Vision of an Ethical Business-(answering the question-what is an Term Paper

Vision of an Ethical Business-(answering the question-what is an ethical business) - Term Paper Example he controversies regarding the moral responsibilities and ethical considerations in the decision making process are the inherent challenges that must be understood in the wider perspectives of business’ vision and mission. The paper would thus, be discussing the most crucial aspects of an ethical business. Consequentialist ethics is defined as the acts or behavior that is determined by the consequences of that act or behavior which generally must be beneficial in content. ‘The principle of utility states that an action is right if it produces the greatest balance of pleasure or happiness and unhappiness in light of alternative actions’ (reading 1, p 3). Popularized as act utilitarian theory, the actions, that are designed to benefit or have beneficial cascading effects on others, are morally and ethically right. Benthams theory is important because it promotes morally correct ethical actions that are designed to maximize happiness for maximum people. According to Act Utilitarian of Jeremy Bentham, an action that results in the happiness of one and all is a good act. Bentham and other utilitarians like Mills found it a revolutionary theory because it reflected ‘human motivation†¦ and it had dear application to political and social problems of their time’ (Reading 1, p 4). In the contemporary times, it becomes highly difficult because of the diverse ideologies and differing value system to satisfy large populace. Indeed, it is one of the crucial compulsions of the globalization that people should strive towards common goals of universal values. Emmanuel Kant believed that the principle of ‘categorical imperative’ can govern all human beings and can be broadly defined as Rules of Universality and Rules of Respect (Reading 1, p 7). The first one makes says that people at all time must act appropriately and the second rules promotes the value of respect and says that well being al all individuals is important and therefore, one should not use others

The True Metamorphosis Essay Example for Free

The True Metamorphosis Essay The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka offers much to be critiqued, including the reason why Gregor Samsa was transformed into a hideous beetle. The truth is Gregor had put himself into a position of demise long ago. Over the years, he had worked himself into both physical and mental exhaustion. Gregor was the sole provider, and eventually his family grew less appreciative of him. His relationship with his family had gone south. They were no longer as close, and it were as if he had become isolated. In Education for Tragedy, Walter H. Sokel elaborates on that point. According to Sokel, the change from human to insect occurred due to the alienation he faced from his family. That alienation continued throughout the novella, eventually leading to Gregor’s death. Several times, Sokel refers to Gregor as being a â€Å"prisoner†. For example, he writes â€Å"Gregor, an adult, is a prisoner in his own family†¦. On the other hand, he is a total stranger in the family and lives in their midst in the state of exile† (Sokel 164). This quote can be interpreted as saying that Gregor is trapped in his own house, and stuck there with little hope as he is not close with the rest of the Samsas. To further show his disconnect from his family, Sokel writes about Gregor’s decision to lock his door. He states â€Å"When Gregor wakes up as a vermin, his main problem, since he has locked the door of his room, is reaching the others out of his literal seclusion† (Sokel 164). For Sokel, Gregor locking his door shows that he is living in a different world from the rest of his family. Gregor did everything that he possibly could for his family, and they never really opened their arms for him. They enjoyed the rewards Gregor brought them from his labor, but never showed gratitude to him. The metamorphosis of Gregor into an insect did not just highlight how insignificant he was to his family after the transformation, but also proved the insignificance he had to them before the transformation. It is very accurate that Gregor was alienated from the rest of his family. This alienation had occurred as a result of the oath that he took several years ago. He had promised himself that he would exert all of his energy toward getting his family out of debt. Gregor was forced to do this single handedly. Gregors physical metamorphosis is a metaphor for the mental metamorphosis of a man alienated from his family. It is no coincidence that Kafka had transformed Gregor into an insect. The insect that he has transformed into is a symbol created by Kafka that shows what Gregor’s true identity had been all along. Many insects, such as ants and bees, have workers that provide for the rest of their group. Similarly, Gregor must provide for his family. He states that he felt his family was no longer capable of working. His father â€Å"had not worked for the past five years and who in any case could not be expected to undertake too much†, his mother could not work for she suffered from asthma, and his sister for seventeen years â€Å"was still a child† whose life consisted of â€Å"wearing pretty clothes, sleeping late, helping in the house, enjoying a few modest amusements, and above all playing the violin† (Kafka 27). While all three members of his family are at home living their leisurely lives, Gregor is out in the working world. Clearly, there is a huge gap between these two worlds, and that is a factor in why Gregor feels so far apart from his family. It did not help that his job made him miserable. When he wakes up in Chapter 1 as an insect, he is not overly concerned that he is no longer human- instead he worries that he will be late for work. While he prepares, he thinks about how much he hates his job. â€Å"Oh God, what a grueling job I’ve picked! Day in, day out- on the road. The upset of doing business is much worse than the actual business in the home office, and besides, I’ve got the torture of traveling, worrying about changing trains, eating miserable food at all hours, constantly seeing new faces, no relationships that last or get more intimate. To the devil with it all† (Kafka 4). The working world that Gregor is stuck in is a miserable one where he finds no enjoyment. He is extremely lonely, and feels by himself. Unfortunately for him, those feelings remain unchanged when he does return home. Sokel’s essay also details the role reversal that had occurred between he and his father after his transformation. Sokel writes â€Å"through Gregor’s metamorphosis, the father becomes masterful again and reasserts himself as head of the family. Thus The Metamorphosis is the resurrection and rejuvenation of a father held to be senile. The son, for his part, sinks into a dreadful state, which far exceeds the degradation of senility† (Sokel 165). It is true- Gregor had been transformed into the lowest of life forms. He was imprisoned in his room, and locked away from not just society, but his family as well. His father, meanwhile, became the main provider in the family, becoming a bank messenger. He was not the only one who changed for the better though- the rest of his family did as well. His mother knits clothes to be sold, and his sister has become a salesgirl. By the end of the novel, the Samsas have moved on from their old lives. They take the trolley into the open country, and are prepared to look for a smaller and cheaper apartment, one that they could manage. They now all understand their capabilities, and are no longer the same Samsas who lingered at their home while Gregor attempted to keep the family afloat in terms of money. Gregor should not be forgotten though, as his change was the catalyst for his family’s transformation. Sokel writes, â€Å"Gregor’s metamorphosis is sacrifice† (Sokel 174). He was forced to give up his life in order for his family to find success on their own. His transformation opened up his family’s eyes that they would not be able to survive living the way they did. Is it unfortunate, but their existence at the end of the novella can be attributed to one thing, and that is the demise of Gregor. Had he not been changed into an insect, his family would still linger and accomplish little to nothing at all. The story of Gregor Samsa in The Metamorphosis seems ridiculous and hard to comprehend at first, but the true message of the story becomes clear toward the end. Kafka wants the audience to see how cruel and uncaring society is. Gregor gave up on his own life to work nonstop just to keep his family afloat, and they were never really appreciative of him. All he wanted was to see his family be able to prosper. In order for this to occur, Gregor had to be sacrificed. Perhaps it is not fair that he had to be turned into an insect and eventually die for his family to realize what was wrong with them. They exploited him to the point where he could offer them nothing else, and he eventually became a burden for them. Nonetheless, without including physical change, Gregor was the character that changed the least. He still showed much care for his family despite the lack of care back, and even in his dying moments, he â€Å"thought back on his family with deep emotion and love†. Kafka wants the audience to see that Gregor was a martyr. His death occurred for the greater good of the family, and that is shown when they are ready to live their new lives.

Musicians and Composers of the Renaissance Essay example -- Music, Wil

John Warrack, author of 6 Great Composers, stated, â€Å"Any study of a composer, however brief, must have as its only purpose encouragement of the reader to greater enjoyment of the music† (Warrack, p.2). The composers and musicians of the Renaissance period need to be discussed and studied so that listeners, performers, and readers can appreciate and understand the beginnings of music theory and form. The reader can also understand the driving force of the composer, whether sacred or secular, popularity or religious growth. To begin understanding music composition one must begin at the birth, or rebirth of music and the composers who created the great change. The Renaissance period of history occurred during the 15th and 16th centuries. Renaissance in its basic definition means rebirth. According to Merriam Webster, renaissance formally means, â€Å"a movement or period of vigorous artistic and intellectual activity† (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary). Renaissance is the title given to the period of great change in music and art. The Renaissance period ushered in a culture of music that the public could enjoy. Most importantly it was a period that encouraged musicians and composers to create music and take risks with voices, instruments and notes. The Renaissance period is known primarily for its changes in educating musicians. Composers and musicians alike were trained in choir schools that were held in churches. They were taught music theory, singing and academic courses like grammar and mathematics. Several famous composers were educated in these institutions. One of those who profited from such training was Guillaume Dufay. Mowen 2 Guillaume Dufay was born an illegitimate son of a priest near Brussels. He be... ...s, madrigals, and instrumental music for viola and keyboard. Prior to his death in 1623, Byrd composed 140 keyboard pieces, three Latin Masses and a Mass in English. Researchers state that Byrd’s â€Å"influence on English music was profound (Matthews, Thompson, p.282). William Byrd, Thomas Tallis, Tomas Luis de Victoria, Orlande de Lassus, Giovanni da Palestrina, Josquin de Prez, Johannes Ockeghem and Guillaume Dufay helped shine a light onto the dark ages of music and arts. These men and many more, ushered in a culture of arts Mowen 7 appreciation. Because of these composers and musicians, music was enjoyed by the public and revered by the church. Because of their creativity and their willingness to take musical risks, these composers were the fathers of the Renaissance, the rebirth, the life of the vigorous and intellectual activity, the beginning of music. Musicians and Composers of the Renaissance Essay example -- Music, Wil John Warrack, author of 6 Great Composers, stated, â€Å"Any study of a composer, however brief, must have as its only purpose encouragement of the reader to greater enjoyment of the music† (Warrack, p.2). The composers and musicians of the Renaissance period need to be discussed and studied so that listeners, performers, and readers can appreciate and understand the beginnings of music theory and form. The reader can also understand the driving force of the composer, whether sacred or secular, popularity or religious growth. To begin understanding music composition one must begin at the birth, or rebirth of music and the composers who created the great change. The Renaissance period of history occurred during the 15th and 16th centuries. Renaissance in its basic definition means rebirth. According to Merriam Webster, renaissance formally means, â€Å"a movement or period of vigorous artistic and intellectual activity† (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary). Renaissance is the title given to the period of great change in music and art. The Renaissance period ushered in a culture of music that the public could enjoy. Most importantly it was a period that encouraged musicians and composers to create music and take risks with voices, instruments and notes. The Renaissance period is known primarily for its changes in educating musicians. Composers and musicians alike were trained in choir schools that were held in churches. They were taught music theory, singing and academic courses like grammar and mathematics. Several famous composers were educated in these institutions. One of those who profited from such training was Guillaume Dufay. Mowen 2 Guillaume Dufay was born an illegitimate son of a priest near Brussels. He be... ...s, madrigals, and instrumental music for viola and keyboard. Prior to his death in 1623, Byrd composed 140 keyboard pieces, three Latin Masses and a Mass in English. Researchers state that Byrd’s â€Å"influence on English music was profound (Matthews, Thompson, p.282). William Byrd, Thomas Tallis, Tomas Luis de Victoria, Orlande de Lassus, Giovanni da Palestrina, Josquin de Prez, Johannes Ockeghem and Guillaume Dufay helped shine a light onto the dark ages of music and arts. These men and many more, ushered in a culture of arts Mowen 7 appreciation. Because of these composers and musicians, music was enjoyed by the public and revered by the church. Because of their creativity and their willingness to take musical risks, these composers were the fathers of the Renaissance, the rebirth, the life of the vigorous and intellectual activity, the beginning of music.

