Without Consicence: The Disturbing World Of The Psychopaths Among Us :: Without Consicence

Without Consicence: Â  The Disturbing World Of The Psychopaths Among Us Robert D Hare is respected by his colleagues worldwide as an expert on psychopathy. He gained much of his insights as a Psychologist employed with CSC (Correctional Service of Canada) starting in the early 60's. At the present time he is a Professor of Psychology at the University of British Columbia. He and his students have interviewed hundreds of psychopathic offenders. This book is rich with transcripts of those interviews, giving gripping insights into what makes them "tick." This IS NOT a shallow pop psychology, "self help" book. It's no gory thriller with lurid prose either. It's a GENUINE self help book. It will verify suspicions you may have acquired from life experiences, that some few people who cross your path truly "have no real feelings or conscience" and are "relentless users," employing endless ways to manipulate others. They are driven to always be "in control". I know the kind. I've positively identified about five or ten of them in my 41 years and seen many others who "lean that way." Just as this book states and/or implies -- even if they live their whole lives never actually committing any horrible crime, you never "trust" them. You somehow "know" what they COULD do. Your gut instincts warn you they are opportunistic, "social predators" whose outward "normalcy" is only a "slick facade." You detest and/or mourn the gullibility and trusting attitude of too many who are consistently "used" by them. Most of them during their entire lives never BREAK the law, but they are second to none at knowing how to BEND and TWIST it to suit their purposes. You find out eventually by observing them long enough or by being victimized yourself, how crafty they are at maneuvering others to "fit into their plans." You come to the horrible conclusion that if they were allowed free rein, they would prove that they only feel "truly alive" if they can tell everyone who touches their lives what to do, when to do it, what to think and when to think it? I believe they're profoundly fearful cowards, literally "too scared" to ever discover love or respect. Their social relations only have one goal and one choice if they can't meet it -- "In some way, shape or form, I MUST dominate you, if I can't, we have NOTHING to do with each other".

The Evolution of John Steinbeck Essay -- Biography Biographies Essays

The Evolution of Steinbeck In "The Grapes of Wrath", Steinbeck takes a great leap forward in his storytelling. His characters are better developed and more human. Steinbeck's development as a writer was linked to his growth as a person and his furthered capacity for understanding in others, particularly the disenfranchised. The process and struggle that ensued during the early years of his career were instrumental in his growth and are demonstrated in the development of his views on industrialization and it's effects on the working class. His greater understanding seemed to lead to an end to his theological approach to writing, or at least a modification of it. For with greater understanding came empathy, and with empathy came subjectivity. With the distance gone between he and his characters, it became possible to identify with the characters on a deeper level. They were more true to life than the characters of his previous novels. When Steinbeck managed to cross this line, he made a leap from the realm of the good writers into the Valhalla of great authors. This is when Steinbeck into people. Few of the masses were not familiar with the likes of a Tom Joad or Mack. (A Joseph was much harder to come by.) In his earlier books, works like "To a God Unknown" and "In dubious Battle", Steinbeck delved into the man driven by ideology. Anything but "down-to earth", the characters in these books were motivated by what could be. As creatures of speculation, they were driven by the mind's eye. While Joseph lived for the earth, he never managed to be of it, (at least in the manner of your everyday farmer.) Like any man who have walked through the halls of formal education, Steinbeck himself was a man of... ..."employable." Dr. Kelly posed the question, " what if World War II had not interposed and brought the U.S. out of the Great Depression?" At what point are the evils of the marketplace checked? Time will tell. Without a common enemy, where is the unifying cause to organize? What will bring the people together? Once people are driven by hunger it seems to be to late. Hunger is desperate and powerless, without reason or strength. Humanity has conquered the world. Can we conquer out greed and fear? Steinbeck was unsure that our species could overcome our seemed hatred of ourselves. Maybe the fear of terrorism can bring the world together. In the meantime, people continue to struggle. Maybe things will finally change and we can all gain the empathy and understanding that were Steinbeck's. Unfortunately, those qualities seem to come only through great struggle. The Evolution of John Steinbeck Essay -- Biography Biographies Essays The Evolution of Steinbeck In "The Grapes of Wrath", Steinbeck takes a great leap forward in his storytelling. His characters are better developed and more human. Steinbeck's development as a writer was linked to his growth as a person and his furthered capacity for understanding in others, particularly the disenfranchised. The process and struggle that ensued during the early years of his career were instrumental in his growth and are demonstrated in the development of his views on industrialization and it's effects on the working class. His greater understanding seemed to lead to an end to his theological approach to writing, or at least a modification of it. For with greater understanding came empathy, and with empathy came subjectivity. With the distance gone between he and his characters, it became possible to identify with the characters on a deeper level. They were more true to life than the characters of his previous novels. When Steinbeck managed to cross this line, he made a leap from the realm of the good writers into the Valhalla of great authors. This is when Steinbeck into people. Few of the masses were not familiar with the likes of a Tom Joad or Mack. (A Joseph was much harder to come by.) In his earlier books, works like "To a God Unknown" and "In dubious Battle", Steinbeck delved into the man driven by ideology. Anything but "down-to earth", the characters in these books were motivated by what could be. As creatures of speculation, they were driven by the mind's eye. While Joseph lived for the earth, he never managed to be of it, (at least in the manner of your everyday farmer.) Like any man who have walked through the halls of formal education, Steinbeck himself was a man of... ..."employable." Dr. Kelly posed the question, " what if World War II had not interposed and brought the U.S. out of the Great Depression?" At what point are the evils of the marketplace checked? Time will tell. Without a common enemy, where is the unifying cause to organize? What will bring the people together? Once people are driven by hunger it seems to be to late. Hunger is desperate and powerless, without reason or strength. Humanity has conquered the world. Can we conquer out greed and fear? Steinbeck was unsure that our species could overcome our seemed hatred of ourselves. Maybe the fear of terrorism can bring the world together. In the meantime, people continue to struggle. Maybe things will finally change and we can all gain the empathy and understanding that were Steinbeck's. Unfortunately, those qualities seem to come only through great struggle.

