A Right to Bear Glocks by Gail Collins Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

A Right to Bear Glocks by Gail Collins - Article Example The writer is not ready to blame Loughner alone for this incident; she indirectly mentions that the mentality of the Americans who think it is necessary to have free access to weapons is to be changed. Otherwise, there should be clear distinction between the kind of weapons citizens can bear for self-protection and lethal weapons of mass killing. However, the writer points out how frightened the American political workers and the government are to campaign against the all-powerful National Rifle Association. The title of the article ‘The Right to Bear Glocks’ is highly metaphorical in nature. In one way, it can be defined as the writer asking if the right to arms means the right to bear lethal weapons like Glocks. In another way, it can be defined as the writer mocking at the right to ‘have’ arms as the right to ‘tolerate’ arms. To show how the concept of democracy is misused, the writer narrates the fate of a nine-year-old girl who had recently been elected to the student council at her school. She attended the campaign to learn ‘how democracy worked’ met a   tragic death. In this article, the writer wants to show how a population suffers the perils of their own craze for weapons. Gabrielle Giffords herself was an avid supporter of the right to weapons and by narrating her fate, the writer wants to point out the biblical ideology of ‘all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword’ (Mat 26:52). In addition, another concept the writer indirectly implies is the way innocent people are affected by the actions of others. The writer says proper rules and regulations could have saved the lives of many people including a church volunteer and a nine-year-old child.  

My View on Evolution Essay Example for Free

My View on Evolution Essay The creation versus evolution debate is a recurring cultural, political, and theological dispute. As a result, Americans have spent a great deal of time in debate about the origins of the Earth, humanity, life, and the universe. Personally, I believe the world is billions of years old, and that all life on earth evolved. I will attempt to provide concrete facts, logical arguments, and solid evidence supporting my view on evolution. With that said, I will also share my personal intuitions and feelings that have led me to believe in evolution. Lastly, I will make a closing argument as to why you should support evolution as well based on the information presented in my paper. Logically, evolution makes sense to me for many reasons. On the other hand, creationists generally use the Bible as their main doctrine in backing up their argument for creation. However, I believe the Bible, alone, is not enough. With any legitimate argument, multiple sources of evidence are always needed. While I could list a dozen things that serve as real-life evidence that evolution is true, I will narrow them down to just two. The first piece of evidence that supports the idea of evolution is genetics. The DNA in our cells reflects each individual’s unique identity and how closely related we are to one another. The same can be said for relationships among organisms. DNA is the molecule that makes up an organism’s genome in the nucleus of every cell. It consists of genes, which are the molecular codes for proteins and the building blocks of our tissues and their functions. Furthermore, DNA shapes how an organism grows up and the physiology of its blood, bone, and brains (Lunine, 163). Thus, DNA is especially important to the study of evolution. Again, DNA tells us how closely or distantly related we are. With that in mind, think about this. The genetic difference between individual humans is minuscule, at about 0.1%, on average. Compared to human studies, a chimpanzee’s genome indicates a difference of only about 1.2%. The bonobo, which is the close cousin of chimpanzees, and gorillas, another of the African apes, is about 1.6%. Subsequently, it can be concluded that humans are not only related to the great apes, but that we are apes. No matter what the numbers are, the big point still holds. Humans, chimpanzees, and bonobos are more closely related to one another than any other primates. Throughout history, evolutionists have argued that the DNA of humans and apes show that our species and chimpanzees diverged from a common ancestor. Interestingly enough, apes were found to be existent about 17 million years before humans were even around (Moreland, 231). Therefore, the last common ancestors to fit this profile were monkeys and apes. Some evolutionists would see this information as clear evidence of a human evolutionary tree which is strongly rooted within the great apes. The second piece of evidence comes from fossils. If you look at the fossil record, you find a succession of organisms that suggest a history of incremental development from one species to another. You see very simple organisms at first and then new, more complex organisms appearing over time. Moreover, the characteristics of newer organisms frequently appear to be modified forms of characteristics of older organisms (Rieppel, 172). The succession of life forms, from simpler to more complex ones, also shows a relationship between new life forms and those that preceded them. Many evolutionists have made strong speculations of these findings, concluding that this is definitely evidence of evolution. In addition, fossil evidence is even more unique to the argument for evolution because it doesn’t stand alone. In fact, evolution becomes even more compelling when combined with other forms of evidence. For instance, the fossil record is consistent in terms of biogeography. This is paramount, because you would expect that the fossil record would be in harmony with current biogeography and ancient geography, if evolution is true. This also holds truth when examining the anatomy and biochemistry of living species. It appeared that the general order of development for the major types of vertebrate animals was: fish, amphibians, reptiles, and then mammals. If current species developed as a result of common descent, then the fossil record would show the same order of development. Sure enough, the fossil record does show the same order of development. Consequently, fossils and its converging evidence make fossils even more plausible in arguing evolution from common descent (Rieppel, 209). Lastly, I will share my personal feelings towards evolution. Personally, I feel many Christians disagree with the evolution theory, largely because they believe it contradicts the Bible. Yet, many Christians disagree with each other about the basic principles of Christianity. In my opinion, if a Christian doesn’t believe something to be true, they immediately find a way to say how that argument â€Å"contradicts the Bible†. However, the Bible is not always specific, nor is it clear in revealing the truth. In many cases, it almost appears to be written for our own interpretation, which brings me to my point. How can evolution be wrong if everything is based on interpretation? Essentially, I believe in evolution because my interpretation of life and literature, as well as my personal intuition, has led me to believe this. At the same time, my interpretation of the Bible and the book of Genesis is that it’s nothing more than poetry. Christians might see genetics, DNA, and fossils as evidence for creation. My interpretation has caused me to see these things as evidence for evolution. My point is this: everyone’s view is different, because everyone’s interpretation is different. When it comes to this debate, neither creationism nor evolution is a winner. There are many arguments to be made such as: Biblical truth, fossils, molecular biology, DNA, etc. All in all, there is no scientific evidence to prove either one. Evolutionism is based solely on scientific reasoning. Based on science, evolution has yet to be proven right or wrong. Creationism is based on religion and faith. Based on the Bible, creationism cannot be proven true or false either. The best way solve this, in my opinion, is to go with what you feel. With that being said, many people, including myself, feel that evolution is true. Works Cited Books * Lunine, Jonathan Irving, and Cynthia J. Lunine. Earth, Evolution of a Habitable World. 1st ed. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Pr, 1999. Print. * Rieppel, Olivier. Evolutionary Theory and the Creation Controversy. Chicago: Springer, 2010. eBook * Moreland, J.P., and John Mark Reynolds. Three Views on Creation and Evolution. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1999. Print. Articles * Ellen, Roy. Dangerous Fictions and Degrees of Plausibility: Creationism, Evolution, and Anthropology. Anthropology Today. 18. (2002): 3-8. Web Resources * Creation versus Evolution. Clarifying Christianity. N.P., 2001. Web. http://www.clarifyingchristianity.com/creation.shtml.

Ralph Vaughan Williams: Symphony Number Five :: essays research papers

Ralph Vaughan Williams: Symphony Number Five Ralph Vaughan Williams, descended from the famous Wedgwood and Darwin families, was born at Down Ampney, Gloucestershire in 1872. In 1890 he entered the Royal College of Music, and in 1892 he entered Trinity College, Cambridge. One of the greatest of the British composers, a prolific writer of music, folksong collector, and champion of British cultural heritage, he died aged 85 in 1958. His ashes are interred in Westminster Abbey alongside the nation's greatest artists and poets. Symphony No. 5 in D Introduction The symphony contains a lot of material from RVW's then unfinished opera, The Pilgrim's Progress. When he began the Fifth Symphony, RVW thought he may never finish the opera, and didn't want to waste any good ideas. The symphony does not have a programme, it is absolute music. It is in four movements: a "Preludio" first movement, a Scherzo, a "Romanza" slow movement, and a "Passacaglia" finale. First Movement : Preludio From the very beginning, RVW puts the key signature of this movement into doubt. The movement opens with a horn call in D, set against a firm base (or bass?) of octave C's. Could it be that in the great traditions of British musical 'amateurism', RVW got his transposition wrong? Or is this a deliberate feature of the music, intended to blur the tonality? Musicologists prefer the latter explanation. This is by no means an unusual feature of his music, when he was asked what the 4th symphony was about, RVW replied "It is about F-minor", alluding to his sometimes hazy tonalities, often augmented by his use of modal, mainly pentatonic melodies, which, with no leading note, often help to 'fudge' the tonality. Apart from the horn call, the brass is seldom used, and the texture is light and airy. The first violins then enter, high on the E string, doubled at the octave below by the seconds in an introduction, before their main theme at (1), doubled by flutes. The triplets add rhythmic variety, as well as providing a distinctly 'folkie' feel. During the course of the movement, the distinctive dotted rhythm of the horns hardly ever leaves us. There are some rather abrupt key changes. i.e. Eb to E at (5). We are taken into the Allegro by a sudden change in mood. The music darkens with a slightly sinister version of the horn call in the bassoons. We then enter the Allegro, with a scurrying in the strings, whilst the wind begins a downward progression of notes, which builds to a climax, with strings in semiquavers, until we reach the original

Perserve And Enhance The American Future Essay -- essays research pape

Preserve and Enhance the American Future   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To help young Americans become effective young productive adults in service to something that has been defined as a way of life. I propose a plan that will keep our military at full strength and provide direction and a skill to our future leaders of tomorrow. Most European countries require all young men after reaching a certain age to enlist in the military for a period of 2 years or more. After this time is completed they can quit, continue, or go to college and then reenter as an officer, if they choose to do so. In the United States most high school graduates have no idea as to what they want to do with the rest of their lives after graduation. Our government is faced with a problem every year as to how to deal with military manning shortages due to people separating and increased military operations on foreign and domestic soil. The choices are few for most young adults, because they lack vital things that most employers are looking for in an employee: formal education, experience, or a skill. So this limits them even further to low paying blue collar jobs or they can apply for entry into a college, if they have the money and the grades to do so. My plan is to have each man and woman upon graduation serve in the Armed Forces for a period of at least two years. After the two years have been completed they have two options; one is to quit, but will remain in the reserves for a period of one year or...

