Why another offence after being punished? What measures can be taken?

      An unbearably painful subject is that a high proportion of ex-criminals are about to commit crimes again after serving their first punishment. While there are several reasons for this tendency, such as social and educational background of the offenders, the overdone disapproval of the society or their inability of rehabilitation, a number of effective measures can be taken by governments to tackle this problem.

      The way many people see it, there are two objective reasons for commiting reoffends. 

     Firstly, the prison system itself can make the matters worse. It’s mostly connected with the ‘bad company’: criminals are put together in cells and while they are locked up, they may even plan crimes with other inmates. Secondly, offenders simply do not have any other means of earning money, as they are in crisis, penniless, without proper education skills to maintain a job. What is more, a criminal record makes it difficult to find a job.

     To tackle this problem, the punishment system should have not only a strictly punishing effect, but also an educational one, trying to rehabilitate the criminal behaviors of the offenders.  

     In addition, jails need to have some trainings to help them integrate into society after serving their punishment, change their criminal behavior.

     They can even learn some practical skills, so that can be hired for a position in future. Moreover, the can learn how to use their skills for serving the society after releasing from prisons.

    Besides, there has to be a positive feedback on behalf of the society, as people’s disapproval regarding those with criminal background is sometimes one of the problems of the offenders’ inability of reintegrating into the normal society, turning over a new leaf.

     In conclusion, both sides have to do something about it. The offenders should try their best to prove that they are worth of rehabilitation and the society should give them all the proper chances for this to happen. 

 Reasons to Give Up the Death Penalty

According to Amnesty International, seventy-six countries have eradicated the death penalty completely, and many countries that retain the death penalty have not utilized it for years. Capital punishment should be abolished because of the following: it is not an effective crime deterrent, it may result in the loss of innocent lives, it is morally wrong, and there are other, more humane, alternatives.

The death penalty does not contribute to the deterrence of crime. In fact, the death penalty may actually raise crime rates. Jack Callahan in his “Stop Killing People'  concludes that capital punishment is no more effective than life imprisonment in deterring murder.

Capital punishment is not a viable solution for offenders with mental problems because they are incapable of normal thought processes and many cannot even grasp the concept of death.

The death penalty puts innocent lives at stake. It is widely recognized that justice system is not perfect. There are times when people are wrongly accused of crimes or they are not granted fair trials. There is still corruption in our justice system, and bias and discrimination occur. In the same article Jack Callahan claims that since 1970, 76 people have been released from death row because of clear evidence of their innocence.

The government has no right to put conditions on human life. Helen Prejean, author of "Executions are too costly--Morally," encapsulates this idea in her essay when she says "Allowing our government to kill citizens compromises the deepest moral values upon which this country was conceived: the inviolable dignity of human persons".When the government or individuals make the decision to take another human life and act upon it, they commit murder. Moreover, it contradicts with morality and consistent ethic of life. Thus, James Megivern is his book ‘The Death Penalty’ says: ‘Punishment, Yes, Death, No…Every person has universal, inviolable, inalienable rights. Basic to all is the Right to Life.”

The death penalty sends a confusing and contradictory message "Don't kill or we will kill you."  Punishing an action with the same action is incongruous and inconsistent. It only serves to confuse and reinforce the behavior rather than correct it.

Capital punishment is not necessary because there are other alternatives. First of all, tougher sentencing would help deter offenders from committing crimes. Longer jail time for felons and first-time offenders would keep them from entering society until they were able to rehabilitate. In addition, life sentences would prevent violent offenders from reoffending. Also, keeping convicts in prison is cheaper than executing them, so it is a better alternative. Requiring inmates to pay for their time in prison would further reduce the cost to taxpayers. Allocating a portion of a prisoner's earnings toward facility expenses and programs would force them to literally "pay" for their crimes. Although money can never replace a loved one or completely heal the damage, it could help families reconstruct their lives. There are more constructive alternatives to the death penalty.

Human life is precious, yet society does not hesitate to cast it aside into a system that is mediocre at best, without remorse. Capital punishment does not deter crime, cannot ensure the safety of the innocent, and is morally deficient. There are other alternatives. Murderers and violent offenders deserve to be punished for their crimes, and victims and their families deserve justice. However, the death penalty is not the answer.

