Piagets Quote in Relation to Adult Learning

Introduction This paper analyzes Piaget’s Theory of Learning in the context that the main purpose of learning is to produce persons with the ability to invent and not simply re-create what others have done. The paper also discusses the need for learning objectives and the controversy surrounding the same.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Piaget’s Quote in Relation to Adult Learning specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Finally, it explores the usefulness of teaching through inquiry and teaching through modeling in the learning environment. Theory on Adult Learning There are various concepts and/or theories which can be used to contextualize Piaget’s argument in relation to adult learning. The ones discussed in this paper include the Holistic Model, the Elemental Model, and Thorndike’s Theory. The Holistic Model advocates for learning that is transformative, meaningful and that has an orientation of helping the community. People are able to see things differently after going through education. They see things in terms of how they affect society. Hence, education enlightens them on how to deal with emerging issues in the society (Knowles, Holton Swanson, 2012). An adult learner is a person who is very ready to go through the learning process, having seen the need to have education. According to Thorndike, it is satisfactory to engage in learning when one is ready and willing to do so (Fiske, 2013). An adult learner also appreciates the outcomes of education, and this stimulates him or her to go through it regardless of the hardship that may be experienced. Thorndike argues that a stimulus which causes a good response is more likely to be repeated while one that causes a disgusting response tends to diminish (Fiske, 2013). The Elemental Model suggests that stimuli are groups of elements and generalizations shared by stimuli with similar elements. This model is a discrimination theory that examines how learners discriminate stimuli with common features.Advertising Looking for critical writing on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More An adult learner discriminates elements better than a younger learner. This is due to background knowledge that serves as training or a conditioning. As Knowles, Holton and Swanson (2012) put it, the adult learner can easily draw more correct associations as compared to a younger learner. Knowles et al. (2012) support most of these arguments. They argue that an adult is self-directed, experienced and uses his/her experience as a resource for learning and is ready to learn. Accordingly, his/her learning orientation is not subject-centered, but problem-centered. The need for Learning Objectives Scholars have given different views about learning objectives. Some argue in support of these objectives while others argue against them. According to Knowles et al. (2012), those in support of the need for learning objectives insist that they are like a covenant between the learners and their teachers. Learning objectives compel teachers to ensure that learners acquire certain behaviors and attitudes by the end of the learning session. Therefore, the teacher has the responsibility of ensuring that learners acquire those attitudes and behaviors. Scholars also argue that having these objectives helps the teacher to prepare well before going to class and hence improves content delivery. Teachers can also monitor the effectiveness of their teaching methods and possibly decide on how to improve them (Knowles, Holton Swanson, 2012).Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Piaget’s Quote in Relation to Adult Learning specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Scholars who argue against learning objectives, on the other hand, say that these objectives limit the scope of the learning process. Consequently, learning objectives leave out other important elements. These scholars also assert that teaching is not acquisition. They argue that teachers might teach, but learners might not acquire knowledge and skills due to factors like learner’s background knowledge, relevance of content and the teacher’s skills (Knowles, Holton Swanson, 2012). Teaching Through Inquiry Versus Teaching Through Modeling Inquiry is a method that allows learners’ inquisitiveness to control the direction of the learning process. Learners make discoveries by themselves, and the teacher learns with them. Students learn how to solve problems on their own. They make observations, analyze information which they collect, synthesize this information and later make conclusions. In the process, they develop problem solving skills applicable to future needs (Warner Myers, 2011). This method is good and very relevant in the modern world which requires problem solving s kills rather than memorization of facts. Skills for solving problems are, therefore, more important than memorization of facts, because facts change over time. The best way of equipping learners with these skills is by letting them participate as opposed to being passive during the learning process (Warner Myers, 2011). Learning through modeling, on the other hand, is a method where the teacher is a model (Instructional Strategies: Modeling, 2012). The teacher uses multi-sensory techniques in describing the required skills. They also check learners’ understanding through questions.Advertising Looking for critical writing on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This method is effective in the learning process since teachers serving as models clarify concepts and make them learnable. Learners can also easily make meaningful cognitive connections due to high levels of teacher’s support and guidance. The multi-sensory technique used by teachers provides learners who have problems related to attention, processing information, retrieving