Mental Illness And Theodicy Arguments - 1063 Words

Mental Illness and Theodicy Arguments Millions of Americans are affected with mental illness each year. Mental illness is very serious disorder and can get worse if left untreated. It can make it difficult for people to cope with everyday life and it can interfere with sleep and eating habits. Mental illness can affect anyone whether it ranges from mood disorders or even anxiety. The cause of mental illness is unknown but chemical imbalances in the body can trigger stress and even trauma, it can be passed from generation to generation and alcohol and drug abuse can also play a role in this illness. People begin to wonder if that God was all loving why would he make people live a miserable life, why wouldn’t he let people happy and if God was all powerful why wouldn’t he stop the mental illnesses from affecting people. I will explain the questions people began to raise with three of the theodicy arguments; Evil as a Privation of Good, The Free Will Defense, and Evil as T herapy. There are many types of mental illnesses but the most common are mood disorders, anxiety, psychosis and eating disorders. Types of mood disorders include: major depression, dysthymic disorders and bipolar disorders. Major depression is the feeling of being depressed for the majority of the day at least over a two week time period. Symptoms include changes in appetite, loss of interest and motivation, hopelessness and have thoughts of suicide. Dysthymia generally last longer than major depression, upShow MoreRelatedEvil And Suffering By John Hick1606 Words   |  7 Pagesand suffering. According to Hick, skeptics assume man is to be viewed as a completed creation and that God s purpose in making the world was to provide a suitable dwelling place for this fully formed creature (Hick, 24). In relation to Hick s argument, this skeptic view is absurd and ultimately false according to Christian Humanists. Christianity, however, has never supported that God s purpose in the creating of the world was to construct a paradise whose inhabitants would experience a maximumRead MoreGender Differences in Religious Belief1817 Words   |  8 PagesAccording to Stark this risk taking inclination in a man to not â€Å"think ahead† means that men are less religious because they are willing to take a gamble on there not being an afterlife. However sociologists like Freese and Montgomery debate this argument works on an assumption that everyone makes the same risk assessment when in fact men are just more prepared to take that risk.Roth produced a study which showed there to be a smaller gap between genders in the percentage who believe in an afterlife

Invite Friends Free Essays

Leadership Assignment 5 Sarah Kamal 09-4714 ————————————————- 26th November 2012 Question 1: Was the research program a group or a team? If a team, what kind of a team was it? At first, before the assignment of a formal leader, it was a self-directed team on a whole of groups of people. It was a team because it was not inhibited by organizational boundaries. It was specifically formulated for a purpose and vision that was to develop a technique for large-scale interferon production to use as a treatment against cancer. We will write a custom essay sample on Invite Friends or any similar topic only for you Order Now The performance goals were also set by themselves instead of one strong centralized leadership. This team consisted of 3 groups who had 3 informal leaders namely –gene slicing, recombination and fermentation. At first the senior management believed that this biotech research program could be self-managed so the initial team of groups was a self-directed team as it worked on itself within its group boundaries autonomously and was member centered to the informal leaders. Later on after the formal leader was assigned to this team, it emerged as a stronger cross-functional team coordinating across its group boundaries for a shared purpose and problem solving. The formal leader directed work to the group leaders and assigned some authority to them as well. Question 2: Did the interdependence among the subgroups change with the interferon project? What were the group norms before and after the retreat? Interdependence is the extent to which the team members depend on each other for information, resources or ideas to accomplish their tasks. The research project should have been ideally a reciprocal interdependent one but initially the lack of communication and cohesiveness among the subgroups made it a pooled-interdependent team as the groups were fairly independent and did not share or coordinate work with each other participating as a team. After the formal leader came, he changed this interdependence style to the required reciprocal interdependent team. The interdependence increased a lot, and the team members influenced each other in reciprocal fashion for he completion of work and problem solving. Yes, the group norms changed and one single approach was taken to lead the project with consensus. Each subgroup was assigned a set of instructions by the leader, strict deadlines were given as the work was highly interdependent now and weekly progress reports were submitted. The communication gap was removed, problem solving was improved and group coordination was increased. Question 3: What factors account for the chang e in cohesiveness after the chief biologist took over? Cohesiveness is the extent to which the members are united in pursuit of a common goal. The chief biologist increased the determining factors for increasing cohesiveness. He took the team to a two day retreat and made them interact with each other. He organized the work and gave the team a more direct shared mission. Even after the retreat the communication was increased as lunches and coffee gathering took place. Group members and team leaders started having daily discussions and cooperated on research requirements. Enthusiasm and group cohesion was increased. How to cite Invite Friends, Essay examples

California High Speed Rail free essay sample

Most importantly this track covers 7 important airports up North and down South. It is expected that the train will run at a maximum of 220 mph and will be able to come to Los Angeles from San Francisco in 2 hours and 40 minutes. That is something what California need, rather than cursing in traffic on I-5 which moves at 40mph on rush hour. California already have railway by likes of AmTrak and MetroLink. But these are not really linked or works throughout the state efficiently. It will take at least half a day to Sacramento via a train.The new proposed High speed railway is supposed to eliminate all these problems at a low cost green theme, and hoping to increase links between the cities. The system would be fully electric and will be powered by solar and wind power built along with the Railway system. . The rails would be 800 miles long when finished, while they will be built in separate portions from 2012 to 2030. The main phase contains the link between San Francisco to Los Angeles expected to be built by 2020. The rest of the 300 miles would be completed by 2030 for the complete proposed system.This 21st century state of the art new system got its initial funding of $9. 95 billion initial funding from Prop. 1A. It’s estimated that total cost would be around US $45 billion although many suspect that it would get closer to $50 billion or more when finished. The initial environmental reports were done in late 2005 and the implementation plan suggested it would take around 8 to 11 years for the implementation of this plan for the initial segment. With more funds coming it’s way, and the last funding made was for $300 million on May 9th, 2011, The 1st test run segment is expected to begin constructions by September, 2012.This would be from Madera to Wye Junction in Bakersfield. It’s expected to be completed by 2015 with all the test runs and researches. This project is the most beneficial project in the short run and in the long run for California at the moment. It creates lots of advantages, direct and indirect. The first and foremost benefit is that the construction is expected to create around 150,000 construction jobs and around 450,000 jobs through the commuter system. All of these will be fulfilled by California residents. The money will be kept inside the state. This would hugely help the unemployment in the state.Considering These 150,000 people will pay tax and some having families, this will be a huge boost on state economy. After the system is created, there would be job opportunities for maintenance, constructions, commuter system, and many indirect jobs created around the system such as shops and taxi services. Public would be able to travel faster and cheaper through this system. Rather than paying the airlines around $200 for a one way trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles, they would be able to get away with about 1/6th of the price, at 2 times the time.With less security measures for trains rather than for an airplane, the waiting lines wouldn’t be long, and the system is expected to have trains as often as 5 minutes in between in rush hour. The job opportunities would be widely available and open as travelling becomes easier. With reduced price of tickets people would travel more in the state. With most people opting out for cheaper and faster high speed rail, state expects less traffic on freeways and on air. Huge time savings are expected from this High speed rail. California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) expects around 8 millions commuters per year by 2030. This will generate a great revenue for the state. With the tax money from the newly created jobs, saved maintenance costs on other public transports, are additional revenue. With 1/3rd of energy required to run a normal train, and all those energy mainly coming from wind mills and solar power we are looking at huge savings in the state. Environmental pollution will be significantly less. Trains will run on electricity majorly from solar panels and wind mills. The train requires 1/5th of the fuel that of an airplane requires. Many people adapting to high speed rail means less people on airplanes and on road. A train is supposed to carry around 1000 passengers. This means fewer cars on the road. The amount of emissions will be less and our carbon footprint is expected to go down. According to CHSRA calculations, California high speed rail will cut down 12. 7 million barrels of oil imports, and 12 billion lbs less green house emissions per year. There are doubts about the figure of commuters per year. 8 million is not realistic as per some reviews. CHSRA is already optimistic on the number. Granted that this is estimated by 2030, they still argue there would be a significant less figure for the real value.If it’s the case, the benefits would get lower too. The reviews also think that there would be more trouble getting into the trains as for the facilities to get around the 24 high-speed railway stations are not at the top notch. Some predict it will take the same time as getting into a local flight. The railway system would take more time during the actual travel time as it is not on high speed rail for the whole time. Part of the system would contain some existing rail tracks. This will definitely slow down the rail to the current speeds we have. And at 220 mph full potential there have been no test about the safety.The risk of vulnerability is high and even though risk assessments to passengers and property have been done extensively, they are always not ample enough to measure until a real life situation. CHSRA report expects to reduce congestion by high speed rail . There estimate is by 2030 there would be 70 million less drivers on road. With the project already suggested around 3000 freeway miles, new airport runaways to accommodate the high speed rail, and considering that one should arrive at the limited number of rail stations, this figure is not realistic. With more vehicles on the road than expected, it won’t be as green as it is expected. The wind and solar power would not be a solid supply throughout the year and it is still doubtful whether it will be sufficient enough to provide the needed power. The backup power source is Coal power plants. That is as dark as it can get. Many question the likelihood of public using the train system. There are many individuals who would prefer their own transport rather than public transport. Even though it would be cheaper and faster to reach destinations, the convenience of one’s own transport is a great consideration. This would impact the expected 8 million commuters per year figure badly. The estimated $45 billion cost is one of the major factors. It won’t reap any revenues until the 1st phase is finished which is due 2020. State is looking at spending around $35 billion for 9 years without any direct revenue. This is going to hurt the budget. And to cover this figure we are looking at a $50 train ticket. High-speed rail system should have arrived California at least a decade ago. Oil price is going up, having trouble with environment and pollution, lots of time waste on freeways, and without a convenient middle solution to travel anywhere in the state, it makes a perfect daily solution for everyone out there. This rail does not essentially mean its only passenger based. Railway is the most economical way of transporting goods. Combined with its speed this serves well for mail services and small package services. There was never an easy way to get to San Francisco in 3 hours from Los Angeles. Even if you take a flight, with the checking in and boarding times, it came close to the same time. Given that railway is ground transport, there can be more development around this rail tracks or its stations. Starting from constructions, it can be developed into trade zones or industrial zones. It would be ideal along the central valley for the industrial zones. Less residential zones, perfect environment conditions, fast transport, and cheap real estate make it perfect for the new investments. Over the time people would look more into the public transportation. It will take it’s time to adopt into California, as it’s a new experience for the public. The job opportunities created would be a great asset and a help to California. The money spent will stay in California as the workers are from California itself. It comes back as tax, goods, and services.

