Effectiveness of self-monitoring of blood glucose in type 2 diabetes Literature review

Effectiveness of self-monitoring of blood glucose in type 2 diabetes mellitus - Literature review Example The conclusion from this review states that there are both positive and negative aspects with regards to the effectiveness of SMBG. Hence, the inquiry regarding SMBG effectiveness still remains fully unanswered. Therefore, this research review recommends that further studies be conducted which will explore all the aspects of SMBG utilization since most of the papers only focused on a few elements of SMBG use. CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Diabetes Mellitus is a progressive metabolic disorder which influences a growing number of people—the worldwide elevation in numbers of adults with diabetes has been predicted at 122%, from 135 million in 1995 to 300 million in 2025 (Feinglos and Bethel, 2008). In addition, it is a common, costly medical condition often related with significant morbidity and mortality (Schilling McCann, 2007). There are several types of diabetes mellitus and these include: Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Juvenile Diabetes Mellitus and Diabetes Me llitus brought about by pregnancy. This paper will only focus specifically on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is a worldwide health crisis as stressed by Feinglos and Bethel (2008); it is previously termed as non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus or NIDDM (Schilling McCann, 2007). It is also labelled as adult-onset diabetes for the reason that is typically or frequently linked with older age, commonly after age 40; in this medical condition, insulin resistance with varying degrees of insulin secretory defects is evident (Schilling McCann, 2007). Diabetes Mellitus in general can be affected by a variety of factors which may or may not be modifiable. The factors that cannot be altered include age, family history and genetics (Schilling McCann, 2007). On the contrary, the... The main purpose of the research is to present Diabetes Mellitus as a progressive metabolic disorder which influences a growing number of people—the worldwide elevation in numbers of adults with diabetes has been predicted at 122%, from 135 million in 1995 to 300 million in 2025. In addition, it is a common, costly medical condition often related with significant morbidity and mortality. There are several types of diabetes mellitus and these include: Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Juvenile Diabetes Mellitus and Diabetes Mellitus brought about by pregnancy. This paper will only focus specifically on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is a worldwide health crisis as stressed by Feinglos and Bethel; it is previously termed as non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus or NIDDM. It is also labelled as adult-onset diabetes for the reason that is typically or frequently linked with older age, commonly after age 40; in this medical condition, insulin resistance with varying degrees of insulin secretory defects is evident. Diabetes Mellitus in general can be affected by a variety of factors which may or may not be modifiable. The factors that cannot be altered include age, family history and genetics. On the contrary, the modifiable factors of diabetes mellitus are diet, lifestyle and exercise. There are different methods that could be beneficial in the treatment and management of diabetes.

Prevention Strategies for Escherichia Coli

Prevention Strategies for Escherichia Coli a) As the snack food is made from meat, there are four types of bacteria that will possibly contaminate it which are Escherichia.coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus,and Listeria monocytogenes (FSIS, 2015). Escherichia.coli is a bacterial that is usually present in the intestines of humans and animals. Although, most of them are harmless as they play an important role in the intestinal tract of a healthy individual. However, there are a few of them that are pathogenic as they can result in diarrhea and can be transmitted through the contact of human or animalfaeces. Altogether, there are sixpathotypes that are linked with diarrhea which are as follows Shiga toxin-producing   Escherichia.coli (STEC), Enterotoxigenic Escherichia.coli (ETEC), Enteropathogenic Escherichia.coli (EPEC), Enteroaggregative Escherichia.coli (EAEC), Enteroinvasive Escherichia.coli (EIEC), Diffusely adherent  Escherichia.coli   (DAEC) (CDC, 2015). However, the Escherichia.coliO157 strain, which is classified under Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia.coli (STEC), is considered the most harmful as it causes bloody diarrhea, kidney failure and can result indeath (Anon., 2015). It infects its host by producing large amounts of Shiga toxins that damages the intestinal lining severely to cause Hemorrhagic Colitis or otherwise known as bloody diarrhea. It can also cause Hemolytic uremic syndrome which results in kidney injury (Koo, 2014). Salmonellais a common bacterial that usually cause food poisoning which targets the stomach and intestines. It is normally present in meat, eggs, unprocessed milk and poultry (Bech, 2014). The symptoms are diarrhea, nausea, fever, stomach cramps, and vomiting which usually last for 4 to 7 days. The incubation period is between 12 and 72 hours upon infection (England, 2014). However, one must consume Salmonella contaminated food in order to cause infection (FSIS, 2015). Staphylococcus aureusis a common bacteria found on the skin, nasal passages, throats and hair of healthy individuals.Staphylococcalfood contamination can occur when a person who is infected with the bacteria handles the steakwithout proper sanitary handling procedures. Other possible sources of meat contamination of Staphylococcus aureus can also take place such as the surfaces and equipment that the meat is prepared on (Anon., 2015). Staphylococcal food poisoning happens when an individual ingest the enterotoxins that are produced in the contaminated meat, often due to the improper heating up of the meat to kill off most of the bacteria (USFDA, 2014). Listeria monocytogenesis a bacterium that is usually found in soil, water, uncooked and processed meat, cooked or processed food, smoked salmon, vegetables and dairy products (CDC, 2013). Ingestion of food contaminated with this bacterium can cause Listeriosis which is a serious infection (CDC, 2013). AlthoughListeria monocytogenescan be killed by proper cooking, the bacteria can still contaminate the cooked meat due to physical hazards such as poor food handling practices and sanitation (FSIS, 2015). Another potential food safety hazard that I have identify is the use of