Acl Injuries In Athletes Essays - Knee, Dance Science, Anatomy

Acl Injuries In Athletes ACL Injuries in Athletes The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) attaches the femur, which is the thighbone, and the tibia, which is the shin, together (northstar). A torn ACL is one of the most excruciating experiences in an athlete's life. It is the first thing that comes to mind when they hurt their knee on the field; for many it is their greatest fear. A torn ACL can sometimes mean the end of an athlete's career. It can mean losing the chance to get that scholarship for young athletes, and it can also mean the end of those million dollar paychecks for those who have gone professional. A torn ACL can result in numerous surgeries, months of vigorous exercise and rehabilitation, and a sufficient amount of pain. It requires complete patience, for pushing too hard can result in further, more painful injury. Even after all that, an athlete is not guaranteed he or she will ever be able to play sports again. The anterior cruciate ligament is the reason that the knee only has one pattern of movement. Instead of moving sideways and up and down, the knee only serves as a pivot for flexion (bending) and extension (straightening); it holds the tibia and femur in place (northstar). In the northstar web page it is stated that, ?The anterior cruciate ligament is one of the most important ligaments to athletes because of its main function, stabilization of the joint while decelerating.? In other words, it is the reason that we can stop abruptly without our leg collapsing. Obviously this asset makes it an essential to have a functioning ACL while playing sports. It is an especially common injury in soccer, which is a game of constant abrupt stops. Not only is soccer a danger to the ACL because of its constant stops and starts, it is also a game of jumps, falls, and slide-tackles, which put a continuous stress on the ACL for the entire 90 minutes of the game. ACL tears are also more common in women . It is said that the reason for this is because women's bodies were not meant for playing intense sports, and are therefore more likely to endure such injuries. The ACL is the most frequently injured part of the knee when related to sports. As fore-mentioned, the ACL aids us in abrupt stops; it are these abrupt stops that are the most common cause for its injury. ( Figure 1. shows the difference between a normal ACL and a torn one.) An ACL injury has not been scientifically proven to be linked to weight, size, or strength (Duff 308). The cause can be a violent twist of the knee, or it can simply be caused by standing up too fast. It can be twisted or hyper extended. In any case, if it is concluded that the ACL has been ruptured, the symptoms and treatment remain the same. In any injury tiny, or large, blood vessels are broken, resulting in bleeding into the area of the injury. This is the cause of swelling. In an ACL tear, the knee swells almost immediately because of the broken blood vessels in the ligament ( Sechrest.com). The initial tear makes a loud ?pop? and, because of the absence of the ligament's reinforcement, there is a feeling of instability in the knee. In some cases, the knee actually subluxes, which is a dislocation that pops back into place on its own. In these cases, there is usually more injured than just the ACL. Often the MCL (medial collateral ligament) is also injured (Sechrest.com). Other common symptoms, according to the northstar website are pain and the athlete falling to the ground as a result of the instability, or buckling, of the knee. A torn ACL can only truly be determined through a series of tests starting with a physical examination, as in the Lachman's and Anterior Drawer tests. In the Lachman's test (shown in Fig. 2.), ?[the] Patient with suspected injury lies supine on examination table and flexes the knee at 15 degrees. The person examining the patient stands on the affected side of the extremity and holds the patient's femur (thigh) immobile with one hand. The other hand is placed

Differentiating Reasoning Essays - Critical Thinking, Advertising

Differentiating Reasoning Essays - Critical Thinking, Advertising Differentiating Reasoning CRT/205 April 4, 2014 Captain E. F. Rollins Differentiating Reasoning Article: Air Pollution The author uses deductive arguments in writing this article by resorting to scare tactics and nationalism. Scare tactics is defined by our course material as, Trying to scare people into doing something or accepting a position (University of Phoenix, 2012). An example of the scare tactics used in this article is when the author talks about the results of burning fossil fuels. The author concludes that burning fossil fuels makes the air unsafe to breathe, causes acid rain, and damages our environment (Air Pollution, 2014, para 2.). This conclusion is meant to scare the reader into accepting this position by describing terrible results of burning fossil fuels (University of Phoenix, 2012). Nationalism is defined as, a powerful and fierce emotion that can lead to blind endorsement of a countrys policies and practices (University