RJA #15: Reflection

I have a learned a ton of techniques in this class regarding research. The best take a away was the knightcite service and then followed by some of the online research tools such as Zakata, word doodle, and squidoo. I also learned a wealth of information about currency trading. I watch the stock markets everyday and really enjoyed learning about world currencies and felt good when I uncovered a strong link between currency and how American companies had been bought and sold. I feel I can take a lot of these tools and that “dig deep” mentality to add color on my research papers moving forward. I enjoyed this class and liked that I had free range to explore any topic I wanted to. If I had some topic I didn’t enjoy I probably wouldn’t have been exploring the material on my own time only during my school allotted time.

RJA #14b: Application Project References

Whoriskey, Peter, and Dina Elboghdady. "Stocks slump as Greece debt downgraded to junk." Washington Post 28 Apr. 2010. Web. 30 Apr. 2010. .

Wassener, Bettina, and David Jollu. "Euro Drops to One-Year Low on Greek Debt Woes." New York Times 22 Apr. 2010. Web. 1 May 2010. .

Eeuwens, Karen, and John Glover. "Greece Debt Swaps Record Leads Europe as Rescue Talks Commence." Bloomberg 21 Apr. . Web. 3 May 2010. .

Levine, Deborah. "Ten-year yields touch lowest in a month on Greece worries." Market Watch 21 Apr. . Web. 2 May 2010. .

Timeline: Greece's debt crisis." Reuters 2 May 2010. Web. 3 May 2010. .

RJA #14a: Application Project Progress Report

The progress made on my application project is that its almost complete. I have decided to write a news story and I am using the current head lines of the credit crunch in Greece and Portugal to outline what happens when a credit rating agency such as Moody’s or Standard and Poor’s downgrades your credit and how it effects the currencies involved. This fits in perfect with my “Is America selling out theme” because in my paper I was able to identify a lot of parallels between what happens when one currency comes under pressure and how it effects its inverted equal. I have a collection of current event articles this attack the issue from all sides and I also have one online time line resource.

RJA #13b: Application Project Plan–

I plan on writing a news article on the item. I love current events and often watch financial news so I think it would be great to act as if I am breaking the news with my own bias. I will focus on the angle I want to take on the article and then provide real life facts on current events. In recent days Greece, Portugal, and Spain had just received a downgrade on their credit ratings. I will be using a lot of this material as the focus to suggest whats next for currency.

RJA #13a: Word Cloud

http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/1970571/Is_America_selling_out%3F

RJA #10c: Ideas for the Application Project

For my application Project I plan on writing either a news article, short story or an editorial. I will most likely write an editorial because I am very opinionated and feel I could really go on rant exposing truths I have found through my research no matter how unpopular it appears to be. I am looking forward to this editorial.

RJA #10b: Progress Report for Argumentative Paper

I have outlined my paper and located all the material I want to include. I need to start brainstorming the format so I know which topics I want to include and how to present them. I plan on working on it this weekend so that I can spend the following week revising the paper and including additional supporting material if necessary.

RJA #10a: Annotated Bibliography, Part 1

Amadeo, Kimberly. Dollar Decline or Dollar Collapse?. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2010. <1) http://useconomy.about.com/od/inflation/i/dollar_decline.htm>.

The dollars soft decline against the Euro from 2002-2008 has been reversed because of the recent recession as investors found a safe haven in US currency. The foreign argument for the decline is that the US government is not supporting the value of the dollar. The fear of a devalued dollar has increased the declined because investors attempt to stem hedge their loss by minimizing exposure.


Maynard, Micheline. A Lifeline Not Made in the U.S.A. . New York Times, 17 Oct. 2009. Web. 1 Apr. 2010. <2) http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/18/business/18excerpt.html>.

Foreign investments in America during the recession has been welcomed by Americans as a source of jobs. Foreign ownership provides about 5.3 million jobs and workers do not seem to care who sign their paychecks. The investment foreign companies are making in America workers doesn’t stop at the employee but is branching out to things like real estate.

Eggen, Dan. Foreign Firms Eye Stimulus Dollars. Washington Post, 23 Mar. 2009. Web. 2 Apr. 2010. <3) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/22/AR2009032201923.html>.

