Friday, August 21, 2020

Best Chemistry Majors and Programs at Small Liberal Arts Schools TKG

Best Chemistry Majors and Programs at Small Liberal Arts Schools Chemistry is a science that deals with the composition, structure, and properties of substances and the transformations that they undergo. Chemists inquire into how matter is composed and combined, and chemistry is sometimes referred to as the central science, and the foundation of all fields of scientific knowledge.Career options for students who study chemistry include becoming an analytical chemist, chemical engineer, forensic scientist, materials scientist, pharmacologist, agricultural chemist, and more. We’ve compiled a list of the top programs at small liberal arts schools below:Harvey Mudd: In addition to coursework in the traditional fields of chemistry (Analytical Chemistry,  Biochemistry,  Inorganic Chemistry,  Organic Chemistry,  and Physical Chemistry,) the curriculum at HMC offers elective courses that allow for specialization in the areas of Bioorganic Chemistry, Biophysical Chemistry,  Computational Chemistry,  Industrial Chemistry,  Lasers in Chemistry,  Materials S cience,  Organometallic Chemistry,  Surface Science,  and Synthetic Methods. PhD faculty teach all courses and labs, and each faculty member has their own dedicated research space. Within the department, you’ll also find state of the art instrumentation rooms and computational facilities. Carleton: The Chemistry curriculum at Carleton is built on an apprenticeship model: there are multi-week inquiry projects in lower-division labs, advanced projects for upper-level courses, and research projects with faculty and senior integrative exercises for upperclassmen. In terms of choosing which courses to start with, students are encouraged to take a self-administered placement exam; and there are options for students who want to major in Chemistry and options for those who would like to use chemistry to fulfill a science lab course. The list of course offerings is robust (Carleton has a very user-friendly website) but it is often mentioned on the website that careful planning is required for all Chemistry majors. All students, especially those who would like to participate in an off-campus studies program, are encouraged to plan their schedules out in advance and meet with advisors to ensure that they’re on track. Swarthmore: Swarthmore offers a major in Chemistry, a minor in Chemistry, and a major in Educational Studies and Chemistry with a teaching certificate. If you’re interested in teaching Chemistry, the program is worth looking into. You can submit an application to join a research group, which are constantly evolving. You’ll also find Alchemist Workshops, which are drop-in study sessions with high performing peers. And then there is the colloquium schedule, which are meetings for students to learn about new research in the field. Pomona: Pomona offers both a Chemistry major and minor, and students can enroll in a pre-professional chemistry curriculum that is certified by the American Chemical Society. The school also offers a chemical engineering track . 90% of chemistry majors do a summer undergraduate research project, and students at Pomona can take elective courses at other Claremont Colleges. Pomona also hosts the 5C Chemistry Seminar Series, where guest speakers come to campus and hold lectures and plan activities for students. Barnard:A liberal arts education is often associated with program flexibility. While there is some flexibility at Barnard, students adhere to a stricter (and well-thought-out) approach to studying Chemistry. There is a three-year sequence of core courses, in which students familiarize themselves with inorganic, organic, physical, analytical, and biological chemistry.  And no matter what, you’ll start out by taking BC2001x:General Chemistry I, which is the entry-level Chemistry course offered at the school. Barnard themselves calls the sequence “untraditional,” but they stand by their unique approach.  Hamilton: Chemistry students at Hamilton spend the first three years taking classes and workin g towards the Senior Program: an intense two-semester project that combines scientific research with reading and understanding of scientific literature. It’s then turned into a senior thesis that is presented publicly and defended in front of the Chemistry department.   A standout course at Hamilton is 348 S Science, Technology, and Society; the course look into the assumptions and hierarchies that have long been embedded into science and technology, and sheds light on inequalities of opportunity in the STEM field. Half of Hamilton’s chemistry alumni go on to do graduate study, and the flexible curriculum allows students to follow their passions, not a fixed course structure. Bowdoin:There is a heavy focus on research at Bowdoin (they call the students “investigators”) coupled with a focus on collaboration, whether that’s with fellow students or faculty members. There are numerous fellowships available, and faculty members hold an open house to discuss their upcoming resea rch projects. The emphasis on small classes, discussions, and one-on-one work with professors means that students can form relationships with faculty, which can lead to increased research opportunities, stellar letters of recommendation, and long-term commitments to passion projects. Amherst: The Chemistry program at Amherst has similar offerings to the rest of the schools on our list. But additionally, many students take part in paid internships with faculty during their time at Amherst. The Summer Science Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program is an 8-10 week program, and fellows stay on campus, and the research topics change yearly. While most schools offer research opportunities, a majority of them are unpaid. Attending Amherst also gives you access to the rest of the schools in the five-college consortium.  If you need help breaking down the research and figuring out where to apply, contact us here.

Monday, May 25, 2020

Justice Is Nothing Other Than The Advantage Of The...

