Cutting Weight in Combat Sports

Cutting Weight in Combat Sports Indira Moores Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School Contents Cutting Weight in Combat Sports3 Cutting Weight in General3 Effects of Extreme Weight Cuts4 Effects on Growth and Development5 Proper Techniques5 Effects on Performance6 Average Cuts7 Prevention of Weight Cutting8 Conclusion8 Works Cited10 Cutting Weight in Combat Sports It is a known fact that to be a competitor at an elite level, one must work hard and make sacrifices. There are many examples of hard working athletes shown through the media.Most of these examples, however, tend to focus on a select few professional sports like hockey, football, basketball and amateur sports like figure skating and track and field. Many other sports, are sometimes recognized as being an elite level, but are not nearly as understood because they do not get the exposure from the media, that more ‘popular’ sports do. A lot of combat sports, including wrestling, fall in to this category. Wrestling gets a l imited media exposure compared to more popular sports, and as a result, is not well understood.For example, at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, Canada earned its first gold medal by wrestler Carol Hyun at weight 49 kg. Yet wrestling was generally not covered extensively over most television networks, (Yardly, 2008). Because combat sports aren’t generally media-popular sports, they are often not understood, which leads to some misconceptions. For instance, they are viewed as more violent compared to other contact sports such as hockey or football, or that it requires less training, (Bina, 2011).However, one of the biggest misconceptions, and the one I am choosing to focus on is that cutting weight, in a sport such as wrestling, is an unhealthy component of the sport with detrimental consequences. That’s not to say that there aren’t extreme examples of dangerous and reckless weight cutting with dire consequences. However weight cutting, when monitored and execut ed properly, is just another example of hard work and sacrifices that must be made within the sport. Cutting Weight in General Most combat sports are divided into weight classes. This gives athletes the advantage of competing against someone who is relatively their own size.Rather than having a 190 pound athlete compete against a 130 pound athlete. The competitors attend a weigh- in session in which the athletes are weighed and are grouped in to the listed weight class. This is where the concept of cutting weight comes in. Instead of wrestling someone your own size, why not lose weight and wrestle somebody who is smaller? This thought process has become very popular in recent years with wrestlers, especially in North America. Cutting weight is known as the process of losing a lot of weight in a short amount of time.If it is only a few pounds, losing the weight is fairly easy, but if the athlete is trying to drop multiple weight classes in a few days that is when issues arise. Unfort unately, the small amount of attention from the media that wrestling receives is mainly focused on the most extreme cases and negative cases, where athletes refuse liquids for hours, food for days and wear multiple layers of clothing to sweat out the weight. In some cases athletes are dressed in sweat suits and sit in steam rooms at ridiculously high temperatures in attempts to lose the weight.The media has brought the attention to the deaths and the injuries instead of focusing more on the good of the sport. When the process of cutting weight is only viewed in such a negative way, it’s easy to assume that it can be very detrimental to anyone’s body. Effects of Extreme Weight Cuts These extreme cases that the media has focused on are, of course, very unfortunate. These cuts have very harmful effects on the body. First of all, there is the obvious fact that the body is being dehydrated. Dehydration alone, causes the body to be tired and sleepy, causes the body to have a ard time concentrating and can be easily stressed, (Matheney, 2010). An athlete is also more prone to being injured when they are dehydrated, (Matheney, 2010). Dehydration causes the organs in the body to work harder to continue their bodily functions. Examples of this are the heart and the kidneys. The heart pumps blood all over the body after it has been oxygenized. Without the necessary amount of water in the body, the heart has to pump stronger and more often, causing it to be over worked. The kidneys filter waste products from the blood stream and without water it cannot filter properly.As a result, dehydration can cause kidney and heart failure. There are also reports of harming the liver during the process of cutting weight, (McAllister,2011). Aside from the physical effects, there are some mental effects on the body as well. Refusing foods and liquids days before a weigh in can increase an athlete’s risk of an eating disorder. Although, it is not necessarily because of the media and pressures to look a certain way, it is caused by the pressures of the team, coaches and themselves to weigh a certain weight.There is also the possibility of hormone imbalances which cause mood swings and depression in athletes, (Matheny, 2010). Effects on Growth and Development Younger, maturing athletes who cut large amounts of weight are more likely to experience hormone imbalances, which is caused by under nutrition. As a result the body’s growth hormone gets altered, which may cause permanent growth impairment if it is repeated over many seasons of wrestling, (Cochan, 2011. ) Any dietary restrictions in children who compete can also be harmful.Children, especially those who compete in intense levels of physical activity need a variety of nutrients. Since they are still growing and developing, many fats and carbohydrates are needed to keep the body fueled. If not, dietary restrictions may also reduce protein nutrition and muscular performance, (Health Can ada, 2011). Proper Techniques Although cutting weight will never be considered something extremely healthy, there are methods of cutting weight that do less harm to the body. People can cut weight properly over a long period of time through dieting and water manipulation.A simple low carb diet can help anybody two to three pounds per week. As long as the diet is still feeding the body the necessary nutrients, like water, only a small and necessary amount carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals, it will still have enough energy to exercise intensely and slowly lose weight, (Landry, 2009). For example, after an intense workout or practice, eating a fruit would benefit the body. The simple sugars are carbohydrates that help replenish muscles after being worked very hard. This can be consumed instead of a calorie-high and carb-loaded protein drink.Another way losing weight that is less harmful to the body is known as water manipulation. Athletes are able to â€Å"trickâ₠¬  their body into thinking that it is consuming more water, then it actually is. For example, in the week leading up to the weigh in, for two days an athlete will drink eight litres of water. He or she will let the body adjust to this enormous amount of water being consumed. Naturally, the body will rid the excess water. After the two days, he or she will cut down to four litres, which is still a large amount.The body is still taking in more water than necessary, and is still ridding a large amount. This can help an athlete lose from 5-7 pounds in the days leading up to a weigh in. Effects on Performance After being dehydrated for an extended period of time, the body takes a prolonged time to rehydrate. According to The Wrestler Diet, by Roger Landry and others, the body intakes â€Å"only about two pints [of water] per hour, and takes up to 48 hours for the water balance tissue in your muscles to be restored,†. Different bodies, however, react differently.Athletes who have been dieting responsibly and are used to competing may be more familiar with restoring their bodies before a tournament. Ioannis Barbas did a study on twelve Greco – Roman wrestlers and how they recovered from the average weight cutting process during the tournament. Through his study he discovered a number of things like which matches in the day were the hardest for most athletes – that being the fourth match- , when the athletes found themselves most tired and so on. He did this by recording performance measurements, muscle damage assessments, and blood sampling before and after every match.He also found that these wrestlers were able to overcome weight loss routines before tournaments and preform very well and up to their usual abilities. Another factor that may affect the performances of combat sport competitors may be improper diets. Other professional and amateur sports that do not focus on weight have the advantage of consuming many high calorie and high carb f oods that would fuel the body with necessary nutrients during their competition. Meanwhile, athlete who are concerned about their weight are restricting these types of foods so he or she can make the desired weight class.In other words, these athletes are not getting proper nutrients, which may affect the athlete’s performance, (Smith). However, if the athlete loses the weight responsibly and avoids dehydration as much as possible, the recovery should be maximal. If an athlete has been dehydrated for a short period of time, and rehydrates with water and electrolytes after the weigh in the negative effects should be minimal, (Barbas, 2010). Average Cuts The average amount of weight that is cut by athletes strongly depends on the sport, and the level of competition.For example, professional UFC fighters are going to cut more than a rookie high school wrestler. Professional UFC fighters are known to cut anywhere from 20 to 45 pounds, (Wong, 2010). This is an extremely large amou nt, but most of it is done over a long period of time and carefully, considering this is what they do as a profession. High school and university level wrestlers could drop a simple five pounds to 15 pounds over time, (McAllister, 2011). Prevention of Weight Cutting With the number of deaths and injuries that have occurred from athletes cutting weight, there had to be changes made.The consequences of cutting weight are very extreme, yet many athletes continue to do so in a very reckless way. In the United States, collegiate wrestling competitions have changed the weigh in date from the evening before the competition, to the day of the competition. This helps reduce the chance of athletes cutting weight by giving them less time to recover after dehydration and starvation. The less time to recover, the less likely the athlete will perform well, and therefore an athlete is less likely to cut. The NCAA has also recently taken many steps to reduce the chances of athletes cutting weight.T hey have banned competitors of practicing in a room that is hotter than 80 degrees Fahrenheit, self – induced vomiting, and extensive fluid and/or food restrictions, (Loma, 2010). Another common restriction that has been made is the banning of sauna suits. This is a decent compromise to athletes because the act of weight cutting can still be done, but in a much less dangerous way. Sauna suits are very dangerous and can easily overheat an athlete. Conclusion Cutting weight is an unhealthy part of combat sports. Nonetheless, it is a part of the sport.Unfortunately, the small amount of attention the media gives to these combat sports, such as wrestling, tend to be more negative and focused on extreme cases of athletes cutting large amounts of weight. As a result of the lack of attention, the sports are not thoroughly understood, particularly the concept of cutting weight. Cutting weight does have detrimental effects on the body, especially young, growing children. But if it is e xecuted properly, then the negative effects are negligible. If athletes do monitor their weight cutting process over time and very carefully, they will be able to compete near their fullest potential.If cutting weight, and other misconceptions about combat sports had more exposure, it would be understood that cutting weight is just another part of the sport that demonstrates hard work and extreme sacrifices. Works Cited Barbas, I. , (Nov 27th, 2010). , Physiological and performance adaptations of elite Greco-Roman wrestlers during a one-day tournament. , Retrieved from http://www. fila-official. com/images/FILA/documents/stages/2010/Barbas_physiological_performance_adaptations_gr. pdf on Feb 20th, 2012. Bina, A. , (Feb 2011). , Why is College Wrestling Unpopular? Retrieve from

