Peter Drucker on Knowledge Workers, Management and Leadership Essay Example

Peter Drucker on Knowledge Workers, Management and Leadership Essay If youre reading this, youre almost certainly a knowledge worker of one sort or another. And if youre a knowledge worker within an organization, heres an essential question you need to ask: Am I being managed, or am I being led? And if in turn youre responsible for the performance of other knowledge workers, you need to ask yourself: Am I managing, or am I leading? Im prompted to ask these questions by Peter Druckers Management Challenges of the 21st Century, one of the most insightful and thought-provoking books Ive ever read, and one I return to regularly, nearly a decade after its publication. The first chapter in this pithy volume, Managements New Paradigms, explodes six deeply flawed assumptions that Drucker saw underlying the discipline and practice of contemporary management. Assumption #3 is There is, or there must be, one right way to manage people, and Drucker uses this as the starting point for an exploration of the characteristics of knowledge workers and why they must be led and not merely managed. An excerpt from pages 17-22 of the Harper Business paperback edition: In no other area are the basic traditional assumptions [about management] held as firmly as in respect to people and their management. And in no other area are they so totally at odds with reality and so totally counterproductive On [the] fundamental assumption that there isor at least should beone and only one right way to manage people rest all the other assumptions about people in organizations and their management. One of these assumptions is that the people who work for an organization re subordinates [F]ewer and fewer people are subordinateseven in fairly low-level jobs. Increasingly they are knowledge workers. And knowledge workers are not subordinates; they are associates. For, once beyond the apprentice stage, knowledge workers must know more about their job than their boss doesor else they are no good at all. In fact, that they know more about their job than anybody else in the organization is part of the definition of knowledge workers We will write a custom essay sample on Peter Drucker on Knowledge Workers, Management and Leadership specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Peter Drucker on Knowledge Workers, Management and Leadership specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Peter Drucker on Knowledge Workers, Management and Leadership specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer To be sure, these associates are subordinates in that they depend on the boss when it comes to being hired or fired, promoted, appraised and so on. But in his or her own job the superior can perform only if these so-called subordinates take responsibility for educating him or her In turn, these subordinates depend on the superior for direction. They depend on the superior to tell them what the score is. Their relationship, in other words, is far more like that between the conductor of an orchestra and the instrumentalist than it is like the traditional superior/subordinate relationship

Lake and River Microbes essays

Lake and River Microbes essays The microscopic organisms of local aquatic ecosystems, is important to the health and homeostasis of the natural environment. There are many types of microscopic organisms that dwell in the local lakes, streams, and rivers. Microorganisms' such as protists "algae" and microscopic invertebrates can be found in great quantities in the lo;cal; water systems. The most commonly found microorganisms are the prootozoans. The protozoans are divided in to two groups: the protists (plant like cholorophillic heterozygous eugenic prokaryotes) and algaey (animal like). The protists are all microscopic, unicellular eucaryotes. All are heterotrophic. Protists differ from other eucaryotic organisms in that they have a cell membrane made of a substance called pellicillin. They are classified according to the motility of the thing: the class mastigophora are protists that move through the use of flagellum (long whip-like structures), the class pseudofootia are the protists that move through walking (ameba), and the phylum ciliaphora are the protists that move through the use of cilicone (hair-like processes). There are also another group of protists called the sporozoans, which are immobile parasites. All forms of protist were found in the water samples except for the sporozoans. The other types of protozoan found were algae. Algae can be either unicellular or multicellular. All ore autotropic (they photosynthesize) and a few are both heterotrophic and autotrophic. Algae do not have any tissue, which is why they are not considered plants. Rather they exist in a state known as "ethereal entropic euphrigenesis." While there are many types are algae is the one be most commonly found in fresh water are the green algae (chlorphycophyta), euglenas (euglenophycophyta), and the golden algae (chrysophycophyta), which includes the diatoms. Brown algae and red algae are usually not found in freshwater. The euglena are flagellated algae ...