Motorola Press Release

â€Å"Motorola will unveil a host of new groundbreaking products, partnerships and technologies. Motorola, in its consistent effort to innovate and reinvent, is enhancing the experience of what it calls â€Å"seamless mobility† by expanding its line-up of new products †¦ the ultimate combination of cool, cutting-edge technology and fashion-forward design. The new technologies promise to deliver easy, uninterrupted access to the information, entertainment and communications that people want.† (Newswire Association,1996) What is the key challenge or opportunity in this article? The article has talked about Motorola launching new products, partnerships and technologies. Motorola aims to connect people and give them access to information effortlessly anytime and any where.   That is also the main challenge to Motorola, to make that a reality. What are the underlying causes of the situation? People nowadays are busier than ever thus they need more information and data in their work and activities anytime and anywhere.   It is because of these facts that Motorola has decided to launch these new products. What did the company do, or, what strategy did the company employ to address the challenge or opportunity? Motorola saw an opportunity to widen its market and has forged new partnerships and launched new products in order to address the needs identified above. What may be the implication? Implication would be a wider market for Motorola thus more profits for the company. What do you think about this? Motorola has done a good thing by keeping up with the times and most especially with the demand.   A company that doesn’t improve its services and products will stagnate  and sooner or later will die.   That is why it is very important to always identify the needs of the clients and addressed those needs and Motorola has done just that. What is going on in the global and or industry environment? Nowadays, people are busier than ever.   People engage in numerous activities that enhance and enrich their lives.   They are always on the go, rarely sitting still.   People are also more competitive than ever most especially in the boardroom.   These are the developments in the society that Motorola has seen and has addressed.   Also, nowadays, the better the technology, the better.   Price is, most often than not, no object that is why Motorola has focused on creating great products regardless of the price. What may be a competitive response? The response would be that other companies would launch their own products addressing the identified needs.   The products may even be â€Å"identical† to what Motorolla has only repackaged. Bibliography: PR Newswire. (1996). MultiVu Video Feed: Motorola Unveils New Products, Partnerships and Technologies for Second Half of 2006.     Retrieved September 12, 2006, from PR Newswire Website: http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi- bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/07-24-2006/0004402638&EDATE=         

Bob Dylan and the protest movement of the 1960s

Bob Dylan and the protest movement of the 1960s The 1960s were a period of dramatic change from what seemed the simplistic 1950s. You could sense that when John Kennedy, the leader of Camelot and all that it represented, was assassinated in Dallas that an age of innocence in the United States (USA) was ending. However, while the tragic demise of Kennedy and his replacement by Johnson who appeared a throwback to an earlier era seemed to signal changing times, the issues were emerging before this. The first baby boomers were now teenagers and they seemed alienated from the conservative world of their parents. The Civil Rights movement was well underway and the Cold War seemed to be without end. A far away place called Vietnam was starting to impose itself on the consciousness of a nation and a generation. A thread of popular music evolved that was dramatically different from the contemporary music scene of three chord guitar songs centered on the problems of high school life and young love.English: Bob Dylan at Lida Festival in Stoc kholm, ...The new music was concerned with the social issues of the day and played a huge role in the culture of the era by helping to rally support to the emerging protest movements and to help keep up the spirit of the youthful protestors.One of the musicians who played a defining role in the music of the 1960s was Bob Dylan. Dylan was perhaps an unlikely person to assume such a role as he was raised as Robert Allen Zimmerman in the small city of Hibbing in Northern Minnesota.# This city was a mining town and was far removed from the mainstream of American life and American music. After finishing high school in 1959, Dylan left Hibbing for Minneapolis and the University of Minnesota. His time in Minneapolis seemed more focussed on folk music than school and...

The concepts of what is bad and what is evil Essays

The concepts of what is bad and what is evil Essays The concepts of what is bad and what is evil Essay The concepts of what is bad and what is evil Essay In todays society, there is a tendency to associate the concepts of what is bad and what is evil. Only in cases of acute malevolence are we inclined to delineate evil as the more severe condemnation. The only certainty in popular morality is an opposition between the forces of good and evil. In The Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals, Kant discusses his definitions of good and morality. He touches on what he considers to be bad, and he makes a slight discrepancy between bad and evil. In his article, A Kantian Theory of Evil, Ernesto Garcia elaborates on Kants work by asserting the theory that evil is distinctly different from ordinary immoral acts. Garcia begins his article by discussing our general inclination to regard evil acts as things that more deeply offend than simple misconduct, such as rape, murder, or brutal torture. However, he argues that this view simply reduces the difference between evil and immoral acts to a mere quantitative analysis. In other words, we commonly view these types of actions as simply being really bad. Garcia argues that there is indeed a difference between just bad and genuinely evil, something deeper than what Kant originally discussed. Kant discriminates between bad and evil by defining bad as a means to take [an action] as somehow harmful or disagreeable to ones general well-being. He then defines evil as a means to take some action as morally wrong, resulting not from natural contingency, but rather, from a direct act of the agents will. In this way, self-love overtakes the concept of morality, and makes a person almost inhuman. Garcia disagrees. He says that this definition puts evil under the general heading of immoral actions, so if we use Kant as our guide, evil has no unique properties distinct from immorality. Garcia stands behind the theory that evil has a definition that fuses aspects of Kants definition of both moral and immoral actions. It then becomes a mutant that goes directly and purposely against the human will, which Garcia says is a concept that Kant himself never explored. In earlier works, Kant says that we all act using certain principles of action. Fundamentally, it is the principle we choose to utilize that determines the actions status, not the end result. He claims that humanity is the ultimate goal. It provides a guideline for our actions, requiring us to renounce certain actions while simultaneously acting in agreement with it. However, in Fundamentals, Kant introduces a new idea into his theory one in which he identifies two distinct things that must happen with moral action: humanity is the mandatory end that must not be defied, and our own personal happiness must coincide with virtue. This description of morality differs greatly from Kants description of immorality. Here he makes the distinction between acts that are heteronymous and those that are immoral. He says that there are only two guidelines for our actions as humans: self-love and the universal principle of morality, which he characterizes as the maxim of your will [always holding] at the same time as a principle in the giving of universal law. He clarifies immoral acts as not only something a person does out of context with universal law, but also something he or she creates and defends as universal for personal means to an end. In this way, he suggests that self-love provides a strength superior to moral law itself. Here is where Garcia intervenes. He says that in immoral actions, our actions have a specific end that only uses another person indirectly to reach, and that this end is purely a personal goal. Garcia proposes that in evil actions, one purposely seeks to directly infringe upon the humanity of another human being. Kant, however, never imagined such was possible. Garcia says that here is where the hybridization of Kantian definitions of morality and immorality occurs. Formally, they are comparable to immoral actions, but materially they are similar to moral ones. Evil action includes a formal objective in addition to humanity, although the purpose undermines humanity itself. Also, similar to Kants definition of immoral acts, self-love wins over the principle of morality. Garcia writes that evil can be seen as a kind of perverse mimicry of moral action, where humanity is indeed treated as an end in itself, but now for immoral acts of the will. Here, Garcia gives an example of this notion of evil: apathy towards destructing another human beings humanity. For instance, Adolf Eichmann sent thousands of Jewish men, women, and children to their deaths. He then attempted to justify it by claiming that he was just following orders. Although he followed both his orders and the judicial law by telling the police, it unnerves us as humans to see such blatant disregard for humanity. Eichmann destroyed lives and never looked back. A second example is realized in describing the evil of racism. It isnt so much the taunting or the slurs, but our feelings that one race truly is superior to the other. At this point, the value of humanity is not ignored. The challenger just chooses to deny that the members of the alternative race are, in fact, human. However, in this case, we cannot claim that we are just following orders, so in essence this type of evil involves a good amount of self-deception as well. This theory of the definition of evil holds true historically as well as modernly. Whether a matter of self-love or the disregard for Gods will, it deprives us of our being, our selves. And not only that, but it makes human life a means for our own agenda. By doing this, we have created an entirely new level of immorality, something much deeper and much more inhuman. Innately, we all have the desire to be happy and to do well. However, sometimes our love of self takes over and convinces us that using others to get what we want or what we need is acceptable. We are then morally corrupted, and that natural incentive has begun to dehumanize us. Therein lies the distinction between immorality, and pure evil.

Corporate Communication Problems Solutions Essays

Corporate Communication Problems Solutions Essays Corporate Communication Problems Solutions Paper Corporate Communication Problems Solutions Paper Furthermore, with the easy access to social media tools such as Backbone and Twitter; people are owe having the power of mass communication at their fingertips making them able to share a message with thousands of people at no time, absolutely without any efforts. Prom the above general introduction, it can be realized that we live in an over communicated world with tons of irrelevant messages floating around diverting our focus and attention to areas that may not have any importance to us. The challenge may not be noticed in the personal life but is surely a trouble when it comes to corporate environment. Time is money. (Franklin), this was a tenement once said by a famous politician who lived back in the 18th century, but it still is very much valid today and defiantly maybe much more expensive than Franklin himself thought it would be. Every business exists to make profit by doubling, tripling or quadrupling their dollars and one of the main earning keys is keeping the firms cost under control hence fully utilizing employees time and ensuring the highest levels of efficiency. The above may not be the right message a business owner would wish to deliver to his employees, but would faintly want to implement an effective and productive work environment where every employee knows, understands and lives the firms strategy and mission statement. This is only achieved when a proper combination channel is in place within an organization which many companies in the corporate world strive to have or implement. Communication problems in corporate are many, but to start with will refer to a statement by a famous Irish dramatist who lived is the last century: The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place. (Shaw) The above statement enlightens us to a major communication problem ever the initiator simply thinks that his message is delivered, understood or even auctioned by the recipients which could lead to issues no one have anticipated. Such illusions could be turned into reality simply if the initiator is making sure to request an acknowledgment from the receiver. On the other side, as identified by Arnold Anderson, language barriers can sometime occur in a multinational environment Which may become another communication problem. Although a diverse workplace has several benefits for he business, such as verity to Of solutions to company issues and insight to international markets, but considering that organization is made of people from different countries, cultures and ethics will add up to the language barrier and slow communication or create miss understanding that will eventually make communication ineffective. In such cases, the best solution is to assure that an official business language i. . English, is fluently spoken by all employees and a cultural training and communication policy is taught to new joiners of the organization. Furthermore, With the born Of the digital environment, most -? if not all- work related documents and communications are now e-mail based Which has many benefits such as documenting every conversation, easiness to contact any person, no distance barrier and instant however Every Rose Has Its 1988) One Of the biggest challenges that came to exist with e-mail communication is the habit of avoiding face-to-face talks. Many employees are used to get stuck to their seats for 8 hours a day and all they do is send mails back and forth. This causes huge lack of collaboration between different units and people resulting to lack of teamwork hence lower productivity in the organization, This problem may grow from a few peoples habits to a general organization culture issue thus it has to be addressed intensely. There is no quick solution to such issue, but one of good initiatives I saw in our company was Face day. This people department in our company started to encourage all employees to use face mail instead of e-mails every Wednesday.

