Global Warming

   

Soon the white peaks will disappear

The following essay was written under extreme emotional pressure from the voices of inner demons, devils…and their angel brethren.  Being editorial taskmasters these inner voices have additionally asked that all quotes from my previous writing life be in bold-italicized script and all titles, sub-titles, and headings in bold script (non-italicized).        ”To Your Unconcerned, Your Skeptical, Your Unconvinced, and Your Non-caring Fellow Human”      ”We have no thoughts of our own, no opinions of our own: they are transmitted to us, trained into us”    My subconscious mind recently approached my conscious mind with an inconvenient truth, that made my conscious mind want to run and hide, or at least eliminate the needle in my ribs, unable to locate the throat, eyes, nether-regions…or any painfully vital region of my sub nemesis.  The conscious reporter inside of me decides to search out the facts I would use to dismantle the razor’s edge of my inner-nemesis’s inconvenient truth and allow me to convince my subconscious mind of the validity of my emotional pleas.  Here is what I found out.      Earth, the blue-green jewel we currently reside on, is essentially an energy system normally in equilibrium.  By this I mean the total amount of energy of the planet Earth has for billions of years been essentially in a constant state.  Where the amount of energy leaving the planet’s system has essentially been equal to the amount of energy entering the planet’s system, thus creating energy equilibrium and the appearance of constant total energy contained within the Earth’s energy system.  This equilibrium state in the total energy allowed a temperature range in which the elements essential for the formation of life on earth were possible.  If we had been a fly on the wall of time, with a life span of billions of years, we would see life begin in the primordial waters of early Earth, evolve into a myriad of exotic, diverse and wondrous life forms, each with a specific niche within the ecological system to fill, live and eventually die in a continual struggle between life and the harsh universe.  Life on Earth would flourish for billions of years before we would see the effects of mankind’s evolution from the apes on the planet, before we would begin to see the changes human ‘progress’ has made to the surface of our mother Earth.         The flicker of time since mankind first came swinging down out of the trees in Africa and planted it’s feet and knuckles on the glass plains of history is un-noticeable on the geological time scale of Earth, when it is compared with the total age of the planet.  Yet the changes man’s brief stay on Earth have made to the viability of the planet as a cradle of life and the energy equilibrium of the planet have in recent years been immense and of far greater concern to the people tasked with studying the energy fluctuations in the planet’s energy equilibrium, changes in our environment evoking an emotional response in those unable to disengage their mind from the fear induced by the inconvenient truth of our current situation on Earth.  The facts the scientists have accumulated seem to point to drastic changes in our planet, changes that a disheartening percentage of my emotional fellow man regards as normal to the environment of Earth.  Facts collected over an infinitesimal period of geological time certainly, yet facts none the less, which is far more then the emotional detractors of global warming bring to the discussion table.  When the time comes to make a decision, logic still dictates the choice must be made with available facts, not emotional pleas from the conscious mind.  I am addicted to the conveniences of this century, yet I sometimes long for the simple life I once had.   Emotions leading human thought down pathways of denial to emotional conclusions concerning the issue of global warming, before they have taken a truly honest look at the available facts.  ”The truth is the most valuable thing we have.  Let us economize it.  The truth is the only thing that can set us free; embracing the truth is our salvation.     Big lies, little lies, well-intentioned lies, bad-intentioned lies, convenient lies and inconvenient lies; right now the individual who exerts control over my personal choice is lying to me, telling me the easy answers to the question.  Global warming?        ”A truth is not hard to kill…a lie told well is immortal.”  The undiscovered lie can close a thousand minds before the truth has spoken a word.  The very design, intention of a lie, makes it more palatable for the emotional mind.  The easy answer to the question of global warming is a ‘convenient lie’ I tell myself to keep the facts concerning global warming at arms length.  ‘The scientists are always changing their conclusions; they don’t really know anymore then me.  There is no global warming; the weather is the way it has been for millions of years.  It’s all part of the normal weather cycle of the Earth, the weather just seems more chaotic than normal.  Those who have witnessed the most say, it’s all part of an age old cycle.’  Fortunately as more scientists add additional data to the debate surrounding the question of global warming it’s becoming apparent to more and more people that something is horribly wrong with the Earth’s energy equilibrium.      No question has as much importance to life on planet Earth as the subject of global warming, but the answers will not be easy ones.  Since the question has become one of the viability of life on our little spaceship, how will we respond to the changing environmental conditions we made within?  The important question is not whether life will survive, for life always finds away, always adapts, and evolves, to the changing environment within which it finds itself.  The important question to humankind is whether humans as a species have the necessary evolutionary strength to adapt to the changes we ourselves are making to our planets environment.  To look beyond the needs of our own existence and stimulation, to the responsibility we all inherited from earlier generations.  Whether we admit it or not the survival of humankind has gone beyond the personal desire, responsibility we all feel to reproduce and pass on our genes to the next generation.  The conditions on the Earth will soon make it impossible to pass on individual genes without the full support, involvement of the entire human race in the battle we are currently fighting to preserve the Earth in the form we need it to be in for human life to continue to exist on Earth.  We can go back to destruction of life after we learn how to allow life to propagate.  The individual and group choices we make affect the Earth every day of our life whether we want to admit it or not.  Responsibility and fault are useless endeavors until we learn to make the individual choices necessary for us to solve the problems associated with global warming, and responsibility and fault isn’t the same thing as consequences.  Consequences becoming more apparent to the experts everyday, as the results of decade long experiments are finally tabulated, the results evaluated, correlated against previous data.     The Bears are coming!  Not the Chicago Bears, I mean the Spanish Brown bears.  Spanish naturalists are pointing to warning signs never seen during the recorded history of Europe in the modern age.  Naturalists at the La Fundacion Oso (The Brown Bear Foundation) in Spain have reported in recent years incidents of Brown bears in Spain’s northern mountainous regions being spotted foraging in the winter season, when all normal bears are slumbering.  Mainly females with cubs, naturalists say the warming trend makes it worthwhile for the females to stay awake, and forage for nuts and berries in the mild winters.  These are the first bears to stop hibernating in Europe the naturalist point out and only a handful of the 130 Brown bears known to exist in the region have been recorded foraging in winter, but that increased signs of bear activity has been seen in the last three years and they would expect to see more if the warm winters continue.     Russian scientists have been reporting lately that Siberia’s frozen tundra, frozen for thousands of years, is melting due to the unusually warm winters.  Making soviet scientists apprehensive as they look out onto the tundra and view lakes forming as the environment changes before their eyes.  They point out that large areas of the planet are currently covered by permafrost and that the melting of such areas releases additional gases, mainly carbon dioxide and methane that will add to the problems associated with the release of greenhouse gas emissions.      Environmental experts tasked with studying the world’s deserts report that currently about 40% of the world’s land is presently categorized as desert, that this percentage is increasing in areas where deserts already exist and where they haven’t been recorded before.  This has concerned authorities naming 2006 the international year of deserts and desertification, to help raise worldwide concern for the problems of desertification to the world’s eye.  Add to this the 30% of the Earth’s agricultural farmland that has had been abandoned in the last forty years due to overuse and one sees a picture of diminishing returns for our human ‘progress’.  Estimates arrived at by scientists point to another 200,000 square kilometers of land on the Earth becoming a unlivable wasteland every year due to human processes.      The accelerating pace of loss of the Earth’s biodiversity and biological productivity is increasing as the human population increases; this is hardly a tenable situation if left unchanged.  Ocean scientists tasked with recording the great ocean currents, called the Conveyor Belt, have recorded a lessening in the Gulf Stream current by as much as 30% in recent years.  The world currents help to redistribute water and heat, and the lessening will have important consequences if the currents continue to decrease in volume.     The loss of the white snow-caps of mount Kilimanjaro is a few years’ away Chinese scientists say, something that has never been seen in human recorded history.  Man has looked at the majestic peaks of mount Kilimanjaro for thousands of years and marveled at the beauty that is soon to be gone forever.  