Strengths of Web Designing Companies in Nevada.

Strengths of Web Designing Companies in Nevada.

At Nevada, web designers, understand that most SME’s do not have big budgets or a team of specialised staff to maintain and update their website. As a result, many companies have been established in Nevada which offer affordable solution for professional looking web sites that may previously have been out of the financial budgets of small companies.

Web Design

Websites must have a professional look and feel and also be optimized for search engines so that a business will stands at the top of Google, Yahoo and Bing, and other search engines.  

Internet Marketing

The Internet is now used to find and choose products and services allowing a business to grow. Internet marketing is the most efficient way to promote services, brand a product and maximize profits. 

Selection of a Web designing company in Nevada:

It is necessary for a web-designing company to be specialised in use of Word Press in designing, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Marketing via Search Engines (SEM), Marketing via Social Networks, Custom Blog Design and Blogging, Advertising through Google Pay-per-click, Banners advertising, Press Releases, Email marketing and newsletters, Submission to Online Directories and Yellow Pages. Advertising campaigns must work and quick results must be observable so that there is increased conversion and higher profits. 

SEO

85% of Internet traffic quality is driven by the search engines - but 75% of search engine users never go through the first two pages of results.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a way to enhance presence in Google and other search engines, leading to the first page of results with specific keywords, fostering respect for your company as any other current technique commercials. A greater online visibility, increases traffic to a website, attract internet users who know and respect your business and are willing to check a product.

Proven SEO techniques and effective solutions like the selection of specific keywords (Keyword Research), on-page and off-page optimizations, creating advanced links, development of press articles and submission thereof, specific geographic and regional marketing. SEO packages must be tailored to any budget and the results of a good SEO campaign linger much longer after the campaign has ended.

Marketing on Social Networks

Today, social media gives a business the ability to reach a worldwide audience, share their views and recommend their service. Several studies have shown that having followers on Twitter and Facebook are good for business. Nevada web developers know that the marketing through social media on social sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube is the best way to supplement a marketing plan, and their knowledge of social networks ensure a business has a great list of followers from the first day of his campaign.  

Real Estate Issues in the US

INTRODUCTION:

Several major U.S. economists agree that today the residential property market in US will continue its upward trend in 2013, though the pace of recovery may be slower. The real estate market has possibilities which are only beginning to be seen. It is believed that the housing market is on a firm footing. The supply side availability is increasing and abandoned properties are down about 5 million to 3 million. Mortgage rates are lower and are not expected to change much in 2013, and the banks are likely to continue to maintain high standards with a tight lending policy.

Difference between real property and tangible personal property:

Real property, as defined under the English laws, is a piece of property or piece of land which has been altered through human inputs and in which value has been added like in building, wells, dams etc. In most countries the transactions in real property that occur while buying and selling in the market civil laws are in position to protect the interests of either party. In Scotland, real property is known by the term heritable property and in France, it is immobilier.

Tangible personal property is a physical entity which we can feel and touch like for example a car or furniture, or jewellery, works of art which can be removed without damaging the land.

Ownership and a possessory interest in real estate:

Owning property rights makes reality; property, which is vacant property without possession, without content, is just abstraction, is simply a right, and is not reality; this situation regarding the possession is perfectly applicable to the actual enjoyment of the property as the realizable value or warranty. Possession can also occur by itself, that is, independent of any other right. Possession may occur upon exercise of a property right conferred by law; or it may appear in your exercise no more, in itself, i.e., without considering the existence or the result of other rights.

Tenancy for a term of years

Tenancy that automatically expires without the requirement of a notice of termination expires at the end of the period stated in the lease agreement is called tenancy for a term of years. It is not affected by the death of either the tenant or the landlord, and is not terminated by destruction or improvement of the property during that period unless the agreement permits for such termination.

Fixed term lease

A lease binding the parties to each other for a specified period of time, like for a month or one year is called a fixed term lease. The fixed-term lease requires the lessee to make periodic payments and requires the lessor to surrender use of the property.

Major Features of a Fixed Term Tenancy/Tenancy for Years:

A fixed term tenancy is characterised by having a specific start and an end date. The period can be as short as one week and still the agreement will be called a tenancy for years. The duration also can be specified as being determined by the occurrence of a specific event like until the war is finished. This term is gradually becoming obsolete in many territories due to its imprecise nature. In a lease for years, there is a fixed period of time for the survival of the contracted term. If the lease lasts for years for more than one year, the lease must be in writing to satisfy the statute of frauds

Tenancy for years is another common label for a fixed term rental. However, this name can be quite misleading because it does not have to go on for years.

 What Happens at the End of Your Fixed Term Lease Agreement?

The tenant can choose to move out or renewal of the lease agreement with the same terms and conditions can be done. A new rental agreement with different terms and can be done or the lease automatically becomes a periodic tenancy. In some countries if you agree to let your tenant stay on without signing a new lease agreement, your fixed term tenancy will be converted to a month-to-month lease. The tenant can continue staying on the property without permission causing a sticky situation known as a tenancy at sufferance.

Periodic tenancy:

Periodic tenancy occurs where leasing continues from period to period, such as month-to-month or year to year. The tenant has no right to automatically extend the term of the lease. The periodic tenancy does not give the tenant a right to extend the rental period. For example, a periodic tenancy can continue from week to week or month to month. A landlord and tenant can create a periodic tenancy expressly in the contract by implication or operation of law. For example, a tenant might have had a lease for years, but when his tenure ended, became a tenant to rent the property from month to month.

Tenancy at will:

Tenancy at will is where a tenant or landlord may terminate a tenancy at will at any time for any reason. A tenancy at will arises when both the landlord and the tenant understand that either may terminate the lease at any time. Both parties must enter into an express agreement to take a lease at will.

Tenants in Common regardless of their stake in the property have equal rights of possession. In other words, one may occupy the property despite owning the smallest share even in the absence of other co-tenants. Tenants have the right to buy out co-tenants provided the latter is willing.

Joint tenancy requires each tenant to have equal interest or ownership in addition to having equal rights of possession. The owners, who receive the title on the same deed and at the same time, have the right to break a joint tenancy, and create a tenancy in common, by selling their share of the property to another individual. A property held under joint tenancy, cannot be sold without the permission of all the tenants.

REAL ESTATE LAWS IN FLORIDA:

In Florida there is a law protecting tenants and property owners where their relationship is stipulated. Residential Law Landlord and Tenant of Florida will explain the rights of landlord and tenant alike. The most common problems are increasing rent without notice and lack of maintenance of the property. Another common complaint is that the owner does not want to return the security deposit, claiming that there was property damage.