herbs and spices to marinate the steak. Herbs come from plants and spices are from seeds, bark or roots of plants (Ward, 2010). Because they are from plants, which contains spore-producing bacteria, this indicates that the bacteria spores is capable of further contaminating raw meat which is in contact with soil and vegetative origin.This would introduce additional microbiological hazards such as Bacillus spp. and spore forming organisms which are able to survive the drying process and continue to germinate to produce toxins. During the process of handling with this dried snack food, there should be a food safety management system such as The Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system. This system is used worldwide by all food businessesto identify and control microbiology activity as well as physical and chemical hazards that might be present during production. It consists of seven principles that govern and maintain food hygiene procedures (ASQ Food, 2014). Therefore, I would advise her to take note of the possible food safety hazards that have been mentioned and the procedures of manufacturing this dried snack food has to be in compliance to the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system. b) There are several information that I would like to know as to assist the businesswoman in preparing the dried snack food safely for consumers. The following are the information required: Where was the meat from? Normally, the cattle are raised till maturity in a farm where they are given formulated food. During cattle raising, the cattle are injected with antibiotics to prevent diseases. In order to slaughter the cattle legally, a withdrawal period is needed from the time the antibiotics is given. This is to give sufficient amount of time for the antibiotic residues to be released from the cattle. The United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) would conduct sample testing for antibiotic residues upon slaughtering. Results have shown that the percentages of residue violations are very low and there are no traceable antibiotic residues present in the tissues of the cattle (FSA, 2015). There are several factors that have to be taken into consideration such as the conditions of the farms that the cattle are living and the food that they consume. For example, improper drainage of faeces, design of feeders and drinkers can contribute to the accumulation of bacterial contamination in the farm which leads to the dirty cattle. The cattle are then infected with diseases such as pneumonia, coccidiosis and salmonellosis. Thus, it is important to have a healthy livestock of cattle to avoid all these problems. There are two factors that can contribute to the contamination of meat production chain such as direct and indirect contact of contamination. Direct contact can occur when bacteria that are present on the skin of the cattle such as excrement and mud which can contaminate the meat during the slaughtering process. Whereas, indirect contact could occur when the hands, tools and equipment that are used to slaughter the cattle contains bacteria which will then infect the meat (FSA, 2002). How was the uncooked meat handled? For proper handling of raw beef, place them in a sealed disposable plastic bag. You can either freeze it at -17.8 °C so as to keep it longer (about 6 to 12 months)or refrigerate at 4.4 °C but have to consume it within 3 to 5 days (Safety, 2015). The reason why the meat is to be kept at cold temperatures is because this is to inhibit bacterial growth. Time, temperature and conditions of marinating and cooking the meat? First, the raw steak is marinated with herbs and spices which will introduce additional microbial hazard such asspore forming bacteria to the meat. Thus, for safe marinating procedures, do not marinate at room temperature as most bacteria are able to grow quickly. Instead, marinate the meat in a cold environment so as to avoid entering the danger zone, which is between 4 °C and 60 °C. For beef steak, the approximate time taken to marinate would be 2 to 4 hours (Stradley, 2014). For safe cooking of steak, cook them at a minimum internal temperature of 62.8 °C for about 4 5 minutes per side and allow the meat to rest for at least 3 minutes before eating. This is done to kill off most of the bacteria that might be present on the meat. However, do not cook the steak partially as this does not destroy most of the bacteria and might multiply (USDA, 2015). Time and temperature of the drying process? I would suggest drying the marinated steak strips using an oven at 75 °C as there is a constant circulation of dry air and heat source. The temperature is important in drying this snack food because gentle heatingwill not be sufficient as this does not ensure that any bacteria that might still be present on the meat prior to cooking are killed (USDA, 2015). For example, bacteria such as Bacillus flavother musT  have a maximum temperature cardinal value of 72 °C and if the meat is cooked to the temperature of 60 °C, the bacteria will still be able to survive (Todar, 2008 2012). Thus, they will continue to multiply in numbers and colonize the meat. Storage of final dried meat product? How long is the meat product stored? Always ensure to store dried meat in a vacuum packaging as this will minimize oxygen levels which inhibit the growth of aerobic bacteria. It also helps to reduce the oxidation of the meat which will result in meat spoilage. These will extent the shelf life of the snack food (Anon., 2012). A sealed dried meat product can be stored to a period of 12 months. However, if the dried meat product is made from home, then it can only be kept for about 1 to 2 months (USDA, 2013). Is water activity taken into consideration? Water is a requirement for bacteria growth, thus, it must be removed so as to inhibit the growth of microorganisms. It can be reduced by the drying process and the addition of salt to preserve the meat. How the salt works is that it would absorb all the water on the meat by the process called osmosis (Martin R. Adams and Maurice O. Moss, 2008). Are there hygiene practices done in the preparation of the dried snack food? To prevent cross-contamination, good hygiene practices and procedures are required in regards to handling the snack food. Food handlers should always wash their hands thoroughly with surfactants such as soap before and after handling with meat products. Always clean and disinfect all utensils, equipment and work surfaces before the preparation of the meat product. And do not mix raw and cooked food. Instead, incorporate the use of separate working and storage areas of raw, cooked and dried meat products (FSA, 2015). c) I would suggest the use of aerobic plate