In the opening two books of the Republic, Thrasymachus, along with Glaucon and Adeimantus, proposes fascinating arguments against the definition of justice. According to Thraysmachus, Justice, by its nature, is nothing other than the advantage of the stronger. Despite Socrates’s strong disagreement, many just and unjust incidents in Amazing Grace serve as great examples to support Thrasymachus’s view. In the following paragraphs, I am going to first summarize the arguments from Thrasymachus and Glaucon, and then analyze how the examples from Amazing Grace validate the traditional definition of justice. In Book I, Thrasymachus straightforwardly states that â€Å"justice is nothing other than the advantage of the stronger† (Plato, 338c). He then defends his account in two arguments. The first argument is that the people who have more power get to decide the rules, and those in decision are simply ruling to their own advantages. This statement is supported by the example of ruling a city. According to Thrasymachus, cities are ruled differently by their natures. Democracy rules in a democratic fashion, meaning the laws favor the majority of the people; tyranny makes tyrannical laws, which favor the tyranny; and so on with the other ones. Nonetheless, what in common is that no matter what the laws are, the rulers declare what they have made to be just for their subjects, which in fact is to their own advantages. Since acting in accordance to the laws is just, those who behave in aShow MoreRelatedPlato s View On Justice1261 Words   |  6 PagesWell-structured societies are buil t on a foundation of justice that brings unity, development, equality and respect between people. Throughout The Republic, Plato defines justice and its significance to the state and its individuals. In Book I, Thrasymachus and Socrates both provide their views on the definition of justice. The discussion takes place in Cephalus’s residence with his son Polymarchus. Through Plato’s dialogue, the definitions on justice by both Thrasymachus and Socrates will be discussedRead MoreTaking a Look at Platos Republic1690 Words   |  7 Pagesout to answer not only what justice is, but also why we should be just. The first book sets up these challenges. The interlocutors engage in the dialectic similar to that found in other Platonic works. While among a group of both â€Å"teachers† and â€Å"students†, Socrates poses the question, â€Å"What is justice?† He proceeds to deny every suggestion offered in his usual fashion, showing how each contains contradi ctions [331c-337e]. As is also common, Socrates offers no definition of his own, and the discussionRead MoreThe Ethical Ambiguity Concerning the Death Penalty Essay1289 Words   |  6 Pagesambivalence, it is an appealing topic of study. A curious facet of the ethical dilemma is that it transcends various fields of interest. The ethics issue is scrutinized by philosophers and psychologists, but this theme is frequently introduced in other curricula. Accounting, for example, has its own set of ethical mandates. Moreover, nearly every profession is impacted by a generally accepted code of ethics – doctors, lawyers, contractors, and the list goes on! In fact, almost every day an individualRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1696 Words   |  7 Pagesmere savages into a brand new light by portraying the Igbo society. It also scrutinizes, from the perspective of an African, the effects that the European colonialism brought on the Igbo society (Kenalemang, p.2). Chinua’s presentation of the traditional life of the Igbo society presented in his novel much revolves around the organization gender roles. Igbo life is basically gender rooted, from the types of crop that women and men grow, to crime characterization. The Igbo culture present women asRead MoreRace Relations : A Resolved Issue?1644 Words   |  7 Pagesinjustice and public outcry will change nothing until we understand completely the issues that bring about these events. We have to be careful when dealing with this issue; we have to be contributing to part of the solution rather than the being the problem itself. Injustice could be the turning point in which we transform and open up to the media and investigate our racial assumptions. In todays’ day and age, fear is fostered in the danger of pretending to seek justice when action isn’t taken. Race relationsRead MoreEssay about Sociological Analysis of Sexual Assault1554 Words   |  7 Pageslaw, has a differe nt burden of proof, and has different results. The civil suit is generally defined by court cases, rather than by treatment of law, as is criminal justice. The macro-diachronic approach is a modern theoretical model of crime and deviance, which specifically attempts to delineate which dynamics account for social transformation of crime and criminal justice. More specifically, in the case of sexual assault, this approach focusses on the changes in the labour force (gender based)Read MoreWhat Is Terrorism, Is It Wrong, And Could It Ever Be Morally Permissible?1530 Words   |  7 Pagesway to where terrorism can be discussed fairly and examined critically. Terrorism has been defined differently by various people, but many have voiced their concerns about this type of violence. Jaggar tried to develop an account (i.e., in-depth definition) of terrorism that would be consistent, precise, and impartial (Jaggar Pg. 205). For an account to be impartial, there must be a separation of the moral assessment of terrorists’ ends from the moral assessment of the ways or strategies used by themRead More Amartya Sens What is Equality? Essays3 903 Words   |  16 Pagesdistributed according to principles and theories of social justice. I then consider the four most general principles designed to answer issues raised by the Equality of Welfare principle, Equality of Opportunity for Welfare principle, Equality of Resources principle and Equality of Opportunity for Resources principle. I consider each with respect to the more general normative principle that whatever theory of social or distributive justice we accept should be as ambition sensitive and endowment insensitiveRead MoreQuestions On The Theories Of Justice2659 Words   |  11 PagesIn this chapter, I aim to review and survey Karen Lebacqz’s six theories of Justice. This is essential if, as I will show later, these theories of justice will necessarily be implied in the founding documents and covenants of major social institutions in western civilization. Justice: Utility In its most basic definition, utilitarianism argues, â€Å"The right thing to do is to produce the most good.† According to John Stuart Mill, â€Å"‘utility’ or the ‘greatest happiness principle’ requires that actionsRead More Sport, Education, and the Meaning of Victory Essay examples3416 Words   |  14 Pagesrationale for including sport in education? I argue that it need not be by showing that we value winning precisely for the virtues associated with it. I then take Platos traditional parts of aretà ª: piety, sophrosunà ª, courage and justice and show how they are manifest in modern athletic ideals of self-knowledge, discipline, courage and justice. To the extent that scholastic athletic programs develop these virtues, I conclude, their pursuit of winning is not at odds with the institutional mission of educating