information from the memory among other difficulties with more options of dealing with such problems so that they do not hinder learning. The Behavioral Theory and Adult Learning The behavioral Theory asserts that people acquire behaviors from their environment and the society around them through conditioning. Proponents of this theory believe that anybody can be trained to be whoever he wishes to be. According to them, behaviors can be measured, conditioned and altered (Fiske, 2013). Adults, therefore, can also be trained to be anything they wish. Just like it is in the case with Thorndike’s Theo ry, adults know very well that it is rewarding to be educated (Fiske, 2013). They know that one gets a good life and knowledge after going through education. The good life is, therefore, the stimulus that causes a response, seeking education. These adult learners also know that lack of education is unrewarding and will tend to avoid it. There is no need of using punishment and reinforcement like those used on young learners, because adults are so willing to learn and they have their own intrinsic reinforcements and punishments (Parker, 2010). Conclusion It is true that learning should produce men who can create rather than re-create. The Holistic Model suggests that education enlightens adult learners on how to deal with emerging issues in the society. It is satisfactory to engage in learning when one is ready and willing to do so. The Elemental Model proposes that an adult learner discriminates elements better than a younger learner due to background knowledge that serves as traini ng or a conditioning. An adult is self-directed, experienced and uses his experience as a resource for learning and is ready to learn. Scholars have given different views about learning objectives. There are various aspects that distinguish between teaching through inquiry and teaching through modeling. This paper demonstrates that anybody can be trained to be whoever he wishes to be. References Fiske, S. T. (2013). Social Cognition: From Brains to Culture. London: SAGE Publications Ltd. Instructional Strategies: Modeling. (2012). Retrieved from https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/homepage.html Knowles, M. S., Holton III, E. F., Swanson, R. A. (2012). The Adult Learner. London: Routledge Publishers. Parker, J. (2010). Technology as Integral to a New Paradigm of Adult Education. The International Journal of Adult Vocational Education and Technology (IJAVET), 1(2), 10-18. Warner, A.J. Myers, B.E. (2011). Implementing Inquiry-Based Teaching Methods. Web. This critical writing on Piaget’s Quote in Relation to Adult Learning was written and submitted by user Samiyah Suarez to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Relevance of Hierarchy

Relevance of Hierarchy Introduction Contemporary organisations exist in a highly dynamic climate in which high employee turnover, changing market demands and cut throat-competition are a reality. These forces are incompatible with a system in which enforcement of the status quo is the key objective.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Relevance of Hierarchy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Hierarchy is one such system, and it constrains an organisation’s response to its internal and external environment. The essay will focus on how hierarchy makes organisations uncompetitive in the wake of the modern business environment. It will look at factors that mediate poor results and the consequences of those factors. The irrelevance of hierarchy in organisations of today Hierarchical organisations presuppose that an individual has absolute authority. However, the logic of such an assumption is questionable in modern organisations. Companie s today have complex ownership systems that make absolute authority impractical. For instance, one may have two or more partners to consider in decision-making. Partnership structures are especially common in the legal professions, where several individuals have to share authority. Alternatively, an organisation may be publically traded. This implies that hundreds of shareholders could be regarded as the owners of the organisation. Therefore, power must be distributed in these institutions. Absolute authority simply has no place in contemporary businesses because even owners must share power. The modern business environment is becoming highly competitive. Therefore, successful firms must deliver results; businesses that hold workers accountability are the ones that deliver results. For this to happen, companies need to distribute authority on the basis of task accountability rather than arbitrary hierarchic levels. This means that workers need to have substantial control over the wa y they meet organisational objectives. Hierarchy breeds an atmosphere of departmental thinking. Sometimes divisions could develop rivalries that are detrimental to the achievement of organisational objectives. They would use their hierarchical levels to benefit themselves rather than the organisation. In essence, hierarchies create defensive attitudes that destroy the overall well being of organisations (Hales 2002).Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Market demands are changing at lightning speed today. As a result, companies ought to respond to the consumers’ needs quickly. If an organisation possesses a deeply hierarchical system, chances are that it will take too long to communicate these varying market patterns to other members of the organisation. By the time information gets to top management, it may be too late to act. Competitors without tall stru ctures are better-suited to a fast-changing consumer market. In line with the above argument is the resistance to long-term change and innovation. Modern companies become leaders among their peers through constant innovation and change. At a theoretical level, hierarchy entrenches standards and the status quo. In practice, it is increasingly difficult to have a culture of frequent change and innovation if a hierarchical structure is a key trait of the organisation. Bureaucracies often strive to deal with short term problems. They try to eliminate disruptions as much as possible, and management processes mostly focus on efficiency (McSweeney 2006). Contemporary firms do not have the luxury of maintaining the status quo. Businesses like General Motors, Apple, Amazon, and Zara are at the top of their industries because they have entrenched a culture of innovation. Hierarchical firms do not harness new opportunities when they come along because their core goal is to optimise processes. One should note that change is not completely impossible in the hierarchical firm. In fact, statistics indicate that short term changes are quite common in these firms. The major challenge is accommodating long term change. If an organisation plans on altering its product portfolio or redesigning the firm’s strategic model, then chances are that flat structures will provide a favourable environment for the change. Little evidence exists on the ability of hierarchical institutions to allow and facilitate these large-scale changes.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Relevance of Hierarchy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Centralisation has an adverse effect on performance. Experiments covered by Anderson Brown (2010) indicated that groups in which tasks were simple seemed to perform better in hierarchic systems than flat ones. However, those groups where tasks were more complex seemed to work better in flat structures as their performance was quite impressive. They had greater control over decisions and reported fewer errors. 100% of them reported fewer errors, and their solutions came at a 60% faster rate than their decentralised counterparts. It should be noted that the author was talking about experiments in which participants worked in groups. Their interactions mirrored that of real organisations. Nonetheless, other experiments on the effect of hierarchy on performance have demonstrated a positive correlation. However, these studies can be countered on the basis of their research designs. Most of them claimed to simulate hierarchic systems, but they asked the supervisors to encourage participation and keep their opinions to themselves. Clearly, one can question the veracity of such an experiment. Nonetheless, one can still learn a lot from the above experiments, because if tasks are complex, then flat structures work best. The question one must ask is whether organisations of toda y have straightforward or complex tasks. In comparison to firms that existed a century ago, there is no doubt that companies have evolved. They are developing fast and efficient ways of producing. Businesses need to consider a myriad of factors before they complete tasks. As a consequence, most of them would be supported by flat structures in order to increase performance. In non simulated, field environments, studies show that organisations tend to yield better results when they have less hierarchy. Ouchi (2006) looked at school districts in which less hierarchy prevailed and compared them with bureaucratic school districts. He found that the former had better test results. This emanated from the fact that school principals had power to alter test scores. Poor performance in hierarchical firms emanates from pay differentials. CEOs of tall organisations are more likely to exhibit pay differentials between themselves and their employees than those without a hierarchical system. In an attempt to enforce hierarchical systems, organisations often pay senior members of the hierarchy more money than lower level employees.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This disparity creates a negative effect on the entire organisation as low-level employees, who are the majority, develop resentment. Carpenter and Sanders (2002) found that firms where pay differentials were minimal, and in line with their input, had greater returns on assets than their counterparts. If payment were irrelevant to one’s rank and more in line with the complexity of an individual’s task, then chances are that employees will have a positive attitude to the company. Hierarchy undermines this effect by showing that some employees are more valuable than others, regardless of their current input. Absence of hierarchy leads to better performance and even more importantly a greater level of loyalty to the organisation. In terms of employees’ attitudes, research also demonstrates that hierarchy is becoming increasingly irrelevant in most organisations. If an organisation is steep, its employees’ attitudes are likely to be negative. Members’ satisfaction decreases by high percentages when a person changes a corporation from an egalitarian to a centralised one. This comes about due to perceptions that individuals have concerning their self esteem, in relation to the organisation. People tend to be frustrated when they feel that their input does not merit as much weight as other colleagues’ input. The question one must ask is whether employee attitudes are relevant to contemporary businesses. Numerous human resource exist on the relevance of employee attitude in organisations. Researchers found that workers exhibit lower degrees of employee turnover if they have a positive attitude towards their organisations. In this era of high employee turnover, in many retail industries, it is essential to adopt a structure that fosters positive employee attitudes. Therefore, the relevance of hierarchy in this matter is quite questionable. Ranks and other differentiations that are common to hierarchic systems have an adverse ef fect on workers’ motivation. A person occupying a lower rank in the hierarchy will