Moral Problem Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Moral Problem Paper - Essay Example However, the ethical questions raised by the CEO relate to the work structure, expectations for the sales and the functions that are within the business. Background and Facts The difficulties with the Wal – Mart store and the overall functions are known to relate to the overall structure of the group and the way that it works with customers and with employees. The store is renowned for the work structure that is not able to support those working in the front lines. This begins with a lack of compensation that is given to workers, sweat shops that are used to produce the different items and the inability to meet needs of those that are working for the company. The structure is known to consist of employees that are required to work seven days a week or overtime to make enough from the company. At the same time, the company is known to offer welfare to the workers, specifically because it doesn’t pay enough to those who are working within the structure. The problems with the structure continue with known buybacks, which recently consists of over $15 billion in stocks, specifically which is going to the CEO and other top executives, as opposed to those who are working within the company (Gogoi, 1). The current situation of Wal – Mart is one that is now being followed by the new CEO, Mike Duke. The president was brought into the company in 2009, specifically with the last CEO stepping down before being caught up in the controversies of the employment and other factors relating to morality. At this time, labor unions and others were beginning to protest against the employment at Wal – Mart, which was causing a loss in sales from preceding years. The main issue which Duke is being presented with is to save the image of Wal – Mart and to begin changing the reputation of the unfair treatment of employees both in the United States and abroad. The question which is now being looked into is how Duke will work with the ethical complexitie s which were left behind, specifically with the lost money and the lack of employee rights that have caused the business of Wal – Mart to begin losing the reputation it once had for low prices (Kapner, 1). Utilitarian Analysis The approach which Duke is facing is one which is based on restructuring the belief that the treatment of employees and the overall structure of the company are immoral. The time before Duke was a part of Wal – Mart led to actions from labor unions and spotlights on how the workers didn’t receive enough pay or has basic human rights when working for the company. The first concept which Duke needs to approach from the Utilitarian analysis is the pleasure versus pain approach. From this viewpoint, there is the need to restructure the employee compensation and the worker rights in Wal – Mart. If the employees are happy and have a sense of pleasure of working at the company, then it will bring a greater good to the store. To do this, hi gher levels of compensation, worker rights and limitations on how much an employee works become the main factor. However, Duke will need to look at other limitations, such as decreasing the amount of expansion and the amount of payments which are going to other aspects of the company. Since these parts don’t cause pain, it will lead to greater moral value with employees and the overall attributes of the company. The second aspect that is considered with

FACTORS THAT CAUSES THE BREAST CANCER IN YOUNG WOMEN Essay

FACTORS THAT CAUSES THE BREAST CANCER IN YOUNG WOMEN - Essay Example Various signs and symptoms are used in the detection of breast cancer. Self examination to feel for lumpy swellings is the most common method of self examining. Breast cancer may not be avoided, but it can be treated early if detected early without any serious damage to the young women. Statistics show that approximately 7% of young women are diagnosed with breast cancer and with early detection, 90% of those women are able to heal completely (Yankaskas, 2009). Identification of the research question is the first step towards conducting a solid research. In this case, the research question is to identify the causes of breast cancer in young women (C.T.B., 2013). Understanding breast cancer, its definition, symptoms, causes, and risk factors will help cover the research topic extensively. Understanding the age limit for the women considered as young in the case of breast cancer prognosis helps narrow down the causes. In this case, the young women are considered to be aged 40 years and below. Knowing this helps eliminate some causes and risk factors that lead to breast cancer that are associated with old age. The research study would also include a categorization of the different types of breast cancer. This will help clarify which type of breast cancer is responsible for the prevalence numbers of breast cancer in young women. This can be realized by reading widely. There are many ways that can be used to obtain reading resources. These incl ude, use of libraries, archives, and the internet as an academic source. In choosing the materials to use for research, understanding the topic helps narrow down the materials to use. The first thing is to understand what breast cancer is. There are many academic journals that have the definitions and terms associated with breast cancer. The use of a library can be very beneficial in this topic. Librarians have extensive knowledge on what books and journals can be beneficial to your research (SUNY, 2012). Inquiring from the

The Learning Of Pharmacy Medicine Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Learning Of Pharmacy Medicine - Essay Example In my opinion, knowledge gained from your reputable institution will allow me to become an efficient pharmacist. Since my childhood until now, I have been able to realize that service is truly a way of contributing to the society and not everyone is capable of making such a contribution. Education that I gained has been efficient in inspiring me to give my best to individuals in need. In addition, research on the profession of pharmacy has indicated that this profession is in rapid process of emergence, and pharmacists are playing a crucial and noteworthy role in the establishment of quality standards for pharmaceutical, as well as health care in the society. Moreover, recent developments in the pharmacy have resulted in broad perspectives of the field that were not recognized earlier, such as the academic pharmacist, antibiotic pharmacist, etc. My passion and zeal for pharmacy enhanced during my volunteering at one of the pharmaceutical organizations that facilitated me in understanding the real impact of pharmacy on the society, and helped me in developing talent, as well as composure required in the profession. To be a great pharmacist, one has to care about others to the point of achieving beyond the objective. With every patient, a pharmacist has to carry out different tasks in responsible and efficient manner, in order to bring a positive and constructive change in one’s life. Unlike conventional pharmacy, pharmacists are now working closely with patients rather than limiting to the products, a significant factor of this profession that has inspired me to acquire education in this field and make a difference in human lives.

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS Essay

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS - Essay Example In the contemporary business world, it is almost impossible to ignore the importance of information systems in strategic management. Organisations today require information systems to remain relevant in the business world since they provide strategic opportunities (Daniels 1998, p. 167). Different departments in organisations are now relying on information systems to enhance efficiency and improve business effectiveness. The managerial tasks in the business world today have become complex and this means that the information systems that are used also have to change to meet the demands of an organisation. As such, it has become a necessity for organisations to engage in strategic management of IS (Daniels 1998, p. 170). This paper provides a critical analysis of the role that porter’s strategic advantage competitive theory play in the development of strategic management of IS. In addition, this paper also looks at the significance of studying and reviewing porter’s competitive advantage since it can be used as a model for strategic management of IS. To this end, three important research questions and problems have been identified with regard to the study of strategic management of IS. On the other hand, a literature review related to the topic at hand is important in providing empirical evidence on the key issues that the topic discusses. The key findings identified in this paper are derived from researches in an attempt to understand their implication in the strategic management of IS. Other than the key findings, this paper also looks at the limitations associated with this study, and presents recommendation for further research on the same topic. The conclusion in this paper draws attention to a summary of the key points mentioned and described in this study. This topic brings attention of readers to the importance of information systems in an organisational set up, and how it has evolved over the years. Information

Instructional Design Model Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Instructional Design Model - Essay Example In this model a systems view of instruction is considered so that one segment is interconnected with a series of outside segments in a variety of ways; as indicated this is significantly different from the ADDIE instructional design approach which more restrictedly approaches design from a single segment to the next in a direct and progressive way. This essay considers the varying aspects of the Dick and Carey model, specifically considering stage 1 through stage 3 through an illustrative example within the context of a twelfth grade Honors English class. In terms of the Dick and Carey model, the interrelation of the varying concepts of context, content, learning and instruction, are considered (Leshin, Pollock, Reigeluth 1992). Dick and Carey themselves indicate that, â€Å"Components such as the instructor, learners, materials, instructional activities, delivery system, and learning and performance environments interact with each other and work together to bring about the desired student learning outcomes† (Carey and Dick, pg. 6). Within this paradigm, there exist nine separate stages that designers must attend to in adhering to the constraints proscribed by Dick and Carey. These stages include 1) Instructional Goals; 2) Instructional Analysis; 3) Entry Behaviors and Learner Characteristics; 4) Performance Objectives; 5) Criterion-Referenced Test Items; 6) Instructional Strategy; 7) Instructional Materials; 8) Formative Evaluation; 9) Summative Evaluation (Leshin, Pollock, Reigeluth 1992). The first stage of the Dick and Carey model identifies the instructional goals of the design project. In this stage the identification of the instructional goal considers the relation between the learner’s current knowledge base and the intended instructional goals (Lee). In these regards, the Dick and Carey model in great part mirrors the ADDIE instructional design model. In terms of the working example of the twelfth

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS Essay

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS - Essay Example In the contemporary business world, it is almost impossible to ignore the importance of information systems in strategic management. Organisations today require information systems to remain relevant in the business world since they provide strategic opportunities (Daniels 1998, p. 167). Different departments in organisations are now relying on information systems to enhance efficiency and improve business effectiveness. The managerial tasks in the business world today have become complex and this means that the information systems that are used also have to change to meet the demands of an organisation. As such, it has become a necessity for organisations to engage in strategic management of IS (Daniels 1998, p. 170). This paper provides a critical analysis of the role that porter’s strategic advantage competitive theory play in the development of strategic management of IS. In addition, this paper also looks at the significance of studying and reviewing porter’s competitive advantage since it can be used as a model for strategic management of IS. To this end, three important research questions and problems have been identified with regard to the study of strategic management of IS. On the other hand, a literature review related to the topic at hand is important in providing empirical evidence on the key issues that the topic discusses. The key findings identified in this paper are derived from researches in an attempt to understand their implication in the strategic management of IS. Other than the key findings, this paper also looks at the limitations associated with this study, and presents recommendation for further research on the same topic. The conclusion in this paper draws attention to a summary of the key points mentioned and described in this study. This topic brings attention of readers to the importance of information systems in an organisational set up, and how it has evolved over the years. Information

Contextualising Welfare II Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Contextualising Welfare II - Essay Example 5; Parr,  2014). Unfortunately, various instances of racial discrimination in the Barclays Premier League illustrate the prevalence of racial discrimination in the country (Cunningham,  2014). Although there are various anti-discriminatory legislations in the UK, their effectiveness is minimal in the workplace, education, and other social institutions (Sanghani,  2014). According to Wallis and Robb (2012), gender and racial or ethnical discriminations are rampant in the modern British workplace. The most affected by these forms of prejudice are ethnic women from minority groups. In a specific case in London, Lynn and Davey (2013) report that a letting agent refused a black tenant based on his racial affiliation. In the British community, social class plays a significant role in determining personal life success. In a study by Lucinda Platt (2005), the survey of individuals from minority groups in England and the Wales shows that parental social status is essential in predicting the educational and employability of the children. In a similar report by Johnson and Kossykh (2008), the same results were emphasized. For this reason, it is clear that social class is an imperative factor in affecting personal success in life. Sociological perspectives and theories offer the best explanation of the continued existence of discrimination in the UK society. According to the functionalists, discrimination plays an important role in establishing social inequality that promotes social coexistence. However, the conflicts theorists view the same as a class struggle where the wealth (majority Whites) oppress the poor (minority) to obtain more resources. On the other hand, the social interaction theories perceive prejudice as a social construction and interpretation aimed to achieve a specific objective for the majority. Nonetheless, the reality of gender and racial discrimination in the UK is the lack of commitment by the government and the people to end