Thursday, May 14, 2020

ICT and People with Special Needs Essay - 1361 Words

ICT and People with Special Needs There are many people that have disabilities, but there are many ways in which ICT can help them. ICT can give these people more opportunities in life due to the vast range of specially designed computer equipment. There are people with sensory impairment. People with sensory impairment include partially blind people and those who are totally blind. Being blind might make even the simplest of jobs e.g. reading letters and bills an uphill task. They might need a video magnifier. Even going to the local supermarket would be difficult because you could bump into things. Blind people can also use a special keyboard called the Braille keyboard to put data in to†¦show more content†¦They can issue commands using the device. If a person can not speak or if there speech is not clear than they can use voice synthesisers to speak words by the non speaker or speech synthesisers to enhance spoken words in a loud environment. In my main investigation, the special need that I will be focusing on is limited mobility. The technologies that I will be focusing on are: 1. Voice recognition system 2. Email 3. Online ordering 4. Electrical equipment 5. Cordless phone 6. Electric vehicles Main Investigation Voice recognition system Another piece of technology that might be good for some one with limited mobility would be voice activation. The way voice activation works is that it digitises your voice, and stores it on the hardware. All you do is issue commands to the device. You can do the simplest of tasks without having to move. Environmental control systems help people to control their home environment through a single switch, for example, opening and closing windows and doors, TVs, radios, doors, intercoms, telephones, lamps, curtains, windows, riser recliner chairs and beds, and alarms are among the devices that can be controlled. It is adapted to the environment they feel at ease in. Email E – Mail is a technology, which is used by everyone in today’s world and is getting bigger andShow MoreRelatedEvaluating The Effectiveness Of Using Ict For Teaching And Learning. Information Communication Technology ( Ict )1253 Words   |  6 Pages1. Evaluate the effectiveness of using ICT to support teaching and learning. Information communication technology (ICT) helps to learn theoretic development discoveries, treatment and support techniques for education and curriculum. It gives teachers, higher level teaching assistant (HLTA) and children access to educational resources from around the globe anytime and day. While using ICT, children learn concepts, history, ideas, theories and practices across culture when it is use in their classroomRead MoreThe Ict And Its Impact On Education1386 Words   |  6 Pages1. Introduction The ICT subjects was introduced in secondary schools early 2000’s with poor methodologies. It was that time I was in secondary schools so I saw and even experienced how the mode of computer skills delivery was. The word ‘computer’ itself was a bit knew to most students thou I was very good in mathematics. Shortage of instructors and teaching tools was a big issue. Most young generation fails to express themselves in terms of their future vision because they are blind to the rapidRead MoreThe Importance of Information and Communications Technology Essay631 Words   |  3 PagesTechnology Information and communications technology (ICT) is generally regarded as the overlap of computer information and telecommunications technologies, and their applications. In this document the term ICT is used to indicate the whole range of technologies involved in information processing and electronic communications, including the internet, electronic mail and videoconferencing. In recent years ICT has had, and is continuing to have, an increasingly significantRead MoreThe Education Context For My Edc3100 Professional Placement961 Words   |  4 Pagesstudents, eight Year five students and fifteen Year six students. The variance of intellectual ability within this class is significant with students’ capability ranging from a Year one level to above Year six level and includes students with special / complex needs. The class includes five students who are verified as having Autism Spectrum Disorder, two students who are verified with Intellectual Disability and four students who have been diagnosed with ADHD. Two students are also diagnosed with visualRead MoreTechnology And The Classroom Is Extremely Beneficial For Students For A Vast Number Of Reasons961 Words   |  4 Pageswith special needs, equips students to become lifelong learners and provides students with the necessary skills in order to be adequately prepared for the workforce, becoming confident and productive contributors to society. Technology can offer educational equality in a classroom of diverse learners, and students who possess a variety of learning styles. According to Zorigian and Job (n.d), there are digital devices and software available that support students with disabilities or special needsRead MoreEssay Music and Entertainment Industry: Digital TV and MP3s702 Words   |  3 Pages In the world nowadays, ICT has been responsible for assisting in the development of entertainment. One of the things that are mainly used in music entertainment now is the MP3 files which contain music. This technology is often used to play music with digital music players such as MP3 players and iPods. This now revolutionised the entertainment as it now allows people to listen to music without the need for a physical product for the players to play music off of such as using cds it is now quickerRead MoreThe Information Communication Technology ( Ict ) For A Start Up Business Essay1504 Words   |  7 Pages The main purpose of this assignment is to identify the information communication technology (ICT) for a start-up business like the multi-cuisine restaurant in Chandigarh and also to get a clear progress on the progress of the same for the next 3-5 years. The business plan is to set up a multi-cuisine restaurant in Chandigarh, India. The reason why I chose this business is because we have a family business in catering and also a bakery specialised in north Indian sweets which is run by my fatherRead MoreA Report On The Tunisian Government1194 Words   |  5 Pagesintensive skills: ICTs. The Tunisian government has positioned these technologies in solid of its development plan. Information and communication technologies are considered as a tool enabling for economic diversification and for the creation of new activities in all sectors. Tunisia was among the first African countries which make ICTs a key element in its national strategy. Tunisia occupies the first rank in Africa and 38th out of a total of 134 countries in integrating ICTs in development. TheRead MoreThe Population s Aging Impact On Health Systems, Economies And Future Societies1583 Words   |  7 Pagessocieties.2 In addition, the aging of the population coincides with the technological revolution that has redefined our lives today and is transforming our society. Both phenomena are listed as key issues on the agendas of developed countries. In fact, ICTs are being considered as effective and â€Å"sustainable† solutions to the health and social well-being demands produced by the change in the demographic distribution.3 During a period in life when functional decline is present, having access to the digitalRead MoreInformation And Communication Technologies ( Ict )1722 Words   |  7 PagesOffice, 2008). Information and communication Technologies (ICT) has the potential to greatly increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the health sector by assisting healthcare providers with managing information. It also has the potential to lead to better cost-efficiency in the health sector. ICT can play a critical role in improving health care for individuals and communities. It can also transform informal regulation by providing people with the knowledge they require to challenge existing practices

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Essay On American History - 740 Words

