It has recently been revealed by BBC news that the Met Police have made over 900 arrests for drivers allegedly breaking new ‘drug-driving’ limits since its introduction in March.
As a result of this rapid crackdown, drug awareness has arguably become more important to the average household as the laws not only cover illegal drug usage but many of the more common prescription drugs too.
Prescription drugs covered in the new law include:
– Clonazepam – prescribed to treat seizures or panic disorders
– Diazepam – used for anxiety disorders or muscle spasms
– Rohypnol – a sedative originally used for deep sedation
– Lorazepam – used to treat epilepsy
– Oxazepam – used to relieve anxiety
– Temazepam which affects chemicals in the brain
– Methadone – used in the treatment of heroin addiction and for pain relief
– Morphine or opiates which treat moderate to severe pain
The new law has set limits for the usage of these drugs only when they exceed prescribed doses, however it is recommended that drivers who take these prescription drugs carry proof so they can produce it at the roadside if needed.
The new regulations have also set a zero tolerance approach to any illegal drugs in the system, whether they are the cause of ‘accidental exposure’ or otherwise. These include cocaine, ketamine, MDMA, and methylamphetamine.
This zero tolerance position on drug-driving has been justified by government advisers on the basis that there was previously no safe drug driving limit. As such the penalties for drug driving are the same as they would be if you were caught over the drink-driving limit – if convicted you would receive a minimum 12-month driving ban, a criminal record, a hefty fine or up to 6 months in prison or even both in extreme cases.
To aid in the implementation of the new law, the Department for Transport has approved the use of the Securetec DrugWipe 3S. Its maker, Securetec, claims that its invention is “over 95% reliable”.
Now 89, Frank Serpico is famous for exposing police corruption in New York between the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. He was the first officer to testify against a fellow officer.
Basics
Name: Frank Serpico
Born: April 14th 1936
Occupation: Law Enforcement
Place of Birth: Brooklyn, New York
Overview
Frank Serpico was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1936 and became a New York City police officer in 1959. He served for 12 years. He is renowned for reporting and exposing corruption within the New York City police department. In 1971, he testified against colleagues in the Knapp Commission. This led to him being disliked by colleagues who refused to come to his aid when he was shot on duty during a drug raid in 1971. After moving to the Netherlands during retirement, he returned to the US and now lives in upstate New York.
Background
Serpico was born on April 14th in Brooklyn, New York. He was the youngest child of Vincenzo and Maria Giovanna Serpico, Italian immigrants from Marigliano, a province of Naples.
At the age of 17, Serpico joined the United States Army and was stationed in South Korea for two years, as an infantryman. Once out of the army, he worked as a private investigator and a youth counsellor while he attended Brooklyn College.
In September 1959, Serpico joined the New York City police department as a probationary patrolman. He became a full patrolman on March 5th 1960 and was assigned to the 81st precinct. Serpico then worked for the Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) for two years before he was finally assigned to work plainclothes. It is here he discovered widespread corruption.
Corruption in the NYPD
During his time working as both a uniformed and plainclothes officer in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Harlem, Serpico was bothered by what he saw as the department’s widespread corruption and bribery by his fellow officers. Serpico refused to take bribes and spoke to his department superiors about corruption in the force. This earned him the distrust of his colleagues and partners.
In 1967, Serpico reported credible evidence of corruption and bribery to his department superiors. However, it was ignored, and nothing was done. Serpico met another officer, David Durk, who was willing to help him expose the widespread corruption within the department. However, Serpico believed his colleagues and partners knew about his secret meeting with police investigators.
On April 25th 1970, The New York Times published a front-page story on widespread corruption in the NYPD. Serpico was instrumental in providing the information for this article, and it was only his contributions that made it possible. This article prompted Mayor John V Lindsay to launch a proper investigation into the allegations. He appointed a five-member panel, headed by Whitman Knapp, to investigate charges of corruption and it became known as the Knapp Commission.
Serpico was finally able to testify before the Knapp Commission and was the first police officer to testify voluntarily against a fellow officer.
The shooting
Serpico seemingly paid for his perceived disloyalty to the NYPD when he was shot during a drug raid and fellow officers refused to come to his aid.
