Marketing Strategy of TVs Motors

Marketing Strategy of TVs Motors TVS Motor Company is Indias third largest manufacturer and company had made success in their last ten years. TVS achieved many awards for their quality of products, customer satisfaction and for their technology. This paper analyzing the organizations various strategies models as well as describes the financial statement analysis for last five year. Analyzed how the company reached the current position and described the recommendations for TVS Motor Company. Introduction: An organizational study is conducted to have a clear and proper understanding of the organizations basic structure, coordination and functioning at all levels. Every organization involves in identifying and coordinating the work that being performed and delegates authority and responsibilities. Organizations are always looked as a social entity directing towards designated goals that are designed as coordinated activity and structured deliberately linking to external environment. In a country like India which has seen an industrial revolution in last couple of decades, bringing large multinational corporate and industries to the country any organization would require strong organizational functioning to compete with other industries in the market paving way to success and preferences to the organization. My organization study involves research on various departments to understand their functions within and their purposes. I have also tried to bring out the achievements of the organiz ation so far and how it competes with its competitors. It was also important for me to study how they progress towards their mission and vision of the organization. Before doing a study on any organization it was important to have compassion on the concepts, principles and requisites of the organizations. Concepts of an organization: Every organization involves in a process of identifying and grouping the work that has to be done. It defines and delegates the authority and responsibility to every individual or sector. It establishes strong relationship with its employees to accomplish its objectives and performing work efficiently. Principles: Principles are tailored on theoretical basis on which the strategies of the organization is built or framed. There are several fundamental principles there are to be followed in developing an organization strong and efficiently. Some of them are Unity of objective Unity of command Specification Span of control Co-ordination Exception Flexibility Communication Simplicity Efficiency REQUSITIES: The objectives of the organization are to be candid and clear and the organizations understanding their capacity in achieving them. All activities within the organization are implemented efficiently and easily. Proper coordination on all activities that being executed. Communication system inside the organization should be direct and effective. Should be complete with all essential activities being put into action. There should be reasonable span of control at all levels Wherever required, provision is to be available for expansion Defined procedures are to be followed on all functions of the organization Organization should always aim at promoting morality of its employees Proper diversion on authority and responsibility is required Business strategy: TVS motors which originates from Trichur Vengaram Sundaram Iyengar motors is one among the leading motorcycle company in India .it is the third largest two-wheeler manufacturer company in India and among the top ten in the world. It holds annual revenue of more than $ 1 billion .Its a flagship company with TVS group USA with 4$ billion. It strives and thrives in manufacturing innovative and pioneer products. TVS emphasizes on launching new products with its new product introduction (NPI) team of approximately 300 engineers who stand at forefront in executing strategic visions for the organization for its new products. Though these products are developed domestically it collaborates with globally technical renowned partners. It aims to introduce six to ten products every year to address broad-based requirements of the market. Bike for Anyone: TVS Motors aims at introducing wide range products thats suits the needs of all two wheeler riders. It holds products from mopeds to racing motorcycles. The prices of these motorcycles are also affordable and reasonable to suit financial status of middle and upper middle class people in India. It was also the first motorcycle company in India to launch mopeds that were easily affordable to labor and wager groups of India. Penchant for Quality: TVS Motor has established four manufacturing plants located at Mysore, Hosur, Himachal Pradesh and one in Indonesia. The company is more consistent on its quality of its products so far. The vehicles were long lasting and reliable. Innovation at the Helm: Strength of the organization lies in its design and development of its new products, the company launched seven products on the same day in 1997, making it all the first automotive company to do so. They aim at developing superior customer satisfaction. TVS presents quality vehicles to meet ever changing need of its customer and market, the company already holds 15 million customers on road. History: The company was founded by Trichur Vengaram Sundarm Iyangar. He initially started on transport business holding large fleet of buses, trucks under the name of southern roadways limited. Later the company spread its wings on automobile sector, including insurance, finance, two wheelers manufacturing components, and tires. It is combined with 33 companies of its own to bring a turnover of nearly 3 billion USD. On 1978 the company started plant at Hosur to manufacture mopeds as a new division. Later the company collaborated with Suzuki on 1982 on a joint venture to obtain brand impression on its customers. Major Milestone Year by Year: 1978: TVS Motors was started as a new division of TVS. 1982: Incorporated as Indians motors. It collaborated with Suzuki motors. 1984: 59,400,000 shares were issued on which 7, 00,000 shares Sundaram Clayton ltd, Chennai. 70,000 Anusha investments 20, 00,000-Suzuki motors 2, 20,000 -Employees and business associates 29, 70,000- public 1985: incorporated Lakshmi Auto Company6 for Manufacturing transmissions and critical engine parts. 1986: company name was changed from Indo Suzuki motors to TVS Suzuki motors 1990: launched 34cc Miniped 1997: set up auto ancillary estate at Mysore and Hosur 1998: RS: 1,000 crore mark in 1997-1988 introduced first four stroke vehicle in the country 2003: Recorded share of 35% of share in motorcycle division, Recorded 31% growth on its sales. Company introduced racing bikes that were tested in Asian circuits. 2006: Appointed new president 2007: launched 7 motorcycles on the same day making a mark in history 2010: Launched Indias first auto clutch motorcycle in Chandigarh. TVS Michael porters competitive force model The strategy is developed by Michael porter which describes the external factors affecting the organization. The TVS analysis is as follows: Supplier Power: Although TVS has been a prominent supplier for economic class customers in two wheelers market, here we take the power of the suppliers for TVS to analyze. The Supplier market for TVS is highly fragmented and the possibility for backward integration is also high which has restrained the power of the suppliers. TVS engages with several local suppliers for their spares and parts for their automobiles manufacturing. The entry of many new small scale manufacturers has also contributed to the benefit of large automobile manufacturers like TVS to source their Spares and parts at a very optimal price. This clearly indicates the low supplier power. Buyer Power: Buyers power in two wheelers industry is more as the product diversity and brands available in the market are exceptionally high. Buyers today are demanding and specific on their needs for the money they pay. They are looking for the brand that offers better pricing and technology which has shadowed the customer loyalty for any brand today which is the most faced threat by TVS. Threat of Substitutes: Threat from substitutes is quite low when compared to other forces since market seems only to grow and mature every day. But when looked down the line we could anticipate a threat from the dramatically escalating petrol cost which might cause customers to switch to economic diesel cars. As well growing environmental concerns has also brought in bicycles and battery two wheelers that might pose a threat in future to TVS. Intensity of Rivalry: Two wheelers industry is most known for the competitive market and rivalry. Two wheeler brands like Bajaj, Honda and Yamaha have come up with various product line and technology targeting the customer segment of age group 20 to 30 years who are more fascinated to sporty two wheelers. But TVS has very less sporty models available for customers to choose that has restrained power of the brand over the most targeted customer segment by its competitors. Although TVS has a better power over the mid aged economic class customer segment, competitors now are increasing their focus on taking over it too. Barriers to New Entrants: New entrants face a moderate barrier in penetrating the market since it is consolidated by few and strong suppliers. As the market size of the two wheelers industry is big and requires a strong footprint with high capital investment, new entrants find it difficult to fit themselves among the market front-runners. Thus TVS is not susceptible to threats from the new entrants to the industry. TVS