The Needs Theory Motivating Employees with Maslows Hierarchy of Needs free essay sample

Physiological needs are those needs required for human survival such as air, food, water, shelter, clothing and sleep. As a manager, you can account for physiological needs of your employees by providing comfortable working conditions, reasonable work hours and the necessary breaks e.g. to eat and/or drink.Safety needs include those needs that provide a person with a sense of security and well-being. Personal security, financial security, good health and protection from accidents, harm and their adverse effects are all included in safety needs. As a manager, you can account for the safety needs of your employees by providing safe working conditions, secure compensation such as a salary and job security.Social needs, also called love and belonging, refer to the need to feel a sense of belonging and acceptance. Social needs are important to humans so that they do not feel alone, isolated and depressed. Friends, family and intimacy all work to fulfill social needs. We will write a custom essay sample on The Needs Theory: Motivating Employees with Maslows Hierarchy of Needs or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page As a manager, you can account for the social needs of your employees by making sure each of your employees know one another, encouraging cooperative teamwork, being an accessible and kind supervisor and promoting a good work-life balance.Esteem needs refer to the need for self-esteem and respect, with self-respect being slightly more important than gaining respect and admiration from others. As a manager, you can account for the esteem needs of your employees by offering praise and recognition when the employee does well, and offering promotions and additional responsibility to reflect your belief that they are a valued employee.Self-actualization needs refer to a persons need to reach his or her full potential. The need to become what one is capable of is something that is highly personal. While I might have the need to be a good parent, you might have the need to hold an executive-level position within your organization. Because this need is individualized, as a manager, you can a ccount for this need by providing challenging work, inviting employees to participate in decision-making and giving them flexibility and autonomy in their jobs.

The Phases of the Moon Explained

The Phases of the Moon Explained One of the most often-asked questions that astronomers get is: what are moon phases? Most people know that the Moon appears to change shape over time. Does it look round and full? Or more like a banana or a lopsided ball? Is it up in the daytime or the nighttime? Throughout each month, the Moon appears to change shape while it appears in the sky at different times, including in broad daylight!. Anyone can observe these changes as they happen. The Moons ever-changing shapes are called lunar phases. Gradual Change Anyone can Measure from the Back Yard A lunar phase is simply the shape of the sunlit part of the Moon as seen from Earth.  Phases are so strikingly obvious that we almost take them for granted. However, they can be observed throughout the month from the backyard or via a simple glance out the window. The Moons shape changes for the following reasons: the Moon orbits Earth;both Earth and the Moon orbit the Sun;the Moons orbit is the same length as the time it spins on its axis (about 28 Earth days), which means that we see the same part of the lunar surface all month;the Sun illuminates both Earth and the Moon. Get to Know the Lunar Phases There are eight phases of the Moon that to track each month. New Moon:  During New Moon, the side of the Moon facing us is not illuminated by the Sun. At this time, the Moon is not up at night, but it is up during the day. We just cant see it.  Solar eclipses can occur during the new moon, depending on how the Sun, Earth, and Moon line up in their orbits. Waxing Crescent: As the Moon waxes (grows) into its crescent phase, it begins to show up low in the sky right after sunset. Look for a silvery-looking crescent. The side facing the sunset direction will be lit up. First Quarter:  Seven days after New Moon, the Moon is in first quarter. Only half of it is visible for the first half of the evening, and then it sets.   Waxing Gibbous:  After First Quarter, the Moon appears to grow into a gibbous shape. Most of it is visible, except for a shrinking sliver over the next seven nights.  Look for the Moon at this time during the afternoon, too.   Full Moon:  During the full moon, the Sun lights up the entire surface of the Moon that faces Earth. It rises just as the Sun sets and disappears beneath the western horizon when the Sun rises the next morning. This is the brightest phase of the Moon and it washes out the nearby part of the sky, making it difficult to see stars and faint objects such as nebulae.   Supermoon:  Ever hear of a Super Moon? Thats a full Moon that happens when the Moon is closest in its orbit to Earth. The press likes to make a big deal about this, but its really a very natural thing. A Super Moon happens as the Moons orbit brings it closer to Earth on occasion. Not every month has a Super Moon. Despite the hype about Supermoons in the media, its difficult for the average observer to notice that the Moon might appear only slightly larger in the sky than normal. In fact, famous astronomer Neil deGrasse Tyson pointed out that the difference between a regular full moon and a Supermoon would be about like the difference between a 16-inch pizza and a 16.1-inch pizza.   Lunar eclipses occur only at full moons because the Moon is passing directly between Earth and the Sun in its orbit. Due to other perturbations in its orbit, not every full moon results in an eclipse.   The full moon can appear slightly larger sometimes, creating whats called a Super Moon. Most people really cant tell the difference between them.  Still, its a great chance to observe the Moon!   The other full Moon variation that often grabs media attention is  a Blue Moon. Thats the name given to the second full Moon that occurs in the same month. These dont happen all the time, and the Moon certainly doesnt appear blue. Full moons also have colloquial names based on folklore. Its worth reading about some of these names; they tell fascinating stories about early cultures. Waning Gibbous: After the glorious appearance of Full Moon, the lunar shape starts to wane, meaning it gets smaller. Its visible later at night and into the early morning, and we see a steadily shrinking shape of the lunar surface thats being lit up. The side that is lit up is facing toward the Sun, in this case, the sunrise direction. During this phase, look for the Moon during the day - it should be in the sky in the morning.   Last Quarter: At Last Quarter we see exactly half the sunlit surface of the Moon and it can be in the early morning and daytime sky.   Waning Crescent:  The last phase of the moon before returning to New Moon is called Waning Crescent, and it is exactly what it says: a steadily-shrinking crescent phase. We can see only a small sliver from Earth.  Its visible in the early morning and by the end of the 28-day lunar cycle, it has vanished almost entirely. That brings us back to  New Moon to start the new cycle. Making Lunar Phases at Home Creating lunar phases is a great classroom or home science activity. First, set up a light in the middle of a darkened room. One person holds a white ball and stands a short ways away from the light. He or she turns in a circle, just like the Moon does as it turns on its axis. The ball is illuminated by the light in ways that almost exactly match lunar phases.  Ã‚   Observing the Moon throughout a month is a great school project, as well as something anyone can do on their own or with family and friends. Check it out this month!

Automatic Flight Control Systems Engineering Essay

Automatic Flight Control Systems Engineering Essay We live in a world where technology is, if not being improved, developed by the second. Everyday new improvements, inventions and discoveries are made. One industry that is always on the lead when it comes to new inventions and innovations is the Aviation Industry. Over the years, aircrafts have been facing major improvements on the structure, fuel efficiency, life-span, range of flight. But one of the best improvements that have been done on every aircraft (commercial) that had the biggest impact in the Aviation Industry and most probably the main reason why the industry has been booming up is the improvements done in the Avionics section, specifically the Automatic Flight Controls. In the beginning, Pilots were trained to fly the aircrafts alone. But after several years, it is now the pilots programming the computer, telling it where to fly, at what altitude, etc. This computer is the AFCS (Automatic Flight Control System). In today’s modern world of flying, it is the AFCS who is technically flying the aircraft, from cruising to landing, and for some until parking. The AFCS has a lot of advantages when compared to human pilots when it comes to flying. Here are some of them: The AFCS has the ability to overcome deficiencies when it comes to stability and control. The AFCS improved the handling qualities. Such as, when the airspeed or the altitude of the aircraft needs to be constant. The AFCS is more accurate and hence is able to carry out several tasks that the pilot is not able to do. * Source: Emirates Aviation College’s Automatic Flight Control Systems Book (Chapter 3.1.3) To get a better understanding of the AFCS, the different parts of it will be discussed, such as the Autopilot System, Flight Director System, Auto Throttle System and etc. The information about the AFCS will be based on one of Boeing’s classic aircrafts, the 737-500. FLIGHT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (FMS) The Flight Management System is navigation, combined flight control, a Built-In Test Equipment (BITE) and a guidance system. The FMS provides control and operation of five independent subsystems to provide lateral navigation (LNAV) and vertical navigation (VNAV) for performance management and optimum flight profiles. The Flight Management System is not labeled to any control panel or any single component as it is an integration of five independent subsystems. These subsystems are: Digital Flight Control System (DFCS) Inertial Reference System (IRS) Autothrottle Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS) Flight Management Computer System (FMCS) * Source: United Airlines’ Boeing 737-322/522 (page 6, Chapter 22-2, Oct ’99) from Emirates Aviation College Library This system was designed to increase fuel efficiency, safety and decrease workload. For both pilots, this means that they can select full FMS operation or Autopilot Flight Director System (AFDS) for a complete automatic flight. They can even use the Control Display Units (CDU) to pr ovide, for manual flight, reference information. Management and operation is totally under the control of the flight crew. There are only certain operations that can only be implemented by the flight crew. They are: landing rollout steering, thrust reversal, speed brake operation, altitude selection, landing gear and flap operation, instrument landing system (ILS) tuning, thrust initiation, brake release, airplane rotation and steering during takeoff roll.

