Counterintuitivity

Proposal: Many people around the world have found themselves craving caffeine in one form or another. Recently, the most popular form of caffeine has become coffee, creating a recent boom in the industry. Starbucks is just one of America’s most prominent coffee chains and has changed the face of the coffee industry into a monopolization of the best international coffees, speciality drinks, sandwiches and store brand items. With Americans paying almost $4.50 a cup, the assumption would be that the economics behind the Starbucks corporation would be an even split that abided to both American and international labor and trade laws.However, that is not the case. But, how essential are these companies to the economics of both America and other nations world wide. In my research, i attempt to prove that the corporation is essential to increasing both the American and global GDP.

Source  1: <http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/03/05/8401343/index.htm> This article was found through Academic Search Premiere. It talks about the 2007 law suit between the Starbucks corporation and Ethiopia. The article lists some detailed descriptions of what is like to be a non-American common worker in the coffee industry and even higher up management. The angst between the company and country is also quoted.

Use: I plan to use this source to talk about how the Corporation obtains coffee and treats its workers overseas. It is a good source for antidotes, and proof of violated laws overseas and the poor working and pay conditions the workers receive.

Source 2: <http://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2006/10/01/8387114/index.htm>

The source was found through the Academic Search premiere database and gives a detailed description of the number one selling coffees that are trying to oppose the Starbucks corporations and their economics.

Use: I attend to use this source as alternatives to the Starbucks Industry.

Source 3: <http://www.loansandcredit.com/loansandcredit-com-the-economics-of-starbucks_2011-02-16/Source 3:>

http://www.economist.com/node/1846165The source is a brief description of the salaries of Starbucks employees in America and some history of the coffee shops both national and international.

Use: To counter argue source #1. The second site will be used to support the fact that the company is creating international and local jobs, especially in urbanized areas.

Source 4: Will Your Recession Be Tall, Grande, or Venti?

A Picture of the Global Starbucks Economy

Starbucks’ Comprehensive Plan to Navigate Tough Economy, 2008

The above article(s) details the “Starbucks theory” which is similar to the McDonalds theory which states that by incorporating Starbucks Coffee shops into local and international communities, it is possible that the current recession the world is facing will deplete. The third source included is speech given by the current President of Starbucks.

Use: to prove the point that Starbucks is an essential unit in the global economy.

Source 5:  <http://www.economist.com/node/2361072&gt;

The above is a study done by The Economist that discusses the “crave” for coffee internationally. They compare it with the “big mac” study previously conducted by their publication.

Use: The source proves the “need” for quality coffee and also compliments source 4.1 in discussing the Starbucks theory in comparison to the McDonald’s theory of increasing international GDP.

Source 6: <http://www.economist.com/node/2042797&gt;

The source discusses recent coffee taxes, specifically on expresso.

Use: The tax will go towards helping underprivileged children in coffee bearing nations get an education. However, Starbucks along with many other coffee shop owners, are investing a large sum of money to prevent this tax from occurring.

For my research essay I will be discovering the reasons of why most teenagers join gangs. I will be leaning towards a more specific search top find out if the reason happens to come mostly from living in broken homes or just having a bad childhood in general. A gang is a number of people that form a group or a unit that sticks together and typically looks to dominate over another group or make themselves feel superior. Not all gangs are violent but most gangs are. Now a days mostly all gangs involve themselves in illegal doings out on the street. Even gangs that aren’t widely known around the world might still be considered a gang in their community.Not only will I be searching for reasons of why teens join gangs but I will also be looking for why don’t all teens join gangs that come from broken homes, what makes a certain gang stand out to them type of teenagers and also I will try to find quotes about the subject from people who were going to join a gang and didn’t as well as kids already in a gang. I have also gained knowledge in this area from going to different events hearing gangs members talk about their past experience with joining a gang. I have been around people who told me why they were thinking about joining gangs and why they did or didn’t. Basically I want to present the core information of do teens join gangs because of their household problems or is it for different reasons? Another thing i would like to do is briefly tell the history of gangs before or time and gangs of today’s time specifically the gangs that we hear about more then often.

1. http://www.whyguides.com/why-do-people-join-gangs.html

In this article it gives specific reasons why some teens might join a gang. Not only does it tell about family problems but it goes into deeper detail giving reasons of why they might join such as money issues or even peer pressure.

