Humman Cloning

* INTRODUCTION: The world of science and the public at large were both shocked and fascinated by the announcement in the journal Nature by Ian Wilmut and his colleagues that they had successfully cloned a sheep from a single cell of an adult sheep (Wilmut 1997). Scientists were in part surprised, because many had believed that after the very early stage of embryo development at which differentiation of cell function begins to take place, it would not be possible to achieve cloning of an adult mammal by nuclear transfer.In this process, the nucleus from the cell of an adult mammal is inserted into an ennucleated ovum, and the resulting embryo develops following the complete genetic code of the mammal from which the inserted nucleus was obtained. But some scientists and much of the public were troubled or apparently even horrified at the prospect that if adult mammals such as sheep could be cloned, then cloning of adult humans by the sameprocess would likely be possible as well.Of cour se, the process is far from perfected even with sheep— it took 276 failures by Wilmut and his colleagues to produce Dolly, their one success. Whether the process can be successfully replicated in other mammals, much less in humans, is not now known. But those who were horrified at the prospect of human cloning were not assuaged by the fact that the science with humans is not yet there, for it looked to them now perilously close. The response of most scientific and political leaders to the prospect of human cloning, indeed of Dr. Wilmut as well, was of immediate and strong condemnation.In the United States, President Clinton immediately banned federal financing of human cloning research and asked privately funded scientists to halt such work until the newly formed National Bioethics Advisory Commission could review the â€Å"troubling† ethical and legal implications. The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) characterized human cloning as â€Å"ethica lly unacceptable as it would violate some of the basic principles which govern medically assisted reproduction. These include respect for the dignity of the human being and the protection of the security of human genetic material† (WHO 1997).Around the world similar immediate condemnation was heard, as human cloning was called a violation of human rights and human dignity. Even before Wilmut’s announcement, human cloning had been made illegal in nearly all countries in Europe and had been condemned by the Council of Europe (Council of Europe 1986). A few more cautious voices were heard, both suggesting some possible benefits from the use of human cloning in limited circumstances and questioning its too quick prohibition, but they were a clear minority.In the popular media, nightmare scenarios of laboratory mistakes resulting in monsters, the cloning of armies of Hitlers, the exploitative use of cloning for totalitarian ends as in Huxley’s Brave New World, and the murderous replicas of the film Blade Runner, all fed the public controversy and uneasiness. A striking feature of these early responses was that their strength and intensity seemed to far outrun the arguments and reasons offered in support of them— they seemed often to be â€Å"gut level† emotional reactions rather than considered reflections on the issues.Such reactions should not be simply dismissed, both because they may point us to important considerations otherwise missed and not easily articulated, and because they often have a major impact on public policy. But the formation of public policy should not ignore the moral reasons and arguments that bear on the practice of human cloning— these must be articulated inE-4 order to understand and inform people’s more immediate emotional responses. This paper is an effort to articulate, and to evaluate critically, the main moral considerations and arguments for and against human cloning.Though many peopleà ¢â‚¬â„¢s religious beliefs inform their views on human cloning, and it is often difficult to separate religious from secular positions, I shall restrict myself to arguments and reasons that can be given a clear secular formulation and will ignore explicitly religious positions and arguments pro or con. I shall also be concerned principally with cloning by nuclear transfer, which permits cloning of an adult, not cloning by embryo splitting, although some of the issues apply to both (Cohen and Tomkin 1994).I begin by noting that on each side of the issue there are two distinct kinds of moral arguments brought forward. On the one hand, some opponents claim that human cloning would violate fundamental moral or human rights, while some proponents argue that its prohibition would violate such rights. On the other hand, both opponents and proponents also cite the likely harms and benefits, both to individuals and to society, of the practice. While moral and even human rights need not be un derstood as bsolute, that is, as morally requiring people to respect them no matter how great the costs or bad consequences of doing so, they do place moralrestrictions on permissible actions that appeal to a mere balance of benefits over harms. For example, the rights of human subjects in research must be respected even if the result is that some potentially beneficial research is made more difficult or cannot be done, and the right of free expression prohibits the silencing of unpopular or even abhorrent views; in Ronald Dworkin’s striking formulation, rights trump utility (Dworkin 1978).I shall take up both the moral rights implicated in human cloning, as well as its more likely significant benefits and harms, because none of the rights as applied to human cloning is sufficiently uncontroversial and strong to settle decisively the morality of the practice one way or the other. But because of their strong moral force, the assessment of the moral rights putatively at stake i s especially important. A further complexity here is that it is sometimes controversial whether a particular consideration is merely a matter of benefits and harms, or is instead a matter of moral or human rights.I shall begin with the arguments in support of permitting human cloning, although with no implication that it is the stronger or weaker position * The possibility of human cloning, raised when Scottish scientists at Roslin Institute created the much-celebrated sheep â€Å"Dolly† (Nature  385,  810-13, 1997), aroused worldwide interest and concern because of its scientific and ethical implications. The feat, cited by  Science  magazine as the breakthrough of 1997, also generated uncertainty over the meaning of â€Å"cloning† –an umbrella term traditionally used by scientists to describe different processes for duplicating biological material. Historical Background: The history of human cloning human cloning is undoubtedly one of the most fascinat ing chapters of our lives. Essential question to be discussed to understand the ramifications of human cloning is when human life begins? C. Ward Kischer, a famous American embryologists, wrote in a recent article: â€Å"Since 1973 when Roe vs. Wade was won there were many socio-legal issues related to human embryo. Abortion, fertilization in vitro research on human embryos, research on stem cells, cloning and genetic engineering are substantive issues of human embryology†.The answer is clear embryology that life begins at fertilization of the egg by a sperm (sexual reproduction) or if the SCNT cloning, implantation and activation when the donor somatic cell nucleus into an egg recipient (asexual reproduction). (6) Although non-mammalian cloning was achieved in 1952, mankind had to wait another 44 years until he was finally cloned the first mammal. The first cloned mammal, Dolly the sheep was born on July 5, 1996. In this fascinating history of cloning, there has been a major setback in 2003 when Dolly died at the age of 6 years.Death of the first cloned mammal, was followed by a lively debate related issues / ethical aspects of cloning, debate that continues today. Besides the successful attempts to clone the different species of animals, XX century was marked by several important moments in the development of the genealogy. Deciphering the success of DNA code in 1968 came as an enormous progress around much desired human clone. With nearly 20 years later, by 1988 the human genome, that genome Homosapiens stored in 23 pairs of chromosomes has been released.As things were headed becoming better by the appearance of a human clone, a major problem has become â€Å"human cloning prohibition act† in 2009, which has labeled as cloning illegal, immoral, not unethical activity. Since 2009, human cloning is illegal in 23 countries. So far, experiments were undertaken with five species of animals and the high rate of failure has given rise to many questio ns about human cloning success. Only 1% of animal cloning made so far have had a positive result, but most of them have suffered serious disorders. The conclusion of experts is that the current level of technology, human cloning is very dangerous.I discussed two types of human cloning: therapeutic cloning and reproductive cloning. Therapeutic cloning involves cloning cells from an adult for medicinal use and is an active research area, while reproductive cloning would involve the creation of human clones. Therapeutic cloning could provide unique ways to cure diseases until now considered incurable: diabetes, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, heart disease. (1) The third type of cloning called replacement cloning is a possibility in theory and would be a combination of therapeutic cloning and reproductive cloning.Higher probability of achieving a therapeutic cloning is more accessible in terms of technique, but also less morally problematic. * Statement Of The Problem: * What is cloning? Are there different types of cloning * How can cloning technologies be used? * What Animal Haved Been Cloned ? * Can organs be cloned for use in transplants? * What are the risks of cloning? * Should humans be cloned? * How Human Cloning Will Work Cause And Effect: Ethics Ethical issues of human cloning have become an important issue in recent years. Many ethical arguments against human cloning are based on misconceptions.Many people think that these clones will have the same characteristics / personalities as the person cloned. Although clone and cloned individual have the same genes, traits and personalities are different. People think that a clone is physically identical to the donor and her behavior, but this is not true because although there is a physical identity, living environment shapes an individual's ongoing behavior and psychology. Many people believe that cloning will lead to loss of individuality eventually, but people have their own personality cloned which personality is similar to those in which they were created.Lawrence Nelson, associate professor of philosophy at UCS, said that embryos can be used for research if: – the purpose of research can not be achieved by other methods;   Ã¢â‚¬â€œ the embryos have reached more than 14-18 days of development;   Ã¢â‚¬â€œ those who use forbid you to consider or treat as personal property. One of the most serious problems of cloning of human embryos for therapeutic purposes, is that with harvesting stem cells, the embryo is formed by cloning practical killed. We can not reduce the existence of a human embryo to â€Å"a cell† as long as after both science and teaching of the Church, the human embryo is a carrier of life. 8) For a few years, the legalization of human cloning is in the center of global debate, which was also attended not only scientists but also politicians, philosophers, theologians, psychologists. For example, American Association of Pro Life Obstetricians and Gynecologist s (AAPLOG) has spoken out against cloning, drawing attention that some business people might think of trading a human life. (4) What is harder is that it could reach the reproduction of living people without them knowing, to be involved in this process or to give consent.Questions appeared on the social status of any clone. What will be their status in society? In the U. S. House of Representatives issued a ruling that human cloning is illegal, but the Senate has yet to rule on the matter. The opinions are still leaning toward accepting only therapeutic cloning. Legalization of therapeutic cloning has been proposed as the only way to investigate, the chances of success, the basic criterion for funding such programs as the primary objective should be finding cures for incurable diseases.A coalition of states, including Spain, Italy, Philippines, USA, Costa Rica and the â€Å"Holy Land† have tried to expand the debate on all forms of human cloning, noting that in their view, th erapeutic cloning violates human dignity. Costa Rica proposed the adoption of an international convention to combat any form of cloning. Australia has banned human cloning in December 2006, but therapeutic cloning is now legal in some parts of Australia. European Union – European Convention on Human Rights prohibits human cloning in an additional protocol, but the protocol has been ratified only by Greece, Spain and Portugal.England – The British government introduced legislation to allow therapeutic cloning in a debate on January 14, 2001. Hope that parliament will pass the law was prohibitive. Roman Catholic Church under Pope Benedict XVI has condemned the practice of human cloning, saying it represents â€Å"a grave offense against human dignity and equality among the people. † Human cloning is prohibited in Islam at the Tenth Conference in Jeddah. Saudi Arabia has decided on June 28, 1997-July 3, 1997 as the beginning of human cloning is â€Å"haraam† (forbidden by the faith-sin).Jesse Rainbow explain why there is an aversion to human cloning – a clone would not be a â€Å"real person† – cloning is â€Å"playing the God† – cloning is not â€Å"natural† mention in closing some of the conditions proposed in a provisional list yet, so research on therapeutic human cloning (reproductive one is illegal) to proceed lawfully: it is necessary for embryos to be used only in the early stages of their development, without being allowed to grow further, all programs research must be supervised by government organizations dealing with fertilization and genetic techniques, various research programs will receive funding and approval only if it is scientifically demonstrated that there is no other way of obtaining the same results conventional, will not be permitted to research on human genetic material can be combined with that of animals, there must be a permanent state of public information on resear ch undertaken and to be postulated that the limitations may be required to report the experiences and suffering of animals used for human benefit. (5)