count and immunomagnetic separation to test the presence of Salmonella spp. and Escherichia.coli O157 In aerobic plate count, dilutions of the food sample are carried out and are then plated onto agar plates which contain suitable growth nutrients to favor the growth of microorganisms. The plates are then incubated at temperatures that bacteria can grow. After the incubation period, the total numbers of bacterial colonies arecounted; therefore, the total number of viable cells can be estimated (Hayes, 1995). Thelevels of Aerobic Colony Count (ACC) are used as a guidance to determine if the food product is safe for consumption (Agency, 2009). For example, if the Aerobic Colony Count (ACC) levels of bacteria have exceeded the expected level, the product cannot be consumed. For Salmonella spp., the infectious dose is normally 105 organisms, which is quite a big number. Whereas, as for Escherichia.coli O157, the infectious dose isless than 50 organisms (Inc., 2004). For Escherichia.coli O157 and Salmonella, Immunomagnetic separation is used as the â€Å"gold standard† to detect and isolate the bacteria as it is specific and sensitive. Then targeted organism is then isolated which will undergo serotyping for characterization (Inc, 2004). According to the guidelines for the microbiological safety of ready-to-eat foods, they are to be cooked and processed properly, especially with the addition of herbs and spices. It also includes bacteria that can possibly be from the source of poor hygiene. Lastly, tests on ready-to-eat foods are required so that food products which are not in compliance with the microbiological food safety criteria can be identified to protect public health (Agency, 2009). References Agency, H. P., 2009. Guidelines for Assessing the Microbiological Safety of Ready-to-Eat Foods Placed on the Market. [Online] Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/363146/Guidelines_for_assessing_the_microbiological_safety_of_ready-to-eat_foods_on_the_market.pdf Anon., 2012. Vacuum Packaging of Food Products. [Online] Available at: http://modifiedatmospherepackaging.com/modified-atmosphere-packaging-resources/vacuum-packaging Anon., 2015. E. coli. [Online] Available at: http://www.foodsafety.gov/poisoning/causes/bacteriaviruses/ecoli/ [Accessed 12 May 2015]. Anon., 2015. Food Safety. [Online] Available at: http://www.foodsafety.gov/poisoning/causes/bacteriaviruses/staphylococcus/ [Accessed 12 May 2015]. ASQ Food, D. a. C. D., 2014. The Certified HACCP Auditor Handbook. 3rd ed. Wisconsin: American Society for Quality. Bech, C., 2014. Salmonella and food poisoning. [Online] Available at: http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/health_advice/facts/salmonella.htm [Accessed 3 February 2014]. CDC, 2013. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [Online] Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/listeria/sources.html [Accessed 10 January 2013]. CDC, 2013. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [Online] Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/listeria/definition.html [Accessed 2 January 2013]. CDC, C. f. D. C. a. P., 2015. E.coli (Escherichia coli). [Online] Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/general/index.html [Accessed 16 April 2015]. England, P. H., 2014. Salmonella: guidance, data and analysis. [Online] Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/salmonella-guidance-data-and-analysis [Accessed 7 June 2014]. FSA, F. S. A., 2002. Red Meat Safety. [Online] Available at: http://www.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/multimedia/pdfs/publication/redmeatsafety.pdf [Accessed March 2004]. FSA, F. S. A., 2015. Cleaner cattle and sheep. [Online] Available at: http://www.food.gov.uk/business-industry/farmingfood/cleaner-animals/cleaner-cattle-sheep FSA, F. S. A., 2015. Food hygiene for businesses. [Online] Available at: http://www.food.gov.uk/business-industry/caterers/food-hygiene FSIS, 2015. United States Department of Agriculture. [Online] Available at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/meat-preparation/beef-from-farm-to-table/ct_index [Accessed 24 March 2015]. FSIS, F. S. a. I. S., 2015. [Online] Available at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/meat-preparation/beef-from-farm-to-table/ct_index [Accessed 24 March 2015]. FSIS, F. S. a. I. S., 2015. United States Department of Agriculture. [Online] Available at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/meat-preparation/beef-from-farm-to-table/ct_index [Accessed 24 March 2015]. Hayes, P. R., 1995. Food Microbiology and Hygiene. In: 2nd ed. London: Chapman Hall, p. 189. Inc., T. A. S. f. M., 2004. Microbiology Australia. In: D. P. Bishop, ed. Qualitative vs quantitative microbiology. 3rd ed. Melbourne: Cambridge Publishing, p. 11. Inc, T. A. S. f. M., 2004. Microbiology Australia. In: D. P. Bishop, ed. Qualitative vs quantitative microbiology. 3rd ed. Melbourne, Australia: Cambridge Publishing, p. 20. Koo, I., 2014. Bloody Diarrhea, or Hemorrhagic Colitis, Caused by E. coli O157:H7. [Online] Available at: http://infectiousdiseases.about.com/od/diseasesbyname/a/E_coli_O157H7.htm [Accessed 30 April 2014]. Martin R. Adams and Maurice O. Moss, 2008. Food Microbiology. 3rd ed. Guildford: The Royal Society of Chemistry. Safety, F., 2015. Storage Times for the Refrigerator and Freezer. [Online] Available at: http://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/charts/storagetimes.html [Accessed 12 May 2015]. Stradley, L., 2014. Marinating Meat Guidelines Marinating 101. [Online] Available at: http://whatscookingamerica.net/MarinatingSafely.htm Todar, K., 2008 2012. Nutrition and Growth of Bacteria. [Online] Available at: http://textbookofbacteriology.net/nutgro_5.html USDA, U. S. D. o. A., 2013. Jerky and Food Safety. [Online] Available at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/meat-preparation/jerky-and-food-safety/ct_index [Accessed 6 August 2013]. USDA, U. S. D. o. A., 2015. Beef from Farm to Table. [Online] Available at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/meat-preparation/beef-from-farm-to-table/ct_index USDA, U. S. D. o. A., 2015. Jerky and Food Safety. [Online] Available at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/meat-preparation/jerky-and-food-safety/ct_index USFDA, U. F. a. D. A., 2014. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. [Online] Available at: http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/CausesOfIllnessBadBugBook/ucm070015.htm [Accessed 16 December 2014]. Ward, E. M., 2010. Spices Herbs Health Benefits and Adding Spices To Foods. [Online] Available at: http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/spices-and-herbs-health-benefits [Accessed 5 August 2010].

