information: The time of the arrival of the first officer at the scene, who was present, what was said, and whether or not everything is exactly as it was when the officer arrived (Dienstein, 1962, pp. 16-26). Then, the addresses of all persons found on or adjacent to the scene should be collected. Although these people are questioned about their exact location at the time of the crime, they do not usually undergo interrogation on the spot. Rather, such persons are simply removed from the scene and separated: They should not be allowed to talk to each other until each has been carefully questioned and statements have been obtained individuals considered as suspect(s) should be read their Miranda Rights. Any violation of Fourth Amendment rights could jeopardize any evidence obtained during an interrogation or interview for use in the case at a trial. The next phase of crime scene investigation consists of surveying the scene. Defining and controlling boundaries provide a means for protecting and securing the crime scene(s). The number of crime scenes and their boundaries are determined by their location(s) and the type of crime. Boundaries shall be established beyond the initial scope of the crime scene(s) with the understanding that the boundaries can be reduced in size if necessary but cannot be as easily expanded. The investigator needs to get an over-all picture of the area in which the offense occurred (Dienstein, 1962, pp. 16-26). After a preliminary survey has been performed, the crime scene examination should be initiated. The investigator must try to start the investigation cold (Dienstein, 1962, pp. 16-26). There should be no preconceived notions of what happened, how it happened, or who might have done it. Such conclusions must be based solely on the evidence found at the scene. It is during this initial stage of the investigation, that the search commander has the scene photographed and sketched. Photography provides investigators with an accurate and permanent record. Nothing at a crime scene should ever be touched, picked up, or moved until it has been photographed. Only a true photograph can be presented in court (Dienstein, 1962, pp. 16-26). If it can be shown that something in the picture was tampered with, or that there are objects present that were not there originally, then the photograph cannot be used as evidence. Photographers should be present throughout the investigation. In addition to photographs, the search commander also has a sketch made of the area. Sketching should be started as soon as possible. These freehand drawings are typically oriented by compass directions. Moreover, the location of all sketched objects should be determined by accurate measurements. While photographs reproduce everything within the range and field of the camera l ens, sketches include only certain essential items. There are three types of crime scene photographs and sketches. These include the following: (1) those that describe the locality; (2) those that reproduce the immediate grounds; and (3) those that cover the details of the scene. Locality reproduction produces a picture of the crime scene and its surroundings. These pictures should include such things as neighboring buildings, streets, and sidewalks. Second, reproductions of the grounds should describe the crime scenes immediate surroundings (e.g., the house, the garden, etc.). Finally, a details picture shows only the scene itself (e.g., the room in which the offense was committed). During photography and sketching, the search commander must formulate a plan of action. This involves designating the various crime scene areas and objects that need to be searched and inspected. The commander must also decide how many investigators to assign to the case. Once the search has begun, it is up to the searchers to decide what objects will be dusted for latent prints and what objects will be removed as evidence. Searches need to be both thorough and accurate: Nothing should be taken for granted. Furthermore, searchers should not attempt to rely on their memories. Instead, everything of possible significance must be recorded (Dienstein, 1962, pp. 16-26). With the development of more advanced laboratory technologies, the role of physical evidence in the apprehension and prosecution of criminals has expanded considerably. It is generally assumed that by gathering more evidence, the investigator increases the likelihood of identifying the suspects (Greenwood et al., 1977, pp. 165-166). Evidence is defined as anything that may be presented in determining the truth about a fact in question (Dienstein, 1962, pp. 16-26). Physical evidence has three general purposes: (1) it can verify that a crime has been committed; (2) it can identify the person or persons who committed the crime; and (3) it can exonerate all other persons who may be under suspicion. Physical evidence proving that a crime has been committed may include such things as broken door locks or bodily injury to the complainant. Evidence indicating that the suspect was at the scene of the crime can consist of fibers or injury to the suspect (Greenwood et al., 1977, pp. 143-149). T hese forms of evidence support probable cause in having a warrant issued for further investigations that lead away from the actual crime scene. There are two main types of evidence found at crime scenes: (1) fixed evidence; and (2) movable evidence. Fixed evidence includes such things as latent fingerprints, shoe prints, tire prints, tool marks, and objects which cannot be removed because of bulk, weight, or other factors. In contrast, movable evidence consists of items which can be easily removed and stored. Finally, it should also be noted that almost anything can constitute a clue in a criminal investigation. Therefore, everything must be recorded and nothing should be overlooked. Once evidence is discovered, the search commander should have its location reproduced by sketch and/or photograph. The commander then marks the evidence for purposes of identification. The searcher who discovered the evidence should stand by as a witness to this marking and handling procedure. The term, chain of custody, refers to the possession of evidence (Dienstein, 1962, pp. 16-26). Investigators must be able to establish the continuous possession of evidence from the moment that it is discovered until the time that it is presented in court. By having the search commander handle all evidence, this chain of custody is reduced. In recent years, many police departments have augmented their evidence gathering capabilities by hiring additional personnel. Evidence technicians, or Crime Scene Search Officers, are highly trained crime scene processing specialists (Greenwood et al., 1977, pp. 143-149). These personnel can be dispatched just like patrol officers. Evidence technicians are generally used whenever there is