Ritalin is Like Cocaine :: Drugs Addiction Essays

What is Ritalin? Ritalin, or methylphenidate, is a stimulant derived from the same family as cocaine. Manufactured by the Ciba-Geigy Corporation, a division of Novartis, Ritalin sales have increased by 700% since 1990. The United States market accounts for over 90% of the sales (Breggin, 1998). Ritalin is dispersed in pill form in varying amounts, either for short or long effects; the short-term form lasts 3-5 hours while the long-term form may last 6-8 hours. (SR) Ritalin is the slow release form that lasts longer. Ritalin, like other stimulant medications, works by increasing the production of neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and norepinephrine, in the brain. (Reif, 1998) Who uses Ritalin? Doctors generally prescribe Ritalin as their first choice in treating ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. Approximately 3-5% of children in the world have ADHD, of those, about 4 million take Ritalin (Breggin, 1998). It is thought that ADHD may occur from low levels of dopamine and epinephrine in the brain; although that is a highly controversial topic, it makes Ritalin an obvious treatment. (http://www.restores_homepage.com/the_ritalin_generation.htm) What is ADHD? Many psychologists regard ADHD as a state deficit, where children are highly aroused to compensate for the body’s feeling of under arousal. (Kerns, Eso, Thomson, 1999) Three main features of ADHD are 1.Impulsivity, the children often act before they consider consequences 2.Hyperactivity, the children struggle to sit still 3.Inattentiveness, the children have difficulty focusing on a subject because of the overload of stimuli in the environment. Research may indicate that ADHD has biological origins and set symptoms, such as fidgeting, excessive talking, difficulty maintaining concentration, impulsive behavior, lack of focus and messiness. (http://www.mnsi.net/~collinsw/ritalin.htm) According to the Center for the Study of Psychiatry and Psychology, in a recent conference held by the NIMH, National Institute of Mental Health, the validity of the diagnosis of ADHD was held in question. (www.breggin.com) The cause of ADHD is unknown as of yet, and speculation is all psychologists have to diagnose and treat patients. The DSM-IV has categorized ADHD by the three dimensions listed above and included 18 symptoms under the three categories, which include some listed above. ADHD has undergone significant renaming and evaluation since the last publication of the Diagnostic Statistic Manual. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity, was referred to as ADD or sometimes ADD-H, Attention Deficit Disorder with hyperactivity. (www.journals.cup.org) Who Advocates Ritalin? Teachers, parents and doctors continue to advocate Ritalin despite the claims made by antagonists of the stimulant treatment.

Free Macbeth Essays: The Importance of Sleep -- Free Essay Writer

The Importance of Sleep in Macbeth  Ã‚      The image of sleep is consistently mentioned in Macbeth with the intention of creating a symbolic importance.   Macbeth himself notes that the sleep he discusses with us, is that that ‘knits up’, meaning the sleep which smoothes out and pieces together. Macbeth recites this after he has spoken to Lady Macbeth directly after he committed the bloody murder of King Duncan.   He cried, ‘Sleep no more!’ to all the house:’Glamis hath murder’d sleep, and therefore Cawdor Shall sleep no more, Macbeth shall sleep no more!’ He frantically and almost deliriously raves, which highlights his conscience, is already bothering him.    The image of sleep is symbolized by Shakespeare to highlight one of the plays themes, conscious.   In reality sleep rests the mind, refreshes the mind and eases a person allowing them to function normally.   It is a fact that a person cannot survive without sleep†¦Ã‚   And Macbeth as well as Lady Macbeth’s characters demonstrate this.   They both will never be at peace again†¦&nb...