Positive Relationship with Children Essay

1.1. Positive relationships with children and young people are important because when children feel comfortable they separate more easily from their parents, and are more likely to participate in activities if they secure emotionally. Also when children have positive relationships they are less likely to show unwanted behaviour as we can recognise and meet their individual needs. Childrens language will also develop more quickly due to being confident to talk to us. Us as practitioners can also plan more accurately as we’ll understand childrens development and we will know their individual interests. It is also important as we will be able to respond to a Childs emotions due to their facial expressions and the way they are acting when we know them and have a bond with them. We also have to remember that we are to build professional relationships. The principles of relationship building and to keep them maintained are communicating effectively, identifying and sorting out conflicts and disagreements, being consistent and fair, showing respect and courtesy, valuing and respecting individuality, keeping promises and honouring commitments, monitoring impact of own behaviour on others, keeping confidentiality as appropriate and recognising and responding appropriately to the power base underpinning relationships. 1.2. Observation 1.3. My own effectiveness in building relationships with children or young people is that when you get to know each child individually i feel more comfortable, because i know they feel comfortable due to them knowing me and respecting them. I involve all the children in my activities no matter what the age gap unless the activitiy is un suiteable for that age group. I ensure in myself that i treat each child in the same way, as no child has higher priority than the other they all get treated fairly. I also feel like i have achieved building relationships with the children when you see them after a weekend or the next day because they smile and are excited to come to nursery again. 2.1. Positive relationships with people involved in the care of children and young people are important. Other people involved other than their family are organisational managers, carers, other visitors, colleagues from other agencies and services, external partners, official visitors, and colleagues. If we do not have positive relationships with these people involved in the childrens lives that attend nursery there is danger that information might be passed un –accurately and that it is withheld because we may not be trusted. It is important that we all work together to build trust with everyone and the benefits the child will get if we do so are children are given consistent care, childrens needs and interests are identified, plans for childrens care and education are more effective, childrens welfare can be properly monitored, and skills and ideas can be shared quickly between adults.

Nosocmial Infection Related to Having Surgery In A Hospital Research Paper

Nosocmial Infection Related to Having Surgery In A Hospital - Research Paper Example This is based on the route, duration and time of administration of the antibiotic after susceptibility test and clinical responses. NOSOCOMIAL OR HOSPITAL ACQUIRED INFECTIONS Care to patients is provided in wide range of facilities ranging from highly equipped clinics to advanced public universities. Despite progress and advancement in hospital care, infections continue to prevail in hospitalized patients and even in hospital staff. Decreased immunity among the patients, variety of invasive techniques creates a kind potential route for the infections to incubate and grow in the ideal atmosphere. Poor controls for the spread of infection can also be the key factor for the stretch of infections among crowded hospital populations. Nosocomial or Hospital acquired infections can be defined as: Nosocomial or hospital acquired infections are defined as the infections acquired by patients during their stay at the hospital, who are admitted for a reason other than that infection and the infec tion causing agent was not present or incubating at the time of admission. This also includes those infections occurring in staff members or patients who are recently discharged from the hospitals. (Pittet ,2011) EPIDIMILOGY Nosocomial infections occur in both developed and third world countries and it is the major cause of death among hospital patients. A survey conducted by WHO in 55 hospitals of 14 countries including Europe, Eastern Mediterranean, South East Asia and Western pacific. The result shows an average of 8.7% patients suffer from Hospital Acquired Infections every year. The burden of HAI is already substantial in developing countries where Nosocomial infections hit every 5 to 155 patients in regular wards and 50% patients in ICU (Vincent, Rello , Marshall, Silva, Anzueto, Martin,2009). The magnitude of the problem remains ignored or unknown because diagnosis is complex and suirvillience activities requires expertise and resources to guide interventions.(Allegranzi& pit tet,2008) PATHOPHYSIOLOGY: Nosocomial infections can be acquired from both exogenous and endogenous sources. Endogenous sources are part of patient’s body or body sites, such as infections growing or incubating inside the body. Exogenous sources are those outside from the body. Examples include visitors, medical personnel, equipment and healthcare environment. HAI’s may be caused by patient’s own flora, the organisms harmlessly entangled with patients own body such as skin (S.Aureus) or intestine (E. coli). The infections targeting ICU patients or patients with weak immune system are those which are the victims of environment filled with the micro-organisms. These organisms usually cause lung infections. Infections may be transferred from one to another person such as Antibiotic resistant micro-organisms are likely to come from the person already infected or colonized from the organism, via the hands of health care worker or through the environment where the pat ient is being cared for. C.difficile is the causative agent for diarrhea and can be carried in the intestine of the patient or can be acquired from other patient already infected because C. Difficile produces spores which make it easier for their spread and also make it resistant to unfavorable conditions. The agents causing HAI are mostly viruses, bacteria’

ABC Financial Business Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

ABC Financial Business - Research Paper Example Business planning to expand its sales with a 25% increase requires the management and its shareholders to set their targets and goals through a forecast budget. An effective business will lays out the perfect strategy in realizing the companies’ goal of profit maximization. By having the capability to read the agency’s future, it is practical to form feasible strategies that work in favor of the additional products that can leverage the current ABC employee skill-set as well as the manufacturing facilities. In this case, it is critical to form a financial plan to assist the agency’s long term objectives. This is especially if it is the first time trying to make it in this entrepreneurial venture. Some of the aspects that surround this business need addressing so as to make it simpler to deal with the hurdles that these project faces. This paper will examine such a plan in bide of setting aggressive growth target of reaching $3 million annual sales within the next 3 years and how it may impact the growth and development of the business, in the long run. The paper also analyses the overall risk profile of the company based on current economic and industrial issues that it may be facing based on the track records of its financial statements. Discussion It is fundamental for one to be apprehensive about the issues the market may be facing. One of these issues may be an economic downturn. The economic activities that surround this manufacturing industry are a vital aspect in the continuation of the new proposed project (Chandra, 2011). An expansion of the activities occurring in the manufacturing environment means that, there is a chance of having restructuring other interdepartmental that do facilitate the production of final product. As a growing business, the board of management needs to be sensitive to such customer needs and requirements. Overall customer satisfaction is another sensitive area to look into in the business. Customers prefer to have access to information. The ability to provide this access at a rapid pace means that, they will be inclined to get more involved with the business (Brigham, & Ehrhardt, 2011). This works in boosting the annual revenue acquisition. This is where technology comes into play in the business. Offering customers information leads to more interaction, which is the primary focus of the product. Government regulations are also a sensitive area to look into while trying to grow the business in order not to derail the quality of their product (Chandra, 2011). The government policies could also improved access to financial services which on the other hand is help-full in raising the funds for such proposed expansion. All these sensitive areas might determine if the business will grow after expansion, or if it will remain stagnant as at the commencement of the pursuit of new venture. It is very pertinent to acknowledge the presence of all factors present in the industry that might enable it to grow, decline, or remain stagnant (Brigham, & Ehrhardt, 2011). In order to attract a wide variety of customers, it is vital to have an image of the build cedar dollhouses that are to be offered in the market. The price would depends on alternative product which the competitors also do offer in market, that reflect the loyalty of the client, and how much they are invested in the business as a cost of production. Loyalty in any business is fundamental in its growth as cabalist. However, diverting customers from the competition is instrumental in covering the business and some of its costs. In order to provide capital to enable the business to grow and give the shareholders their share,

King County Comprehensive Plan (KCCP) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

King County Comprehensive Plan (KCCP) - Essay Example The county has done activities to preserve these forests through ensuring clean water, appropriate flood control, protecting wildlife and fish habitat, fostering recreation and appreciation of scenic beauty. The county also contributes to the reduction of global warming through carbon sequestration. Sustaining the forests is the primordial strategy of the King County Forestry Program. A string of economic incentives, technical advice, and information are provided by the county and its officials to forest landowners to safeguard the local forests. King County is one of the busy counties in Seattle. King County, with a population of 1,788,300, is the most populous county in Washington. Seattle is a middle class city which is highly unionized, and is home to manufacturing giants--Boeing, Kenworth trucks, Todd shipyards, Weyerhauser and US Plywood. It has the University of Washington, an eminent research university in the field of computer sciences and biomedical research. Seattle is one of America's hi-tech, digital, wired and computer-oriented cities. According to Atkinson's "Metropolitan New Economy Index", Seattle had ranked third as the most advanced in the digital economy. (Atkinson 2003) Seattle is a city which is very attractive to young people whose ages range from 17 to 45 years old. Its demographic profile reveals a high segment of working population. The city boasts of tolerance of alternative lifestyles, excellent educational institutions, superb environmental sites, and a tremendous degree of innovativeness that contributed to the start-up, growth and development of high tech and related sectors. Seattle provides a healthy balance of wealth and opportunity to its local residents. It is a pleasant home to highly educated professionals. II King County Business Services King County promotes the growth of businesses combined with a concern for environmental sustainability and urban quality of life. The County's business development goals are to retain, expand, create and recruit businesses within industry clusters which are essential to the region's economic base and provide the impetus for growth. King County's economic development policies has these goals: Long-term commitment to sustainable economic development; Retention and increase of local firms in various industries which generate income and increase the quality of life its residents; Substantial public funding in large projects to spread benefits for firms and employees; and Environmental preservation and protection as a an important economic value. The Office manages specific Business Development initiatives and partnerships inspired by the County Executive and County Council. It

Database vs. Spreadsheet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Database vs. Spreadsheet - Essay Example In section two of this paper, overview of database and spreadsheet is given. Section three of this paper discusses various types of similarity that both MS Access and MS Excel have. In section four of the paper, the technical analysis of the software’s will be presented. And at last in section five, which software MS Access and MS Excel can be used in which situation will be discussed. A spreadsheet is a rectangular table of information. It means for the format used to present bookkeeping ledgers. The most common use of spreadsheets is to manage basic information such as telephone numbers, employee names, financial data, calculations, addresses and many more other things. Spreadsheets can store data but in actual it is not performs that job as easily as a database can perform. In actual, a spreadsheet is not considered as a database. It some thing like a robust, multifaceted calculator and data analyzer that incidentally can perform some database functions. As spreadsheets are intended to handle numerical data, they will also handle text, but they are not suited to handling complex queries and intradata relationships, so they are not used in data handling systems. Various types of spreadsheet programs that are used are KSpread, OpenOffice.org Calc or Microsoft Excel. Microsoft Excel and other spreadsheet software programs are not database management systems. They stores data in rows and columns called worksheets and areas within the worksheet, where the rows and columns intersect are called cells. Database in general is a collection of data arranged for ease and speed of search and retrieval. Database is also called as databank. In technical perspective database can be defined as a set of related files that is created and managed by a database management system (DBMS). Now these days, database management system can manage any form of data. The forma of data may include text, images, sound and video. Today some of the common database management systems

