The Da Vinci Code ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Free Essays

Contribution of Enterprise Systems Essay

What are venture frameworks? Give instances of authoritative capacities bolstered by big business frameworks. One individual needed something that someone else had, so they figured out how to exchange one thing for another. In that spot, we can see the advantages of such a framework. Every individual included had gotten included out of free decision as opposed to being constrained into it. What's more, on the grounds that every individual was not constrained into it, every wa ready to settle on the best decision that he could, and gain from any mix-ups that he may have made. Undertaking frameworks (ES) are huge scope application programming bundles that help business forms, data streams, detailing, and information examination in complex associations. These frameworks are intended to oversee huge volumes of basic information. These frameworks are regularly intended to give elevated levels of exchange execution and information security. Merchants in this space incorporate IBM, Oracle, HP and that's only the tip of the iceberg. How does adequately executing and utilizing undertaking frameworks add to accomplishing operational greatness? Undertaking frameworks offer some incentive both by expanding operational proficiency and by giving firm wide data to assist directors with settling on better choices. Venture frameworks additionally assist firms with reacting quickly to client demands for data or items. Since the framework coordinates request, assembling, and conveyance information, fabricating is better educated about creating just what clients have requested, acquiring precisely the perfect measure of segments or crude materials to take care of genuine requests, arranging creation, and limiting the time that parts or completed items are in stock. Associations need to utilize venturesome frameworks successfully to accomplish operational greatness. The endeavor frameworks should be planned and arrangement effectively from the earliest starting point. On the off chance that the endeavor programming doesn't bolster the organizations’ method of working together it very well may be redo. In any case, endeavor programming is mind boggling and customization may debase framework execution and thusly may not amplify the advantages from the framework. It is prescribed to expand profits by the product, the business need to fit in with the business forms in the product. What difficulties are presented by big business applications? Venture applications is programming that different organizations use so as to help take care of certain endeavor issues or to smooth out business activities. Things like email records, finance, customer data, etc are put away in big business applications. Since the product is utilized and shared over a huge association, one of the disadvantages of an endeavor application may have to do with the security of the data that is put away. A few advantages of big business frameworks are expanded business proficiency, data broad assists the board with settling on better choices, and it powers formally dressed practices all through the organizations. Be that as it may, there are a few difficulties to an undertaking framework. The costs of buying, introducing and keeping up the equipment and programming of an endeavor framework are viewed as trying. Frameworks are more perplexing today than previously. Before most frameworks comprise of equipment, working framework, database and capacity application handily associated together in one framework. Today a framework setup can comprise of a few separate smaller than usual frameworks with many separate stockpiling zone organize, organizing gear.

Understanding Business Valuation and Multiples for Startups

Understanding Business Valuation and Multiples for Startups We cannot just randomly assign numbers on how much a business is valued at, or how much an owner’s interest in a business is worth. There has to be a valid basis behind the estimate of the economic value of a business. In the same vein, there is a set of procedures on how these estimates are arrived at. This is called business valuation. © Shutterstock.com | Rasdi Abdul RahmanIn this article, you will learn 1) about the basics of business valuation and why its important to know, 2) business valuation methods, and 3) factors affecting your business valuation of your startup.BUSINESS VALUATION AND ITS IMPORTANCEIn general terms, the process of determining the price that a business will be sold, or bought, for is referred to as business valuation. You are literally putting a specific value on a business, or certain parts of it, so you can sell it.In order to understand the importance of business valuation, we first have to know when it is used or needed. Usually, the subject of business valuation becomes more rampant in conjunction with a possible takeover offer or any other form of business combination, whether it’s a merger, straight acquisition or consolidation. Businesses also tend to focus a lot of valuation when they are seeking financing for a major project or venture.However, more than just about knowing how much a business is worth at the point of buying or selling, business valuation has a bigger role to play.As an internal performance indicator. Valuing the business will tell a lot about its overall performance, and the direction that it is currently going. The business already has a mission and vision, to begin with, and it has clear-cut goals that it strives to achieve. Knowing how much the business is worth will give management and other stakeholders an idea whether the business is on track towards achieving those business goals.As a basis for allocation of resources. Say, for example, that a business is working with a limited pool of funds. One way to determine where to put a specific portion of those funds is to see which aspects of the business needs it most. Naturally, the areas of the business that show high growth and, therefore, corresponding economic value, will get the most attention and the bigger slice of the pie.As a gauge of assessing the life cycle of the industry, a nd the position of the business in the market. As much as we would like it, industries do not remain at their peak positions forever. There will be downtimes and, sometimes, industries