In Florida any notices between either parties to a rental agreement must be in a written document and delivered directly in person or by mail, even if this is for an oral understanding. Section 83.46 (2), FS says that If the lease has no details about the rental duration, this is fixed by the frequency in which the rents have been paid and accepted like in week to week or monthly etc.. A damage deposit is the mostly asked for by the landlords. Before signing a lease, it is necessary to examine the facilities and note any damage like any broken fixtures and fittings. Section 83.49 (a), FS  is applicable when a lease needs termination. 83.49,3 section (b) (c), FS.  If there is a objection to a claim by the owner  a complaint can be filed with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Florida or an action can be started in court to adjudicate the right of the owner tenant. If the owner fails then under Section 83.60 (1), FS the tenant may choose to withhold rent. Section 83.67, FS of the Florida law does not allow a landlord to force a tenant to leave by interrupting or shutting down any service, even if that service is under the control of the owner or landlord makes payment; the landlord cannot resort to change the locks or use a device that denies access to the tenant or harass the tenant in any way.

REAL ESTATE LAWS IN TEXAS:

Tenants are entitled to compensation for any danger to your health or safety. Subchapter B of Chapter 92 of the Code of the Texas Property (§ § 92.061-92 051) describes the process to follow a tenant to repair his right to be respected, and indicates specific actions of the tenant if the landlord refuses to make thereof. 

For tenants living in the state of Texas, the owner must provide a decent, safe and sanitary housing; repair all conditions dangerous to the health or safety of a regular tenant; ensure all fittings are in good condition for hot water at a minimum temperature of 120 ° Fahrenheit; install smoke detectors and secure locks on all doors and windows, including a lock without a key.

Subchapter H of Chapter 92 of the Property Code Texas (92331-92335) prohibits the landlord from retaliating against a tenant-initiated eviction proceedings, depriving the tenant of use of the premises, the tenant reducing services, increasing tenant rent, cancelling the lease, or interfering in bad faith in the tenant's rights under contract, six months after the tenant in good faith exercised any of the following: Notice is given to the owner for need to repair or remedy under Chapter 92 of the Code of the Texas Property;

CONCLUSION:

The federal government of USA passed a law to protect tenants in the event there was any issue regarding foreclosure. This act was called PTFA and it laid down very important provisions by which every tenant had an inherent right to receive a 3 month notice period before any property in which he was residing as a tenant was foreclosed. The law also made provisions that a tenant could continue to live in the rental property till the end of the tenure of the agreement. But it is found in actuality that even with all these legal provisions many tenants all across the country are being forcibly evicted when a property is put up for a foreclosure. The notice periods also fall shot of legal requirements.

Puppy therapy - just in time for finals week.

Puppy therapy - just in time for finals week.

Just down the hall from the reference desk at Emory University's law library in a room housing antique legal texts is Stanley the golden retriever puppy, barking his head off. From Kent State University in Ohio to Macalester College in Minnesota, more and more pooches are around campus during exams to help students relax and maybe even crack a joke or two.

"We had a student who came in and a staff person commented they had never seen that student smile," said Michelle Reid, a law librarian who started Emory's pet therapy program this year after hearing about one at the University of California, San Francisco. Pups are in counselling centres for students to visit regularly or faculty and staff bring their pets to lift spirits. Pet-friendly dorms also are popping up where students can bring their dogs or cats from home.

It's possible at Harvard Medical School and Yale Law School, which both have resident therapy dogs in their libraries that can be borrowed through the card catalogue just like a book. Some dogs, like Harvard Medical School's resident Lassa Cooper, hold regular office hours. Researcher Louise Francisco-Anderson owns Cooper and said she got permission to bring him to campus after her husband read that Yale Law School had a therapy dog on campus named Monty.

A pet keeps it confidential. Most schools, like Emory, partner with organizations that train companion dogs so that the canines get their social training while students get stress relief. The service is almost always free for students. Research shows that interaction with pets decreases the level of cortisol - a stress hormone - in people and increases endorphins, known as the happiness hormone. Scant research exists on the how pet programs on college campuses help students cope with stress.

That's why Kathleen Adele, a nursing professor at Kent State, hopes to garner a grant so she can conduct research as part of her "Dogs on Campus" program. The dogs belong to Adele or other community members and are certified therapy dogs. As soon as there's a tragedy on campus - a student dies in a car wreck, for example - dorms scramble to book the dog team to help comfort upset students, she says. 

Since 2006, Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn., has asked faculty and alumni to bring their dogs to campus during finals as part of the "Dog Day Afternoon" program. At Kenyon College in Ohio, the counselling centre and dorms offer puppy play dates with Sunny the yellow lab and Sam the poodle-Chihuahua mix.

Last month, Indiana University students romped around with dogs in the first ever "Rent-a-Puppy" day. First-year Emory law student Anna Idelevich took a break from studying for exams at the library on a recent afternoon to visit Stanley and Hooch, two golden retrievers training to be companion dogs for disabled owners. The private university brought in the dogs as part of a new program to help students cope with the stress of exams.

The Nature of Mental Health Problems

 Importance of promoting mental well being:

Mental and physical health is so closely interlinked that deterioration in the mental condition leads to a worsening prognosis in the physical sphere. A patient with a poor mental health condition is more prone to diseases like heart conditions, cerebral conditions, onset of cancer, and diabetes and also asthma. The tendency to become victims of drug abuse and smoking also increases in these children.

 The present scenario:

There has been a drastic increase of mental conditions in the younger sections of society and they are suffering from depression and anxiety which has registered a 70% rise in the last two decades. Incidences of infliction of deliberate injury to oneself has also risen among the young children with a reported incidence of 1 in every fifteen children being affected. If this situation is left unattended it will cause irreversible damage in adulthood and affect the quality of life and employment within the afflicted population who will face possible alienation from society. Intervention strategies will be needed during the transition from adolescence to become adults.

The Mental Health Foundation (MHF) has researched all aspects of the problem and identified areas where support and intervention is needed and this is summarized in this outline document.

The importance of mental health issues in the growing adult:

A balanced mind is needed to ensure emotional stability, self actualization, and self realization. The balanced adult is a creative individual with a strong sense of purpose and having the intellectual capacity to think on matters like spirituality, socioeconomic independence, self worth, with an ability to stay alone and have feelings for other people in their surroundings. They like to play and have reliance and adaptability to adjust to changing circumstances with a desire to become healthy adults.