4 New (Mind Blowing) Features Launching This Year + 3 You Should Already Be Using! - CoSchedule Blog

4 New (Mind Blowing) Features Launching This Year + 3 You Should Already Be Using! Blog Boy that was a mouthful ;) but can you blame me? You’ve got seven teams working on literally dozens of your MOST requested features! And s  marketing team is feelin’ a bit like in a good way. Keep reading for a sneak peek into four NEW features youre gonna LOVE (plus, three features you should already be using). 4 New (Mind Blowing) Features Launching This Year + 3 You Should Already Be Using!Whats Comin Off The Conveyor Belt  (REALLY Soon)? Re-Promote Your BEST Content With ReQueue! We’ve all got a bit of a love/hate relationship with our social media strategy.  It’s tedious, it’s exhausting, and yet, we all know it’s pret-ty important. And it’s important because: Better, more compelling messages get more clicks. AND the MORE you share, the better the results. The only problem It takes TIME. And thats one commodity you really don’t have MUCH of Which is why we’re creating ReQueue. With ReQueue, you’ll be able to: Set it and forget it.  No more getting stuck in the weeds of social! Create your messages, add them to a ReQueue category, and let intelligently send them out at the best possible traffic times for each network. Fill in the gaps and stay consistent.  ReQueue will fill in the gaps of your daily schedule- keeping your schedule consistent and filled with variety. You’ll never worry about an empty social queue again! Get more mileage out of your messages.  The average lifespan of a single social message is mere minutes, so why only share it once? Add your best messages to the ReQueue and let re-share your best content at the most optimal frequency. Easily re-promote your evergreen content! Use the ReQueue to re-promote your evergreen content. Create custom categories, build a schedule, and consistently re-share your evergreen content to drive MORE traffic and engagement to your site. Its like having a social media intern 24/7 for basically NO costsorry interns! Bring Your Social Stats To Life With Powerful Analytics! Coming soon to an analytics dashboard near you:  Your first (of several) reportssocial engagement reporting! Get a clear overview (with easy to understand visuals) on ALL your social engagement. No more jumping from one platform to the next to gather stats, adding meaningless numbers to a complex spreadsheet, and then struggling to prove their worth to yourself or your boss. With Social Analytics by , you’ll FINALLY be able to track, measure, and most importantly PROVE the ROI of your social marketing efforts from one robust report! What’ll be included? 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Easily navigate to your sliding sidebar for tasks, comments, and documents; it’s there when you need it- and hidden when you don’t. Less clutter and more of what you want. THE BIG ONE: Instagram Scheduling Is Coming to ! In the very near future, Instagram will be a part of your social scheduling repertoire! How will Instagram for work? Schedule all your Instagram posts (directly from the calendar). Write your messages, upload your â€Å"Insta-worthy† images, and schedule your posts directly in the calendar! Download the for Instagram  app from the App Store. Get notifications (on your phone) when it’s time to post to Instagram. Then (with a single click) transfer your copy + images directly to your Instagram feed! It’s that simple! Now, What’s Off The Assembly Line And Ready For You TODAY? Tag ANY Facebook Page Or Twitter Handle Directly In Your Social Message You can now do live searches for Facebook pages and Twitter handles  directly in a social message! Tag people without jumping from one social network to the next. Or worse, guessing and finding out you tagged the wrong person (face palm). Simply type @, plus the first few letters of a social profile, and will intelligently pull their profile name directly into your social message. Schedule, Share, And Manage All Your Social Videos In One Place! The stats speak for themselves: Social video gets 8 billion views EVERY DAY In less than two years, the number of videos on  Facebook has grown by 360% And according to Adobe research report, 51.9% of marketing professionals worldwide name social video as the type of content with the best ROI ($$$) If you haven’t started yet- you should- and makes your promotion super easy. Manage your social video promotion directly in the calendar! No more bouncing from one account to the next- upload your video once and share to all your favorite networks. Preview every video message before it goes live directly from your social campaign. 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Education policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Education policy - Essay Example Researches (Eagle, 1989; Henderson & Berla, 1994; U.S. Department of Education, 1994; Ziegler, 1987) confirm that when families are involved in their children's education, 'children earn higher grades and receive higher scores on tests, attend school more regularly, complete more homework, demonstrate more positive attitudes and behaviours, graduate from high school at higher rates, and are more likely to enrol in higher education than students with less involved families' (Hoover-Dempsey, K.V., & Sandler, H.M., 1997). So that, it's so important to involve parents in educational programmes of their children as an important goal for schools. Education here plays the major role, so that the child's education is a shared responsibility of the school and the home. At school he is said to be given knowledge common for the whole class and meant for the children of particular age taking into account their level of mental, physical and social development. At home parents can help their offshoots to solve the possible problems which can emerge at school; they can also help them to come through the adaptation process to the new surrounding and new system of communication successfully. 'Outside the school, the home is the most salient source of learning, encouragement and support for a child', notices Alison Rich (Rich, A., 2001). She also stresses upon the 'parental resources' which refers to 'income level, parental education and parental employment'. This is urgent because family income can increase educational opportunities of a child greatly by providing him with a bigger number of books and educational tools. Besides this, p arents with higher level of education tend to have children who are much interested in their self-improve and realization thus giving them much motivation for their finishing high school and continuing educational steps on higher levels. On the contrary, children from unemployed families tend to be backward in education and have smaller level of motivation for studying. All these facts stress upon the fact of importance of parental participation in their children's development process, educational process in particular, to set a good example for them. There also some factors that can be a rather positive impulse for children to like school and are eager to study. This is a notion of 'parental involvement in a child's education' that 'can be crucial in developing a child's academic ability and confidence' (Rich, A., 2001). Parents can actively participate in their child's school life, taking part in 'school committees, attending sporting and social events, attending parent teacher nights, volunteering and so on' (Rich, A., 2001). Doing this they show their great involvement into their children's life that gives their offshoots a sense of responsibility for their deeds and their progress in studies. Parents can also provide a suitable home environment for children to be ready for school, and to know that in case something goes wrong with their studies they can learn at home and improve their knowledge. Psychology deals with the notion of 'psychological readiness of a child for school'. This includes all the facts that influence a young person to be ready to face and to step into a new system of