I intend to use this article to better give the other side of my story as of why teens join gangs which does not include broken households or negative childhoods. I also like to use this article to possibly refute an argument that i might find telling that some of the reasons teens join gangs are not accurate.

2. http://people.missouristate.edu/michaelcarlie/what_i_learned_about/gangs/whyform/family.htm

In this article it talks about the specifics of gangs and why they are normally formed. it starts by telling that gangs are an alternate family to teens which is why they join. It also gives definitions why the leader of gangs get the up-most respect and why these certain teens need that certain love from its members in the gang.

I really like this article because it goes so deep into what the gangs do for its members and how teens really rely on the gangs to make it through life. I plan on using this information to better support that my argument of broken homes lead to gang joining by teens.

3. http://www.ehow.com/about_4688536_what-attracts-people-gangs.html

This article talks about the significance of a gang and why teens join them. It gives more of a general look at why and not a inside detailed look. It tells about the wanting feeling of love but also the fear and race factor communities have giving an impact of teens lives causing them to join as well.

I intend on using this article to back up my thesis on teens joining gangs because of a bad childhood. This article with quotes from teens on whether they had a bad childhood or not should be great information in this essay.

4. http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?sid=7576465c-7116-4296-9840-d80481f0ca81%40sessionmgr11&vid=12&hid=17&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=9407130755

In this article that i found using the academic search premier, it gives a great deal of information on why youth or teens join gangs. But it more so gives the background information on gangs such as what they do, different reasons why they do crimes, and as well as what can they do to prevent teens from joining gangs.

I definitely intend on using this article to show reasons why they join gangs but to tell how the government looks to stop youth from joining but it hasn’t really worked yet. This article is full of different information that can be included in this essay and it all is very useful.

5. http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=14&hid=17&sid=7576465c-7116-4296-9840-d80481f0ca81%40sessionmgr11&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=26648269

The article I found by using the academic search premier is about the connection between bad neighborhoods and gang affiliation. Its talking about the way gangs come to neighborhoods to recruit kids who basically lives a criminal life or who has been given jail time. It gives a lot of information about different characteristics of neighborhoods and how they have the qualities for a specific gang to come and try to recruit.

I plan to use this information to support my thought of bad childhoods lead to teens joining gangs. I also plan to take this information and do more research into it to see if gangs are only formed in bad neighborhoods or can they be formed anywhere.

For my research essay I will be examining alternate options for people who are caught abusing drugs. Hundreds of people every day are thrown into jail for abusing drugs and are not given the help they need to stop using the drugs.  Researchers have found that instead of throwing these people away in jail a better tactic is to tackle the root of the problem, drugs being misused. Studies have shown crime rates would decrease by providing these people with the medical help they need or putting the drug abusers through rehab instead of jail.  These alternate options also cost the taxpayers less money than it would for an inmate to stay in jail each year. The following resources will help me prove why alternate options for drug users would be a smart investment.

The Road to Recovery

Background: It’s about how to clean up drug related crimes. Governor of New York George Pataki and Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno said that instead of going after drug dealers law enforcers should go after the drug abusers and clean them up. It’s a different way to clean up the streets.

How I intend to use it: I intend on showing how creditable people believe in other options other than jail.

A Different Road to Recovery.
http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=b0babc9b-c577-4efc-ae33-efe87910cb88%40sessionmgr15&vid=8&hid=108

Background: Researchers say that prescribing heroin to drug addicts will lower the crime rate. Their objective is to prescribe individuals with the drug and work with them.

How I intend to use it: I intend on showing how crime rates would decreased due to drug control.

Prison Facts
http://www.heartsandminds.org/prisons/facts.htm

Background: Facts about how much it cost taxpayers for an inmate to stay in jail each year.

How I intend to use it: This is to help prove that the cost of an inmate to stay in jail each year outweighs the cost of rehab.

Drug Rehabs .ORG
http://www.drug-rehabs.org/con/6200/The_cost_of_Drug_Rehabilitation/

Background: The cost of rehab and how long a person should stay in rehab(90 days).

How I intend to use it: This is to help prove that the cost of an inmate to stay in jail each year outweighs the cost of rehab.

Life After
http://lifeafter.drugfree.org/searchStory/default.aspx

Background: It’s a website where  people tell their stories about recovering from drug abuse.