The setback of poor  mental health issues in the growing adult:

A poor mental condition in childhood leads to the development of a maladjusted adult with impaired interpersonal skills and a tendency to  becoming social misfits who lead a secluded life. They develop unpredictable behavior patterns and do not have the ability to hold a permanent job for long.

The threat perceptions of poor mental conditions:

Certain socio economic conditions trigger the onset of mental problems in children. Single child, or children living in disturbed or very large families, children with poorly educated parents who are economically deprived are susceptible subjects. A MHF survey found four categories of vulnerable child population. The could broadly be grouped as mentally impaired children, homeless, or adopted children and lastly child offenders. The other class identified by the MHF were children with learning difficulties, refugee children, children seeking shelter and children in child care centers.  A child needs love, trust, understanding, ambitions, positivism, self acceptance and adaptability to grow into mature healthy adults. An identification of intervention methodologies after a thorough research on the various aspects of mental development and impairment needs to be adequately funded. The focus of research would be on reduction of threats and preventing the occurrence through the framing of government policy documents.

The approach to dealing with  poor mental conditions:

Due to a proliferation of terminology for the same or similar mental condition and associated issues there is a communication breakdown between professionals and parents. This needs to be standardized in order to eliminate any communication gap occurring in spoken and written communications while dealing with mental health and emotional well being of children.

Mental health is the condition of psychological well being in the mental states which are described as mental illness and emotional distress. There is no clear definition existing which determines the point where the changeover from mental health to ill-health occurs. This is due to the reason that a behavior pattern which is seemingly normal in a particular circumstance can be difined as abnormal when viewed from a different socio cultural perspective. However the road definition given above serves to demarcate a range of mental conditions where intervention is necessary, and also identifies the environment and the relationships of the factors like social and cultural influences wher the child is growing. This broad definition will be used in the context of this discussion.

Mental health promotion and prevention

There are five fundamental elements which need to be addressed for an all encompassing coverage during planning and promotion of a mental health assessment and intervention framework . Similarly five areas have been identified which cause barriers to good mental health development. The contrasting elements of quality of the environment on one hand and adverse environmental qualities which affect children, the factor of  self respect versus self depreciation, factors of emotional nurturing versus emotional neglect, ability for adaptability verses stress formation due to lack of adaptability and lastly social acceptance versus social alienation all contribute to forming a framework for a policy of promoting mental health at macro, meso and micro levels. Government polices comprise the macro level, The implementation of these polices locally make up the meso level and working with a family on implementation of particular policies comprise the micr4o level. The influence of the environment and ecosystem  on the emotional well being of children together with the socio-cultural and historical perspectives during making of a policy for children makes the policy an all encompassing one.

Psychological wellbeing in children and young people

The acronym SEAL means the Social & Emotional Aspects of Learning. This was a major step in promoting the mental health of children studying in the primary and secondary level in schools. The concept was formalised after in-depth study of the maturity levels and intelligence of the child to draw up a short term plan with a focus of arriving at an intervention solution. The focused aim of a SEAL program is to deliver a solution which is within the scope of the syllabus as the curriculum was designed after a lot of deliberations by subject experts and the introduction of a SEAL program would ensure an overall healthy development for the child. SEAL defined the stress that should on the particular social and emotional which were deficient in the child in order to make the child more adaptable to the socio-emotional context in his educational progress. In order to help the parents the programme was suitably elaborated to help the development of the child at home.  The psycho-educational approach promoted by SEAL stressed the importance of laying the foundations of emotional and social competence and then creating the environments to support positive mental health and psychological wellbeing. The approach could be criticized for focusing on building children‟s competencies rather than seeking changes in the environment or context and for not sufficiently considering the socio-cultural influences of family, home school and local community on the social and emotional outcomes for children. Nevertheless, the initiative has encouraged schools to create emotionally healthy environments by adopting the SEAL approach.  Furthermore, emotional well-being has been used as one of the core themes to determine whether a school can be considered to have achieved the healthy school standard.

Evidence-based interventions and practice

SEAL programs were based on evidence and all interventions and treatments that were  suggested was only after observation of the child in the classroom and at home by trained counsellors who after deliberations on the evidence collected made specific recommendations for a particular child. SEAL recommendations were valued by professionals and were very helpful for parents. It gave guidance on the conditions like ADHD, depression, anxiety and unfounded fears or phobias and also recommended lines of approach for trauma related stress in children. It also recommended the interventional steps and the treatment  methods for particular children who had been under the teams critical observation. 

The young child first learns to trust his parents and the main aim in elementary education is focussed to a single goal to teach him how to love his school so that he feels connected to the school environment and loves like it is his second home. He is made to develop a close bond with the class teacher and any other adult whom he can look up to and depend in his times of difficulties. This aspects of personality development are very critical in the growing child. The teacher must feel responsible not only towards the child but also his parents with whom he must develop a comfortable interrelationship.  Children are normally taking hints from their parents behaviour when it comes to establishing bonds. It is therefore important for the parent to show the child that the teacher and parent bond of trust is well established. This will help the child to follow the parents and start trusting whatever the teacher says and teaches. The behaviour of the principal as the figure of authority is established in the first meeting with parents and through parent teacher meeting which are held every month. The meetings are held in an informal atmosphere over coffee and communications help the parent to play a positive influence on the child’s development and progress. The school also continues to build up the link through posting personal messages in the weekly newsletters and bulletin boards in the class rooms and hall which helps the school to reinforce the feeling in the student that he is a loved and wanted human being who is much valued in the school community.  

Adapting to change.

Children love to follow a routine as they are acomfortable when they know in advance what the hay to do next. Sometimes children who are facing stressful situations at home or in the school may react negatively to change. Even very small change upset them like if a class teacher changes or  a shift of the seating in the class or a new baby who has entered his family. Teachers like parents to reports an small change at home which they feel is affecting the child. The child can be made to become a part of the change process and this will help to become less tence whenever a change occurs. By involving a child in discussions about a possible change in scenario whether at home or at school makes it easier for him to adjust as he is in the know about what will happen and how it will happen and he is reassured and able to cope with the situation in a better way. .

If a child his helped by being told about the things which have been left unchanged then he is able to keep his mental balance and also feel that he is in control of the situation.

Children need to feel that he is an important part of the school community. The teacher can do this in many ways which helps the child to contribute to a class initiative in whatever way he can.  For example a child can be made to feel important when the teacher takes the effort to put homework in small folders inscribed with the students name. An effort like creation of a bulletin board where every child can contribute with their personal experiences enriches the class room environment and promotes discussions. Activities like forming a Green Club helps in making himself a wanted member of the school community and also makes him feel that his contributions in the activity is  making a significant difference.  In this way he moves on from taking part in school activities to taking part in neighbourhood activity as well.