Greek and Roman Art Essay Example for Free

Greek and Roman Art Essay Greek sculptures embody a lot of things and meanings. The way they create a certain object reflects to their psychological state that human beings are ‘the measure of things. ’ One of the known Greek artists during the ancient times is Praxiteles. He is the most famous ancient Greek artist because of his countless masterpieces such as the Aphrodite of Knidos and Nike Adjusting Her Sandal. Another well-known magnum opus that is crafted by Praxiteles is Hermes and the infant god Dionysus. Hermes and the infant god Dionysus is created by Praxiteles in a way that it is anchored to his ultimate decision of altering the rules and principles of the standard and ideal body proportions. It is the most famous example of an adult and child statuary. Praxiteles traces the Kephisodotos step by creating and sculpting a piece delineating a relationship between two figures (Praxiteles, 2008). This sculpture is found at Olympia where it has been commissioned for the said sanctuary. It conveys and expresses the secular world of the period (Hermes and the Infant Dionysus, n/d). Due to the artist’s manipulation and alteration of the standard body proportion, the adult on the artwork which is Hermes, is portrayed as tall and slender, standing in calm, tranquil and relax position. His figure encompasses various lines—from vertical, horizontal, curvilinear and spiral. Vertical lines are visible in his nose, neck and lower part of his leg. Horizontal lines are evident in his eyes and lips. Spiral lines are noticeable in his twisted and curly hair. Curvilinear dominates the whole figure—from Hermes’ face down to his feet. His phallus is not rendered. Nevertheless, a part of the male organ is still exposed and depicted. On the other hand, the baby figure, which is Dionysus, is illustrated in such a way that it is carried by Hermes in his left arm. The infant is just composed of curvilinear. He faces sideways making its physical features appear summarily represented. The cloth that wraps his lower body demonstrates horizontal lines, as well as the trunk of the tree which functions as support of the sculpture per se. On the contrary, Roman sculptures are said to be copied in Greek’s even though they are said to be purely Roman in origin and conception. Some statues are imitations and pastiche of more than one Greek original; some are combinations of Greek gods/athletes’ image and Roman head (Department of Greek Art and Roman, n/d). One of the ancient Roman sculptures which is said and believed that is copied from Greek’s is The Hope Dionysos. It embodies a retrospective Greco-Roman style (Hemingway, 2007). It is crafted during the late 1st century A. D. but during the 18th century it is restored by Vincenzo Pacetti (Vincenzo Pacetti. The Hope Dionysos: 1990. 247, 2006). The main figure in the sculpture is Dionysos. He is portrayed standing at ease and his left arm is resting on a female figure traditionally recognized as Spes, the embodiment and representation of hope. Dionysos wears a panther skin overlapping his chiton while a cloak envelops around his upper right arm and shoulder (Vincenzo Pacetti. The Hope Dionysos: 1990. 247, 2006). The statue is composed of various intricate lines—horizontal, vertical, curvilinear and spiral. The robes of the two figures possess a myriad of draperies which illustrate various vertical lines; however the cloth that is on Spes head shows curvatures. The two sculptures are depicted realistically with their complete body parts as compared to some statues that are lacking with head, arms or feet. Both sculptures possess two figures at the same time. If Hermes and the infant Dionysus showcases Dionysus as a baby, The Hope Dionysos illustrates the grown up one. The former is accompanied by a known Greek god Hermes, the latter is escorted with archaistic female figure, Spes. If Hermes is naked, Dionysos is very well-wrapped. The two statuaries imply dichotomies: the main focus (Hermes and Dionyos) and the out-of-focus (baby Dionysos and Spes), adult and baby, male and female. References Department of Greek and Roman Art. n. d. Roman Copies of Greek Statues. In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000. Retrieved January 15, 2009 from http://www. metmuseum. org/toah/hd/rogr/hd_rogr. htm. Hemingway, Colette. (July 2007). Retrospective Styles in Greek and Roman Sculpture. In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000. Retrieved January 15, 2009 from http://www. metmuseum. org/toah/hd/grsc/hd_grsc. htm. â€Å"Hermes with the Infant Dionysus. † n. d. The Museum of Antiquities Collection. Retrieved January 15, 2009 from http://www. usask. ca/antiquities/Collection/Hermes. html. Praxiteles. (2008). PEOPLE: Ancient Greece. Retrieved January 15, 2009 from http://www. ancientgreece. com/s/People/Praxiteles/. Vincenzo Pacetti: The Hope Dionysos-1990. 247. (October 2006). In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000. Retrieved January 15, 2009 from http://www. metmuseum. org/toah/hd/grsc/ho_1990. 247. htm . List of Figures Hermes and the infant Dionysus. n. d. Greek Art: Hermes and Dionysus of Praxiteles. Retrieved January 15, 2009 from http://www. mlahanas. de/Greeks/Arts/HermesPraxiteles. htm. The Hope Dionysos. (October 2006). Vincenzo Pacetti: The Ho

Legal Recognition of Unmarried Couples

Legal Recognition of Unmarried Couples

Video Games Are Not Destroying Our Children Essay -- Parents Are The P

Many parents today say that video games are dangerous to their children because they increase the risk of childhood obesity and exposure to violence. I believe that this statement is both viable and completely ludicrous at the same time. Out of the many topics that I can argue on, I believe that I can argue this one the best. I am going to reveal the deeper meaning that lies buried underneath the controversy that presents itself in this subject. I have witnessed many outcomes that are associated with this beloved form of entertainment. I have personal experience with video games and what impact they might have on children who play them without proper constraints. Everyone either agrees or disagrees with this topic one way or another. For me, this topic does not just hold a black or white side. For me, this topic is a shade of grey with a tint of underlying red that no one arguing this subject takes the time to look deep enough to see. What we have here are two valid arguments, which stretch out like the branches of a tree, with the trunk of this tree being the children, but the most important part of this tree are the parents, which are the roots: the reason, the cause for everything. We are going to take a closer look at these two points of view and analyze the deeper meaning, and then we can decide where we stand. Adults say that video games are expanding children’s waistlines and subjecting them to an increased amount of violence because kids spend most of their time nowadays playing said games. However, this one fact remains overlooked that may possibly be the most important for adults everywhere; parents have the ability and the right to choose what is best for their children. This conclusion is so mundane and disregarde... ..., richer, more productive lives. Bibliography: 1-3 Video Games Boost Visual Skills, Study Finds By John Roach for National Geographic News: May 28, 2003 http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/05/0528_030528_videogames.html 1 John Roach (writer for Discover magazine) 2 Daphne Bavelier (an associate professor of brain and cognitive sciences at the University of Rochester) 3 National Geo. Paragraph 8 excerpt 4-5 Surgeons May Error Less by Playing Video Games: Three hours a week decreases mistakes by 37 percent By Verena Dobnik for Associated Press April 7, 2004 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4685909/ns/technology_and_science-games/ 4 Dr. James â€Å"Butch† Rosser (study subject in the Beth Israel Medical Center experiment) 5 Kurt Squire (University of Wisconsin researcher of video game effects on learning)

AI and American History :: essays research papers

â€Å"Artificial Intelligence And America†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Artificial Intelligence played a crucial role in our American history and the history of the world. Some view it as the vain pursuit of man to become god-like and create life, others, as the next logical step in computer technology. However, the conclusion is not nearly the most important part of it. The process of the pursuit of the creation of mechanical sentient life has also led to a much deeper understanding of how our own biological minds work, creating new methods to treat brain diseases, and other brain related disorders. Through this, life is longer sustained, but modern life itself would not exist without some AI programs today. Several AI programs control the stock market, and the military has countless uses for it, and we even rely on it at home. AI has advanced greatly since it began, bringing neurology with it, and modern America could not function today without it. ‘Computers are nothing to be afraid of’. An idea clung to like a religion by IBM promotional people in the late 1970’s. That’s when the first AI programs were being produced and the public became concerned over basically, whether or not computers would take over the world. IBM raced to put the public’s fears to rest, so they created an ad-campaign. Pretty soon, every salesperson for IBM was parroting the phrase: â€Å"Computers are nothing but quick morons†. This seemed to halt the fears of the public, but as long as AI research progressed, the uneasiness continued. Computers can process information at speeds thousands of times faster then the human brain, but can only do as they are instructed. So, what happens when there instructed to learn from their mistakes, or react with their surroundings? What constitutes intelligence? The earliest attempts at AI were at making computers sentient, based on the theory that something must be alive to have intelligence. Needless to say, this didn’t work out and left many disappointed investors and researchers alike. Later on though, scientists found that the problem early AI developers had been that they tried to take too big of a step. They believed if they could just create qualities of intelligence in a machine and the rest will stem from there. One of the major off products in artificial intelligence was the further study our own brains. The theory is that if we can make a machine that can accomplish and display the process behind a complex human task, then we can be shown how we work by our own creation.

Google’s Country Experience Case Study Essay

The well-known online search engine Google still being used in mainland of China, even they shut down the â€Å"Google China† service. Chinese sometime prefer to use â€Å"Google Hong Kong† instead. The reason of that is Google provides results of search more reliable and efficiency. However, Google still quitted the market of China. The work progress of search engine is more complicate than just search the key-words. The key-words could be link to every websites that used the word, sometime it just have nothing to do with the main point. According to Curt Franklin, the search engine’s works basically performs three tasks: (http://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet/basics/search-engine.htm) ï‚ §Search the Internet, or select pieces of the internet based on important words. ï‚ §Keep an index of the words they found, and where they found them. ï‚ §Allow user to look for words or combinations of words found in that index. In that index, they don’t only sort the websites by key words, but also by contents. So each time we search something by words, in order to get what exactly we need, the system would find out more results that link to these words in the index. That’s how that’s how sometime we got results helpful but have no same key words with what we typed in. Search engines always provide free search experience for users; they make money from other websites. For websites, of no one check on at all, that won’t be necessary to exist. Search engines are just a good way to bring those websites in front of people’s eyes. According to Grant Crowell, there are a lot ways to make money for a search engine website. They can all sort into 3 aspects: (http://searchenginewatch.com/article/2066421/How-Search-Engines-Make-Money) ï‚ §Provide unique search technologies, a search engine has to consider what differentiates its search product from others. And they can sell the technologies to others. ï‚ §Commercial search results, which means those websites they can pay to the search engine for raise their websites’ shown on the result list. ï‚ §Advertising, provide advertise link which about what users search out of the search results. One step further, search engines could build some partnerships with a diversity of vendors, partners,products, and sales channels. However, as the internet getting bigger, Google grew bigger. Today’s Google is not just a search engines. We could find news, music, movies channels on it. Google system on cellphone is still in competition with Apple’s IOS IPhone system. Lately, with internet going everywhere in our life, Google’s own laptop system has become more popular. Which has no hard drive, everything saves on Google cloud. Obviously, the ways Google make money are more than we can imagine. The search engines have high exportability in every country as long as they use internet there. It like a transportation industry, no matter what people do, they need transportation to move their goods. Search engines are just â€Å"transportations† which bring the websites with information that user need to them. It’s good to bring the technology into a new area; it may improve internet users’ experience. The business model for Google or others search engines basically is selling advertises on search results. But these advertises are going to be useful based on what users searched. There are users looking for information, and also organizations which trying to giving information. The search engines give user search result and there advertisings about what they need to them, and get paid from these organization who post those advertising.