Many other countries have eradicated the death penalty for this reason. The countries that have abolished capital punishment have substantially lower crime rates.

                             A night in the summer forest

    With the hectic pace of everyday’s life, we can hardly imagine how it is to plunge into the endless verdure, feel the breath of fresh air on your face, smell divine fragrance of flowers, have a walk on winding paths all the time listening to the sounds of singing birds and bubbling brooks. And all this you can find in the forest. Summer nights are particularly full of sound. If you had a chance to be a part of its night magic, you are a lucky person – the same I can say about myself.

Usually it’s a very quiet and tranquil place, chorus frogs mostly what you hear, with the occasional owl’s howling and hooting, buzzing insects. Sometimes being lulled by the forest’s lullaby, you may be awakened by sudden wolves’ howling or high-pitched squeaks of bats. Even more, your heart starts pounding quickly as you hear rustling in the bush or someone’s squelch at the distance.  Then all voices fade back into black silence. With the break of dawn, the sunlight penetrating the trees and birds singing will tell you that the brand new day has come.

Who do I take after?

    As we all know, many traits and features  have a large hereditary component and it’s easy to spot similarities between children and parents. Comparing my appearance to my mother’s or father’s, I can say that we are alike in many ways. First of all, it concerns the colour of my hair and skin which I inherited from my mom – she has the same blonde straight hair and fair skin. In summer we usually have a bit freckled skin. Both of my parents are round-faced, so it’s not surprising that I take after them. What I take after my dad is the colour of eyes – we are both green-eyed, whereas my mom has blue eyes. In addition, my mom says that my build is similar to my father’s. Speaking about the height, my parents are the people of the average height, but I am noticeably taller than my mother.

What else? Perhaps, side knows better ;)

      Who I am sitting next to is Masha. And do you want to know what do I make of her? Of course, I know  you want! So, Masha strikes me as being an amiable, reliable, good-natured and sincere person.  I know for sure, that she has a heart of gold and ready to give a hand or invaluable advice in need.  She is an optimistic girl and it’s a usual thing to see her beaming and sharing positive emotions with everybody. Sometimes she is as quite as a mouse, but deep inside she is quite a chatty person .In addition to all mentioned above, Masha is a very gifted, broad-minded and clever girl who may even sacrifice her sleep to make the grade. What is more, she is an even-tempered and polite person, who, I suppose, will keep calm regardless of the tough situation. Sometimes people say “Don’t judge a book by its cover”, but Masha is a person of exceptional attributes and at the same time…just take a look at how beautiful she is! 

Dear Mr. Smith,

As far as you know, I was in charge of finding two appropriate candidates for a job. I must say, it was relatively easy task only on the surface, as I had to be very conscientious when judging their traits. Anyway, you said that I am a shrewd person and I will cope. I hope that you will find the description of the candidates quite comprehensive.

So, the first candidate – Mr. Marlook, a professional painter. Without a doubt, we are searching for original workers with charisma, who have exceptional abilities or talents, but within reason! When I asked him questions, he was like miles away and always made me repeat the same things one more time as if he was having his head in the clouds during the whole job interview! To give additional proof that he is bizarre character , that man came to the office in ragged suit and his explanation for that was somewhat implausible.

The next – Mr. Brook.  I took to him personally from the first sight, as he seemed to be well-prepared, assertive, quick-witted and trustworthy person. What is more, he is a sociable one and enjoys working in a team. So, I suppose, he will be a valuable worker and he is worth being taken, although he did not have very much working experience.

The 3^rd candidate was Mr. Green. At the very beginning, he struck me as a smart person but this impression was a bit misleading. What I mean to say is that he is pretentious, conceited and a bit of a big-head. He is a real chatterbox and interrupted other candidates all the time, what got up their noses, although they did not show the irritation. You will agree that such person cannot be hired!

The 4^th candidate - Mr. Shneider made an impression of an optimistic and easy going person, on the one hand, but on the other, as a happy-go-lucky one with no clear goals and aims who lacks integrity. Obviously, I rejected him.