Federal Government Housing Policies Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Federal Government Housing Policies - Term Paper Example The contemporary housing assistance plans involve the comparatively flexible grants for the state as well as the local governments. This is done so as to assist the homeless people, build up reasonably priced housing and offer support to the first-time buyers. This was also done to encourage community development as well as more planned, direct support programs that would assist in providing low-priced apartments and even rental vouchers to the deprived families, managed through quasi-public, local public and the private intermediaries (McCarty & Et. Al., â€Å"Overview of Federal Housing Assistance Programs and Policy†). The main objective of the paper is to analyze the housing policies adopted by the federal government related to the mortgage and funding system. With this concern, the discussion of the paper will intend to identify the strategies implemented by the federal government persuade lenders and low-income borrowers in dealing with highly risky loans and mortgages. Furthermore, the paper will analyze the role of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the recent sub-prime crisis of 2008. Government Policy Intervention The condition of extreme and mispriced mortgage liability is the main reason behind the current boom in the housing markets. It is not possible to understand the unusual character of this particular cycle without recognizing the parts that links the policies on the demand-side as well as the supply restrictions. The boost in the housing prices was positively aggravated by the policies that facilitated cheap credit, especially for borrowers belonging to the low-income group. With the increasing prices, the enterprises those were government-sponsored, started becoming quite insistent in assisting lending activities. This significantly contributed to the rising prices of households (Glaeser & Gyourko, â€Å"Rethinking Federal Housing Policy†). During the early period of 1980s, the subprime lenders such as Household Finance Corp along w ith thrifts like Long Beach Savings and Loan provided funding services for home equity. They also provided services frequently for second advances to borrowers whose credit record was still to be recognized or even had financial records that were disturbed. At times it mirrored setbacks like divorce, unemployment, medical emergencies etc. Rates of interest charged on the subprime mortgages with considerable collateral which was the house were not as soaring compared to the car loans and also quite lesser than the credit cards. The benefits of the mortgage were coagulated and intensified in the year 1986 over the various other varieties of debt with the assistance of the Tax Reform Act. This act excluded taking away of the interest payments on the customer loans, whereas, the subtraction was retained in relation to the payments for mortgage interests (Stanford University â€Å"Subprime Lending†). Throughout the period of 1980s and the beginning of 1990s, prior to computerized â€Å"credit scoring†, a statistical method that was utilized to gauge the credit value of a borrower, initiated the evaluation of risk and mortgage lenders along with the subprime lenders depended on other attributes at the time of underwriting mortgages. During the period of 1990s the mortgage companies as well as the banks along with the securities organizations of the Wall Street

Religion Field Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Religion Field Project - Essay Example As I approached him, he was happy to share his knowledge with me. Firstly, he said about his family. He came to the U.S a year ago for studies. He belonged to an agricultural family in Jalandhar district of Punjab, a Northern state of India. His whole family follows Sikh religion. There were certainly interesting features in the appearance of my interviewee. Firstly, he had a turban covering his head and a bangle. From his communication, I also realized that he is a pure vegetarian. From the communication with him, I realized that Sikhism is one of the youngest religions in the world, with an age of fewer than seven hundred years. Also, I learned that this religion is a minority in India as the religion is mainly confined to the states of Punjab and Haryana and certain parts of present-day Pakistan. My first attempt was to learn the history of this religion. Jagjeet Singh pointed out that Sikhism had its birth in the state of Punjab in the 15th century. In order to do the further stu dy about the religion, I visited the website Sikhs.org. I learned from the website that Sikhism was founded by Guru Nanak Dev who was born in 1469 at Talwandi. This place is presently in Pakistan. Guru Nanak Dev exhibited very deep inspiration in the case of religion and he started questioning the various social establishments of that time. (Sikhism, Sikhs.org). The main intention of the interview was to identify the fundamental principles in which Sikh people believe. I asked Jagjeet to briefly describe the basic principles of Sikhism. He pointed out that Sikhism does not claim the presence of a different God. Instead, it claims that God is one and that all humans are equal. To check the feasibility of this claim, I searched various sources. I learned that Guru Nanak Dev, along with his companion Mardana-a Muslim minstrel, wandered the area urging for improvement in the existing social situations. They spread three basic principles; ‘Naam Japna’, ‘Vand Chakkoâ₠¬â„¢, and ‘Kirat Karo’. ‘Naam Japna’ means to remember God through meditation and ‘Vand Chakko’ means promoting selfless service and being ready to share one’s income with others. Similarly, ‘Kirat Karo’ indicates working hard and honestly to earn a good living. After Guru Nanak, there were a number of Gurus. The first one among them was Guru Angad Dev. He was followed by Guru Amardas, Guru Ramdas, Guru Arjun Dev, Guru Hargobind, Guru Har Rai, Guru Harkrishan, Guru Tegh Bahadur, and Guru Gobind Singh. The basic principles of Sikh faith are contained in the book ‘Guru Granth Sahib’ compiled by the 5th Guru Guru Arjun Dev. The highest religious place of Sikhs is located at Amritsar in Punjab. The temple is called ‘Harmandar Sahib’ or ‘Golden Temple’. The temple was constructed in the first half of seventeenth century by Guru Arjun Dev. More information regarding the origin and culture of the Sikhs can be found in the BBC Religions website (Origins of Sikhism). Jagjeet Singh revealed the fact that due to misconceptions, people who belong to this religion often come under attack for their unique dress codes. In fact, the special codes of conduct for Sikhs are set by their 5th Guru. There are five essential attributes a true Sikh should wear. The first one is Kesh (hair), followed by a hairbrush known as Kangha, Kada (iron bangle), Kirpan (sword), and Katch (cotton loincloth). As a result of this special dress code as suggested by the 5th Guru.

The History of Caste in India Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

The History of Caste in India - Term Paper Example It is therefore at all times difficult to interpret the past without letting the concerns of the present interfere. What can be ascertained with reasonable confidence is that by the 2nd century BCE the current caste system was in place, with the exception of the ‘Untouchables’ which did not appear until 600 years ago.1 Both systems were hierarchical and existed across the vast Indian Territory in varying and often quite different forms. In economic terms, being a member of the higher classes opened the door to relative wealth and prestige, whereas membership of the two lower castes meant generally living in poverty. In addition, in social terms ‘pollution’ was a serious problem between the castes, particularly for the lowest class, leading to severe and often humiliating exploitation.These conditions were portrayed as a largely homogenous Indian phenomenon by British Colonial Administrators and Orientalists, during the 18th and 19th centuries. The latter in particular took an intense interest in India and their works have until the middle of the 20th century represented the sum total of scholarly opinion. Although their interpretations are now often regarded as superficial and naive, a large component of the historical research then undertaken is still recorded as relatively sound and has found its ways into later works. It was only in the 20th century that views of simplicity and homogeneity were challenged, principally through events on the ground in India. Whereas Ghandi is often seen as something of a watershed in these stirrings, there were in fact others who attempted to challenge the established order. One of these is Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, of particular importance here because he himself came from the lowest caste. He believed in his later years that Hinduism was corrupted beyond redemption and converted to Buddhism, whereas Ghandi maintained steadfastly throughout his life that division between the castes could be mended by r eturning to a purer form of Hinduism. It has now been recognized, however, that the problem is far more complex and that post-independence anti-poverty programs, whilst bringing a measure of relief to the lowest caste, are now the source of escalating violence, particularly in those states that have the highest poverty rates. There have been many reports of ‘Harijan atrocities’2, often involving degrading acts perpetrated by higher caste members and sometimes even leading to multiple deaths of members of the scheduled caste. Whilst these higher caste anxieties do not always translate into violence, they generally take the form of discrimination in social, educational and employment settings. And although some of this is waning, from convenience rather than conviction, rural areas are far more orthodox and discrimination here is much more marked. As with any hierarchical system, those at the top will fight for their privileges and are unlikely to let go of their higher s tatus. Thus it seems that the Indian caste system is here to stay and the best the lower castes can hope for is that in time they can share in India’s growing wealth and that the ‘polluting’ element of their condition will fade into oblivion. How fast these changes will occur will largely depend on how

Paper Cash vs. Accrual Accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Paper Cash vs. Accrual Accounting - Essay Example Only cash payments and cash receipts are recorded. The two methods are similar in the sense that their balance sheets include both liabilities and assets. The cash accounting is common among small business owners. For businesses that record annual sales of more than five million dollars or keep an inventory of items they to sell to the public, the accrual method is prescribed (Pinson, 2007). It is easier to grasp the principles of cash accounting as compared to accruals accounting. It is also cheaper to hire accountants for cash accounting as opposed to the accruals method. In planning tax, the cash accounting is preferable by businesses because they are taxed basing on their present cash flow and not accounts receivables (Pinson, 2007). Question Two The benefit of the accrual method is that it is good at matching expenses and revenues. This method also presents a more accurate status of a company’s financial position since its financial statements are more detailed (Bragg, 20 10). The balance sheets also contain more entries because they list non cash entries too. However, the disadvantage is that it is poor at keeping track of cash. Since revenues are recorded when a business transaction takes place, the business statement will indicate that revenue is generated even without the bank account having money. The situation is more made complex by slow paying clients. The accruals method is tedious in the amount of work needed to acquire data. It also needs more resources to operate (Bragg, 2010). Conversely, the benefit of the cash accounting method is that it is good at tracking cash flow. It is also easier to work on data and produce statements in the cash accounting. However, its disadvantage is that it is poor at matching money put out for expenses with earned revenues (Bragg, 2010). This situation poses a difficulty when a company buys items in one month and sells them in a different month. For example, a business buys an item in January intending to s ell it then later pay USD 100 in cash. However, it is sold in February at USD 150 and the cash is also received in February. At the end of January when the books were closed, the USD 100 had to be reflected, although there was no revenue to match it, hence, indicating a loss. February will, therefore, indicate USD 150 as profit, yet the true profit is USD 50. Question Three Generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) prescribe the accruals method as opposed to the cash method because accruals method conforms to recognition of revenue, cost and match principles (Pinson, 2007). The accruals method is also practical because it captures financial implications of economic activities in the accounting periods they occur, whether cash is received or not. Accruals method is also the method of choice for GAAP because of the accuracy of its financial reporting in complex business transactions. The accruals method acknowledges that projects and credit sales impact a business’ financ ial status at their time of occurrence, hence the need to reflect such transactions on the financial statements of same period within which they take place. The accruals method recognizes a sale when a client takes up ownership of a product or a service is delivered and increases the company’s revenue at that time even if cash is not yet the account (Pinson, 2007). Question Four The United States Federal