retrievable physical evidence, or whenever the patrol officer feels that a photograph of the crime scene could be of benefit (Greenwood et al., 1977, pp. 143-149). A coroner may also be present at a crime scene. Coroners serve as a middle man between the medical examiner and law enforcement (Voelker, 1995, p. 1164). A coroner with forensic training may also act as a liaison between law enforcement, the media, and the public. The presence of many diverse personnel at a crime scene can give rise to conflict. However, everyone present has a specific job to do; moreover, each individual task is an important part of the entire mission. Search commanders should direct all activities such that conflict is minimized. As Dienstein (1962) emphasizes, Teamwork is essential to crime scene search (Dienstein, 1962, pp. 16-26). Besides hiring personnel, many departments are also in the process of updating their criminalist equipment. For example, Anchorage Alaskas police department recently converted a customized motor home into a modern crime scene vehicle. By making crime scene investigation faster and more thorough, such tools can improve a teams overall efficiency. There are various problems that may be encountered during crime scene investigations. Two of these include staging and contamination. Staging involves the alteration of a crime scene prior to the arrival of police. There are different reasons for staging. For one, an offender might try to direct investigators attention elsewhere. Such persons may act overly cooperative or appear extremely distraught. Second, staging can also represent an attempt to protect either the victim or the victims family. Such cases usually involve people who are concerned about the position, dress, or condition of a victims body (Douglas Munn, 1992, pp. 1-10). Perhaps the biggest problem that crime scene technicians face, however, is crime scene contamination. Sensitive forensic techniques may be adversely affected by crime scene trampling. Police departments should have a written policy regarding crime scene protection and preservation. In addition, supervisors and investigators must set an example for the entire crime scene team by adhering to the guidelines. Crime scene investigation is a complex process. It involves a number of different professionals and various areas of expertise. Only by acting as a team, however, will the members of such a diverse group ensure that their efforts result in a reasonable outcome. The alteration of a crime scene can cause investigators to draw erroneous conclusions. By expeditiously carrying out his responsibilities, the initial responder may determine the ultimate outcome of an entire investigation.

Environmental Economics Essay -- Environment, Renewable Energy

Introduction With the rampant deterioration of the environment taking place, panic striking and scandalizing environmental issues like global warming and greenhouse effect making banner headlines in our news papers and bulletins. Entire world is busy in devising energy reforms that can save the planet from plunging deep into the pit of destruction and catastrophe. In order to counter the looming energy crisis that is engulfing the world, research scientists all over the world are busy brainstorming their ageing heads in order to devise reliable energy systems, which can prove effective in resolving environmental disasters. (Costanza, 1991) In order to achieve this objective, substantial progress has been made in the form of accentuating greater usage for energy production and consumption by making use of renewable energy resources which do not undergo exhaustion unlike conventional resources of energy such as coal, oil and natural gas. Another reason due to which the significance of renewable resources has reached unprecedented levels is the economic feasibility involved and it is due to this importance a new discipline of environmental economics has invaded the ecological mainstream this century. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research the environmental economics is the science of empirical and theoretical studies which studies the effect of ‘national or local environmental policies around the world’ it further deals with the economic aspects of environmental policies through cost benefit analysis and ways to counter the rising threat of air pollution, global warming and water quality. As said earlier, progress on the development and the subsequent extraction of energy benefits from such resources is in pro... ...ncy than gasoline. (Sorenson 2005) References Kosltad D. Charles ‘Environmental Economics’ Second Edition, 2010 Vegiroglu T. Nejat, Schur, Dmitry ‘Hydrogen Material Science and Carbon Nanomaterials’ Kluwer Academic 2004 Freudenberger, Richard ‘Alcohol: A guide to making Ethanol a Renewable Fuel’ Aztext Press 2009 Sorenson, Bent ‘Hydroegn and Fuel Cells: Emerging Technologies and Applications’ Academic Press 2005 Costanza, Robert ‘Ecological Economies: the Science and Management of Sustainability’ Columbia University Press 1991 Olah A. George, Goeppert Alain, Surya.G.K ‘Beyond Oil and Gas: the Methanol Economy’ Wiley-VCH 2009 Mathew, Sathyajit ‘Wind Energy: Fundamentals, resource analysis and economics’ Birkhauser 2006 Beene, John ‘Nickel Beta decay as driver for LENR’ 8 June 2010 http://www.mail-archive.com/vortex-l@eskimo.com/msg39328.html

Set Design for Antigone Essay example -- Drama

Outline your set design for Antigone and explain how it would help a present day audience to understand the plays themes and atmosphere's. The play Antigone can be greatly enhanced by the correct use of set, in the same way though the set can be used and interpreted in many different ways. To start with I am going to draw a picture of my set design so i can then refer to it as i talk about the different aspects of it and how each of those aspects would help a present day audience understand the plays themes and atmospheres. I would begin with projecting 3 images onto a white sheet that is draped over the back wall of my set. The first of these images is going to be a gravestone. This will be projected onto the left hand third of the screen and for the reason that even though in ancient Greece they did not use gravestones it will help the audience understand how Eteocles has been buried in the proper manner as a good son. In the centre third of the screen I would have projected an image of a pair of eyes, these eyes would be glowing red to begin with but they would gradually get a more watery red until they become glowing yellow. The eyes are there to symbolise to the audience how the characters are constantly in the presence of God, which is quite clearly one of the plays major themes. The eyes show how Creon is always under scrutiny and anything any of the characters does is being seen, in a way that he/she see's everything and knows everythi...

