The market for IntensCare product Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The market for IntensCare product - Case Study Example The company enjoys a large market power because of its innovativeness, formalized process of product development and heavy investments in product development (Donnellon and Margolis 2). Presently, MedSys Company has is the leading distributor of the IntensiveCare product in the market. The company has invested huge sums of money, amounting to $20.5 million in developing and launching the product (Donnellon and Margolis 1). Since the product is the most ambitious project in history, MediSys must have the largest market compared to its competitors. Nature of the market structure The nature of the market for IntensCare product is perfect competition. Perfect competition market is where there are many buyers and sellers so that the action of one trader has no significant impact on the market price. Perfect competition market is characterized by mobility of the factors of production such that producers can respond to price signals. Valerie Merz, for example, fears of losing the market share for to the forthcoming product, which are scheduled for release within the year (Donnellon and Margolis 1). Valerie is rational and seek to maximize utility and profits; this is the feature of a perfect competition market. The marketing function is interested in distributing and selling the product. Valerie Merz, the marketing manager was under pressure as she reviewed the agenda of the meeting intended for IntensCare product development team.

Chapter 8 Unemployment Taxes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Chapter 8 Unemployment Taxes - Essay Example Fines and interests are common but they can be avoided by depositing the taxes when due, filing the 940 forms accurately and within the stipulated time and finally by ensuring that the checks issued during tax payments are valid. State Unemployment Tax (SUTA) is not deducted from the employee’s wages in most of the states. They are usually paid by the employers. They are paid on top of federal unemployment taxes owed by the employer. Most employers who pay state unemployment tax are required to pay Federal Unemployment tax that is included in Form 940. It is deemed to be late by the federal government if submitted later than January 31 of the subsequent year. A state is said to be in a state of credit reduction if it has borrowed funds from the US federal government to help run the development activities but able to pay back the loan by the agreed time frame. Some states allow a voluntary contribution to reduce the state unemployment tax rate. Explain how this works and what does it accomplishes for the employer. How many states have this provision? Is it always a savings? Why or why not? Do Missouri and Illinois allow voluntary contributions? Voluntary contribution is an alternative practiced by employers in an attempt to reduce their tax rate and maintain them low. They opt to voluntarily pay some or all of the benefits paid to former employees instead of paying them through an increased unemployment tax rate. It is practiced in 23 states in the US. Partial benefit payment is a departmental term that is used to describe unemployment composition of less than the weekly amount of benefit that is paid to the claimant. Its sole purpose is to ensure that former employees still get some pay from their employers even after their employment has been terminated. The payments are made when the individual participates in odd jobs or subsidiary work that is not equal to the usual

The play, An Inspector Calls is written by J.B Priestley Essay Example for Free

The play, An Inspector Calls is written by J.B Priestley Essay The play, An Inspector Calls is written by J. B Priestley. It was written in 1945 and set in 1912, just before World War One. The play is all set in the Birling household in Bromley. In the play the Birlings and Gerald Croft are celebrating the engagement of Sheila Birling and Gerald. The are all celebrating in a self-satisfied way. Arthur Birling is telling Eric and Gerald about every man should be for himself and that everyone should look out for themselves and their families. There is a knock on the door and Inspector Goole bears the news of a young woman who died in an infirmary from drinking disinfectant. The Inspector slowly implicates all of the Birlings and Gerald into the suicide of the girl, Eva Smith. Mr. Birling fired Eva from her job, as she wanted a small pay-rise. Sheila got Eva fired from a job in Milwards by using her social power just because she was jealous of her. Gerald had met her and gave her a place to stay, but had then left her after a while. Eric had met her in a pub