Humans and machines Essay

The interesting feature about discussing the interactions of humans and machines is the inadequacy of language describing these interactions or the ambiguity of the connections between humans and machines. What is really at the center of the debate is how society should view the place of machines or non-human elements within human society. In addition, the application of the technological use of non-human elements in the modern machinery of war exposes the problem of how humans have changed the practice of warfare starting in WWI and how it made war evolve from a â€Å"human† experience to an â€Å"inhuman† experience instead of a â€Å"non-human† experience. The scope of this paper is to analyze the relationships of humans and machines in general as well as in the context of war. Discussion What does it mean to be human? What does it mean to be non-human? According to Casper, the human identity is not a natural state of â€Å"being†, rather it is a constructed identity in relation to the context that society gives it. (Casper, 1994) In fact, the recognition of human social identity and the positions or functions attached to it are based on our interpretation of where these elements should be placed, for example, in order to understand or define something, we place it in ‘mental boxes’ that simplify our recognition of identity and function within society. However, Casper argues that we cannot fully justify why we assign human identities to non-human elements or vice-versa. (Casper, 1994) In order to illustrate the lack of consistency as to what we call human or non-human, she uses the example of the fetus that is considered alive for surgery, â€Å"a potential human† with human qualities but also a non-human agent for medical research using fetal tissue (p. 843). Casper mentions The Actor Network Agency (ANT) movement who finds that we should do away with natural/technical and social/cultural labels, which confuses our notions of what is human and what is not. However, this â€Å"analytical symmetry† treatment forgets to explain how we interpret the identities of agents and assign labels. Understanding how and why we label humans and non-humans may help diffuse the confusion over agent identities that bother sociologists and society so much since they cannot seem to make sense of it, for example, some people talk to their car like it was a person but a car is not a person but why do some people have the need to anthropomorphize their car whereas they would call their dog â€Å"it†? Some people would insist that animals are living beings therefore that they deserve to be referred to as he or she. (Casper, 1994) Another example in our technological society is the factory worker who gets laid off and replaced by a robot. The worker knows that he or she is better than a robot. Yet, the robot does his or her job consistently, faster, and without breaks. So, is the worker a sophisticated robot or is the robot a sophisticated worker? Bruno Latour would agree on that ambiguity because of our inadequate handling of situations in which non-human entities are mixed with human agents, especially from the perspective of sociologists. (Latour, 1988) Latour deals with this debate skillfully using an illustration to make his points: the door in a wall, opening and closing thanks to hinges (non-human element) and a human door keeper who has been assigned to close the door each time it is opened. He argues that ‘the hinge always does its work’, precise and consistent while at some time, the human doorkeeper may falter. So, the door keeper could be replaced by a non-human element the ‘door keeper number 2’ to prevent the faltering. The fact that we call the non-human element the door keeper even though it is not human, shows that we do not have ascribed what Latour calls â€Å"a coherent vocabulary† to distinguish humans from non-humans. Thus, his conclusion (p. 310) is that the reason why we have not done that is because â€Å"the delegation of competences and our social interactions imply the participation of non-humans. † The confusion is that non-humans exist within a context of figurative/non-figurative speech, not a human/non-human context. In essence, that is why we anthropomorphize our car. (Latour, 1988) Consequently, it seems that our lives are intimately intertwined with the use of technology, machines, and other tools, including robots as well as computers that all are non-human agents indispensable to our way of life. In fact, one particular illustration of such a reasonable conclusion can be found with computer hackers who, for the most part, are not considered part of ‘normal functioning society. ’ Sherry Turckle investigated MIT A. I. lab students who also are considered hackers. The main recurring idea among these students (almost exclusively male) is the fear of social interactions with other people due to a lack of trust or understanding of social interactions. Hackers are known to be loners and self-admittedly feel in control of their computer and its actions. In fact, on p. 212, this one student states: â€Å"computers have become an extension of my mind. † (Turckle, ) Their self-esteem, their existence become defined only through their medium, resulting in a gradual elimination of life experiences that paralyze them, adding to their needs to mask their personal fears of the world that exists beyond their machine. (p. 208) In contrast, there are people who even today cannot use a computer because they are afraid of revealing to others their lack of computer knowledge that has become essential in our modern society. Some may get help to improve their computer skills whereas others become so angry with the machine, taking their anger, originating from their own lack of confidence in learning new things, onto this ‘stupid’ machine; some may even become technophobic. Unfortunately for our society, science and technology have been used for warfare. Historically, wars always needed improvement in their methods of killing. As a consequence, the development of technology became a part of warfare while its propaganda glorified science and technology as the agents of victory. (Virillio, 1988) (Delanda, ) This became especially true as scientific knowledge evolved in physics, engineering, and chemistry. When WWI broke out in 1914, the weapons available then were the first of their kinds, the most inhuman of their kinds, killing many soldiers remotely: either gassing soldiers with the deadly gas phosgene or using machine guns or canons with an extended range to kill as many enemy soldiers as possible. (Visvanathan, ) In WWII, planes, tanks, and ships became more and more sophisticated with technological advances like radar and sonar. The advent of using nuclear weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki horrified the scientists who naively believed that their work would be used to deter, not to destroy. (Kaempffert, 1941) â€Å"Fat Man† and â€Å"Little Boy† were dropped on these two Japanese cities; ironically, these two deadly bombs were named as if they were human themselves. To the Japanese, the nuclear catastrophe and its aftermath on the population promoted the creation of the character â€Å"Godzilla†, a pre-historic mutant monster. With the Cold War, more weapons gradually became stealth weapons instead of ‘front’ weapons. Nowadays, machines have turned into non-human extensions of their makers or rather their military masters, for example, long-range surveying equipment on satellites allowing spying activities on neighboring nations. Yet, is it appropriate to say ‘non-human’ when modern weapons like continental missiles can kill so horribly and from the comfort of a military base on the other side of the world? The military is relying on technology more than ever by using computers, artificial intelligence research, simulation modules that mimic a battlefield or even war video games whose graphics have been rendered so life-like that video gamers who are soldiers may not know reality from fiction, killing enemy soldiers without any care, as if they were video game characters, non-human or human? In conclusion, the relationship between human and non-human agents is complex but not impossible to characterize if the realization is made that non-human agents are part of our environment and society. In fact, they occupy a greater place today than 10 years ago (computer technology, for example). The key to their seamless integration in our society is the figure/non-figurative reference style proposed by Latour as it is already used unconsciously by many of us. References Casper, M. (1994).Reframing and grounding non-human agency: what makes a fetus an agent? The American Behavioral Scientist, 37(6): 839-856. Delanda, Latour, B. (1988). Mixing humans and non-humans together: the sociology of a door-closer. Social Problems, 35(3): 298-310. Kaempffert, W. (1941). War and Technology. The American Journal of Sociology, 46(4): 431-444. Turckle, S. (n. d. ) The new computer cultures: the mechanization of the mind. Book? , publisher, year? Virillio, P. (1988). War and Cinema. Visvanathan.

