How did western civilization develop the values that came to dominate the world after the year 1000? Give details.

I'm honestly not sure it's fair to say that there are "values of Western Civilization" that start as early as the year 1000. If you compare the values of modern Western nations like the US, France, Germany, or the UK, they have a lot in common with each other, but little if anything in common with the values they had in the year 1000. Equal rights for women and racial minorities would be seen as absurd in the Medieval Era, and tolerance for anything except the most orthodox Christianity was literally punished as heresy. Instead of gay people getting legally recognized marriages as they do in First World countries today, they were burned to death for their "crime" of sexual deviance. People were even burned at the stake for "crimes" as petty and absurd as believing that Jesus was nailed to the cross with three nails instead of four.

Even democracy, widely regarded as a core Western value, was not at all the norm in European society in the year 1000. Only the Nordic states (such as Sweden, Finland, and Denmark), which at the time were known as the Vikings, had anything remotely resembling democracy during that time (and really it was more like constitutional monarchy), and the rest of Europe regarded them as lawless barbarians (they were not; in fact in many ways, especially with regard to the treatment of women, they were the most progressive culture in the world).

That's not even getting into the enormous technological and economic changes since that time, without which concepts like "sweatshop worker rights" and "Internet neutrality" can't even be formulated.

What I can tell you is the values that were prevalent in Europe during this time, and where they came from---which was mostly from Christianity, specifically a very narrowly defined orthodox Christianity that would eventually become Catholicism. On the upside this meant that values like justice and charity were very important to Europeans; on the downside it meant that values like obedience and orthodoxy were equally important. Anyone who was not Christian was despised or worse, and the Pope held almost absolute power because he was literally believed to be infallible.

It wasn't until centuries later, starting in the Renaissance with the recovery of Classical Greek and Roman texts that had been preserved by Muslim scholars in the Middle East, that Europe began taking on the modern values we now recognize. So the main catalyst for what we currently call "Western Civilization values" was actually Greek culture, as transmitted through Muslim culture, and then applied by Christian culture.

Even then this was a slow process; first innovation came to be valued over orthodoxy in the Renaissance, then rationality was valued over faith in the Enlightenment, and it wasn't until the 18th century and the dawn of the Industrial Revolution that Western cultures began believing in such things as democracy and universal suffrage. We recognize the values of 18th century thinkers like Adam Smith or Thomas Jefferson as broadly consonant with our own (other than being mind-bogglingly racist and sexist); but we don't feel the same about Medieval thinkers like Avicenna and Averroes.

As for why Western values came to dominate the world, there were really two reasons, one good, one bad.

The good reason is that they were better, for the most part; democracy really is better than monarchy, rationality really is better than faith, liberty really is better than obedience. Values that work better at improving human life are values that people often like to adopt.

The bad reason is that they were forced upon everyone; by their technological, economic, and military superiority, European nations were able to conquer and colonize almost every other country in the world. They then pressed those they conquered to adopt their values, with levels of force varying from missionaries spreading Christianity to those who will listen to people being literally kidnapped and forced to attend schools where they will be taught European languages and history.

Who is Luke O'Neil in The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough most similar to in The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini?

That's an interesting set of comparisons to make since, at least prima facie, there are no obvious resemblances between The Thorn Birds and Hosseini's novels. One way to attempt to answer this is to first characterize Luke O'Neill and then consider the characters from A Thousand Splendid Suns and The Kite Runner.

Luke treats women as objects and marries Meggie for mercenary reasons. He's brutish as well as miserly and treats Meggie very poorly. He also seems not to care at all about his daughter, Justine.

In A Thousand Splendid Suns Rasheed is the character most similar to Luke. He is reprehensible and inflicts abuse upon his wives until one of them (Mariam) finally kills him. (Meggie leaves Luke, which is rather less drastic!) Rasheed is also disinterested in the daughter that his second wife (Laila) bears him.

In The Kite Runner, Assef is probably the closest to Luke in character. There are not too many parallels between their lives, but both characters are cruel and sadistic and have little regard for anyone besides themselves.

In considering the first half of the twentieth century with an emphasis placed on the changing realities of nationalism, how was the world a...