American History: Our Hope for the Future As I peer out the bus window I am amazed by the sight. A large, oval shaped setup outlined with high cement pillars representing every state and territory who participated. As I get off the bus and get a closer look I notice wreaths stationed at both the Pacific and Atlantic sides, connecting everything in a form of celebration. In the center, water dances up into the sky and trickles back into the pool, ready to go again. Old Glory can be seen greeting me to this happy place. I walk around to each pillar, in awe at its greatness. A strong sense of pride is sent throughout my body as I catch a glance at my home state. I think to myself â€Å"I am a part of this†¦Ã¢â‚¬  As I make my way around, along the†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"I didn’t fight.† He told me bluntly after a few moments. I didnt press any further. To finish my project I asked my great uncle, who fought in combat. He informed me that my grandpa had to help clean up the concentration camps a nd battlefields after the war had concluded. No wonder he didn’t want to talk about it. As I walk my way through the museum, I cannot bring myself to speak. I read every board, poster, and analyzed every picture. Soon I made my way around a corner and a room could be seen up ahead. As I step into the room, it find it hard to take breaths. On both sides of the walk are shoes of the murdered. I couldn’t believe the sight, the smell, or the vibe of the room. I smelled death, despair, sadness, and burning. I felt terrified. The Holocaust museum made a lasting impact on me. If a memorial could affect me in such a way, I cannot even start to imagine what my grandfather had to go through. War can cause great destruction to those involved directly, indirectly, and even many decades later. The history my grandfather faced not only impacted his future, but mine as well. I may never get to know what my grandfather experienced. The sad truth strikes me that he will not be around for much longer to tell his tale. These veterans suffer from many mental disorders that affect their everyday lives. Some are noticeable to others, while others are silent. TheseShow MoreRelatedAmerican History Essays1013 Words   |  5 PagesAmerican History It is important to be proud of who you are and where you have come from. After watching the film American History X, whites are far from proud. We are ashamed to admit that people just like us can act in such a horrible and disillusioned way toward those that are different. As you watch, you see scenes of brutal violence, hear songs of hate and feel the pain of all involved. These acts show the viewers how easily young minds can be influenced to believe anything. TeachersRead MoreEssay On American History817 Words   |  4 Pages American History: Our Hope for the Future Take yourself back in time. You dare to lurk in a year, plagued by tyranny. It is you who ponder the overheard words, â€Å"I wish nothing but good; therefor, everyone who does not agree with me is a traitor and a scoundrel.† The lack of representation in parliament, unjust taxes and enforced intolerable acts, are secretly conferred, as you listen from the shadows of the British Empire. Silently you watch, as the Crown is assaulted with defiance as her colonistsRead MoreAmerican History Essay1026 Words   |  5 PagesThe early stages of The United States of America behold some of the most important moments in North American history. The Colonial Era of our sovereign nation illustrates the virtues that embody the American spirit: diligence, resilience, courage, and bravery. It’s the epic chronicle of an impossible battle won by ordinary men, men who risked life and limb to ensure that their families would see the light of the next day. It’s such men that I want t o analyze, their principals, their beliefs, theirRead MoreAmerican History Essay938 Words   |  4 Pagesmigrants left Asia going to North America some 30,000 years ago. This was based on the â€Å"analysis of the genetic drift of Siberian and American Indian populations. It was believed that North American and Asia were connected by what geologist call Beringa. The hypothesis is that around 13,000 BCE there was a warming that melted glaciers that created the Pan American Highway, â€Å"along the eastern front range of the Rocky Mountains† (Faragher, Buhle, Czitrom, Armitage, 2009, p. 4). Using this accessRead MoreEssay On American History714 Words   |  3 PagesAmerican History: Our Hope for the Future Broken glass cracks under boot clad feet, as a clean up crews begin their work on the devastating scene of shattered windows, graffiti ridden walls, and charred buildings and bushes. The view wears evidence of chaos as a diamond necklace, adorned for the world to see. The night before, riots raged, with hatred as its driving fuel. Fires blazed, rocks were thrown through windows and doors, fists flew, and barriers were strewn throughout grass lawns, havingRead MoreEssay On American History740 Words   |  3 PagesAmerican History: Hope for the Future I once read the following story: As a man was passing by a group of elephants, he noticed that these massive creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. Moreover, a passerby would note it obvious that the elephants could break away from their bonds at any time, but for an unknown reason, they did not. Attracting a nearby trainers attention, he queried, â€Å"Why don’t these animals attempt to escape?† â€Å"Well,† the trainer replied, â€Å"whenRead MoreEssay on American History 1411 Words   |  6 PagesFrom 1754 to 1763, the French and Indian War cost Britain greatly. Feeling that the colonists benefitted the most from this war, Britain decided to tax the thirteen colonies to help pay for it. After all, the war provided the colonists with greater protection from the natives, and now had more land that had been conquered from France. Colonists in the early 1700’s were English subjects. As Englishmen, they were entitled to ce rtain rights. One of these rights was there was to be â€Å"no taxation withoutRead MoreEssay Interpretations of American History600 Words   |  3 PagesInterpretations of American History The world is full of rich culture, diversity and experiences unique to each individual. When determining the validity of historic accounts we must factor in that particular historian’s point of view, which should be characterized by ethnicity, idealogy, theoretical or methodological preference. With these factors views of the past often vary from person to person. In this essay I will be discussing the four different stages that shaped the writing of American history over theRead MoreAmerican History Essay1869 Words   |  8 PagesUnited States, 2006: a nation with a history of a mere 230 years, yet it stands as one of the most powerful nations in the world. Yet many of us know little about the history and cultural changes that led to the birth of this nation. We only know the bits and pieces that are taught as we sit daydreaming in our fifth grade classroom. The Puritans, the Pilgrims, Christopher Columbus, the Mayflower, we know about these people and things, yet what aspec ts of their lives created the change in AmericaRead MoreHistory of American Journalism Essay1148 Words   |  5 PagesHumans, it seems, have an innate need to feel connected on a global level with one another. Our history as a civilization shows the importance that we have placed on sending and retrieving the latest news so that we may be ever informed on the happenings of the world. Beginning at first with the sending of messages of news to each other through conversations to the press explosion that Gutenberg set off with the invention of his printing press, people remained connected. The idea of public in the

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Abnormal Psychology and Therapy free essay sample

