urbanSTL

Bum: A lazy or shiftless person, especially one who seeks to live solely by the support of others.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/bum

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_disorder#Causes wrote:Abnormal functioning of neurotransmitter systems has been implicated, including serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine and glutamate systems. Differences have also been found in the size or activity of certain brains regions in some cases. Psychological mechanisms have also been implicated, such as cognitive and emotional processes, personality, temperament and coping style.



Social influences have been found to be important, including abuse, bullying and other negative or stressful life experiences. The specific risks and pathways to particular disorders are less clear, however. Aspects of the wider community have also been implicated, including employment problems, socioeconomic inequality, lack of social cohesion, problems linked to migration, and features of particular societies and cultures.

http://science-education.nih.gov/supplements/nih5/Mental/guide/info-mental-b.htm wrote:
At this time, scientists do not have a complete understanding of what causes mental illnesses. If you think about the structural and organizational complexity of the brain together with the complexity of effects that mental illnesses have on thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, it is hardly surprising that figuring out the causes of mental illnesses is a daunting task. The fields of neuroscience, psychiatry, and psychology address different aspects of the relationship between the biology of the brain and individuals’ behaviors, thoughts, and feelings, and how their actions sometimes get out of control. Through this multidisciplinary research, scientists are trying to find the causes of mental illnesses. Once scientists can determine the causes of a mental illness, they can use that knowledge to develop new treatments or to find a cure.



6.2 Risk Factors for Mental Illnesses

Although scientists at this time do not know the causes of mental illnesses, they have identified factors that put individuals at risk. Some of these factors are environmental, some are genetic, and some are social. In fact, all these factors most likely combine to influence whether someone becomes mentally ill. Genetic, environmental, and social factors interact to influence whether someone becomes mentally ill.



Environmental factors such as head injury, poor nutrition, and exposure to toxins (including lead and tobacco smoke) can increase the likelihood of developing a mental illness.



...



Social factors also present risks and can harm an individual’s, especially a child’s, mental health. Social factors include



* severe parental discord,

* death of a family member or close friend,

* parent’s mental illness,

* parent’s criminality,

* overcrowding,

* economic hardship,

* abuse,

* neglect, and

* exposure to violence.

zink wrote:
Question to members that live downtown. Have you also noticed a decrease in pan handlers that have actually come UP to you?

zink wrote:This year, I actually found "harassing" pan handlers in about every other city besides St. Louis. aahh the joys of travel.



Question to members that live downtown. Have you also noticed a decrease in pan handlers that have actually come UP to you?

Remember, they are looking for a response, and "no" is a response.

(1) "Aggressive Panhandling" means panhandling in the following manner:

• a. To approach or speak to a person in such a manner as would cause a reasonable person to believe that the person is being threatened with
  
  • 1. Imminent bodily injury; or
    
    
    
    2. The commission of a criminal act upon the person or another person, or upon property in the person's immediate possession;
  
  
  b. To persist in panhandling after the person solicited has given a negative response;
  
  
  
  c. To block, either individually or as part of a group of persons, the passage of a solicited person;
  
  
  
  d. To touch a solicited person without the person's consent;
  
  
  
  e. To render any service to a motor vehicle, including but not limited to any cleaning, washing, protecting, guarding or repairing of said vehicle or any portion thereof, without the prior consent of the owner, operator or occupant of such vehicle, and thereafter asking, begging or soliciting alms or payment for the performance of such service, regardless of whether such vehicle is stopped, standing or parked on a public street or upon other public or private property; or
  
  
  
  f. To engage in conduct that would reasonably be construed as intended to intimidate, compel or force a solicited person to make a donation.

Oh and the asbestos dumpster behind Larry's building is gone (found out that this time he did have a permit to abate the asbestos)...

BrewCrew13 wrote:Why don't we have these Downtown?

Opening statements are expected today in the jury trial of a former New Life Evangelistic Free Store volunteer accused of raping a woman at the Commercial Street facility, which at the time was being used illegally as a homeless shelter.

Charges:

Description: Forcible Sodomy - Deviate Sexual Intercourse By Forcible Compulsion { Felony Unclassified RSMo: 566.060 }

08/16/2007 Docket Entry: Judge/Clerk - Note

Text: STATE'S MOTION FOR DENTAL EXAMINATION; NOTICE OF HEARING SET FOR 8/28/07 AT 10:30 AM; MOTION TO SHORTEN TIME FILED. /DHB



12/16/2008 Docket Entry: Depositions Filed

Text: DEPOSITIONS OF ERIC WILSON, DDS, TAKEN ON DECEMBER 9, 2008 FILED./SDH