Islamic Studies Essay

What is a Sufi and what do they contribute to our world today? How do they affect people especially the Muslim practices? What contributions did they have to the belief about God? How are they different or how are they the same? Citing 2 of the major Sufi figures, we would be able to learn what how their teachings are the same and how they are different from one another. We would also find out how these two imparted their knowledge on the people and how they contributed to the life of the Muslim believers. â€Å"Sufi† is derived from an Arabic word â€Å"suf† which means wool. This was used to call the Muslim ascetics and mystics because the Sufi’s dress is made out of this material. Sufis are actually human beings who have exceptional devotions to God or to Allah that they forget their very own selves because of the thought that their soul is absorbed into God. They engage themselves in devotional practices that raise them higher until they reached the point that they believe that they are one with God. Their belief and actions are usually subjects of suspicion by Muslim theologians and lawyers because their actions are near blasphemous but the Sufi’s desire is to teach happiness and that we should separate ourselves from the worldly things and discover God in our hearts. They seek illumination and they what they see is harmony. A Sufi’s belief is that there is more to life than just experiencing the physical things. They also consider having a much greater mission why we are alive and that they also believe that one’s own self is not a barrier to the illusions that they were able to see (Khan). Examining the life and teachings of two Major Sufi Figures, we can see how they differ in their teachings and how similar their mystical pronouncements are. Abu Hamid al Ghazali was one of the exceptional scholars and Sufi in Islam. His life and his works are still studied by theologians, of jurisprudence and philosophy and mysticism. Al Ghazali started learning when his father left him and his brother under the care of a Sufi friend before he died. His father left them money with a request that the Sufi must see to it that they will be taught how to read and write. When the funds ran out they were sent to school where Ghazali excelled in Islam studies, he became a teacher but with his decision, he stopped teaching because of a Sufi belief that his motivation for teaching is not for Allah. As he was following a Sufi path which has prerequisites that you should give up everything and loose yourself and do everything for the sake of Allah (Cole). Ghazali spent the rest of his lives going on a spiritual journey for 11 years and went back to Tus, he taught for awhile and then he stayed for another 9 years until his death. What were Al Ghazali’s thoughts that influenced the Muslims? Al Ghazali’s techniques were adopted from the Aristotelian logic and the Neoplatonic procedures. Al Ghazali wants to prove God’s existence from the creation to Ash’arite proof. Ghazali believes that God’s attributes are something different from, yet added to, God’s essence. That he believes that God has attributes like humans that is knowledgeable, has life and his own will, can see, can hear and can talk He also believed that whatever happened from creation until now, with the changes that are happening in this world is just a result of God’s knowledge, His own will and his power (Nakamura). Al Ghazali as well believes that there are two powers affecting human acts, that is of God and the human’s power in him. This belief of Al Ghazali implicates that human action is both God’s will and that it is at the same time acquired by that human from God and this is what Al Ghazali wants to harmonize, God’s Omnipotence and the person’s responsibility for his chosen action (Nakamura). Al Ghazali believes that God can place any obligations that he wishes upon humans, that He gives rewards and punishments according to the person’s faithfulness to God and that God’s acts are beyond human’s judgment. The thought that God created all creatures; he cannot be unjust (Nakamura). Ghazali, as one of the greatest theologians really have a deep and lasting influence. His teachings spread to Europe, influenced the Jewish and the Christian Scholasticism even adopted by St. Thomas Aquinas. With his strong argument in favor of religion, he was accused of damaging the cause of philosophy (Averros). Another Sufi figure is Shayk Ahmad al-Ansa’i who is a native of Eastern Arabia. He is under the protection of the princes of Qajar who were responsible for the restoration of Shi’ism as the state religion of Iran. Little is known about Shayk Ahmad but his usage of the symbolic language and the controversial mystical Shayki order that was established after his name was known only after his death (Cole). What are the teachings and the influences of Shayk Ansa’I to the Muslims and the belief about God? Shayk Ahmad put studied this saying from a prophet: â€Å"God wrote a Text (kitabah) two thousand years before He created the universe, on a myrtle leaf that He caused to grow. He placed it upon the Throne, then called out: `O community of Muhammad–peace be upon him and his House–My compassion transcends My wrath. I have given to you before you even asked, and forgiven you before you sought forgiveness. Whoso among you bears witness that there is no God but Me, and that Muhammad is My servant and messenger, I shall usher him into paradise by reason of my