of Phoenix, 2012). The author attempts to appeal to the readers sense of nationality by claiming that environmental protection requirements cause American industries to be at a disadvantage when competing with foreign companies with fewer restrictions (Air Pollution, 2014, para 7). The author wants the reader to accept this claim of not abiding by environmental requirements because our companies would not be able to compete with companies outside of the United States (Air Pollution, 2014). Article: Advertising The author of this article uses deductive arguments such as rationalizing, apple polishing, and popularity. Rationalizing is defined as a false pretext to satisfy our own desires or interests (University of Phoenix, 2012). An example of rationalizing can be seen in the conclusion against seller advertising (Advertising, 2014, para 1). In this conclusion against seller advertising, the author states that the constant stream of advertising that bombards consumers every day misinforms or encourages them to live beyond their means (Advertising, 2014, para 1). This conclusion is the authors attempt to justify why the reader should accept this position but it is only a rationalization that only serves the authors viewpoint (University of Phoenix, 2012). Apple polishing is defined as old-fashioned flattery (University of Phoenix, 2012). We see this in the authors statement that viewers can draw conclusions for themselves about the products used by characters on television and in movies (Advertising, 2014, para 11-12). This implies that the viewers are smart enough to see through this advertising and therefore, the advertisers are not at fault if viewers purchase a product solely on the fact that a famous person is endorsing it (University of Phoenix, 2012). Finally, popularity is defined as urging someone to accept a claim simply on the grounds that all or most or some substantial number of people believe it (University of Phoenix, 2012). The basis for the conclusion in support of sexy ads was that advertisers were only providing the images that people wanted to see (Advertising, 2014, para 8-10). This is an attempt by the author to persuade the reader to accept this conclusion based on the fact that it is what is popular (University of Phoenix, 2012). REFERENCES "Air Pollution." Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection. Detroit: Gale, 2014. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 23 Feb. 2014. "Advertising." Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection. Detroit: Gale, 2014. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 23 Feb. 2014. University of Phoenix. (2012). What is critical thinking, anyway? Retrieved from University of Phoenix, CRT205 - Critical Thinking website.

Ancient History Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Ancient History - Assignment Example The Eastern region was infertile, unproductive and sparsely populated. Its significance lay in the fact that it was a natural buffer zone that secured the western, fertile region from invasions and raids. During this period, Asia was inhabited by many different communities who were quite progressive and developed. The dyes and woolen textiles made in this region were quite famous and in tremendous demand. The Romans saw this region as a rich place for collection of taxes so that they could live lavishly and in style. The area also was quite rich in natural resources. Spices were grown in Asia which seasoned the food of the Romans, and was a crop that had worldwide commercial value.1 The larger cities of Asia were important centers for education and culture. In fact, Asia had everything that the Romans desired and wanted. Riches from Asia allowed them to indulge in a luxuriant life style, build their cities and have the largest armies in the world. Their large armies helped them to co ntrol and manage the territories they conquered.2 During the Roman peace period, trade and other cultural activities flourished in Asia Minor. Roman emperors acknowledged the importance of this region and travelled to different cities in Asia to help and encourage in the development and progress of this province. The Romans were quite adept in constructing roads, and a vast network of roads was built here to connect this part of Asia to the rest of the Roman Empire. During this time many enormous temples and other public construction such as libraries, sewerage systems, fountains etc. were designed by Roman architects and built by the local populating. Answer 2 The Third Mithridatic war fought during 73-63BC was the longest of the three Mithridatic conflicts. It started because the ruler of Bithynia was a puppet of the Romans, and Mitrhridates tried to overthrow him. Consequently, the ruler of Bithynia declared war on Pontus because of encouragement and support provided to him by th e Romans advisors. The two legions of Roman soldiers allied with the army of Nicomedes IV proceeded to invade Mitrhridates’ kingdom of Pontus in 89 BC. Nicomedes and his Roman allies were completed routed.3 Although Mitrhridates was welcomed in Anatolia, his hatred against the Romans persisted, and in 88 BC, he instigated a massacre campaign against the Romans and their Italian allies and eliminated them throughout the entire region. Tigranes the Great, who ruled neighboring Armenia became an ally of Mitrhridates and consolidated his alliance by marrying Mitrhridates’ daughter. Both kingdoms supported each other against Rome.4 The conflict in Asia Minor reflected Mithradte’s desire to defeat the Romans and include Asia in his rule. The second conflict was different because it reflected the ambitions of the Roman general Murena. Since both wars were inconclusive, it was apparent that there was going to be another war because Sulla who had discussed the terms and agreement of the first conflict had died. Sulla was a staunch proponent of peace. 