How I intend to use it: I plan on showing how drug rehabs really do help people

The one form of media that will always be close to my heart is the comics industry; the illustrated means of telling epic tales makes life feel grand and surreal in a way no novel can accomplish.  In comics, anything and everything can happen, and writers and artists have the amazing ability of collaborating to paint the perfect picture in the minds of audiences.  Different from most writers, comic writers and artist have a benefit others never could: they can be fans of their own media.  A writer cannot be a “fan” of literature, this is not how writing works, and it is very, very vague.  Comics artists and writers though, specifically artists, do what they do because they fell in love with the style and the characters from a young age.  For the longest time, comics were fun, and making them even more so; of course, everything has head-bashing setbacks, and it is finally the comics form’s turn; Marvel Comics has made the decision, in accordance with the current flavor-of-the-month censorship craze, to begin suing artists who draw characters, for profit, that Marvel as a company owns.  An artist at a comic convention, for instance, can no longer be commissioned to draw Captain America in their style, as Marvel’s estate owns the character.  Now, certainly, this makes sense; copyright laws can be quite direct.  The head-bashing enters when everyone realizes that Marvel does not care who they sue: they will sue their own contracted artists, as well.  Mike Deodato, the current artist of The New Avengers can no longer draw and sell images of any Marvel character, not even the characters in his own book that he gets paid to draw every month; he can, and would, be sued for not only doing what his loves, but his actual job.

1. Gary Friedrich Ghost Rider Lawsuit: Joe Quesada and Dan Buckley Add Some Clarity

The catalyst event is not only chronicled here, but it is described in detail from the point of view of Marvel Comics’ Editor in Chief Joe Quesada and Publisher Dan Buckley.  The event described is the second court case revolving around the creator of Ghost Rider, Gary Friedrich, and Marvel’s suing him for distributing, for profit, unlicensed reprints/copies of old Ghost Rider Comics.  As they were “unlicensed” and, as proven years earlier, in the ownership of Marvel, the suit claims that Friedrich is illegally making a profit on stolen merchandise, regardless of his being the creator or not.

I intend to use this as the overall springboard for all points to be made, as this is the catalyst for Marvel, Disney, and their lawyers’ decisions.  The case and the interview will be referenced constantly, with the interview itself providing means for comprehending Marvel’s viewpoint.

2.  Marvel Wins Court Battle Over Ghost Rider:

The article provides background, and rather unfortunately recent, information on the first Ghost Rider copyright court case.  It analyzes the creator of Ghost Rider, Gary Friedrich, claiming that Marvel did not have the rights to Ghost Rider beyond producing comics for the character, as film and marketing were not discussed at the time of contract signing, and  he deserved royalties for the 2007 film.  This past year, a federal Judge ruled that Marvel’s new mass media division, which also did not exist at the the time of Friedrich’s contract signing, Marvel Entertainment, does in fact retain the rights to his character.  This would be a stepping-stone to the current debacle.

I intend to use this as background to Marvel’s integrity and character study, as means to understand Marvel’s stance on copyright and what “ownership” of a character is.  The article will also serve as background to the larger, overall court case and dispute between Friedrich and Marvel, that provides the main thesis.

3. Worth a Thousand Words: The Images of Copyright

A very lengthy, extensive, article dated the first of this year, analyzing the vague concept of copyright and copyrighting images.  Rebecca Tushnet is incredibly critical of the Law, and her focuses on multimedia and images, specifically them as “transparent or opaque” concepts, is quite welcome in terms of the comic art topic, as comic images may not be directly connected to ownership and copyright claims within the realm of artistic liberty.

4.  No More Unauthorized Artwork

This is not an academic database article or analysis, I will say that upfront.  This is a journal post on the popular, and possible number-one, art congregation location on the internet, DeviantArt, where artists professional and amateur around the globe share their creations publicly.  The journal piece itself is a well-crafted analysis, commentary, and repost of professional comic artist Steve Bissette’s statements that comic artists should openly refrain from drawing Marvel characters, whether for profit or not, as a means of protest and personal safety.

I intend to use this exactly as it is presented: this is not an academic article.  This is the voice of the people, and even more specifically the people this case is intentionally working against, and their reaction.  Public reaction is very key to disputes such as these, and from the perspective of actual artists this makes a very useful weapon.  (An interesting note not mentioned here is a statement made by artist Robert Liefeld: “Not a single creator that has sued Marvel for creative compensation has succeeded. The list is getting longer. Know what you signed.  I do not own Deadpool, Cable, X- Force—I get a generous payout on their exploitation, but I knew from day one, they are not mine. Period.  I signed those deals when I was 21 years old. I knew that pennies on the dollar were better than no pennies at all.  I was an eager young talent looking to change the game and the playing field, I did that through my creations. No regrets.”)

