Friday, January 17, 2020
Homosexuality from the Psychological and Christian Perspectives Essay
The ââ¬Å"rightnessâ⬠or ââ¬Å"wrongnessâ⬠of homosexuality has long been a subject for debate in both moral and social circles. Some have said that a personââ¬â¢s gender is their own choice and therefore should be respected. Some contend that homosexuality is brought on by factors both biological and environmental and should therefore be understood. Staunch Christian believers on the other hand point out that when God created humans, He created only man and woman. Anything that goes against that is simply wrong and immoral. In the 19th century, homosexuality was defined as one personââ¬â¢s desire and interest for another person of the same sex (ââ¬Å"Homosexuality,â⬠2004). Today, while the definition is still applicable, homosexuality has also come to be viewed as ââ¬Å"wanting to be of the other genderâ⬠different from oneââ¬â¢s own biology. ââ¬Å"I canââ¬â¢t help who I am. â⬠Is a personââ¬â¢s homosexuality brought about as a matter of choice, by birth, or is it something in a personââ¬â¢s environment? There have been theories advanced in the field of psychology that state people are influenced by factors both external and internal. The late nineteenth and early 20th centuries saw the first scientific studies into the origin of homosexuality (Vern & Vern, 1993). The first was Karl Heinrich Ulrichs (1825-1895). He was one of the first acknowledged researchers into homosexuality as well as one of the first people to publicly admit he was gay. In those days, he called what we know now as homosexuality ââ¬Å"urningâ⬠and stated that urnings should be considered simply as the ââ¬Å"third sex. â⬠Richard von Krafft-Ebbing (1840-1902) was one of the first to issue views on homosexuality as a perversion. Then again, all sexual acts undertaken without the purpose of reproduction, to him, were unnatural and ââ¬Å"perversions of the sexual instinct. â⬠(Vern & Vern, 1993) Several studies then showed that homosexuality, particularly among males, was a common if not natural occurrence. In the journal ââ¬Å"Yearbook for the Sexual Intermediates,â⬠Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld, a leading proponent of the thought that homosexuality was inborn and therefore natural, states: ââ¬Å"In the embryonic state, people are bisexual, but in the course of their natural development, most lose their desire for members of the same sex. These people are the heterosexuals, who love members of the opposite sex. Another category consists of those individuals whose sexual organs develop normally but in whom the desire for same-sex individuals in the feeling center fails to recede. The results are men who love men and women who love women. â⬠(Sappho and Socrates, 1896) (Russell, 1995) The field of psychoanalysis also presented their views on the origin of homosexuality. In the early days, homosexuality, as well as other ââ¬Å"deviantâ⬠societal behaviors were viewed as ââ¬Å"illnessesâ⬠that were treatable by psychoanalysis. One explanation advanced was that of Freudââ¬â¢s Oedipus Complex among males and ââ¬Å"penis envyâ⬠among the female homosexuals. Freud says that males with Oedipus complex, preferred their mother and hated their father. Perhaps this can be translated to males hating their ââ¬Å"malenessâ⬠because they associate it with their fathers. Women on the other hand, realize ââ¬Å"a repressed desire for a penisâ⬠in their psychosexual ââ¬Å"phallicâ⬠and ââ¬Å"oralâ⬠stages said Freud. (Webster, 2005, p. 324) Feminist critics of Freudian theory however said that Freudââ¬â¢s thinking were too misogynist and distinctly anti-feminine. One pivotal development in psychiatric understanding of homosexuality was a study conducted by Irving Bieber (Dain et al. , 1962, p. 182). In a sample of 106 homosexual patients treated by either him or other psychiatrists, he found that feminine and cross-gender behavior patterns commonly manifested themselves even before the age of puberty. It is from this study that it was determined that homosexuality set in even before males were influenced by any hormonal surges and sexual awareness caused by puberty. These results however, have been interpreted and over-simplified by some quarters to mean that homosexuality must then be attributed to a male individualââ¬â¢s relationship with a strong, dominant mother and a weak or absent father. It was then proposed that homosexuality was not an illness, but rather a developmental problem brought about by conditions of family relations particularly the relationship between father and son. Homosexuality was then treated as the product of a fatherââ¬â¢s failure to bond and impress the male gender identity on his son. Father needs to mirror and affirm the boyââ¬â¢s maleness. As Payne explains, ââ¬Å"The masculinity within is called forth and blessed by the masculinity withoutâ⬠( 1985: 13 ). This beautiful and mysterious match is the union of an inner need and an outer reality. The boy seeks to take in what is exciting, fun, and energizing about his father. There is a freedom and power to outgrowing motherââ¬âand this power is personified by the father. If father is warm and receptive, the boy will be encouraged to dis-identify from the feminine and enter into the masculine sphere. He will then become masculine-identified and most probably heterosexual. If both parents encourage the boy this way, he will be well on his way to fulfilling his male gender identification and heterosexuality. (Baird & Baird, 1995, p. 52) The year 1973 saw a change in the way homosexuality was viewed (Vern & Vern, 1993). Due to a vote held within the American Psychological Association (APA), homosexuality ceased to be an illness and was subsequently dropped from the APA Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. The debate on the origin of homosexuality is basically of a ââ¬Å"nature vs. urtureâ⬠perspective. Some have posited the idea that being gay is not a choice, one is just born gay. Others have contended that homosexuality comes from failed or uneven relationships within the family. Which truly is which? Thinkers called ââ¬Å"essentialistsâ⬠hold forth the belief that manââ¬â¢s make up is biological and genetic. Sexual orientation is just one of the things that genes, hormones and brain make up decide. People are born gay and thus, cannot change or escape from that. (LeVay, 1996). (Seutter & Rovers, 2004) At the opposite end of the argument are the ââ¬Å"constructionists. For them, nobody is born gay. Sexual orientation is decided and influenced by an individualââ¬â¢s interaction and reinforced choices in the social context particularly in the family setting. (Seutter & Rovers, 2004) Family seems to play a key role in the determination of an individualââ¬â¢s gender. Be it taken from a genetic contribution to setting the environment that conditions and orients an individual with society. Many psychologists agree that a personââ¬â¢s relationship with people around oneââ¬â¢s self will have influences of varying degrees on the individualââ¬â¢s choices and preferences. In fact several theories have been advanced with their basis on such familial contributions. (Seutter & Rovers, 2004) Bowenââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"Family-of-originâ⬠theory (1978) states that a personââ¬â¢s self-image, behaviors, attitudes, beliefs and values are formed by experiences within oneââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"family-of-origin. â⬠Differentiation or the need to preserve oneââ¬â¢s self in relationships as an individual as well as the level of intimacy reached is just one of the things that are developed in the family-of-origin. Authority and power were the basis for Williamsonââ¬â¢s concept of ââ¬Å"Personal Authorityâ⬠(1991) In his concept, Williamson believed that an individualââ¬â¢s person and feeling of personal was formed by leaving the parental home in the psychological if not physical sense. He further stated that only when an individual has ââ¬Å"individuatedâ⬠himself or set himself apart from the family and established his own identity can he reconnect voluntarily with his family. (Seutter & Rovers, 2004) Nowadays, gays and lesbians have become more ââ¬Å"empoweredâ⬠as opposed to the years past when homosexuals lived in fear of being discovered and isolated from society or prohibited from living normally as they chose. In a journal article by Anthony R. Dââ¬â¢Augelli (2003) for the American Journal of Community Psychology, he shares: Homosexuality was not removed from the psychiatric nomenclature in DSM until 1973, a year after I completed my doctoral training. During my clinical training, I wanted to discuss my feelings with someone, but the idea was terrifying; and, I did not seek professional help because of fear that I would be removed from my program. (After all, who trains someone with a mental disorder to be a clinical psychologist? ) In addition, despite my sexual orientation, which was fairly clear to me at that point, I could not even bring myself to share this information even with the Army physicians during my physical examination after being drafted for service during the Vietnam era. This simple truth would have removed me from induction, but I could not say the words. (Dââ¬â¢Augelli, 2003) What the Church has to Say The growing numbers of ââ¬Å"outâ⬠gays and lesbians have not escaped the notice of the Christian churches. Traditionally, churches of different religions have been hostile toward gays and lesbians. To them, there are only two genders: man and woman. There have even been some instances where there were accounts of physical and verbal humiliation and abuse gay worshippers suffered within the church, at time in the hands of a priest of Father confessor.