Politics and Education Essay

Education can develop the personality of a person not physically but mentally as well. An educated person can look at a certain issue from various perspectives. A politician has to control over a large community therefore, he needs some extra ordinary skills and the first thing which can make him distinguished, is his qualification. Education can increase his communication and speaking skills. A politician is a social member and his interactions with people are frequent, therefore, he needs maturity and sensibility in his talk and behavior. This is certainly possible with proper education. A politician is the representative of a nation and he should be the perfect person by all means and education plays an important role in making anyone perfect to a great extent. But then, I don’t necessarily think that they need to have degrees in a particular field but broader understanding would certainly help. They must have minimum qualification†¦they need to be knowledgeable and must understand the laws. Politicians like Abraham Lincoln set an example of people who had no real formal education and look at the jobs they did and the leadership they offered†¦It is true that there have been great leaders who were uneducated, Kamaraj in India, for example. But, such gems are a rarity. In life, compromises must be made. Until an intelligent and foolproof plan exists for electing such gems from the public, we must resort to what is best for the common man. An educated person is more likely to do a good job as a politician than an illiterate person. Education is a process that makes people more humane and teaches them a lot about the country, how to express themselves through effective communication and so on I think the only key thing they need to be educated in is the Constitution and process of government. A lot of the early leaders of the country were not well educated even for the time. Some foundation of knowledge is beneficial and they definitely need to be able to reason and learn. They need leadership quality, power in speech, integrity, sincerity, honesty and purity in whatever actions they take for development of country.

A Risky Environment for Investment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

A Risky Environment for Investment - Essay Example Moreover, lenders, shareholders, actions groups are putting more pressure on companies to disclose information with regards to business activities that impact on the environment so that these factors could be taken into account with investment decisions. A number of initiatives have been worked out to integrate sustainability and profitability. On a global level, the United Nations has been working with businesses and industries to make their activities more environmentally sustainable - among these are the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) including the UNEP Finance Initiative, and the UN Global Compact. A notable non-UN initiative is the Equator Principles developed by banks to manage environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) issues. The launch of the UN Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) in April 2006 was intended for pension funds (constituting about 35% of total global investments) and large institutional investors, and provides a "framework for achieving better and long-term investment returns and more sustainable markets". About 50 institutional investors from the US and Europe with a portfolio of about $4 trillion have signed on to PRI.

Leadership and Management devlpment Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Leadership and Management devlpment - Case Study Example Lose of social networks is among the major reasons why employees sent on overseas assignments may feel dissatisfied with their jobs. Even when the assignment might come with higher financial prospects, many expatriates miss the social support accorded to them by fellow employees and others in their circles (Ducharme and Martin, 2000). Employees of multinationals who are sent on oversees assignments find it hard to establish social ties with those from the local communities and are therefore not able to learn about the culture of host country. According to Maney and Stevenson (2001), the lack of social interaction between expatriates and locals is because of the perceived difference in both social and economic differences between the two groups. The expatriate might be isolated from the locals due to a number of reasons language barriers being a major factor. Daily, Trevis and Dalton (2000) notes when employees feel isolated, they are bound to experience high levels of stress especially when it is combined with having to work in a new and unfamiliar business environment, hardship in cross cultural adjustment as well as lack of enough information about work environment coming from the headquarters. Further, some employees fear that their career development is not well examined when they are on international duties. Lack of close contact with the headquarters makes the employee on international assignment feel that there career will not develop as planned due to the reduced contact with superiors and colleagues. Organizations with leadership and management development programmes should define job satisfaction using a multi-facet approach in order to take care of all the angle employees’ emotional response towards the assignment. Leadership and management programmes that fail in most cases perceive job satisfaction in terms of monetary and job promotion gains an employee stands to get by accepting the international

Art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 7

Art - Essay Example This is acknowledged to be one of the artist’s best known prints, and has been reproduced several times from the few impressions available. As compared to his later impressions, there are noted to be some differences such as the shape of the arm â€Å"which is not as yet fully defined† (Ivins: 182). This is one of the several aquatints created by Goya during the last years of his life. According to Schider (p. xxii), the tone of the picture can be lightened by scraping, but cannot be darkened, hence the method involves an exacting procedure. Similar to work done by mezzotint engravers the copper was first roughened with grainy aquatint. Then Goya created the masterpiece by scraping highlights into the prepared surface of the coppersheet. The menacing and mysterious figure of the gargantuan being who could be a Titan such as Prometheus or Zeus, was thus sculpted out of the darkness of the background. In Goya’s etchings with aquatint, known as â€Å"the Caprices†, his main technical achievement was: creating a visual world in which shapes emerge from the darkness (Murray: 153). The artist’s nightmares are portrayed; the form and content of which are unmindful of the natural laws of the universe. The light falls on the image evocatively, but is not realistic. The precise meanings of the images that he created were not clearly explained, and were left to the onlooker’s imagination to interpret at will. Francisco de Goya y Lucientes is observed to have mostly avoided classical themes, and especially did not use orthodox neoclassicism which defined a preference for line over colour, used static poses and refrained from depicting emotion. The term romantic classicism was coined by the art historian Sigfried Giedion, who believed that neoclassicism as an independent style did not exist, and that classical antiquity was compatible with romanticism

Case Brief Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Case Brief Analysis - Essay Example Moreover, the defendant had dozed off several times before they stopped for drinks and food. The case was first heard by the District court and upon the outcome of this court the plaintiff appealed to the Court of Appeal. The law provides that an operator of a motor vehicle is guilty of ordinary negligence if he permits himself to fall asleep while driving. An individual is also guilty if he continues to drive without taking reasonable precautions against sleeping after symptoms of drowsiness or fatigue. The lower court found that the defendant was not liable for negligence because he did not have any warning that he was going to fall asleep while on the wheel. However, upon appeal, the appellate court found that the lower court had erred in applying the law to the evidence. The lower court found that although the defendant had been drinking, there was no evidence that he was unable to control the Jeep. The court observed that dozing as a passenger does not mean an individual will be unable to control a car when charged with the responsibility. The court was convinced that the defendant had acted in the same manner an ordinary man of average prudence would have acted. The appellate court, however, noted that there was ample warning to the defendant that he might fall asleep. The court observed that the defendant was drowsy before taking the wheel and did not take any precaution to arouse himself before taking the wheel. Accordingly, the court noted that the occurrence could not be unexpected in the absence of a precaution to prevent it. In a civil lawsuit the parents would sue the driver of the school bus and Ridgeview elementary school. The legal basis for suing the driver of the bus would be negligence. The legal basis for suing the school, on the other hand, would be because as an employer they are vicariously liable for the acts of its employee in the course of employment. Such a lawsuit can be brought in a Federal court

Peepepep Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Peepepep - Term Paper Example There is an increased awareness on the need to control greenhouse gas emissions in order to curtail dramatic changes in climate through implementation of climatic treaties such as the Kyoto Protocol in which the most significant feature is the commitment by developed nations to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases (Malin). Several petroleum industries have adopted various strategies to control emissions and thus contribute to a cleaner environment. While some companies such as BP Amoco have extended support to the climatic treaty, others like ExxonMobil have criticized the treaty stating that the present emission rate is not that bad and adopting strategies to reduce emissions will only have a negative impact on the economy (Van den Hove, Le Menestrel and De Bettignies). The major change occurring in global climatic conditions, commonly referred to a global warming, is attributed to the increase in the mean global temperature and the rise in the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. The Petroleum industry is regarded as a major contributor of greenhouse gases which could occur in any of the following three ways. A majority of greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbon dioxide, occurs via the combustion of fuels in transportation, furnaces and boilers. Emission of large amounts of methane occurs during the production and refining of crude oil as well as during transportation. Large quantities of carbon dioxide are also released during the production stage. Carbon dioxide is also released during the production of plastics, rubber, petroleum-based solvents, lubricants and waxes using petroleum derived-feedstock’s (Bluestein and Rackley). Thus the petroleum industry contributed doubly towards greenhous e gas emissions and hence is accountable for the emissions resulting from their own production and indirectly for the emissions released by the use of its products. In response to the need to control