and then made love to her and got her pregnant; he then stole money from his father, Arthur to help support her. Mrs. Birling then turned Eva down from her help community and made sure no one else listened to Evas story. The Inspector made everyone confess to what they had done to contribute to Evas death. After the Inspector left, Arthur and Gerald realised that the Inspector wasnt really an Inspector. They all thought they were in the clear when the phone rang and the real police said there was a girl dead in an infirmary, and that the police were on there way to the Birling household for an interview. At that point the play ends. The structure is that it consists of three acts and it is set in real time, so the time it takes for story to unfold is the same time it takes the audience to watch the play. It also has a unity of place and action, so it is all in the same place (the Birling household) and so is the action. I think it is set like this to give the audience help in understanding the morality of the play, which is We are all members of one body, we are all responsible for each other. Priestleys main aims about responsibility is that he is saying everyone is responsible for everyone else, and that you cannot just care about yourself, the opposite of what Arthur Birling thinks. He demonstrates this by slowly making all the characters partly responsible for Evas death, and as a whole all the characters drove Eva to her death. So Priestley is teaching the characters a lesson as well as the audience watching. At the beginning of the play Priestley makes Arthur say a man has to mind his own business and look after himself but after the play the Inspector comes in Priestley contradicts what Arthur said by making all the characters partly responsible for Evas death. Priestley sets the play in real time so both the audience and characters can experience the feelings and emotions of the play at the same time. In the play, Priestley has made Arthur a man who believes in only looking out for yourself and your family only. Arthur makes out to be a man who can do as he pleases just because of his social and business position. Priestley also makes Arthur say things like -the Titanic- she sails next week-forty-six thousand eight hundred tons-New York in five days-and every luxury-and unsinkable Priestley made Arthur say this knowing full well that the Titanic was sinkable and did sink! I think Priestley is trying to make out about how wrong Arthur is on many aspects of life and that he is also wrong in thinking every man for himself.

Tamil Nadu Tourism Essay

Tamil Nadu Tourism Essay Welcome to Incredible Tamil Nadu Tourism Tamil Nadu is one of the state of India, Its capital is Chennai is the main centre where the traditional and modern merge,.Tamil Nadu population of 72,138.95as of 2011 .Divided into 32 districts in Tamil Nadu. State 89 % of population are Hindus .11% population together Christians and Muslims. Tamil Nadu official languages Tamil and English. Tamil Nadu culture and tradition together which attracts tourists from the whole world. Tamil Nadu known as the temple state of India, and all across this magnificent state one will find a remarkable memorials, temples containing involved carvings and humbling gateways. It is characterized by a history ,dates back to over five thousands years and a rich culture. Each attraction most important will have a religious or creative story attached to it will leave one spellbound Tamil Nadu Tourism revives the mind ,carry happiness, moderation , enjoyment gives to the Tourist. Tamil Nadu is taking a lot of opportunity for the development of tourism industry. It has many heritage centers, pilgrimage centers, long natural coastal line, perennial river system, hills station pilgrimage centers, and weather owing to lack of so many factors like infrastructure facilities, government cooperation, marketing facilities to mobile number to tourists within the India and abroad, proper planning and ideology Tamil Nadu state that attracts a huge number of foreign tourists every year. Tamil Nadu State with several famous for tourism genre The credit should be given to the presence of unlimited attractions that include beautiful temples, mesmerizing hill stations, silent beaches and cities with rich heritage. The credit should also be given to the high standards of the facilities that the top tour operators in the state arrange for the visitors. Tamilnadu-tour.in claims to be a leading name in offering customized tours to the foreigners, expecting a lot from the states tourism industry. INTRODUCTION; Tamil Nadu Tourism one of the preferred hotspots for persons wanting a continuing heritage, cultural and beautiful splendour .religious experience.Tamil