There`s Always Laughter to Life - 1459 Words

There`s always laughter to life Understanding life and why things happen is impossible. Life is like a game, accepting the things that life throws at us is the challenge. For some, giving up is the key to life. For others it`s important to look at the bright side of life and live on. Nick Hornby tackles very serious issues in his novels Slam and A Long Way Down. However, he addresses the topics in a more comic manner which creates a more appealing and effective story. In both novels, Hornby takes on serious issues in today`s society. Although lessons are to be learned about these issues, he takes a funny approach to telling the story. In Slam, several issues arise with a 16-year old boy. The first big issue he discusses is teen†¦show more content†¦But something happened† (Hornby, Slam 61). He gives a great deal of detail of what has happened, and even puts emotion into what he is saying to a reader. Although Sam is usually calm, he gets rather angry when his mother brings up his birth, â€Å"Yeah, yeah. It f***** up your life† (Hornby Slam 59). This is quite ironic, because Sam believes her life is messed up due to an early baby. However, although an accident, Sam is planning on having a child with Alicia at the age of 16 as well. Hornby uses these parallels to create a comic image in his readers mind. Alicia’s parents play a strong role in Sam’s life. Hornby uses them as the stereotypical strict parents. Andr ea, a counsellor becomes very upset about the pregnancy. Robert Burns, a college professor is furious about the pregnancy. This puts extra pressure on Sam and his struggles. Hornby uses the parents to create some controversy, which is another great comedy technique. Squires 4 Characters in A Long Way Down are very diverse. Hornby relates to every character in a way, â€Å"I have a disabled son of my own, and there are lots of things in her that I’m clued into† (Hornby). When able to relate to characters in your own novel, it’s easy to joke about things you may have experienced yourself as an author. Hornby does a great job with character portrayals in A Long WayShow MoreRelatedBenefits Of Laughter As Medicine1483 Words   |  6 PagesUsing Laughter as Medicine There are thousands of medicines ranging from the modern medicines to those medicines that are not necessarily commonplace, hence the name alternative medicine. The question arises around the idea of what exactly â€Å"medicine† is. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines medicine as â€Å"the science that deals with preventing, curing, and treating diseases†. So with this vague definition what should be considered medicine? I say that laughter is definitely a medicine because ofRead MoreAn Analysis Of Ken Kesy s One Flew Over The Cuckoo s Nest1244 Words   |  5 PagesCuckoo s Nest, humor is present in a very powerful form. Normally, insane people don’t have the capacity to laugh or find the humor in something as would normal people do. They live tragic existences, wandering day by day in the bland, depressing world of an asylum. They have forgotten how to live because they are under the commanding rule of the head nurse, and under the behavioral influence of d rug doses and bossy orderlies. The patients’ laughter is a therapeutic form. In the novel laughter representsRead MoreCoping Strategies For Pediatric Patients Essay1282 Words   |  6 Pageswhich was proved to be unnecessary. Some say laughter is the best medicine. According to Malchiodi in Psychology today, Humor therapy is officially both complementary and mainstream medicine. â€Å"Clown care† has been a part of bedside treatment where using magic, juggling, and silly jokes has become an entity especially in pediatric wards. These â€Å"clown rounds† can be performed with things like rubber chickens and other paraphernalia to promote laughter in children to help distract them from whateverRead MoreRaskolnikov Character Analysis1154 Words   |  5 Pagesthe same nervous laughter as before, as if he had not the strength to control himself...After his unexpected paroxysmal outburst of laughter, Raskolnikov had become thoughtful and melancholy† (Dostoevsky 138). In an effort to perturb Zametov, Raskolnikov’s character falters and his laughter serves to dissolve the tension. However, on the verge of a confession, Raskolnikov does not know what he wants to gain from the conversation. Instead of relieving the situation, Raskolnikov s erratic behaviorRead MoreWhy New Dance 2017?1222 Words   |  5 Pagescontrol, my creative thinking alway think more than my body can do. But with good flexibility and diligent really help me catch up dance movement easier. Sometime, I have to compromise with each other when comes into a group. Also, it’s challenge when have to compromise with diverse background. Sometimes, when I had idea but not being accept it’s kind frustrated. In addition, because in our diverse group not everybody can dedicated to comes to practice every week. We always have people missing, so, it’sRead MoreHumor, Humor And Humor1465 Words   |  6 PagesHumor has a vital part to play in consistently life as well as in psychology and ethical