Teresa Neal Abnormal Psychology and Therapy Paper In a world where nothing seems to be considered normal anymore, psychology tries to draw the line between what it is and what is not. The different schools of thought have their own perspective on the definition, origin, and treatment of abnormal behavior and this paper will cover a few, trying to make it possible to have a clear difference between normal and abnormal psychology. Normal and Abnormal Psychology Specifically defining behavior as normal or abnormal is a contentious issue in abnormal psychology. To try to distinguish between normal psychology and abnormal psychology, psychologists use three criteria; whatever is infrequent, maladaptive, and deviant from the cultural norm, falls under the category of abnormal behavior (Spoor, 1999). Mental health, also known as normal psychology, and mental illnesses and disorders, also known as abnormal psychology, have been defined in many ways, but should always be viewed in the context of ethnocultural factors and influence because what is considered normal in some environments may be considered abnormal in others. A person with a normal behavior and mental processes has the ability to adapt and cope with adversity, has a correct perception of reality, accepts self, avoids harm, and experiences continual psychological growth and development (Kowalski Westen, 2009). Abnormal psychology, on the other hand, is characterized by unusual patterns that some people might show in their behavior, thought process, and expression of emotion, patterns that are associated with distress or disability and can cause harm and an unreasonable response to a particular situation.Mental Disorders Daily functions such as the ability to think, read, remember, plan, and understand rely on an individuals cognitive skills (Medalia Revheim, 2002). Cognitive disorders are disorders of thinking or memory that signify an evident change from the personal former level of functioning. In certain situations the exact origin of the disorder can be identified, other cases the cause is unclear. Even though these disorders are biologically founded, the environment and psychological factors play significant roles in shaping the effect and extent of disabling symptoms in addition to the personal capacity to deal with them. (Nevid, et a. 2008). The most common cognitive disorders are amnestic, delirium, and dementia disorders. Amnestic disorders are a cognitive impairment relating a failure to develop new memories and the failure to remember old memories.Delirium is a severe, and reversible state of mental disorder, which involves confusion, and the lack of ability to focus on information or the surrounding environment. Individuals that suffer from delirium may suffer frightening hallucinations, particularly visual hallucinations. The loss of memory and understanding usually associated with behavior and personality changes describes dementia disorders. Different forms of dementia exist, depending on the cause; therefore; some types of dementia may be reversed with treatment.For example; those cases that are caused by brain tumors. Dementia caused by the disease Alzheimer’s cannot be reversed (Nevid, et al. 2008). On a personal note; these patients are difficult, they have to watch be continually as they can do harm to themselves and others. Mental Illnesses Although diagnoses of ADHD are based on behavioral symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity, evidence suggests that children with ADHD also show important cognitive weaknesses in areas that are necessary to daily functioning at home work and school. Particularly research studies indicate that children with ADHD often have problems in; Executive functions (for example, planning a project, keeping attentive to a task, ignoring irrelevant information) Working memory (which is often considered an executive function) speed of information processing (children with ADHD process information more slowly than their peers) Many of these cognitive processes are often interrelated. For example problems in working memory can negatively affect other executive functions, or slow processing speed may lower an individual’s ability to recall and organize information. ttp://www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/pubmed/15499890 From the cognitive perspective, theorists suggest that a person diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorders suffer from impaired information-processing. The impairment is present in defined categories and boundaries that are maladaptive and result in an over-structuring of input but there is no evidence to show that this is the cause, rather than a consequence of OCD symptoms. Another cognitive theory suggests that OCD fear structures are especially various and a large number of stimuli can become associated with threat or danger.Passive avoidance of such a large number of stimulus associations can be extremely difficult and compulsions become necessary for the individual to feel safe. Although cognitive theories do provide insight into the outward aspect of OCD, they fail to clearly define how and why OCD and this cognitive impairment can arise. Similarities between the Schools of Thought There are quite a few similarities between the different schools of thought in treating mental disorders.All but the Psychodynamic therapies are short term usually lasting a year or less and most all therapies have the client or patient facing the therapist and are conversational. All therapies also look to help the client or patient change behaviors or thought patterns that are causing problems of one kind or another. Cognitive-Behavioral therapies help patients with behavior and cognitive problems. The therapist helps the patient focus on the problematic behavior and helps him or her find ways in which to address these behaviors and learn skills to change them.These therapies use a variety of techniques to help patients with phobias, social skills, accomplishing goals, anxiety disorders, and the like. Psychodynamic therapies both examine the patient’s thought patterns to get to the bottom of the undesired behavior or emotional responses. Humanistic therapies including Gestalt and Client-Centered therapies focus on the patient’s feelings and to experience themselves as they really are. Family, Marital, and Group therapies use group communication either one- on-one or in a group to help with problematic relationships and behaviors.Self-help groups are another type of group therapy that aims to help people either cope with undesired behavior, loss of a loved one, addictions, and disea se. [ (Kowalski, 2009) ] The common thread here with most therapies, the approach is a warm relationship with the therapist who shows empathy for the patient or client and giving him or her hope or efficacy in coping with their problem [ (Kowalski, 2009) ] Differences between the Schools of Thought While each school of thought has common factors in treatment methods, each school has developed different ways of addressing psychological problem.For instance, Psychodynamic therapies rely on two principles: the role of insight and the role of the therapist-patient relationship (Kowalski Western, 2009). It is believed that in order for therapeutic change to occur, a person must understand his or her own psychological processes. When in therapy it is one on one; the patient is either face to face with the therapist or lying on a couch with the therapist sitting behind them. Psychodynamic therapy emphasizes the notion that the patients problems stemmed from childhood.These problems follow the child into adulthood causing a conflict within new relationships. This transfer of emotion from past experiences is called transference, one of the techniques psychotherapies rely on. The two main treatments, psychoanalysis and psychodynamic psychotherapy, are a long term process that focuses on developing awareness of these unconscious feelings. Psychodynamic therapy, like psychoanalysis, consists of three days a week over a long period of time. It is considered that patients who meet at least twice weekly benefit more than those who do not.Unlike psychodynamic therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy focuses on the person’s life as it is now; the current and conscious thought patterns and behavior. They are not concerned with exploring and altering underlying personality patterns or unconscious processes (Kowalski Western,  2009). The focus is on the present feelings and not the childhood experiences. Cognitive-based therapies are relatively short term and direct. Specific recommendations are made to bring about change in behavior.The sessions are well structured with questioning, and the patient usually is sent home with an assignment (Mote, 2011). While most cognitive behavioral techniques try to alter behavior, such as classical conditioning, cognitive therapy focuses on changing dysfunctional cognitions (Kowalski Western, 2009). These behaviors are automatic, and not unconscious. Therapy is a process of identifying and altering these automatic thoughts. Cognitive therapy techniques such as rational-emotional behavior therapy recognize the behaviors and works to mediate between the activating conditions and the emotional reactions.As each of the other therapies are more therapist-patient, Humanistic therapies focus on the world of the patient and qualities that make him or her unique (Mote, 2011). The therapy techniques that are used, Gestalt therapy and Roger’s client centered therapy, are primarily based on becoming aware of one’s own emotions, values, and motivations to bring about change. With group therapy, the individuals are concentrated on the individual dynamics and their reactions in the group process. Family therapy is centered on the structure of the family, and the main roots of conflict in family interaction.