be unmotivated because of three key reasons. First, they will think that their position gives them little to contribute. This causes them to become more passive and eventually less effective. Additionally, their perception of members in the hierarchy increases dramatically. The thought process causes them to infer decisions and actions upon highly-ranked employees in the same manner that children differ contributions to their parents. Locke and Anderson (2010) proved this assertion when they analysed persons in lower ranks in a number of institutions, he found that many of them will do less discussion and decision making in the presence of their superiors. They explained that their behaviour emanated from their impression of their superiors as more intelligent and more competent than they were. Additionally, low-ranking employees may feel like their presence in a group predisposes them to unequ al treatment. Most times, these problems stem from a low ratio of reward to contribution. High-ranking members often take credit for employees’ contributions, and this causes them to lose motivation. Modern organisations are in a place where workers are increasingly aware of their rights and entitlements. They will look for other alternatives if they lack motivation from their workplaces. Consequently, those firms that insist on using hierarchy today will find that their employees are unmotivated and will look for opportunities elsewhere. Some factors moderate the effect of hierarchy in modern organisations. One of them is in the former sections; that is, task complexity. A second aspect in the same is the selection of the right leaders. Studies indicate that if leadership selection occurs properly, then hierarchy becomes a workable tool in an organisation. For people to select the right leaders, then they must do so in an unbiased and democratic way. However, many organisati ons appear to lack the capacity to select the right leaders because they pay attention to other details that have little bearing on democracy. Hierarchic systems tend to refrain from the use of democracy because members assume that leaders at the top know what is best for the firm. In this regard, their leadership selection is likely to go wrong, which brings about negative outcomes. Such findings prove that modern organisations must rethink their dependence on hierarchy. Corrupting consequences of power are also another moderator of hierarchy. In hierarchic systems, organisations place people in different ranks, which can corrupt their decision-making, behaviour and their thought processes. A lot of power gives people access to rewards like physical comforts, pay perks and non monetary rewards like praise, attention and esteem. It should be noted that not all people that access power demonstrate harmful behaviour, but the possibility is quite clear. Galinsky et. al. (2006) proved t his when they conducted an analysis of power positions. They concluded that power causes people to pay minimal attention to others, and this leads to a disregard of their input. Keltner et. al. (2003) found that people became more objectifying in positions of power. They also lack social awareness about norm-violating behaviour. Some of them may consider others as a means to an end. They often think about their subordinates as tools that can be manipulated for their own good. Power, as concentrated in centralised systems, alters leader’s decision-making abilities. It leads many of them to disregard the effect of risk on the decision processes. In the past, where organisations had monopolistic control over markets, businesses could afford the luxury of skewed decision making, poor perception of risk, and norm violating behaviour. However, in today’s hyper competitive and connected world, these attributes could become catastrophic to an organisation. Since hierarchy is t he source of these corruptive effects, then its necessity should be rethought. Conclusion Hierarchy is irrelevant in modern organisations. Not only does it stifle horizontal and vertical communication, but it makes business environments hostile to change. The phenomenon does not hold members accountable for their tasks; it instead focuses on arbitrary ranks. In today’s fast paced- world, this makes hierarchy irrelevant. Additionally, hierarchy reduces employee motivation and attitude. These are invaluable traits in organisations of today, which suffer from high employee turnover. Perhaps most importantly, hierarchy is irrelevant today because it reduces performance, especially in complex tasks. Companies that want to stay ahead of the competition must heighten performance; therefore, hierarchy is unnecessary. References Anderson, C Brown, C 2010, ‘The functions and dysfunctions of hierarchy’, Research in Organisational behaviour, vol. 2 no. 27, pp. 35. Carpenter , M Sanders, G 2002, ‘Top management team compensation: the missing link between CEO pay and firm performance?’, Strategic Management Journal, vol. 23 no. 4, pp. 367-375. Galinsky, A, Magee, J, Inesi, E, Gruenfeld, H 2006, ‘Power and perspectives not taken’, Psychological Science, vol. 17 no. 13, pp. 1068-1074. Hales, C 2002, ‘‘Bureaucracy-lite’ and Continuities in Managerial Work’ British Journal of Management, vol. 13 no. 19, pp. 51-66. Keltner, D, Gruenfeld, H Anderson, C 2003, ‘Power, approach and inhibition’, Psychological Review, vol. 110 no. 5, pp. 265-284. Locke, C Anderson, C 2010, ‘The downside of looking like a leader: Leader’s powerful demeanor stifles follower voice in participative decision making’, Academy of Management Review, vol. 3 no. 17, pp. 1-35. McSweeney, B 2006, ‘Are we living in a post-bureaucratic epoh?’ Journal of Organisational Change Management, vol. 19 n o. 4, pp. 22-37. Ouchi, W 2006, ‘Power to the principals: Decentralisation in three large school districts’, Organisation Science, vol. 17 no. 8, pp. 298-307.