Foreign companies are increasing lobbyist activity in hopes of securing billions of dollars in stimulus cash. The sectors identified in the article are technology, clean energy, and infrastructure based services. Only companies that have an existing presence are eligible for the stimulus dollars. Law makers are working to limit the flow of money outside of the US for example when AIG was bailed out much of that money was sent to foreign debt holders.

RJA #9b: Argument

Reasons:
1) Returns shareholder value for companies to be sold at a premium
2) Expands product selection when a company is sold.
3) Prices usually decline for products because the good can be produced at a lower amount passing the savings along to the consumer.

Objections:
1) American companies lose their American identity
2) American jobs are lost to foreign competition
3) Branding is forever tarnished because of foreign ownership

RJA #9a: Thesis Statement

Thesis Statement:
American companies are being acquired by international companies because of the weak dollar.
Precise Claim:
Currency is the major factor in merger and acquisition activity.
Reasons:
1) The Euro has had a steady advance against the dollar which has increased purchasing power.
2) Recent economic conditions have placed many American companies for sale at fire-sale prices.
3) It is attractive for foreign companies to expand their global foot prints by acquiring American companies.

Research Question:
What elements are contributing to the increased pressures for American companies to be acquired by international competitors.

RJA #8b: Evaluation Check

http://csando1020.blogspot.com/2010/03/rja7a-evaluation-of-sources.html

http://carolpilk.blogspot.com/2010/03/rja-7a-evaluation-of-sources_2269.html#comment-form

RJA #8a: Quotation, Paraphrase, and Summary

The president in an attempt to jump start exports in an effort to help with the unemployment issue facing Americans is working to double exports in five years. The presidents plan calls for lending to small and medium sized businesses and a new czar to oversee the process, reporting to the cabinet. Many are speculating that because American goods are expensive through production costs the global economy is not ready for a surge in American exporting. One strategy being explored is that of technology to make up for manufacturing. To help propel the technology export theory the administration is working to change the export controls which can limit what technologies are permitted to trade. The trade team that is reporting to the president are comprised of former blue chip business executives.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/12/business/economy/12trade.html

RJ#6c Field Research Options

Market Research
1) comparison of foreign based services that have domestic competition
2) Identify a change in marketing in domestic companies that have been sold.

-Survey
1) Ask peers
2) Ask consumers

-Currency predictions
1) Verify short interest on currency trades
2) Pin point currency speculation with trade date

RJA #6b: Social Media and Multimedia

Resource searched:Twitter.com
Keywords: American Buyouts
Search strategies: American_Buyouts
Date of Search:3-3-10
Number of Hits: 6
Relevance: 2

Resource searched: SeekingAlpha.com
Keywords: American Products
Search strategies: American_Products
Date of Search:3-3-10
Number of Hits: 199
Relevance: 4

Resource searched: blogsearch.google.com
Keywords: American Business takeovers
Search strategies: American_business_takeovers
Date of Search:3-3-10
Number of Hits: 160,423
Relevance: 3

Resource searched: Yahoo message boards
Keywords: Searching specific blue chip American companies
Search strategies: *Various
Date of Search:3-3-10
Number of Hits:
Relevance: 4

RJA #6a: Websites–

Resource searched:Yahoo.com
Keywords:Great American Business products
Search Strategies: American _ Business_Products
Date of search:3-3--10
Number of hits: 198 million
Relevance:3

Resource searched: ask.com
Keywords: American Business takeovers
Search Strategies: American _ Business_takeovers
Date of search:3-3--10
Number of hits: 617,000
Relevance:4

Resource searched: onine.WSJ.com
Keywords: Takeover
Search Strategies: company takeovers
Date of search:3-3--10
Number of hits: 168
Relevance:5

RJA #5b: Periodical Articles

I am having a hard time findings any relevant periodical articles utilizing the article searches. I am thinking that because my subject the most useful source of information is from the news articles.