Plutonium :: essays research papers

Plutonium   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Plutonium is a radioactive metallic element. Although it is occasionally found in nature, mostly all of our plutonium is produced artificially in a lab. The official chemical symbol for plutonium is Pu, coming from its first and third letters. Its atomic number is ninety-four. Plutonium is able to maintain its solid state until very high temperatures, melting at six hundred and forty degrees Celsius, and boiling at three thousand four hundred and sixty degrees. The density of Plutonium, at twenty degrees centigrade, is 19.86 grams per cubic centimeter.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Plutonium was discovered, in the laboratory, by Glenn Theodore Seaborg, and his associate Edward M. McMillan. The two shared the Nobel prize in 1951 for their discoveries of Plutonium, Americium (Am), Curium (Cm), Berkelium (Bk), and Californium (Cf). In addition, Seaborg later contributed to the discovery of three more radioactive elements, Einsteinium (Es), Mendelevium (Md), and Nobelium (No). Plutonium was Seaborg’s first discovery. Its name came from Pluto, the planet after Neptune for which Neptunium was named. In 1940, at the University of California at Berkeley, he bombarded a sample of Uranium with deuterons, the nuclei in atoms of deuterium, transmuting it into plutonium. Shortly after, Seaborg was able to isolate plutonium 239, an isotope used in atomic bombs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Plutonium is a highly dangerous and poisonous element because it rapidly gives off radiation in the form of alpha particles. Alpha particles, which are identical to the nucleus of a helium atom, consist of two protons and two neutrons tightly bound together. Although the particles can only travel about five centimeters in the air, they can cause great damage when the enter the body, causing cancer and other serious health problems. Beyond the danger of their radiation, Plutonium will spontaneously explode when a certain amount, called critical mass, is kept together. Soon after the discovery of Plutonium, it was discovered that at least two oxidation states existed. It is now known to exist in oxidation states of +3, +4, +5, and +6.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Currently, there are fifteen known isotopes of Plutonium, with mass numbers ranging between 232 and 246. The most important isotope is plutonium 239, or Pu-239. When struck by a neutron, this isotope undergoes a process called fission. In fission, When struck by a neutron, the nucleus of the plutonium atom is split into two nearly equal parts, and energy is released. Although the energy released by one atom is not much, the splitting of the nucleus releases more neutrons, which strike more plutonium atoms. This process, called a chain- reaction, produces enormous amounts of energy. This energy is often used to power nuclear reactors, or to provide the energy for nuclear weapons.

The Hippie Movement and the Beat Movemnt

How the Hippies got hip with the beat of the Beat Movement Jack Kerouac once said, â€Å"the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars† (Kerouac 5). Kerouac was the symbol of the Beat Movement.He was the rebellious and adventurous man, who during his time was considered an outcast, but soon later made way for the counterculture of the Hippie Generation. The beats were all about going against social conformity and usual political views (Bennett 340), which mirrored the belief system of the hippies one decade later. This is one of the many reasons why the Beat Movement was the actual beginning of the Hippie Generation and drug epidemic that occurred soon after. The Beat Movement was the main influence on the Hippie Generation and drug epid emic.The Beat Movement consisted of a group of American writers and artists popular in the 1950s and early 1960s, influenced by Eastern philosophy and religion. William T. Lawlor called the Beat Movement â€Å"an artistic movement noted for experimentation and a bohemian lifestyle† (Lawlor 70). These individuals involved in the movement believed in spontaneity and utilized this characteristic to go against the average culture of the 1950s and for personal self-expression through literature and art. Many found their inspiration of spontaneity in the urban environments that surrounded them.Robert Bennett stated that Daniel Belgrad, author of The Culture of Spontaneity: Improvisation and the Arts in Postwar America, â€Å"argues that the beats were part of a much larger cultural movement that used spontaneous art to challenge the ideology of corporate liberalism† (Bennett 340). Many of the people associated with the Beat Movement help to create the distinct characteristic s of this movement. Jack Kerouac was one of the main individuals involved with the movement and was the one who coined the term â€Å"beat. â€Å"Beat† was a slang term to describe the â€Å"beaten down† people in America at the time as Kerouac stated in one of his many interviews. Kerouac wrote one of the main works of literature that described the Beat Movement and its people, which was his novel On the Road (Lawlor 72). Another individual involved with the Beat Movement was Jack Kerouac’s good friend Neal Cassady. Cassady made appearances in many of Kerouac’s novels and is known as the symbol of experimentation with drugs and intercourse. Authors Allen Ginsburg and William S. Burrough were also important to the movement.Ginsburg’s novel Howl and Burrough’s novel Naked Lunch are some of the best examples of Beat Literature. The Hippie Generation came into existence soon after the Beat Movement. Hippies were members of the 1960s countercul ture movement who adopted a peaceful and optimistic lifestyle while disagreeing with corporate nationalism and the Vietnam War. The hippies were well known for wanting peace instead of the United States involvement in the Vietnam War. Hippies also liked to use bright vivid colors and rebel against the society of America at the time by dropping out of school, taking up different religions, and experimenting with drugs.Hippies were usually Buddhists or Hinduisms and â€Å"†¦sought enlightenment through meditation†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Chepesiuk 352). Hippie was not the original term for these rebellious people during the 1960s. Michael Fallon, a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle coined the term â€Å"hippie† (Hippies 148). He said that a â€Å"hippie† was short for a â€Å"hipster†, which is someone popular at that point in time. Hippies, like the beats, turned away from middle-class society and were considered outcasts. Hippies were known as â€Å"†¦p eace loving, nonmaterialistic, and