Problems and Parallels Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Problems and Parallels - Essay Example The species homo erectus was almost human, because it was an advanced hominid which walked upright on two legs. This species disappeared 230,000 years ago and was replaced by homo sapiens. The word sapiens comes from Latin and means â€Å"knowing† and it refers to the larger brain size and greater intelligence of homo sapiens. Humans share a large percentage of their genes with apes and chimpanzees but their larger brain size and differences in the physical structure of their hands and their speaking organs make it easier for humans to adapt and learn new skills like tool use and language. Quite a lot of the social behaviors of humans and apes are similar and some chimpanzees have even been taught to speak sign language, and so the overlap is perhaps bigger than we might expect just by looking at the hairy bodies of other primates. 2. It was once thought that Neanderthals with their larger body size and heavier skulls were an earlier form of humanoid but scholars now accept that they are part of the same species as homo sapiens and probably interbred with the more slender form of human that we resemble today. Archeologists have discovered that the two species overlapped in time by many thousands of years, and it may be that the higher intelligence and better adaptability of anatomically modern humans gradually squeezed the Neanderthals to the edges of the known world until they died out. Homo florensiensis skeletons found just a few years ago have set the scientists rethinking the whole definition of homo sapiens because these tiny 1 meter tall pygmy like people have some similarities with older forms of hominid, and yet apart from their reduced size, seem also very similar to modern humans. They, too, seem to have co-existed with modern humans in the same area at the same time, and may have lasted until about 12,000 years ago, which is longer than the

Alternative Energy Source Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Alternative Energy Source - Essay Example Scientists, conservationists, lobbyists, and a range of other scholars have explored on the subject of alternative energy source through various perspectives. Their views represent the various schools of thought that have emerged to define the problem. Publications and research work developed about the subject have often been classified into major themes including the depletion of fossil fuels, rising levels of consumption, safety, pollution, types of alternative sources of energy, the cost factor, and sustainability (Michaelides 41). These themes are considered along local and universal perspectives. In essence, some of the issues that connect to the development of alternative energy sources are consistent with the view that the developmental needs of humanity are entirely dependent on the availability of sufficient clean energy, which does not pose any significant threat to the eco-systems around the world. On this note, it becomes important to consider the fact that debate on the production of alternative source of energy is also understood together with the need to lessen the kind of crises that have defined competition over the existing forms energy. A major factor of consideration is the fact that the economies of nearly all the countries around the world are driven by the influence of energy on other sectors, which affect the performance of markets and other indicators. Challenges of monopoly over oil, for instance, have contributed to fears in the developing and the developed world of dominance and manipulation of the economic order in ways that could impact negatively on the aspect of globalization and liberalization of world economies (Kruger 66). Consequently, it becomes necessary to investigate available options to the question of alternative sources of energy and the need to resolve current issues affecting the development of energy levels. A wide range of research work has indicated that the world supply of oil has reduced drastically over the pas t century. Fears continue to grip the developed and the developing world over the question of sustainability and the impact of the reduction on the stability of the world economy. On this matter, research has shown that many countries will face significant challenges in the running of their industries as the fuel levels continue to reduce (Kowalski 30). Industrialization has been accepted as an important benchmark of development. Countries continue to grapple with the challenge in various ways that underscore the different levels of impact across the globe. Estimates from multiple sources indicate that the depletion of fossil fuels might reach crisis levels in about 50 years. The same research shows that many countries have continued to allocate significant amounts of money in their budgets to research initiatives aimed at promoting the development of alternative energy sources to complement or supplement the dwindling supplies of fossil fuels. The rise of China as a major industria l economic power has also been cited in a wide range of research work as a contributing factor to the insecurities about fuel, which continue to threaten world stability. China has been mentioned in these research works as a leading consumer of fuel in the world. It remains a major importer of oil and