Mock Interview of a Prospective Staff Member by Employer Essay

Mock Interview of a Prospective Staff Member by Employer - Essay Example The four main elements of interview practice applicable to all disciplines including nursing, include the acquiring of â€Å"background information of the candidate, interview analysis, protocol creation and revision, and self-reflective interviewing†, states Dilley (2000, p.131). The Appropriate Lines of Questioning to be Employed in Mock Interviews Fulton, Lyon, and Goudreau (2010) state that the best technique should be selected for a given situation, and practice is key to achieving higher levels of efficiency and performance outcomes. Thus, interview process strategies include the 80/20 Rule, Sequence Themes, Behavior-based Interviewing, Closed-ended, Open-ended, and Multilayered questions (Fulton et al., 2010). The 80/20 Rule is based on the concept of 20% of an interview to be devoted to asking questions, and 80% in listening to the interviewee’s answers, to find out to what extent the candidate was suitable for the position. Commenting on every answer is unnecessary, while â€Å"the interviewer controls the pace and emphasis areas of the interview† (Fulton et al., 2010, p.307).... The Themes that will be explored by the interviewer should be considered and practised during the mock interview. The preferable sequence for the themes has to be determined before the questions for each theme are decided on. For example, an interviewer may wish to question the candidate on goal orientation before finding out about their analytic ability. It may be ideal for an interviewee to sequence items about nursing staff project readiness, before answering questions on multidisciplinary commitment. In the technique of Behavior-based Interviewing, the interviewer’s approach bases the interview questions on behaviors rather than on beliefs. However, because â€Å"past behavior is often the best predictor of future actions, emphasis on behavior-oriented questions is important† (Fulton et al., 2010, p.307). Other appropriate lines of questioning by the interviewer include the use of closed-ended questions which Yale (2006) suggests should be used only to pose question s about a commitment, or to seek clarification about any factual matters. The open-ended questions compel the interviewee to give more details on their approach or their experience regarding a particular situation. The multilayered approach may not be successful, because it is possible that because of the various issues within the same question, the interviewer may receive an incomplete answer (Fulton et al., 2010). Interview Questions to Avoid in Mock Interviews Mock interviews should not include questions based on the candidates’ race, age, gender, nationality, marital status, religious beliefs, disability, or sexual orientation. These issues are best

HUMAN RIGHTS ACTORS AND ACTIVITIES Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

HUMAN RIGHTS ACTORS AND ACTIVITIES - Essay Example These rights, which can be found in full on the website UN.org, were as follows: 1. Personal rights: Personal rights include the right to live, to have a nationality, to be recognized before law as a person, to have protection against inhumane treatment, punishment, or torture, and for protection against various racial, ethnic, sexual and religious discrimination. 2. Legal rights: These include provisions for addressing the crimes in cases where basic rights have been violated. Articles 8 through 12 have provisions for ensuring that fair and impartial public trials take place, that families of the arrested are protected, and that there is no interference by the legal system with anyone’s family, home and reputation. 3. Civil liberties: These include the right to freedom of speech, thought, conscience and religion. Everyone has the right to hold an opinion, express their point of view even in published works, movement, residence, peaceful assembly and association. Also included in civil liberties is the right to seek safety from persecution by leaving the country. 4. Subsistence rights: These include provisions for having the right to a certain standard of living. ... 6. Social and cultural rights: These include the right to have a social life, to participate in community activities, to marry only by choice, and to have children. Additionally, the declaration makes provisions for the right to obtain a free primary education. 7. Political rights: These include the right to vote, to take part in government activities, to periodic and general elections with universal and equal suffrage. This list was the basis for the later declaration, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which was submitted on 16 December 1966 and entered into force on 23 March 1976 (United Nations, 1976). Human rights declarations have been passed by the United Nations covering topics such as genocide, political rights of women, racial discrimination and torture. These rights have been further extended and explained upon from the Universal Declaration document, and thus we can safely say that the norms of the regime are consistent and coherent (Office of the U nited Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, 2007). It is generally agreed that these rights are interdependent and in complete synergy. They form a cohesive whole from which any nation or individual can pick. However, the existence of these treaties does not guarantee the rights will be given. They are binding international standards for the signatories of the treaties, but their implementation is not compulsory. It is up to the lawmakers of each nation to decide if the treaty is to be followed within that country. This is stated in Article 2, Section 7 of the UN Charter, which states that â€Å"Nothing contained in the present Charter shall authorize the United Nations to intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state or

New Zealand Film Industry Essay Example for Free

New Zealand Film Industry Essay Why did the New Zealand government offer Warner Brothers incentives to film â€Å"The Hobbit† in New Zealand? Analyse how this will affect the New Zealand film industry and New Zealand society. Warner Brothers, one of Hollywoods most famous studios, was founded in 1923 by four actual brothers: Jack, Sam, Harry Albert Warner. On April 4, 1923, with help from a loan given to Harry Warner by his banker Motley Flint, they formally incorporated as Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc. I believe that production of H0bbit movie is benefit for New Zealand economy and New Zealand Government provide that incentives to Warner Brothers. Warner Brothers is the front of any entertainment industry with its films to television, home entertainment/DVD, and inter-active creativity. New Zealand has a reputation of being in the Top Ten filming locations in the universe. Warner Brothers choose to make the film in New Zealand because they know that New Zealand infrastructure is pleasing and natural. New Zealand is an open economy and it is cost-effectively workable and attractive for large budget international productions. Firstly, it is important to know that what kind of advantage to New Zealand with the Hobbit movie. New Zealand has a both advantages comparative and absolute. Comparative advantage means â€Å"A situation in which a country, individual, company or region can produce a good at a lower opportunity cost than a competitor.† (Gans, King, Stonecash, Mankiw, 2011) And Absolute advantage means â€Å"The ability of a country, individual, company or region to produce a good or service at a lower cost per unit than the cost at which any other entity produces that good or service.† According to new Law New Zealand have low labour cost means lower opportunity cost. And New Zealand has land, resources and pervious knowledge. For this two reason New Zealand have both advantages. Warner Brothers has reached a deal with the New Zealand government to keep The Hobbit in New Zealand. As part of the agreement, the government will â€Å"introduce in parliament legislation sought by Warnerà ¢â‚¬â„¢s that would clarify the employment status of film industry workers.† It is being presumed that the intended effect is to, â€Å"make unionization of the film industry more difficult or impossible. â€Å"Ever since Jackson’s LOTR trilogy put New Zealand on the map, so to speak, the country has benefited greatly from the rise in tourists. Indeed that has been factored into a â€Å"long-term strategic partnership† the country has struck with Warner Brothers which will see joint promotion of New Zealand as a film production and tourism destination. The incentives provided to Warner Brothers committed more New Zealand taxpayer money to the movies. (Cheng, 2010) As well as broadening the criteria for its large-budget incentive program – which will give WB an additionally rebate of up to US$15 million – the NZ government will also provide up to US$10 million for marketing costs. On top of the obvious benefit of keeping The Hobbit on home ground, New Zealand will also host one of the world premieres for one of the films. All this just goes to show just how important The Hobbit is for New Zealand. It has been said that the production will pump U.S. $200 million into NZ’s economy. (Cheng, 2010) It is important to know the reason as to why the incentives were offered to Warner Brothers. It is stated that â€Å"the Key Government thinks that this little country can and should afford to pay these subsidies to a giant foreign corporation.† (Roger, 2010) It was highly noticeable of the government when it cowardly agreed into Warner Brother’s demands for limited and striking subsidies saying they were worth it because New Zealand’s opportunity to grow in the economy was at stake as other countries waited in the line for ‘The Hobbit’ movie. The Government was under so much pressure from the other film businesses as rivalry was intense from the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and many more countries as they all wanted a movie like ‘The Hobbit’. That was the reason the incentive of changing labour laws was undertaken in such an urgency as the government did not want to further deviate expenditure of public money while having to fight back to match the massive tax breaks offered by other countries. Warner Brothers received tax subsidies of $100 million and â€Å"government agreed to give up to $34 million of tax breaks† (Cheng, 2010) through civility of New Zealand’s tax payers. More compromises were approaching as the Government eluded the standard democratic process to move forward with Parliament legislation that undermined the Employment Relations Act, and also benefited the international film company with $25 million. The government flaunted this as triumph for the film industry in New Zealand. The New Zealand government or national party is ideologically placed on the right wing of the spectrum. Right wing means In politics, right-wing describes an outlook or specific position that accepts or supports social hierarchy or social inequality. Social hierarchy and social inequality is viewed by those affiliated with the Right as inevitable, natural, normal, or desirable, whether it arises through traditional social differences or from competition in market economies. It typically accepts or justifies this position on the basis of natural law or tradition. Therefore favors free trade, globalization and open markets. They also want more FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) such as the Warner Brothers Hobbit investment. (rejuvenation) The NZ Film Industry will be affected both positively and negatively. â€Å"A 2008 report found that film and television industry injected $2.5 billion into NZ’s economy† (TVNZ-One news, 2010) The positive thing is that the more contractors get to keep their jobs; New Zealand has been able to build its flexible status again after the boycott scenario with The Hobbit. If the movie was not made in NZ then there would have been long term damage to the NZ Screen production sector and the economy. The negative consequence is that Film industry will be affected by the reductions in rights of NZ workers in Film Production as the Warner Brothers do not want to go through any cases regarding employment regulations after losing a case in the Supreme Court during their previous movie production. Warner Bros. has closed its office in New Zealand. The distribution office shut down at the end of May although Warner Bros. reaffirmed its commitment to business in New Zealand and, they said the work would be outsourced to a local company. The shutdown will raise questions in New Zealand because the Government changed employment law and provided tax breaks to get Warner Brothers to make The Hobbit there. For that The Prime Minister John Key said, â€Å"The Hobbit films have created 3000 jobs. They were crucial to New Zealand for our movie industry; it was a very positive step that the Government took. I’m not sure what has happened in Auckland, but I don’t imagine it’s many jobs.† Warner Bros. have had an office in New Zealand since 1947. (News, 2012) If the Hobbit was move from New Zealand than tourism is decrease and most of societies and their livelihood based on the jobs in tourism sectors are may be close and it’s affected very badly. One society in particular would have been drastically affected and that’s the people in Matamata near Waikato region. This would have been a major hindrance as after the Lord of the Rings movie, that place had been made world famous with its Hobbiton set. Although it’s been seven years since the release of The Lord of the Rings, Matamata and the society persist to bring in benefits after the production of The Lord of the Rings attracting more than 200 000 people each year. So by providing incentives to Warner Brothers government has saved the local societies from being drained out of tourism revenues. Changes to labour law were considered unacceptable and unfair law change. The New law was seen to create a default position, categorizing all film production workers as independent contractors. With my evidence now I know I have clear my doubts about what kinds of incentives are provided to the Warner Brothers. I am used the different sources and it’s quite helpful for increase my knowledge on globalization infusion on our economy, government role in economy, etc. I agree that there is an on-going debate with National party in the Parliament since the Green and Labour party continue to oppose the changes of the Employment laws that accommodate the foreign transnational companies’ demands which affect the tax payers either directly or indirectly in our country. The evidence have however raised a question for me and that is whether the NZ Government that poses a nation-state will be able to keep hold of its decision making powers or whether the power will be soon shifted in the hands of dominant international corporations. Bibliography TVNZ-One news. (2010, october 4). Retrieved from http://tvnz.co.nz/entertainment-news/australia-lobbying-hobbit-3816847/video : http://tvnz.co.nz/entertainment-news/australia-lobbying-hobbit-3816847/video Cheng, D. (2010, oct 27). Hobbit to stay in NZ. Retrieved from http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1objectid=10683486 Gans, J., King, S., Stonecash, R., Mankiw, G. (2011). Interdependence and gains form trade. In Globalisation and Business Enterprise (pp. 266-267). Auckland: Custom for AUT University, Faculty of Business and Law. News, O. (2012, June 19). Warner Brothers shuts down NZ office. Retrieved from http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/warner-brothers-shuts-down-nz-office-4937753/video rejuvenation, M. (n.d.). Ideology The New Zealand Legion. Retrieved from http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/politics/the-new-zealand-legion/ideology Roger. (2010). Retrieved from Roger Award Winner. for the worst Transnational Corporation operating in Aotraroal?New Zealand : http://canter bury.cyberplace.org.nz/community/CAFCA/publications/Roger/Roger2