The Ebola Virus Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Ebola Virus - Research Paper Example The Ebola virus, Sudan and Zaire subtype in particular, were first discovered in an equatorial province west of Sudan and the nearby region of Democratic Republic of Congo formerly Zaire in 1976. The discovery was made after serious epidemics were reported in the village of Yambuku located in the northern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nzara village in the Southern Sudan. The Reston virus was discovered in the western pacific in 1989 during an outbreak of simian hemorrhagic fever virus (SHFV), while the Cote d’Ivoire species of virus were discovered in 1994 in a Tai forest in the country of Cote d’Ivoire (Peter, 2009). Some of the early symptoms characterized by the Ebola virus include: headache, sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain and sore throat. Vomiting, diarrhea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function often follows at an advanced stage of the disease, and in some cases both external and internal bleeding have been reported. Resear ch findings have shown low counts of white blood cells and platelets and platelets, as well as elevated liver enzymes (Ryabchikova, 2004). The Ebola Virus is said to be transmitted by direct contact with body fluids of infected individuals or blood, secretions. Transmission of Ebola has been linked to burial ceremonies where mourners have had direct contact with the body of the deceased person who suffered from this virus. The cause of infections of Ebola virus in humans has resulted from the human handling of infected non-human primates such as the chimpanzees, gorillas and consumption of forest antelopes either dead or alive or both. These cases have been reported and documented in the Cote d’Ivoire and the Democratic republic of Congo. The transmission of the Reston species, however, is because of handling the cynomolgus monkey (Bausch, 2011). Health care workers have not been left behind in the infection chain, and they have largely been infected in the line of duty. This is through treating the Ebola patients at a close contact, without following standard infection control precautions, and inadequate nursing procedures has always been the case in most African countries. The incubation period for the disease is put at a minimum of two days and maximum of 21 days (Ryabchikova, 2004). The natural reservoir of the Ebola Virus is still unknown to humans, despite the extensive studies directed to its course. All that is known is that it seems to reside in the rainy forests of the African continent and the western pacific, and although non-human primates have been the source of infections for human, they are believed to have been directly infected by the natural reservoir or some transmission chain in the natural reservoir. Some of the virulent factors that have led to Ebola infections in humans are linked to direct contact with chimpanzees, monkeys, guinea pigs, gorillas and porcupines in the rainy forests of Africa. However, there have been speculations that bats have played a role in maintaining the Ebola virus in the tropical forest since they caught the infection and did not die from it. This case forms one of the many hypotheses developed to explain the origin of the Ebola virus (Peter, 2009). Ebola virus test are extremely biohazard risk and are only conducted under maximum biological containment conditions. Diagnosis of the Ebola can be done under specialized laboratories where

Kleptomania Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Kleptomania - Research Paper Example There is recent surge in the research pertaining to kleptomania that has led to some understanding of the clinical presentation, pathophysiology and management of the condition; the details of which will be elaborated in this essay. Kleptomaniacs do not usually consult physicians on their own. They are either brought to the medical attention either by their parents and well-wishers, employers, teachers or school counselors. Despite distress because of stealing, majority of kleptomanias do not report about their shoplifting habit to their physicians (Grant and Kim, 2002). One of the reasons could be fear of exposure of theft and subsequent legal consequences. Reluctance to expose their habit, shame on activities of oneself and lack of clinicians familiarity with the condition prevent kleptomania from being recognized and diagnosed (Grant and Kim, 2002). According to the Diagnostic Statistical Manual- IV-TR (Grant and Odlaug, 2008), diagnosis of kleptomania is established when a person exhibits â€Å"1) recurrent failure to resist impulses to steal objects that are not needed for personal use or for their monetary value, 2) increasing sense of tension immediately before committing the theft, 3) pleasure, gratifi cation, or relief at the time of committing the theft, 4) the stealing is not committed to express anger or vengeance and is not in response to a delusion or a hallucination and 5) the stealing is not better accounted for by conduct disorder, a manic episode, or antisocial personality disorder" (Grant and Odlaug, 2008). Kleptomaniacs frequently steal items that are unnecessary for them. Infact, many stolen items are either given away to others or stolen or even returned. Kleptomaniacs are frequently referred to as bad people without realizing that it is the illness that is causing the urge for them to steal. It is however, difficult to draw a distinction between maladaptive behavior