In a short time they will be memories seen only in treasured pictures or the minds of humans old enough to have lived when snow still graced the high peaks of mount Kilimanjaro.  The current melting of the once permanent bodies of ice around the Earth has scientists concerned, they estimate that at current rates of melting of the worlds large ice bodies, a rate that is not going to change anytime in the near future, the worlds major bodies of ice like the Antarctic, the Greenland ice sheets and the Larson B. ice sheets will be gone in fifty years.   This would have catastrophic consequences as scientists estimate that forty percent of the world’s population obtains the drinking water necessary for human life to continue from bodies of ice located around the planet.  In addition the loss of these large bodies of ice would raise the average water level around the world by twenty feet, making large areas of the planet suitable for species living in a water-habitat, but untenable to human habitation.  Scientists point to the current breaking up of ice shelves that have been permanent in recorded human history and the formation of water lakes in the northern ice shelves as they are heated from below.  Indian and Chinese scientists have recently formed a joint team of dedicated Earth scientists to study and map the glaciers existing in the Himalayan mountains to compare against previous estimates and data collected in previous years.  Pointing to the data obtained by studying the evidence left in the ice of glaciers around the world, Earth scientists say the planet has never been this warm during the lifetime of the rapidly disappearing glaciers they study.  The scientist point to current trends in the pattern of continual increases year to year in the formation of tornadoes, hurricanes, and storm, trends producing unusual flooding patterns in areas that have in the past been subjected to flooding and in areas on the planet that have not been traditionally used to floods.     The consequences of the pattern of warming the Earth is going through has additional consequences other than the redistribution of water the scientists say and many of these will become increasingly apparent as time passes and humans continue the activities producing global warming.    Biologists, ecologists, and scientists studying the dynamics of evolution are ringing the warning bell also.  Pointing to the changing ecological conditions of species in specific geological niches on the Earth, such as remote mountaintops, where the effects of global warming are be expected to be seen.  Scientists point out the apparent disappearance of whole species of frogs, and their replacement with species better adapted to the changing conditions in these mountain top habitats.  They point to species moving into geological niches they normally wouldn’t inhabit in response to the changes in the Earth’s environment by global warming and replacing species that only survived in these geological niches because of their geological isolation or adaptation to colder conditions (Check out Charles Darwin’s blog for his latest alterations to his theory of evolution and his thoughts on the current evolution occurring on the Earth).  Hardly a surprise considering that life adapts, changes and ultimately survives.  In the battle for survival on the planet Earth, some species are thriving in the current trend of global warming.  While others have already been thrown on the evolutionary scrape pile.  The question is whether mankind has the evolutionary adaptability nature requires of species able to survive as global warming continues to increase and have greater and greater effect on the energy equilibrium of Earth.     Extinction scientists point to statistics indicating that species are currently disappearing at a rate one thousand times the normal rate of extinction seen in species since they started recording such data, and point out the inherent interdependence all species have with one another and the obvious consequences of mass extinction to all life on the planet.  Whole ecosystems are disappearing at an alarming rate; these include the world’s coral reefs that are bleaching, putting the world’s fish species in jeopardy as a large percentage of the world’s fish species live among coral reefs.     Medical specialists point to the increase in human disease, the return of diseases once thought eliminated, with a renewed vigor and ability to resist the medical techniques originally used to supposedly eliminate them.  Many scientists think our own remedies could have caused the proliferation of old and new human pathological diseases.      In the future human progress will be seen as the greatest natural disaster planet Earth has experienced to date, if we manage to change our lifestyle and survive our own ‘progress’, we may learn how to live in harmony with the gift we have received and then abused.     Wondering if the current trends may have an as yet unseen connection with the trend of global warming and the spread of infectious diseases.  Scientists studying the energy cycles of the Earth point out that while it is true the normal cycle of energy fluctuations of the Earth has continued.  The levels of carbon dioxide, believed to be responsible for the majority of the warming, have continued to rise year to year along with the average temperature of the planet.  Other indicators believed to be messengers of continued global warming have also continued to steadily rise year to year as average planetary temperatures continue to escalate.  This takes steam from detractors argument that it is a cyclic thing, it can hardly be cyclic if the indicators always rise and there is no highs and lows in the supposedly normal cycle.  This goes against the very definition of a cycle and indicates the normal cycle is being altered in some way.      Humans around the Earth are rallying to the defense of Mother Earth, mobilizing human creativity in the battle for survival of life on Earth.   The ratification of the Kyoto accord in 1997, currently over 50 industrialized countries have signed the agreement, has led to a decrease in over all greenhouse emissions.  This is despite the United States, China and India, the three countries currently producing the highest rate of greenhouse gases, refusing to sign the Kyoto accord to reduce greenhouse by 5% of 1990 levels by 2012.  Environmental scientists, professionals, and concerned human beings around the world have been meeting and talking to try to find solutions to the problem of global warming.  American states and cities have begun rebelling against their own government’s environmental policy by starting programs meant to meet the crisis of global warming head-on.  Menlo Park, California, has implemented plans like the Cool Cities Pledge, and the Climate Change Task Force.  While in Chicago they have started the Chicago Climate Exchange in an attempt to put planned controls in place to alleviate problems associated with global warming.  Americans across the country, like Al Gore, have joined together to ring the warning bell concerning the Inconvenient Truth surrounding the emotionally charged subject of global warming.  Across the planet people are waking up to the results of human choice in the past two hundred years and rising up together to face the crisis effecting more and more of our lives every day.     Shuffling my feet in discomfort at the feeling of fear these facts brought to the surface of my conscious mind, I looked across the room at the pictures on the wall of relatives I had never met and others I had recently met for the first time.  Of the children they hope to have, the lives they wish for their children and hopefully all children of the world.  The words of the voices within me worked wonders, the voices would say of my suddenly realisation of the truth.     Looking into the mirrored surface of my patio window at the fear on the face of the man in the window, I realized, “He had arrived at the point where presently the illusions would cease and he would have entered upon the realities of life, and God help the man who has arrived at that point.”      Grabbing hold of the little sanity left within my grasp, I realize that the best thing I can do to help the Earth hopefully begin recovering from the effects of global warming.  Is to re-evaluate my life in the face of the cold-hard facts about our, my, style of life on this blue-green, okay maybe slightly brown, ball of star dust and start by making the changes to my life that are required of all humans if human life is to be more than a forgotten footnote at the bottom of page 2,897,518 of the Extinct Species of the Universe. Learn to control the emotions of fear, anger, despair, helplessness flooding into my conscious mind and ignore the emotional pleas of those without the strength to take a realistic look at the facts.  We must keep faith with the facts, drive the whole length of the road to human survival and not suddenly stop by the side of the road because ‘the policies implemented in the country have reduced emissions, or we have made strides to control the problem’.  We must keep the wheel steady, stay between the lines to our goals of clean air, clean water, healthy food and continued life for all species on Earth if we are to reach our goals.  Individually we must take responsibility for respecting ourselves enough to seek out the answers our subconscious mind is screaming at us.  The truth is waiting to be discovered just beyond the emotional pleas of your conscious mind.     Become one of the environmental soldiers rising to the task of making the necessary changes in the life style we live.  Strive to control the emotions tearing at your soul as you mourn the necessary loss of a lifestyle that is now correctly seen as a crime against Mother Earth.  And, “A crime preserved in a thousand centuries ceases to be a crime, and becomes a virtue.  This is the law of custom, and custom super cedes all other forms of law.”  The necessary changes to our customs will affect our comfort, most likely, yet with time, if humankind survives the effects of its own ‘progress’, these changes will become custom also.  To begin changing today, “Make it a point to do something everyday that you don’t want to do.  This is the golden rule for acquiring the habit of doing your duty without pain.”  I leave you with this one final point.  When the final toll is taken in the end, if you weren’t part of the solution, you were the problem.    Warren Hayashi