Rachel Nickell The Investigation of Colin Stagg

Rachel Nickell The Investigation of Colin Stagg In July 1992, Rachel Nickell was attacked and murdered, her throat was cut, and she was stabbed 49 times then sexually assaulted. The sensitivity and cruelty of this case from the beginning, police faced pressure from the public and media to solve it. The investigation was carried out by Scotland Yard officers of the Metropolitan Police. After collecting evidence from a crime scene, there was no DNA found, which means that there was no forensic evidence to link any suspect with the crime scene (Evans 1992). The Metropolitan Police reached for help and advice from Paul Britton, a criminal psychologist, as profiling is mostly used in those cases where police have just a few clues (Britton 1997). It uses combination of psychological processes and theories with investigation to create offender profiling, geographical analysis of the crime location and offender, advises on interaction with media and providing interview strategies (Stelfox 2009). The work of Paul Britton can be criticised on the basic grounds, as it looked like he was leading the investigation or had too much powers form investigators instead of just offering the help to investigators to profile unknown suspect. Paul Britton was accused of breaching the British Psychological Societys code of conduct when he helped the Metropolitan Police detectives to design and conduct the operation Ezdell, a honey trap (Morris 2002). Paul Britton gave a detail description of a suspect and directed the investigation to Colin Stagg. However, the main aim of profiling is not to provide information for the police about who exactly committed a specific crime as mention earlier, but to make predictions and suggestions about the most probable characteristics, social and psychological assessment of the offender (Ainsworth 2001, Holmes and Holmes 1996). Paul Brittons work and involvement in this case can be criticised according to Gudjonssons statement, that criminal psychologists tend to work on probabilities, suggestions and predictions, whereas police operate in terms of quilt or innocence, it is like a black and white scenario. It also means that the person labelled a suspect, Britton provided profile of Colin Stagg labelled as a potential suspect, will be presumed guilty until proven innocent (Gudjonsson 1992). Honey-trap: The Metropolitan Police carried out the covert operation just to see if Stagg will eliminate or incriminate himself. An undercover police woman from the Metropolitan Polices Special Operation Group played role of covert human intelligence source (CHIS). She had to establish and maintain a relationship with Stagg to collect information about his sexual and violent fantasies (Stelfox 2009). Due to his psychological profile of a murderer he was supposed to confess and revel his deepest secrets (Roberts and Zuckerman 2004). In his letters he talked about violent fantasies and over the phone described that he enjoyed hurting people. During the covert operation Stagg never admitted to murdering Rachel Nickell. However, Britton was confident about Staggs guilt and received an advice from Crown Prosecution Services lawyers. Once again Brittons role went beyond making predictions and suggestions about most possible characteristics of the suspect (Ainsworth 2001, Holmes and Holmes 1996). He leaded the investigation. Police also believed that those evidences would be sufficient in court and guarantee conviction, after consultation with Britton. Colin Stagg was arrested and charged with Rachel Nickells murder in August 1993 (Evans 1992 and Cohen 1999). The case of Colin Stagg was seen as a textbook example of the unethical use of profiling and the abuse of powers (Turvey 2008 and Ormerod 1999), because the investigation was concentrated on finding the suspect and then constructing the investigation instead of investigating the crime scene and conducting investigation. In the other words, thats an example of a case construction to charge the suspect (Maguire