1919 saw the beginning of serious nationalist movements in the developing world; these were encouraged by Wilson's goal of self-determination as part of his Fourteen Points.  However, this program was only carried out in Europe at the time, and the lines of self-determination were often drawn up rather arbitrarily not according to nationality but according to what each nation wanted.  It took the high cost in terms of money and soldiers that brought nationalism movements to the developing world in Africa and Asia. Many of the old colonial powers had lost or were in the process of losing their colonies.  This is partially due to the fact that colonies are very expensive to maintain, and the Axis powers showed Britain and France how vulnerable their assets were in Africa and Asia--it would be far simpler to let these people go run their own nations.  Of course, these independence movements took place gradually over several years, and many places such as French Indochina needed a war to get rid of their colonial overlord.  Upon independence, these former colonies often looked for a patron in either the Soviet Union or the United States.  This was the main driver of the Cold War--the developing world was not so much in favor of using the ideology of these nations as it was gaining their financial and military support.  

In the The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd, provide specific examples from the book (provide the quote and the scene) that reflect racism, and...

Racism in the deep South is a major theme throughout The Secret Life of Bees, so there are many notable scenes that reflect racism. One of the most notable scenes comes towards the end of the book on page 209 when Lily is pondering why races have to exist at all:

"Up until then I’d thought that white people and colored people getting along was the big aim, but after that I decided everybody being colorless together was a better plan."

In this quote, Lily is lamenting the division that makes people like local police officer Eddie Hazelwurst think that people of different races don't belong together. She has seen so much racism that she begins to question whether differences like race are worth all the trouble they cause.

Another example can be found on page 154 of the book when Lily says,

"It washed over me for the first time in my life how much importance the world had ascribed to skin pigment, how lately it seemed that skin pigment was the sun and everything else in the universe was the orbiting planets."

In this quote, she is describing how weary she has become of the world's fixation on such a superficial attribute as race. As a young person, Lily is innocent enough to view race as a skin-deep attribute, literally a matter of differences in pigmentation, while the adults and even the other children around her see it as a defining trait.

Another quote that encapsulates the author's view on racism is, "We can't think of changing our skin color. Change the world—that's how we gotta think.”

In this important quote, Lily's friend is describing the fact that race itself is not what needs to be changed, but rather the racism in the world that turns race into a justification for treating people poorly. Each of these quotes illustrates a progression in Lily's understanding of racism throughout the book.

What is addiction recovery?

Methods and Goals

The goal of sober living is not out of reach for any addict who can admit that his or her addiction has become a chronic illness. Recovery is intended to treat the illness of addiction and to break the habitual behaviors and viewpoints that fostered chronic abuse. Recovery is not a straightforward process for anyone; treatment plans differ for each addict, and the steps involved vary for each person.

Recovery typically involves long-term health care planning. Treatment might encompass substance detoxification and medication to reduce symptoms of drug withdrawal, integrated treatment of mental health issues by psychologists or addiction counselors, and development of a self-care routine with general practitioners to bolster physical health. New behavior skills and extended support systems that act as positive influences for a sober life also are frequently set in place during this treatment and recovery process.

Recovery often can involve a drastic change of life skills and beliefs from those expressed during addiction. For example, friendships, work settings, and homes that do not foster positive support of sobriety are not helpful and should be avoided during recovery. These components of the old lifestyle are best replaced with stable, sober living settings.

Recovery groups, such as twelve-step programs
, help recovering addicts to identify a new set of colleagues and peers. Twelve-step and other recovery programs teach supportive behavior therapy, introduce new traditions for living, encourage reevaluation of ethics and fault, and identify risk behaviors or situations to avoid, all with a supportive sponsor and a community of peers with shared experiences.

Participation in social programs within the community boosts independence and expands sober relationships. Common populations that support societal involvement during recovery include neighborhood associations, lay counselors, clergy at religious institutions, physicians, and recovered peers within twelve-step programs or transitional living environments. Sober family members also provide crucial encouragement of sober living and recovery.

Temptations for substance use exist in society. Recovery depends upon minimizing and countering inevitable stressors, such as social events that involve alcohol or cigarettes. Balancing the temptation for substance abuse and triggers of cravings with sober alternatives, such as gum chewing, is a constant goal of recovery.

Psychological counseling can strengthen an addict’s resolve to maintain abstinence during recovery, especially in early recovery periods in which withdrawal and cravings remain especially strong. Trust in the relationships and social system built during recovery care, rather than in those from addiction living, is essential to maintaining abstinence and fully experiencing sober society.

Developing new interests and hobbies not only expands recovery options by introducing new people into a support network; it also provides skills and commitments that can distract from inevitable temptations. For example, enrollment in a team sport or community center class provides a recovered addict a safe setting to mentally redirect anxiety, focus on positive skills, and interact with peers. Recovery is possible only with a commitment to some or all of these behavior-change and counseling methods.