Ageless Wonders

An undervalued resource of experience and skill 

The idea that older works are slower and less productive than their younger competitors is a myth; in fact they often make fewer errors than younger employees. 
 
Older employees move to slow, forget to do things and are inflexible around the workplace.  They don’t work well in a team atmosphere and can’t adapt quickly to new technologies or changing times.  Many people describe their older colleagues in these terms and these blanket statements are often the reasons personnel managers cite for hiring younger employees over their older competitors.   
 
But are these opinions warranted?  Do older workers in truth perform as poorly as their younger counterparts claim?  If so, at what specific functions or tasks do they perform at a lower level than younger employees?  Neuroscientists and psychologists active in the field of “cognitive gerontology” are currently examining these questions in laboratories around the world.  The answers found to date are eye-popping: although older workers maybe slower at specific jobs or functions, they are actually faster at others and in most cases less prone to recurring mistakes.  In fact research shows that only certain brain functions are affected by possible age-related deficits and that basic change in the work environment can compensate for any deficits. 
 
In the fast pace, shifting, business world of today a lot of importance is placed on the ability to operate at a high rate of speed in the business environment.  And the skill to adapt to changes in the work environment, to be flexible to changing business needs and demands.  Even workers, who for years followed the same routine during their daily jobs, now find the requirements of business have changed and continue to change constantly.  Coping with a constantly shifting environment requires “fluid intelligence”-the focus to switch quickly between different functions, redirect ones attention, and screen out irrelevant or distracting information. 
 
It has been shown in studies by psychologist Jutta Kray of Saarland University in Germany that older people tend to find difficulty coordinating competing tasks.  She found that individuals over 50, on average, did not do as well on tasks calculated to test an individual’s ability to switch quickly between mental tasks.  For the individual over 50 the studies found the mental effort required for task switching was greater. 
 
The study wasn’t all bad news for the average o-plus Joe or Mary; the old participants did far better after they rehearsed ways to improve their responses.  The scientists concluded that age related performance deficits can be overcome if work environments are constructed in the appropriate way. 
 
Studies conducted by Michael Falkenstein and Sascha Sommer in collaboration with Juliana Yordanova and Vasil Kolev of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in Sofia.  Indicate older subjects take a moment longer to respond to stimulus and yet the results indicate they commit far fewer mistakes than younger individuals.  Detailed analysis indicates that older people process visual and auditory stimuli just as quickly as younger people did.  Their brains also thought, made decisions and choices as well as their younger counterparts.  The only lag occurred during the final phase-the brain signal that prepares the finger to move.  In older subjects the threshold to initiate a motor response was higher which seems to indicate older subjects operate according to the motto: “Better to be slow but right.”  And numerous other studies over the years seem to indicate this same conclusion. 
 
For the everyday workplace this has numerous implications as certain jobs require frequent choices, and categorization – for example, any quality control position with a manufacturer.  Since studies indicate the processes of choice and categorization is not significantly affected in older employees, there is no reason to deny them employment in these industries.  Yes the actual motor response is slower in older workers, but this can be an advantage in an industry where a low error rate is the goal. 
 