The Dnepropetrovsk Maniacs Essay Example for Free

The Dnepropetrovsk Maniacs Essay One of the two friends were killed, the other managed to escape† (Versii). Thirteen more murders followed, often with multiple bodies found in the same day. Two victims were found every day from July 14 through the 16 (â€Å"Lowlifes planned 40 murders†) The three suspects were arrested on July 23, 2007. Igor Suprunyuck attempted to sell a mobile phone they had stolen from one of their victims at the local pawn shop. When that phone was turned on to show that it worked, its location was tracked by law enforcement agents. Igor Suprunyuck and Viktor Sayenko were arrested in the pawn shop (Katsman). Alexander Hanzha was arrested at home, reportedly managing to flush other stolen phones down the toilet. The phones were recovered, but all the information on them was lost (GlavRed). They were charged with 29 separate incidents, including 21 murders and 8 more attacks where the victims survived. Suprunyuck was charged with 27 of the cases, Sayenko was charged with 25, and Hanzha with counts of armed robbery (Kommersant). Ally three confessed quickly, Suprunyuck later withdrew his confession. Suprunyuck’s original defense awyer dropped out of the case after reportedly being disappointed at failing to have a plea of insanity accepted by his client (Segodyna). â€Å"On February 11, 2009, the court in Dnepropetrovsk found Igor Suprunyuck and Viktor Sayenko guilty of premeditated murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. Alexander Hanzha, who was found guilty of robbery and sentenced to nine years in prison (Olinikova). Hanzha said of Suprunyuck and Sayenko: â€Å"If I had know n the atrocities that they were capable of commiting, I would have not gone near them at gunpoint (â€Å"Dnepropetrovsk serial killers sentenced to life imprisonment†). The parents of Igor Suprunyuck and Viktor Sayenko repeated their belief in the innocence of their sons. The parents of Suprunyuck and Sayenko also argued that the sentence of Alexander Hanzha had been too lenient (Segondnya). From what i’ve read, the murderers didn’t have a specific motive. â€Å"Local media reported that the killers had a plan to get rich from the murder videos that they recorded. One of the suspects’ girlfriends reported that they were planning to make forty videos of separate murders. This was corroborated by the suspects’ former classmates, who claimed that he often heard Suprunyuck was in contact with an unknown â€Å"rich foreign website creator† who ordered forty snuff videos, and would pay a large sum of money once they were made† (â€Å"Lowlifes planned 40 murders†). Regional security chief, Ivan Stupak, rejected the claim that the murders had been committed to make internet snuff videos, saying that no evidence had come to the light during the investigation that supported the claim (Segodnya). Detective Bogdan Vlasenko stated: â€Å"We think they were doing it as a hobby, to have a collection of memories when they get old (Segodnya). Deputy interior minister, Nikolay Kupyanskiy, commented â€Å"For these young men, murder was like entertainment or hunting (â€Å"Dnepropetrovsk Maniacs captured! †). â€Å"At the trial, it emerged that Suprunyuck had collected newspaper cuttings about the case† (Segodnya). â€Å"Some of the photographs of the crimes had captions added, including â€Å"The weak must die. The strongest will conquer (Segodnya). The suspects’ mobile phones and personal computers contained multiple video recordings of the murders taking place. One full video was leaked on the internet, showing the murder of 48-year-old Sergei Yatzenko. He is seen lying on his back in a wooded area, and is struck repeatedly in the face with a hammer held inside a plastic bag. One of the attackers stabs Yatzenko in the eye with a screwdriver, and also stabs him in the abdomen with the screwdriver. Yatzenko is then struck with the hammer in order to ensure that he is dead. The attack lasts over four minutes, during which the victim lapses in and out of consciousness. One of the murderers can be smiling towards the camera during the video† (â€Å"Shocking Murder Video Makes Rounds on the Internet†). Personally i’ve seen the video and I wish I could take back every minute of it. The suspects were also found in possession of multiple photographs showing them attending funerals of the victims. They can be seen smiling and â€Å"flipping off† the coffins and gravestones (â€Å"Killers captured death of victims on video (with television news video)†). The photographic and video evidence was shown in court on October 29, 2008, as part of a larger presentation of over 300 photographs and two videos (Leontieva). In conclusion, my opinion on the murders is that they were horrible. There had to be something mentally wrong with them. No one can do something like that and not have any kind of sympathy, without something being wrong with them. The Dnepropetrovsk Maniac murders were definitely some of the worst killings in the last 100 years.

