What is the American Society of Criminology?

The American Society of Criminology is one of the best references and sources of information regardless of where an individual life and what country is maintained as their place of residence.  Contrary to the implication in the name of the organization, the American Society of Criminology is actually an international organization that is open to many people.  Annually, the organization hosts a general meeting, and topics are discussed that seem appropriate in which everyone can take part.  The themes are generally vague, but still, give way to important topics.  Recently, the meeting has had the theme of “Criminology, Justice and Public Policy in the 21st Century”.  Since this type of conversation topic does not limit itself geographically, anyone is free to express their concerns or issues when it comes to these matters, as they feel the public will be affected by them in this coming century.  

In addition to offering annual talks for professors, legal-minded individuals and other academics interested in the various aspects of criminology, the law and sociological effects as a result of a crime, the American Society of Criminology is also geared towards helping these people.  There are employment opportunities at the meetings as well, and on their website, the American Society of Criminology actively updates their position and employment posting boards.  As a result, individuals that are going to be graduating from college with a Criminology degree can find on their website a wealth of information pertaining not only to available jobs and markets, but also a resource in the form of networking with like-minded individuals.

Members of the American Society of Criminology are able to enjoy different criminology journals and a newsletter.  The reading materials are helpful for all interested parties because they transmit the information that is changing and being expanded on in the legal and criminology arenas, and will often feature segments on various countries around the world.  There are some specialized regiments within the Society, and members sometimes interact with each other on these specialized levels.  This is again helpful for students looking to break into a specific niche after graduating and those who are particularly interested in specific areas of criminology.  One of the main functions of the Society is to educate people and investigate the many ways in which crime, the criminal element and society are related and dependent upon one another in various manners.  They are open to all willing individuals and encourage interested parties to join or investigate their organization at any point in time.

Within the Society, there is an Executive Board.  This is made up of the President, the President-Elect, the Immediate Past President, as well as the Vice President and the Vice President-Elect.  Those positions are elected.  There are also appointed officers, and these positions are made up of the executive secretary, as well as the treasurer and the editor for one of the Criminology Journals, known as Criminology: An Interdisciplinary Journal.  Six Executive Counselors are also added to the board.  These are the individuals that run the society on the whole; those who form policies, determine the specifics of the Annual Meeting and ratify the Society’s budget.

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Indian Legends and Victorian Bath Houses: The History of Eureka Springs

 View of Eureka Springs from atop Magnetic Mountain (home of Christ of the Ozarks)
Photo: Wikimedia

Today the Arkansas resort town of Eureka Springs is a quaint, faux-Victorian tourist trap with an abundance of Bible-themed attractions. But the knickknack shops and family-friendly dinner theaters are really a natural outgrowth of a long history as a “vacation” destination reaching back to the Native Americans.

Eureka Springs has, unsurprisingly, several naturally occurring, mineral-rich springs, which have long been thought to be possessed of healing powers. In 1856 European settler called Dr. Alvah Jackson took the Indian legends at their word at used some of the water from Eureka’s springs to “treat” an unspecified eye ailment suffered by his son. The ailment healed and his son’s recovery was duly attributed to the spring-water. This led to the founding of Dr. Jackson’s Cave Hospital, where many young men were “treated” with Eureka’s spring water during the American Civil War, and the subsequent Dr. Jackson’s Eye Water business postbellum.

In 1879 Judge J.B. Saunders, a friend of Dr. Jackson’s visited the Basin Spring in Eureka, where he was allegedly cured of some type of degenerative ailment. Thrilled by the upturn in his failing health, the influential judge began promoting Eureka Springs nationwide. Before the end of the year the town of Eureka Springs was home to 10,000 people, and by 1881 it was the 4th largest city in Arkansas.

Eureka Springs soon became famous for its luxuriant Bath Houses. In 1889 The Basin Spring Bath House was built on Main Street; it was 4 stories high, with a bridge to the upper 2 stories arching over the street and providing housing for the water pipes. The 1901 Palace Hotel’s baths used water from the Harding Spring, and featured an electric elevator, electric lights and steam-heating in every room, making it the turn of the century equivalent of a 5-star hotel. At these and other Bath Houses, visitors could slip out of their union suits for a hot or cold or shower, a massage or various kinds of baths: hot air, electric, medicated, radiant, vapor and more. The Palace and the Basin house are still standing today.

As the 20th century began to get its big, bloody, iron wheels turning up to speed, interest in mysticism began to wane, and this included the belief in “healing waters”. The springs began to be more a sideshow than the main event, and most of the Bath Houses closed.