Motors market share The market share of all Two-wheeler is affected by various inflation, rise in petrol price and interest rate. Automobile industry had unexpected growth around 15% is due supported by various external factor like urban development, developed public transportation, financial purchases and Two-wheeler penetration into various region. Hero Honda dominated in the market by 55% (2011-2012) in last five quarters. Market Share with competitors April Feb. 2011 Source: TVS Motor Company Financial performance Details/Year 2011-12 2010-11 2009010 2008-09 2007-08 Sales other income* 7148 6324 4485 3741 3310 Profit before interest, depreciation, amortization and tax* 520 491 304 247 219 Profit before tax 316 248 76 31 35 Profit after tax 249 195 88 31 32 Net fixed assets 1078 995 983 1036 1043 Share capital 48 48 24 24 24 Reserves and surplus 1122 952 842 786 798 Net worth 1170 999 835 735 769 Total borrowings* 831 768 1003 906 666 Earnings per share #(Rs.) 5.24 4.10 1.86 0.66 0.67 Dividend per share (Rs.) 1.30 1.10 1.20 0.70 0.70 Book value per share# (Rs.) 24.38 20.81 17.40 15.32 16.02 EBITDA/turnover (%) 7.3 7.4 6.8 6.6 6.6 Profit before tax/turnover (%) 4.4 3.9 1.7 0.8 1.1 Return on capital employed (%) 19 16.4 8.0 5.6 2.8 Return on net worth (%) 23.0 21.3 11.2 4.1 4.1 Source: TVS Motor Company The company achieved the annual sales of two million as growth of 32% by selling 1.52 million units last year. The company made their growth in all three segment as Executive as 26%, Economy as 12% and Premium as 38% for the year of 2011. When compared with 2010, there is increased in sale of fixed asset in 2011. On 2011 fiscal year TVS Motors acquires assets increasing the liquidatory assets to 1.70 crores. Due to increase in RD expenses decrease in sales and investment in manufacturing sector increased the companys liabilities to 950.49 crores. Companys capital expenditure was 91.63 crores in year 2011. In the year 2011 current ratio stands at 0.17 while the debt ratio is at 0.98%. The cash ratio is 1.4 times than previous as the number proves that the companys stable but if the ratios are not improved over years the companys long time sustainability will be at jeopardy. Operational analysis SWOT Analysis Strengths: TVS is an International player with brand equity and plays important role in Indian two wheeler markets. RD department team gives them a leading edge in markets technology development covering various segments like moped, motor cycle and scooter. These differences make the products attractive for people of all ages. TVS has a wide spread of distribution network and numerous service centers covering all regions of its service areas which provide a unique service to its customers. TVS groups have 40,000 knowledgeable, experienced and skilled employees providing service to more than 15 million customers in India. Advertising with brand ambassadors and attracting people with more promotional activities. Products with low price, high fuel economy, eco friendly less emission and unique design with its competitors. Weaknesses: Despite exporting products to various countries worldwide, its not a globally recognizable brand yet. Lack of competitive premium bikes to attract the riders in the market. Most of the RD resources used in economy and executive products shading the premium segment. Opportunities: One of the fastest growing automobile providers in India. Export is limited and the international market is untouched which gives a versatile opportunity to explore and establish international market. More movement in higher-end model and more young generation are motivated towards motorcycle. Threats: Heavy competition from other competitors and from other international brand i.e. importing of cheap motorcycle from china. Gradual increase in fuel price, Decrease in car prices, policies and increase in taxes will affect margin for dealer as well as customer. Improving public transport will have an effect on the automobile sales. Spare parts are expensive which increases the maintenance cost. TOWS Matrix Analysis SWOT and TOWS are acronyms to each other, where as strength and weaknesses comes under internal environment. Opportunities and threats are comes under the external environment. But for practical study, TOWS describes internal environment and SWOT describes external environment. Strength: TVS is International player with brand equity and plays important role in Indian two wheeler markets. Excellent RD work of products and different products in various segments like moped, motor cycle and scooter. These differences make attraction to people from different age. TVS had wide spread distribution network and numerous service centers which make easy for people. TVS groups have more than 15 million customers and knowledgeable, experienced, skilled 40,000 employees. Advertising with brand ambassadors and attracting people with more promotional activities. Products with low price, fuel economy, less emission and excellent design when compared to other company. Weaknesses: Even though exporting to various countries, it is not globally recognizable brand. Fail to cover premium segment bikes and their segments are only for middle class customers. Opportunities: One of the fastest growing segments in India is automobile segment. Export is limited and untouched international market. More movement in higher-end model and more young generation are motivated towards motorcycle. SO TVS had unbeatable sales in moped and scooter. (S1O1) They had 3500 dealer for making sales and giving excellent service to customers. TVS maintains its brand image by designing products for all customers from low income to high income people. (S4O3) Employed more engineers in RD to bring their designing performance and development in all categories. TVS has ratio in debt equity is 0.1. WO Even though it is not globally recognized, TVS made an excellent land mark in India. (W1O2) TVS need more concentration in premium vehicles because sales of premium vehicles are growing in recent years. (W2O3) Market share is reducing when compared to last few years. Threats: Heavy competition from other competitors and from other international brand i.e. importing of cheap motorcycle from china. Gradual increase in fuel price, policies and increase in taxes will affect margin for dealer as well as customer. Improving public transport will have an effect on the automobile sales. Spare parts are costlier. ST Automobile is one of the growing sectors in the world, so it is golden opportunity to come forward in global market. (S1T1) TVS need more concentration in RD to improve the use of personal transportation. (S2T3) WT TVS has other competitors in two wheeler segment, which is the main drawback for them. Cost of spare parts and their products are high when compared to other company. (W2T4) TVS BCG Growth Share Matrix: The BCG Growth-Share Matrix is a planning model in which business is divided into four major based on market growth and market share. The growth share in this table positions the two major things of profitability. Star (Scooter) Question mark (New motorcycle and new scooter) Cash cow (Moped) Dog (Motorcycles) Star: Star denotes high market growth and high market share in the industry. This position defends when the organization invest large amount in this segment. There is decrease in the growth when compared to last year, so this is the reason scooter comes under star category. It will turn into cash cow when there is gradual increase in coming years. Cash cow: Cash cow denotes low market growth and high market share in the industry. In moped sector it is the major contribution to the market share because moped have more advantages like low cost when compared to other moped manufacturing company. Handling is very simple and this is more preferred by small traders. Teenagers are using this vehicle as an entry point for them. This dominates in the position of cash cow because increase in the growth of sales in every year. Question mark: Question mark denotes high market growth and low market share. In this category, there are two things to be considered as invest greatly in the products or to clear up this products. The company launches new TVS Flame which gets more drawbacks in the market and the company planned to launch the product with redesign. Company had greater growth in the scooter segment, so they launched electric scooter due to increase in the fuel price. But the product is failed due to some motor problems. So company need to invest in them for increase in market growth, this is the reason that these products comes under the question mark. Dog: Dog denotes low market growth as well as low market share in the industry. In this segment, the motorcycle is divided into three categories as economy segment which had increase in 2% when compared to last year. In executive segment, decrease in 1% when compared to last year. But in premium segment, there is no increment or decrement when compared to last year. Market share came down when compared to last year, so this is the main reason that motorcycle comes under the category of dog. Marketing, Financial and RD Strategies Marketing strategy: The company volume growth increased largely from the year of 2010-2011, but the company does not have similar growth in last year of 2011-2012. The company had huge demand in moped, scooter and only in premium motor cycle; so these are volume key drivers in TVS motor company. The company is planning to build key model brand, so company had planned to have sustain success in their products like Star, Victor and Apache. These products had made brand image to maintain