Deadly Unna Film Essay

Australian Rules A comparative review by Anita Jetnikoff (QUT) for Australian Screen Education. Published as: Jetnikoff, Anita (2003) Australian Rules: a comparative review. Australian Screen Education(30):36-38. The title may mislead some viewers, as this is not a film about a football code, anymore than Bend it with Beckham is about soccer. This powerful, brave and rather brutal feature is the debut of Paul Goldman, who co-wrote the screenplay with the novelist Phillip Gwynne. Both the storylines and characters from Gwynne’s awardwinning novel Deadly Unna? nd its sequel Nukkin Ya, have been combined in the film, which was commissioned by South Australian Film Corporation for the Adelaide Festival of Arts 2002, and caused a furore with the local Aboriginal community. The film was screened after much deliberation over the objections against depictions of a character resembling a member of the Penninsular community. This certainly suggests collaboration with Indigenous communities could have been sought at earlier stages of the project. In my reading of the film, however, it is the white community who emerge the more brutal, bigoted and shameful. The Aboriginal community, on the other hand, represent solidarity, and sharing. The film was released and promoted by Palace, with the slogan ‘live by the rules play by the rules’. There is, however, an almost apartheid divide between the black [Nunga) and white [Goonya) communities in this film and the central character’s personal navigating between the two, means he must break unwritten rules. The film is based on aspects of two novels, the partly autobiographical novel Deadly Unna, and its sequel, Nukkin Ya, Nunga expressions for ‘Great hey’ and ‘See you later’. Both novels were easy to read and full of humour in spite of the serious subject matter of racism, interracial relationships, adolescent angst, death and revenge. The novels belong to the adolescent problem or coming-of-age genre and are being studied in secondary schools. The film has little of the novels’ lightness and the narrator’s ability to laugh at himself and his community’s foibles. This sometimes disturbing film’s tone is brutal, the landscape stark, sordid and in decay. Most of the characters occupying the saline, arid coastal town are nasty. The adult men are barflies, maggot breeders, fornicators and losers and the women are victims or sluts. This hopeless adult world offers nothing for the young in this fishing town. Viewers are invited to identify with the young, for whom hope lies in escape. The central figure of Blacky (Nathan Phillips), is an intelligent 14 year old caught between the literary world of his imagination and the literal world of his small towns’ bigotry. His mother, who encourages him to play football and to do well at school, is a battler, a victim of his father’s brutality. The dilapidated house the Black family occupy oozes poverty and neglect. These are white fringe dwellers. In the novel Blacky refers to what kind of chops the family will consume as indicative of the ‘pov metre’. They shop at the local op shop. Like many small rural Australian towns, this coastal community struggles to survive. The black and white communities in the region are divided, separated physically by a stretch of coastline, whites at the port and blacks at the point. Even the local pub segregates the Aboriginal drinkers from the white ones. The irony is that the local football team is only viable when the Aboriginal boys come over from the point to play. The sporting fixture allows the communities to merge, but the union stops there. Blacky crosses the racial divide to befriend Dumby Red (Luke Carroll) a talented Aboriginal Australian Rules Player from the Point and to romance Dumby’s sister Clarence (Lisa Flanagan). Whereas book built up the friendship through Blacky’s doubt and hesitation about Dumby, this is not dealt with in the film. The film opens with the two characters already mates, sitting together in the dilapidated shed of the red dirt football field, commiserating over the ineffectiveness of their coach, Arks (Kevin Harrington). Dumby’s spectacular football prowess has been spotted by a city talent scout, which sets up the need for him to win best Player in the final against a much stronger team. A contract to a city football team would mean a possible escape from the bigotry and emptiness of the Penninsular—his chance to be a sporting success. Blacky finds himself an unwitting hero and awarded best team man for winning the premiership game. He unwittingly collides with the toughest star player on the opposing team and is knocked unconscious, along with his gigantic opponent. The shooting sequences of the match were not especially riveting, but this was in keeping with the importance of the game to the story. The film is not about winning or losing, but the personal integrity of the play or the journey in the ongoing process of discovering identity. The medal for ‘Best on the Ground’, rightly belonged to Dumby Red. His ticket out of the hopeless community, however, was denied to him, because rather than kicking a sure goal, he had passed a ball to a cousin who had not handled the ball all day. The cultural code of sharing was stronger than the competitive need to win. In the film, the loss of the award to the coach’s son paves the way for Dumby’s tragic demise. He joins Pretty (Tony Briggs) in an armed robbery of the pub, perhaps to extract an alternative prize to the one he’d been denied. The publican, Mac, laid out in a drunken stupor on the pool table, is beaten even more senseless by Pretty. The noise rouses Blacky’s father (Simon Westaway) who shoots and kills his son’s friend Dumby Red in revenge for the publican’s beating. In the novel the publican was the murderer, but the film’s central villain is Blacky’s father, Bob, who represents fear, loathing and menace. His violent rages left his own family in fear of him. In one memorable scene they escape his menacing torment of their mother behind closed doors by escaping through the window and sleeping in the chicken coop. The feeling is that this experience was not new to them. Blacky is torn in the novel between his initial attraction to Clarence in Deadly Unna, which he conceals from his white ‘friends’ in order to attract the attention of a rich white ‘camper’ girl. In the sequel this relationship between Blacky and Clarence and Blacky and his father represent two kinds of coming of age. His masculinity is tested early on in a storm at sea and later when he was caught in the shed stealing paint to cover a racist slogan in the local boatshed. His intelligence means little to his father, and his good grades and scholarship to Kings College in Adelaide are ignored. In the sequel Nukkin Ya, the filial relationship seems almost mended when his father takes on the renovation of a ‘windjammer’ to bring potential tourism to the town. His father’s project becomes obsessive at the expense of putting food on the family’s table, but the male relationship seems to be temporarily repaired along with the boat, which becomes symbolic of rebuilding strength, unity and hope around the fantasy of the future. In the novels we experience Blacky’s angst at discovering his father’s infidelity to his mother. Blacky and his friend Pickles, stumble upon their adulterous fathers visiting the Aboriginal women at the point. The irony of this is that the entire community seemed set gainst the burgeoning love relationship between Blacky and Dumby’s sister Clarence. The fact that the cross-race relationship of the father is not dealt with in the film makes his violent reaction to finding Clarence innocently sleeping alongside Blacky in his bedroom connected more with his hatred of Aboriginal people, than it is to do with his guilt over murdering Dumby Red. It is a response reduced to racism alone, rather than his own guilt and hypocrisy, which in the novels is built up subtly through the two volumes. The antagonist in the second novel, having moved away from the father, is embodied by the figure of Lovely (Pretty, in the film) who menaces Blacky over his relationship with Clarence. Lovely sports a hate tattoo on his fingers and is a violent instigator in both book and film. The disclosure of the white men’s infidelity at the expense of the black women, who remain nameless and faceless, leads to the climax of the second novel. The boat is set alight, which symbolizes the death of the relationships between Blacky and his father and his community. Lovely is framed, Blacky absolves Lovely in court by taking the blame, but Pickles (Tom Budge ) was the real arsonist. This false confession, leads to Blacky becoming a cipher in his own town, where boats and the sea are peoples workplaces. He becomes a ‘boat burner’ in the cultural imaginary and is forced to leave. In the film this purging is less powerful and seems to emerge from some kind of corporate malice rather than revenge. Pickles manically sets alight rival maggot breeder Darcy’s breeding drums, which has less symbolic poignancy than the boat burning in the novel. Blacky’s central challenge in the film is to reaffirm his masculinity by standing up to his father, through the relationship with Clarence. Blacky is constructed by his father as a ‘gutless wonder. ’ Blacky’s painful journey to manhood, is much harsher in the film than the book. In the novel the father is a violent adulterer, but in the film, he kills Blacky’s best friend. Blacky’s attendance at Dumby’s funeral represents a betrayal of familial solidarity in the eyes of the father. The relationship was not strong enough however, for Blacky to take his father’s side. At this point, Blacky abdicates from identifying with his father. He has begun to flee the emasculated self constructed by his father, towards a more potent, sexual self, embodied by his attraction and identification with the other through the literal ‘body’ of Dumby and the physical, sexual body of Clarence. What is morally worrisome is that the father, who both Blacky and the viewer see as a murderer, continues to live in the community with impugnity, the ‘common sense’ gap we fill is that he claims he shot Dumby in selfdefense. Blacky courageously resists his father’s imperative to stay away from the funeral. In the film’s powerful and moving climax, the battered, but united family in the background witnesses the final stand off between father and son. Blacky literally stands up to his father, not by competing in battle of fists, but resisting by sheer will and strength of character. The father leaves in a vicious rage and we can’t help feeling that the family will be better off with him gone. The second novel Nukkin Ya begins with hope of Blacky taking a scholarship at Kings in Adelaide. His girlfriend Clarence achieves a scholarship to art school and Blacky has a reason to follow her. The film ends with the two young lovers romantically swimming in the clear waters, symbolically cleansing themselves of the grime and grease of prejudice, which had tainted their relationship until that point. The film treats the romance in a much lighter way than the books. There is no stand off between the characters; in fact Clarence becomes Blacky’s bridge between the two cultures. In the film it is Clarence who stands up to Bob Black in Blacky’s bedroom with dignity and silent resistance. Lisa Flanagan’s performance was elegant and dignified. It was Clarence who gently cut through the wall of hostility from the Nunga boys at her brother’s funeral- allowing Blacky to mourn his friend’s death. It was Clarence who understood Blacky’s poetic allusions to dying stars- these two are cosmically connected and there is an almost Shakespearean sense of their fate. The love scenes provide the film’s only softness and the resolution, although moving, is not sentimental. The young people must leave the still-divided community, to survive together.