On February 3rd 1971, Serpico attended a drug raid with three other officers. After arresting two drug users outside the property, Serpico attempted to gain access to the apartment the drugs were being dealt from. His fellow officers would follow him, and he was shot in the head. The accompanying officers didn’t call in that they were an officer down, it was left to an elderly neighbour to call for an ambulance.
Serpico survived the shooting but lost his hearing in his left ear and has suffered from chronic pain caused by bullet fragments lodged in his brain.
Serpico left the force in 1972 after receiving the medal of honour from the NYPD. He then moved to Europe.
Post-retirement
Serpico lived and travelled around Europe before returning to live in upstate New York. In 1973, a movie starring Al Pacino was made about his life and his involvement in exposing corruption in the NYPD.
When Pacino asked Serpico why he had stepped forward to expose the corruption, Serpico responded, “Well, Al, I don’t know. I guess I would have to say it would be because… if I didn’t, who would I be when I listened to a piece of music?”
Serpico still speaks out about corruption in the police force, brutality and the weakening of civil liberties. He also provides support to individuals who he says, “seek truth and justice even in the face of great personal risk”.
In a report by the BBC, it has been revealed that many companies are attempting to improve their online rankings through illegitimate means.
There have been allegations that some reviews left on popular ratings websites such as Trustpilot may not be as genuine as consumers believe.
Companies are said to be creating fake reviews for either their own, or their competitor’s websites. Creating fake profiles as customers, and leaving untrue reviews, whether positive or negative, makes the ratings system incorrect and may work to mislead customers.
With most companies now using the internet to promote their business, whether it be through a website, online listings or through social media, maintaining a positive online presence is essential to a sustainable business.
Reviews give potential customers an independent review on your products. Instead of relying on what you think you should be telling people about your product, you have existing customers do this for you. In effect this is free marketing for a company, and should be used as much as possible to promote your brand.
Being listed on online review websites increases visibility on other websites. Your brand awareness as a company will increase as you are advertised on other websites, and customers who may not have been aware of your products may be directed to your company.
Online review websites offer an independent comparison, as you are effectively letting an independent body compare your products to your competitors without you having to “bad mouth” any rival companies.
However, by listing your company on an online ratings website, a company runs the risk of only negative reviews being posted. It’s common knowledge that most customers are far more likely to leave a bad review than a good one, which is partially due to a happy customer expecting to be happy so it usually requires a company to go “above and beyond” expectations to get a good review.
According to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), 54% of UK adults now use online reviews to judge whether or not a company is reputable before purchasing from them. If the reviews listed on a website are all falsely positive, the customer may experience bad service, or could even possibly end up losing out on money.
Similarly, if a company’s online rating system has been tarnished by a competitor posting untrue negative ratings, they will see a loss of business, as customers will not wish to do business with a company that appears to have a bad reputation.
At NCC, we are keen to retrieve both positive and negative reviews from our customers, as we can use all comments to improve our service for our customer.
We believe that our online ratings through Trustpilot show that we are a reputable company. As we check that all of our reviews come from genuine students who have completed a course with us, we can be sure that our ratings are as accurate as possible, and are proud to currently hold a score of 9.4 out of 10.
Click here if you would like to read through a full list of our impartial reviews from customers.
Surgeon and writer Gabriel Weston discovers the changes that have occurred in the field of forensic science throughout history, and how the processes have adapted to keep up with the latest developments in technology.
Catching History’s Criminals, a new programme airing over the next three weeks, will take a look at the field of forensic science and its developments.
When a murder is committed, the police are first tasked with the difficult job of identifying the victim. With some bodies completely unrecognisable, whether due to fire, acid or decomposition, often the only way of determining the identity of a victim is to look at their DNA.
Ms. Weston will investigate the struggles that forensic scientists face to complete their job, by studying four real-life breakthrough cases, each using new skills to determine victims and
criminals.
In the first episode, she will study how a victim or murderer can be identified through bite marks and dental methods, a method that was first used at Harvard Medical School in 1949. The program will also study the invention of DNA profiling, speaking to Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys, the geneticist behind the technique.
Something that seems so insignificant at the scene of a death, such as an insect, has also been used to determine knowledge about murder cases by forensic scientists. The analysis of insects found near a murder victim can determine the time of death, and was used in a 1935 murder investigation in Moffat. The killer and the victims were determined by analysing insects found along with some unidentifiable body parts in a river.