its success and these success made the company to introduce the new products in the market. These are key volume drivers and their focus to sustain their growth of the company. TVS motors have decided to launch seven new vehicles at a time in the year of 2007, so this will make the company as a young multinational company. This makes work for continues three years to rollout all these seven products at a time. Within these seven vehicles, four of them are two-wheelers and three are passenger three-wheeler vehicles. These products are various technologies, design and new engine. TVS introduced CCVTi engine which reduce carbon-dioxide and reduce the monoxide by 70% which make green revolution and also introducing Fuel injection technology which consumes less fuel. TVS motors first introduce the electric scooter due to increase in fuel price in India. These are marketing strategies to cover imagination of people. TVS continuous improvement in quality of products resulted in winning various quality awards which brings more value for the customers. TVS offers 5-year warranty for Star vehicles, which gives customers more preference. These customer satisfaction and quality are the one of major role for marketing strategy. TVS dealers are using their own individual promotion plans to the final buyers. The company advertises to the customers to provide offers to buy products where dealers provide with sale promotion to the product now. The company offering more promotional plan such as exchange offer, finance conveniences to the customers, free services, follow-up customer for their services and complaints and other festival offers. These are various marketing strategy promotions to customers for buying the products and giving excellent service to their products to have sustained growth in market place. Financial strategy: TVS records the sale of 154,647 unit in August 2012 and 194,898 units in August 2011, whereas for Two-wheeler sales records 150,740 units in August 2012 and 190,184 units of sales in August 2011. In domestic sector, TVS records about 135,513 units in August 2012 against 163,705 units in August 2011. In motorcycle sector, TVS records 53,673 units in August 2012 against 77,726 units in August 2011. In scooter segment, records 38,193 units in August 2012 against 52,253 units in August 2011. From this analysis, there is gradual decrease in the sales of all sectors including moped, motorcycle and scooters. Company exports 17,934 units in August 2012 against 29,984 units in August 2011. In Three-wheelers, company sold 4,714 units in August 2011 but it decreased to 3,907 units in August 2012. From the total, the company fails to compete with the previous year of same month. Research and development (RD): The company has a strong research and development (RD) department, supported with state of the art aiding technologies. Their in-house world class testing facility gives them a unique environment for testing the engines noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) and life time warranty testing. To they are supported with modern computers for developing good design as well as for developing new innovation in the products. The team has been concentrating on eco-friendly products for a decade helping the fact of global climatic changes and increases of carbon dioxide release into the environment. They succeeded by out coming with a high fuel economy, reusable parts and low emissions hybrid products. Their automatic transmission technology for scooters is widely credited across the world due their very low emission and fuel economy. TVS RD department published 81 papers placing and they developed various products with this research and they are successfully running in the road. For national and international conferences, RD published around 81 technical papers. Joint venture and Value chain TVS has joint venture with Japaneses company Suzuki with whom it shares their technology, design and manufacture for two-wheeler under the banner TVS-Suzuki. TVS-Suzuki manufactured various products including Samurai, Shogun and Fiero. Due to the rising disputes and low profit margins TVS decided to break their collaboration with Suzuki. In 2011, companies came to an agreement, as per the company was renamed as TVS Motors and Suzuki promised not to enter Indian market for minimum period of 30 months. This decision by TVS motors allowed them to operate independently and proves to be effective as their profit increased noticeably. TVS Motors invested heavily in RD to launch new products with new technology and succeeded making TVS a highly recognized brand. After three years Suzuki entered Indian market and became one of the top five Two-wheeler Company in India. The value chain for the Two-wheeler company has many value chain partners including manufacturing, dealers (outlets include sales and service), financial agents, support services, advertising, contracts, transportation and more. The value chain for TVS Motors will act like one team and they aim for success. The company has appraisal agencies, call centre, collection agencies and dealer management system to get daily updates from dealers and maintain a global communication across their value chain partners. TVS has plans to implement Information Technology across the value chains, to reduce the delays and lags in communication between the value chain dealers. This IT adoption to the company will significantly increase the customer satisfaction, timely service and a well structured management. Business performance: The overall Two-wheeler sales is decreased to 5% due to absences of executive segment motorcycle, whereas scooter and moped segment increased by 10% in their sales growth. The company achieved all time high sales in export of 2.70 lakh in 2011-2012. Three-wheeler sales also increased slightly from 0.39 lakh to 0.40 lakh in 2011-2012. Spare parts also increased to 29% sales. TVS Wego had a huge growth of 60% in the scooter segment. These vehicles are distributed around 3500 dealer in India; they are authorized for both sales and services. TVS is continuously seeking for opening new dealerships to increase the growth of sales. The export sales are grown 51% where as domestic sales decline by 35% in the Three-wheeler market. There is large number of competitors in exporting, so company takes advantages of providing quality products as well as providing new market line for domestic market. For reducing the material cost and input material cost, company is using value engineering and global sourcing projects. TVS is using total quality management (TQM) as a cornerstone from 1987. So that company created manually called TVS Way and won award for national and state level competition. Recommendations and Implementations References TVS Motor Company. From : http://www.tvsmotor.in/tvsbrief.asp TVS Motor Company. From : http://www.tvsmotor.in/tvs-rd.asp TVS Motor Company. From : http://www.tvsmotor.in/global.asp TVS Motor Company. From : http://www.tvsmotor.in/investor.asp TVS Motor Company. Annual Report. From : http://www.tvsmotor.in/pdf/19th-Annual-Report-2010-2011.pdf TVS Motor Company. From : http://www.tvsmotor.in/investor-news-home.asp Indian Infoline. TVS Motor Company Ltd. From: http://www.indiainfoline.com/Markets/Company/Background/Company-Profile/TVS-Motor-Company-Ltd/532343 Business Line. TVS Motor seeks early end to licence pact with Suzuki. From : http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2001/12/29/stories/022907za.htm The Financial Express. TVS reaps Business Benefits through SAP. From: http://www.financialexpress.com/news/tvs-reaps-business-benefits-through-sap/60168/2 Live Mint. TVS Motor changes financing strategy. From : http://www.livemint.com/Money/uW1yXkCG0HsTBLIjI5rHKL/TVS-Motor-changes-financing-strategy.html Money Control. TVS Motor Company. From : http://www.moneycontrol.com/company-facts/tvsmotorcompany/history/TVS#TVS Indian Two-Wheeler Industry. From : http://www.icra.in/Files/ticker/Indian%202W%20Industry,%20Update,%20Feb%202012.pdf (Retrieved on Feb 2012)

The Modern Information Technology

The information age is the age we live in today, and with the information age comes an age of ethics. When we deal with the new technologies introduced every day, we need to decide what we must consider ethical and unethical. We must consider all factors so that the use of the information readily available to many persons is not abused. â€Å"Information technology will be the most fundamental area of ethical concern for business in the next decade† (Houston 2). The most widely used tool of the information age is the computer, whether it be a PC or a network of computer systems. As we enter the information age the newness and power of information technologies tests the ethics of the average person, not just the criminal and causes thousands of computer crimes to be committed daily. The most common computer crime committed daily, some aware and many not, is the illegal sharing of computer software. Software is any of the programs used in operating a digital computer, as input and output programs, as defined by Funk and Wagnalls Standard Desk Dictionary. When you purchase computer software, you purchase it with the understanding that it will be for se on a single computer, once installed on that system, it is not to be loaded on any other computer. However many people are not aware of this understanding, and many load a program on a couple of computers or on a whole network of computer systems not aware that they are committing a crime. Even though you probably will not be prosecuted for loading a program on a friends computer, this is where