5.  Copyright Law

This is the United States Copyright Law, from the US Copyright Office, by which all creations are given official ownership to a party, legally.  There is irony in their mission statement, “To promote creativity by administering and sustaining an effective national copyright system.”  as they state that they at the Office are “proud to be part of a long tradition of promoting progress of the arts and protection for the works of authors.”  Perhaps not so much to sustain creative rights of artists and authors, but whoever that Office can decree owns them at the time?  Rather convenient, actually.  This source is, of course, to criticize while abiding by the legal proceedings and how Marvel is capable of making their claims.  While it is no personal contract, which would be the best possible source, it is the next best thing for an overall standpoint.

I intend to use the Copyright Office as a means of maintaining a sense of professionalism, as analyzing Marvel’s actions cannot be done without considering the laws that they themselves are claiming they can use.  Understanding knowledge of copyright laws will provide a better outcome, regardless of what the outcome actually is.  It is a necessity for this type of analysis.

For my essay I will be researching the benefits of stem cell research, specifically embryonic stem cell research in order to show that funding should be increased.  In my research and essay I believe I will be able to prove that embryonic stem cell research is currently the most reliable option on the path to curing a wide array of ailments and diseases including loss of limbs.  Most scientists agree that the easiest way to obtain usable stem cells is through the utilization of embryonic cells.  The main reason that more funding has not been given is due to the alleged moral dilemma that this type of research faces.  While harvesting cells from fetuses may seem gruesome, the diseases that stand to be cured by their application are far more so.  Stem cells have been proven to have the ability to rejuvenate damaged tissue as well as the creation of entirely new tissues and it is widely believed that these methods are superior to conventional methods because they carry a far less mild “risk-benefit profile”.  Stem cells are a viable option in curing any disease or illness in which tissue has been damaged, some of which include diabetes, heart disease, spinal cord injuries and Alzheimer’s.  These diseases are debilitating and can often lead to death however funding for embryonic stem cell research is far from adequate.  The fact that stem cells may be used to cure or prevent these potentially fatal diseases should be reason enough to overlook any moral hesitations.

I will use the following list of resources to support my argument that funding for embryonic stem cell research should be increased by proving the capabilities of this incredible science:

1. The Science and Ethics of Induced Pluripotency: What Will Become of Embryonic Stem Cells

This article discusses why stem cells are better than traditional medicinal methods to cure/treat diseases and other illnesses.  It depicts the advances in stem cell research techniques and the changes to the field that have come within the last decade.  It also describes other means of modern regenerative medicine in an unbiased light.

How I intend to use it: I intend to use this article to describe why stem cells are a better, more productive way to treat and possibly cure or prevent certain illnesses.  In this way I will show that stem cell research deserves more funding than other areas of research.

2. Stem Cells: 10 Diseases They May—or May Not—Cure

This article describes the diseases that might someday be cured by stem cells.  It also explains why stem cells would be beneficial and how they would be utilized in each disease.  This article is also a great resource because it gives a slightly skeptical viewpoint that can be used for arguments against funding this type of research.

How I intend to use it: I will use this article to bring to light the terrible diseases that stand to be cured by stem cells in order to prove that more funding should be approved.  I will also use this article to identify counter arguments so I can debunk them using my other sources.

3. Assessing the Risk of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome in Egg Donation: Implications for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research.

This article provides information on why it is most useful to use stem cells derived from an embryo and how the source of the stem cell changes the properties of the cell itself.  It also explains the downfalls of the other methods of obtaining usable stem cells.

How I intend to use it:  I intend to use this article to show the reader why it is so important that the stem cells come from an embryonic source.  By examining why embryonic stem cells are the most useable and how other methods are far less productive I can support funding for this specific type of stem cell research.

4. Federal Funding of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research

This article contains the court case of Sherley v. Sebelius which was the main impetus behind the Dickey-Wicker Amendment that caused the ban on embryonic stem cell research (lifted by President Obama) and is still the cause of much argument surrounding this type of research.  It also contains a much more recent case that dealt with embryonic stem cell research.

How I intend to use it: I intend to use this article to give background information on the initial ban, and current damper on the funding given to embryonic stem cell research.  I will then counter the implications of this case with the scientific data gathered in my other sources.