Bmg Case Study

CASE STUDY IV. 3 BMG(A) 2824309 Which geographic market areas should be chosen for closer analysis? Introduction Bertelsmann Music Group, (BMG), is the global music division of Bertelsmann AG, a transnational media corporation founded in 1835, based in Gutersloh, Germany. Its headquarters are located in New York. BMG, established in 1987, is now one of the world’s biggest music companies with more than 200 record labels in 42 countries. It is also home to one of the industry’s foremost music distribution companies and one of the world’s largest music publishing companies. According to Table 1 BMG is the world’s second record company in terms of global market share. Moreover Chart 1 shows that most of BMG revenues come from Europe and North America. Table 1: Global market shares of major players 2001 Vivendi Polygram Sony AOL Time Warner EMI BMG Market value % % % % % $ billion Australia 13 27 18 18 6 0. 7 Canada 20 13 24 10 8 1. 1 US 13 14 22 10 12 11. 2 Japan 13 18 7 14 8 7. 0 Germany 23 12 13 22 15 3. 0 UK 22 13 11 22 9 2. 4 France 32 25 13 19 11 2. 3 Netherlands 23 14 8 15 13 0. 7 Italy 19 16 17 15 24 0. 6 Korea 10 5 4 5 5 0. 5 Sweden 20 19 13 26 22 0. 3 Taiwan 17 5 14 6 5 0. 3 Other countries – – – – – 5. 4 World 13 13 14 16 14 35. 5 {draw:frame} * {draw:frame} {draw:frame} {draw:frame} * {draw:frame} {draw:frame} {draw:frame} {draw:frame} {draw:frame} {draw:frame} Global Music Market Analysis {draw:frame} Table 2 – Recorded Music Sales 2008 (trade value) Chart 3 – Global digital revenue {draw:frame} Record companies are gradually changing their approach to do business as a response of a dramatic change in the way music is distributed and consumed. Nowadays digital platforms account for around 20% of recorded music sales, up from 15% in 2007. Recorded music is facing the so called online and mobile revolution, generating more revenue in percentage terms through digital platforms than newspaper, magazine and film industries combined. Assessment of potential market After this brief analysis of the global music market it is now time to decide which geographic areas, and specifically countries, would be right to expand BMG’s business. I will therefore analyze these three countries: Brazil, China and India. BRAZIL PEST ANALYSIS {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} CHINA PEST ANALYSIS {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} INDIA PEST ANALYSIS Economic Factors: The GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) is estimated at 2. 965 trillion U. S. dollars in the year 2007. The GDP per capita (PPP) was 2700 U. S. dollars as estimated in 2007. The GDP real growth rate in 2007 was 8. 7%. India has the third highest GDP in terms of purchasing power parity just ahead of Japan and behind U. S. and China. Foreign direct investment rose in the fiscal year ended March 31 2007 to about $16 billion from just $5. 5 billion a year earlier. There is a continuous growth in per capita income; India’s per capita income is expected to reach 1000 dollars by the end of 2007-08 from 797 dollars in 2006-07. This will lead to higher buying power in the hands of Indian consumers. Social Factors: India is the second most populous nation in the world with an approximate population of over 1. 1billion people. This population is divided in the following age structure: 0-14 years – 31. %, 15-64 years – 63. 1% and 65 years and above – 5. 1%. Technological Factors: Internet adoption continues to grow in India as well as the telecom market. According to the Internet & Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), the low cost of broadband has helped increase Internet usage (3. 7% of the population in 2007). E-commerce and high demand for . in domain registrations are also factors for the in crease in online users. Moreover sweeping reforms introduced by successive Indian governments over the last decade have dramatically changed the nature of telecommunications in the country. The mobile sector has grown more than tenfold from 2001 to around 60 million subscribers by mid-2005. Music market characteristic Brazil: Sales tax 15% / 18%; import tax 16%. 75% of the market share is made by domestic repertoire. The market is characterized by many small independent record companies. Commercial piracy is still a huge problem in South America, reaching levels above 50% in every country. India: Sales tax 4% /12. 5%; import tax 17. 3%. Size of the music industry estimate at USD 149 million. On a conservative basis, the music industry has been pegged to grow at 3% over the next five years. Till 1990, the music industry was completely dominated by film and devotional music. With the advent of satellite television and increasing consumer exposure to non-film albums and remixes have gained popularity recently. In the non-film category devotional music produced by smaller and local companies is the most popular. The Indian music industry is quite unique compared to those in other countries as it is virtually dependent on new Hindi (Bollywood) films for the lion’s share (40%) of its revenues. In the film centric Indian Music industry, there is virtually no loyalty for labels among the segment that buys only film music. China: Sales tax 17%; import tax 17%. It is characterized by an undeveloped piracy-dominated physical market and a rapidly-developing wireless environment. Mobile music is already far advanced. For the international record companies operating in China, sales of music via mobile phones already accounts for about 15% of industry revenues. There are five legitimate digital music services in China and we forecast there will be many more setting up in the next few years. In the past two years the volume of music made available online has increased more than six-fold to more than two million songs. Illegal sales of music are China is valued by IFPI at around US$400 million. Market Attractiveness Scaling Grid Relative Competitive Strength Scaling Grid C = China B = Brazil I = India Market Attractiveness/Competitive Strength Matrix {draw:frame} Word Counter 2. 104 References http://www. indianmi. org/ http://www. ifpi. org/ Hollensen, S. (2007), Global Marketing 4th Edition. UK: Pearson Education Limited

Criminal Justice Professionals and society

There are many types of people that make up our society. For criminal justice practitioners these people can be broken up in to two groups the law abiding citizens and the criminals. The role of the criminal justice practitioner can at time be simple for example: when it comes to the law abiding citizen the role is to serve and protect. But when it comes to criminal the role of the criminal justice practitioner can become complex. In this paper I will attempt to explore the criminal justice professional’s role in fulfilling society as well as individual needs.There are three parts that make up criminal justice police, courts, and corrections. Each part consists of professionals that play a role in contributing to the reform of key social issues. Issues like cyber crimes, drugs, and school shootings. Each of these issues need criminal justice practitioners on all three levels to aide in some type of reform to make the individual (the victim) and society feel safe. On the web si te Interpol 100 years of international police cooperation cybercrimes are said to be â€Å"one of the fastest growing areas of crime.†This is where criminals are taking to their computers to commit crimes like â€Å"Attacks against computer data and systems, identity theft, the distribution of child sexual abuse images, internet auction fraud, the penetration of online financial services, as well as the deployment of viruses, Botnets, and various email scams such as phishing†.. So how does cybercrimes impact criminal justice practitioners, with technology constantly changing the need for more education in technology and cyber laws are needed if the practitioner is going to effectively find and stop the criminals, dole out punishment as well as seek retribution for the victims.On of the saddest social issue plaguing America has to be school shootings. There are many instances of school shooting throughout history but the one that stands out to me is the Columbine High S chool shootings where on April 20, 1999 seventeen year old Dylan Klebold and eighteen year old Eric Harris committed suicide after killing twelve students, one teacher and wounding twenty-one others.While most of the country sadly wondered how and where did they get the guns and ammunition the criminal justice practitioners were hard at work gathering evidence, securing the crime scene, tending to the survivors and what I think is the hardest part informing parents that they’re children had died. In this instance the criminal justice practitioners were the police department, deputies, and armed security working for the school. I would imagine that after working the crime scene that many of the officers grieved right along with the families.As I researched this part of my paper I could not find one article on how this impacted the police all I can say is that as a parent I can only imagine that some of them must have needed counseling. I can also imagine the law makers coming together to find a way to prevent this kind of shooting from happening again. I would rather not get into the whole gun control issue because frankly I don’t believe there is a law that could be passed that would prevent guns from getting into the wrong hand.The only thing gun laws would do, is make it hard for law abiding citizens to protect themselves. Another issue that criminal justice practitioners have to deal with is drugs. This problem is widespread to say the least because it not only affects the user. It is a known fact that when people use drug they will do whatever it takes to feed their habit even break the law. Drug abusers commit crimes like prostitution, robbery, breaking and entering and assault. Trying to make a person stop using drugs is like trying to stop the sun from rising.A drug addict has to want to stop until that time it is up to the police to take steps to keep society safe. During the Reagan era there was a zero tolerance policy for drug abusers. This kept police and corrections officers busy because the policy was so strict that arrest and incarceration rates increased at a rapid pace. That was during the late 80’s and the war on drugs is still moving full steam ahead. The role of the criminal justice professional in serving individual and societal needs