and Norris 1992). However, the entire and sophisticated psychological trap was created by Britton. Stagg was manipulated, entrapped, enticed and promised an affair with a beautiful woman only if he would confess. Simply speaking, the aim of the operation was to trick Stagg into confession. Brittons way of constructing the covert operation, hints during the interview and analysing his reactions were unethical (Cohen 1999, Evans 1992 and Morris 2002). Also an undercover operation was seen as misconceived and the Metropolitan Police tried to incriminate a suspect by deceptive and unprofessional conduct to receive a confession, entrapment and profiling evidence were excluded and the case was withdrew by the prosecution (Ainsworth 2001, Cohen 1999, Evans 1992 and Johnson 2006). Arrest and interviewing: An introduction of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 determined many illegal activities of British detectives and introduced basics changes in approaching and interviewing suspect in the interview room. It is necessary to remember that inappropriate interviewing techniques may result that a genuinely innocent person will make a confession (Ainsworth 2001 and Cherryman, Bull and Vrij 2002). In Colin Staggs case, Paul Britton, gave specific advice to the police about the best way to conduct an interview with a suspect and how to approach him. Those advices were concentrated on the way how to persuade a suspect to confess. Staggs interview lasted for three days and during the interrogation suspects behaviour was contradictory and sometimes confusing. According to Britton, his denials were suggestive his basic intelligence level, it did not go through his mind that the suspect may be innocent (Ainsworth 2001). Stagg was detained in custody for interviewing for three days, however a suspect cannot be detained in the custody for longer than 24h without being charged, or it can be extended to 36h with the authority of police superintendent. If there is not enough evidence to charge the suspect, he/she need to be released on bail. According to those three scenarios, Staggs detentions in custody would be unlawful, but in case of murder charges, a suspect may be refused release and remain in the custody until the trail (Home Office 2010). Trial, conviction and eventual acquittal: There was no forensic evidence linking Colin Stagg with a crime scene, witness said to the police that saw him or a man very like him on the day of Rachel Nickells murder that seems to be enough for the Metropolitan Police to tag Stagg as a suspect. The Metropolitan Police officers were under high pressure from the media and public to get a conviction and tend to misused powers of the science of criminal profiling. They examined and rejected 547 suspects but still have no idea who killed Rachel Nickell. Undercover female police officer tried to get Stagg to confess to Rachel Nickells murder, by encouraging Stagg to talk about his sexual and violent fantasies, promising to have sexual intercourse with him if his was the one who killed Rachel Nickell. Months of undercover work produced nothing, Stagg never admitted to murdering and stabbing to death Rachel Nickell. The police decided to make an arrest and charge Colin Stagg with a murder based on the intelligence collected during the undercover operation. Prosecution withdrew the case and Stagg was acquitted in 1994 (Ainsworth 2001, Cohen 1999). Cold case review and new suspect: In 2002, the Scotland Yard police used their cold case review team to have another look at the Rachel Nickell killing. Officers analysed witness statements, checked files for potential suspects and search for a connection between other crimes. They also compared Rachel Nickells injuries with other victims and contacted Forensic Science Service about new methods of DNA matching techniques (Tendler 2007). Latest techniques were used to take microscopic particles of victims DNA from the clothing and tested them in the laboratory to produce a match. The match did not belong to victims partner or son. Sample was helpful to eliminate some of the suspects, but was insufficient to provide identification (Leppard 2007). In 2006, the Scotland Yard team interview convicted sex killers in Bradmoor Hospital. Robert Napper was interviewed was interviewed three times by the murder squad. Year later, Nappel was charged with Rachel Nickells murder and he pleaded not guilty (ONeill 2007). In 2008 Robert Nappel was found guilty of manslaughter of Rachel Nickell on the grounds of diminished responsibility (Leppard 2007 and Dodd 2007). Robert Nappel and series police errors: Robert Nappel was also known as Plumstead Ripper, was suspected of up to 40 violent raped, but has