Hot-Button Issue Paper Essay Example for Free

Hot-Button Issue Paper Essay Nowadays one of most concerning topic in today’s media is sex and violence. Determining what’s â€Å"too much† for children is not an easy task, because every parent has their personal preferences about such matters. But determining the actual effects of media violence on children gives rise a problem in itself, as it’s quite tricky to actually determine what â€Å"violent media† means to the children (Cutler, 2002). There were many children friendly shows back in the days, shows that taught some useful lessons to the children in a non-violent manner. Shows like Ducktales or Darkwing Duck are examples of such shows that children not only could enjoy, but also learn some valuable lessons from. Even vintage video games like Super Mario was just a fun seeking game that children could enjoy and parents didn’t have to worry about their effects on their children too. But if we look at the TV shows, movies and games in the present, it’s quite obvious that the use of excessive violence has crawled its’ way into almost every form of media. Another problem is the increase of usage of sexual acts in the media. There are open discussions of sex and enactments of sexual activities in almost all the TV shows and movies. In the past, TV shows mostly showed two persons getting into bed and the next scene took us to the next day. There were no enactments of sexual activities in the shows. But today, almost every show on every premium channels show fully nude persons or even the acts of having sex. The media industries have been strongly resisting such arguments that the usage of scenes containing sex, violence, and drug usage in TV, music, radio and movies is directly related to the increasing cases of negative behavior buildups in the society, (Anderson, 2002). Canceling such shows is the only way to get rid of sex from the TV. But doing so creates the possibility that children will grow up without the knowledge of sex. They might grow up and have to face the big bad world without anyone to properly guide them into making the right decisions. So it’s essential for them to learn the correct decisions at an early age, so  that they don’t make any decision that could destroy their life forever. You might be able to control the TV shows on their usage of sex and violence; but what about other for ms of media such as magazines, internet, books, music, and movies? Nowadays media has an array of methods to attract peoples’ eyes. They can target audiences of any age or group by tempting their senses. Teenagers are often attracted by violent acts, and by using this they can easily influence them. It doesn’t matter if it’s TV or the movies or the internet, violence is everywhere and trying to shut down all of them is simply not possible. Imagine yourself in a scenario where you’re changing through channels on the TV and you can’t find any shows with violence, shooting or sexual scenes. What would you do in that case, keep on watching the TV or turn it off and do something else? Doing the later would cause the viewer ratings of TV networks to go down and thus giving them the impression that they need to show more violence and sexual acts to attract the audiences. There’s no point in denying that sex and violence attract people or â€Å"sell†, so to say. Although almost 60-70 persons out of 100 say that there’s excess use of sex and violence on TV, they have to firstly watch such usage to find that out. Imagine a show that you watch on a regular basis, and you’d realize by yourself that sex and violence sell. Not a single person can be found who hasn’t seen or doesn’t know of a show that uses violence or sexual references, at the very least. Just as a children mig ht want to smoke if they see their parents smoke, they also might have the inclination towards committing crime if they see their favorite TV character commit a crime. Recently several methods have been developed to control or even block specific shows at specific times. A parental control, that gives the parents the power to block certain TV shows, is offered by every cable provider. But still, it’s the parent that must decide whether to block or not. The V-chip is a recent controlling method developed to restrict sex and violence scenes from being showed on the TV and it’s done by incorporating a small chip in the TV. But to some extent, this seems to be violating the first amendment. What someone wants to watch on their TV is their personal choice; why should they be restrained from watching something they want? It’s understandable that children shouldn’t be exposed to such shows that negatively impact their sense of judgment, but what about someone who’s an adult and willing to watch those shows? Whether you allow play in  shows containing sex and violence in your household premises is a decision that you should make, not the government. If there are children in the house, the parents should be responsible for keeping them away from shows that contain sex or violence. Another point is that most of these shows are aired at nighttime, and it’s safe to assume that children should be in the bed by that time. If kids are staying up at nights to see such shows, it’s not the networks’ fault that they are airing these shows, but it’s the parents’ fault that they can’t fulfill their responsibilities as a parent. On average, a child in the USA watches almost 28 hours of TV shows per week. Also, by the age of eleven, before finishing elementary school, a child views about 8000 murders on these TV shows. And the most terrifying fact is that in almost 75% of the cases shown in the TV, the criminal is shown to get away without being caught and feeling no remorse for their violent acts. This creates a false impression on children about violence. They often get an impractical idea about the acts of violence. Some of them feel no affect of violence whatsoever and even think that it’s cool, while other few become scared of everything around them. In 2009, the National Organization of Women reported that the most violent shows that were being aired were- Alias of ABC, Law Order: SVU of NBC and WWE: Smackdown of CW (NOW, 2009). When children watch TV shows that show someone committing a crime and getting away with it, it creates an impression on their mind that even they can get away without suffering the consequences of their actions. It’s also possible to link violent movies to several cases of assault, robbery and other anti social behaviors. People, particularly teenagers, often confuse things they watch on TV or movies with reality. Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, the Columbine shooters, are a perfect example of such delusional cases. They tried to dup licate scenes from the movies The Matrix and Basketball Diaries and even dressed up in trench coats and armed themselves with guns to depict those scenes. But just watching violence on TV and movies is not the entire story, there are several other factors that shape the thoughts of persons. Information obtained from several social research studies prove that what a child learns from what he/she watches is greatly affected by his/her surrounding environment (Anderson, 2002). For instance, if a child grows up seeing domestic violence in his/her household, he/she is more likely to think that these acts of violence is acceptable in the society. He/she would  be more prone to act according to what he/she saw when growing up, thus giving him/her a completely false sense of what’s acceptable and what’s not. To those who are mentally handicapped, these effects are much more severe. Since they often have problems differentiating what’s right and what’s wrong, exposure to these sexual acts and violence change the way they think about the world and often clouds their judgments. Watching people commit crimes in the media might give them the impression that it’s okay to do such acts. In one of her studies, Sue Bailey declared that people would of ten enact scenes they saw in the media, even if those scenes were to contain violence or sexual exploitation (Anderson, 2002). This is in fact the main reason why we see so many copycat criminals nowadays. This reminds us of the Banduras theory of modeling (Sparks, 2013). Children often idolize these TV and movie characters and watching their idols beat someone, sell drugs, and committing crimes makes them want to do the same. The act of violence and their rate varies in every society, but what’s alarming is that the USA has a horrifying rate of killings and suicides in the 15 year age group. In 1995, the combined death toll of children among 26 countries was at 2872. Out of these 2872 deaths, 1446 were in the USA alone and compared with the other 25 countries; this rate was almost 5 times higher. A child’s personality also plays an important role in their vulnerability to these violent acts. From an early age, some children might have the tendency to be temperamental. Watching violent acts in the media might increase their tendency to act violently. Furthermore, prolonged exposure to acts of violence increases their chance to act according to what they see in the media. Showing sexual acts and violence in TV can, in many ways, negatively impact the society. But the most argued point is the belief that a persons’ behavior is affected by what they watch. But this seems likely only if someone was to watch only these type of shows at all times. Watching such acts on TV or movies once or twice is not going to affect someone’s personality or turn them into violent sexual offenders. Moreover, the choices someone make is their and theirs’ only to make. No one else can be blamed for their personal faults. To conclude all this discussion, today’s TV can’t be compared with the TV from 30 years ago. Today’s shows cover a more wide range of topics, represent different cultures and languages and they’re targeted for every age group. The increase in sexual scenes and acts  of violence in the media reflects the change our society has undergone in the past years. This change can’t be denied and sooner or later society has to accept that these shows are a part of this change. So rather than demanding to stop this change, it’s practical to demand that these shows should be aired at a certain t ime, thus enabling the viewers to choose what they see and what they allow their children to see. References Anderson, C. A. (2002). Violent Video Games and Hostile Expectations. Retrieved from http://www.psychology.iastate.edu/faculty/caa/abstracts/2000-2004/02BApspb.pdf Bandura, A. (2006). Social Learning Theory. Retrieved from http://www.instructionaldesign.org/theories/social-learning.html Cutler, Maggie: Research on the Effects of Media Violence on Children Is Inconclusive. Is Media Violence a Problem? James D. Torr, Ed. At Issue Series. Greenhaven Press 2002 National Organization of Women. (2009). Retrieved from http://www.now.org/organization/conference/resolutions/2009.html Sparks, G. G. (2013). Media Effects Research (14th ed.). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook.

Diagnosing Co-Morbid Substance Use Disorders (SUDs)