5 Most of Sulla’s allies thought that the peace terms that he had negotiated were too soft, and when Sulla died the Roman Senate firmly refused to approve the agreement. In this war, the Romans defeated Mitrhridates VI of Pontus which ended the Pontic Kingdom and created the Kingdom of Armenia as an allied client of Rome. The importance of these wars was that the Romans gained power and influence in absolutely new territories. The precise dates of the

Crafting and Executing Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Crafting and Executing Strategy - Essay Example The new CEO of the company formulated a strategic plan as per the need of the time. He formulated that there was an immediate need for the introduction of some strategy that needed to refresh their market condition. For that, he incorporate the strategy of markets drifts; existing electronic devices with revised and more easy-to-handle in lesser space. He worked on the new corporate philosophy of recognizable products and simple design, that did not exist right then (Sebastian Desbidt, 2006). Pertaining to the successful and in time execution of strategic planning, Apple now is the bench mark of excellent pocket electronics and a status symbol in electronic market, leading to have dropped the word â€Å"Computer† from its name. Now, it widely operates with high sales, premium profits and big market share as Apple Incorporation (Bread, 2011). Simply put, the strategic planning has helped Apple gain competitive advantage in the market. It gains the company a road map to define i ts strategies and seethe future road. The plan predicts the way to company’s future, and where is it going over a particular period of time and how is it going. As in the case of Apple, it is clearly evident that strategic plan is a management tool, which is for the management persons and business owners who seriously aim for the business growth. Strategic planning is one of the very important components of business plan. A typical business plan only lays out the purpose of the business, whereas strategic planning shows how it can be made successfully operational; business plan sheds light on the fund seeking, strategic planning drafts prioritization of financial needs and the effective sources to get them; business plan focuses on planning human resource, whereas strategic planning breaks down the duties and responsibilities and works on smoothing the communication between all the levels of the organization and finally, business plan structures the ideas, whereas strategic p lanning draws direction to move from plan to action. 2. Anticipated Mission Statement for Apple Incorporation Apple Incorporation’s mission is to provide its customers with convenient to use, all applications centered one single and handy user friendly electronic device that can even be easily used by the people who are not technology literate. We are constantly working on bringing in new and innovative technological devices that can add further ease and be suitable to be used for all ages. Our products meet the highest quality standards and come with high level usage assurance. Importance of Mission Statement Effective mission statements focus on the purpose of the formation of businesses. They highlight their fundamental and unique purposes. It puts light on its unique formation and it proclaims the corporate purpose of the organization. Additionally, the mission statement tackles what a particular firm intends to accomplish and guides the philosophical premises that guides their actions (Dermol, 2012). If once the mission statement has been successfully set, it becomes basis for building other intended actions. For instance, the Apple Incorporation’s mission statement makes it clear that their primary motive is to focus on the production of user friendly devices. Once cleared, the company can easily define the line of its operations and it can make its way from the monotonous market approaches towards a single and outlined method