Detective story Essays

Detective story Essays Detective story Essay Detective story Essay Essay Topic: City Lights I needed a new case fast. Sitting in my dump of an office was not going to earn me money. It had been a while since I was in action, and my office looked like a huge tornado had walked through it. The wallpaper was beginning to peel off and turn yellow. My desk looked like it had seen better days and my floor didnt even exist due to the sea of papers. I was beginning to get a headache thinking about the state of the place. One glass of whisky should solve that problem.As I sunk into my leather chair, I turned and looked out of the window. That was the only positive aspect about being in this office. The view was magnificent, especially in the evening when the city lights were on. With darkness covering the city, all its flaws were hidden and for a few hours every night, London looked attractive.I was beginning to relax when a knock on the door ruined the peace. I muttered a curse and yelled Come in. The door slowly creaked open and my annoyance increased. For goodness sake, the door wasnt that hard to open and the area around it was actually paper free. But my complaints stopped short when I saw who stepped in. This one was a looker. Even just looking at her legs was enough to tell me that this was going to be an interesting client. My eyes travelled from her legs further upwards to find a tight-fitting black pencil skirt that wrapped itself snugly around her legs and hips and a pristine white shirt that clung to the top half of her body, outlining her wonderful figure.After staring at that for a while, I finally tore my eyes away to look at her face, I wasnt disappointed. Blessed with such a body, she even had the face to match. Golden blonde hair that was carefully styled framed a face that had a pair of big, crystal-blue eyes, a petite nose and round, full lips. I must have had my mouth hanging open as her luscious lips curved into a dangerous smile that told me she knew she had this affect on men.Her eyes scanned my shabby office, ta king in the peeling wallpaper and the avalanche of files. Youre needing a spring-cleaning here detective, she finally said, her voice soft but also with a playful edge to it. I grinned. Oh it needs much more than that, miss? Jeyman. But I prefer to be called Carla. Nice to make your acquaintance, Carla. Im terribly sorry, I would offer you a seat if there was Carla smiled. No its quite alright detective. This will only take a moment. Her eyes darted nervously around the room, as if she didnt want to meet my eye. Well she began hesitantly. For nearly a month now I have had someone stalking me her voice faded away and she glanced at me from under her long lashes. I nodded, signalling her to continue. But this person stalking me is nothing like the usual ones. You know, the ones who constantly call you, leave you gifts like flowers and chocolates. She seemed to turn pale as she told her story and she began to tremble slightly.You cant imagine, detective, the kind of sick and disgusting things this person leaves outside my door. She stopped and closed her eyes momentarily. When she opened them, tears were brimming at the edges. I was taken aback. My first impression of this woman was nothing like what it was before. She then reached into her handbag and pulled out a brown envelope. I hope you dont think strangely of me detective, but I took a picture of every gift he left me. I gave her a reassuring smile. Youve helped me immensely here Carla, by taking the pictures. I assure you that I will out who it is.I escorted Carla as far as the door then returned to my desk. I took a deep breath and poured out the contents of the envelope onto my desk. There were about thirteen Polaroids and another smaller envelope. I picked up the first one and nearly fell out of my chair. I was disgusted. The picture showed someones waste arranged to form the message Darling Love with several splatters of blood around it. This was something no lady should encounter. I was also curious a s to what the smaller envelope contained, and proceeded to open it. What slid out of it made me whistle. A cheque of five thousand pounds stared at me. Carla must have been extremely desperate, but what puzzled me was why she didnt go and report it earlier. I mentally kicked myself for forgetting to ask her.As I was about to look at the next picture, I heard a knock. Was it Carla again? Come in! I yelled. My facial expression must have been obvious as my old partner, Tom Hosp, smirked and said So glad to see you too. I pretended to not hear him and looked at the second picture instead. Oh Im hurt Matt, wheres the welcoming of an old friend? Have a seat, I said. If you can find one. I looked down at the next picture. This one was a horror. It looked like someone had butchered a whole generation of pigeons and chopped off their heads and this time the message was Love You. Suddenly the Polaroid disappeared from my hands and I looked up in annoyance to find Tom examining it, his mouth the shape of an o. I sighed. About half an hour ago, a pretty lady came to me about a nutcase who leaves her gifts. Not like ideal thing to give a lady huh. Oh man, Ive seen something like this before. I perked up. You have? Sure.About two months ago I had complaints from a few women and a man that they were had all sorts of rubbish arranged into a message. What? Men as well? Yeah. Seems like this one swings both ways. Oh Lord. Did you guys ever find out who did it? No. The harassments stopped after they were reported so were never pursued it. Now its back again. Was there any particular pattern? Hmm. They were all very good looking people and had money. I nodded. That matches. When they complained, how long had it been happening for? For nearly a month, they all said. They didnt report it straight away though, they thought it would stop after a week. That answered my question as to why Carla didnt do something about it as soon as she received her first gift. So thinking about it, t he gifts that Carla is getting should stop as shes reported it now, right? If her stalker is following her every move, then yes, it should stop. But that would mean that the perp would most likely find someone else to bother. I started massaging my temples. This case was turning out to be more complicated than I thought.Tom had finally managed to persuade me to come out for a drink. Come on! You being cooped up in here all day is degrading your looks, he joked. I ignored him and focused on my whisky, drinking it slowly and feeling the warmth spread through my body. I didnt want to drink too much. A clear mind was needed because I had misjudged how much work was needed for this case. I finished the drink and turned to Tom. Im heading back to the office. I need time to think about this case. Ill catch up with you later. Tom began to protest but I had reached the door, and the cold wind outside drowned out his voice. I quickened my walking pace, as the wind was beginning to get violent . Really, London weather was so unpredictable. One minute you have sunshine, the next a thunderstorm.From a distance, I noticed that something was not right. I clearly remembered switching off the porch light when I left with Tom. I slowed down my walking and made my steps silent. With Carla coming to me earlier about someone following her, I wasnt taking any chances. As I got closer, I felt a chill running through my spine. There on the landing in front of me, was blood everywhere and to me it looked like animal guts. I felt my blood run cold at the message: Youre Next.

Reel Big Fish essays

Reel Big Fish essays Reel Big Fish is a ska/punk band from Orange County California that came into the music scene after the success of the other bands No Doubt and Sublime. They broke into the music scene during the summer of 1997, when their single "Sell Out" became modern rock radio and an MTV favorite. Reel Big Fish was originally a trio made of a vocalist/guitarist Aaron Barrett, bassist Matt Wong and drummer Andrew Gonzales. At that time the band was a rock band. After many months, the band discovered ska and decided to add horn players. Reel Big Fish had a hard time maintaining a stable horn section, and it took several years before their final horn section (Tavis Werts-Trumpet, Scott Klopfenstein-trumpet/vocals, Grant Barry-Trombone, Dan With this new and final lineup Reel Big Fish recorded their debut album, Everything Sucks. They released it themselves in 1995. Everything Sucks became a ska/punk hit underground by word of mouth. A little while later the band signed with record label Mojo Records. Joy Rifkin, the labels president, produced Reel Big Fish's first album Turn the Radio Off for Mojo. Turn The Radio Off was released in August of 1996. The group toured in support of the album continually, expanding their fan base. In the spring of 1997, their single "Sell Out" began receiving heavy airplay from many influential modern rock stations in the US This soon led to MTV support for the song's video. By summer time "Sell Out" had become a modern rock hit. The album had charted in the Top 100. In July of 1997 Reel Big Fish released Keep You Receipt, which contained "Sell Out" and other outtakes, new songs and some live cuts. ...