My First Memories - Original Writing :: Papers

My First Memories - Original Writing "Come on! Hurry up you're going to be on any minute!" She yelled as she belted down the corridor holding my hand and somebody else's. I remember being dragged along like a child's limp rag-doll, bounding side to side. I was ushered into the darkened, suffocating hall filled with row upon row of chairs, where all the people would come in and scrutinize every move I was about to make. And as I continued walking, it all struck me. I don't want to be in here! I didn't want to be in this dumb play. I never even wanted to be in the play in the first place! I wasn't given any choice as to whether I wanted to be in it. From the beginning it was just as if, "you're in the play whether you like it or not!" but was never asked. I was forced to go along with it. The costume I wore trailed along behind me. It was way too large for me but I still had to wear it. I had to now and again gather up the muddy coloured, threadbare costume so that I would not trip over it. I reluctantly approached the parting in the mass of chairs, which led up on to the stage. The slight murmur of people talking slowly turned into silence as everyone turned to look at me. I took a peak at them and momentarily froze but then was nudged along by my teacher, by now whom I hated. I nearly got to the stage without any glitches. I was just about there! I started to walk more briskly towards the stage. But then, just as my stage fright had disappeared, I forgot to gather up my costume! It gathered around my feet like a rope trying to trap me. I tumbled to the floor like a sack of potatoes, and worse still a sack of potatoes that was being watched by loads of people. I had to get up! I carried on walking. It felt as if everyone was in

How might you strategically plan and implement an e-commerce venture that could make a dramatic difference in your business success?

Every time there is a shift in technology, businesses position themselves strategically to establish strategies that integrate new technologies so that the process of doing business can be more efficient in an attempt to maximize profits. Technologies that preceded the internet like the telegraph and the catalog revolutionized the way marketing campaigns were conducted, but it is the internet that has brought the most profound changes to the business world.The internet has enabled swift transfer of information from one point to another, and its application has extended to include e-commerce, a mode of transaction that had not been witnessed before. E-commerce has the potential to make a tremendous impact on business success, but to put into operation a successful venture needs a lot of strategizing since a strategy that has worked for one firm may not work in another. In establishing an e-commerce venture, first I would have to weigh the cost and all the risks involved.It will be a c ostly mistake to establish a system that does not congregate all the resources and processes of my business to increase efficiency and profitability. The system would have to fit in the traditional business model so that the operations are not disrupted at the onset of implementation. Secondly, I would tailor the system to be especially applicable in bringing the business and the products we offer to the customers in an effective way. An effective e-commerce model should advertise the business’s products in a vivid manner, communicating our variety and quality as well as the price of each product.This will eliminate the costs associated with sending salesmen to create product awareness in the market. Finally, I would tailor the e-commerce venture to include getting consumer information from the market so that I can monitor customer preferences. This can be done by making provisions for obtaining feedback from the clients who access the business’s site. Preferences may include the demand for door delivery and a variety of other business parameters. In these ways, the venture could make a dramatic difference in terms of contributing to the success of the business.

Employee Relations HND 2013 Assignment 2 Essay

It is a very common thing in the workplace for people to not be satisfied, being it either the employer or the employee; this could be in regard to the needs, values and interests in general. It takes many forms in organizations and there is always an unavoidable clash between formal authority and the groups affected. The list of reasons are limitless but some are disputes over how revenue is divided, how work must be performed, how much time one is allocated to work, etc. A lot of disagreements among individuals, departments and between unions and managements result to jurisdictional matters. Why Does Conflict Occur? There are many reasons and some can be; Expectations, Different Knowledge, Fear, Poor Communication, Attachment, Incompatible Values, Stress, Past Trauma, Scarce Resources, Different Paradigms, Misunderstanding, Perceived Oppression and many more reasons. The types of conflicts are Substantive Conflicts (Technical Conflicts) and Emotional Conflicts (Interpersonal Conflicts) that can occur being it within two or more individuals, two or more groups or between individuals and groups as well. Conflicts between Individuals; Interpersonal Conflicts take place due to several factors, most commonly they are due to personal dislikes or personality differences. Taking into consideration differences of opinion between individuals regarding task related issues, it can be labeled as technical conflict rather than interpersonal conflict. However technical and interpersonal conflicts can influence each other due to role-related stress. Conflicts between Individuals and Groups; These sorts of intra-group conflicts mainly arise due to an individual’s incapability to follow group rules and regulations. An example would be when groups have an idea of a ‘Fair day’s work’ and may pressurize an individual or punish him/her in regard to the rules of the groups productivity he/she could result with conflict towards the group and other individuals. There are various levels of conflicts that are classified like this: Intrapersonal Conflicts that involve: Pressures from incompatible goals Approach-Approach Conflict Avoidance –Avoidance Conflict Approach – Avoidance Conflict Interpersonal Conflicts: Occurs between two or more individuals who are against each other. Intergroup Conflicts: Occurs amongst members of different groups or teams. Interorganizational Conflicts: Occurs due to competition and rivalry of firms operating in the same markets. Occurs between Organizations and Unions employing their members. Occurs between government monitoring organizations and organizations regarding their scrutiny. Occurs between Organizations and Companies who supply raw materials. Functional/Constructive Conflicts: This results in positive attributes to an individual, a company or groups. The likely effects are: Important problems are revealed so they can be discussed. Causes an important discussion and evaluation of decisions. Causes re-considerable decisions. Increases the amount of information available for making decisions. Permits room for creativity Dysfunctional/Destructive Conflicts: These result in negative attributes and are a downside to individuals, a company or groups. The likely effects are: It diverts energy into negative things. Destroys the unity of groups. Encourages interpersonal conflicts. Overall it destroys the environment for employees. Culture and Conflict: There is usually a chance for conflict to be high when: People from short-term cultures are working with people from long-term cultures. People from individualistic cultures work with people from collectivist cultures. People from high-power distance cultures work with people from low-power distance cultures. Resolving Conflict: Some people believe the best way to resolve conflict is to ignore it or to vote which only suppresses the true problem without confronting and resolving it. These are some of the ways to resolve conflict effectively; Discuss or Debate, open communication, learn to compromise or reach an agreement, However the way organizations manage conflicts as of today are quite different and yet effective. They use conflict resolution, this is used: In a situation that the original reasons for a given destructive conflict are eradicated. Effective conflict resolution begins with an analysis of the stage where the conflict has reached and understanding the reason behind the conflict. Stages Of Conflict: Conflict History, Prioritize the circumstances for conflict. Conflict Precursors, Note down the circumstances for conflict. Perceived Conflict, Functional or emotional variations are identified. Felt Conflict, Stress generates incentive to act. Manifest Conflict, Resolving the Conflict. Conflict Outcome. Question 2: I will be using a conflict issue that was found at Radiant Montessori Nursery, Abu Dhabi during the year 2011. (http://www.rmn4me.com/) During the time since the nursery had been set up there were a lot of disputes over finding drivers who would be safe, efficient and loyal, The owners had various disputes regarding finding suitable drivers and from where they would find them. One owner suggested a driver who apparently was a relation of his friend. This conflict of interest led to many problems and disputes within the company and was eventually solved but even doing so it tarnished the owner’s reputation and business. The driver appeared to be a very trustworthy and loyal person and was always on his best behavior whenever the owners were around, later on they started receiving various speeding tickets on the Montessori van, it was found to be at 3-4a.m, no nursery is open at these times and it was later proven that the driver had been running his own routes along the city after office hours, when confronted he started absconding and was not being reasonable or trying to negotiate with the owners, he was in direct violation of his job permit and as well as his visa, Even then he was given chances because of the conflict of interest in him by the owner , therefore later on he was jailed by the police for misusing school property and the owner was charged a heavy fine. The manner in which the conflict was resolved was not a good manner and if the owners had sought to other measures and planned everything properly it wouldn’t have reached this stage. Question 3: Judging by the case study shown, the stage of which the case is by the time it reaches negotiation stage it is less likely to be solved, the positions are most likely fixed as to who is what and the relationship is not redeemable after all the disciplinary action and demands from each other. Petunia might think that she is the successor over the issue but judging from the company’s point of view it was a loss, not just by losing Lerato, by the costs put in for the hearings, the time allocated for the case and the witnesses brought forward, the influence of productivity and morale and the further cost of getting a new employee. If only there was someone who was able to explain to lerato regarding the situation when she refused to take the job or before that it would have been a positive conflict. The arbitrator would have provided Lerato with a confidential means and method by which Lerato and Petunia could have both discussed their interpersonal conflict and come out with a negotiation regarding the outcome. These are the stages: Petunia is a senior manager and Lerato a manager reporting indirectly to her which is a reason for Petunia to feel superior t Lerato. The initial case of conflict was when Lerato perceived that Petunia was the one responsible behind her moving to a different office. (Perceived Conflict) This caused her to rethink and analyze that it was because Petunia had accused her of insubordination. (Conflict Antecedents) Lerato starts lobbying against Petunia.(Felt Conflict) Lerato subject to disciplinary measures and dismissed.(Manifest Conflict) The believed reason behind the conflict from Lerato’s side was Power or value asymmetries. Procedures that went by: It started out by perceived pressures then moved on to an approach-approach conflict and then to an approach-avoidance conflict the avoidance did not allow for negotiation or understanding which resulted in the firing of lerato. The dysfunctionality of this conflict is seen by the way it was resolved, My view of the case study is that the way it went along was not right and this is not the way to solve a conflict, In my opinion lerato should not have perceived and acted stubborn she should have asked for guidance or confronted Petunia directly and found out if it was her who had gotten her changed from department to department. Secondly even if this was the case she should have come to an understanding with Petunia regarding the situation and tried to resolve it in a more diplomatic way, not by being stubborn and accusing blindly as Petunia is her senior. Thirdly, the department should have been involved about the case and should have taken immediate action and seen to it that both of them came to an understanding regarding what had happened and not let it escalate to such a high level. Lerato should have addressed the board and seen to it that a proper evaluation of her work and skills be made in regard to her transfer and whether or not it was truly needed. The way things were going impacted the company and the work environment of other employees as well. The way in which Petunia did it was right where she addressed the Human Resources Department and asked them to take action against lerato. All of this could have been prevented if there was proper conflict recognition and conflict resolving matters that could have been done. References: http://smallbusiness.chron.com/four-types-conflict-organizations-174.html http://www.uni-muenster.de/Politikwissenschaft/Doppeldiplom/docs/Organizational.pdf http://smallbusiness.chron.com/ways-managing-conflict-organizations-2655.html

