Due diligence standards in the US and the UK appear to provide deal Essay

Due diligence standards in the US and the UK appear to provide deal parties different incentives as to disclosure - Essay Example Duty of care is a fiduciary duty for the Board but it can also be delegated (Batterson, nd). When due diligence examination is outsourced i.e. accounting professionals are hired to produce a report for an entity’s future prospects, the fiduciary duty of due diligence is delegated to the professionals. It is not only the bidder’s responsibility to exercise due diligence but the target company also needs to provide that information to the potential buyer which is not publicly available. A significant amount of information becomes automatically available to the Board when it examines the financial statements of the target company. In order to exercise due diligence, mere dependence on financial statements is insufficient because these statements contain the opinion of an auditor regarding the fact whether the statements are prepared according to the generally accepted accounting principles. These statements do not provide a reliable forecast on the target company’s future profits. This is why a â€Å"special audit† is required to obtain relevant and reliable information (Weiner, 2010). However, in cases where a hostile bid is placed, the bidder only has the option of relying on the publicly available information of the target company. Also, the target company is not legally obligated to expose its private information in a hostile bid. Publicly available information of a company includes: Contingent liabilities: Liabilities that might arise from pending litigation or environmental liabilities. This information can also be obtained from financial statements but it might also not be disclosed if it does not meet the criteria of materiality; Restrictions: The bidder has to be careful for the existence of any agreements or covenants that putt restrictions on the conduct of the targets business. For instance, covenants that require an entity not to compete; Further, a bidder should

Designer Babies Essay Example for Free

Designer Babies Essay In this modern society, human thought are growing widely resulting the huge development of reproductive technologies in our life. Designer babies are created for elimination of deadly diseases and also genetic enhancement. Today, this technology has been established as an acceptable practice in removing diseases only. However, when it comes to genetic enhancements, ethical issues happen in the aspects of individuals, society and religions. According to Johnson (2009), ‘designer baby’ is defined as the baby whose genetically makeup has been artificially selected through In-vitro Fertilization to ensure the presence and absence of particular genes or characteristic. Johnson (2009) also claimed that genetic screening can reduce the baby’s chances of getting several diseases like Down syndrome. According to Brownlee (2002), in the mid-1990s, an embryologist named Jacques Cohen created a promising new technique, cytoplasmic transfer for helping infertile women to have children. In early 2003, he reported the first modification in the human genome. Cohen (2003) has created the first bioengineered baby who has three genetic parents which are mother, father, and mtDNA donor and they claimed that as The first case of human [inheritable] genetic modification resulting in normal, healthy children. According to Adnan (2010), designer babies are made in in-vitro fertilization with certain steps. Firstly, the woman hormones are taken to boost the production of egg. The woman’s egg is then removed from the ovary with the help of a special needle. The egg is fertilized and is allowed to grow into an embryo for 2 days. Scientists then screen for genes which have the risk of illness in life like Alzheimers, Cystic fibrosis and Down’s syndrome. The DNA copies are run through by using a sequencing machine. If the genetic disorder appears, those defected genes can be replaced with the healthy genes in a process called germ line therapy. Besides, scientists are able to determine the sex of the child. This is possible because woman contains only X chromosomes and man has one X and one Y chromosome. So the sex of the child can be determined by XY chromosomes. According to Tesia (2009), parents are the people who want designer baby, especially those who have an unhealthy embryo affected by deadly diseases. This is a relief to these parents as they need not to be burdened up by the expensive fees for the endless treatments that their child has to undergo of choosing by the designer baby. They choose to have a designer baby as it can avoid all the pain that they have to bear seeing their child undergoing endless suffering treatments. Designer baby also prevent their child from having a preventable disease and this will definitely relieve those parents from the financial, emotional and physical burden. Agar (2006) claimed that pre-implantation genetic diagnosis PGD is not entirely risk-free as during the process of PGD. Two cells are removed from the eight cells embryo and this may affect the growth of the embryo, whereas defenders of PGD respond that the cells of eight-cell embryos are totipotent, this mean that the eight cells embryo is still able to form all cells of the human body although two cells is removed from it. This technology has been used for a very long time, hence it is too early to say that who is certainly right in this argument. In an article written by Naik (2009), he stated that in a 2009 U.S. survey, a total of 999 people sought for genetic counseling. Most of people supported prenatal genetic tests for the removal of serious diseases. Besides, according to the survey conducted by researchers at the New York University School of Medicine, some respondents said they would want genetic testing for athletic ability, some voted for improved height and some voted for great intelligence. According to Dvorsky(2009), an excellent transhumanist bioethicist, he stated that an anti-genetic modification due to enhancement occurred in our society. A majority were replying the survey carried out by NYU Langone Medical Center due to their background condition. Their thinking was believed from an ethical