Recognition.

Children have a need to feel loved and wanted as an individual. The positive feedback he receives  from his parents, school friends, school teachers due to his  behaviour and achievements helps to reinforce his self worth.  His academic performance and class work when recognised and appreciated makes him happy. A constant praise for achievements in school sends out a signal that this a desirable situation and the child tries his to live up to everybody’s expectations. Before reprimanding a child it needs to be shown that good behaviour is more desirable and praised. It is seen that this approach makes a delinquent child or an uncooperative child mend his behaviour. Sometimes a child is praised for doing his homework correctly this will make him try to do his assignments correctly as far as possible. As an extreme step in correcting undesirable behaviour the school principal and counsellors call the child to their office. An interactive situation is set up where the child is made to participate and tries to give reasons for the particular recurring undesirable behaviour.  Before entering into any communication with the child it is advisable to make him feel important due to his inherent qualities. There is a chance that this may lead him to change his ways. 

Resiliency and accomplishment.

The power to fight back from the brink of defeat is a very important part of the character which must be developed in order to succeed in life. This is called resilient behaviour and this needs to be reinforced as a essential quality which is appreciated and loved. The method of reshaping a strategy which has not succeeded and then continuing on the predetermined path is something which needs to be taught.  Like continuing with the race after falling down this needs the formation of a new resolve and is something different from sheer grit. It has been proved through research that children with the same risk exposures differ in their ability to bounce back because of differences in their resiliency. The teacher must demonstrate that a small defeat should not lead to frustration and it is in no way considered as a personal failure. Different approaches to solving a particular problem situation can be taught by the teacher. The necessary focus to see the bigger picture and readjust and try again to solve a failed attempt is very essential. A child can only then feel responsible for his actions and also discover his personal worth. When a child comes to know that whatever he has achieved is through his own efforts and not through any help received then he rediscovers his own self and values himself much more. They feel that they are in control of the situation. Children lacking this quality become more dependent and do not want to take any responsibility for anything they do because the lack the element of control over the situation.

 This character trait is very important for success in studies and also in social interactions. The child needs to be taught how to define a target they want to achieve and how to proceed towards achieving it through forming strategies and bringing in all his resources and how to monitor his progress from time to time and also how to know when it is time to get outside help as solutions need further inputs which he does not have. 

Addressing Mental Health Problems

The above factors which have been found to be useful for every child leads a child to achieve a good mental health and also make their  approach to their life problems more efficient. It is also important to keep a watchful eye over the growing child. Children having more acute problems need to be looked after more intensely.  The levels at which a school can support the child’s need have been identified to be in three levels especially in giving support to creating a better learning environment so that children can be encouraged to follow good practices in maintaining good mental health.  The environment must foster a self respect and respect for other students and also help them to communicate with everyone and not to withdraw into a shell. Secondly the programs and syllabus must be such that they are taught that bullying, getting into conflicts are not desirable conducts and becoming socially adept is a trait which is desirable and needs to be developed. Lastly the school takes steps to help students to learn how to cope with their learning disabilities, depression, troubled feelings, and sadness at personal losses.   . Some schools deal with communities which  are prone to higher risks or which have experiences of recent traumatic happenings which have triggered a higher incidence of mental health issues amongst their children. But when we look at the bigger picture of elementary schools across the country we find that the incidence of mental health problems have sharply increased.

The main problems which are found to be occurring commonly are those like bipolar diseases, OCD, Impulsive behaviour, depression, ADHD and other problems.   Teachers must know how to detect a more severe problem by tackling it at the earliest possible opportunity and also know when a problem is beyond their control. This becomes a very difficult task as the young children often cannot clearly tell what is troubling them and seem apparently normal and well adjusted . Also there is a great degree of resemblance among different types of disorders. Repetitive behaviour, anxiety, and great reluctance to try out newer approaches are similar to victms of Asperger syndrome and OCD. Mental health problems are very often interconnected for example many disorders can lead to a general depression. Children can hide the symptom of depression making it very difficult to detect. Whenever a mental health problem manifests in a child it can be detected through a change in daily habits and a reluctance to intermingle. The academic performance is also greatly affected. All these initial symptoms if manifested require the immediate intervention by trained professionals 

Nature of slavery described by Tomas de Mercado

Nature of slavery described by Tomas de Mercado - On the Trade in the Blacks of Cape Verde.

With the decline of the indigenous population it became necessary to import black slave labour. So the Spanish crown was involved in the international market of slaves brought from the west coast of Africa. In the sixteenth century, thousands of enslaved men and women were transported to the American territory. For the  Colombian territory they came through the port of Cartagena de Indies during the period 1595-1615, which was the only port on the Spanish American accredited for zone for the cargo of the enslaved. Most of these enslaved, in the period 1533 to 1580 came from the region known as the ​​Cape Verde. Tomas de  Mercado who was a priest and an economist in Mexico during the middle of 15^th century  or the early modern period. He denounced slavery and the practise of dehumanising the human spirit who were mainly Africans but h European traders who competed with each other in the inhuman practise. However he approved and deemed acceptable the capturing of slaves who had been enslaved by the Africans themselves or those who were prisoners of war or convicts or even a child who had been sold by parents due to necessity. He was a proponent of a concept which he termed as just slavery. This trading of human beings was done by mainly European traders by bring in traffic across the Atlantic ocean into America where it was a much demanded commodity. As this trade increased some people argued against this unhealthy practise. But many Christians were also found a positive side and  expressed the virtues of using an obedient slave in carrying out menial chores. In this way they created an implicit support for slavery.

This is probably the last film which will be produced on slavery as its forceful depiction will finally force the American cinema to stop telling all the lies about the virtues of slavery and the happy and fulfilling lives of a slave population. The story opens with Solomon played by Chiwetel Ejiofor, who is  already enslaved and cutting sugar cane on a plantation. Using a number of flashback shots scenes of the happy days when Solomon was free in New York having happiness in the company of his wife and children. He then comes across to white men who give him a job of playing the violin in a circus. Subsequent scenes show the three people having a big party with lots of food and wine. The happy scenes come to an end and we see that Solomon wakes up from a drugged sleep and finds that he has been sold into slavery. He is shown cruelly shackled and passes from one master to another in human bondage.   