5. The Man Who Grew Back His Finger Tip

This article describes the wonders of stem cells in the form of an amazing story of a man who grew back part of his finger that was removed in an accident.  This man grew back his entire finger in only four months using stem cells (in fact using an inferior method to embryonic stem cells).

How I intend to use it: I intend to use this as a concrete example of the power of stem cells in the field of regenerative medicine.  Due to the ban on embryonic stem cells during the time of his accident the stem cells of a pig were used which are inferior to human stem cells, this in mind I intend to show that the potential of the far superior embryonic stem cells is nearly limitless.  By showing how powerful and effective stem cells are I hope to prove the need for more funding.

1.Street Drugs.org: Ephedra Link:http://www.streetdrugs.org/html%20files/Ephedra.html

Background: This source talks about Ephedra and its different uses and side effects. It goes into detail about the supplement and its banning. It also gives a clear exact description of what a dietary supplement is and the ingredients and qualifications needed to be classified a dietary supplement.

How I intend to use research: I can use the information on what a dietary supplement is suppose to have when talking about its classification needs. I can also use the details about Ephedra to support my claims on the product and show its ingredients and the effects it can cause both helpful and harmful.

2. What is Ephedrine? Link:http://www.ephedrine-ephedra.com/pages/what_is_ephedrine_1234.html

Background: This website talks about ephedra and the ingredients found in it. It goes into where it comes from and how it is used and created.It also gives the a list of examples of the complaints received by the FDA about terrible unwanted side effects of the supplement.

How I intend to use research: This gives me ingredients of the product I’m looking up. It states where it comes from and creation of it and uses giving me a very clear way at how it is mainly created. I can use this to examine how well it meets the dietary classifications and what different parts of it cause the harmful side effects.

3. Dietary Supplements Link: http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/dietarysupplements/

Background: This source gives the classification of dietary supplements. It also defines the regulations that the FDA sets up for them and rules they must follow.

How I intend to use research: This research will give me exactly what I’m looking for as in a classification of what a dietary supplement is. It also will help me see the rules and regulations they have and follow.

4. Dietary Supplements—Regulatory Issues and Implications for Public Health Link:http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/early/2011/06/30/jama.2011.982.extract

Background: This source gives the problems with regulations on the Dietary supplement industry. It shows how loop holes can be used by the manufacturers of the product.

How I intend to use research: I intend to use this research to see the flaws in the supplement regulations and determine the type of things the manufacturers can easily get away with their supplement that could be unhealthy and dangerous.

5. Ingredients-Ephedrine Link: http://sci-toys.com/ingredients/ephedrine.html

Background: This source goes into more details about the uses and ingredients of the Ephedrine supplement.

How I intend to use research: This research will give me more information on the make up of the Ephedra, so I can examine its ingredients to the needed ones of dietary supplements to be classified as so. It will also give me a good look at the dangerous substances inside of the supplement that makes it harmful.

The topic I plan to research for the next several weeks is affirmative action. I am curious about this topic for a few reasons. Its purpose is to eliminate racial discrimination and create equality by imposing certain racial quotas in places of employment and/or schooling. This essentially means that you cannot be denied employment or acceptance to a school because the “admitter” has a preference of race. This raises many questions, along with a very long list of both benefits and detriments. I want to explore the possibility that the negative effects of affirmative action outweigh the positives. The counterintuitive aspect of this is very obvious. Instead of creating a color blind society and eliminating discrimination, it forces us to look at race and ultimately causes “reverse discrimination.” This reverse discrimination is what I want to further investigate. The idea is not as straight forward as it may seem. It would be absurd to imply that employers and those in admission offices all look to discriminate against white people. With that being said, these people must follow the policies of affirmative action where minorities must be granted positions even over more qualified “non minorities.” The denied applicant will then accuse the denier of being racist, when in reality they were just following legal policies. Regardless of the reasons behind decisions, this causes racial tension that is supposed to be eliminated through affirmative action. Thus, a vicious cycle begins.

1. Affirmative Action: Pros and Cons

Background: This source provides the reader with the perspective of two Kansas State University professors that stand behind affirmative action. They argue that the negative effects of the policy are negligible when compared to the positives it brings. One of the professors also states that he believes a time will come when affirmative action is no longer needed.

How I Intend to Use it: While the counterintuitive aspect of my topic is that Affirmative Action does the opposite of what it claims to do, I know that I must acknowledge the reasons people believe it is useful. Therefore I will use the claims of these two college professors while looking at the positive sides of affirmative action.

2. AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

Background: This source goes into how reverse discrimination is caused and whether or not affirmative action is worth what it was when it was initially introduced. There is an on-going debate examining the possibility that these policies actually cause more racial tension than it eliminates. There is also a section that compares U.S. affirmative action to other country’s policies, which provides insight on whether or not our policies are the best option.

How I Intend to Use it: I am using this source as a guide to my topic of reverse discrimination. It will help me to form ideas and will also be helpful when looking for further examples to research. Also, if I can make a proposal claim towards the end of my paper, I will use the section that compares our policies to others.

3. The Case Against Affirmative Action

Background: Here is a source that involves the offices at Stanford being accused of racism by simply following the policies set forth by affirmative action. It also states that the accusations of racism are unfair, because decisions are only being made to satisfy the government policies.

How I Intend to Use it: This is a great example of showing that as a society, there is a lot of negative attention towards admission officers even though they are only doing what they have to. I like this because it is very neutral on the topic of whether the nation should throw out affirmative action, and instead focuses on social negative effects involving people placing blame on the wrong individuals for decision making.

4.  The Diversity Imperative

Attempt new link to The Diversity Imperative

Background: This article explores the concept of “reverse discrimination” in college acceptance and employment. There are multiple cases where caucasian applicants were denied due to the fact that racial quotas needed to be filled and no more white people could be taken. In one specific case, a white female applicant to the Law School at the University of Michigan sued because she was denied acceptance based on her race. Instead of being rejected because she was a certain race, she was rejected because she was NOT a certain race.

How I Intend to Use it: There are multiple accounts of reverse discrimination in this article, so I plan on using them throughout the course of the paper. When a specific example can be fit into the assignment, I feel it will help the meaning of the paper because they are first hand accounts of reverse discrimination. There is also a statement made by a Justice of the Supreme Court that expresses his belief “that affirmative action may become obsolete if diversity can be maintained by using race-neutral policies.” I like this quote because it supports the proposal to come from source 3.

5. Affirmative Action and Campus Racism

Attempt new link to Affirmative Action and Campus Racism

Background: This article suggests that through the policies of affirmative action, racism can actually be created. This idea is somewhat abstract; however, the basis for the argument has potential. If caucasians know they are at a disadvantage for a position because they are white, despite qualifications, it will ultimately cause tension between them and the races that have a better chance at the position due to their minority status.

How I Intend to Use it: When speaking of the many negative effects of affirmative action, this is another that I believe can be a very compelling one. Affirmative action was established to eliminate racial tendencies, but if it in turn actually causes racism in some ways, then it is the epitome of counterintuitivity.

For my research topic I will examine the different qualifications and classifications that make a supplement classified as a supplement. I will take the findings of what these classifications are and show how the now banned supplement Ephedra met these classifications. I will demonstrate how easily these supplement products can be classified as a dietary supplement even though it could have much more ingredients that are dangerous and cause terrible health concerns and even death as Ephedra had done.I will examine the ingredients in the Ephedra product and find out what makes it so harmful that it could kill people while still following the right classifications to be a dietary supplement sold on the shelf throughout the United States. My investigation will examine the lenient rules followed by supplement marketers and the different loop holes they can use to put out a killing supplement such as the Ephedra and just how it was done with this product.

Proposal:

For my research topic I will be examining the safety and efficiency of different dietary supplements that are, or have been out on the market. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not classify dietary supplements as drugs, and therefore they do not have to be proven safe before sale. They can be put out on the market claiming to help people lose weight or with other different problems that they could face without being checked for problematic side effects first. The FDA will only investigate the supplements for problems after there has been many claims of harmful side effects from such supplements. There have been many different supplements that have caused opposite reactions for which they are suppose to help with, and also have caused even worse problems that can be life threatening to the user. Producers of these supplements also aren’t regulated to define harmful side effects from their products on the label, which can hide valuable information from the user. I will be researching the effects from certain supplements and finding information on how effective and helpful certain products will be to someone. I will also be looking for different unseen side effects from these products to figure out just how safe some products are, or were that had been removed from sale. My main goal is to find out just what these different supplements help with and how true their claims are. I also want to know how they have effected people, and if some cause side effects that are not being told about that could cause different, or worse physical problems to the user.I will be trying to find the risk to the health and safety of the user of these supplements that the people using the product are so sure of will help them.