can even wane and fade into oblivion to make way for newer, stronger ones. Business valuation can help the business to assess whether the industry it belongs to will still be around longer, and if it will thrive just as well as it currently is. It is also a good way to assess whether the business will still be able to maintain its market share or position in the industry in case the latter expands.As a decision-making tool. We have already established that the value of a business will demonstrate how well it is performing (or otherwise) and how healthy it is as a going concern. These will become valid bases for management to make key decisions on where to take the business from a certain point. It becomes a very useful tool for strategic decision-making. For example, if it has been noted that the indu stry is in decline, management can accordingly map out an exit plan that would still be beneficial to the company and its stakeholders. On the other hand, if the market or industry demonstrates growth, management could find ways to keep up with that growth.BUSINESS VALUATION OF STARTUPSIn the earlier discussion, we focused on business valuation in terms of already existing and thriving businesses. There is a bit of a twist when it comes to business valuation with respect to startups.A startup is basically a company or a business that is in its very first stages of operations, prior to earning revenue. Valuation becomes tricky when it comes to startups, and this is where budding entrepreneurs and owners of these startups have their first hurdle: how to convince angel investors and venture capitalists that they are worth investing in.Businesses that are already in operation have a slightly easier time convincing potential investors to put their money in them, since they are already sh owing earning power and a steady revenue stream. They already have results of operations to show.Startups do not. They are not even earning revenues yet, so how can they put a value to how much their company is worth? In the past, valuation used to be based on the amount of assets of the startup. Today, however, investors no longer accept that as a standard for determining a startup’s economic value.Valuation of a startup has one major purpose: to obtain financing or funding. Early on, you can already tell that there is a conflict of interest here. Startup owners and entrepreneurs would want to put a high value on their business in order for them to get more funding. Investors, on the other hand, would want to own more than a reasonable portion of the business that they invest in, so they would prefer that the business have a lower value. After all, even if they invest a low amount, this would mean they would still have a sizeable interest or ownership in the startup.BUSINESS VALU ATION METHODSThere are many valuation tools and methodologies that businesses can now readily use in order to determine their economic worth. Among these methodologies, we can shorten the list to those that would apply best to startups.1. Cost-to-Duplicate MethodAlso often called as the Cost-to-Recreate method, this approach takes that “what if” stance. What if you are to build another similar company from scratch? How much would it cost you to do so? That is the cost to duplicate. The general rule is that investors will not pay an amount that is higher than the cost required to recreate or duplicate the business.This method focuses on the fair market valuation of the physical assets of the startup to determine the cost to duplicate. Other amounts that figure into the cost, especially in the case of startups, include costs that have already been incurred, such as research development costs, patent costs and cost to build a product prototype.What this method fails to take into co nsideration, however, is the cost of intangible assets, especially if the startup has those. Therefore, it does not fully capture the value of the company, especially in the future, when it is already generating revenues and earning returns on investment.2. Market MultiplesThis methodology is using multiples based on revenue, cash flow, earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT), EBITDA and net income. There are several other industry specific multiples that are used, but the ones mentioned are the most commonly used.The strength of this approach is that it makes use of market indicators that are truly reflective of market conditions. After all, investors take into account the various market forces at play when evaluating their investment options, especially when it comes to startups.These multiples are most commonly used in forecasting, which means they are also useful in predicting the future performance of the startup. The only limitation is the availability of these market indica tors and statistics. There is also a degree of difficulty in identifying transactions that are comparable, in order to establish trends and patterns that can be used in forecasting.3. Discounted Cash Flow MethodThis involves conducting a discounted cash flow analysis and, as the name implies, places strong emphasis on the amount of cash flow that is expected in the future and how much that cash flow is worth today.This valuation method makes use of an expected rate of return on investment, which is both a good thing and a bad thing for startups. It is a good thing because it is possibly one of the closest estimation of the future cash flows of the company. However, it is also bad because startups are often assigned with very high expected rates of investment return, considering that they are considered to be more high-risk than business that are already in operation and earning revenue.4. Venture Capital MethodIn calculating the pre-money valuation of a startup, this method takes in to account the expected rates of return on investment when the company makes its exit from the industry. It follows the following formula:Anticipated ROI   =  Terminal (or Harvest) Value / Post-Money ValuationPre-Money Valuation   =  Post-Money Valuation â€" InvestmentWhere:Terminal Value, also known as investor harvest value, is the anticipated selling price for the company at a certain point in time â€" often several years â€" after the investment has been made. This is arrived at by computing the estimated revenues of the company on the year of sale (the harvest year) and the estimated revenue