Kants categorical Imperitave applied Essay -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Kant describes the categorical imperative as â€Å"expressed by an ought and thereby indicate the relation of an objective law of reason to a will that is not necessarily determined by this law because of its subjective constitution.† In other words, a categorical impetrative is a command of morality that applies everywhere at all times no matter what, without exception. Kant describes two forms of imperatives, hypothetical and categorical.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Kant defines the hypothetical imperative as â€Å"an action is good for some purpose, either possible or actual.† The hypothetical imperative that Kant describes is a situation that prescribes an action as a means to get a particular end. In this imperative, inclination is allowed to play a role in your motives. It states action is good for some purpose, either possible or actual. Rational human beings may use appropriate means and ends that are based needs or wants. It is these actions that Kant considers to be hypothetical imperatives. Next, when Kant defines the categorical imperative he states that, â€Å"the action is represented as good in itself, and hence as necessary in a will which of itself conforms to reason as the principle of the will.† He is generally saying that a categorical imperative is an ends that is a means only to itself and not to some other need, desire, or purpose. The categorical imperative may be based on an â€Å"end in itself.† Duties can be classified under categorica... Kants categorical Imperitave applied Essay -- essays research papers   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Kant describes the categorical imperative as â€Å"expressed by an ought and thereby indicate the relation of an objective law of reason to a will that is not necessarily determined by this law because of its subjective constitution.† In other words, a categorical impetrative is a command of morality that applies everywhere at all times no matter what, without exception. Kant describes two forms of imperatives, hypothetical and categorical.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Kant defines the hypothetical imperative as â€Å"an action is good for some purpose, either possible or actual.† The hypothetical imperative that Kant describes is a situation that prescribes an action as a means to get a particular end. In this imperative, inclination is allowed to play a role in your motives. It states action is good for some purpose, either possible or actual. Rational human beings may use appropriate means and ends that are based needs or wants. It is these actions that Kant considers to be hypothetical imperatives. Next, when Kant defines the categorical imperative he states that, â€Å"the action is represented as good in itself, and hence as necessary in a will which of itself conforms to reason as the principle of the will.† He is generally saying that a categorical imperative is an ends that is a means only to itself and not to some other need, desire, or purpose. The categorical imperative may be based on an â€Å"end in itself.† Duties can be classified under categorica...

Comparing Media on Trangendered People and Social Issues

In this, the 21st century, control over the masses seems to becoming more apparent from a hierarchy containing a handful of self-selected highly ranked, influential individuals. Controlling the views and beliefs of whole nations of people, by controlling what information they receive and how this information is delivered. Some of these people are highly respected, trusted and in positions of authority.Their words have the power to not only give hope to, but also scare and shape the beliefs of their followers who, unquestionably trust in their intentions. A prime example of this powerful influence on society is in the so-called democratic country of Australia, where one man, Rupert Murdoch, owns two thirds of the nation’s biggest newspapers. 75% of the remaining is owned by one other man, John Fairfax (Donavan, 2011).So then, the well-known saying ‘Don’t believe everything you read or hear’ is a good reminder to anyone subjected to receiving the news anywher e in Australia, to keep an open mind, be sceptical and seek out any other facts through further research before making up their minds on a reported situation. Just because something is broadcast through the media, or is said by an important person, it does not automatically make it fact or cover the whole truth.Very rarely are both sides of a story ever expressed unbiasedly, bringing forth all facts and information and then leaving it up to the individual to make a decision. Consequently, this paper will compare different media outlets. One stemming from great power and position, and the other from a small local community organisation, showing the different strategies and contexts in which they report, how and who they influence and what factual information they use to back up their statements on the topic of transgendered people.Before examining these differences, it is important to mention that the term ‘transgender’ can be defined several ways academically, so for th e sake of this paper ‘transgender’ will be used as the umbrella term covering people whose biological sex does not completely, in part or at all coincide with their gender identity. Furthermore, it must be mentioned that gender identity is different from homosexuality, which is sexual orientation. Transgendered people, like everybody else can be straight, bi, gay or somewhere in-between (Dra.Torres, 2001). For a group of people that have existed as some predict, since mankind’s genetic make-up started to differ from ’perfect’ (Reitz, 2009), equality in society has never seemed to exist for long, if at all. There are historical accounts throughout Ancient Greece, Rome and across the Mediterranean to the Middle East of transgendered people worshipping their transgendered goddesses and not only being socially accepted but thought to possess powers of protection and good fortune.That was until Christian and Islamic influences spread and not only were th eir religious beliefs defamed and eradicated, transgendered people were as well (Dra. Torres, 2001). 2000 years on it seems not much has changed in the eyes of the Catholic Church. On the 22rd of December 2008, Pope Benedict XVI gave his annual end of year Christmas speech to a room filled with archbishops and priests. Broadcasted from inside the Vatican, through their personally owned television station, website, and printed in newspapers across the globe.He summarised the year that was, describing in lengthy detail the occurrence of World Youth Week in Australia, sending messages of peace to war-torn countries and comparing gay and transgendered people to a rainforest. At a time of year that is supposed to be about spreading peace and joy and bringing people together, Pope Benedict XVI started off with these blessings saying â€Å"†¦The grace of God has appeared for all. He then mention World Youth Week in all its glory following by saying and the earth is a gift we must all protect and not abuse the earth’s resources for personal gain. He states it is the Church’s responsibility to firmly publicly protect the earth and the self-destructive man from himself. He describes human being disposition of being man and woman and this ‘self-destructive man’ is anyone that does not ‘respect the order of creation’ by treating it as out of date philosophy of metaphysics. His reasoning that transgendered people exists follows. What is often expressed and understood by the term â€Å"gender† ultimately ends up being man’s attempt at self-emancipation from creation and the Creator. Man wants to be his own master, and alone – always and exclusively – to determine everything that concerns him. Yet in this way he lives in opposition to the truth, in opposition to the Creator Spirit. Rain forests deserve indeed to be protected, but no less so does man, as a creature having an innate â€Å"message† which does not contradict our