Ms. Weston will also look to forensic science techniques that will be available for use in the future. A sample of her DNA is sent to a group of scientists in Belgium. They are able to construct a projected image of her face just by analysing some of her genes. Although they can’t account for external factors, such as weight gain or scars, they are able to produce a good likeness of her, with the correct position of her features.
The second episode will look to examining the cases in which only a small amount of evidence is available to be analysed – this often ties in with murderers who believe that they have committed ‘the perfect crime’.
With the techniques available in science, these days it is near enough impossible to commit a crime without leaving a trace of who you are. Fingerprints, hair, fibres and blood can all point to a criminal, and cases which were solved with thanks to the smallest amount of evidence are featured.
People’s locations can also be analysed without the use of CCTV footage, as evidenced by the fact that scientists are now able to determine exactly where someone has walked, over land the size of Scotland, just by analysing soil on the sole of a suspect’s shoe.
The final episode of the series will determine how forensic science can lead the police to a murder weapon, which is a vital piece of evidence in any investigation, as they can hold many clues that point to the killer.
If you are interested in learning more about how Forensic Science and its individual techniques are used in building a profile of a criminal or is used in the initial investigation then why not study with NCC?
NCC Home Learning provides dedicated Forensic Science Diplomas at two levels – Level 3 and Level 4, which explore different areas of criminal investigation and helps the learner gain an insight into just how these techniques are applied in the real world.
Catching History’s Criminals airs on BBC 4 tonight at 9pm.
Last week we introduced you to the relationship between language and the law.
We talked about how words legitimise laws and were stunned to learn how this affects us all and helps in the fight against crime.
Admittedly it all sounded a bit confusing, but luckily we had an expert on hand to help and tell us more about Forensic Linguistics: the academic study of language and the law.
Now that you’ve had a taste of the legal lingo, Ann Ellis from Edge Hill University is back to tell us more about Forensic Linguistics as a career, and explain how our course can set you on the right path.
Why would people be interested in completing our Forensic Linguistics course?
Well there is so much to interest people. If you imagine the study of Forensic Science, wherever you go, you leave behind traces of yourselves: DNA from skins cell, sweat and hair; fingerprints, clothing fibres. Similarly, when you write or speak, you leave information about yourself: traces of dialect, evidence of your social class, ethnic origin, education, and your job. This course empowers you to look at language in this way and equips you with the skills needed to analyse it for the purpose of criminal investigations.
Understanding how language works at this level is a powerful tool that you can use in all areas of your life. Your own writing and communication skills are likely to become more effective as a result.
This course will also be ideal preparation for a wide range of university courses, such as forensic science and English. The materials will also give you a great head start, should you wish to take things further with a Master’s degree in Forensic Linguistics.
Who would benefit from completing the course?
Because forensic linguistics is a wide ranging discipline, it would appeal to a large number of people, including those who are interested or involved in the legal system e.g. investigators (past students have included private investigators, police officers, social workers, trading standards officers, fire investigators) as well as people who are interested in forensic sciences, writers and those who are interested in English study.
What advice would you give to someone who is completing this course and is interested in going into forensic linguistics as a career?
Become the best linguist you can by absorbing yourself in the subject and taking note of how language is used in all different areas in life, whether it be conversations with friends, social networking, legal documents, political speeches etc.
You can join the International Association of Forensic Linguists (IAFL). Their conferences and journals will keep you up to date with the latest developments in the discipline. Also, look out for free lectures at universities (Aston University for example has lectures and seminars in its Centre for Forensic Linguistics) this can be a good opportunity to see experts in the field as well as research being done by other students.
When you have the qualifications you need, remember that work with the police is not the only option for a forensic linguist. A trawl of the Internet will give you a picture of the different areas that a forensic linguist can work in.
Ann is the author of our Forensic Linguistics course and has over ten years’ experience teaching students in this area. She has passion for the subject has included the following teaser to see if this might also be up your street…
Teaser
Just as you leave DNA and fingerprints behind when you leave a room, when you write or speak, you leave vital forensic information about yourself behind.
Try it for yourself.
