Marriage Analysis

Marriage is one of the major rights of passage in life. It is a change of status that involves all the emotional baggage that comes with such changes. Marriage is one of the few rights of passage that I, myself have chosen to undertake. Once my fianc? and I made the desciscion to get married, the next step was to plan the wedding. The first thing I had to do was to set a date. Choosing a date was not a simple task, considering I had to keep in mind of family commitments, other events, the length that some guests had to travel, and weather conditions. I knew that I wanted to be a summer bride, so I decided the best time would be around labor day. It would be the end of the summer, and a new beginning for me. Next, I went to the library and checked out all the books that I could find on weddings. I read each one carefully and took notes. Also I asked family members and friends about their own weddings. I asked questions about everything from weddings dresses to flower arrangements. The Internet was also is very informative. I logged onto the Internet and read many interesting stories about other people and their weddings. The third problem that I had to face was, â€Å"What kind of wedding do I want? † I had to choose from an ultra-formal, formal, semiformal, or informal. Determining how formal the wedding is to be will is to be would help establish the overall wedding strategy. The level of formality determines, to a great extent, the overall cost of the wedding. I chose the formal layout, which is the most typical wedding format†¦ Then there is finding a ceremony site. Since most of our friends are in North Carolina, we decided to have it here and not in Texas where my fianc? s raised. I decided to have the ceremonies held in the church that I grew up in. Choosing a ceremony site was not that hard, since I also decided that the reception also would be held at the church. The next thing was choosing the participants. I chose my sisters and friends for brides maids. My niece and little cousin would be the flower girls. Next, I went and asked each one to participate in the wedding, at which time they very gladly accepted. Choosing a wedding gown would be the hardest task. I saw so many gowns the were so beautiful. First, I decided how much I wanted to spend on the gown. Then, I had to chose the color that would be the best for me. So after going to one-hundred different shops, and several wedding shows, I picked the gown that most made me feel like Cinderella. Next, came the hiring of the musician, the catering, photographer, and florist. I was fortunate enough to find the One Stop Shop. They were highly recommended. At the One Stop Shop, they do it all. With the combination of services that they provided, I was exhilarated to learn that they had reasonable pricing. Sending out the invitations is the second-to-last event that needed to be planned. The Invitations are to be mailed approximately four to six weeks prior to the wedding. The envelopes are to be hand addressed in ink matching the printed ink on the invitation itself. Finally, the planning of the honeymoon. The key is to plan ahead and make every minute count. I decided on a week in Hawaii would be the means to get much needed rest. After planning a wedding, the only thing I can say is, â€Å"Thank God! I only have to go through this once! †

Obesity Epidemic Among African American Women

Chapter II Review of Literature We know that the problem of obesity is a world-wide epidemic and is becoming an even greater threat to the United States. Currently the U. S is the world’s most obese country and with a large margin between second place (James, Leach,  Kalamara, Shayegh 2001). America is also the front runner in a new trend: morbid obesity. Not only does America have the highest population of obese individuals, America also has the largest population of morbidly obese individuals (World Health Organization 2009).Morbid obesity affects both males and females of all ages and ethnicities from different socioeconomic statuses, however, the Black female population that has been affected the most (Lorenzen, (2010). This trend of overweight Black American females has only recently become an epidemic (Davis, 2008). What if any factors played into this abrupt change in obesity levels of the Black-American woman? Obesity and BMI Obesity can be classified as a condition characterized by excessive body fat to the magnitude that is becomes detrimental to one’s health (Ho-Pham, et al. , 2010).There are different methods to measuring ones body mass index with the more common methods being height to weight ratio measurement, waist to hip ratio measurement, skin fold tests, and bioelectrical impedance measurement. For most of these references BMI’s were calculated between a mixture of bioelectrical impedance and skin fold measurement tests. A person should have a BMI of 18. 5 to 24. 99 be considered â€Å"normal† (World Health Organization, 2010). Once a BMI reaches 30 or greater the individual is classified as obese. The term obesity is broken down into 3 different Body Mass Index (BMI) classifications. Having a BMI greater than 30. is considered Class I Obesity. A BMI greater than 35. 0 is considered Class II Obesity and a BMI greater than 40. 0 is Class III Obesity or morbid obesity (World Health Organization, 2000). The Obesity E pidemic Obesity is a worldwide epidemic (Deitel, 2003). 1 out of every 10 adults suffering from obesity worldwide (WHO, 2009) and this number will be doubled by 2015 (Withrow, Alter, 2011). Stemming from this large occurrence there are over 2. 5 million obesity related deaths worldwide each year (CDC 2011). However in America the problem is even greater in that 35. 7 percent of the adult population is obese (CDC 2011).The most current figures available come from a 2005-2006 survey station that 6 percent of Americans suffer from morbid obesity (Journal of the American Medical Association, 2012). The obesity epidemic in the United States represents a critical public health crisis. The increase in obesity can be directly linked to the increase of other major health issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, arthritis, and poor health status ( Mokdad, et al. , 2001). Not only does it encompass life threatening consequences such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases but it also results in major healthcare costs (Brown, et al. 2009). The United States spends upwards of $147 billion annually in obesity related healthcare costs (The Washington Post). The rise in obesity is giving way to a new epidemic- morbid obesity. Morbid Obesity and Women Morbid obesity is classified as having a BMI greater than 50. 0 (Strum, 2007). Like in obese people, morbid obese people see the same list of health complications such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, infertility and breathing problems such as asthma and sleep apnea to more severe problems such as diabetes and high premature mortality rates.Both obesity and morbid obesity are a major problem in the United States. It is apparent that morbid obesity is on the rise in the U. S however it is more prevalent in women than in men. Morbid obesity tends to affect women more than men. Currently morbid obesity cases affect females 24% more than males and it is estimated that by the year 2020, 40. 2% o f men will be obese with 3. 1% of that population being morbidly obese and 43. 3% of women will be obese with 5. 8% of that population being morbidly obese (C. J. Ruhm, 2007).Morbid Obesity in Black-American Women Morbid obesity continues to rise throughout America however the most significant increase is seen in Black women. Over 78% of Black-American women are overweight or obese (Davis, 2008), and it is predicted that by 2030, 96. 9% of Black women will be either overweight or obese (Wang, et al. , 2008). In 2002 morbid obesity among Black-American women was more than double that among White and Mexican-American women. 13. 5 % of Black-American women were morbidly obese as opposed to 5. 5% and 5. % in White and Mexican-American women (Wang, Beydoun, 2007). Why it is that Black women are most vulnerable to not only obesity, but to morbid obesity? Could socioeconomics place a factor in these figures? A study was done in 2007 that looked at race, socioeconomic status and food qualit y availability. It was found that in low income urban areas, there was significantly less access to not only major food chains but foods of quality such as fresh fruits and vegetables while having a significantly higher access to convenience store than the rest of the population. Powella, et al. , 2007). Since majority of low income urban areas are made up of black residents then why aren’t Black men’s morbid obesity rates just as high? Both Black men and Black women of the same socioeconomic status have the same access to the same food distribution centers. Both also share the same body compositions as naturally having a greater lean mass to fat mass ratio (Flegal, Carroll, C. L. Ogden, Curtin, 2010). Could there be another factor playing a role in Black women’s prevalence to morbid obesity? Body ImageA study was conducted at Tennessee State University where 218 Black- American females were asked to rate their body image confidence. The findings of this study s uggested that the obese and morbidly obese women rated themselves as having a high level of body image confidence and life satisfaction as opposed to that of the women who were normal or overweight (Lorenzen, L. , 2010). Another study was conducted in 2007 looking at the preferred body images between 80 White- American and 80 Black-American participants. All participants were asked to look at female models and silhouettes of women.The models BMI’s ranged from low to obese. From there the participants were asked to rate each model and silhouette. The study found that there was a significant difference in ratings between Black- American and White-American participants in that model silhouettes with a higher BMI received higher attractiveness ratings amongst the Black-American participants than compared to White-American participants (Davis 2008). Although these studies yielded relatively small samples the results are conclusive in that Black-Americans view a female with a large r BMI as having a more attractive body image.This obesity epidemic in Black-American women is fairly new. If we go back only a few decades ago, the obesity rates of Black- American women has doubled between 1988 and 2004. In addition, various longitudinal studies have shown that there are higher rates of weight gain in black women than in white women. Also during the first BMI examinations in the 1970s, white and black girls had similar levels of BMI but the annual increase in BMI were 30-40% larger among the black girls throughout both childhood and adulthood (Freedman et al, 2005).

Robots Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Robots - Essay Example lfunction resulting to great losses, they have also been used in the warfare leading to deaths of innocent civilians as well as leading to artificial relationships, which could result to negative psychological effects. The paper looks at one of the key merits of the robot as well as three key problems resulting from the same. One of the key advantages of the robots is the fact that it has improved human life in various ways and has made it better than when the robots were not used. The robots, for instance, has facilitated education to disabled students with chronic heart disorders as well as lung diseases and who are unable to attend school but because of the robots are able to connect to other students at the school with the help of the robots. This has been evident as according to Robbie Brown, a chronic disease student Lexie have been using a robot named as VGo due to his chronic heart disease and has controlled it while at home using a computer while the robot is at school with its fellow students. Other students who have healthy problems and are unable to attend classes have employed the same. Those students could be unable to interact with their classmates as well as fall terribly academically, but the VGos has enhanced both interactions as well as improvement in their academics. Other examples of robots such as washing machines, dry cleaners, and lawn mowers among others have greatly reduced human physical work as well as reduced the time on which a particular item takes to be done thus resulting to an improvement in human life (Brown, 2013).