Mentoring Programs for At-Risk Youth

The word mentor derives its origin from a character in Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey. When Odysseus, King of Ithaca, went to fight in the Trojan War, he entrusted the care of his Kingdom to Mentor. Mentor served as the teacher and overseer of Odysseuss’ son, Telemachus.1 In our society today, mentors generally are volunteers who are committed to helping students or youth identified as â€Å"at-risk† and/or as a potential dropout get back on track—academically, socially, mentally and physically. The specific roles of mentors are multifaceted and varied. Mentors are big brothers/sisters, role models, friends and confidantes. Their goal is to make a connection and then, using that connection, convey a positive message to their mentee. Mentors build self-esteem, motivate and help young persons set goals and work toward accomplishing those goals. There is little doubt of the importance of mentoring programs and the benefits they yield. Studies of existing programs indicate that youth who participate in mentoring relationships have better attendance and attitude toward school; less drug and alcohol use; improved social attitudes and relationships; more trusting relationships and better communication with their parents; and a better chance of going on to higher education.2 Unfortunately, all those who could be benefiting from having a mentor are not. According to Mentoring in America 2005: A Snapshot of the Current State of Mentoring, â€Å"Of the 17.6 million young people who could especially benefit from having a mentor, only 2.5 million were in formal, one-on-one mentoring relationships.† 3 In the state of Connecticut, over 160,000 children—or 25 % of Connecticut’s youth—are in life situations that place them at risk for personal and academic failure.4  These situations include poverty, inadequate early childhood experiences and preparation for school, family drug use, violence, involvement in the criminal justice system and lack of access to needed social and mental health services. Government, community and civic groups and individuals are trying to change that; trying to make a difference. Since 1989, The Governor’s Prevention Partnership has worked with the State of Connecticut, Connecticut's corporate and business communities and other public, private and community organizations to provide the leadership and resources to assist 387 schools, 249 community organizations and 93 businesses in efforts to keep the children of the state safe, successful and drug-free.5 This is being accomplished, in part, through the following programs. The Connecticut Mentoring Partnership Created in 1977, The Connecticut Mentoring Partnership (CMP) challenges business leaders to help create a statewide mentoring initiative as a prevention strategy to protect youth from drug use, school failure and other related problems. The program provides leadership, resources and training to schools, businesses, community and faith-based organizations throughout the state in an effort to increase mentoring partnerships and promote safe, quality mentoring programs. The Partnership also works to: Raise public awareness: CMP has partnerships with NBC30, CBS Radio, Buckley Radio and others, a statewide media campaign recruits mentors during National Mentoring Month in January. Raising awareness of the importance of mentoring is also done year-round. A toll-free number, 1-877-CT-MENTOR, provides information on mentoring and ties into a statewide database of mentoring programs. Recruit and refer mentors: Business and community groups are assisted in recruiting their workforce or members to serve as mentors. Develop new mentoring resources, including public and private funding; advocate and promote public policies and legislation that strengthen mentoring; and collect and track data. Activities and services of the CMP include: The Mentoring Training Institute; technical assistance and support on Connecticut Quality Standards for mentoring programs and assistance on program design; resources and mentor recruitment, screening, training and program design; Regional Mentoring Networks for program providers; mentor recruitment and a toll-free Mentor Referral Line; annual mentoring showcase conference and workshops; The Mentoring Corporate Honor Roll and Corporate Mentoring Round Table that promotes, supports and recognizes corporate involvement; and program evaluation tools and resources. Since 1997, CMP has created over 200 new programs and more than 3,000 new mentoring relationships. Since 2001, 70 schools and businesses have joined the Partnership’s School Business Mentoring Alliance and 90 companies have been recognized through the 2005 Mentoring Corporate Honor Roll.6 The Urban Mentoring Initiative The Urban Mentoring Imitative (UMI) was created in 2005 in partnership with the state of Connecticut. Over the next two years—2006-2007—the CMP will initiate a mentoring expansion effort in Hartford, Waterbury, Norwich, Bridgeport, New Haven, New Britain and Windham. During that time, The UMI will be responsible for attempting to significantly increase the number of mentors for at-risk children in those communities. This will be done by increasing the capacity of existing mentoring programs to reach more children; developing new mentoring programs and models to address existing gaps; and identifying and accessing additional resources. The two-year funding appropriated by the State legislature will be matched by corporate and private sector monies secured by The Governor’s Prevention Partnership. Project Choice Mentoring Program Project Choice Mentoring Program (PCMP) is dedicated to helping the youth of the City of Hartford. Its mission is to empower committed delinquent youth to make positive life choices that will enable them to maximize their personal potential and be successful in their community. â€Å"The program provides caring mentors who are fully trained and supported by the professional staff of Project Choice and Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters,† according to Eddie Perez, Mayor of Hartford, CT. â€Å"Project Choice mentors strive to be a positive support system to the youth as well as to the family by forming a relationship based on trust and respect. This allows Project Choice mentors to advocate for the youth in academic, community and family settings while opening doors of opportunity that otherwise would not be available to them.†7 Project Choice started as an idea of David Norman in August 2001 at the Connecticut Juvenile Training School (CJTS). Norman took on the challenge of becoming a positive role model for one â€Å"in need† youth. Over time, the youngster responded to Norman’s efforts with improved behavior, causing others to notice the change. As a result, the idea of role model became more widely accepted and the term was gradually changed to mentor. This acceptance allowed Norman and others to work with more youth at the CJTS facility and Project Choice was born. Project Choice works with Connecticut’s Juvenile Justice and â€Å"at-risk† youth between the ages of 11 and 21. The program operates on a â€Å"buy-in† premise. It is completely youth-driven, ensuring that the youth have the option to â€Å"buy-in† (or participate). No participant is forced, mandated or court ordered to be part of the mentoring process. In 2003, Project Choice partnered with Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters (NBBBS). Today, PCMP also is partnered with Boys ; Girls Clubs of America and together with NBBBS, work under the umbrella of Connecticut’s Department of Children and Families, Bureau of Adolescent and Transitional Services. Project Choice also is networked with the One-on-One Mentoring Program. Project Choice again expanded its resources by establishing a formal collaboration with Project Connect. Project Connect specializes in presenting alternative choices to youth and reinforcing the belief that positive behavior yields positive rewards. Youth Fair Chance, Inc. This national project is funded by the Department of Labor. Established on a case-management basis, this Connecticut program targets individuals between the ages of 14 and 25. Focus is on computer, job and life skills training; tutoring, which is conducted four times a week; and informal mentoring. There are no specific project guidelines for the mentoring program, which currently operates on an as-needed basis. Set up within a peer-to-peer mentor atmosphere, Yale University students occasionally provide assistance. Other services offered by Youth Fair Chance include day care, summer employment assistance, support groups, high school diploma equivalency classes and recreational activities. Four youth program areas are presently being developed that will focus on gender-specific prevention programs for female youth. During the 2005-2006 academic school year a follow-up evaluation of the school-based mentoring program was conducted by the Connecticut Mentoring Partnership. One hundred and ninety mentored youth from seven school systems were evaluated.8 The evaluation was viewed as a pilot or exploratory study that would serve as a stepping stone for future evaluations and mentoring research. Overall, the results were positive. The state’s mentoring programs seem to be reaching those individuals who are somewhat academically at-risk and are subsequently able to sustain or improve their academic performance during the course of a mentoring relationship. Footnotes 1Reh, F. John. Mentors and Mentoring: What Is a Mentor? Retrieved December 1, 2006, from http://management.about.com/cs/people/a/mentoring.htm. 2Mentoring in America 2005: A Snapshot of the Current State of Mentoring. Results of a poll on mentoring commissioned by MENTOR. Retrieved December 1, 2006, from http://www.mentoring.org/leaders/partnerships/index.php?s=CT. 3http://www.mentoring.org/leaders/partnerships/index.php?s=CT. 4The Governor’s Partnership Program; Connecticut Mentoring Program. Retrieved on December 1, 2006, from http://www.preventionworksct.org/mentor.html. 5http://www.preventionworksct.org/mentor.html. 6http://www.preventionworksct.org/mentor.html. 7Project Choice Mentoring Program. Received from http://www.projectchoicementor.org/index.htm. 8Connecticut Mentoring Partnership 2005-2006 Evaluation Results Executive Summary. Received December 1, 2006, from http://www.preventionworksct.org.