The text below is a ransom note from a real kidnapping in America. What can you say about the writer?
Do you ever want to see your precious little girl again? Put $10,000 cash in a diaper bag. Put it in the green trash kan on the devil strip at corner 18th and Carlson. Don’t bring anybody along. No kops!! Come alone! I’ll be watching you all the time. Anyone with you, deal is off and dautter is dead!!!
Highlight below to check your answer
Answer:
You might have noticed that the writer makes a lot of spelling mistakes – kops, kan, dautter. What are the reasons for this? You might have considered the following:
The use of ‘k’ instead of ‘c’ in kan and kops might suggest that the writer’s first language is not English – if so you need to look at other ‘k’ sounds. Are they also represented with a ‘k’? the answer is no – Carlson, cash and come are all represented by a ‘c’
Perhaps you think the writer is not well educated – this does not seem to be the case because other complex words such as precious and diaper are spelled correctly. We can perhaps conclude that the mistakes were made on purpose to mislead the police.
The police had several suspect but could not be sure which was the kidnapper. Roger Shuy, the linguist who analysed this text for the police asked if one of the suspects was a reasonably well educated from Akron, Ohio. As it happens, they did. The man was arrested and admitted to the charge. But how did Shuy Know where the man was from? The answer lies in the term ‘devil strip’. It is the name given to the grass verge, only in Akron, Ohio – the kidnapper’s dialect showed through in his writing.
Alongside her work at Edge Hill University, Ann has developed a course for NCC Home Learning. Our Diploma in Forensic Linguistics allows you to indulge your interest.
Following on from our blog last week regarding the Butterfly Household Approach, tonight the series about different approaches to dementia, ‘Dementiaville’, will air its second episode on Channel 4. The series follows different approaches to dealing with patients with dementia, with tonight’s episode focusing on those with dementia who are being cared for by their families.
In tonight’s episode, the three families featured all care for their relative with dementia at home.
Ann looks after her husband of 42 years, Jim, along with help from her sons, Ian and Rob. Jim’s dementia symptoms were first noticed by Ann in 2000, when he started getting in accidents whilst driving and struggled to find his way home from church meetings. He had always enjoyed fishing, however around this time he stopped going altogether.
He was professionally diagnosed with Alzheimer’s by 2003, and is now in the latter stages. He can no longer do anything for himself, and has lived in his own world, where he constantly talks to himself, for five years. This was at its worst last Christmas, when Jim talked to himself continually for 36 hours, in a very limited vocabulary.
Joy cares for her mother Dorothy, with the help of her 21 year-old son Romaine. She was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and as she always loved to drive, she got a job driving buses in Jamaica, only the third woman to do so. She decided to leave Jamaica in the early 1960’s, and moved to Derby, where she met her second husband Egbert. She continued her bus driving work in England, and was the first black woman driver in Derby, driving a double decker bus in the 1980’s. Her daughter Joy is a single mum with three children, and Dorothy always helped her to bring them up.
Joy started noticing differences in her mother’s behaviour, such as shouting at small annoyances when she had always been a calm and relaxed person. Although once a good cook, she began forgetting how to cook her favourite meals, forgetting ingredients and opting to just put everything in one pot. She was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2013, and subsequently moved into Joy’s family home, as she couldn’t cope alone in her flat.
64 year-old Tony was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s in 2010, and is now cared for by his wife Jacquie. Before his diagnosis, Tony worked as a barrister, and was always involved with complicated criminal cases. He enjoyed cycling and reading books on politics and history, but he now struggles to complete many activities, such as using the remote control, making a cup of tea or getting dressed in the morning.
Although he is struggling with tasks he once found easy, he has now discovered a love for art. He attended an art workshop two years ago, and now spends a lot of time drawing and painting, which he’d never done before. His family now look at his art as his way of expressing himself, and is one of the only things he enjoys that make him more stable.
Each of these families were given the opportunity to visit Dr. David Sheard, a dementia specialist who has spent 35 years working in health and social care, in dementia care posts. He has a wide experience of supporting families living with dementia, and was a former consultant to the Alzheimer’s Society. Through this he led a major educational programme, ‘Being Together With Dementia’, teaching families to learn from each other.