6 Interesting Facts About the Hispanic Population

6 Interesting Facts About the Hispanic Population Facts and figures about the Hispanic American population reveal it is not only the largest ethnic minority group in the United States but also one of the most complex. Individuals of any race (black, white, Native American) identify as Latino. Hispanics in the U.S. trace their roots to a variety of continents, speak a variety of languages and practice a variety of customs. As the Latino population grows, the American public’s knowledge about Hispanics grows as well. In this effort, the U.S. Census Bureau compiled statistics about Latinos in honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month that shed light on where Latinos are concentrated in the United States, how much the Latino population has grown and the strides Latinos have made in sectors such as business. Latinos face challenges as well; they remain underrepresented in higher education and suffer from high rates of poverty. As Latinos gain more resources and opportunities, expect them to excel. Population Boom With 52 million Americans identifying as Hispanic, Latinos make up 16.7% of the U.S. population. From 2010 to 2011 alone, the number of Hispanics in the country jumped by 1.3 million, a 2.5% increase. By 2050, the Hispanic population is expected to reach 132.8 million, or 30% of the projected U.S. population at that time. The Hispanic population in the U.S. in 2010 was the largest in the world outside of Mexico, which has a population of 112 million. Mexican Americans are the largest Latino group in the U.S., making up 63% of Hispanics in the nation. Next in line are Puerto Ricans, who make up 9.2% of the Hispanic population, and Cubans, who make up 3.5% of Hispanics. Hispanic Concentration in the U.S. Where are Hispanics concentrated in the country? More than 50% of Latinos call three states (California, Florida, and Texas) home. But New Mexico stands out as the state with the largest proportion  of Hispanics,  making  up 46.7% of the state. Eight states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, and Texas) have Hispanic populations of at least 1 million. Los Angeles County boasts the highest number of Latinos, with 4.7 million Hispanics. Eighty-two of the country’s 3,143 counties were majority-Hispanic. Flourishing in Business From 2002 to 2007, the number of Hispanic-owned businesses in 2007 jumped by 43.6% to 2.3 million. During that time frame, they grossed $350.7 billion, which represents a 58% jump between 2002 and 2007. The state of New Mexico leads the nation in Hispanic-owned businesses. There, 23.7% of businesses are Hispanic-owned. Next in line is Florida, where 22.4% of businesses are Hispanic-owned, and Texas, where 20.7% are. Challenges in Education Latinos have advances to make in education. In 2010, just 62.2% of Hispanics aged 25 and up had a high school diploma. In contrast, from 2006 to 2010, 85% of Americans aged 25 and up had graduated from high school. In 2010, only 13% of Hispanics had obtained at least a bachelor’s degree. More than double that proportion of Americans generally (27.9%) had obtained a bachelor’s degree or a graduate degree. In 2010, only 6.2% of college students were Latino. That same year just more than a million Hispanics held advanced degrees. Overcoming Poverty Hispanics were the ethnic group said to be hardest hit by the economic recession that kicked off in 2007. From 2009 to 2010, the poverty rate for Latinos actually increased to 26.6% from 25.3%. The national poverty rate in 2010 was 15.3%. Moreover, the median household income for Latinos in 2010 was just $37,759. In contrast, the median household income for the nation between 2006 and 2010 was $51,914. The good news for Latinos is that the amount of Hispanics without health insurance appears to be declining. In 2009, 31.6% of Hispanics lacked health insurance. In 2010, that figure dropped to 30.7%. Spanish Speakers Spanish speakers make up 12.8% (37 million) of the U.S. population. In 1990, 17.3 million Spanish speakers lived in the U.S. But make no mistake. Speaking Spanish doesn’t mean one isn’t fluent in English. More than half of the country’s Spanish speakers say they speak English â€Å"very well.† Most Hispanics in the U.S. (75.1%) spoke Spanish at home in 2010.

Sodium chloride is a very important compound. state the propertied of Essay

Sodium chloride is a very important compound. state the propertied of it and discuss the many products made from it - Essay Example Let us consider each of these aspects in a detailed manner. Salt was used even before the pre-historic period. Animals used to get salt from the various sources in nature and primitive man got his requirement of salt from animal meat. When he turned a cultivator, he found that some salt sources (like sea water) gave his vegetables the salty taste that he used to get on meat (as cited in http://www.saltsense.co.uk/history01.htm). Later on he learned how salt helped to preserve meat, cure hides and heal wounds. About 4,700 years ago, the Chinese Png-tzao-kan-mu, one of the earliest known writings recorded more than 40 types of salt (as cited in http://www.saltsense.co.uk/history02.htm). In the British aisles, there have been traces of inland brines from where ancient man made salt. Archaeological evidence is leading to Bronze Age to this age old practice. â€Å"We even know the names of a few of the Roman saltmakers. These are inscribed on some of the lead pans - Viventius, Veluvius and Cunitus. Complete Roman salt pans are in the Salt Museum and at Nantwich Museum. The leaden pans were roughly 90-100cm square by 15cm deep.Roman soldiers were partly paid in salt. It is said to be from this that we get the word soldier - sal dare, meaning to give salt. From the same source we get the word salary, salarium† (as cited in http://www.saltsense.co.uk/history04.htm). â€Å"Salt is widely distributed in nature. It is found in solution in ocean water in concentrations of about 30 g/liter (about 4.08 oz/gallons) of water, meaning that salt makes up about 3 percent of ocean water by weight. The compound is also distributed throughout many rivers and inland lakes and seas, the concentration varying from 0.002 percent in Mississipi River to 12 percent in the  Great Salt Lake. Salt can occur as a surface crust or layer in swamps and dry lake bottoms, especially in extremely arid regions. The mineral  halite, more commonly known as  rock salt  or  massive

Planning forHousing project- Planning and policy context Essay

Planning forHousing project- Planning and policy context - Essay Example Sustainable development in economics, social and environmental gains, with emphasis on positive improvements to quality of environment. Replacement of old designs with better one. And to provide greater choice of quality homes in accordance to local requirements. Housing is considered a requirement of sustainable development to meet local growth needs, with emphasis on sustainable development plans approved in timely manner. Requirement of quality design, amenity and effect land use for mixed development with aim of pollution reduction and climate change accommodation, high sustainability (social, environmental, economic) to compensate for locational design incompatibility. Support flexible working with residential and commercial uses within same unit. Long term protection of employment use without prospects is unnecessary and should be reviewed in accordance to market signals. The local development framework outlines the standards that should be met upon developing new structures under its jurisdiction. This section of the proposal highlights the important aspects that should be taken into consideration when designing a plan. †¢ Encouraging employment and encouraging mixed use development. Employment space reallocated enhances business premises specification; improves the immediate area; increases employment space take-up; and meets and identified need. Encourages mix dwellings with affordable housing where viable. †¢ Buildings enhance built environment and local place distinctiveness (optimum site arrangement: form, mass, scale, design and impact analysis redrawing surrounds and view, historical surrounding qualities, enhancing boundary between public and private domains, secure by design) Resource efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions through design quality and Sustainable Homes Level 4 Code. Development and land use is designed to reduce car travel and car-free developments On the other hand, London

Discipline in the Public Schools Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Discipline in the Public Schools - Assignment Example The principal disregarded Jame’s claim and subjected him to corporal punishment and on the account of this punishment, he and his parents went to US Supreme Court for justice. The kid and the parents lost the case and the case was ruled in the favor of the school. The judge ruled that the prohibitions that have been levied by the constitution of US in case of harsh punishment towards children were not applicable in the case of corporal punishments that take place in public schools. Case 2: Student Suspension Goss v. Lopez In case of Goss v. Lopex, the US Supreme Court established that students had a right to a hearing before they are subjected to suspension from the public school as if a hearing is not conducted; the student’s right to due process is violated (Osborne, 2009, p.33). In this case, nine students including Dwight Lopez experienced suspension for around 10 days as a result of school property destruction activity. Before this case, public schools principals h ad the authority to suspend students for a period of 10 days along with a notification sent to their parents within the 24 hours of the incident. Secondly the law did not allow students to appeal to the board of education in case of suspension. This law was written off as the judges ruled that such laws violated a student’s 14 amendment right of due process and a hearing before suspension was necessary. The judge even ruled that suspensions have the ability to harm a student’s ability to gain employment and career advancements. Case 3: Expelled Fuller v. Decatur Public School Board Of Education In the case of Fuller v. Decatur Public School Board Of Education, Fuller along with a number of children was expelled from the school for a period of 2 years on the account of fighting that occurred between students (Osborne, 2009, p.33). Due to being expelled, Fuller appealed to the court stating that his and his associate’s expulsion from the educational institute was on the basis of racial profiling and they were regarded as gang members and their expulsion was not justified since they did not use any weapons. Even though no weapons were used, the fighting was very severe in nature and bystanders were even injured. The court ruled the case in the favor of the school because students failed to prove that any form of racial profiling had occurred and the expulsion was justified. Opinion in Case of Corporal Punishment In case of Ingraham v. Wright the court ruled in the favor of corporal punishment being used to discipline students. Corporal punishment is a term used to refer to the act of using severe measures in order to discipline individuals and especially students in schools. Corporal punishment in any case should be completely disregarded and the constitution should put a stop to such punishments. One of the main reasons for stopping corporal punishments is that teachers and educators are socializing agents for children and children tend to o bserve and imitate the behavior of their teachers (Nanjunda, 2008, p.23). If educationalists use corporal punishment for mistakes made by students, students will even start accepting that hitting someone or spanking another individual is a way to deal with their wrong doings and they themselves will use similar methods in their life. Corporal punishment should even be abolished in US schools because no individual can make

Antitrust and Regulation Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Antitrust and Regulation - Term Paper Example The law is premised on the belief that free trade benefits the economy, businesses and the consumers by forbidding various restrains of trade and monopolization. It falls under four areas namely agreement between competitors, contractual arrangements between sellers and buyers the pursuit or maintenance of monopoly power and mergers (Wilberforce, 98). The law of competition can be dated two centuries ago, the medieval monarchs and the Roman Empire used tariff systems to control prices and support local production. The formal study of competition can be dated in the 18th century with works of Adam Smith when he wrote about the wealth of Nation. Different terms were used to describe the law which include restrictive practices, the law of monopolies, combination acts, and the restraint of trade. The law can be seen to have three main elements which include prohibiting agreements or practices that restricts free trade and competition between business premises, it element focuses mainly on repression of cartels. Second is the banning of abusive behaviors by firms dominating a market or anti competitive practices that may tend to lead to dominance (Bork, 126). Among the practices controlled by this are predatory pricing, tying, and refusal to deal, among others. Lastly there is the supervision of mergers and acquisition of large corporations including joint values. Transactions thought to threaten competitive process can be prohibited all together. Approved subjects to remedies for example an obligation to divest part of the merged business the merged business, that is, to offer license or access to facilities that enable other businesses to continue competing. The contents and practice of competition law varies s from one jurisdiction to another. In many countries the main objective of the law is to protect the interests of thee consumer or safeguarding the consumer welfare, and ensuring that entrepreneurs have an equal opportunity to compete in the market economy. The law is also closely related to the law of deregulation of access to the market, state aids and subsidies, privatization of state assets, and the establishment of independe nt sector regulators. In the past decades the law has been viewed as way to provision of better public services (Whish, 198). According to Robert Bork competition has been found to have created adverse effects when they reduce competition through protecting the inefficient competitor and when the cost of legal intervention is higher then the consumer benefits more. The business practices of market traders' guilds and governments have always been scrutinized and sometimes severe sanctions have been placed. Dating back from the 19th century competition law has been now embraced globally. The largest and the most influential law systems being the United States antitrust law and the European community competition law. National and regional competitions authorities across the world have formed to incorporate international support and enforcement networks (Bork, 127). In microeconomics and strategic management horizontal merger refers to a type of ownership and control. It is used by businesses as a strategy that seeks to sell a type of products in many markets or numerous markets. It is much more common compared to vertical