Friday, April 10, 2020

Lau-Tzu Essays - Drinkware, Pitcher, Jug, Ewers,

Lau-Tzu We turn clay to make a vessel; But it is on the space where there is nothing That the utility of the vessel depends. Lao-Tzu 1 When we fill the jug, the pouring that fills it flows into the empty jug. The emptiness, the void, is what does the vessel's holding. The empty space, this nothing of the jug, is what the jug is as the holding vessel. . . . From start to finish the potter takes hold of the impalpable void and brings it forth as the container in the shape of the containing vessel. Martin Heidegger 2 These twenty six ewers by Peter Beasecker are a sustained meditation and inquiry within the medium of their facture on the form of the ewer. This also is a meditation and an inquiry on the form of the ewer, in another medium. The dialectical oppositions engaged by contemporary clay works--craft and art traditions, utilitarian and aesthetic objects, active use and contemplative regard, vessel and sculpture, surface and form, decoration and depth, concept and process--ramify in both the medium of their facture and the medium of this discourse. In both work in clay and in discursive engagement of those works, these terms deeply implicate their opposites. Form is a matter not simply of shape, but of the structure of the ewer as such, the necessary conditions of ewer-ness, a particular case of the vessel-form. The vessel-form, as Heidegger notes, can be as quotidian as a jug for holding something: The jug is a thing as a vessel--it can hold something. To be sure, this container has to be made. But its being made by the potter in no way constitutes what is peculiar and proper to the jug insofar as it is qua jug. The jug is not a vessel because it was made; rather, the jug had to be made because it is this holding vessel. 3 The jug is, and is thus a thing. The holdingness of the jug is its whatness, constituting the jug as a vessel. The particularities of its vesselness constitute the vessel as a ewer, and indeed as this ewer, with these characteristics. Juxtaposing several things together is to invite their comparison. Beasecker's ewers arrayed on shelves manifest their similarities and differences, eliciting comparison. Each of these ewers is a token within the type 'ewer'. The type is the universal, the class of things; the token is the particular instance, a member of the class. 4 Members of the class 'ewer' notwithstanding, each of these works is an individual, in a sense analogous to the application of the term to persons. The indiviudality of these pieces extends beyond the status of all artworks as quasi subjects:5 it is manifested by the inflections of form, evoking resonance with the gesture of the body. Variations within a type, these works are also variations from the type 'ewer' and variations on the type 'vessel'. Consequently, this essay is of necessity an exercise in interpreting the variorum. 6 The traditional type ewer is a wide-mouthed pitcher or jug, typically with a narrow neck, more or less bulbous body tapering and then swelling intto a relatively wide flairing foot. As the derivation of ewer from aquaria suggests, the ewer is traditionally a vessel for bring and pouring water for hand washing. 7 The general form of the ewer is similar to the classical Greek oinochoe, wine jug. Beasecker's interpretations of the ewer-form maintain the neck of the ewer, which in Beasecker's pieces assumes the function of an absent handle. Beasecker's pieces exchange the wide mouth, extended into a lip for pouring, of the traditional ewer-type for a thin, attenuated spout, emerging not as a modification of the mouth opening from a neck but rather extending directly from the body of the vessel. Freed of the necessity of pouring, the mouth can assume any of several shapes, suitable for filling the vessel; relative to the spout, the mouth is proportionately large. The result of this seperation and concomittant specialization of function is a vessel quicker to fill than to empty. This potential for relative ease of filling in comparison to slowness of pouring out emphasizes the function of the vessel as container, holder of liquid. To receive, to hold, and to pour out slowly is to concentrate attention on these functions. That which performs these several functions is a thing, a type of thing termed vessel. But any number of variations,