Nadu is breath taking hill stations and long sunshiny beaches ,provides to people who visit not only to marinate in the culture but people who want to relax and just let go for a while. Tamil Nadu coastline 910 kilometers (600 Mt) long, Tamil Nadu third longest coastline in the country .Foriegn visitors were The government of Tamil Nadu is now making peaceful promotional efforts and accord importance for tourism. Tamil Nadu to promote as an attractive destination of tourist at the International level to support the existing tourism in the state. Tamil Nadu state provide world class services to tourist. Tamil Nadu 2nd state in attracting foreign tourists and 3rd in domestic tourists. .Tamil Nadu Tourism should be become an exclusive offerings to overcome all the above advantages for development. Tamil Nadu is popular for its mysteriou s beauty and charms ,It will surely capture your gentleness a lot. Foreign and Domestric travellers can easily determine a number of comfortable stay in boarding places in the Tamil Nadu, tourist stay,seven star hotels, five star hotels,three star hotels ,budget hotels and resorts. According tourist preferred to stay in accomdation of the Tamil Nadu state. Tourist can look for magnificent lodgings in Chennai, Ooty Coimbatore, Karaikudi, Trichy, Kanyakumari, Madurai, Tanjore, Dindigul ,Rameshwaram,Kodaikanal and yercaud, Natural resources tradition and further socio-cultural assets numerical demographic dynamics like employment, population, income,occupation levels. Tamil Nadu state sixteen tourist information centres situated at airports and railway stations in the state information on tourism potential and services in Tamil Nadu Tourism Tamil Nadu Tourism leads in Medical Tourism. Eco- Tourism. Rural Tourism, Pilgrimage Tourism Heritage Tourism Cultural Tourism Adventure Tourism Responsible Tourism TOURIST ATTRACTIONS AND HISTORICAL PLACES IN TAMILNADU HILL STATIONS AND BOTANICAL GARDEN; Ooty Ooty is famous as the queen of the hill stations and contains of attractive varieties, of the local economy is now controlled by tourism Kodaikanal Kodaikanal is one of the finest beautiful hill stations in Tamil Nadu.Its located about 7,200 feet above the sea level. Kodaikanal is honey moon destination of several tourist Thalaiyar Falls, as rat-tail falls is unique of the highest (975à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ² high)  falls .The falls seen although roaming from Ghat road to  Kodaikkanal by road. Yercaud An modest hill station, 30 km distance from Salem . Yercaud. isSettled mid the Shevaroy Hills of the Eastern Ghats, some of the places be visited are the Lake, Ladys Seat, Arthurs Seat, and the Shevaroyan temple. Tourists do make a point to pick coffee aswell as pears ,bananas and jackfruit Yercaud Lake is centrally situated and is the middle of attraction YelagiriKolli Hills Yelagiri is a popular hill station characterized by its scenic view Sirumalai Hills Valparai Top Slip Kalrayan Hills Pachamalai Hills Javvadhu Hills BEACHES; Marina Beach : Marina beach is a second largest beach in the world ,Its located in chennai  marina beach is a most tourist charm of the city Kannyakumari Beach Arabian Sea ,Bengal and the Indian Ocean the most exciting residences to go in Kanyakumari,and famous for Vivekanandar rock, Thiruvalluvar statue Eliots Beach Sottavalai beach Mudaliarkuppam Beach Sangutuarrai beach WATER FALLS Hogennakkal Falls Courtallam Falls Thirparappu Falls Papanasam Falls Akasa Gangai Falls FAMOUS TEMPLES AND DECLARED MONUMENTS Chola Temples (Thanjavur) Siva Temple (Gangaikonda cholapuram) Iravatheeswarar Temple (Dharasuram) Monuments(Mamallapuram) NavaTirupathi temples Navagraha Temples Six Residences of Lord Murugan Temples Located at: Kancheepuram The traditional and modern merge. Kanchipuram is famous tourist Place and is also well known for its silk sarees. Rameswaram Chidambaram Thanjavur Madurai Srirangam Thiruvannamalai Kanyakumari CHURCHES: Santhome Velankanni Manappad Ponnimadha Pannimaya Madha Church MOSQUES: Thousand Light Mosque(chennai) Nagore Durgha Thengaipattinam Keelakkarai Erwadi Kalyalpattinam PALACES: Thirumalai Naicker mahal Thanjavur Palace Chettinad palace Padmanabhapuram palace BIRD SANCTUARIES: Vedanthangal Karikilli Koonthakulam Karaivetti Pulicat Udhyamarthandapuram Vaduvoor Chittirankudi Pichavaram Mangrove Coast Vettangudi Vellode WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES: Mudumalai ; Madumalai is a famous for its wild life sanctuary Mundathurai Berijam Kalakkad Kodaikarai NATIONAL PARKS: Anaimalai Indira Gandhi National Park Gulf of Mannar Maraine National Park Guindy National Park LIST OF TOURIST ATTRACT DAM IN TAMIL NADU Tamil Nadu to satisfy there are many small and large man-made. dams