your ethics come in. Do you consider anything when you share a program with others? If not then consider the programmers of the software who are denied compensation for their developments every time you distribute a iece of software. â€Å"Why is it that people who wouldn't think of stealing pack of gum will copy a $500 piece of software† (Houston 3)? A popular form off illegal software distribution is throughout the online world. Whether it be the Internet, America Online, CompuServe, Prodigy, or a BBS (Bulletin Board System), software â€Å"pirates† thrive freely online. These so called â€Å"pirates† operate by uploading pieces of software, commonly referred to as â€Å"warez†, into an online service's database then sending through e-mail the rights to download them. â€Å"The Information Superhighway has opened the door to a new kind of highway robbery – the home shoplifting network† (Mattia 43). When you access a online service, you are identified through an account which most commonly consists of a user ID and password. The password is so you only can access the online service with your user ID. Many people online use their own accounts to access their service, but many steal and use the accounts of others or make fake accounts. When online, these account â€Å"pirates† many times trick other users into giving their passwords to them by impersonating an employee of the online service. Others can hack into the online services mainframe computer and steal thousands of accounts. Probably the most common method of getting online without paying is the use of fake or fraudulent accounts. These are made by giving false information when attempting to gain access to an online service. Name, address, phone number, and billing information, such as checking account or credit card number, are all falsified in obtaining an online account. With these stolen and fake accounts, software â€Å"pirates† have virtually unlimited time to download their â€Å"warez† without any charge to them. Many people don't consider the people behind the creation of software when they illegally distribute it. The developers of software are not properly compensated for their work because of the extent of software piracy. No one can argue with a software company's desire, and right, to make sure everyone using their products has paid for it (Furger 73). The numbers add up, it is estimated that in 1994 alone that software companies lost $15 billion from illegal software copying (Maremont 65). It is not only illegal, but clearly unethical to distribute software knowing hat the people behind the software are experiencing the downfalls of Every time software companies cannot compensate their programmers for their work, more people are out of a job. Consider this, you enter a store and purchase an item, during this transaction you give your name and phone number. The person you have given this information to then enters it into a computerized database. After this person has collected a sufficient amount of names, they then sell it to a telemarketing firm for a profit. This action is legal, but is it ethical. Do you want your name sold without your consent? Most people don't because they don't want to be bothered by sales persons on the telephone. Also, your address could be sold and you put on a mailing list. Then its an issue of do you want your mailbox filled with junk mail. This action is unethical for the simple reason of consent. If the person had just gained consent to enter the names into his/her database then he would not have committed and unethical act. One conclusion from studies sponsored by the National Institute of Justice is that persons involved in computer crimes get form skills and interests at an early age. Usually they are introduced to computers at home or in school and usually start their â€Å"career path† with illegally copying software (McEwen 2). As young people interact with hackers, they incorporate the beliefs of the hackers into their own. Many of these unconventional beliefs of young hackers about information and computers leads them to a career in computer crime. Many times it is the lack of education by parents and schools that helps to make these beliefs all the more true to a young person. Computer criminals have their own set of beliefs about information and computers. Their beliefs are based on obvious unethical reasoning. For example, hackers believe that computerized data are free and should be accessible to anyone. They also believe that passwords and other security features are simply obstacles to be overcome in obtaining data that should already be available and while data should never be destroyed, there is nothing wrong with viewing and transferring data for one's own use (McEwen 2). One member of the Legion of Doom, a nationwide group of hackers who exchange information about computer systems and techniques o break into them, has said, â€Å"Hackers will do just about anything to break into a computer except crashing a system, that's the only taboo† (McEwen 2). The key to stop computer criminals from forming is education. It is often times the case that people commit computer crimes without even know they are doing so and the reason for this is the lack of education. Few schools teach computer ethics, and parents of arrested hackers are usually unaware that their children have been illegally accessing computer systems (McEwen 2). Colleges and universities do not usually include computer use and abuse in their ourses, arguing that it is the responsibility of the schools. On the other hand, many secondary school educators are not sure about what should be taught and are reluctant or unable to add ethical computer education to many subjects in the curriculum. Textbooks on computer literacy rarely mention computer abuses and individual responsibilities. Educators and software developers have worked together to prevent software piracy in educational institutions. In 1987, the Software Copyright Committee of the International Council for Computers in Education (ICCE) developed a policy to guide educators. The policy call on school districts to teach staff the provisions of the copyright law and both staff and students the ethical and practical implications of software piracy. This policy has been adopted by many school districts across the country (McEwen 3). In recognition of the problems arising with the illegal and unethical use of computers, criminal justice forces have begun to crack down on computer criminals. In 1989, three computer crime studies were sponsored by the National Institute of Justice. One of these studies examined different organizational approaches for computer crime nvestigation and prosecution, another documented the experiences of several dedicated computer crime units, and the third developed a computer crime investigation handbook (McEwen 2). Computers are a permanent fact of life in work places and classrooms across the country. More businesses are likely to incorporate policies on information access and confidentiality in their employee orientation and training programs. Many schools and universities, responding from pressure around them, are beginning to incorporate computer ethics into their courses.

Human Rights Law - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 5 Words: 1556 Downloads: 2 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Law Essay Type Research paper Did you like this example? Justification For and the Abolition of Capital Punishment under Human Rights Law Introduction: Capital punishment is acting as a deterent factor, which reminds and thereby prevents humans from committing heinous crimes by the fear of law and punishment. It arouses sense of fear of death amongst the other people thinking about or contemplating crime. However, with the social evolution, consensus started forming amongst people as well as nations that certain practices like Death Penalty, Slavery, physical torture, etc. can no longer be tolerated. People feel that such practices may continue, but should be aberrations. Majority of the Countries in the world have abandoned Death Penalty. However no full consensus has developed against itsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ use. One can observe that number of countries employing death penalty is declining year after year and it is possible that over a period worldwide opinion and pressure will influence all the countries to abandon it. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Human Rights Law" essay for you Create order History: Death penalty or Capital Punishment has been practised world over since 16th Century. During those days, it was being awarded for petty crimes, which are now, more or less, punishable with imprisonments for much lesser period of time. In India, during Mughal Regime, no fixed norms were there for punishing any crime. However under British Rule in India, they used to follow judicial procedure, whether acceptable to Indians or not, for convicting an individual and if found guilty, award Capital Punishment. Good number of Freedom Movement Leaders were hanged to death by Britishers. In India, Britishers enacted a Law in the name of Indian Penal Code in the year 1860 and made provisions for penalizing crimes. In that IPC,1860, they provided a list of crimes liable for Capital Punishment. IPC,1860 has been in force in India even today with minor modifications here or there. Also, Article 21 of the Constitution of India provides that no person can be deprived of his life except accor ding to the procedure established by Law. Besides IPC,1860, number of legislations enacted by the Parliament in India provide for the death penalty, latest being new anti-terrorism legislation for people convicted for terrorist activities and persons convicted for Brutal gang rape. Procedure followed before execution of Capital Punishment : After the accused is convicted and awarded death sentence by a Trial (Sessionsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢) court, the sentence has got to be confirmed by the respective High Court,to make it final. Once the sentence is confirmed, the condemned convict has option of appealing to the Supreme Court of India. If the SCI turns down or refuses to hear the appeal or if the convict wishes so without appealing to SCI, he can submit a à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"mercy petitionà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ to the President of India and the Governer of the respective state. The President (including Governorsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢) has the power to grant pardons, reprives , respites or remissions of punishment or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence of any person convicted of any offence. Execution of Death Sentence: In India, execution of death sentence is carried out by two methods, namely hanging by neck till death and being executed by firing squad. In other countries, death sentence is carried out by electric shocks, lethal injections, etc. For Against Capital Punishment: It is said that the basic purpose of Criminal Laws of any nation is the reformation of offenders and not retributiontherefore, the Capital Punishment may be a means to this end. Capital Punishment has been prevalent world over since time immemorial. Now a days, it has been abolished by more than 50% countries of the world. Countries like India, Pakistan, China, Latin America and some Caribbean countries, North America, etc have still death punishment in their statute books. The reasons for retaining Capital Punishment are: deference, safety to the society and reduction in costs of maintaining such criminals in the prisons. Capital Punishment is seen as an appropriate penalty for many offenders who are perpetr ators of the inhuman act of killing people with the utmost impunity and disregard for human life. It is also viewed as a means of vengeance for the victims of such barbaric acts. In India, the legal frame work for use of Capital Punishment is laid down in the IPC. It permits the use of Capital Punishment for Murder in the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"rarest of rare casesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢. Section 302 of IPC says that a person committing murder shall be punished with death, or imprisonment for life and also shall be liable for fine. Further, Section 303 of IPC provides that whosoever, being under sentence of imprisonments for life commits murder, shall be punished with death. That means a person even after leniency from the judiciary does not improve himself then he deserves the severest penalty i.e. death penalty. The sparing use of this sentence in the country is in conformity of obligation of judicious use of this penalty as a party to the International Covenant for Civil Political Rights. The judiciary uses this punishment upon an unequivocal establishment of the culpability of the offender in a case before it which truly falls within the definition of the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"rarest of rare caseà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢. Advantages of Capital Punishment: Though Capital Punishment doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t prevent the criminal operations, it acts as deterent and thereby reduces the criminal operations and violent crimes. It helps the Government to reduce the number of detainees in the prison. And thus prison maintenance expenses will be reduced. It is also claimed that Capital Punishment would significantly increase welfare of the society- because its increased implementation would bring many economic and psychological benefits to the people. Its deterent effect would reduce or control the ever- increasing cost of law enforcement. It inhibits potential criminals from committing violent and socially damaging crimes. If habitual economic offenders are identified and executed, it would dramatically decrease the economic offences. It is argued that the enforcement of Capital Punishment should be swift and timely, preferably immediately after it is sentenced and not appealed. It is also argued that prison sentence beyond 25 years is absolutely pointless. Disadvantages of Capital Punishment and the impact of Human Rights Cry: A person cannot make any amends for the crime committed by him after being dead. Therefore, if somebody is killed in error, any apology by the offender would not change anything after enforcement of Capital Punishment. The Capital Punishment has disadvantages and one of them is its violation of Human Rights. Human Rights advocates are very vocal on their campaign and argue that one cannot be hundred percent sure about carrying out serious investigation as provided under the Law system that would conclude the true events of crime. It is said that one should not punish or execute a person who is not involved in the crime. Some people say that the death penalty should have no place in the general penal system of advance and civilized societies. A person cannot be deprived of his life. It amounts to flagrant violation of the right of life and dignity, which are the most important of all human rights. In 1997, the U.N.High Commission for Human Rights approval a resolution stating that t he à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"abolition of death penalty contributes to the enhancement of human dignity and to the progressive development of Human Rights.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ This resolution got further support by one more resolution calling for restriction of offences for which death penalty can be imposed and for a moratorium on all executions, leading eventually to abolition. Present Status in India: The Supreme Court of India has restricted the scope of death penalty in the country. It has shown willingness to commute the Capital Punishment of even murder convicts on the ground of inordinate delay in deciding their mercy pleas. That means, it has moved a step closer towards abolition of Capital Punishment. Section 354(3) of CPC requires a judge to give special reasons for awarding death sentence. The SCI pronounced the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"rarest of rareà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ doctrine in the year 1980 and since then, the life sentence has been the rule and the death sentence an exception. De spite the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"rarest of rareà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ doctrine of SCI, a large number of convicts are awarded death penalty. However, actual executions are rare. One Dhananjoy Chatterjee was hanged in August,2004. Thereafter, 26/11 convict Ajmal Kasab and the Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru were executed in 2012 2013. Upon SCI commuting the death sentence of 19 convicts after their mercy pleas were rejected in 2014, the Law Commission has decided to relook at the issue. It has issued a public consultation paper on Capital Punishment. The SCI has also observed that the Law Commission should examine whether the death penalty is deterent punishment or is retributive justice or serves an incapitative goals. In recent years, the SCI has admitted that the question of death penalty is not free from the subjective element and is sometimes unduly influenced by public opinion. Therefore, it is imperative that a deeper study be conducted to highlight whether the process of awar ding Capital Punishment is correctly and objectively pursued or not. Following Nirbhaya Gang Rape case, the Parliament has changed the law suitably to make a second change of rape punishable with death penalty. Conclusion: The Law Commission in its 1967 Report has observed that India cannot risk the experiment of abolition of Capital Punishment. Even in 2015, situation in the Country has not changed more positively and, therefore, despite the force in argument of Human Right, at the moment, India should carry over with the present system of awarding Capital Punishment.

The Importance Of Evil In Truman Capotes In Cold Blood