Globalisation & Liberalisation

According to Herman E Daly, Globalization serves the villous of a single, cosmopolitan, integrated global economy. This definition focuses on the cross border movement of goods, services and resources (financial and human) impacting on the domestic and global assets and employment. Globalization, thus focuses on an integrated economic world in which the economy is a single market characterized by trade and Investment flows, cross border economic activities In production, Investment financing, movement of capital, technology, labor, Internationalization of consumption, capital, and services.Economic liberation's is the gateway of globalization and financial liberation plays the most crucial role in integration of one neutron economy on the global economic network. However, very often the term liberation's and globalization are used simultaneously. Important instruments of liberation's are regulation of financial market to allow foreign capital, foreign investment, to and fro flow of c apital etc. Reduction of tariff and non-tariff barriers of trade, simplifications of customs measures etc.For successful global Integration a country must move to economic liberalizing by dismantling entry barriers and Licensing system, reduction in physical restrictions on imports, reduction in control n capital and current account, reforming financial system and opening up financial market to private (domestic and foreign) players, removing controls on foreign capital (FDA and portfolio) flow to the country etc. Globalization however, Is not a new phenomena of the current world activities.Economic historians have traced two strong waves of globalization. The first wave of globalization spread over 1 870 – 1914 while the second wave of globalization began roughly in 1960 and continuing. The current wave of globalization is much faster and deeper. Globalization today is fundamentally a new economic phenomenon, and a process to set up a new economic order globally increased in tegration and Interdependence of production, consumption and services. The present wave of banquets – Volvo.V Issue 1, January 2005 Globalization and Life Insurance gallstones NAS slantingly Innocence Improved speculation In resource allocation, productivity enhancement and specialization and greater innovation, adaptability and utilization of technology which has necessitated the need for cross border economic activity for all the countries. Resource mobility has not only reduced the cost of production and distribution but also boosted competition across the order.Drivers of Globalization The present wave of globalization has been significantly influenced by advances in information and computer technology, increased flow of trade and capital. Improved specialization in resource allocation, productivity enhancement and specialization and greater innovation, adaptability and utilization of technology which has necessitated the need for cross border economic activity for all th e countries. These have not only reduced the cost of production and distribution but also boosted competition across the border.Therefore important drivers of globalization are expansion of International Trade, Internationalization of Financial Market and Migration, Baldwin and Martin (1999) observed key aspects of globalization namely Trade, investment, migration and Factor prices , Capital flows and Markets, and Industrialization and Income Convergence and Divergence. Both waves of globalization were driven by radical reduction in technical and policy barriers to international transactions†¦. But the uniqueness in recent globalization is heavily shaped by the dramatic reduction in communications cost, what is sometimes referred to as the death of distance'.Financial Globalization Advancement in information technology, innovation in financial products, and increase in trade and services provided boost to the cross border flow of capital. Capital Mobility is considered as an in dicator of financial integration. Other indicator being gross stocks of foreign assets and liabilities. We shall discuss this in detail the section Financial Globalization The process of Globalization is strongly supported by Financial Globalization.There is an inextricable relation between increased international trade in goods and services and the increased flow of international UAPITA. It is because increased trade is followed by increase in payments, banking service, hedging etc. Stock markets, as we have noted in the beginning, has replaced the role of Banking to a great extent as a financier to corporate and development funds. Stock markets, in a globally integrated financial market facilitate risk sharing, improve efficiency of resource allocation, impact savings decisions and provide liquidity thus supporting faster economic growth.Globally integrated stock markets facilitates economic growth in several ways namely : Banquets – Volvo. V Issue 1, January 2005 021 Impro ve much name eloquently In ten market Prove prudent resource allocation prospects Create an environment for flow of savings thus reducing uncertainty of capital in the market Reduce risks through global diversification Liberalized and internationally integrated stock markets thus boost economic growth. Benefits of Financial Globalization Liberation's and globalization produces immense benefits to the countries integrated.Liberation's creates conducive climate for faster economic growth, allows upgrading of technology, provides scale economy, expansion of markets domestically and internationally. Economic integration through liberation's can also expand Job opportunities in domestic market and through migration of labor in general. Financial Globalization produces higher economic growth through direct and indirect impact on economy . Liberation's and globalization