Amaravathi Dam Mettur Dam Krishnagiri Dam Noyyal Oarathuppalayam Mukkadal Grand Anicut Bhavanisagar Dam Vaigai Dam Upper Anaicut Varattu Pallam Vaigai Dam Kamaraj Sagar Perunchani Dam Perumpallam Shanmuganathi Dam Solaiyar Dam Sathanur Reservoir Above all tourist destinations in the air reached from Ooty, the nearest airport, from Coimbatore, 100 km .Coimbatore is well attached to, Bangalore, Mumbai, Madurai and Chennai.. Ooty well attached by road to many cities. regular bus services attaching Ooty to Tiruchirapally, Coimbatore, Chennai ,Madurai, Mysore, Bangalore, Kanyakumari, Calicut, Ooty attached to Mettupalayam to toy train organisation on the narrow tracks PESTLE ANALYSIS OF TAMIL NADU TOURISM: PESTLE Analysis are Political.Economic,social,Technology,Legal and Environment (P)olitical Consequence on Tourism Industry: One of the earliest Political parties was south Indian Welfare Association founded in 1916. In 1960 made DRAVIDA MUNNETRA KAZHALAGAM standard more powerful political force in the state, In 1967 election DMK captured of state government,split from DMK in 1972 ALL INDIA ANNA DRAVIDA MUNNETRA KAZHALAGAM was founded , since 1967 this two political parties has power in the Tamil Nadu state . IN 2011 election ALL INDIA ANNA DRAVIDA MUNNETRA KAZHALAGAM head selvi J.Jayalalitha took control of the Tamil Nadu state .Governments announced several projects in tourism Industry leaders say much can be done to rebuild tourism reputations. although Tamil Nadu state .has often political violence, The Government targete travelers and foreigners and domestic touristBut with the right government and industry reactions, visitors people, most of them foreigners. ow a days one of the worlds most famous destination Tamil NaduTourism, more visitors.from foreign investors and hotel operators.opportunities fo r tourism, The Tamil Nadu minister for Tourism, That was prepared successfully by the Tamil Nadu themselves, said.Industry analysis say tourism to expand promptly over the future twenty five years. But, the key, they say, is that Tamil Nadu governments find ways to prevent political violence, and action quickly to composed (E)conomic Consequence on Tourism industry: Tamil Nadu 2nd largest Tourism economy, one of the most advanced states in India .Its worth of economic effort, the GSDP, stands at INR 4.28 lakhs crore, as of 2012 Tamil Nadu a. An investor sociable state with the government expressing policies for the development of the Tourism activities .Tamil Nadu will continue to stay in the top stage of the country, with an annual growth .Tamil Nadu Tourism With medical care in Vellore Chennai, Madurai and Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu Government undertaking tagline adopted to promoting tourism ,has a strong banking system huge potential for tourist economic ,basically best Industrialized state ,Urbanized state and Tourism state in India (S)ocial Consequence on Tourism industry: In Tamil Nadu there are more cultural sharing by tourist visitors ,tradition a common locality by its manner of behaviour and speech, the style of dress and embellishment, the food behaviours and the social arrangement of life Tourist,people important contribution to sociality Tamil Nadu will reach a high standard of sociality development, with the Human Development of the state equivalent those of established countries (T)echnology Consequence on Tourism industry: Tamil Nadu 2nd largest software technologyexporter in Indiais central to Tamil Nadus foreign position and accounts for over Tamil Nadu is well placed to adventure its force in the IT sector to these management systems. Tamil Nadu has a moderately advanced technology,TamilNadu Infrastructure that is accomplished of searching, storage and supervision information. (L)egal Consequence on Tourism industry: Legal of Tamil Nadu provides several simulations The application for respect shall be the recognition as an permitted Travel Agent shall be decided by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, for five years, based on the Inspection Report Approvals of a Committee comprising of the Travel Agency should be under the charge of the Owner a full time member is sufficiently trained, proficient in matters ,concerning ticketing, , transport, accommodation currency,facilities, customs tourism, regulations and travel services. effective ,statement skills, knowledge of overseas languages, other than English. (E)nvironment Consequence on Tourism industry: Environment is gradually gaining standing eco-friendly journey tours are also gaining in Tamil Nadu Tourismseveral perfect locations to attract the tourist. The Eco Friendly areas of Tamil Nadu are for sightseeing the Environment at its finest and to be a measure of it. Tamil