EU & HR Seen Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

EU & HR Seen Questions - Essay Example The purpose of this paper is to study the acts impacts on privacy issues and other controversies related to the UK Human Rights Act of 1998. One of the first cases that spark controversy related to this act involved The Times and a convicted murder Lee Clegg. Lee Clegg was a military officer convicted of murdering a teenage joy rider in 1993 for which he served a two and half year sentence before been cleared by the courts of the charges (BBC, 2000). While the soldier was in prison the newspaper followed a protest of people campaigning for the release of Mr. Clegg and later published an article. The lawyer of Lee Clegg did not like the newspaper involvement and suit them for libel, a civil suit which Mr. Clegg won. The Times claimed they were within their rights to publish the story, but the court decision was based on the fact the activity was a private meeting which did not provide them with the rights reporters have of writing and voicing their opinions of public events. In this case the Human Rights Act of 1998 ruled in favor of an individual over the press and allowed this person to earn a significant cash award of over $100,000. The ruling created a precedent which would open the door for the utilization of the Act for other judicial purposes. Article 8 of the Human Rights Act 1998 involves the right to respect for private and family life. Article 8(2) stipulates that there shall be no interference by a public authority with the exercise of this right except as in accordance with this law and is necessary in a democratic society in the interest of national security, public safety, or economic well being of the country, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, or for the protection of rights or freedoms of others (Opsi, 1998). Article 8 protects intrusion into the private life of individuals, a

Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 406

Assignment Example Emily’s mother is concerned with his duties in order to raise Emily and this is ironic because those duties made her to fail in giving the appropriate care to Emily (Olsen 271). The story is set or moves in a long timeframe. It is set in the 1950 but it focuses back in 1930 during the time of great depression and 1940’s at the time of the Second World War. The story is also set in the narrator’s working class home as she indicates that after birth of their first child they were poor and could not afford to bring up the daughter as required (Olsen 272). In the story, Emily’s mother is contacted by her daughter’s school counsellor or teacher. She informs him about how her daughter had a trouble life while growing. The difficulties which the mother talks about her daughter include, she was left by her father when 8 years old, She was sent away to live with relatives because her mother was poor and she was sent to a convalescent home and she never enjoyed (Olsen

Harrods Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Harrods - Research Paper Example Graphs illustrated and explained in the report gives a clear idea about the position of Harrods in the market as compared to its competitors. Secondary research is conducted using credible industry sources such as Market Researech.com, Hoover’s, Harrods website, and other online database. Company Overview Harrods is a luxurious, high-end retailer, founded in London in 1834 and possess a rich heritage and history that makes them the world’s most famous department store (Harrods). The department store is situated on Brompton Road in Knightsbridge, London, England, being the one of the largest department stores in the world (store occupying 4.5acre and selling space over one million square feet across over 330 departments). As Mahoney points out, Harrods is the second-biggest store and offering an extensive section of products, a world-class shopping experience and greater customer service. The Harrods brand also stands for other business undertaken by the company which in cludes Harrods Bank, Harrods Aviation, Air Harrods and Harrods Estates. The Harrods group of companies holds its motto â€Å"Omnia Omnibus Ubique – All things for All People Everywhere† (Harrods). Though operating only in London, it has become an international retail icon with superior brand responsiveness among global consumers. History shows that the firm has gone beyond being a high-quality branded store and product designer to a fashionable society, a status icon for celebrities and commoners equally. The store faces about 300,000 customers visiting during peak days, and has a workforce of 5000 employees from more than fifty different countries. The Harrods Ltd. was sold to Qatar Holding LLC for $ 2.2 billion in 2010. The products sold through the firm’s brand ranges across women’s and men’s wear, children’s products and toys, wine and spirits, kitchen products and appliances, beauty products, bags, and accessories. Company process Reven ue: - The lion’s part of Harrods’ revenues comes from its luxury retail division operating at Knightsbridge location. The rest come from the divisions at Heathrow and Gatwick airports and from its four subsidiaries, namely, Harrods Bank, Harrods Aviation, Air Harrods and Harrods Estates. Cost: - The Costs of the company include (i) Costs of Goods Sold, (ii) Marketing and Advertising, and (iii) Other Operating Costs. The costs of goods sold include purchase of inventory, storing costs, store construction and maintenance, transportation and shipment, and other administrative expenses. The marketing and advertising costs include all the expenses incurred by the company with regard to the promotional purpose through print or audiovisual media. And other operating costs include all other expenses borne by the business while functioning. Financial Analysis Nicolini, Papaioannou, Rasheed & Subject report that on peak days Harrods receives over 300,000 customers and during sal e events, the firm takes in about $1.813 million every hour. Since the firm possesses strong brand awareness in the UK market, it does not give importance to funding on traditional methods of brand advertising or using print or news media as their public association can take the role of buzzing about the firm. Though not affected by the recent meltdown in financial markets, financial analysts forecast its future impacts on the consumer behavior and ultimately on the market. As Graham reports, the Managing director

Choose from the list below Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Choose from the list below - Essay Example Consequently, the dominance and prevalence of such cultural orthodoxy can lead towards an objection of censorship occurrence, even in instances when acts of censorship are justifiable for a common good. The assumption regarding the intrinsic and ‘untouchable’ value within the freedom of speech connotes a level of danger which promotes harm to a person and the society in general (Post, 65). The subsequent sections within this essay will present a well defined justification of censorship through elaborating on common good cases. Furthermore, the reasons presented will seek to offer compelling explanations that censorship is perfectly in tandem with the human precinct of freedom of expression. To this end, historical evidence will be adduced as support towards acts of censorship. Consequently, the reasons will allude into showing that, had extension of censorship been granted, then heinous wrongdoings and injustices would have been avoided. Reflections on Justifiable act of Censorship. The extensive control interventions employed by the British state during World War 2 offers a perfect example of a just act of censorship. Evidently, the Emergency Powers Act in 1939 was established so as to justify detentions of persons in the event that such detention would promote security defences of the British state. The statement within the act extended beyond Nazi sympathisers and consequently appeared culpable to abuse by the state. However, the motivation behind the act was to prevent sympathizers or activism of Nazism from demonstrating such acts and threatening the British sovereignty(Post, 32). The opponents of such acts of censorship may argue that a functioning democracy requires all dissenting voices to be heard. Moreover, the validity of such statements may be justified during war time that is aggressive, or in instances where defeat does not led to denial of sovereignty or freedom(Post, 33). However, these circumstances were not reflective of World War 2. Evidently, the British were engaged in a defensive war whereby an expansive territory of Europe was under the Nazis (Post, 43). Consequently, the function of democracies had been halted. Wartime censorship places its strength in its capacity of information blackout to the enemy, element of surprise in war tactics, as well as maintenance of morale in the home front. Consequently, the censorship act assisted the British country in avoiding the advances and infiltration of Nazi imperialism and essentially contributed towards the preservation of British democracy. In addition, the censorship was justifiable since it protected the vulnerable British citizens from persecution by the Nazi government. Another example of justifiable censorship is in relation to the censorship in revolutionary Cuba. Evidently, in trying to justify the censorship existing in Cuba, many critics will vehemently rush to use the intrinsic democratic right of freedom of speech in levelling scathing attacks agai nst the Cuban system. However, in defending the Cuban system of censorship it is equally valid to assess it legitimacy in protection the ideological doctrines of the Cuban society. To this end, an analysis of the practical achievements of such censorship is necessary. Through the drawing of parallels between the British situation during World War 2, it is evident that the Cuban censorship have been precipitated by threats from an external enemy. Following the Cuban revolution in 1961,

Introduction to Psychology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

Introduction to Psychology - Essay Example This paper shall use various criteria or psychological affectations in order to thoroughly assess the subject matter at hand and to comprehensively evaluate the workings of the human mind and of human behavior. According to some experts, the biological and behavioral theories can be closely linked with each other. In analyzing human behavior, some authors and researchers look to the biological make-up of a person – in other words, his internal environment which would involve his brain processes, as well as the interaction of his hormones. His genetic predisposition is also considered in this theory as part of the factors influencing his behavior (Cichetti & Cohen, 2006). In further explaining human behavior, authors go one step further and consider the external environment of a person where the behavioral and sociological theories are often used to understand specific patterns of human interaction (Cichetti & Cohen, 2006). These authors then consider the relationship between these theories – the internal and the external environment in order to explain and understand human behavior. In other words, these two theories, as explained by some authors can, at some point during hum an development, interact and overlap with each other. However, inasmuch as they seem to be essentially related to each other in terms of continuity, they still are still basically different theories. One of the major differences between these two theories is the fact that the biological theory of psychology emphasizes that human behavior is shaped by biological and physiological processes (Bernstein, Penner, Clark-Stewart, & Roy, 2008). As was previously mentioned, psychologists explain that this theory evaluates the â€Å"psychological effects of hormones, genes, and the activity of the nervous system, especially the brain† (Bernstein, Penner, Clark-Stewart, & Roy, 2008, p. 18). So for instance,

Children and video games Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Children and video games - Essay Example The violent content of video games is the cause of the negative influence they have on children. This makes children to develop aggressive behavior, including vengeance. Violent games provoke social exclusion of children, as they will not spare time for homework and interaction with friends. This also affects their health negatively. Children spend more time at home. Video games do not inculcate positive social values in children Video games do not encourage negotiations and nonviolent solutions in children.Video games portray women as weaker sex and sexually provocative. Video games make children live in a fantasy world and they do not think about their future.Children might fail to do their assignments, thus become lazy, and develop issues with teachers in school.Video games result in poor academic performance, due to their addictive nature.Video games might lead to impulsive behavior and concentration challenges. Video games require skills and tactics to play, thus develops child’s brain. Mental skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, fine motor, and spatia. If a parent plays with the child, they bond more.Video games increases interactivity and creativity in children. Video games enhance self-esteem and confidence.Playing as a group boosts coordination in children.Since video games have considerable benefits, if allowed they should be controlled.Provide a variety of entertainment to children to avoid addiction to video games.Regulate the amount of time children play video games.