never admitted to them. Police started their gross errors in judgment in 1989 where they failed to deal with Nappels mother claim who reported that Nappel admitted to raping a woman (Casciani 2010). Police officers could have arrest him before he assaulted and murdered more woman, but instead just ignored the claim (News London 2010). He was eliminated as a suspect from Rachel Nickells murder because he was not often in that area of London. However, Metropolitan Police did not checked Nappels past and current activities or involvement. In fact he knew the area well because he was attending for the psychiatric treatment in the nearby clinic. That was another mistake made by police which could save womens life. There were few situations where Metropolitan Police officers did not joined the dots and saw Napper as a suspect. He was asked twice to give a blood sample for examinations in 1992, after phone calls from neighbours that Napper looks like a wanted rapist. Every time, Napper failed to turn up and after few weeks he was eliminated from the suspects because his height did not fit the description. After few months he was arrested for stalking a woman from the local police station. The police searched his flat and found pistol, ammunition, information about how to restrain someone, maps of London, and his private diary which included addressed of previous victims. If the police would link Nappels belongings found in the flat with Rachel Nickells murder, other local murders, then Nappel hopefully would be arrested quicker. Nappels victims were restrained, their addressed were in his personal diary and he also knew how to commune to their houses. However, Napper was only given short custodial sentence and during the trial, references about his mental state were made. No further actions were taken and he walked free from the police again. Year later, he attacked innocent women again, raped and stabbed her to death. After 6 months his finger prints were found in victims flat, but according to Britton and his perfect policing skills, the scenario was different and he was free again. In 1999 he was arrested for the above murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility. The Metropolitan Police failed to stop Nappel from committing terrible killing many times as shown above and he remained free for years. That was an example of catalogue bad decisions and major errors that allowed Nappel to murder innocent women. The police did not link few dots together to see overall picture of paranoid schizophrenics actions (BBC News 2008, Dodd 2007, Leppard 2007, Laville 2008, Laville, Siddique, Percival and Sturcke 2008 and Sinclair 2010). The Independent Police Complains Commission (IPCC) IPCC released a report in June 2010 about the actions of the Metropolitan Police Service in relation to handling the Rachel Nickells murder. Their actions were described as catalogue of bas decisions which allowed Napper to kill his victims. Police failed to react when Nappels mother called to report that her son raped a girl, he simply continued to walk freely on the street s and pick new victims. They missed serious and clearly visible opportunities to question and arrest real killer, committed dreadful mistakes that resulted in innocent women being murdered and several women suffered violent sexual attacks (Holden 2010 and Maynard 2010). References: Ainsworth, P. B. (2001) Offender Profiling and Crime Analysis, Willan Publishing BBC News (2008) Man admits Rachel Nickell killing, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7783796.stm (accessed on 17/10/2010) Britton, P. (1997) The Jigsaw Men, Banton Press Casciani, D. (2010) Analysis http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10216328 (accessed on 17/10/2010) Cohen, N. (1999) Cruel Britannia: Reports of sinister and preposterous, Verso Cherryman, J, Bull, R. and Vrij, A. (2002) How police officers view confession: Is there still a confession culture?, Paper presented to the 10th European Conference of Psychology and Law, Limassol, Cyprus, 12-14th April Dodd, V. (2007) Man charged with murder of Rachel Nickell 15 years ago after new investigation of case, http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/nov/29/ukcrime.vikramdodd (accessed on 17/10/2010) Evans, C. (1992) A question of evidence: The Casebook of great forensic controversies, from Napoleon to O.J, John Wiley and Sons Gudjonsson, G. H. (1992) The Psychology of Interrogations, Confessions and Testimony, Wiley Holden, M. (2010) IPCC says police must apologise over Nickell murder, http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE6521OH20100603?pageNumber=2 (accessed on 03/11/2010) Holmes, R. M. And Holmes, S. T. (1996) Profiling