Studies indicate older workers make fewer mistakes mainly because they are aren’t as easily distracted from a task.  A surprising finding if you hold to traditional wisdom that older workers are easier to distract from function.  Studies indicate that older workers have a delayed reaction before making a decision, kind of like a mental stop sign to check everything, before proceeding to the next light.  Research has shown that this ability means that older workers commit far fewer errors, that this slowness gave them a decided advantage in performance.  This check-stop can be very useful for older people in many jobs, such as guiding a car through the busy, constantly moving and changing traffic at the busy intersection. 
 
While studies do show that our older fellow-humans do not perform as well when under severe time constraints, especially if they must use visual acuity to find a target.  In this situation older employees had longer reaction times and higher error rates than younger competitors.  These situations older workers also found more stressful, but this can be compensated for in the workplace.  Older drivers could be given on board navigation systems to provide the spoken directions instead of a map on a small screen.  Many present workplace situations could be altered in small ways to provide the older employee with the ability to complete the tasks they are better suited to. 
 
Since older employees have tasks and functions they perform better than their younger competitors, it is wrong to categorize older people as on the whole less valuable in the workplace.  And any small differences can certainly be compensated for by small adjustments in workplace environment and attitude toward older employees.  In the coming years with additional studies and understanding we will be able to isolate the causes of poor performance and redesign the work environment to mitigate these causes. 
 
Additionally it should be noted that in the real business world, speed and accuracy are not the only criteria determining success.  The older employee has spent years collecting experience and knowledge about the world and business, the younger employee has not gained yet.  Older workers are generally more socially competent, making them more suited for customer relations. 
 
Furthermore, even though an older worker might be initially slower at a certain mental task, neural networks have been shown to rewire themselves given the opportunity.  For example, cognitive neuroscience professor Roberto Cabeza of Duke University has shown that older people who performed poorly on a memory test activate the same memory areas of the human brain as their younger competitors, yet seniors who did well had a different activation pattern.  Scientists say these results make it clear that neuronal restructuring can help compensate for deficits – although not every older brain is capable of carrying this out. 
 
With the employment crush in the workplace in recent years and the call to bring older workers back into the workplace to compensate for the lack of workers.  A restructuring of workplaces and brain networks will be necessary if older workers are to be the solution to the problems of the labour market.  The call to rise retirement ages is part of this crush; low birth rates mean fewer people entering the workforce and a need for more skilled, experienced, workers.  Personnel managers equating the age 45 with “over the hill” in coming years will be ignoring a prime source of needed skill and experience if they continue to listen to the assumptions.  Something tells me the over-the-hill-gang, of which apparently I quality for, will be having a thing or two to say about this, because I for one have a lot left to learn, give and teach my fellow human.

 

Acebutolol (a se byoo` toe lole)

  

Acebutolol (a se byoo` toe lole)

Brand name: Sectral (also available generically)

Important Warning

Never stop taking Acebutolol before talking to a physician first, if Acebutolol is stopped suddenly, it can cause chest pain or heart attacks in some individuals.

 

Why do doctors prescribe Acebutolol?

Acebutolol is prescribed to help high blood pressure; it will relax your blood vessels so the heart doesn’t have to pump as hard.  Acebutolol is also used to treat an irregular heart beat and occasionally for additional afflictions, ask your physician or pharmacist for additional information on this.

How should this medication be taken?

Acebutolol comes in capsule form and is consumed through the mouth, usually once or twice daily.  Read the prescription label carefully and follow the directions to the letter, and any part you don’t understand ask a physician or pharmacist to explain to you.  Do not take more of less of the amount your physician has prescribed for you, and do not take it more often thinking more is better. 

Acebutolol is designed to control your ailment, but doesn’t cure it, so continue to take your Acebutolol even if you feel better.  Never stop taking Acebutolol unless first consulting with a physician.

What other uses are there for Acebutolol?

Acebutolol is used to treat chest pain (angina) in afflicted individuals, but talk to your doctor about the possible risks of taking Acebutolol for angina.

Are there any special precautions I should follow while on Acebutolol?

Before taking Acebutolol,

• Tell the attending physician if you are allergic to Acebutolol or any other drugs.
• Always tell the attending physician about any additional prescription or non-prescription drugs you are currently taking, especially medications for migraine headaches, diabetes, asthma, allergies, colds, or pain; other medications for high blood pressure or heart disease; reserpine; and vitamins.
• If you have a history of kidney, heart, or liver disease; asthma or other lung diseases; diseases of the blood vessels; severe allergies; diabetes; or an overactive thyroid gland be sure to mention this to the physician.
• Make sure to tell the physician if you are pregnant, planning on becoming pregnant, or are currently breast-feeding an infant. If you should become pregnant while on Acebutolol immediately contact and notify your physician.
• If you are scheduled for surgery, including dental surgery, tell the surgeon or dentist that you are currently taking Acebutolol.
• This is a strong drug, and it may make individuals drowsy. Don’t operate a vehicle or machinery until you gauge how your body reacts to Acebutolol.
• Don’t drink while on Acebutolol as this can cause you to become even drowsier.

Are there any special dietary instructions to remember?

Contact a physician before ingesting salt substitutes with potassium.  If your physician suggests a low-salt or low-sodium diet, make sure to follow the directions explicitly.

What to do if you forget your scheduled dosage?

You can take the medication as soon as you notice you have missed the scheduled time, unless it is almost time for your next scheduled dosage.  If this is the case skip the missed dosage and continue your regular regiment.  Never take a double dosage of Acebutolol to make up for a missed one.

Are there any side effects with Acebutolol?

Like most medications today Acebutolol can have serious side effects for those taking the medication.  Make sure to immediately contact a physician if any of the following symptoms are severe or don’t go away with time:

• Dizziness
• Light-headedness
• Excessive tiredness
• Headache
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Upset stomach
• Muscle aches

If any of the following symptoms should appear, immediately contact a physician:

• Shortness of breath or wheezing
• Swelling of the feet and lower legs
• Chest pain

Serious side effects should be reported by you or your physician to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online at www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm or by phone at 1-800-332-1088.

How should I store the Acebutolol?

Acebutolol should always be kept in the airtight container provided by the pharmacist, tightly closed, and out of the eyes and reach of children.  Store it at room temperature and away from any sources of excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).  If the medication is out-dated or no longer needed, talk to your pharmacist about proper disposal methods for drugs.

What should I do if someone overdoses on Acebutolol?