Review of a presentation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Review of a presentation - Essay Example The progress in the identification and discovery of the lupus disease has paved the way for immunology application in its study thus making the foundation for its current treatment. The disease has shown uneven prevalence interns of race and gender. It is more prevalent in black American women their white counterparts. Lupus is classified in to five types where each type presents different signs and symptoms and causes. This type includes Discoid lupus erythematosus, subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus, drug-induced lupus, neonatal lupus and SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus. The real cause of lupus has not been established yet. This is so due to the many factors that are contributed with the real development of and diagnosis of the disease. Currently, there is no single specific test for the disease and it can last some time before it is established. These calls for several tests to establish the disease like Medical history, Blood tests, ANA test, Skin Biopsy and Kidney biopsy. The disease manifest itself in different symptoms like pain or swelling in joints, muscle pain, fever with no known cause, red rashes, most often on the face, chest pain when taking a deep breath among others. The disease is believed to be caused by epigenetic factors, which are demonstrated by a study of a set of chemical reactions that switch part of the genome on and off at a strategic location and time. Lastly, the re is no cure for the disease but the most applicable treatments aims at treating the symptoms. Evaluation History of lupus The history of lupus disease can be split in three broad periods: Classical era- this period is dated back in the 13th century where the name of the disease was coined. Several physicians gave the disease different names depending on their own thoughts and presentation of the disease. Example of these physicians was Rogerius in 13th century who coined the name lupus describing the facial lesions caused by the disease. Neoclassical Era- this perio d began back in 1872, and it was marked by description of the disease’s dissemination manifestations by Osler. Modern era- this was marked by the discovery of LE cells in1948 in the bone marrow of patients with acute disseminated lupus erythematosus by Hargraves and his colleagues. This was followed by the discovery of immunology of the disease by Moore in 1950’s and systematic occurrence of the disease in patients by Arnett and Shulman in 1954. Epidemiology The disease has shown prevalence of 20 to 150 cases per 1000,000 people. Its prevalence is more in African American Women compared to their white counter part at 164 and 406 respectively situation which has tripled for the last forty years. The prevalence of the disease is highly exhibited in women due to their estrogen hormones aged 20-45 years of age. Lupus disease is highly prevalence in Asians, Afro- Americans, Afro-Caribbean and Hispanic Americans. Classification Lupus disease is classified in to five types wh ere each type has its own specific cause. 1. Discoid lupus erythematosus which result in scar causing skin lesion and can lead to the development of SLE. 2. Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Mostly commonly in women aged 15-40 years of age manifested inform of skin lesions. 3. Drug-induced lupus which is cause by continuous use of specific drugs like procainamide and guanidine. 4. Neonatal lupus. It is passed from the mothers and appears as skin rashes

Culture and Cognition Essay Example for Free

Culture and Cognition Essay Culture may be defined as a combination of different traits of a social group. These traits or ways of life can be language, arts, sciences, thoughts, spirituality, social activities, interactions, and many more (â€Å"Definition†, n. d. ). The world has many peoples and thus many cultures, thus each has their own beliefs, traditions, and customs. Another characteristic of a certain culture may be cognition. Because of human diversity in traditions and customs, there is also diversity in intelligence. According to Cole, Gay, Glick, and Sharp (as cited in Sternberg, 2004), certain behaviors may be smart in one culture but plainly stupid in another (1971). Culture and Intelligence According to Robert Sternberg in his article entitled â€Å"Culture and Intelligence†, intelligence cannot be fully measured, developed, and conceptualized when it is outside the cultural context. This creates an impression that intelligence is a norm and being a deviant from that norm would mean less intelligence (2004, p. 1). An example given by Sternberg about intelligence tests shows an evidence of his argument. Any intelligence test created in one culture may not be valid in another culture. Sternberg also constructed models in order to determine if the culture has a significant effect on intelligence. On the third model, the dimensions of intelligence are the same as with the other models. However, the instruments used are different from the other models. The measurement process was therefore derived from the culture being studied and not from outside it. As this is done, the psychological meanings of the scores of the assessments change from one culture to another. Culture and Cognition Intelligence is just one of the cognitive characteristics of man. Culture, as well as social systems has a role in developing the people’s system of thought. This is according to Richard Nisbett, Incheol Choi, Laiping Peng, and Ara Norenzayan, when they studied the difference between easterners and westerners in terms of cognitive processes (2001). They stated that east Asians are holistic in their cognitive processes, focusing on an entire field and its causality. On the other hand, westerners such as Americans are analytic because they pay more attention on the object and the categories, making use of rules such as formal logic. The authors of this article suggest that the origin of these differences is traceable to different social systems (p. 291). They were able to conclude that there is still a very great difference between cultures. It is because of the circumstances brought about by these cultures that one process will always be different from another. Furthermore, the norms or the normative standards for though will differ across cultures (p. 306). The influence of culture has many implications in cognition. This insight may change the very definition of intelligence as related to different social systems. This also has a great effect in cognitive assessment since one measuring tool may not be appropriate for all cultures. Although international communication is already established, this information would give more understanding to people as to how others with different cultures are different to them in terms of learning styles, perception, and other aspects of cognition. It would also change the perception on people who are considered as intellectually inferior since intelligence no longer focuses on a dominant or normative standard set by those perceived as superior. References â€Å"Definition of Culture†, (n. d. ). Roshan Culture Heritage Institute. Retrieved 24 May 2010 from http://www. roshan-institute. org/templates/System/details. asp? id=39783PID =474552. Nisbett, R. E. , Peng, K. , Choi, I. , Norenzayan, A. (2001). Culture and Systems of Thought: Holistic versus Analytic Cognition. Psychological Review. 108(2), pp. 291-310. Sternberg, R. (2004). â€Å"Culture and Intelligence†. American Psychologist. 59(5), pp. 325- 338.

Overview of Hyperlipidemia

Overview of Hyperlipidemia Introduction Hyperlipidemia, involves higher lipids or lipoproteins in blood,is one of the most observed conditions related to cardiovascular system (Hassan, 2013). This small paper focuses on outlining the pathophysiology, signs and symptoms and organs involved in the Hyperlipidemia. Further, this paper also proposes diagnosis and alternative treatment protocols and their success rate for Hyperlipidemia. The pathophysiology of the Hyperlipidemia The pathophysiology of the Hyperlipidemia can be classified into primary hyperlipidemia and secondary hyperlipidemia. Whilst genetic factors cause the primary hyperlipidemia, the metabolic disorders cause the secondary hyperlipidemia. The secondary hyperlipidemia can be caused due to diabetes mellitus, high usage of drugs such as beta blockers and estrogens, renal failure, high alcohol consumption etc. (Brown, 2003). Genetic hyperlipidemia can be categorized into disorders such as familial hypercholesterolemia, familial hypertriglyceridemia, familial dysbetalipoproteinemia and familial combined hyperlipidemia etc. The familial hypercholesterolemia is a genetic disorder caused due to high-levels of low-density lipoprotein in blood (Stang Story, 2005). On the other hand, familial hypertriglyceridemia is a highly dominant condition caused due to excess production of vey low-density lipoprotein. Familial dysbetalipoproteinemia is a condition characterized by increased low-density lipoprotein and decreased high-density lipoprotein. Finally, familial combined hyperlipidemia is a condition characterized by decreased low-density lipoprotein and increased Apolipoprotein B (Brown, 2003). The signs and symptoms of Hyperlipidemia Normally, hyperlipidemia does not show any symptoms in early ears. As days pass on, the symptoms such as manifestation of high cholesterol beneath of elbows, knees and eyes can be seen (Ankur et al, 2012). One can also observe the symptoms such as whitish rings around the eye’s iris in a person suffering from hyperlipidemia. Since the elevated cholesterol blocks the blood vessels, it can lead coronary heart disease or strokes. The frequent heart strokes can also be considered as major symptoms for hyperlipidemia. The organs and/or system involved in Hyperlipidemia Hyperlipidemia impacts cardiovascular system and leads to cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular system, also known as circulatory system, is an organ system that facilitates blood to transport oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients to organs and tissues of the body (Stang Story, 2005). The cardiovascular system helps in fighting the diseases and stabilizing the body temperature. The system is vulnerable to diseases when cholesterol accumulates the inflamed areas of blood vessels leading to reduced flow or blockage. Since cardiovascular blockage causes reduced blood flow, heart can be considered as most vulnerable organ to hyperlipidemia. Left untreated, hyperlipidemia can lead coronary artery disease and ultimately result to heart attack (Stang Story, 2005). The organ, artery, is involved in hyperlipidemia because, in most of the cases, cholesterol accumulates in artery that transports blood away from heart. Brain is another organ involved in hyperlipidemia. Since high cholesterol blocks the blood vessel that supplies blood to brain, the possibility of occurring ischemic strokes would be increased (Ankur et al, 2012). How Hyperlipidemia is diagnosed? Cholesterol test should be done to diagnose the lipid disorder or hyperlipidemia. The cholesterol test can be conducted with a lab diagnosis test called Lipid Panel. Patients should past for at least 12 hours before undergoing Lipid Panel test because it is important to clear the chylomicron from the blood; the clearance of chylomicron might take 10 to 12 hour. The laboratory testing is conducted to measure the total plasma cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein and triglycerides within the blood (Brown, 2003). In order to measure the very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, the triglyceride should be divided by 5. In the same way, in order to calculate the low-density lipoprotein, it is important to subtract the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and very low density lipoprotein from total cholesterol. For total cholesterol: If the results show that the cholesterol levels are 200 milligrams per decilitre or less, it is considered as a normal condition. The cholesterol levels that fall in between 201 and 240 milligrams per decilitre indicate borderline cholesterol. Similarly, greater than 240 milligram per decilitre indicates higher cholesterol levels. For high-density lipoprotein: If the high-density lipoprotein is 60 milligrams per decilitre, it can be considered as good cholesterol (Ankur et al, 2012). Since the higher levels of high-density lipoprotein are good to the body, it is recommended for people to maintain at least 60 milligrams per decilitre. If the high-density lipoprotein falls in between 40 milligram per decilitre and 59 milligram per decilitre, it is considered as acceptable cholesterol level. On the other hand, less than 40 milligram per decilitre increases the risk of heart disease (Ankur et al, 2012). For low-density lipoprotein: The optimal low-density lipoprotein for human body is 100 milligrams per decilitre or lesser. If the low-density lipoprotein level falls in between 100 milligram per decilitre and 129 milligram per decilitre, it is considered as near-optimal and does not cause any harm to individual. The low-density lipoprotein level is in between 130 milligram per decilitre and 159 milligram per decilitre, it is considered as a borderline high. Anything higher than 160 milligram per decilitre is considered as bad cholesterol (Hassan, 2013). Alternative treatment protocols and their success rate A wide-range of alternative treatment protocols is available to treat hyperlipidemia. A couple of them are mentioned below. Traditional Chinese Medicine: Three important approaches such as excretory function enhancement, tonic effect reinforcement and cardiovascular system improvement are used to treat hyperlipidemia. Though there is no scientific evidence of the efficacy of these approaches, they are highly successful in controlling blood lipid levels and adjusting bodily functions (Hassan, 2013). Acupuncture: Acupuncture helps in reducing the cellular accumulations of fatty materials and makes the individual less vulnerable to heart disease. By needling the acupuncture point located on the lower leg, it is possible to reduce and prevent the formation of foam cells in the body. With 80% success rate, acupuncture has become one of the best alternative treatment protocols for hyperlipidemia. Conclusion Cardiovascular system is highly vulnerable to hyperlipidemia when cholesterol accumulates the inflamed areas of blood vessels. Hyperlipidemia can be caused due to genetic disorders or metabolic disorders. Some of the major symptoms of hyperlipidemia are cholesterol accumulation beneath of elbows, knees and eyes can be seen, whitish rings around the eye’s iris and chest pain. In addition to cardiovascular system, the organs such as artery, heart and brain are also involved in hyperlipidemia. By carrying out Lipid Panel test, it is possible to check the lipid levels in blood. The alternative treatment protocols such as acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine can be used to treat hyperlipidemia. References Brown, W.V. (2003). Cholesterol absorption inhibitors: defining new options in lipid management.Clinical Cardiology, 26(6), 259–264. Hassan, B.A.R. (2013). Overview on Hyperlipidemia. Journal of Chromatography Separation Techniques, 4 (3), 113. Stang, J., Story, M. (Eds.). (2005). Guidelines for Adolescent Nutrition Services. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota. Retrieved on 9th November, 2014 from http://www.epi.umn.edu/let/pubs/img/adol_ch10.pdf> Ankur, R., Nidhi, D., Seema, R., Amarjeet, D., Ashok, K. (2012). Hyperlipidemia- A Deadly Pathological Condition. International Journal of Current Pharmaceutical Research, 4(3), 15-18.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Lucid Dreaming Therapy