Thursday, January 9, 2020
The Code Of Ethics And Social Work - 1336 Words
Introduction Social work BSW students, generally, come from different background, experience, profession or without any professional experience. Mostly, social work professionals or students choose this career because they like helping profession or have some personal histories to relate to this profession. It is often heard that social workers require a good heart and competencies to work in micro, mezzo, or macro practice. Competency of social workers is one of the core guiding principles of the NASW Code of Ethics. Social work students develop their core competencies through the guidance of their educators and supervisors, discussion with colleagues, knowledge from online and printed materials, and their experience working with clients. Generally, at the beginning of the career, social workers rely on their knowledge gained in the classroom through their professors and authoritative texts, application of relevant theories, analysis of their experiences gained at field practicums. Therefore, the role of professors at social work schools and field supervisors in preparing students as professionals become crucial and challenging. The author has tried to explore a few topics based on the clinical and teaching experience, which appear important in grooming BSW students as social work professionals. Evidence ââ¬âbased practice Evidence-based practice in the 21st century is the guiding principles for the utilization management for the social service industry. To ââ¬Å"fully utilizeShow MoreRelatedThe Social Work Code Of Ethics1059 Words à |à 5 PagesThe primary mission of the social work profession is deeply rooted in a specific set of core values. These strict set of beliefs are embraced by professional history and are the framework to social work s unique purpose and mission. The six core values include Service, Social Justice, Dignity and Worth of the Person, Importance of Human Relationships, Integrity, and Competence. As Social Workers begin or continue their journey in social work it is significant to always properly represent, and advanceRead MoreThe Code Of Ethics And The Social Work1562 Words à |à 7 PagesWithin the social work profession, one of the main goals is promoting social justice and changing the lives of individuals, and with that goal in mind, it is imperative that the Core Values are followed closely. By definition from DuBois and Miley, ââ¬Å"eradicating injustices and inequalities to ensure social justice and to protect human rights is the call to action for social workersâ⬠(DuBois Miley, 2014, p.47). Over time the profession of social work evolved, and eventually the National AssociationRead MoreEthics Codes For Social Work Essay2215 Words à |à 9 Pagesthe role of the social worker has changed. Gone are the days of simple charity and assistance for the poor. Now, social work has evolved into a vast profession that stretches its boundaries to many different entities. Schools, hospitals, mental health centers and community agencies are a few places where social workers are needed. Due to the growth and need for social workers, national organizations dedicated to the ethical practices of social workers developed codes of ethics which serves asRead MoreSocial Work Code Of Ethics2359 Words à |à 10 PagesSocial workers play an integral role i n the face of social injustice and the disproportionate distribution of resources in the lives of the less privileged and troubled individuals. With reference to the National Association of Social Work Code of Ethics (n.d.), Social Work practitioners are guided by the intertwinement of set core values; service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, essentials of human relations, integrity and competence. Each of these core values is directed at theRead MoreThe Australian Code Of Ethics For Social Work1591 Words à |à 7 PagesThe Australian Code of ethics for Social work AASW (2003), which replicates the highest international ethical standards, conditions a respectable social worker to exhibit ethical awareness in their field of work, whilst observing the standards of accountability (Hugman, Pittaway Bartolomei 2011, p.1272). Social workers, indifferent to their type of service are encouraged to promote ethical values and standards. However, the shift to ethics in re search involving human participation was particularlyRead MoreThe Australian Code Of Ethics For Social Work1581 Words à |à 7 PagesThe Australian Code of Ethics for Social Work AASW (2003), which replicates the highest international ethical standards, conditions a respectable social worker to exhibit ethical awareness in their field of work, whilst observing the standards of accountability (Hugman, Pittaway Bartolomei 2011, p.1272). Social workers, indifferent to their type of service are encouraged to promote ethical values and standards. However, the shift to ethics in research involving human participation was particularlyRead MoreThe Code Of Ethics Is The Number One Mission For The Social Work Profession1466 Words à |à 6 PagesThe NASW Code Of Ethics is the number one mission for the social work profession. This is fundamental for all social workers to appreciate human wellbeing, as well as, help them meet the basic human needs of each person. Social workers should as we ll give full attention to the empowerment and rights of those that are vulnerable, distressed, and living in poverty. Social workers are the ones that promote social justice and social change on behalf of clients. Also, social workers seek to enhance theRead MoreThe Codes Of Ethics Of The American Counseling Association1667 Words à |à 7 Pagesassociations establish codes of ethics to ensure that clinicians uphold the standards of their association in order to protect the clients they serve and the profession they are affiliated with. This paper will compare the codes of ethics of the American Counseling Association (ACA), American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), and National Association of Social Workers (NASW). ACA Code of Ethics The ACA is an educational, scientific, and professional organization that works to accomplishRead MoreEthics And Code Of Ethics1359 Words à |à 6 Pagesethical codes in which it is useful to become aware of these differences for your future employment in working with a variety of professionals. Future coworkers may have different views and opinions however, a code of ethics will individualize these professionals and set standards. By making yourself aware of the differences, communication can become easier between employees of various backgrounds. Two particular organizations to compare may include the American Counseling Association Code of EthicsRead MoreValues and Ethics in Social Work, Cultural Competency Essay1076 Words à |à 5 PagesIn the National Association for Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics, there are many standards a social worker should uphold in order to promote a healthy and helpful relationship with the client. One such aptitude is Cultural Competence and S ocial Diversity, which is in section 1.05 of the NASW code of ethics (National Association of Social Workers, 2008). There are three sections associated with this competency ââ¬Å"Social workers should understand culture and its function in human behavior and society
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
Death Penalty Essay - 664 Words