produce immense benefits to the countries integrated.Liberation's creates conducive climate for faster economic growth, a llows upgrading of technology, provides scale economy, expansion of markets domestically and internationally. Economic integration through liberation's can also expand Job opportunities in domestic market and through gyration of labor in general. However, liberation's of financial markets provides growth generating opportunities including the following. By encouraging FDA, developing economies can import much needed technology, which would further generate spillovers for local firms.Saggy (2002) mentioned three types of potential channels of spillovers, namely Demonstration Effect, (local firms adopting multinational introduced technologies), labor turnover switchover of trained labors to local firms (enabling technology diffusion) and vertical linkages (multinationals supplying technology to suppliers of intermediate goods). Global Financial integration augment much required domestic saving and boost up capital investment in investment starved countries. It also provides avenues fo r better allocation of capital and minimizes risk.Further, capital flow is accompanied by transfer of technology and finally assists in promoting healthy capital market. Indirect influences of globalization include promotion of globalization and integration of domestic economies which is followed by improving the macro economic policy frame work and setting up economic institutions and better governance system. Financial Liberation's has forced many countries to open up financial markets and relaxed the rules of intermediation allowing financial services institutions like investment banks, asset management companies, Mutual Funds, Pension Funds etc. To operate in newly liberalized markets. The forces of change unleashed by financial globalization, reenacted In Electroplating AT Dangling system, Increase In cross border financial activity increased competition in savings market convergence in financial services industry. B. Globalization of Insurance Market Insurance is an integral p art of national economy and a strong pillar of financial arrest. Therefore, waves of globalization have also deeply influenced the insurance market worldwide. Financial Market Globalization has also been strongly supported by Globalization of Insurance.With the increase in Trade, Direct Investment and Portfolio Investment, there has been an ever growing demand for Insurance services particularly in the emerging markets. Globalization of Insurance market, as a part of the overall process of liberalizing in emerging and other countries enabled the foreign insurance companies to enter in those countries and benefited both. The riving forces of insurance market globalization has been identified by Swiss Re (Sigma No. 4/2000) as the ‘push factors' and ‘Pull Factors'.The Push factors are the motives behind the movement of foreign insurance companies while the pull factors are the motives behind allowing the foreign companies to operate in local market, l) Push factors : Insura nce Companies move out to emerging markets due to Increasing Global Trade , Growing Direct Investment , Potential Future Growth in Emerging Markets , Saturation in industrialized countries and Strong growth in emerging entries and expected Efficiency Gains through Diversification , Economics of scale etc it) Pull Factors : The important pull factors in emerging markets – Emerging Markets have Strong Economic growth and Trade, and there are substantial requirements of capital in Emerging Markets to cover major risks. There are several benefits to the countries allowing foreign insurance companies to operate in their countries which can be broadly classified into Economy related, and Insurance marked related Economy related benefits to the local country : Foreign insurance companies along with local companies add further momentum to obligation of savings. Institutional net work in the savings market increases, which also influence the savings behavior of household and corporate savings.Resources and capital allocation in the Domestic Market increases with the increased sophistication brought by the foreign insurance companies It also improves the financial stability in the host country, as well as facilitates improvement in production and Trade. Banquets – Volvo. V Issue 1, January 2005 023 Insurance market related benefits : Capital structure of entire insurance industry improves because foreign companies brings fresh capital with them. Market efficiency improves due to information dissemination, global operating knowledge and increased competition. Management inclemency Increases Decease Torrent companies Drill Walt teem global experience and management innovation. Range of available products increases because foreign companies bring with them a wide range of products and product development expertise.Customers' service improves. Increased competition, technology led service, and cost competition finally benefits the consumers. Globalization also improves Regulatory and Governance system. It also improves market conduct and Ethical Business Standard. Jennifer Rankin (2003) mentions the following factors driving the insurance companies' cross border activity. Many countries are moving away from protectionism and state control and taking more market driven approach especially in the insurance and financial services and opening up their markets to foreign companies. The process of Insurance globalization significantly influenced by the GOATS/WTFO.A major break through was achieved in 1997 with an agreement of Liberation's of financial services following which 102 countries committed to remove entry barriers and liberalism their markets. The GOATS agreement offers legal security and protection to global insurance players. With the removal of entry barriers in emerging and less developed countries there has been an increased flow of funds from developed countries to the emerging and less developed countries. According to Swiss R e (Sigma No. 4/2000) â€Å"In recent years there has been a strong increase in the demand for insurance in the emerging markets. The average annual growth rate in the emerging markets has since 1990 been twice as high as industrial countries in both life and non-life insurance.There is already an indication of slow Roth and saturation of insurance market in industrially developed countries. During 2003, Global Life business witnessed a decline of -0. 