buy custom Home Schooling essay

buy custom Home Schooling essay Introduction Home Schooling concerns the teaching of children at home rather than sending them to government or private schools. Home Schooling practices are common at many places in USA and children grow in a different learning environment. Home Schooling is an alternative way of teaching in rural locations. Home schooling does not develop childrens psychological and intellectual powers as compared to those children at private or public schools. Home schooling has advantage in somewhat ways but their drawbacks are greater than its disadvantages. States need to enact and implement the laws to ask the parents to send their children to private or public schools. When people come to know about Home Schooling, they think it is not good for the children. They argue that Home schooling does not provide the opportunities to children to develop their future, remaining at home is subject to the notion of parents as they get their education at home. These things become the threat for the children who get home schooling. In state of California this myth has threaten the children. It is highly emphasized to enforce the law that deals with children schooling only by state-certified teachers. If this law is fully implemented in state of California, 166000 may get education from the state oned schools. This practice will convince the people living in other states to follow this model. In this way rapid increase in home schooling can be lessened. More than 1 million students can call it a revolution to educate the students in state owned schools. Home schooling does not meet the requirements of children to become the high skilled in practical life. However test results presented the different figures which are not accepted by critics of Home schooling. Secondly Children get normal to average marks in underground programs as stated in wall street journal in 2000. Thirdly those who are taught at home did not become so social as compared to their traditional educated peers. It is highly recommended to check the psychological, physical, Intellectual and educational status of those children who get home schooling. People have lack of knowledge about the home schooling. Childrens needs and interest can determine the level of education. Parents at home put their efforts to teach their children, giving time and space to their children to know its rhythms. Home schooling does not have the time limits as school days starts when the children woke up and ends when they go to sleep. Parents show freedom to their children in Home schooling . Mothers use to teach their children at home and children get good scorre in their future education. Those who argue that certified teachers must teach the children at homes do not affect the students achievements. Public and private schools education is costly these days as compared to home schooling which does not require a great deal of amount. Parents do not notify exactly about the number of children who are home schooled. Parents neglect their children to educate properly. Firstly the state laws must ask all the parents to educate their children at private or public schools. If parents fail to do so they must inform the controlling authority about the status of family. Government agencies must give exact number of home schooled children and manage their education expenses. This will enhance the number of children at state owned schools. Government must also notice the religious trends of children as their parents argue in favor of the religious education the cause of home schooling. Conclusion It can be concluded that parents face the problems to teach their state owned schools. Advantages and disadvantages of Home schooling have been investigated in this paper. Finally governments regulation policy about the Home schooling is given to explore the advantages of education at state-owned schools. Buy custom Home Schooling essay

BUS Assignment 4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

BUS Assignment 4 - Essay Example I think that managers should alert workers about employee monitoring. The employees need to understand why they are being monitored. They should be aware of the company’s policies and Business Code of Conduct so that they know that the monitoring is within the guidelines of the law. If I were the owner of the company, I will still have the same opinions regarding monitoring of employees. Some form of restraint should still be observed. â€Å"As with most ethical issues, the governing concern should be mutual respect and mutual accountability† (Mujtaba, n.d.). Class discussion 1: Topic B I believe that the degree of variation in the range of earnings across various jobs in our economy is justified because a salary of a person is a product of several factors which I believe he has worked for. These factors include his education, training, experience and luck. No one has a right to question these because I think whatever one is earning now is the result of hard work, somet hing which one has strived for. As an example, I am sure that before Kobe Bryant reached his current rate, he had to undergo a lot of training and sacrifices. It was not an easy path at all so everything he has now, he definitely deserves it.

Nature vs. Nurture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Nature vs. Nurture - Essay Example s relating to the surfacing and control of behavior, but neither side sufficiently explains many of the more complicated behavior seen in the myriad of diverse species present on this earth, including humans. (Long, 2003, p. 29) Many behaviors have strong learning components, and others seen not at all influenced by experiential factors. The recent view in developmental biology suggests that the emergence of simple and complex behaviors is a result of interplay between gene expression, pre- and post-birth development, and environmental influences, including, but not limited to, sensory experience (Long, 2003, p 31) Although the beginning of life takes place in the womb, once the child begins to breath on his or her own (some would say even before), the dance between nurture and nature begins to take place. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory clearly explains the connection and relationship among living things and the environment they experience. He sates that personality and change are proximal interrelated processes, â€Å"These are reciprocal interactions between an ‘active, evolving, biopsychological human organism and the persons, object, and symbols in its immediate external environment’† (Broderick & Blewitt, 2006, p. 14). His model illustrates how social influences impacts human survival and one’s ability to thrive and reproduce. Human development is inseparable from the environmental contexts in which a child develops. His study illustrates how the four levels of environmental influence (microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem macrosystem ) impacts the full range of human development including mentally, psychologically, emotionally as well as socially. (Vander Zandan, 2000, p. 181-183). However, knowledge that is displayed at birth is most likely to be innate. Most mammalian infants have instinctive behaviors to seek out warmth, and sustenance. A human infant will be able to imitate expressions, such as a smile or sticking out their tongue in mirror

The Impact of Information System on Business Process Design Research Paper

The Impact of Information System on Business Process Design - Research Paper Example The use of information systems also enables the company to expand and grow its operations outwards to scales that were almost unimaginable through the analog system of business design and engineering, such as globalization processes through the creation of the subsidiaries by multinational corporations. Furthermore, the organizations also benefit from the large market sphere and control brought about by the introduction of business technology and information systems within the processes of conducting business. As such, the paper considers the best methods undertaken by businesses in expanding and modernizing their operations using and adoption of technology and information systems. In fact, information systems brought about a major revolution in specific organizational sectors such as the executive and management roles, as well as, the manner and style by which people work at their organizations. This is phenomenal through the redesign processes of these business operations, and the benefits achieved through the transformation of these new company practices. A business process is a structural procedure of diverse activities, tasks, or procedures within a business in order to achieve a specific goal, or produce a certain kind of service, product, or brand for meeting a particular demand from a customer, a market, or a business client. A business process incorporates a flowchart kind of operation whereby a sequence of integrated activities operate together through a process matrix based on a varied rules provided by the data in the processes. However, there are varied versions on the definition of business processes and how they affect the operations of a business.

Political Science Paper Proposal Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Political Science Paper Proposal - Assignment Example The events are attributed to the varying economic policies pursued by the various political ideologies. The Republicans have been containing the inflation rate which can only be realized by allowing some level of unemployment in the economy as demonstrated by Philip's curve. Frymer on his part considers the role of Black Americans in the national politics and how they are very critical in determining the outcome of each presidential election in the United States. His theory affirms the fact that the African-American interests, as well as voices, have been ignored in a number of instances by both the two political divides as they all majored on other groups that seemed to be more predictive in determining the outcome of an election process. The interests of the African-Americans have thus been left out in legislative policymaking and campaigns. His views appear to b in contrast to that of Bartels who is of the opinion that one party promotes inequality while the other party promotes e quality. Race plays a key role in the politics of America and this leads to inequality and marginalization based on the races. However, the two authors are in agreement that the government of the day plays a key role in determining the standards of living of various social classes and races. Further analysis of the works of these two scholars will reveal inner facts on the political landscape in America and how it affects the entire nation and its inhabitants irrespective of their cultural beliefs, race, and socio-economic status.

