Interview with Leonardo Da Vinci Essay

The Renaissance began in Italy. While it only a affected a small amount of the population, the â€Å"rebirth† of classical culture is revered today. The general idea of the renaissance is that in Ancient Greek and Roman times we were enlightened, and then lost the light in the â€Å"dark† ages, and then became enlightened again in the rebirth of classical culture. Setting: A stage with comfortable chairs, Leonardo da Vinci sitting in one chair, the host in the other. Host: Welcome to Talk Renaissance Live, I’m here with Leonardo da Vinci, the very definition of a â€Å"Renaissance man†. So tell the audience about yourself Leo. Can I call you Leo? Leo: Um sure. Well honestly I don’t know why people like me so much, I’m a terrible procrastinator. And while I’ve had a few successful paintings, a lot of my works were more of failed experiments. Host: That is still better than most of the population. And your scientific journals still have people wondering today. You had ideas, sometimes even working ideas for things that weren’t even conceived for most of the population until this last century. What was it like working for a commission? Leo: It was ok, once I had plenty of apprentices. Apprentices meant I could spend more time on enquiries of the scientific nature. Host: So why was the Mona Lisa smiling the way she was? Leo: Well now that’s something I swore I would never tell. Host: You’re no fun, and I was wondering. Why didn’t you publish and of the scientific advances you made? Leo: Well it was a different world back then. I had more respect then most people, but if I’d tried to publish my scientific thoughts then I would have been laughed out of the building. Or killed. Host: You mentioned having apprentices later in your career, how was it like being one yourself? And who were you an apprentice for? Leo: Well when I was 14 I apprenticed to the man known as Verrocchio. He taught me many things, both in theoretical and practical fields. Even after I qualified as a master artist I continued to collaborate with him, because he was a fine man. Host: That’s our time, when we come back from the break I’ll be sitting here with Johann Gutenberg. Host: And we’re back, sitting with me is Johann Gutenberg. You may not know who he is, but he was essential to both the Renaissance and what followed. Johann: Hello. Host: How about you explain to the audience about your important contributions? Johann: I brought the printing to Europe. Host: Yes, could you explain how? Johann: Was able to make a printing system that could mass produce books, and have it be economically viable. Host: And was it? Johann: Well it was for everyone except me really. I ended up with an enormous debt and then was sued for â€Å"misuse of funds†. Host: That’s unfortunate, did you win the court case? Johann: Of course not, and he had control of my bible printing press, and half of all bibles printed. Host: And could you explain why the printing press was important? Johann: As I understand it, it meant that books and news traveled to more people, and more quickly. It helped the Renaissance, and later facilitated the Scientific revolution. Host: Wow that was an informative interview, but now we have to go to commercial break. When we come back I will be talking with our final guest. Host: And we’re back! Now as you know with the Renaissance came the appearance of humanism. We have the father of humanism himself with us today, Francesco Petrarca! Petrarca: Hello. Host: As the father of humanism, could you explain to the audience exactly what humanism is? Petrarca: Humanism is a response to the clinical scholasticism. Humanists such as myself want to create a society where are all citizens are capable of engaging civic life, being eloquent of speech and pen. Host: I see, what is scholasticism? Petrarca: It’s something that seems to be prevalent in society today, preparing people to be â€Å"good† jobs such as doctors or lawyers. It emphasizes learning minor and unimportant details for careers that relatively few will partake in. Host: Asides from being the Father of Humanism what else have you done? Petrarca: I’m also a bit of a poet. And I came up with the concept of the Dark Ages, although that seems to have gone out of style as of late. Host: Well the thought as of late is that calling it the Dark Ages is oversimplifying. It portrays the idea that humanity was briefly enlightened, and then lost it’s way, and then was enlightened again- Petrarca: Exactly! That’s exactly the point I’m trying to make. Host: Well it doesn’t agree with what modern historians generally think. They’ve been trying to make an effort to be less Eurocentric, and to try to understand concepts of the past without changing the facts to suite our ideas of what should have happened.