multiple based on industry statistics.Post-Money Valuation is the value of the company after it has received outside financing or funding from investors. It is different from Pre-Money Valuation in that the latter excludes these injections of capital or financing.Example:Company A plans to exit the cloud computing industry in year 2025.Estimated revenues in 2025$ 30.0 millionEstimated a fter-tax earnings in 2025$ 4.5 millionRequired investment$ 1.25 millionPrice-Earnings Ratio in 2025  based on industry standards10xAnticipated ROI20XTerminal Value = 10 x $ 4.5 million  = $ 45 millionPost-Money Valuation = $ 45 million / 20  = $ 2.25 millionPre-Money Valuation = $ 2.25 million $ 1.25 million  = $ 1 millionFACTORS AFFECTING BUSINESS VALUATIONConsider this: in a large industry, you cannot expect your startup to be the only one of its kind. You will have competitors or rivals, and the investors will not be looking solely at you. There is more than 99% chance that the investors will be looking at more than two or three similar startups at the same time, and they are simply making comparisons on which one is the best bet. There is also more than 99% chance that the valuation of these two or three similar startups will be different, even if they belong to the same industry. These differences arise due to various reasons and influencing factors.We can categorize the facto rs into three: financial, strategic and investment ecosystem reasons.Financial ReasonsThis is pretty straightforward, as most investment decisions are spurred by financial motivations. Some of the financial aspects that potential investors pay attention to when looking at a startup’s valuation include:Size of the market being targeted. If the market is huge, there is a tendency for the startup to have a higher valuation.Growth rate of market share. If there is high potential of the startup enjoying a fast growth in its market share, it will be valued higher.Growth rate of sales. Sales is one of the key determinants on whether a startup has a chance to succeed or not. Investors tend to be willing to pay a higher amount for startups that have a potential to have high sales growth.Future profits. Forecasting the future results of operations or performance of a startup is one of the key methods adapted by investors in determining what the startup is worth. Business valuation will defi nitely be higher if the computations and estimates show the company earning exceedingly high profits in the future.Strategic ReasonsInvestors do not just focus on the numbers. They also have strategies that, at first, may not be quantifiable but, in the long run, become one of the financial reasons. Some examples are:If the startup owns, or is in possession of, a technology or any other intellectual property that gives it strategic advantage in the market and over its competitors;If the startup has exclusive rights or ownership over key people/talent, that gives it an edge over the competition.If the startup already has customer access or a distribution channel for its products or services.Investment Ecosystem ReasonsMost investors readily claim that the investment ecosystem is the biggest determinant of the value of a startup. We are basically referring to the market forces of the industry and the specific sector within that industry that the startup aims to belong to. They call th is factor as the “hotness of the industry”. In short, investors ask, “How hot is the industry where the startup will operate in?”The investors would be especially concerned about the following:The size of generally available capital to be invested into startups. The fluctuating nature of the availability of capital is seen in the balance and imbalance between the demand and supply of money that the investors have purposefully for funding startups.The size and frequency of recent exits from the industry. If there is a sudden stream of business making an exit out of that industry, it could be an indicator a decline is impending, and this will influence how investors will value startups.The willingness of investors to pay premium. There are investors that are not hesitant to pay more, especially if they are sure that they are getting an excellent deal out of it. If investors have no qualms about paying such premium, this could also affect the business valuation of a startup.Oth er factorsThere are other factors that have an effect on the valuation of a startup.The reputation of the entrepreneur or startup owner or founder. This may not be the first startup of the entrepreneur. If this is the case, investors will also look into the reputation of the person behind the startup. There are entrepreneurs who have established stellar reputations that, no matter what their next startup is, they are bound to get high valuation for it. In contrast, a startup idea may be brilliant and shows a lot of promise, but if the person who came up with it and is pushing for it does not have a good reputation, valuation may be low.Stock Options for employees. A startup that is able to set up an option pool for future employees gives off the impression that the startup will be able to attract talent. The amount set aside for the option pool will be deducted from the valuation, since it is value set aside for future employees, meaning you still do not have these talents in your s tartup.

The Legalization of Same Sex Marriage - 1623 Words

The United States has been constructed around the ideas of sovereignty and free will. There were many movements that have taken place in history that have made this country’s policy on freedom so unique; unique in how the citizens value their morals. An every day American would think that being with the same sex is not normal, or is frowned upon. Recent studies show that half of all Americans believe that gay men and lesbians have a constitutional right to marry (Craighill). Same-sex marriage has caused many conflicts around the country and even the world with multiple stand points. World views on same-sex marriage are changing day to day. â€Å"Of the 15 countries worldwide to permit gay men and lesbians to marry, eight have done so since 2010.