By integrating positive habits and involvement with work, family, and neighborhood groups, a recovering addict develops coping skills and a solid network to minimize the inevitable stresses that increase the likelihood of relapse. The varied treatment and support programs offer different benefits to different people, but all options include goals of renewed commitment to physical and psychological health and to social and community participation. Long-term follow-through and continued development of reinforcements of sober living are crucial, ongoing goals of maintained recovery.

Recovery as a Process

A person begins to use a particular substance voluntarily, but the physical and psychological changes that result from substances of abuse formulate an addiction (which is nonvoluntary) that becomes a chronic disease. Like numerous other chronic diseases, addiction may never be fully cured. Instead, recovery is a prolonged arc that involves daily choices, decisions, and actions to minimize compulsions.

Successes alternate with challenges in an evolving process of growth. Multiple transitions are necessary to achieve sobriety. First, recovering addicts need to admit their problem and evaluate the choices that led to addiction; then, they need to address the problem with active medical treatment; finally, they need to learn to live without the substance or compulsive behavior to reenter society.

Recovered addicts must become focused and functional because they are constantly managing high levels of temptations, stress, and cravings. Repeated care during recovery is often required to prevent relapse. Relapse is the recurrence of addiction symptoms (for example, drug use and compulsive behaviors) after recovery has begun.

Typically, a recovered addict will experience multiple phases of relapse when his or her coping skills or other psychosocial supports falter. Thus, recovery is not a singular, one-time goal but instead comprises progressive struggles and achievements. By acknowledging recovery attempts and learning from past relapse experiences, future recovery goals are more likely to be achieved. Relapse is not failure or a sign of weakness. It is a common occurrence for many recovering addicts, and it frequently becomes a learning experience and an educational tool.

Advocacy and Support

Because recovery is a process continuing throughout the addict's life, not a static goal, and because recovered addicts are fully immersed in conventional society, support for sustained recovery is beneficial to public health and the wider community. Stigmas associated with substance abuse and addiction treatments can impede full involvement in work and community settings. Addiction and treatments are financial burdens to the recovered addict also.

Advocacy and support from government and private organizations improve public awareness of addiction as a disease and encourage public support for successful recovery and sobriety. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Recovery Support Strategic Initiative, for example, educates recovered addicts and the public about four major dimensions of life in recovery: health, home, purpose, and community.

Recovered addicts not only overcome a disease; they also focus on living in a physically and emotionally healthy way. Their sobriety is best supported by a stable, safe living environment and by purposeful daily activities, such as work, school, family, and volunteer endeavors. Finally, through building new social networks and relationships in a positive community, a recovered addict experiences hope and support that foster daily recovery.

Bibliography

Cherkis, Jason. "Dying to Be Free: There's a Treatment for Heroin Addiction That Actually Works. Why Aren't We Using It?" Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 28 Jan. 2015. Web. 26 Oct. 2015.

Coombs, Robert H., ed. Addiction Recovery Tools: A Practical Handbook. Thousand Oaks: Sage, 2001. Print.

Galanter, Marc, Herbert D. Kleber, and Kathleen T. Brady. The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Substance Abuse Treatment. 5th ed. Washington, DC: Amer. Psychiatric Assn., 2015. Print.

Kelly, John F., and William L. White, eds. Addiction Recovery Management: Theory, Research, and Practice. New York: Humana, 2011. Print.

Mignon, Sylvia I. Substance Abuse Treatment: Options, Challenges, and Effectiveness. New York: Springer, 2015. Print.

National Institute on Drug Abuse. Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction. Bethesda: NIDA, 2010. Print.

What are natural treatments for neck pain?

Introduction

Neck pain is a common condition. In many cases, X rays do not show anything wrong
with the neck, suggesting that the problem is a relatively subtle one involving
soft tissues. (Conversely, X rays of people without neck pain often show
arthritis; this suggests that even when positive X-ray results are found in people
with neck pain, they may be unrelated.) Subtle or not in origin, the discomfort of
neck pain can be severe and can lead to real disability.

The cause of soft-tissue neck pain is not known. Symptoms may follow a
whiplash injury or simply arise, apparently, from bad
posture or chronic tension. It is unclear that any conventional medicine
intervention for neck pain or whiplash speeds recovery or produces any other
long-term benefit.

Proposed Natural Treatments

Although several alternative treatments for neck pain have shown promise, none has been scientifically substantiated.