Family health Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Family health - Essay Example e promotion of wellbeing and growth, sense of appreciation and encouragement, unity in attaining quality time, common goal, congruence regarding values, positive communication and interactions, set of rules, values and beliefs, engagement in problem-solving activities, sense of optimism, and ability to be flexible (p. 126). These traits are also the foundation of a strong family bond. A healthy family not only promotes the welfare of the family as a unit but has sense of commitment and belief towards the promotion of wellbeing and growth of individual family members. The family values diversity and welcomes opportunities for growth and development. Aside from that, a family becomes healthy and strong bonds are formed if things, whether little or great, are appreciated and recognized by members of the family. Each member should never feel that he/she had disappointed the family; instead, an encouraging environment focusing on achieving better must be created. Doing things or spending time together makes a family healthy as it exercised unity, enjoyment, and verbalization of feelings towards other members of the family. It will also be healthier if the family has a common goal in order to motivate each member in good times and to move forward during the bad times. The congruence in terms of value and importance of assigning time and energy to meet the demands is al so an important trait in dealing with possible conflicts and enhancing positive relationships. Frequent communication is a trait that should not be forgotten as it is essential in establishing strong bonds that could make a family healthy. Rules, values, beliefs, and expectations must be communicated to all the members of the family to establish acceptable and desired behavior. Lastly, a family should be exposed to problem-solving activities in order to prepare them to unexpected situations and teach them how to meet demands and maximize available resources. A family should have a sense of optimism,

The Suitability of Visual Representation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Suitability of Visual Representation - Essay Example The legal profession, ideally speaking, is concerned with the truthful administration of justice. Justice means that people are treated fairly and reasonably. The scales of justice are used to portray this image of the legal profession to the public, and perhaps to remind those in the legal profession of their ethical duties to the notion of justice. The scales of justice are simple, and yet they do portray a very powerful message. The scales represent the concept of balance. The image I selected is interesting because there is an obvious imbalance. Perhaps this is to emphasize the presumption of innocence. Perhaps it is in a state of imbalance in order to demonstrate a commitment to freedom and liberty rather than oppression. The burden is on the person claiming a wrong, perhaps the police or a plaintiff in a civil matter, to prove with solid evidence that his claim is valid. This particular scale of justice was taken from the homepage of a defense attorney. His specialty is defending drunken driving cases. This is a very suitable symbol for people under threat of criminal prosecution. The notion of balance seeks to reassure the client and conveys the ideals of the profession. The Windows logo is one that we see almost daily, and even though it is a very simple idea, it is also a very powerful idea. First, technology is always seen as a very futuristic concept. Groups are always trying to improve and innovate. I think this is an excellent logo for Microsoft. The windows themselves are like windows into the future and into knowledge. This logo is telling us that Microsoft is granting us access to information. That is precisely what they create in their business.

Should Service Learning Be a Requirement for College Graduation Essay

Should Service Learning Be a Requirement for College Graduation - Essay Example In such programs, students work with communities to solve real-life problems, which not only helps them learn their role as citizens but also inject a sense of social responsibility in their minds. Service learning is of two types, which include directly concerned and not directly concerned service learning programs. In directly concerned programs, students are engaged in activities, which are related to the educational major whereas in not directly concerned programs, students need to provide their services in such programs, which have no direct concern with the educational majors of the students. Let us come to the point that whether service learning should be a requirement for college graduation or not. I firmly believe that it should be a part and a requirement for college graduation due to a number of reasons. One of the major reasons is that service-learning programs enhance learning abilities of the students. Such programs not only improve students’ critical thinking an d decision-making abilities but also prepare them for future because students may need to do such work at some point in future. Through participating in such programs, students learn the ways to apply their skills and knowledge to real life problematic situations, which they may encounter in their professional lives. Service learning makes students prepared for their future professional roles and responsibilities. Such programs make students aware of the workplace environment at an early stage, which helps them adjust in any workplace environment in a very short span of time. Such programs enhance personality development of the students and improve their workplace skills and abilities. Service-learning programs allow students to translate their theory learning into practice, which is a very positive aspect of service learning. Service learning not only provides opportunities to the students to get experience of real work but also help them enrich learning and renew communities. Coll eges and universities should maintain such resources, which they can use to provide learning opportunities to the students. Service learning has become a necessity for the success of students in professional life. Today, many of the students struggle when they enter their professional lives because sometimes they are not mentally equipped with the workplace environment that is provided to them and sometimes they take a lot of time being trained for the job. Service learning eliminates all such possibilities by preparing students mentally for work. One more thing, for which service learning seems essential at college level, is that it enables students identify the roles, which they will need to play in society in future. When students engage in community activities, they become aware of their social roles and responsibilities in a very young stage of life. It is a fact that a society can sustain its existence only if its citizens, both young and adults, are aware of their roles in th e society. Service-learning programs serve this purpose very well. Opponents of service learning say that such programs are unnecessary because they are not relevant to the educational majors of the students. They say that sometimes students who have selected management as their major are selected for the service-learning programs in which they have to take care of patients is the hospitals. Similarly,

Walt Disney`s Management of Diversity and its Challenges Essay

Walt Disney`s Management of Diversity and its Challenges - Essay Example Associated with several international film companies, the company diversified to open the Disneyland Theme Park in California in 1955. The second Theme Park, with resorts, opened in Florida in 1971. Disney’s other key theme parks include the EPCOT Centre opened in 1982 and Animal Kingdom in 1998 in Florida; as well as Tokyo Disneyland in 1983; and Disney Paris in 1992 (Clarke and Chen, 2012). Thus, â€Å"today, Walt Disney’s Parks and Resorts operates or licenses 11 theme parks on three continents† (Clarke and Chen, 2012, p.322) including North America, Asia and Europe, and a twelfth is proposed for Shanghai in China. Merchandising in park attractions was introduced in 1987, and the company offered time-share ownerships in the park resorts from 1991. Walt Disney World further diversified its business into Education in 1996, and fitness, Sports Training and Events in 1997, besides filming, recording, network, broadcasting, cruising, and other projects. The Walt Di sney Company’s entry into the international market in Europe and Asia required its use of types of diversity management in operating their products in new cultural environments. Its French subsidiary, the Euro Disney SCA (societe en commandite par actions) formed a limited partnership with the host country. Walt Disney Company’s multinational business operations necessitates the company’s management of a diversity of people from different cultural backgrounds in its workforce (Clarke and Chen, 2012). Thesis Statement: The purpose of this paper is to investigate Walt Disney’s management of diversity and related challenges in the organisation. Walt Disney Company’s Diversity Management According to Clarke and Chen (2012), diversity takes into account the differences between individuals. Diversity management requires an adaptation of executive skills and styles for successful outcomes in managing a diverse workforce. Effective diversity management â⠂¬Å"reduces resistance to working with members of another ethnic, racial, or cultural group† (Clarke and Chen, 2012, p.340); it also lowers the risk of miscommunication, and promotes unity among the members of the global multinational giant. Thus, the Walt Disney company is required to be knowledgeable about the behaviour, beliefs and habits of the different cultures of the host countries. At the same time, the culture of the parent company also plays a vital part in diversity management. Although some researchers such as Gerhart and Fang (2005) have opposed the emphasis on national culture and the overlooking of organisational differences in diversity management, multinational companies’ country of origin is acknowledged as an important element, in most research undertaken in this domain, as reiterated by Harzing and Sorge (2003). The broad basis for the conceptual framework for diversification examines key factors such as cultural differences, institutional difference s, organisational differences and their mutual dynamics (Schuler et al, 2002). One of the critical challenges facing multinational companies is balancing the need for global integration and local adaptation. The national origin of MNCs is found to have a crucial impact on this

Internal factor Evaluation on Michael Kors Company Essay

Internal factor Evaluation on Michael Kors Company - Essay Example Michael Kors Holdings Ltd has currently made the headlines in the best performing stocks in America, catching the attention of the financial analysts and the investors. In addition to its growing market share, the company has recorded high profits and a high stock price. This means that there are various things that the management of the company is doing right, which its competitors are missing. This paper will evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of Michael Kors’ company as part of its internal factor evaluation in relation to the above ratings. Strengths Michael Kors’ company, a highly profitable company, has high revenue turnover as a result of increased sales volume. According to (Caplinger web), the fashion designer company has increasingly invested in its trendy fashions targeting the high end markets, which have in the recent 10 years translated into high profits for the company. The profitability of the company has been translated into high stock prices that ha ve jumped up to 60% in the current financial year. In comparison to the competitors, the company’s profitability performance is exemplary. While other companies in the design industry such as the biggest rival coach are making profits, the company’s management has maintained a high profitability trend in the market. Michael Kors has taken the advantage of the fashionable conditions in most parts of the design market to maximize on its profitability levels. The high demand for fashion wear in the North market has made the company pitch tent in the area, strategically placing most of its retail chain shops. Strategically placing its operations in the high end markets with a high demand for the products, the company has tapped into the potential markets and drawn more customers into its shops. Sales from the region have been high as revealed in the company’s financial reports that indicate a higher performance in comparison to that of the industry. To maximize in i ts profits, market diversification and production of clothes, Michael Kors has invested $88.2 million to fund its operations. This has translated into high profits for the company, as the current results reveal. Increased investor confidence in the company has subsequently drawn more capital investment into the company. Profitability ratios of the company can attest to this trend, with the Pre-Tax Margin of 27.98, which is higher than that of the industry which is at 16.35 (Marder web). Financial ratios of the company indicate growth, high profits and increased market share by the company. The company has maintained a constant growth trend in the past 10 years. Recently after going public, the company’s has been tremendous. Against the average sales of the industry, the company has registered incredible growth rates in its recent financial statements. While the industry’s total sales were at 15.5%, the company registered sales of up to 70.4% in growth (Caplinger web). Michael Kors Company has a wide market share in terms of its customer base. The increasing growth of the company’

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

Walmex - Research Paper Example A year later the company commemorated fifty years of service to Mexican citizens. 2009 ended with the acquiring of Wal-Mart de Centro America by the Wal-Mart de Mexico giant expanding its service to six countries (Kojadinovc 41). There are credible reports that Wal-Mart the largest retailer in the world was aware that one of its branches, wal -mart de Mexico used bribes coerce foreign officials to allow their operations. The bribes were paid to acquire permits for the Mexico stores establishments in desirable places such as the Teotihuacan. Alleged bribes are said to have been given to the Teotihuacan Municipal Council and the National institute of Anthropology and History’s director. Handsome Bribes were also orchestrated in relation to zoning laws and environmental permits that would have been hurdles in the company’s expansion. It is also under scrutiny for subverting democratic governance such as public votes, transparent procedures and open debates and the same bribes to offset competition. This is against compliance to the mandated foreign Corrupt Practices Act which prohibits an American company from offering bribes to foreign officials. In a response to the claims, Wal-Mart stated that it has been conducting extensive investigations in relation to the allegation cases and that they are non-tolerant to non-compliance to the law anywhere at any level of the company’s branches and is diligent to provide necessary contribution. In a separate statement the spokesman reiterated that the company has divulged substantial resources dedicated to this effort. Corruption and bribery are vastly permeated notions in Mexico. The justice system in the city is feeble and I can be manipulated with ease. Further, bribery is fuelled by the relatively low salaries paid to the local public workers. Hence it was not shocking for Wal-Mart to have its way through the law. Wal-Mart de Mexico was an insistent and crafty corruptor offering humungous bribes to get