The next candidate was Mr. Johnson, who is suitable for this post, as he is a reliable and determined person open to new ideas. In addition, he has a considerable experience in working in similar area and is passionate to continue working in such sphere. Moreover, he is a brainy type and has a good head for figures.

The last candidate – Mr. Mandollo is a complete opposite to the previous one. What makes him particularly unsuitable for this job is that he is discourteous and not able enough. Besides, he is rather pushy.

I hope I have been of some help and you will take my personal opinion into consideration. I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

Katia Leliakh.

Some tips that may come in hand for all who want to build successful relationships with 

• professors 

1. If you're having trouble understanding something, ask for help! It may have an impact on developming your further relationships.

2. Make a good first impression. Be polite, never show despicable attitude or seem crude.

3. Behave in class. If there are some rules laid down by the professor, follow them! Perhaps, you will even set a good example for others.

4. Help out and volunteer when you can. 

• group mates:

1. Establish as many friendships as possible. Initially, you may find the sheer number of new people a bit intimidating, but as time goes by many people look back on their college years with good memories, often because of the friendships that they made.
2. Get involved in clubs, traditions, and events.  
3. Never take vulgar, hostile or despicable attitude towards your groupmates, don’t look down on others so as not to win a reputation of a snob.
4. Never spread gossip behind sb’s back.
5. Be ready to give a hand. If somebody is bullied, stick up for them – many will appreciate this.

Are not satisfied with the way things are in your family?

Here are some secrets to a successful relationship between parents and children:

1. Start right for a firm foundation. The closeness of the parent-child connection throughout life results from how much parents connect with their babies, right from the beginning and as time goes by continuing working on creating a closer bond.

2. Remember that all relationships take work. Good parent-child connections don’t spring out of nowhere, any more than good marriages do. And without a doubt both sides have to do their fair share in nurturing the relationship, as they equally have an impact on it.

3. Prioritize time with your child/parents. In relationships, without quantity, there’s no quality. So as hard as it is with the pressures of job, studying and daily life, if we want our relationships to look up, we have to sacrifice something, free up the time to make that happen.

4. Start with trust, the foundation of every good relationship. 

Trust means not giving up on each other, no matter what he or she does. Trust means never walking away from the relationship in frustration, because you trust that she needs you and that you will find a way to work things out. It also means confiding in each other and keeping your channels of communication open at all times.

5. Encourage, Encourage, Encourage.  It’s not a good idea to criticize each other or keep nagging, we should understand that it’s normal to go through ups and downs together. What is more, children do need their parent’s encouragement to see themselves as good people who are capable of good things. And they need to know that parents are on their side and ready to stick up for them, regardless of what happens.

6. Remember that respect must be mutual.  Parents can still set limits (for instance, by laying down rules), but if they do it respectfully and with empathy, they’ll even become  role-models: children will learn both to treat others with respect and to expect to be treated respectfully themselves.

7. Don’t let little rifts build up.  If something’s wrong between you, be tough enough to find a way to bring it up and work it through positively. Choosing to withdraw is ALWAYS a mistake. Every difficulty is an opportunity to get closer or create distance. 

 "What are the secrets to a successful romantic relationship?" 

    Relationships — even the best and inspiring relationships in the world — require constant attention, nurturing, and work. If you can understand and accept the need for constant attention and work in your relationship, if you’re ready to make a sacrifice, you’re started in the right direction.

    Some keys to successful romantic relationships:

1. Understand Your Role in a Relationship

You have to understand that you play a part in building a relationship, so take an initiative, pull your weight  and show your dedication.

2. Compromise

Relationships are about not only taking, but also giving. If you find yourself not giving very much, or feeling resentful of how much you give and how little you receive back, you may be in an unequal relationship where one side is taking more than they are giving.

3. Communicate

Relationships live and die not by the sword, but by the amount of discussion. If two people can’t find a way to openly and honestly communicate their needs and feelings to the face of each other, it puts a strain on relationships and they don’t stand much of a chance long-term. Couples must find a way to communicate regularly, openly, and directly.

4. Don’t Hide Your Needs

Sometimes when we enter into a long-term relationship, we inevitably put ourselves second, behind the other person’s needs and desires. If you feel that some things are really matter, you need to find a way to communicate such needs with your partner, but always find a way to do so respectfully and with an open mind and compromise or give in where you feel it’s possible.