Whenever someone overdoses on Acebutolol, immediately call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.  If the victim is unconscious, incapacitated, or unable to breathe, call local emergency services at 911 without hesitation.

What additional information about Acebutolol should I be aware of?

Make sure to keep all your appointments with your physician and the laboratory you will be visiting.  The physician should be checking your blood pressure regularly to see what your response to Acebutolol is going to be.  The physician may ask you to occasionally check your own pulse (heart rate), so you can learn to keep tabs on your condition.  If you do not know how to check your pulse ask the physician or pharmacist to show you how, and if you ever check it and find it to be faster or slower than it should be, immediately contact your physician.

Remember to never let another person take your Acebutolol and if you have any questions about recharging your prescription or any questions at all ask a physician before doing anything.

Well that’s it for his hub on the pharmaceutical drug Acebutolol (Sectral), we hope the information contained here will help you understand the drug your physician has you on.  We hope you feel better soon, happy hubbing!

 

Acarbose

 

 

Acarbose (ay` car bose)

Brand name: Prandase, Precose

Why is this prescription medicine prescribed?

Acarbose is used in combination with a diet plan, or diet and other medications, to combat type 2 (noninsulin-dependent) diabetes (high blood sugar).  Acarbose is effective by slowing the action of particular chemicals that break down food to release glucose (sugar) in the blood; this slows digestion, and keeps levels of blood glucose from increasing very high after meals.

Acarbose is occasionally prescribed for other ailments, so ask your physician or pharmacist for more information if you want to know.

How should I take Acarbose?

Acarbose is taken orally in a tablet form, usually three times per day, but this will depend on your physicians directions.  It is of utmost importance to take the tablet of Acarbose with the first bite of each meal, but this will also help you remember to take your medication.  Make sure to read and follow the directions on the prescription label explicitly, and contact your pharmacist or physician if you are confused by the directions or do not understand anything about your medication.  You must take Acarbose exactly as directed by your physician.  Never take more or less of Acarbose, or take it more often than directed by your physician.

If you start to feel better, or feel better, continue to take the Acarbose until you finish your regiment or your physician indicates for you to cease.  Never cease taking Acarbose without conferring with your physician first.

Are there any special precautions I should take?

Before ingesting Acarbose,

• Always tell a physician if you are allergic to Acarbose or any other medications.
• It is very important to tell your physician if you are on any prescription or non-prescription medications. Especially medications for diabetes, digoxin, (Lanoxin), diuretics (water pills), estrogens, isoniazid, any medications dealing with high blood pressure or colds, oral contraceptives, pancreatic enzymes, phenytoin (Dilantin), steroids, thyroid medications, and vitamins of any kind.
• If you have been afflicted with ketoacidosis, cirrhosis, or intestinal disease such as inflammatory bowel disease or bowel obstruction.
• If you are pregnant, planning on getting pregnant, or are currently breast-feeding an infant immediately inform your physician of this condition. If you should become pregnant while on Acarbose you should call a physician and tell them of the situation.
• If you are scheduled for surgery, including dental surgery, inform your physician or dentist that you are currently taking Acarbose.

Are there any special dietary considerations I should be aware of while on Acarbose?

It is common for the physician or dietician to prescribe exercise and dietary recommendations when someone is taking Acarbose, so follow the instructions of either health care professional carefully.  Make sure to eat a healthy diet while on Acarbose as this is very, very, important.

Alcohol can cause a decrease in blood sugar if you taking Acarbose, so consult your physician before drinking any alcohol while on Acarbose.

What to do if you forget to take your dose at the right time?

Make sure to take the missed medication as soon as you notice you have missed it, have a snack so you can take it with the first bite, unless it is almost time for the next dosage.  If it is time for the next dosage, skip the missed dosage, and take your regular scheduled dose.  Never take a double dose of Acarbose to make up for a missed one, this could have serious effects.

Are there any side effects associated with taking Acarbose?

Acarbose is not meant to be used in conjunction with insulin or other medications used to treat diabetes, Acarbose can cause excessive lowering of blood sugar levels if used with any such medications.

If you develop any of the following symptoms, glucose products (Insta-Glucose or B-D Glucose tablets) should be taken and you should call your physician immediately, Acarbose blocks the breakdown of table sugar and other complex sugars, fruit juice or other products containing these sugars will not help to increase blood sugar.  It is very important you and anybody in the household understands the difference between Acarbose and other medications used to treat diabetes.

• Shakiness
• Dizziness or light headedness
• Sweating
• Nervousness or irritability
• Sudden changes in behaviour or mood shifts
• Experiencing headaches
• Numbness or tingling around the mouth area
• Weakness
• Pale skin
• Hunger
• Clumsy or jerky movements

Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) can develop and if left untreated, severe symptoms may occur.  Make sure that you, your family, friends, and other people who spend time in your presence know that if you show any of the following symptoms, they should immediately get medical attention for you.

• Confusion
• Seizures
• Loss of consciousness

Remember to call a physician or seek medical attention immediately if you develop any of the following symptoms of hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar):

• Extreme thirst
• Frequent urination
• Weakness
• Blurred vision
• Extreme hunger

Left untreated high blood sugar could lead to a potentially fatal condition called diabetic ketoacidosis, so if you have any of the following symptoms immediately seek medical attention:

• Dry mouth
• Upset stomach and vomiting
• Shortness of breath
• Breath that smells fruity
• Decreased consciousness

How should I store the Acarbose?

Acarbose should be stored in the airtight container provided when you received the medication, tightly closed at all times, and out of the reach and eyesight of children.  Store the drug at room temperature and away from any source of excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).  Always throw the Acarbose away when it is out-dated or no longer for consumption, your pharmacist of physician will have suggestions on the proper disposal of medications, if you ask.

If an overdose of Acarbose should occur what should I do?

In the case of any over dose of medication, always call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.  If the ingesting individual has collapsed or has ceased to breathe, immediately call local emergency services at 911.

Is there any additional information about taking Acarbose I should be aware of?

Never miss an appointment with your doctor or laboratory if it can be avoided, as time can be of the utmost importance in certain cases.  Your physician will certainly order particular tests to check your body’s response to Acarbose.

Well that’s it for his hub on the pharmaceutical drug Acarbose (Prandase, Precose); we hope the information here helps you understand a little more about your medication Acarbose.

 

 

 

 

Acamprosate

 

 

Acamprosate (a kam`prosate)

Brand Name: Campral

For what reasons is Campral prescribed to patients?