Nadu tourism Introduce the use of recycled paper ,polythene bags to possible Tamil Nadu alternatives encourage the planting of trees and greening of the local environment of tourism industry TAMIL NADU FUTURE TOURISM ; THREE RANGE OF YEARS IN Vision 2022 Vision 2030 Vision 2037 VisionTamil Nadu Tourism 2022 Tamil Nadu Tourism sets the plan for organisation development for the state to reach the preferred outcomes by 2022. Capital income of Tamil Nadus people will reach US   $10,000 per annum Income countries, Tamil Nadu Tourism provide to its people, high quality infrastructure arrangement overall state comparable with the finest in the world.Important to reaching Vision 2022 is classifying the organisation requirements.Tamil Nadu Tourism plans to develop the vital facilities. This Vision 2022document statements the inter-play in the middle of 3 crucial constituents of development, specifically should be the long term growth goals of Tamil Nadu Anything are the inputs required in terms of infrastructure, investments policies be the targeted amount produced mix in terms of financial income, sectoral structure and pace of development should the benefits be spread in people balance between growth and environmentVision 2022 include tourism industry enhanced economic enthusiasm, fines t in class human development indicators, a well established organisation Tamil NaduTourism will be amongst Indias maximum economically successful states by 2022, achieving the growth countries worldwide. Tamil Nadu will show a highly complete growth pattern it will mostly be a deficiency free state with occasions for gainful and productive occupation for disadvantaged, Tamil Nadutourism will be Indias most important state in social growth and will have the peak Human Development . Tamil Nadu Tourism development will improveWater Sanitation, Dynamism, Transportation, Connectivity, Irrigation Education and Healthcare. Tamil Nadu Tourism will be one of the top favourite investment destinations in Asia and the best preferred in India repute for good organization and competitiveness.Tamil Nadu Tourism will be known as the modernisation hub on the asset of world class organisations in various grounds and the best human ability.Tamil Nadu Tourism will safety zone ,Peace, Security and Fortune for all citizens and trade, supporting free movement of ideas, people , business and rest of the world VisionTamil Nadu Tourism 2030: Tamil Nadu Tourism development plan Vision 2030 has suggested to establish nearby villages for the development of the area.The vision document evaluated that about Rs 18,940 crore needed to be invested for the development of the areas for high tech tourism spots . The Tamil Nadu Tourism Department would invest the improve Government accomodation,star hotels, resorts and budget class hotels. More Foreign visitors to attract will open new parks ,bullet rail and moreInternational Airport in the state.The particulars finding in several levels of tourism Tamil Nadu will reservation and care for it Eco Tourism and Heritage Tourism Tamil Nadu Tourism Industry will actively address the sources of liability of the state ,its people owing to reservations arising from accepted causes, profitable recessions, and extra man-made motives and mitigate the effects.Vision 2030 Tamil Nadu Tourism will develop culture of responsive the see-through ability the security, and equivalent chance to all stake holders. Vision Tamil Nadu Tourism 2037 : Vision 2037 document, prepared by specialists on behalf Tamil Nadu government, has underlined that the natural resources state can be transformed future investment on creative economy.The vision 2037 future document, which is a highway map for future development, Tamil Nadu Tourism administration is preparing vision 2037 document for raise of tourism, keeping vision 2037 in mind. Is prepared by a board headed by tourist can revenue full value of creative economy. Infrastructure for Tamil Nadu tourism includes growth of resorts, hotels ,theme parks and entertaining hitech mallsimprovements to heritage monuments, development of places of tourist interest and the Tamil Nadu state targets a foreign tourist of 30 million by vision 2037. The estimated total investment in various projects amounts to Rs. 30,000 crore. SUSTAINABILITY IN TAMIL NADU TOURISM The Tamil Nadu Tourism Department is focusing on growth of sustainable tourism and in coming days all plans will be in sustainable Tourism model, The sustainable development method involves that the natural, cultural and other resources of Tamil Nadu Tourism All tourism simulations in coming days will be based on eco-tourism ,heritage tourism pilgrimage tourism, educational tourism model in Tamil Nadu Tourism.At present Tourism is