Stonehenge :: essays research papers

In the hill country of northern England, many sites of Stonehenge exist. Approximately 150 to 200 enormous stones lie stacked on top of each other forming somewhat of an altar. Tall stones stand upright surrounding the center stone which is bluestone. This is unlike the sandstone columns which surround it. This may not seem unusual at first; however, there are three main factors that make Stonehenge extremely odd. Each of these stones weigh close to 4 tons. There are also no other stones in a radius of 15 miles. With today’s sophisticated equipment the moving of these large stones would not be difficult, but one must remember, Stonehenge was built approximately 4800 B.C. Radiocarbon dating shows that these stone structures are older than the great pyramids of Egypt, and the large cities of Rome. Of course Stonehenge is not as advanced as the great pyramids but it was built in an area which wasn’t as advanced as the Egyptians or Romans.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The outside stones are made completely of sandstone, this is at least 18 miles from the site where the sandstone was quarried from. Each stone stands upright and are expertly balanced. Stones of the same composition and size, rest on top forming a circular structure. In the middle of these stones, giant pieces of bluestone lay on the ground in â€Å"horse shoe† like shapes. These stones are also called spotted dolorite, and are not found within a 225 mile radius. In the very center, a piece of Welsh sandstone lay as a monument.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of the most interesting facts about Stonehenge is that it is perfectly lined up with the winter (December 21) and summer (June 21) solstices. This is when the beginning of summer and winter when the Earth’s axis changes. As the sun rises over the horizon on those two days, its rays go through a small hole in one of the rocks. The alignment is perfect. The other significant characteristic of these prehistoric masterpieces, is that absolutely no mortar or cement exists throughout the entire structure. These huge stones lay balanced on top of each other with no glue or substance to hold them together. The only thing that stops these gargantuan stones from falling is a simple system of joints. Originally these structures were thought to be circles. In fact, many people still think they are circular; however, they are not. Some have flattened sides, some are hexagonal and some are elliptical. This is not easy to see with the naked eye which is why so

Walking Contradiction

Now I know how parents may feel when their teenage kids are playing there depressing and gothic music at full blast at the middle of the night. It's clear that most people's opinions are that the lyrics featured in these gothic or metal bands are usually to do with some sort of bad language, death and violence. A feature most predominantly in many of Marilyn Manson's songs. A quote reveals how people judge him for every circumstance â€Å"when a dude's getting bullied and shoots up the school and they blame it on Marilyn, and the heroin† This reveals people's attitude towards this individual. In any case people have their preferences and mine include Beegees. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not a golden oldie, but the best music had to have been made in the 70's or 80's. Perfectly good examples of these would have been Abba and Gloria Gaynor. Now neither of these people needed to promote sex, drugs and rock and roll to sell records, which is what seems to be happening today. Artists seem to swear more and more to sell more and more, now tell me is this right? Any ways don't get me wrong not every artist is like that†¦ There are a handful of bands, which don't need negative aspects to sell their music. One band in particular is Kool and the gang, now if I may claim to liking the classic band does that necessarily mean that I must write off every modern day music as some of you people do. All of you people seem to be determined to write off any artists that bear the name Eminem or Marilyn Manson, or any artists that swear or have some sort of opinion not matching yours. The truth about the matter is that you use these individuals as scapegoats, so that you have something to blame when your child has done something wrong or you have something to blame for the way your child behaves. The fact of the matter is that music is a way of expression, and that no matter how or why people complain about aspects of it the reality is that you are powerless to stop any kind of music from coming out. But most importantly you are powerless to stop your children from listening to it. At the end people can listen to whatever type of music, from anything from Bob Marley's â€Å"No woman No cry† to a more modern day song such as Rage Against The Machine's â€Å"Bullet in the head†. I personally have gotten into Metallica recently, just like how a vampire needs his blood, I admittedly need to listen to the enlightening and somewhat depressing lyrics, as well as the bone crunching and indoctrinating guitar riffs daily. Without these I am happy to say that I would be a lifeless, dull and uncaring individual (One which requires someone to master him as a puppet). But with all this said hate and love have been with us from the beginning of time, and they will continue to be with us until the end. I only ask that people take in the fact that drugs and violence have always been in lyrics and will forever remain so, the key thing is to learn to deal with it! Show preview only