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Lucid Dreaming Therapy Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has seen a steep incline in recent years, affecting over 1 adult in every 12 (National Comorbidity Survey Replication [NCS-R], 2001-2003). Per the American Psychiatric Association, it is defined as a psychiatric disorder that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a serious accident, a terrorist act, war/combat, rape or other violent personal assault (APA, 2015). An adult diagnosed with PTSD can arguably obtain normality in behaviour and mindset through various forms of psychotherapy and medication, and resultantly recover from the disorder. Lucid Dreaming Therapy (LDT) is becoming an increasingly large influence in the format of exposure therapy, which begs the question, to what extent can Lucid Dreaming be effective in treating the identifying characteristics of PTSD? Exposure Therapy is a format of behavioural therapy in which a patient re-enters the setting in which they experienced the initial trauma, whether it be virtually, imaginatively or physically, and attempts to confront the troubling factor (APA, Division 12). Exposure therapy is advertised as a treatment component range for several problems, including Phobias, Social Anxiety Disorder and PTSD. However, the difference with the latter is the inability to physically recreate the event in the exact manner that it originally occurred, with all smells, sounds and emotions originally experienced. The goal of Lucid Dreaming Therapy (LDT) is to reduce the detriment caused as a result of PTSD in order to enable a suffering adult to best function independently and successfully in various environments (Green McCreery, 1994; Halliday, 1988; LaBerge, 1985; LaBerge Rheingold, 1990; Tholey, 1988). LDT is most successful in combination with early intervention. Treatment closely after a traumatic eve nt allows for a greater possibility to alleviate suffering from effects such as nightmares and depression. Characterizing Description of PTSD PTSD is classified as a trauma and stressor related psychiatric disorder, largely due to four common features that appear from three months to years after the occurrence of a traumatic event. These characteristics are intrusive memories, avoidance, negative changes in thought and mood, and changes in emotional reactions (DSM-IV-TR to DSM-5). The diagnostic features of PTSD best described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-5. At least eight of the criteria must be present for the diagnosis of PTSD. Of these eight, additional requirements exist in each area. Exposure to death, violence or injury is one key feature of PTSD, referred to as stressor. This can be marked through direct exposure, witnessing the trauma, learning that a relative or close friend was exposed to a trauma or Indirect exposure to aversive details of the trauma. A patient must have one of these social criterions to be marked as a patient of PTSD. Symptoms of intrusion are another foundation of PTSD. A persistently recurring format of re-experiencing the trauma is characteristic. Such symptoms include recurrent or involuntary and intrusive memories, traumatic nightmares, dissociative reactions such as flashbacks ranging on a continuum of brief episodes to loss of consciousness, intense or prolonged distress after exposure to traumatic reminded, as well as marked physiological reactivity after exposure to trauma-related stimuli. Persistent effortful avoidance of distressing trauma-related stimuli after the event is another core to PTSD. This can be marked through trauma-related thoughts or feelings in addition or replacement to trauma-related external reminders (e.g. people, places, objects or activities). Negative alterations in cognition are often a bi-product of PTSD and therefore a key factor in diagnosis. These alterations include; dissociative amnesia in relation to the key features of the traumatic event, persistent or distorted negative beliefs and expectations about oneself or the world, persistent blame of oneself or others for causing the traumatic event or for resulting consequences, persistent negative trauma-related emotions, markedly diminished interest in pre-traumatic significant activities, a sense of alienation/detachment from others, and a persistent inability to experience positive emotions. A patient must have at least two of these symptoms to be diagnosed with PTSD. There are many well-known associated features and disorders with PTSD. Insomnia, ranging from mild to profound, is prevalent in most cases. Irritability, aggression, self-destructive actions or recklessness are behavioural symptoms that may accompany PTSD. Additionally, hypervigilance and an exaggerated startle response, sometimes accompanied by problems in concentration are examples of alterations in arousal and reactivity that may have begun or worsened after the traumatic event. Two of these alterations are necessary for diagnosis of PTSD. Other factors such as duration/persistence of symptoms, functional impairment and confirmation of exclusion (verification that disturbance is not due to medication, substance use, or other illness) are key in the diagnosis of PTSD. By definition, the onset of PTSD requires that the given symptoms occur for a minimum of a month. Although to a comparatively minor extent, most symptoms are present directly after the trauma and will continuously dev elop throughout time. PTSD is two to three times more prevalent in females than to males. An experience of sexual assault or child sexual abuse is more likely amongst women in comparison to accidents, physical assault, combat, disaster or witness to death/injury being the likely trauma for men. The median number of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder sufferers is 7 to 8 per 100 individuals, with reported ranges ranging from 7 20 per 100 individuals, the latter being combat related. The most recent statistic shows up to 8 in 100 individuals may be diagnosed with autism (DSM-V-TR). As the direct/chemical cause of PTSD is debatable, the reason for recent increase is, while speculative, currently unknown. Methods of Lucid Dreaming Therapy (LDT) Lucid Dreaming Therapy (LDT) is an upcoming format of treatment that has been specifically researched for application in relation to the treatment of PTSD. Lucid Dreaming is defined as the state in which an individual is aware that they are dreaming and subsequently obtain control over their dreams. The phenomenon of lucid dreaming dates back centuries and quite possibly millennia, with reports of its use dating back to the eighth century, in the form of what was known to be Dream Yoga. With scientific confirmation of the phenomenon in the late 20th Century, therapeutic possibilities began to be brought to light. Lucid Dreaming Treatment (LDT) arose from this idea as an alternative cognitive-restructuring technique, but only a small amount of research has been conducted on the topic, composed mainly of case studies (Abramovitch, 1995; Brylowski, 1990; Spoormaker van den Bout, 2006; Spoormaker, van den Bout, Meijer, 2003; Zadra Pihl, 1997). Nightmares are defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) to be extremely frightening and anxiety-provoking dreams which awaken the dreamer, followed by full alertness (APA, 2000). Although this is the current definition used as a diagnostic criterion, according to DSM-IV-TR, and in this essay, it should be mentioned that some have challenged this definition (Spoormaker, Schredl, van den Bout, 2005; Zadra, Pilon, Donderi, 2006). In the adult population, as many as 70 % of individuals report at least an occasional nightmare, and 2-5% suffer from recurrent nightmares (Lancee, Spoormaker, Krakow, van den Bout, 2008). Suffering from recurrent nightmares causes distress in waking life and can result in both occupational and social dysfunction. The fear and anxiety which the nightmare provokes linger when the dreamer awakens from it, which may prevent the individual from returning to sleep due to the fear of re-experience. It has been suggested that by becoming lucid during the nightmare, the dreamer can take control of the threatening situation and change the course of the nightmare, thus possibly alleviating feelings of fear and anxiety. This could possibly result in reduced nightmare frequency, relieving the nightmare sufferer from its negative effects both in sleep and waking life (Gackenbach Bosveld, 1989; Gavie Revonsuo, 2010; Green McCreery, 1994; Halliday, 1988; LaBerge, 1985; LaBerge Rheingold, 1990; Tholey, 1988). In LDT, the participants describe their nightmare and are then introduced to the concept of LD, the possibility to become conscious while dreaming and to be able to alter the content at will. The participants are then taught different LD induction techniques, such as choosing a recurrent cue within their dreams to be a signal of being in the dream state, or questioning the nature of reality several times during the day, asking themselves Am I dreaming? The participants then choose an alternative, more positive scenario of the nightmare, focusing on the content they wish to alter whilst lucid (Spoormaker van den Bout, 2006; Spoormaker et al., 2003; Zadra Pihl, 1997). A Pilot Study conducted by the Department of Clinical Psychology of Utrecht University in the Netherlands aimed to evaluate the effects of LDT on recurrent nightmares which is an identifying characteristic of PTSD. The participants of the study included 23 individuals (16:7, Female: Male) who have recurrent episodes of nightmares. The requirement from the participants of the study was to fill out a questionnaire regarding their sleep and Diagnostic Traits of PTSD. These individuals were randomly divided into 3 groups; 8 participants received one 2-hour individual LDT session, 8 participants received one 2-hour group LDT session, and 7 participants were placed on the waiting list. LDT consisted of exposure, mastery, and lucid dreaming exercises to train their mind to become more self aware. Participants then filled out the same questionnaires 12 weeks after the intervention as a follow-up. It was found that by the follow-up, nightmare frequency of both treatment groups had shown a dec rease. There were no significant changes observed in sleep quality and severity of posttraumatic stress disorder symptom. This led to the conclusion that while LDT seems effective in reducing the frequency of nightmares, the primary therapeutic components of exposure, mastery, or lucidity remain unclear. The results of utilizing LD as treatment are consistent, indicating that LDT is effective for reducing nightmare frequency (Abramovitch, 1995; Brylowski, 1990; Spoormaker van den Bout, 2006; Spoormaker et al., 2003; Zadra Pihl, 1997). A one-year follow-up showed that four out of five participants, who prior to the treatment suffered from nightmares once every few days, went down to once every few months or no longer had any nightmares (Zadra Pihl). In another study the treatment consisted of one two-hour session either individually, in group or, and as the control condition, being on a waiting list where no treatment was received. The participants had suffered from nightmares for over one year, at least once a week. The 12 week follow-up showed that nightmare frequency decreased in both treatment conditions, which was not the case for the control group (Spoormaker van den Bout). For some participants LDT was also effective in reducing non-recurrent nightmares with differing conte nts (Zadra Pihl). Some of the participant had also subjectively reported slightly improved sleep quality after LDT (Spoormaker et al.) and that dream lucidity resulted in higher positive psychological elements which were also reflected in waking life (Zadra Pihl). Similar effects have been reported by Brylowski and Abramovitch. The studies showed that while nightmare frequency was reduced following LDT, not all of the participants displayed in becoming lucid and to lucidly alter the content of the dream. One of the reasons attributed to this being the mere feeling of control which is necessary to LDT. Being able to master the nightmare and not being its victim seems to play an equally vital role as the actual altering of the content (Spoormaker van den Bout, 2006; Spoormaker et al., 2003; Zadra Pihl, 1997). Experiencing a traumatic event of extremely frightening and life-threatening character may, for some people, develop into Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a severe anxiety disorder in which the symptoms are collected under three clusters: intrusive/re-experiencing symptoms, avoidance symptoms and hyper arousal symptoms. Those suffering from PTSD endure highly disturbing recollections of the event. They display heightened sensitivity towards both internal and external stimuli which resemble or in any way symbolize some aspect of the original event. When confronted with similar symbols or conditions, they experience emotional numbness and sleep difficulties. The individuals self defence mechanism leads them to avoid all such stimuli which may remind them of the event. Hence those suffering from PTSD often experience constant conflicts in interpersonal relationships which can be attributed to heightened sensitivity