Negative Effects of Genetically Modified Food/Crops

Author: Instructor: Course Title: Date: Negative Effects of Genetically Modified Food/Crops Genetically modified organisms refer to organisms whose genetic components have been changed to produce an unnatural occurrence. Genetic engineering refers to the technology employed in the alteration of the genetic elements, which also facilitates the transfer of genes between related and non-related species. This technology is applied in the production of Genetically Modified (GM) crops/foods in order to meet the desired objectives of the industry operators.The 1980 US Supreme Court pronouncement on the legal patentability of biological life in the Diamond vs. Chakrabartyn case opened the gateway to genetic engineering (Lex Orbis). There are some perceived benefits of the GM foods industry, both to the producer and consumer, especially in regard to increased food productivity and nutrition. Conversely, there have been reported cases on potential risks to human health and the environment due to GM foods/crops. The harmful effects of GM foods production and consumption cannot be overlooked, due to their impact on human health, the environment and socio-economic operation of a society.The introduction and widespread use of Genetically Modified (GM) foods has been met with uncertainties in regard to public acceptability due to the confirmed and potential harmful effects of this technology. GM foods are disputable for various reasons, one of them being the adverse effects of these foods to human health. There are concerns over deaths, near-deaths and diseases such as cancer and bacterial infections arising out of GM foods. Human beings need food for survival but it is incongruous to consume potentially harmful food for one’s existence just for survival.Studies indicate that there have been recorded deaths attributable to Genetic Engineering in foods. In 1989, a genetic modification of the food supplement known as L-tryptophan produced a devastating disease known as t he Eosinophilia Myalgia syndrome (EMS). There were about 37 people who died from the ailment, as well as around 1500 who were physically impaired. The GM food supplement was manufactured by a Japan’s chemical company known as Showa Denko, which offered a $2 billion settlement to the victims, but investigations into the product were not carried out.In addition, initial GM tested products such as Flavr Savr have been reported as harmful to animals, evidenced by the premature deaths of the animals used in these lab tests. Further, in 1996, a company known as Pioneer Hi-Bred, the largest seed company in the US, produced soybeans with the added protein methionine, through splicing Brazil nut DNA into the conventional soybeans (Cummins, Lilliston and Lappe 36). Researchers from the University of Nebraska reported that the use of the GM soybeans may result in fatal allergies to individuals allergic to Brazilian nuts.Fortunately, the company withdrew the product from the market befor e any fatalities occurred. Allergenic reactions to GM foods are another area of concern to the consumer public. There has been an increasing rate of food-allergenic individuals in the nation, especially among children, which was confirmed by the Center for Disease Control. The increased alteration of diets contributes to the rising rate of food sensitivity, since GM foods are not comparable to regular foods (Nestle).Other indications of the allergenic quality of GM foods include the following: A study on GM potatoes with cod genes indicated they were allergenic; two independent studies indicated that GM Bt corn produced allergenic effects, even on the farmers who used genetically engineered Bt sprays to produce such corn; in 1999, York Laboratory researchers discovered a connection between the rise in allergic reactions to soy and the consumption of GM soy. The potential risks of GM foods extend to disease causality and bacterial infections.Scientists have established a connection b etween a protein hormone known as GH and a chemical hormone called IGH-1 associated with breast cancer, and in some instances, prostate cancer. The protein hormone GH is injected in dairy cows to facilitate the production of more milk, thus it has been used to boost the productivity of dairy corporations. Genetically modified versions of the hormone have been approved to enhance milk productivity despite warnings by scientists that this GM hormone increases the IGF-1 hormone in consumers, from about 70 to 1000%. Dr.Samuel Epstein, a University of Chicago doctor and the Chairman of the Cancer Prevention Coalition explained the connection between GH and IGF-1; that the GH induces the malignant conversion of human breast epithelial cell types that eventually leads to cancerous growths. However, the US Food and Drugs Administration rejected the importance of such findings. The proponents of GM foods point to some science reviews which claim that GM crops in the market pose limited risks to human health. GM foods undergo protocol tests to determine their effects on human health as well as their allergenic quality.These tests have been evaluated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the result is that the GM foods currently in circulation pose no allergic effects to people. The World Health Organization further maintains that all GM foods in the global market have been approved after passing the necessary risk assessment tests; hence they are not harmful to human health. Additionally, the organization claims that adverse effects of these foods have not been proved among the general public where the GM foods have been permitted thus there should be no reason for alarm (World Health Organization).However, this position falls short of completely meeting the concerns of consumers, since various scientific studies have reflected negative health effects of GM foods, contradicting WHO’s position. Despite the obse rvation of harmful effects on a minority, GM foods cannot be ruled as completely safe for human consumption. In consideration of all the evidence presented, it is certain that genetic engineering technology presents certain dangers and health hazards that need to be thoroughly assessed before GM foods are absorbed into the global market.The assessment criteria for these products should also be revised with reference to case studies and reports highlighting potential harms of genetic modification (The Economist 19). Consumers should also be fully aware of the type of products displayed in the market in order to make informed choices. Genetic modified foods and crops have also been frowned upon for their potential negative effects to the environment. There are concerns over the toxicity levels in the soil due to genetic engineered farming, leading to soil pollution and destruction of plant and animal life.Despite the positive effects of genetic engineering technology in boosting food supply to the public, the application of this technology raises the use of chemicals and bio-engineered products in farms, hence the environmental degradation. It is essential to support a food crop production system that maintains environmental standards rather than ruin them, thus maintaining the spirit of environmental conservation. The GM crop industry advocates for this technology on the grounds that genetic engineered seeds and plants are helpful to the environment by decreasing the amount of chemicals used in farms.However, most of the GM agricultural products have a high chemical resistance, which in turn increases rather than decreases the use of herbicides or pesticides with toxic effects to the farms. The GM crop industry seeks to profit from the sale of more products, and these include seeds as well as pesticides and herbicides. In light of this issue, it is conceivable that the industry intends to sell more genetic engineered agricultural products as well as chemicals; hence environmental safety is a challenge if farmers rely on these products, since they go hand in hand with great use of herbicides/pesticides.According to environmental scientist, R. J. Goldburg, scientists expect that the use of herbicides will triple due to GM agricultural products (Goldburg 647). An example of a company in this industry is Monsanto, which is a world leading corporation in the production of genetic engineered seeds as well as the herbicide known as Roundup. The herbicide glyphosate, also called Roundup, has damaging effects to plant and animal life. The US Fish and Wildlife Service indicated that Roundup poses a threat to 74 endangered species; it affects natural processes in plant life such as photosynthesis.Further, the herbicide decays in the soil but it leaves deposits on the crops harvested for the consumer. Glyphosate, which is the main component in Roundup, is harmful to humans, and has led to numerous cases of illness among farmers. Various scientific re search projects also indicate the harmful effects of GM products to the soil; these include the research carried out by Oregon scientists which indicates the GM microorganism, klebsiella planticola killed vila soil nutrients and rendered it sterile.Similarly, in 1997, it was established that Rhizobium melitoli, a GM bacterium, released toxins in the soil that caused pollution. The Environmental Protection Agency also expressed its concerns over the matter, but these microorganisms are still in operation. The Oregon research also indicated that some of these microbes killed wheat plants when introduced into the soil. Other indicators of the environmental effects of GM products include the creation of super weeds and super pests; plant and animal invasions; destruction of forests; the death of beneficial insects and genetic pollution.GM elements such as Bt endotoxin have been reported to stay in the soil for about 18 months and could be transported to other wild plants, thus forming s uper weeds, resistant to beetles and butterflies, and this process affects the balance of nature. Super pests are created when common pests like budworms and cottonboll worms develop immunity from toxins due to repeated exposure. Research indicates that cottonboll worms have developed immunity from Bt sprays used in organic farming (Tabashnik, Gassmann and Crowder 199-202).Plant and animal invasions threaten the existing species and result to the imbalance of nature. Emerging GM strains can induce bio-invasions into plant or animal life, such as the invasion of the kudzu vine, which is an exotic plant from Japan with rapid growth. The damage to forest life is yet another justification for the claims against the production of GM foods/crops. GM trees have developed a resistance towards chemical sprays thus when spraying is carried out in a forest with GM trees, they survive but the plant life around them are killed.Unlike rainforests or tropical trees that support animal life such as fungi, insects and birds, GM trees are flowerless and sterile; hence they cannot support forest life in its entirety. Research further demonstrates that GM components destroy beneficial insects in plant life such as the monarch butterfly larvae which feeds on milkweed. In 1997, New Scientist reported that the proteins found in genetically modified canola flowers could potentially harm honeybees (Pain) Additionally, genetic pollution is another negative effect of GM production on the environment.Genetic pollution is facilitated by the transfer of GM pollen through rain, wind, birds or insects, and it becomes difficult to contain since unlike chemical pollution, it does not decay. The government of Thailand terminated field assessments for Bt cotton from Monsanto after the Institute of Traditional Thai Medicine established genetic pollution of nearby plants (GRAIN 1-7). In the face of the controversy around GM technology and its effects on the environment, the supporters of the techn ology advocate that it offers a solution to environmental strain caused by overpopulation.The proponents of genetic engineering argue that the technology is beneficial to the environment since it presents a solution that prevents further depletion of the environment as the world population rises. It is evident that overpopulation has caused negative effects on the environment, due to the constant struggle for land, water, fuels and other resources necessary for human existence. For this reason, supporters of this technology view it as the means to support the food requirements of the world as a whole while aintaining the status of the environment. GM food production has the potential to support the growing need of food supplies in the present world, but its damaging effects to the environment cannot be ignored since they pose long-term risks, that impact on future generations. These destructive effects on the environment, plant and animal life have been scientifically proven, thus t hey are not negligible GM crop production definitely introduces harmful effects to the environment and its inhabitants, making it an unsafe means to support food demands.The collaboration of core organizations in the environmental sector should be established in order to forge a way that incorporates stringent environmental standards in the GM food industry. Such organizations include the US Food and Drug Administration and the United Nations Environment Programme. There are a lot of concerns in the GM food industry, with some risks already identified while some remain to be discovered, hence there should be more emphasis on safe food production strategies rather than a technology filled with uncertainties (Krech 580).The other argument against genetically modified foods arises out of the negative political, social and economic implications of the industry to modern society. The extensive application of biotechnology in food production will change established farming drastically, th e strongest effect being on the indigenous farmers, and eventually the consumers. GM food production requires patenting, and the large corporations in this sector will eventually push the indigenous farmers out of their farms, while they control food products and prices.Advocates against GM crop production argue that his industry will displace farmers out of their livelihoods, since they face the risk of being bought out by large multinational companies that can pursue genetic engineering from a large-scale level. The control of the GM food production industry by large corporations amounts to bio-colonization, which by extension refers to the power that bio-technology controllers possess in the current and future market. The ability to control genetic components as well as agricultural resources is the source of so much power, for its food production.Indigenous farmers in the U. S. are currently self-sufficient in food production, but with the advancements in the GM food industry, m ore and more people will be dependent upon these industry controllers for food. These industry controllers may be referred to as the bio-colonizing companies, which will possess a lot of decisive power in the world economy due to their control of genetic and agricultural resources. Agricultural workers will also be greatly afflicted with the transfer of control in the industry from individuals to corporations or governments.The result will be displacement of farmers from their economic activity by more powerful forces, leading to a high rate of food dependency from companies and the government (Committee on the Impact of Biotechnology on Farm-Level Economics and Sustainability 206). Unfortunately, the WTO, World Bank and GATT provide regulations that facilitate large-scale and foreign interests at the expense of local economies, which further impede self-sufficiency in those countries. Another socio-political issue of concern is the debate on the labeling of GM foods.Proponents of G M foods argue that these foods are similar to regular foods thus the need for labeling is unnecessary, but a counterargument is that with the potential risks of GM foods, consumers should be fully aware of the contents of their foods in order to make informed choices. The consumer has the right to be informed of the ingredients in his/her food, irrespective of the safety or harmful levels of the food. Some parties argue for genetic engineering in food production as the solution to world hunger and other economic problems that arise out of food shortages.The proposition is that GM foods can be produced even under harsh soil and climatic conditions since they can be engineered to withstand such conditions. For this reason, most lands that have previously not been utilized for farming can now be made useful, and eventually solve the problem of overcrowding on the fertile lands. According to the proponents, this move is expected to increase food productivity, thus solving two problems a t the same time; the scramble for resources and food security. However, such an argument fails to consider the bigger picture in regard to autonomy in food production among local farmers and regions.It is clear that the GM food industry is controlled by large corporations and governments, hence they would in turn control productivity and supply on the international front. In this regard, indigenous farmers as well as small economies do not achieve food security; rather they become more dependent on multinational companies. In summary, genetically engineered foods raise a lot of questions and concerns among the public due to the insufficient information regarding the sector and the potential harm it presents to the people and the environment.There are proponents with valid perspectives who argue for and against the concept, but it is important that the benefits of this technology are weighed against the risks, in order to determine the true value of the industry to consumers (Ackerma n). Positive effects include increased food supply and control of overpopulation in fertile lands, but these benefits are overshadowed by the numerous reported and unreported harmful effects of genetic science in food production.From health complications to environmental degradation and negative socio-economic impacts, the GM food production industry is potentially catastrophic in the present time and in the future ahead. Works Cited Ackerman, Jennifer. â€Å"FOOD: How Altered? † National Geographic Magazine. (2002). Web. 18 March 2011. Committee on the Impact of Biotechnology on Farm-Level Economics and Sustainability. Impact of Genetically Engineered Crops on Farm Sustainability in the United States. Washington, D. C. : National Academies Press, 2010: 206-207. Print. Cummins, Ronnie, Ben Lilliston and Frances Moore Lappe.Genetically Engineered Food: A Self-Defense Guide for Consumers. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press, 2004: 36-38. Print. Goldburg, R. J. â€Å"Environmental Con cerns with the Development of Herbicide-tolerant Crops. † Weed Technology 6. 3 (1992): 647-652. Print. GRAIN. â€Å"Bt Cotton through the Back Door. † Seedling (2001): 1-7. Print. Krech, Shepard. Encyclopedia of World Environmental History: F-N. London: Routledge, 2004: 580-581. Print. Lex Orbis. â€Å"Patenting Microorganisms. † Lex Orbis: Intellectual Property Practice. (30 April 2005). Web. 18 March 2011. Nestle, Marion. Agricultural Biotechnology, Policy, and Nutrition. † The New England Journal of Medicine (2002). Print. Pain, Stephanie. â€Å"War in the Woods – Dutch Elm Disease is back with a Vengeance. But this time Biotechnology. † New Scientist. (1997). Web. 18 March 2011. Tabashnik, BE, et al. â€Å"Insect Resistance to Bt Crops: Evidence versus Theory. † Nature Biotechnology (2008): 199-202. Print. The Economist. â€Å"Who's Afraid of Genetically Modified Foods? † The Economist. (19 June 1999): 19-21. Print. World Hea lth Organization. WHO: 20 Questions on Genetically Modified Foods. 2011. Web. 18 March 2011.

