Sports

The hawks pay Vick’s stock price

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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick faces charges of animal cruelty and sponsorship of dogfighting operations across state lines, but his legal troubles are the least of the concerns facing the Atlanta Falcons franchise. . Though Vick ultimately faces jail time if he’s convicted, what happens between now and then could affect the organization for years to come.

The indictment puts the Falcons in an awkward position. There are many people who were outraged by the lurid details of the torture and abuse the dogs suffered at the hands of Vick and his associates, outlined in the 18-page indictment filed in the US District Court for the Eastern District. of Virginia. There is some expectation that the team will take a hard line against Vick. Others plead for Vick to have his day in court before public opinion crucifies him.

Formally, the latter is also the opinion of the Falcons organization, which wants nothing more than for Vick to stand trial to prove his innocence, if possible. Truth be told, the outcome of the legal action probably won’t make a difference to the team from a business standpoint. If Vick is found guilty, he won’t play for the team anyway. And even if Vick is found not guilty, he has already poisoned the team’s season just by being charged. Maybe that’s unfair to Vick, but that’s exactly what happened in a short time.

Falcons owner Arthur Blank issued a statement that read in part: “This is a complicated and emotionally charged matter.” And furthermore, although he didn’t say it explicitly, this is also a no-win situation for his team. Vick is his star player, the face of the franchise, and he’s been a big draw for ticket sales since the day he was selected first overall in 2001. And there’s also a financial consideration. He is owed $6 million this year alone in salary. Blank must find some way to balance what Vick represents as the star of the organization against the consequences if Vick simply plays as much of the season as he can.

The problem is that if Vick plays, he will draw the ire of protesters throughout the season, as well as considerable attention from fans and media alike. Every Falcons press conference, every Michael Vick news story will mention the indictment and the trial, whether Vick is ultimately found not guilty or not guilty. And what if the Falcons have a losing season? Suddenly, that scrutiny is exacerbated to the extreme.

The alternative may come down to a quiet deal between Blank and Vick. Blank also said in his statement that “there are a wide range of interests and legal issues that must be carefully considered as we move forward, including our need to respect the due process that Michael is entitled to.” While it may seem like Blank would rather wait for legal action to conclude, he may also ultimately indicate a gentlemen’s agreement that Vick would take the season off, likely paid leave. This is also a less than ideal solution. The Falcons traded quarterback Matt Schaub to the Houston Texans. Heading into the season, they have Joey Harrington and Chris Redman to back Vick up.

Regardless of who steps up to replace him, releasing Vick may not be an option for financial reasons. Vick will have $13.57 million against the salary cap this season and $15.1 million in 2008. Because of his 10-year contract and a $37 million signing bonus, the Falcons would save virtually nothing to release him in either year.

And none of this takes into account the consequences that will affect the Falcons tangentially. It already started after an announcement by National Football League commissioner Roger Goodell that Vick would be allowed to practice and play with the Falcons while federal investigators continue their case against him. The activist group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals immediately issued a public protest and will take its complaint in person to the league’s main office today. PETA spokesman Dan Shannon called the charges against Vick “staggering” and there is talk of boycotts against the Falcons organization and/or the NFL itself if Vick is allowed to play. The Humane Society has also said that he will protest in some way.

Also, after the indictment was announced, Nike brought out a line of exclusive shoes bearing Vick’s name. The Air Zoom Vick V has been shelved indefinitely, though Nike’s other Vick-branded shoes will continue to be available at retail stores.

There will be more of this type of reaction as companies and other athletes strive to get as far away as possible from the negative stigma Vick’s actions have placed on him, the Falcons and the NFL. Some people will wholeheartedly support Vick. Others will claim that he is being singled out for his status as a high-profile athlete. But all these things are really beside the point. As NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy put it succinctly, “We are disappointed that Michael Vick has put himself in a position where a federal grand jury has returned an indictment against him.”

That’s right, guilty or not, the price has already been paid.

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The Injustice of California’s Record Sealing Statute

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If you were arrested and tried for a crime where there wasn’t even “reasonable cause” to believe you committed the crime, you may be left with a criminal record that can prevent you from getting a job, housing, volunteering in your children’s classroom , and other basic things that people with clean criminal records can do. All this damage comes from a crime you clearly did not commit.