From bullying to crime to terrorism and more, evil takes on many forms in today’s society. Such evil has many adverse effects, sometimes including the deaths of innocent people. As only harm can come from malevolence, one begins to wonder whether or not such acts are simply a part of human nature. After all, it does not make much moral sense for someone to intentionally stir chaos. However, when exploring where evil truly stems from, one finds that it may be deeply rooted in the environment Truman Capote investigates the true meaning of evil in his account of the murders of the Clutters, a wealthy, innocent family living in desolate Holcomb, Kansas. In his work, In Cold Blood, Capote uses syntax, diction, and selection of details to show†¦show more content†¦After being unable to live with his family any longer, Perry was taken in by nuns. However, he was not treated much better in the nuns’ cottage; he was often viciously beaten due to the result of some unco ntrollable medical conditions (275). The violent reaction of the nuns to something completely out of Perry’s control was incentive for Perry to hate humanity. It was because of the way Perry was treated and his childhood experiences that he inevitably became wicked; he was not born into the world as an evil person. Capote uses syntax to further capitalize on Perry’s dark origins as a source of cruelty. Using brief, but meaningful sentences, Perry is portrayed as a victim of society, repeatedly referring to the people who treated him poorly during his growth. His dark origins capitalized on when he describes his motives for killing the Clutter family: â€Å"‘And it wasn’t because of anything the Clutters did. They never hurt me. Like other people. Like people have all my life. Maybe it’s just that the Clutters were the ones who had to pay for it’† (290). Perry himself is emphasizing how the Clutters are innocent, but, because of the way people treated him his entire life, they unfortunately had to receive the brunt of his pent-up aggression. He repeats the phrase â€Å"like†¦Ã¢â‚¬  to once again draw attention to the fact that it was the people in his life that turned him into the criminal he grew to be. Noting how Perry essentially held a grudge against his childhoodShow MoreRelatedTruman Capote and Postmodernism1398 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Truman Capote, as obsessed with fame and fortune as with penning great words, was a writer who became as well-known for his late-night talk show appearances as for his prose† (Patterson 1). Capote was a literary pop star at the height of his fame in 1966, after he had written such classic books as, Other Rooms, Other Voices, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and In Cold Blood. Postmodernism was a literary period that began after the Second World War and was a rejection of traditional writing techniques. ItRead MoreIn Cold Blood by Trump Capote550 Words   |  2 PagesIn 1966 Truman Capote shocked the world with a novel unlike anything ever seen before. Capote’s novel â€Å"In Cold Blood† not only entranced readers with its often dark and mysterious tone, stunning imagery and controversial elements but introduced its audience to an all new genre, a non-fiction novel . In 2001 Lois T. Stover commented on the complexity and depth found in quality young adult literature, she stated that â€Å"Good young adult literature deals with the themes and issues that mirror the concernsRead MoreAnalysis Of John Steinbeck s Of Mice And Men 1464 Words   |  6 PagesJohn Steinbeck subtly foretells Lennie’s future murder of not only the puppy, but also of a young woman in his novella, Of Mice and Men. Much like George and Lennie, the characters Willie-Jay and Perry have a similar relationship in Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood. Willie-Jay, despite his minor role in the story, serves as Perry’s mentor and foreshadows his future violent actions with his insight into Perry’s character, also providing a positive influence to contrast Perry’s partner in crime, Dick

My Day - Personal Narrative Essay - 1134 Words

My Day - Personal Narrative Its 06:45 and my mobile phone alarm makes the worst noise that you could ever imagine. Using it as an alarm clock is the only thing that it is useful for, the rest of the time it takes all my money off me. All phones do it, and guess who gets in trouble for the bill. Anyway, after I finally find the button to shut the dam thing up, I usually moan till 07:00, about how it is too early, and that I should not still have to be going to school. Im getting bored of wearing the same uniform, and listening to the same squabbles going on from the day before. At 07:00, I stumble across the landing, walking passed my mums and dads bedroom, hearing the loud snoring coming†¦show more content†¦So I suppose I shouldnt be complaining about having to eat toast every morning! 07:45, and the sister and father are already fighting for the bathroom. In about 30 seconds from now there should be a mixture of male menopause and teenage hormones throughout the house. My sister is 17 named Stephanie, after Stephen- thats my dads name. My sister is one of those older teenagers who have none of her priorities in order. She can be clever, but she gets easily distracted. Ill say no more about that. My sister and I get on very well. We talk to each other about stuff, and value each others opinion on clothes. My dad is into science, well, he likes Science fiction movies, but I suppose its the same thing. He likes to think of himself as a wise philosopher, but hes really a big kid and likes watching the Simpsons on TV. My dad and I get on great. We have the same interests, and work good together as a team. 08:00. Im packing my bag, and rushing about trying to find the books I need for that day. I should really pack my bag the night before, but Im always so tired that there doesnt seem to be enough time. The amount of homework that keeps me up some nights is extremely exhausting. 08:15. The battle between my father and sister is over. 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Bite Me A Love Story Chapter 17 Free Essays

17. Wide Awake in Sucker-Free Okata scraped the last few drops of blood from the container into the burned-up white girl’s mouth. He’d managed to save two of the eight quart containers, but it wasn’t going to be enough, he could tell, and after the fight at the butcher shop and his escape, he knew he wasn’t strong enough to give her any more of his own blood. We will write a custom essay sample on Bite Me: A Love Story Chapter 17 or any similar topic only for you Order Now She’d need more, and he was going to have to start thinking of her as something besides the â€Å"burned-up white girl.† She was starting to resemble a real person now, more than a person-shaped cinder. A very old, very scary dead person, to be sure, but a person nonetheless. Her red hair nearly covered the pillow now, and she’d moved, if only a little, closing her mouth after the last drops of blood went in. No ash had flaked away with the movement. Okata was glad. Her exposed fangs made him a little uneasy, but now she had lips, sort of. He picked up his sketch pad from the floor, moved to the end of the futon to get a different angle, and began drawing her, as he’d been doing every hour or so since he’d returned from the butcher. He was still covered with the blood that had splashed on him during the fight, but it had long since dried and except for washing his hands so he could work, he’d forgotten it. He finished the sketch, then moved to his workbench, where he transferred a refined version of the drawing to a piece of rice paper so thin it was nearly transparent. He would replicate this drawing four more times, then each would be glued to a woodblock and carved away to make the plate for a different line or color. He looked over his shoulder at her, and felt a tremor of shame. Yes, she looked like a person now, an old, desiccated grandmother, but he shouldn’t leave her like that. He took a bowl from the shelf above his little kitchen sink, filled it with warm water, and then knelt by the side of the futon and gently sponged the last patina of ash from her body, revealing the blue-white skin underneath. The skin was smooth, like polished rice paper, but pores and hair follicles were forming as he wiped the ash away. â€Å"Sorry,† he said in English. Then in Japanese he said, â€Å"I have not been mindful, my burned-up gaijin girl. I will do better.† He went to the cabinet under his workbench and removed a cedar box that looked like it might have been fashioned to hold a set of silverware. He opened the lid and removed the square of white silk, then stood and let the garment fall open to its full length. Yuriko’s wedding kimono. It smelled of cedar, and perhaps of a bit of incense, but mercifully, it didn’t smell of her. He laid the kimono out next to the burned-up girl, and ever so slowly, he moved it under her, gently worked her skeletal arms into the sleeves, then closed the robe and tied it loosely with the white obi. He arranged her arms at her sides so they looked comfortable, then picked up a small flake of dried blood that had fallen from his face onto her breast. She looked better now. Still wraithlike and monstrous, but better. â€Å"There you go. Yuriko would be pleased that her kimono helped cover one who had nothing.† He returned to his workbench and began the drawing for the block that would carry the yellow ink for the futon, when he heard movement behind him and wheeled around. â€Å"Well, don’t you look yummy,† Jody said. TOMMY Tommy spent the early evening in the library, reading The Economist and Scientific American. He felt as if all the words were bringing him back from the animal realm to being a human being, and there were plenty of words in those magazines. He wanted his full powers of speech and human thought before he confronted Jody. He also hoped that his memory of what had happened would come back with his words, but that didn’t seem to be working. He remembered a red blur of hunger in his head, being thrown through a window and landing on the street, but between that and the time when his words returned in the basement, with the Emperor, he could remember very little. It was as if those experiences-hunting, finding shelter of darkness, snaking his way through the City in a cloud of predators gone to mist-were filed in a part of his mind that locked as soon as the ability to put words to senses returned. He suspected that he may have helped Chet kill people, but if that was the case, why had he saved the Emperor? Fortunately, he hadn’t lost the ability to turn to mist, which was how he’d obtained the outfit he was wearing now. The whole ensemble-khaki slacks, blue Oxford-cloth shirt, leather jacket, and leather boating moccasins-had been on display in a window