Sources:

1.Worts and All link:http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?sid=bedd1bcb-95d1-431a-9a38-e981243790c8%40sessionmgr15&vid=4&hid=15&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=52111639

Background: This source talks about how the Government accountability Office (GAO) conducted a study on such herbal supplements with certain ingredients that may have been harmful to the very users it claimed to help. It talks about the different regulations supplements makers have to follow, but how they don’t have to show prove of their findings and can easily trick customers with certain sayings of praise. The GAO asked supplement retailers certain questions about their products and if certain mixes with medication was safe. All the answers by the retailers were yes, yes,yes showing how great their product was, but when examined upon the real answer of no was discovered. The GAO also discovered that out od the forty herbal supplements they tested, thirty-seven of them had contained at least one harmful compound.

How I intend to use research: This research distictly describes the loose regulations that the supplement industries have to follow. It also gives me clear examples of lies being told to users and examples of products that were found unsafe, which all supports my proposal of finding how safe, or in this case how dangerous these supplements are to a user.

2. Supplements: The Whole Truth Link:http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?sid=bedd1bcb-95d1-431a-9a38-e981243790c8%40sessionmgr15&vid=4&hid=9&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=70479736

Background: This article starts by talking about how military members looking to dietary supplements to increase their physical fitness out in combat. They felt their health benefits were good for them, but closer studies discovered opposites. It goes into further detail about certain ingredients in supplements and stimulants that could be harmful and cause very severe problems for a user. It talks about Ephedra basied products for example that are used in lots of dietary supplements to increase weight loss, but in fact cause heart problems along with other issues. It also states it’s Ephedra based products because ephedra was banned by the FDA for its dangerous side effects.

How I intend to use research: It backs up my point of dangerous supplement side effects, and goes into detail of contents along with examples of such. It even names a banned content that had caused severe health issues. It gives plenty of back up to my overall point and question of the safety and efficiency of these supplement products being sold.

3.Dietary Supplementation Habits and Perceptions of Supplement Use Among Elite Finnish Athletes link:http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?sid=bedd1bcb-95d1-431a-9a38-e981243790c8%40sessionmgr15&vid=5&hid=9&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=64742647

Background: This is an experiment examining elite finish athletes and their use of different supplements between two years. It gives numbers, graphs, and figures to examine and look at between the years of 2002 and 2009. It demonstrates their findings, use and reason for why athletes use supplements.

How I intend to use research: This research gives me actual figures and numbers to look at and examine. It gives me adequate numbers demonstrating the large use of supplements by athletes in the world, which shows their importance in being safe. It also gives me findings of some health concerns brought up with the supplement use. It’s a bunch of quantitative data that I can use and show in numbers for reasons of use and get a good picture of which type of supplements most athletes and others use.

4. Who’s Spiking Your Supplements? link: http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?sid=bedd1bcb-95d1-431a-9a38-e981243790c8%40sessionmgr15&vid=8&hid=9&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=61983873

Background: This link starts to talk about a man named Heath that bought a supplement to gain some muscle before vacation. Next thing he knew he ended up in hospital with liver failure, and the supplement he had just bought was recalled for having steroid ingredients that weren’t on the label. It goes on to talk about how supplements are spiked with banned ingredients and not put on the labels of the product. With the loose dietary supplement regulations it’s easy for spiked supplements to be sold to millions before being shutdown.

How I intend to use research: This research gives a great example of a person that bought a specific supplement with hidden ingredients and the life threatening result of this supplement. It completely backs up the unsafety of the supplements out there to but and how dangerous some can really be. You can go from planning on putting on muscle for a vacation to dying in a hospital in a short time period.

5. STEMI in a 24-Year-Old Man after Use of a Synephrine-Containing Dietary Supplement link:http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=7&hid=9&sid=bedd1bcb-95d1-431a-9a38-e981243790c8%40sessionmgr15&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=48077984

Background: This gives the information on how a man was checked out using STEMI and found to be in a complete healthy state, but after taking the supplement Nutrex Lipo-6x, which is suppose to be a safe Ephedra free product, caused him to be at risk for heart problems as they found a problem in his coronary artery. This was found just a few hours after the use of the product. It goes on about the research presented in this finding.

How I intend to use this research: I plan to use this as another one of my examples of how supplements that claim to be safe causing health problems. It also shows how quickly problems can occur after use of these supplements. It’s a huge surprise factor at how quickly this man went from a healthy heart to problems in his artery after such an early use of this supplement.