subtleties. Giggling humor and bitterness are all piece of obvious human conduct. Although the immense majority worth humoring, philosophers have said little in regards to it, and what they have said is usually discerning. Three conservative conjectures of laughter and humor are the most contributive to the psychology of humor and are seen on taking a glance at comprehension humor as play helps counter the usualRead MoreAnalysis Of The Movie The Ghetto 969 Words   |  4 Pageshallway wondering what the fuck is Alex s problem. Did he really go nuts? This is 1982 and NYC almost declared bankruptcy. It was a time that if things broke, they stayed broken. Poor barrios were like barren deserts filled with vacant stuff. These times were bleak and there I am a teenager trapped in a helpless ghetto. Graffiti entered my life and to me, it was the ultimate. The trashed subway trains were a  gloria(opening the door in an annoyed manner)Here s the damn book Ca rlito, if you get fuckingRead MoreNorman Cousins s Anatomy Of An Illness1544 Words   |  7 PagesIn Norman Cousins s Anatomy of an Illness, the author was given a poor prognosis, but instead of giving up he took charge over his medical treatment plan that lead him to recovery. In today s society, it is the complete opposite because people expect a doctor and prescription to be the cure for everything instead of being positive and taking care into their own hands. Why has the society given up on all old traditions to rely only on the new innovations of today? The body is a complex being fullRead MoreThe Stranger By Albert Camus1535 Words   |  7 Pagesonly point in our life that really counts is that point in which is occurring at the moment? Thus, when existence is over, life is also over; The expectation of some sort of redemption from a god is useless. Albert Camus demonstrates his absurdist view of the world in The Stranger, through the protagonist, Meursault. His absurdist v iew on the world is portrayed by how one simply exists in a world physically and consequently the absence or presence of significance in one s life is only revealed throughRead MoreThesis Statement : Proverbs Of Hell By William Blake1025 Words   |  5 Pagesproverb suggests, it is okay to have feelings of longing and also to embrace it although the churches and institutions or authorities tell us it is sinful to desire. We are born with a gift and to live life to the fullest. If we do not have a positive attitude, we will never do anything with our life. In line five, â€Å"He whose face gives no light, shall never become a star.† We must believe in ourselves. It is the nature of the stars to shine and it is also the nature of human being to smile. Stars

Relevance of Research in the Technology Business - 1851 Words

1. Albert Einstein said The formulation of a problem is far more often essential than its solution, which may be merely a matter of mathematical or experimental skill. To raise new questions, new possibilities, to regard old problems from a new angle require creative imagination and marks real advance in science. What is the value of this statement in terms of the research process? What is the relevance and relationship of this statement to the technologically advancing business world? Where do these questions allow us to go? As far as the value in regards to the research process, it is apparent that any kind of planning and Designing is usually the most significant stage of the research process. The method of which you design and then gather all of the data together is more significant than the examination of the data and succeeding understanding of the result of the evaluation. People that are familiar with the awareness of the software and the right equation will be able to discover the results nevertheless it will most likely take a planner and designer to properly understand a manufacture. Such as, for example, a worker can be given some data and with their understanding of EXCEL (and their can be some assistance from the internet), the worker will be able to get the regression equation. A worker many not have been able to contribute in the research design and data collection (or they did not take anytime to learn the design of the data). So even though they mightShow MoreRelatedRegulatory Compliance Controls1712 Words   |  7 Pagesrisk, and cost of equity. Moreover, remediation of internal control deficiencies was found to result in statistically significant and economically important changes to the cost of equity (from 50 to 150 basis points). This study is important to my research since it supports the idea that effective internal controls are valued by the equity market with good reason. Buzzetto, N. A. (2011). Management in a web 2.0 world: Risks and counter-measures. [Proceedings of Informing Science IT Education ConferenceRead MoreStudy Report : Effective Indexing And The Rank Of A Web1575 Words   |  7 Pagesresults to the user. Searching: Searching starts by searching the query given by the user. Then it gives the correct results on the search engine result page. Ranking: Ranking is the process of rating the webpages based on the relevance of the webpage. Relevance: Relevance of