at a men’s store on Union Square, suspended by monofilament fishing line into the shape of a casual cotton ghost that was haunting other, equally stylish but substanceless marionettes around some deck chairs and artificial sand. Just after the dinner hour, when the store was at its busiest, Tommy streamed in under the door, into the outfit and became solid. With a quick crouch, he snapped all the monofilament line and walked out of the store fully dressed, bits of fishing line curling in his wake. It would, he thought, have been the smoothest, most audaciously cool thing he had ever done, if it hadn’t been for the straight pins that had fastened the shirt to the slacks. But after a minor fit on the sidewalk a s he yanked the pins out of his back, hips, and abdomen, while rhythmically chanting, â€Å"Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch,† he returned to the calm and casual cotton-clad vampire aspect he’d been going for. He waited until he was at the library, in the stacks, before he pulled the piece of cardboard out of his collar and yanked off various tags and threads. Fortunately, there had been no anti-theft tags on the display outfit. Now he was ready, or as ready as he was going to get. He had to go to Jody now, hold her, tell her he loved her, kiss her, shag her until all the furniture was broken and the neighbors complained (undead predator or not, he was still nineteen and horny), then figure out what they were going to do about their future. As he walked back through the Tenderloin, dressed in his â€Å"please rob me† white boy outfit, a jittery crackhead in a hoody that had once been green, but now was so dirty it was shiny, tried to rob him with a screwdriver. â€Å"Give me your money, bitch.† â€Å"That’s a screwdriver,† Tommy said. â€Å"Yeah. Give me your money or I’ll stab you with it.† Tommy could hear the tweaker’s heart fluttering, smell the acrid stench of rotting teeth, body odor, and urine on him, and could see an unhealthy, dark gray aura around him. His predator mind flashed the word â€Å"prey.† Tommy shrugged. â€Å"I’m wearing a leather jacket. You’ll never get a screwdriver through it.† â€Å"You don’t know that. I’ll get a running start. Give me your money.† â€Å"I don’t have any money. You’re sick. You should go to the hospital.† â€Å"That’s it, bitch!† The crackhead thrust the screwdriver at Tommy’s stomach. Tommy stepped aside. The tweaker’s movements seemed almost comically slow. As the screwdriver went by, Tommy decided it might be best if he took it, and he snatched it away. The robber lost his balance and tumbled forward into the street and lay there. With the flick of his wrist, Tommy threw the screwdriver onto the roof of a four-story building across the street. Two guys who had been standing in an alley a few feet away, thinking about taking the robbery over from the crackhead, or at least robbing him if he was successful, decided they would rather go see what was happening on the next block. Tommy was a half a block away when he heard the uneven, limping footsteps of the crackhead coming up behind him. He turned and the crackhead stopped. â€Å"Give me your money,† said the tweaker. â€Å"Stop robbing me,† said Tommy. â€Å"You don’t have a weapon and I don’t have any money. It’s totally not working for you.† â€Å"Okay, give me a dollar,† said the crackhead. â€Å"Still don’t have any money,† Tommy said, turning his pants pockets inside out. A note from inspector 18 fluttered to the sidewalk. He heard movement above-claws on stone-and cringed. â€Å"Uh-oh.† â€Å"Fifty cents,† said the crackhead. He put his hand in the pouch pocket of his hoody and pointed his finger like it was a gun. â€Å"I’ll shoot.† â€Å"You have got to be the worst armed robber ever.† The crackhead paused for a second and pulled his gun-posed hand out of his pocket. â€Å"I have my G.E.D.† Tommy shook his head. He thought he’d left the cats behind, but the felines either still had some connection to him, or there were so many of them now that there was nowhere in the City you could go where they wouldn’t be hunting. He didn’t relish trying to explain the whole phenomenon to Jody. â€Å"What’s your name?† he said to the crackhead. â€Å"I’m not telling you. You could turn me in.† â€Å"Okay,† Tommy said. â€Å"I’ll call you Bob. Bob, have you ever seen a cat do that?† Tommy pointed up. The crackhead looked up the side of the building to see a dozen cats coming down the bricks, face-down, toward him. â€Å"No. Okay, I’m not robbing you anymore,† said the tweaker, his attention taken by the clutter of vampire cats descending on him. â€Å"Have a nice evening.† â€Å"Sorry,† said Tommy, meaning it. He turned and jogged up the street to put some distance between himself and the screaming, which only lasted a few seconds. He looked back to see the crackhead gone. Well, not really gone, but reduced to a pile of gray powder amidst his empty clothing. â€Å"It’s how he would have wanted to go,† Tommy said to himself. He would have thought the cats would go for the two in the alley, but now they were taking the people right out on the open street. He was going to have to get Jody and talk her into leaving the City, like they should have in the first place. He jogged the twelve blocks to the loft, careful not to run so fast that he might be noticed. He tried to look like a guy who was just late getting home to his girlfriend, which, in a way, he was. He waited outside the door for a moment before pushing the buzzer. What was he going to say? What if she didn’t want to see him? He didn’t have any experience to draw on. She’d been the first girl he’d had sex with while sober. She was the first girl he’d ever lived with. She was the first to take a shower with him, to drink his blood, to turn him into a vampire, and to throw him broken and naked through a second-story window. She was his first love, really. What if she sent him away? He listened, looked at the plywood still over the windows, sniffed the air. He could hear people inside, at least two, but they weren’t talking. There were machines running, lights buzzing, the smell of blood and rat whiz wafting under the door. It really would have felt better if there were romance in the air, but, well, okay. He ran his fingers through his hair, snatched away the last strands of fishing line trailing from his clothes like errant crystal pubes, and pushed the button. FOO Foo had just placed the vials of Abby’s blood in the centrifuge when the buzzer on the intercom went off. He flipped the switch, then looked over at Abby, lying on the bed. She looked so peaceful, undead and drugged and not talking. Almost happy, despite having a tail. But the police wouldn’t understand. He ran into the living room and shook Jared out of the game-induced trance he had entered on his game console. Foo could hear the death-metal sound track coming from Jared’s headphones, tinny screeching and tiny chainsaw rhythms, like angry chipmunks humping a kazoo inside a sealed mayonnaise jar. â€Å"Whaaa?† said Jared, yanking out his earbuds. â€Å"Someone’s at the door,† whispered Foo. â€Å"Hide Abby.† â€Å"Hide her? Where? The closet is full of medical crap.† â€Å"Between the mattress and the box springs. She’s skinny. You can mash her in there.† â€Å"How will she breathe?† â€Å"She doesn’t need to breathe.† â€Å"Sweet.† Jared went for the bedroom, Foo for the intercom. â€Å"Who is it?† he said, keying the button. He really should have installed a camera. They were easy to wire and he got a discount at Stereo World. Stupid. â€Å"Let me in, Steve. It’s Tommy.† Foo thought for a second he might pee a little. He hadn’t finished building the high-intensity UV laser, and Abby hadn’t worn her sun jacket. He was defenseless. â€Å"I can see why you might be mad,† said Foo, â€Å"but it was Abby’s idea. I wanted to turn you back to human, like you wanted.† Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck. Tommy was going to kill him. It would be humiliating. The guy didn’t even have an undergrad degree. He was going to be murdered by an undead Anglo liberal-arts tard who quoted poetry. The buzzer went off again. Foo jumped and keyed the intercom. â€Å"I didn’t want to do it. I told her it was cruel to put you guys in there.† â€Å"I’m not mad, Steve. I need to see Jody.† â€Å"She’s not here.† â€Å"I don’t believe you. Let me in.† â€Å"I can’t, I have things to do. Scientific things that you wouldn’t understand. You have to go away.† Okay, now he was a tard. â€Å"I can come in, Steve, under the door or through the cracks around the windows, but when I go back to solid, I’ll be naked. Nobody wants that.† â€Å"You don’t know how to do that.† â€Å"I learned.† â€Å"Oh, that’s cool,† said Foo. Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit. Could he get the door shut and duct taped before Tommy could ooze in. The great room was already taped up to contain the rat fog. â€Å"Buzz me in, Foo. I have to see Jody and I have to feed. You still have some of those blood pouches, right?† â€Å"Nope. Sorry, we’re all out. And Jody’s not here. And we’ve installed sunlamps all over the loft, Tommy. You’d be toast.† He did have some blood bags. In fact, he still had some of the ones with the sedative in it that he’d used to knock Abby out. â€Å"Steve, please, I’m hungry and hurt and I’ve been living in a basement with a bunch of vampire cats and if I turn to mist my new outfit is going to get stolen while I’m up there snapping your neck with my junk hanging out.† Foo was trying to think of a better bluff when a dark sleeve shot by him and he heard the door lock buzz downstairs. He looked up at Jared. â€Å"What the fuck have you done?