Humor and madness Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Humor and madness - Essay Example Seriously, what are the odds of someone who faked insanity to escape his punishment suddenly taking on messianic attributes en route to â€Å"liberating† a group of mentally ill patients? In a fictional setting of course its viable. This happenstance borders on the fantastic, and it is highly remote that people could just walk into asylums on the pretext of chicanery and â€Å"heal† the insane with the power of laughter. The novel shows us the great divide between humor and madness as a form of symbolism in connoting sanity vis-à  -vis insanity. In the dour, oppressive wards of the asylum people are so rooted in madness that they have completely forgotten how it is to legitimately feel happiness and appreciate humor. And then comes McMurphy, whose witty, cheery approach enlivens up a ward which hadn’t heard true laughter in years. The novel highlights the fact that those embroiled in madness no longer have the capability to experience real joy. Thus, humor serves as a virtual shield for the protagonist, lest he fall into the same trap that the patients have found themselves in. He utilizes humor so that it would serve as insulation from the madness around him, but in the process he inspires the rest of the occupants of the ward. The relationship between humor and madness go hand in hand as the story unfolds, with humor standing as a unique symbol for free-thinking, fully functional human bei ngs and the absence thereof showing a descent into the recesses of madness. Once Mcmurphy has gradually empowered the patients with his own brand of rebellious humor, the reader would get a distinct notion that the patients had actually improved and that they were slowly entering the realm of reason again. This was clearly manifested in the scene where Harding, Scanlon, Sefelt and Doctor Spivey all could truly laugh at the end of their bending-the-rules fishing expedition. It is quite obvious that a reasonable understanding of the