nonconformists† (Chepesiuk 351).Many people were involved during the Hippie Generation. Allen Ginsburg, who was also a part of the Beat Movement, was a part of the Hippie Movement. Ginsburg, like many hippies, took part of the anti-war movement and tried to get the United States to back out of the Vietnam War. Bob Dylan, a musician at the time, helped with his partakes in drug usage. Drug use during the 1960s was prominent, which is why the drug epidemic began soon after. The Woodstock Festival was a gathering of many of the people involved in the Hippie Movement designed to bring peace and music together.That did not end up happening. At the festival many riots and fires occurred causing to create havoc and mayhem. This explains why some historians say the festival was the beginning of the end for the hippies. Bennett once stated that â€Å"†¦the Beat Movement†¦powerfully influenced the emerging counterculture of the 1960s by prov iding an early avenue for social protest and experimentation with alternative lifestyles† (Bennett 342). The Beat Movement and Hippie Generation had many similarities between them since one had influenced the other.Both movements began in San Francisco, California and spread throughout the country, influencing people from all over (Lawlor 70; Chepesiuk 351). Both the hippies and beats were influenced by Buddhism and other Eastern philosophies. Jack Kerouac used Buddhist influences in his writing such as the novel Dharma Bums. Hippies meditated and believed in peace instead of agreeing with the war going on in Vietnam. Hippies also took trips to India in search of spiritual truth and also turned to nature. Hippies believed in Karma which is a practice of both Hinduism and Buddhism.Another similarity is the roles in society people played at the time in which they existed. Both were looked down upon. Many Americans disapproved of the lifestyle they chose to live. Both also reject ed authority and the status quo. Hippies felt their best chance at changing society was to drop out of school and the world around them while beats felt traveling around the country would help them defeat the horrors of society. They were both non-materialistic and non-conformists and believed in freedom of expression.Beats showed their expression through literature and art. Both experimented with different drugs and started the drug epidemic which hit in the late 1960s. Allen Ginsburg and Lawrence Ferlinghetti were major figures in the anti-war movements during the 1960s and wrote ‘beat† literature during the 1950s (Bennett 343). Another person was Neal Cassady. Neal Cassady was not only the symbol of the Beat Generation, but he was also the symbol of the Hippie Generation (Beat 36). Although the Beat Movement influenced the Hippie Movement, the two had many differences between them.Since styles often change in quickly, the Beat Generation and Hippie Generation dressed differently. The Beat Generation looked more grungy with scruffy chins and mustaches and worn out clothing, while the Hippies wore bright vibrant colors with peace symbols and had long beards. Music also fluctuates so during the Beat Movement many listened to jazz music because it took place during the big jazz scene (Beat 34), while the Hippie Generation started with rock and roll and vinyl music (Hippies 148), such as Pink Floyd and the Jefferson Airplanes (hippie).The last different between the two movements was the types of drugs they experimented with even though they both influenced the drug epidemic. The Beat Generation experimented and was mainly known for experimenting with marijuana and amphetamines (Beat 35). The Hippie Generation on the other hand, was known for their drug usage with many different types of drugs, such as LSD, marijuana and heroin (hippie). Even though there are many differences, they are all minor while the similarities are major.In conclusion, the Beat Movement did in fact influence the Hippie generation and drug epidemic. Many people oppose to the idea that the Hippie Movement was influenced by the Beat Movement. Some even say that the hippies only came to be around because of the controversy dealing with the Vietnam War. They say that if the Vietnam War did not happen at that time, then the hippies would not exist. The 1960s Counterculture in America states that historian Terry H. Anderson once said that â€Å"the behavior of the [mainstream] culture boosted the counterculture.Without racism, war, and campus paternalism, the population of hippiedom would have been proportionately about the same size as that of the Beats in the postwar society† (Hippies 248). This quote shows that some historians do believe that the Beat Movement did not influence the Hippie Generation. Also, others say that the Hippies came out only to rebel against the generation before them since the 1950s were all about wholesomeness, prudishness and restraint (Bennett 340). Basically, historians only think the movement was a rebellion against all conformity.If either of those oppositions were true, then why are there so many similarities between the two movements? Thus, this means that the hippies were very much influenced by the rebellion and adventure the beats lived and wrote about. In conclusion, the Beat Movement did in fact influence the Hippie Generation and drug epidemic. The Beat Movement was all about going against the social normality’s of the â€Å"leave-it-to-beaver† lifestyle of the 1950s (Bennett 340). They spent their time experimenting with drug use and sexual freedom (Beat 34) and â€Å"many Americans disapproved of the lifestyle these young people lead† (Lawlor 352).The Hippie Movement was much like the Beat Movement due to the numerous similarities these movements share. Since there are so many similarities between these movements, it is accurate to state that the Beat Movement influence d the Hippie Generation and drug epidemic. Works Cited Bennett, Robert. â€Å"Spontaneity, The Beat Generation and the Culture of. †Ã‚  Beat Culture Icons, Lifestyles, and Impacts. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2005. 340-44. Print. Chepesiuk, Ron. â€Å"Hippies. †Ã‚  The Sixties in America. Ed. Carl Singleton. Vol. 2.Dasadena: Salem, 1999. 351-52. Print. Hamilton, Neil A. â€Å"Hippies. †Ã‚  The 1960s Counterculture in America. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 1997. 148-50. Print. â€Å"hippie. † Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia. 2005. eLibrary. Web. 12 Apr. 2012. Kerouac, Jack. On the Road. New York: Viking, 1997. 5. Print. Lawlor, William T. â€Å"Beat Generation. †Ã‚  The Sixties in America. Ed. Carl Singleton. Vol. 1. Dasadena: Salem, 1999. 70-73. Print. Layman, Richard, ed. â€Å"The Beat Movement. †Ã‚  American Decades 1950-1959. Detroit: Gale Research, 1994. 34-36. Print.