Using gentamicin in the management of sepsis

Using gentamicin in the management of sepsis Sepsis is defined as the inflammatory response toward an infection (1). It is either simple or severe sepsis depending on the organ dysfunction involved as a result of the infection and other factors (2). In terms of the pathophysiology of severe sepsis, a cascade of inflammation and activation of the coagulation system associated with impaired fibrinolysis causes changes in microvascular circulation associated with organ dysfunction, severe sepsis, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, and death (3). In terms of definitions of other sepsis-associated symptoms, it was generally agreed at the International Sepsis Definitions Conference which was convened in 2001 and the following definitions of sepsis syndromes were published in order to clarify the terminology used to describe the spectrum of disease that results from severe infection. Sepsis is the presence of infection in association with meeting the Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria (Box 1 (2)). The clinical significance of meeting SIRS criteria in the absence of organ dysfunction or shock is still unclear. Severe sepsis is defined as evidence of end-organ dysfunction such as altered mental status, episode of hypotension, elevated creatinine, or evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. Septic shock is defined as persistent hypotension despite adequate fluid resuscitation or tissue hypoperfusion manifested by a lactate greater than 4 mg/dL. Bacteremia is defined as the presence of viable bacteri a within the liquid component of blood (1). Acute pyelonephritis is defined as an acute infection of one or both kidneys; usually, the lower urinary tract is also involved (4). Antibiotic regimen of choice for Sepsis that is associated with urinary tract infection is Co-amoxiclav 1.2g 8 hourly intravenously together with Gentamicin IV dose of 5mg/kg once daily (5). Although that is controversial whether to use the ideal body weight (IBW) or to obtain blood samples indicating Gentamicin level to get the optimal dosing regimen for Gentamicin in obese patient due to risk of accumulation with Aminoglycoside and the fear of oto- and nephrotoxicity (6). Other supportive measures depend on the patients status; table 1 (1) contains helpful measures that indicate markers of organ dysfunction. Case Summary Our patient, C.M., is a 56 years old female who was admitted to the Accident and Emergency department (AE) due to an increased urinary frequency and a high temperature of 40.5 °C. Other complaints were back pain and shortness of breath (SOB). Also, the patient had reported a fall the night before admission. Moreover, the patient had vomited the night before and in the morning of admission. C.M. is a previous smoker who had stopped smoking several years ago and she lives with a partner. She is clinically obese weighing 100kg and her height is 152.4cm. Giving this, her ideal body weight (IBW) comes to 49kg. The only known allergy for this patient is microspores tapes. The patients past medical history (PMH) included asthma, non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and fibromyalgia. She was on one puff daily of each Symbicort Turbohaler 200/6  µg and Ventolin Accuhaler for the management of her stage 3 asthma. Metformin 1g daily was prescribed for her diabetes control; however, its formulation was not mentioned (whether it is a sustained release tablet or a normal release one!). For her fibromyalgia, she was taking 300mg of Quinine sulphate daily together with 150mg of Amitriptyline daily (which is a very high dose; low dose of tricyclic antidepressant (T CA) is recommended i.e. 20-30mg of Amitriptyline). For her pain, the patient was on Co-codamol tablet as required (strength, dose and frequency were not mentioned). Having that she is a diabetic patient over 40 years old, a dose of Simvastatin 40mg daily was prescribed as a primary cardiovascular disease (CVD) protection measure. In addition, Omeprazole 20mg daily was one of her regular m edications with unclear indication. Investigations On admission, an Electrocardiography (ECG) was performed and indicated sinus tachycardia; which could be related to the high temperature, pain or sepsis. The patients vital signs were abnormal having a respiratory rate (RR) of 22 breaths per minute (normal is ~ 12bpm), a heart rate (HR) of 117 beat per minute (normal is ~ 70bpm) and a blood pressure (BP) of 142/65 mmHg (target for diabetic patients is Her laboratory investigations were almost normal except for some parameters. The Sodium level was a bit low which could be a result of the frequent urination or an Amitriptyline hyponatremic effect. Glucose and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were high which might indicate the presence of infection. Thrombocytopenia may be caused by Quinine or Simvastatin administration! Impression and related Management Plan The patient was diagnosed as a pyelonephritis and sepsis case; so empirical antibiotic regimen was initiated with 1g Amoxicillin intravenously six hourly and 500mg ciprofloxacin orally once daily. Also, 1g Paracetamol intravenously six hourly and one liter Normal Saline intravenously over 24hours was started. Urinalysis on the first day indicated the presence of leucocytes, nitrites, glucose, ketones and blood which means a presence of infection. On the second day, blood culture showed a growth of E. coli which is sensitive to Gentamicin, therefore, 400mg Gentamicin intravenously every 24 hour was prescribed and ciprofloxacin was discontinued. Gentamicin plasma level was requested 6-14 hours after administration of the first dose. In addition to the patients regular medications, 50 mg of Cyclizine eight hourly and 20mg of Citalopram once daily were added, paracetamol IV was switched to orally in the second day and 30mg of oral codeine as required was prescribed ; but the patients Salbutamol Inhaler had been stopped for unclear reason. Discussion Revising the management plan for this patient and in comparison to the local guidelines for the management of pyelonephritis and sepsis patients, we would notice that 1.2g intravenous Co-Amoxiclav is the first-line choice of Penicillins, not Amoxicillin, together with Gentamicin. However, if the ideal body weight is required to obtain the appropriate dosing of Gentamicin for obese patients, so in this case, 245mg of Gentamicin supposed to be prescribed instead of 400mg which is the maximum daily dose (Although that some infectious diseases specialist would recommend going to the maximum dose to make sure that we get the maximum benefit; but we must consider patient status and severity of infection!). Also, it is essential to check the optimal timing for monitoring each drug plasma level, in our case, Gentamicin therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) has not deviated from the local guidelines recommendation for the once daily dosing of Gentamicin i.e 6-14 hours after giving first dose. Having a patient with increased urination and vomiting, we must consider fluid replacement. Replacing with one liter Normal Saline (NS) might have not met the patients requirement! So it is recommended to check patients need to ensure appropriate replacement i.e. at least 2.5-3 liter daily. We could have recommended giving 2 liter NS each over 8 hours plus the addition of 500ml 5% Dextrose to ensure calories intake if the patient cannot tolerate oral intake. Considering the patients asthma control, we must confirm that Salbutamol inhaler was not mistakenly missed after admission. Since that SOB was one of the patients complaints, we must ensure that it was relieved, if not, consider 5mg of Salbutamol nebulizer four times daily to be added to the regimen and if nebulizer is not necessary, ask for Salbutamol inhaler to be charted as if required basis (6). Also, blood gases were not mentioned so it is probably safer to ask for the oxygen and carbon dioxide saturations to consider if oxygen therapy is needed! Confirm that the patient and nursing staff are aware of inhalers techniques. The patient is on Amitriptyline 150mg orally daily which is considered an old practice for the treatment of fibromyalgia (high dose TCA) and the current recommendation states 20-30mg of Amitriptyline daily for 8 weeks (6) so it is better to re-consider dosing or to change regimen. Low dose Sertraline or high dose Venlafaxine therapy may be effective (6) so consider changing if no further benefit of the use of Amitriptyline. For the associated pain, Paracetamol with Tramadol has better efficacy than Co-codamol. Pregabalin (150-300mg every 12 hours) may improve pain especially if combined with Tramadol; it also improves sleep and morning stiffness (6). So, knowing the patients control with the current medication would be helpful to consider treatment change or modeling to get the most of pharmacologic treatment. Suggesting alternative ways to manage symptoms is also recommended, e.g. spa therapy, physiotherapy, stress management, acupuncture or diet (6). NICE guidelines for the management of type II diabetes mellitus state that Metformin is the first line choice for obese patients. Choosing appropriate formulation that suits the patients lifestyle is essential to ensure patients compliance. Once daily dosing of sustained release formula could provide 24 hour control over glucose, but in this case the present of infection interfered with having accurate reading so it is logical to check the HbA1c to check the glycemic control over the last 8 weeks to consider any therapy modification. Also, pre- and post-prandial glucose level monitoring is required to avoid both hyper- and hypoglycemia using the current regimen. Statins must be prescribed for all diabetic patients who are over 40 years old (6) and having any risk factor of Coronary Vascular Diseases (CVD). The patient was on Simvastatin 40mg daily but no Cholesterol level obtained (consider Ezetimibe if high Cholesterol). Monitoring liver function tests (LFTs) and any muscular side effect is important. Also, having a high BP on admission, checking that BP is normal after sepsis reveals is vital. If persistent high BP, consider adding ACE inhibitors, having the benefit of BP control and protecting the heart in patients susceptible to Vascular Diseases. Weight loss in this patient is advisable so consider dietitian and physiotherapist review to consider going on diet and exercise. Also, annual eye check is recommended to control retinopathy due to DM. Cyclizine was prescribed on regular basis, so we better check if the patient is really on need of a regular anti-emetic, otherwise, consider changing it to as required basis. Regarding Paracetamol, it was prescribed on as needed basis but it was not put clear not to exceed the maximum daily dose, so it is recommended to clarify that to not give the patient more than 4g per day. It is safer to contact the patients GP to confirm the indication of Omeprazole and to consider discontinuation if no clear indication was obtained. Additionally, the patient was thrombocytopenic, which could be a side effect of administration either Quinine or Simvastatin, so monitoring the platelets count is highly recommended to prevent any complication, although DVT prophylaxis is not needed as long as the patient is mobile. Conclusion In conclusion, the overall patient management had no much deviation from the current guidelines recommendation except for some practice that need to be reviewed considering the current patients status. Therapeutic monitoring should be carried on because the patient is under risk of many complications or side effects. Lastly, patients awareness of her clinical condition and treatment requirement for each problem is helpful to prevent or reduce future health problems. Appendix 1: PATIENT MEDICATION PROFILE Patient details Name C.M. Consultant General Practitioner Address Gender Female Weight 100 kg Height 152.4 cm Community Pharmacist Date of Birth (Age) 56 y.o. Known Sensitivities Micropores tapes Social History Previous smoker, lives with partner Patient hospital stay Presenting complaint in primary care / reason for admission Admission date 2008 Increased urinary frequency Back pain Shortness of breath Vomiting Fall (the night before) Fever (40.5 °C) Discharge Date Discharged to Relevant medical history Relevant drug history Date Problem Description Date Medication Comments Asthma Symbicort 200/6 Turbohaler 1 puff daily Ventolin Accuhaler 1 puff daily Non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus Metformin 1g daily Formulation? Fibromyalgia Co-codamol PRN Strength? Amitriptyline 150mg daily Too high! Quinine sulphate 300mg daily Duration? Simvastatin 40mg daily 1ry CVD prevention Omeprazole 20mg daily Indication? Relevant non drug treatment Prescribed Medication Start Stop Clinical/Laboratory Tests Result 1 Paracetamol 1g IV 6 hourly Day 1 Day 2 ECG Sinus tachycardia 2 0.9% sodium chloride 1000ml IV over 24 hours Day 1 HR 117 bpm 3 Amoxicillin 1g IV 6 hourly Day 1 BP 142/65 4 Ciprofloxacin 500mg PO OD Day 1 Day 2 RR 22 bpm 5 Metformin 1g PO OD Day 1 Urine analysis Leucocytes, nitrites. Glucose, ketones, blood +ve 6 Omeprazole 20mg PO OD Day 1 Blood culture E. coli 7 Quinine sulphate 300mg PO OD Day 1 Na 134 (135-145) 8 Simvastatin 40mg PO OD Day 1 CrCl 145.3 (78-120) 9 Amitriptyline 150mg PO OD Day 1 Glucose 8.9 (3.9-5) 10 Symbicort 200/6 inhaler 1 puff daily Day 1 CRP 180 ( 11 Codeine phosphate 30mg PO PRN Day 1 Bilirubin 35 (3-16) 12 Citalopram 20mg PO OD Day 1 PT 17 (12-15) 13 Cyclizine 50mg PO 8 hourly Day 1 APTT 39 (20-30) 14 Gentamicin 400mg IV 24 hourly Day 2 Platelets 70 (150-400) 15 Paracetamol 1g PO PRN Day 2 Clinical management Diagnosis Pharmaceutical Need Pyelonephritis Evidence-based treatment Sepsis Treatment according to guidelines Care Issue/Desired Output Action Output Confirm drug history + reconcile drug history Ask patient how and when she takes her medication and the indication for each medicine. Compare with GPs DHx + Phone GP for indications for amitrip., omep. and quinine, and when they were initiated. All regular meds have been charted except prn salbutamol. Patient is SOB; advise Dr to chart it prn. Confirm antibiotic regimen for pyelonephritis/sepsis in addition to TDM Check the local guidelines that amoxicillin is first-line for the indication (culture sens. to gent.).Calc. her ideal body weight and CrCl.Calc. gent. dose based on ideal body weight and compare to 400mg iv od (max dose).Check local guidelines whether 6-14 post dose gent. level is correct procedure. Chase level. Monitor BP, Temp, Pulse, RR for signs of resolving sepsis whilst on current regimen. Co-amox 1.2g iv tds is first-line with gent 5mg/kg (max 400mg, ideal body wt 49kg, CrCl 71ml/min). Recommend switch to co-amox because she needs 7/7 iv + oral. Recommend 245mg gent iv od Obtain level before 2nd dose is given+TDM for gent is correct. Review need for gent in 48h Fluid requirements possibly not being met by 1L N. saline in 24hours Request a running fluid balance chart due to vomiting + increased urinary frequency. Ask patient if she can tolerate oral liq. or if feels thirsty. Assess if iv is necessary (2.5L daily + replace losses) Advise doctor to amend first bag to 8 hours and chart 1L N.saline over 8hours + 500ml glucose 5% over 8 hours if patient cant tolerate oral liq. Is her current SOB being treated appropriately? If patient is still wheezy, ask for PaCO2 + PaO2. Request salbutamol nebs 5mg qds + O2 60% to be charted. If not currently SOB, ask for accuhaler to be charted prn. Assess inhaler technique for both inhalers when breathing ok Is her fibromyalgia regimen in-line with current evidence? Check Brit. Soc. Rheum for current guidance on fibromyalgia. Check that citalopram is the SSRI of choice in fibromyalgia since it has been started on admin. Review quinine; if has been in use for 3 months with no benefit consider stopping it High dose TCA is an old practice; current evidence states 25mg/day for 8 weeks. Advise a review of Amitrip. Low dose sertraline has better evidence for use in Fibro. Advise switch + show evidence to prescriber. Tramadol with paracetamol has better efficacy than co-codamol. Suggest trial switch and monitor for dizziness due to recent unexplained fall. Consider pregabalin. Lifestyle advice: stress management, diet, physiotherapy/massage, etc. Is her type II diabetes under control? Check SIGN guidelines on diabetes for current management. Request HbA1c test to determine control over last 2-3/12 Monitor glucose pre/post-prandial and random. Ask patient how she takes the metformin and how regularly Metformin is first-line in obese type II. From lab results, assist endocrinologist in determining whether metformin dose should be increased + which preparation suits patients lifestyle. Is her CVD primary prevention needs being met? Check SIGN guidelines on CVD primary prevention. Check BP + Cholesterol. Next UEs ask for urine albumin + protein levels. Ask patient about current diet and exercise plan (obese) + last eye test. Simvastatin 40mg charted. Check cholesterol. If it is high, may need ezetimibe 10mg od. LFTs ok BP 142/65, upon resolving sepsis recheck BP and initiate ACEi if appropriate. Advise dietician review (obese) + physiotherapy review (or GP) for plan (30mins exercise 5/7). Advise eye test once a year Regular cyclizine may be unnecessary Endorse chart for paracetamols maximum daily dose Reassess patients need for a regular anti-emetic and re-chart cyclizine as prn instead of regular if required Max 4g in 24 hours (e.g. 1g QDS) Highlight patients thrombocytopenia No need for DVT prophylaxis if patient is mobile. Mention that quinine or simvastatin could be the cause of low platelets. Suggest trial withdrawal of quinine if not planning on stopping anyway. Monitor Platelets level if continued. Indication for omeprazole Determine indication from GP and patient. Consider trial withdrawal if indication unknown. Appendix 2: Box 1. Consensus Conference of the American College of Chest Physicians and Society of Critical Care Medicine definitions for the various manifestations of infection.   Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS): Manifest by two or more of the following conditions: 1. A temperature >38oC or 2. A heart rate >90 beats per minute 3. A respiratory rate >20 breaths per minute or a PaCO2 4. A white blood cell count >12,000/mm3 or 10% immature forms. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Infection:Microbial phenomenon characterised by an inflammatory response to the presence of microorganisms or the invasion of normally sterile host tissue by these organisms. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Bacteraemia: The presence of viable bacteria in the blood. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Sepsis (Simple): The systemic response to infection, manifested by two or more of the SIRS criteria pus an infection. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Sepsis (Severe): Sepsis associated with organ dysfunction, hypoperfusion, or hypotension. Hypoperfusion and perfusion abnormalities that may include, but are not limited to lactic acidosis, oliguria or an acute alteration in mental status. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Septic shock: Sepsis-induced hypotension despite adequate fluid resuscitation, along with the presence of perfusion abnormalities that may include, but are not limited to lactic acidosis, oliguria or an acute alteration in mental status. Patients who are receiving inotropic or vasopressor agents may not be hypotensive at the time that the perfusion abnormalities are measured. This is a subset of severe sepsis. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Sepsis-induced hypotension: A systolic blood pressure 40 mmHg from baseline in the absence of other causes for hypotension. Adapted from Bone RC et al. Definitions for sepsis and organ failure and guidelines for the use of innovative therapies in sepsis. Chest 1992; 101: 1644-1655. Appendix 3: Table 1. Clinical and laboratory markers of organ dysfunction. Organ System Clinical Laboratory Cardiovascular Tachycardia Hypotension Cardiac arrest Arrhythmias Haemodynamic support Altered CVP, PCWP Reduced cardiac output Endocrine Weight loss Hyperglycaemia Hypoalbuminaemia Haematological Bleeding Thrombocytopenia Increased D-dimers Abnormal white cell count Abnormal clotting profile Gastrointestinal Ileus GI bleeding Acute pancreatitis Acalculous cholecystitis Decreased intestinal pH Elevated amylase Hepatic Jaundice Hyperbilirubinaemia Increased PT Elevated LFTs Hypoalbuminaemia Neurological Delirium Confusion Altered consciousness Altered EEG Renal Oliguria Anuria Renal replacement therapy Elevated creatinine Elevated urea Respiratory Tachypnoea Cyanosis Mechanical ventilation PaO2 SaO2 PaO2/FiO2 Immune Pyrexia Nosocomial infection Altered white cell count Impaired white cell function Adapted from Balk RA. Pathogenesis and management of multiple organ dysfunction or failure in severe sepsis and septic shock. Crit Care Clin 2000; 16: 337-352.