freedom, but is instead its very premise.The great scholastic theologians described marriage, understood as the life-long bond between a man and a woman, as a sacrament of creation, which the Creator himself instituted– without modifying the â€Å"message† of creation†¦ From this perspective, we should†¦ defend love against sex as a consumer good, the future against the exclusive claims of the present, and human nature against its manipulation. †(Pope Benedict XVI, 22nd Dec 2008) Christmas day, three days later his speech hypocritically had the following comments. Wherever the dignity and rights of the human person are trampled upon; †¦ wherever fratricidal hatred and the exploitation of man by man risk being taken for granted; wherever internecine conflicts divide ethnic and social groups and disrupt peaceful coexistence;†¦ wherever the basics needed for survival are lacking; wherever an increasingly uncertain f uture is regarded with apprehension, even in affluent nations: in each of these places may the Light of Christmas shine forth and encourage all people to do their part in a spirit of authentic solidarity. (Pope Benedict XVI, 25th Dec, 2008) This is a man in charge of the wealthiest city, representing ‘The Creator’, in the largest populated religion globally, consisting of just below550 million people. His statements were not only badly timed, but uneducated, unethical to say the least and unacceptable to come from a man with such powerful status and influence. He has labelled transgendered people as non-believing mavericks, who chose to change their sex to rebel and free themselves. From what exactly, is incomprehensible the way he puts it, just that they want to emancipate themselves.Not by getting a crazy haircut or wearing outrageous clothing. Not by not socially conforming and not following trends and not even by becoming Atheist. But by subjecting themselves to mul tiple, painful operations, enduring a hormonal rollercoaster, being socially unaccepted, ridiculed, disowned and being a target for violence. As he sees it, depending on where these self-freeing masters-of-their-own-destiny are from they are ‘choosing’ to throw away almost every basic human right, to instead live a life most likely filled with prostitution and drugs! That’s emancipation? Benedict XVI, 2008) This total misconception has no factual basis, and is obvious from the only reference being ancient theologians’ description on marriage, which resulted in not only offending the gender diverse, but homosexual people as well, who, through further research found he used the same ‘emancipation reason’ on two years earlier (Benedict XVI, 2006). He is basically saying that gay people are a threat to creation because if everyone ‘chose’ to be gay creation would cease to exist. Ironically enough the same could be said about the celib ate priesthood.This was an unnecessary personal attack, abusing his position and the media tools he has at his disposal to turn what should have been an inspirational and motivating speech to other power religious leaders into an excuse to breed a prejudice point of view that reached and is still reaching millions. On the very opposite, more positive end of the scale there thankfully exists an organisation called ‘the Gender Centre’ residing in Sydney, Australia. They are funded by Human Services and Community Services and provide a range of facilities not only for transgendered people, but to their loved ones and also organisations.Their pledge states â€Å"†¦The Gender Centre is†¦ committed to educating the public and service providers about the needs of people with gender issues. † (Polare, Jul-Sep, 2011) Their services include support and education, social and support groups, drug and alcohol counselling, HIV/AIDS information, condoms and lube distr ibution, needle exchange, accommodation, referrals to specialists, outreach programs, counselling and support groups for families of transgendered and the production of a quarter-yearly magazine called ‘Polare’. Polare, Jan-Mar, 2011) Polare is a free magazine and every edition is packed full of helpful information, personal entries and latest news stories all relating to gender issues and the local society. It reports the facts and allows people to send in unsolicited contributions and also has forums on their website for gender issue discussion and debate allowing for all opinions to be heard and responded to.Every page turned exposes more helpful companies and services, for example the Jan-March issue’s page 12 has an ad for a hair removal company, an ad encouraging under 25 year old transgendered to write into the magazine sharing their stories. Opposite on page 13, an article on how a male to female transgender named Lana, fought to be accepted into a profes sional women’s golf tournament in the US, which she won not only the right to play but the tournament itself.The story continues on with other transgendered sports players and the difficulties they have faced including Lana’s legal battle to be accepted in the US, Britain and European professional golfing tours. Her fight forced the review of the National Collegiate Athletic Association polices making it easier for other transgendered people to compete in sports and fit in in society, whilst also raising awareness (Cummings, 2011). In issue 88 July-Sep 2011, pages 8-12 covers in depth information on the Gender Centre and what they do.Unlike the Pope’s speech, they address transgendered people by name and highlight the social issues they face such as homelessness, social isolation, unemployment and family rejection and provides services to help each of these and more (Moore, 2011). Ironic to what he represents, there was no mention of any solution or help from Po pe Benectict XVI. Further in issue 88 are stories of new drug treatments for Hepatitis C and legal battles transgendered are fighting to have the right to be classified as they see themselves not on what their genitalia represents.At the very back of every edition, they have a ‘Directory Assistance’ section six pages long containing services and organisations. These contacts are aimed to help not only the transgendered but the homosexual community too. It covers all states over Australia and includes a few international contacts (Gender Centre, 2011). Online, the Gender Centre provides a 41 page fact sheet covering a wide variety of interrelated topics. From information on their training sessions they can provide for employers and organisations, to information on intersex and ambiguous genitalia.It also provides 10 pages of information on all the rights transgendered people have and highlights different circumstances. It also includes useful contact details of legal and other organisations that might be needed especially in an emergency. (Gender Centre, 2008) It is relieving to see such organisations exist, for such a special group of people living in a society so overpowered by greedy, power-hungry individuals. These people go through so much emotional trauma and psychological stress just trying to understand themselves and who they really are.To then go out into such a critical society and be able to hold their heads high with pride deserves recognition at the strength and resilience the human spirit is capable of. In conclusion, it would only be foolish to wait for a day and age where everyone is considered as worthy as the next, because as the time passes, the rich and powerful only seem to be getting richer and in more powerful positions, controlling more and more what the masses are lead to believe.The worst thing about this, especially when it comes to the leader of a religious group, is the loss of the basic human morals and consideration for other people in general, losing sight of what and who they are representing and influencing. Instead of helping out fellow human beings because they care and want to help, unfair and hypocritical judgements are passed. It just goes to show that even the Catholic Church makes huge mistakes, but as long as our community organisation groups exists, hope can still spread among the people.