International Oil Security: Problems and Policies Essay

Energy security was a priority of the Bush Administration in 2001. In a larger context, global oil security is a major concern of the world, the United States in particular. Oil security is not about depleting reserves and having continuous supply to cover demand, but the real issue is the oil costs. International Oil Security involves two things: (1) oil producers control the supply and price of the commodity, and (2) volatile oil price creates have disruptive effects on macroeconomic situations. In the 1970s the downtrend and the inflation of industrialized economies were the results of oil price shocks. These price shocks were mostly caused by unanticipated and drastic changes in supply, demand, and inventory which were all destabilizing. Since the late 1990s OPEC controls the global oil market because it owns 45% of oil reserves and its global output share could double in the next decade. The oil market is a volatile one. When supplies are low, prices go up to meet the demand. A shock comes when there is big shift in the supply that send prices soaring. Such big swings may bring disastrous effects on the macroeconomic equation. The oil businessmen may cushion their financial risks without considering the oil-intensive component of the economy. The case of the US shows that: (1) effects on the US depends on its consumption of oil and not on its importation of oil, (2) it would be more expensive to increase its own supply and reduce its consumption, and (3) its military presence in the Middle East has nothing to do with oil imports. The Bush Administration’s thrust is to increase domestic oil production and lessen its reliance on oil imports, develop more efficient energy utilization and seek alternative and renewable energy resources. Legislations providing tax breaks and converting ANWR for oil exploration and production were passed. Still, increasing output will reduce the magnitude of oil shocks slightly by keeping the prices down and decreasing the intense effects of oil on the economy. ANWR appears to be a bad idea, primarily because of the social and environmental impact it carries. From a macroeconomic view, decreasing the oil intensity of its economy is paramount to ensuring its energy security. Cost-effective conservation measures and regulated minimal adjustments have insignificant effect on petroleum prices. It would take stronger policies to complement conservation and efficient utilization to boost its oil security efforts: (1) better management of oil reserves, (2) protection for the low-income sector who is most sensitive to price swings, (3) exploring other alternative fuel sources, (4) providing for energy use that ride the tide of price changes, and (5) developing non-fossil based fuels. In the final count, energy security can be had depending on the high costs of oil and the critical research and development needed.

Nostalgic Records Proposal

Partner, Melody Nostalgic Records March 16, 2013 Proposal Number 014298B TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Company OverviewPage 4 2. Company Information SystemsPages 5-6 3. Table of Benefits & DrawbacksPage 8 4. Projected SalesPage 9 5. ReferencesPage10 COMPANY OVERVIEW Melody Nostalgic Records will have its grand opening on May 1, 2013. We are a small, brick n’ mortar, nostalgic record store located in downtown San Antonio, Texas. We will be providing a variety of music arrangements in the form of compact discs, vinyl records, cassette tapes, and 8 tracks.This will ensure we have products for all age ranges of customers. Along with music, we will also sell music products such as headphones, posters, t-shirts and other related items. In order to meet the needs of customers, we will need to have various information systems in place so we will be able to meet the needs of the customers as well as the needs of the company. Information Systems are integrated sets of components for collecting, storing, and processing data and for delivering information, knowledge, and digital products (Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc.   2013). COMPANY INFORMATION SYSTEMS In order to ensure success in our business and customer satisfaction, utilization of the following five types of information systems will be conducted. * Functional Area IS * Executive Dashboard * Electronic Commerce System * Supply Chain Management System * Decision Support System COMPANY INFORMATION SYSTEMS Functional Area IS This system will support, plan and organize particular functional areas in our business.For example, this system will enable us to effectively conduct payroll and have an overview of sales management with cost and pricing analysis, inventory control, our overall spending and budget. With the information gathered, we will perform an evaluation of weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual reports. Executive Dashboard This is a tool for data management. It will allow us to identify operational efficiencies , apply preventative measures and recognize the health of our organization through a visual presentation of critical information.Through these reports we will be able to improve any processes that are lacking in our business (â€Å"Executive Dashboard†, 2007). Electronic Commerce System A website of our products will be generated and correlated into our business to meet the needs of consumers who enjoy shopping from home and expanding our client base throughout the nation. This system will eventually allow us to increase our profits. COMPANY INFORMATION SYSTEMS Supply Chain Management System This will enable our company to monitor products, information and financial flow.This system will allow us to oversee our inventory and to also guarantee that we have enough products to meet the demand of our customers (â€Å"Supply Chain Management†,2010). Decision Support System This will enable our managers and company to compile useful information from raw data, documents, pers onal knowledge, and/or business models to identify and solve problems and make decisions on comparative sales figures and projected revenue (â€Å"Decision Support Systems†, 1996-2012). BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS Information System| Benefit| Drawback|Functional Area IS| Company Organization| Security and hacking issues| Executive Dashboard| Ability to produce reports from collected data| Requires person with extensive knowledge of Dashboard system| Electronic Commerce System| Ability to sell products online and expand clients| Possible online theft| Supply Chain Management| Ability to track inventory to ensure products are available on demand| Requires person with prior inventory record keeping | Decision Supports System| Ability to identify and solve problems| Identified problems may not always be accurate| Terms Expressed in Thousands REFERENCES Decision Support Systems. 