The use of the death penalty in the United States has been a great debate for many years. One of the major aspects of this debate is whether or not we should continue to use this form of punishment for criminals. In my opinion, the death penalty should be abolished because it costs taxpayers much more than sending an inmate to prison and there is no factual evidence that it has any greater deterrent effect than life imprisonment. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;One major reason that I believe that the death penalty should be abolished is because the expenses of the death penalty greatly exceed those of life imprisonment. ââ¬Å"Maintaining a system of Capital Punishment is far more expensive than sending murderers to prison until they die ofâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Concrete evidence also exists within other states that show that capital punishment in these states costs taxpayers much more than keeping inmates in prison for life. ââ¬Å"In his dissenting opinion in Furman vs. Georgia, Justice Thurgood Marshall wrote, ââ¬ËWhen all is said and done, there can be no doubt that it costs more to execute a man than to keep him in prison for lifeââ¬â¢ â⬠(Grossman 60). According to Costanzo, the author of Just Revenge, it is estimated that in Texas, the expense of life imprisonment in a maximum-security cell for forty years costs three times less than the $2.3 million average spent on each capital case (Costanzo 61). Costanzo goes on to state that the estimate for eliminating the death penalty in California would save taxpayers in ââ¬Å"The Golden Stateâ⬠$90 million dollars every year. He further states that California spent over $1 billion dollars on the death penalty between 1977 and 1996, although only 5 men were executed (Costanzo 61). nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;A group of students at the University of Texas state that it is more beneficial to our economy to use the death penalty. One student states that in 1992 there were 883, 593 prisoners in all state and federal prisons. She goes on to state, ââ¬Å"The 883, 593 prisoners are costing the American taxpayers approximately $19.4 billion plus another $61.7 millionShow MoreRelatedPro Death Penalty Speech1482 Words à |à 6 Pagesintroduce myself before we get started. My name is Slick Perry and if you didnââ¬â¢t already know, I am the state governor of Texas. You are all aware that we are reviewing our recidivism rate to various crimes and reviewing our stance regarding the death penalty as we approach 2009. Everyone here understands that capital punishment is a very controversial topic in the United States. In Texas, from December 1982 through August 2008, only 361 criminals of the millions of Texans in our good state were executedRead MoreThe Truth About The Death Penalty973 Words à |à 4 Pages In her article ââ¬Å"The Truth About The Death Penaltyâ⬠, Carina Kolodny argues that the death penalty should be abolished in all fifty states due to the fact that it is ineffective and very expensive. Kolodny believes that capital punishment has too many complications and variables that cause it be more of an issue than a real solution for capital offenses. She proposes that the death penalty should be dropped and exchanged for better programs such as Proposition 34, which replaces capital punishmentRead MoreThe Bible and Death Penal ty Essay example812 Words à |à 4 Pagesa personââ¬â¢s view of the Bible influence what they think about the death penalty for murderers.â⬠I would like to see if a personââ¬â¢s view of the bible influence what they think of the death penalty. This is interesting to me because I am interested in the field of criminal justice and the death penalty is a huge topic to this day. There are many journals that talk about studies that were done on religion and views of the death penalty which have to do with my topic of interest. My hypothesis is thatRead MoreEssay on Death Penalty: Capital Punishment and Violent Crime1570 Words à |à 7 PagesCapital Punishment and Violent Crime Hypothesis Most Americans are pro-death penalty, even though they dont really believe that it is an effective deterrent to violent crime. Those who are pro-death penalty will remain so, even if faced with the best arguments of anti-death penalty activists and told to assume the arguments were absolutely true. Violent crime Violent crime is a major problem in the United States. According to the ACLU, the violent crime rate rose sixty-one percentRead MoreEssay on Article Analysis: OSullivans View of the Death Penalty1536 Words à |à 7 PagesBritain should have the death penalty. Oââ¬â¢Sullivan addresses all the main counter arguments when explain to his audience his conclusion. His supporting evidence includes death penalty decisions in history and several other statistics. Emotionally terms, faulty cause and effects scenarios, and either/or point of views are other ways the author conveys his opinion to the audience. The article begins with an overall theme threw out Oââ¬â¢Sullivanââ¬â¢s piece: does the death penalty appropriately punishRead MoreThe Death Penalty Is Justified1143 Words à |à 5 PagesAllison Shu 2/25/16 Period 2 Objective paper on the death penalty Capital punishment is legally authorized killing as punishment for a crime. The death penalty questions the morality of killing a person as justification for their crime. It also brings to question whether the death penalty actually serves as a deterrent for crime, and that some of the people executed are found innocent afterwards. The debates over the constitutionality of the death penalty and whether capital punishment should be usedRead MoreThe Death Penalty For Juveniles946 Words à |à 4 Pages The death penalty for minors differs greatly from the death penalty for adult. The law that minor could be put on death row was decided to rule against the eighth amendment. The eighth amendment prohibits the act of ââ¬Å"cruel and unusual punishmentâ⬠which putting minors on death row breaks. On March 4, 2005 the law that minors could not be put on death row for their actions was set into place. The new laws say, ââ¬Å"They cannot punish a minor by death penalty and they cannot punish someone for a crimeRead MoreShould The Death Penalty Be Mandatory?925 Words à |à 4 Pagesopinions on the subject. When we were discussing the death penalty although my opinion didnââ¬â¢t change, after hearing what some of my classmates had to say about the subject during our lab I was able to respectfully see why they had those thoughts and feelings about the subject. I believe that we should have the death penalty, and that it helps prevents more crime from happening. However, during our lab students that thought we should ban the death penalty had some pretty interesting reasons behind theirRead MoreThe Death Penalty Should Be Legal1805 Words à |à 8 Pagesthat we all know is the death penalty. This penalty has been going around for years. To many people it might be the best way of punishing a person. On the other hand there are people who think that if you kill a person you should be sentenced to die as well. For me I would say it might not be the best way and it not working as many would like it. When choosing if you are for the death penalty you have to okay with an insect person dyei ng or even a family member being in death row. I know that is somethingRead MoreThe Death Penalty : An Effective Reliable Tool904 Words à |à 4 Pagesthe death penalty has been a frequent topic of discussion, as our recent technological advancements have evidently led individuals to consider the ââ¬Å"new foundâ⬠legitimacy of our court systems, as statistics display that our previous racial bias and the apparent morality of the practice itself have a miniscule impact on our conviction rate. Both the advancements and ethics that the death penalty provides become apparent through the utilization of anecdotes and statistics, as the death penalty has prevailed