8%. However, emerging market life business grew by 6. 6% as against -1 . 7% decline in industrialized countries. In non life business, while industrialized countries achieved 5. 7% growth in real premium income, emerging markets registered 8. 5% growth rate in 2003. However, total premium income of emerging market in 2003, was US $ 314128 million which represented 10. 68% global premium income, whereas share of industrialized countries with US $ 2626542 million representing 89. 2% of global premium. This is an indication of huge potent ial emerging market.Globalization of Financial as well as Life Insurance Market is an inevitable phenomena. In the years to come the globalization of Insurance Market is going to speedup further. The impact of globalization will also be felt more in emerging markets which have exhibited better potential for growth in insurance market. Data provided in Table No. 1 and Table No. 2 shows that countries which have extensively opened up the Insurance 24 Market to the Private and Foreign Companies have achieved relatively better growth in insurance density and penetration. It has also been noted in India that growth of Insurance Market was faster in the post liberation's period than that in pre- Tatterdemalions pergola.However, one AT ten constraints AT Insurance Gallstones Is a small number of global players as noted by UNEVEN (2002). The private insurance industry is largely a national industry rather than a global one. The number of truly global insurance players is in the range of 20 to 30 only. Another 70 companies operate significantly in more than one continent through branches. Only 1. 2% of global insurance premium comes from across border business. C. Impact of Liberation's on Economic growth Research of Bernstein and others (1998) shows that FDA contributes more domestic growth than domestic investment. And also FDA is more productive than domestic investment.Liberation's of capital markets attracts foreign investment which influences the price of equity thereby reducing the cost of capital. Research of Beakers and Harvey (2000) indicated that post liberalized regulatory reforms bring down the cost of capital and also help to increase inflow of capital. Financial liberation's also imparts structural formats of capital markets, improves the closures, transparency and corporate governance which creates growth prospects in a liberalized country. It has been noted that the average per capita income is higher in the countries with more open economic policies a nd better global linkages, than in the countries with less openness in financial sector. Globalization has helped promote convergence of per capita incomes.Per capita incomes have grown faster in globalization developing countries (those lowering trade barriers) than in rich countries – 5 per cent versus 2. 2 per cent in sass†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Non globalization Developing countries have lagged behind. Finance and Development, March 2002. , UP). Resource (2002) has observed that â€Å"the trend of rising inequality over the past 200 years, primarily between countries, now appears to have been reversed, and the experience of the 19th century suggests that increased globalization will accelerate this decline. Parkas et al (2003) has noted that ‘International Financial Integration can help to promote domestic financial sector development, which in turn can help to moderate macro economic volatility.However, thus far these benefits of financial integration appear to have accru ed primarily to industrialized countries. D. Growth of Life Insurance in India Indian Life Insurance Industry, since nationalization, has registered a significant growth and gradually increased its share in household financial savings. As noted in table 4, the Share of Insurance Funds has increased from 8. 7% in 1993-94 to 14. 9% in 2003-04, while the share of life insurance funds increased from 8% to 14. 5% during the same Banquets – Volvo. V Issue 1, January 2005 025 per 00 Ana In terms AT GAP It NAS Increased Trot I Nils Is a gallants achievement of Life Insurance Industry which till recently represented by LICE of India.Growth in Life Fund is considered to be an important indicator of growth of Life Insurance Industry and as can be seen from the Table 4, LICE has performed exceedingly well. LICE, after nationalization of 256 Life Insurance Companies, started with a Life Fund of RSI. 410. 40 core, which in course of time increased rapidly and stood at RSI. 3,21 ,754 core i n 2004. Similarly, the total assets of LICE has increased from RSI. 463 core in 1958 to core in 2004. High growth of Life Fund and Assets of LICE was possible due to significant growth in New Business, which got a boost during the Post Liberation's period. First time in 1999, LICE sold more than one core (1. 8 core) policies in a single year, however, growth became faster during the post liberalized period and in 2002 it crossed the 2 core mark by selling 2. 25 core policy, which increased further to 2. 42 core in 2003. In 2004, New Business (AS) had gone up RSI 2,02,898. 14 core under 2,69,63,504 policies. Total in force policies serviced by LICE by the end of 2004, stood at 15. 