Imaginative writing (George)/writing to describe (Harley Davidson) Essay

(1) Imaginative Piece of Writing Characters from Of Mice and Men – John Steinbeck George now has a wife, Rose and 2 kids. He wakes up every night remembering that he murdered Lennie. Darn flies, *splat* mmph better get up *yawn* and go get a glass of water otherwise I’ll never get to sleep again. *Walks downstairs* Stupid creaking stairs ooo the lino’s cold. Glass Glass Glass, right Water, mmm that was nice. Feels cold in here†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.where the heck’s that draft comin’ from†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦*huff* windows open, I told Rose to close that. *Looks out window* Crops lookin’ good, I’ll get ol’ big red out the barn tomorrow and start cuttin’ it down. *Thinks about Lennie* Lennie would have like this place†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..he could have helped me with the crops†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦pushed the kids on the swing in the old apple tree†¦..and al’ the animals would have kept him happy†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦he would have loved the rabbits that run free al’ over the farm. If only I hadn’t sho, no, what I did was right, it was for the best. Yeah that’s it I did him a favour, yeah, yeah. I keep telling myself I did the right thing but I still feel so damn guilty†¦..i just wish we’d never gone to that ranch and never met her†¦it was all her fault†¦.it was all because of her. But Lennie’s safe now†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.he’s safe from people like her †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. I bet Lennie’s up in heaven chasing the rabbits with his pup *laugh* Lennie, I’ll never forget you†¦..you’ll always be in my heart. * Rose calls down from upstairs* George, you there? *Calls back* I’ll be up in a minute Rose. Right, come on then, better get back to bed n get some sleep. *Walks upstairs* Sssh stop creaking, don’t wana disturb the kids. *Talks quietly to Rose* Rose, I couldn’t sleep so I went and got a glass of water. *Whispers† Were you thinking of Lennie? Yeah George, you could have a garden with rabbits and other things that Lennie liked, then when you can’t sleep, you could go there and think about him. *Thinks about Lennie’s garden and replies happily* Yeah, that’s a great idea, I’ll get the kids to help me make Lennie’s garden tomorrow. What would I do without you Rose. *Switches off light* Night Darlin’ Night George *Rose Kisses George on check* (2) Writing to describe (Harley Davidson Motorbikes) Harley Davidson are a company that make motorbikes. The company was formed in 1903 in Milwaukee, by William Harley and Arthur Davidson. To begin with Harley Davidson produced push-bikes but in 1903 they made their first motorbike, the racer. Harley Davidson bikes are well known for being strong and reliable and because of this, they are commonly used by both the American police and the fire department. When people think of Harley Davidson they think of gangs of men with leathers, long beards and hair riding chopper bikes, with long forks and handlebars. Who travel from town to town terrorising the townsfolk and who live on the open road. People dream of having the same freedom as the gangs and wish they could be like them. The dream that comes with owning a Harley Davidson is of travelling through the great wilderness of the mid west and along Route 66. To fly like the eagle along the road and let nothing hold you back from your journey. Although Harley Davidson was first created in America people all over the world have joined the Harley Davidson family by owning one of their machines. When you buy a Harley Davidson you not only get a piece of the American dream you also gain entry to the exclusive Harley Owners Group, HOG, where you can make friends with other proud owners. All other Britain different Chapters of owners get together and ride to seaside towns in the Southwest. At these rallies bikers get together to admire each others bikes. Many have specialist artwork, such as Wolfs and Eagles, on their bikes and clothing Harley Davidson also make merchandise that feature their many designs. Merchandise such as: Jackets, T-shirts, Hats and Wallets. Harley Davidson have various logos. Many of them have the American Eagle, which is a symbol of power and freedom. Most of the logos feature strong bold designs in black and orange. Harley Davidson give people excitement and danger which contrasts with their normal boring everyday life. My advice to you is to go and buy a Harley Davidson fuel your imagination. Go on, make it happen, there’s no time like the present.

What Is AP Seminar Should You Take It

What Is AP Seminar Should You Take It SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If your school offers AP Seminar, you might be wondering what it's all about. This AP class is great for students who want to challenge themselves and learn more about the independent research process before starting college. In this guide, I'll give you an overview of what AP Seminar entails, a sample course outline, advice on whether you should take the course, and some tips on how to do well in it. What Is AP Seminar? AP Seminar is one of the course requirements for the AP Capstone Diploma and the AP Research and Seminar Certificate, both of which were introduced by the College Board in fall 2014. If you take and pass AP Seminar, AP Research, and four other AP courses and exams, you will earn the AP Capstone Diploma. If you take and pass just AP Seminar and AP Research, you'll earn an AP Research and Seminar Certificate.Both of these actions are impressive accomplishments that demonstrate your ability to successfully manage college-level academic challenges. AP Seminar offers studentsan introduction to conducting independent analysis of complex ideas across various disciplines.It involves reading and understanding advanced source material in the form of texts and other media. You are expected to synthesize information from different sources, and formulate research questions based on these source materials. You'll elaborate on these ideasthrough essays, oral presentations, and team projects.The goal of AP Seminar is to provide students with the tools to evaluate information accurately and make compelling, evidence-based arguments. Your seminar curriculum might be connected to another AP course you take,meaning you'd explore themes that relate to that course when constructing research projects for AP Seminar. For example, your school might offer aclass titled "AP Seminar: American Studies" that is for students who are concurrently enrolled in AP US History. AP Seminar can also function as a stand-alone class. For example, it could be called something like "AP Seminar: Networks" and offer a focus on the impacts of societal networks from various perspectives. AP Seminar: Social Networks. You must write your research paper in the form of a series of tweets. Wait, that actually sounds kinda fun. What Will You Do in AP Seminar? The AP Seminar curriculum is framed around what the College Board callsfive "Big Ideas."These ideas are all pretty buzzword-y (their first letters spell Q.U.E.S.T.