But Eureka Springs hung in there, adapting with the times, to remain one of Arkansas’ premier tourist destinations. Sure, no one comes to be healed, but now they come to get hitched. Eureka Springs has become the Las Vegas of the Ozarks when it comes to quickie marriages (no blood test required), with over 4,000 weddings taking place there every year. Also, there are a lot of shopping opportunities for people who shop on vacation to enjoy. For the faithful, it’s worth the trip to Eureka Springs to gaze upon the 70-foot tall statue of Jesus, called Christ of the Ozarks that soars above the town. Eureka Springs has been packing them in for more than 150 years, now. Who can say why people will be visiting in 150 more?

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Bonding with the Universe.

Milk Way - Photo: Pixabay

As parents, we often worry about what our children are getting excited about.  We hope we can guide them to “bond” with healthy things like a love of learning, of family and of healthy social activities.  But we also worry they will bond with the wrong people like internet stalkers or the wrong crowd at school.  Wouldn’t it be great if we could harness that tremendous energy and desire to latch onto something and bond with it and help our children “bond” with the universe through a love of astronomy?

Kids love to get excited about what you are excited about.  So their lots of ways you can “spring” the fun of astronomy on them that will jump-start them on a long and happy exploration of the hobby of astronomy.  Here are a few to get your imagination going.

* Work it into an evening in the backyard.  If you know the night sky will be particularly exciting the night of a big family barbecue, plan to have some blankets out there.  Then as everybody else is playing Frisbee, just lay out a blanket, lay flat on your back and start staring up into the sky with binoculars.  Like the old prank of staring at a faraway spot to get people’s interest, your kids will see what you are doing and what to know what is going on.  As you let them take a peek, their curiosity will take off like a wildfire and they are hooked.

* A surprise visit to the country.  Sometimes it is hard to see the vast display of stars from within the city.  So if you announce that you are going to show them a surprise one night and have them pile into the car, their curiosity will be going wild as you leave the city.  When you find that quiet park, field or lakeside spot, all you have to do is point up and say “just look” and the magnificence of the night sky will do the rest.

* A special Christmas gift.  You can buy your children an affordable and durable beginner’s telescope along with some easy star maps written just for kids.  Imagine when they open this exciting gift and want to know how to use it.  Don’t be surprised if you are setting up the new telescope in the snow to show them the great things they will see in the cosmos with the gift that Santa wanted them to have.  The gift of astronomy.

* Unleash the power of a meteor shower on them.  You can keep your eye on the events that are predicted for the sky watchers in your area.  When the next big meteor shower is about to explode over your area, watch the weather for a clear night and get your kids excited about what they are about to see.  As the lights begin to go off overhead and you create fun and interesting narration to this dramatic display, the children will be addicts for life for the great experiences that can be had as students of astronomy.

* Plan a surprise event in with something you are already doing.  For example, on vacation, you can plan your route on a cross-country trip to bring you within visiting distance of one of the great multimillion dollar telescopes in this country.  By contacting them ahead of time, you can be sure they are conducting a tour that coincides with your visit.  Just imagine if they can look up at a telescope that is bigger than their house and maybe look through the eyepiece as some amazing cosmic sight, it will be the hit of the vacation.

Astronomy is a great activity to introduce on a family camping trip.  As the family sits around the fire after a fun night of camping, all you have to do is just look up and go “Wow, look at that!” When those little heads look up, they will look back down changed children, children in love with the stars.

Astronomy is a healthy passion for your kids and one they can grow with their entire lives.  And there is probably no better gift you can give them than the love of the stars, of science and of nature that is all wrapped up together when your kids bond with the universe through astronomy.

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Bosch Power Tools

Bosch Power Tools - Photo: Flickr

Bosch power tools offer the consumer a full line of both cord and cordless power tools. They offer a large selection of power tools as well as accessories. In addition to the basic power tools that are offered including saws, drills, routers, sanders, nailers, power screwdrivers; Bosch offers some great specialty tools. 

They are designed for specific projects. The Bosch heat gun offers several temperatures as well as two speeds. You can get a Bosh heat gun in several sizes. There are also various accessories available to fit your particular project. These accessories include the heat gun blower, spreader, and reflector. The Bosch foam rubber cutter is an excellent specialty tool that is designed to easily cut through foam rubber and flexible foams. The various blades will assist you with cutting foam this is of varying densities. 

Bosch has some great new power tools on the market. The pocket driver is very compact but very powerful. You can insert 100 screws with one battery charge. The I-Driver is a power screwdriver, designed with a pivot head to get into very tight spaces. The Brute Tough drill and driver is very powerful and versatile. It can be used for a variety of projects.