as a result of PTSD. It is not uncommon for them to display recurring avoidance patterns in occupational situations which may remind them of the traumatic event. (APA, 2000). In addition to heightened sensitivity and severe anxiety posttraumatic nightmares that replay or indirectly symbolize, the original traumatizing event constitute the most frequent symptom in PTSD. (APA, 2000). It has been estimated that up to 60-80% of PTSD patients suffer from posttraumatic nightmares (Spoormaker, 2008). However, research has shown that treating PTSD does not necessarily reduce nightmare frequency (Spoormaker; Spoormaker Montgomery, 2008). In contrast, Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT), a treatment focusing on alleviating nightmare frequency in PTSD also reduces general PTSD symptom severity (Krakow Moore, 2007). Research has also shown that nightmares and disturbed sleep may be a risk factor for developing and maintaining PTSD (Mellman Hipolito, 2006). Due to these findings, Spoormaker (2008) and Spoormaker and Montgomery (2008) stated that posttraumatic nightmares ought not to be viewed as a secondary symptom but rather as a central characteristic in the advancem ent of post traumatic stress disorder. Their series of research, studies and findings led them to infer that posttraumatic nightmares might develop into a disorder of its own and therefore demands specific treatment. LDT is effective in reducing the frequency of recurrent nightmares (Abramovitch, 1995; Brylowski, 1990; Spoormaker van den Bout, 2006; Spoormaker et al., 2003; Zadra Pihl, 1997), and thus it has been suggested that LDT could be a valuable supplement in the treatment of PTSD, focusing on decreasing the frequency of posttraumatic nightmares. As posttraumatic nightmares are a nocturnal replay of the original traumatic event, the patient is reminded of the trauma every time they dream about it. A reduction in the frequency of post traumatic nightmares would lead to an abatement of fear and anxiety due to decreased instances of number of occurrences in a given time frame. In addition to this, as anticipated by Spoormaker (2008) and Spoormaker and Montgomery (2008), posttraumatic nightmares not only enhance but also prolong the severity of PTSD. As such, LDT could work as a supplement to already existing treatment of PTSD and reduce nightmare frequency. Furthermore, LDT offers the patien t the opportunity to alter the content of the dream to a less fearsome dream, which could lead to reducing the feelings of fear and anxiety within the dream. If LDT is effective in both reducing nightmare frequency and the intense feelings of fear and anxiety, it might also be effective in decreasing the fear and anxiety associated with the original trauma during wakefulness, which in turn could lead to a reduction in general PTSD symptom severity. While this possible effectiveness of LDT on PTSD was proposed by Green and McCreery (1994) in the early days of LD research and recently by Gavie and Revonsuo (2010), there has only been one study where researchers attempted to treat PTSD patients with LDT (Spoormaker van den Bout, 2006). They found that nightmare frequency was significantly reduced in subjects receiving LDT, but the study did not reveal any significant reduction in general PTSD symptom severity, which the authors proposed might have been due to the low baseline for PTSD symptom severity in the studied population. Moreover, the study only included one participant out of 23 who was actually diagnosed with PTSD (Spoormaker van den Bout). Gavie and Revonsuo were adamant that no conclusions can be made based on this single study and encouraged future researchers to investigate the effect of LDT on PTSD nightmares and other PTSD symptoms with larger groups of diagnosed PTSD patients and longer lucidity interventions. Fear and Control: Two Key Components for LDT Fear is a main component of nightmares, experienced both during sleep in relation to the nightmare content and during wakefulness, as suffering from recurrent nightmares can lead to fear of going to sleep due to the risk of re-experiencing the nightmare. Fear also represents one of the key emotions during the course of PTSD (APA, 2000). In PTSD, fear is not only related to the extreme fright which was experienced during the occurrence of the traumatizing event, but also refers to the massive feeling of fear evoked when the patient encounters associable stimuli, which often serve as reminders of the original event. Posttraumatic nightmares generally replicate the original event, meaning every time the nightmare occurs, the patient re-lives the trauma and its accompanied fear (Gavie Revonsuo, 2010). Although LDT has been shown to be effective in reducing recurrent nightmares, not all participants succeeded in becoming lucid and able to lucidly alter the content of the nightmare. This has been suggested do be due to the fact that the feeling of control, following from the mere knowledge of the possibility to master the nightmare, is equally as important as the actual altering of the content (Spoormaker van den Bout, 2006; Spoormaker et al., 2003; Zadra Pihl, 1997). As such, control might constitute a key component of LDT, both in respect to lucidly to control the content of the nightmare and alter the course of the dream, and to the feeling of control brought by the thought that the fear both during the dream and during wakefulness is something that can be overcome. In this sense, LDT might prove to be effective not only for patients suffering from nightmares and reducing nightmare frequency, but also for patients suffering from disorders characterised by fear, offering them th e possibility to control and reduce the level of fear they experience. In one case study, a 35-year-old woman diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and major depression complained about frequent nightmares. She suffered from one to four nightmares per week, from which her self-confidence and security felt threatened. She did not suffer from recurrent nightmares, but her nightmares did contain a recurrent theme, relating to the physical and mental abuse she experienced by her father as a child, and husband as an adult. These nightmares were so intense that she had difficulties in separating her experiences in them from her experiences in reality, and sometimes spoke of them as if they were real events (Brylowski, 1990). The patient was introduced to the phenomenon of LD and was instructed to keep a dream journal, which she was to take with her to therapy each week. She was also told to practice an LD induction technique every night in order to learn how to become lucid during the dream. The appearance of her father or husband in the nightmare was chosen as a dream cue, used as an indicator to remind her that she was just dreaming. Upon recognising that she was dreaming, she was to use the realisation as a reminder that she was safely lying in bed and there was nothing to fear (Brylowski, 1990). During a six-month period, which included 24 sessions with her therapist, the patient experienced three lucid dreams and was able to alter the course of the nightmare in all three cases. Using LDT resulted in reduced nightmare frequency, intensity and distress, which provided her with a sense of mastery in relation to her emotions and responses to nightmares. Following these results, her therapist suggested that these abilities and attitudes could be used in waking life when dealing with similar problems. So, whenever she was faced with a stirred emotion or a difficult situation in waking life, she was able to remind herself of how she had controlled a similar situation in the dream state. In turn, she now had the capacity to deal with the waking situation just as she had while (lucid) dreaming (Brylowski, 1990). As a result, LDT provided her with a sense of mastery in relation to her emotions and responses to nightmares as well as her waking life, which then resulted in entering into psychotherapy. What Green and McCreery (1994) put forward, is that LD provides us with the experience of achieving control over a mental aspect, in this case distressing nightmares. They argued that gaining control over one might, in turn, have a generalised therapeutic effect. In the case study, Brylowski (1990) showed how LDT not only reduced nightmare frequency and distress, but also how engaging in LDT could extend into managing situations waking life. LDT provided the patient with the experience of mastering a fearful situation within a nightmare, which, prior to the treatment, had affected her to the point where she could not differentiate nightmares from waking events. After the treatment the patient expressed increased self-confidence, knowing that she now possessed the capacity to make changes in other waking circumstances as well. Brylowski (1990) initated the notion that, Nightmares can occur across diagnostic syndromes. According to DSM-IV-TR, nightmares can occur frequently during the course of many psychological disorders without there being a specific diagnostic symptom, for example as a part of Personality Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Mood Disorders and Schizophrenia (APA, 2000). Brylowski concluded lucid dreaming worked well for this patient as it motivated her to start and stay in therapy. He suggested that LD as a therapeutic tool ought to be considered not only for treating nightmares, but also in the treatment of personality disorders. Although diagnosed with BPD, the patient also showed symptoms related to PTSD, i.e. nightmares which directly or symbolically represented a traumatic event (history of abuse) and depression which, according to DSM-IV-TR, is highly associated with PTSD (APA, 2000). On the basis of this fact alone, it is premature to draw any conclusions on the effect of LDT on personality disorders. However, engaging in LDT did have a general therapeutic effect in this case study, and as such, LDT could be valuable as a supplement in the treatment of BPD and possibly even other personality disorders. Overall, more studies are needed to further investigate the possible general therapeutic value of gaining control over fear and anxiety using LDT, both in relation to recurrent nightmares, and to other psychological disorders such as PTSD and personality disorders. The current studies investigating the potential therapeutic value of LD in reducing recurrent nightmares have shown promising results, where engaging in Lucid Dreaming Treatment (LDT) has resulted in decreased nightmare frequency (Abramovitch, 1995; Brylowski, 1990; Spoormaker van den Bout, 2006; Spoormaker et al., 2003; Zadra Pihl, 1997), slightly increased subjective sleep quality (Spoormaker et al.) and reduced nightmare intensity and distress (Brylowski). As such, it has been suggested across these studies that LDT might be effective in reducing posttraumatic nightmares in PTSD (Gavie Revonsuo, 2010; Green McCreery, 1994). Every time a nightmare occurs, the patient experiences the trauma and extreme fear associated with it. Therefore, there is the possibility that relieving the posttraumatic nightmare could, in turn, reduce general PTSD symptom severity (Gavie Revonsuo). With larger groups of diagnosed PTSD patients and longer lucidity interventions, future research could st udy the effect of LDT on posttraumatic nightmares. As examined, one case study showed that attitudes and skills learned through LDT can be transferred and applied to waking life situations (Brylowski, 1990). This could be an indication that LDT has the potential to work beyond the more specific focus of alleviating nightmares. Although nightmare frequency was reduced, not all of the patients were able to reach lucidity and alter the course of events in their nightmare (Spoormaker van den Bout, 2006; Spoormaker et al., 2003; Zadra Pihl, 1997). On the basis of this, one possible and important key component of LDT could be that of control. In the case of Phobic patients, they were found to be less likely to believe in having control over events (Leung Heimberg, 1996). Considering lucid dreamers tend to believe in their own control over waking situations to a higher degree than non-lucid dreamers (Blagrove Hartnell, 2000; Blagrove Tucker, 1994), it shows that control could be one of the key elements of LDT and that LDT could be a va luable supplement in the treatment of phobia. Further and more extensive research is required in order to investigate the underlying functioning and other effects of LDT more deeply. There is also a gap in the research, where an opportunity exists to compare LDT to other cognitive-restructuring techniques, such as Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) and exposure therapy. In order to further explore the effect of LDT, longer LD induction technique practices and more intense lucidity interventions are needed for LDT to be applicable in the appropriate patient population. As seen in previous studies, there is the potential for this to help recurrent nightmare sufferers, PTSD and phobias, larger groups of nightmare sufferers, diagnosed PTSD and phobic patients. There is still untapped potential for the utilisation of LD as a therapeutic tool and supplement in the treatment of these symptoms, which needs to be studied in-depth.