California Records Sealing Statute, Penal Code Section 851.8. is designed to prevent this gross injustice by allowing people who are found not guilty to have all records of the arrest and court case sealed and destroyed. In most situations, the statute successfully balances the state’s right to preserve information against an individual’s right to preserve its reputation. However, in a large number of situations, wrongfully accused people are left with lifetime damages caused by arrest records or court cases in which they were innocent, but the statute allows the records to be sealed.

The California Department of Justice (CDOJ) maintains a complete criminal record on every person who has ever been arrested or charged in court with a criminal offense. This report is commonly known as a rap sheet or background report. Among other things, the rap sheet shows the date, place, and reason for the arrest or court case. Even if a person is found not guilty or charges are dropped, the record of the arrest and any court cases are shown on the person’s rap sheet.

Unlike reports kept by credit bureaus or the Department of Motor Vehicles, which only show negative history for a limited number of years, once something shows up on the CDOJ rap sheet, it stays forever; unless the person successfully petitions to have the record of the arrest and trial sealed. A successful petition to seal a record with a clean expungement of any evidence of the arrest or court case from the CDOJ rap sheet.

The CDOJ will only release the rap sheet to authorized state agencies for limited purposes or to the person who requests their own rap sheet by filing a petition, submitting fingerprints, and paying a nominal fee (to the which can be waived for people who cannot afford the fee). . Despite an apparent attempt to prevent the rap sheet from being released publicly, rap sheets are widely used for private purposes. According to a 2006 study by the Society for Human Resource Management, 80 percent of medium and large employers conducted criminal background checks to screen prospective employees. That’s 26 percent more than in 1996. Rap ​​sheets are often required by a wide range of other people and organizations, from owners to little leaguers.

Information contained on rap sheets often determines which applicant gets things like housing, employment, or the ability to interact with their children. There is no law in California that prevents these decisions from being made based on arrests or charges for which the person was factually innocent. Consequently, it is good public policy that rap sheets are accurate and do not contain information that could unduly prejudice an individual. California’s record sealing law provides most wrongfully accused citizens with a way to clear their criminal record of negative information.

The procedure is established in section 851.8 states:

“In any case where a person has been arrested and an accusatory plea has been filed, but no conviction has occurred, the defendant may, at any time after the dismissal of the action, apply to the court which dismissed the action to determine that the defendant is factually innocent of the charges for which the arrest was made.”

If the individual is successful, the status indicates:

“The court will also order the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the crime and the Department of Justice to request the destruction of any arrest record they have turned over to any federal, state, or local agency, person, or entity. Each state or local agency, person, or entity within the State of California that receives such a request shall destroy its arrest records and the request to destroy such records, except as otherwise provided in this section.”

One of the main problems is that statute does not expressly allow partial sealing of an arrest record. Courts have yet to interpret PC 851.8 as allowing “surgical removal of certain portions of arrest records.” people vs. Matthews 7 CA 4th 1052 (1992). So, if an individual charged with two crimes is found not guilty of one of the crimes and guilty of the other, no part of the record can be sealed. Consider this scenario that leads to an unfair and unexpected result:

A couple is having a heated argument. A neighbor who fears violence calls the police. When the police arrive, one of the suspects, who is in a fit of rage, wrongfully accuses the other of sexual assault. Police arrest those accused of sexual assault and disorderly conduct. An hour later, the accuser calms down, loses his anger, and retracts his testimony to the police. The wrongful charge of sexual assault is never brought to court. However, the defendant goes to court and pleads guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct and is sentenced to a $200 fine. Unknown to this defendant, and most defendants, is that there is another sentence they will face for life. Every time someone else looks at your rap sheet, they will see that the defendant was arrested for a felony sexual assault. The defendant will have to spend his entire life waiting for people to believe the negative history explanation on the rap sheet and dealing with the likelihood that he will cause unfair harm.

This unfair and unexpected outcome harms the individual and society by placing major lifelong obstacles in the way of a person trying to reach their personal and professional potential.

Legislative history makes it clear that the legislature found it unfair for a citizen to be placed on an arrest record for a crime that was not committed. There is nothing in the plain language of the statute or in logic to suggest that the legislature would tolerate the unjust charging of one charge simply because the defendant is justly charged by a separate charge.