Analysis of proposed legislation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Analysis of proposed legislation - Essay Example he bill claims that an individual automatically commits a crime of illegal use of firearms if he or she possesses a gun while in possession of a specific amount of a controlled substance in the country. The bill is categorical and appropriate since it makes appropriate propositions that will govern the use of firearms while strengthening other existing laws that control specific substances (Webster and Jon 32). Drug abuse for example is another closely related legal aspect the bill seeks to curb. The government has categorized numerous types of drugs as controlled substances. Such drugs as cocaine, marijuana and heroin among others are example of controlled substances. Besides the hard drugs, the government regulates the use of other medicinal drugs often proposing for prescription before any form if over the counter purchase of such drugs. Such stringent legislations are responsible for the growing illegal trade on different types of drugs in the country. Drug peddling is a major social menace responsible for the rising crime rate and extrajudicial killings in the country. Drug peddlers operate in effectively structured syndicates characterized by heightened conflicts most of which result in violent use of both legal and illegal guns in the country. This validates the unique features of the law that seeks to control the use of firearms by associating guns to drugs among other types of controlled substances in the country. The bill will criminalize being in possession of a legal firearm while in possession of a specified amount of a type of controlled substance. Such is an appropriate clause that will help curb the rising number of gun violence in the country since some of the people implicated in both drug business and gun violence are always reputable business people with legal firearms. Without the bill, such individuals may readily use their guns to settle conflicts arising from the sale and use of rugs in the country. Proponents of the bill often cite the

Demographic Profile of Perth and Kinross

Demographic Profile of Perth and Kinross PERTH KINROSS: DIVERSITY DEMOGRAPICS Q. Assess the demographic profile of Perth and Kinross as evidenced in the 2001 council  census. How might this demographic profile impact on community care? The most important revelation of the Scottish Census of April 29th 2001 was that the ethnic minority population of Scotland had risen by 63% between 1991 and 2001; whilst the White Scottish population has remained almost static at 1.3%. Moreover, whilst the ethnic minority profile is getting younger, the White Scottish profile shows a greater percentage of members of retirement age. The story then of the 2001 Census was essentially one of growing diversity in Scottish demographics. This brief essay considers the demographic results of the 2001 census for the Perth Kinross area, and the implications of these population shifts for the councils of Perth Kinross who will have to, in the near future, take the ethnic minority profile of their area into greater account in their educational, religious and social planning. Firstly, let us consider some of the general features of the demographic profile of Perth Kinross as detailed in the 2001 Scottish Census[1]. The total population of Perth and Kinross in 2001 was 134,949; of this number around sixty percent were of employable age. Of this sixty percent 134,949 5,241 economic and social migrants left the area and 5,442 entered (an increase in entry of 201). Of the migrants who left Perth and Kinross 4,193 were of working age whilst only 3,993 of those who entered were of working age (a fall of 202). Thus these figures tell that on the whole Perth and Kinross received an increase number of migrants into the area, though the percentage of economic migrants eligible to work fell. The origins of the migrants entering Perth and Kinross were as follows: 58% were from elsewhere in Scotland, 19% from England and Wales, 13% were of unknown origin, 10% came from elsewhere in the world and less than 1% came from Northern Ireland. 23.21 % of households in Perth % Kinross have members who hold and practise different religions from other members of that household; whilst the number of households where various members are of different ethnic origins is 0.74% (compared with Scottish average of 0.97%). Turning to ethnic diversity in particular, the Scottish Census found that Scotland now has just over 100,000 citizens of ethnic minorities; this amounts to two percent of the national population of Scotland. In Perth Kinross the population that belongs to ethnic minorities represents 1% and this is 1.3% of the total ethnic minority population living in Scotland. Nationally, and in Perth Kinross also, Pakistanis represent the largest ethnic minority population, followed by Chinese, Indians and then citizens of a mixed ethnic background. Of the total ethnic minority population over 70% are Asian: Pakistani, Chinese, Bangladeshi, Indian or other South Asian. The next largest group are those people who describe themselves as of a mixed ethnic minority and these represent 12% of the ethnic minority population. These figures represent a significant overall increase in the total ethnic minority population of Perth Kinross in comparison with the 1991 census. Whereas the whole population r ose by only 1.3% from 1991 to 2001, the ethnic minority population jumped by 63% (and