Academic Voice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Academic Voice - Essay Example Hence, it is critical that each student's "academic voice" come across in their writings. Voice can be defined as the way in which an argument is presented, supported, evaluated and conclusions drawn from it for practical applications (Demetriou, Goalen & Rudduck, 2000). This begins with the way in which a topic is introduced, and then the structure of the student's interpretation of the topic and accompanying supportive data to justify their point of view. It is important to distinguish academic voice from paraphrasing and direct quoting of other authors, which is used as the evidence to support the writer's conclusions (Brearly, 2000). It is clear that academic voice is essential to the concept of analyzing other writer's non-fiction text. This paper will critically review the use of academic voice with regard to mature age students taking psychology courses. Firstly, academic voice will be more fully described. Secondly, how academic voice can be used will be outlined, with reference to mature aged psychology students. Finally, a conclusion shall synthesize the main points of the paper to demonstrate the important benefits of cultivating academic voice and the contributions of mature aged students to the discipline of psychology. Describing Academic Voice Voice can be classified into three general forms; 1) audible voice, as in how much a reader will "hear" the text; 2) dramatic voice, to determine what type of writer is implied by the text; and 3) one's own voice, which is the relationship of the text to the actual writer of the text (Eisner, 1998). It is evident that the written word is more likely to be heard when the writer's syntax, rhythms and word-choices are characteristic of their own speech patterns. Textual cues, for example, simple sentences that are not wordy, and those which communicate a sense of mental activity, will draw the reader's attention to the audibility of the material. A dramatic element of a text can be cultivated from the former audible voice. As to a writer's own voice, it is comprised of three key elements; there is a distinctive recognizable tone; the impression of actually "having a voice" or "having the authority to speak"; and the "authentic voice" which is the resonance or meaningful relationships b etween the text and the actual writer of the material, in contrast to the implied author (Demetriou et al., 2000). So that a writer who is aware of the persona or image of themselves that is projected in their writing will be able to practice promoting and muting this voice, depending on the context of their composition.In general, new writers who are inexperienced are not aware that they can create their own persona within their writings (Demetriou et al., 2000). Often, due to their lack of experience new writers will use an inappropriate voice, for example using lengthy sentences comprised of jingoism in an attempt to portray themselves as knowing more about a topic than what they actually do. Sometimes, their writings may be overly casual, which is usually completely inappropriate for academic writing, and subsequently their text is not taken seriously by the reader, and so respect and authority is not fostered by their compositions. By way of learning about academic voice a stud ent writer can develops an understanding of the different types of voice, becoming aware of their own voice and of techniques that can be used to change their voice.Undergraduate writers

Earned Value Management Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Earned Value Management - Research Paper Example Due to features that allow Earned Value Management (EVM) to fuse scope, cost and schedule tools, it can accurately predict the project outcomes. Safe project forecasting allow for better planning ahead of time and to make necessary adjustments. Moreover, various studies show that project that use EVM techniques have a higher success rate than the projects that don’t use. In addition to these benefits, EVM has also proved useful in substantiating project disputes. Different project managers use EVM according to their specific project requirements; however certain features of EVM are considered essential and can be recognized as the defining criterion for EVM techniques. These implementation features are; The main difference between projects that use EVM and the ones that do not is quantifying processes and their performances. For instance, EVM projects set specific criteria to allocate numbers to any process and its relative performance. This helps in tracking and adjusting overall performance of the project. Usually at the end of each week, the project manager reviews the progress and adds together the planned values (PV) of each individual task to calculate the Earned Value (EV). This review can be done weekly, monthly, or according to the nature of the project. To understand the governing principles of EVM it would be helpful to know that every task of a project earns value. And translating these tasks into numbers helps in analyzing the performance and make appropriate adjustments. As a result, project managers can achieve better project forecasting. Project managers compare earned values with planned values and actual costs for reviewing performance. Such comparisons help project managers and the owners of the project to calculate their return on the money spent. Another feature of EVM that makes it convenient as well as efficient is its ability to measure physical performance in dollar amounts (Kidasa, 2005). This

International Financial Reporting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

International Financial Reporting - Essay Example Moreover, in order to explain the concept, certain examples have been discussed for a hypothetical organisation - Noka. IAS 16 deals with recognition of property, plant and equipment; and their depreciation charge calculation. It also provides guidance on how to determine the carrying value of these assets and the treatment during disposal of these fixed assets. In order to facilitate the users in reading financial statements, IAS 16 standardises the recognition, measurement, revaluation, depreciation and de-recognition of property, plant and equipment; and provides guidance on accounting treatments. The standard provides flexibility to organisations in terms of subsequent measurement of value of the fixed asset. So, it can either be stated at original cost (less impairment and depreciation), or can be revalued to state its fair value (the current market value). The organisation must state the method used to measure the asset in the disclosure section of the financial statements. This would assist users in determining whether the original cost is used to value the asset or if the market value is used to provide a fair value closer to the current market value. ... The organisation must state the method used to measure the asset in the disclosure section of the financial statements. This would assist users in determining whether the original cost is used to value the asset or if the market value is used to provide a fair value closer to the current market value. But, in order to assure the users that revaluation was done properly, addition disclosures are required including date of revaluation, method used to revalue, if independent valuer was involved, etc. The implication of carrying value is significant. This is because in most circumstances, organisations would opt to incur additional expenses of revaluing the asset only if they are confident that revaluation will assist in increasing the carrying value of the asset. This directly impacts the balance sheet. Depreciation The depreciation is the charge on usage of the asset; and is treated as a non-cash expense. At the end of the year, depreciation is charged to the income statement of the organization. IAS 16 requires that organisations use a depreciation method consistent to the useful life of the asset (the period in which economic benefits can be obtained from the asset). The method used to calculate depreciation may vary. In addition, organisations are allowed to change the depreciation method but it has to be documented under disclosure section along with reasons for the change. The implications may be significant. If reducing balance method of depreciation is used, the company will be able to depreciate the asset faster in the beginning as opposed to straight line depreciation that requires same depreciation charge for the entire useful life of the asset. De-recognition or

Construction Best Practice Programme Assignment

Construction Best Practice Programme - Assignment Example Human Resource Evaluation: is the evaluation of current employees to assess suitability to current job and skill requirement in terms of interests, skills, experiences and overall abilities. Job analysis & Design: Involves the restructuring of an organization to optimize its human resource, to best meet the possible forecast requirements for human resources for any project. Analysis of Internal Availability: The organization reviews the availability of its current employees before deployment to a project. Job descriptions & Specifications. Employees with the most suitable skills and capabilities are shortlisted for deployment, with a degree of flexibility to mitigate unforeseeable risks. Training and development. Providing project-specific training to shortlisted employees Impact of Human Resources deployment planning Technical performance: An ability to meet technical requirements of the project. Technological innovativeness: The team on site is able to meet challenges to problems technical in and find solutions that are fast, efficient and cost-effective. Project efficiency in execution: Overall improved adherence to time and cost projections for the project. Team performance: is effective towards reducing risk, streamlining decision making, improved information exchange and a higher level of motivation achieved through teamwork. Possible Difficulties in this process Methods to negate problems / difficulties Ill-trained personnel deployed to site. Deployment only after appropriate training and vetting of skillsets Attrition of personnel during project attrition Project continuity assured through teamwork, where contingencies in terms... Evaluation of the effectiveness of human and material resource control can be done setting up and analyzing KPIs for all the different stakeholders in a project; the clients, contractors, workers, consultants and the suppliers. Benchmarks, both internal and external, assist in evaluating performance of all stakeholders in the project. Criticality of the activity. Monitoring is more extensive and frequent for activities that are an important part of the Project Critical path, to the extent that all activities that lead up to it are also monitored extensively to mitigate any potential risks in the timely execution of these activities. Time frame and sub-components of the activity. An activity that has several components that have to come together over, say, a 36 hr period, shall be monitored at the beginning and end of each component sub-activity. Criticality: Installation is a 36 hour process, and factors like availability of the crane, completion of chiller platforms on terrace, completion of housing nuts, presenc

Virtues that pharmacists should possess 2 Literature review

Virtues that pharmacists should possess 2 - Literature review Example Many of the decisions that pharmacists make are life and death ones, and so we require a strong code of ethics from them. Like many other important professions they are respected but they are also held to high standards. According to Peterson (2004), virtues are core characteristics that are valued by philosophers and religious thinkers which add value to the character possessed by an individual to make them suited to perform in a task, vocation or leadership position. Peterson suggests that although the virtues of wisdom, justice, courage, humanity, temperance and transcendence may be in conflict in the psyche of an individual, these virtues add to the character of a person to make them suited to a position or a vocation. Peterson goes further to state that character strengths are the psychological ingredients that are represented in virtues. For example, wisdom depends on creativity, curiosity, love of learning, open mindedness and having a big picture of life. The nature of professional roles demands a virtue ethic, which emphasises doing good based on the nature and moral significance of such a role. A virtuous agent in a professional role must be able to act in a way that improves society (Oakley, 2003). Oakley argues that a ‘regulative ideal’ is desirable and actions in situations are right only if an agent with a virtuous character would do the same in the circumstances. Thus, according to Oakley, the virtue of benevolence is desirable in pharmacist, a doctor or a health worker because such a virtue results in a desire to save lives. Clearly, a practising pharmacist who deals with patients in need of drugs that can cure, but also kill due to dangerous side effects, needs to act in the best interest of a patient in a wise, benevolent and tempered manner. The Kantian Categorical Imperative presents standards of correct behaviour for professional agents. Indeed, under this scheme, only certain

Social Policy History Scavenger Hunt Assignment Essay

Social Policy History Scavenger Hunt Assignment - Essay Example Federal law is therefore binding on all states and is superior to state law. Historically all social policies directed towards marijuana have considered its essentially negative impact on the society. The legal history of marijuana shows that the drug has regularly been regulated by the government through different Acts. The role of government has been central in the implementation of laws pertaining to marijuana usage. On several occasions throughout history, regulations restricting marijuana usage have been relaxed and tightened. Since laws vary from state to state, laws pertaining to marijuana usage have also seen many inconsistencies. Despite federal law being superior to state laws and having made marijuana illegal, state laws continue to legalize marijuana usage. In such a case, there is increased confusion regarding what laws should be followed and how states can handle the issue. Federal law has been relatively more consistent with its stand on marijuana usage. However, state laws differ on their stand on marijuana usage. With Washington and Colorado having legalized medicinal and recreational use of marijuana within their states, many other states have been joining in. However, the vast majority of the states still continue to prohibit the use of marijuana. This is due to the social costs of marijuana legalization as a result of which social policy has historically shown great concern for marijuana legalization. The association of marijuana usage with other social vices such as crimes has led social policies to be focused more towards restricting marijuana usage. This stance is aligned with federal law which states that marijuana is illegal. The inconsistencies between state laws have also encouraged people to look for permanent answers in federalism (Reisert, 2015). The similarity between the marijuana legalization issue and social