President Obama's Inaugural Address Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

President Obama's Inaugural Address - Essay Example In the very beginning of his address, President Obama displays this forgiving attitude when he said â€Å"I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition†. The other discernible quality of the speech is its minimal rhetoric. President Obama, having spent close to two years on the campaign trail – initially for the primaries and later for the Presidency – might have been excused if he had resorted to the usual rhetorical flourishes. Breaking away from this tendency, the speech focused more on substance than style. The speech is also informed by historical context. For example, toward the beginning of the address, President Obama says â€Å"Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms†¦We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents. So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans†. This passage perfectly illustrates how the new President weaved aspects of t he past and present in revealing his vision for the country’s future. The usage of the phrase ‘We the people’ is a particularly clever implementation, for it connects the present historic moment to the event of the Declaration of Independence nearly three centuries ago. On the flip side, one could argue that the inaugural address was not the most inspiring speech Mr. Obama had delivered in his political life. The speech that he gave in the 2004 Democratic convention brought him widespread attention. The force and spirit of that landmark speech is not matched in the inaugural address. Probably, the gravity of the current economic crisis and the restraint of high office might have had a subduing effect. On the positive side, the speech was

Antitrust and Regulation Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Antitrust and Regulation - Term Paper Example The law is premised on the belief that free trade benefits the economy, businesses and the consumers by forbidding various restrains of trade and monopolization. It falls under four areas namely agreement between competitors, contractual arrangements between sellers and buyers the pursuit or maintenance of monopoly power and mergers (Wilberforce, 98). The law of competition can be dated two centuries ago, the medieval monarchs and the Roman Empire used tariff systems to control prices and support local production. The formal study of competition can be dated in the 18th century with works of Adam Smith when he wrote about the wealth of Nation. Different terms were used to describe the law which include restrictive practices, the law of monopolies, combination acts, and the restraint of trade. The law can be seen to have three main elements which include prohibiting agreements or practices that restricts free trade and competition between business premises, it element focuses mainly on repression of cartels. Second is the banning of abusive behaviors by firms dominating a market or anti competitive practices that may tend to lead to dominance (Bork, 126). Among the practices controlled by this are predatory pricing, tying, and refusal to deal, among others. Lastly there is the supervision of mergers and acquisition of large corporations including joint values. Transactions thought to threaten competitive process can be prohibited all together. Approved subjects to remedies for example an obligation to divest part of the merged business the merged business, that is, to offer license or access to facilities that enable other businesses to continue competing. The contents and practice of competition law varies s from one jurisdiction to another. In many countries the main objective of the law is to protect the interests of thee consumer or safeguarding the consumer welfare, and ensuring that entrepreneurs have an equal opportunity to compete in the market economy. The law is also closely related to the law of deregulation of access to the market, state aids and subsidies, privatization of state assets, and the establishment of independe nt sector regulators. In the past decades the law has been viewed as way to provision of better public services (Whish, 198). According to Robert Bork competition has been found to have created adverse effects when they reduce competition through protecting the inefficient competitor and when the cost of legal intervention is higher then the consumer benefits more. The business practices of market traders' guilds and governments have always been scrutinized and sometimes severe sanctions have been placed. Dating back from the 19th century competition law has been now embraced globally. The largest and the most influential law systems being the United States antitrust law and the European community competition law. National and regional competitions authorities across the world have formed to incorporate international support and enforcement networks (Bork, 127). In microeconomics and strategic management horizontal merger refers to a type of ownership and control. It is used by businesses as a strategy that seeks to sell a type of products in many markets or numerous markets. It is much more common compared to vertical

Workbook One Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Workbook One - Essay Example Considering marriage and family life in Britain, North Ireland and Scotland have lower rates of marriage due to differing religious and cultural structure (Irwin 1994: 129). By virtue of being in Europe, Britain is also a member of the European Economic Community. Anderson (1991) regards them as imagined communities or group of people bound together by their habitat. Emile Durkheim recognized two types of social solidarity: mechanical and organic solidarity (Somerville 2011). Mechanical solidarity is present for those who live together and are mostly bound together by kinship ties. They develop norms that dictate their behaviour and which bind them together. Deviation from acceptable behaviour or norms is considered a crime against the community and is punishable. However, as the community develops and enlarges, people move different ways and this solidarity is broken (Irwin 1994). For example, in Britain after industrialization most people moved to towns to look for greener pastures (jobs) leading to urbanisation. Business run by family members rarely exist anymore giving rise to large factories and industries. Here in factories, division of labour is complex thus necessitating organic solidarity. People performing different tasks collaborate and depend on each other for the well-being of all. These people are thus held together by other intere sts besides place. They may share same religious beliefs, sexual orientation, occupation or ethnic origin (Crow & Allan 1995). For example, we may have a ‘gay or lesbian’ community or a protestant or catholic community. Although families rarely meet like in the past since they are scattered, they communicate often due to improved communication. There are also changes in family life as in contemporary Britain; the family does not depend on the man as the ‘bread winner’. Women are now engaged in