The families all attended a workshop run by Dr. Sheard, with the aim of showing the different methods of connecting with their loved ones. His beliefs differ to that of the Butterfly Household Approach, which was discussed last week, in that he believes that people know who they are, as they all know who they once were. His aim is to reach out to the person with dementia, through the use of shared memories. He also believes it is important for families to relive important moments in their lives, alongside building new memories together.
If you are interested in learning more about dementia, and understanding the different methods used to improve the lives of those with it, Dr. David Sheard has authored NCC’s Positive Dementia Care course.
The second episode of Dementiaville is on Channel 4 tonight, at 9pm.
This week marks Carers Week in the United Kingdom. Each year it is held to raise awareness of carers and to recognise the work that they do. This year, the campaign is looking to develop Carer Friendly Communities, in which those who care for others are appreciated and looked after, as they too have their needs.
According to statistics, 3 in 5 people in the United Kingdom will work as a carer during their lifetimes. Carers are classed as those who regularly look after someone who is sick, elderly or disabled. They can either be a family member or friend who either cares around their job, or gives up their job if the person requires full-time care. Caring can also be a profession, and carers can have multiple people who they are paid to look after on a weekly basis, or they can be paid to look after one person full-time.
The length of time someone is classed as a carer can vary, for some the care required is only a few months, however others may require lifelong care. While caring can be a positive experience, many find it isolating, stressful and it can have an impact on their social lives and expenses.
This is why the campaigners behind this year’s Carers Week are aiming to create Carer Friendly Communities, who recognise and value the work that unpaid carers carry out on a daily basis. They want to educate people on what is included in a carer’s routine.
They are also aiming for local services to make life slightly easier for these unpaid carers, who often struggle with additional stresses caused by their time spent caring. If they have left or changed jobs due to being required at home, they will often have to fill in extra paperwork to document their changes of circumstance. If they become ill they may struggle to attend an appointment at their local doctors, as someone else is now entirely reliant on them.
By building Carer Friendly Communities, some of these stresses could be reduced. Carers Week aims to work with local services and systems to lift some of the barriers currently facing carers. They hope that employers who are more informed about unpaid carers will adapt their policies to become more ‘Carer Friendly’. They also aim to get doctors surgeries to offer alternative appointments to carers who find it difficult to visit due to their responsibilities.
NCC offers many care-based courses, both with a general focus on care or courses that take an in-depth look at different types of care situations and how to react to these. General courses such as our Health and Social Care Diploma Level 2 or Level 3 benefit those who are looking to work in the Care industry. Both courses give learners the knowledge and understanding necessary to understand the role of a Carer, how to safeguard effectively, how to support use of medication in a care setting and how to support individuals with specific communication needs, amongst other vital bits of knowledge.
We also offer more specific and focused courses that may be of help to some carers, who are caring for someone with an ailment they would like to increase their knowledge on. Popular courses include Positive Dementia Care, which is ideal for those who want to know the facts on dementia and how to improve the daily life of those with dementia. Autism Awareness is a topic that many carers are keen to gain more knowledge on, as it such a diverse condition. This courses enables the learner to become familiar with the different approaches to autism, gain a better awareness of how to obtain a diagnosis and also gives practical suggestions when working with autistic individuals.
Every once in a while, we all get presented with a labyrinth of riddles.
Lines and lines of tongue twisting words get thrust upon us, jumping off the page and wreaking havoc with our uninspired brains.
And this assortment of words are crammed together for one purpose…to legitimise the law!
If you don’t know what I mean, just think of a time you made a purchase online. That seemingly never ending page of terms of conditions is just one of the many examples of legal linguistics.
All headaches aside, words are a powerful legal tool and on the side of those enforcing the law, can prove very useful in bringing criminals to justice!
Admittedly, legal language is confusing. However do not despair, because we can get to grips with this literary minefield through the study of Forensic Linguistics.
Luckily, we happen to know a leading lecturer of Forensic Linguistics who teaches at Edge Hill University. Her name is Ann Ellis, and she was happy to talk about her experience with legal lingo and offer advice.
In a nutshell how would you define forensic linguistics?
Forensic linguistics (sometimes referred to as legal linguistics or language and the law) is the application of linguistic knowledge, methods and insights to the context of law, crime investigation, trial, and judicial procedure. It is a branch of applied linguistics.