a webpage is calculated based on the link structure and content of a webpage. Motivation: Nowadays even the basic internet user can create and publish webpages online. It results in a large collection of low quality webpagesRead MoreA Research Report On Saudi Arabia833 Words   |  4 Pagesof previous research shows that many of the researchers relied on the content analysis because it gives accurate results through observation and monitoring of the variables that are used in the research questions. Content analysis will be used instead of a survey, longitudinal analysis, or a secondary analysis because it is difficult to get accurate results from of previous research. Additionally, Saudi Arabia is a new area in new media and there is not much of the previous research in this areaRead MoreJob Analysis and Operational Management1444 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿Job Analysis and Operational Management Name Institutional Affiliation Date: Job Analysis and Operational Management Describe the aims, objectives, and relevance of job analysis to operational management process Frequently, managers who are pressured with time employ the same work description, which has been in their use for years. Nevertheless, very few jobs are stationary and are retained without changes in our fast advancing world. A structured job analysis presents an opportunity for anRead MoreMarketing Analysis : 3m Brand1058 Words   |  5 Pagesconcern and needs in order to create or improve products. Customers are able to voice ideas, 3M considers and refines them, and then attempts to create the product. All in all, this Lean Six Sigma allows for 3M’s company to maintain value, quality, relevance and constant improvement within their products and segments. The 3M brand promises â€Å"practical and ingenious solutions that help customers succeed.† Through their brand identity system, 3M has been able to and continues to strive to dominate globalRead MoreHow Effective Leadership Leads The Great Creativity And Innovation Essay1322 Words   |  6 PagesBackground to the study 4 1.3 The research problem 4 1.4 Rationale (reason for the study) 4 1.5 Aims and objectives of the study 4 1.6 Research questions 4 1.7 The relevance of the study 4 1.8 Structure of the dissertation 5 Chapter 2 Literature review (3500words) 5 2.1. Introduction 5 2.2. Conclusion 5 Chapter 3 Research methods (1500 words) 5 3.1 Introduction 5 3.2 Research purpose 5 3.3 The research framework 5 3.4 Research philosophy and perspective 5 3.5 Research Approach adopted 5 3.6 QualitativeRead MoreThe Affect of the Internet on Jordans Economy1714 Words   |  7 Pagesunprecedented event in the history of information and communications technology (Chircu et al, 2000). The internet has already fundamentally changed the way many organizations think about and perform their work. The last few years have shown us the revolution of e-commerce in all over the world; so many organizations take this opportunity in our dynamic environment and adapt themselves in order to take the benefits of this new business model. To improve profits and achieve strategic sustainability inRead MoreBusiness Communication : Developing Leaders For A Networked World Essay933 Words   |  4 PagesIn a society where technology grows exponentially, the amount of information available is practically endless. Whether one needs to know ingredients to a recipe, or cures to an illness, the Internet has an answer. The simplicity of the Internet, however comes with a major drawback: the qual ity of the data. In Peter Cardon’s book Business Communication: Developing Leaders for a Networked World, he explains that there are five main components that one should consider in evaluating quality data: reliabilityRead MoreResearch Methodology in Functional Areas1513 Words   |  7 PagesRESEARCH METHODOLOGY RELEVANCE OF RESEARCH IN DECISION MAKING IN VARIOUS FUNCTIONAL AREAS OF BUSINESS SUBMITTED BY: DEEPTI(0918111) KRITHIKA (0918119) NAMRATA (0918124) NITA (0918129) NIDHI(091812) SHYAMALA (0918154) RELEVANCE OF RESEACH IN BUSINESS While many business ideas blossom into successful businesses, there are many others that did not move beyond the business plan or offering memorandum. And among those that get funded and started, many fail eventually. While there can be manyRead MoreResearch Methodology in Functional Areas1504 Words   |  7 PagesRESEARCH METHODOLOGY RELEVANCE OF RESEARCH IN DECISION MAKING IN VARIOUS FUNCTIONAL AREAS OF BUSINESS SUBMITTED BY: DEEPTI(0918111) KRITHIKA (0918119) NAMRATA (0918124) NITA (0918129) NIDHI(091812) SHYAMALA (0918154) RELEVANCE OF RESEACH IN BUSINESS While many business ideas blossom into successful businesses, there are many others that did not move beyond the business plan or offering memorandum. And among those that get funded and started, many fail eventually

Parent Child Relationship Free Essays