This is a story about Solomon, who may represent an entire subjugated people and, by extension, the peculiar institution, as well as the American past and present. It is also a moving story of an individual. The story is a true narrative written by Northup who was born as a free man and then had to share the life of a bonded creature for 12 years. Solomon becomes an important witness in the unfolding of history. He is in enslavement for the standpoint of physical, emotional and psychological parameters but is still intellectually and culturally detached. This makes him a powerful observer of the unfolding events. His life in New York as a free citizen without voting rights gave him a degree of freedom where he could enjoy the privileges of enjoying a weekend with his wife and family. He however remained a black man in pre independent war era in America.

 McQueen has created a classical narrative; the emphasis is on Solomon and his unquenchable desire for freedom. It shows a bewildered man who still cannot believe that he has been sold as a slave even though he has found himself in chains. . Not long after has been drugged and sold as a slave, Solomon sits huddled with two other prisoners on a slave boat headed for the Southern part of America where slaves are in demand. One of the slaves tell him that they should fight back but the second man is resigned to his fate and tells that it is better to keep the head down instead of staging a futile bid for freedom. Solomon is bewildered and his look of disbelief is apparent. It was only a few days before that he roamed the streets of Washington as a free man and now he refuses to accept the second man’s advice that everything is lost forever and he has to suffer in silence. Solomon proudly declares – “I want to live”. The story is about the real world happenings during the fag end of slavery in America. Solomon depicts a poetic record of a black man’s travails into the cruel world of slavery as Platt who has been told a story that he is an escaped convict from Georgia. The compelling narrative style of the film shows the despair which finally encompasses Solomon.

McQueen has recreated a grand screen setting with a lot of emotional content to bring back memories of his film “Hunger”. Sean Bobbitt the cinematographer has filled the screen with a splash of contrasting colors from the deep blue of the ocean to the dark interiors of the ship’s belly where the slaves toil away in a colorless agony. The audience is captivated by Northup’s subjectivity and watch in rapt attention the unfolding story of his life of total freedom and careless abandon to a life of gloom and agony.   The pitiful scenes of a woman being where a woman shrieks in the pain of separation from her young children when they are sold to different owners have to be drowned by Solomon who has been ordered to play his violin to drown the cries. The masterful storyline reminds us of the pains of a slave which had once stirred the conscience of Mercado.   

The obituary on Barney Hajiro

The obituary on Barney Hajiro

Asian born Americans had joined the American war efforts in a very big and significant way with major contributions in the form of selfless sacrifice and undaunted gallantry in the face of enemy attack. Senator Daniel Akaka  who had some Asian roots, led a move to amend the Defence Authorisation Act in 1996 . He was a Hawaiian Democrat candidate and he felt that not enough had been done to recognise the selfless sacrifice of soldiers in the American Army who had roots in Asia. This amendment ordered the Army to relook the Distinguished Service Cross of Asian Americans and especially Japanese Americans and see if they deserved to get the Medal of Honour.  Although the Senate had ordered the relook 4 years elapsed before the Pentagon took a belated review exercise and finally President Bill Clinton presented the Medal of Honour to Senator Inoyue, Mr, Barney Hajiro and 20 other soldiers with Asian backgrounds who went beyond their call of duty and acted in the upholding of American dignity. They were all awarded the Medal of Honour the highest military recognition for bravery.  The Medal of Honour was given from the times of the American Civil War and is the highest recognition for a member of the American armed forces  

Barney Hajiro’s military service:

In the obituary of Barney Hajiro who was a simple private in the American army committed acts of valour which had gone unrecognised for more than 52 years. The fact that he had all alone on his own initiative been able to destroy two German machine gun outposts which was heavily guarded by two sniper covers went unrecognised for more than 50 years  even though his superiors had given him a recommendation of the Medal of Honour award.   The recommendation went on to state his act in 1944 October in France Hajiro ran almost 100 meters dodging a stream of enemy fire. He ran through an area that was booby trapped by the enemy and the outposts were on a hilltop called Suicide Hill and this was heavily guarded by sniper fire. He managed to destroy the enemy and in the process received 4 gun shots in the shoulders and wrists and even in this wounded condition he declined rescue efforts as he wanted 40 other wounded soldiers to be rescued before him. Barney never flouted his bravery and was humble enough to simple state it was all a part of his duty.  Hajiro, was shot in the shoulder and wrist and barred from further combat duty and he had originally received a Distinguished Service Cross, the Army's second-highest award for combat valor.

How does the obituary explain the delay in receiving his citation?

At the of the Awards function President Clinton was truthful and candid while admitting the racial discrimination and prejudice was the reason that such a ceremony was not organised earlier immediately after the war. Even senator Akaka admitted that there was a distinct element of racial prejudice which prevailed against the Japanese Americans after the war which was fallout of the Pearl Harbour attacks. Japanese Americans were mainly concentrated in the 100^th Infantry Battalion and the 442^nd Regimental Combat Team.oth units fought fiercely against the enemy but they got only one posthumous Medal of Honour which seemed like an absurdity when 3464 Medals of Honour were given to American soldiers up to the year 2009.

The obituary is silent on this aspect. Barney like all patriotic Americans was outraged by the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbour and he was one of the first volunteers in March 1943 as were many other Japanese Hawaiians. But despite all his sincerity and angry outbursts there was nothing in the obituary which was able to explain why everything was so delayed. The only acknowledgement was made by The President Bill Clinton who admitted that this was due to racial and institutional discrimination.

Was it appropriate for the article to include Daniel Inouye in the obituary? Why or why not?

James C McNaughton who was the official historian for the American Defence Department was the first person to lead the fight against racial discrimination of the Asian American in the Second World War. He went so far as to say that the way in which the 442^nd was isolated during the institution of bravery awards was tantamount to discrimination within an institution. He also said that he never found an white coloured officer who refused to acknowledge acts of bravery by the Japanese. Daniel Inouye who had fought bravely in Italy during the war and even lost his right arm during a fierce fighting was actually a very modest person who did not understand why he and his former mates had received the medal when they had seen hundreds of other soldiers doing the same thing they had done for getting the medal. The inclusion of Inouye’s remarks gives credence to the fact that there was a deliberate effort to disregard bravery of the Asian Americans for reasons of racial prejudice and institutional discrimination.    

The military service of Japanese Americans during World War II:

The Japanese American soldiers had instituted a forum called the Citizens League which took up the case for posthumous awards of the Medal of Honour to  Sardo S Munemori and in their ongoing efforts they took help from a senator from Utah who sympathised with their struggle. He and others like him realised that the 442^nd battalion made up of around 14000 soldiers of Japanese American backgrounds were very special in their acts of bravery which was acknowledged by even the army. The 442^nd had received nearly 9500 Purple Heart awards in the war efforts and also got more than 50 awards for Distinguished Services along with 8 citations for bravery in battle given by the President. Barney Hajiro had received 3 recognitions from the Army and the President. The obituary acknowledges the members of the 442^nd as being very brave soldiers and recounts the story of the rescue of the lost battalion where 211 soldiers had been trapped in a precarious situation and the 442^nd rescued them at the cost of heavy causalities. 