† (Desilver) It is becoming no longer acceptable to discriminate these couples, therefore the legalization of same- sex marriage should be universal. With the help of religious leaders, world role models, and many politicians, s ame-sex marriage can be influenced positively, and also help bring light to this modern acceptance. The legalization of same-sex marriage should be made in every state without any rules or regulations that come with the ability to be married. It is known that in the religious aspect, the Pope is not supposed to support same-sex marriage because it is supposedly against the bible. Pope Francic became Pope of the Catholic church on March 13, 2013. Before becoming Pope, he was the Archbishop of Buenos Aires. â€Å"WhileShow MoreRelatedLegalization Of Same Sex Marriage Essay963 Words   |  4 PagesKaye Shannelle Romuar Alfritz Arevalo Angelika Figueroa Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage I. Introduction Same-sex marriage can also be called gay marriage. This is a marriage between two males or two females, in either a religious setting or in a civil ceremony. Same-sex unions are recorded in the history of a number of cultures but this type of marriage is rare, or doesn’t exist in other cultures .The first law that provided same-sex marriage for the people was in 2001 in the Netherlands. As of JulyRead MoreLegalization Of Same Sex Marriage1594 Words   |  7 PagesWhy The Nationwide Legalization Of Same Sex Marriage Will Greatly Benefit The Economy Same-sex marriage has been a long debated issue in the United States. Since the nationwide legalization of same-sex marriage in countries such as Holland, Belgium, and Canada American gay couples have been pushing harder for equal marriage rights under the law. Opponents claim that allowing same-sex unions would not only lead to less stable marriages and higher divorce rates for heterosexual couples, but also precipitateRead MoreThe Legalization Of Same Sex Marriage930 Words   |  4 Pagesof legalizing same-sex marriage all across the nation, after years of social, political, and cultural mobilizations of members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community and allies. However, this achievement is not an end it itself. Leaders of the marriage equality movement, as well as community members, ask: Now what? This proposed project attempts to provide an answer for this question by looking at the perceived impact of the legalization of same-sex marriage among Black LG BTsRead MoreThe Legalization Of Same Sex Marriage938 Words   |  4 PagesRights To All Most people believe that they deserve the rights they are granted by the government. A citizen who pays their taxes, serves their community and abides by the law should be afforded the same rights as any American. However, not all citizens are afforded equal rights. Lesbians, gays, bi-sexual, and transgender (LGBT) are consistently denied rights that are typically taken for granted by the average American. Specifically, gay and lesbians couples are denied the right to marry even ifRead MoreThe Legalization Of Same Sex Marriage2317 Words   |  10 PagesCavataio PHL 118: Intro to Philosophy 8/14/14 Gary Fuller One of the most heated and debated topics today is the legalization of same-sex marriage. No matter where you look, people are always expressing their opinion on this issue. Politicians, athletes, and celebrities are some of the many people who continually come out with either support or opposition of same-sex marriage. History has shown that issues regarding equality and rights take time to move forward. The women’s suffrage movementRead MoreThe Legalization Of Same Sex Marriage1091 Words   |  5 PagesThe legalization of same-sex marriage is a hot topic in the U.S. approving, it in all fifty states can be harmful to the country. Same-sex marriage should not have been legalized in the United States. First, legalizing can be harmful to the society, Second, same-sex marriage it always denies a child a father or a mother, Third, legalizing It Offends some religions and violates tradition. In addition, It means all citizens should have understood of the consequences before maki ng the decision. OneRead MoreThe Legalization Of Same Sex Marriage1411 Words   |  6 PagesNikta Kalatari Writing Assignment #1 The proposead legalization of same-sex marriage is one of the most significant issues in contemporary American family law. Presently, it is one of the most vigorously advocated reforms discussed in law reviews, one of the most explosive political questions facing lawmakers, and one of the most provocative issues emerging before American courts. If same-sex marriage is legalized, it could be one of the most revolutionary policy decisions in the history of AmericanRead MoreThe Legalization Of Same Sex Marriage1294 Words   |  6 Pages The Legalization of Homosexual Marriage Brandon Taylor Wichita State University Gay marriage, also known as homosexual or same-sex marriage, has been a major topic in our country ever since it was allowed in Massachusetts whenever the state’s Supreme Court ruled the ban as unconstitutional. It was legalized in thirty seven of the fifty states before the Supreme Court’s ruling on June 26, 2015 that it was unconstitutional to deny marriage to a same sex couple (ProCon.org, 2015). The Merriam-WebsterRead MoreLegalization Of Same Sex Marriages1390 Words   |  6 PagesLegalization of Same Sex Marriages As a Muslim, in my opinion same sex marriage is not right and same sex marriage should not be legalized. Out of this statement comes the question: what is the purpose and meaning of marriage. Can we ever explain marriage in the context of a bond between two males or two females. Can this relationship be called a â€Å"Marriage†? Whether we disguise this relationship with the label of marriage, does it become accepted into society as a real marriage? Or are we foolingRead MoreLegalization of Same Sex Marriage9779 Words   |  40 PagesTHE LEGALIZATION OF SAME SEX MARRIAGE AS ASSESED BY CITHM STUDENTS S.Y. 2011-2012 A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the College of International Tourism And Hospitality Management LYCEUM OF THE PHILIPPINES UNIVERSITY In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Tourism By Ang, Dianne Marie M. Bayot, Donalynne B. October 2011 CHAPTER 1 THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND INTRODUCTION    In our generation today, homosexuals

Basic Issues For The I 130 Marriage Based Study - 1417 Words