AN ISSUE OF LOCAL CONCERN – PARENT CHILD RELATIONSHIP In life, it is a reality that we become what we have been involved with and taught since we were born. The environment we live is crucial to the way our way of thinking will develop, and therefore, it will have a great impact on  our actions and decisions. Parents play an important role in our lives as our examples and models. We will write a custom essay sample on Parent Child Relationship or any similar topic only for you Order Now Parents and their children hold a special relationship with each other. The kind of parent-child relationship has a huge effect on the way that the child will turn out. Parenting requires a great deal of adaptation. The parents want to develop a strong bond with their child but they also want to maintain a healthy marital relationship and adult friendships. The major cause of problems in relationship between parents and children is the generation gap. Nowadays, parents try to force the children into disciplined life. For instance, they ask the children to shut their mouth when they are expressing the views about some family issue while trying to manipulate their decisions. Due to this children don’t open up to their parents and this leads them to be suspicious of their children. When parents are in the pursuit to discover exactly what is going on, the children tend to lose trust in their parents, feeling that their parents are always trying to catch them doing something wrong. Parents, on the other hand, are more experienced in dealing with life’s problems. They try to protect their children from the problems they had to face when they were young. They try different means to do this and these means have a great impact on the parent child relationship. If the parent frequently uses punishments instead confrontations, the mental state of the child can be spoilt. But if the parent mostly spares the rod also, it spoils the child. There is no perfect way of parenting; it’s more of trial and error. But parents and children can have a very good relationship only when the child as well as the parent makes an effort. Chatting together and going out for a movie or a family picnic once and giving them your presence rather than presents is more effective. As the famous saying goes†¦. †Don’t try to perfect your child, try to perfect your relationship† How to cite Parent Child Relationship, Papers

Native Son Characters Essay Example For Students

Native Son: Characters Essay Native Son: CharactersRichard Wrights novel, Native Son, consisted of various main and supporting character to deliver an effective array of personalities and expression. Each characters actions defines their individual personalities and belief systems. The main character of Native Son, Bigger Thomas has personality traits spanning various aspect of human nature including actions motivated by fear, quick temper, and a high degree of intelligence. Bigger, whom the novel revolves around, portrays various personality elements through his actions. Many of his action suggest an overriding response to fear, which stems from his exposure to a harsh social climate in which a clear line between acceptable behavior for whites and blacks exists. His swift anger and his destructive impulses stem from that fear and becomes apparent in the opening scene when he fiercely attacks a huge rat. The same murderous impulse appears when his secret dread of the delicatessen robbery impels him to commit a vicious assault on his friend Gus. Bigger commits both of the brutal murders not in rage or anger, but as a reaction to fear. His typical fear stems from being caught in the act of doing something socially unacceptable and being the subject of punishment. Although he later admits to Max that Mary Daltons behavior toward him made him hate her, it is not that hate which causes him to smother her to death, but a feeble attempt to evade the detection of her mother. The fear of being caught with a white woman overwhelmed his common sense and dictated his actions. When he attempted to murder Bessie, his motivation came from intense fear of the consequences of letting her live. Bigger realized that he could not take Bessie with him or leave her behind and concluded that killing her could provide her only merciful end. The emotional forces that drive Bigger are conveyed by means other than his words. Besides reactions to fear, his actions demonstrate an extremely quick temper and destructive impulse as an integral part of his nature. Rage plays a key part in his basic nature, but does not directly motivate the murders he commits. Rage does not affect Biggers intelligence and quick thinking and it becomes evident during the interview with Briton. The detective makes Bigger so angry that the interrogation becomes a game to Bigger, a game of logic and wills, of playing the stupid negro, and telling the man exactly what he wants to hear. The game Bigger plays during the interrogation shows his great intelligence and ability to think q uickly on his feet. Bigger also displayed his intelligence in the creation of the ransom note. Using the situation to his advantage, Bigger wrote a ransom note to extort Marys parents for money. To make the note even more convincing and to dissuade blame from himself, Bigger signs the note with the communist symbol of a hammer and sickle. Although the book revolves around Bigger he possesses few good qualities, which get his horrendous actions