likely much more due to the fact that figures of asylum seekers and illegal immigrants are not included in the census). An interesting feature of the demographic profile of the ethnic minority population is that (excepting Caribbeans) all other ethnic groups have 20% or more of their population aged sixteen or less (the Mixed Group percentage is 44%); whilst the figure for White Scots is 16.96%. Correspondingly, the ethnic minority population in Perth Kinross has a smaller elderly population than the White Scottish population. What then do these figures tell about the ethnic diversity of Perth Kinross, and how do such findings impact upon policies of community care? The first important observation about the ethnic minority profile is clearly the leap of 63% between 1991 and 2001 – a figure almost fifty times higher than the growth of the White Scottish population. Perth Kinross however has only 1 of the total ethnic minority population of Scotland; the highest percentages being in major cities such as Glasgow (31%) and Edinburgh (18%). Moreover, the relative youth of the ethnic minority populations suggests that in the next decades they will produce a (relatively) higher percentage of citizens of working age; whilst the ageing White Scottish population will require a growing level of support in their retirement. In light of these changes, Perth Kinross councils now have to begin community projects that reflect the growing diversity of its population. Schools, for instance, ought to have citizensh ip classes in which the virtues of ethnic diversity, ethnic tolerance, and religious tolerance are taught. Special classes should be arranged for Non-White Scottish children where necessary; likewise, teachers should be aware of the religious practices of schoolchildren. Where there are large ethnic minority communities local councils might consider providing suitable facilities: mosques (and other religious buildings), community centres and so on. In the final analysis, it seems evident from the demographic profiles of the 1991 and 2001 censuses that the population of Scotland generally, and Perth Kinross also, is experiencing a rapid percentage increase of members who belong to an ethnic minority. What is more, this increase seems likely only to accelerate and to penetrate the more rural parts of Scotland as well as its cities. Accordingly, the Perth Kinross council must make preparations to meet the religious, educational, and social needs of their rising ethnic minority populations. At the same time, the local White Scottish population and ethnic minority communities must learn an increasing tolerance for the cultural and religious outlooks of one another. Only if this tolerance is achieved can the product of these demographic changes be edifying for all concerned. 1004 words BIBLIOGRAPHY Academic Works Internet Sources Perth Kinross Council. (2002), www.pkc.gov.uk The 2001 Scottish Census. (2001) www.gro-scotland.gov-uk/statistics/census/hm.index.html. The Oxford English Dictionary. (1989). Oxford University Press, Oxford. Encyclopaedia Wikipedia. (2000). www.wikipedia.com [1] All figures in this essay are derived from the Scottish Census of April 29th 2001. www.gro-scotland.gov-uk/statistics/census/hm.index.html.

Acunpuncture: an Overview Essay

What is Acupuncture? How does sticking a bunch of needles into your body make you feel better? Is this stuff for real? These are all questions I’ve asked myself, and have heard from others over the years. Acupuncture is a system of complementary medicine that involves pricking the skin with needles. It’s used to alleviate pain and to treat various physical, mental, and emotional conditions; is one of the key components of Traditional Chinese Medicine; and is among the oldest healing practices in the world. In a 2007 Consensus Development Conference, The National Institute of Health determined that â€Å"According to the traditional Chinese medicine approach, stimulating specific acupuncture points corrects imbalances in the flow of qi through channels known as meridians. † Acupuncture can be dated back thousands of years, and as with any topic that old, there is a plethora of information available, and it sometimes can be hard to decipher. After researching the topic, and because of the context of the assignment, I narrowed my focus down to three specific areas: theory, which covers qi, meridians, and acupuncture points; history, which can be broken down into antiquity, middle history, and the modern era; and lastly the length, diameter, and material of needles. The basis of acupuncture deals with manipulating the flows of qi throughout the body. According to Daoist principles, qi is the active principle forming part of any living thing, and it is the central underlying principle in both Traditional Chinese Medicine and martial arts. The literal translation of â€Å"qi† is breath, air, or gas; however, it is frequently translated as â€Å"life energy†, â€Å"life force†, or â€Å"energy flow. † In A Clinical Introduction to Medical Acupuncture, the authors, Aung & Chen, state, â€Å"Traditional Chinese medicine distinguishes not only one but