† â€Å"Hi,† Tommy said in Foo’s ear. â€Å"He sounded so sad,† Jared said. THE OLD ONES At sundown the three awoke inside a titanium vault under the main cabin and checked the monitors that were wired like a nervous system to every extremity of the black ship. â€Å"Clear,† said the male. He was tall and blond and he’d been lean in life, so he remained so, would remain so, forever. He wore a black silk kimono. The two females cranked open the hatch and climbed out into what appeared to be a walk-in refrigerator. The male closed the hatch, pushed a button concealed behind a shelf, and a stainless-steel panel slid across the hatch. They walked out of the fridge, into the empty galley. â€Å"I hate this,† said the African female. She had been Ethiopian in life, descended from royalty, with a high forehead and wide eyes that slanted like a cat’s. â€Å"It was to this face that Solomon lost his heart,† Elijah had told her, holding her face in his hands as she died. And so he called her Makeda, after the legendary Queen of Sheba. She didn’t remember her real name, for she had worn it for only eighteen years, and she had been Makeda for seven centuries. â€Å"It’s different,† said the other female, a dark-haired beauty who had been born on the island of Corsica a hundred years before Napoleon. Her name had been Isabella. Elijah had always called her Belladonna. She answered to Bella. â€Å"It’s not that different,† said Makeda, leading the way up a flight of steps to the cockpit. â€Å"It seems like we just did this. We just did this-when?† â€Å"A hundred and fifty years ago. Macao,† said the male. His name was Rolf, and he was the middle child, the peace-maker, turned by Elijah in the time of Martin Luther. â€Å"See what I mean,† said Makeda. â€Å"All we do is sail around cleaning up his messes. If he does this again I’m going to have the boy drag him out onto the deck during the day and video it while he burns. I’ll watch it every night on the big screen in the dining room and laugh. Ha!† Although the oldest, Makeda was the brat. â€Å"And what if we die with the sire?† asked Rolf. â€Å"What if you wake up in the vault on fire?† He palmed a black glass console and a panel whooshed open in the bulkhead. The cockpit, big enough to host a party for thirty, was lined in curving mahogany, stainless steel, and black glass. The stern half was open to the night sky. But for the ship’s wheel, it looked like an enormous Art Deco casket designed for space travel. â€Å"I’ve died before,† said Makeda. â€Å"It’s not that bad.† â€Å"You don’t remember,† said Bella. â€Å"Maybe not. But I don’t like this. I hate cats. Shouldn’t we have people for this?† â€Å"We had people,† said Rolf. â€Å"You ate them.† â€Å"Fine,† said Makeda. â€Å"Give me my suit.† Rolf touched the glass console again and a bulkhead opened to reveal a cabinet filled with tactical gear. Makeda pulled three black bodysuits from the cabinet and handed one each to Rolf and Bella. Then she slid out of her red silk gown and stretched, naked, her arms wide like Winged Victory, her head back, fangs pointed at the skylight. â€Å"Speaking of people,† said Bella. â€Å"Where’s the boy? I’m hungry.† â€Å"He was feeding Elijah when we awoke,† said Rolf. â€Å"He’ll be along.† Elijah was kept below in a vault similar to their own, except the prime vampire’s vault was airtight, locked from the outside, and was fitted with an airlock system so the boy could feed him. â€Å"Irie, me undead dreadies,† said the pseudo-Hawaiian as he came up the steps, barefoot and shirtless, carrying a tray of crystal balloon goblets. â€Å"Cap’n Kona bringin’ ya the jammin’ grinds, yeah?† The vampires each spoke a dozen languages but none of them had the slightest idea what the fuck Kona was talking about. When he saw Makeda stretching, the blond Rastafarian stopped and nearly dumped the goblets off the tray. â€Å"Oh, Jah’s sweet love sistah, dat smoky biscuit givin’ me da rippin’ stiffy like dis fellah need to poke squid with that silver sistah on de Rolls-Royce, don’t you know?† Makeda fell out of her â€Å"Nike† posture and looked at Rolf. â€Å"Huh?† â€Å"I think he said he would enjoy violating you like a hood ornament,† said Rolf, taking a snifter from the tray and swirling dark liquid under his nose. â€Å"Tuna?† â€Å"Just caught, bruddah,† said Kona, having trouble now balancing the tray while trying to hunch to conceal the erection tenting his baggies. Bella took her snifter from the tray and grinned as she turned to look out the windscreen at the City. The Transamerica Pyramid was lit up in front of them, Coit Tower just to the right, jutting from Telegraph Hill like a great concrete phallus. Makeda took a slinky step toward Kona, â€Å"Should I let him rub oil on me, Rolf? Do I look ashy?† â€Å"Just don’t eat him,† Rolf said. He sat in one of the captain’s chairs, loosened the belt of his black kimono, and began working the Kevlar bodysuit over his feet. â€Å"Quaint,† said Makeda. She took another step toward Kona, held her bodysuit before her, then dropped it. In an instant she had gone to mist and streamed into the suit, which filled as if a girl-shaped emergency raft had been deployed inside. She snatched the last goblet out of the air as Kona flinched and dumped the tray. â€Å"Will you oil me up later, Kona?† Makeda said, standing over the surfer now as he cowered. â€Å"Nah need, matey, you shinin’ plenny fine. But dat other ting bein’ a rascal fo’ sure.† He held his hand to his chest and ventured a glance up at her. â€Å"Please.† â€Å"It’s your turn,† said Bella with a smile, her lips rouged with tuna blood. â€Å"Oh, all right,† said Makeda. â€Å"But use a glass.† Kona reached into the pocket of his baggies and came out with a shot glass, which he held with both hands before his head like a Buddhist monk receiving alms. She pushed her thumb against one of her fangs, then let the blood drip into Kona’s shot glass. Ten drops in, she pulled her thumb away and licked it. â€Å"That’s all you get.† â€Å"Oh, mahalo, sistah. Jah’s love on ya.† He drained the blood then licked the shot glass clean, as Makeda watched and sipped her tuna blood. After a full minute, with the ersatz Hawaiian still lapping away at the glass, his breath heaving like he was hoisting the anchor by hand, she took the shot glass and held it away from him. â€Å"You’re done.† â€Å"Bug eater,† Bella said, disgusted. Now she was in her own bodysuit and had drained her goblet of blood. â€Å"Oh, I think he’s cute,† said Makeda. â€Å"I may let him oil me up yet.† She ruffled Kona’s dreadlocks. He was staring blankly into space, his mouth open, drooling. â€Å"Just don’t eat him,† Rolf said. â€Å"Stop saying that. I won’t eat him,† said Makeda. â€Å"He’s a licensed captain. We need him.† â€Å"All right. I’m not going to eat him.† Bella walked over, yanked a dreadlock from Kona’s head, and used it to tie back her own, waist-length black hair. The surfer didn’t flinch. â€Å"Bug eater,† she repeated. Rolf was back at the cabinet, snapping together various bits of weaponry. â€Å"We should go. Grab a hood, gloves to go with the sunglasses. Elijah said they had some sort of sunlight weapons.† â€Å"This is different,† said Bella, gathering all the high-tech kit from the weapons cabinet, as well as a long overcoat to cover it all. â€Å"We didn’t have all this in Macao.† â€Å"As long as you’re not bored, darling,† said Rolf. â€Å"I hate cats,† said Makeda as she pulled on her gloves. How to cite Bite Me: A Love Story Chapter 17, Essay examples

Teenage Pregnancy Cause and Effect free essay sample

Cause and Effect Essay: Teenage Pregnancy Teenage Pregnancy is one of the most alarming issues in our world today. Many teenagers engage themselves in sexual intercourse with their partners just to be â€Å"in† with their friends. Surprisingly, some countries even celebrate early teenage pregnancy, as it is a clear sign of fertility. But moderately, a teenage girl being pregnant before adulthood is critically looked down upon with shame. In 2009, around 410,000 teenage girls, ages 15 to 19, gave birth in the United States, and shockingly, thats a 37 percent decrease from the teen birth rate in1991. Basically, teenage pregnancy occurs due to the following reasons: general rebelliousness, peer pressure, and lack of self-esteem. First, there is the rebelliousness of parents and of rules of adults. During the teenage stage there is a burst of sudden and unknown emotions. Teens feel a natural sense of rebelling against the set norms and rules. Coupled with a sudden sense of fresh-found liberation and sexuality, results in giving vent to their feelings through sexual experiences. We will write a custom essay sample on Teenage Pregnancy Cause and Effect or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Second, peer pressure is an early stage of pregnancies. This pressure causes sexual intimacy for the opposite sex. If a child hangs out with a group who is sexually active, then nine out of ten that child is sexually active too. Most teenagers opt to have sexual intercourse because they need to achieve the acceptance given by the â€Å"circle of friends†. The only way to be accepted is to have relationship with the opposite sex and have sexual relations. In some countries, teenagers face too much peer pressure to start having sex at a very young adolescent age. This kind of behavior may lead to unwanted teenage pregnancies. Lastly, the lack of self-esteem is an effect of teenage pregnancy.Many teenage girls feel that pregnancy is the only alternative to feeling powerless and unimportant. Being pregnant becomes the source of new status, new power and a way to prove to yourself and everyone else that you are capable of being loved and that you have someone who will love you unconditionally