Al Qaidas Next Major Domestic Attack on the United States Essay

Al Qaidas Next Major Domestic Attack on the United States - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that 21st century marked with the huge terrorist threat over the world. It goes without saying that, the Al Qaeda is the most notorious among those terrorist groups. This group maintains a vast and organized networks throughout the world. Now the Al Queda is likely to launch a huge terrorist attack mainly on the non-Islamic and developed countries of the world. Now the most warned target of Al Qaeda's massive terrorist attack in the U.S.A. However, it started its full-fledged attack on September 11, 2001, on U.S.A resulting in the ‘World Trade Centre’ totally damaged and U.S.A defense installation Pentagon was also affected badly.Though the two famous American intelligence agencies FBI and CIA guessed about the probability of a terrorist attack they could not imagine that could be such a terrible one. However, from that time those intelligent agencies are very much conscious about the further possibility of any massive terroris t attack on U.S.A by Al-Qaeda or any other terrorist group. The plan, which is focused for the first time in the Australian publication that their duration is of seven phases. They started their first horrible activities concerning U.S.A on 11th September in 2001 A.D. On that very day they attacked the world trade center known as 9/11 attack. the object of this was the awakening in the consciousness of   Mohammedans all over the world and aimed at provoking the U.S.A into announcing war on the Muslim world and mobilizing radicals.... The battalion is also spread all over the world and devoted to their assigned afforded to form their own secret battalion which is huge in number and scientifically trained. The battalion is also spread all over the world and devoted to their assigned who are not fearful about their lives rather interested to even sacrifice themselves for the sake of Islam. However another alarming thing is that, Al Qaeda does not have face any difficulties to manage the necessary manpower from the third world Islamic countries. Due to economic insufficiency and lack of proper knowledge of Islam those people do not hesitate in joining Al Qaeda network. As an ultimate result Al Qaeda is increasing its network across the world within the least possible time. 3. Probably in the year 2010 the world is going to see a terrible aggression on the secular countries like Turkey and archenemy Israel. Al Qaeda is likely take preparation towards this direction. They insist on the principle that, no anti-Islam power will be shared from the attack of al Qaeda. 4. Another alarming plan of Al Qaeda is that, it decided to run a massive attack on the hatred Arab regimes, including Saudi Arabia and Jordan and other countries. Because, those countries are the main oil suppliers of the U.S.A and other non-Muslim western countries. Attacking them, Al Qaeda wishes to destroy the enriched economy of the U.S.A creating a bar in the oil production and it's supply process to U.S.A. They also threat that the U.S.A economy will be affected with serious cyber terrorism. This attack may take place with the beginning of the year 2013 in a pre-planed way. 5. IN this phase Al Qaeda group extremely expect to establish an

Pollution control and waste management Essay Example for Free

Pollution control and waste management Essay The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (the Department) has recognised that they are not always successful in policing and enforcing environmental laws. However, the Department is making strides to meet these challenges and to ensure that our laws are practically implemented. In March 2000, the Department published its White Paper on Integrated Pollution and Waste Management (the White Paper). The White Paper proposes a number of tools to implement the objectives of the waste management policy it sets out. The promulgation of new pollution and waste legislation such as the amendments to the Environment Conservation Act, 73 of 1989 (ECA) comprise one such tool. The objective of the Environment Conservation Act: Amendment Bill, 2003 (the Amendment Bill) is to facilitate governments general policy on integrated pollution control and waste management so as to give effect to waste management as proposed in the White Paper. The Amendment Bill will amend the ECA in three separate ways: †¢ the management of waste sites will be transferred from the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry to the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (the Minister); †¢ the Minister will have the power to make regulations for the imposition of compulsory charging for identified waste streams (for example, plastic bags) and deposit systems (for example, second-hand non-reusable tyres); and †¢ the Minister will have the power to make regulations regarding products which, by their nature, may pose a hazard to the environment and/or human health if and when they reach the waste stream (for example, asbestos products). Transfer of power The ECA governs environmental waste pollution. In particular, the ECA provides for the permitting and related control measures for the operation of waste landfill sites. The ECA specifically stipulates that the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry should administer these facilities. In accordance with the governments philosophy on integrated pollution control and waste management inherent in the White Paper, the amendment transfers the administration of these facilities from the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry to the Minister. Economic incentives In order to promote recycling and waste minimization in respect of certain waste streams such as plastic bags, glass and tyres, certain additional regulatory powers will be allocated to the Minister. The Amendment Bill proposes a financial incentive approach which will complement the existing traditional command and control approach to controlling pollution. Whereas the command and control approach relies either on administrative sanctions (for example, permitting requirements on scheduled emissions) or criminal measures (for example, fines or imprisonment if such permit conditions are breached) to regulate pollution emissions, the amendment will give the Minister the power to make regulations to encourage the re-use, reduction and recycling of specific waste types. To this end, the proposed amendment to the ECA provides that the Minister may make regulations with regard to waste management, concerning the imposition of compulsory charging, deposits systems and levies on certain waste types or specified items in waste types. The intention is that the revenue raised from such charges will be used to encourage recycling and a compulsory deposit system will promote the collection and return of types of waste. A compulsory charge on a particular waste will encourage its re-use, for example, the controversial compulsory charge on plastic bags has promoted re-use. The Minister intends to use these mechanisms to impose a deposit scheme on second-hand and unusable tyres and glass. Regulating products Currently, the ECA does not give the Minister or the Department regulatory power over products, materials or substances that may cause harm to the environment or human health should these enter the waste stream (for example, asbestos, which is found in building material, friction material and other elements). The Department does not have regulatory powers over such substances until the relevant material becomes waste. The Amendment Bill will give the Minister the power to make regulations with regard to the prohibition, control or regulation of products that may have a detrimental effect on the environment or on human health if and when they reach the waste stream.

Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting: Causes and Treatments

Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting: Causes and Treatments Postoperative nausea and vomiting is the nausea and vomiting symptoms which occurred after a surgery, medicines intake or anaesthesia usage. Around 18 to 30 of surgical patients have PONV and the nausea and vomiting symptoms are usually self-limiting in most cases.1 Uncomplicated PONV usually resolve within 24 hours after an operation whereas intractable PONV involve various triggering factors and resist to medical treatment, making it harder to treat. Studies revealed that most patients dislike chronic PONV more than postoperative pain as it is a more distressing illness and it may lead to several serious clinical consequences if left untreated. In the case of repeated vomiting, PONV patients might suffer from dehydration and have a higher chance of developing hiatal hernia, a condition where the upper part of stomach protrudes into the thorax through the opening of diaphragm. Other than that, patients might also experience anorexia, gastrointestinal discomfort, headache, weakness, dizziness and nausea while not vomiting. Chronic vomiting can also cause complications like dental damage and sore throats due to exposure of oesophageal lining and mouth cavity to the low pH gastric acid. Moreover, PONV may induce serious problems like pulmonary aspiration, electrolyte abnormalities, wound dehiscence, increased pain and oesophageal rupture.4,5 Despite causing patients discomfort, patients also have to pay more for the delayed hospital discharge. Each incidence of vomiting has increased postanaesthetic care unit (PACU) stay duration by 20mins. Therefore, to reduce the unanticipated hospital admission and the financial burden broug ht by PONV, there is a need to understand the disease pathophysiology so that precise and mechanism-based treatment strategies can be developed to tackle the emesis problem. The vomiting centre and the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ) are the two main parts of the brain controlling the vomiting action. The vomiting centre is located within the medulla oblongata and the emesis action is initiated via the stimulation of five primary afferent pathways. They are the chemoreceptor trigger zone, vagal mucosal pathway of the gastrointestinal system, neuronal pathways from the vestibular apparatus system, inputs from the periphery glossopharyngeal nerve and reflex afferent pathways from  cerebral cortex C2,3 and midbrain afferents. Next, efferent nerve impulses are sent to various place of the body such as the pharynx, larynx, diaphragm, intercostals muscles and gut to initiate the vomiting reflex. During the ejection phase of the vomiting reflex, the diaphragm and abdominal muscles  simultaneously contract and the elevated intra-abdominal pressure leads to the throw up and expulsion of gastric contents. A variety of receptors are participated in the emesis action. They are the histaminergic(H1), dopaminergic(D2), serotonergic(5-HT3), muscarinic and neurokinin-1 receptors. Consequently, pharmacological agents which target on these receptors can be utilized to treat PONV. However, the British National Formulary (BNF) had advised that antiemetic agents should only be used once the causative factor for nausea and vomiting was identified. This is because the use of antiemetic is sometimes dangerous and inappropriate in clinical cases like diabetic ketoacidosis, digoxin or antiepileptic overdose.6 Hence, the aetiology and possible causative factors of PONV should be investigated to guide the planning of the pharmaceutical management steps and the antiemetic selection for treating PONV. There are patient-specific factors, surgical factors and anaesthetic risk factors which contribute to PONV prevalence. Patients who aged 6 to 16 year old, female, non-smoker, obese or have a history of motion sickness or PONV are proven to be the high-risk patient group. Moreover, patients who have chemotherapy, migraine and gastroparesis problems are also susceptible to PONV. Other causative factors include elevated intracranial pressure, metabolic abnormalities, gastroduodenal ulcers, dehydration and infections of the gastroesophageal lining. As for the surgical factors, PONV is related to the premedication side-effect, prolong fasting, conditions of gastric inflation during mask ventilation, use of long-acting opioids, nitrous oxide, volatile anaesthetics and high dose neostigmine in surgery. In addition, frequent head movement of patient and early intake of food after surgery can also potentiate the nausea problem.1 Some types of operations have higher chance of developing PONV, they are the gynaecological surgery, ear, nose and throat operation, intra-abdominal and squint correction surgery. Furthermore, the surgical duration is also an important contributor which predisposes patients to a higher risk of PONV. Every 30 minutes extension in surgical time can increase risk of PONV by 60% as patient is taking in more anaesthetics into the body. Hence, healthcare team should control and minimize the surgery duration such that risk of getting PONV is reduced. Although it is not relevant to discuss anaesthetic techniques in this case scenario, it is important to note that regional anaesthesia should be preferred over general anaesthesia during surgical process. According to SOGC guideline, there is an 11-fold increase in the PONV risk when using general anaesthesia rather than regional anaesthesia. Apart from that, volatile anaesthesia, long-acting opioid and neostigmine should also avoid in surgery as these agents predispose patient to PONV. If the use of general anaesthesia is unavoidable in a surgery, propofol can be a suitable induction agent because it induces less PONV incidence. A thorough assessment should be carried out to serve as a rationale for the management plan of PONV. The past medical history, frequency and nature of the vomiting episode, blood electrolyte test and physical examination can be evaluated to identify the severity of disease condition and the aetiology of PONV. Subsequently, the appropriate pharmacological agents which target on the responsible pathway of emesis can be given. Many antiemetic preparations are available in the market and patients can choose between formulations of solution, buccal tablets, rectal suppository and subcutaneous (SC), intravenous (IV) or intramuscular (IM) injections when oral route is not feasible.6 As no single agent provides complete control in emesis, most hospital has adopted a multimodal approach and a combination strategy where different antiemetics which target on different receptors are utilized in the treatment of PONV.1 Combination therapy becomes the preferable way to treat PONV and the generally used combination is 5-HT3 receptor antagonists with droperidol or dexamethasone. Granisetron and ondansetron are examples of 5-HT3 or serotonin receptor antagonists. They exert their effects in the chemoreceptor trigger zone and at vagal afferents of the gastrointestinal tract. Previous studies showed that no single agent performed exceptionally well than the others of same class as all 5-HT3 antagonists illustrated similar safety and efficacy profile. Yet, a recent meta-analysis which includes 85 randomized controlled, double-blind studies with 15,269 patients involvement had established that the antiemetic effect of granisetron is significantly superior to ondansetron and dolasetron. Ondansetron was also found to be more cost effective than granisetron. 1-2mg of granisetron or 4-8mg of ondansetron can be delivered in intravascular route at the end of surgery for PONV treatment. Long-acting serotonin antagonist with higher binding affinity to 5-HT3 receptors, palonosetron, is also available in the market with a long half-life of about 40 hours. Patients receivin g these agents might experience headache, constipation and dizziness problems. Droperidol is a butyrophenone which acts competitively on central dopaminergic receptors in the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ). It is applied in 0.625-1.25mg IV route at the end of surgery. A systematic review of 24 randomized studies was carried out by Schaub and team, they concluded that droperidol decreases PONV incidence regardless of the dose given to patients. However, this drug is only used as a third-line antiemetic for intractable PONV when other alternative treatments failed because droperidol can lead to adverse effects associated with QT prolongation and torsades de points, sedation, anxiety, hypotension and extrapyramidal symptoms. Due to its possibility in causing fatal arrhythmia, electrocardiographic monitoring is compulsory each time upon its usage. Nonetheless, a double-blinded randomized clinical study which included 120 patients stated that there was insufficient evidence to prove the QTc prolongation effect induced by droperidol after surgery. Dexamethasone is classified under corticosteroids and often delivered in a 4 to 5mg one-off dose via IV or IM route.19 The exact mechanism of action is unknown but it is related to the peripheral inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis and its ability to reduce 5-HT turnover in the CNS. Although dexamethasone is not licensed for the indication of PONV, this drug is as effective as other conventional antiemetic drugs like droperidol and serotonin antagonists. A single blinded, randomized-controlled interventional study had illustrated that the administration of dexamethasone is useful for the reduction of PONV episodes (30% in contrast to 70% of the placebo group).20 Moreover, Ormel et al. illustrated that the addition of dexamethasone to droperidol and ondansetron showed a profound amplification in the efficacy profile of these triple agents combination. It stands as a good alternative for PONV treatment due to the advantage of cost-effectiveness issue and its characteristic of long ac tion duration. As dexamethasone can increase plasma glucose level, it is not recommended for diabetic patient. Furthermore, unfavorable side-effect like postoperative euphoria, impaired wound healing, irritability and adrenal suppression can happen in patient taking long-term corticosteroids. Metoclopramide is a gastroprokinetic agent which acts on the D2 receptors of the gastrointestinal tract. It can accelerate the gastric emptying rate of gastroparesis and GI obstruction patients.2,6 Despite blocking the D2 receptors, it also has antagonist action on 5-HT3 receptors in the CTZ and vomiting centre when delivered in high doses. 5 to 20mg dose of metoclopramide in subcutaneous, oral or IV route is commonly taken by patient before meal and before bed.6 This medicine is commonly administered as combination therapy because there is conflicting evidence stating that metoclopramide alone is ineffective for PONV and it should not be use unless the causative factor for PONV is gastric stasis. Yet, a recent meta-analysis has proved that 10mg IV metoclopramide does well in preventing nausea and vomiting problems after the general anaesthesia surgery. As with the phenothiazines discussed below, both drugs have limited use in practice due to the adverse reactions like extrapyramidal effects and dystonia disorder particularly in pediatric and young adults population. Phenothiazines is an example of strong dopamine antagonist which also act on medullary CTZ. Promethazine, prochlorperazine and perphenazine belong to this group and take part in the prophylaxis and treatment of PONV.24 Prochlorperazine is often administered as a 12.5mg deep intramuscular injection or in a 3 to 6mg dose buccal preparation 12 hourly after the surgery. These agents show superior efficacy in treating opioid-induced PONV. However, high-dose metoclopramide and phenothiazines are now less likely used in clinical practice because of their significant side effects like acute dystonic reactions, sedation, dizziness and extrapyramidal symptoms.9,25 A systematic analysis consisting of 19 non-randomized and randomized clinical trials had demonstrated that most studies supported the effectiveness of promethazine in reducing PONV occurrence when compared to placebo and that combination therapy is always preferable and more effective than promethazine alone. Cyclizine is an antihistamine drugs which block the H1 sympathetic pathway in the vomiting centre. The antimuscarinic and antihistamine properties of cyclizine render it to become an antiemetic drug in PONV treatment. A randomised double-blinded study which involved the participations of 960 women had shown that patients who received cyclizine monotherapy showed a slightly greater antiemetic effect than granisetron alone (PONV incidence of 24% with cyclizine compare to 23% in granisetron group).26 Cyclizine can be given orally, intramuscularly or intravenously, with common antimuscarinic side-effects like sedation and dry mouth. Severe heart failure patient should avoid taking this medicine because it leads to detrimental haemodynamic effect.6 The acidic pH of cyclizine at 3.2 also causes pain and irritancy to body upon injection.10 As a result, patients usually have 50mg of cyclizine IV injection every 8 hours after proper dilution. A lower dose of 25mg in oral, IM or IV preparation s can also be applied in elderly patient. Scopolamine has anticholinergic property which inhibits the muscarinic as well as the histaminergic receptors in the vestibular apparatus and the nucleus of the tractus solitarus.3,9 Patients who undergo middle ear surgery or use opioids as postoperative anaesthetics are recommended to take scopolamine for their profound efficacy in reducing PONV.3 Scopolamine requires 2 to 4 hours for onset of duration. Hence, a fast-acting antiemetic or a loading bolus dose is needed in urgent case. It is available in transdermal form as a 1.5mg patch which can be placed behind the ear. This slow-release formulation can have sustained effect up to 72 hours. Apfel C et al. had reported that transdermal scopolamine had significantly reduced the risk of PONV when compared to the placebo group although it has the main side-effects of dry mouth, sedation and visual disturbances.28 Furthermore, a comparative study between the combination use of ondansetron plus scopolamine patch and ondansetron alone als o proved that the earlier group significantly decrease the nausea and vomiting incidence after surgery. Other than a mechanism-based approach, less conventional therapeutic agents can also be used to treat intractable PONV cases. An antidepressant with a novel indication, mirtazapine, is able to ease the nausea and vomiting symptoms because it can antagonize 5-HT3 receptors. A small scale randomized trial which compared the therapeutic outcome of mirtazapine and ondansetron had showed that patients using mirtazapine were less anxious and had fewer PONV episodes than the ondansetron group. Next, olanzapine which is recognized as an atypical antipsychotic drug also proved to have potential in treating PONV. It can inhibit several receptors such as the dopamine, acetylcholine, histamine and 5-HT3 receptors. Ibrahim M et al. had conducted a randomized controlled study which involved 82 surgical patients. The result proved the efficacy and safety profile of olanzapine against PONV especially during the late postoperative stage. Other than medications approach, non-pharmacological interventi ons also show potential therapeutic efficacy in PONV management. Acupuncture, acustimulation or acupressure serves as a good alternative or adjuvant therapy for PONV patients as it shows good tolerability and safety profile. The P6 point (Neiguan) which located at 5cm near to the ventral wrist is the target site of these alternative approaches. Transcutaneous electrical stimulation delivered to the P6 point of the pericardium meridian has been proved to be an efficient way in preventing emesis. Patients only complain of light side-effects like needle fainting, allergy, needle site pain, anxiety or lethargy problems when using this method. In order to solve the labour intensive and time-consuming issues of traditional Chinese acupuncture, the acupressure and acustimulation wristband are introduced in the market (Sea-Band and ReliefBand). Sea-Band applies steady, continuous pressure on the P6 point whereas ReliefBand is a watch-like device which conducts low current to P6 point via electrodes in contact with the skin. Based on the well-established efficacy profile and good evidence-base literature support, healthcare professionals can involve more acupuncture interventions in treatment practice as part of the multimodal approach. In this case, the intractable emesis symptoms experienced by the old woman might indicate the failure of prophylaxis treatment or the need to start a primary antiemetic treatment. Before the initiation of a rescue treatment, a bedside examination and a patient interview should be done to find out whether the PONV symptom is associated to issues such as morphine analgesia, surgical pain management, infection, intestinal obstruction, hypotension, hypoxia, blood in the pharynx, anxiety or removal and insertion of nasogastric tube. 5-HT3 antagonist is the recommended drug for patients who previously do not receive a prophylaxis treatment. Patient can start with a low dose regimen such as ondansetron 1 mg, dolasetron 12.5 mg and granisetron 0.1 mg. If drugs for prophylaxis had been given but fail, patients can then try other class of antiemetics to tackle more diverse receptor pathways. For instance, Habib et al. had found that the failure of prophylactic ondansetron or droperidol can be replaced with rescue agents like promethazine (12.5-25 mg IV), prochloperazine (12.5mg IM) or cyclizine (25-50mg IV or IM) to achieve a better outcome. This is because consensus guideline support that the repeat use of 5-HT3 antagonist within the initial 6 hours postoperative period provides no extra recovery response. If patient use dexamethasone as prevention agent, small dose 5-HT3 antagonist (25% of prophylactic dose) can then be given as a rescue approach. A study also concluded that the cost-effectiven ess of ondansetron in low dose treatment group was higher than that in the high dose prophylatic group. Moreover, in the case of the aggressive treatment failure, such as those who had taken 5-HT3 antagonist, droperidol and dexamethasone altogether but failed, repeat dosing of same prophylactic regimen except dexamethasone can only be considered 6 hours after the surgery though the optimal dosage and timing for readministration still remain unknown. Transdermal scopolamine can also be prescribed for outpatients as it is a more convenient preparation than the parenteral drugs. Prolong use of opioids for pain control after surgery should also be minimized as side-effects like nausea and vomiting are correlated to the prescribed dose. Alternative analgesics like NSAIDS can be used to substitute the causative opioids. In persisting case, pharmacist can review the prescription and anaesthetic charts to ensure adequate maintenance of analgesia, antiemetic and oxygen supply. Dose escalation under safety and therapeutic dosage range can also be worked on. However, pharmacist should be cautious on polypharmacy problem as it may aggravate nausea and vomiting in susceptible patient. Non-oral drug preparations can be considered over oral route to avoid burdening of patient with excessive pills at one time. If necessary, the acupuncture treatment can also be applied to attempt a multimodal approach. Pharmacist should also concern about the possible dehydration risk that might be encountered by chronic PONV patients. For this reason, the blood pressure, hydration and perfusion level of patients have to be checked on a regular basis. Patients should be told to report of symptoms like dry or sticky mouth, sunken eyes, reduced urination or dark yellow urine. If constipation or diarrhea happens, intravenous fluid replacement therapy, osmotic or stimulant laxative can be given to solve the issues. For the dietary measures, patients should avoid oily or spicy food which might aggravate the nausea. Small, frequent meal is preferable over big heavy meal as light meal reduce the possibility of gastric discomfort. Patients should be advised to not move around too often to avoid triggering the vomiting centre. Furthermore, in post-discharged nausea and vomiting (PDNV) case, the antiemetic efficacy profiles are different from PONVs as they have dissimilar underlying cause. Droperidol should be avoided as it is ineffective in treating PDNV.2 If the patient still not responsive to all these approaches, specialist intervention should be initiated to treat intractable nausea and vomiting symptoms. Serious causative factors like surgical complication might be suspected and further investigations are required to treat this disease. In a nutshell, the optimization management of PONV disease requires the participation of the multimodal approach. Patients should be treated accordingly after the accurate disease assessment and further modifications of treatment approaches like (dose-adjustment, introduction of new agents or alternative approaches) can be done to control patients nausea and vomiting symptoms. Lifestyle modification and non-pharmacological interventions also play an important part in treating PONV. Proper patient education about symptoms management should be delivered and follow-up session can be arranged to assess patients rehabilitation progress. Apart from that, reassurance and full supportive care from healthcare teams also play an important role in reducing patient distress and anxiety level.