compassion (Cole). † Shayk Ansa’I believes that the text, took form of a Leaf which are made up of lines which then God shaped the world (Cole). He believes that God as the Universal intellect and as the Universal soul. He explains that God called the Muslims before he even created the world. That Muslims even before asking may have the gift that they would ask for. Thus these Muslims would depend on their devotion to God. Shayk Ansa’I compared the human existence to a leaf that like the lines in a leaf, human beings are the embodiments of that pre existing text on earth. Shayk Ahmad quotes, in his mystical and his theological anthology, from â€Å"one of the learned† about how the Tree of Certainty was created by God. The passage says that there is a bloom of Muhammad in a shape of a peacock, which would praise God for seventy thousand years. That this peacock bowed to God five times thus where the 5 daily of Islam originated. From the light from Muhammad, the spirits of the believers were created they then became the Muslims. These two beliefs and teachings from two major Sufi figures display a difference in their teachings. One difference that they have is that the belief of the creation of the world. In the belief of Al Ghazali, that human were created as a result of God’s knowledge, His own will and his power. This implicates that this was the choice of God to create human beings and other creatures. That it is God’s will that human beings be made and not just an accidental circumstance. Unlike the belief of Shayk Ahmad that Muslims were chosen even before the creation of the world and that they are the chosen ones. The belief that through the light of Muhammad the souls of the followers were made is a different belief to what Al Ghazali stated. Another difference that has been cited is that, Al Ghazali believes that a person is responsible for his own action. The reward and punishment given by God depends on the person’s obedience and disobedience. This means that there would be a just distribution of the graces and punishments depending on how one lives his life. This may mean that a person is responsible for his own life. Unlike the belief of Shayk Ahmad, that since Muslims were chosen by God before the creation, they were given the graces before they ask of it. They just depend on their devotional practices in order to praise God and receive the graces that they are longing for. Another difference that these two Sufi figures have is the belief of Al Ghazali that human beings have their own free will and that they are the ones responsible for living their own lives. What would happen to them would be affected by God’s power and the consequence of their own action. Shayk Ahmad’s belief on this one is that Muslims, the chosen ones will be blessed. No matter how they live their lives they will be given the graces they seek. They just have to practice their daily devotions for them to have their graces even before they ask of it. However they are not at all different. They also have the same attributes. One same belief both of these Sufi figures have is that human beings were created by one Supreme Being. They are created by God, however different they may be in presenting how creatures came to life, but they are still from one God. Another is that, they both believe that there is one Supreme Being that they need to look up to and give praise for what we have in this world. They both believe that there is a God that we have to thank for our very own lives and for our everyday existence. Another thing that they are the same is that they both believe God gives us graces. How different their beliefs is on how they are given by God, they are in an agreement that God gives human beings blessings that they need. We can see as we have compared the two major Sufi figures, we were able to see how the same and how different their teachings can be. The teachings that they imparted on the Muslims affected their beliefs and divided them into different sects. It is the person’s choice now of whom to believe in order to live their life following what that Supreme Being expects of His creations. As we can see, no matter whom we follow, no matter what belief we have, the guidance of that one Supreme Being is very important to each one of us. There is neither exact religion nor sect which would say that this is the right one for us, but what is important that we have our own beliefs. We have our own rights to practice what we believe in order for us to have that life that God wanted us to have. All we have to keep in mind now is how to live a life that may be harmonious with others, that we would be decreasing conflicts with other believers. One practice that one may do, help Christians to be good Christians or help Muslims to be good Muslims, no matter what religion you are, you are a creation of God. Works Cited: Cole, Juan R. I. Individualism and the Spiritual Path in Shaykh Ahmad al-Ahsa’i.Occasional Papers in Shaykhi, Babi and Baha’i Studies No. 4 (September, 1997). http://www. h-net. org/~bahai/bhpapers/ahsaind. htm Cole, Juan R. I. Cosmologies of Shaykh Ahmad al-Ahsa’i. The World as Text: Cosmologies of Shaykh Ahmad al-Ahsa’i. (1994) http://www-personal. umich.edu/~jrcole/ahsai2. htm Khan, Hidayat Inayat. What is a Sufi? The International Sufi Movement. (June 2005) http://www. sufimovement. org/whatsufiis. htm http://www. ghazali. org/articles/gz1. htm http://www. h-net. org/~bahai/areprint/ahsai/ahsai. htm.