Hajiro obituary with the Japanese-American World War II experience 

The obituary is silent on the issues involved as they seemed to be steeped in controversy. Of the 22 Asian-Americans whose decorations were upgraded to the Medal of Honour, all but two were Japanese-Americans and members the 442nd or the 100th Infantry Battalion. ..

Though Mr. Hajiro was widely respected for getting the French Legion of Honour he was never allowed to forget that he was Japanese and he accepted his fate that the discrimination and hatred of the Japanese would remain for a long time after the war and he would always be called a Jap by the Americans. The Medal of Honor had been created in the times of the Civil war and given to those who risked their lives in the service of the nation by acts of bravery which were beyond the call of duty.

Out of the 3464 Medals of Honor that had been presented up to 2009 only 31 had been given to Asian Americans.  Mr Hajiro received the Medal after more than 56 years after the war and was the oldest person to receive this honour. Being born in Hawaii he came from a very modest background having dropped school at a very early age and having done very hard work for long hours in the dockyard. He was not allowed to carry arms when he was drafted in the army and made to dig ditches. This was a really sad state of affairs for such a brave man.

Dyson Company Strategic Management

Resources and Capabilities - ‘Inside Dyson’: a distinctive company?



The value chain is essentially a form of analysis of business by which a company decompose into its constituent parts, seeking to identify sources of competitive advantage in those value-generating activities. That competitive advantage is achieved when the company develops and integrates the activities of its value chain more cheaply or better differentiated than its rivals. Therefore the value chain of a company is made up of all its added value generating activities and the margins they contribute.

The value chain is divided into two parts:

Primary activities

Inbound Logistics comprising receipt, storage and distribution of raw materials.	Operations – (Production): processing of raw materials processed into the final product.	Outbound Logistics - Storage of finished products and consumer product distribution.	Sales & Marketing - activities which disclosed the product.	Service and Support - Service: after-sales and maintenance, group activities to preserve, enhance product value through the application of safeguards.
The Dyson plant manufacturing is located in a rural village located in the west of England. .350 engineers are located here for making new products which give the company its control over secrecy and its IP rights. Product meetings are held in sound proof rooms	Vacuums, fan, hand dryers, moving into integrated kitchens and robotic vacuums following the success of iRobots	Product manufacturing is carried out in countries like Malaysia and China where labour is cheap and cost of warehousing and distribution logistics are cost effecting helping to cut down production costs and also ultimate product MRP. Nearness to supply sources also help to maintain quality standards.	Dyson products are new, and different,: whether vacuum or washing machine they are unique  and easily identifiable from their bright colour variations.. The products are  robust, and need little after sales support. Dyson has one of the best online retail stores, which is responsible for most of distribution functions for the company.	Unique Engineering design protected by IP rights.

Secondary activities

Firm Infrastructure (General Management) Infrastructure organization supporting activities across the enterprise, such as planning, accounting and finance .	Their large testing facility in Malaysia operates continually with over 120 test­ing stations. The operation in the UK employs 1200 varied people: some experienced, some freshly qualified, some with 'way out' ideas
Human Resource Management - recruiting, hiring and staff motivation.	Creativity is rewarded and encouraged. A major part of profits is ploughed back in product design. Staff are encouraged to process their ideas whatever be the cost and are rewarded for their efforts.
Technology Development -Development of technology, research and development: cost drivers and value.	The company is focused on innovative product design and development and ploughs back almost half its profits into ruggedness testing of prototypes whatever be the cost involved.
Procurement	Procurement is done near the suppliers of the raw materials and are thoroughly tested for zero defects in the procurement stage. the manu­facturing part of his vacuum value chain in Malaysia and later that of his hand dryers in Nanjing in China

Since the commercial success of Dyson products depends on several players the efficient use of IP tools greatly reduce the hazards faced by the different actors, so that they can then make reasonable profits in exchange for their participation in the process. The IP greatly facilitates the process of introducing innovative technology on the market – before a product is launched it is thoroughly tested for ruggedness by breaking down 100 to 1000 prototypes and locating manufacturing defects at the same time plays an essential role in promoting the image of its technological excellence and all Dyson products are new or improved and need little servicing. Thanks to the added value obtained, the greater profitability leads to increased income or productivity. The value chain is not a collection of independent activities but a system of interdependent activities. Value activities are related by links in the value chain. The links are the relations between the manners in which an activity and the cost or performance of another will play

Dyson company is very rigid about maintaining its product secrecy. Its UK headquarters has advanced biometric identification to restricted areas  and internally developed sound proofing panels ensue that the outside world do not get access to any conversational leaks. The vacuum cleaner value chain located in Malaysia ahs the support of as many as 20 highly specialised testing laboratories all of which are located in the vicinity of the manufacturing plant. There are also additional 120 testing stations which operate round the clock. Hand dryers are produced in Nanjing, China. Dyson has its operations in more than 45 countries situated all around the globe and has a presence in highly competitive markets like Japan, China and USA. 

Identify the resources and competences which underpin Dyson’s sustained and / or temporary competitive advantage.

 By the shifting its production to low cost economies in Asia and China Dyson has brought down the labour component in its product pricing and at the same time increased its profits which have enabled the company to retain and attract a lot of talented engineers. These policies have enabled the company to compete with products manufactured in high cost economies like Europe and USA.  

The foundation of the success of Dyson’s empire is centred on the unique contribution of its engineering division which has helped it to create innovative product designs by engineering and re-engineering its products continuously and always brainstorming new approaches through a breakdown analysis of every prototype created. A prototype is broken down and put together again more than a 100 times and more than 1000 prototypes are created if necessary for a single product before it is launched in the market.  The company promotes an environment where creative ideas are nurtured and rewarded. Its engineers are encouraged to think in different ways and travel through less trodden paths. The even get support from the company for any idea however absurd it may appear if there is an element of creative insight. The protection of every product by the Intellectual Copyrights Act gives the company a greater edge and helps it to use its resources in the most effective way. Its patented technologies like the Ball Technology and the Root cyclone technology which are used in all cars and automobiles and vacuum cleaners have a global penetration and cannot be duplicated by an manufacturer due to the unique value addition features which has given the company a cost reduction advantage which cannot be duplicated.    Distribution Channel, premium products, and value chain

The Dyson presence in the online marketing scene has enabled the company to cut down on logistic costs. Its 24x7 availability and its helpline have enabled a customer loyalty and fetch premium prices for most of the company’s products. The theory and practice of the value chain analysis is typified by the Dyson Company. Strategic competencies on how to create value by increasing testing facilities nearer to the supply source, and location of production in low cost economies has helped give the customers additional value in terms of costs and also reliability together with a greatly reduced maintenance requirement.  