Diagnosing Co-Morbid Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) What do the following have in common: alcoholism, obesity, smoking, drug abuse and compulsive gambling? Until recently, there were thought of as relatively independent and separate problem areas. Psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and other mental health professionals have previously specialised in the treatment of one of these behaviours, but few had attempted to extend their therapy and research efforts to cover more than one or two of these disorders. As well as their expertise, specialists in these areas have not worked in concert with one another, or communicated with each other about treatment and research issues. However, several changes have been induced in recent times with the concept of addictive behaviours, and this has led to possible commonalities among these seemingly diverse problems. There is also the increased awareness that workers in each of these areas have much to learn from one another, and that there may be significant and instructive similarities i n aetiology, process and treatment. The interesting similarity among the above mentioned problems has collectively come to be known as additive behaviours. According to Miller (1980) addictive behaviours involve some form of indulgence for short-term pleasure of satisfaction at the expense of longer-term adverse effects. The various substance abuse disorders all involve significant health risks as various chronic diseases. There are enormous social costs of addictive behaviours, both in personal expenditures as non-essentials and costs to the public as health care, crime control etc. The following essay aims to critically review DSM-IV guidelines for diagnosing co morbid substance use disorders (SUDs), the factors that undermine definitive diagnosis of co morbid disorders, and the potential diagnostic changes that could address these issues. In particular this essay shall examine alcoholism which is one form of substance abuse. Attempts shall also be made to investigate the types of research that would act as a support for the criteria and guidelines for diagnosing SUDs and psychosis. Substance use disorder is caused due to psychoactive drug use and may be referred to as a condition arising from the abuse of alcohol and psychoactive drugs. Alcohol and other substances can have varied physiological and psychological effects. Although the effects of alcohol and drug consumption may appear as desirable, prolonged and heavy usage may result in physical harm, dependency and withdrawal problems and long term psychological damage or social harm. For the diagnosis of patients with co morbid psychotic symptoms and substance use disorders (SUDs) the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th ed. (DSM-IV), makes clear distinctions between independent psychotic disorders (bipolar disorder, schizophrenia) and substance-induced syndromes (delirium, dementia etc.). Most substance-induced psychotic symptoms are considered to be short lived and that it subsides with sustained abstinence along with other symptoms of substance intoxication and withdrawal. One of the m ost frequent situations in psychiatric diagnosis are challenges posed by patients who experience the onset of psychotic symptoms during episodes of current or recent psychoactive substance use (Rosenthal Miner, 1997). All major categories of non-organic psychotic disorders in DSM-IV have an exclusion criterion for symptoms that are not caused due to the direct physiological effects of a substance. For patients with SUDs, psychotic disorders can be diagnosed as either independent or having one of the many substance-induced mental disorders. Psychosis forms a feature of this categorisation. When changes occur relating to the pharmacological effects of different categories of substances, the symptoms include – acute intoxication, intoxication delirium, withdrawal, substance-induced psychotic disorder with hallucinations etc (caused due to the use of substances such as, alcohol, stimulants etc.). The only exception is for alcohol-induced pathological dementia. All other substance-induced psychotic mental disorders are considered as time limited (Rounsaville, 2007). Alcohol dependence syndrome according to DSM-IV (APA,1994), is characterised by the presence of three or more of the following symptoms – a strong compulsion to drink; difficulty in controlling either the onset or termination of drinking or the levels of alcohol use; a physiological withdrawal state on the stopping of alcohol consumption or the use of alcohol to avoid withdrawal symptoms; increasing tolerance to alcohol (i.e. the need to consume larger quantities of alcohol to achieve a similar effect as produced originally from smaller amounts); digressive neglect of other interests; and persisting use of alcohol despite awareness of the harmful effects from consumption. Alcohol-related psychosis is a secondary psychosis with hallucinations occurring as the predominating feature in many alcohol-related conditions. These include but are not limited to acute intoxication; withdrawal, after a major decrease in alcohol consumption, and alcohol idiosyncratic intoxication. According to Larson (2008), alcohol is a neurotoxin that affects the brain in a complex manner through prolonged exposure and repeated withdrawal. This results in significant morbidity and mortality. Larson further argues that, alcohol-related psychosis is often an indication of chronic alcoholism. As such, it is associated with medical, neurological, and psychosocial complications. The discontinuation of alcohol rapidly clears alcohol-related psychosis but may continue on later alcohol related exposure. Although distinguishing alcohol-related psychosis from schizophrenia through clinical presentation often is difficult, the general consensus is that alcohol-related psychosis suspends wi th abstinence, unlike schizophrenia. Larson (2008) has also noted that, alcohol-related psychosis lacks the in-depth research needed to understand its pathophysiology, demographics, characteristics, and treatment when compared to alcoholism. According to Rassool (2006) psychoactive drugs are substances which have an effect on the central nervous, as they alter mood, cognitive processes and behaviour. Rassool (2006), states that, the uses of psychoactive drugs are considered illegitimate depending on the social customs and laws of different cultures and societies. In most societies, no adjustments are made in the interest of the use and misuse of tranquilisers, heroine, volatile substances, and stimulants such as amphetamines and cocaine. Legal drugs such as alcohol, caffeine and nicotine are used as a social lubricant and as self-medication, as a means to relieve tensions and anxieties of everyday life. They are also used as a mechanism to ease social intercourse. He further agues that, although there is an increased risk of morbidity and morality, alcohol is actively encouraged and socially reinforced in some societies. There have also been observations that consumption levels are on the rise in most countries and hence , statistics have been obtained for the UK to demonstrate this fact below. According to the NHS Information Centre (2009), an estimated 863,000 alcohol related admission in hospital in 2007/08. This is an increase of 69% since 2002/03 when the alcohol related admission was at 510,200. The statistics bulletin further states that, in England in 2007, the number of individuals who were on prescription items for the treatment of alcohol dependency were 134,429. These were prescriptions that were dispensed in primary care settings or NHS hospitals and those dispensed in the community. This shows a marked difference since 2003 when there were 102,741 prescription items (an increase by 31%). Further findings from the bulletin indicate that, there were 6,541 deaths in England in 2007, and these were directly related to alcohol (an increase by 19% since 2001). Of these alcohol related deaths, majority of the individuals died from alcoholic liver disease (estimate of 4,249). Alcohol misuse related harm is estimated to cost the NHS in England approx. Â £2.7 billion i n 2006/07. As an attempt to ensure a moderately even account of the statistics on alcohol misuse in UK, the Audit Scotland report has been reviewed and provides further evidence of Scotlands growing problem with drug and alcohol misuse. The Audit Scotland (2009) report presents that Scotland has a higher level of drug and alcohol misuse compared to the rest of the UK. According to the report, the levels of alcohol dependency are three times higher than that of England. The report states that estimating the size of Scotlands alcohol problem is not accurate due to lack of national data and under-reporting of consumption. Based from findings from the Office of National Statistics (2002), an estimated 4.9% of the population in Scotland aged 16 and over are dependant of alcohol. The higher prevalence of alcohol dependency is Scotland has been argued to be found due to high rates of alcohol dependency in Scottish women. There were 42,430 discharges from acute general hospitals with an alcohol-related diagnosis in 2007/08. When compared to statistics from the past five years, there has been an increase by 5% in discharge rates (Alcohol Statistics Scotland, 2008). In Scotland, 11% of all accident and emergency attendances are considered to be as a result of alcohol. The busiest time of alcohol-related attendances are recorded as Friday night of Saturday morning ranging between midnight and four in the morning (NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, 2006). Scotland has the highest alcohol-related death rate in the UK with 1,399 alcohol-related deaths in 2007. This is a 75% increase over ten years and over 100% increase over fifteen years (General Register Office for Scotland, 2009). A report from Strathclyde Police in 2007 showed that between April 2006 and March 2007, two-thirds of those in custody at three Glasgow police stations were for violent offending under the influence of alcohol. The reasons for highlighting the statistics on alcohol misuse in UK as well detailed statistics from Scotland is not just to emphasise the ever growing alcohol and drug consumption in the country, but also to understand the common co-occurring psychiatric disorders related with the misuse of these substances. The recent recognition of this co morbidity can be attributed to a number of reasons. Abou-Saleh Janac (2004), state that, the development of drug abuse services was separate from that of the development of general psychiatric services, with little interference between them. Furthermore, the move from hospitals to community care of individuals with severe mental disorders has exposed these individuals to the risk of developing alcohol and drug problems, thereby merely heightening their psychopathology and disability. There is also the high risk of self-harm not just to individuals who are within general psychiatric services, but also those with severe personality disorders with in addiction services. A number of etiological models for co morbidity have been introduced in research. These include – common factor models, secondary substance misuse models, and secondary psychiatric illness models (Mueser, Bellack Blanchard, 1998). According to Mueser et al (1998), the common factors models include common genetic factors and antisocial personality disorder. However, Abou-Saleh Janac (2004) argue that studies have not supported the existence of a common genetic factor in the causation of substance misuse and psychiatric disorders. At the same time, the presence of antisocial personality disorder was shown to be a common factor in substance misuse. They further go on to argue that, patients with sever mental illness and antisocial personality disorder are morel likely to have substance misuse than those with no antisocial personality disorder. Adversity in childhood can seem omnipresent in patients with alcohol misuse who are co morbid with psychiatric conditions. A study condu cted by Langeland, Dralijer Van der Brink (2004), found that childhood detrimental influences such as early loss of a parent, witnessing domestic violence and parental alcoholism, exemplified as variations in types of co morbid psychiatric disorders in men with alcohol dependence. A further study by Mueser et al (2000), in a cohort study involving 325 patients with co morbid psychiatric disorder and substance misuse distinguished the predictors of co morbidity as male, young age, lacking education, involved in criminal activity, conduct disorder, and antisocial personality disorder. Secondary substance misuse models include those of self-medication, alleviation of depression, and super sensitivity. Abou-Saleh Janac (2004), further state that the self-medication model depict psychiatric patients as using specific substances to alleviate specific symptoms. However, this argument has not been supported and psychiatric patients who use alcohol or drugs have worse outcomes. As depression can be associated with a general proneness to addiction and not the use of a specific substance, the alleviation of depression model is more acceptable. According to the super sensitivity model, patients with severe mental illnesses react in a highly sensitive manner to low doses of alcohol and drugs, in particular amphetamines leading to a hasty relapse in the individuals illness. The secondary psychiatric illness model alcohol and drug use disorders are viewed as causing the co morbid mental disorder (Abou-Saleh Janac, 2004). An interesting note about the above stated models is t hat, causality is one-directional. In clinical practice, substance abuse may form both a cause and a consequence of another mental disorder. A mental disorder at the same time may be both a cause and a consequence of substance abuse, thereby creating a vicious circle. In individual cases, multiple pathways of association between substance abuse and other mental disorders may act simultaneously in both directions. A review of certain factors (bio physiological and genetic, socio cultural and psychodynamic) as well as a detailed review of other models (social learning and behavioural) which all put together helps formulate what is known and thought about why human beings come to abuse themselves by abusing alcohol. When split apart, each model explains a part of every abusers problem, together they provide a comprehensive etiological perspective. According to Miller (1980), one of the most obstinate theories of the bio physiological model of alcoholism is that alcoholics and non-alcoholics differ in the rate at which they metabolise alcohol. Identifying such a difference would suggest that the etiological factor resides in the rate-limiting mechanisms involved in the metabolism of ethanol. However, no metabolic studies of alcoholism indicate the existence of such a rate difference (given that the alcohol consumption is kept constant) (Mello Mendelson, 1978). Charles Lieber, claims that alcohol ics have two metabolic routes by which they break down alcohol while non-alcoholics have one (Korsten Lieber, 1979). According to this theory, alcoholics metabolise alcohol differently from non-alcoholics and thus gain the capacity to consume larger amounts of alcohol for longer periods of time than non-alcoholics. Even if such proof were available, there still lie the important roles of environmental, behavioural and socio-cultural factors in alcoholism. Numerous studies have been carried out, suggesting that alcoholism runs in families (Goodwin, 1979). Evidence that genetic factors play an important role in the development of alcoholism has been derived from twin studies, family studies, adoption studies, observations of ethnic differences, and studies of biological risk factors (Goodwin 1979, 1985). Studies of monozygotic (identical) and dizygotic (fraternal) twins generally suggest that there is some degree of heritability in the frequency and quantity of alcohol consumed (Schuckit 1987). Monozygotic twin pairs also tend