several different kinds of qi. In a general sense, qi is something that is defined by five â€Å"cardinal functions. † These cardinal functions are what keep the body alive. The first function qi provides is keeping the body, especially the limbs, warm during cold temperatures. The energy from it heats the blood, the extremities, and allows us to live and our biological processes to take place. Qi also enables the actuation of the biological processes such as breathing, sweating, it controls the nervous system, and most importantly the circulation of all the body fluids such as blood in its vessels. Qi also provides containment of those fluids in their proper spot; it keeps blood, sweat, urine, and semen from leaking or excessive emission. We know now that food broken down by the digestion process, and that various enzymes convert it into blood, nutrients, and that there’s a process for making the air we breathe into oxygen for our lungs. The ancient Chinese believed that qi did the transformation of food, drink, and breath into qi, blood, fluids, and the transformation of all of the latter into each other. The last function provided by qi, is defense against the Six Essences. The Six Essences are allegorical terms sometimes used to describe disharmony patterns in the body and their names are derived from environmental elements that were thought to pattern, or mimic, the symptoms. The first of the Six Essences is Wind, which is characterized by rapid onset of symptoms, wandering location of symptoms, itching, nasal congestion, â€Å"floating† pulse; tremor, paralysis, or convulsion. The second of the Essences is Cold, which manifests itself in cold sensations, aversion to cold, relief of symptoms by warmth, watery/clear excreta, severe pain, abdominal pain, contracture and hypertonicity of muscles, (slimy) white tongue fur, and hidden, string-like, or slow pulse. Fire (or heat) is the third of the Essences. Its symptoms are recognizable by aversion to heat, high fever, thirst, concentrated urine, red face or tongue, yellow tongue fur, and a rapid pulse. The last three Essences are Dampness, Dryness, and Summerheat; the symptoms of which are, respectively, sensation of heaviness, fullness, and symptoms of Spleen dysfunction; dry cough, mouth, throat, lips, skin, stool, and nosebleeds; and either heat or mixed damp-heat symptoms. In order fulfill its functions, qi has to steadily flow from the inside of the body to the â€Å"superficial† body tissues of the skin, muscles, tendons, bones, and joints. It is assisted in its flow by â€Å"channels† referred to as meridians. Traditional Chinese Medicines identifies twelve â€Å"regular† and eight â€Å"extraordinary† meridians. (Aung & Cheng, 19-20) At various points along the meridians, are acupuncture points. The number of points has varied considerably over time. Initially they were considered to number 365 acupuncture points, symbolically aligning with the number of days in the year; however, the modern total, while once considered 670, has been subsequently expanded due to more recent interest in auricular (ear) cupuncture and the treatment of further conditions. These acupuncture points are mainly, but not always, found at specified locations along these meridians and acupuncturists use the points to manipulate the qi and restore harmony and balance to the body. Though most of these points are found along the meridians, there is a second group of points, called extraordinary points, which are found outside the meridians and are credited with special therapeutic properties. Examples of these are the pressure points in the webbing between the thumb and forefinger, just inside the arch of the foot, the temples, and the anterior base of the neck. Lastly, a third category of acupuncture points called â€Å"A-shi† points have no fixed location but represent tender or reflexive points appearing in the course of pain syndromes. The history of acupuncture can be broken down into three distinct eras: that of antiquity, which goes back to its origins; its middle history dating, from the early 11th century through the 1800’s; and the modern era, which picks up in the early 20th century. The precise start date of acupuncture’s use in China and how it evolved from early times are uncertain; however, there are a myriad of theories and explanations as to how it came about. One explanation is that soldiers wounded in battle by arrows were believed to have been cured of chronic afflictions that were otherwise untreated. Another is the sharpened bian shi stones found in China, which evidence suggests the practice may date back to the Neolithic or Stone Age (Acupuncture in Medicine 10: 92–9). There have also been hieroglyphs found dating from the Shang Dynasty, which ran from 1600 through 1100 BCE. It is believed that Korea was the second country acupuncture spread to outside of China, and in 1023, the emperor of China ordered the production of a bronze statuette depicting the meridians and acupuncture points then in use. The practice of acupuncture lost a lot status after Song Dynasty. In the 16th century, Portuguese missionaries were among the first to