Arts Entertainments

The Jagons of African Democracy

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“There can be only one kind of democracy and that is democracy that recognizes certain pristine notions…” (Muyiwa Falaiye).* Democracy undoubtedly remains the best form of government in Africa. As a result of the dictatorial leadership of our colonial masters, it is logical to return power to the people, after independence. In general and general terms, democracy refers to a government of the people, by the people and for the people. It is a form of government that empowers the people, and that is what Africa needs. Unfortunately, democracy has been altered and excessively polluted here in Africa.

Africa pretends to practice Western democracy, while the political modus operandi is “African democracy”. In other words, while other continents practice Western democracy, Africa has settled for “African democracy.” This gives us a dichotomy between “democracy in Africa” ​​and “African democracy”. The first is Western democracy unaltered, while the second is democracy intertwined with African cultural values.

Historically speaking, the status quo in most African nations was the practice of African democracy. Apart from our communal social configuration, African democracy existed, even before the advent of our colonial masters. In pre-colonial African societies, African democracy allowed the ruling “party” to view the opposition “party” as an enemy. An enemy that will seek any means to destroy the ruling ‘party’. But when the British came, they introduced their own Western democracy which allowed the opposition party to act as checkmate to the ruling party. Furthermore, in this type of government system, the opposition party is expected to make constructive criticism of the ruling party, not destructive criticism. In fact, this type of system was alien to most African societies. But unfortunately, particularly during the early post-colonial era, this pure democracy that the British introduced was abandoned and most African countries practiced half of this democracy (which led to the practice of African democracy today), or none of it. . It was at this point that Western democracy became excessively contaminated with cultural values.

Due to the wide spread of this African democracy, ordinary people no longer have a voice in politics. African democracy is simply full of inequality, corruption, nepotism, etc. Perhaps that is why most African countries are underdeveloped today. As a continent that recently freed itself from the clutches of colonial dictatorship, African democracy is not what we need right now.

At this point, it is paramount to add that I am not advocating the complete eradication of our cultural values. Rather, I am advocating the complete exclusion of our cultural values ​​from our politics. There is nothing wrong with our African cultural values. But amalgamating cultural values ​​with Western democracy implies giving a grotesque vision of the very concept of democracy. For example, our cultural values ​​demand that we respect our elders, and young people have no part in the discussions or dealings of our elders. In fact, a young child has no right to question the opinions of our elders. In a Democratic setting, this is stark inequality. Democracy demands that all those involved in the political institution of their society have the same rights, regardless of their age. As you can see, there is a conflicting gap between our cultural values ​​and Western democracy. Other examples of these cultural values ​​include the godfather (a political figure who determines who rules, and is also often worshiped by young “godchildren”), the power to rule is in the hands of a specific class of wealthy people, and so on. .

My point is that democracy must be a government of equality, free from all forms of patronage, and where people have the same rights to participate, either directly or representatively, regardless of their age. Therefore, democracy should not be situated or practiced within the limits of cultural values. To do this amounts to distorting the very concept of democracy. Unfortunately, this is what is being done here in Africa.

Democracy is a government of the people. They decide the kind of ruler they want. However, some scholars have argued that democracy is not the best form of government for Africans, and the reason for this is the high rate of uneducated people in Africa. But this also means that African leaders must take up the task of providing an environment conducive to learning, adequate learning facilities and more establishment of schools and higher institutions. When this is done, the illiteracy rate in Africa will drop dramatically and Africans will elect their leaders in a completely democratic environment.

Western democracy is the best form of government for Africa. But the practice of African democracy, enmeshed with cultural values, is like sticking a dagger into a man’s chest. In the end, the man will die. Therefore, something must be done. We cannot stand by and watch this continent drift. “The biggest problem facing Africa now is the absence of ideology” (Franz Fanon). We need to think, provide ideas and act on these ideas. Our founding fathers of independent Africa (Azikwe, Nkrumah, Senghor, Peter Abraham, Awolowo, Hastings Banda, Jomo Kenyatta and George Padmore) expressed ideas about how Africa can gain political independence and acted accordingly. “Evil prevails when good men fail to act.” Therefore, I challenge the youth as leaders of tomorrow to end this African democracy (especially the godfather and political inequality), before it is too late.