perspective. Supporting the idea of genetic modification, Dvorsky(2009) said that endowing our children with good genes in order to give them an enriched and fulfilling life. With new genetics, parents’ dreams may finally be achieved as they always want the best for their children. According to Anissimov(2009), many people refuse to accept PGD and other reproductive technologies because they think that it is unnatural. From the Transhumanist FAQ, a summary from transhumanists’ response stated that in many cases, there are some practical reasons for depending on natural processes. The main point is that human cannot decide whether something is good or bad by its nature. Not every natural things are good such as starvation, polio, and being eaten alive by intestinal parasites whereas some bad unnatural things are car accidents and nuclear war. However, Yin (2005) notes that from a child’s point of view, parents place the genetic enhancements upon him or her may threaten the freedom of action. The child’s achievement in life is not fully determined by his or her own efforts, but from parental decisions. This might result in unwillingness of the child to accept responsibilities. Besides, Yin (2005) also states that some oppose genetic engineering because it will not only deepen current class divisions, but also create a new division. Due to religious and other personal reasons, many people will refuse to accept gene therapy even if the enhancements are made free because it causes the economic gap between those can afford the technology and cannot afford deepen as time progresses. Some of them reject it due to its expensive paid and lack of efficacy. According to Adnan (2010), the designer baby will raise conflict among individuals. This is because they assume that the rich will always be more beneficial compared to the poor. They propose that the rich will have more opportunities to take the advantages of the modern technology resulting the rich man baby (designer baby) will born perfect, intelligent and healthier compared to the poor baby. Though this technology can advance the personalities and intelligence, but it will be costly and will create a gap between the individuals. McIlwaine (2006) claimed that some leading philosophers will argue that a person must have capacity for memorable experiences, for communicating with others and for having preferences about continued life, or someone who is capable of treasuring their own life. With these points of view, these obviously show that they do not accept an embryo, or a foetus can be a person. For those who believe that human life only comes with self-valuation, testing on embryos and the screening of the right genetic make-up is a perfectly ethical procedure, for those embryos that are discarded are not ‘people’. So, there is no wrong in moral. However, this raises serious issues about other human beings who may by this definition, not be ‘people’ including the new born babies with brain abnormalities and injuries. According to McIlwaine (2006), designer babies also lead to ethical issues in religion too. This is due to different religions will have their own points of view. Christians say that the life begins at conception. It is clearly stated in Bible: â€Å"Before you were in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart†. This means that God chose each person even before the moment of implantation, however some are less certain. According to Malpani (2009), in Judaism, donor insemination is banned and a child is considered as the generation of the biological father. Artificial insemination using husbands sperm and IVF are accepted when there is necessary to cure the illness of infertility. From the research done, designer babies have arisen many ethical issues in the aspects of individuals, religions and society. Parents always hope to give the best for their children. With this advanced technology, some parents will take advantage on it to give their children the perfect lives. This will indirectly cause the narrowing of divisions in our society which is from social to ethical and then to economical. The rich families are usually genetically better endowed than the poor families and their jobs always come with high income compared to the poor one. As for the religious aspect, Christians note that personhood begins at conception, the moment an ovum is fertilized. However, there is variation in explaining the Bible and not everyone believe in it. Some doubt about this because if the number of lost fertilized ovum disobey this point of view, then how could the God stop the existence of some â€Å"people† in this world without any reason?

Case Study of Best Buys Inc Expansion

Case Study of Best Buys Inc Expansion Best Buys, Inc has emerged as a special electronic retailer in US and other areas operating from Richfield, Minnesota. The main strategy for international expansion used by BBI is MA with dual branding by creation of competition between acquired stores and Best Buys. The case study shows that the strategy has been successful and workable in western world. Within reduction of trade barriers by China and allowing 100% FDI in retail segment, BBI is trying to follow same strategy in China. But Chinese market being totally different from the Western context, BBI has faced challenge to cut across the dual branding strategy. The report highlights the main strategic issues raised followed by recommendations. PESTEL Framework The PESTEL framework is devised to understand the strategic issues underpinning the business from external sources (Johnson, Scholes Whittington, 2008) Figure A-1: PESTEL Analysis PEST Factor Key Points Implications for BBI POLITICAL (Opportunity for BBI to expand in different Chinese market.) Liberalization in Chinese retail market from 2004 Reduction in entry barriers like compulsion of domestic partners. Big market for imported product. (www.Businessinasia.com) Increase in competition from stronger global players of retail business. Growing knowledgeable domestic retail players. ECONOMICAL (Constrains from free directive growth in China) Shift to market oriented economy. Relatively high domestic savings rate. Uneven economic development among different states of nation. Growth in manufacturing sector. (CIA, 2010) MOST IMPORTANT Need for