When did you first become interested in the study of forensic linguistics and why?
I became interested in forensic linguistics in 2005 when I was studying for a master’s degree in applied linguistics. I found the discipline fascinating and began to attend related conferences, where I became more aware of the range of topics that were being studied under the forensic linguistic umbrella. Although I was teaching English at that time, I had not realised just how powerful a tool an understanding of how language works is.
Have you worked as a forensic linguist in the past? What did this entail?
Forensic linguistics is a very wide ranging discipline and my interest in it has been related to police writing. I have made a study of how police officers write and have developed training based on those studies. I have delivered papers on my research at policing conferences as well as linguistic ones.
I have not acted as an expert witness in a criminal case as this is not a path I wish to go down. However, I have helped and advised individual officers by carrying out analysis on an informal basis and if necessary, signposting them towards an expert in a particular area.
What would a career in forensic linguistics entail and how would individuals find work in this area?
Because forensic linguistic evidence is being used increasingly across a range of cases, there are a number of linguists who are working as professional consultants. Some are called upon by the police but others are working in specialist areas such as insurance fraud, authorship comparison, money laundering and code breaking (to name but a few areas.)
Many forensic linguists are also university lecturers who have an expertise in linguistic analysis, but increasingly linguistic experts are being employed by large companies to work within their legal departments.
Alongside her work at Edge Hill University, Ann has developed a course for NCC Home Learning. Our Diploma in Forensic Linguistics allows you to indulge your interest, and in part two of Ann’s interview, you will discover how our course can allow you to pursue a career in language and the law.
Berlin, 06/06/2015
Barcelona – Juventus
Berlin, 06/06/2015
Today the premier event in European club football is due to be contested by FC Barcelona of Spain and Juventus of Italy. Both clubs have recently won their respective leagues and cup competitions meaning that the winner of this game will also complete a championship treble.
The treble has only previously been won 7 times with Glasgow Celtic wining the first treble in 1967 and FC Bayern Munich the latest in 2013. The treble is considered extremely difficult to win as a club would typically need to perform well in their domestic league, generally comprising of around 38 games and also going on two long cup runs which is usually around 18 games (not taking into account replays). 60 games may not sound like a lot but these games are played over 10 months averaging 6 games a month at the very top level.
On top of the treble that is up for grabs, the Champions League is seen as the grandest prize in club football with the winning team being crowned the champions of Europe. This is the epitome of a great team and establishes the winning players as stars in their own right.
So let’s look at the two teams:
Barcelona
Manager: Luis Enrique – former Barcelona & Spain Midfielder
Nicknames: Barça
Colours: Blue & Red
Key Player:Lionel Messi – Vice-Captain, World Player of the year 4 times, current 2nd all-time leading scorer in the UEFA Champions League and Barcelona’s all-time top goal scorer.
– Won the Champions league on 3 previous occasions with Barcelona
Barcelona are currently ranked 3rd in the UEFA Champions League all time club rankings.
They appeared in the final in 2011 beating Manchester United 3-1, 8 Players in the Barcelona squad were also in the squad for their last final appearance. They have won the tournament 4 times in the past, 3 of which were in the last 10 years.
Their record in the final is Won 4, Lost 3
How they got to the final:
Group Stage
APOEL Agg. 5-0
Paris Saint-Germain Agg. 5-4
Ajax Agg.4-1
Last 16
Man City Agg. 3-1
Quarter Final
Paris Saint-Germain Agg. 5-1
Semi Final
Bayern Munich Agg. 5-3
Juventus
Manager: Massimiliano Allegri – Former Midfielder and AC Milan Manager
Nicknames: la Vecchia Signora (the Old Lady), Juve
Colours: Black & White
Key Player: Andrea Pirlo, fourth most capped Italy player, 3 time Serie A Footballer of the Year, World Cup winner and Olympic bronze medallist.
Juventus are currently ranked 6th in the UEFA Champions League all time club rankings
This is their first final in 12 years, the last time they were in the final they lost on penalties to AC Milan at Old Trafford. Their Goalkeeper, Buffon, is the only player still in the squad from the 2003 final, Pirlo did also play in the game but for AC Milan. They have won the competition twice in the past.