Acamprosate is a drug used to in combination with counselling and social support to help individuals with a history of prolonged and continuous consumption of large amounts of alcohol to overcome the need to drink.  Consuming large amounts of alcohol for significant amounts of time changes the brain chemistry and the way the brain functions.  Acamprosate helps these individuals by helping the brain functions of individuals who have consumed large quantities of alcohol to function properly.  Acamprosate is not designed to dissipate the withdraw symptoms often associated with ceasing alcoholic consumption of large quantities of alcohol.  Note: Acamprosate has not been shown to have any effect in individuals who continue to consume alcohol while on Acamprosate or in people who drink exceptionally large quantities of alcohol or use and abuse other street-level drugs or prescription medications.

How should Acamprosate be taken and used?

Acamprosate is taken three times a day, with or without food, by swallowing a delayed-release tablet.  It is very important to never forget to take Acamprosate, so set a regular scheduled time to take your medication, such as the three meal times during the day.  Read the instructions on the prescription label of your medication and ask your physician or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand.  It is very important to take Acamprosate exactly as directed by your physician, don’t take more or less, and do not take it more often because you think more is better, it isn’t.

Swallow the tablets of Acamprosate whole; don’t split, chew or crush them in any way before ingestion.

Acamprosate only helps to prevent drinking if it is taken regularly and under a physician’s direction.  Do not stop taking Acamprosate, even if you think you will not start drinking alcohol again, unless you talk to your physician first.

If you drink alcohol while taking Acamprosate, continue to take your medication, but call a doctor and inform them of the situation.  Acamprosate will not cause you to have an unpleasant reaction if you drink alcohol during treatment.

What other uses are there for Acamprosate?

Acamprosate is prescribed for the treatment of other ailments, so ask your physician or pharmacist for more information.

Are there any special precautions while taking Acamprosate?

Before you take Acamprosate,

• You should always tell an attending physician prescribing Acamprosate if you are allergic to Acamprosate, any other medications and especially sulphites.
• Inform the physician of any prescription, non-prescription, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking. Make sure to mention antidepressants (mood elevators), as your physician may need to alter the dosage of Acamprosate or monitor you closely for possible side effects.
• Alcoholism is often associated with depression, so tell your physician if you have ever thought about harming or killing yourself, if you have ever attempted suicide, if you are currently on or have ever taken street drugs or have overused prescription medications in the past. Also inform your physician if you have or have ever had depression or kidney disease.
• Tell your physician if you are pregnant, planning on becoming pregnant, or are currently breast-feeding an infant. If you should become pregnant while on Acamprosate immediately inform a physician of the situation.
• If you are scheduled for surgery or dental surgery inform the surgeon that you are currently on Acamprosate.
• Acamprosate has been shown to sometimes affect thinking, ability to make decisions, and coordination, so no operating a car or machinery until you know how Acamprosate affects your body.
• Individuals drinking large amounts of alcohol frequently become severely depressed, sometimes attempt to harm or kill themselves. Taking Acamprosate doesn’t decrease an individual’s risk factor for suicide and may increase the risk in certain individuals that they will try suicide. Individuals on Acamprosate may develop depression while taking the medication even if they don’t go back to consuming large quantities of alcohol. Call a physician immediately, if an individual or if you, experience symptoms of depression such as feelings of sadness, anxiousness, hopelessness, guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness; loss of interest or pleasure in activities you once enjoyed; lack of energy; difficulty concentrating, making decisions, or remembering common things; irritability; sleep problems; changes in appetite or weight; restlessness; or thinking about harming or killing yourself or planning or trying to do so while on Acamprosate. Be sure your family knows which symptoms may be serious so they can call a physician immediately if you are unable to seek treatment on your own.

Are there any special dietary instructions you should be aware of while taking Acamprosate?

Continue on your normal diet, unless directed by your physician to do otherwise.

Did you forget to take your medication at the scheduled time?

If you have missed your scheduled time and it is almost time for the next dosage, then skip the missed medication and continue with your normal regiment.  If you missed your dosage and your next scheduled medication is along off, then take the medication as soon as you notice you missed the scheduled time.

What possible side effects does Acamprosate have?

Acamprosate can come with side effects, so tell a doctor if any of the following symptoms are severe or do not go away with time.

• Diarrhea
• Gas
• Upset stomach
• Loss of appetite
• Dry mouth
• Dizziness
• Itching
• Weakness

If the side effect is very serious do not hesitate to contact a physician.  The following symptoms are very unusual, but if you experience either of them, or any of the symptoms mentioned in the SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS section, seek the help of a medical professional immediately.

• Any burning, tingling, or numbness in the hands, feet, arms, or legs
• A rash of any kind develops on your body

It is possible Acamprosate could have additional side effects not noted before, so if you have any usual side effects not on the list above, immediately call your physician and make them aware of the situation.

If serious side effects are experienced on any kind, you or your physician can send a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online at, http://www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm%20or%20by%20phone%201-800-332-1088.

How should Acamprosate be stored?

Keep Acamprosate in the airtight container it originally came in, tightly closed, out of the reach and eyesight of children and store Acamprosate at room temperature and away from any sources of excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).  Throw it away when it is out-dated or no longer needed, don’t keep it around for emergencies, and if you need advice on the proper disposal of medications talk to your physician or pharmacist for suggestions.

What to do in case of an overdose?

In the case of an accidental or purposeful overdose, immediately call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.  If the victim is unconscious or collapsed and unable to move, or is not breathing, immediately call local emergency services at 911 and wait with the victim until the emergency response personnel arrive on scene.

The symptoms associated with an overdose may include:

• Diarrhea

If you have taken too much Acamprosate consistently for an extended period, it is possible you may encounter specific symptoms.  Call a physician immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• loss of appetite
• upset stomach
• constipation
• extreme thirst
• tiredness
• muscle weakness
• restlessness
• confusion

Is there any other important information I should be aware of while taking Acamprosate?

If is very important when taking any medication to remember to keep all appointments with a physician, counsellor or support group.

Never allow any other individual to ingest your medication for any reason and ask your physician if you have any inquires about restocking your prescription.

Well that’s it for his hub on the prescription drug, medication, Acamprosate.  We hope this information will help you improve your health and welfare.  Until next time hubber, happy hubbing!