- need I say more?), but they cover the main educational goals of the class. Below are the five Big Ideas of AP Seminar and what they mean: Big Idea 1: Question and Explore This idea is about encouraging students to embrace intellectual curiosity and develop their own points of view.Learning to consider issues from different perspectives is also an important part of this. You'll be introduced to the complexity of societal problems and learn how to view them in a larger context. This is where you start to build a strong foundation for the process of coming up with meaningful research questions. Big Idea 2: Understand and Analyze This Big Idea is about learning to read critically and reach the heart of an author’s argument. You'llpractice avoiding oversimplification and generalization when describing the points made by others. You'll alsolearn how successful arguments are formulated as well asthe importance of counterarguments, context, and the ability of an argument to influence behavior. Big Idea 3: Evaluate Multiple Perspectives With this idea, you'll learn that a person’s perspective is heavily informed by his or her background and worldview. You'llalso consider your own biases and how these might impact your reading and interpretation of an argument. Big Idea 4: Synthesize Ideas This is about creating an effective argument from your ideas.You'lllearn how to formulate a clear line of reasoning and how to avoid overgeneralizations. In addition, you'llbe taught how to collect evidence while steering clear of plagiarism. Big Idea 5: Team, Transform, and Transmit This one is about teaching students how to do their best work in a team environment (as you might've guessed from its cringeworthy name). The main focuses here are self-reflection, revision, and developing both good communication and effective presentation skills. Class discussions also play a large role in AP Seminar in the form of debates, group discussions, and reflection on open-ended questions associated with the course material. How These Big Ideas Are Put Into Practice These five Big Ideas manifest in AP Seminar in a series of tasks and lessons, whichinvolve the following: Exploring one or more different themes by making connections across subjects and looking at them from various perspectives Learning to fully appreciate and understand issues by viewing them in different contexts and across different types of sources (writing, performances, broadcasts, etc.) Learning to avoid plagiarism (very important for college!) while using the ideas of others for support in your own work Working collaboratively on a team project to evaluate a real-world issue and present the findings in a written report and presentation Working independently to come up with a research question and to formulate an argument that culminates in a written report and presentation AP Seminar will teach you many core skills that are important for college-level research,and it'll give you the tools you need for the AP Research course (which most students take the following year). In the next section, I'll give you an example of how a real AP Seminar course might be structured. Team, Transform, and Transmit: stage one of a bizarre cult initiation, Big Idea, or both? AP Seminar Sample Course Outline AP Seminar is a class that often weaves through many different subject areas. Since the goal is to gain a better grasp of the complexity of opinions on societal issues and to use your newfound understanding to do more effective, self-driven research, it covers a lot of ground. In this example (which I'm basing off a real syllabus I found online), the AP Seminar course was divided into three units for the first semester: Unit 1: Questioning Modernity This unit's focus is on introducing the main concepts behind AP Seminar. This includes learning about the process of inquiry, understanding complex arguments, and becoming familiar with rules for avoiding plagiarism.This particular unit is graded based on participation, a 250-word reflection paper, and a group presentation. In keeping with the theme of contemporary culture, source materials include the famous T. S. Eliot poem "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock," a book by Steven BesttitledThe Post-Modern Turn, and an article fromForbestitled "Is Facebook Making Us Anti-Social?" Unit 2: Perception- Arguing Money This unit is a continuation of the learning experience in the first one but with a focus on advanced topics related to wealth and poverty. This unit also emphasizes viewing issues from different perspectives. It is assessed based on participation, a 400-word reflection paper, and another group presentation. Source materials for the unit include Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations,The Communist Manifesto,and Andrew Carnegie's essay "The Gospel of Wealth." Unit 3: Mastering Education This final unit in AP Seminarbrings together concepts learned in the previous units to discuss topics in education. It is graded based on participation, a 500-word argumentative paper, a 500-word reflection paper, and another group presentation. Source materials for this unit include the film Waiting for "Superman" and several scholarly articles on The Common Core. "Oh, is that what I'm supposed to be doing?" Education is complex. In the second semester of the class, students will use the skills they learned in the first three units to take on larger challenges in the form of two research projects and the final exam. Each of these assignments makes up a portion of the final AP score. Team Project and Presentation (25% of AP Score) The first assignment is a team project and presentation, worth 25% of the final AP score. Students collaborate in teams of three to six to identify a problem or question they want to research. Each student does research individually and presents his or her findings to the group. The group then works together to compile a written report and an approximately 10-minute class presentation, followed by a defense of their argument based on questions posed by the teacher. Each student will also write a reflection on the project as a whole, detailing their collaborative process and approach to both research and problem-solving. The entire project takes place over the course of about two months. Individual Research-Based Essay and Presentation (35% of AP Score) The second assignment, worth 35% of the AP score, is an individual project. For this part of the course, the College Board releasessource materials on a certain topic or theme that students are expected to use in their research.The final paper must use at least one of these sources. Students are expected to produce a 2,000-word written argument, a six- to eight-minute oral presentation, and a defense of their argument based on two questions posed by the teacher. Students will have around two months to complete this project. Final Exam (40% of AP Score) The final exam for AP Seminar consists of three short-answer and two essay questions. The short-answer questions ask students to analyze an argument from a single source. For one essay question, students must compare arguments from different authors, whereas for the other, they must formulate their own evidence-based argument. Seven sources are given to students for use on the final exam questions. If a featureless white blob creature can do research, so can you. You can see from this outline that AP Seminar stretches across a variety of topics, and there's quite a bit of freedom to choose what you want to research in the second half. Overall,AP Seminar is focused on teaching you how to think critically,which is a big departure from many high school courses that just serve to convey specific information. AP Seminar is clearly a more abstract course- but also potentially a more valuable one. Should You Take AP Seminar? If you hope to earn an AP Research and Seminar Certificate or an AP Capstone Diploma, you need to take AP Seminar.The AP Capstone program culminates in a 5,000-word research paper that is completed in the AP Research class- an impressive accomplishment for a high school student! Even if you don't go on to earn the AP Capstone Diploma, you will learn highly valuablecritical- thinking and research skills in AP Seminar.Students who take itmight place out of introductory college courses or earncollege credits. AP Seminar can also help you avoid academic shock when you get to college.Many high school students have never done in-depth research and therefore don’t know how to begin when they’re tasked with their first big project in college.If you take this AP class, you'll be ahead of the curve in understanding proper research methods and in learning to avoid