Tuesday, December 24, 2019
Movie Analysis 12 Angry Men - 1639 Words
Introduction This film provides a number of practical themes that arise in everyday life that include: moral courage, critical thinking, the value and importance of human life and varying stereotypes. One of the main topics in the film involved organized communication within a diverse group.The purpose of this paper is to analyze the importance of cooperative communities while providing different aspects of leadership. Movie Summary The movie 12 Angry Men is a depiction of a jury deliberation in the 1950ââ¬â¢s involving the trial of a teenager that is accused of murdering his father. These twelve men were brought together by a random selection process to make a unanimous decision. In the beginning, all jurors believed the boy to be guilty without a doubt, except for one. Juror 8 continues to raise questions pertaining to the facts presented, while slowly convincing the other jurors to take another look before determining the boyââ¬â¢s fate. Many people would say that their purpose was to determine the guilt or innocence of the defendant, but in reality they have no way of knowing if the teen is innocent; in the end, all they can have is reasonable doubt. Analysis Constructive Leadership A main theme in the film is how to use leadership in such a way to expel rivalries that could form in hostile environments. Lets look at Fondaââ¬â¢s character, this is the first character we see attempting to meld conflicting views. Conflicting views is not always a negative when thinkingShow MoreRelated12 Angry Men : Movie Analysis : 12 Angry Men1103 Words à |à 5 PagesThe 1957 movie version of 12 angry men, brings twelve people together with different personalities and experiences to discuss the fate of a young boy that allegedly killed his father. At the very beginning many agree that the boy is guilty except for one man. Juror #8 votes not guilty and pushes to have the evidence talked through. Slowly after reviewing all the evidence carefully the eleven to one vote switched from eleven thinking guilty to eleven thinking not guilty. Each juror brought differentRead MoreAnalysis Of The Movie 12 Angry Men 1891 Words à |à 8 PagesThe Decision Analysis Assignment Frank Luu The story of 12 Angry Men begins in a New York City courthouse at the conclusion of a murder trial. The judge order the 12 men of the jury to recess and decide on a guilty or not guilty verdict for a 18 year old boy charged with murdering his father. The judge informs them that a guilty decision by the jury will result in a death sentence for the boy as the judge will not show any leniency. The 12 men are lead to the jury room where they will stay lockedRead More12 Angry Men Movie Analysis782 Words à |à 4 PagesTwelve Angry Men Analysis BA 321 Reaching a unanimous vote, beyond a reasonable doubt, was a difficult task for the jurors represented in the film, 12 Angry Men. All but one were convinced the boy on trial was guilty of first degree murder based on eye witness testimony and circumstantial evidence. Uncomfortably hot and sweaty, one intent on getting to a ball game, eleven of the twelve jurors had no intention to stop and think about the life contingent on their verdict. The entireRead MoreAnalysis Of The Movie 12 Angry Men 933 Words à |à 4 Pages12 Angry Men Overview In the movie of 12 Angry Men, a group of jurors must decide the fate of an inner-city boy, who is charged with killing his father. The case should have been a slam dunk, yet one man (Juror No. 8) in the initial vote cast reasonable doubt over the evidence of the trial. While deliberating their verdict, the details are revealed. Subsequently, the jurors slowly changed their vote to innocent on the basis of doubt. Despite their duty to separate personal matters from the factsRead MoreAnalysis Of The Movie 12 Angry Men 946 Words à |à 4 Pages12 Angry Men For the purpose of this paper I will be using a movie based on a teen male who is on trial for the murder of his father in 1957. There are twelve men on the jury who are from all different areas of society. They have one goal, to decide based on testimony and evidence on whether the accused is guilty or not. The following information is one personââ¬â¢s observation of the movie ââ¬Å"12 Angry Menâ⬠using the 5 Stages of Group Development. Keywords: Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, AdjourningRead MoreMovie Analysis : 12 Angry Men1404 Words à |à 6 PagesThe group type presented in the film 12 Angry men appears to be a task group. Task groups typically come together to accomplish a specific charge. In this case, their task was to decide a verdict of guilty or not guilty for the boy on trial. According to our text, some feature of this task group would include those listed under the ââ¬Å"teamsâ⬠category such as appointed leadership and focus on a specific task or charge. The membersââ¬â¢ bond is simply there interest in the task, as they have no previousRead MoreAnalysis Of The Movie 12 Angry Men 1929 Words à |à 8 Pages12 Angry Men is a 1957 American courtroom drama film adapted from a teleplay of the same name by Reginald Rose. Written and co-produced by Rose himself and directed by Sidney Lumet, this trial film tells the story of a jury made up of 12 men as they deliberate the guilt or acquitta l of a defendant on the basis of reasonable doubt, forcing the jurors to question their morals and values. In the United States, a verdict in most criminal trials by jury must be unanimous. The film is notable for its almostRead MoreMovie Analysis : 12 Angry Men1769 Words à |à 8 Pages1. Is this jury a group or team? Does the jury have entitativity? Why or why not? (define and give 2 examples from the movie) (10 points) It can be debated whether the jurors who made up the jury in the film 12 Angry Men comprised of a group or a team. Teams and groups are often terms that are used interchangeable to describe a multitude of gathered individuals. Teams are often thought of as a specific type of group, and essentially they are classified as hypergroups (Forsyth). As discussed inRead MoreAnalysis Of The Movie 12 Angry Men 2223 Words à |à 9 Pages12 Angry Men is a movie centered around a murder case and the 12 men that are in charge of providing a verdict for a kid charged of first degree murder of his own father. In this movie, the characters have to face a long and grueling procedure of figuring out how to charge the kid after a six day long trial and hours long deliberation between the jurors. The film of 12 Angry Men has several key psychological aspects to it that can be accurately and summarily described. In the movie, the jury hasRead MoreAnalysis Of The Movie 12 Angry Men 1239 Words à |à 5 Pageshands, such as a juror, you hope for the best, but that is not always enough. Sometimes there are certain variables, which can impact decisions and alter a personââ¬â¢s life forever. The movie ââ¬Å"12 Angry Menâ⬠is a great example of how these variables play a role in determining a personââ¬â¢s innocence. Throughout this movie there were numerous examples of psychological science. The four domains I will focus on are stereotyping, eyewitness testimony, attribution process and problem solving. In the beginning