Cunstract, Intirnel, end Extirnel Velodoty :: dete, ivodinci, stady

Cunstract velodoty hes tu du woth istebloshong currict upiretounel miesaris fur thi cuncipts biong stadoid (Yon 2009, p. 40). Yon (2009), wrotis thet risierchirs cen ompruvi cunstract velodoty cunstract velodoty cen bi of maltopli suarcis uf dete os impluyid (troengaletoun uf dete), istebloshong cheon uf ivodinci, end rivoiwong thi ripurt woth thior onfurments (p. 41). In mekong sari thet uni cen drew e mienong end asifal onfirincis frum scuris un pertocaler onstramints uf dete cullictoun end tu dimunstreti thi eccarecy uf thior fondongs, Criswill (2013) elsu edvoci thi asi uf mimbir chickong end troengaletong dete (p. 201). Qaerm (2009) end Serqaeh (2008) buth asid sivirel dete suarcis (ontirvoiws, ducamints, midoe, end ontirnit) on thior stadois. Thi troengaletoun uf dete suarcis on thior stadois elluw fur sivirel ivodinci tu bi cullictid un thior cesis andir stady, cuncipts ur veroeblis wiri clierly end pricosily ixpleonid end upiretounelozid. Thos privintid oneccarecois end embo gaotois darong thi foild stady end elluwid fur lergi vulami uf dete tu bi cullictid end asid by buth onqaorirs. Bat buth ergaid thet dai tu tomi end fonencoel cunstreonts, thiy cuald nut rivoiw thi dete cullictid woth kiy onfurments tu currict eny mosteki, oneccarecois, clerofocetouns whoch tu sumi ixtint thrietinid thi velodoty uf thior stadois. 8.2 Intirnel Velodoty Thos rifirs tu istebloshong e ceasel riletounshop, whiriby cirteon cundotouns eri shuwn tu lied tu uthir cundotouns (Yon, 2009, p.40). Thi guel uf siikong tu isteblosh ceaseloty os muri ivodint on ixplenetury ur ceasel stadois rethir then discroptovi ur ixpluretury stadois (obod). Thos os dai tu thi lomotid cuntrul risierchirs hevi uvir ixtreniuas ur andisorebli veroeblis thet onflainci thi riletounshop bitwiin thi veroeblis. Estebloshong ceaseloty cen bi ompruvi darong thi dete enelysos stegi whiri thi risierchir niid tu du pettirn metchong, ixplenetoun baoldong, eddriss rovel thiurois end thi asi uf lugoc mudils (p.41). Buth Qaerm (2009) end Serqaeh (2008) stadois dod nut siik tu isteblosh ceaseloty bitwiin thior ondipindint end dipindint veroeblis. Buth stadois eri seod tu bi ixpluretury on netari. Fur ixempli, Qaerm (2009) stady siik tu discrobi thi meon ecturs end thi stretigois thiy impluyid tu pash thi dumistoc voulinci boll untu thi guvirnmint eginde fur ettintoun whiries Ser qaeh (2008) stady siik tu discrobi thi meon fecturs effictong thi omplimintetoun uf thi foscel dicintrelozetoun pulocy on Akaepim Suath dostroct uf Ghene. 8.3 Extirnel Velodoty Yon (2009) difonis ixtirnel velodoty es istebloshong thi dumeon tu whoch e stady’s fondongs cen bi ginirelozid biyund thi ommidoeti cesi stady (p.

A Pair Of Silk Stockings Essay example -- essays research papers

Kate Chopin again writes another short story with a way of getting the attention of the reader in a short period of time. â€Å"A Pair of Silk Stockings† is based in early to mid 1900's in a average town. Shops, a theater and such lies in the center of town. The author tells of a widowed mother that is not so well off, that discovers a sum of money and is taken away in her own shopping spree and perhaps her own dreams.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mrs. Sommers is a middle aged timid mother of a handful of children, and is apparently not well to do anymore after her husband’s death; Not that she probably ever was, but more so than her luck would have it now. She is small framed with tattered old clothes, as if she hasn’t been able to purchase anything in quite awhile, nor would she knowing how...

Effective Communication Skills Essay -- Message, Feedback

Introduction An important step to becoming an effective leader is to develop effective communication skills. Communication is the transmission of meaning from one person to another or to many people, whether verbally or non-verbally (Barrett, 2006). Effective communication enables leaders to lead. Effective communication occurs only if the receiver understands the exact information or idea that the sender intended to covey. As a leader, studying the communication process is important. Communication skills, including the ability to problem solve, work in teams, and adapt to various audiences, are critical in today’s workplace (Levy& Murname, 2004). Since the most successful leaders communicate well, understanding how your communication is working and how it might work better is critical to achieving similar success. The purpose of this paper is to assess my communication skills and develop a recipe for successful communication that other leaders can use to evaluate their communication skills. I will outline my approach to assessing my communication skills and describe my development plan for improving those skills. Methods According to Chambers (2001), communicating is a complex process. The ability to draft a message, deliver it to another, listen for feedback, process it, and continue to communicate in ways that are understood requires skills that take time to develop. The best place to start is to first understand which communication skills need development. The first tool I used to perform my self- assessment was a comprehensive communication evaluation tool developed by IHC Health Services (see Appendix A). I chose this instrument because I wanted to start my assessment by measuring my overall understanding of the... ... communicator. My second goal is to understand the different communication styles and adjust my communication style to the needs of others. This goal will be achieved once I have mastered the art of altering my behavior so that it fits better with another person’s style. This skill will need to be practiced and honed until it is perfected. It will take time to master this skill. Conclusion Improving communication skills should be a priority for all leaders. Becoming an effective communicator takes practice. Identifying communication skills to personally work on is the first step in becoming a better communicator and better leader. Great leaders recognize the importance of good communication. Responsible leaders work to prevent communication mishaps and keep the communication flowing throughout their organizations.