bring reports of acupuncture to the West, and a Dutch surgeon traveling in Asia described the practice in both Japan and Java; however, in China itself the practice was increasingly associated with the lower-classes and illiterate practitioners (Barnes, 58–9. The middle era of acupuncture came to an end in 1823, when an edict from the Emperor banned the practice and teaching of acupuncture within the Imperial Academy of Medicine, as unfit for practice by gentlemen-scholars. The modern era of acupuncture came in to being around the time of the Chinese civil war, 1927-1949. Early Chinese Communist Party leaders ridiculed T raditional Chinese Medicine, claiming that it worked against the party’s dedication to science as the way of progress. Chairman Mao reversed that position, and rewrote its theory in order to make it fit into the Chinese political doctrine. Acupuncture gained attention in the United States when President Richard Nixon visited China in 1972, and his delegation was shown a patient undergoing major surgery while awake; however, it was later found out patients were chosen because they had naturally high pain tolerance, were indoctrinated into the method, and were on morphine IV’s which were claimed to have been essential nutrients and fluids. The greatest exposure in the West came after a New York Times reporter received acupuncture in Beijing for post-operative pain in 1971 and wrote about it in his newspaper column. From there, the first legal acupuncture center was opened in Washington D. C. in 1972, and in 1973, the IRS declared acupuncture was allowed to be deducted from taxes as a medical expense. The last aspect of acupuncture, and arguably the most essential, is the needle. While there are certain methods that do not involve needles, most of them do. The needles have evolved over the years, originally starting out as bone, or stone; now, however, most of the acupuncture needles are made of stainless steel, with some cultures using copper. Needles vary in length ,between 13 to 130 millimeters (0. 5 in to 5 in. ), with shorter needles used near the face and eyes, and longer needles in more fleshy areas, and range in diameter from 0. 16 mm (0. 006 in) to 0. 46 mm (0. 018 in), with thicker needles used on more robust patients. After this brief overview of acupuncture, I’ve answered a lot of my own questions and concerns with acupuncture The three aspects of acupuncture theory are qi, meridians, and acupuncture points. It long history has unknown origins, and edict from Chinese Emperor banned teaching in academy, but it brought back my Chairman Mao, and made popular in America by a reporter in the 70’s. Needles are mostly made of stainless steel, and they vary in length, and diameter,

Honor in Othello and Hamlet Essay

Being one of the central themes in Othello and Hamlet, honor is used in very strange ways by Shakespeare. He has a way of showing how his characters can be very honorable or have a lack there of. He displays how honor is interwoven with personal integrity and how acts of attempting to keep a reputation can be confused with the acts of personal integrity. Lastly, he also displays how honor relates to the foresight seen by his characters. Honor can be connected to almost any actions made by any of the characters in these plays. He really keeps the readers/viewers guessing at what the motivations are for all of his characters. I will take a look into these motivations and explain my thoughts on such things. In these plays, honor is very important to the characters. It is a driving force, of sorts, for much of what the characters do. Along with that, judgments made about certain characters, by other characters, are almost always based on honor. In Othello specifically, honor connects almost all of the actions and judgments throughout the play. Honor seems to be one of the main reasons Desdemona fell in love with Othello. Being much older and having so many military accomplishments sent Othello into an honorable light in Desdemona’s eyes. To me, that seems to be the sole reason she fell in love with him, in the first place. His own character influenced her love thereafter, but initially, I believe it was solely his honor. Cassio is also attracted to this quality in Othello. His platonic love for Othello is based around how honorable Othello has been in his life, prior to the end of the play. In Iago’s eyes, however, Othello’s honor means nothing. He cannot comprehend why Othello got the job he has, while he is stuck in the same position. Iago gives the impression that Othello’s honor is almost a negative thing in his eyes. Despite Iago’s negative views, every judgment about Othello is based on how honorable he is. His behavior prior to the end of the play shows this honor as well. In opposition to the honorable basis of thoughts about Othello, many characters choose less honorary behavior and are viewed dishonorably by other characters. Iago is a prime example of this. Not only do you see the lack of honor in quite literally everything Iago does, but you witness these negative thoughts about him as well. From Othello, you hear the sarcastically