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World We Imagine Part 3: Film for the World

World We Imagine Part 3 Film for the World Audiences today are more global than ever. We have access to original stories from all around the world, and are therefore becoming more sensitive to the depictions of different cultures on-screen. Companies are finally realizing the value they can create by accurately portraying different groups of people, and they now have to search for the best way to find these fresh stories. They’re starting to change after getting in trouble time and time again for miscasting roles and broadly appropriating cultures.  With that in mind, Film for the World is an organization that goes into each of the underrepresented countries, partnered with a seasoned filmmaker willing to donate their time, and helps provide local talent with the resources and knowledge they need to start making their own films. We would ideally use equipment donated by various studios and companies who want to play a role in our work, but would rely on local populations ...

The Mastermind - Book 2 Post 2

The Mastermind: Drugs. Empire. Murder. Betrayal. There are some stories that just seem too implause, too far-fetched to ever have actually happened. Such is the story of Paul Calder Le Roux. In The Mastermind , Evan Ratliff details how Le Roux started as a harmless and talented programmer, before creating a vertically integrated online prescription drug service with hundreds of millions in revenue, and finally building his own international cartel that dealt in virtually every imaginable field of crime. And this entire ascent happened in just five years, between 2007 and 2012. Among many other activities, he smuggled massive amounts of methamphetamine out of North Korea, sold illegal technology to the Iranian government, and held warehouses full of thousands of gold bars under constant armed guard. Ratliff goes through the decade-long investigation that took Le Roux down, triggered by a DEA agent’s spontaneous look into a local pharmacy’s shipping records. This innocuous action rev...

World We Imagine Part 1

Arthur Hanlon Making the World a Better Place As I was thinking about the ways I could respond to this assignment and try to make the world a better place, it occured to me that it wouldn’t do much good to formulate some grandiose plan that aims to solve all of our social and societal problems. I have an incredible amount of respect for people who dedicate their lives towards this positive progress, but I don’t have the time, resources, or frankly the motivation to go down a similar path. I realized instead that I could do some good in a different way by relying on the skills and network currently at my disposal.  I’m set to enter the film and television industry after graduation, with the eventual goal of producing content of my own. As such, I can try to make a difference by bringing to life deeply personal stories from around the world, ones that shine a light on the unheard voices and forgotten tales that society left behind. I truly believe that contemporary film is a...

Miami: The Northernmost City of South America

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Miami: The Northernmost City of South America Being from Miami is like having a lifetime pass to the world’s biggest beach resort. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been away; as soon as you step out of the airport into the familiar warm blanket of humidity, and hear Latin music blasting from at least three different places, you know that you’ve made it home. And even though some areas might improve and new buildings will pop up, the beaches and iconic culture that make Miami unique always welcome you back as though no time has passed. It’s a vibrant place with a thriving economy and cultural life, but being there can often feel like you’ve left the United States entirely. With an odd blend of Latin and American culture, Miami is aptly described as the northernmost city in South America. Here are three reasons why.  English isn’t the main language.  Roughly 70% of Miami’s population is Hispanic or Latino, vastly outnumbering the 10% that is white alone (Data US...

Book 2 Post 1: The Mastermind

The Mastermind: Drugs. Empire. Murder. Betrayal. In late September, 2012, a nondescript Zimbabwe-born programmer named Paul Le Roux was arrested by DEA agents during a sting operation in Monrovia, Liberia. Despite his unremarkable appearance, the public would learn that Le Roux was actually a ruthless cartel leader who used his programming skills to single handedly build a sprawling criminal empire. In this book, The Mastermind , journalist and author Evan Ratliff details the decade-long investigation that uncovered a staggering story worthy of Breaking Bad . Le Roux began his career in 2003 with a legally questionable business called RX Limited, which used a network of doctors and pharmacies across the U.S. to sell prescription drugs online. This highly profitable enterprise ultimately played a major hand in the nation’s opioid crisis. But in 2007 Le Roux turned to highly illegal activities, building his own encryption software to hide from prying government eyes. By the time he w...

AMDP Investment Memo

TO: Clark Hanson, CEO FROM: Arthur Hanlon, R&D Department DATE: 10/20/2019 SUBJECT: Alqueria As you know, an important part of my job is to find companies suitable for investment that follow the standards of AMDP. After careful consideration, I would recommend that we invest in Alqueria. This large Colombian dairy company produces milk, cream, and yogurt of all kinds, makes an effort to be environmentally sustainable, and has an ambitious socially conscious goal built into their corporate philosophy. But before I review Alqueria in detail, it’s important to note AMDP’s investment expectations. AMDP Investment Standards Triple Bottom Line The triple bottom line is a multi-pronged approach to evaluating companies from a socially responsible perspective, and gauges them on their performance in the three “P’s”: People: A company’s effort to be helpful and generous towards those they employ, as well as towards local and regional communities impacted by their busine...