Duckweed

Feed Industry Overview: Duckweed feed has been found to be a very nutritious feed source for many types of livestock. The fact that duckweed can be fed to animals in its wet form or dried for a more concentrated food source make an efficient, cost effective, harvester a possible attractive product for this market. Traditional Harvesters are economically unfeasible and manual harvesting is very labor intensive for medium to large scale operations. Feed prices can vary drastically due to crop yields, gas prices, and product demand. After the initial investment of the Proskimmer the costs for producing this feed additive would be minimal. There is opportunity for duckweed to be used more as a feed source in coming years to alleviate increasing demand on corn and soy yields. Analysis According to North Carolina Reasearchers: â€Å"Duckweed holds great promise as an alternative feed supplement. One of the smallest plants known to man could help us produce cleaner water while at the same time providing a high quality feed for domestic stock animals (poultry, swine, and cattle). The nutrient uptake ability possessed by duckweed along with its fast reproductive rate and environmental requirements make it easy to manage. The problem with duckweed is in the harvesting of the small plants and removing the excess water. Assuming that can be done efficiently, we will be well on our way to making new strides in the supplemental feeding of duckweed. † These statements are made by some of the leading duckweed researchers in the feed/fuel/watstewater. A duckweed harvester is a natural fit to solve the harvesting needs of the market. Recent studies have confirmed duckweed’s potential as a valuable high-protein, vitamin-rich feed supplement. A two acre pond surface with duckweed yields as much as 30 tons of dry matter or approximately 12 tons of protein per year. This protein is of very high quality for feeding to animals (or human beings). Experiments show that the quality of this protein for ducks and hens is similar to that in soybean meal. As protein is currently priced at approx $500 per ton as a stock-feed ingredient, the protein yield of a hectare of duckweed is worth in the order of $6,000 per year. Although inexpensive to produce, duckweed contains a range of vitamins, pigments and minerals. These include those normally added to dietary formulations for livestock such as poultry and pigs in the form of commercial mineral-vitamin premixes. Duckweed has particular value as a poultry feed. It typically contains high concentrations of calcium (which is required in the diet of laying hens) equal to 10-25 g/kg dry matter. Duckweed contains relatively large amounts of xanthophylls and carotene, which result in a rich yellow/orange color to the egg yolks. In comparison, the synthetic yolk pigments usually included in mineral-vitamin premixes for layers are a costly component of commercial poultry diets. Dried excess duckweed can be pelletised and sold as animal feed. At approx $6000 dollars the Proskimmer would be economically viable in this arena. Feeding trials reported in the literature and carried out recently in Peru have demonstrated that duckweed can be substituted for soy and fish meals in prepared rations for several types of poultry: broilers, layers, and chicks. Cultured duckweed can be used as the protein component in poultry diets. Acceptable levels of duckweed meal in the diets of layers range up to 40 percent of total feed. Duckweed-fed layers produce more eggs of the same or higher quality as control birds fed the recommended formulated diets. Levels of up to 15 percent duckweed meal produce growth rates in broilers which are equal to those produced by control feeds. Diets for chicks, consisting of up to 15 percent duckweed meal, are suitable for birds under three weeks of age. Duckweed meal will almost certainly find as large a range of animal feed applications as soybean meal. Duckweed meal may also have great potential to blend with non- conventional diets based on inexpensive carbohydrate sources that can be used by poultry and hogs. Today pork production offers perhaps an unprecedented opportunity. Due to economic expansion and population growth in Asia, demand for pork is increasing like never before. In fact, experts predict that in the next 35 to 40 years, we’ll have to quadruple, or more, the approximately 875 million hogs now on Earth. That’s why new and expanded hog production facilities are being built in Australia, Canada, Mexico, South America, and, when opposition is overcome, in the U. S. And as they’re built, new jobs and economic growth are being created. A major limitation to fish farming is that meals high in protein with high biological value are expensive and often locally unavailable. Supplementary feeds can take up to 60% of fish production costs. Duckweeds have a high protein content (around 40%) of high biological value. Fresh duckweed is highly suited to intensive fish farming systems and duckweed is converted efficiently to liveweight by certain fish including carp and tilapia. Drying duckweed presents the largest current challenge to the plant being traded as a commodity. No conventional drying technology has been able to produce dried material without incurring signifigant loss. Several solar methods are showing promise however we feel they would be for large scale operations and not relevant to our market. The leading researchers in North Carolina have paired with a company called Aeroglide who makes industrial drying technologies for the feed industry. We feel Proskim should focus on the wet applications for land livestock and fish farming opporunities. http://www. lib. ncsu. edu/theses/available/etd-05242004-103543/unrestricted/etd. df Institute of Animal Nutrition, University of Hohenheim, Emil-Wolff-Str. 10, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany 24 February 2010; http://www. aeroglide. com/aquafeed-dryers-coolers. php SWOT Analysis Feed: Strengths: Low cost in relation to other mechanical harvesters/low labor intensity when compared to manual techniques. Currently manufactured product with little to no customization for many harvesting needs. Duckweed has be en proven to be a breakthrough feed alternative to corn and soy based feeds. Weaknesses: Little to no current marketing strategy in the Bio arena. Lack of marketing material directed to Bio arena. Less developed nations will use manual techniques. Company physical location is not in areas which promote rapid duckweed growth. Opportunities: Feed supplement for fish, swine, poultry needing effective harvesting techniques. Market directly to these farmers. Academic researchers using grants to study duckweed in the Bio arena. Government grants and foundations in the Bio arena. Threats: Other harvester inventions and trial inventions to harvest duckweed. Less demand for corn ethanol due to regulations or opportunity costs could lower prices and in turn corn feed prices.

Behavior Modification and Needs

In many companies, managers struggle to improve or motivate employee actions or behaviors to get desired results. Many managers turn to organizational behavior modification. Behavior modification is used in organizations to shape individual behavior though the use of positive and negative consequences. Organizational behavior modification relies on several factors including, the law of effect, alternative consequences, schedules of reinforcement, and understanding human needs, to successfully operate.The law of effect states that a person tends to repeat behavior that is accompanied by a favorable consequence. For example, if an employee is recognized and encouraged for going above and beyond for a customer, the employee is more likely to repeat this action. For the law of effect to remain effective, a manager needs to recognize what the employee see’s as major consequences, and must be able to respond in a way that the employee will see the connection between their actions an d the consequence.An employee doesn’t always have to learn from personal experience. The theory of social learning suggests that employees are likely to learn by observing the actions of others and understanding the consequences that others are experiencing. Through the law of effect, the employee is able to connect the relation of; good actions equal good consequences, therefore motivating the employee to act in a positive way. Once a manager has indentified the employee’s behavior, the manager needs to decide on the alternative consequences he/she wants to apply.Alternative consequences include: positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, punishment, and extinction. The key to alternative consequences is to make the consequence contingent on the employee’s correct behavior. Through the use of these consequences, employees and managers will be able to accurately assess the result or planned result of an action. Once a manager monitors an employee’s b ehavior and learns how often or how well the employee is performing, the manager can determine the type of consequence to be applied.Once a frequency has been established the manager can create a standard, or a baseline, against which employee improvements can be made. A manager will then decide of continuous reinforcement or partial reinforcement is called for. Continuous reinforcement is when reinforcement accompanies each correct behavior by an employee. Partial reinforcement occurs when only some of the correct behaviors are reinforced. Scheduling reinforcement allows a manager to stay consistent in expectations and consequences.Though the behavior modification model is popular amongst organizations, many have criticized it’s functionality from a human needs perspective. Human needs are a driving force in individual decision making. The behavior modification model focuses on the nature of the items that may motivate a person. However, a manager cannot observe or monitor a person’s needs. Because of this, it is important that a manager understand employee needs when using the behavior modification approach

James Baldwin’s Sonny’s Blues Essay

In James Baldwin’s short story â€Å"Sonny’s Blues† a young man questions his brotherly obligations after finding that his younger brother has been arrested for using drugs. In the attempt to rectify his younger brother’s behavior and life, the young man faces his own feelings for his brother and comes to terms with the life his brother Sonny lives. The developments of certain elements-plot, character, point of view, setting, symbolism-in the story help accentuate the narrator’s struggles and theme(s) of the story. One of the most important elements of this story is the setting. Taking place in the drug-plagued, poverty-stricken, and frustrated streets of Harlem in the 1950s, the setting aids any reader in understanding the obstacles and hardships the narrator and his brother faced growing up in Harlem. From the narrator’s description of the setting, we can infer that the violence, drug abuse, and indigence in the narrator’s community, Harlem, has had a deep emotional impact on him and his brother. Furthermore the setting can also be argued to have somewhat attributed to Sonny’s difficulties. The point-of-view also plays a pivotal role in providing an insight into the lives of the narrator and Sonny and the environment in which they were raised. The story is told in first person by Sonny’s brother, an unnamed narrator. Although the story’s title might invoke the sense that Sonny is main character, making the narrator a subordinate character, the story is as much about the narrator as it is about Sonny. Through the narrator’s perspective, we see the torn city of Harlem and the hurdles that Sonny has faced and will face. The narrator is more aware of Harlem’s dangerous and violent side. In numerous instances, he describes the poverty and crime that are rampant in the community. More importantly, the narrator’s point-of-view enhances the emphasis on the relationship between him and his brother. Furthermore, the narrator is an excellent narrator because he is able to give us a reliable glimpse into to Sonny’s life and his own. The development of the plot stands out as one of the most crucial elements of the story. From the very beginning, the narrator discovers that Sonny has been arrested for his drug use. This action engenders the narrator to reflect on his relationship with Sonny. The discovery of Sonny’s arrest quickly conveys to us a point that is so central to the story. Following the introduction of plot is the conflict. The conflict of the story centers around the narrator and Sonny arguing about Sonny’s decision to become a jazz musician. This conflict,however, has happened before the situation in the introduction of the story but is mentioned further in the story. Sonny’s desire to become a jazz player is seen as a waste of time by the narrator. Consequently, tension is formed between the brothers because of their lack of agreement on the issue. The tension between the brothers gets even more complicated when Sonny moves into the narrator’s apartment. During this part of the story, the narrator and Sonny try to come to terms with themselves and each other. The climax of the story is when the narrator and Sonny argue in the apartment. This is the most important part of the story because both brothers have a brutally honest argument. The narrator discusses Sonny’s drug use, his misunderstanding of Sonny as a musician, and Sonny’s frustration in life. This argument between the two brothers resolves when Sonny invites the narrator to come hear him play. The story concludes as the narrator sends Sonny a drink. The narrator finally understands how important music is to Sonny. The story leaves the readers with the impression that both brothers may finally find peace with each other. Another critical part of the story is the symbolism. Baldwin’s use of the light and darkness as two forces that are constantly clashing with each other is very symbolic in what it conveys. These two contrasting forces seem to highlight the hope and despair of the characters’ lives. At beginning of the story, Baldwin uses light to describe the room full church people. This suggest that light represents positive moments in life. In contrast, darkness represents the problems and struggles of the characters’ lives; it is also more pervasive in the characters’ lives than light. Sonny’s problems and the condition of Harlem are embodiment of the widespread darkness in the story. At the end of the story, the narrator sends a glass that he describes as â€Å"the very cup of trembling. † This very cup highlights the troubles and uncertainty Sonny currently has in his life. It symbolizes Sonny’s effort to redeem himself of the suffering he has caused and endured. Given its unique structure, â€Å"Sonny’s Blues stands out as one of Baldwin’s most critically-acclaimed works. Collectively, the elements of the story paint a picture of the atmosphere during one of Harlem’s renown periods. In conclusion, these elements of â€Å"Sonny’s Blues† enhance the story’s meaning and shed light on the difficulties Sonny and his brother faced.