Violent Crimes: An Investigative Tool, Sage Home Office, (2010) Police: Custody, http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/police/powers/custody (accessed on 03/11/2010) Johnson, B. (2006) Colin Stagg shows why trial by judge, not by media, is right, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/borisjohnson/3625868/Colin-Stagg-shows-why-trial-by-judge-not-by-media-is-right.html (accessed on 16/10/2010) Laville, S. (2008) Nickell case: Missed clues allowed Napper to kill again, http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/dec/18/robert-napper-clues (accessed on 17/10/2010) Laville, S, Siddique, H, Percival, J. And Sturcke, J. (2008) Rachel Nickell killing: Serial rapist Robert Napper pleads quilty, http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/dec/18/rachel-nickell-robert-napper-murder-guilty (accessed on 17/10/2010) Leppard, D. (2007) Met to charge Robert Napper for Rachel Nickell murder, http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article2890944.ece (accessed on 17/10/2010) Maguire, M. And Norris, C. (1992) the conduct and supervision of criminal investigations, RCCJ Research Study 5, London: HMSO Maynard, K. (2010) Its too late to bring misconduct proceedings for the police failure to apprehend Robert Napper before he murdered Rachel Nickell and others, http://www.hickmanandrose.co.uk/Press-Releases/3-june-2010-its-too-late-to-bring-misconduct-proceedings-for-the-police-failure-to-apprehend-robert-napper-before-he-murdered-rachel-nickell-and-others.html (accessed on 03/11/2010) Morris, S. (2002) Honey trap case collapse, http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2002/oct/31/ukcrime.stevenmorris (accessed on 16/10/2010) News London (2010) Police errors led to Rachel Nickell killing, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10216328 (accessed 17/10/2010) ONeill, S. (2007) Robert Napper charged with Rachel Nickell murder after DNA breakthrough, http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article2961956.ece (accessed on 17/10/2010) Ormerod, D. (1999) Criminal Profiling: trial by judge and jury, not by criminal psychologist, in Carter, D. And Alison, L. (eds.) Interviewing and Deception, Ashgate Publishing Roberts, P. and Zuckerman, A. (2004) Criminal Evidence, Oxford: Oxford University Press Sinclair. L, (2010) Police failures led to Rachel Nickell murder, http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Rachel-Nickell-Catalogue-Of-Errors-by-Metropolitan-Police-Led-To-Murder-Says-IPCC-Report/Article/201006115642717?f=rss, (accessed on 17/10/2010) Stelfox, P. (2009) Criminal Investigation: An introduction to principles and practice, Willan Publishing Tendler, S. (2007) DNA errors led to murder case review, http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article1421333.ece (accessed on 17/10/2010) Tong, S, Bryant, R. P. And Horvath, M. (2009) Understanding Criminal Investigation,Wiley-Backwell Turvey, B. E. (2008), Criminal Profiling: An introduction to behavioural Evidence Analysis, Third Edition, Elsevier

Examining Educational Theorists and Current Practice Today Essay

Examining Educational Theorists and Current Practice Today Abstract This paper names three educational theorists, Benjamin Bloom, Jean Piaget, and Lev Vygotsky, and seeks to examine their most well-known theories. These are namely, Bloom’s Taxonomy of Educational Objectives, Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development, and Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development. Each theory is briefly explained and then compared and contrasted with the other theories. Lastly, the author reflects on the practical application of these theories in a classroom setting, discussing how these philosophies fit into the author’s current practice. Can anyone with a thought, idea, or theory about a topic be considered a theorist? Those who are formally named as theorists in educated circles seem to be people who have spent time pondering a particular subject, topic, or issue and then shared his or her thoughts with others of that field, eventually following up with testing and publication. In that same vein, are not those who study and work in those fields, albeit perhaps unpublished and unrecognized, pondering the inner workings of that field also considered theorists? When it comes to education, there are those who through publication have shared their theories regarding its purposes, processes, effects, etc, and then there are those who perform its’ necessary tasks daily. The latter learn about the former as part of undergraduate courses in education but are seldom asked to carry out these theories farther than a pencil-paper test. This graduate level