Cloning: Many Questions and Few Answers :: Cloning Essays

Cloning: Many Questions and Few Answers The birth of Dolly was announced by Ian Wilmut's team from Roslin Institute in February 1997. There is actually nothing radically new in the way Dolly was made, since lower vertebrates, such as frogs, had been cloned in 1968 by John Gurdon of Cambridge University. The term 'clone' originates from the Greek word 'klwn', meaning 'twig', because whenever we divide an overgrown shrub or successfully cultivate a houseplant cutting, cloning has occurred. Nuclear transfer technology was used in which a donor's udder cell, a nucleus with the genome intact, was fused with an unfertilised egg cell. Dolly is considered a clone of the sheep who provided the udder cell since her genetic makeup is identical to it. What is novel about Dolly is that she is the first mammal cloned from an adult, the result after 277 failed attempts. At present, though nuclear transfer is still a highly inefficient, costly and difficult process, people are already contemplating the advantages of such a breakthrough. Indeed, the possibilities seem endless: hope for infertile couples, cloning for spare parts, replacements for loved ones and the advent of other invaluable benefits in animal husbandry, medical science and biological fields. But what about the ethical considerations we should include? A Time Magazine poll in March 1997 reported that 74% of those surveyed believe it is against God's will to clone human beings. Human cloning is also considered illegal in England and Norway, though not in the USA. There are definitely many issues worth debating. Even if cloning is to become a reality, there should exist some form of control over the nature of research. The question is what kind of controls should this be? Who should have access to the technology and its products?

The Physics of Scales :: Physics Weight Scale Essays

The Physics of Scales To the dismay of some and a necessity for others, scales can be found about everywhere in today’s society. It never fails; if you go to the doctor you will step on the scale. They are at the grocery store, in most bathrooms and even in some of our favorite stores. Were we might even pay a quarter to have a machine tell us our weight, out loud. We as a society are obsessed with our weight. You’re asked for your weight when renewing your driver’s license. Every time you get in an elevator and see the little sign saying do not exceed *** lbs, the quarter-pounder with cheese and milkshake you ate for lunch, is brought back to your memory. A scale receives more mental and physical abuse than any other appliance that has ever been invented. All this abuse stems from a lesson each of use were taught at a young age, which is that we should always tell the truth. Well let’s look a little deeper into the scale and see the physics involved in how two different typesà ¢â‚¬â„¢ of scales weigh objects. There are two general kinds of scales. The first is a spring scale and the other type uses a load cell to electronically register a weight. Spring scales are the most common type of scale. The scale in your bathroom and those found in the produce department of your favorite grocery store are examples of spring scales. This summer when you go to weigh that fat juicy watermelon, think about the mechanics of how the scale works. The basket is attached to a spring that stretches in response to the weight of the melon or other objects placed in it. The weight of the melon creates a downward force. This causes the spring to stretch and increase its upward force, which equalizes the difference between the two forces. As the spring is stretched, a dial calibrated to the spring registers a weight. When designing scales one needs to take into account that every spring has a different spring constant (k). Bloomfield (1997) defines k as â€Å"a measure of the spring’s stiffness. The larger the spring constant-that is, the stiffer the spring-the larger the restoring forces the spring exerts† (p. 82). In analyzing the force associated with a certain spring, whether it is in you pen or under your truck, Hooke’s Law applies. The Physics of Scales :: Physics Weight Scale Essays The Physics of Scales To the dismay of some and a necessity for others, scales can be found about everywhere in today’s society. It never fails; if you go to the doctor you will step on the scale. They are at the grocery store, in most bathrooms and even in some of our favorite stores. Were we might even pay a quarter to have a machine tell us our weight, out loud. We as a society are obsessed with our weight. You’re asked for your weight when renewing your driver’s license. Every time you get in an elevator and see the little sign saying do not exceed *** lbs, the quarter-pounder with cheese and milkshake you ate for lunch, is brought back to your memory. A scale receives more mental and physical abuse than any other appliance that has ever been invented. All this abuse stems from a lesson each of use were taught at a young age, which is that we should always tell the truth. Well let’s look a little deeper into the scale and see the physics involved in how two different typesà ¢â‚¬â„¢ of scales weigh objects. There are two general kinds of scales. The first is a spring scale and the other type uses a load cell to electronically register a weight. Spring scales are the most common type of scale. The scale in your bathroom and those found in the produce department of your favorite grocery store are examples of spring scales. This summer when you go to weigh that fat juicy watermelon, think about the mechanics of how the scale works. The basket is attached to a spring that stretches in response to the weight of the melon or other objects placed in it. The weight of the melon creates a downward force. This causes the spring to stretch and increase its upward force, which equalizes the difference between the two forces. As the spring is stretched, a dial calibrated to the spring registers a weight. When designing scales one needs to take into account that every spring has a different spring constant (k). Bloomfield (1997) defines k as â€Å"a measure of the spring’s stiffness. The larger the spring constant-that is, the stiffer the spring-the larger the restoring forces the spring exerts† (p. 82). In analyzing the force associated with a certain spring, whether it is in you pen or under your truck, Hooke’s Law applies.