 

 

 

 

Abacavir

 

 Abacavir (a ba ka` vir)

Brand Name: Epzicon as a combination product containing Abacavir and Lamivudine, Trizivir; and as a combination product containing Abacavir, Lamivudine, and Zidovudine, and Ziagen.

Vital Warning

Abacavir can cause severe allergic reactions that can result in death.  Cease taking Abacavir and immediately contact your physician if a rash or at least one of the following symptoms from two of the following sets:

• Ø Fever
• Ø Excessive tiredness
• Ø Upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach pain
• Ø Sore throat, shortness of breath, or couch

The Warning Card your physician or pharmacist provides you with will have a written list of possible symptoms; always carry this card on you in a place where it can be conveniently found.

If you cease taking Abacavir because you had an allergic reaction or any reason, never take Abacavir again, and do not start again until you consult your physician.

Abacavir can cause serious liver damage and a blood condition called lactic acidosis.  Make sure to tell the physician if you drink large amounts of alcohol and if you have or have ever had liver disease.  If you experience any of the following symptoms, call a physician immediately: unusual bleeding or bruising; loss of appetite; pain in the upper right part of the stomach; yellowing of the skin or eyes; or upset stomach and tiredness that continues.

Always keep all appointments with a physician and the laboratory as procrastination could cause additional problems.  Your physician will schedule particular laboratory tests to determine your body’s response to Abacavir.

Why is Abacavir prescribed?

Abacavir is utilized in conjunction with additional medications to remedy human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in patients with or without acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).  Included in a class of antiviral medications called nucleoside reverse transcription inhibitors (NRTIs), Abacavir is effective by slowing the spread of HIV infection in the human body.  Abacavir is not a cure for HIV and may not decrease the number of HIV-related illnesses, and Abacavir does not prevent the spread of NIV to additional patients.

How should Abacavir be used?

Abacavir comes in two forms; as a tablet to be swallowed and as a solution (liquid) to also be swallowed.  Amounts may vary on your physician’s prescription, but Abacavir is usually taken twice a day with or without food.  We suggest that with any medication you are taking that you set a time to take the medication and stick to it; this will help you remember to take the medication also.  Absolutely, remember to read the directions carefully and follow the prescription label instructions to the letter, and ask your physician or pharmacist to carefully explain any portion of the instructions you do not understand.  It is vitally important to take exactly the amount prescribed, not more because you think more is better or less for any reason, and never take it more often than prescribed by a physician.

If you start feeling well this is no reason to stop taking the Abacavir, never stop taking Abacavir unless you first consult your treating physician.

Manufacturers provide medication guide’s that come with prescriptions, so make sure to read the one you get with your Abacavir carefully.

Abacavir is also employed sometimes in conjunction with other antiviral medications to thwart HIV infection in humans who have been in contact with HIV.  But always talk to a physician about the possible dangers of using Abacavir for your particular circumstances.

Abacavir may also be prescribed by a physician to treat other afflictions; check with your doctor or pharmacist for more information on additional uses for Abacavir.

Are there any special precautions to know about before taking Abacavir?

There are a number of things you should do before ingesting Abacavir,

•  You should always tell a physician if you are allergic to Abacavir or any other medication before taking Abacavir.
•  If you are taking any prescription of non-prescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products tell your pharmacist or physician. Especially if you are taking Methadone, because you will need to be monitored or your dosage of medication altered.
•  Very important, in addition to the conditions mentioned in the vital warning section highlighted in red script above, make sure to tell your doctor if you have or ever had kidney disease.
•  If you are pregnant, planning on becoming pregnant, or are breast-feeding tell your physician. You should not be breast-feeding while using Abacavir and if you become pregnant while taking Abacavir, immediately notify your physician.
•  If you like to drink regularly talk to your physician about the possibility of using alcohol when taking Abacavir.

Did you forget to take your medication?

It depends on the circumstances when you realise you have missed your dosage.  If it is almost time for your next scheduled dosage, skip the missed one and continue your normal schedule, otherwise take your missed dosage as soon as you realise you have missed it.

Are there any side effects associated with Abacavir?

Abacavir can have side effects, but sometimes they will be slight or go away quickly.  Contact a physician if any of the following symptoms are severe or do not go away.

• v Upset stomach
• v Vomiting
• v Diarrhea
• v Loss of appetite
• v Tiredness
• v Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep

Occasionally side effects can be serious.  If any of the following appear or you experience any symptoms listed in the vital warning section in red script above, then immediately contact a physician.

• v Muscle or joint pain
• v Headache
• v Pain, burning, or tingling in the hand of feet
• v Swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• v Pink eye
• v Bruises in the mouth

It is possible Abacavir could possibly cause other side effects not listed.  If some symptoms appear that are unusual while taking Abacavir immediately consult a physician.

If you have a serious side effect you or your physician should report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse event Reporting program online at http: www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm or by phone at 1-800-332-1088.

Are there any special storage conditions for Abacavir?

Abacavir should be stored in the air tight container it originally came in and out of the possible reach of individuals below legal age.  Store the container at room temperature and away from any excess heat source and moisture (not in the bathroom).  If it is in liquid form store the Abacavir at room temperature or in the refrigerator, but not the freezer?  After the medication is beyond its expiration date or no longer needed immediately talk to your doctor about proper disposal of your medication.

If you think you have taken an accidental overdose or someone else has taken your medication?

If you think you have taken too much somehow and are worried about any possible effects call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.  If the victim has passed out, collapsed or is not breathing, immediately call local emergency services at 911.

Any other important information I should know?

Just some common sense stuff, firstly never let anyone else take your Abacavir, it was prescribed for you and could kill another person. And ask your physician any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

Well that’s it for our first hub on today’s prescription medication and some of the things you should know and keep in mind if you’re taking this cutting edge medication for treating HIV infections.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Living in the 21st century

 

BIAS: THE HUMAN CONDITION

All white men will unconsciously discriminate against women and visible minorities!  Just ask sociologist William. T. Bielby, according to his theory of ‘unconscious bias’ white men have unconscious reactions towards women and visible minorities.  And if you’re perceived as a member of one of these groups you can expect your male Caucasian home-sapient to unconsciously, and many times consciously, think of you as inferior to their fellow white-skinned primates.