Sunday, December 15, 2019
This paper presents an implementation Free Essays
Abstraction: This paper presents an execution of Multistructure PIDFLC. Modification has been made to construction of the proposed PIDFLC in order to do it acts as PDFLC, PIFLC or PIDFLC depending on two external signals. Two versions of this accountant have been designed utilizing VHDL linguistic communication for FPGA execution. We will write a custom essay sample on This paper presents an implementation or any similar topic only for you Order Now A new bundle has been designed in VHDL codification to implement trigonometric maps and fourth-order Runge-Kutta method to prove the proposed design with nonlinear systems. The accountant was able to bring forth an end product in 0.3 millisecond for additive workss and 0.7 millisecond for nonlinear works. Therefore, the proposed accountant will be able to command many systems with high trying rate. Keywords: PIDFLC, FPGA execution, nonlinear systems, Altera. Categorization: XYZ ( Electronic instrumentality and control ) T. Jain, V. Patel and M.J. Nigam â⬠Execution of PID Controlled SIMO Process on FPGA Using Bacterial Foraging for Optimal Performance â⬠International Journal of Computer and Electrical Engineering, Vol. 1, No. 2, P: 1793-8198, June 2009. V. Tipsuwanporn, S. Intajag and V. Krongratana â⬠Fuzzy Logic PID accountant based on FPGA for procedure control â⬠Proc. IEEE International Symposium on Industrial Electronics, Bangkok, Thailand, Vol. 2, pp. 1495-1500, 4-7 May 2004. Obaid Z. A. , Sulaiman N. and M. N. Hamidon ââ¬Å" FPGA-based Execution of Digital Logic Design utilizing Altera DE2 Board â⬠International Journal of Computer Science and Network Security, VOL.9 No.8, P: 186-194, July 2009. Obaid Z. A. , Sulaiman N. , M. H. Marhaban and M. N. Hamidon ââ¬Å" FPGA-Based Fuzzy Logic: Design and Applications ââ¬â a Review â⬠International Journal of Engineering and Technology, vol. 1, figure 5, P: 491-502, December 2009. Leonid Reznik, ââ¬Å" Fuzzed accountants â⬠, Newnes, first edition, 1997. 1. Introduction The simplest and most usual manner to implement a fuzzed accountant is to recognize it as a computing machine plan on a general intent computing machine. However, a big figure of fuzzed control applications require a real-time operation to interface high-velocity restraints. Software execution of fuzzed logic on general purpose computing machines can non be considered as a suited design solution for this type of application higher denseness programmable logic devices such as FPGA can be used to incorporate big sums of logic in a individual IC. Semi-custom and full-custom application particular integrated circuit ( ASIC ) devices are besides used for this intent but FPGA provide extra flexibleness: they can be used with tighter time-to-market agendas [ 1 ] , [ 2 ] , [ 3 ] , [ 4 ] . 2. Layout of the Proposed Accountant By and large, this accountant accept two types of end products, the first 1 is the works ( Yp ) and the 2nd 1 is the coveted end product ( Yd ) , both of them is digital signals, and present the control action signal as a digital end product. It besides accepts four 8-bit digital signals that represent the addition parametric quantities needed by the accountant ( relative addition Kp, derivative addition Kd, built-in addition Ki, and end product gain Ko ) , and other two one-bit signals to choose the type of the accountant ( PD fuzzy logic accountant, PI fuzzy logic accountant, or PID fuzzy logic accountant ) . Fig. 1 shows the general layout of the accountant bit in a unity feedback control system. Fuzzy accountant applications do non necessitate high truth. Accuracy of 6-9 spots is adequate and is rather sufficient for different applications. Many designed FIS french friess use this scope of spots [ 5 ] , since two versions of the accountant have been designed to do a comparing in which version is closest to Matlab-based design: the first one uses 6 spots for each input and end product variables, and 4 spots for rank grade, while the other uses 8 spots and 6 spots severally. 3. Structure of the Proposed PIDFLC By and large, to stand for PID fuzzed logic accountant, it was required to plan a fuzzed illation system with three inputs that represent the proportional, derivative, and built-in constituents, and each one of them can hold up to eight fuzzy sets. So that the maximal figure of the needed fuzzy regulations to 83=512 regulations. To avoid this immense figure of regulations, the proposed accountant has been designed utilizing two parallel PD fuzzy logic accountants to implement the PID fuzzy logic accountant. The 2nd PDFLC has been converted to PIFLC by roll uping its end product. Fig. 1 shows the construction of proposed PID fuzzy logic accountant. Both accountants, PD fuzzy logic accountant and PI fuzzy logic accountant, receive the same mistake signal. The mistake signal is calculated by deducting works end product ( yp ) from the desired end product ( yd ) . The chief block in the PD fuzzy logic accountant is the fuzzed illation block. The proposed fuzzy illation block is two input s, one end product fuzzy system of Mamdani type that uses singleton rank maps for the end product variable. The first input is the error signal vitamin E ( n ) , and the 2nd input is the rate of alteration of mistake signal defined as the difference between two back-to-back mistake values. Before come ining the fuzzed illation block, each one of these two inputs have been multiplied by a addition coefficient inside the PD fuzzy accountant ( Kp and Kd or Kp and Ki ) . In similar mode, the end product of the fuzzed illation block is multiplied by a addition coefficient inside the PD fuzzy logic accountant, ( Ko ) . At the same clip, the end product of the fuzzed illation block in the 2nd PD fuzzy accountant is multiplied by a addition coefficient so accumulated to organize the uPIFLC. Both end products ( uPD and uPI ) are added together to organize the PIDFLC end product ( uPID ) . Since each PDFLC has its ain additions and regulations, the concluding design could work as a PDFLC, PIFLC or a PIDFLC ) depending on the two choice lines sw1 and sw0 ââ¬â ââ¬â , where, sw1sw0= 00, gives PD fuzzy logic accountant, sw1 sw0= 01 gives PI fuzzy logic accountant, and sw1 sw0=0x gives PID fuzzy logic accountant. The chief constituents in the proposed PD fuzzed logic accounta nt are: Input/Output block, Fuzzifier block, illation engine block, and Defuzzifier block. 