5. Don’t underestimate the importance of trust and honesty

Different people have different areas of concern, but almost everyone appreciates such values as trust and honesty from their partner above all.

The Cherry Tree Inn & Suites

    This fall my husband and I had a vacation, so we made up our minds to unwind and to travel through U.S. a bit. We stayed in the Cherry Tree Inn & Suites, Michigan, Grand Traverse County, Traverse City, where we reserved a double room in advance. I must admit, that everything about our stay, including service, was impeccable: the balcony overlooking the bay, the huge Jacuzzi tub, the soft comfortable couch…The interior itself was really great! The room was spacious enough and attractively decorated with red velvet drapes, which matched the entire style and created the atmosphere of being in a luxurious castle. Two things we were impressed by the most: TV in the washroom and free cookies and candies in our room. We also liked the hotel staff which was extremely courteous and went out if their way to give us what we wanted and to make sure that our stay was memorable.

    So, it seems obvious to us, that the hotel is well-kept and the improvements are made on a regular basis. If we have a chance, we will definitely return to this marvelous place!

Winter holiday in Iceland

    Feel sick and tired? Why not get away from it all and treat your family to an unforgettable winter holiday in Iceland?

• http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/your-iceland-photos/#/vatnajokull-glacier_41739_600x450.jpg

    Remote Iceland is one of the warmest cold countries you’ll find! Take an opportuinity to recharge your batteries and to experience the local life in its most unspoilt state. 

    Our company provides a nuber of facilities for the most demanding tourists! Be sure, we'll free yourself from all worries about the transpotation and accomodation, as there are always regural flights to the capital of the Iceland -  Reykjavik. On arriving, our coach  is at your service and ready to satisfy all your desires  and after the exploration of remakably diverse  spots you'll be delivered safe and sound to your holiday camp.

    Iceland's stunning landscape provides areas of geothermal activity, mountains, waterfalls and glaciers. It's cities although small, provide both a retention of traditional culture  and the chance to experience the Icelandic way of life.

• http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/your-iceland-photos/#/reykjavik-iceland_41751_600x450.jpg

    This charming country offers a countless number of activities for an adventurous traveller: don't lose your chance to trek in the mountains or hike the Laugavegur Trail.

• http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/your-iceland-photos/#/lavegur-trek_41729_600x450.jpg
• http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/your-iceland-photos/#/barnafossar-falls_41716_600x450.jpg

    Someone who seeks the opportunity just to laze around may go for a stroll and soak up the enigmatic atmosphere of surrounding beauty.

• http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/your-iceland-photos/#/strolling-family-iceland_41736_600x450.jpg
• http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/your-iceland-photos/#/seljalandsfoss-waterfall-photographer_41731_600x450.jpg

    While being off the beaten track, remember to  gaze at the nature and it will certainly take your breath away! Just imagine catching side of a family of swans or puffins, or even more, icelandic horses or arctic foxes coming into view!

• http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/your-iceland-photos/#/whooper-swans-iceland_41744_600x450.jpg
• http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/your-iceland-photos/#/windswept-puffins-iceland_41745_600x450.jpg

• http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/your-iceland-photos/#/icelandic-horses_41728_600x450.jpg

• http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/your-iceland-photos/#/hornstrandir-fox_41713_600x450.jpg

     The other tourist attraction worth visiting is the Blue Lagoon - a unique geothermal spa which could be described as the world’s biggest Jacuzzi.

• http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/your-iceland-photos/#/hotsprings-blue-lagoon_41727_600x450.jpg

    So, come and see some of the most amazing, spectacular, and indescribable landscapes on the planet with your own eyes! Iceland is absolutely one of the most breathtaking and unusual places you could ever imagine. 