The Middle Ages Essay Example for Free

The Middle Ages Essay The continued existence of the open-minded art in the Middle Ages was present because they were utilized in monasteries as an introductory educating assistance for the comprehending of the Bible. Thus they comprised the basis of educating in the monastic schools which were thriving in monasteries. Till the 12 century only the organizations that proposed a normal and entire education existed. In the monastic scriptoria they made the copies of the creations of famous writers and Church Fathers, applied for learning and consideration; this textual copy was a genuine work. The closed monasteries performed a key function in safeguarding and conveying texts throughout the most complicated Middle Ages periods. On the foundation of this pattern, a system of schools were evolved during couple of decades focused on the formation of regal and church officials and in which more time was devoted to educating than in the customary monastic schools. Due to the prestigious expert’s involvement in some of such schools, an inclination to focus on the diverse fields of educating began to appear (Elmer 1965). Question 2. The educational progress in the Middle Ages was very productive. Grammar included the learning of Latin dialect and writing. Dialectic was a mandatory subject. Rhetoric included the basics of regulation, in addition to creating prose and poetry. Geometry encompassed the learning of Euclid, as well as, geography and natural history. Arithmetic used Roman figures and with the account of the calendar. Music had the directions of the plain-song of the Church, idea of resonance, and the learning of synchronization. Astronomy, in addition to considering the divine bodies, encompassed physics and chemistry. And all the material for this subjects teaching was taken from the textbooks, written in very ancient times (Elmer 1965).. Question 3 The Socratic Method or Socratic Debate) is a pattern of theoretical query in which the questioner researches the significances of other people opinions, to motivate reasonable conceiving and clarify the thoughts. This dialectical approach usually engages an oppositional conversation in which the protector of one perspective is fighting with the protector of another; one person can lead another to oppose himself in some way, reinforcing the inquirers position. The expression Socratic Questioning is applied to recount a kind of inquiring in which an initial inquiry is answered as if it were a reply. This makes the first correspondent to create a new inquiry in light of the advancement of the dialogue (Elmer 1965).. Question 4 The influence of Greece was revealed very early in Roman learning and even became more powerful after the long sequence of profits. The Romans exposure was rapid, because they very quickly understood the benefits they could have from this more developed nation, more affluent than their own civilization. Being realistic, Romans realized the benefits to be received from a science of Greek, a worldwide dialect renowned to numerous of their adversaries, and grasped the associated significance of managing the art of oratory so greatly evolved in Greece (Elmer 1965).. Question 5 The political structure of Rome always was republican, thus all regulations were passed and all the officials chosen by a ballot of all the people. The standard of representation, nevertheless was obscure to the Romans. All regulations were passed, and all officials appointed, at so-called mass gathering of all the people. The nonexistence of bulletins, furthermore, made a distinct distinction between age-old and current political situation. Discussion and public locations were the only means of disseminating political ideas. Clearly, with this, public talking regime, that even nowadays has a distinctive effectiveness in state activities, should have been far more effective as a political tool than nowadays. The political success was impossible to be reached without rhetoric skills. Thus the need in creating special oratory and rhetoric school was great (Elmer 1965).. Question 6 Athens: Speaking about the boys, schools educated in reading, composing and arithmetic, melodies, verse, games and gymnastics. Depending on the position of the family, the period of learning was from of 5 to 14 years old, for the richer 5 18 and at times to learners’ twenties in an academy where they were allowed to learn philosophy, moral code, and oratory. Lastly, the civilian young men went into a military preparation where they studied for a couple of years, until the age of twenty. Overseas slaves were not allowed to get any thing except an elementary education in Greece. Girls obtained little education (except possibly in the aristocrats houses through private teachers); they were usually sitting at home and had no political influence. The learning of a young female engaged only something needed to be done about the house (Elmer 1965).. In Sparta little boys started their military education very early at the age of seven. They were only give a cloak no footwear or other apparel, and not sufficient nourishment in order to make them enduring. At age of twenty they were put into higher positions in the army. To age of thirty they were devoted to the country; then they were allowed to have a family. They learned to dance, read and compose, however athletics battle skills were the most important. Girls at age 7 were taught to read, compose, as well as gymnastics and endurance. In contrast to Athens, could take part in sports and were treated better (Elmer 1965).. In Rome, all children were also taught rhetoric, composing and mathematics. Boys in addition were taught battling and agriculture, and girls to cook food and sew. When Rome adopted Greek heritage, they also included Greek philosophy. Students learned texts Greek oratory, argument and science. Not all the children could have an education in Rome. Many of them learned just some fundamentals of reading and mathematics. Some girls were allowed to continue their education together with boys (Elmer 1965).. Question 7 One of the prime joining components of the Jewish belief, in detail, appears to be its focus on ritualized formal procedure for profoundly heritage events for example anniversaries, weddings and memorial services. Thus the Hebrew tradition is very much alike Eastern customs for instance Hinduism and some currents of Buddhism, that similarly de- highlight authorized conviction schemes supporting solid, and often complicated and highly focused, heritage behaviors, peculiarities and activities. The Hebrew effect on Western heritage, thus, is at one time well renowned and all-encompassing. Hebrew tradition highlights the significance of chronicled activities. When Jewish could not sustain an appropriate moral and principled stability among themselves and their surroundings, they allegedly bear exile, slavery and other communal and political troubles. Thus moral unity inside of the state and with their neighbors usually appears more important than strong armed force (Elmer 1965).. Question 8. Early Christian otherworldly schools had a purpose to recognize a two-sided magical custom coming from Judaism and Christianity throughout their determining years. As Judaism and Christianity are considered to be the signs of Second Temple Judaism, the beliefs that evolved concurrently inside analogous chronicled contextures, the mystic custom maintained in their writing is correctly distinguished as demonstration of Jewish and Christian religiousness in the Hellenistic and Roman periods (Elmer 1965).. Question 9 The early Christians were natural foes of the Greek culture. They came from idols to a church, and all of them had some of displeasure or even abhorrence to the customary polytheism. Moreover. TheChristians had the task to discourse the gospel to all countries, and so alter the idol Gentiles. The cathedrals were thus inevitably opposed to the Olympians and to all of their expression in art (Elmer 1965).. Question 10 Two establishmentsthe church and the monasterywere the places of education in the early Middle Ages. Monasteries represent the groups of men called monks, who refused from the natural life to pray and please God through devotion and work. The monks and the priests of the churches assisted extend the Latin reading and composing, and conserved numerous precious old documents for us. They furthermore organized most of the European schools(Elmer 1965).. Sources Elmer H. Wilds Kenneth V. Lottich eds. (1965). The Foundations of Modem Education. New. York: Holt. Rinehart and Winston