Economic Indicators Essay -- essays research papers

Economic Indicators   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For the individual who watches CNN a great deal, the term Economic Indicators well recognized. However, for the individual who chooses not to make CNN a primary station, the term Economic Indicators can be extremely confusing. Economist often use very unlike terms when referring to the fluctuating economy. Economic Indicators happens to be one of the many terms that they use. So, what exactly are Economic Indicators, and what purpose do they serve? In addition to the previous stated questions, are they really that important?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Economic Indicators serve the purpose of spying on the economy, let me further elaborate. Economic Indicators are economic statistics. Examples of economic indicators are unemployment rates, GDP, and even the inflation rate. These so called Economic Indicators inform Economist how well, or how bad the economy is doing. By revealing the present state of the economy, the indicators allow economist to predict how well the economy will do in the future. Economic Indicators are very necessary. The levels of investments are contingent upon what Economic Indicators suggest. For example, if Economic Indicators suggest that the economy is going to do better or worst than the past, individuals may choose to change previous investment plans. As stated previously, economist and investors are dependent upon Economic Indicators.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are three different typ... Economic Indicators Essay -- essays research papers Economic Indicators   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For the individual who watches CNN a great deal, the term Economic Indicators well recognized. However, for the individual who chooses not to make CNN a primary station, the term Economic Indicators can be extremely confusing. Economist often use very unlike terms when referring to the fluctuating economy. Economic Indicators happens to be one of the many terms that they use. So, what exactly are Economic Indicators, and what purpose do they serve? In addition to the previous stated questions, are they really that important?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Economic Indicators serve the purpose of spying on the economy, let me further elaborate. Economic Indicators are economic statistics. Examples of economic indicators are unemployment rates, GDP, and even the inflation rate. These so called Economic Indicators inform Economist how well, or how bad the economy is doing. By revealing the present state of the economy, the indicators allow economist to predict how well the economy will do in the future. Economic Indicators are very necessary. The levels of investments are contingent upon what Economic Indicators suggest. For example, if Economic Indicators suggest that the economy is going to do better or worst than the past, individuals may choose to change previous investment plans. As stated previously, economist and investors are dependent upon Economic Indicators.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are three different typ...