Thank you
Sincerely

Fianance

How to get Low Doc Commercial Loans

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Get Low Doc Commercial Loans

Low doc small business loans were first introduced by non-bank lenders in the 1990s. The aim of these loans is to offer fast, convenient financing to small businesses and self-employed individuals without the need for financial statements or extensive documentation. The loan application process for small businesses can be lengthy and cumbersome, but the new breed of lenders recognise that the risk associated with lending to established businesses is far lower than many lenders would initially think.

When applying for a low doc loan, it is important to remember that most of these loans come with arrangement fees, which should be factored into your cost/benefit analysis. It is also important to choose a realistic repayment schedule for the loan. You should use projected income to work out a reasonable repayment schedule, which will help you avoid any issues in the future. However, before applying for a low doc loan, consider contacting a lender for a free quote.

Another option is to apply for equipment financing. This type of loan involves getting a quote on a new piece of equipment or a large sum of money for an existing piece of equipment. The lender will often front most or all of the cost of the equipment, which secures the loan. As long as you have a healthy income, this type of loan is easy to apply for and approved within a few days. A few lenders even don’t require financial statements or tax returns, making it easy for you to qualify.

How to get Low Doc Commercial Loans

The maximum loan term depends on the lender. Some lenders offer a 1 year, three year, or 25-year loan term. Others offer a longer term of 25 years, with no annual evaluations or rollovers. You can apply for a low doc loan for as much as $100,000. However, if you don’t have all the necessary documentation, you may want to consider a low doc business loan instead.

Many people find it difficult to obtain business finance from banks or other institutions. They have low credit scores or fluctuating incomes and may not be able to provide adequate documentation. Luckily, there are low doc lenders available that can provide the necessary funds. With a low doc business loan, you can easily get the funds you need for your company. If you need funding for your business, check out Universal Finance. They provide Low Doc Commercial Loans at competitive rates.

When applying for a low doc small business loan, make sure you carefully read the terms and conditions of the loan. Make sure to check the APR carefully, and do not agree to an APR that is significantly higher than you would expect. As a general rule, the lowest APRs are available only to those with excellent credit. However, the actual APR varies widely depending on your credit history, the amount of money you need, the loan term, and the lender.

Business

What Kind of Whisky is Macallan?

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Whisky is Macallan

You might wonder: What kind of whiskey is Macallan? Listed below are a few things to consider when choosing your next bottle. Macallan whiskey is an excellent example of a single malt. While it is not the only brand to feature this distinctive style, it is one of the most complex. To determine its quality, you should try a few of them to see which one you prefer. Read on to learn more!

The Six Pillars of The Macallan whisky are the hallmarks of a great whiskey, and the company is no exception. Its 485-acre estate serves as the spiritual home of the brand. To produce their unique whiskies, the Macallan uses small stills to concentrate the spirit and give it its characteristic rich flavor. A very small portion of the spirit is used to produce their single malt whiskey, which matures for at least 18 months in oak casks.

In 1824, Alexander Reid obtained a license to start his distillery. He called the distillery “Macallan,” and began to blend malts. By the mid-1980s, the company was making so much money from single malt whiskey that it created a collector’s market. Eventually, they began releasing bottles of their 60-year-old brand. The whiskey quickly became one of the best-selling labels.

What Kind of Whisky is Macallan?

Speyside whisky is known for its rich heritage and its ability to stand the test of time. It is matured in American oak bourbon casks and is blended with European whisky to create a unique blend. Speyside whisky never fails to please. Its abundant natural resources make it possible for the distillery to endure for centuries. It is also home to a thriving community, whose lives revolve around making this fine Scotch.

The distillery is nestled on the banks of the Spey River. Speyside is home to most of Scotland’s distilleries. It is also the home of Speymalt, the second most popular single malt in the world. Speyside is one of the five regions where whisky is made. Macallan has opened a new distillery in Speyside to showcase its new visitor experience.

There are several factors that contribute to the cost of a Macallan bottle. Obviously, the brand’s whiskies are produced using the finest barley, increasing the final product’s cost. In addition to evaluating barley constantly, Macallan invested in its own strain to use in making its whiskies. The result is a whisky that has a distinct flavor and mouth-feel. The high-end brand sells for as much as $250, making it an excellent investment for the connoisseur.