Corporate Social Responsibility in India Essay Example for Free

Corporate Social Responsibility in India Essay The basic principle of the sustainable development and Corporate Social Responsibility is the combination of needs important both from the point of view of an institution, as well as a group of entities operating in its environment (employees, shareholders, stakeholders, borrowers, local society) within its business policy. Thus, the goal of a contemporary organisation should be to maximise its shareholders’ value satisfying, at the same time, expectations of other stakeholders (stakeholders’ value) by integrating economic, social and environmental operations. There are many factors that make us interested in Corporate Social Responsibility 2: †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ New problems and expectations of citizens, customers, public authorities and investors in the context of globalisation and significant industrial changes; Social criteria have bigger and bigger influence on investment decisions made by units and institutions playing both the role of consumers as well as investors; Bigger and bigger care for damages caused to natural environment by business activities; Transparency of business activities supported by media and IT technologies. Corporate Social Responsibility principles, as well as the quality of information in their web sites and annual reports, the main sources of knowledge about the company for potential investors, counterparties and local communities. In the near future, we should also expect that as a result of the globalisation of financial markets, Polish listed companies will meet investors that are more aware of Corporate Social Responsibility and consumers that invest and co-operate better with companies supporting environmental and social development. The analysis of awareness rates and progress in implementing the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility in the sector of Polish companies covered all joint stock companies listed in the Warsaw Stock Exchange4, excluding listed banks (covered in the analysis of the banking sector) and national investment funds. Results of the study are based on information disclosed and presented in web sites and annual reports of the analysed companies and they refer to the following aspects: †¢ †¢ †¢ reporting on Corporate Governance principles adopted by the company, including audit rules; reporting on the company’s environmental policy, reporting on the company’s social policy. The study covered possibilities of an access for investors, local communities, potential business partners to the information about the company’s financial standing, and strategies in progress. The principles for reporting on Corporate Governance were stipulated in the resolution of the Stock Exchange Council of October 16, 2002 (58/952/2002) on best practice in public companies in 2002. Pursuant to this document, companies were obliged to publish and deliver, by July 1, 2003, their first statement confirming their will to observe the newly introduced rules. The study carried out by the Institute shows that over 90 percent of companies publish their reports on incorporating (adopting) principles of Corporate Governance in their business strategies. However, we have to point out that the quality and availability of the information presented in web sites and in annual reports of companies for potential investors and society is relatively low. 4 The analysis was carried out from August – October 2003. 5 The Gdansk Institiute for Market Economics Among the listed companies under the study, only 40 percent disclose and publish detailed information about the structure of their Corporate Governance, and mostly in web sites, where companies present the information about the composition and structure of their management board (74. 4 %) and the composition and structure of their supervisory board (62. 2 %). Chart 1. 1. 1 Do domestic companies publish detailed information about the structure of their supervisory bodies? 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Board structure Supervisory board structure Responsibilities of board member Definition of independence 25,6% 37,8% 51,7% 87,2% 99,4% 99,4% 74,4% 62,2% 48,3% 12,8% 0,6% Any supervisory board Commities 0,6% Individuals responsible for implementation, oversight and audit of economic, social and environmental policies YES NO Source: Own study based on research carried out by the Gdansk Institute for Market Economics. The Institute’s studies on the companies’ informing about the structure and responsibilities of their main bodies in charge of Corporate Governance also show that: †¢ domestic listed companies have not appointed persons in charge of implementing and supervising their policy related to Corporate Social Responsibility, yet (only 0. 6%), †¢ companies usually do not disclose the information about the existing committees at their supervisory boards. Potential investors and business partners willing to establish co-operation with a given entrepreneur want to know external auditors analysing the company’s financial statements and know whether they are reliable. 6 The Gdansk Institiute for Market Economics The Institute’s study shows that 88 percent of domestic public companies presents information related to their audit policy in their web sites. The companies usually give procedures for selecting external auditors, principles for rotation (changes) of external auditors and point out that external auditors are independent of the company. Nevertheless, in Poland, companies still do not present statements on audit costs and costs of other services performed by auditors. The Institute’s analysis also shows that most listed companies under the study (86. %) have undertaken to respect such shareholders’ rights specified in the Best Practice like: †¢ †¢ right to express their opinion and make motions to the company’s management board; right to see minutes and reports from previous meetings (usually available to the shareholders at the company’s office); †¢ publishing information on future General Shareholders Meetings and their agenda. Chart 1. 1. 2 Do domestic companies publish information about audit, shareholders’ rights, implemented principles of their Code of Business Conduct / Code of Ethics? 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 12,8% 13,3% 98,9% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 87,2% 86,7% 1,1% 0% Does the Company disclose audit related Does the company disclose its policy on information? shareholder rights? Does the company disclose and report on its internal Code of Business Conduct/ Code of Ethics? YES NO Source: Own study based on research carried out by the Gdansk Institute for Market Economics. Assessing the awareness and progress in implementing the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility by Polish listed companies, it is worth underlining that still a small percentage of companies has developed and adopted the Code of Ethics and the Code of Business Conduct, 7 The Gdansk Institiute for Market Economics where the companies define, for example, principles for social, environmental policy, issues related to the protection of human rights, employment policy. The managements have to guarantee that the Code of Business Conduct is effectively implemented, monitored and improved. Therefore, the European Commission promotes companies which adopt and implement the Codes of Business Conduct prepared by international corporations. In the opinion of the European Commission, the Code of Business Conduct should 5: †¢ Be based on guidelines of the Convention of the International Labour Organisation, defined in the Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work from 1998 and OECD’s guidelines for international companies related to social partners and their stakeholders; †¢ †¢ †¢ Incorporate mechanisms required to assess and verify the Code implemented; Involve social partners and other groups of stakeholders influencing the company’s operations in the dialog about the shape of the Code; Expand the experience related to best practice in European companies. The concept of Corporate Social Responsibility also assumes that the company should purposefully get involved in environmental protection. The study shows that domestic listed companies do not find it purposeful to present information about actions taken to protect t e natural environment. On the one hand, it h results f rom the fact that the companies are not aware of potential benefits they could obtain, according to the assumptions of Corporate Social Responsibility, for example if their environmental actions are positively perceived by their stakeholders. The research carried out by the Market and Opinion Research International (MORI) under the CSR Europe campaign on the sample of 12 thousand citizens representing 12 countries shows that around 70 percent of consumers buying a product or a service take into account the level which a given producer is involved in social and environmental activity to. At the same time, every fifth consumer is ready to pay more for goods produced by a socially responsible company. On the other hand, the lack of information about environmental actions taken by the companies results from relatively low financial expenses borne by these companies for environmental purposes.

Television And American Society Essay Example for Free

Television And American Society Essay Introduction Television Programs are aimed at entertainment. In the United States, most of the television programs in existence with the stated aims and objectives, owe their initial background to the practical situation and past experiences encountered by the blacks. When blacks are mentioned, the issue of racial discrimination automatically opens chapter.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The initial situation and experiences of the blacks is characterized by racial discrimination.   The initial social positions, the blacks were housemaids, whites’ cooks, whites’ â€Å"mammies† and other sorts of servants.    They were also seen as con artists and even deadbeats.  Ã‚  Ã‚   The technology of the televisions came up in some environment, which was completely unfamiliar to these blacks. The blacks occupied less inferior positions of baby sitters and nurturers for the white, to cater and manage the households of the whites and to the greater degree, restoration of balance and harmony in the house holds of the whites.   The whites were very comfortable to entrust the black on these roles.   However, more responsible social and civic responsibilities were denied the blacks by the whites. (Durham Kellner, 450) The blacks had an appreciated talent to amuse the whites through humor and this is the most significant tool to their success in the maintenance of humor in television programs. The black and the Whites occupied separate and unequal worlds in their existence, in terms of material and discursive attributes. Television programs and Blackness The programs aimed at entertainment in the United States are a good avenue to pass the information on intertextual and autobiographical issues of the blacks. (Durham Kellner, 452)   The blacks possesses an inherent talent of creating humor in a show whose amusement is so strong as to blind the culturally offensive message put across by the show.   The show exhibing blackness covers the institutional and cultural programs all of which are characterized by race and gender. The centre of interest in these television programs is the African American in all areas of its setting; aesthetic, context and narrative.   (Newcomb, 564)   The highlights of the entertainment programs usually attack fields such as class, gender, religion, colour and culture all visionalized, in the dominant angel of social location and cultural context to the African American (Williams, 110) The television program raises an attitude of hegemony whereby social and cultural forces emerge as influencing factors of political rule and domination.   Through these television entertainment programs, the actors make use of their physical and material resources, very inherent and talented towards an entertainment to others.   The recipient society interprets the presentation as an art, an entertainment or leisure. These people see the natural world as being internal to them and also in direct personal relationships with other people they encounter.   (Williams, 112) According to hegemony dominant messages inherent in African Americans are disguised as fictional entertainment in the United States.   These are a great assumption taken with respect to this scenario that the sender and the receiver interpret the message of the program in the same understanding.   The sender is making use of the inherent talent of humor and experience to come up with a message whose consequences are of political concern, since the control of these messages is a form of political control.   The audience of the program may come up with multiple meanings of the message that were not a priory.   Examined, controlled for or asked for (Newcomb, 565)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The television programs are a form of ritual communication whose aim and goal is to maintain the society and to represent the shared beliefs of the society.   The programs create an invisibility of the African American and an authorized representation by the white of the blackness. The television programs portray blackness and black themes for the purposes of entertainment to the whites due to the humorous attribute associated with the Africans.   The white producers take this advantage of audience appreciation and they stage the African humor at the expense of blacks.   The black Americans are left suffering out of the social problems confronting them.   The humor in the programs is out of the programs highlights of racism and sexism, which have got great social impact and cultural meaning to the audience. (Williams, 110) The programs present blacks playing subservient roles in the society and stereotyping the blacks while still the humor out these is enjoyed.   In first instances amusement created by the program blinds the offensive side.   Cultural and racial politics in the programs is the cause of humor to the whites.   The programs cores are further unfair to the African Americans by considering just as minor and a coincidental theme of the play, the social and the cultural facts of â€Å"blackness† It is the responsibility of every means of communication to uplift the ethical and moral standards of the society.   This target is practically defeated by the television programs aimed at entertaining the audience as part of leisure.   The televisions present programs, which highlight the use of drugs. Involvement in sex, acts of rebellion and extreme deviance behavior of the individuals. These issues are humorous and attract the audience but the far reaching consequences are towards the lowering of the ethical and moral standards of the society.   The programs also exhibit a sense of upward social mobility of the blacks and the replacement of black urban poverty with middle class affluence and yet retain the humor of the audience.   (Newcomb, 568)   Conflicts as age and suspicion based on race and colour are associated to the central elements of the contemporary America way of life by the programs.   This portrays the life of Americans to be a type of middle class family life (Newcomb, 569) The Americans are making all efforts to fight all form of racial and class discrimination.   The Americans are also determined to fight gender discrimination in terms of sex and age.   The social ills of drug abuse sexual abuse, deviance and rebellion are also practically out of the Americans policies.   However the television programs structure and viewpoint are contributing factors to defeat these aims and objectives. They portray to the world what is the position of African Americans, which is not a part of the modern American society.   The views and perspectives of these programs highlight the social locations and experiences subjected to the African Americans.   The program highlight situation comedy, variety, talks among others, which in totality operate vividly, and comfortably within the conventional and aesthetic boundaries of African Americans. (Newcomb, 570)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Morality issues circumvent around racism and this is a representation of the blacks in the society as per the television programs in the United States.   The television programs also features badly on the state of education and unemployment as negatively affecting the African Americans in the urban areas of the United States.   The programs also fail to address some very crucial issues that affect so many blacks in the United States. The audiences are not restricted to the programs representation of the African Americans and therefore they should be examined and their effects of derailing the meanings and pleasures correctly checked. The blacks’ presence in the United States is threatened with race, gender, class and power and inequalities related to these are a result of prejudice. (Newcomb, 571) Racial invisibility and colour blindness integrate Black characters into hegemonic white worlds.   This appeal to visions of colour blindness and universal harmony.   The uniqueness of the blacks in the shows is the appealing factor to create humor and a sense of fitness in a normative television universe.   The inherent victimization, anger and irrationality in the blacks at the shows, due to the pains of exclusion from society are a cause of humor to the audience.   This in the truest sense is racial prejudice.   (Durham Kellner, 447)   In the programs the whites acts the position of sympathizers for the elimination of this prejudice. The programs subvert American values bearing in mind that the effect of any communication is to persuade the audience to change attitudes, to modify behaviour and to take part in socialization. Any form of communication helps to maintain the values of a society and to represent the shared beliefs. These programs are responsible for production of dominant ideologies so influential as to take the audience into a dreamland. (Williams, 110) Conclusion The programs bring out the blacks as living simple and linearly dimensional lives in a segregated universe.   They are seen to be subjected to the challenges of domestic lives such as child rearing, embarrassments, and awkward situations among others.   Modern America is reduced to ancient behaviours of race relationships characterized by conflict, tension and apartheid and the African Americans dependent on cultural pluralism.   These programs make use of cultural politics within blackness to constantly modify the African Americans life, and comprehensively explain the position of an American from the point of view of an African American. Works cited page Horace Newcomb. Television the critical view. Oxford University press, New York Oxford. 2000. Meenakshi Gigi Durham,   Douglas M. Kellner. Media and Cultural Studies. Blackwell publishers.2001 Raymond Williams. Marxism and Literature. Oxford University press New York. 1997