Free Essays on Phobias

Phobias In America, more people suffer from phobias than do Cancer. The purpose of this paper is to define phobias as well as explain their impact on their victims. It will also examine the current research on the several types of phobias. Then they will explain the cause of these phobias. After this we describe how you can tell if a person is infected by these serious problems. The symptoms are sometimes easy to see but, some time can’t be seen. Next, we will discuss the different treatments that are available in these times. Finally, we will describe the research that is being done to help cure these diseases’. Webster defines a phobia as â€Å"a strong irrational fears, that can often control peoples lives. Phobias are becoming more common in adults. Phobias have been around for a long time. In the Middle Ages the had very strange methods of attempting to cure a person problem. One case is were if you feared water, they would submerge you in a rank of water and not let you stop going under until you have conquered the fear. They did not know about these serious problems. When there is a problem they need help. Fisher 2 There are so many phobias. There is a phobia for everything. They are divided into three major categories. One is mental phobias. These are they phobias that are in your head. One example is being stage fright. This is your brain mentally telling you that you are so scared that you can’t move. The Next one is social phobias. These are the phobias that are caused by being in crowds are being afraid to do something because you are afraid what people think. The last one is agoraphobia. Over 23 million Americans suffer from phobias each year. One third of these people go and get treatment. Social phobias are becoming more and more common (Rothenburg). One very specific phobia is performance anxiety or commonly called â€Å"stage fright† (Social I & II). This is a very comm... Free Essays on Phobias Free Essays on Phobias Phobias In America, more people suffer from phobias than do Cancer. The purpose of this paper is to define phobias as well as explain their impact on their victims. It will also examine the current research on the several types of phobias. Then they will explain the cause of these phobias. After this we describe how you can tell if a person is infected by these serious problems. The symptoms are sometimes easy to see but, some time can’t be seen. Next, we will discuss the different treatments that are available in these times. Finally, we will describe the research that is being done to help cure these diseases’. Webster defines a phobia as â€Å"a strong irrational fears, that can often control peoples lives. Phobias are becoming more common in adults. Phobias have been around for a long time. In the Middle Ages the had very strange methods of attempting to cure a person problem. One case is were if you feared water, they would submerge you in a rank of water and not let you stop going under until you have conquered the fear. They did not know about these serious problems. When there is a problem they need help. Fisher 2 There are so many phobias. There is a phobia for everything. They are divided into three major categories. One is mental phobias. These are they phobias that are in your head. One example is being stage fright. This is your brain mentally telling you that you are so scared that you can’t move. The Next one is social phobias. These are the phobias that are caused by being in crowds are being afraid to do something because you are afraid what people think. The last one is agoraphobia. Over 23 million Americans suffer from phobias each year. One third of these people go and get treatment. Social phobias are becoming more and more common (Rothenburg). One very specific phobia is performance anxiety or commonly called â€Å"stage fright† (Social I & II). This is a very comm...