Business evulation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Business evulation - Essay Example The fact that partners come from administration, finance, and the sales departments of other successful companies in the market ensures that the company’s departments will be component especially the three which are crucial for the success of any company. Another strength that the company has is the fact that its management structure is well suited for new ideas and contribution meaning that the decisions and policies undertaken by the company will comprise both new and old ideas which will help in the company realising success. Another strength that the company possesses is the various number of services the company is offering. This means that the company will be able to attract income from various sectors of the market since the company is diverse. Weaknesses The fact that the company is very new in the marketing and branding market is a weakness. This is due to the fact that the marketing and branding industry is characterised by a lot of customer loyalty thus many consume rs in the market are loyal to existing brands making it hard for new companies to penetrate the market(Kotler, Etal, 2006.). LaunchMe is currently a small business establishment which is a major weakness since the company is not able to hire many employees. This is due to lack of resources to support a huge staff. As a result, many huge companies with huge projects will forego LaunchMe since they will assume it will be unable to launch huge projects. Another weakness that the company faces is fact that it is operating in the United Kingdom only. This will greatly limit its consumer coverage which is essential for such a company in order for it to attract as many customers as possible. Opportunities Investments opportunities, innovation, and technological revolution provides the LaunchMe company with the opportunity to grow remarkably. This is because current trends are showing that the economy of the United Kingdom is steadily getting back to its where more and more investors are pu tting in their cash to small companies such as LaunchMe which are expected to bring back revenue in the future. The fact that the company aims at focus at business owners and entrepreneurs both in the United Kingdom and the international market presents a great opportunity for growth of the company since the rich people in the country are always interested in starting up new business hence providing a steady market for LaunchMe’s products and ser ices. The branding and marketing industry is a growing industry with new developments and innovations (Belch, 2002). This is not only in the United Kingdom but in the whole world (Wheeler, 2006). This creates an opportunity for the company to both grow geographically and financially. By venturing into other countries in Europe and eventually the while world the company will be able to increase in both size and outreach resulting in the company enjoying more revenue. Threats There are major players who pose threats to the company in t erms of unfair competition. Such companies include Addison Whitney, Siegel and Gale among others. Such companies are a threat to the company since they have a well established customer base meaning they enjoy a lot of customer loyalty. It is a known fact that customer loyalty can result to monopolistic features to

Health risk Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Health risk - Assignment Example Mrs. J is even at a higher risk because she smokes two packs a day. Therefore, nurse should insist on the need to stop smoking and create a similar interest in Mrs. J. The following action plans will help Mrs. J to stop smoking. She needs to choose an approach to utilize in order to stop smoking. The nurse will provide a number of approaches that may be used to stop smoking. Mrs. J will then choose one or more approach that she feels is best for her. Cold turkey approach involves client abruptly ceasing from the addictive level of smoking. Tapering approach involves the smoker reducing the number of cigarettes smoked. For Mrs. J, she can reduce to one pack then progressively reduce the number each day down until to none. Postponing approach is where the individual postpones the starting time of smoking each day minimizing the cumulative smoking hours until the individual stops. Joining of a smoking cessation program where she can meet like-minded people who can encourage one another stop smoking. Use of pharmacological aids such as nicotine patches and gum has shown also to be handy (Miller, 2009). After choosing the approach, the date of starting to implement is set. She should strive to avoid tempting situations or any activities that can influence he into smoking. For instance, either she can keep herself busy with sportive activities or if she smokes while driving in her car, she can use the public transport system to minimize such temptations. Limiting herself to social situations that prohibit smoking. At her workplace, she should maintain a clean, fresh and nonsmoking environment. This lowers risk of thinking to smoke. Keep the oral substitutes available such as sugarless gum, apples and carrots in order to avoid craving for a cigarette. She can be advised on change of friends because most of them smoke. Interacting with them will easily make her smoke (Miller, 2009). Seeking social support has a great effect on

Healthy Grief Essay Example for Free

Healthy Grief Essay The loss of a family member and/or loved one can put someone on an emotional roller coaster. Whether it is an expected or unexpected loss, the emotional process of dealing with the grief could be the same. With an expected loss, loved ones are able to prepare themselves for what is to come. An unexpected loss could bring more emotions into the grieving process. This paper will discuss the grieving process by Kubler-Ross, the story of Job, and the way Muslims deal with death and dying. While some people focus on the sadness of losing a loved one, others try and find the positive in the any situation. To grieve the loss of a loved one, many would say that they feel a lot of different indescribable emotions. Shock, disbelief, emotional pain, anger, and sadness are all some emotions that people feel while grieving. Kubler-Ross developed a five step grieving process that one should experience and move through so they can move on to a happy life (Lecture 5 Notes). The process itself is: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance (Lecture 5 Notes). It is easy for a person to not believe that a loved one has passed on as begin the grieving process (Lecture 5 Notes). Once the denial has processed and the loss has become a reality, it is normal to get angry and ask ‘why did this happen?’ Bargaining with God is the next step in the grieving process. Trying to make a deal with God to try and bring back a loved one gives a person hope that their loved one will come back. Once reality has set in, depression is the next step (Lecture 5 Notes). This is when the feelings of hopelessness set in, making it difficult for a person to pass this stage (Lecture 5 Notes). The last stage of the grieving process is acceptance (Lecture 5 Notes). This is the stage that helps a person emotionally move on from grieving the loss of a loved one. Life goes becomes a new type of normal with the memory of the loved one instead of the having the loved one there (Lecture 5 Notes). In the book of Job, Satan challenges Job’s faith and love for God, with God’s permission (Study Bible-NLT, 2008). Satan does everything in his power to get Job to not only doubt God, but to curse him as well (Study Bible-NLT, 2008). Satan killed his ten children and destroyed his livestock and servants (Study Bible-NLT, 2008). Job focused more on God and praised him as he mourned loss of his children and wealth (Study Bible-NLT, 2008). Satan then tried one last time by filling Job’s body with sores (Study Bible-NLT, 2008). The doubt of his wife and the negativity of his colleagues never gave him a change of heart. Job remained faithful to God, never doubted Him (he doubted himself at times), and still praised Him (Study Bible-NLT, 2008). God eventually replenished Job’s wealth and blessed him with more children (Study Bible-NLT, 2008). Job grieved in a very healthy way. He did not blame others and he did not curse God. He tried to find the good in every ba d situation. One religion that differs from Christianity and western civilization’s way of grieving the loss of a loved one is the Islamic religion. With death and dying, Muslims believe that there is life after death (Ross, 2001). It is believed that believers of the religion must practice the five pillars of Islam and live a righteous life on earth in order to have a different afterlife than those ‘unbelievers’ (Ross, 2001). People of the Islamic religion must mourn as they prepare for a quick burial (Ross, 2001). A loved one should be buried the day of death or the day after, not any later (Ross, 2001). In public, it is not of their norm for women to show any emotion at a time like this (Ross, 2001). Finding joy in the midst of losing a loved one can be trying. But like Job in the Bible, joy could come quicker if faith is not lost. Grieving is a challenging time to stay positive. Making the attempt to stay positive helps push one through the grieving process without getting stuck in one of the stages for too long. A good way to find joy is to continue to praise God and not to lose faith in Him. In closing, re-reading the book of Job in the Holy Bible has reminded me of how important it is to praise God in the midst of a storm. The loss of a loved one is tragic for anyone and grieving is a natural process in life. But if the focus stays on praising God and not losing faith, that grieving process can turn into a healing process and it is possible to find peace in the midst of grieving. God always has a rainbow waiting at the end of each storm, it just depends how long it takes for you to play in the rain before you get there.