appropriate market segmentation to target specific people and Chinese province. Require to restructure its cost base to suit by sourcing its materials from China to satisfy the cost conscious needs of small towns and cities. SOCIAL (Opportunity for BBI for establishing its brand in strong position on customer mind.) Increase in middle class people. Rising income of newly educated class. Focused on functional aspects of products. (CIA, 2010) Potential opportunity of making profits by targeting young educated individuals in metro cities. TECHNOLOGICAL (Threat for BBI due to unprotected IPR.) No laws on Intellectual property rights (IPR). Improved technological due to spillover effect from other MNCs. ENVIRONMENTAL LEGAL (Opportunity for BBI to keep away potential entrants.) High legalities for land acquisition. Procedural delays to grant permission. Being first international company in retail segment gives advantage to earn profits and create efficiency (Kotler, 1997). 3.0 PORTER FIVE FORCES: By analyzing the competitive nature of Chinese retail market, market position of BBI can be assessed to formulate strategy to neutralize these forces (Porter, 1985; Lynch, 2007). Force Strength and Implication for BBI Competitive Rivalry BBI caters only to CE retailing. Consolidation of retail segment has increased challenge. Emerging established domestic players. HIGH Innovative marketing is the key strength for BBI. Well known for its customer centricity. Powers of Suppliers Increasing domestic electronics suppliers. Global suppliers with high bargaining power. LOW BBI presence established with sourcing office developed good relationship with local suppliers. Power of Buyers Low brand recognition while buying product. Consumers preference for national brands. Products bought on basis of price and functionality. MEDIUM Although the power of buyers is medium BBI should make sure that it should reach its distributed customer through its distribution channel due to presence of vast regional difference. Threats for New Entrants Highly fragmented Chinese retail market. Entry of global retail players. Newly emerging domestic players. HIGH Concentrate to differentiation from others. Focus on targeting both segments of customers. 4.0 SWOT analysis: Factors Implication for BBI Strength Presence in China for sourcing electronic products since 2003. Innovative marketing skills. Established brand in US and surrounding regions. Developing and maintain relationship with established suppliers. Personal relationship is basis of business in China. Weakness Being a foreign MNC. Lack of knowledge for operating in Chinese customer segments. Lack of quality human resources. Acquisition of Five Star has reduced the foreign liability and increased local knowledge. Retail training of International Standards for employees. Opportunity Highly fragmented market. Increased demand for branded products in Tier 1 cities. Income growth in Tier 2 cities. Establish retail chain to create brand awareness. Need for creation of robust distribution network. Threats Rampant price wars. Entering global players. High domestic savings rate. Consumers differing away to purchase on credit terms. Cost focused strategy for price sensitive segment and focused differentiation branded products in Tier 1 segments (Johnson et. al., 2007) 5.0 Key Strategic Issues: Analyzing internal and external factors various key findings have been listed below with their strategic implication on BBI. Key strategic findings Analysis tool Key findings Strategic Implications on BBI PESTEL Analysis Huge differences in living standards. Increase in disposal income. High savings rate among middle income group. Establish stores to cater both segments to maintain both requirements: Functionality for cost focused and Differentiation for Tier 1 segment. PORTER FIVE FORCES Strong domestic competitors. Global competitors entering the market. Leveraging on first mover advantage, establish relationship with suppliers and buyers. SWOT Lack of local knowledge of different Chinese regions. Domestic retailers driving on price wars. Consumers buying less on credits. MA can fulfill local knowledge and developing relationship with established with local suppliers can cut cost low. 6.0 Strategy Formulation: TOWS Matrix: Different strategic options are formulated using TOWS matrix to address the strategic issues highlighted in analysis. INTERNAL FACTORS IN CHINA Strengths Weakness Established brand name Best Buys. Relationship with Chinese suppliers. International player. Well versed with new innovative technology. Acquisition of Five Star (75% Share). Experience in retail segment. Small number of BBI stores. Lack of retail skilled employees. Lack of local knowledge. Foreign liability. EXTERNAL FACTORS Opportunities Competitors lack of International retail standards and technology. Emerging markets Increasing young educated preferring branded goods. SO Strategic options Dual brand strategy Five star for cost focused and Best Buys for focused differentiation. Influencing young customer segment in Tier 1 market. WO Strategic options Increase on developing retail skilled employees. Increasing promotional packages. Reducing cost using technology. Threats Global economic crises. Legal regulations. Lower cost competition. High savings rate. Low credit purchase. ST Strategic options Developing brand recognition. MA with domestic retailers. Leveraging on suppliers potential. WT Strategic options Good product offerings Zero percent interest rate on EMI credit purchase. (Source: Johnson et al., 2008, p367) 7.0 Recommendation: A detail explanation and classification of strategies on basis of Ansoffs Matrix is detailed in appendix A. A primary analysis has been carried out using number of performance indicators to eliminate options which may not be suitable for BBI, leaving the 3 most appropriated strategies which can be followed. A combined approach of incremental market development and penetration followed simultaneously. First Stage: Create brand awareness and recognition among Chinese customers. Influence young educated customer segment. Second Stage: Use of dual branding strategy for two different segments Cost focused for customers believing in functionality and cost; Focused differentiation for brand conscious customers.