SWOT Analysis

The strengths of the company are centred around its protection of its Intellectual Copyright through patenting every product. Its secrecy, private ownership, lack of financial resources from financial institutions and international availability of the products  have allowed the company to give consumers value for their money.  The weakness will occur when a patent expires or a government changes its policy towards proprietary technology and finally a great deal of dependence on the promoter.

Imitation

Although secrecy is heavily guarded at Dyson competitors might find the key to its strategies but owing to the value chain it has created competitors will find it difficult to match its price and product characteristics in terms of quality and durability. These elements cannot be substituted. This will keep the company sustainable till a wave of more powerful technological interventions appear or companies develop better R&D capacities. The proprietary nature of the company gives it greater freedom to pursue a path of creativity and deployment of resources.

 Threshold capabilities

I believe that the future of Dyson is firmly secure by it policies for development of human resources as freedom for creative engineers will rarely be found in any other production environment. The heavy investment in its research and development and testing has positioned it uniquely as no other competitor will have a similar framework which can be upgraded to Dyson operating standards. Strategic plant locations in Asia where labour will continue to remain for some more time will help the company to carry on unhindered by competition. 

Evolution Phyletic gradualism and Punctuated equilibrium. 

The believers of a principal of phyletic evolution that postulates that when a transformation takes place within a species the process occurs  in infinitesimally small progressive stages which progress along phylogenetic lines of changing sequences in the genetic map and is a slow and constant process till the time the change is about to occur. When the time comes for the new species to be formed there is a quantum jump and the rates of change are  discernibly faster. It is held my supporters of the theory of punctuated equilibrium that species do not undergo any change over long periods of geologic time and are held in a situation of stasis. After being in this state they undergo a sudden change like an evolutionary explosion and many changes occur in a very short period of time. It takes the form of a branched out or a mosaic evolutionary pattern where a lot of morphological features undergo visible change which though discernible are  easily correlated to the original form. .

The change in the species is not dependent on the changes in the habitat alone and the peculiarities of the observed changes can only be a conjecture and is not accurate enough to interpret what really happened.

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2Evolutionary factors responsible for the periods of relative stasis:

The theory of rapid evolution states that when large phenotype changes occur in an organism through changes of the environment or habitat in which the organism is flourishing the result could be the emergence of another observable species over a relatively short period of time. The changes that occur in the structure of the organism would not need a progression through intermediary developmental stages. . Fresh water fishes named the cichlids or breams are  found in many places in Africa, America and Asia which are so far separated geographically that their evolution can be attributed to a rapid evolution in their chromosome sequence which must have occurred over a period of < 4,000,000  years. Though the proof of the theory of rapid evolution is very difficult due to absence of fossil record the proof of a fast or a slow paced evolutionary pattern can be deciphered in certain cases.

TThe debate between punctuated equilibrium and phyletic gradualism :

It seems today that evolutionists are admitting more and more openly than had hitherto been the normative evolutionary dogma, the gradual evolution by micro mutations, is not supported by either the fossil record or by common sense. Therefore, we are hearing more about evolutionary breaks through macro mutations which created monsters. But this dogma has its own difficulties, if not impossibilities. It is appropriate that we are all aware of what the situation is. 

Punctuated equilibrium is an important model of how evolutionary change occurs, but has often been misunderstood. The punctuated equilibrium notion suggests that the theory of evolution by natural selection of Darwin is wrong. This means that basic assumptions of the theory of evolution as propounded by Darwin which assumed that the origin of life on earth is very old may be fallacious and it may be more correct to assume that there are short spells when there is a rapid activity in species and the adapt to evolutionary changes during these times with no intermediary stages. The necessity for having a common ancestor and long periods of time are therefore not necessary. Fossil record from micro fossils of certain types of foraminifera having shells go towards proving the punctuationist presumptions.  .

4. Evidence of a long history of life on the planet:

Events before the period 550 million years have a very incomplete fossil record. This time it occupies about 3000 million years when actually very little is known. The conclusions about it are usually based on indirect facts. For example, the increase in oxygen concentration as inferred by the presence of oxidized rock strata 2 000 million years ago. This period is called Precambrian after this we have the Phanerozoic Precambrian, which is the familiar time when the history on Earth began. The fossil record of this period is full of Bones, shells, etc. and we find traces of organisms, records of their hard parts, molds and rock in some cases traces of their soft parts.  The Mesozoic Era, 150 million years was characterized by the dominance of dinosaurs, early mammals also appear and the first birds. Towards the end of this era the first flowering plants appeared and finally we find diversification between 100, 000 and 200,000 years with the appearance of man.  This reinforces the idea that the history of life on Earth is very old and has been very changeable. 

Evidence of evolution by gradual change:

There are two different types of salamanders and they only rarely intersect. These salamanders differ dramatically in terms of their color. These two types of salamanders are connected by a string of towns north, which surrounds the Central Valley of California. The color patterns of these salamanders gradually change. Researchers examined the genetic relationships among populations of salamanders, using DNA sequences. Genetic evidence obtained supports the hypothesis that a combination of geographic variation with history inferred from molecular features, allows us to imagine the small steps through which a single ancestral species in the north led to two species in southern California, through the process of evolutionary divergence.

6Evidence of punctuated equilibrium:

The theory of punctuated equilibrium not only refers to the rate of evolution, but also the course of evolution. Morphological changes experienced by the same lineage and splitting of one species into two are causally related. Researchers diligently studied entire collections of exquisitely preserved Cambrian trilobites, searching for gradual transitions from one species to its descendant species. Studies in Morocco and New York through carefully combed sediments in stratigraphic sequences found some variations from layer to layer in the size and shape of the carapace, but in no case was there any clear trend indicating a slow transition from one species to another. Rather, it seemed that the presence of the same species continued, with small random variations, over 800,000 years and suddenly another appeared. The search of intermediate forms and gradual evolutionary change between the two always proved futile. Sedimentary rocks in the fossil records do not lie or cheat.  