both unreliable information and plagiarism. Lastly, AP Seminar can be a fun experience because it gives you the opportunity to debate important issues with your classmates and work on a project that interests you.There is a level of independence in the seminar-style classthat is absent in most other high school classes, which might appeal to students who prefer to explore ideas on their own terms. If you're an independent, driven student who ishoping to attend a competitive college, AP Seminar might be a great course for you. AP Seminar will allow you to start forging your own academic path before you even get to college. How to Do Well in AP Seminar: 3 Essential Tips What you'll need to do to succeed in AP Seminardepends partly on the format and subject area of the class since ithas a lot of flexibility in its structure, teaching methods, and topics.Here are some general tips for success: #1: Be Open-Minded AP Seminar mainly deals with analyzing differing perspectives, so try toapproacheach reading with a willingness to listen and think critically about the author’s opinion, even if it doesn’t align with your own.This will enable you to adopt a wider view of issues and appreciate their complexity.These skills are critical if you hope to be successful in your research projects. #2: Participate in Class Class discussions are very important in AP Seminar.Even if you’re not usually big on participation, you should make an effort to contribute to every discussion. Being able to actively engage with your peerswill enhance your understanding of the material and allow you to carry out productive conversations with others in your class who might see things differently. #3: Keep Up With Assignments This is important in any class, but it's especially critical in AP Seminar.Since you’ll be reading and absorbing a lot of material, it’s important not to fall behind the rest of the class.Participation relies on a thoughtful reading of the course material, and it’s hard to do that if you’re trying to play catch up with assignments that were due earlier. Because you’ll be doing research projects both independently and with a team, always stay on top of deadlines to avoid getting overwhelmed or letting down your teammates! Learning how to communicate ideas effectively is a major part of AP Seminar. Conclusion: The Benefits of Taking AP Seminar Critical thinking and the ability to logically evaluate arguments are key skills that'll help you in all aspects of your life. AP Seminar can be a very practical course if you're up for the challenge. You'll have three major assessments: A team research project An independent research project A final exam Throughout the course, you'll be asked to read a variety of source materials and participate in class discussions. You'll learn about proper research methods, argumentative techniques, and the importance of looking at issues from all sides. Students who take AP Seminar can then go on to take AP Research, which offers students even more independence in choosing research topics. AP Seminar is essentially an opportunity for advanced students to get some experience with the types of assignments and expectations that are common in college classes. Take this class and you'll be way ahead in the game! What's Next? Still planning out your schedule? Use this guide to help you decide which AP classes to take. If AP courses seem kind of intimidating, check out this article to learn just how hard they really are- and to decide whether you are up for the challenge. To learn more about creating a class schedule that'll give you the best chance of attending a top college, read this article on what a rigorous course schedule looks like. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Usage Essays - Cannabis In The United States

Marijuana History / Usage Essays - Cannabis In The United States Marijuana History / Usage Ben Holicky Marijuana is a drug that has been used for thousands of years. Marijuana was used in ancient China, as far back as 5000 B.C. The Incans and Mayans used marijuana in religious ceremonies. Marijuana also has roots in this country. The Indians of the plains used marijuana in their peace pipes as a sign of friendship and peace. After prohibition there was a sharp rise in the use of this drug in America, but after prohibition was repealed the use went down. In the 1920s and 30s the use of marijuana was primarily by the minorities. In the 1930s it was common belief that minorities where inhumane and violent, and people believed that marijuana was part of the cause. Then in 1937 marijuana was declared illegal. This was done with no research. It was just assumed that marijuana caused psychological dependence, provoked violent crimes, and led to insanity. People were told that marijuana would make people want to take a gun, knife, or weapon and kill someone. Prohibition on marijuana was estab lished due to a misunderstanding. Prohibition has not achieved its goal, and goes against an American philosophical approach. I believe it is time to look at the facts and benefits, and to reconsider marijuana prohibition. Marijuana has a positive effect on patients with certain diseases. AIDS victims are sometimes prescribed marijuana to help increase their appetite. Victims of AIDS do not want to eat and thus they do not get the nutrients they need. Marijuana helps them to eat, and thus enabling them to get the nutrients they need. Marijuana also helps to increase the appetite in cancer patients. People who get glaucomas also use marijuana. It helps to ease the pain for many glaucoma patients. Marijuana is very helpful to these people. This is just one example of why marijuana prohibition should be reconsidered. When comparing tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana, there is evidence that marijuana has the least addictive power. During the Nixon administration, the government concluded that marijuana did not posses any physically addictive traits. The University of California did a study on the power of heroin, cocaine, nicotine, alcohol, caffeine, and marijuana in terms of power to induce psychological dependence. Nicotine was first, marijuana last. Marijuana was deemed least likely to produce signs of withdrawal upon quitting, and last in terms of producing a physical tolerance to the drug. Marijuana is less addictive than two legal drugs in this country. This does not make sense, and so prohibition should be reconsidered. The United States government spends too much money each year on prohibition of marijuana. The DEA spends 1.3 billion fighting marijuana, and that does not include the cost of prison management and construction. Overall, the government has spent 30 billion of the taxpayers money. Of felons convicted of crimes related to marijuana possession, production and trafficking through 1980-1992, 58% had no prior arrest history, 91% were not identified as organizers, leaders, managers or supervisors of drug-oriented organizations, and 92% did not own or posses a gun. In other words, the government is spending millions of dollars putting non-violent otherwise law-abiding citizens in jail and making the taxpayers pay the bill. The amount of money spent on war on marijuana is unreasonable. This is not worth it, and is another reason why prohibition of marijuana should be reconsidered. The original motivation for marijuana prohibition was based on a lack of knowledge, and should be reconsidered. Even after research showing the drug to be much better than originally thought, people will not change their view on the matter. And so billions of dollars will continually be spent on persecution and enforcement, while is does not change anything. The patterns do not change and the use does not decline, and the government will not change their view on the subject. The prohibition on marijuana is costly, does not work, and should be reconsidered. It is time that we see and end to the prohibition of marijuana. Bibliography Science Book