Essay example --

MSA University Faculty of pharmacy Pharmaceutical Microbiology PM 203 Name: Dina Ahmed Abd El Fattah Hegab ID# 111797 Group: C Under Supervision of: Dr. Reham Wasfy â€Æ' Disinfectants Disinfectants Can be applied to any non- living objects ; as this substance can destroy the microorganisms living on its surface. The Bacterial spores is kind of resistant to the Disinfection , it doesn't necessarily kills it, thus not necessary kills all the microorganisms. Unlike the sterilization – that is extreme physical (and/or) chemical process that kills all types of life- it is less effective in results. Disinfectants are not like any other antimicrobial agent as antibiotics that kills the microorganisms living inside the bodies or the antiseptics that kills the microorganisms on a living tissue it is even not like biocides that don't just kills the micro organisms, but also kills all types of life. Disinfectants simply cause damage to the microbe cell wall or it interferes with its metabolism. More about Disinfection†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Disinfection are by nature toxic to human beings and animals, as most of the modern Disinfection contains the substance bitrex which is considered to be the bitterest substance ever, this substance is used as a safety measure and is added to discourage the ingestion. Disinfectant Types can be divided into two main groups; which are oxidizing and non- oxidizing. 1- Oxidising disinfectants : It works by the oxidization of the microorganism's cell membrane; this leads the cell to death. In the oxidizing disinfectants both the components oxygen and chlorine exists heavily, as they are both strong oxidizers. 2- Non-oxidising disinfectants: It operates by disturbing the phospho-lipid molecules that make- up the ... ... to be kept in a temperature of 16  °C to 18 °C for 24 hours then leave it to be chilled for 1 hour before starting the test. References: 1- Holchem- leader in the speciality chemical manufacturing industry Available at : http://www.holchem.co.uk/disinfectant-types.aspx 2- Holchem- leader in the speciality chemical manufacturing industry Available at : http://www.holchem.co.uk/disinfectant-tests.aspx 3- The Egypt Germany disinfectant company Available at : http://egypt-germany-disinfection.com/index.php/products/ahd-2000-menu-item 4- The Egypt Germany disinfectant company Available at : http://egypt-germany-disinfection.com/index.php/products/2013-02-02-09-45-28 5- Wikipedia, Available at : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disinfectant 6- The Egypt Germany disinfectant company Available at: http://egypt-germany-disinfection.com/index.php/products/lysoforminspezial

Walt Disney World Co. vs Aloysia Wood

515 So. 2d 198 (1987) WALT DISNEY WORLD CO. , et al. , Petitioners, v. Aloysia WOOD, et al. , Respondents. Supreme Court of Florida. (with professor edits) Aloysia Wood was injured in November 1971 at the grand prix attraction at Walt Disney World (Disney), when her fiance, Daniel Wood, rammed from the rear the vehicle which she was driving. Aloysia Wood filed suit against Disney, and Disney sought contribution from Daniel Wood After trial, the jury returned a verdict finding Aloysia Wood 14% at fault, Daniel Wood 85% at fault, and Disney 1% at fault.The jury assessed Wood's damages at $75,000. The court entered judgment against Disney for 86% of the damages. Disney subsequently moved to alter the judgment to reflect the jury's finding that Disney was only 1% at fault. The court denied the motion. On appeal, the fourth district affirmed the judgment **** In Hoffman v. Jones, 280 So. 2d 431 (Fla. 1973), this Court discarded the rule of contributory negligence, which Florida had follow ed since at least 1886, and adopted the pure comparative negligence standard. *** In adopting comparative negligence, this Court expressly declared two purposes for the change in judicial policy: (1) To allow a jury to apportion fault as it sees fit between negligent parties whose negligence was part of the legal and proximate cause of any loss or injury; and (2) To apportion the total damages resulting from the loss or injury according to the proportionate fault of each party. ***** The real issue before us is whether we should now replace the doctrine of joint and several liability with one in which the liability of codefendants to the plaintiff is apportioned according to each defendant's respective fault.According to Disney, this Court in Hoffman set for itself the goal of creating a tort system that fairly and equitably allocated damages according to the degrees of fault. Therefore, a defendant should only be held responsible to the extent of his fault in the same way as a plai ntiff under comparative negligence. Joint and several liability is a judicially created doctrine. Louisville ; N. R. R. v. Allen, 67 Fla. 257, 65 So. 8 (1914). This Court may alter a rule of law where great social upheaval dictates its necessity. Hoffman, 280 So. 2d 435. The â€Å"social pheaval† which is said to have occurred here is the fundamental alteration of Florida tort law encompassed by the adoption of comparative negligence. Following the adoption of comparative negligence, some states have passed laws eliminating joint and several liability, and the courts of several others have judicially abolished the doctrine. E. g. , Brown v. Keill, 224 Kan. 195, 580 P. 2d 867 (1978); Bartlett v. New Mexico Welding Supply, Inc. , 98 N. M. 152, 646 P. 2d 579 (Ct. App. ), cert. denied, 98 N. M. 336, 648 P. 2d 794 (1982); Laubach v. Morgan, 588 P. 2d 1071 (Okla. 1978). The Kansas Supreme Court in Brown v.Keill reasoned: There is nothing inherently fair about a defendant who is 10% at fault paying 100% of the loss, and there is no social policy that should compel defendants to pay more than their fair share of the loss. Plaintiffs now take the parties as they find them. If one of the parties at fault happens to be a spouse or a governmental agency and if by reason of some competing social policy the plaintiff cannot receive payment for his injuries from the spouse or agency, there is no compelling social policy which requires the codefendant to pay more than his fair share of the loss.The same is true if one of the defendants is wealthy and the other is not. Brown, 224 Kan. at 203, 580 P. 2d at 874. On the other hand, the majority of courts which have faced the issue in jurisdictions with comparative negligence have ruled that joint and several liability should be retained. E. g. , Arctic Structures, Inc. v. Wedmore, 605 P. 2d 426 (Alaska 1979); American Motorcycle Ass'n v. Superior Court, 20 Cal. 3d 578, 578 P. 2d 899, 146 Cal. Rptr. 182 (1978); Tucker v. Un ion Oil Co. , 100 Idaho 590, 603 P. 2d 156 (1979); Coney v. J. L. G. Industries, Inc. 97 Ill. 2d 104, 73 Ill. Dec. 337, 454 N. E. 2d 197 (1983); Kirby Bldg. Sys. v. Mineral Explorations, 704 P. 2d 1266 (Wyo. 1985). The Illinois Supreme Court in Coney v. J. L. G. Industries, Inc. gave four reasons justifying the retention of joint and several liability: (1) The feasibility of apportioning fault on a comparative basis does not render an indivisible injury â€Å"divisible† for purposes of the joint and several liability rule. A concurrent tortfeasor is liable for the whole of an indivisible injury when his negligence is a proximate cause of that damage.In many instances, the negligence of a concurrent tortfeasor may be sufficient by itself to cause the entire loss. The mere fact that it may be possible to assign some percentage figure to the relative culpability of one negligent defendant as compared to another does not in any way suggest that each defendant's negligence is not a proximate cause of the entire indivisible injury. (2) In those instances where the plaintiff is not guilty of negligence, he would be forced to bear a portion of the loss should one of the tortfeasors prove financially unable to satisfy his share of the damages. 3) Even in cases where a plaintiff is partially at fault, his culpability is not equivalent to that of a defendant. The plaintiff's negligence relates only to a lack of due care for his own safety while the defendant's negligence relates to a lack of due care for the safety of others; the latter is tortious, but the former is not. (4) Elimination of joint and several liability would work a serious and unwarranted deleterious effect on the ability of an injured plaintiff to obtain adequate compensation for his injuries. Coney, 97 Ill. 2d at 121-22, 73 Ill.Dec. at 345, 454 N. E. 2d at 205 (citations omitted). ***** While recognizing the logic in Disney's position, we cannot say with certainty that joint and several liability is an unjust doctrine or that it should necessarily be eliminated upon the adoption of comparative negligence. In view of the public policy considerations bearing on the issue, this Court believes that the viability of the doctrine is a matter which should best be decided by the legislature. Consequently, we approve the decision of the district court of appeal. It is so ordered.

Drama Are We Addicted to It Hollywood Says Yes.

Drama Are We Addicted to It Hollywood Says Yes. The Untrue Story†¦ This weekend I watched The Big Sick, a movie based on a true story about a Pakistani comedian, Kumail Nanjiani, and his white girlfriend, Emily Gordon. Kumail and Emily’s real story is a truly great love story. They were dating for six months when Emily suddenly fell ill- six months in which Kumail did not tell his family about Emily, fearing they would disown him. Then, while Emily was in a medically induced coma, Kumail recognized the level of his love for Emily. Upon her awakening, he asked her to marry him. They were wed two months later, in a Pakistani wedding, despite his parents’ protests and â€Å"How could you do this to us?† attitude. This story seems good enough for Hollywood to me, but to create more drama, Kumail and Emily (the authors of the screenplay about their own lives) threw a huge breakup fight into the mix- the day before Emily was hospitalized. They also made up fights between Kumail and Emily’s parents, as well as a race-related incident at one of Kumail’s shows where Emily’s mother went to (verbal) battle with a heckler. Click here to read about the real story. Hollywood Drama Hollywood movies require drama, and extra drama is what writers Kumail and Emily delivered. To me, it made their story less believable. I would have preferred the true story. I started doing research on other movies â€Å"based on true stories.† Not surprisingly, fictionalized fights and arguments were often added in for dramatic effect. For example, in Only the Brave, the leader of the team did not really have an argument with his wife the night before the big fire that killed him. And he did not give any pushback when one of his team members- the one who ultimately survived- told him he wanted to move to a different team that would provide him more stability. He was supportive from the get-go. But the movie depicted two fights and their ultimate resolution. Click here for more about the true account. In Marshall, fights were likewise inserted for dramatic effect. The real-life nephew of the lawyer Sam Friedman has said â€Å"that the moment in the movie that is most ‘absurd’ is when Sam tells Thurgood Marshall that he cant afford to lose the case, to which Marshall responds twice, ‘F*** you, Sam Friedman.’† (Click to learn what really happened.) In real life, Marshall would never have said such a thing. Furthermore, Marshall did not come close to getting into a bar fight, and Friedman was never actually attacked for working on the case of Joseph Spell, as depicted in the movie. Addicted to Drama? I have more questions than answers about the embellishments made to these â€Å"true† stories. Are we as a society so addicted to drama that we need additional conflict on top of what already exists in the world? Would we really not go to see movies that were more even-keeled? Or might we find them refreshing? Do we like watching other people’s drama so we feel better about our own? Do we like it because we learn from the movies that conflict can be resolved and that there is good will available if we look for it in others and in ourselves? I understand that fights are part of life and relationships. I appreciate real life, and sometimes even fictionalized, examples of conflict and resolution. But I also appreciate truth, and I don’t like gratuitous drama any more than I like gratuitous violence. I wish that Hollywood would cut some of the unnecessary emotional wringers that writers put us through. I am also asking myself, â€Å"How much unnecessary drama have I created in my own life? Am I making my own true story more of a roller coaster than it has to be?