African-American Civil Rights in the Years 1950 to 1962 Essay Example for Free

African-American Civil Rights in the Years 1950 to 1962 Essay Explain how far the views in Source B differ from those in Source A in relation to President Eisenhower and the desegregation of education. Both sources illustrate Eisenhower’s negative opinion on desegregation in schools. Both criticise and portray Eisenhower’s intolerance of black people as Source states Eisenhower’s comment that white people ‘ are concerned about is that their sweet little girls are not required to sit in school alongside some big overgrown Negroes’ . Eisenhower’s ‘sympathises’; the south as he originates there himself, the intolerance could be considered to be part of the South’s culture and behaviour to be intolerant of the black people, it is arguable that this effected Eisenhower’s political judgement . The fact that Eisenhower came from military background after spending 44 years of his life in service, would have influenced his decisions and opinions on desegregation as military camps were segregated and Eisenhower would have been use to this system. He once again agues from the South’s point of view in Source B, ‘I don’t believe you can change the hearts of men with laws and decisions’ this once again supports the point I made before. Evidence of his intolerance was regretting appointing Earl Warren as chief of justice ‘the biggest damn fool mistake I ever made’ he obviously was very against the decision and never wanted desegregation. The similarities continue as both sources shows the reluctance of helping the black people through desegregation. Source A comments that he didn’t show a clear support for the Supreme Court decision to desegregate schools, ‘his silence encouraged massive resistance’. His political and personal opinions were colliding with each other making his actions limited. Source B shows proof of his reluctance also as it stated three years later he finally protects the little rock 9 with a federal army in 1957. This was the first time Eisenhower showed support of segregation however; it was a ‘weak act’ from Eisenhower. It could be possible that he felt that it was his study as the president not himself supporting civil rights for the black people. However, the sources do differ in the fact that source B states a more positive view on Eisenhower even thought it was considered ‘weak’. As already stated Eisenhower While in presidency did not actively support desegregation and had reservations about the Brown decision, he understood his constitutional responsibility to uphold the federal authority and the law. Eisenhower ordered federal troops to guard and Little Rock and protect black students as they walked to school. He therefore became the first president since Reconstruction to use federal troops to protect the rights of African Americans. As Source A’s tone is very negative as it quotes intolerant views on the African Americans, it insinuates that Eisenhower is very against African Americans being part of a ‘white society’ this contrast with the little rock 9 as he aids the black people into the school, after his comments it would been unlikely to help the black people but he does. To conclude: source A and B are very similar as they both voice the intolerance and his lack of support Eisenhower gave to the African-Americans. I agree with the source as from my own knowledge he was very against civil rights because of his Sothern influence. His views on desegregation was transparent from his actions and that’s what source and B illustrate (12 Marks) (B) Use Source A, B and C and your own knowledge. How important was the Supreme Court in the development of African-American civil rights in the years 1950 to 1962? The Supreme Court is the highest federal court in the US, consisting of nine justices and taking judicial precedence over all other courts in the nation. The Supreme Court would have benefited every African- American with their decisions of passing and lifting laws if they succeeded in winning their cases. It allowed them to have legal rights with in the country and legally be equal to the white people. However, the self-esteem of the African Americans was low due to the intolerance of the white people therefore figures such as Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King and support of political figures such as Kennedy allowed them to be brave and a sense of pride in gaining equality. Therefore, the Supreme Court could be considered less important than other figures and factors that occurred between 1950 and 1962. Source A and B discuss the Brown vs. Topeka’s Board of Education verdict in 1954. The Supreme Court passed the law of desegregated schools by the chief of Justice Earl Warren. He was criticised for his decision such as President Eisenhower, who had shared his annoyance with Warren by stating that is was the ‘biggest damn fool mistake he ever made’. The silence of Eisenhower’s support on desegregation caused massive resistance along with the indirect deadline for when desegregation is to commence. Hence, Brown 2 in 1955 was the attempt to get a clearer deadline than before. However, disappointingly the verdict was ‘with all deliberate speed’ it was still vague and prolonged the wait for desegregation. The Supremes’ role in this particular situation helped civil rights as it declared more equality within America however turned to a hindrance as it become a battle of when it will happen. The decision also caused further problems for the African- Americans as Little Rock complied with the high court’s laws and decided to desegregate there all white school. The NAACP submitted nine students originally to join the school and gradually bring more in and settled them slowly. However, it wasn’t that simply as the 9 students went to enter their school they was verbally abused and tormented by the white southerners, Eisenhower had to submit federal assistance to help them into school , this is stated in source B as it had taken 3 years to show any support from Eisenhower and the south to finally accept desegregation . Eisenhower’s federal involvement was then became the first president since Reconstruction to use federal troops to protect the rights of African Americans. However, since Brown vs. education Source C states that McLaurin vs. Oklahoma rules that universities too have to follow the desegregation law and that you ‘could not provide different treatment to a student solely because of his/her race’. This proves that the Supreme Court was furthering African American rights through all levels of education making them equal and educated. This is another influence the Supreme Court had over monumental changes for the African Americans and the society around them. However, it is arguable that the Supreme Court only assisted the figures and events that immensely changed civil rights for the African Americans. Events such as the Montgomery Bus boycott in 1956 were a political and social protest. after the arrest of Rosa parks African Americans were ready to take action and regain some equality and raise the issue of how wrong it is to make a ‘tired, old lady’ to move, even if it wasn’t entirely true. The boycott was led by the group the MIA (Montgomery Improvement Association) Saturday 3rd December the black community supported each other as a lot of people avoided the busses and had to take rides with other people in the community, even though it was difficult the supporters of the cause enthusiastically agreed to continue the boycott until there was justice. The success of the black people boycotting led to economic stress were the issue of segregation would be over. The fact that one event, encourage African Americans to stand for their rights influenced and uncovered the most influential figures in civil right history and gained justice from their efforts. This is repeated again the 1960 in the Greensboro sit-in’s when African Americans refuse to move to from their seats in the Woolworths store. Their numbers increased in support and was watched by the world; even Eisenhower voiced his opinions on the matter. These nonviolent protests allowed black people to become a part of changing their future and not relying on court cases and individuals to get them there. Arguably even though they gained great success the black people didn’t have any legal hold on desegregating the bus system, thus the Browder vs. Gayle case. The Supreme Court upheld the district court’s decision in making bus’s desegregated. Without the confirmation from the Supreme Court all the black people’s efforts would have resulted to nothing without the confirmation of the Supreme Court. Rosa parks is seen in our modern day history as an inspirational civil rights leader. Her story influenced thousands of African Americans to boycott buses and gain equality. However, her image of being a ‘hard working, old, fragile women’ who wanted to rest her feet after a long day isn’t true at all. She had been an active protester and NAACP member for years and probably planned this protest to gain publicity and change. Due to her protest Martin Luther King was noticed as a civil rights figure, he had been watched from all over the world and from then on seen as the leading civil rights leader. His efforts in the SCLC created in 1957 after the Montgomery bus boycott, helped the southern African Americans who suffered from great intolerance . However, once again their efforts amounted to achieving the legalisation of equality, without the Supreme Court all their efforts went to nothing. To conclude: even though Martin Luther King is seen as the saviour of the African Americans in gaining equality and is still admired in our modern day society, it is the supreme court that allowed them legally to be treated as equals and live the lives they should live. However, without the efforts and protests the Supreme Court would never have considered to pass or all the African Americans to have the equality they gained through their efforts. Therefore, the other factors that influenced African Americans development on civil rights were more important than the Supreme Court. (2A) Explain why school were not immediately desegregated after the verdict in the Brown vs. Topeka Board of Education case of 1954 * Â  Earl Warren passed desegregation in 1954 in the Brown vs. Topeka Board of education. This was to end segregation. The NAACP appointed Thurgood to take the case and won with Earl Warren’s confirmation However, Warren didn’t set the deadline when schools should be desegregated. This prolonged desegregation and led to the court case Brown 2 in 1955 to gain directness on when desegregation will commence .However the verdict remained vague commenting that desegregation should happen with ‘all deliberate speed’ allowing desegregation, once again to be prevented from racial diversity in schools. This suggests that the Supreme Court was reluctant to desegregate schools fully due to Eisenhower’s silence and the South’s reluctance to do so. Other than the Cooper vs. Aaron case, the southern manifesto is proof of their reluctance as this was a legal document signed by 99 politicians to counter the decision on Brown vs. Education, because of the legality and not just the opinions of the south. This then makes the manifesto more than reluctance but a serious legal matter. Their claim matched the opinions of the south commenting that ‘segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. The southern manifesto stated that ‘It is destroying the amicable relations between the white and Negro races’, ‘It has planted hatred and suspicion where there has been heretofore friendship and understanding’ to make their argument fair and agreeable they used the idea that desegregation will bring violence and issues to the communities when there is no need. Even though some areas (especially in the north where it was more tolerant) accepted desegregation quickly. However, a lot of the south continued segregation as they didn’t agree with the Brown vs. Board of Education, thus the southern manifesto. The build-up of tension of intolerance was at little rock. Little rock school in Arkansas decided to comply with the high court’s ruling. The NAACP submitted 9 students to the previously all white school. They was verbally abused and tormented as they entered the school, President Eisenhower had to send federal troops to protect the 9 children. This suggests that ‘fear’ that was presented in the southern manifesto was proven to be true allowing anxiety for other schools and black people to comply with desegregation. President Eisenhower originated from the south and voiced intolerance himself about the decisions of Brown vs. board of education. It was commented that his silence encouraged massive resistance to applying the new law forcefully through the country as he did not agree with the verdict. It was also claimed that he voiced annoyance about appointing Earl Warren stating that it was ‘The biggest damn fool mistake I ever made’ this is evidence of his intolerance because he disapproved of Warren’s decision. Being a military man himself he was use to the segregation system and probably agreed with the idea of ‘separate but equal’. This suggests why the Supreme Court had given vague answers of when the deadline should be on desegregation because the president wasn’t happy with the decision. To conclude: there were many factors to why desegregation wasn’t immediate however; the most important factor that contributed to preventing desegregation was the south. The fear, the legal documentation created by the south, the behaviour and the powerful leaders from the south made the desegregation difficult and tense. The South’s intolerance caused the most issues, as the north complied with high court’s decision quickly as there was less intolerance. Â  * (2B) ‘The work of the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) was the most important reason for the desegregation of schools in the years 1950 to 1960’ * Explain why you agree or disagree with this view * The NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People) is an African-American civil rights organization in the United States, formed in 1909. Their mission is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination. They are the earliest organisation to aid African- Americans into equality. They have had many successes in desegregating schools and their efforts have gone far however, it is arguable that other organisations, figures and events that were more influential to desegregation in schools than the NAACP. * The NAACP had succeeded in other cases for the rights of black people however; it was the Brown vs. Board of Education that is considered NAACP’s victorious achievement. But, without the work of Thurgood marshal that was appointed by the NAACP the outcome might have been different. Other than being the first African American to serve on the Supreme Court he had won 29 out of the 32 he had faced. He was a very intelligent and stood for his rights after winning previous cases for the NAACP himself and a team of NAACP attorneys won Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka. Other than the NAACP winning the case Thurgood who was part of the NAACP team, was an inspiration to the African Americans. However, the decision didn’t lead to an immediate change as there was no clear deadline. The NAACP and Marshall forgot to argue its urgency for change therefore, Brown 2 the case that was to get the urgency it needed however, the decision was vague as it stated ‘with deliberate speed’. The NAACP did succeed in the decision of desegregation but it had no action. NAACP helped all African American’s in need such as the Little Rock 9 in 1957. The NAACP submitted 9 students to attend the previously all white school Little Rock, this was an achievement as a lot of the south wasn’t and would not comply with the high court’s orders. However, this turned into a disadvantage as The 9 students was verbally abused, tormented and prevented to enter their new school. The NAACP however, did help them try and enter or submit them in different and safer schools. It wasn’t just Little Rock students that they helped enter schools but many. * It is arguable that other factors effected the desegregation of schools such as the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court had to pass the laws to gain legal equality, therefore the Brown vs. Education case without the Chief of Justice Earl Warren reaching the decision that segregation is unconstitutional. Desegregation would never have gone through. They pass the McLaurin vs. Oklahoma state regents, this was to desegregate universities. However, other cases were inspired by the efforts of the NAACP, and the outcome they reached in the Brown vs. board of Education Verdict. * However, it was the ordinary people that changed their future by joining protests and helping each other. Such as Linda Brown, if it wasn’t for Linda’s cause the case to bring desegregation to schools. Linda Brown was the Daughter to Oliver Brown, because of his annoyance that his daughter had to walk 6 blocks because of the Plessy vs. Ferguson ruling ‘separate but equal’ under the Jim Crow laws. Her long walks to school led to one of the most monumental events that happened for African Americans. However, Linda Brown was part one of the thirteen families that was recruited to Topeka (the area they lived in), the NAACP took the case for Brown and pursued his plan to desegregate schools. * To conclude: The NAACP efforts in desegregating schools were more important than the other factors that influenced desegregations. Without The NAACP providing lawyers such as Marshall and helping brown win his case, Oliver brown wouldn’t of won the case. I believe that the NAACP’s involvement in the desegregation of schools was the main reason and that’s why I agree with the statement.