Bosch offers consumers something not many other power tool manufacturers have. It is called the Flexible Power System. With many of their power tools including drills and saws, you get to choose the minimum weight and the maximum power you want from that particular power tool. 

Are you in the market for several power tools? One of the best selling products offered by Bosch is the five Pak. This is an 18-volt cordless tool kit. The Hammer Drill/Driver is the same as having a drill, a driver, and a hammer. The Circular saw is very powerful and comes with safety features for your protection. There is a reciprocating saw, great for precision cutting. The jigsaw is great for most any kind of cut that takes place away from the outer edge of the materials. 

You will also get a great drop light and a heavy duty bag to carry it all in. As if that wasn’t enough you will also get two battery chargers, a drill bit holder, various saw blades, and two extra batteries. This power tool kit has everything you need to complete a variety of home improvement products at a price of about $500.

If that is more than your budget can handle, consider purchasing reconditioned Bosch power tools. You will be able to purchase them at 40% less than the retail price of that particular power tool. The Bosch website has information on the various reconditioned power tools they have available at this time. They come with a one year warranty and a thirty-day money back guarantee. You will also get a certification of authenticity. 

Bosch takes customer satisfaction very seriously. They strive to meet the needs of every customer. Bosch understands that downtime with your tools affects your productivity. That can cost you time, money, or both. All Bosch power tools are guaranteed to be free from defects. Each comes with a one year warranty, a thirty-day money back guarantee, and a one-year service plan. (2018 ?)

If you need repairs to a Bosch power tool, contact them directly. They work with service providers all over the world who will repair your Bosch power tool quickly and effectively. Generally, this can be done at any location that sells Bosch power tools. You are guaranteed your power tool will be ready within five days. 

You can purchase Bosch power tools at most hardware stores and home improvement stores. They offer reliable power tools at a very comparable price. Bosch power tools are very versatile and meet or exceed the required safety requirements of the industry. You won’t be disappointed with the power tools you purchase from the Bosch brand. 

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The History of Trains

Narrow gauge steam locomotive train -  Photo: Wikimedia

Today you see trains carrying cargo and people all over the world. They are also used as effective ways for people to commute to and from work instead of using the roadways. Looking at the efficiency of trains today, it is sometimes hard to imagine how different they were back in the 1800’s. While many different inventors attempted to create a train in the last 1700’s they weren’t successful.

In 1825 the first locomotive was successful in its attempt to safely transport people from two points in England. The popularity of this mode of transportation quickly made its way to the United States in 1830. It wasn’t long before the industrial revolution was born since trains could be used to transport materials faster and easier than ever before. By 1833 there were 380 miles of railroad tracks in the United States. Today there are more than 300,000 miles of track around the United States.

The United States government made good use of the trains during the Civil War to move troops to new locations and to get the supplies. This was the main reason behind adding more miles of railroad tracks from 1861 to 1865. By the end of the war, there were more than 30,000 miles of track available.

By this time railroads were considered to be the main means of transportation. Plans were in place to continue building faster locomotives and to clear areas for more tracks to be put into place. These early trains were powered by coal and steam. This process of expansion in the railway industry continued into 1916 with more than 250,000 miles of track laid out in the United States. 

One of the most historical locations along these miles of railroad tracks is in Utah and identified by a spike made from pure gold. This was to celebrate the completion of the first transcontinental railroad. This particular location was the connecting point between the Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads. This remains a historical site today with thousands of people visiting the very location of that golden spike. 

Even with all the miles of railroad tracks by 1916, many of them are in poor condition. It is not uncommon for many trails to derail due to these conditions. Private owners of the railroads have invested so much money in the expansion they can’t afford the repairs. 

The repairs that do get done are the result of the United States government needed to repair them in order to move men and supplies during World War I. Even so, the growth of the railroad is significantly slowed forever around 1940. The Great Depression has made it difficult for the railroads to survive. There is also competition now with automobiles being manufactured. 

Yet the railroad industry sees renewed life in the late 1950’s when the retired steam-powered locomotives and replace them with diesel engines. In 1970 the United States government steps in again to take control of Amtrak. They still oversee it today but most of the miles of track that they operate on belong to other railway companies.

With modern technology, trains are able to operate more efficient today than ever. They are used to transport large amounts of merchandise, food supplies, equipment, hazardous materials, and even people. Trains offer a great way to get items delivered efficiently without having to place more of a burden on the trucking industry. Many travelers enjoy the convenience of taking a train instead of driving themselves or riding in an airplane. 