About Sir Clough Williams-Ellis and Portmeirion, Wales

About Sir Clough Williams-Ellis and Portmeirion, Wales Architect Clough Williams-Ellis (born May 28, 1883 in Gayton, Northamptonshire, England) is best-known as the creator of Portmeirion, a village in Wales, yet as an environmentalist he also helped establish the British National Parks system and became knighted for his services to architecture and the environment. Son of the Reverand John Clough Williams-Ellis, young Bertram Clough first moved to Wales with his family when he was only four. He went back to England to study mathematics at Trinity College in Cambridge, but he never graduated. From 1902 to 1903 he trained at the Architectural Association in London. The budding designer had deep Welsh and English connections, being related to the medieval entrepreneur Sir Richard Clough (1530–1570) and the Victorian poet Arthur Hugh Clough (1819-1861). His first designs were numerous parsonages and regional cottages in England and Northern Ireland. He inherited some property in Wales in 1908, married in 1915, and raised a family there. After serving in World War I, he designed a number of war memorials and travelled to architecturally rich countries like Italy, an experience that informed his sense of what he wanted to build in his homeland. In 1925 Clough Williams-Ellis began building in Portmeirion in northern Wales, and he didnt finish until 1976. Located on Sir Cloughs private peninsula on the coast of Snowdonia, Portmeirion first opened in 1926. That year, Sir Clough also founded the CPRE (Council for the Protection of Rural England). He established the CPRW (now Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales) in 1928. Portmeirion was not a continuous project, however. He continued to design residences and in 1935 he designed the original summit building on Snowdon, which became the highest building in Wales. Forever the conservationist and environmentalist, Sir Clough helped establish the British National Parks in 1945, and in 1947 he penned On Trust for the Nation for the National Trust. He was knighted in 1972 for services to architecture and the environment.   He died at his home in Plas Brondanw on April 8, 1978. Portmerion: A Lifelong Project The flamboyant and largely self-taught Bertram Clough Williams-Ellis devoted his life to the cause of environmental preservation. His work on the resort village of Portmeirion, Wales represented his efforts to prove that it was possible to build beautiful - and colorful - housing without defiling the natural landscape. Sir Clough was 90 years old when  Portmeirion was completed. Portmeirion is riddled with anachronisms. Greek gods mingle with gilded figures of Burmese dancers. Modest stucco bungalows are decked with arcaded porches, balustraded balconies, and Corinthian columns. Its as though the designer tossed 5,000 years of architectural history along the shore, without a care for symmetry, accuracy, or continuity. Even American architect Frank Lloyd Wright paid a visit in 1956, just to see what Clough was up to. Wright, who also boasted a Welsh heritage and a concern for conservation, praised the innovative combinations of architectural styles. Portmeirion became an exercise in historic restoration. Many of the structures were pieced together from buildings destined for demolition. The village became known as a repository for fallen architecture. Portmeirion designer Sir Clough Williams-Ellis didnt mind when visitors called his quirky village Home for Fallen Buildings. Architect Clough Williams-Ellis moved amongst artists and artisans. He married the writer Amabel Strachey and fathered the artist/potter Susan Williams-Ellis, originator of Portmeirion Botanic Garden dinnerware. An Italian Resort in Northern Wales Viewers of the 1960s television series The Prisoner will find some of the landscapes eerily familiar. The bizarre prison kingdom where actor Patrick McGoohan encountered surreal adventures was, in fact, Portmeirion. The vacation village of Portmeirion nestles on the northern coast of Wales, but theres nothing Welsh in the flavor of its architecture. No stone cottages here. Instead, the hillside overlooking the bay is dotted with candy-colored houses which suggest sunny Mediterranean landscapes. There are even swaying palm trees around the tinkling fountains. Portmeirion village in Minffordd has become a destination vacation and event venue in northern Wales. It has accommodations, cafes, and weddings all within a Disneyesque community. Vacationing within a fanciful, planned community was big business in the 1960s, after the success of Californias Disneyland in 1955 and before the 1971 opening of Floridas Walt Disney World Resort. Sir Cloughs idea of fantasy, however, took on more Italianate tone than Disneys mousechitecture. The Unicorn