Romeo and Juliet v. West Side Story

When Pyramus and Thisbe first went on their rendezvous in the woods, they never would have imagined that they would be the template on which many romantic stories are built. The story of the ill-fated lovers, as told in the Metamorphosis by Ovid, is one that has stood the test of time and became the story authors like William Shakespeare, song writers like Bethany Cosentino and directors like Jerome Robbins have used to express forbidden love, misunderstanding and loss. These elements of story have resonated over the ages with audiences due to our desire to love and be oved so much that we would do the most extreme things.Teenagers, especially, latch on to these story elements due to the inclusion of authority fgures who misunderstand their ability to have true, grown-up feelings (Flanagan). The story of Pyramus and Thisbe begins with two families sharing a wall in a duplex. One family has a daughter and one a son. Both are forbidden to see each other, but as most teen-agers do, they find a way around their parents. Through a crack in the wall too small to even fit their lips, the two best looking people in all of Babylon confess their love.Unable to wait for their parents to give consent, the two decide on a time and place to meet, in the woods, near the mulberry bush with white flowers. Thisbe arrived before Pyramus and while waiting spotted a lioness fresh from the hunt with blood dripping from her teeth and gums. Frightened, she ran away to the nearest cave and in the process, lost her shawl where the lioness tore it to shreds. When Thisbe arrived seeing what seemed to be a horrible scene of his true love's viscous demise, he is overcome with guilt. If only he had arrived sooner.If only he had been there to protect his Thisbe. To punish himself, Pyramus thrusts his dagger into his gut and bleeds to death. Thisbe, feeling brave, came out of the cave to find her lover. In seeking him she finds him dead by his own hand. Thisbe is distraught at a life lived wit hout him and plunges the knife into her heart and dies by his side. Both of their thick, red blood poured onto the roots of the mulberry bush, turning the flowers from white to red, which is how they are still today. The last line of the poem states that â€Å"The gods and parents heard her prayer, and they were stirred. Ovid)† suggesting that both parents were made aware of the death of their hildren and are stirred in their hearts. If only they had allowed the ill-fated loves to be together, they would still be alive. William Shakespeare took the poem of Pyramus and Thisbe and built on it to create Romeo and Juliet, the quintessential love story upon which so many others are copied. Romeo and Juliet come from warring families, the Capulets and Montegues. For years these families have fought and brought discord to the sweet town of Verona. Just as Pyramus and Thisbe, the children of these feuding families would not be allowed to be together.They meet by chance at a masquerad e ball hosted by the arents of Juliet, the Capulets. Romeo and his friends were looking to crash the party and shake up the evening a bit. Romeo is out of sorts because he has had a dream where something goes very wrong and he cannot figure out what it is. When Romeo instantly in love. There is a bit of concern when they first discover the true identity of the other, but a whispering on a balcony dulls that concern and they only want to be together, no matter what. Romeo and Juliet are married in secret, figuring that in time their parents will be fine with it. That does not turn out to be the case.Romeo is anished and Juliet is set to marry another. With a little help from the conniving priest, Juliet sends Romeo a letter explaining that she is going to take a poison that makes it look like she is dead when she is really only sleeping. As it always is with ill- fated lovers, Romeo never gets the message. He is told that Juliet is dead and not knowing any better, he goes to her tomb to see for himself. There he kills himself so that he can be with his love for the eternities. When Juliet wakes from her death-like sleep and discovers Romeo dead by his own hand, she takes his dagger and kills herself as well.When both sets of parents learn the truth of their love and marriage and now their deaths, they are distraught. In similitude of the families of Pyramus and Thisbe, they are then condemned to live their lives with the knowledge that had they been more open-minded, their children would be alive and well. Like Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story is story about ill-fated lovers, misunderstanding and loss. West Side Story was a highly acclaimed musical that showed on Broadway in 1957 and was made into an award winning movie musical in 1961. The similarities between the play of Romeo and Juliet and the musical of WestSide Story are striking, but so are the differences. West Side Story is about two gangs in the streets of New York in the 1950's: the Jets and the Sha rks. The Sharks are Puerto Ricans, new to America and looking to make a home for themselves. The Jets are looking to keep their streets white and get the Sharks to leave. In the middle of these two warring factions are Maria, sister to Bernarndo, the head of the Sharks and Tony, best friend to Riff, the head of the Jets. Just like Romeo, Tony has a dream; however, Tony's dream is full of inspiration as e feels that the dream is telling him that something wonderful is on the horizon.Riff tries to get Tony to tell more about the dream, but Tony can only remember that he feels like something big is about to happen to him. On that note, Riff convinces Tony to go to a dance and maybe meet the girl of his dreams. Maria and Tony meet at that dance, Just like Romeo and Juliet. When they see each other, all the contention around them fades as they fall in love with each other at first sight. Instead of a balcony scene, the whisperings of love and future happiness happen on a New York City fi re escape.Maria and Tony keep their secret love to themselves until they can find the perfect time to tell their friends and family that they want to be together. Unfortunately, their hands are forced when a rumble between the Sharks and Jets gets out of hand. Tony promises Maria that he will go and stop the fighting, but when Riff is stabbed by Bernardo, Tony stabs Bernardo in a fit of rage killing the brother of his love. At first Maria is angry and does not understand the event, but eventually she tells Tony to not turn himself in and they will run away together.Tony goes to the soda shop to ide from the Sharks and to wait for Maria to meet him at the bus stop. Maria is detained from leaving for the bus stop by one of the local beat cops. She asks her friend, Bernardo's girlfriend, to get a message to Tony. Anita does not want shop. The Jets are at the soda shop getting ready for more fghting with the Sharks when Anita shows up. She tries to get to see Tony, but the Jets won't le t her through. They treat her very badly and out of frustration she tells them to tell Tony that Maria is dead, killed by one of the Sharks in retaliation for her involvement with Tony.When Tony hears that Maria is dead, he is so distraught he goes looking for a fight hoping that one of the Sharks will kill him. He finds Geno, the boy that was arranged to marry Maria by her brother, and taunt him until he finally shoots Tony. Just as Tony grabs for his abdomen, he sees Maria and knows that she is alive. He is relieved to know that she is alive and dies in her arms. Maria, blames the death of her true love on the hatred of the two gangs, Just as parents of Romeo and Juliet and Pyramus and Thisbe are to blame for the deaths of their children, due to their hatred and closed-mindedness.These stories set the stage for so many more. Stories where the audience hopes that the others will realize the truth before it is too late. One such story is the move, â€Å"An Affair to Remember† directed by Leo McCarey and starring Cary Grant as Nickie Ferrante and Deborah Kerr as Terry McKay. This story has these two individuals meeting on a boat trip from Europe to New York in a time when that is how people traveled. They meet up several times on the ship and decide to disembark in Villefranche-sur-Mer to visit Nickle's grandmother. On this trip, Nickie realizes that he has very strong feelings for Terry.Unfortunately, both are already involved with other people. They decide that in 6 months they will meet at the top of the Empire State Building if they are each free of the current entanglements. Nickie waits for hours on the Empire State Building but Terry does not show. Disappointed and rejected, he leaves to continue his life without the woman he truly loves. Little does Nickie know, Terry, on her way to the meeting place, is hit by a car and badly injured. She is confined to a wheelchair. Not wanting anyone's pity, she does not contact Nickie to explain what happened .After some time both characters et back together with their ex's. At a chance meeting at the ballet, Nickie and Terry see each other, but he does not notice that she is unable to walk as she is seated in her seat. Sometime later, Nickie tracks down Terry and goes to visit her. She remains on the couch with her legs under a blanket. Nickie has no idea of what has happened to her. The audience is left wishing she would Just move the blanket and tell the truth so they can confess their love to each other. Luckily, Nickie notices a wheelchair in the bedroom along with a painting of his of the place where they met.He moves the blanket and realizes what has happened and they embrace, with Terry stating, â€Å"If you can paint, I can walk; anything can happen, don't you think (An Affair to remember)? † This story leaves the audience satisfied and happy. The song â€Å"Our Deal† by Best Coast also has the Romeo and Juliet theme of star- crossed lovers bent on destruction. The video, directed by Drew Barrymore, has warring gangs, the Day Trotter and the Night Creepers tagging up the streets of Los Angeles. A girl from the Night Creepers, Veronica, meets and falls in love with a boy from the Day Trotters, Lucky.They secretly steal away time to be together and confess their love. A gang fght leaves the Night Creepers beat up and a rumble to retaliate is away with her. In response, he spray paints on a wall, â€Å"l Can't†¦ (Best Coast – Our Deal video)† Lucky goes behind the corner of the wall and Veronica runs away. When they meet again it is at the rumble. Angry and hurt, Veronica punches Lucky in the face causing him to lose his balance and fall off the roof of a building down do his certain death. Upon seeing what she has done, Veronica runs down to him. She looks up and see the rest of the message tagged on the wall, â€Å"†¦ it to spend the rest of my life with you (Our Deal)† Veronica, crying looks down at Lucky only t o see him die in her arms. We can see how these stories connect through the commonality of love, loss and misunderstanding. Pyramus misunderstands the bloody shawl and assumes his love is dead and so kills himself. Romeo, having not received Juliet's message, misunderstands the death-like sleep of his true love and kills himself, which in turn, causes Juliet to kill herself. Tony, after receiving the wrong message about Maria, goes out looking for someone to kill him to relieve him of the pain of losing his lover.Likewise, Veronica accidentally kills her love, Lucky, after misunderstanding his message. The only difference in the stories presented here is the one of Nickie and Terry, where misunderstanding and lack of information causes Nickie to come to the wrong conclusion about Terrys absence on the Empire State Building, but in the end of the film, they resolve the issue and assume a happy ending. One would argue that these elements of love, loss and misunderstanding resonate ove r the years with audiences because we can all relate to these feelings.Teenagers, specially, can relate to a love that seems so overwhelming because it is the focus of much of adolescent life (Appleton). The inclusion of forces like parents or friends preventing that love is also one that teenagers can relate with. Many teenagers feel that the only purpose of an adult or authority fgure is to thwart their happiness. This component makes it easy to blame the parents in both Pyramus and Thisbe and Romeo and Juliet. When we do not receive a happy ending, we want to place that blame on someone and who better to place that on than the friends and family who prevented the love from flourishing?