Asos, a Company History Essay

ASOS was created in June of 2000 by UK natives Nick Robertson and Quentin Griffiths. ASOS, an acronym for ‘As Seen On Screen,’ was a small online business based out of the UK that duplicated celebrity inspired products. Today they have over 1000 employees and over 50,000 items of fashion. From emulating celebrity fashions, they now are setting the trends. In 2001, the company was admitted to the London Stock Exchange, and the company quickly grew from there. In 2004, ASOS developed their own label for Women and in 2005, launched a beauty line. In 2007 they launched their own men’s line as well as the extremely popular publication ‘ ASOS magazine. ‘ In the ten years after the business was first created, the company became extremely successful becoming the number one independent retailer in the United Kingdom. In 2010, started to branch out of the UK . ASOS launched websites in France, Spain, Italy, Australia, Germany and the USA, which made them an international well-known brand. Just in this past year they also launched their site in Russia. Today their website brings over 17. 5 million visitors month and as of 2012, they have 4. 4 million active customers from 160 countries. ASOS offers products under its own label as well as third party brands. These brands offer products in womenswear, menswear, footwear, accessories, jewelry as well as beauty. ASOS appears to be in a perpetual state of growth as their company seems to expand by the minute offering over thousands of new products a month.

Learning Team Charter Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Learning Team Charter Analysis - Essay Example The group must lay down some criteria on what kind of violations would merit being kicked out from the group. It would also be good to solicit feedback from the member who failed to perform as expected. Feedback can be used for planning when drafting guidelines. As for team B, the distribution of workload is properly managed by the leader. They also observe correct protocol by having the immediate supervisor address the issues first. This reflects more organized way of doing things. However, additional strategies can be formulated to make the whole process efficient. First, the conflict manager can have one-on-one discussions with team members who have issues before elevating them to the instructor. Second , models for conflict resolutions can be discussed to see which approach is more appropriate. In conclusion, conflict resolution in groups begins with carefully laid established guidelines that team members can rely

Almarai Dairy Foods Company Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Almarai Dairy Foods Company - Essay Example The fresh milk and laban produced by the company soon became two of the high demanded products in the markets of Saudi Arabia. The process of centralization took place in 1990s when the management started to centralize the structure of the company by replacing the decentralized plants by central processing plants. The state-of-the-art infrastructure plays a great role in the success of this dairy products producing company. Along with the infrastructure, the distribution mechanisms also hold great importance in the success of the company. Some of the main dairy product categories produced by the Almarai include dairy liquids, yogurt, cheese, butter, ghee, tomato pastes, fresh cream, custards, bakery products, and some chicken products. All of the products produced by Almarai are of high quality and that is the major reason behind the success of the company. Almarai is also the first dairy company in the world, which has been certified by the ISO 9002 quality standards. The title of t he website is the name of the company. The developer of the website is a renowned web development company, Media Plus. Although the name of the developing company has been listed on the website but there is no proper way to contact the developers. However, one can contact the company’s officials regarding any concern through messages. The link, contact us, has been placed on the home page of the website. The illustrations are appropriate and informative. The line, Quality you can trust, has been placed on the top of the first page of the website which gives a clear picture of the quality standards of the company. The overall design of the website is simple and easy to understand. The layout of the website is attractive as it gives a real feeling of a dairy company’s website. The website is also easy to navigate. The introduction of the company is appropriate. One can understand the nature and history of the company very easily by reading the introduction. Moreover, the introduction is written in simple English, which make it easy for everyone to understand the content. Seven links are placed on the home page of the website. In every link, there are some further links which take us to the details of the main link. For example, when we open products page, we can click on each product and can get detailed information of the product. This is a very attractive and informative aspect of the website. The text is normal. It is not very large so that it can occupy large place of the screen. Everyone can read the text without any difficulty. The text is also in contrast with the background color. For example, the links are written in white color whereas the background color for the links’ area is blue. The links’ sub-topics have been developed very well. The sub-topics are not linked in turn to other sites. The links work very well. One can get information about the required things by clicking on the relevant links. The website does not prese nt any specific viewpoint. It just presents facts about the company’s products, financial information, history, news etc. One can find useful information about the products, brands, and details of the products. The only drawback regarding the website is the time that it takes to open the links. The links do not get opened very quickly. Nadec Nadec is the biggest agricultural joint stock public company of Saudi Arabia. The company was founded in 1981. Nadec delivers high quality nutritious products to the customers. Along with agricultural products, such as, wheat,

Marketing Degree Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5250 words

Marketing Degree - Essay Example Marketing revolves around the entire business. The marketing penetrates in all areas of the business. All the business activities from purchases t till display all revolves around marketing. Marketing as a philosophy revolves around customer satisfaction and it do not focus on earning the profits. It can be done for social welfare. It can be done for customer orientation. The philosophy is to meet and satisfy the desires of the customers. However the marketing as a set of business activities is totally different concept. It basic aim is to earn profit. Though the marketing manager in any enterprise focus on customer's needs and desires but their aim is to earn profit and they were not doing marketing for social or charitable purpose. So marketing is also a philosophy to satisfy the customer's desires simultaneously it is a set of business activities to earn profit. And in this way both these terms are related to each other. In this ever changing and fast moving business world, the socially conscious customers are now become a challenge for the business enterprenurers. The social awareness of the consumer brings many opportunities and threats for the enterprises. ... They have to look for the brands which are on top, commodities which are in fashion and which gives them a nice and trendy look. No matter the consumer is buying clothes or accessories or house hold items. Except groceries and necessities the consumer is going trend conscious. This brings lots of new opportunities for the entrepreneurs. Now they focus more on producing trendy and in fashion products for the consumers. For this they have to work aggressively on their markets strategies. Further more the managers has to work hard to market their products as now the consumer focus on every little detail the company is offering in its product. The consumer looks at the design, availability, price, trends of the products. However it opens the doors for service industry as many people are offering their service to literate people about the trends in the market. This business is boosting up rapidly. In short, the socially conscious consumers is aware of his social values and now focus more on it while purchasing any product which brings many opportunities and threats for many businesses. 3. What are the differences between organizational buying behaviour and consumer buying behaviour (Jobber & Fahy, Ch. 3, P. 76, Study question 1) The consumer buying behavior is relatively a narrow terms. It describes the buying behavior of any consumer. In buying any product or service, the consumer prefers his need and choice. The quantity is small and can be purchased from any shop. However organization buying behavior is broader term. It focuses upon the need of the organization. It evolves a deep and thorough analysis of the product or service needs to be purchased. Organization purchases include high complex