39 core under Sum Assured of RSI. 9,25,033. 33 core. Liberation's of Indian Insurance market has provided further push of the Insurance Industry. By the end of March, 2004, there were 13 Life Insurance companies including LICE in the market, which has not only generated competition but also provided a wide range of product choice to the customers.An overall view of Indian Life Insurance market can be obtained through data released by ERDA, shown in the Table 6 and Table 7. Accordingly total no. Of policies underwritten in 2004 increased by, 12. 78% from 2002-03 to 5 2003-04, while the premium under these policies increased by 51. 80%, from lacks to 18,71 ,016. 02 lacks during the same period. So far LICE is concerned, there is a fall in market share in New Business. In No. Of Policies the market share declined from 96. 70% to 94. 21% while in premium income the market share of LICE declined from 92. 03% to 87. 04% during the same period. These indicate that Indian Life Insurance in general has expanded since liberalizing on the one hand and market has been increasingly becoming competitive. E.India in the International Context Though the share of Life Fund in household Financial Assets has gone up during the last decade and Indian Life Insurance Industry registered better growth rate compared with global growth rate yet total premium volume and global market share minded quite low. Total premium volume of Life Insurance Industry in the World at 9% growth rate increased from US $ 1 534,061 2002 to US $ 16,72514 2003, whereas in India 26 growth rate was much higher at 18% and Total Premium volume increased from US $ s S EYE ruling ten same pergola. Insurance Density (premium per capita and Insurance Penetration (premium in percentage of GAP) which are important growth indicators are quite low in India. In the year 2003, Life Insurance Density in India was only US $ 12. 9 as against the World Density of US $ 267. 1. Similarly, Life Insurance Penetration in India was only 2. % as against World Penetration level of 4. 59%.

Eye Vision Case 10-11 Essay

Eye Vision Inc, a long-standing medical device manufacturer, has signed a contract to sell Holland Hospital the Clear View Laser and a two-year separately priced maintenance plan for $1 million and $0.2 million respectively. On a when-and-if available bais, Eye Vision Inc. will provide software updats that is embedded with the Laser to maintainance purchasor. The software has never been sold without Laser for its functional necessity. In this memo, as explained below, we conclude that: 1. Eye Vision’s arrangement with Holland Hospital is not within the scope of ASC 985-605, Software: Revenue Recognition. 2. The deliverables in this arrangement are the Clear View Laser, embedded software, and maintenance plan, respectively. 3. The Clear View Laser together with embedded software and maintenance plan will be accounted for as separate units of accounting, respectively. 4. The laser with the embedded software will be recognized immediately. The maintenance plan will be recognized on a straight-line basis over the length of the contract. 1. Is Eye Vision’s arrangement with Holland Hospital within the scope of ASC 985-605, Software: Revenue Recognition? The agreement between Eye Vision and Holland Hospital is not within the scope of ASC 985-605, Software: Revenue Recognition. According to ASC 985-605-15-4(e), subtopic ASC 985-605 does not apply to transactions and activities for â€Å"software components of tangible products that are sold, licensed, or leased with tangible products when the software components and nonsoftware components of the tangible product function together to deliver the tangible product’s essential functionality.† In the situation of the agreement, the clear view laser represents the tangible component, while the software component comes embedded internally within the laser. The case states, that the laser has never been sold without the software because the software is essential to its functionality in performing medical procedures. We would like to consider both the Clear View Laser along with the embedded software as one tangible product. Further, ASC 985-605-15-4(f) goes on to state any â€Å"undelivered elements that relate to software that is essential to the tangible product’s functionality in (e)† would be considered out of scope. The maintenance plan, if purchased, would be defined as an undelivered element that relates to the software that is essential to the tangible product’s function. Therefore, we conclude that ASC 985-605 is not with in the scope of the arrangement and ASC 605-25, Revenue Recognition: Multiple-Element Arrangements should be used for proper rvenue recognition. 2. What are the deliverables in this arrangement? The three deliverables in this arrangement between Eye Vision and Holland Hospital are the Clear View Laser, the embedded software and the maintenance plan. According to ASC 605-25-15-2, deliverables within contractually binding arrangements include products, services, or rights to use assets. Beyond that, ASC never defines what a deliverable is. Thus, determining whether the elements are separate deliverables is a matter of judgment. In this case, the Clear View Laser is the main product sold by Eye Vision and is definitely a deliverable. The software provides Clear View Laser with additional functionalities other than what the laser alone could have done. Additionally in the future after the updating performed by the maintainance plan, the embedded software is necessary to perform the latest medical procedures for which the laser will be intended to, it should be considered another separate product or deliverable. As to the maintenance plan, it is sold by Eye Vision separately as an after-sale service, making it the third separate deliverable. Alternative / Opposing Approach One could argue that the Clear View Laser together with the embedded software is one deliverable. Both of the laser and the software cannot stand on their own as a separate deliverable. The ideas supporting this argument are as follow: 1. The Clear View Laser has never been sold without the embedded software. 