1996-2012). Retrieved from http://www. informationbuilders. com/decision-support-syst ems-dss Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc.. (2013). Encyclopedia Britannica . Retrieved from http://www. britannica. com/EBchecked/topic/287895/information-system Executive Dashboard. (2007). Retrieved from http://www. iexecutivedashboard. com/ Rainer, R. K. & Cegielski, C. G. (2011). Introduction to Information systems: Supporting and Transforming Business. Chapter 2, Information Systems, Concepts and Management. Supply Chain Management. (2010). Retrieved from http://searchmanufacturingerp. techtarget. com/definition/supply-chain-management

History of the Hunley Essay

The concept of underwater endeavors has been around since the ancient times, the Egyptians used reeds to hunt in the water. The first time the concept was used in a military manner was by Alexander the Great’s army to clear obstructions during the siege of Syracuse in about 413 BC. Both of these instances were very primitive underwater developments, but held the basic concepts of a modern day submarine. They used underwater concealment to achieve a goal and that is the overall main concept of a modern day submarine. In the modern era our idea of underwater boats became a lot more refined and more practical. Many submarine designs started popping up around 1578. The first modern submarine was built in 1605 by Magnus Pegelius his submarine was lost in mud. The first successful submarine was propelled by oars and was invented by Cornelius Jacobszoon Drebbel many say its design was based on that of an Englishman William Bourne who designed a prototype submarine in 1578. Drebbel was a Dutchman in the service of King James I whose submarine was redesigned two more times from 1620 to 1624. In 1775 the first propelled self reliant submarine was invented in Connecticut and funded by the United States. It was named Turtle due to its resemblance to a turtle. David Bushnell inventor of Turtle was an American patriot and had his designs approved by George Washington. Turtle was the world’s first submarine to be used in battle. Turtle’s design was simple yet very efficient, it consisted of two wooden pieces secured with two metal bands and was covered in tar. It submerged by allowing water into a bilge tank at the bottom of the vessel and ascended by pushing water out through a hand pump, and was propelled vertically and horizontally by hand-cranked propellers. Turtle was the first recorded use of the screw propeller for ships. It also had two hundred pounds of lead which could be released in a moment to increase buoyancy. It was manned and operated by one person. It contained enough air for about thirty minutes and had a speed in calm water of about three miles per hour. Six small pieces of thick glass in the top were the only source of natural light. After Bushnell pondered the problem of lighting the inside of the ship and after learning that using a candle would hasten the use of the limited oxygen supply of the air inside, he solicited the help of Benjamin Franklin who cleverly hit upon the idea of using bioluminescent foxfire to provide illumination for the compass and depth meter. Foxfire is a glowing light given off by several species of fungi. The light given by the material was said to be sufficient at night, though likely dimmer than expected, because the ship was cooled by the surrounding sea water and the metabolic rate of poikilothermic, heterotrophic organisms, such as the mushrooms used in Turtle, is temperature-dependent. Turtle was designed as a naval weapon, and it’s method of attack was to drill into a ship’s hull and plant a keg containing 130 pounds of gunpowder. Then a fuse would be attached and ignited when the Turtle was a safe distance away. Much testing was done by the inventor’s brother, Ezra Bushnell, in the waters of the Connecticut River to ensure the structural fastness of the ship as well as to figure out the abilities of it. During the night of September 7, 1776, to support the upcoming Battle of Kip’s Bay, Turtle, under the guidance of army volunteer Sergeant Ezra Lee, attacked the English’s flagship HMS Eagle, which was moored off what is today called Governors Island, which is due south of Manhattan. A common misconception was that Lee failed because he could not manage to bore through the copper-sheeted hull. In practice, it has been shown that the thin copper would not have presented any problem to the drill. A more likely scenario is Lee’s unfamiliarity with the vessel made him unable to keep the Turtle stable enough to work the drill against the Eagle’s Hull. When he attempted another spot in the hull, he was unable to stay beneath the ship, and eventually abandoned the attempt. Governors Island is the place where the Hudson River and the East River merge. The currents at this point would have been strong and difficult. The Turtle would only be able to attack ship moored here during the short period of time when the incoming tide balanced the river currents. It is possible that during the attack the tide turned and Lee was unable to compensate. He released the keg of gunpowder when some British in row boats tried to pursue him. The British, suspecting some trick, gave up the pursuit. This was the beginning of a new era of naval battle. After several years of innovations and refinements to submarines designs and the building of many other successful ships such as France’s Nautilus