    It’s popularly believed that all that glitters is not gold.  Obviously, there’s a grain of truth in these words and I am inclined to think that we shouldn’t judge merely by the outwardly appearance, however overall image of a person does include it. Some may argue, that it is easier said than done, as we are all humans and it’s natural for us to presume automatically certain aspects about a person’s upbringing, occupation or character, just by their image. What is more, our preconceptions  about people inevitably alter the way we behave towards them. The thing that is worth being borne in mind: of course, first impression should be taken into account and, ideally, as Chekhov once wrote: “Everything should be beautiful in a person: face, clothes, spirit and mind”, but nothing is perfect in the world, so the final judgment should be based on people’s actions, on who they really are – their content. Being unappealing to the eye, the thing may be very valuable, even priceless, if to speak about person – he or she may have a heart of gold - you can never tell,  that’s why be careful not to underestimate. 

    There are many different ways to interpret this wise proverb. The one I am in favour of: we should not criticize other people if we ourselves have flaws. In other words, it’s about being hypocrit like 'the pot calling the kettle black', who unintentionally put that bad criticism and the blame back on himself.

To some extent, this reminds me of a famous saying in the Bible that preaches “those without sin may cast the first stone.” Only those who are faultless have the right to pass judgment upon others. In fact, we are all living in so-called ‘glass houses’ with our own weeknesses and vulnerability, clearly, we should be very mindful before ‘throwing stones’ - before we criticize others for the same mistakes that we might be guilty of.

This proverb is countless times exemplified in the world, so it seems to me that it’s sensible to follow such principle: do to others as you would have them do to you, otherwise – your glass house will shatter.

    I firmly believe this quote to be true and practical. This thought was also reflected in Skovoroda’s philosophy of work and is still relevant today as it may be observed in many facets of our life. It always takes less efforts to finish something when several people pitch in to get it done and, actually, it’s a basement of success. That’s to say, the more active people are involved (the more the merrier!), the easier and quicklier everything will be done. In practice, it is the concept of teamwork – team spirit in combination with many hands work wonders and great things can get done in an amazingly short amount of time. While there are people who still agree with the proverb ‘Too many cooks spoil the broth’ which contradicts the one mentioned above, I am of the opinion that the work in a group is done more efficiently simply because it’s a group effort and if we get our acts together, it always goes a long way. In addition, everyone is unique and has his or her own endowments and when working together, we all can share the opinions and experience which will definitely result in the quality and productivity of work. 

Christmas Holidays in Lviv

     Dear Sarah,

    As far as I know, you’re a culture vulture and I would like to invite you to Ukraine, Lviv, and to join me and my family, as we are planning to visit annual celebrations of Christmas Holidays there.

    Lviv has always cherished it’s traditional Ukrainian culture, that’s why the festivities on Christmas are very special, atmospheric here. All people in ancient customs and very much enjoy new, but at the same time very traditional Ukrainian Christmas games and other spectacular entertainments.

    In the Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life, a traditional festival “Christmas star shine” takes place (the 7^th of January,Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life (Chernecha Hora st., 1), the 8^th of January – the center of the city (Rynok square, Prospect Svobody, St. George Square).

This festival renews an ancient tradition: Ukrainians used to make big (1,5 -  2  meters) Christmas stars, which are the main symbols of Christmas. Another traditional festival in Lviv is the called “A Great Carol” (January 7-30, 2012; 16, 23, 30 of January – the main concerts). This festival traditionally takes place in the St. Eucharist Church (Museina square, 3). In this year festival, special attention is paid to old Ukrainian customs, and carols in particular. Obviously, many customs have their origin in pagan ceremonies.

    Another special event is The Annual Christmas Fair, which is a center of celebration and offers many interesting and at the same time flamboyant events: carols, games,  mulled wine; there is always a great variety of sweets, including chocolate for those  who have a sweet tooth; a traditional Ukrainian meal “varenyky”, souvenirs and presents, and of course a warm festive atmosphere. For citizens of Lviv and visitors of the city there will be a great variety of goods: pysanky, traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirts, pottery, national Ukrainian clothing, and hand-made jewelry. A great Christmas atmosphere will be created with little wooden booths, which have become in Ukraine, as well as in Europe, the symbols of Christmas.

    So, don’t hesitate and buy a ticket beforehand. I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Love,

Katia.

If you're interested, you may listen to the audiobook :) Hope, you'll enjoy it.

Find more parts of the book on:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP2nQQk4UKY&list=PL86BB38FC895633B5

   

    Dear Tania, regardless of my understanding that you have a full diary, I would like to recommend you a few books, which I personally can’t put down.