4. Test Bench and Simulation Results For the intent of simulation symmetric triangular fuzzy sets and singleton fuzzy sets with 8 lingual variables have been used for input and end product variable severally, in add-on to govern tabular array of 64 fuzzy regulations. At first, a trial is performed to do certain that the fuzzed illation system used inside the FPGA-based design is working decently This trial is performed to do certain that the fuzzed illation system used inside the FPGA-based accountant ( 6FBC or 8FBC ) is working decently. This trial involves bring forthing control surface utilizing fuzzed sets and regulation tabular array, this trial has been used to do a comparing between both types of FBC with Matlab-based ( MSBC ) , and shows that 8FBC is superior to 6FBC and it ââ¬Ës much close to MSBC. Case Study 1: Second order theoretical account may stand for procedure such as place control of an ac motor [ 7 ] Equation ( 1 ) shows the mathematical works theoretical account, distinct transportation maps of this theoretical account has been obtained utilizing ZOH method, and the selected sampling period ( T ) is 0.52. The values of Kp, Kd, Ki, and Ko used in this trial were selected utilizing test and mistake. The accountant gives action at 0.3 à µs ; when PIDFLC applied for this system, as shown in Fig. 2, 8FBC response is near to the responses utilizing MSBC, with zero mistake and small overshot. The Average differences between MSBC and 6FBC for Step response and control action are -0.0256 and -0.0009 severally, and The Mean differences between MSBC and 8FBC for Step response and control action are -0.0030 and 0.0021 severally, since the 8FBC is superior to 6FBC and its much stopping point to MSBC. Case Study 2: This instance is considered as a particular instance with the proposed design, because of VHDL accepts four mathematical operation merely, add-on, minus, division and generation, since it ââ¬Ës hard to stand for non-linear elements like trigonometric maps. In this instance, a mathematical theoretical account of nonlinear works has been used to prove the proposed accountant with unity feedback control system ; this theoretical account is characterized by Equation ( 2 ) and Equation ( 3 ) . The first order filter on U to bring forth u represents an actuator. Assume the initial conditions y ( 0 ) = 0.1 radians ( = 5.73 deg. ) , y? ( 0 ) = 0, and the initial status for the actuator province is zero. For simulation of the fourth-order, Runge-Kutta method has been used with an integrating measure size of 0.01. Again, this works has been designed utilizing MATLAB package ( for simulation in MATLAB ) , and in non-synthesizable VHDL codification ( for simulation in ModelSim ) . A particular bundle was designed in VHDL codification to implement trigonometric maps and fourth-order Runge-Kutta method which are non available in Quartus II ( or in ISE ) criterion libraries. The values of Kp, Kd, Ki, and Ko used in this trial were selected utilizing test and mistake. The accountant gives action at 0.7 à µs after the input latching. When utilizing nonlinear system for trial, both versions ( 6FBC and 8FBC ) supply by and large good responses though there is some oscillation. ( one mu st non be deceived by the steady province mistake that appears in Figure ( 4 ) , since it represents less than 1 % of the end product scope in the instance of 6FBC and less than 0.5 % of the end product scope, in the instance of 8FBC ) . The absolute mean difference between the nonlinear works response, utilizing MSBC, and the nonlinear works response, utilizing 6FBC, is less than 0.0155. The absolute mean difference between the nonlinear works response, utilizing MSBC, and the nonlinear works response, utilizing 8FBC, is less than 0.0085 as shown in Fig. 3. 5. Execution of the Proposed PIDFLC The proposed PIDFLC has been implemented utilizing Altera DE2 board, this board offers a rich set of characteristics that make it suited for usage in a research lab environment for university and college classs and can used for any design executions, every bit good as for the development of sophisticated digital systems by utilizing hardware description linguistic communication ( HDL ) . All connexions are made through the Cyclone II 2C35 FPGA device in order to supply maximal flexibleness for the user. Therefore, the user can configure the FPGA to implement any system design. 6. Decision Simulation environments have been built utilizing non-synthesizable VHDL codification for the intent of simulation in ModelSim, and the same design is coded in Matlab for the intent of simulation in Matlab ( MSBC ) . Two version of the accountant has been designed, the first one is 6-bits which uses 6-bits for each input/output variables ( 6FBC ) , while the 2nd uses 8-bits each input/output variables ( 8FBC ) . Two instance surveies have been used in order to prove this accountant. From these consequences, 8FBC is superior to 6FBC and it ââ¬Ës much close to MSBC. The accountant was able to bring forth an end product in 0.3 millisecond ( after input latching ) for additive workss and 0.7 millisecond for nonlinear works. Therefore, the proposed accountant will be able to command systems with high trying rate. Recognitions The writers would wish to thank foremost, our God, and all UPM staff and all friends who gave us any aid related to this work. Finally, the most thank is to our households and to our states which born us. How to cite This paper presents an implementation, Essay examples
Saturday, December 7, 2019
Dimensions of Mental Health for Studies Psychology - myassignmenthelp
Question: Write about theDimensions of Mental Health for Studies Psychology. Answer: Case Selected: Anxiety Introduction Georgia suffers from anxiety. She is a 22 year old University student who is facing the challenge of continuing with life in her present condition. She is in her third year and studies psychology. Her life is full of stress which is affecting even her performance in school. She fears doing exams because she feels that she is not prepared. She finds it difficult to concentrate on her studies because of her present condition. She also has problems completing her assignment on time. She lives alone in a small room near the school. She even changed from being a full-time student to part time. Georgia says that she has stress and she feels tense and anxious and currently she has problems sleeping. Her life seems to be in a mess. She lies awake for hours in bed and often wakes up feeling exhausted like somebody who has worked all night long. She also feels short of breath her heart pounds and she gets a feeling of doom. Her parents live far away from her even though she calls her mother fr equently. In spite of her condition she does not use drugs. She uses alcohol occasionally. She fears taking after her mother who also suffers from anxiety. Mental Health and Mental Illness Mental health is vital to ever individual. Mental illness is a recognized and medically diagnosable illness that affects the cognitive, effective and relational ability of an individual (Hyman, 2012). Mental illness occurs in life to spoil the life of an individual. Mental complications arise from biological developmental and psychosocial factors that can be managed just like the physical conditions. Mental health and mental illness are not the same but are related. Optimal Mental health is at one end while mental illness is at the other. Mental illness is prevalent all over the world. Having poor mental health is related to emotional distress. Poor mental health is more common than depression. Georgia suffers a mental illness that makes it difficult for her to cope. Mental health and mental illness change with time depending on man factors. The factors may be such as the level of individual or office stress, way of life and health experience of shock and genetics. Relationship Between Mental Health and Physical Health Mental and physical health are linked in a fundamental way. A person who suffers from a mental illness suffers from chronic physical condition that affects his quality of life. The physical condition also demands healthcare and brings about some negative consequences in the society .According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is no health without mental health (Simos, 2013). Lack of good mental health is a risk factor for contacting prolonged physical conditions. A person who suffers from chronic physical situation is at risk of suffering from poor mental health. A person who suffers from a mental illness may not be in a position to discharge the duties that he does