negate, making him an anti-hero. He possess the violent tendencies to commit rape, extortion of the dead girls parents, robbing, and killing innocent people. These traits do not portray a simple victim of circumstance, but a habitual criminal acting out against a society. While Bigger dominates the story, his appalling actions make him a man that the reader can not look upon as a hero. In fact the author punishes the anti-hero character by condemning him to death for his crimes. One of the two most sympathetic characterizations of white persons in the novel comes from the character of Jan Erlone, Mary Daltons friend. He exhibits an enthusiastic personality and represents an idealistic young organizer for the Communist party. Marys parents and their servant Peggy distrust his motives. Bigger initially expresses a distaste for reds when responding to Jans friendly advances during their first meeting. While receiving distrust from those around him, Jan retains a simple belief in the equality for all men, regardless of social class or race. Throughout Jans first meeting with Bigger, he regards Bigger with the utmost respect. During the course of the night, Jan sits in the front of the car with Bigger, eats with him, drinks with him, and speaks to

Intergroup Anxiety and Intercultural Communication †Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Intergroup Anxiety and Intercultural Communication. Answer: Introduction: The employment policy has caused many impacts on job opportunities for international students studying in Australia(Olsen, Burgess, Sharma, 2015). Even though the policy provides opportunities for these international students to engage themselves in some income generating activities to generate at least some revenue for their upkeep, the policy limits for working hours is too high(Gribble, 2016). In Australia, the department of jobs and small business has the mandate of developing employment policies and create jobs so that theyre readily available for acquisition. The employment policy for international students in Australia states that international students studying in Australia with a valid Visa are allowed to work up to a maximum of 20 hours per week while the learning session is on progress(Gomes, 2015). However, there is no limit of working hours during recognized school vacations management. This employment policy has brought about various impacts(Cheshire, 2016). Firstly, it has brought about job inconveniences. The fact that the students are only allowed to work for up to 20 hours per week makes employers shy away from acquiring them due to the inconsistent nature of their labor supply(Harvey, 2014). Secondly, the job opportunities are scarce because employers will choose to get flexible employees(French Strachan, 2015). Thirdly, research shows that there is a mismatch between labour and job requirements. Students looking for jobs will hardly get jobs matching their working criteria(Hakim, 2016). Lastly, proper remuneration and provision of favorable working conditions will go down. This research proposal aims at identifying the employment policy in Australia and unveiling the impacts that it has had on job opportunities for international students studying in Australia(Deeming Smyth, 2017). The objectives of this proposal are: State the Australian employment policy Identity the body charged with the mandate of prescription of the employment policy Determine the available jobs for international students and their requirements Determine the impact of the employment policy on job opportunities for these students A brief methodology For this research proposal, this study will use a mixed methodology to conduct the research adequately(Marginson, 2015). This method will help to collect relevant information to authenticate the research adequately, Literature review - For adequate coverage of the topic in question, sources will be the department of job opportunities and small business, academic journals, relevant websites, e.g., internationalstudent.com and pertinent other sources and reports that are available to the public(Rogen, 2014). Data collection - I will collect secondary data from Australian higher education institutions, the ministry of labor as well as other relevant employment organizations. Interviews - To verify and authenticate the secondary data, international students studying in Australia will be interviewed, I will also question principal employment sources and the information acquired as a result, together with the research findings will assist in coming up with the right conclusion and recommendations for future advancements on job creation and maintenance management. Secondary data sources As mentioned earlier in this report, secondary data will be majorly used, and it shall be acquired from the government website on the department of job and small business which is readily available online(Christensen Schneider, 2015). On the same note, information regarding impacts of employment policy on job opportunities, international students studying in Australia employment statics, available job opportunities and obtain their requirements from relevant academic journals and