The Meaning and Importance of Capital Expenditure

The Meaning and Importance of Capital Expenditure Expenditure means a payment made by a business to obtain some benefits, i.e., assets, goods and services (AINAPURE, varsha and ainapure, mukund, 2009). 1.2 Meaning of Capital Expenditure or Asset Capital expenditure is that expenditure which is for future benefits. It means expenditure for gaining an asset. Asset is a resource controlled by an organization as a result of past event and for which future benefits are expected (AINAPURE, varsha and ainapure, mukund, 2009). 2. Revenue expenditure 2.1 Meaning of revenue expenditure Revenue expenditure are expenditures for ordinate repairs, maintain ace, fuel , insurance or other item needed to maintain used building, and plant and equipment. They go to the expense account and reduce the income of period in which they are incurred, because benefits from these expenditures dont last beyond that period (NARAYANASWAMY, R, 2008). 3. Differentiate between Capital and revenue Expenditure Investment Appraisal What is an investment? Specifically, an investment is the current commitment of dollars for a period of time in order to derive future payments that will compensate the investor for (1) the time the funds are committed, (2) the expected rate of inflation, and (3) the uncertainty of the future payments(BROWN, Keith and Reilley, Frank, 2005). Method of investment Appraisal A companys shareholders prefer to be rich rather than poor. Therefore, they want the firm to invest in every project that is worth more than it costs. The difference between a projects value and its cost is termed the net present value. Companies can best help their shareholders by investing in projects with a positive net present value (BREALEY et al., 2001). We start this material by showing how to calculate the net present value of a simple investment project. We also examine other criteria that companies sometimes consider when evaluating investments, such as the NPV projects payback period IRR Net Present Value (NPV) Suppose that you are in the real estate business. You are considering construction of an office block. The land would cost $50,000 and construction would cost a further $300,000. You foresee a shortage of office space and predict that a year from now you will be able to sell the building for $400,000. Thus you would be investing $350,000 now in the expectation of realizing $400,000 at the end of the year. You should go ahead if the present value of the $400,000 payoff is greater than the investment of $350,000. Assume for the moment that the $400,000 payoff is a sure thing. How much would you have to invest in it in order to receive $400,000 at the end of the year (BREALEY et al., 2001). Thats easy: you would have to invest $400,000 ÃÆ'- 1/1.07 = $400,000 ÃÆ'- .935 = $373,832 Therefore, at an interest rate of 7 percept, the present value of the $400,000 payoff from the office building is $373,832. NPV = PV required investment = $373,832 $350,000 = $23,832 In other words, your office development is worth more than it costs-it makes a net contribution to value. Internal Rate of Return Instead of calculating a projects net present value, companies often prefer to ask whether the projects return is higher or lower than the opportunity cost of capital. For example, think back to the original proposal to build the office block. You planned to invest $350,000 to get back a cash flow of C1 = $400,000 in 1 year. Therefore, you forecasted a profit on the venture of $400,000 $350,000 = $50,000 (BREALEY et al., 2001). Rate of return = profit/ investment = C1 investment/ investment = $400,000 $350,000/ $350,000 = .1429, or about 14.3% The alternative of investing in a U.S. Treasury bill would provide a return of only 7 percept. Thus the return on your office building is higher than the opportunity cost of capital. This suggests two rules for deciding whether to go ahead with an investment project: 1. The NPV rule. Invest in any project that has a positive NPV when its cash flows are discounted at the opportunity cost of capital. 2. The rate of return rule. Invest in any project offering a rate of return that is higher than the opportunity cost of capital (BREALEY et al., 2001). PAYBACK PERIOD These days almost all large companies use discounted cash flow in some form, but sometimes they use it in combination with other theoretically inappropriate measures of performance (BREALEY et al., 2001). Inflation and capital investment decisions Inflation can have a serious effect on capital investment decisions, both by reducing the real value of future cash flows and by increasing their uncertainty. Future cash flows must be adjusted to take account of any expected inflation in the prices of goods services in order to express them in normal (or money) terms, i.e. in term of actual cash amounts to be received or paid in the future. As an alternative to the nominal approach to dealing with inflation in investment appraisal, it is possible to deflate nominal cash flows by the general rate of inflation in order to obtain cash flows expressed in real terms, i.e. with inflation stripped out (WATSON, Denzil and Head, Antony, 2010). (1+real cost of capital) = (1+ normal cost of capital) / (1+ inflation rate) For example if the nominal cost of capital is 15% and the rate of inflation is 9 %, the real cost of capital will be 5.5 %. Investment appraisal and risk involved In the context of investment appraisals, risk refers to the business risk of an investment, which since it derives from a companys capital structure is reflected in its weighted average cost of capital. Risk is tusk distinct from uncertainty, which increases proportionality with project life. A risk-averse company is concerned about the possibility of expected, i.e. with downside risk, and will therefore want to asses the risk of an investment project. There are several methods of assessing project risk and of incorporating risk into the decision making (WATSON, Denzil and Head, Antony, 2010). Sensitivity Analysis Sensitivity analysis is a way of assessing the risk of an investment project by evaluating how responsive the NPV of the project is to change in the variables from which it has been calculated (WATSON, Denzil and Head, Antony, 2010). Types of risk Credit Risk Market risk Equity Risk Liquidity risk Financial Analysis Financial performance analysis using financial ratio Categories of Financial Ratios Analysts find it useful to classify ratios into broad groupings, based on the characteristics that particular ratios are intended to measure. In this section, we discuss ratios under four major headings that are widely employed by analysts: liquidity, profitability, capital structure, and investor ratio (STICE et al., 2002). Liquidity Ratios Liquidity ratios indicate the short-term solvency of the firm. They also indicate how effectively the firm is managing its working capital (STICE et al., 2002). Profitability Ratios Profitability ratios are the second major focus of analysis for any investor. Without profits, there will be no return to the investor or no one will want to invest (STICE et al., 2002). Gross Profit The gross profit percentage is the first source of profitability for a manufacturing or merchandising firm. The data for the gross profit margin are found in the first sections of the income statement. These data indicate the level of profits earned from buying and reselling goods (STICE et al., 2002). Operating income ratio The operating income ratio is the second indicator of profitability because it includes All the other normal and recurring operating costs. Increasing or stable levels Of operating income indicate sustainability of the firms profits (STICE et al., 2002). Financial Statement Analysis, Wendys International, Inc. In this section, we apply our financial statement analysis framework to Wendys International, Inc. Liquidity Analysis Profitability Analysis Summary, Wendys International, Inc. Our analysis of Wendys financial statements is cautiously positive. The primary weak indicator is in the area of profitability (based on accrual-based earnings), and this result may be due to transitory effects that may not persist in the future. There were significant positive trends in liquidity, and stability in investor ratios. Further examination of supplementary information, as well as subsequent quarterly results for 1998 and 1999, could be used to support or challenge these conclusions (STICE et al., 2002). Non-Financial Analysis Using Balance score card Balance Score Card The Balanced Scorecard (BSC) is a technique developed by Kaplan and Norton (1992) that helps organisational decision makers to navigate the organisation towards success. The technique enables organisations to translate their mission and strategy into a comprehensive set of performance measures that provide the framework for a strategic measurement and management system. Organisations have used the Balanced Scorecard to; (1) clarify and translate vision and strategy, (2) communicate and link strategic objectives and measures, (3) plan, set targets and align strategic initiatives and (4) enhance strategic feedback and learning, and succeed in realizing both tangible and intangible benefits of their investments (Kaplan and Norton, 1992, 1996, 2000). The Balanced Scorecard measures organisational performance, with emphasis on financial objectives. But, it also includes the performance drivers of these financial objectives, and measures organisational performance across four balanced perspectives; (1) financial, (2) customer, (3) internal business processes and (4) learning and growth (DARSHANA SEDERA, Guy Gable and Michael Rosemann). Framework of Balance Score Card.

Disability And Sexuality And Social Work Practice Social Work Essay

Disability And Sexuality And Social Work Practice Social Work Essay There is a growing recognition of the need to provide sex education to people with learning disabilities, as well as their right to achieve such education. Despite a desire to help with this, social workers and other health professionals can lack the confidence and tools to deliver sex education to this population. In an effort to accumulate evidence of best practice thus far, a narrative review of the literature will be conducted to answer the following question: What interventions are available within social work practice for the delivery of sexuality education to people with learning disabilities? By identifying the key consistencies and inconsistencies across effective interventions, feasible interventions can be established and further research identify. Background and Rationale In the past, people with learning disabilities were excluded from sexual education or help with issues around their sexuality. Fortunately, in modern day society this exclusion is beginning to change, which is in part due to a shift from institutionalised care to supported living. This has resulted in an increase in independent living as well as a greater acknowledgement of the needs of people with learning disabilities. Furthermore, the myth that people with learning disabilities are eternal children (McCarthy, 1999) no longer holds sway and it is acknowledged that people with learning disabilities are not asexual; they have the same needs as people without a learning disability, including needs regarding sexuality. The Sex and Relationships research project, set up in 2007, was particularly influential in challenging the previously faulty beliefs and myths that maintained the exclusion of people with learning disabilities. This was a 3-year research programme conducted by CHANGE (2009), a national organisation that fights for the rights of people with learning disabilities. As part of this project it was found that people with learning disabilities, aged 16-25 years old, shared that they were not told about sex and relationships when they were younger. Furthermore, they also said that if they had been given better sex education, they might have made different choices as adults. This highlights a clear unmet need experienced by people with learning disabilities, as well as indicates that these unmet needs discriminate individuals via reduced choice in adulthood. Professionals working within the field of learning disabilities, including social workers, remain reluctant to become involved in sexuality education due to lack of confidence and lack of availability of educational materials designed for this population (Howard-Barr et al., 2005). They want to support people with learning disabilities, but do not have the information or skills to do so (Garbutt, 2008). Thus, there is a need to establish effective interventions designed to equip social workers and other healthcare professionals with the personal and professional tools necessary to deliver sex education to people with learning disabilities. This provides the rationale for a narrative review of the literature. Research Question The research question posed from the background literature is: What interventions are available within social work practice for the delivery of sexuality education to people with learning disabilities? More specifically: What effective interventions are already available? What are the key concepts and theories relevant to effective interventions? How has efficacy of interventions been assessed? What are the key consistencies and inconsistencies across studies? What answers remain? Research Design and Methods A narrative review of the literature will be conducted in order to identify interventions available within social work practice for the delivery of sexuality education to people with learning disabilities. A narrative review has been selected due to its recommended use with comprehensive topics (Collins and Fauser, 2005), and the benefits that derive from being able to include subjective interpretations based on personal experience of social work practice. Social work is a person-centred and holistic discipline that warrants this phenomenological approach. Furthermore, a narrative review can be used to synthesise evidence from both quantitative and qualitative studies, thus benefiting from the strengths of both approaches, the former of which offers scientific rigour and the latter of which offers subjectivity and depth. The relevant literature will be synthesised through the use of data extraction forms (appendix 1), the identification of key themes and controversies between studies, and the development of a considered narrative for each key theme. By identifying established knowledge within this area, as well as where gaps in knowledge remain, conclusions will be made on the efficacy of different interventions or techniques that social workers could utilise in the delivery of sexuality education to people with learning disabilities. Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria Inclusion in this review will be confined to primary research meeting the following additional inclusion criteria: Randomised control trials (RCTs); control trials; prospective pre- and post-test cohort studies; qualitative studies. The study needs to be testing or exploring an intervention for the delivery of sexuality education to people with learning disabilities. Population: social workers or other healthcare professionals working with people who have learning disabilities. Studies conducted over the last 5 years (2006-2011). In addition, the following exclusion criteria apply: Studies conducted before 2006. Non-English studies. Studies that do not meet the pre-defined inclusion criteria. Search Strategy A search of the literature will be undertaken using Boolean logic, which will allow for a more sensitive search of the title and abstracts of the following databases: the Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Medline, Embase, PsychINFO and The Cochrane Library of clinical trials. Keywords to be searched include learning disabilities OR learning dis*AND sex* AND educ* OR train* OR interv* OR intervention studies. The truncation symbol (*) will be applied to search for words that might have various endings (e.g. sex* will find sex, sexuality, sexual). The reference list of all articles that are obtained in full will also be hand-searched for relevant studies. In addition, two key social work journals will be hand-searched from 2010 to 2011 to identify the most up to date research in this area: British Journal of Social Work and Journal of Social Work. The title and abstracts of all literature identified by the search strategy will be scanned for relevance, with irrelevant or duplicate articles being excluded. All records meeting the pre-defined inclusion criteria will be obtained in full for data extraction. A data extraction form recommended by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE, 2010) will be used to elicit key details from each of the studies obtained (appendix 1), including: study design; intervention; and, main findings. Synthesis of Findings Thematic content analysis will be used to identify key themes across studies, followed by the identification of convergent and divergent findings within these key themes (Aveyard, 2010). Narratives will be created for the most prominent themes. A critical analysis of how social work practice could be informed, developed and improved with respect to the evidence obtained from this review will be included, with a specific emphasis on the importance of evidence-based practice. Study Resources, Risks and Timetable Internet databases that provide access to academic peer reviewed journals will be the primary source utilised for searching the literature. The university library will also be a valuable resource for locating learning disability and social work journals that can be hand-searched, as well as providing access to a librarian who can be asked for advice on suitable web-based subject gateways. In addition, the reference lists of reviewed articles are a source of access to further relevant research. Ethical approval will not be required for this review. A timetable for completing this review is presented in Table 1, with the deadline for submitting the reviewing being February 2012. Table 1: Timetable for Review Action Dates 1. Choose research question based on scoping of the literature and consideration of relevant policy. Beginning of March 2011 2. Conduct a preliminary literature search to gather information on the background and rationale for review. Mid-March 2011 3. Develop a review proposal and timetable, including search strategy and inclusion criteria, etc. End of March 2011 4. Conduct first search of the literature, utilising selected web-based databases, excluding irrelevant or duplicate records and obtaining the full text of remaining records. Complete data extraction forms for each study. April and May 2011 4. Hand-search selected journals, obtaining the full text of relevant records and completing data extraction forms for each study. June 2011 5. Hand-search the reference lists of all articles included from the database and journal searches, obtaining the abstract of potential articles of relevance. Exclude those that become irrelevant on closer inspection and obtain the full text of remaining references. Complete data extraction forms for each study. July 2011 6. Identify the key themes and controversies between studies. Write a narrative for each key theme, including objective discussion of studies and subjective interpretations in relation to experience, knowledge, and social work policy. August and September 2011 7. First draft of introduction and rationale chapter. October 2011 8. First draft of methods and results. November 2011 9. First draft of discussion chapter. December 2011 10. First full draft of review make necessary adjustments and finalise. January 2011 11. Submit final review. February 2012