Convinced yet?  Mr. Bielby’s ‘unconscious bias’ theory has recently been convincing many U.S. judicial-icons of the validity of ‘unconscious bias’ in the corporate world of today.  The legal decisions handed down from the U.S. legal-pulpit concerning cases citing ‘unconscious bias’ have in the last few years resulted in multi-million dollar payments by Fortune 500 companies Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, and Home Depot to disgruntled employees complaining of managerial bias, and who just happen to be women or perceived as being a member of a visible minority. 

Just how does this sociologist turned magician pull this legal rabbit out of the judicial hat, a tough act indeed considering the diversity training, equal opportunity policies and anti-discrimination groups vying to uncover bias and prejudice in the work place.  By convincing judges no proof of overt bias — no bloody memo, for instance — is required to validate claims of discrimination, as Allen. B. King, labour defense lawyer at the Dallas office of Littler Mendelson, points out: “I just have to leave you to your own devices, and because you are a white male, your natural bias will manifest.”

Mr. Bielby’s ‘unconscious bias’ theory has become the cornerstone in many high-profile, extremely lucrative, benchmark discrimination cases of late.  In fact, if an employer today is standing before a federal judge defending itself against massive claims of discrimination on the basis of gender or perceived minority status, there is at least a 50% chance that plaintiffs will cite Mr. Bielby’s ‘unconscious bias’ theory to prove their assertions of discrimination.  Mr. King sums it up, “If you can’t go in and say how you’re going to deal with an expert like Bielby, you won’t get hired to handle the case.

The main stumbling block Bielby finds with the procedures in the corporations he gives evidence against is that corporations give far too much discretion to managers, allowing managers to implement too many subjective criteria in pay, promotion, and hiring.  In an undefined environment all humans, not only white men, unconsciously fall back on stereotypes in resolving choices.  The human mind categorizes the world when it is undefined on previous definitions of what it thinks is a related subject, leading to generalizations about individuals.”  The tendency to invoke gender stereotypes in making judgments about people is rapid and automatic,” Bielby says in court papers filed in a landmark discrimination case against Wal-Mart in 2003.  “As a result, people are often unaware of how stereotypes affect their perceptions and behaviour, including individuals whose personal beliefs are relatively free of prejudice.”

Social scientists today except stereotyping as an action, both conscious and unconscious, all humans undertake as modus operandi under undefined environmental pressure, and this idea is beginning to spill over the sociology-rim onto a bigger stage.  Case in point, writer Malcolm Gladwell’s 2005 book Blink, talks about the effects of stereotyping on nano-second choices police officers make during shooting incidents.  Corporations like BP PLC and Becton Dickinson & Company have been watching and learning.  The recent incorporation of ‘The Implicit Assumption Test’, a test used to quantify unconscious bias; into company diversity training for managers is a sign of acknowledgement of the new legal landscape on the employment horizon.  A landscape highlighted in HR magazine, published by the Society of Human Resource Management, February cover story entitled “Detecting Hidden Bias”.

Mr. Bielby and ‘unconscious bias’ certainly has opponents wanting to burst his bubble, and in a limited sense you can add me to the list of opponents.  Limited to believing the range of humanity used is far too narrow a parameter to be comprehensive enough to allow for a meaningful conclusion in the class action suits resolved so far.  Limiting the scope to the Caucasian is hypocritical and a tool for abuse of the truth, depending on the original intentions of Mr. Bielby of course, and far to narrow a spectrum of the human race to be helpful in determining hidden bias in the employment world of today.

Total detection and elimination of human bias is an impossible task for the present, the elimination will only come when humans evolve beyond the animalistic tendencies inherent in our inherited, subconscious, reactions to the unknown factors of life.  For all animals react to environmental pressures with instinctive, unconscious, behaviours and humans still hear the call of nature beating within their souls.  Certainly human bias plays a commanding role on the stage of human interactions within the corporate workplace of today and all days.  However, the innate fear of the new, the unknown quality, and the perceptively different or perceived difference is animalistic behaviour normal to all primates.

Humans are emotional in nature!  Just ask Mr. Spook?  Millions of years of environmental pressure conditioned the human nervous system to react to environmental stimulus with nervous reactions, nervous reactions ultimately leading to emotional responses by the Captain of the human body, the human brain.  Responses designed to protect from environmental dangers, provide food and shelter from the elements, allow for sexual stimulation to provide additional incentive to produce progeny, other than emotional love which isn’t standard in all human models, a fact many discarded humans can testify too. 

The high intensity, complicated, corporate world of today is still a relatively new environment to homo-sapiens.  From an evolutionary point-of-view humans have dwelt within the corporate environment for the blink of an eye in terms of evolutionary time frames.  Making it understandable why humans are often like fish-out-of-water when it comes to swimming efficiently in the corporate ocean.  Considering the evolutionary, emotional, baggage humans still carry around from our primitive past, is it surprising human bias plays a significant role in the employment world of today?  Hardly!

The success of Mr. Bielby’s ‘unconscious bias’ theory aside; recent successes within the judicial arena certainly includes many innocent defendants within the blanket class action suits brought before the courts.  And while it is true that many thousands, even hundreds of thousands, of claimants have genuine discrimination cases.  It is also inevitably true that many individuals are taking advantage of an opportunity put before them and were never discriminated against.  Short cuts like class action suits certainly reduce overall court costs in terms of money, time and manpower, but as with human generalizations leading to discrimination, they are a result of the human minds desire to categorize data into predefined categories.  The cost of human generalization is the truth and this cost is a hallmark upon which the judicial system was built?

While applauding the audacity of the scope Mr. Bielby’s ‘unconscious bias’ theory attempts to encompass., the blanket statement, “All Caucasian men will unconsciously discriminate against women and visible minorities,” is too general to be of a meaningful tool to root out bias and discrimination in the workplace.  The elimination of discrimination will come as mankind continues to evolve together; the death of discrimination is an even larger goal requiring the control of basic instincts, and the evolution of humankind. The only positive aspect to the success of ‘unconscious bias’ theory is the recognition of the existence of bias in the workplace, the correction of many wrongs, and for Mr. Bielby at least the obtaining of a very nice living his theory has afforded him.  The negative aspect of blanket class action suits unfairly assuming discrimination against all certainly is harmful to a small extent, but is a small price to pay for the truth.

You may not agree with the conclusions reached here, and this is necessity for us to reach the truth, but remember these are conclusions reached by a person considered a visible minority to all my Caucasian friends and brothers.

By “Warren Hayashi”