Memory :: essays research papers

Memory is defined as the faculty by which sense impressions and information are retained in the mind and subsequently recalled. A person’s capacity to remember and the total store of mentally retained impressions and knowledge also formulate memory. (Webster, 1992) â€Å"We all possess inside our heads a system for declassifying, storing and retrieving information that exceeds the best computer capacity, flexibility, and speed. Yet the same system is so limited and unreliable that it cannot consistently remember a nine-digit phone number long enough to dial it† (Baddeley, 1993). The examination of human behavior reveals that current activities are inescapably linked by memories. General â€Å"competent† (1993) behavior requires that certain past events have effect on the influences in the present. For example, touching a hot stove would cause a burn and therefore memory would convey a message to not repeat again. All of this is effected by the development of short-term memory (STM) and long-term memory (LTM). Memories can be positive, like memories of girlfriends and special events, or they can be negative, such as suppressed memories. Sexual abuse of children and Memory 3 adolescents is known to cause severe psychological and emotional damage. Adults who were sexually abused in childhood are at a higher risk for developing a variety of psychiatric disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, and mood disorders. To understand the essential issues about traumatic memory, the human mind’s response to a traumatic event must first be understood. The memory is made up of many different sections with each having different consequences on one another. Can people remember what they were wearing three days ago? Most likely no, because the memory only holds on to what is actively remembered. What a person was wearing is not important so it is thrown out and forgotten. This type of unimportant information passes through the short-term memory. â€Å"Short-term memory is a system for storing information over brief intervals of time.† (Squire, 1987) It’s main characteristic is the holding and understanding of limited amounts of information. The system can grasp brief ideas which would otherwise slip into oblivion, hold them, relate them and understand them for its own purpose. (1987) Another aspect of STM was introduced by William James in 1890, under the name â€Å"primary memory† (Baddeley, 1993). Primary memory refers to the information that forms the focus of current attention and that occupies the stream of thought. â€Å"This information does not need to be brought back to mind in order to be used† (1993). Compared to short-term memory, primary memory Memory 4 places less emphasis on time and more emphasis on the parts of attention, processing, and holding. No matter what it is called, this system is used when someone hears a telephone number and remembers it long enough to write it down.

Amazon.Com Supply Chain Management

Running head: Amazon. com Supply Chain Project Amazon. com Supply Chain Project Jarrel Nightingale [email  protected] edu Capella University BUS3004: Supply Chain Management Professor Dr. Robert Goldwasser December 10, 2012 Amazon. com Supply Chain Project Introduction In today’s society, Online Shopping and the industry of e-commerce has become very popular and mainstream. Many individuals have integrated online shopping into their normal routine and have replaced traditional shopping altogether.Online shopping has become so popular, there has been a shopping holiday called â€Å"Cyber Monday† which is the equivalent to â€Å"Black Friday. † Traditional brick and mortar retail stores are now forced to offer their products online in order to remain competitive. This is a new position for most businesses to be in, so businesses are forced to make the necessary adjustments to conform to the consumers’ demands. Complying with the demands of technology has b ecome a problem for some of the smaller businesses due to the lack of resources and infrastructure to produce these changes.Amongst the many online retailers that have emerged, Amazon. com has set itself apart as the industry leader in Online E-commerce. Since 1994, Amazon. com has built a successful empire that has become the default name for when one thinks about buying anything online. Through their documented success, Amazon. com has created the blueprint for those to follow in order to become a successful Online Retailer. In this assignment, I will discuss Amazon. com as it relates to their success and the structure of its company.Business Model Amazon. com sells books, music, and other items over the Internet and is one of the pioneers of consumer e-business. Amazon, based in Seattle, started by filling all orders using books purchased from a distributor in response to customer orders. This practice differs from that of a traditional bookstore, which usually purchases directly from publishers and stocks books in anticipation of customer orders. In 2008, Amazon had eight warehouses in the U. S. and another fifteen in the rest of the world.Amazon stocks many books, though it still gets other titles from distributors or publishers. It uses the U. S. Postal Service and other package carriers such as UPS and FedEx to send books to customers. Amazon has continued to expand the set of products that it sells online. Besides books and music, Amazon has added many product categories such as toys, apparel, electronics, jewelry, and shoes. (Chopra, et. Al, 2012) In addition to adding more products, the strategy of Amazon. com is technology based as it relates to consumer demand.Amazon's supply chain is so tightly integrated that when an online customer buys a couple of books and a CD, the order-management system communicates with inventory- and warehouse-management systems to find the optimal distribution center or centers for fulfilling the order. The customer know s in less than a minute how long it will take to ship the items and whether they will come in one package or separately (Bacheldor, 2004). Global Challenges Unlike most companies, Amazon. com has positioned itself to remain competitive in the national and global markets as well.Shipping is one of the most main expenses of e-commerce and shipping internationally can be a lengthy and expensive process. As mentioned earlier, Amazon. com has built new warehouses and changed the markets supplied by each warehouse as its customer base has grown. Currently there are 15 warehouses in total; 8 of those are located in the United States and the other 7 are located internationally. As a result, it has lowered shipping costs and improved responsiveness (Chopra, et. Al, 2012).There is a trade off because inventory and facility costs increase as the number of facilities in the supply chain increase; and transportation costs decrease as the number of facilities increase. The functionality of its te chnology is also designed to help with reducing costs so that transportation costs stay at a point where operating globally is still achievable. Amazon. com’s supply chain management applications communicate in real time when an order is placed and assigns shipping warehousing and cost based on location (Bacheldor, 2004).When the average company ships internationally the response time is typically in excess of 14 days and the cost to expedite takes any potential savings from purchasing online go away. Importance of Aggregate Planning Amazon. com is beginning to aggregate other e-commerce that are linked via strategic placement and investments. The vision is to make it so customers don’t have to go elsewhere to shop very often especially online (Scally, 2000). The reputation it has is so strong that any association with Amazon. com helps create an impression of validity and success for anyone that chooses to partner with them.Amazon has one of the most-sophisticated sup ply-chain systems in the world, and it was all built from scratch. Homemade applications handle nearly every aspect of its supply chain: warehouse management, transportation management, inbound and outbound shipping, demand forecasts, inventory planning, and more. In the last four years, Amazon has worked to minimize the need for human intervention in its supply-chain processes, such as manually inputting sales forecasts into an inventory-management system (Bacheldor, 2004).Today, Amazon's supply-chain apps communicate in real time, a rarity when most companies have to integrate a variety of software tools and manual processes, such as phone and fax orders. Ultimately, the goal is to try to â€Å"touch† every type of transaction on the web dealing with e-commerce and to integrate with business partners to enhance the online shopping experience (Scally, 2000). Many traditional brick and mortar stores are affiliating themselves with Amazon in order to gain online presence and s ell its merchandise online. This is a mutual benefit as it allows Amazon to continue to diversify its products.Role of Demand Forecasting and Pricing Promotions To achieve strategic fit, a firm must tailor its supply chain to best meet the needs of different customer segments. To retain strategic fit, supply chain strategy must be adjusted over the life cycle of a product and as the competitive landscape changes. Future risks, uncertainties, and environmental concerns must be accounted for when firms design their supply chain strategy. Customers ordering a book at Amazon. com are willing to wait longer than those who drive to a nearby Borders store to get the same book.In contrast, customers can find a much larger variety of books at Amazon compared to the Borders store. Thus, Amazon customers trade off fast response times for high levels of variety (Chopra, et. Al, 2012). Amazon offers its customers a large menu of prices for products that are purchased from the company. For exampl e, a person purchasing two books worth $30 could use standard shipping (ships in 3–5 business days) at a cost of $4. 98, two-day shipping (ships in 2 business days) at a cost of $13. 97, one-day shipping (ships in 1 business day) at a cost of $22. 97 or use free shipping (ships in 7–14 business days).The pricing menu allows Amazon to attract customers with varying levels of desired responsiveness (Chopra, et. Al, 2012). Whereas customers paying for one-day shipping impose a high degree of uncertainty on Amazon, customers opting for free shipping can be used to level out the workload at the warehouse over time. Amazon can thus use its pricing to provide responsiveness to those who value it while using customers who want a low price to help it improve its efficiency. Amazon also uses pricing effectively to shift some of the Christmas peak to November, by offering free or discounted shipping.The discount moves some of the December demand forward, allowing it to reduce its December peak and improve its efficiency without giving up on responsiveness for those customers who do not want to order earlier. Conclusion Since 1994, Amazon. com has built a successful empire that has become the default name for when one thinks about buying anything online. Through their documented success, Amazon. com has created the blueprint for those to follow in order to become a successful Online Retailer. By offering a vast variety of products, Amazon has changed the way many consumers shop for our merchandise.In addition to more options, the prices are often times cheaper even though the merchandise ordered is always shipped from a different location. What Amazon started in 1994 has now been revolutionized as Amazon continues to find ways to better the merchandise, the technology involved, and most important the customer experience. References Anonymous. 1998. IceGroup Releases Amazon. com Analysis . PR Newswire, Retrieved from www. lexisnexis. com/hottopics/lnacademic Bacheldor, B. (2004). FROM SCRATCH: Amazon keeps supply chain close to home. InformationWeek, (979), 40-40.Retrieved from http://search. proquest. com/docview/229180916? accountid=27965 Chopra, Sunil, Meindl, Peter. (05/2012). Supply Chain Management, 4/e for Capella University, 4th Edition. Pearson Learning Solutions. Scally, R. (2000). Amazon. com: The force that's altering e-tail, one category at a time. DSN Retailing Today, 39(9), 42-44+. Retrieved from http://search. proquest. com/docview/228466615? accountid=27965 Willis, C. (1998, Apr 06). Does amazon. com really matter? Forbes, , 55-58. Retrieved from http://search. proquest. com/docview/195047045? accountid=27965