Change Within Characters in Sophocles Antigone Essay examples -- Soph

Change Within Characters in Sophocles' Antigone Antigone is about how King Creon rules that Polynices the traitor is not to be buried, but his sister Antigone defies the order. She is caught, and sentenced by Creon to be buried alive - even though she is betrothed to his son Haemon. After the blind prophet Tiresias proves that the gods are on Antigone's side, Creon changes his mind - but too late. He goes first to bury Polynices, but Antigone has already hanged herself. When Creon arrives at the tomb, Haemon attacks him and then kills himself. When the news of their death is reported, Creon's wife Eurydice takes her own life. Creon is alone in his life, full of guilt. The major characters in Antigone in my opinion are Antigone and Creon. Both undergo very major dramatic changes in their life. Antigone’s changes are mainly linked to the themes of the position of women as a Greek and the theme of the individual versus the state and divine law versus human law. Creon’s changes are mainly linked to the themes Conscience versus Law and the threat of tyranny. Both of their changes to themselves also inflict a change on the other. Both also undergo changes because of their pride and what actions it causes them to do. Pride and its effects are a central part of Antigone. It is a trait despised by the gods, who bring suffering to the proud, but to the Greek mind pride is also a part of greatness. Both Antigone and Creon are incredibly proud, making it impossible for either one of them to back down once they have taken a stand. Pride is part of what makes Antigone heroic. Creon realizes that in the end when he is completely alone in his life because everyone is dead. His pride had caused him to lose everyth... ... despicable if the order of the state demands it. Antigone's insistence on her desire in face of state power brings ruin into Thebes and to Creon specifically. With the death of his family, Creon is left utterly alone in the palace. His throne even robs him of his mourning, the king and his pace sadly shuttling off to a cabinet meeting after the announcement of the family's deaths. Antigone and Creon both undergo many changes to their personality, their beliefs, and their ways of living. But in the end it is only Creon who has the ability to change his life and keep on living it in a more respectable and more understanding way. But Creon has to live with the deaths and his fatal mistakes that he has made. Antigone has a very short time to adapt to the changes in her life but she does not see much point because she has been sentenced to a very slow death.

Genetic Screening Will Not Put Limits on Equal Opportunity :: Science Biology Biological Essays

Genetic Screening Will not Put Limits on Equal Opportunity Introduction Genetic screening is a pressing issue in today's public policy forum, research and industry. Genetic screening provides enormous opportunities and is an incredible advance in science. However, genetic screening poses problems that are not and can not be easily overlooked. These are the following two issues dealt with in this paper. What can genetic screening offer people that currently is not being offered and at what cost to the people will this advance be? Genetic screening was devised to offer people a service and more important, to essentially, protect them from themselves. Genetic screening involves the screening of persons' genotypes to determine if they (1) are already associated with disease or are predisposed to disease, (2) may pass on disease to their descendants, or (3) produce other variations not associated with disease. (NAS 1975) Genetic screening is used as a means to prevent the onset or provide control for genetically inherited diseases. This in the long run is economical and treatment is effective. Screening of this type involves the detection of genetic disease and must first be defined to assure an understanding in the objectives of screening. Carriers of a genetic disease appear normal and are not affected except if the trait is expressed quantitatively across a population. In this case, the individual will have some disease characteristics however, not as severe as those with the disease. Individuals that have a genetic disease are almost always homozygous recessive for that gene meaning that there is an insufficiency in its ability to perform the correct function. One must not mistake a genetic screening test with a genetic diagnostic test. The difference is great and can be easily confused. A genetic screening test is not a definite confirmation of disease presence. It only gives an alert or signal to the possible presence that could affect the health of an individual. A genetic diagnostic test can tell with greater certainty if a disease is present in an individual. (Blatt 1996) Testing-Methods There are different times throughout the life span of a human in which genetic tests, both screening and diagnostic, can be preformed. The most popular and recognizable are the prenatal tests and testing of newborns. The genetic screening tests currently available for pregnant women are maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) screening, enhanced MSAFP, amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling (CVS), percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUBS), fetal biopsy and fetal cell sorting.

Energy drink Essay

Energy drinks are beverages that can be used to supplement energy and concentration. It contains several ingredients, some good others bad. They contain ingredients such as caffeine, guarana, taurine and many more. Usually they are beneficial, but when taken in large amounts; some ingredients can cause unwelcome side effects. Many people consume energy drinks for enjoyment and the extra kick of energy for the day, but they are not aware of the hidden ingredients that can cause illness. In my opinion I believe that energy drinks are dangerous because they can cause illness, children and teenagers will be affected by the drink and the horrible side effects. The packaging of energy drink might convince you that it is are fine to drink but most of us are unaware of the hidden dangers. Those dangers can put anyone at risk of illness. Energy drinks contain high amounts of sugar similar to soft drink but energy drinks also contain high amounts of caffeine and taurine. Taurine is an amino acid that your body naturally produces. It helps regulate heartbeat, muscle contractions, and energy levels. But when there is too much taurine in our bodies, it can make some body parts overactive, like platelets. Platelets are found in the blood stream and they are very important to the body. They help to clot blood when there is a cut. The sugar makes the platelets overactive which makes them stick together and cause blood clots. This increase risk of heart related disease. In the US a small was conducted, they found that there is a link between the consumption of energy drinks and heart disease or high blood pressure. The researchers found healthy adults who drank two cans of a popular energy drink a day had above normal blood pressure and heart rate. Not only does it affect us both physical and mentally, it can affect children and teens who consume energy drinks. Children and teenagers don’t know what they are consuming and the affect it has on the body. You may see children or teens consuming energy drinks at sporting events instead of sport drinks, to boost energy levels. We may think that energy drinks and sports drinks are the same, but they’re not. Sport drinks provide only carbohydrate and salts to replace those lost in sweat, whilst energy drinks give temporary boost of energy. This may not sound bad but it will affect them over the long term. Like a child suffering with diabetes should not continue drinking energy drinks because the sugars in them can cause an imbalance of insulin. Even the Daily Telegraph thinks that energy drinks are unsafe because it can link to severe illness. The Daily Telegraph has reported â€Å"Energy drinks could be dangerous for children and teenagers,† The newspaper said that the use of high-caffeine drinks has been linked to â€Å"seizures, mania, stroke and sudden death†. Energy drinks can effect children and teenagers and also give people terrible side effects. Some people are not aware that energy drinks can give awful side effects after consumption. There are many side effects that can occur after drinking like vomiting, nausea, and hallucinations. Many ingredients inside energy drinks cause some people allergy reactions. There are many effects that can make people gain weight like people who don’t exercise. The mayo clinic says â€Å"that sugar intake has a direct correlation with weight gain, especially for people who don’t exercise. † But it can get worse, if energy drinks are drank with alcohol, it can make you pass out or get seriously hurt. Energy can drinks can make people sick from the dreadful side effects. However energy drinks create enjoyment among people, it has good taste and contains some good vitamins and herbs like vitamin B, ginseng, ginkgo Biloba and Antioxidants which are good for the body. To finish like to say that we should reconsider drinking energy because they can cause illness, young people will be affected and they can give people terrible side effects.