A Report On Sky Diving

A Report On Sky Diving Sky Diving A New Era of Indian Adventure Skydiving is a very old and most popular sport. It is a diversion from the normal parachuting which was discovered some centuries ago. Basically sky diving is an adventure sport wherein the diver jumps from an aircraft from at least an altitude 1500 m. The participants experience a free fall and they even do different stunts in the air before they release their parachutes and are safely on the ground.   Sky diving requires average levels of fitness. If you are in doubt you can ask for medical clearance before setting out for this journey. The best things about sky diving is the advantage you have due to such high altitude. You do not feel any sort of motion sickness like you would experience if you were in a roller coaster ride. It is the closest experience humans can have to flying. Most popular Sky diving destinations in the world Today skydiving is a dear activity the world over. For some of the best sky diving experiences you will have to travel the corners of the world. Nevertheless here is a list of few places which give you that complete experience that you are looking for. The first destination is Guam which is one of the several pacific islands. The place is commendable for its coast to coast view and blue skies. The views of the islands are fantastic and incomparable. Next on the list of the best sites is the Swiss Alps. Being a few thousand meters high above the ground and surrounded by white snow everywhere, decked up in a warm winter jacket and jumping of an airplane to float in the air above the Alps is an unforgettable experience.   In summers the views get even lovelier with the glaciers melting and the summer sun peeking fro between the mountains.   So far the best sites are still owned by the country of kiwis-Australia and its neighbor New Zealand. They are an adventure lovers haven.   And why not, if you have aerial view of the Great Barrier Reef and the vast rainforests in the east or the profiles of Queensland or Mission beach in the west, Sky Diving in India Skydiving in India began way back in 1994 when Agni Aviation promoted sky diving as a recreational activity. At that time people were clueless about aero-sports in India. The first sky diving was carried out in Jakkur near Bangalore on a 900 meter tarred airstrip.   Ever since Sky diving has started at many other location in India. If we speak of sky diving and do not talk about Rachael Thomas then the discussions is incomplete. Rachael is the first and the only civilian sky diver of India. Her journey as a sky diver began in the year 1979 after she signed up for sky diving lessons with a French woman.   Since then she has had a record of more than 700 jumps in all. It has been more than 25 years now and she has won several accolades for her stints. She is the winner of Padma Shri for having a successful sky diving career of more than 25 years. She is also the first Indian to receive a national Adventure Award in 1994 which is an equivalent of Arjuna Award. She is doing her best to promote sky diving culture in India. She has also started Women Sky Divers of India league which promotes sky diving among women. This institute is on its way to turns it visions of being the first skydiving civilian school of India into reality.

Knights And Chivalry :: essays research papers

Knights and Chivalry Chivalry was a system of ethical ideals developed among the knights of medieval Europe. Arising out of the feudalism of the period, it combined military virtues with those of Christianity, as epitomized by he Arthurian legend in England and the chansons de geste of medieval France. The word chivalry is derived from the French chevalier, meaning horseman or knight. Chivalry was the code of conduct by which knights were supposedly guided. In addition to military prowess and valor and loyalty to God and the knight's feudal lord, it called for courtesy toward enemies and generosity toward the sick and oppressed, widows, and other disadvantaged people. Also incorporated in the ideal was courtly love, romantic devotion for a sexually unattainable woman, usually another man's wife. Veneration for the Virgin Mary played a part in this concept. Chivalric ideals influenced the founding of religious military orders during the period of the Crusades, among them the Templars and the Hospitalers, the Teutonic Knights, and the Spanish orders of Alcantara, Calatrava, and Santiago. In the late Middle Ages, rulers formed secular orders of chivalry such as the English Order of the Garter and the Burgundian Order of the Golden Fleece. By this time, however, chivalry had become largely a system of etiquette. Tournaments, in which knights had originally risked their lives in jousting combat before the ladies, became simply elaborate, stylized, and harmless entertainments. Moreover, the expense of this and other trappings of knighthood led many nobles who were eligible for knighthood, having served the customary apprenticeship of 7 years as a page at a noble court and another 7 as a squire, or attendant, to a knight, not to become knights at all. From chivalry, always larger in literature than in life, comes the modern concept of the gentleman. The Knight tells a tale of ideal love and chivalry. This type of tale might seem somewhat strange to todays readers, but this tale would be very popular in the time of Chaucer. The story of the Knight fits his character perfectly. We would expect this from the Knight because he is a very loyal and honorable person. The Knight's tale is filled with love, honor, chivalry, and lots of adventure. Furthermore, fitting the Knights character, there are no stories bordering on the vulgar and no coarseness. The love is an ideal love in which there is no hint of sensuality. The love exists on a high, ideal, platonic plane. The emphasis in the Knight's tale is upon the rules of honor and proper conduct. These qualities fit the Knight good because he would bring