I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic

I SURVIVED the sinking of The Titanic, 1912 April fourteenth at seven fifteen a. m. in a first class suite on B Deck. We meet George and his eight-year-old sister Phoebe. They are returning to America after visiting London and the surrounding area with their Aunt Daisy. George is always getting in trouble and is very curious. He’s been all over the ship even to areas where he is not supposed to go. He’s made friends in steerage and exasperated his aunt and his sister and a number of the other first class passengers.His behavior had previously been causing problems between him and his father. Since George and Phoebe’s mother died a few years ago the family just hasn’t been the same. This trip was a time for George and his father to get some distance and calm down. George also describes many characters such as his aunt, sister, and other people that he meets aboard. He meets some people that become that become famous from the sinking. On the night of April f ourteenth snuck out of bed and went in to the cargo hold to find the mummy rumored to be cursed and also rumored to be on board.When he got into the cargo hold a huge bang and shutter rocked the whole ship and within a second he was completely surround by water. He returned to his room only to be awoken by one of his maids, him and his aunt were instructed to â€Å"dress warmly and put your life belts on†. When they were up and ready to go to the life boats they realized that Phoebe was gone. He soon realized that phoebe must have followed him to the cargo hold and did not see or know how to leave. He soon discovered that phoebe left lemon drops where ever she went to find her way back.When he was looking he ran in to Enzo and Marco that he met before on the ship. Enzo was screaming â€Å"phoebes†, she herd and came running to them. Lucky for George, he had met the architect of the Titanic the night before. The architect showed George all the secret passages. So, Marco , Enzo, Phoebe, Aunt Daisy and George were able to get back up to the First Class Deck. Just as they were about to get on 1 of only 16 life boats, the sailors wouldn't let Marco or George get on the boat. Enzo got on with Phoebe and Aunt Daisy.Marco decided to them jump into the freezing water. Marco helped George get onto a floating piece of furniture to survive the cold water. But, part of Marco was still in the water. Marco was starting to fade away because the water was so cold. George said the water felt like needles were stabbing him. Luckily, there was a life boat coming by and George was able to get on the boat. He lifted Marco into the boat because he was slowly dying. After a couple of hours, a big ship called the Carpathia came by and George and Marco were rescued.On the Carpathia, George and Marco were able to find Phoebe, Aunt Daisy and Enzo. They were all so happy. The whole family made it back to New York and George & Phoebe were met by their Papa. Aunt Daisy stayed i n New York with Marco to take care of Enzo while Marco was in the hospital from being in the freezing water too long. George and his Papa became friends again. George also was able to finally accept that his mother was never coming back. She died before their trip and this is why George was always into trouble. In the end things turned out to be good for his family and his friends.

Chinese philosophy Essay

On Earth we are pushed almost simultaneously in some sort of direction, opportunity, decision, etc. and when these situations present themselves we face dilemmas of how and why we should approach them in a certain manner according to moral precepts, short and long term goals, and societal constraints. The teachings of Taoism are an excellent if not perfect life guide for these dealings, because the Tao, or â€Å"the way†, can be thought in terms of a form of enlightenment or remedy for the humanly ways of this world. The Tao upholds the natural proof that life is of the utmost importance and the most valued possession in life is intrinsically itself. In this supreme experience of life we face constant movement for advancement of self and quality of life by technology and mentality, yet the Tao gestures a content and simple life where these â€Å"improvements† aren’t the strives we need to be making. The orchestrator of Taoism himself, Lao Tzu, it was said, â€Å"the greatest Virtue is to follow the Tao and Tao alone† (Tzu 10) which states of the Tao’s incomparability to life’s other moral and spiritual modules. Throughout this paper I will divulge the in the functions of simplicity and humbleness professed in Taoism as well as the utility of the Tao in nearly every aspect of life. History and Beginnings of Taoism Taoism is believed to have started in the 6th century B. C. E. by a former government worker who maintained the royal archives during the reign of the Chou Dynasty. That keeper of the royal archives was named Lao Tzu and he became dreary from his work so left his occupation to pursue a different calling out west. It is speculated that upon his departure from the confines of China, a guard watching the border asked him to record all of his wisdom before he passed. With this incentive Lao Tzu sat down and wrote the Tao Te Ching, which was his only known work summing up to roughly 5,000 words and spoke of in depth of the manner of the Tao and how it correlates to us, this life, and the world. It was Tzu’s only work (which some scholars dispute it was other sages compiling together and not one entity, Lao Tzu) whereupon he was never seen or recorded again. With this Taoism was born. To understand the method of the Tao it needs to be understood what the Tao reflects and what the Tao is because that is the essence of the Tao, it just is. Essentially the Tao is the natural order and true way of life, it is an ultimately indescribable yet definable through guidelines and the teachings written by Lao Tzu. Lao Tzu even said in the first lines of the Tao Te Ching, â€Å" The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao† , signifying that telling and learning of the Taoism is not genuine Tao because the Tao has to be lived and found out personally from person to person. â€Å" Daoist ideas[consist of ] the ecstatic journey, physical immortality, sexual yoga, and in particular the aspiration to harmonize human life with the way of nature†, here we see a connection to individual life and becoming one being of nature through this â€Å"ecstatic journey†, which is simple bliss in our voyage through time on this earth. While were here on planet Earth we aren’t really making the best out of it but rather coming to the realization that inherently this life is the best in the way it is. This simplicity is the vitality of our life, we need to let the roots of the real planet take over our life, and not submit to contaminated constraints of society or contemporary lifestyles for, â€Å"he is detached, thus at one with all† where â€Å"he† is detached from societal conformity and thinking and one with all the underlying truth of the world. Intrinsically this universal way to life, that is the Tao, is perfect and flawless from times of sorrow to times of joy because like the Yin and Yang symbol from ancient Chinese culture in life should be in accordance and equilibrium with the natural way of things. Taken as a whole the doctrine of the Tao is to combine with your original and eternal ancestry with this earth and just be. As I have mentioned the Tao is oriented around the union of our individual life and the eternal, ever-constant (in principle), and natural way of the earth. In the marriage of life and the way, the component that we are in control of( and I say control with care because the Tao is not about control or absoluteness it’s about harmony and being taken up with your world) is our personal life and personality. This life right here and now is so important it gets taken for granted and disregarded so often due to the unnatural ways society pushes us. Without this life we wouldn’t have anything, any reality, any fun or depression, no anything. For this basic reason alone our time here in this existence, our life, is our ultimate possession in this life is this life. The opportunity to live purely and purposefully with the planet’s path is what our existence is about is what the Tao Te Ching brings to light and from this truth it can be derived that our life is the our best achievement. A very prominent message that resounds throughout the Tao Te Ching and principles of Taoism is the importance of keeping life basic and rudimentary in operation. This does not mean you are a buffoon and you should do nothing, but interpreted to common language lifestyles should be basic and not enthused by complicated thinking, personality, and actions. Science is a big discrepancy with the Taoist thought pattern, a Tao sage wouldn’t advocate for improvement in sciences. Yet with this in mind, â€Å"Taoists were often scientists of China. Theirs was a different conception of science, based not on the exploration of the underlying laws of phenomena, but on the observation of the behavior of animals, plants, the elements, and the heavens. †, more of a mild consideration for the reality around us and how it corresponds to the natural way things are and how we play a part in it as individuals. When we follow the flow of the Tao we are in sync with nature’s ever pure intentions and a simplistic life separated from convoluted ideals and standards set by humans to live by. To satisfy the Tao we have realized we should not strive for things, material or spiritual, but allow this essence of the world to become us by living in an effortless way. There is a self-gratification to simple living, â€Å" Lao Tzu rejected scientific and technological progress†¦ he wrote that content people enjoy the labor of their hands and don’t waste time inventing labor-saving machines† where we are content and reap the benefits of our work to thrive in unison with the world. In this manner of simplicity life is lived how it was meant to be lived. Tantamount in importance for Taoism is dissent from popularity and splendor in your life. If we are to be simple beings in unity with nature then we should not be crowding our heads with egoistical beliefs that our own supremacy is important. In the grand scheme of this planet we are a miniscule part but a part nonetheless, one who should surrender to the natural course of the world. â€Å"The ten thousand things rise and fall while the Self watches their return. They grow and flourish and then return to source†, as explained by Lao Tzu we go about our business with highs and lows of attitude, status, and life in general but always return to the basis source where we originated from, and so we should avoid trying to raise up and improve because it is unnatural and we will just return to the basis anyway. This life’s peak is unattainable because it is not part of this journey, we shouldn’t even try to achieve the high of our live through improvement of self because we are meant to be simple and just the way we are. To just be as a basic being is to be perfectly purposeful. Our time here on this planet is to accept that the way of the world is the Tao and is the force we adhere, it is the ultimate answer to our world. We live here and now to follow the Tao and be content with our life as it is the most important thing we harbor. It is a basic life but that’s more than okay, we should have a life of no achievements because those could lead ultimately to downfalls and an unnatural course in our life going against the Tao of the world. Always unimportance in ourselves is key if we are to live harmoniously with this planet. Simplicity all around and submitting to the underlying but truly eternal and ultimate flow of the Tao is our purpose here and now, just be, no adjustments, just being. Works Cited Clarke, J. J. The Tao of the West: Western Transformations of Taoist Thought. New York, NewYork: Routledge, 2000. Print Goffman, Ken, Joy, Dan. Counter Culture Through The Ages: From Abraham to Acid House. New York, U. S. A. : Villard Books, 2004. Print Tzu, Lao. Tao Te Ching. China:np,nd. Print Welch, Holmes. Taoism The Parting of the Way. Toronto, Canada: Beacon Paperback, 1966. Print. ——————————————– [ 1 ]. Sages, are wise teacher-like people regarded with high level experience and wisdom of the world and its ways. [ 2 ]. The Yin and Yang is a symbol resonating with ancient Chinese philosophy that represent the natural opposites such as dark and light, innovation and conservation, masculine and feminine, as they occur and have to be in balance and coexistence with one another.