† The holiday season is a good time to shed light on where we might be embellishing our own stories with no real positive effect. I wish for us all that we pick our fights wisely and fight not to break our relationships apart, but to make them stronger. Category:Life and LeadershipBy Brenda BernsteinNovember 28, 2017 4 Comments Tara Imani says: November 28, 2017 at 12:37 pm Hi Brenda, Your post is truly enlightening as I assumed most true stories fights were not embellished. I wonder if Hollywood directors are the ones who are addicted to violence and abuse. The inserting of the word fxxx has escalated to epidemic proportions since 1986 or so. Thank you for shedding light on a serious problem. Movies can have a huge impact on people. If we get the idea that everyone is fighting and arguing and living in discord, it might influence us to do the same. This sounds lame but I think it happens. Before my dear mom passed unexpectedly after a surprise illness in 2015, she often kept her TV on the Hallmark channel. I joked she was living in a fairytale bubble, far away from CNN etc. In retrospect, I think she was doing the best thing. Happy Holidays, Tara Log in to Reply Brenda Bernstein says: November 28, 2017 at 2:49 pm Im so glad my article made such an impact, Tara! I believe theres harm in the happily ever after stories too, which make us think our fights are not okay or that something is wrong if were fighting. My vote is for somewhere in between. This society is so affected by what we see over and over on the big screen! Log in to Reply Kathi Fuller says: November 29, 2017 at 8:34 pm I feel exactly the same way, Brenda. The one that really struck me was Hidden Figures, based on the true story of three African American female mathematicians who worked at NASA in the 1960s. It feels like a slap in the face to tell a woman like Katherine Johnson that her story isnt compelling enough at face value, that it must be embellished with scenes like her boss striding down the hallway surrounded by Katherine and her co-workers to smash the Whites Only bathroom sign when he found out that Katherine was running to another building a half-mile away several times a day to use the only colored restroom on the NASA campus. Its a great visual and a powerful piece of storytelling but it never happened. In reality, Katherine simply ignored the Whites Only sign at the closest ladies room to her office and used it anyway, hoping she wouldnt get caught and eventually and uneventfully the sign came down as culture change swept through NASA. The reality makes me love Katherine e ven more her determination and self-sufficiency in overcoming the obstacle on her own rather than relying on a white, male higher-up to solve her issue for her. Adding false drama where none was needed diminished the experience of that film for me. There is power in authenticity! Log in to Reply Brenda Bernstein says: November 29, 2017 at 9:29 pm Thank you for sharing that, Kathi. Im going to go read up on the truth vs. fiction in that film now. I had assumed that was a true part of the story! Like there isnt enough to be appalled about regarding racial discrimination, we have to make things up? Log in to Reply

Brightening of the Night Essays

Brightening of the Night Essays Brightening of the Night Essay Brightening of the Night Essay The Brightening of the Night We live in a clip of great technological progresss and admirations. Merely to believe of all the fantastic things we have created in this twenty-four hours and age is reeling. Our houses are infiltrated with appliances and devices to break our lives or to assist us populate more productive lives. We are inundated with things that use electricity. Our places are lit by dark with bright visible radiations. Our nutrient is cooled and warmed by points such as electric refrigerators and microwaves. As we live and breathe, we are utilizing big sums of electricity. Electricity is non a bad thing ; in fact it has helped the U.S. to turn and bring forth more, and it has enabled us to salvage lives with new engineerings. Electricity, though, can be a double-edged blade. Like many other things on this Earth, electricity as produced by burning is a limited resource ( Chepesiuk ) . We have merely so much fuel to fire, and we burn dozenss of fossil fuels to make electricity to power our mundane lives. Just take a minute to look over a typical twenty-four hours. Wake up, wash, eat breakfast, look into our electronic mail or cell phone, get down our autos and turn on some melodies, acquire to school or work where visible radiations are used to light the dark inside. Even from this simple illustration, we can see that we use electric power in so many topographic points and in so many different things. The visible radiation we use to light the dark needs power to work, and that power must be made from something else. That something else happens to be powe r workss and other electric bring forthing installations. Not surprisingly, the huge bulk of electricity is produced by fossil fuel combustion workss ( Union of Concerned Scientists ) . In fact, 57 % of the power supplied to the U.S. is produced by coal powered power workss ( Pace University ) . What a good thing we have in the fantastic trade good of visible radiation. The visible radiation we use in our lives is non ever good. At times in life or even in the class of one twenty-four hours, we may happen the visible radiation we admire so much becomes an irritation. The jobs start to happen when good visible radiation turns into light pollution. Light pollution is a major job in our modern lives. We may non hold noticed the copiousness of light pollution, as it is so much a portion of modern society. Five signifiers of light pollution exist, viz. sky freshness, light trespass, over-illumination, blaze, and light jumble ( Chepesiuk ) . These are the names we have given to the fact that our usage of visible radiation has been irresponsible. The irresponsible usage of light creates a jeopardy to worlds and animate beings by altering our air quality and utilizing cherished resources. The point at which light becomes pollution is when that light becomes an irritation. Simply put, it is when the visible radiation is sent skyward and non where we need it, on the land ( Chepesiuk ) . We may believe that is of small importance. After all, what could a few small visible radiations that are excessively bright or are nt aligned right perchance do to ache us or the planet? The truth is a few simple visible radiations can make a batch to harm us and the planet. Just one 100 watt incandescent visible radiation bulb left on from morning to dusk for one twelvemonth will devour adequate power from the power works to bring forth a one-fourth of a ton of C dioxide ( Mizon ) . Now let s set that into position and believe about all the 1000s, nay, 1000000s of visible radiation bulbs in the US entirely which are left on to discourage