one of the huge Industries in Tamil Nadu which are receiving more foreign tourists, every year. The Tamil Nadu Tourism Department, also the role of local media saying that local media is very active Tamil Nadu Tourism in and have been importance many local issues on systematic basis. This approach is really significant because utmost tourism development depends on charms and activities related to the natural location, important heritage and cultural patterns of areas Its heartening to see that in a like Tamil Nadu Tourism compared to several states, activit ies and participation of local media is very very high,TamilNadu is sustainability place in tourist attractions its contain towering temples pristine beaches, , , churches, mosques, scenario mountains wildlife. Other important fact of sustainable improvement relate to stress on pilgrimage-based tourism and quality tourism. This method to tourism focuses on forecasting and development process The Art, culture and planning represents all attractions. The Tamil Nadu Tourism cultural tradition invites foreign tourists. TamilNadu tops in foreign tourist visit in Medical Tourism and natural resources experience the enchanting TamilNadu present sustainability position involves related to the airlines, cruise and responsible Tourism Industry.Sustainable tourism generate benefits besides provided that tourist attractions, services and Facilities for`good value for money tourism resources and Charm the varieties of tourists. It is important to appreciate that sustainability and the movements required are part of a package with amongst the tourist Tamil Nadu Tourism is an motivated and statement that aims to Tamil Nadu to achieve likely along compound scopes of economic success, fullness, social progress, cultural plurality, and environmental sustainability. It dimensions on the strengths of Tamil Nadu sustainability due to natural the hard work of her citizens, and the results of governance. The focus of this document is on the physical, social and institutional infrastructure that needs to be established in Tamil Nadu if the growth rates in several sectors under to be achieved Taken in part or realized piecemeal, they are not probable to succeed. The goals set are achievable but call for a stretch by all investors the Tamil Nadu State government .

moralant confant Conflicting Values in Sophocles Antigone :: Antigone essays

Conflicting Values in Antigone In the play "Antigone" by Sophocles, Creon and Antigone have distinct and conflicting values. Creon's regard for the laws of the city causes him to abandon all other beliefs. He feels that all should obey the laws set forth by him, even if other beliefs, moral or religious, state otherwise. Antigone, on the other hand, holds the beliefs of the gods in high reverence. She feels that the laws of the gods should be obeyed above all others, especially when in respect to family. Creon has a very strong opinion about the laws of the city and the laws passed by him. His method of enforcing them is very strict. Creon orders that Polyneices will not be buried because of his dishonor towards Thebes. Furthermore, if anyone is caught burying him they will be killed for disobeying his order. Polonieces is Antigone's brother. He is being punished because he attacked Thebes and betrayed Creon and the people of Thebes. Creon's harsh punishment on those who disobey the law makes many fear him and dare not to go against him. One example is Ismene's regard for Creon's laws. She tries to talk her sister out of burying her brother because of what could happen to her if Creon found out that she went against him. Ismene says "We must obey them.....I yield to those who have authority"(5). Not only do the people of Thebes obey the laws of the city because of their fear but because it is a shame to dishonor the king. To go against the kings claim and dishonor the law is to die a more shameful death then Antigone's mother and father(59-60). Antigone does not want to let her brother be left without a proper burial. Her belief is to show respect and love towards her brother she must bury him. Her beliefs in "The sacred laws that Heaven holds in honor" are far more important than those set by the king(Antigone 78). She feels that the king cannot override her belief in the gods. Â  Antigone feels very strongly about burying her brother against Creon's orders. She refused to back down from her opinion even when confronted by the king and sentenced to death. Antigone reasoning is: "It was not Zeus who published this decree, Nor have the powers who rule among the dead Imposed such laws as this upon mankind; Nor could I think that a decree of yours- A man-could override the laws of Heaven Unwritten and unchanged"(450-455).