Cottage, for example, was a British-Italian experience in the Welsh countryside. Since 2012, Portmeierion has been the site of an arts and music festival called Festival No6 - named after the main character in The Prisoner. For one long, exhausting weekend in early September, Sir Cloughs village is home to the quirky fringe who seek poetry, harmony, and a Mediterranean refuge in northern Wales. Festival No6 is billed as a festival unlike any other  - no doubt because the fanciful Welsh village is itself a fantasy. In the TV show, the sense of geographical and temporal displacement suggests that this village was created by a madman. But there was nothing crazy about Portmeirions designer, Sir Clough Williams-Ellis. His lifelong concern was with environmental preservation. By building Portmeirion on his private peninsula in Snowdonia, Wales, Sir Clough hoped to show that architecture can be beautiful and fun...without defacing the landscape. Despite these high-minded intentions, however, Portmeirion is, most of all, entertaining. Clough Williams-Ellis was a master of illusion, and his designs confuse, delight, and deceive. Highlights of Portmeirion The Piazza Originally the Piazza was a tennis court, but since 1966 the area has been a quiet paved area with a blue tiled pond, a fountain, and lavish flower beds. Along the southern edge of the Piazza, two columns support gilded figures of Burmese dancers. A low stone stairway climbs to the Gloriette - a playful structure named after the grand monument at the Schà ¶nbrunn Palace near Vienna. Built in the mid-1960s, Portmeirions garden room or gloriette is not a building, but a decorative facade. Five trompe loeil windows surround the open doorway. The four columns are the work of 18th century architect Samuael Wyatt, salvaged from the colonnade of Hooton Hall, Cheshire. The Bridge House Built between 1958 and 1959, Bridge House seems larger than it really is because of its tapering walls. When visitors pass through the archway from the parking area, they encounter their first breathtaking view of the village. Bristol Colonnade Built in about 1760, the Colonnade stood in front of a Bristol bathhouse in England. It was falling into decay when Portmeirions creator moved the structure to Portmeirion - piece by piece.in 1959. Several hundred tons of delicate masonry were disassembled and transported to the Welsh village. Every stone was numbered, and replaced according to precise measurements. Promenade Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, today recognized as one of the United Kingdoms first conservationists, wanted to show that the development of a naturally beautiful site need not lead to its defilement. An assortment of urns and columns line the flower strewn Promenade atop the Bristol Colonnade - rebuilt in the Welsh hillside, overlooking The Piazza and the village. The integration of walkways atop, over, through, and into Sir Cloughs designed village ties together the themes of community and harmony within an Italian Renaissance architecture. The dome at the Promenades end replicates the famous Brunelleschi dome in Florence, Italy. Unicorn Cottage In this miniature of a stately Chatsworth home, architect and Portmeirion master planner Sir Clough Williams-Ellis creates the illusion of a classic Georgian estate. Elongated windows, long pillars, and an undersized gate make the Unicorn seem tall, but in fact it is a dressed-up bungalow built in the mid-1960s...and only one story high. Hercules Gazebo Several cast iron mermaid panels, salvaged from the Old Seamans Home in Liverpool, form the sides of the Hercules Gazebo, built in 1961-1962. For many years, the Hercules Gazebo was painted shocking pink. The structure is now a more subtle terra-cotta shade. But this playful facade is yet another example of architectural illusion - as a space to house mechanical equipment, the Gazebo disguises a generator. Cottages Hotels and cottages dot the planned landscape of Portmeirion, just as they would in any village. Chantry Cottage, with its red-clay tile Italiante roof, sits high atop the hill, above the Bristol Colonnade and Promenade below. Built in 1937 for the Welsh painter Augustus John, Chantry Cottage is one of the earliest structures built by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis and today is a self-catering cottage sleeping nine. But it all began with legendary mermaids, real or not. Dating from the 1850s, the Mermaid house was present on the peninsula when building began at Portmeirion. For many years it was used to house village staff. Sir Clough dressed up the cottage with an imposing metal canopy and the welcoming palm trees sprinkled throughout the village. Landscape design and Italianate architecture is how Sir Clough created the illusion that we are in sunny Italy...not in wet and