1. 

        One of my all-time favourite books is Atonement, by the highly acclaimed British novelist, Ian McEvan. It is quite a complex novel, which is divided into three parts and told from different characters’ perspectives, but it is not heavy going and I am sure, you would easily get into it.

    The story begins in England in the summer of 1935, when a precocious, upper-class thirteen-year-old girl, Bigony, witnesses a scene in the garden involving her older sister, Cecilia and a childhood friend, Robbie. Her naivety and overactive imagination lead her to misinterpret what she sees and accuse Robbie of a crime he didn’t commit, an accusation which has dramatic and pitiful consequences for Cecilia and Robbie and which Briony must spend the rest of her life having to atone for.

    The book’s strengths lie in its exceptionally well-observed depiction of characters and events, particularly the poignant chronicle of war scenes in the second section of the novel, where Robbie, now a soldier in World War II, resigns himself to accept his fate and is desperately trying to reach Dunkirk. The author’s ability to build up tension is absolutely superb and the book is a real page-turner at times. As well as being well-crafted, it is also thought-provoking in exploration of topics such as quilt and forgiveness, and the futility of war. Author endowed his heroes with resilience and determination.

    Atonement is not a book for those who love fast-moving plots, as far as I know, you are a lover of detailed and well-observed prose, so I would thoroughly recommend it to you.

2. 

   The next book I would like to recommend you would be not a bedtime reading, but still it’s a compulsive reading, which will help you to write and speak naturally in English. It’s called Idioms and Phrasal Verbs (Oxford word Skills series, Advanced). This book presents and gives you an opportunity to practice over 1000 Idioms and Phrasal Verbs in everyday contexts. Review units provide further opportunity for you to revise and test yourself. Besides, there is a wide range of online activities and information on the history of idioms. Ideal for self-study or in the classroom. The only thing you need is to open the book and find the topics that interest you. Of course, you may think, that it’s time-consuming, but, believe me, it’s worth it. What is more, this book was rewarded ESU English Language Book Award 2009 and received positive commentaries from readers and professors. So, my advice is clear: take note and do not lose sight of this book!

3.  

    And the last book I would recommend you is Kahlil Gibran’s masterpiece, The Prophet,  one of the most beloved classics of our time. This beautiful work makes an incredible gift for anyone seeking enlightenment and inspiration. Published in 1923, it has been translated into more than fifty languages, and it  is a staple on international best-seller lists. The book is made up of 26 prose poems that are philosophical, spiritual, and, above all, inspirational; they are delivered as sermons by a protagonist – a wise man called Al Mustapha. He is about to set sail for his homeland after 12 years in exile on a fictional island when the people of the island ask him to share his wisdom on the big questions of life: love, marriage, children, giving, eating and drinking, work, joy and sorrow, housing, clothes, buying and selling, crime and punishment, laws, freedom, reason and passion, pain, self-knowledge, teaching, friendship, talking, time, good and evil, prayer, pleasure, beauty, religion, and death. Corresponding to each chapter are evocative drawings by Gibran himself.

    Its popularity peaked in the 1930s and again in the 1960s when it became the bible of the counter culture. Lines from the book have inspired song lyrics, political speeches and have been read out at weddings and funerals all around the world. "It serves various occasions or big moments in one's life so it tends to be a book that is often gifted to a lover, or for a birth, or death. That is why it has spread so widely, and by word of mouth," says Dr Mohamed Salah Omri, lecturer in Modern Arabic literature at Oxford University. The Beatles, John F Kennedy and Indira Gandhi are among those who have been influenced by its words. "This book has a way of speaking to people at different stages in their lives. It has this magical quality, the more you read it the more you come to understand the words," says Reverend Laurie Sue, an interfaith minister in New York who has conducted hundreds of weddings with readings from The Prophet.

   When I started reading this work, I felt incredible compelled by the depth and messages contained within the book. Each essay reveals deep insights into the impulses of the human heart and mind.This masterpiece made such an impression on me that I felt that some of the insight could stick with me throughout the rest of my life and would evolve with my thoughts as I continue on the journey that is life.