Monday, March 9, 2020

Wars in the Former Yugoslavia

Wars in the Former Yugoslavia In the early 1990s, the Balkan country of Yugoslavia fell apart in a series of wars which saw ethnic cleansing and genocide return to Europe. The driving force was not age-old ethnic tensions (as the Serb side liked to proclaim), but distinctly modern nationalism, fanned by the media and driven by politicians. As Yugoslavia collapsed, majority ethnicities pushed for independence. These nationalist governments ignored their minorities or actively persecuted them, forcing them out of jobs. As propaganda made these minorities paranoid, they  armed themselves and smaller actions degenerated into a bloody set of wars. While the situation was rarely as clear as Serb versus Croat versus Muslim, many small civil wars erupted over decades of rivalry and those key patterns existed. Context: Yugoslavia and the Fall of Communism The Balkans had been the site of conflict between the Austrian and Ottoman Empires for centuries before both collapsed during World War I. The peace conference which redrew the maps of Europe created the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes out of territory in the area, pushing together groups of people who soon quarreled about how they wished to be governed. A strictly centralized state formed, but opposition continued, and in 1929 the king dismissed representative government- after the Croat leader was shot while at parliament- and began to rule as a monarchical dictator. The kingdom was renamed Yugoslavia, and the new government purposefully ignored the existing and traditional regions and peoples. In 1941, as World War II spread over the continent, Axis soldiers invaded. During the course of the war in Yugoslavia- which had turned from a war against the Nazis and their allies to a messy civil war complete with ethnic cleansing- communist partisans rose to prominence. When liberation was achieved it was the communists who took power under their leader, Josip Tito. The old kingdom was now replaced by a federation of supposedly six equal republics, which included Croatia, Serbia, and Bosnia, and two autonomous regions, including Kosovo. Tito kept this nation together partly by sheer force of will and a communist party which cut across ethnic boundaries, and, as the USSR broke with Yugoslavia, the latter took its own path. As Tito’s rule continued, ever more power filtered down, leaving just the Communist Party, the army, and Tito to hold it together. However, after Tito died, the different wishes of the six republics began to pull Yugoslavia apart, a situation exacerbated by the collapse of the USSR in the late 1980s, leaving just a Serb-dominated army. Without their old leader, and with the new possibilities of free elections and self-representation, Yugoslavia divided. The Rise of Serbian Nationalism Arguments began over centralism with a strong central government, versus federalism with the six republics having greater powers. Nationalism emerged, with people pushing for splitting Yugoslavia up or forcing it together under Serb domination. In 1986, the Serbian Academy of Sciences issued a Memorandum which became a focal point for Serb nationalism by reviving ideas of a Greater Serbia. The Memorandum claimed Tito, a Croat/Slovene, had deliberately tried to weaken Serb areas, which some people believed, as it explained why they were doing relatively poorly economically compared to the northern regions of Slovenia and Croatia. The Memorandum also claimed Kosovo had to remain Serbian, despite a 90 percent Albanian population, because of the importance to Serbia of a 14th century battle in that region. It was a conspiracy theory that twisted history, given weight by respected authors, and a Serb media which claimed Albanians were trying to rape and kill their way to genocide. They we ren’t. Tensions between Albanians and local Serbs exploded and the region began to fragment. In 1987, Slobodan Milosevic was a low-key but powerful bureaucrat who, thanks to the major support of Ivan Stambolic (who had risen to be Serbia’s Prime Minister) was able to leverage his position into an almost Stalin-like seizure of power in the Serb Communist Party by filling job after job with his own supporters. Until 1987 Milosevic was often portrayed as a dim-witted Stambolic lackey, but that year he was in the right place at the right time in Kosovo to make a televised speech in which he effectively seized control of the Serbian nationalism movement and then consolidated his part by seizing control of the Serbian communist party in a battle waged in the media. Having won and purged the party, Milosevic turned the Serb media into a propaganda machine which brainwashed many into paranoid nationalism. Milosevic than gained Serb ascendance over Kosovo, Montenegro, and Vojvodina, securing nationalist Serb power in four of the region’s units; the Yugoslav government c ould not resist. Slovenia now feared a Greater Serbia and set themselves up as the opposition, so the Serb media turned its attack onto Slovenes. Milosevic then started a boycott of Slovenia. With one eye on Milosevic’s human rights abuses in Kosovo, the Slovenes began to believe the future was out of Yugoslavia and away from Milosevic. In 1990, with Communism collapsing in Russia and across Eastern Europe, the Yugoslavia Communist Congress fragmented along nationalist lines, with Croatia and Slovenia quitting and holding multi-party elections in response to Milosevic trying to use it to centralize Yugoslav’s remaining power in Serb hands. Milosevic was then elected President of Serbia, thanks in part to removing $1.8 billion from the federal bank to use as subsidies. Milosevic now appealed to all Serbs, whether they were in Serbia or not, supported by a new Serb constitution which claimed to represent Serbs in other Yugoslav nations. The Wars for Slovenia and Croatia With the collapse of the communist dictatorships in the late 1980s, the Slovenian and Croatian regions of Yugoslavia held free, multi-party elections. The victor in Croatia was the Croatian Democratic Union, a right-wing party. The fears of the Serb minority were fuelled by claims from within the remainder of Yugoslavia that the CDU planned a return to the anti-Serb hatred of World War II. As the CDU had taken power partly as a nationalistic response to Serbian propaganda and actions, they were easily cast as the Ustasha reborn, especially as they began to force Serbs out of jobs and positions of power. The Serb-dominated region of Knin- vital for the much needed Croatian tourism industry- then declared itself a sovereign nation, and a spiral of terrorism and violence began between Croatian Serbs and Croats. Just as the Croats were accused of being Ustaha, so the Serbs were accused of being Chetniks. Slovenia held a plebiscite for independence, which passed due to large fears over Serb domination and Milosevics actions in Kosovo, and both Slovenia and Croatia began arming local military and paramilitaries. Slovenia declared independence on June 25, 1991, and the JNA (Yugoslavia’s Army, under Serbian control, but concerned whether their pay and benefits would survive the division into smaller states) was ordered in to hold Yugoslavia together. Slovenia’s independence was aimed more at breaking from Milosevic’s Greater Serbia than from the Yugoslav ideal, but once the JNA went in, full independence was the only option. Slovenia had prepared for a short conflict, managing to keep some of their weapons when the JNA had disarmed Slovenia and Croatia,  and hoped that the JNA would soon get distracted by wars elsewhere. In the end, the JNA was defeated in 10 days, partly because there were few Serbs in the region for it to stay and fight to protect. When Croatia also declared independence on June 25, 1991, following a Serb seizure of Yugoslavia’s presidency, clashes between Serbs and Croatians increased. Milosevic and the JNA used this as a reason to invade Croatia to try to protect the Serbs. This action was encouraged by the U.S. Secretary of State who told Milosevic that the U.S. would not recognize Slovenia and Croatia, giving the Serb leader the impression he had a free hand. A short war followed, where around a third of Croatia was occupied. The UN then acted, offering foreign troops to try and halt the warfare (in the form of UNPROFOR) and bring peace and demilitarization to the disputed areas. This was accepted by the Serbs because they’d already conquered what they wanted and forced other ethnicities out, and they wanted to use the peace to focus on other areas. The international community recognized Croatian independence in 1992, but areas remained occupied by the Serbs and protected by the UN. Before these could be reclaimed, the conflict in Yugoslavia spread because both Serbia and Croatia wanted to break up Bosnia between them. In 1995 Croatia’s government won back control of western Slavonia and central Croatia from the Serbs in Operation