windy North Wales. And it works. Visual Elements for Portmeirion The Piazza Village Center - VisitBritain/Britain on View/Getty Images Bridge House - Martin Leigh/Getty Image (cropped) Bristol Colonnade Bathhouse from Bristol, England - John Freeman/Getty Images (cropped) Promenade - Charles Bowman/Getty Images (cropped) Unicorn Cottage Behind Colorful Iron Gate  - Paul Thompson/Getty Images (cropped) Hercules Gazebo on Day 2 of Festival No6  - Andrew Benge/Getty Images Bristol Colonnade Beneath Chantry Row  - John Freeman/Getty Images (cropped) Sources Chronology, https://www.portmeirion-village.com/visit/clough-williams-ellis/chronology/ [accessed March 17, 2018]ocal Legends, BBC, bbc.co.uk/legacies/myths_legends/wales/w_ne/article_7.shtml [accessed March 17, 2018]Snowdon summit centre hits the peak of success, WalesOnline, https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/snowdon-summit-centre-hits-peak-1913101 [accessed March 17, 2018]Photo credits: The Resort Village of Portmeirion, Wales by Martin Leigh/Photolibrary Collection/Getty Images (cropped); Bridge House by John Freeman/Getty Images (cropped); The Colonnade by Ben Pipe Photography/Getty Images (cropped); Promenade atop the Bristol Colonnade by John Freeman/Getty Images (cropped); Unicorn Cottage by Paul Thompson/Getty Images (cropped); Cast Iron Mermaid Panel by Scott Wylie, scotbot via flckr.com, Creative Commons 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

Replacing Damaged and Torn US Currency

Replacing Damaged and Torn US Currency Every year the United States Treasury redeems over $30 million worth of damaged and mutilated paper money - currency. Here is how to get damaged or mutilated U.S. money replaced. Replacing US Currency Damaged U.S. currency- paper bills- that have merely been damaged can typically be replaced at a bank, while bills that have been mutilated must be mailed to the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing for replacement.To be considered damaged but not mutilated, at least one-half of the damaged bill must be clearly identifiable. Bills that are dirty, defaced, or torn can typically be replaced at a bank.Bills that have deteriorated from being buried in soil or have been damaged by fire, flooding, chemicals, explosions, animals or insects are more likely to be considered mutilated.The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) does not charge for inspecting or replacing mutilated currency, however, the BEP must be able to identify the mutilated bills as being valid U.S. currency. The correct procedure for replacing US currency depends on how and how badly the money has been damaged. According to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP), U.S. currency that has been damaged, but not mutilated, can usually be redeemed at a bank, while truly mutilated bills require special handling. What is Damaged, but Not Mutilated Money? Damaged but not mutilated currency includes any bill that is CLEARLY more than ones of non-mutilated bills include those that are badly soiled, dirty, defaced, disintegrated, limp, torn or otherwise worn out.These damaged-but-not-mutilated bills can be exchanged through your local bank. Replacing Mutilated Currency The Bureau of Engraving and Printing considers mutilated money to be less than about 51% of the original bill or any bill so badly damaged that its value cannot be determined without special handling and examination. The mutilated currency has most often been damaged by fire, flooding, chemicals, explosions, animals or insects. Another very common source of damage to currency is fossilization or deterioration from being directly buried in soil for long periods of time. The BEP redeems mutilated currency as a free public service. Mutilated currency must be mailed or personally delivered to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Here, according to the U.S. Treasury is how to do it: When mutilated currency is submitted, a letter should be included stating the estimated value of the currency and an explanation of how the currency became mutilated. Each case is carefully examined by an experienced mutilated currency examiner. The amount of time needed to process each case varies with its complexity and the case workload of the examiner. However, the BEP warns that heavy volume and the precise nature of the work may result in longer wait times. The Director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing has the final authority for the settlement of mutilated currency claims. Although Treasury examiners are usually able to determine the amount and value of the mutilated currency, carefully packaging the currency is essential to prevent additional damage. In general, the BEP will replace mutilated currency if: More than 50% of a bill that can be identified as United States