websites. After data collection, the so acquired data will be analyzed to find out the relationship between job opportunities for international students in Australia and the employment policy(Mak Brown, 2014). This will apparently bring out the resultant effects and determine whether or not they are as a result of employment policy. References Cheshire, L. (2016). Governing rural development: Discourses and practices of self-help in Australian agricultural policy. Routledge, 29-32. Christensen, K., Schneider, B. (2015). Workplace Flexibility: Realigning 20th-century jobs for a 21st-century workforce. Cornell University Press, 87-90. Deeming, C., Smyth, P. (2017). Social investment after neoliberalism: policy paradigms and political platforms. Journal of social policy, 17-20. French, E., Strachan, G. (2015). Women at work! Evaluating equal employment policies and outcomes in construction. Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: An International Journal, 34-40. Gomes, C. (2015). Negotiating everyday life in Australia: Unpacking the parallel society inhabited by Asian international students through their social networks and entertainment media use. Journal of Youth Studies, 41-50. Gribble, C. (2016). Employment, work placements work-integrated learning of international students in Australia. International Education Association of Australia, Research Digest, 29-34. Gribble, C., Rahimi, M., Blackmore, J. (2017). International Students and Post-study Employment: The Impact of University and Host Community Engagement on the Employment Outcomes of International Students in Australia. In International Student Connected, 36-42. Hakim, C. (2016). Critical issues in women's work: Female diversity and the polarisation of women's employment. Routledge-Cavendish, 65-70. Harvey, P. (2014). Securing the right to employment: Social welfare policy and the unemployed in the United States. Princeton University Press, 70-74. Mak, A., Brown, P. (2014). Contact and attitudes toward international students in Australia: Intergroup anxiety and intercultural communication emotions as mediators. Journal of cross-cultural psychology, 55-57. Marginson, S. (2015). Is Australia overdependent on international students? International Higher Education, 53-58. Olsen, A., Burgess, Z., Sharma, R. (2015). The comparative academic performance of international students in Australia. International Higher Education, 54-62. Rogen, M. (2014). Review of Indigenous Training and Employment (Australia): creating parity. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, 50-62.

How To Use The Sample Of Argumentative Essay Writing PDF

How To Use The Sample Of Argumentative Essay Writing PDFIn this article, I am going to discuss a very useful technique for you to make use of when creating samples of argumentative essay writing. The key is that you learn the craft of writing by doing. By reading through the samples of essay writing, you can learn what you need to write about.This is one of the most valuable skills that you can develop. It allows you to explore your own creativity in writing and you do not have to worry about meeting a deadline or performing according to an existing work. This is a great help for anyone who finds it difficult to write. You get to sit back and enjoy the writing process as it comes to you instead of struggling with it every minute of the day. And yes, the more you practice, the more relaxed you will be and the better you will understand how to manage yourself better in dealing with the readers.It is a time consuming task to write an essay, especially when it is for the first time. Most students find it difficult to come up with the right topic and write a very good essay. With this information at hand, you can get started with practicing and then the samples of argumentative essay writing PDF should be a great resource.If you start writing an essay based on a sample, it can give you a lot of ideas as to how to begin your work and what you need to be looking for. When you do not know what to do or what words to use, it is best to read through the samples and ask for suggestions from friends and family. This will allow you to gain a better understanding of how to improve yourself.Your purpose in putting together the samples of argumentative essay writing PDF will be to find out what works best for you. This can be a new tool that you can use again to improve your skills. You need to look through the sample and also identify what you think will work best for you in order to make a better essay.The advantage of using the samples of argumentative essay writing PDF is that you can start on a fresh idea and then go through the work again. What you do is to keep coming back to your question, which can give you an insight into how you should continue to think about the essay. This can help you to use your thinking process well and take away from the routine of thinking without thinking.These are the things that you can learn from the samples of argumentative essay writing PDF. As long as you understand how to create something based on another source, you can make use of the samples of argumentative essay writing PDF.