physically (Freeman, 2012). A person with a mental illness often looks like a physically ill person because he cannot discharge the duties of a physically fit person. People who develop mental sickness can increase their vulnerability to acquire deprived physical health. Mental illness can decrease energy leve ls which can negatively impact the adoption of healthy behavior. People may lack motivation to take care of their health which may worsen the situation. They may also adopt eating and sleeping habits that not healthy. People living with poor mental health often face a high rate of unemployment, poverty lack of stable housing and social isolation (Taylor, 2008). The factors may increase the vulnerability of developing chronic physical conditions. The also suffer from poor nutrition that may also affect their physical condition. They may also develop diseases such as diabetes and heart diseases. Personal Recovery in Relation to the Case Study In order for Georgia to cope with life she needs to adapt a recovery program. She needs to recover from her condition in order to continue with her studies. She can seek a doctor to assist her with the recovery. She can also talk with the local friends in order to assist her in the recovery program. A recovery program helps an individual to know the kind of life that she wants to lead. For instance, a person may be willing to change her way of life in order to lead a normal life. She would be needed to visit a psychiatric clinic in order to lead a normal life. (Heimberg, 2004).A person like Georgia needs medical attention because her case has become a serious condition. She may visit a doctor who will administer some drugs that would be of benefit to her. The doctor may also assign for her clinics that she may be required to attend until she recovers. Counseling classes would also do her good since she would be advised on how she can cope with her present condition and triumph over i t. It is advisable for her to inform her parents since they may also give some moral support to her. She immediately embark on a recovery program that would benefit her until she regains her complete recovery. In her situation drug would do her good sine she is even lacking sleep. Her parents should also offer help to her by being close to her. She needs also to avoid friends who will make her take drugs or drink alcohol. She needs to avoid even the alcohol that she takes occasionally because it is not good for her health (Norton, 2012). In her present condition she needs to avoid consuming any kind of drug and concentrate on medical care. Her case of anxiety needs to be checked with a lot of seriousness until she regains her complete recovery. Georgia should also realize that she needs to change her way of life so that she may lead a normal life like other individuals. It will take her effort to ensure that she is changed completely. She needs to take serious steps towards ensuring she regains her normal condition of mental health. She will be the course of change in her life. The recovery process will require much effort and without the sacrifice of Georgia herself (Abramowitz, 2012). What Personal Recovery Means to Georgia Personal recovery may mean a lot to Georgia. The life of Georgia may become changed completely if she follows the recovery program that her doctor would recommend. It would mean she would manage to concentrate on her studies without disturbance. She would also be in a position to complete her assignments at the right time. Georgia would also manage to get back her sleep without struggling. She would also be in a position to do away with feeling tired and exhausted all the time. Her life would change for the better. A recovery program for Georgia would also mean that she would manage to face life with confidence (Hyman, 2012). She will have to develop a positive attitude towards life and school work. A 22 year old girl is still a young person with a life ahead of her. She would also manage into get in a relationship with a man who would be her future husband. Having a recovery program would help Georgia to lead a normal life just like the other girls of her age (Mynors, 2005). It woul d improve her mental state of health. Leading a healthy life is important for every individual. Every person needs to have a healthy life and to enjoy life to the maximum. A recovery program would enable Georgia to enjoy life since she would not experience the problems that she is experiencing now. It would ensure that she does not look old while she is still young. She would also recover and have an opportunity to inform others that it is possible for a person suffering from anxiety to recover and lead a normal life. Best Interventions to the Mental Health Needs of the Patient The best treatment for a person with anxiety would be starting with therapy. Starting with certain types of therapy such as cognitive therapy, behavioral therapy and exposure therapy would be of benefit to her. Therapy is said to be the best treatment option while treating anxiety (Barlow, 2004). The therapies can teach an individual how to cope with her present condition. Therapy can treat more problems than medication. At the same time medication is also important for healing anxiety. However, therapy treats more than just the symptoms of the disease (Westra, 2016). For a person like Georgia therapy help her uncover her underlying causes of worries, fears and help her relax. She can also look at the situation in new less frightening way. Through cognitive therapy Georgia would learn how her thoughts contribute to her anxiety symptoms. By knowing how to manage her thoughts she can reduce the intensity of her anxiety problem. With behavioral therapy Georgia would learn how to reduce undesired behavior that lead to anxiety symptoms. She would be taught how to approach activities and situations that provoke anxiety (Rygh, 2004). She would be taught to avoid being alone for long but to associate with people who may be of help to her. She can also develop better coping and problem solving skills. Therapy would even give her the skills of coping with the problems and teach her how to apply them. She would be taught how to manage her fear and face life with courage. Therapy would be tailored to her specific symptoms and concerns (Spielberger, 2013). Many anxiety therapies are short term. They would last for 8 to 10 months for serious anxiety patients. The length of the therapy will depend on the severity of the problem. Some problems would require more therapy sessions the others. Anxiety therapy may be conducted at the individual level or as a group. Each anxiety therapy may be used alone or may be combined with other types of therapy. There are many types of therap y but the leading one is cognitive and exposure therapies. Apart from therapy, anxiety disorder can also be treated by seeing psychologist. Georgia can see a psychologist who is trained in treating anxiety disorder who would teach her healthier and more effective ways to cope (Clarke, 2008). Georgia would also learn to understand how her thoughts were contributing to her sickness. Through the help of a psychologist, Georgia would learn the factors that contribute to the problem. Psychotherapy would also be of great benefit to Georgia. It involves a collaborative process where psychologists and patients work together to enhance the healing process (Abramowitz, 2012). She would be taught how to develop concrete skills that would enhance the healing process. Majority of patients of anxiety recover