currency is present, along with sufficient remnants of any relevant security features; or,Less than 50% of a bill identifiable as United States currency is present and the method of mutilation and supporting evidence demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Treasury that the missing portions have been totally destroyed. Every year, the Treasury Department handles approximately 30,000 claims and redeems mutilated currency valued at over $30 million. Procedure for Mailing Mutilated Currency The following procedures should be used when packing mutilated currency for examination and possible replacement by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing: Regardless of the condition of the currency, do not disturb the fragments any more than is absolutely necessary.If the currency is brittle or inclined to fall apart, pack it carefully in plastic and cotton without disturbing the fragments and place the package in a secure container.If the currency was mutilated in a purse, box, or another container, it should be left in the container to protect the fragments from further damage.If it is absolutely necessary to remove the fragments from the container, send the container along with the currency and any other contents that may have currency fragments attached.If the currency was flat when mutilated, do not roll or fold the notes.If the currency was rolled up when mutilated, do not attempt to unroll or straighten it out.If coins or any other metal is mixed with the currency, carefully remove it. Any fused, melted, or otherwise mutilated coins should be sent to, Superintendent U. S. Mint, Post Office Box 400 Philadelphia, PA. 19105. Mailing Address for Mutilated Currency Mutilated currency, packed according to the above instructions, should be mailed to: Department of the TreasuryBureau of Engraving and PrintingOffice of Currency StandardsP. O. Box 37048 Washington, D. C. 20013 All mutilated currency should be sent by Registered Mail, Return Receipt Requested.  Purchasing postal insurance on the shipment is the responsibility of the sender. For cases that are expected to take longer than four weeks to process, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing will issue a written confirmation of receipt. To obtain information about your mutilated currency shipment, contact the Mutilated Currency Division at 1-866-575-2361 or 202-874-8897. Personal deliveries of mutilated currency to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing are accepted between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 2:00 P.M., Monday through Friday, except holidays. The Office of Currency Standards is located at 14th and C Streets, S. W., Washington, D. C. What About Damaged Coins? The United States Mint will replace uncurrent (badly worn) coins with new coins of the same denomination and will redeem mutilated coins for their current scrap metal value. Uncurrent coins are whole coins but are worn or reduced in weight by natural abrasion. They are easily recognizable as to genuineness and denomination and are in such condition that coin sorting and counting machines will accept them. Undercut coins that are too badly worn to be redeemed by commercial banks may be redeemed only at  Federal Reserve Banks and branches. Uncurrent coins are replaced with new coins of the same denomination by the Federal Reserve Banks and then forwarded to the United States Mint. Mutilated coins, on the other hand, are coins that are bent, broken, not whole, or fused or melted together.

Company policy for safety cell phone use in cars Essay

Company policy for safety cell phone use in cars - Essay Example Based on the policy: You should avoid using your cell phone held in your hands while driving, especially during dangerous driving conditions such as snow, sleet, rain or ice. All sales representatives should place their cell phones in easily accessible places in the car to ensure easy and faster reach. You should not shift your eyes and attention from the road while getting your mobile phone. Every sales representative is expected to be familiar with all the important features of their mobile phones such as making speed dial and voice calls among others in order to ensure efficient and swift use when there is need. Do not take notes or concentrate on looking at your phone while driving. Pull over in case you cannot avoid taking the call and turn off your engine or let your voice mail do the receiving if the call is not urgent. This will also be applicable for hands-free devices. This policy aims at ensuring your safety in the course of duty. Therefore, let us all observe the proposed rules as we use our mobile phones. I hope you all find this information important rather than restricting and support its course. Thank you for your support as we look into a safer future.