Bondage and Discipline: The mystique behind BSDM Essay

Abstract Dating back to as far as 1969, Bondage and Discipline or BDSM is a form of sexual actions performed with abnormal dominance and submissions. An exotic sexual preference mostly involving role playing restraint, with the aid of foreign objects such as tassel tipped whips, paddles, gagging, etc. BDSM is derivative of Sadism and Masochism branch, only falling under separate concentration due to excessive and abnormal sexual tortures. Most sexual involvements require safe words; just incase the level of kink is surpassed and the recipient no longer feels a sense of sexual euphoria, and more of a urgency of danger. It is fairly normal for older couples to experiment BDSM, as well as mostly affecting the older population (40 and up). BDSM is affected by the population due to having much skeptical criticism amongst foreign communities. Keywords: BDSM, Sadism, Masochism, Kink The mystique behind Bondage and Discipline. Sweeping the nation in awkward fashion around the 1960’s, Bondage sex had apparently become the new â€Å"thing† or latest crave kids were partaking in. Bondage sex is a relative of the BDSM family, with the â€Å"B† standing for of course Bondage. Bondage and Discipline gives monotonous couples a little excitement in the bedroom. A most common reason behind bondage is so that both couples may gain pleasure from the restraint position in which one or the other may dwell in, while the pursuer engages in the thought of full dominance over the participant. People who take interest in this are known as Sadomasochistic. While some sadomasochistic people take pleasure in the sexual thrill of bondage sex, others benefit from the visual just as much. While this may be strange, but still done to this day, this may trigger  several questions toward mass society: 1) Why do people perform bondage sex? 2) Is it safe? 3) What sexual thrill do its occupants receive? 4) Is it actually helping keep relationships strong? Understanding that the usage of this may be limited due to the age of its occupants, it is safe to say that most children are not entertaining the idea of having Bondage and Discipline sex with their peers, nor will they be pursuing it anytime soon. Of course, we live in a world of curiosity, so it is not safe to count the younger generation out. However, sexual activity via teenagers is at an all time high, and easy access to porn sites makes it easier for little old Tommy or Susie to stumble upon the idea. Why do people perform bondage sex? Many couples incorporate Bondage sex into their lives, only to find it is sort of relationship steroid or adrenaline shot. Ever play fought with your mate before enticing them in a sexual comfort zone? Or teasing them toward the brink of hormonal eruption, whereas he or she is immensely aroused and will not stop at nothing to pursue a pleasant sexual endeavor? If so, then you have no need for this act. Bondage sex is usually incorporated into bland relationships lacking sexual drive. BDSM can either implement a spark or an explosion in sexual climax if used correctly. Bondage discipline strengthens the trust of both partners because the activity pushes the limits of each partner, bringing them beyond their typical comfort zone. The exotic mixture of fear and pleasure forms a potent concoction of euphoria. This fusion also forces both cohorts to instill a mammoth like trust in one another. It also helps the two (unlimited) in knowing each other better both mentally and physically. Und erstanding that with each slap, spank, lip-biting gesture could be a signal or pleasure or pain raises the enigma of how well you really know your significant other, being that one mistake or missed warning sign could be their last. Is it safe? Of course Bondage sex is not safe, that is what causes the sexual thrill of the activity. BDSM IS NOT FOR EVERYONE. Some couples will not be willing to journey out unto unfamiliar territory. Then again, we are humans, we are  known for being risk takers. Since the dawn of time humankind has risked everything into journeying into the unknown. For instance, in 1969 in attempts in beating the Soviets in the venturous Space Race, an audacious country (USA) sent three brave men, (Neil Armstrong, Edwin â€Å"Buzz† Aldrin, and Michael Collins were sent to the moon. Not only were they sent in attempts to beat out the Soviets, but to explore the unknown. You see, not anything we carry out is out of harm’s way. We dwell in times in which we may all perish by missiles, be engulfed in the rage of war, and drowned due to our lack of concern of the ozone layer and constant ignorance of quickly deteriorating polar caps. With that being said, if we were to place the two on an imagina ry Libra Scale, it is evident that bondage sex would be on the higher end. Also, another reason in why Bondage sex can be safer than what media portrays it to be, would be due to objects being used. Many adult toy companies are devising toys that with stringent safety precautions, as well as rising the age of the consumers to buy their product to 21 and up. There was a time when sex toys were a taboo, yet gradually, due to today’s generation, sex toys have become more blatant and commonly shown on late night commercials. This caused adult toy companies to take a step for the better. By creating smarter, innovative sex toys, scientist have derived adult toys the aid sexually and implemented devices that contribute toward the health of its users, such as therapeutic benefits for both men and women. For example, men who suffer from erectile dysfunction and abridged penile consciousness and women who partake in the usage of vibrators also stimulate vaginal blood flow. These enhancements also strengthen orgasms and the release of superior good-feeling hor mones. Due to the step-up in sexual toys, these altercations have made it safer for its users as well as implementing the devices for various uses. (Ashton, Devon G. â€Å"The Key Archives/BDSM Mystique 2010) Also, buzzing through the BDSM community is the term SSC. This stands for safe, sane, and consensual. Safe: this term is used to ensure that both users enacting in bondage activities should place health and safety at their highest priority. This reduces mistakes and problems; however there will  always be typical casualties amongst inexperienced users. Sane: client must partake in their right frame of mind when enacting in BDSM related activities.(Fredder, James. â€Å"Dr. Drew On Call.† HLNtv.com. BDSMreviews, 12 Sept. 2009) Noted, that these actions should not be undergone while under the influence of alcohol or drugs of any kind, for even if they enhance the experience, they also pall the users vision of clarity. Finally Consensual: All activities should have 100% consent from both parties. Consent from both partners allows actions that are made to be swift, and hoist trust between both. Also to keep in mind, even if consent from each party is of maximum percentage, legal consent may not create a difference between criminalist behaviors, and may fall liable upon any injury caused. Ultimately there is no such thing as being safe enough. Injury can occur at anytime, and it is up to both partners if BDSM activities are fit for them. No matter the activity, you can enhance you and your partner’s safety by properly following SSC, as well as possessing a mutual respect for each others body and responsibility. What sexual thrill do its occupants receive? In most cases, BDSM activities are done based on thrill. But before we go into detail the reader most know the roper definition of thrill. As defined by www.Dictionary.com, thrill is a sudden feeling of excitement or pleasure, (of an emotion or sensation) pass with nervous tremor. Also you should be informed on the term sexual thrill. As defined by www.Dictionary.com, sexual thrill is chiefly with reference to people) sexual activity, including specifically sexual intercourse. Now there are three types of thrills in which a Sadomasochistic person may partake in: 1) Visual thrill: Upon gaining sensation in visualizing others in BDSM activities. 2) Physical thrill: The intense sensation in partaking in BDSM activities. 3) Olfactory thrill: The urge of smelling someone held captive in BDSM activities. Depending of the user, each thrill initiates their endorphins in an unbridled frenzy. Visual thrill users usually do not get to intense with BDSM activities. Although the relish seeing oth ers in BDSM activities, they themselves may not want to engage in such activities, and usually their addiction can be controlled with the simple click of a mouse. Although others, such as Cuckold Visual Thrillers, usually pay other people to partake in BDSM related activates with their spouse and watch. Physical  thrill users are your typical run of the mill porno visualization guys and gals. These usually are the people that pop up in you head when you the Bondage and Discipline related activities. Depending on preference, these people usually dress in leather and gag their partners. Their acts usually involve handcuffed role play as well as external and internal mutilation. Being that they dress for the role and that they use a heavy amount of foreign objects, Physical thrill users usually construct a safe word. A safe word is usually a simple word used for when BDSM activities have placed one of the occupants in unfamiliar or painful territory; this causes the oppressor in ceasing in what they were doing and if necessary, to discontinue the session. The weirdest of them all, Olfactory thrillers, take a sexual thrill in smelling someone held captive in BDSM related activities. Usually, since BDSM clients wear leather for what ever purposes, the smell of leather, fear, and sex triggers OFT pleasant receptors, this gives them a feeling of elevated sexual sensation. Within the BDSM community, 78% say that OFT receives a stronger sexual sensation, and cause enormous orgasms. Bondage Discipline Submission Masochism based scientist have credited this theory. Lionel B. Wilkes, led researcher and developer in BDSM related activities states, â€Å"Olfactory thrill users tend to engage in an earlier and longer lasting sexual high due to the aroma compromising a supplementary and immediate itinerary toward cerebral brain receptors, which cause immense affect toward Dopamine receptors.† This simply means that because the occupant smells BDSM activities, the chances of the smell entering the nose and accessing the brain’s pleasant receptors and causing a sexual high, are extremely exponential. Noting that each thrill has its perks, it is not uncommon for some people to encompass a fixation of all three, these users are universal thrill seekers. This usually occurs in seasoned BDSM patients who have experienced a certain form of thrill so many times that the thrill became less appealing. To awaken their desire for BDSM activities, they partook in oth er thrills. It’s sort of like eating bland pizza for a while, and then you decide to add some hot sauce to it; this is how Universal users operate. Doing anything they can to maintain the feeling of euphoric sensation; even after the brain has developed a callus for it. Is it actually helping keep relationships strong? There are many reasons why Bondage and Discipline is used. Some people do it for the experience; just to they did it, while others do it for the peace the feel within themselves. Yet most of the time, couples do to intensify relationships. Understanding that 56% of the population partaking in BDSM related events are place in the 40 year old plus percentile, it evident that couples are using it to spice things up. After being married to some one for 20+ years, in bed experience may be lacking; most men around that age suffer from erectile dysfunction, which places a hassle on fulfilling their significant others sexual needs. Women around the ages 44-45 usually undergo painful menstruation cycles, thus declining the urge of sexual desire. By implementing Bondage activities in a slowly decomposing relationship ushers life. You reach heights in which you have never journeyed; you learn more about your significant other than ever before. Recent studies have shown, most married couples know about 48% of their significant others. Wow! Being together with someone for 20 or more years and to know only 48%?! Bondage and Discipline activities instill a major amount of trust in a relationship. In performing these acts, it is vital that you and your partner know each others limits; and by limits, the smallest gesture can be vital! If you do not know your significant others facial expression when they are in pain or enjoying themselves, then it is about time you learn. Being that BDSM activities are extremely dangerous, you have to have major trust in your partner. In an article published by ABC titled â€Å"Love hurts: Sadomasochism Danger.† ABC documents a 67 year old man who passed out and lost consciences in a sex club after participating in a BDSM scene. He lost consciousness while hanging his arms from a cross. The article explains that the damage was so severe; it took him a couple of days to recover. I believe this compliments my point, in which you should not partake in BDSM activities with anyone. (Lars, Hannah S. â€Å"Sex Toys – Combine Sexual Pleasure with Health Benefits.† Yahoo Contributor Network. Yahoo, July-Aug. 2008) Judy Kuriansky, a sex psychologist, says, â€Å"There is a triumvirate of guilt, embarrassment, and fear of intimacy for these people†¦ It’s rare that all of the sudden they can give up on being interested in pain and suddenly  capable of being loved.† I highly agree with Dr. Kuriansky, except for the phrase, â€Å"intimacy for these people†¦Ã¢â‚¬  As a result of information for www.BDSMfordummies.com they combat that the intimacy of Bondage and Discipline users should be sacred and held others of intimate meaning. Basically saying that these intimate acts should be held with intimate people; which prove my theory, which BDSM is just as safe as the users who partake in it. Essentially, a lot of harm can be avoided if you partake in it with someone you know. Psychosexual and relationship therapist Simone Bienne continued, â€Å"That’s certainly one thing that the BDSM community is very, very proud of — how they are able to communicate and thi s is essential how it spills out — the sexual relationship spills out into the emotional side of the relationship because you are able to manage conflict better because of strong communication.† (Laundry, Michelle. â€Å"32 Shocking Statistics of Relationship Insecurity.† McKinley Irvin. MCIB/Stats, Feb.-Mar. 2005. Web. 05 Apr. 2014.) All in all, Bondage Discipline is an extremely interesting and exotic way to rekindle a fading relationship, as well as arousing yourself. Although BDSM is pretty much for anyone, it should be for older people; by older I mean 21 and up. Of course I have no say in what people do behind closed doors, yet due to the information I have provided, and thanks to several credited websites, Bondage sex is very risky, and can also harm if placed in the hands of the young and inexperienced. Maybe it’s our desire to experience love in a different rendition, maybe it’s or innovative ways, or maybe, just maybe, it is our thirst to explore the unknown. References Ashton, Devon G. â€Å"The Key Archives/BDSM Mystique.† The Key RSS. XPN.org/thekey, May-June 2010. Web. 5 Apr. 2014. Fredder, James. â€Å"Dr. Drew On Call.† HLNtv.com. BDSMreviews, 12 Sept. 2009. Web. 30 Mar. 2014. Lars, Hannah S. â€Å"Sex Toys – Combine Sexual Pleasure with Health Benefits.† Yahoo Contributor Network. Yahoo, July-Aug. 2008. Web. 09 Apr. 2014. Laundry, Michelle. â€Å"32 Shocking Statistics of Relationship Insecurity.† McKinley Irvin. MCIB/Stats, Feb.-Mar. 2005. Web. 05 Apr. 2014. Michaelis, Viktoria. â€Å"Top 5 Benefits of Using Sex Toys – Viktoria Michaelis.† Viktoria Michaelis. PBS/top5benefit, 5 Nov. 2013. Web. 03 Apr. 2014. Perkins, Ronald. â€Å"What Is BDSM?† Examiner.com. GoogleinfoBDSM, 4 Dec. 2012. Web. 23 Mar. 2014.