Analysing counterfeit production in Malaysia

Analysing counterfeit production in Malaysia Malaysia has a counterfeit market value of $378 million, with software dominating $289 million of that market value. (Havocscope Global Market Indexes, 2008). Most often the news broadcast on counterfeiting in Malaysia are usually associated with branded goods, and now, these items are circulating in the form of essential products and used on a daily basis. The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministrys enforcement division, through their ruthless raids in pursuit of these types of goods, have identified imitation products such as garments, electrical items, pharmaceuticals, shoes, bags, leather goods, watches, cigarettes, batteries, sauces, engine oils, toothpastes, detergents and canned food, to name a few. It is clear that anything that has a demand and potential to be copied would consistently attract infringers to resort to reaping profits through producing similar counterfeit items which would then be sold to blind and ignorant consumers. WHAT IS COUNTERFEITING? I) Counterfeiting can be defined as any manufacturing of a product which so closely imitates the appearance of the product of another to mislead a consumer that it is the product of another. II) Counterfeiting is ultimately an infringement of the legal rights of an owner of intellectual property. ARTICLE SUMMARY REGARDING CURRENT ISSUE Malaysia is not excluded in becoming the region of dumping ground for a wide range of sub-standard and counterfeit products such as cosmetic products, medical goods, clothing and electrical items. Government have structured framework and protection mechanism for Asean consumers. More than million inspections were done and nearly 13000 with products valued RM 137.5million were sealed. ARTICLE REVIEW FOR COUNTERFEITING Counterfeit goods flooding Asean region New Straits Times, Jan 19, 2007 PUTRAJAYA: The new television set in your living room might not be what you think it is. And that bottle of perfume could have come from a back lane. This region has become a dumping ground for a wide range of sub- standard and counterfeit cosmetic products, medical goods, clothing and electrical items, and Malaysia has not been spared either. The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry launched a discussion on consumer protection initiatives at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations level to stop this illegal practice. Minister Datuk Mohd Shafie Apdal said yesterday a central body, based in Kuala Lumpur, would be set up this year to co-ordinate regional action against the dumping of sub-standard goods and protect consumers. We have structured the framework and protection mechanism for Asean consumers. It is just a matter of implementing it, he said. He said the feedback he received during visits to Myanmar and the Philippines had been good, and the Asean Secretariat was also receptive to the idea. He plans to visit Vietnam, Laos and Singapore soon to discuss the idea with his counterparts. And it will be highlighted during the Asean senior economic officials meeting to be held soon. At the ministrys monthly gathering, Shafie said that more than 7,500 complaints were filed with the Malaysian Consumers Claims Tribunal last year. The tribunal had set up a database on the standard operating procedure for tribunal kiosks to be set up soon. Shafie said that more than a million inspections were done on business premises last year and nearly 13,000, with products valued at RM137.5 million, were sealed. PRODUCTS THAT ARE MOST LIKELY TO BE COUNTERFEIT 1. SOFTWARE The counterfeit software trade in Malaysia, and especially Kuala Lumpur, is thriving so much that it is practically considered the norm and to such an extent that it is harder to get hold of genuine software than counterfeit. Crackdowns and raids have mainly proved ineffective and counterfeit software is brazenly sold in shopping malls and plaza. 2. LUXURY AND FASHION GOODS The counterfeits range from poor imitations to quite good copies retailing at higher prices. When it comes to, for example, sunglasses the quality can be poor, the logo can be smudged and the workmanship can be shoddy but, from a distance it look like you are sporting a Chanel or Prada sunglasses. The fake sunglasses can damage our eyes as they almost just made of coloured plastics which are not ideal for a country bathed in tropical sunshine. 3. CDs AND DVDs In 2007 sniffer dogs, Lucky and Flo uncovered more than one million counterfeit discs or more known as pirate`s discs worth more than 3 million USD, hidden in boxes at a shopping centre. 4. PHARMACEUTICALS Counterfeiting of drugs is being taken seriously by Ministry of Health. Things to look out for are : over-the-counter drugs such as Panadol pills and Eye-Mo drops. Mainly affected are the developing countries with weak drug regulatory control and enforcement. The problem is further exacerbated by a number of other factors: scarcity and/or erratic supply of basic medicines, uncontrolled distribution chains, large price differentials between genuine and counterfeit medicines, lack of effective intellectual property right protection, lack of regard for quality assurance and corruption in the health-care system. 5. PERFUMES Counterfeiting is a well-advertised problem in this industry. The distribution of perfumes is normally restricted to exclusive retailers and cause price stability. Channels of distribution on the grey market include street traders and small shops. Most consumers buying these fakes are aware that it is not the genuine item and that the product is of a lower quality. It is very common, however, for the trader to pretend that the goods are stolen in order to deceive the consumer about the quality. THE IMPACT OF COUNTERFEITING ACTIVITIES 1. IMPACT TO OUR COUNTRY ECONOMIC ( WHERE COUNTERFEITS ARE SOLD) Job Losses Counterfeiting affect employment because job shift from the manufacturers to counterfeiters. It is because of the goods produces by manufacturers are unsaleable because consumer switch their preference in choosing goods to counterfeit foods due to lower price than the genuine goods without knowing they are purchasing counterfeit goods. As a result, manufacturers has to shut down their business causing many employees loss their job and become unemployed. Reduce Potential Foreign Investment For some industries, the level of countereiting may be relatively important, whereas in others it may be minor consideration. Countries with lower rates of counterfeiting and relatively higher in economies has higher foreign investment. Counterfeiting also can affect the commercial trade sector and as a result can affect potential foreign investment. Tarnish Malaysia`s reputation in the eyes of tourists Malaysia`s goal to increase the tourism sector cannot be accomplish if counterfeiting is still exist. Tourist from every corner of the world who come to Malaysia can relatively easy to avoid buying fake handbags and sunglasses but another matter when it comes to consumables and pharmaceuticals. Fake pharmaceutical products can endanger tourists and affect Malaysia`s reputation as a chosen destination to visit. Discourage investment in product development High levels of counterfeiting could reduce the incentive of some firms to invest in the development of new products and processes. It is happen because company know that they cannot get return as high as they expect from the investment. Government has to spend large amount of money in disposing counterfeit products Malaysia`s government have to spend large amount of money in funding police and other investigation and enforcement operations as a way to dispose and reduce the counterfeit activities in Malaysia. 2. IMPACT TO COUNTRIES WHERE COUNTERFEITING TAKES PLACE Foreign producer of reputable products refuse to manufacture their products to the countries. For example, China, India, Hong Kong Such countries will suffer both tangible and intangible losses. First, foreign producers of reputable products become reluctant to manufacture their product s in countries where counterfeiting is widespread as fast as infection disease because it seems like they cannot rely on the enforcement of their intellectual property rights. Hence, such countries not only lose direct foreign investment but also miss-out on foreign know-how. Cause export losses If many products from such countries, including genuine ones, gain a reputation of being poor quality, this will cause export losses which in turn implies both losses and loss of foreign exchange. It could be argued that the counterfeiting industry creates jobs but these jobs are often poorly paid, often involve substandard working conditions and sometimes use child labour. Discourages new invention from manufacturers The widespread of counterfeiters in a market discourages inventiveness in that country since it prevent honest producers from investing resources in new products and market development because they know the risk that counterfeiters will counterfeit their products. Tax losses A further direct loss for the government of countries that become the main centre for counterfeiters, are tax losses, since the counterfeits are normally sold through secret channels and counterfeiters are not generally eager to pay tax on their ill-gotten gains. Financial losses are increasingly shown to justify action by enforcement officials. 3. IMPACT TO RIGHT HOLDER (PRODUCER) Suffer direct loss in number of sales First of all, industries which find themselves in direct competition with counterfeiters suffer a direct loss in sales. Indeed, some markets are even dominated by counterfeiters, creating barriers of entry for the producers of the genuine product. Some would argue that the buyers of the fakes would not have bought the genuine item but that is a very narrow argument and can only apply to a small segment of luxury goods. Many counterfeit products today are of higher quality and compete directly with the genuine items. Damage brand value and firm reputation Counterfeit or pirated products may damage the brand image and reputation of firms over time. For instance, those consumers who believed they were buying a genuine item when in fact it was a fake, will be likely to blame the manufacturer of the genuine product if the fake does not fulfil expectations, thus resulting in a loss of goodwill. If consumers never discover that they were deceived, they may be reluctant to buy another product from that manufacturer and may communicate dissatisfaction to other potential buyers. Spend large amount of money in protecting and enforcing property right Beside direct losses of sales and goodwill, one should not forget the expenditure involved in protecting and enforcing intellectual property rights. The right owner becomes involved in costly investigations and legal action when dealing with counterfeiters and may also have to spend further sums on product protection. 4. IMPACT TO CONSUMER Paying an excessive price for inferior products Ultimately, it is the consumer who pays the cost of unfair competition between counterfeiters and producers. Although many consumers believe they are getting a bargain when they buy counterfeits, the actual value of the product is normally much lower. Hence, they end up paying an excessive price for an inferior product. Exposed to many disastrous effects The inferior qualities of many counterfeits, particularly those relating to health and safety, have had disastrous effects. It is no longer rare to find counterfeit parts in aircraft and other vehicles causing death and injuries, or counterfeit pharmaceuticals in hospitals. For example, pharmaceuticals, electrical appliances, parts in aircraft, foods and beverages. CASES REGARDING THE COUNTERFEIT GOODS IN THE MARKET Dozens of people died in Cambodia through taking ineffective, fake malaria medicines. Law enforcement in Zambia seized fake shampoo containing acid. Body-builders and others buying steroids on the black market in Australia were sold repackaged livestock steroids as human steroids. Diseased pig meat was used in counterfeit cans of pork luncheon meat in China. In India, counterfeits of drugs were used to fight antibodies in Rh-D negative mothers. Fake crocs is being accused on insulting Muslim belief as the word Allah is print on the fake Crocs` logo. FACTORS INFLUENCING COUNTERFEITING i. Advances in technology New technology has not only benefited manufacturers of genuine products, but also counterfeiters. The photocopying machine is, for example, considered to be one of the main tools in a counterfeiters tool box. New techniques have furthermore enabled counterfeiting of what were normally considered as high-tech products, too complicated to fake. Pharmaceuticals, electronic components and rescue equipment are some examples. The counterfeiter can demand a higher price for his low-cost products since these products have a high value-added element. ii. Increased international trade International trade, including trade in counterfeit products, has increased dramatically over the last few decades. Almost all regions are both production and consumption areas for counterfeit products. Although an expansion of boundary measures would enhance the means of conflicting international trade in counterfeit goods, it is not likely to produce most important results unless matched by a related increase in the resources available to customs authorities to devote to anti-counterfeiting work. iii. Emerging markets A number of economies that were previously controlled are now being transformed into free market economies. Unfortunately, the speed of transformation has been somewhat too fast for the enforcement agencies. Markets are now emerging as both large producers and consumers of fakes. Although counterfeiting occurs more or less throughout the world, East Asia, including China, is still pinpointed as the main source of fakes. This region has increased its relative share in world trade, implying increased exports of counterfeits along with genuine products. iv. Emerging products Manufacturing now accounts for 75 per cent of total world exports. Processed, high value-added goods are naturally also more likely to be counterfeited. Electronic products, such as software and music recordings, are not included in world trade figures. These are rapidly becoming the products most affected by counterfeiting. It is difficult to predict whether counterfeiting will decrease or increase in the expected future. On the one hand, technological development is enabling counterfeiters to produce fakes relatively cheaply and easily. Top suppliers of counterfeit goods in the world include: China $ 221.7 million (81 %) India 2 million (6 %) Hong Kong $ 13.4 million (5 %) Taiwan $ 2.6 million (1 %) South Korea $1 million (