course has asked, in the form of this paper, for s tudents who are at work in the field of education to re-examine several of these theorists, comparing and contrasting their pu... ...onal Bureau of Education. Vol: XXX, No. 3. www.ibe.unesco.org/Internaional/Publications/ThinkersPdf/bloome.pdf Gallagher, C. (n.d.) Psychology history: Lev Semyonovich Vygotsky http://fates.cns.muskingum.edu/~psych/psycweb/history/vygotsky.htm Major categories in the taxonomy of educational objectives (Bloom, 1956). http://faculty.washington.edu/krumme/guides/bloom.html MIA: encyclopedia of marxism: glossary of people: vy (Vygotsky, Lev.). www.marxists.org/glossary/people/v/y.htm Presnell, F. (n.d.) Psychology history: Jean Piaget. http://fates.cns.muskingum.edu/~psych/psycweb/history/piaget.htm Schutz, R. (2002, March). Vygotsky and language acquisition. www.sk.com/sk-vygot.html Smith, L. (2000, November). A brief biography of Jean Piaget. The Jean Piaget Society: society for the study of knowledge and development. www.piaget.org/aboutPiaget.html

Coral Reefs And Bleaching Phenomenon Essay -- essays research papers

Imagine yourself observing one of the most diverse ecosystems on earth. Thousands of species of plants and animals provide a dizzying array of color and motion. Massive structures provide a canopy that shelters hundreds of exotic species in a myriad of microclimates. As land-based observers, we almost automatically assume that this is a description of the rich ecosystem of a tropical rainforest. However, if we take ourselves off the safety of dry land and immerse ourselves in the ocean, we will find an equally dynamic environment in the depths of our world’s coral reefs. As a Zoology major, I quickly decided to explore this biological component of the ocean environment. In the following paper, I will provide a general overview of coral reefs and examine the alarming depletion of coral and their ecological symbionts in a process known as coral bleaching.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As mentioned earlier, coral reefs are among the most diverse and productive of all communities on Earth. They are also the largest biological structures on the planet. The Great Barrier Reef, along the eastern coast of Australia, covers over 2000 kilometers and is said to be visible from the moon (Goreau, 1987). While the size of coral reefs can be enormous, their real impact is on a much smaller scale. Reefs function as food and shelter for fish and marine invertebrates. While the coral itself is an animal, through a symbiotic relationship with the unicellular algae, coral becomes the primary producer in its ocean ecosystem (Richmond 1993). The reefs are formed by calcium carbonate deposits produced by the coral polyps. According to the legendary Cousteau, in his book The Ocean World, tube worms and mollusks also donate their hard skeletons to the architecture of the growing reef (174). Biologically active compounds are also produced by reef dwelling organisms an d posses antimicrobial and antiviral properties (Van Alstyne 1988). In fact, coral produces a natural sunscreen that is currently marketed and also holds promise in generating chemicals for AIDS and cancer research. In 1995, researchers mimicked the structural components of coral and now use the patented super hard compound to repair shattered human bones (Alderage 1995). Further more, coral reefs are naturally extremely productive fishing grounds. In fact, healthy reefs produce up to 10-100 times more yield per unit a... ...pear, the fate of one of the world’s most diverse ecosystem remains to be seen. Bibliography Alderage, Susan. April 1995. â€Å"Coral :Replacement for Human Bones.† Focus Magazine. P45(46) Brown, B.E., Odgen, J.C. 1993. â€Å"Coral Bleaching.† Scientific American, 269:64-70 Cohen, Anne L.; Lobel, Phillip S. Oct. 1997. â€Å"Coral Bleaching on the Johnston Atoll.† The Biological Bulletin. V193: n2. P276(4). â€Å"Coral Color.† November 1997. Discover Magazine-Current Clips. P10 Cousteau, J. Y. 1985. The Ocean World. Harry N. Abrams, Inc., New York, NY, pp. 174-175. Goreau, Thomas. August 1987. â€Å"Coral and Coral Parks.† Scientific American. V113:34-36 Luoma, Jon R. Nov. 1996. â€Å"Reef Madness† Audubon. V98: n6. P24(3). Richmond, R. H. 1993. â€Å"Coral Reefs: Present problems and Future Concerns Resulting form Athropogenic Disturbence.† American Zoologist. V33: P524-536. Van Alstyne, K. L. and V. J. Paul. 1988. â€Å"The Role of Secondary Metabolites in Marine Ecological Interactions.† Proceedings of the 6th International Coral Reef Symposium, Australia, Vol. 1. Wilkinson, C. R. 1987. â€Å"Interocean Differences in Size and Nutrition of Coral Reef Sponge Populations.† Science, Vol. 236: P1654-1657.