This paper documents the basic issues for the I-130 Marriage-based Study and some of the challenges which hamper the swift execution of the study. The paper begins with a brief description of the study purpose, follows by important definition of key study concepts for marriage-based IBFA and a discussion for the sample size needed to execute the study optimally. Recommendation solutions are provided at the end of the paper on how to specify the roles for OPS and each stakeholder and members of the Technical Working Group to assist and ensure the successful execution of the study. Purpose of the IBFA Pilot Study (For details see IFRET’s White Paper) †¢ Fraud estimate: The primary purpose of the pilot IBFA study is to fulfill Congressional request for USCIS to estimate a defensible â€Å"true† benefit-fraud rate within the Form I-130 marriage-based petitions. †¢ Utility and benefits for USCIS †¢ Estimate the actual resources required by USCIS if all suspected cases are investigated by Immigration offices and compared to the actual allocated resources for fraud detection †¢ Exploratory research: IFRET has designed the IBFA study with an objective to examine the sample characteristics, such as an overstayed visa status of the beneficiaries or non-cohabitating couples, so that a statistical model can be used to estimate the probability of fraud for the population given the sample characteristics. †¢ Utility and benefits for USCIS: This data driven information will help USCISShow MoreRelatedResearch Outline Gay Marriage Essay2797 Words   |  12 PagesControversy â€Å"Same-sex marriage permits couples of the same gender to enter legally-recognized marriages and provides them with the same legal rights as couples in heterosexual relationships† (Same-Sex Marriage). â€Å"Opponents of same-sex marriage argue that the institution of marriage should apply to only unions between one man and one woman. Allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry, they say, undermines the institution of marriage† (Same-Sex Marriage). Where the Issue Stands Today â€Å"In AmericaRead MoreMarriage12231 Words   |  49 PagesAND ITS BACKGROUND INTRODUCTION Marriage is one of the deepest and most complex involvements of human relationships. It is a corner stone of society and a very necessary part of the social system. It is a crucial and sacred bond between two personalities merging into one for ideas, attitudes, habits and likes and dislikes. In Philippines marriage is considered a lifelong partnership. It is the foundation stone on which the family is built. Basically marriage is a social and legal contract. PeopleRead MoreCan Divorce Be Reduced in Arab Nations? Essay1805 Words   |  8 Pagesreservation of oil. For these countries, half of their income principally is based upon oil. Oil was first found in a large portion of the GCC nations in the 1930s by the British colonies who used to conquer over the greater part of the GCC nations. Anyhow, the GCC countries did not begin to advance and benefit from their oil until the end of the World of War II (Mongaby, n.d.). Before the introduction of oil the GCC’s economy was based mainly upon pearl fishing. (Sheikh Maktoum, 2012). After the introductionRead MoreIgnou Bshf101 Solved Assignment 20113442 Words   |  14 Pagesmany states have expressed that they would not be able to implement the Act in the absence of funds from the center. Orissa in fact wants the same status enjoyed by the North Eastern states with respect to the Act. The success as far is the financial issues are concerned largely depends upon the center-state cooperation.The ambitious project is already falling short of around Rs.7.000 crores in the very first year itself. Since the Act involves improving the infrastructure of schools, training teachersRead MoreEpidemiology And Public Health Significance2485 Words   |  10 Pagesproportional to income, while among non-Hispanic black and Mexican-American men obesity prevalence decreases as income decreases.9 Although the prevalence of obesity among women with income below 130% of the poverty level is higher than among those with higher incomes, the majority of obese women do not have incomes below 130% of the poverty level.9 Among men and women with a college degree, the prevalence of obesity is less than among those with some college education.9 College educated women are less likelyRead MoreState Life Insyrance Corporation Internship Report9747 Words   |  39 PagesACKNOWLEDGEMENT With the  name of  ALLAH the Most Beneficial and Merciful. I completed my internshipin State Life Insurance Corporation of Pakistan. I am really pleased to have a professional learning experience in one of leading insurance organizations of country. In these sixweeks I worked in different departments and I am truly thankful to all officers and staff  who entirely give  assistance to me.I am also grateful to my honorable teachers Sir Fida Hussain Bukhari, Sir Irshad, Sir RiazAhmed MianRead MoreEssay on Piaget vs. Jung4984 Words   |  20 Pagesdevelopment , his theory of cognitive development has suffered a great deal of critics that it neglects the social nature of human development.(Hook, Watts and Cockroft ,2002).So the following essay will discuss on whether this critic is valid or not based on detail discussion of Piaget theory. The theory of Vygotsky shall also be discussed to prove that indeed social factors play a role . Piaget theory of cognitive development neglects the influence of social factors on child cognitive developmentRead MoreEssay on Religious Justifications of Slavery in the Caribbean3525 Words   |  15 PagesNevertheless, the nineteenth century Christian churches of the Caribbean Islands created a racial distinction between humans which determined who could and who could not be granted eternal life through the Christian faith. This concept of race was based on the belief that Africans were intellectually unable to make an educated decision regarding personal religion. Planters supported this discrimination against their workers because then they did not have to be cruel to fellow Christians. Two kindsRead MoreA Family Profile2068 Words   |  8 Pagesï » ¿MY SELECTED FAMILY PROFILE When a family doesnt have children, it seems like they can spend more time on their own health and wellness needs. For this reason I decided to interview two friends of mine. They are an unmarried man and women who live together, have no children and see themselves as being active sports and health people. They eat well, exercise regularly. Both are white and spend a good deal of time outside. He worries about concerns about how often he gets sunburned while runningRead MoreFemale Genital Mutilation: A Violation of Human Rights Essay3246 Words   |  13 Pagesdefined as any surgical change of the female genital organ, consist of any procedures involving partial or total removal of the external parts of female genital organ, or any other injuries to the female genitalia for cultural, or non-medical reasons. Based on the severity of cutting, World Health Organization (WHO) classifies female genital mutilation in to four (4) major parts. Type-1: Partial or total removal of the clitoris and/or the prepuce (clitoridectomy) Type-2: Partial or total removal of