2. Without each other, either the Clear View Laser or the embedded software provides no value to their customers. Although this alternative position sounds reasonable, we uphold our conclusion above because in this arrangement the laser and the software are equally important in terms of functionality. We should consider them two separate products, even though they have never been sold separately and provide no value to customers independently. 3. On the basis of the responses to Question 1 and 2, what are the units of accounting in this arrangement? The two units of accounting listed under the agreement between Eye Vision and Holland Hospital are the Clear View Laser and the mai ntenance plan. According to ASC 605-25-25-5, â€Å"In an arrangement with multiple deliverables, the delivered item or items shall be considered a separate unit of accounting if both of the following criteria are met.† The first criterion under ASC 605-25-25-5 states, â€Å"The delivered item or items have value to the customer on a standalone basis. The item or items have value on a standalone basis if they are sold separately by any vendor or the customer could resell the delivered item(s) on a standalone basis.† In the case, the Clear View laser is sold only with the embedded software for proper functionality. In the event the sale is isolated, the software and laser have no independent value to the consumer considering the safety reasons of the medical devices. The standalone trascation of these two parts are infrequent, therefore we conclude that the Clear View Laser and software will be accounted for as one unit. Regarding the maintenance plan, it does have stand alone value to the consumer. Any past or new owner of the laser can choose to purchase the maintenance plan independently for additional servicing as needed. We conclude this has a standalone value to the consumer and should be accounted for as its own unit. The second criterion states, â€Å"If the arrangement includes a general right of return relative to the delivered item, delivery or performance of the undelivered item or items is considered probable and substantially in the control of the vendor.† The agreement states that there is no general rights of return. Therefore this is not applicable. Each unit of accounting must be evaluated accordingly for the proper revenue recognition technique. Alternative / Opposing Approach It can be argued that when the Clear View Laser with the embedded software and maintenance plan are purchased together, they can all be accounted for as one unit. This is based off the idea that the maintenance plan has no stand alone value to the consumer in the event the Clear View Laser is not purchased in unison. According to ASC 605-25-25-3, â€Å"In applying the guidance in this Subtopic, separate contracts with the same entity or related parties that are entered into at or near the same time are presumed to have been negotiated as a package and shall, therefore, be evaluated as a single arrangement in considering whether there are one or more units of accounting. That presumption may be overcome if there is sufficient evidence to the contrary.† Further this is supported by the criteria listed above in ASC 605-25-25-5. Even with supporting code, we reject this consideration due to the fact that previous owners of the Clear View Laser can purchase the maintenance plan at any given time. Therefore the maintenance plan can have stand alone value as listed initially. 4. On the basis of the responses to Question 3, discuss the revenue recognition accounting literature that would be applied to each unit of accounting identified in this arrangement. The first unit of accounting that we will consider is the laser containing the embedded software. Recognition of revenue will occur immediately upon the sale of the laser. As per ASC 605-10-S99: â€Å"Revenue generally is realized or realizable and earned when all of the following criteria are met: 1. Persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists 2. Delivery has occurred or services have been rendered 3. The seller’s price to the buyer is fixed or determinable 4. Collectibility is reasonably assured† In connection with the sale to Holland Hospital, $1 million (the cost of the laser with embedded software) will be recognized immediately as all four criterion have been satified. As for the second unit of accounting, we will consider the maintenance plan that was purchased for two-year coverage. Unlike the laser, recognition of revenue for the maintenance plan will not occur at the time of sale since the plan does not meet all the four criteria under ASC 605-10-S99 due to the fact that the services have not been rendered upon sale. According to ASC 605-20-25-3: â€Å"Sellers of extended warranty or product maintenance contracts have an obligation to the buyer to perform services throughout the period of the contract and, therefore, revenue shall be recognized in income over the period in which the seller is obligated to perform. That is, revenue from separately priced extended warranty and product maintenance contracts shall be deferred and recognized in income on a straight-line basis over the contract period except in those circumstances in which sufficient historical evidence indicates that the costs of performing services under the contract are incurred on other than a straight-line basis. In those circumstances, revenue shall be recognized over the contract period in proportion to the costs expected