Death Penalty essay Essays (810 words) - Capital Punishment

Death Penalty I feel that the Death Penalty is wrong, and I dont see how anyone could justify killing somebody with killing somebody. I think our socity is just using this for a band-aid for the real problems of our socity , we need to get back to our roots and stop the problems before they start. Nobody knows the date and the hour in which they will die, but in many states now you know the date and hour very well. Also there are to many issues that nobody but God should decide on, read what follows. The Rights and Privileges of Prisoners During the past year, there has been increasing discussion of the rights and privileges of prisoners. Some of these--such as exercise and weight lifting--relate to the prisoners' physical capabilities after release. Others--such as access to law books--may affect whether and when they are released. Others--these include requirements for hard physical labor, such as chain gangs, as well as privleges such as television--relate to the question of how unpleasant the prison experience should be. A discussion of these issues takes us to the heart of what punishment is all about. Is it intended primarily to reform, to deter, or is its purpose mainly retributive? Are there any limits on how unpleasant the prison experience can be made? At what point does punishment become torture? Justice and Money The OJ trial was one of the most expensive in history, and it is clear that Simpson's financial resources enabled him to mount a defense vastly superior to anything that most individuals would be able to present. Furthermore, those same financial resources made it much easier for the defense to remain one step ahead of the prosecution from the very beginning. What role should money play in the criminal justice system? The demands of justice seem to stress that we try to be impartial, to treat all defendants the same; yet money seems to insure that some defendants will be treated differently than others. The public defender system attempts to remedy some of these inequalities. Should be be any additional restrictions or changes in the system to insure more equal treatment for rich and poor before the law? Justice and Race The verdict in the OJ trial raised a number of important questions about the place of race in the criminal justice system. To what extent do you think that race was an issue in deciding on OJ's guilt or innocence? What is the proper role of race in such deliberations? The Death Penalty, IQ, and Age We are shocked when terrible crimes are perpetrated by individuals who are extremely young. Time Magazine, for example, published Murder in Minature , the story of 11 yr old Yummy Sandifer--who killed and was killed in Chicago. Recently, a convicted murderer with an IQ of 70 was executed. What restrictions should we have on those who can be sentenced to death? Should there be a minimum age, such that convicted felons under that age cannot be sentenced to death? Should there be an minimum IQ, such that convicted felons who are below that IQ cannot be senteced to death either because they may have had diminished responsibility in the first place or because they would have a diminished ability to participate in their own defense? Wrongful Murder Convictions and the Death Penalty What are the implications, if any, of the fact that sometimes we wrongfully convict--and in some cases, execute--people for murder? Should this be seen in utilitarian terms, or should the death of just a single innocent person be sufficient to dissuade us from the use of this penalty? To what extent are such convictions racially biased? For a recent example of such a cnviction , see Don Terry , DNA Tests, Confession Set 3 on the Path to Freedom in 1978 Murders, The New York Times, June 15, 1996. Four black men, falsely convicted of murder and rape and having spent 18 years in prison, are now free - in large part because of DNA tests and the efforts of supporters who gathered evidence. The Northern Illinois University Department of Sociology maintains statistics on Wrongful Murder S Executions and Suffering Sometimes criminals