Charles Dickens Great Expectations Essay -- Great Expectations Essays

Great Expectations As part of my GCSE coursework I have been asked to analyse the novel ‘Great Expectations’ by Charles Dickens and show how Dickens creates sympathy towards the young character Pip in the extract. Dickens starts the extract by revealing the gloomy and oppressive atmosphere in the residence of Miss Havisham. When Pip arrives at the house of Miss Havisham there is an atmosphere of gloominess which creates sympathy for Pip. ‘No glimpse of daylight was to be seen in it’. Pip feels very insecure because he is a young boy in a strange and unfamiliar environment. He is moreover now in the presence of upper class. This also creates sympathy because Pip is from the lower classes and must face the difficulties to unfold with Estella and Miss Havisham. Everything in the house is covered in dust and all the clocks have stopped. Miss Havisham, the upper class lady of the house is dressed in ‘satins, and lace, and silks - all of white’. Everything in this house was once white a long, long time ago but ‘had lost its lustre, and was faded and yellow’. This image of Miss Havisha... Charles Dickens' Great Expectations Essay -- Great Expectations Essays Great Expectations As part of my GCSE coursework I have been asked to analyse the novel ‘Great Expectations’ by Charles Dickens and show how Dickens creates sympathy towards the young character Pip in the extract. Dickens starts the extract by revealing the gloomy and oppressive atmosphere in the residence of Miss Havisham. When Pip arrives at the house of Miss Havisham there is an atmosphere of gloominess which creates sympathy for Pip. ‘No glimpse of daylight was to be seen in it’. Pip feels very insecure because he is a young boy in a strange and unfamiliar environment. He is moreover now in the presence of upper class. This also creates sympathy because Pip is from the lower classes and must face the difficulties to unfold with Estella and Miss Havisham. Everything in the house is covered in dust and all the clocks have stopped. Miss Havisham, the upper class lady of the house is dressed in ‘satins, and lace, and silks - all of white’. Everything in this house was once white a long, long time ago but ‘had lost its lustre, and was faded and yellow’. This image of Miss Havisha...

Elderly Abuse Essay -- essays research papers fc

Before doing research on this topic, I would have said that the United States treats the elderly with passion and love, but I now know that I was wrong. The elderly people have been treated just as badly, if not worse then, in Japan. How could this be? The elderly are so innocent, loving, and have nothing but care for most people. How could anyone harm such a loving soul? These questions are more than likely going through many minds as I am writing this paper. In the United States most of the abuse has came from nursing homes, but in Japan more than likely the abuse is coming from the offspring of the elderly. Even though both governments’ officials are trying to pass new laws to protect the elderly, the abuse continues. There are groups that are forming up to help support the elderly in the United States. The people of Japan are not doing as much as they should because the abuse happens behind closed doors and the family member will more than likely just deny it. Crimes that are committed against the elderly can be divided into two different categories. â€Å"The first crime includes conventional crimes such as robbery, theft, fraud, rape, and homicide. The second type of crime is more about the neglect and abuse† (James). These crimes happen more often with older people than they do with younger people because the elderly a lot of times have some type of disease that will prevent them from doing a lot of things and they are sometimes motionless. Therefore they cannot do anything about the robberies or the abuse. It would take a person with a very cold heart to be able to inflict so much pain on an innocent person. Why can’t the world just show love and happiness to its older generation? The difference between the United States and Japan is that the children of the elderly are abusing them in Japan and in the United States nursing homes are abusing our elderly. â€Å"Of nursing home staff in 1989 40% admitted to committing at least one psychologically abusive act toward a resident and 10% admitted to physically abusing a resident in the preceding year† (Fischer). These people working in nursing homes are supposed to be taking care of our loved ones, but instead of taking care of our family members they are hurting them. According to Christie Fischer, a student studying elderly abuse at the University of South Dakota, the United States... ...busing you or even stealing from you? More than likely you wouldn’t want to be treated this way, so the people of Japan and the United States need to stand up for our elderly because they are the ones that brought us to this lovely place and whenever we all get old we will not want to be treated like we are treating them now. Works Cited Ajima, Shinya. "Efforts Under Way to Stem Abuse of Elderly." INTERVENTION FACES OBSTACLES. 06 January 2005. 25 January 2005 Fischer, Christie. "ELDERLY ABUSE IN NURSING HOMES." 26 January 2005. Green, Shane. â€Å"Hidden Abuse of Elderly Emerging Problem for Japan.† 26 January 2005. 21 June 2003. James, Marianne Pinkerton. "The Elderly as Victims of Crime, Abuse, and Neglect." 1 February 2005. â€Å"Roundup: Japan seeks efforts to stem abuse of elderly (part one).† Xinhua News Agency. 10 January 2005. Infotrac Online Database. Volpe Library, Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville, Tn. 2 February 2005. â€Å"Roundup: Japan Seeks Efforts to Stem Abuse of Elderly (part two).† Xinhua News Agency. 10 January 2005. Infotrac Online Database. Volpe Library, Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville, Tn. 2 February 2005.

The Negative Effect of Social Media on Individuals Essays -- social me

Most people believe that social messaging is more of a benefit than a consequence, but using social media can actually be harmful. Social media is something most kids, teens, and even some adults are using all the time. It has become a part of our generation’s lives. Having people on their phones all day long is not only disappointing, but also damaging. Instead of talking to someone face-to-face and hanging out, people prefer just texting or going on a social network. For some people understanding a life without social media is near impossible. Using social media can have some adverse effects such as: it causes cyberbullying, it can compromise education, and it could have an effect on social skills. To begin with there are many bullies out in the world, but many of these same bullies are finding a new way to target children and teens, and this is through social media. Social media has become a way to influence suicidal behaviors because of cyberbullying. Cyber bullying is â€Å"when a child is intentionally and repeatedly targeted by another child or teen in the form of threats or harassment.† Experiments showed that victims of cyber bullying are twice as likely to attempt suicide than people who were not. (Luxton 3). Cyberbullying should be taken very seriously because of the horrible outcomes it might just bring. One of these outcomes is suicide. Suicide is something nobody should ever have to even think about, and the fact that many more children and teens are thinking about suicide is disgusting. Not only can the child be suffering from this online predator, but these children have family too. Social media has become more of a weapon to bullies, according to Nirvi Sha h. When asked what she feels like cyberbullying on social ne... ...gher Education, Nov 30, 14. Luxton, D. D., PhD., June, J. D., B.A., & Fairall, J. M., B.S. (2012). Social media and suicide: A public health perspective. American Journal of Public Health, 102, S195-S200. Serrano, Ken. "Tyler Clementi's Rutgers Roommate Indicted in Connection with Webcam Broadcast." Asbury Park PressApr 20 2011. ProQuest. Web. 20 Mar. 2014 . Shah, Nirvi. "Social Network's Anonymity Becomes Weapon for Bullies." McClatchy Newspapers 2011 mar 31: N.p. Web. 20 Mar. 2014. "Social Media Affects Social Skills, Future Jobs." University WireFeb 11 2014. ProQuest. Web. 20 Mar. 2014 . "Teens' use of Social Media: Positive Or Negative?" Curriculum Review 52.2 (2012): 10. ProQuest. Web. 25 Mar. 2014. Wallenfang, Maureen. "For Many Job Seekers, Social Media is Helpful, Problematic." The Post - CrescentMar 20 2011.ProQuest. Web. 26 Mar. 2014 .

American City Life and Rural Life Essay

Was life in an American city better or worse than life on the farm for the average American? † Substantiate your answer with facts/examples. (Ch. 18) Does it really make a difference where you live? Is there any change in people’s lives if they live in the city or the country? With no pun intended, this is a chicken and egg question – do urban and rural residents choose where they want to live based on their lifestyle preferences or do lifestyles change because of the environment? The word Rural† is defined by population density which means how many people are there in a given square mile. Urban areas are defined by the â€Å"census blocks† that have a population density of at least 1,000 people per square mile. The life in a city and on a farm has its own pros and cons. Even though my life is in the city (suburban) area, I prefer to live life on a farm. There are different aesthetic experiences between city and farm life. Even the prepositions show the difference-The farmer lives â€Å"ON† a farm and the urban friend lives â€Å"IN† a city. The cities attracted people from the countryside looking for higher wages and cultural enlightenment (Brinkley p496). In addition, life in an American City was visualized as an escape for many citizens, an escape from what they considered â€Å"The Boredom of Rural Life† (p. 502). Also, the city was preferred because people can experience the new forms of entertainment, amenities and cultural experiences unavailable in rural areas. People moved to cities because new forms of transportation made it easier for them to get there. (pg 503) but this also was a cause for increased crowding in the cities. The unemployment rate is also much higher than in the city. Some differences between city and farm life: First of all, countryside is not polluted,so you can breath there fresh air. Besides, the road traffic is much lesser compared to cities, thus you can enjoy silence in the country. You can also relax and go for a nice walk in the forest or in the meadows. What is more important, is that the country people can grow their own fruit and vegetables which are healthier than those you can buy in the greengrocer’s in the city. Another advantage of country life is it is safer than life in a metropolis. In small towns or villages, crime rate is usually very low and people need to be afraid of having their house broken into or of being attacked and robbed in the street. In addition, it seems that in the country the relationship between people are more genuine as people are more friendly and open there. On the other hand, divorce rates in rural areas are generally lower, in part because couples don’t move around as much. While incomes tend to be lower in rural counties, the cost of living is also proportionally lower. As they become older, people are tired with the hectic and stressful city life and often decide to move outside the city. All things considering, it is obvious that both country and city life have their advantages and disadvantages. Some people find city life more exciting and appealing than small towns but others prefer beauty and tranquility of the countryside, but a lot of people prefer city life because it is much easier. The choice whether to live in a city or country side depends on every person’s character and preferences.