Dow’s Bid for Rohm and Haas Essay

Dow started as a manufacturer of commercial bleach in 1897, and was founded by Herbert Dow. He merged his company in 1900 with Midland Chemical, which lead to diversification of his portfolio to agricultural and food products. In 1912, Dow started to pay dividends every quarter without any reductions or interruptions. By doing so, they were the only Fortune 200 firm that established these figures. Dow became a major player in the M&a field, since they acquired between 1983 and 2007 95 business, took stakes in 58 firms and divested 166 businesses. In 2006, Dow’s CEO Andrew Liveris announced the ‘Dow of Tomorrow’ strategy, which consisted of two pillars. One was pursuing an asset light approach to its commodity business. In order to do so, he signed a JV agreement with a subsidiary of the Kuwait Petroleum Company, named Petroleum Industries Company. Dow and PIC signed a Memorandum of Understanding, which generated Dow a $7.2 billion after tax revenues. Second, Mr. Liveris wanted to build a high-growth and high-value added performance business. In order to achieve this objective, Dow agreed to purchase Rohm and Haas. This acquisition had the purpose for Dow to become a producer of high-value chemicals and advanced materials. Why does Dow want to buy Rohm and Haas? As mentioned in the introduction, CEO Andrew Liveris announced the ‘Dow of Tomorrow’ strategy. This included becoming a high growth and high-value added producer of specialty chemicals, with less cyclicality. Rohm and Haas fitted the picture perfectly, since they were an advanced material and specialty chemicals company, operating in 27 countries. Besides the interesting company profile description, there were several other reasons  why Dow was interested in the Rohm and Haas company. Most important reason was that the acquisition would make Dow reduce its cyclicality and increase its growth prospects. Expanded product portfolios, increased geographic market, improved market channels and innovative technologies will obtain the expected growth and cost synergies. Forecasts predict additional growth synergies values between $2.0 and $2.6 billion and $0.8 billion costs synergies, including shared services and governance, manufacturing, supply chain and work process improvements. Besides the above-mentioned advantages, Dow and Rohm could be a global leader in specialty chemicals and advanced materials if they combined forces. Also by combining their R&D, the development of new products and innovations could be stimulated. So overall, Rohm and Haas fitted the picture projected by Andrew Liveris perfectly. Rohm and Haas supported Dow’s commitment to maintain their highest standards in pursuing and selecting growth opportunities to satisfy their long-term shareholder values. Was $78 per share a reasonable bid? In order to draw a conclusion of the reasonability of the bid, we need to valuate Rohm and Haas as a firm with and without the synergies created by the acquisition. If this total value exceeds the $78 share price, Dow will pay the price, since it will be beneficial for them. The benefits of the synergies can be calculated by dividing it between the two firms on a multiple or 50/50 basis. The excel file attached to the assignment contained a WACC of 8,5% based on a tax rate of 35%. In our analysis, we also calculated a WACC with a tax rate of 26%, since this was the average tax rate. This leads to a WACC of 8,7%. As a basis, we took 2% growth. Rohm and Haas had at time of the acquisition 195,200,000 shares outstanding. From the balance sheet of Rohm and Haas 2008H1, we took the values of cash and debt (long and short term debt). Both inputs were needed in order to calculate the share price. Below, you can find how we calculated the share price for the situations with and without synergies. The synergies involved consist of two different types, namely growth and cost synergies. Growth synergies include expanded product portfolios, increased geographic reach, improved market channels and innovative technologies. These synergies are expected to create between 2 and 2.6 billion dollars, which gives an average of 2.3 billion. Second, potential cost synergies consist of purchasing synergies, shared services and governance, manufacturing & supply chain improvements and work process optimization. These synergies are expected to generate 0.8 billion dollar. The values of these synergies combined totals a 3.1 billion dollar gross benefit, which is a netted by deducting the 1.3 billion cost of implementation, leaving a value of 1.8 billion dollars. In order to make the most suitable valuation and draw the best conclusion for the reasonability of the share price of $78, we take the original and revised forecast into account. Both cases are also used for the sensitivity analysis to be as specific as possible. Below are the sensitivity analyses of Rohm and Haas for the original forecasts. Based on our assumptions, share price of Rohm and Haas is $55.79 without synergies and $65.01 with synergies. These values differ a little from the share price we found in our valuation analysis, however this is due to rounding and number of decimals difference in WACC and growth percentages. Lowest value without synergies is $47.10 with a growth of 1% and a WACC of 9% and a highest share price of $95.58 with a growth of 3% and a WACC of 7%. If we now look at the original forecast with synergies, we see an increased share price, which is logical, since value is created by the synergy. The share price of Rohm and Haas is $65.01 based on the growth rate of 2% and a WACC of 8.7%. The share price differ between lowest value of $56.32 and highest value of $104.80, based on the same input as with the analysis with no synergies. In both cases, the share price is below $78 so if Dow offers this price in both situations, the will not profit from this acquisition. However, we will still perform the 50/50 and multiples valuation in order to see which is the best in the situation if Dow is obliged to acquire Rohm and Haas. Looking at  case were synergies are created and using the 50/50 method, we get a share price of $55.79 + ($65.01 – $55.79)/2 = $60.4. As we already mentioned, this price does not match the $78. Now using the gross profit of Rohm and Haas as a percentage of the gross profit of both companies combined, we get a multiple of 26.11%. Using this 0,2611 multiple, the appropriate share price is $55.79 + (0,2611 * (65.01 – $55.79)) = $58.20 Again, this is below the share price of $78, which makes the outcomes of both methods unfavorable for Dow. Now let us look at the revised forecast. Since this is a post-crisis forecast, predictions were lowered, which lead to a lower overall value. Hence, this will be reflected in our sensitivity analysis by lower share prices. Below are our findings. As already predicted, share prices are lower in the revised forecast due to the crisis adjustments. For the sake of the case, we will also perform a 50/50 and multiples calculation. If we look at the 50/50 share price, we get a share price of $41.38 + ($50.60 – $41.38)/2 = $45.99. The multiples basis will give us a share price of $41.38 + (0,2661 * ($50.60 – $41.38)) = $43.79. Reviewing both forecasts and within these forecasts both with and without synergy, we can conclude that a share price of $78 is not reasonable. This conclusion holds in the case of 50/50 and multiples calculations. Major deals risks and allocation We will pay special attention to Exhibit 4 when examining the major risks and their respective allocations. The first risk comes from the item 1.01 describing the financing of the deal. Dow will issue a fixed amount of $4 billion in convertible preferred stocks to Berkshire, Hathaway and Kuwait Investment Authority. This amount is independent of the current stock price of Dow, meaning that a drop in Dow’s share price would need more shares to pay for the deal, decreasing the relative voting rights of current shareholders. To be even more precise, in paragraph 2.1a it states that no matter what happens Dow has to pay $78 dollar per share at the time of the merger, transferring all the financial  risk to Dow. Furthermore, a large part of the deal is financed with a $13 billion loan, issued by a consortium of 19 banks lead by Citigroup, Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley, increasing their leverage ratio and overall risk of the company. These high debt values come with high interest payments, leaving fewer cash to meet its dividend obligations. In a possible economic downturn this problem becomes larger, increasing the probability of not meeting their dividend payments which have not been changed for over 97 years. A further interesting statement is the ticking fee to ensure the deal would close. When the deal is not closed before January 10, 2009, the payment per share will increase with 8% annually, translating to a higher deal price of approximately $3 million more per day until the deal is closed. In addition if the deal is not closed before October 10, 2009, Dow has to pay $750 million termination fee. This will, again, transfer all the risk to Dow if the deal cannot be closed before October 10, 2009. In paragraph 3.1 the Material Adverse Effect clause states that Dow is allowed to withdraw from the transaction if the business, operations or financial conditions of Rohm is hit by a material adverse effect. This seems fair but there is a large set of exceptions made in the clause for which Dow cannot withdraw from the transaction, including the following events: any event which affects the chemical industry, macro economy as a whole, the financial, debt, credit or security market, any decline in Rohm’s stock price or any failure to meet internal or published projections. So, in case of an economic downturn mainly Dow is affected and not Rohm. Roam and Haas are even protected from a decline in their share price. Thus, these statements will, again, transfer almost all the risk to Dow Furthermore, Dow takes on another risk by relying on the joint venture with Kuwait’s PIC to finance $7 billion of the deal. They do not take into account the possibility that this joint venture could fail due to i.e. a downturn in the overall economy. If it fails it leaves a gap of $7 billion in their financing plan, exposing Dow to even more risk. Finally, the overall high price and ticking clauses make it a risky deal when compared to the expected synergies. The probability of achieving all expected synergies is a magnitude smaller than the probability of high costs, which is certain. It leaves Dow exposed to a possibly large loss when the expected synergies are not met in the future. The only risk that Rohm and Haas face is the possible termination of the deal from their side if the deal is i.e. taking too long. They have to pay a $600 million termination fee if the decide to do so. Other than that, considering the mentioned risk allocations from above, the total risk of this deal is mainly resting on the shoulders of Dow Chemical. CEO recommendations To give a complete view of the options that both CEOs had at the time we will first describe the situation they were in.   Shortly after the deal announcement the financial crisis started, causing an overall recession including in the chemical industry. Dow was hit on many fronts: overall share prices dropped with over 50%, a fourth quarter loss of $1.6 billion, quarterly sales decline of 23% and a drop in operating rate to 44% in 2008. Forcing Dow to close off 20 facilities and firing over 5000 employees. Furthermore, after the joint venture deal was closed with KPC’s PIC, the failing oil prices and overall recession caused KPC to terminate the contract by paying a termination fee of $2.5 billion to Dow. This caused a gap in the financial plan for the merger for Dow, decreasing their stock price even further and degrading their rating to BBB. As mentioned before, Dow was not the only one affected by the economic recession. Rohm was facing a poor performance as well, forcing it to fire over 900 employees, freeze spending and a 20% decline in sales. Considering the above, Dow refused to close the deal with Rohm and Haas after approval from the European Commission and U.S. Federal Trade Commission. Arguing that the recent macro-economic developments are material adverse effects, enabling them to terminate the deal. Options and recommendation for Dow’s CEO, Andrew Liveris Considering the situation as described above, Liveris had three different options: continue with the termination of the deal, close the deal for $78 per share or renegotiate with Rohm and Haas to agree on different terms. If Dow continues to terminate the deal it will go to court for the approval by the judge. It needs to win in court otherwise Dow is forced to commit to the deal. Given the statements enclosed in the material adverse effect clause, the chances for Dow to win are pretty slim. If Liveris opts to close the deal for $78 per share he will need a lot of additional cash. Considering the economic situation, and the fact that the joint venture failed, acquiring this amount of additional cash will be very hard. The possibility to acquire more debt through the already existing bridge bank loan from 19 different banks is pretty small considering the low credit rating of BBB. If he does succeed in acquiring more debt he will probably not be able to meet the net-debt-to-total-capitalization restriction in the covenant. This is, according to the first loan of $13 billion, required to be lower than 65% which they will not be able to meet, thus not creating incentives for the banks to lend more money. Considering the above, terminating the deal will not be possible and closing the deal for $78 per share lacks financing. The best option Andrew Liveris thus has is to renegotiate the merger deal and buy some time. He will then be able to look for other sources of financing or renegotiate the already existing bank loan. One possible option could be to sue KPC for terminating the joint venture and claiming the $2.5 billion, which in turn could finance the termination fee. Considering that this will destroy the relationship between these two companies this would not be recommended. Options and recommendation for the CEO of Rohm and Haas, Raj Gupta The situation for Raj Gupta is a bit simpler: either sue Dow for not completing the deal or renegotiate with Dow to postpone the deal. Both having different advantages and disadvantages. The first option is to go to court and continue the case that Dow has to complete the deal or otherwise pay the termination fee. Considering the  exceptions stated in the material adverse effect clause that macro-economic effects and effect on the chemical industry in general are excluded from this clause, Gupta will have a strong case and is likely to prevail in court. Committing Dow to the deal or otherwise paying the termination fee of $750 million. The second option is to renegotiate the deal with Dow. The most important disadvantage considering this option is that it would almost certainly come to a deal which is less favorable for Rohm and Haas when compared to the original deal. Which term should be reconsidered? For example, a lower price per share would decrease the expected value for the shareholders. Shareholders will not vote for such a deal, especially the Haas family who owns 30% of the company and is waiting to exit for $78 a share. The only option, although shareholders will not be amused in the least, is to delay the due date of the deal, preserving the harmony between the companies. Even if Gupta will win in court, the possibility that the deal will go through considering the financing problems of Dow is still small. Rohm and Haas will in this case only receive the termination fee of $750 million. Gupta obviously wants the deal to go through and so do the shareholders of Rohm and Haas, enabling them to exit the company and receiving a high premium while doing so. Terminating the deal will negatively affect both companies and their shareholders. Therefore it would be better for Gupta to facilitate any possibility that the deal will go through, even implying a possible decrease in price per share. Our recommendation thus is to renegotiate the deal, making sure that it succeeds. The premium for the shareholders might be lower but both companies can benefit from the acquired synergies and shareholders can still opt to exit. Resolving the legal dispute Considering the above, it would have been in the best interest of both companies to renegotiate the deal. However, Rohm and Haas decided to continue their trail against Dow Chemicals. The judge will therefore make a decision based upon the facts presented to him. Based on the facts alone, the most likely option for me, William B. Chandler  the Third, Chancellor in the Delaware Court of Chancery, is to enforce the merger contract between the two parties. In particular, the specifics of the Material Adverse Effect clause in paragraph 3.1 state that the MAE clause does not include the following events: â€Å"any event which affects the chemical industry, macro economy as a whole, the financial, debt, credit or security market, any decline in Rohm’s stock price or any failure to meet internal or published projections.† To be more specific; the argument according to Dow that the recent material developments have created unacceptable uncertainties on the funding and economics of the combined enterprise, justifying the termination of the deal, is overruled by the ‘specific performance’ clause in paragraph 3.1. Therefore, the ‘specific performance’ clause, as requested by Rohm and agreed upon by Dow, is binding and hereby enforced. The merger will be executed as planned. Dow will have several different options to solve the financing issue, cutting dividends, renegotiating debt and other means to generate cash could be used. If the deal is not closed before January 10, 2009, as stated in the contract, Dow will pay a ticking fee of 8% per annum. Dow should have been more careful drawing up the contract as it is signed and before me today. Since the possibility of an economic downfall is especially stated in the deal clause, I will make no exception and hereby conclude that the Dow will meet all deal requirements as stated in the contract. Every penny has to sides, if you risk it, you could lose it. Thank you. *slams the hammer*