Right to Check Employees’ Backgrounds

In my opinion, employers should have the right to check applicants’ backgrounds whether or not suspicion of misbehavior, security threats, credit histories, driving offenses etcetera exist. This will ensure employers or companies that they won’t have any ‘problematic employees’ in within the organization. However, even if this should be a right held by the employers, companies, organizations, etcetera, the law states that the they â€Å"do not have unlimited rights to dig into an applicant’s background and personal life† (US Small Business Administration, 2008, n. . ). This means that there are certain ‘checks’ that these employers, companies, organizations, etcetera cannot pursue simply because it is forbidden by the law and they can be charged in court if they push through with unlimited ‘checks’ (US Small Business Administration, 2008, n. p. ). The following are the background checks that may be done including the limitations set by the law: First is with regards to â€Å"credit reports† (US Small Business Administration, 2008, n. . ). The restriction set by the law for this is known as â€Å"the Fair Credit Reporting Act† wherein employers, companies, organizations, etcetera are obliged to obtain a formal â€Å"written consent† coming from the employee/applicant before the former could see the latter’s â€Å"credit report† (US Small Business Administration, 2008, n. p. ). The second entails â€Å"criminal records† (US Small Business Administration, 2008, n. p. ). Employers, organizations, companies, etcetera may look into an applicant’s criminal records but this should be done through their lawyer or they should consult the â€Å"Federal Bureau of Investigation† especially if they need an â€Å"employee background investigation† to be carried out or if they wanted to make sure that the applicant has not been involved in violation of the following: â€Å"antitrust laws, trade secret laws, intellectual property laws, economic sabotage, as well as, anti-terrorism laws† (US Small Business Administration, 2008, n. p. ). The third involves â€Å"lie detector tests† (US Small Business Administration, 2008, n. . ). The use of the aforementioned may be allowed only by employers whose businesses involve: â€Å"armored car services, alarm/guard services, pharmaceutical manufacturing & distribution, etc† (US Small Business Administration, 2008, n. p. ). Employers, therefore cannot just make an employee/applicant undergo â€Å"lie detector tests† because the latter is protected by the â€Å"Employee Polygraph Protection Act† (US Small Business Administration, 2008, n. p. ). The fourth is with regards to ‘health check’ (US Small Business Administration, 2008, n. p. ). Here, an employer, organization, company, etcetera can always ask the health expert or the health institution if an employee can carry out a certain task; however one cannot ask for the entire medical record of an employee or applicant because doing so is a violation of the â€Å"Americans with Disabilities Act† (US Small Business Administration, 2008, n. p. ). In addition to that, health institutions would not give in to such an employer’s request because â€Å"confidentiality of medical records† is a part of the â€Å"American Medical Association’s Code of Ethics†; legal issues will emerge if they violate this (US Small Business Administration, 2008, n. . ). Last but not least pertains to the school records of an applicant (US Small Business Administration, 2008, n. p. ). Fortunately, these may be scrutinized by employers however they should be able to get the applicant’s approval before they carry that out (US Small Business Administration, 2008, n. p. ). Applicants are protected because of the â€Å"Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act† (US Small Business Administration, 2008, n. p. ). Employers then should have the right to check on applicants’ backgrounds but only to a certain extent and only those which the law allows.

All About Me .