to show a significantly higher level of concordance compared with dizygotic twin pairs (Schuckit 1987; Agarwal and Goedde 1990). Family studies indicate that approximately 40% of alcoholics have an alcoholic parent (Institute of Medicine 1987), and that the alcoholism rate is significantly higher in relatives of alcoholics than in relatives of non alcoholics (Cotton, 1979; Guze et al, 1986). Alcoholics with a fami ly history of alcoholism tend to begin drinking earlier in life. They also tend to have more alcohol-related problems than those alcoholics without a family history of alcoholism (Cloninger et al. 1981). These data, taken together, suggest that there may well be a genetic component to alcoholism, though its extent and influence of inheritance is not a simple one, as both genetic and environmental factors may be involved (McNeece DiNitto, 2005). The pharmacology and physiology of physical dependence and tolerance to the drugs of abuse continue to be explored, but this model alone cannot adequately define alcoholism. As mentioned earlier, cultural patterns have a profound impact on drinking and rates of alcoholism. Miller (1980), states that although cultural influences can predispose a person to alcoholism, social variables play a major role in translating that predisposition to actual addiction. He further states that cultural influences can operate to maintain alcoholic drinking. For e.g. peer pressure, has a powerful influence on the development of deviant drinking among adolescents (Jessor Jessor, 1975). Social historians have argued that the pervasiveness of social setting-related influences on persons to drink heavily (Zinberg Fraser, 1979). Psychoanalysts explain alcoholism in several ways. Alcoholism is seen by some psychoanalysts as fundamentally suicidal, trying to destroy bad, depriving mothers with whom the person has identified with. Others claim that alcoholics are defining themselves against underlying depression by drinking to oblivion (Williams, 1976). Critics of the psychoanalytic approach to alcoholism, argue that there is no empirical data to support these hypotheses. They also argue that psychoanalysis does not help alcoholics who seek treatment (Schuckit Haglund, 1977). Dynamic theories of drug addiction, describe the addict as a person whose habit represents a return to the oral stage of psychosexual development. As such, dependency needs being paramount, the addict is frustrated with their inability to derive satisfaction of these needs. Inability to meet their oral dependency needs in more appropriate ways, leads the addicts to use drugs or alcohol to obtain gratification. Although the complex psychoa nalytic theory has been simplified to a great extent, it has relatively little impact on the prevailing views of aetiology and treatment. The cognitive behavioural approach views any type of psychopathology as a maladaptive learning process. As such, the central goal of cognitive behavioural approaches is to design techniques through which maladaptive responses can be disentangled and replaced with adaptive responses. The first behavioural explanation for alcoholism was that of tension-reduction. Tension-reduction is based on the hypothesis that, alcohol appears to reduce anxiety. Hence, alcohol is presumed to reinforce drinking by alcoholics. Empirical support for the theory came from earlier studies of experimentally-induced conflict in animals (Conger, 1951, 1956; Masserman Yum, 1946). However, tension reduction has not received universal support (Cappell Herman, 1972; Brown Crowell, 1974). The behavioural effects of alcohol involve a complex interaction of factors. The expectations an individual holds about alcohol effects their behaviour (Pliner Cappell, 1974). Expectancies themselves are complex because it is based on belief systems, prior drinking experiences, the immediate social and physical setting of drinking, dosage levels etc. Such complexity suggests that the potential reinforcing capabilities of alcohol remain uncertain. The social learning model views alcohol and drug abuse as socially acquired, learned behaviour patters that are maintained by numerous anticipatory causes (classical conditioning) and consequent reinforces (operant conditioning). The causes and reinforces may be of a psychological, sociological or physiological nature (Miller Eisler, 1975). The relationship between SUDs and psychiatric disorders pose commonplace diagnostic challenges for both clinicians in treatment settings and researchers in community settings. This is because both SUDs and psychiatric disorders are intermeshed with resemblance of intoxication and withdrawal effects to the symptoms of psychiatric disorders in most patients who come for treatment. Research findings suggests that there are high rates of SUDs amongst individuals with schizophrenia (Regier et al 1990), and even higher rates were reported among samples with first episode psychosis (FEP) (Sevy et al, 2001; Kavanagh et al, 2004; Wade et al, 2004). Addressing co morbidity is clinically relevant because SUD in schizophrenic patients is associated with poorer clinical outcomes (Swofford et al, 1996) and contributes significantly to their morbidity and morality (Rosen et la, 2008). The reasons for high co morbidity between SUD and schizophrenia although poorly understood, are considered to be a n involvement of brain pathways and is likely to be a shared feature in co morbidity that is common to all drugs of abuse (Volkow et al, 2007). The co morbidity of SUD and schizophrenia could also be a direct consequence of the underlying neuropathology of schizophrenia. This may contribute to enhanced addiction vulnerability in individuals by disrupting the neural substrates that mediate positive reinforcement (Chambers, Krystal Self, 2001). The challenge has been to design measures to differentiate three conditions. Firstly, differentiating between expected intoxication and withdrawal symptoms; secondly, being able to distinguish between psychiatric disorders occurring during periods of active substance use. The third measure includes being able to differentiate between psychiatric disorders that are clearly independent from substance use. Prior to the publication of DSM-Iv, there existed no specific criteria for making these differentiations in substance abusers. This gave rise to a number of reliability and validity problems, including low levels of agreement between study groups, even when the same measures were used (Hasin, Samet, Nunes, Meydan, Matseoane Waxman, 2006). Eventually, DSM-IV clarified the guidelines to a considerable extent for differentiating independent and substance-induced disorders. According to DSM-IV, if a psychiatric episode occurs when substance use is insufficient to produce persistent intox ication or withdrawal, it would be diagnosed as primary (independent). Subsequently, substance-induced psychiatric disorders are defined as those that occur during periods of heavy substance use (or remitting shortly thereafter) and that have symptoms that exceed the expected effects of intoxication or withdrawal listed in DSM-IV. Hasin et al (2006), also argue that no study has yet addressed the reliability of the DSM-IV system of differentiating between intoxication/withdrawal symptoms. Disorders whose symptoms exceed intoxication/withdrawal effects and psychiatric disorders that is temporally independent from periods of substance use. In order to create a diagnostic instrument that was reliable and valid for assessment of psychiatric disorders in substance abusers, the Psychiatric Research Interview for Substance and Mental Disorders (PRISM) was developed (Hasin, Trautman, Miele, Samet, Smith Endicott, 1996). The pre-DSM-IV PRISM included standardised guidelines and probes to differentiate between organic and non organic syndromes and was administered by experienced clinical interviewers. Hasin et al (1996) conducted a study involving 172 dual-diagnosis or substance abuse patients. The result showed good to excellent reliability for many diagnoses, including SUDs, primary affective disorders, eating disorders, some anxiety disorders, and psychotic symptoms. The need to incorporate the new DSM-IV criteria (including the criteria for substance-induced disorders), to shorten and simplify the interview, and to add assessment of specific psychotic disorders led to the development of the PRISM-IV (Hasin et al, 2006). The PRISM-IV is a semi structured interview. The covers the diagnosis for current and lifetime time frames. These include abuse and dependence (by substance), major depressive disorder, mania, schizophrenia, mood disorder with psychotic features, delusional disorder, brief psychotic disorder, personality disorders etc. The most fascinating feature of the PRISM-IV is that, diagnostic modules can be selected to suit specific research needs. Apart from this, substance use disorders that are unimportant to the research question can be omitted as well. Other than PRISM-IV and DSM-IV, there are various other assessment tools that can be used for the assessment of psychiatric disorders in substance abusers. One such tool is the International Classification of Diseases Diagnostic Criteria (ICD-10). ICD-10 provides specific criteria to differentiate between primary disorders and disorders resulting from psychoactive substance use, but only for psychotic disorders. ICD-10 excludes psychotic episodes attributed to psychoactive substance use from a primary classification similar to DSM-IV. Unlike DSM-IV, ICS-10 does not provide a separate psychoactive substance-related category for any other type of psychiatric disorder. In ICS-10, organic mental disorders exclude alcohol or other psychoactive substance-related disorders. Furthermore, organic mood disorders and organic delusional disorders cannot be used to diagnose episodes co-occurring with heavy psychoactive substance use (Torrens, Matrin-Santos Samet, 2006). Different interviews for psychiatric diagnosis based on DSM-IV or ICD-10 criteria are available for clinical and research studies. These include Structured Clinical Interviews for Axis I disorders (SCID-I) for DSM-IV (First et al, 1997). There exists the Schedule for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN) (Janca et al, 1994) and the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) (WHO, 1998). The SCID-IV is a semi-structured interview that allows diagnosis of primary or substance-induced disorders. However, it does not provide any specific guidelines other than those stated in the criteria. The differentiation of primary and substance induced disorders is made on a syndrome level in SCID-IV (Torrens, Matrin-Santos Samet, 2006). A range of clinical phenomena can be assessed by SCAN. A core instrument of the SCAN is the Present State Examination (PSE-10). PSE ratings are coded on score sheets and based on these ratings, a computer program generates ICD-10 and DSM-IV diagnos es. The PSE is a semi-structured clinical examination. The interviewer uses clinical judgment to attribute specified definitions to clinical phenomena using the SCAN Glossary. The glossary consists of a list of definitions of clinical symptoms and experiences (Torrens, Matrin-Santos Samet, 2006). Finally, the CIDI is a fully structured interview design. The interviewers read the questions as written without interpretation (Robins et al, 1988). CIDI relies heavily on the subjects opinion for primary substance-induced differentiation. The CIDI generates ICD-10 and DSM-IV diagnoses. Symptoms attributed to alcohol, drugs, or physical illnesses are eliminated for consideration when making psychiatric diagnoses in CIDI. The method of evaluation used in CIDI is very varied in comparison to SCID-IV, SCAN or PRISM-IV. Torrens et al (2006) argues that, currently, most DSM-IV psychiatric disorders can be assessed in substance-abusing subjects with acceptable to excellent reliability and validity by specifically using the PRISM assessment tool. Having reviewed the statistics, aetiology and assessment of co morbidity in alcohol abuse, the next section is going to analyse the different treatment approaches. One of the biggest problems in the treatment of SUDs is preventing a relapse after abstinence or controlled substance use has been achieved. Whilst there is no general theory of relapse, Marlatt Gordons approach to treatment is based principles of social learning theory, and draws heavily on the concepts of self-efficacy (Bandura, 1977). The approach emphasises on the methods to enhance confidence in individuals to enable them to perform activities leading to an effective outcome. According to self-efficacy theory, individuals who possess a high self-efficacy on their ability to perform a particular task are more likely to initiate and maintain that behaviour (Wilson, 1996). Wilson (1996) argues that the self-efficacy theory has been criticised on a number of conceptual grounds including difficulty in distinguishing betwe en response-outcome expectancies and performance self-efficacy (Lee, 1989). The Stages of change model by Prochaska DiClemente (1983), suggest four stages in the process of change. These include: pre-contemplation (not thinking about cessation); contemplation; action (attempting to engage in cessation); and maintenance (stopped using drug, and attempting to remain abstinent). Wilson (1996) argues that, although this model cannot be considered to be a general theory of relapse, there are opportunities different types of interventions for different individuals. He further argues that theory helps make specific and testable predictions about the matching of individuals for treatments. Other than the theoretical explanations for prevention of replace in individuals with alcohol abuse, there also exists medical treatment and social treatment approaches. Detoxification is an abrupt stop of alcohol drinking coupled with the substitution of drugs that have similar effects to offset the withdrawal symptoms. Detoxification treats only the physical effects of prolonge d use of alcohol, but does not actually treat alcoholism. There is a high chance of relapse without further treatment. Various forms of group therapy or psychotherapy can be used to deal with underlying psychological issues that are related to alcohol addiction, as well as providing relapse prevention skills. Miller (1980) states that when problem drinkers are treated, approximately one-third become abstinent and an additional one-third show substantial improvement without abstinence. He has based his findings from short-term studies; however, data from long-term studies suggest that on average only 26% of those treated remain abstinent or improved after one year. A few other treatment strategies for alcohol addiction include aversion therapies, family therapies, controlled drinking therapies etc. To conclude, while progress is apparent in the study of substance abuse; more research is needed on the commonalities and differences among the addictions. Numerous theories have been developed to help explain the causes of addiction, but it is important not to lose sight of essential differences among substances and their effects. Individuals with recurrent or severe and enduring mental illness and co morbidity with substance-misuse have complex needs. This requires the continuing care of specialist mental health services and substance-misuse services. It has been reported that around 30% of those seeking help for mental health problems have current substance misuse problems, and of individuals seeking help for substance misuse, more than half have had a mental disorder in the previous six months (Department of Health, 1998). According to Appleby (1999), individuals with substance-misuse and psychiatric disorders find it hard to engage with appropriate services. He further states th at suicide is a high risk factor amongst this group. The different assessment tools that have been devised by DSM-IV for the diagnosis of co morbidity in SUDs, whether in primary or specialist care should consider how to access appropriate specialist input. Recent studies have examined the relationship