after several months of psychotherapy (In Pine, 2015). Majority of patients notice improvements after just a few sessions. Psychologists are highly trained and would tailor a treatment plan for their patients. If Georgia seeks the help of one she will find help sooner than she expected. Group psychotherapy can be effective for treating anxiety and providing support to the patients (Weil, 2011). Georgia would seek help both from a group level and as an individual. Family psychotherapy would also help her family members to know the problem that she is suffering from. Implications and Conclusion Conclusively, when working with someone suffering from this illness it is advisable for the individual to know how to work with them. In this regard, the practice helps improve the healthcare professionals understanding on the delivery of patient-centered care to the mental health patients. For instance, an individual should know that the person suffering from anxiety needs to be treated with care. The doctor should know that the patient needs to be treated with understanding. For instance, she should offer guidance and counseling to the patient and do it with caution. She needs to advise the patient on how to handle themselves during this situation. The doctor needs to show the patients that they can recover regardless of how worse the situation may be. It is the work of the doctor to encourage the patients and make them feel that the can still lead a normal life regardless of the situation they are in. The psychologist needs to know that he is dealing with what kind of people. She needs to give them emotional support in order to encourage them to go on with life. She needs to listen to their stories so that she may know how to help them. The doctor needs to show the patients that there is a life ahead of them. She also needs to treat them in a friendly manner so that they would feel loved. References Abramowitz, J. S., Deacon, B. J., Whiteside, S. P.H. 2012. Exposure therapy for anxiety: Principles and practice. New York [u.a.: Guilford Press. Barlow, D. H, 2004. Anxiety and its disorders: The nature and treatment of anxiety and panic. New York: Guilford Press. Clarke, J. C., Jackson, J, A. 2008. Hypnosis and behavior therapy: The treatment of anxiety and phobias. New York: Springer. Hyman, B. M., Overdrive Inc. 2012. Anxiety Disorders. S.I.: Lerner Publishing Group. Freeman,D., Freeman, J., Oxford University Press. 2012. Anxiety: A very short introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press Heimberg, R.G., Turk, C. L., Mennin, D. S. 2004. Generalized anxiety disorder: Advances in research and practice. New York: Guilford Press. Hay House In Pine, D., In Rothbaum, B. O., In Ressler, K. 2015. Primer on anxiety disorders: Translational perspectives on diagnosis and treatment. Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, Leahy, R. L. 2009. Anxiety free: Unravel your fears before they unravel you. Carlsbad, Calif: Spielberger, C. D. 2013. Anxiety: Current Trends in Theory and Research. Burlington: Elsevier Science. Mynors-Wallis, L. 2005. Problem-solving treatment for anxiety and depression: A practical guide. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Norton, P. J. 2012. Group cognitive-behavioral therapy of anxiety: A trans diagnostic treatment manual. New York, N.Y: Guilford Press. The treatment of anxiety disorders: Clinician guides and patient manuals. 2003. Cambridge: United Kingdom. Rygh J. L., Sanderson, W. C. 2004. Treating generalized anxiety disorder: Evidence-based strategies, tools, and techniques. New York: Guilford Press. Simos, G., In Hofmann, S. G. 2013. CBT for anxiety disorders: A practitioner book. Chichester, West Sussex, UK : Wiley-Blackwell, 2013.Bottom of Form Taylor, C. B., Arnow, B. 2008. The nature and treatment of anxiety disorders. New York: Free Press [u.a..
Saturday, November 30, 2019
Lessons Were Learned Essays - Fiction, Business,
Lessons Were Learned In high school, I was a bad kid. I didn't do drugs or drink beer, but I was bad. School wasn't a priority of mine during my junior year, and I failed all of my classes except weight training, ceramics, and jewelry. I lived for the bell at the end of the day. This was the first year that I drove, and I did it a lot. I had an old baby blue Chevrolet pickup that could fly like the wind. I met a lot of people, and gained some good friends. Towards the beginning of the year, I spent lots of my time with my friend Jim. He was into cars and he helped me a lot with my truck. We used to get to school early every day to get good parking. Sitting in his truck, we listened to music, talked about the most random things, and smoked cigarettes. We shared the same first class and were always late to it. We both failed it. Another cool friend that I had was Stacey. We had dated for a while back in the eighth grade, so I knew her pretty well. We both spent our free third period and our time after school together. Stacey's friend Scott was a senior whom I already knew because he was a friend of my older brother years earlier. Early in the school year, the three of us hung out on the weekends. Some time after Christmas, Scott and Stacey met Jim. We all seemed to get along well and had some good times together. We met Dan one day up at the smoking corner. Dan was a sophomore and also into trucks. John Basset, Jim's friend who lived in Issaquah, also had a big truck. I had previously met his girlfriend who went to our school. J.B.'s girlfriend, Vicki, was a bitch. Everyone knew it and they just dealt with it. The seven of us quickly became a close circle of friends. The whole gang, Jim, Vicki, J.B., Scott, Dan, Stacey and I, started hanging out a lot on the weekends. We used to go up to the mountains with all of our trucks and go 4-wheeling. We built huge bonfires and sat around them telling stories and sipping beer. This was my crew, my friends, and the main priority in my life. Sometime in March, things changed. One Saturday night while we were all together planning our mischief, Vicki and Stacey got in an argument. The argument almost got physical, but the boys and I stopped it just in time. It changed everything. Stacey didn't hang out with the crew after that, and I was the only one that still hung out with her. I dealt with separating my time between the crew and Stacey. That bothered me, but I did it because I wanted to keep all of my friends. At the end of my junior year, I spent the last day of school with Stacey. That Friday night I went over to Stacey's house and watched a movie. I had to be home that night by one o'clock. At twelve thirty, I went to the street to get in my truck, and as I put my hand on the door handle to open the door, I felt gooey stuff on the handle. As it got all over my hand, I looked at the ground and there were eggshells scattered about. Then I realized who had done this to me. The egg was still fresh, and it was all over the side of my truck. This meant that it hadn't been long since they egged my truck. Stacey and I hosed down the side of my truck and wiped it down with paper towels. After we cleaned it off, I got in the truck and there was egg all over the dash and on the floor. The culprits had opened the rear-sliding window and threw some eggs into the cab of my truck, which took me weeks to clean. As I was cleaning out the cab of the truck, I noticed a car creeping along on a crossing str eet about a half-mile away. The car's headlights were off. I grabbed my flashlight from
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)