Religious Symbolism in John Steinbecks The Grapes of Wrath Essay

Religious Symbolism in John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In his novel The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck portrays the movement of a family of migrant workers, the Joads, from Oklahoma to California during the Great Depression. Steinbeck's novel, though it is surprisingly lacking in surface-level symbolism, was "conceived [on] simultaneous levels of existence, ranging from socio-economic determinism to transcendent spirituality" (DeMott, xiii). One of the many levels on which this novel can be read is as a parallel to the stories of Christ and the Exodus (Louis Owens, John Steinbeck's Re-Vision of America, quoted in DeMott, xiii). Steinbeck intertwines allegories based on these two stories throughout his novel. Through these intertwined religious textures, and the destitution and depression that constitutes the greater part of the novel, Steinbeck conveys the message of the impending "death of religion" while at the same time establishing his novel as a sort of new gospel for the people. On the surface, one can read Steinbeck's novel in one of two ways: by reading the longer, even-numbered chapters, one gains a close understanding of the life of this particular family. But by reading the shorter, odd-numbered, "intercalary" chapters, which could almost constitute a short novel in and of themselves, one begins to comprehend the "epic sweep" of the exodus of multitudes of workers to California, the apparent promised land. Steinbeck intended to separate these two stories in the reader's mind, as we see in his journal kept while writing the book, published later as Working Days: I find that I am not very satisfied with the numbering of these chapters. It may be that they simply will be numbered with large nume... ...apes highlight the differences between the times in which the two stories were written, and the flaws of the culture in which Steinbeck wrote. The approach of looking at this epic as it relates to the Christian tradition sheds some new light on it, and in addition shows that Steinbeck truly meant this work to be remembered for all time.    Works Cited DeMott, Robert. "Introduction". The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Penguin, 1992: vii-xliv. Levant, Howard. "The Fully Matured Art: The Grapes of Wrath". The Novels of John Steinbeck: A Critical Survey. Columbia, Mo.: University of Missouri Press, 1983. New Revised Standard Version Bible. New York: American Bible Society, 1989. Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Penguin, 1992. Steinbeck, John. Working Days: The Journals of the Grapes of Wrath. Ed. Robert DeMott. New York: Viking, 1989.

Internet Piracy and Its Economic Effects

The ongoing dispute over illegal Internet-based file sharing between the entertainment and software industries and the vast, online pirating community has been one of the most debated upon topics that has gripped public attention for the past decade. What was once a single public website created by a college dropout has become an empire of trafficking communities, used by hundreds of millions of people, that robs billions in revenue each year. Although these rogue websites claim to strictly serve only as hosts for illegal file sharing, the United States government must take action to eliminate Internet piracy and protect copyright by implementing digital encryption technologies and strict laws that prohibit tampering these encryptions. The trafficking of copyrighted goods must be put to an end because it promotes illegal transactions of an owner's intellectual property, causing sales in the entertainment and software industries to plummet and thereby restricts the growth of the economy. Internet piracy is the unlawful reproduction and/or distribution of any copyrighted digital file without the consent of the owner. It is driven by the consumers demand for a desirable product that would otherwise be unobtainable, either because of financial limitations or cultural factors, such as the Chinese culture's emphasis that the free sharing of knowledge creates and preserves both civilization and traditional values across generations (Lu 310). Consequently, such a mindset that has caused many people to believe piracy to be the solution to their individual economic problems has resulted in the slow, yet unrelenting destruction of the economy. Spearheaded by several websites hosting millions of users every day, illegal file sharing services have robbed entertainment and software companies of billions of dollars each year and have direct correlations to the current economic depression. The era of internet piracy began in May of 1999 when a college student founded an internet website called Napster that allowed users to upload and download music for free through connected computer networks (Internet Piracy). In the first four months of its initial release, Napster hosted roughly 1 million users (Bach 4). After one year, however, the service became so popular that the Napster community expanded to an unprecedented 20 million users. Though it was eventually charged for copyright infringement and lost a series of legal battles, Napster had already introduced the world to internet piracy. For the first time ever, Napster, in just two years, caused the music industry, specifically in compact disc sales, to steadily