Their record in the final is Won 2, Lost 5
How they got to the final:
Group Stage
Malmo FF Agg. 4-0
Atletico Madrid Agg. 0-1
Olympiacos Agg. 3-3
Last 16
Borussia Dortmund Agg. 5-1
Quarter Final
Monaco Agg. 1-0
Semi Final
Real Madrid Agg. 3-2
Venue
This is the first Champions League Final to be hosted in Berlin. The stadium was originally built for the infamous 1936 Olympic Games and has hosted numerous football events over the years including two world cups. It has also been used for other sporting and concerts.
Both Pirlo and Buffon won the 2006 World Cup in this stadium with Pirlo scoring the first penalty in the shootout.
Previous Meetings
Juventus and Barcelona have faced each other in this competition twice in the past, each team winning one game apiece. Juventus won 3-2 on aggregate in 2003 and Barcelona won 2-1 on aggregate in 1986.
Who will win?
This is a tough question to answer as both teams are very strong. Barcelona play an exciting attacking style of play which is led by their three forwards Messi, Neymar and Suarez.
Juventus on the other hand are a defensively minded team who are very hard to break down and will hit teams on the counter attack.
The odds as of writing are as follows:
Juventus – 9-2
Barcelona – 8/13
We will find out if the bookies are correct this evening and hopefully the final will live up to its expectations of an exciting and thrilling match!
If you are interested in discovering the reasoning behind sporting decisions, why not enrol on our Sports Psychology Diploma?
Starting tonight on Channel 4 is a new three part series which examines methods of caring for those with dementia. Dementiaville will follow the care of dementia patients in a progressive care home, those who are looked after by their families, and will also investigate the effect of dementia within marriages.
The first episode follows some of the residents at the Poppy Lodge, a dementia care unit located at the Galanos House care home. Poppy Lodge was created three years ago, and uses modern methods in the care offered to its 30 residents, all of whom have dementia and an association with the armed forces.
Poppy Lodge focuses on using the Butterfly Household Model of Care, which is used in over 100 care homes across the UK, to treat the patients housed there. This model of care is different to the techniques most commonly used and understood, and its use with dementia patients has been labelled as controversial.
Those with dementia often encounter difficulty when remembering recent events, making their memories from their younger years feel like their most recent. This means that they are essentially living in the past, often to referring to outdated things, or believing that family and friends who have passed away are still alive. At many care homes, the procedure is to correct the resident when they make errors of these types, and try to bring them back to the present day.
However, care homes that use the Butterfly Household Model of Care, such as the Poppy Lodge, instead do not correct the patient in their belief that past memories are current reality. Instead, the staff endeavour to embrace what the patient believes to be true.
The model is believed to be beneficial to dementia sufferers, and is said to improve their well-being. As they are not being told that they are in the wrong regarding certain memories, their anxiety is reduced. Often, when a dementia patient is corrected, they can get very upset or even angry, and become a danger to themselves or to those caring for them. With this method, the patients are kept as happy and calm as possible.
The program focuses on some of the residents of Poppy Lodge, such as Les Hadley, who is suffering from vascular dementia. He is 91 years old, however on a daily basis his memories revert back to those of his fourteen-year-old self. At the time, he worked in a car factory with his dad, and now he is often found in corridors asking people where his father is.
The staff at Poppy Lodge allow patients like Les to believe these memories, often telling him that is dad is just working a long shift. This approach means that many of the patients live in their own realities, and it is believed that keeping these memories alive helps those suffering through the more difficult moments associated with their condition.
The staff work to try and help the patients to enjoy these memories, and relive them if they believe it would help. The Activities Co-ordinator at the Lodge, Craig Edser, organises unique ways of engaging the residents. These activities include things such as chauffeur-driven rides in old-fashioned cars, special performances by the Royal Naval Association Choir and allowing a former matron to take part in simple nursing tasks with the staff.
Mr Edser said: “Each time I come into work, I have absolutely no idea what I’m going to find… my job is to delve into the past lives of thirty very different human beings”.
If you are interested in developing the skills necessary to create activities for those in a social care situation, take a look at NCC’s Supporting Activity Provision in Social Care QCF course.
Dementiaville starts on Channel 4 tonight, at 9pm.