There have been plenty of advances in the area of trains and the railway industry in the last 100 years. It will be interesting to know how things change over the next 100 years. Luckily there are wonderful train museums that take the time to preserve all of the histories of trains from the beginning. This way future generations will be able to look back on it as well. 

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Know Your MUSCLE BUILDING Exercises - The Back

Pulldown exercise to the front (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Every bodybuilder and weight trainer will have his or her favorite exercises for each body part. That's how it should be - as you progress through the various stages of learning you'll understand what works best for you. It is useful, however, to take stock of your progress every so often and carry out an analysis of where you are and what changes, if any, are needed to move onwards and upwards.

Part of this analysis should include an assessment of the core exercises that make up your bodybuilding training program. In this article, we'll look at the back exercises that have proven their worth to serious bodybuilders for many years. Where appropriate a series of exercises suitable for achieving pre-exhaustion will be presented. All exercises should be performed to failure with one set of six to eight reps.

1. Lat machine pulldowns - this exercise has been chosen because it allows you to isolate the lats and rest the biceps for the compound exercise to follow.

- Take a shoulder-width grip.

- Pull arms towards the thighs keeping the arms straight.

- Pause.

- Return the bar slowly to the starting position.

2. Pulldowns - you can move straight on to this exercise if you are sufficiently experienced. Using the same machine, take an underhand grip because this will make better use of biceps strength thus maximizing the effects of the workout.

- Take a shoulder-width grip.

- Pull the bar to the chest area.

- Pause.

- Return the bar slowly to the starting position.

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Touring the Roots of Paris

Paris by Night - Photo: Pixabay

How to Tour Paris: 

Taking a tour to Paris is a staggering experience. Throughout the city, you will learn history, music, art, cultures, science, and more. If you are new to travel, perhaps you want to purchase a package online. Included in the package are tour guides that will walk you through the streets of Paris, informing you of its history. 

Tour guides often take through Louvre. You will walk around the streets and visit monuments, museums and more along the way. Along the way, you will enjoy many outstanding scenes, which include the popular water fountains. As you move along you will come upon the La Pyramid in Paris. The shape of this pyramid will leave you standing astonished. Louvre has the famous art museum, which was built in the early 1790s. The museum is Paris’s largest tourist attraction. Near the mid-1540s, this building was the Regal Palace that marked the fortress for kings and queens of Paris. In the 1700s, this building marked the Grand Museum Gallery of Paris. Throughout the museum, you will enjoy fine arts, fashionable courtyards, and pyramid glass with steel frames, Europe art, French paintings and more. During the night, you want to visit the area if possible to see the Pyramid lit up. The beauty of the lighted building will astound you. Once you are finished, you may visit the fabulous statute Buran at the Regal Paris.  

If you have the opportunity, go inside the Pyramid. Here you will view a beautiful staircase that winds straight and carries you to the top. Inside the pyramid is a wide array of shops. 

Want more: 

Visit the Palais Regal. Paris has a few halls, including the Palais des Exposition (Exhibit Hall), Palais des sports (Sports Stadium), le Palais Garnier (Paris’s old opera house), le Grand Palais, or le Petit Palais (Galleries) and so on. (Palais: means Palace and is linked to de Justice law-courts) As you visit the Royal Palace, you will enjoy the Le Jardin des Tuileries water fountain. In the existing area, you will also enjoy the Place de la Concorde. The Concord is Paris’s legendary squares near the right banks of VIIIE arondissement municipal (Municpaux) sited at the eastern edges of Champs-Elysées. In short, you will walk through the division of administration at the lower community level. 

Throughout the area, you will enjoy views of lighthouses, fountains and so on. As you travel you may visit the Les Champs-Elysées. Here you will walk through archways where lines of trees move to give your entryway. In this area is the train depot. 

Perhaps on your visit to Paris, you will walk through the Cabaret Montmartre of the beautiful Moulin Rouge. At the rood of this establishment is a fabulous windmill. This district of Paris is where people join to take in views of the moonlit while enjoying the fabulous structures and scenery. 

Along the channels of the French regal residency is the Tuileries Palace. Perhaps you would enjoy visiting this lovely area-neighboring Louvre. Sadly, this beautiful area was ruined by fire in the early 1870s, yet it was restructured by some of Paris’s finest designers. Today you will visit the beautiful Palais (Palace) where Catherine de Médicis bespoke the structure. At present, this lovely environment is filled with Paris’s most beautiful grounds filled with garden plants, flowers and more.  

Taking a tour around Paris is a staggering emotion that will lead you to many areas around France, which astounds you. If you are preparing a trip to Paris, be sure to check out the package deals online. 

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