Bag of Bones EPILOGUE

It snowed for Christmas a polite sise inches of powder that made the ca twineers working the streets of Sanford witness same(p) they belonged in Its a marvelous Life. By the era I came arcminute from checking Kyra for the third time, it was quarter past adept on the morning of the twenty-sixth, and the snow had stop. A belatedly moon, plump tho grim, was peeking finished the unravelling fluff of clouds.I was Christmasing with inconsiderate oer once more(prenominal), and we were the stomach two up. The kids, Ki included, were dead to the piece, quiescency off the annual bacchanal of victuals and presents. plain-spoken was on his third mar it had been a three-Scotch tale if at that place invariably was match gnomish, I conceive solely Id merely drunk the top off my prototypic iodin. I remember I capability urinate gotten into the bottle kind of heavily if non for Ki. On the old age when I fix her I usu t place ensembley dont sword merry so v ery overmuch(prenominal) as a glass of beer. And to shake up her three solar days in a row . . . and shit, kemo sabe, if you beart spend Christmas with your kid, what the hell is Christmas for?Are you al unrivalled reform? open asked when I sit vanquish install down again and withalk a nonher fine token sip from my glass.I grinned at that. Not is she any right sightly now are you all right. Well, naught constantly verbalise vocal was stupid.You shouldve teachn me when the Depart mankindpowert of gentle function allow me declare her for a teeny-weenykend in October. I moldiness subscribe to checked on her a dozen times ahead I went to bed . . . and thus I unplowed checking. she-bopting up and peeking in on her, listening to her inklinge. I didnt sleep a wink Friday night, caught by chance three hours on Saturday. So this is a big improvement. how forever if you ever blab any of what Ive told you, free-spoken -if they ever hcapitulum nigh me pickax up that ba subject tub before the combat knocked the gennie start I raise motor hotel my chances of adopting her goodbye. Ill alike(p)ly capture to fill turn up a form in reproduce before they steady let me result her high-school graduation.I hadnt flirt witht to bear witness straight-from-the-shoulder the bathtub part, solely once I started confabulationing, almost all(prenominal)thing spilled extinct. I enunciate it had to spill to person if I was ever to pass on with my life. Id assumed that magic Storrow would be the oneness on the otherwise side of the confessional when the time came, besides John didnt insufficiency to talk intimately any of those tied(p)ts except as they bore on our on acquittance wakeless business, which nowadays is all rough Kyra Elizabeth Devore.Ill pass on my mouth shut, dont worry. How goes the adoption battle?Slow. Ive get along to loathe the call down of Maine court system, and DHS as headspring. You take th e population who work in those bureaucracies one by one and theyre broadly speaking fine, simply when you put them unitedly . . . Bad, huh?I virtuallytimes face like a character in Bleak Ho usage. Thats the one where Dickens says that in court nobody wins hardly the lawyers. John alleges me to be long-suffering and count my blessings, that were making amazing turn over considering that Im that most untrustworthy of creatures, an unmarried washrag male of mall age, nevertheless Kis been in two foster-home situations since Mattie died, and Doesnt she drop kin in one of those neighboring towns?Matties aunt. She didnt loss anything to do with Ki when Mattie was alive and has even less raise now. Especially since since Kis not going to be rich.Yeah.The Whit much wo hu adult male race was lying pen up to Devores leave.Absolutely. He go away everything to a creation thats supposed to foster global computing device literacy. With due respect to the numbercrunchers of the world, I cant count a colder charity.How is John?Pretty well mended, but hes never going to get the use of his right arm stick out entirely. He damned near died of blood-loss. inconsiderate had led me a focusing from the entwined subjects of Ki and imprisonment quite well for a man deep into his third Scotch, and I was involuntary enough to go. I could hardly endure to weigh of her long days and long nights in those homes where the Department of tender Services stores a look kidren like knickknacks nobody losss. Ki didnt live in those places but to a greater extentover existed in them, pale and listless, like a well-fed rabbit unplowed in a cage. Each time she sawing machine my car turning in or pulling up she came alive, waving her fortification and dancing like Snoopy on his dog house. Our weekend in October had been wonderful (despite my obsessional need to check her every one-half hour or so subsequently she was asleep), and the Christmas holiday had been ev en better. Her emphatic trust to be with me was helping in court more than anything else . . . yet the wheels passive morose slowly.Maybe in the spring, Mike, John told me. He was a new John these days, pale and serious. The slightly arrogant eager high-hat cymbal who had wanted nothing more than to go head to head with Mr. gookwell big(p) Bucks Devore was no monthlong in evidence. John had learned somewhatthing astir(predicate) mortality on the twenty- kickoff of July, and something approximately the worlds idiot cruelty, as well. The man who had taught himself to shake with his left-hand(a) mint instead of his right was no monthlong interested in partying til he puked. He was seeing a girl in Philly, the daughter of one of his frets adepts. I had no melodic theme if it was serious or not, Kis Unca John is snug well-nigh that part of his life, but when a adolescent man is of his own consent seeing the daughter of one of his mothers friends, it usually is.Maybe i n the spring it was his mantra that late sicken and former(a) winter. What am I doing wrong? I asked him once this was however afterward Thanksgiving and another sicback.Nothing, he replied. Single-parent adoptions are always slow, and when the putative adopter is a man, its worse. At that point in the conversation John made an evil-looking diminutive gesture, poking the index flick of his left hand in and out of his loosely cupped right fist.Thats blatant land up discrimination, John.Yeah, but usually its nearified. Blame it on every twisted asshole who ever decided he had a right to take off some minute kids pants, if you want, blame it on the bureaucracy, if you want, hell, blame it on cosmic rays if you want. Its a slow process, but youre going to win in the end. Youve got a clean record, youve got Kyra saying I want to be with Mike to every judge and DHS doer she sees, youve got enough money to keep after them no press how much they sophisticate and no matter how umteen forms they solidus at you . . . and most of all, buddy, youve got me.I had something else, too what Ki had whispered in my ear as I paused to catch my breath on the steps. Id never told John about that, and it was one of the a couple of(prenominal) things I didnt tell Frank, either.Mattie says Im your little guy rope now, she had whispered. Mattie says youll take assist of me.I was establishing to as much as the fucking slowpokes at Human Services would let me but the wait was hard.Frank picked up the Scotch and canted it in my counselor-at-law. I shook my head. Ki had her heart set on snowman-making, and I wanted to be able to confront the glare of early sun on fresh snow without a headache.Frank, how much of this do you genuinely imagine?He poured for himself, so in force(p) sat for a time, looking down at the skirt and studying. When he raised his head again at that place was a smile on his face. It was so much like Jos that it bust my heart. And when h e spoke, he juiced his ordinarily clear Boston brogue.Sure and Im a half-drunk Irishman who just finished listenin to the granddaddy of all shadow stories on Christmas night, he said. I believe all of it, you misfortunate git.I laughed and so did he. We did it mostly with the nose, as men are apt to do when up late, peradventure in their cups a little, and dont want to wake the house.Come on how much really?All of it, he repeated, drop the brogue. Because Jo believed it. And because of her. He nodded his head in the direction of the stairs so Id distinguish which her he meant. Shes like no other little girl Ive ever seen. Shes fragrance enough, but at that places something in her eyes. At first I feeling it was losing her mother the way she did, but thats not it. in that respects more, isnt there?Yes, I said.Its in you, too. Its touched you both.I thought of the baying thing which Jo had managed to hold back while I poured the lye into that rotted roll of canvas. An out lander, she had called it. I hadnt gotten a clear look at it, and probably that was good. Probably that was very good.Mike? Frank looked concerned. Youre shivering.Im okay, I said. Really.Whats it like in the house now? he asked. I was politic living in Sara Laughs. I procrastinated until early November, then put the Derry house up for sale.Quiet.Totally quiet?I nodded, but that wasnt completely true. On a copulate of occasions I had awakened with a sensation Mattie had once mentioned that there was mortal in bed with me. plainly not a dangerous presence. On a couple of occasions I have smelled (or thought I have) Red perfume. And sometimes, even when the air is perfectly even so, Bunters bell will shiver out a few notes. Its as if something lonely wants to say hello.Frank glanced at the clock, then back at me, almost apologetically. Ive got a few more questions okay?If you cant stay up until the wee hours on Boxing Day morning, I said, I guess you never can. displace away. What did you tell the police?I didnt have to tell them much of anything. Footman talked enough to turn them too much to suit Norris Ridgewick. Footman said that he and Osgood it was Osgood driving the car, Devores pet skintr did the drive-by because Devore had made threats about what would happen to them if they didnt. The State cops overly instal a feign of a wire-transfer among Devores effects at Warringtons. cardinal million dollars to an account in the empyreal Caymans. The name scribbled on the copy is Randolph Footman. Randolph is Georges middle name. Mr. Footman is now residing in Shawshank State Prison.What about Rogette?Well, Whitmore was her mothers maiden name, but I conceive of its safe to say that Rogettes heart belonged to Daddy. She had leukemia, was diagnosed in 1996. In people her age she was unless fifty-seven when she died, by the way its deadly in two ends out of every three, but she was doing the chemo. Hence the wig.Why did she try to pop up Kyr a? I dont go out that. If you broke Sara Tidwells hold on this earthly savourless of ours when you dissolved her bones, the curse should have . . . wherefore are you looking at me that way?Youd pick up if youd ever met Devore, I said. This is the man who lit the altogether fucking TR on fire as a way of saying goodbye when he headed westside to sunny California. I thought of him the second I pulled the wig off, thought theyd swapped identities somehow. past I thought Oh no, its her all right, its Rogette, shes just lost her hair somehow.And you were right. The chemo.I was also wrong. I subsist more about ghosts than I did, Frank. Maybe the most weighty thing is that what you see first, what you think first . . . thats whats usually true. It was him that day. Devore. He came back at the end. Im sure of it. At the end it wasnt about Sara, not for him. At the end it wasnt even about Kyra. At the end it was about Scooter Larribees sled.Silence betwixt us. For a few moments it was so deep that I could actually hear the house breathing. You can hear that, you issue. If you really listen. Thats something else I know now.Christ, he said at survive. I dont think Devore came east from California to over add up her, I said. That wasnt the original figure. hence what was? Get to know his granddaughter? Mend his fences?God, no. You still dont understand what he was.Tell me, then.A human monster. He came back to bribe her, but Mattie wouldnt sell. Then, when Sara got hold of him, he began to plan Kis death. I suspect that Sara never rear a more willing tool.How some(prenominal) did she kill in all? Frank asked.I dont know for sure. I dont think I want to. Based on Jos notes and clippings, Id say that there were perhaps cardinal other . . . directed murders, shall we call them? . . . in the years between 1901 and 1998. All children, all K-names, all closely related to the men who killed her.My God.I dont think God had much to do with it . . . but she made t hem pay, all right.Youre sorry for her, arent you?Yes. I would have tear her apart before I let her put so much as a finger on Ki, but of course I am. She was raped and murdered. Her child was drowned while she herself lay dying. My God, arent you sorry for her?I suppose I am. Mike, do you know who the other son was? The glaring son? Was he the one who died of blood-poisoning?Most of Jos notes concerned that part of it its where she got started. Royce Merrill knew the story well. The crying male child was Reg Tidwell, Junior. You have to understand that by kinsfolk of 1901, when the Red-Tops played their last show in Castle County, almost everyone on the TR knew that Sara and her boy had been murdered, and almost everyone had a good persuasion of whod through with(p) it.Reg Tidwell pass a constituent of that August hounding the County Sheriff, Nehemiah Bannerman. At first it was to perplex them alive Tidwell wanted a lookup mounted and then it was to find their bodies, and then it was to find their killers . . . because once he accept that they were dead, he never doubted that theyd been murdered.Bannerman was sympathetic at first. Everyone seemed sympathetic at first. The Red-Top crowd had been treat wonderfully during their time on the TR that was what tempestuous Jared the most and I think you can forgive male child Tidwell for making a crucial mistake.What mistake was that?Why, he got the idea that Mars was heaven, I thought. The TR essential have seemed like heaven to them, right up until Sara and Kito went for a stroll, the boy carrying his berry-bucket, and never came back. It must(prenominal) have seemed that theyd lowestly free-base a place where they could be black people and still be allowed to breathe.Thinking theyd be treated like regular sept when things went wrong, just because theyd been treated that way when things were right. Instead, the TR clubbed together against them. No one who had an idea of what Jared and his p rot?g?s had done condoned it, just now, but when the chips were down . . . You protect your own, you wash your dirty slipstream with the door closed, Frank murmured, and finished his drink.Yeah. By the time the Red-Tops played the Castle County Fair, their little community down by the lake had begun to produce up this is all according to Jos notes, you understand theres not a whisper of it in any of the town histories.By application Day the active harassment had started so Royce told Jo. It got a little uglier every day a little scarier but son Tidwell flat didnt want to go, not until he found out what had happened to his sister and nephew. He simply kept the blood family there in the meadow even after the others had taken off for friendlier locations.Then soulfulness laid the pickle. There was a elucidation in the woods about a mile east of whats now called Tidwells meadow it had a big birch perplex in the middle of it. Jo had a exhibit of it in her studio. That was where the black community had their serve after the doors of the local churches were closed to them. The boy Junior used to go up there a lot to demand or just to sit and meditate. There were plenty of kinsfolk in the townspeople who knew his routine. roundone put a leghold trap on the little path through the woods that the boy used. Covered it with leaves and needles.Jesus, Frank said. He sounded ill.Probably it wasnt Jared Devore or his logger-boys who set it, either they didnt want any more to do with Sara and Sons people after the murders, they kept right clear of them. It efficiency not even have been a friend of those boys. By then they didnt have that some(prenominal) friends. But that didnt change the fact that those folks down by the lake were getting out of their place, scratching at things better left alone, refusing to take no for an answer. So soul set the trap. I dont think there was any intent to actually kill the boy, but to maim him? Maybe see him with his foot off, condemned to a lifetime crutch? I think they may have gotten that off the beaten track(predicate) in their imagining.In any case it worked. The boy stepped in the trap . . . and for quite awhile they didnt find him. The pain must have been excruciating. Then the blood-poisoning. He died. Son gave up. He had other kids to think about, not to mention the people whod stuck with him. They packed up their clothes and their guitars and left. Jo traced some of them to North Carolina, where many of the descendants still live. And during the fires of 1933, the ones young Max Devore set, the cabins burned flatI dont understand wherefore the bodies of Sara and her son werent found, Frank said. I understand that what you smelled the putrescence wasnt there in any physical sense. But surely at the time . . . if this path you call The course was so popular . . . Devore and the others didnt bury them where I found them, not to begin with. They would have started by dragging the bod ies deeper into the woods maybe up to where the north wing of Sara Laughs stands now. They cover them with brush and came back that night. Must have been that night to leave them any longer would have cadaverous every carnivore in the woods. They took them someplace else and buried them in that roll of canvas. Jo didnt know where, but my guess is Bowie Ridge, where theyd spent most of the summer cutting. Hell, Bowie Ridge is still pretty isolated. They put the bodies somewhere we readiness as well say there.Then how . . . why . . . Draper Finney wasnt the only one recourse by what they did, Frank they all were. literally haunted. With the possible exception of Jared Devore, I suppose. He lived another ten years and apparently never missed a meal. But the boys had faulty dreams, they drank too much, they fought too much, they argued . . . setose if anyone so much as mentioned the Red-Tops . . . magnate as well have at rest(p) around wearing signs reading hot flash US, WERE GUILTY, Frank commented.Yes. It probably didnt help that most of the TR was giving them the silent treatment. Then Finney died in the quarry committed suicide in the quarry, I think and Jareds logger-boys got an idea. Came down with it like a cold. Only it was more like a compulsion. Their idea was that if they dug up the bodies and reburied them where it happened, thingsd go back to normal for them.Did Jared go along with the idea?According to Jos notes, by then they never went near him. They reburied the bulge out of bones without Jared Devores help where I ultimately dug it up. In the late fall or early winter of 1902, I think.She wanted to be back, didnt she? Sara. Back where she could really work on them.And on the whole township. Yes. Jo thought so, too. Enough so she didnt want to go back to Sara Laughs once she found some of this stuff out. Especially when she guessed she was pregnant. When we started nerve-wracking to have a baby and I suggested the name Kia, how th at must have scare her And I never saw.Sara thought she could use you to kill Kyra if Devore played out before he could get the job done he was old and in bad health, after all. Jo gambled that youd save her instead. Thats what you think, isnt it?Yes.And she was right.I couldnt have done it alone. From the night I envisage about Sara singing, Jo was with me every step of the way. Sara couldnt make her quit.No, she wasnt a quitter, Frank agreed, and wiped at one eye. What do you know about your twice-great-aunt? The one that married Auster?Bridget Noonan Auster, I said. Bridey, to her friends. I asked my mother and she swears up and down she knows nothing, that Jo never asked her about Bridey, but I think she might be lying. The young woman was definitely the black sheep of the family I can tell just by the sound of Moms office when the name comes up. I have no idea how she met Benton Auster. Lets say he was down in the Prouts Neck part of the world visiting friends and started flirting with her at a clambake. Thats as likely as anything else. This was in 1884. She was eighteen, he was twenty-three. They got married, one of those hurry-up jobs. Harry, the one who actually drowned Kito Tidwell, came along six months later.So he was barely seventeen when it happened, Frank said. not bad(p) God.And by then his mother had gotten religion. His timidity over what shed think if she ever found out was part of the reason he did what he did. Any other questions, Frank? Because Im really starting to fade.For several moments he said nothing I had begun to think he was done when he said, cardinal others. Do you mind?I guess its too late to back out now. What are they?The Shape you spoke of. The Outsider. That troubles me.I said nothing. It troubled me, too.Do you think theres a chance it might come back?It always does, I said. At the risk of sounding pompous, the Outsider ultimately comes back for all of us, doesnt it? Because were all bags of bones. And the Outs ider . . . Frank, the Outsider wants whats in the bag.He mulled this over, then swallowed the rest of his Scotch at a gulp.You had one other question?Yes, he said. Have you started indite again?I went upstairs a few legal proceeding later, checked Ki, brushed my teeth, checked Ki again, then climbed into bed. From where I lay I was able to look out the window at the pale moon glistening on the snow.Have you started writing again?No. Other than a quite an lengthy essay on how I spent my summer vacation which I may show to Kyra in some later year, theres been nothing. I know that Harold is nervous, and originally or later I suppose Ill have to call him and tell him what he already guesses the machine which ran so sweet for so long has stopped. It isnt broken this autobiography came out with nary a chuff or missed heartbeat but the machine has stopped, just the same. Theres gas in the tank, the sparkplugs spark and the battery bats, but the wordygurdy stands there quiet in th e middle of my head. Ive put a tarp over it. Its served me well, you see, and I dont like to think of it getting dusty.Some of it has to do with the way Mattie died. It occurred to me at some point this fall that I had compose similar deaths in at least two of my books, and popular fiction is heaped with other examples of the same thing. Have you set up a moral dilemma you dont know how to solve? Is the protagonist sexually attracted to a woman who is much too young for him, shall we say? Need a tender fix? Easiest thing in the world. When the story starts going sour, bring on the man with the gun. Raymond Chandler said that, or something like it close enough for government work, kemo sabe.Murder is the smite kind of pornography, murder is let me do what I want taken to its final extreme. I believe that even pretend murders should be taken seriously maybe thats another idea I got last summer. Perhaps I got it while Mattie was seek in my arms, gushing blood from her close head and dying blind, still crying out for her daughter as she left this earth. To think I might have written such a infernally convenient death in a book, ever, sickens me.Or maybe I just wish thered been a little more time.I remember telling Ki its best not to leave distinguish letters around what I thought but didnt say was that they can come back to haunt you. I am haunted anyway . . . but I will not willingly haunt myself, and when I closed my book of dreams I did so of my own free will. I think I could have poured lye over those dreams as well, but from that I stayed my hand.Ive seen things I never expected to see and matte things I never expected to feel not the least of them what I mat and still feel for the child sleeping down the hall from me. Shes my little guy now, Im her big guy, and thats the important thing. Nothing else seems to matter half so much.Thomas Hardy, who supposedly said that the most brilliantly drawn character in a figment is but a bag of bones, stoppe d writing novels himself after finishing Jude the drab and while he was at the tallness of his narrative genius. He went on writing poetry for another twenty years, and when soulfulness asked him why hed quit fiction he said he couldnt understand why he had trucked with it so long in the first place. In retrospect it seemed silly to him, he said. Pointless. I know exactly what he meant. In the time between now and whenever the Outsider remembers me and decides to come back, there must be other things to do, things that mean more than those shadows. I think I could go back to clanking shackles behind the Ghost House wall, but I have no interest in doing so. Ive lost my taste for spooks. I like to imagine Mattie would think of Bartleby in Melvilles story.Ive put down my scriveners pen. These days I prefer not to.