Storm, thanks in part to U.S. training and U.S. mercenaries; there was counter ethnic cleansing, and the Serb population fled. In 1996 pressure on Serbian president Slobodan Milosevic forced him to surrender eastern Slavonia and pull out his troops, and Croatia finally won back this region in 1998. UN Peacekeepers only left in 2002. The War for Bosnia After WWII, the Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina became part of Yugoslavia, populated by a mixture of Serbs, Croats, and Muslims, the latter being recognized in 1971 as a class of ethnic identity. When a census was taken in the aftermath of the collapse of Communism, Muslims comprised 44 percent of the population, with 32 percent Serbs and fewer Croats. The free elections held then produced political parties with corresponding sizes, and a three-way coalition of nationalist parties. However, the Bosnian Serb party- pushed by Milosevic- agitated for more. In 1991 they declared the Serb Autonomous Regions and a national assembly for Bosnian Serbs only, with supplies coming from Serbia and the former Yugoslavian military. The Bosnian Croats responded by declaring their own power blocs. When Croatia was recognized by the international community as independent, Bosnia held its own referendum. Despite Bosnian-Serbian disruptions, a massive majority voted for independence, declared on March 3, 1992. This left a large Serb minority which, fuelled by Milosevic’s propaganda, felt threatened and ignored and wanted to join with Serbia. They had been armed by Milosevic, and would not go quietly. Initiatives by foreign diplomats to peacefully break Bosnia into three areas, defined by the ethnicity of the locals, failed as fighting broke out. War spread throughout Bosnia as Bosnian Serb paramilitaries attacked Muslim towns and executed people en masse to force the populations out, to try and create a united land filled with Serbs. The Bosnian Serbs were led by Radovan Karadzic, but criminals soon formed gangs and took their own bloody routes. The term ethnic cleansing was used to describe their actions. Those who weren’t killed or had not fled were put into detention camps and mistreated further. Shortly after, two-thirds of Bosnia came under the control of forces commanded from Serbia. After setbacks- an international arms embargo which favored the Serbs, a conflict with Croatia which saw them ethnically cleanse too (such as at Ahmici)- the Croats and Muslims agreed  to a federation. They fought the Serbs to a standstill and then took back their  land. During this period, the U.N. refused to play any direct role despite evidence of genocide, preferring to provide humanitarian aid (which undoubtedly saved lives, but did not tackle the cause of the problem), a no-fly  zone, sponsoring safe areas, and promoting discussions such as the Vance-Owen Peace Plan. The latter has been much criticized as pro-Serb  but did involve them handing some conquered land back. It was scuppered by the international community. However, in 1995 NATO attacked Serbian forces after they ignored the U.N. This was thanks in no small part to one man, General Leighton W. Smith Jr., who was in charge in the area, although their effectiveness is debated. Peace talks- previously rejected by the Serbs but now accepted by a Milosevic who was turning against the Bosnian Serbs and their exposed weaknesses- produced the Dayton Agreement after the place of its negotiation in Ohio. This produced The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina between Croats and Muslims, with 51 percent of the land, and a Bosnian Serb republic with 49 percent of the land. A 60,000 man international peacekeeping force was sent in (IFOR). No one was happy: no Greater Serbia, no Greater Croatia, and a devastated Bosnia-Hercegovina moving towards partition, with huge areas politically dominated by Croatia and Serbia. There had been millions of refugees, perhaps half of the Bosnian population. In Bosnia, elections in 1996 elected another triple government. The War for Kosovo By the end of the 1980s, Kosovo was a supposedly autonomous area within Serbia, with a 90 percent Albanian population. Because of the region’s religion and history- Kosovo was the location of a battle key in Serbian folklore and of some importance to Serbia’s actual history- many nationalist Serbs began to demand, not just control of the region but a resettlement program to oust the Albanians permanently. Slobodan Milosevic canceled Kosovar autonomy in 1988–1989, and Albanians retaliated with strikes and protests. A leadership emerged in the intellectual Democratic League of Kosovo, which aimed at pushing as far as they could towards independence without getting into a war with Serbia. A referendum called for independence, and newly autonomous structures were created within Kosovo itself. Given that Kosovo was poor and unarmed, this stance proved popular, and amazingly the region passed through the bitter Balkan wars of the early 1990s mostly unscathed. With ‘peace’, Kosovo was ignored by the negotiators and found itself still in Serbia. For many, the way the region had been sidelined and lumped into Serbia by the West suggested that peaceful protest wasn’t enough. A militant arm, which had emerged in 1993 and produced the Kosovan Liberation Army (KLA), now grew stronger and was bankrolled by those Kosovars who worked abroad and could provide foreign capital. The KLA committed their first major actions in 1996, and a cycle of terrorism and counter-attack flared up between Kosovars and Serbs. As the situation worsened and Serbia refused diplomatic initiatives from the West, NATO decided it could intervene, especially after Serbs massacred 45 Albanian villagers in a highly publicized incident. A last-ditch attempt at finding peace diplomatically- which has also been accused of simply being a Western sideshow to establish clear good and bad sides- led the Kosovar contingent to accept terms but the Serbs to reject it, thus allowing the West to portray the Serbs as at fault. There thus began on March 24 a very new type of war, one which lasted until June 10 but which was conducted entirely from the NATO end by airpower. Eight hundred thousand people fled their homes, and NATO failed to work with the KLA to coordinate things on the ground. This air war progressed ineffectually for NATO until they finally accepted that they would need ground troops, and went about getting them ready- and until Russia agreed to force Serbia to concede. Quite which one of these was the most important is still up for debate. Serbia was to pull all its troops and police (who were largely Serb) out of Kosovo, and the KLA was to disarm. A force of peacekeepers dubbed KFOR would police the region, which was to have full autonomy inside Serbia. The Myths of Bosnia There is a myth, widely spread during the wars of the former Yugoslavia and still around now, that Bosnia was a modern creation with no history, and that fighting for it was wrong (in as much as the western and international powers did fight for it). Bosnia was a medieval kingdom under a monarchy founded in the 13th century. It survived until the Ottomans conquered it in the 15th century. Its boundaries remained among the most consistent of the Yugoslavian states as administrative regions of the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian empires. Bosnia did have a history, but what it lacked was an ethnic or religious majority. Instead, it was a multi-cultural and relatively peaceful state. Bosnia was not torn apart by millennia-old religious or ethnic conflict, but by politics and modern tensions. Western bodies believed the myths (many spread by Serbia) and abandoned many in Bosnia to their fate. Western Lack of Intervention The wars in the former Yugoslavia could have proved even more embarrassing for  NATO, the UN, and the leading western nations like the U.K., U.S., and France, had the media chosen to report it as such. Atrocities were reported in 1992, but peacekeeping forces- which were undersupplied and given no powers- as well as a no-fly zone and an arms embargo which favored the Serbs, did little to stop the war or the genocide. In one dark incident, 7,000 males were killed in Srebrenica as UN Peacekeepers looked on unable to act. Western views on the wars were too often based on misreadings of ethnic tensions and Serbian propaganda. Conclusion The wars in the former Yugoslavia appear to be over for now. Nobody won, as the result was a redrawing of the ethnic map through fear and violence. All peoples- Croat, Muslim, Serb and others- saw centuries-old communities permanently erased through murder and the threat of murder, leading to states which were more ethnically homogenous but tainted by guilt. This may have pleased top players like Croat leader Tudjman, but it destroyed hundreds of thousands of lives. All 161 people charged by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia for  war crimes  have now been arrested.