to be incurred in performing services under the contract. This leaves some ambiguity as to whether revenue shall be recognized on a straight line basis over the two-year contract or recognized in proportion to the costs expected to be incurred in performing services during the two-year contract. The audit team recommends recognizing the revenue on a straight line basis over the two-year period. In connection with the sale to Holland Hospital, $200,000 (the cost of the maintenance plan) will be recognized ove r the two years, $100,000 in 2010, $100,000 in 2011. There may be an instance where the maintenance plan will produce negative revenue. If such case arises, guidance is provided by ASC 605-50-45-6. â€Å"Negative revenue may arise from the application of the guidance in this Subtopic to cash consideration given by a vendor to a customer or from transactions or changes in estimates that are required to be characterized as a reduction of revenue by other Subtopics in the Codification. The Examples in Section 605-50-55 discuss some of those Subtopics and underlying circumstances that could result in negative revenue. This Subtopic addresses whether the negative revenue amount should be recharacterized as an expense in the vendor’s income statement.† If this scenario occurs, 605-50-55 (too many Subtopics to list all here) will provide the guidance necessary to proceed. Alternative Approach: If Eye Vision, which has been in business for over twenty years, has recognized its revenue from maintenance plans in a way other than the straight-line method, they could qualify under the portion of ASC 605-20-25-3 that states, â€Å"†¦ circumstances in which sufficient historical evidence indicates that the costs of performing services under the contract are incurred on other than a straight-line basis. In those circumstances, revenue shall be recognized over the contract period in proportion to the costs expected to be incurred in performing services under the contract.† and continue doing so. Also, regarding SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) Topic 13: 605-10-s99-1, there are examples given that could support the recognition of revenue for the maintenance plan as services are rendered. â€Å"Supply or service transactions may involve the charge of a nonrefundable initial fee with subsequent periodic payments for future products or services. The initial fees may, in substance, be wholly or partly an advance payment for future products or services. Therefore, the up-front fee and the continuing performance obligation related to the services to be provided or products to be delivered are assessed as an integrated package. In such circumstances, the staff believes that up-front fees, even if nonrefundable, are earned as the products and/or services are delivered and/or performed over the term of the arrangement or the expected period of performance and generally should be deferred and recognized systematically over the periods that the fees are earned.† (A systematic method would be on a straight-line basis, unless evidence suggests that revenue is earned or obligations are fulfilled in a different pattern, in which case that pattern should be followed.) Since Eye Vision â€Å"will offer, on a when-and-if available basis, new treatment applications for the Clear View Laser†, the â€Å"pattern† could be deemed â€Å"when available† (or when delivered).

English Teacher

Name______________________________________ Date ______________________Block__ Subject-Verb Agreement – Exercise 1 Circle the correct verb in each sentence below. In the line next to the sentence write down the rule# it applies to. 1. Emily and Greg (comes,   come) to my house every Friday for lunch. Rule#_____ 2. There (is,   are) time to watch the movie. Rule#_____ 3. My friends who are in the band (wants,   want) me to play a musical instrument. Rule#_____ 4. My father or my brothers (is,   are) coming with me to the ball game. Rule#_____ 5. Everyone (needs, need) time to relax. Rule#_____ . That bag of oranges (looks, look) fresh. Rule#_____ 7. The lacrosse team (hopes, hope) to win the tournament next week. Rule#_____ 8. Your trousers (needs, need) to be cleaned. Rule#_____ 9. Some of the books on the shelf (is, are) dusty. Rule#_____ 10. Even though the students like the class, a few (thinks, think) that it is too complicated Rule#_____ ———â⠂¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- Top of Form Name______________________________________ Date ______________________Block__ Subject-Verb Agreement – Exercise 2 Circle the correct verb in each sentence below.In the line next to the sentence write down the rule# it applies to. 1. Mumps (is, are) not common among adults. Rule#_____ 2. Viruses from third world countries (is, are) a major concern. Rule#_____ 3. Most of the sand (is, are)   wet from the high tide. Rule#_____ 4. Either the two kittens or the puppy (sits, sit) in my lap while I watch television. Rule#_____ 5. A subject of great interest (is, are) rainforests. Rule#_____ 6. Hansel and Gretel (is, are) a famous children's story. Rule#_____ 7. The team members (is, are) arguing over the defense tactics. Rule#_____ 8. The economics of the trip (was, were) pleasing.Rule#_____ 9. Why (is, are) your parents going to Africa for a vacation? Rule#_____ 10. The mayor and the governor (hopes, hope) that the bill will soon become a law Rule#_____ Name______________________________________ Date ______________________Block__ Subject-Verb Agreement – Exercise 3 Circle the correct verb in each sentence below. In the line next to the sentence write down the rule# it applies to. ————————————————- Top of Form 1. The books from the library (need   needs) to be returned by Friday. Rule#_____ 2. The parents and the child often (watch  Ã‚   watches)   Disney movies. Rule#_____ 3.The phone that belongs to the two friends (have   has) finally run out of minutes. Rule#_____ 4. That pair of trousers (look   looks) good on you. Rule#_____ 5. Either Matilda or her brothers (use   uses) the symphony tickets each week. Rule#_____ 6. The crowd (were was) cheering wildly for Tom. Rule#_____ 7. The politics of this campaign (seemà ‚   seems) very complicated. Rule#_____ 8. Everyone at the company's headquarters (know   knows) the code to the safe. Rule#_____ 9. Gulliver's Travels (are   is)   one of my favorite books. Rule#_____ 10. Measles (cause   causes) a good deal of itching. Rule#_____ Bottom of Form Bottom of Form