Shadira Andrews Writing #5 Night My whole heart stopped when I saw the blood dripping from my arm. Today was a regular day but my whole life changed. It was a sunny day with my cousins, sister, friends and I when suddenly I get a huge scar on my right back-hand. It might look like a burn but it’s not, it’s a terrible long lasting scar. This raggedy old scar is about nine years old but I still remember every single detail of how this happened. An almost trip to the hospital wasn’t supposed to happen with just a game of basketball that I wasn’t playing.This almost fun day was one of the worst days of my life; this was the night of my life. Why do we have to play tag? This game makes me very exhausted but I have to other wise my crush is going to think I am fat. I am going to need about five bottles of Gatorade to stay energized though. We played tag around the school-yard for about 15 minutes but I had to use the restroom so I told everyone that I’ll be back in a couple of minutes. Just before I was completely out of the yard my sister called my name to ask me to get her something from the house.The next thing you know a boy ends up accidently knocking me unto the floor and I slide across the concrete. If I was car and I was making a sharp turn you would only hear me screaking. The boy was playing basketball and I happened to stop right in front of the basketball court. I can’t believe I’m lying on this concrete with nothing but blood and a boy I don’t even know next to me. I blacked out for a moment and couldn’t hear anything, it was so silent but everyone talked. All I could see and remember is the faces on everyone’s face.My sister looked as if she was having a baby, and the boy looked as if he saw something ghastly. Everyone was panicking but what I couldn’t get out of my head is the fact that my stockings ripped; those were new stockings that my mom finally got me so you could say m y facial expression was being annoyed and irritated. By now I have snapped out of my black out. My cousins helped me up while the shamefaced boy offered me bandages. I just remember I really have a full bladder right about now.Night, pain, dusk, and agony is all that filtered the air as I was being carried by a dozen of my relatives, I mean come on was I that heavy did my crush need to know I needed half of dozen people carrying me. All I was thinking was â€Å"Am I going to get into trouble for ripping my brand new stockings? † As soon as I got into the house my dad asked what happened and I just said â€Å"I fell. † I didn’t want my chaos to turn into a royal rumble or something. My dad did the worst thing ever! He grabs alcohol, peroxide, and everything else that’s expected to stings.I automatically start to cry knowing that the felling will soon be excruciating pain. Of course I hate pain and honesty I didn’t feel anything when my skin came off my right back-hand; but when my dad put that alcohol on my open wound I could have said every curse word in the book. Right about now I was speaking gibberish, the pain was unbearable and I couldn’t understand why my dad didn’t just take me to the hospital he is not a doctor. I guess you could say a dad is anything and everything it needs to be at the time being.Pain is such an uncomfortable feeling that even a tiny amount of it is enough to ruin a week. My hand was throbbing and I couldn’t move it or think about it because that just made the situation worst. I tried a lot of things to make the pain fade away. I tried eating ice cream, going to sleep, and even putting a cold rag around the bandage nothing worked. Then, everyone decided to leave me in the house by myself. My mom and dad had to work and my siblings just took it upon themselves to go outside and not tell me. I looked at the clock and it’s approximately five minutes to 12 when there is a kno ck on the door.Now I am not going to lie I was little scared to answer the door since it was so late so since I was short I climbed on the couch’s leg and looked throw the peep hole. It was my crush! Was he going to make fun of me, let’s see? Everything I did our little conversation was the only thing that helped me block out the pain, of course I was blushing he was adorable. I was finally coming into the house with a smile on my face today and that smile easily went away when I saw the time on my round clock, it said it was 12:11 A. M.In conclusion, today was the worst day ever I got hurt pretty bad with a scar that will be on my back-hand for life and I for the first time ever I now know what pain really feels like. I also have a fear of basketball now no lie; every time I play basketball I always seem to get hurt either I get hit in the head with the ball or I hurt my fingers and they become swollen. Every time someone ask me what happened to my hand and if I were burnt, I say no and I have to summarize this whole story. I try not to remember and forget but I can’t forget that pain. â€Å"Pain has an element of blank† Emily Dickinson.