Stefan’s Diaries Origins Chapter 10 Free Essays

September 4, 1864 Midnight. Too late to fall asleep, too early to be awake. A candle burns on my nightstand, the flickering shadows foreboding. We will write a custom essay sample on Stefan’s Diaries: Origins Chapter 10 or any similar topic only for you Order Now I am haunted already. Will I ever forgive myself for not finding Rosalyn until it was too late? And why is she –the one I vowed to forget–still on my mind? My head is pounding. Cordelia is always at the door, offering drinks, lozenges, powdered herbs. I take them, like a recuperating child. Father and Damon glance at me when they think I’m asleep. Do they know of the nightmares? I thought marriage was a fate worse than death. I was wrong. I was wrong about so many things, too many things, and all I can do is pray for forgiveness and hope that somehow, somewhere, I can summon strength from the depths of my existence to step firmly onto the path of the right again. I will do it. I must. For Rosalyn. And for her. Now I will blow out the candle and hope for sleep–like that of the dead –to engulf me quickly†¦. â€Å"Stefan! Time to get up!† my father called, slamming my bedroom door. â€Å"What?† I struggled to sit, not sure what hour it was, or what day it was, or how much time had passed since Rosalyn’s death. Day faded into night, and I could never really sleep, only doze into terrifying dreams. I wouldn’t have eaten anything, except that Cordelia continued to come into my room with her concoctions, spoon-feeding them to me to ensure that they were eaten. She’d make fried chicken and okra and a thick mash of what she called sufferer stew which she said would , make me feel better. She’d left another one, a drink this time, on my nightstand. I drank it quickly. â€Å"Get ready. Alfred will help you prepare,† my father said. â€Å"Get ready for what?† I asked, swinging my legs onto the floor. I hobbled to the mirror. I had stubble over my chin, and my tawny hair stood up on all ends. My eyes were red, and my nightshirt was hanging off my shoulders. I looked awful. Father stood behind me, appraising my reflection. â€Å"Y ou’ll pull yourself together. Today is Rosalyn’s funeral, and it’s important to me and the Cartwrights that we are there. We want to show everyone that we must band together against the evil that’s scourging our town.† While Father prattled on about demons, I thought about facing the Cartwrights for the first time. I still felt horribly guilty. I couldn’t help thinking that the attack wouldn’t have happened if I’d been waiting for Rosalyn on the porch, instead of lingering in the study with Katherine. If I’d been outside, waiting for Rosalyn, I would have seen her walking from the fields in her pink dress. Maybe I could have faced death with her, too, and she wouldn’t have had to confront that nightmarish animal alone. I may not have loved Rosalyn, but I couldn’t forgive myself for not being there to save her. â€Å"Well, come on,† Father said impatiently as Alfred walked in, holding a white linen shirt and a double-breasted black suit. I blanched. It was the suit I’d have worn at my wedding–and the church where we were mourning Rosalyn was to have been the site of the ceremony establishing our union. Still, I managed to change into the suit, allowed Alfred to help me shave, since my hands allowed Alfred to help me shave, since my hands were so shaky, and emerged an hour later ready to do what I had to do. I kept my eyes down as I followed Father and Damon to the carriage. Father sat up front, next to Alfred, while Damon sat in the back with me. â€Å"How are you, brother?† Damon asked above the familiar clip-clop of Duke’s and Jake’s hooves down Willow Creek Road. â€Å"Not very well,† I said formally, a stiff lump in my throat. Damon put a hand on my shoulder. The magpies chattered, the bees buzzed, and the sun cast a golden glow on the trees. The entire coach smelled like ginger, and I felt my stomach heave. It was the smell of guilt over lusting after a woman who was never to be–could never be–my wife. â€Å"Your first death, the first one you witness, changes you,† Damon said finally, as the coach pulled up to the white clapboard church. The church bells were ringing, and every business in town was closed for the day. â€Å"But perhaps it can change you for the better.† â€Å"Maybe,† I said as I descended from the coach. But I didn’t see how. We reached the door as Dr. Janes hobbled into the church, his cane in one hand and a flask of whiskey in another. Pearl and Anna were sitting together, and Jonathan Gilbert sat behind them, his elbows perched on the edge of Pearl’s pew, just inches from her shoulder. Sheriff Forbes was in his usual place in the second pew, glaring at the cluster of rouged women from the tavern who had come to pay their respects. At the edge of their circle was Alice, the barmaid, cooling herself with a silk fan. Calvin Bailey, the organist, was playing an adaptation of Mozart’s Requiem, but he seemed to hit a sour note every few chords. In the front pew, Mr. Cartwright stared straight ahead, while Mrs. Cartwright sobbed and occasionally blew her nose into a lace handkerchief. At the front of the church, a closed oak casket was covered with flowers. Wordlessly, I walked to the casket and knelt down in front of it. â€Å"I’m so sorry,† I whispered, touching the casket, which felt cold and hard. Unbidden, images of my betrothed popped up in my mind: Rosalyn giggling over her new puppy, giddily discussing flower combinations for our wedding, risking the wrath of her maid by planting a covert kiss on my cheek at the end of one visit. I moved my hands off the casket and put them together, as if in prayer. â€Å"I hope that you and Penny have found each other in Heaven.