Information Sysems

Use of Video Conferencing to gain competitive advantage in New Bank New bank can make use of video technology to connect customers with the right experts in a short span of time to provide quick and personalized service on-demand. Most banks worldwide are in a nascent stage of using video to carry on various businesses with their customers remotely; hence New Bank can take advantage of this. Through video-enabled web conferencing or branch office video conferencing the bank can conduct high risk, high return businesses of discussing purchase and sell of stock, selling mortgages, structuring investment portfolios and advising on loans.Advantages of adopting video conferencing in New Bank (Drivers) * Optimization of the cost/lemon ratio Cost income ratio is the standard benchmark of bank efficiency. In some cases, bank balance sheets and cost income/ratio are in an unhealthy state such that reducing cost whilst increasing revenues becomes critical. In this regard, video banking will he lp in reducing cost/income by decreasing branch banking headcount and improving revenues effectively. * Integration of disparate business processes Video technology paves way to integrate the disparate processes in the enterprise ND bring synergies between business teams across geographies. Real-time remote access Video conferencing enables real-time access to expert bankers located remotely. This then improves the quality of interoffice interactions. * Value to customers Video technology implemented in retail branches can provide high value product information to customers. This decreases turnaround times for closure of customer queries. * Enhancement of branch banking interactions Video conferencing allows expansion of video across branch networks helps information dissemination and cross selling. Visual Connect Video conferencing is used to connect customers with product experts when selling higher margin products.This then allows wealth management experts to maintain visual cont act with clients spread across the branch network. Examples of real life scenarios of video conferencing * Video teller technology in retail banking This is ideal where financial organizations seek to offer personalized transactional services to customers more flexibly and its benefit is that, it optimizes branch resources by focusing on higher value, non transactional advisory work and permits a eider range of services at branches and unstained locations. Social Media Innovation This is ideal to support a virtual branch online to support enquiries regarding advice on mortgages, foreign exchange and setting up payments. The merit of this is that it helps in providing personalized services to the customer and enhancing customer relationship. 2. Use of automated call centers in New Bank to capture competitive forces New Bank can adopt automated call centers as a meaner for cutting costs and improving transactions from high touch, high cost, traditional branch banking channel.This then allows branch employees to concentrate on revenue generating activities. Additional benefits for using automated call centers include: * The creation off comprehensive view of each customer's profile to understand his or her needs. * The standardization of the sales process to maximize the use of customer information in sales. * The upgrading of the personnel's skills so they can satisfy the customer by offering the right products and services. This allows the recognition of productive staff with the facility to monitor operator productivity.

The economies of northern and southern states and the US Civil War Essay

The economies of northern and southern states and the US Civil War - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that the era of civil war had left a lot of lessons for the Americans to learn. Majorly, the economy of United States of America was divided into its regional schema of working in terms of politics and laws. Many laws were created right after the civil war as it had put both positive and negative impact on the economy of United States, in general. The aim of this paper is to understand the difference between the economies of Northern and Southern states of America. In general, it can be said that the economic condition of both northern and western states during the civil war was better in many ways. The American economy was once considered as an agricultural economy. It was noted that during the civil war, it transitioned to an industrial economy of the world. By 1900s, it was marked that America became one of the leading economies of the world. However, it should be well-stated that the industrial revolution was not observed in the Souther n states. The development and revolution were only noticed in the northern states or the area near the Mason-Dixon Line. Talking about the Southern states during the 1900s, they majorly depended on the selling of the staples international market. It was a constant flow of supply within the international market by the Southern states that ended up making cotton as the most valued export from the United States. The constant flow also allowed cotton to overshadow other exports that were providing a lot of advantage to the country.