lose roughly $500 million in revenue in each preceding year (Bach 5). The damage that these rogue websites have done to the entertainment industry by promoting and hosting file sharing services has been catastrophic. In the fifth annual global piracy study by the Business Software Alliance, BSA discovered that in 2007, â€Å"Worldwide, for every two dollars' worth of software purchased legally, one dollars' worth was obtained illegally. BSA) † Not only is internet piracy hurting the economy by dramatically lowering sales in the worldwide market, it is also making it increasingly difficult for artists, developers and their companies to produce new content to stimulate economic growth because of the daunting fact that their product will more likely be copied and redistributed rather than acquired legally through purchase. In the United States music industry, for example, the NPD group reported that only 37% of music acquired by consumers in 2009 was paid for (RIAA). If there is no payout, producers have less incentive to quickly develop new content. Likewise, without the revolving door of investment and revenue, the ability to bring the next generation of talent, such as artists and inventors, to the marketplace is diminished- as is the incentive for the aspiring talent to pursue a full time career in his or her desired industry (Gee 20). Furthermore, a decreasing amount of new products entering the market, coupled with the increasingly scarce number of new talents willing to enter the slumping entertainment industry and the continuously growing pirating community will only add fuel to the pre-existing fire that is the recession. Previously passed bills Protect IP Act and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act have done little in the war against Internet piracy as a majority of the pirating sites have turned to Bit Torrent technology as the method of choice to avoid drawing blame for directly handling intellectual property during illegal transactions. This advanced protocol maximizes transfer speed by gathering pieces of the file you want and downloading these pieces simultaneously from the computers of those who have downloaded from the same source- referred to as â€Å"seeders (Carmack 1, 3). As of 2009, Bit Torrent file sharing has accounted for approximately 43% to 70% of Internet trafficking, making it one of the biggest contributors to the declining entertainment and software industry (Schulze). Although it would be impossible to shut down every rogue website that provides file sharing services, it is possible to prevent consumers from uploading purchased products onto these sites by implementing digital encryption keys that are unique to each product, in which content is distributed not as raw data, but rather inside a secure container (Bach 7). Dubbed â€Å"Digital Rights Management (DRM), † these technologies have already been implemented in America's motion picture industry and have greatly limited the number of pirated DVD's. Moreover, digital encryption keys may be able to help stimulate the economy. Consider the notion that a good must be scarce, exclusive and rivalrous in order to draw consumer demand. Now, take into account that illegally copying and redistributing a good on the internet has zero marginal cost. The majority of people would rather commit to the latter instead of paying for said good, therefore eliminating rivalry, scarcity and exclusiveness in the market. If, however, encryption keys were to be equipped to each product, DRM would re-establish excludability and thus an artificial notion of rivalry and scarcity because each product would require a unique key code acquired upon purchasing the good (Bach 9). Companies would have more control over the distribution of its property while consumers can still keep their legally purchased product. What is more, the addition of laws prohibiting the tampering of these keys as well as severe punishment and fines would act as a strong deterrence to piracy. Unless the United States government adopts the ideas of implementing digital encryption technologies and passing strict laws that severely punish those who tamper with these electronic locks, the cycle of economic depression and inflation of products in the market will continue forever. Some may argue that these ideas to reinforce copyright will tip the balance of power away from consumers to the producers and also infringe upon the rights of an individual's freedom of expression, the right to privacy, and the right to communicate (Lu 299). Yet, implementing key codes and laws to protect them (key codes) in no way limit a person's right to speech, privacy, nor expression. For instance, a boy named Bob purchases a digital version of the hit song â€Å"Gangnam Style† and really enjoys the instrumental as well as lyrics. Though he cannot upload his copy of â€Å"Gangnam Style†Ã¢â‚¬  to the Internet and share it with others, he may still express his feelings about the song and tell others why he likes it. Bob is not restricted to enjoying the song by himself. In fact, he can post links of his new favorite song to his Twitter, Facebook, or any website; he just cannot distribute HIS copy in any way to anyone else. Though suggested method of protecting copyright may seem like it infringes about human rights, it does not. It merely serves, literally, as a protective cage surrounding your digital content.