† I leaned down, letting my lips graze the casket. I wanted her to know, wherever she was, that I would have learned to love her. â€Å"Good-bye.† I turned to take my seat and stopped short. Right behind me was Katherine. She was wearing a dark-blue cotton dress that stood out in the sea a dark-blue cotton dress that stood out in the sea of black crepe that filled the pews. â€Å"I’m so sorry for your loss,† Katherine said, touching my arm. I flinched and drew my arm back. How dare she touch me so familiarly in public? Didn’t she realize that if we hadn’t been carrying on at the barbecue in the first place, the tragedy might never have happened? Concern registered in her dark eyes. â€Å"I know how hard this must be for you,† she said. â€Å"Please let me know if you need anything.† I immediately felt a wave of guilt for assuming she was doing anything other than showing sympathy. After all, her parents had died. She was just a young girl, reaching out to offer her support. She looked so sad that for one wild second, I was tempted to cross the aisle and comfort her. â€Å"Thank you,† I said instead, sucking in my stale breath and walking back to the pew. I slid next to Damon, who had his hands crossed piously over a Bible. I noticed his eyes flick up as Katherine briefly knelt down by the coffin. I followed his gaze, noticing the way several curls had escaped from beneath her hat and were curling around the ornate clasp on her blue necklace. A few minutes later, the Requiem ended, and Pastor Collins strode up to the pulpit. â€Å"We’re here to celebrate a life cut far too short. There is evil among us, and we will mourn this death, but we will also draw strength from this death †¦,† he intoned. I covertly glanced across the aisle at Katherine. Her servant, Emily, was sitting next to her on one side and Pearl on the other. Katherine’s hands were folded as if in prayer. She turned slightly, as if to look at me. I forced myself to look away before our eyes could meet. I would not dishonor Rosalyn by thinking of Katherine. I gazed up at the unfinished, steepled beams of the church. I’m sorry, I thought, sending the message upward and hoping that Rosalyn, wherever she was, heard it. How to cite Stefan’s Diaries: Origins Chapter 10, Essay examples

Seoul Policy toward North Korea Nuclear Crisis

In the following work peculiarities of Inter-Korean relations are analyzed. Main aspects of existing crisis in relations between North Korea and South Korea are outlined and analyzed. Great attention is given to description of North Koreas Nuclear Program. Its main threats are investigated. Reaction of official Seoul to development of this program is given.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Seoul Policy toward North Korea Nuclear Crisis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This work analyses peculiarities of policy of the ROK. Prior directions of development of external policy are also taken into account. In the end of the work possible scenarios of the end of nuclear crisis are given.  Eastern region of our planet has always been a place of a great interest for different countries. This fact was determined by a number of different reasons. First of all, this region remained unstable for a long period of its history. Constant civil wars, wars for independence and some inner conflicts drew attention of people to this region. As a result of one of these wars, China lost its influence there. Japan became the owner of this land however, not for a long time. WWII influenced greatly state of affairs in this region. With the end of the war â€Å"Japanese colonial rule also came to an end on the Korean Peninsula† (â€Å"Inter-Korean Relations† para.1). However, it did not become a unitary state. The USA and the USSR â€Å"agreed to a temporary division of the Korean Peninsula at the 38th parallel until a provisional government could be established and independence restored† (â€Å"An Overview of Inter-Korean Relations† para. 4). Unfortunately, it was not a temporary decision as it was supposed. Brutal Korean war destroyed any chances for reunion of the state. There were no contacts between governments of the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) after this war. However, some positive shift happened under the President Roh Tae-Woo. The states renewed negotiations. This positive tendency continued and there was a period of gradual positive change in relations between two states. Election of Lee Myung Bak as the President announced new approach to Inter-Korean relations which was called pragmatic (â€Å"An Overview of Inter-Korean Relations† para. 7). This approach led to deterioration of relations between South and North Koreas. The skirmish between battleships of these countries only worsened the state of affairs. New President Park Geun Hye promised to improve diplomatic and economic relations with North Korea. However, there is still tension between these two states. North Korean Nuclear crisis promotes further development of this tension. The main point is, that this state has its own nuclear weapons program which is a major concern for the whole world (Sigal para. 3).Advertising Look ing for research paper on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More â€Å"In 2006, 2009 and again in 2013, North Korea announced that it had conducted successful nuclear tests – they all came after the North was sanctioned by the UN for launching rockets† (â€Å"How advanced is North Korea’s nuclear programme?† para. 1). With this in mind, it is possible to speak about the Nuclear crisis. Government of this state refuses to abandon this program. Negotiations with the participation of the USA, Russian Federation, China and some other countries were not successful. Pyongyang refuses to show all materials connected with this question. Moreover, there is no guaranty that it will stop development of this program. It is quite obvious that nuclear threat is used by North Korea as a bargaining chip in order to get some benefits. However, possibility of its existence and usage should not be ignored . That is why leading countries are worried and try to solve this problem, hoping to avoid new war in this region, which can be even more brutal and catastrophic than the previous one.  