said â€Å"honest Iago†, and from Emilia, you hear many a complaint. Iago’s dishonorable behavior even produces dishonorable behavior from Emilia. She makes it seem like she constantly cheats on Iago, because of his neglectfulness. Dishonorable behavior is just followed by more dishonorable behavior, in Shakespeare. This could not be more true when it comes to Hamlet. The entire play is based around the central occupation of greediness and revenge. The play starts off with the fact that King Hamlet has died. Right away, when Hamlet talks to the ghost of his deceased father, we find out that he was killed by his brother Claudius. This one event (not to belittle it) sparks a string of dishonorable behavior from Hamlet, who was once considered to be a very honorable intelligent young prince. Hamlet’s cunning, yet destructive, behavior however, could be argued as honorable, to a point, by some. His actions are based on the need for justice, which most people have within themselves. They are done in order to avenge his father’s death and make right in the world. This could be argued to be a noble and honorable cause. It could be, but I don’t think it would necessarily carry much weight. Sure, the cause behind his actions are great, but the way he goes about achieving that cause loses much, if not all, validity. He tries to make right, but in the process of it all, he hurts Ophelia, which causes her to commit suicide, he mistakenly kills Polonius (with little or no remorse), and his actions lead to the death of almost all other characters. Hamlet should, of course, not be blamed entirely for these incidences. Obviously Claudius should bare more burden when it comes to all of these deaths. In means of applying this theme of dishonorable behavior being followed by more of the same: you could also argue that if Claudius had not killed his brother, than Hamlet may have never become as dishonorable as he became. He was, after all, in school, away from the kingdom. Presumably, Hamlet could have married Ophelia and led an honorable life as king after the natural death of his parents. ————- When it comes to Shakespeare’s characters, there seems to be something missing: Integrity. While characters may have some personal integrity within themselves, there doesn’t seem to be many that are driven by what is right, rather than driven for their own gains. Want of personal integrity lags far behind the want of reputation in these plays. There’s an abundance of instances where characters act with integrity, but few show this integrity throughout an entire play. A good example is Michael Cassio. For the first part of the play, to me, he seemed to have a lot of integrity. Despite his dispute after drinking, he felt terrible about it, and he wanted to make it up to Othello. It sounded like all he wanted was forgiveness from his good friend. That made him have a lot of integrity in my eyes. But in the end, he’s seen visiting the prostitute and leading her along, for the fun of it. Last of all, foresight in Shakespeare appears to be a quality with positives and negatives. The two largest forms of foresight in these two plays would have to be that of Hamlet and that of Iago. In terms of Hamlet: forgetting the terrible acts of violence and vulgarity that he committed in the spur of the moment, Hamlet’s foresight, when it came to Claudius, was very honorable. His use of foresight was to avenge his father’s death and to find justice in the world. Anything Hamlet did that was dishonorable had nothing to do with foresight; it had to do with his impulsiveness. In the other spectrum of things, Iago’s foresight is unquestionably dishonorable. His ability to perceive how people will react and what they will do in the future, while revered by Shakespeare the world over, is one of the most dishonorable instances in Shakespeare. His manipulation of people is only means of pitting them against each other in order to help himself in the future. After reading these plays, it is hard to decide whether or not honor can still be legitimately given to any character. In my eyes, Hamlet, Cassio, Iago, and Othello have all lost real honor. Sure, aside from Iago, the others have done honorable things, but I don’t think I could attribute any of them honor fully. The only characters I would consider giving that to would be Desdemona (for trying to save Othello at the end of the play) and possibly Horatio (for helping Hamlet discover find out about Claudius and choosing to not die in order to tell his friends story). I don’t think I could do that however, because these acts of honor do not serve entirely large parts of the plays. Honor is apparently a fickle thing. It will come and go in Shakespeare’s world. His plays make it very clear that he doesn’t believe many people can be truly honorable. Every once in a while he will convince us that one of his characters has this quality through and through, but he then snags that away from us. I’m convinced that, in these two plays, there is no truly honorable character. Some come close at moments, but spoils are constantly brought.

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