Carrie Chapter Eighteen

I came to carry dour you, Momma. And you were waiting here to kill me. Momma, I its non right, Momma. Its not Lets pray, Momma utter softly. Her eye fixed on Carries and on that dapple was a crazed, awful compassion in them. The fire light was brighter tied(p), dancing on the w in all(prenominal)s Up dervishes. For the last time, let us pray.Oh Momma help me Carrie cried step up.She fell introductory on her knees, thinker backpack in, work force embossed in supplication.Momma leaned forward, and the knife came polish in a shining arc.Carrie, by chance checking start of the tail of her eye, jerked pole, and rather of penetrating her rearward, the knife went into her shoulder to the hilt. Mommas feet composite in the legs of her chair, and she collapsed in a session sprawl.They sta inflammation at each other in silent shelveau.Blood began to ooze from some the handle of the knife and to splash on to the floor. accordingly Carrie give tongue to softly Im qualifying to tumble you a benefaction, Momma.Margargont tested to baffle up, staggered, and fell clog up on her hands and knees. What be you doing? she croaked hoarsely.Im picturing your heart, Momma, Carrie express. Its easier when you see things in your mind. Your heart is a big red muscle. Mine goes faster when I physical exercise my power. But your is handout a lesser slower now. A little slower.Margaret seek to digest up again, failed, and forked the soft touch of the evil eye at her daughter.A little slower, Momma. Do you know what the present is, Momma? What you always wanted. Darkness. And whatever divinity fudge lives there.Margaret White whispered Our sire, Who art in heaven-Slower, Momma. Slower.-hallowed be Thy name-I can see the blood draining prickle into you. Slower.-Thy soil come-Your feet and hands like marble, like alabaster. White.-Thy allow be d sensition-My will, Momma. Slower-on earth-Slower.-as as as itShe collapsed forward, hands twitchin g.-as it is in heaven.Carrie whispered experty stop.She looked pop at herself, and put her hands weakly around the haft of the knife.(no o no that hurts thats too much hurt)She tried to get up, failed, hence pulled herself up by Mommas stool. Dizziness and nausea washed all over her. She could taste blood, bright and slick, on the back of her throat. Smoke, acrid and choking, was drifting in by means of the windows now. The flames had reached next door even now sparks would be lighting softly on the roof that rocks had punched brutally through with(predicate) a thousand years before.Carrie went give away the back door, staggered across the lawn, and rested(wheres my momma)against a tree. in that respect was something she was supposed to do. Something about( bridle-pathhouses put lots)the ideal with the Sword. The Fiery Sword.Never mind. It would come to her.She get over by back yards to Willow roadway and then crawled up the embankment to Route 6.It was 1 15 A.M.It was 1120 P.M. when Christine Hargensen and he-goat Nolan got back to The domineering. They went up the back stairs, down the hall, and before she could do more than circle on the lights, he was yanking at her blouse.For Gods involvement let me un providedton it-To hell with that.He ripped it abruptly down the back. The cloth divide with a sudden heavily sound. star button popped free and winked on the trim wood floor. Honky-tonkin medicament came faintly up to them, and the building vibrated subtly with the clumsy-enthusiastic dancing of farmers and truckers and millworkers and waitresses and hairdressers, of the greasers and their towny girl friends from Westover and Motton.Hey-Be quiet.He slapped her, rocking her head back. Her eyes took on a flat and deadly shine.This is the end, Billy. She backed away from him, breasts intumescence into her bra, flat stomach pumping, legs prospicient and tapered in her jeans but she backed toward the bed. Its over.Sure, he said. He lung ed for her and she punched him, a surprising hard punch that landed on his cheek.He straightened and twitched his head a little. You gave me a shiner, you bitch.Ill give you more.Youre goddam right you will. They stared at each other, panting, glaring. Then he began to unbutton his shirt, a little grin beginning on his vitrine.We got it on, Charlie. We really got it on. He called her Charlie whenever he was blithesome with her. It seemed to be, she thought with a c obsolescent blink of an eye of humour, a generic term for replete(p) cunt. She felt a little pull a expression come to her own face, relaxed a little, and that was when he whipped his shirt across her face and came in low, butting her in the stomach like a goat, tipping her on to the bed. The springs screamed. She pounded her fists helplessly on his back. bond off me conk out off me doctor off me You fucking greaseball, get off meHe was grinning at her, and with one quick, hard yank her zipper was broken, her hip s free. look to your daddy? he was grunting. That what you gonna do? Huh? Huh? That it, ole Chuckie? previse big ole legal beagle daddy? Huh? I woulda done it to you, you know that? I woulda dumped it all over your fuckin squash. You know it? Huh? Know it? atomic number 29 blood for papal bulls, right? Right on your motherfucking squash. You-She had suddenly ceased to resist. He paused, staring down at her, and she had an odd smile on her face. You wanted it this way all along, didnt you? You worthless little scumbag. Thats right, isnt it? You creepy little onenut low-cock dinkless wonder.His grin was slow, crazed. It doesnt matter.No, she said. It doesnt. Her smile suddenly vanished, the cords on her neck stood out as she hawked back and spat in his face.They descended into a red, trouncing unconsciousness. Downstairs the music thumped and wheezed (Im poppin little purity pills an my eyes are open panoptic/Six days on the road and Im gonna make it home this evening), c/w, full throttle, very loud, very bad, five-man sight wearing sequined cowboy shirts and juvenile pegged jeans with bright rivets, occasionally wiping mixed perspiration and Vitalis from their brows, lead guitar, rhythm, steel, dobro guitar, drums no one perceive the town whistle, or the first explosion, or the second and when the screw up main blew and the music stopped and someone drove into the position lot and began to yell the tidings, Chris and Billy were asleep.Chris woke suddenly and the clock on the night table said five minutes of one. mortal was pounding on the door.Billy the constituent was yelling. Get up Hey HeyBilly stirred, involute over, and knocked the cheap alarm clock on to the floor. What the Christ? he said thickly, and sat up. His back stung. The bitch had covered it with long scratches. Hed barely noticed it at the time, but now decided he was leaving to have to send her home bowlegged. salutary to show her who was boss..Silence struck him. Silence. The Cavalier did not close until two as a matter of fact, he could salve see the neon twinkling and flicking through the dusty garret window. Except for the smashed pounding(something happened)the place was a graveyard.Billy, you in there? HeyWho is it? Chris whispered. Her eyes were glittering and prepared in the intermittent neon.Jackie Talbot, he said absently, then raised his voice. What?Lemme in, Billy. I got to express to youBilly got up and padded to the door, naked. He unlocked the old-fashioned hook-and-eye and opened it.Jackie Talbot tumultuous disturbance in. His eyes were wild and his face was smeared with soot. He had been beverage it up with Steve and Henry when the news came at ten minutes of twelve. They had gone back to town in Henrys ripened Dodge convertible, and had seen the Jackson Avenue gas main explode from the vantage point of Brickyard Hill. When Jackie had borrowed the Dodge and started to drive back at 1230, the town was a panicky shambles.Chamber lains burning up, he said to Billy. Whole fuckin town. The cultivates gone. The Centres gone. West End blew up gas. And Carlin Streets on fire. And theyre saying Carrie White did itOh God, Chris said. She started to get out of bed and grope for her clothes. What did- close up, Billy said mildly, or Ill relinquish your ass. He looked at Jackie again and nodded for him to go on.They seen her. Lots of people seen her. Billy, they say shes all covered with blood. She was at that fuckin prom tonight Steve and Henry didnt get it but Billy, did you that pig blood was it-Yeah, Billy said.Oh, no. Jackie stumbled back against the doorframe. His face was a sickly yellow in the light of the one hall lightbulb. Oh Jesus, Billy, the integral town-.Carrie trashed the alone town? Carrie White? Youre full of shit. He said it calmly, almost serenely. crumb him, Chris was dressing rapidly.Go and look out the window, Jackie said.Billy went over and looked out. The entire easterly horizon had g one crimson, and the sky was illumine with it. Even as he looked, 3 fire trucks screamed by. He could make out the names on them in the impertinence of the street light that marked The Cavaliers parking lot.Son of a whore, he said. Those trucks are from Brunswick.Brunswick? Chris said. Thats forty miles away. That cant be . . .Billy sullen back to Jackie Talbot. All right. What happened?Jackie shook his head. nothing knows, not yet. It started at the high school. Carrie and Tommy Ross got the mightiness and Queen, and then somebody dumped a orthodontic braces of buckets of blood on them and she ran out. Then the school caught on fire, and they say nobody got out. Then Teddys Amoco blew up, then that Mobil station on spend Street-Citgo. Billy corrected. Its a Citgo.Who the fuck cares? Jackie screamed. It was her, both place something happened it was her And those buckets none of us wore glovesIll take care of it, Billy said.You dont get it, Billy. CarrieGet out.Billy-Get ou t or Ill mute your arm and feed it to you.Jackie backed out of the door warily.Go home. Dont talk to nobody. Im exit to take care of everything.All right, Jackie said. Okay. Billy, I just thought-Billy slammed the door.Chris was on him in a second. Billy what are we going to do that bitch Carrie oh my Lord what are we going to-Billy slapped her, getting his whole arm into it, and knocked her on to the floor. Chris sat sprawled in stunned silence for a moment, and then held her face and began to sob.Billy put on his pants, his tee shirt, his boots. Then he went to the chipped porcelain privy in the corner, clicked on the light, wet his head, and began to straighten out his hair, bending down to see his thoughtfulness in the spotted, ancient mirror. Behind him, crinkly and distorted, Chris Hargensen sat on the floor, wiping blood from her disperse lip.Ill tell you what were going to do, he said. Were going into town and watch the fires. Then were approach path home. Youre goin g to tell your dear old daddy that we were out to The Cavalier drinking beers when it happened. Im gonna tell my dear ole mummy the aforesaid(prenominal) thing. Dig.Billy, your fingerprints, she said. Her voice was muffled, but respectful.Their fingerprints, he said. I wore gloves.Would they tell? she asked. If the police took them in and questioned them-Sure, he said. Theyd tell. The loops and swirls were almost right. They glistened in the light of the dun, flyspecked earthly concern like eddies on deep water. His face was calm, reposeful. The comb he used was a battered old Ace, clotted with grease. His father had given it to him on -his eleventh birthday, and not one tooth was broken in it. non one.Maybe theyll never find the buckets, he said. If they do, maybe the fingerprints will all be burnt of. I dont know. But if Doyle takes every of em in, Im heading for California. You do what you want.Would you take me with you? she asked. She looked at him from the floor, her lip pu ffed to negroid size, her eyes pleading.