RJA #5c: Reference Articles

Paul Dobson
Sharpe Decline of Euro May solve Greek Debt Crisis, BNP Says
Business Week
Businessweek.com
February 18, 2010

Keyword Euro decline
Source Google News
Hits 6,358


Michael Trifunovic
It may be struggling now, but you can be certain he greenback will be the last to go
The Sydney Morning Herald
SMH.com/AU
February 19, 2010

Keyword Dollar Collapse
Source Google News
Hits 2,713

Noel Randewich
Update 4-Grupo Modelo net Jumps 2010
Reuters
Reuters.com
February 19 2010

Keyword Sale of Anheuser Busch
Source Google News
Hits 42

RJA #5a: Books

I had a tough time finding book regarding the sale of American companies because it's more of a current event then a topic to be found in a book. I was able to find a few books from Google.com/books then hyper linked to Amazon.com for the exact information regarding the book which is as followed;

• Gods at War: Shotgun Takeovers, Government by Deal, and the Private Equity Implosion

• Authored Steven M. Davidoff

• Publisher John Wiley and Sons, (October 5, 2009)

• The Success of 7-Eleve

• Authored Akira Ishikawa & Tai Nejo
• Published World Scientific Publishing Company 1st Edition (Oct 1 2002)

• A Century of American Icons: 100 Products and Slogans from the 20th-Century Consumer Culture

• Authored Mary Cross
• Publisher Greenwood Press (September 30, 2002)
  

RJA #3c: Research Question

Who is buying American Icons? - This question will help identify who is buying American firms
What is being bought? - This can assist in sector trends
When are they being bought? - Time periods will help find any correlation between buyout activity and weak dollar activity.
Where are they being bought? - Could help in geographical mapping
How are they being bought? - Maybe is a cash and stock deal, a friendly take over or hostile.
Why are they being bought? - Are the acquired companies fitting a specific area missing in a potential competitor pipeline?
Should they be bought? - Does the transaction conflict with American perception?
Would they be bought? - Who is next?

I think when they are being bought and how they are being bought are the two questions I will take forward.

RJA #3b: Research Topic Focus

I think the debatable questions of my topic could be as followed;

• Is the globalization model helping or hurting American Icons?
• Could American icons be sought after as valued entities?
• What sectors are more sought after then other?

RJA #3a: Research Topic Exploration

I am starting to discover that American companies have been on the take the last 3 to 5 years because of the weak dollar. Things that I have never thought of being sold off is, roads and other aspects of our infrastructure. There is also an alarming sense of whats going on including radical sites to prove who is a foreign entity.

RJA #2b: Research Topic

The topic I am choosing to examine is "why America is selling out" because this is something that has caught my attention in the past few years. I feel this topic is something not discussed in main stream media and often goes unnoticed to a lot of people. I know some American icons like 7-11 convenience store, Budweiser, Hummer and Toll House cookies are often paralleled with the American identity but truth be told they are not owned by companies from the United States. I would like the explore the reasoning behind why these icons are not owned by United States companies. If they where once owned by domestic companies why the change? What was the contributing factors behind their sale. What other companies are lurking in the American spotlight with foreign ownership? Do we have an inverse relationship with our trading partners oversees for example are their foreign icons that are often considered icons owned by companies operating in the United States? Are certain sectors more attractive to foreign investors? I feel by examining these questions we can explore the root cause for this unspoken trend and possible identify which companies could be sold next. I plan on using the internet as a source of material for my research. I also want to verify the experience of a firm owned by a foreign entity and then to shop their competitor to see if they too are domestic or foreign owned.

RJA #2a: Possible Topics

• Wealth distribution - is it anti-American
• Is medicine making Americans sick - examining the emergence of new drugs and how they impact society.
• Selling out America - How American icons such as Budweiser and Hummer are being sold off to our competitors.
• Iraq War - What is the real reason we are in IRAQ 9 years later
• The Federal Reserve - Is this model of a central bank a plank to communism?

RJA #1: Areas of Academic Interest

• History - where are we heading by examining where we have been.
  
• Financial Markets - what's next for financial regulations.
  
• Politics - is America ready for socialism?
  
• Sociology - searching for evidence proving the breakdown of traditional family units.
  
• Music - the past and the future.