Security Analysis and Portfolio Management Assignment

Security Analysis and Portfolio Management - Assignment Example It was originated in USA and the first credit rating agency was set up in New York. Credit rating can be defined as the way of evaluating the credit worth of a debtor. According to Moody’s a rating is an opinion on the future ability and legal obligation of the issuer to make timely payments of principal and interest on a specific fixed income security (Gurusamy, 2009, p.88-89). In general, the evaluation of the various securities is done by the credit rating agencies regarding the ability of the debtor to pay back the financial obligations and the probability of becoming a defaulter. In addition, credit rating is also used by the individuals and business ventures that purchase bonds which are issued by the government and companies in order to determine the possibility that company or the government will fulfill its bond obligations. The credit rating is based on the records of earlier repayment and borrowing. Apart from that, the credit rating is also done on the basis of the company’s availability of assets and liabilities. ... Some of the factors are convenient and some are inconvenient. A poor credit rating of the companies or the government indicates that they have high chances of not fulfilling the obligations. A credit rating also highlights about the credit quality and credit risk. The desirable characteristics of a credit rating are as follows: - Specificity: - The rating is in accordance with or specific to the debt instrument. Relativity: - The rating is based on the willingness and the relative capability of the instrument issuer to service the obligations of the debt specific to the terms of the contract. Guidance: - The credit rating is aimed to provide guidance to the investors regarding the credit risk associated with an investment. Qualitative and Quantitative: - In order to determine the credit grade, both qualitative as well as quantitative factors are used. The judgment made is however qualitative in nature. Not a Recommendation: - The rating does not provide any kind of recommendations to hold, buy or sell the instruments. This is because of the fact that credit rating does not take into consideration factors such as personal risk preferences, market prices and other factors that may impact the investment decision. Broad Parameters: - The credit rating is based on some of the parameters of information provided by the issuer and information collected from other sources. No Guarantee: - The rating as provided by the agency does not provide any assurance for the accuracy and completeness of the information regarding the factors of rating. The increasing importance and stupendous growth of crediting rating system has been mainly due to the globalization of the credit market, moving trends towards the privatization, due to the withdrawal

Comparative Corporate Governance Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Comparative Corporate Governance - Assignment Example Either way, the only time that accountability comes into play is when there is a crisis. In this way, managerial accountability issues are the same across jurisdictions. I. Corporate Governance in the United States Corporate governance and governance arrangements vary widely from country to country, and to illustrate this an in-depth examination will focus upon the UK and the United States. The first thing to understand about the United States’ corporate governance is that it evolved after the Enron and WorldCom scandals of the early 1990s to early 2000s. In order to understand why corporate governance in the UK and the United States evolved, one must under the precipitating factors in their evolutions, and that was the Enron and WorldCom scandals in the late 1990s-early 2000s. Corporate governance was different for the United States in the 1980s, because, during this period, hostile takeovers changed the way that corporations did business. 1 Leveraged buyouts were costly mane uvers, which made managers sensitive to the market price of their firm. This, in turn, led to great risks in inflating the stock prices. This was coupled with widespread deregulation and the rise of CEO pay.2 Since CEO pay was tied to the company’s performance, the CEO had reason to inflate the corporate numbers, because this, in turn, would inflate the salary of the CEO. The tie from the company’s performance to the CEO was further reason for the CEO to obsess about the day to day price of the firm. What this means was that, since the CEO pay was tied to the performance of the company, there was further reason for the CEO to inflate numbers, because it would also inflate his or her salary. Because of this tie from the performance of the company to the CEO pay, the CEO was given further reason to obsess over the day to day price of the firm. Moreover, there was a failure of accounting in catching the Enron and WorldCom debacles.3 Arthur Andersen, the accounting firm be hind the Enron scandal, went from being one of the most well-respected professional firms in the world to a shamed company that was not only responsible for the Enron scandal, but securities frauds in Waste Management, Sunbeam, HBOCMcKesson, The Baptist Foundation and Global Crossing as well.4 While the U.S. has also traditionally believed in the power of the free market,5 in the wake of the scandals, the U.S. implemented a series of rules, as codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, by which corporations must abide. Some of these rules involve transparency in the disclosure of executive compensation.6 According to the SEC, all corporations must disclose any remuneration made to the CEO, CFO and the three most highly paid officers.7 The rules apply to the following disclosures: â€Å"(1) tabular disclosures regarding executive remuneration and director remuneration;(2) narrative description of other types of remuneration and any information material to an understanding of the t abular information, and (3) a Compensation Discussion and Analysis (â€Å"CD&A†)†8 . The way that all companies must disclose this information is through their annual proxy statement, which the SEC's website makes available on-line.9 Additionally, there are other regulations that are designed to increase transparency about executive and director compensation. For instance, there are regulations that require disclosure regarding â€Å"(i) beneficial ownership of public company securities by persons owning 5% or more of