and the US Navy’s Alligator, there came along a man named Horace Lawson Hunley who designed and created the Confederate States of America’s first successful submarine, the CSS H. L. Hunley. The Hunley and two earlier submarines were privately developed and funded by Horace Lawson Hunley, James McClintock, and Baxter Watson. The three men first built a small submarine named Pioneer at New Orleans, Louisiana. Pioneer was tested in February 1862 in the Mississippi River, but the Union advance towards New Orleans caused the men to abandon development and scuttle Pioneer the following month. The three inventors then moved to Mobile and joined with machinists Thomas Park and Thomas Lyons. There they soon began development of a second submarine, American Diver. They were supported by the Confederate States Army. The men experimented with electromagnetic and steam propulsion for the new submarine, before falling back on a simpler hand-cranked propulsion system. The ship was ready for harbor trials by January 1863, but proved too slow to be practical. One attempted attack on the Union blockade was made in February 1863, but was unsuccessful. The submarine sank in Mobile Bay during a storm later the same month and was not recovered. After the disappointment of the American Diver the construction of Hunley began soon. At this stage, Hunley was variously referred to as the â€Å"fish boat†, the â€Å"fish torpedo boat†, or the â€Å"porpoise†. Legend long held Hunley was made from a cast-off steam boiler, maybe because a cutaway drawing by William Alexander, who had seen the real boat, showed a short and stubby machine. In fact, the Hunley was purpose-designed and built for her role. Hunley was designed for a crew of eight. The eight man crew consisted of seven to turn the hand-cranked propeller and one to steer and direct the boat. Each end was equipped with ballast tanks that could be flooded by valves or pumped dry by hand pumps. Extra ballast was added through the use of iron weights bolted to the underside of the hull. In the event the submarine needed additional buoyancy to rise in an emergency, the iron weight could be removed by unscrewing the heads of the bolts from inside the vessel. Hunley was equipped with two watertight hatches, one forward and one aft, atop two conning towers with small portholes. The hatches were very small, making entrance to and egress from the hull very difficult. The ship had a hull height of 4 ft 3 in. By July 1863 Hunley was ready for a demonstration. Supervised by Confederate Admiral Franklin Buchanan, Hunley successfully attacked a coal flatboat in Mobile Bay. Right after this demonstration, the submarine was shipped to Charleston, South Carolina, by train. The Hunley arrived in Charleston August 12, 1863. The Confederate military seized the vessel from its private builders and owners soon after its arrival in Charleston and turned it over to the Confederate Army. The submarine would operate as a Confederate Army vessel from that point forward. Horace Hunley and his partners remained involved in the submarine’s further testing and operation. Confederate Navy Lieutenant John A. Payne volunteered to be Hunley’s skipper, and a volunteer crew of seven men was assembled to operate the submarine. On August 29, 1863, Hunley’s new crew was preparing to make a test dive to learn the operation of the submarine. Then the fatal moment came when Lieutenant Payne accidentally stepped on the lever controlling the sub’s diving planes while the crew was rowing and the boat was running. This caused Hunley to dive with hatches still open, flooding her. Payne and two other men escaped; the remaining five crewmen drowned. The Confederacy did not give up hope on the Hunley. Within 72 hours of the fatal accident, General Beauregard sent the following order: â€Å"Fish Torpedo still at bottom of bay, no one working on it. Adopt immediate measures to have it raised at once. Work quickly began to salvage the submarine from the harbor’s bottom and exhume the crew from their iron casket. For the submarine’s second outing, Hunley convinced the Confederate Navy to man the sub with a crew from Mobile who were familiar with the Hunley’s operations. Hunley went straight to where the submarine was built, Park and Lyons machine shop in Mobile, to enlist a new crew to man the vessel. Eve n their experience proved futile. On October 15, 1863, the Hunley again sank while performing a routine diving exercise. All eight men on board, including Hunley, succumbed to the depths. Although Hunley was in charge of the sub’s operations, he was not part of her crew. It is not known why he was at the helm when the sub sank for the second time. It is uncertain what caused the fate of the Hunley the second time. But if the crew had been able to close the forward sea valve which caused the ship to dive nose first, the freezing water that had already entered the ballast tank and spilled over the top could have been bailed back into the compartment and pumped into the sea. Although it would have been extremely difficult to do so in the darkness and confusion that followed the impact with the ocean floor, the valve handle must have fallen off the stem and become lost beneath the bodies that had been thrown into the forward area. Causing icy water and internal pressure to steadily rise within the vessel, panic would have gripped the terrified crewmen. As they were beneath nine fathoms it would have been a hopelessly miserable way to die. Hunley having now sunk twice, both times killing some of her crew including Hunley himself. Even so, the desperation of the times kept hope alive that the Hunley could save Charleston from the strangling blockade. Though Beauregard had grave concerns over the twice-fatal Hunley, at the urging of Lt. George Dixon, he nevertheless approved her to be to be salvaged by divers and pulled up by ships so that she could again attempt a strike at the Union blockade. Another new and courageous crew had already quickly assembled after the second sinking. Until the final resurrection of Hunley, little was known about members of the final crew. Since the Hunley was a venture with close ties to the