Aims of Law

Aims of Law

Laws prohibiting gay marriage:

Mill believed that imposition of legal restric­tions in speech and conduct are needed in the interest of conservation of good values in society. Mill is opposed to permitting any conduct which harms others. The concept of harm to others however does not imply that we must not care about others and the way that they treat themselves

The legal controversy surrounding the marriages between members of the same sex have many connotations and are complicated. Before 1996 the Federal Government had not attempted to establish its own definition of marriage and any marriage recognized by a state was recognized by the Federal Government. With the passage of the Defence of Marriage Act (DOMA) in 1996 marriage was defined as the union of one man and one woman for purposes of federal law. 

Two landmark judgments enshrine the rights of homosexual couples and advance the cause of full legalization. The country's highest court declared unconstitutional a federal law that defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman as a violation of the right to equality of homosexuals.

However, many aspects of marriage laws that affect the daily lives of the citizens of the United States are determined by the states, not the Federal Government, and the Law on Defence of Marriage Act does not prevent individual states define the better understand marriage. In fact, many scholars of law believe that the Federal Government cannot impose a definition of marriage above the laws of all states through legislation.

Anti-abortion law

In the United States induced abortion or abortion is legal in all states  after the judgment of the Supreme Court in the case Roe v. Wade, in January 22 of 1973. This landmark ruling establishes a period of the first 3 months of pregnancy when a person could have an abortion because it was the time during which the foetus have a  viable-probability of surviving outside the womb. The ruling forbade the various states from imposing any strictures against early abortion during that period but restrictions or ban could be imposed once the three months period was crossed.

Many early feminists were not in support of abortion because they considered that this would increase attacks on women and increase their insecurity but they had to be corrected.  Till now there was no law to protect women from rape by the husband and women did not have the right to divorce and the right to refusal of sex. Legalizing abortion was for some a solution to a part of the problem without modifying its root cause. Mill was of the opinion that if a person of her own free will and with full knowledge of the consequences performs some action which justified the harm inflicted on the self justifies the action in terms of the goals, aims and likings then the action is legalised.

Law on the use of marijuana:

The central argument is based on the fundamental right that each person has to choose how you want to lead your life, including the obligation of the State to respect the decision of the city on substances that decide to use or consume. Other supporters of the measure based his defence on the belief that it would be an important means to eradicate the mafia -related drug trafficking. Some  political parties support a legalization and liberalization of drug control laws for therapeutically using.  Legalization would end the black market and the consequent black money generated by drug trafficking and reduce the social and political corruption as well as environmental damage. 

California voters approved by referendum in 1996 Proposition 215, which allows marijuana for medical use. Since then, eight states have passed similar laws, and have sparked legal battles. Still unresolved is the underlying conflict between state laws that allow medical marijuana, and the federal law, which considers all marijuana use illegal.  It needs to be understood that laws cannot determine the ways of the moral consciousness in a society. One of the main reasons why many U.S. states have not yet legalized marijuana for medicinal use is the fear that doing so will lead to an increase of criminal offenses and that could turn users into addicts and dispensaries into hiding places for marijuana. Twenty-five cities and counties in Colorado, in the U.S limited the legal sale of marijuana in about 160 stores and it became the first in the world to do so freely to all over 21 years of age. This measure is the result of Amendment 64, adopted by popular vote which legalized the possession and use of marijuana up to 28 grams for nonmedical use.

The legalized sale of marijuana will demonstrate safety and economic potential of regulated marijuana market and also highlight the value of marijuana as a consumer product for adults and provide a foretaste of future legal sales of marijuana. Not everyone shares this optimism and think this will open a door to legalize increased marijuana usage.

Status of implementation of euthanasia

The law in the United States does not favour euthanasia and a Montana Court ruled that the constitution of the state is violated when there is a case where suicide is assisted. A ban on euthanasia violates the right of  privacy guaranteed by the constitution of the state and also the premise that human dignity must be preserved and the people suffering from terminal diseases have a right to their lives to end in a dignified manner. The forces which support euthanasia had a major victory when a vote for legalising assisted suicide was passed in the Washington state.. With this vote Washington became the second state after Oregon which legalized the issue of assisted suicide. Terminally ill adults with mental capacity and who have been predicted a life expectancy lesser than six months, may apply for self administration of lethal medicines under the supervision of a doctor.  The Supreme Court of the US ruled in 1994 that terminally ill patients who are dying and are in acute and unbearable pain and suffering can choose to ask their doctors for prescription drugs which could help ease their sufferings even if they resulted in causing unconsciousness of hasten the ultimate process of causing death through the use of these drugs.  

Some recent judgments on the issue include a case where an elderly Connecticut citizen told the  police he had cleaned the gun for  his dying friend, and left it within reach of the for the friend to kill himself. The man received probation. Even if in this case the law and the facts appear apparently crystal clear but they are not, the jurors have their own internal rules for determination about what is evil.

Distributing and purchasing child pornography.

Robert George is of the view that if the virtue of citizens can be encouraged by the existence of laws that discourage even private vice, then such laws may well be justified by reference to the common good. Suppose that one wishes to argue that child pornography material should be legally forbidden. One might say that the justification for prohib­ition of this behaviour is because of the harm done to the child in the making and distributing of this material. To succeed, one would have to show that the harm alleged to the child is actually present, and that this harm is of a properly uncontroversial variety. It is not clear that the evidence of that sort of harm is available and is sufficiently noncontroversial. But if we wish we can put this aside by noting that the pornography targeted might be computer generated with extremely realistic, depictions. No children are involved in its making. It is hard to see how a consistent defender of the harm-to-others principle could support legal proscription of the distribution and pur­chase of child pornography of this form. Some have claimed that use of such materials makes users inflict harm on children, but the actual evidence is missing and it is unclear whether it shows anything more than that those inclined to harm children are more likely to purchase child pornography. And if there is anything that defender of the harm-to-others principle have wanted to rule out, it is the appeal about unsubstantiated and uncertain future harms to others for the sake of precipitating an action that is primarily self degrading.

A defender of morality laws might claim here that the point of distributing and purchasing child pornography promotes sexual gratification through its use and the defender of a moral legislation might claim that there is not much to be said against the view that seeking self gratification through use of explicit sexual depictions of children is debasing, corrupt, and vile.

It is hard to believe that there will be any results forthcoming from some experiment in living that will show us that it is anything but that, or that whether it is debasing, corrupt, and vile is something that varies among persons based on their circumstances, circumstances that legislators are not in a position to fathom. If it is plausible that legally pro­scribing the distribution and purchase of child pornography will dis­courage the seeking of gratification through the use of sexually explicit depictions of children while discouraging other forms of equally bad or worse conduct then there may well be justification for use of a moral legislation in cases of this type.