Acupuncture. A 2006 review of the literature found ten controlled
studies of acupuncture for chronic neck pain. The pooled results
suggest that acupuncture may be more effective than fake acupuncture, at least in
the short term. However, overall, the study quality was fairly low.

In a study of 177 people with chronic neck pain, fake acupuncture proved more
effective than massage. In a pilot study, ten weeks of acupuncture combined
with physical
therapy appeared to be more effective than either acupuncture
or physical therapy alone for chronic neck pain, at least over the short term. The
most likely explanation for these contradictory reports is that acupuncture’s
effect on neck pain, if any, is fairly modest.

Chiropractic. Millions of people report that chiropractic
spinal manipulation has relieved their neck pain, but there is little scientific
evidence supporting the use of spinal manipulation for this purpose. Most studies
have found manipulation (with or without related therapies, such as mobilization
or massage) to be no more effective than placebo or no treatment. One large study
(almost two hundred participants) found that a special exercise program called
MedX was more effective than chiropractic spinal manipulation. However, a study
that was reported in 2006 found that a single high-velocity, low-amplitude (that
is, chiropractic-style) manipulation of the neck was more effective than a single
mobilization procedure in improving range of motion and pain.

Other treatments. Osteopathic manipulation, a form of
treatment often compared to chiropractic, is widely believed to help neck pain,
but there is no meaningful scientific evidence to support its use for this
condition. Many people with neck pain use massage therapy for relief, but again,
scientific support is lacking, and one study found fake laser acupuncture more
effective than massage for neck pain. A treatment called prolotherapy,
and the herb white willow, have shown promise for back pain and might
also be useful for neck pain. In one study, an ambitious holistic treatment
regimen for neck pain (including craniosacral osteopathy, Rosen bodywork, and
Gestalt psychotherapy) failed to prove more effective than no treatment.

Other herbs and supplements sometimes recommended for neck pain, either on the basis of their use for related conditions or because of their known medical properties, include boswellia, butterbur, chondroitin, ginger, glucosamine, proteolytic enzymes, and turmeric.

Qigong is an ancient Chinese practice involving various
breathing exercises and physical postures that are thought by its practitioners to
enhance general health. In one study, qigong was no more effective than
conventional physical therapy exercise techniques in the treatment of chronic,
nonspecific neck pain. Biofeedback, hypnosis, and relaxation therapies may offer
help for pain in general.

Bibliography

Franca, D. L., et al. “Tension Neck Syndrome Treated by Acupuncture Combined with Physiotherapy.” Complementary Therapies in Medicine 16 (2008): 268-277.

Haneline, M. T. “Chiropractic Manipulation and Acute Neck Pain.” Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 28 (2005): 520-525.

Lansinger, B., et al. “Qigong and Exercise Therapy in Patients with Long-Term Neck Pain.” Spine 32 (2007): 2415-2422.

Martinez-Segura, R., et al. “Immediate Effects on Neck Pain and Active Range of Motion After a Single Cervical High-Velocity Low-Amplitude Manipulation in Subjects Presenting with Mechanical Neck Pain.” Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 29 (2006): 511-517.

Sarig-Bahat, H. “Evidence for Exercise Therapy in Mechanical Neck Disorders.” Manual Therapy 8 (2003): 10-20.

Trinh, K., et al. “Acupuncture for Neck Disorders.” Spine 32 (2007): 236-243.

Create an experiment that includes an independent variable, dependent variable and constants.

Any number of experiments can be designed that include an independent variable, dependent variable and constants. A variable is something that can change and can be measured. An independent variable is a variable that we change in an experiment. And the variable that is changed by the change in independent variable is the dependent variable. A constant is something that does not change its value during the experiment. Lets design as experiment including all three.

Let us try to figure out if sunlight is needed for plant growth. In this experiment we can use two pots each containing the same plant of about the same age and health and put one of them indoors and the other one outdoors. The presence (or absence) of sunlight is the independent variable over here. We will continue to water the plants at the same frequency and in the same quantity (say 100 ml per day or so). The new number of leaves and general state of plant health, after a week, will give us an idea of the need of sunlight. We can also term the number of new leaves as the dependent variable. Here, the type of plant and frequency of watering are the constants. 

We can similarly design an experiment to study the effect of temperature on the time it takes to make tea. Here, temperature would be the independent variable, time taken for steeping will be the dependent variable and the process (amount of tea, water, heat source, etc.) will be the constant.

Hope this helps.