Confederate Secret Service, many records were intentionally destroyed at the end of war to protect the identities of those involved. After months of repairs, re-modification and practice missions, the Hunley was ready to attack again. Finally on the night of February 17, 1864 Lt. Dixon and his new crew took Hunley out for its final voyage. The target was the Union Navy’s largest ship, the USS Housatonic. The Housatonic was also the main body of the Union’s naval blockade of Charleston. As Hunley came close to the ship, Housatonic’s lookout rang the alarm and the Hunley came under small arms fire, even though the Housatonic had six cannons aboard they were not built to be able to be aimed that low in the water. The Hunley then rammed its barbed charge into the hull of the Housatonic and then began to reverse away from the ship. It is uncertain how far Hunley got away from the Housatonic before the charge went off. After the explosion, which caused the first successful submarine attack on an enemy ship in wartime, the Housatonic sunk within four minutes killing five of its crew. After the attack Hunley signaled the men back at shore of the successful attack by means of a blue signal lantern. After the signal the men back on shore awaited the return of the Hunley, but sadly it never did return. Instead it sank to the bottom of the sea not to be seen again for another 137 years. Even though the Hunley itself sank more times than it sank other ships, it was a major naval innovation. It showed just how vulnerable ships were to submarines and how something so small and discreet can do so much damage to something as very large and discerning as the USS Housatonic. Since the Hunley military innovations and modern technology have continued to evolve and has provided the world with extremely deadly, accurate, reliable, fast, and stealthy submarines. But it all started with an American in a tar covered barrel trying to drill a hole in the bottom of a ship, and then led to success with human powered submarines such as the Hunley. Although the history of the creation of the Hunley and its military campaign is extremely interesting, the search and finding and preservation of the ship is equally intriguing. Two different individuals have claimed The Hunley discovery. Underwater Archaeologist E. Lee Spence, president, Sea Research Society, reportedly discovered Hunley in 1970, and has an impressive collection of evidence to validate the claim. On September 13, 1976, the National Park Service submitted Spence’s location for H. L. Hunley for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. Spence’s location for Hunley became a matter of public record when H. L. Hunley’s placement on that list was officially approved on December 29, 1978. Spence’s book Treasures of the Confederate Coast, which had a chapter on his discovery of Hunley and included a map complete with an â€Å"X† showing the wreck’s location, was published in January of 1995. A few months after Spence’s book with the location of the Hunley marked, Diver Ralph Wilbanks, claims to have discovered the wreck in April of 1995 while leading a NUMA dive team. Ralph Wilbanks claims to have located the submarine buried under several feet of silt, which had concealed and protected the vessel for over a hundred years. The divers exposed the forward hatch and the ventilator box, which is the air box for the attachment of a snorkel, to identify her. The submarine was resting on her starboard side at about a 45-degree angle and was covered in a ? – to ? -inch encrustation of ferrous oxide bonded with sand and seashell particles. Archaeologists exposed part of the ship’s port side and uncovered the bow dive plane. More probing revealed an approximate length of 40 feet, with the entire vessel preserved under the sediment. On September 14, 1995, at the official request of Senator Glenn F. McConnell, Chairman, South Carolina Hunley Commission, E. Lee Spence, with South Carolina Attorney General Charles M. Condon signing, gifted the Hunley to the State of South Carolina. Shortly thereafter NUMA disclosed their location for the wreck. Spence claims that he discovered the Hunley in 1970 and verified the discovery in 1971 and again in 1979, and that he expected NUMA to verify the discovery, not claim it. This is an ongoing dispute involving allegations of political manipulation, judicial misconduct and other questionable behavior. On August 8, 2000 an Archaeological investigation and excavation culminated ith the raising of Hunley. A large team of professionals from the Naval Historical Center’s Underwater Archaeology Branch, National Park Service, the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology, and various other individuals investigated the vessel, measuring and documenting it prior to removal. Once the on-site investigation was complete, harnesses we re slipped underneath the sub and attached to a truss designed by Oceaneering, Inc. After the last harness had been secured, the crane from the recovery barge Karlissa B hoisted the submarine from the harbor bottom. Despite having used a sextant and hand-held compass, thirty years earlier, to plot the wreck’s location, Dr. Spence’s accuracy turned out to be within the length of the recovery barge. On August 8, 2000 at 8:37 a. m. the sub broke the surface for the first time in over 136 years, greeted by a cheering crowd on shore and in surrounding watercraft. Once safely on her transporting barge, Hunley was shipped back to Charleston. The removal operation concluded when the submarine was secured inside the Warren Lasch Conservation Center, at the former Charleston Navy Yard, in a specially designed tank of freshwater to await conservation. History has a very interesting way of reminding us of how our past affects our future. With something as magnificent as the discovery and resurrection of the Hunley it just goes to show us what hard work and dedication can bring us. As well as all the mysteries still unsolved about artifacts found in the Hunley as well as what really happened the night that the Hunley never returned home. I believe some things should stay mysteries; it makes it more fun to think about.