Taking Nuclear Program of North Korea into account, official Seoul should have special policy in order to react to all threats, created by Pyongyang. Moreover, this policy should try to improve relations between two countries in order to obtain some benefits. That is why the President should be a strong leader and accept some hard decisions. â€Å"Park has already advocated a stronger South Korean military contribution to the U.S.–South Korea alliance, particularly in response to recent North Korean attacks and provocations† (Klingner para. 7). These actions were influenced by great aggression in North Koreas statements. The DPRK says about the possibility of nuclear attacks on South Korea, Japan, the USA. That is why international community is disturbed by these proclamations. South Korea should do something with respect to these facts as it is the first to suffer from North Koreas aggression. Nowadays, it seems that there is no possible peaceful solution to this problem. The President of Korea, Park Geun Hye, tries to guarantee security of her state. Her first step is connected with the foreign policy of the country. It is an attempt to obtain a powerful ally in a probable war with North Korea. Diplomatic relations between the USA and the ROK are now as stable and close as they have never been before. The USA acts as a guarantor of South Koreas security. The President tries to obtain more support from the USA. Troop coordination of these states moved to a new level. Military presence of the USA in the region increased significantly. Preparing for some military conflict, Park Geun Hye also does not forget about possible diplomatic solutions to this situation. It is very difficult to solve this problem under existing conditions. Cooperation of South Korea with t he USA irritates Pyongyang.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Seoul Policy toward North Korea Nuclear Crisis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More That is why North Korea refuses to hold a parley with Seoul. That is why peaceful decision of this problem seems to be more and more complicated. However, the ROK preserves its attempts to establish normal relations between these two counties. Within a framework of this policy, South Korea tries to ignore all provocations and military acts which North Korea performs. The ROK even tries to continue its humanitarian mission, trying to help some vulnerable groups which exist among population of North Korea. The main aim of these measures is to show peaceful character of South Korea and its intentions. However, there are also some firm actions. The May 24 Measures are still observed. Administration of the President of South Korea tries to find some new steps which will be able to improve existing situation. However, there is also a clear message to North Korea. It states that though the ROK is not interested in war and further escalation of violence, it is ready for any possible development of the situation and will be able to answer to military aggression.  Having understood North Koreas main motives in development of its nuclear program, it is possible to cogitate about potential solutions to this problem. It became clear that official Pyongyang is not going to stop development of its nuclear program. The situation is getting worse day by day whether it is the nation’s nuclear program, advances in missile technology, cyber warfare operations or its horrible human rights record (Soesanto para. 2). This fact influences greatly further development of the situation. It should be said that this program is taken as a real threat to existing world order, that is why it becomes not only the problem of South Korea. Historically, Russia, China, t he USA and Japan were the most active participants of main events which happened at Korea Peninsular and now they try to find solution to this problem. On the current stage these countries try to use diplomatic means, hoping to find compromise. There is a great number of different guaranties which these countries give. In the first instance, it is connected with safety and security arrangements. Leading countries are ready to become guarantors of North Koreas security if it closes its Nuclear Program. However, negotiations are not very successful. Being not sure in its own forces and having no trust to these countries, North Korea does not give any distinct answer. Moreover, there is still a question whether it really has nuclear program and weapon. That is why all negotiation parties are very careful in their suggestions. It should also be admitted that Nuclear Program has a very strong ideological influence and meaning.Advertising Looking for research paper on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For years Pyongyang has been stressing necessity of conquering South Korea and unification of the country. Having obtained the remedy for realization of their main purposes, North Korea has no chance to destroy it as it would mean renunciation of official ideology. Having analyzed the data, it is possible to suggest some believable scenarios of further development of actions. The first scenario provides peaceful decision of existing problem. North Korea can close its Nuclear Program in exchange for security safeguards and help in economic development of the country as current state of affairs is very complicated. Relations with South Korea will also improve and provide better development of the economy of the state. However, there is one more possible scenario which is not so peaceful. Failed to find compromise, leading states could just decide to solve this problem in a heavy handed way. In this case, possibility of the world war exists. That is why it is very important to find pea ceful solution which will satisfy all litigants. Works Cited An Overview of Inter-Korean Relations.  Web. Inter-Korean Relations. Web. â€Å"How advanced is North Korea’s nuclear programme?â€Å". The BBC News. 2014. Web. Klingner, Bruce. The U.S. Should Support New South Korean President’s Approach to North Korea. 2013. Web. Sigal, Leon. The North Korean Nuclear Crisis: Understanding The Failure of the ‘Crime-and-Punishment’ Strategy. 1997. Web. Soesanto, Stefan. â€Å"The North Korea threatâ€Å". The Hill.  2013. Web. This research paper on Seoul Policy toward North Korea Nuclear Crisis was written and submitted by user Wesley S. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.