offense, light up street marks or other assorted grounds. All those 1000000s of visible radiations, many of which are far more powerful than 100 Watts , will bring forth 10s of 1000000s of lbs of C dioxide in one twelvemonth. That s a batch of soiling of the ambiance in merely one twelvemonth. We might even see this to be a bigger issue, one of ailment wellness due to air pollution due to the increased CO2 and other harmful gases which are present in normal air. If we were to look at our air, we would happen that it is composed of largely nitrogen, O, C dioxide, and other hint sums of gas ( WeatherStreet ) . Now if we were to look at our air in the locality above a major main road or metropolis street, we would see a much higher concentration of C dioxide and lower concentrations of O. The same goes for countries near where coal and natural gas power workss operate. The pollution that is generated by these installations will finally lift into the ambiance and increase the already big sum of other green house gasess. The combustion of fossil fuels to supply electricity for our places creates a big sum of nursery gases. Not merely is the usage of electricity in our places a major subscriber to air pollution, but the visible radiations which get left on in the 1000s of concerns around the state besides play a big portion in the production of the abundant pollutants ( Mizon ) . As has been stated before, air gets dirty when we burn fossil fuels to bring forth electricity. The wellness effects of take a breathing polluted air are many. The hazard of respiratory complications and other jobs increase significantly with exposure to polluted air. Scientists estimate that 50 to 60 1000s Americans die each twelvemonth from air pollution ( Chiras and Reganold ) . Aside from the mortality hazards, air pollution besides causes chronic wellness jobs which are enfeebling. Looking back in merely the past decennary, we can see a large illustration in those who were at Ground Zero assisting those trapped in the autumn of the Twin Towers in 2001. Many suffer from chronic lung harm due to the big sum of particulates which were in the air ( Moore ) . There are besides big sums of particulates which are produced when coal and other dodo fuels are burned. These beginnings can do unwellness such as Chronic Bronchitis, Emphysema and Lung Cancer ( Chiras and Reganold ) . In speaking about wellness concerns, we can non overlook the good effects that light dramas on us as worlds. We are animals of the visible radiation. Our eyes are of course adapted to see better in the daytime than in the darkness. In fact, we do merely about everything better in twenty-four hours visible radiation than in darkness. So of course, merely as we have changed engineering to better suit us, so we have done to the dark. We have made it to accommodate our demands as industrialised states ( Klinkenborg ) . As we have altered the dark, tailored in to suit us better, we have besides been altering us. Verlyn Klinkenborg stated in a recent article in National Geographic Unlike uranologists, most of us may non necessitate an unrelieved position of the dark sky for our work, but like most other animals we do need darkness. Darkness is every bit indispensable to our biological public assistance, to our internal clockwork, as light itself. The regular oscillation of waking and slumber in our lives- one of our circadian rhythms- is nil less than a biological look of the regular oscillation of visible radiation on Earth. So cardinal are these beats to our being that changing them is like changing gravity. In doing these alterations to the dark sky, or instead in the lighting of the dark, we have gone approximately, without the purposes to make so, the procedure of altering ourselves. Possibly an irregular light/dark beat has nt killed anyone yet, but it certainly causes a myriad of other jobs. Among other things, research workers have found that adult females who live in excessively bright suburbs in the US are at higher hazards for chest malignant neoplastic disease ( Klinkenborg ) . We so urgently need the dark merely as we need the Sun. Without a healthy balance of both, we most surely will be harming ourselves. Without that balance, jobs such as SAD can originate. SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder, is a depressive upset which occurs in approximately 1.5 % to 9 % of the US Population during the autumn and winter months. SAD is caused by the instability of light and dark, with excessively much darkness and non plenty light ( The Mayo Clinic Staff ) . It is of import, hence, to equ ilibrate the benefits and hazards of visible radiation in our day-to-day lives. In add-on to the physiological alterations, injury can besides come from excessively much illuming during nighttime drive. The many security visible radiations which are in topographic point in many abodes and other edifices are overwhelmingly bright, therefore presenting a job for us as we drive at dark. The effects of bright dark visible radiations are a simple irritation for some ; nevertheless, drivers with impaired vision do happen it progressively difficult to get by with brighter and brighter visible radiations. These conditions exist for everyone as they experience nighttime drive, due to the manner our eyes map at dark and the blaze from bright visible radiations. ( Synergistic Motorsports Entertainment Corp. ) . The light which we see at dark is non merely from oncoming autos, but besides from severely placed street visible radiations and security visible radiations from places. While these visible radiations have been installed for good grounds, many of them were installed without detecting proper arrangement and electrical power. While bigger may be better in some instances, it does non compare in this state of affairs. When supplying a place with a security visible radiation, it has been advised by Britain s Institution of Lighting Engineers that the maximal electrical power should be 150 Watts ( Mizon ) . This electrical power is more than sufficient to illume up the infinite desired, as anything bright may merely be adding a convenience visible radiation for burglars ( Mizon ) . Bright visible radiations at dark are non merely a jeopardy and irritation for worlds, but for other animate beings as good. Migrating birds have a difficult clip directing themselves when really bright visible radiations exist in the dark sky. The job normally occurs in larger metropoliss where increased lighting. In the Gale Encyclopedia s subdivision on light pollution, we learn: The 100s of species of migrating birds that fly after the Sun sets, including most songsters and many shore birds, are premier illustrations. Normally they rely on configurations to steer them during their twice-yearly migrations. But scientists speculate that when they fly near urban countries, the bright visible radiations short-circuit their guidance sense. Numerous studies have documented birds winging off class toward visible radiations on edifices, towers, beacons, even boats ( Bower ) . Lighting up the dark sky with inefficient illuming creates a big jeopardy for birds that must utilize the stars as counsel. The sky freshness radiating from our metropoliss, the bright topographic point visible radiations illuming up our places and office edifices at dark all combine to make an huge blaze for birds that are winging south for the winter. Birds are non the lone illustration. We can look to chiropterans, sea polo-necks, and a host of other animate beings who depend on the natural night/day beat ( Klinkenborg ) . We can see that portion of the solution lies in the proper balance of light and dark ; but what of the larger image? Where do we get down as a state to repair light pollution and its amendss? The inquiry of course arises as we approach this job ; what do we make to repair the job of light pollution? Again, Verlyn Klinkenborg offers us an penetration into this in his article from National Geographic Magazine: Of all the pollutions we face, light pollution is possibly the most easy remedied. Simple alterations in illuming design and installing output immediate alterations in the sum of visible radiation spilled into the ambiance and, frequently, immediate energy savings. There is much hope in the fact that light pollution is easy, or at least easier than the many other pollutants in our planet, to repair. Many options exist for the rectification of light pollution. Most of them are simple and effectual solutions which can be implemented by the person, such as altering from candent visible radiation bulbs to more energy efficient Compact Fluorescent bulb. While visible radiations inside the place are a definite betterment, allow us non bury the exterior of the house as good ( Mizon ) . Some of the visible radiations used outside can be of even greater electrical power than those used indoors, and when electrical power additions so does energy ingestion. One can besides promote larger concerns to exchange to higher efficiency visible radiation bulbs inside and out. This will convey great betterments to light emitted and C dioxide produced therefore giving us cleaner air. Encouraging metropolis leaders to put in better visible radiation fixtures along m ain roads and interstate roads will assist the local authorities to cognize that we care and are concerned about this job. Ultimately the job of light pollution is an single one, with the power in the custodies of the general populace to act upon those in higher topographic points who can alter policy. The largest benefit we can hold on others is by populating in a responsible manner when it comes to visible radiations and pollution. Talking to others and sharing what we know about light pollution, the amendss it produces and the impacts on our environment it poses is a great measure to take in assisting others to alter. Let us together so retrieve to turn it off. If we do nt necessitate the visible radiation, there is no point in go forthing it on. We must retrieve that our environment stretches beyond the plane of Earth we can see, and into the sky. Our domain of influence is as far making as the visible radiations we project so randomly into the dark, dark sky. To appreciate the beauties of the sky at dark, it is about impossible but from distant and rural countries non touched by the widening influence of light pollution. We do so of all time necessitate the dark and its attach toing darkness to equilibrate our lives. We besides need the air we breathe to be of better quality to guarantee the wellness of 1000000s to come after us. After all, the jobs we face today will merely be amplified by the coevalss of tomorrow ; unless we can repair them so that we can give a cleansing agent, darker dark to our kids. Let us non bury our demand for balance and control. The visible radiation we do necessitate at dark, if unhindered in its way, will do us harm and injury. Therefore, allow us take action today and live for a darker dark to night. Plants Cited Bower, Joe. Light Pollution Is a Serious Problem. Opposing Point of views: Pollution. Ed. Louise I. Gerdes.San Diego: Greenhaven Press,2006.Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Spokane Community College. 28 Nov. 2009 lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //find.galegroup.com/ovrc/infomark.do? A ; contentSet=GSRC A ; type=retrieve A ; tabID=T010 A ; prodId=OVRC A ; docId=EJ3010157249 A ; source=gale A ; srcprod=OVRC A ; userGroupName=spok23643 A ; version=1.0 gt ; . Chepesiuk, Ron. Missing the Dark: Health Effectss of Light Pollution. Environmental Health Perspectives ( 2009 ) : A20-A28. Chiras, Daniel D. and John P. Reganold. Natural Resource Conservation. New Jersy: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2010. Synergistic Motorsports Entertainment Corp. Driving Tips Night Driving. 2008. 28 November 2009 lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.racingschools.com/rs/Night-Driving-p-33.html gt ; . Klinkenborg, Verlyn. Light Pollution. November 2008. National Geographic. 30 November 2009 lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/11/light-pollution/klinkenborg-text gt ; . Mizon, Bob. Light Pollution: Responses and Remedies. London: Springer-Verlag London Limited, 2002. Pace University. Power Scoredcard: Electricity from Coal. 1 January 2000. 19 November 2009 lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.powerscorecard.org/tech_detail.cfm? resource_id=2 gt ; . Sicko. Dir. Michael Moore. Perf. Michael Moore. 2007. The Mayo Clinic Staff. The Mayo Clinic: Seasonal affectional upset ( SAD ) . 29 September 2009. 1 December 2009 lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.mayoclinic.com/health/seasonal-affective-disorder/DS00195 gt ; . Union of Concerned Scientists. Clean Energy: Beginning of Energy. 11 Feburary 2003. 19 November 2009 lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/clean_energy_101/the-sources-of-energy.html gt ; . WeatherStreet. What is Air made of? 2007. 20 November 2009 lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.weatherquestions.com/What_is_air_made_of.htm gt ; .