Col. Tom Parker :: essays research papers

PARKER, who gave up smoking his trademark big Cuban cigars in 1990, had a meteoric rise from being a hobo in the late 1920s to a top show business manager. Tom Parker was born on June 26, 1909 in Breda, The Netherlands to Adam and Maria VanKuijk who named their fifth child Andreas Cornelius VanKuijk. As a young man Parker immigrated to the United States where he worked on carnivals and served four years in the United States Army. After his discharge from the army he went back to carnival life. In late 1939 and early 1940 he became the manager of Gene Austin and traveled with Gene's "Models & Melodies" show. In late 1940 he became Field Director of the Tampa Humane Society, a position he held for three years. Tom Parker left the Humane Society to go back into the entertainment field, booking country acts. In 1944 he became the manager of Eddy Arnold and by November 1947 Eddy had been #1 on the country charts for 53 weeks. When Tom Parker and Eddy Arnold went their separate ways, Tom began booking Hank Snow and in January 1955 became his personal manager. Colonel (as he was now called, having been given an honorary title of "colonel" by several southern governors) began booking Elvis Presley as an opening act on the Hank Snow appearances. In October 1955 as Elvis' special advisor (Bob Neal was still managing Elvis), Colonel negotiated a recording contract with RCA Victor for Elvis. It should be noted that it was, at that time, the custom for the A&R people to choose the songs for an artist to record. However Colonel insisted that Elvis choose his own songs. Today it is common practice for the artist to choose their own material. . . .but Elvis was the first. In 1956 Colonel became Elvis' personal manager. By the end of their first year together the WALL STREET JOURNAL reported that since Colonel began marketing Elvis merchandise, they had grossed some $22 million in sales. Elvis records and albums were selling in the millions. Together they made history. After reading a newspaper story pleading for support for the Arizona Memorial fund, Colonel talked with Elvis and they decided to offer a benefit concert to raise funds to finish the memorial which honored those who lost their lives during the devastating surprise attack on the military installations at Pearl Harbor. In March 1961 the concert took place and nearly $100,000 was raised.

Humanitarian activities Essay

Humanity can be defined as quality of being human; the peculiar nature of man, by which he is distinguished from other beings. Being human does not mean that an individual possesses humanity. If you want to understand the quality of humanity in an individual take note of what he does for people who give noting back in return to the favour they have offered. One of the most outstanding examples of extra- ordinary humanity in a human being has been portrayed beautifully by Mother Teresa. Humanity means caring for and helping others whenever and wherever possible. Humanity means helping others at times when they need that help the most, humanity means forgetting your selfish interests at times when others need your help. Humanity means extending unconditional love to each and every living being on Earth. A perfect example of humanity can be demonstrated by the following story. This story can be understood as an exaggerated statement so that individuals understand the importance of humanity in their day to day lives. It is important to understand one important fact; an individual’s life is successful not by the number of degrees he or she attains but by the degree of humanitarian activities that individual is into on a day to day basis. Serving the poor and the disabled is one of the greatest humanitarian help an individual can provide in his or her lifetime. It is essential to understand the fact that we are extremely lucky to have everything we desire at any point of the time we need. Serving the needy means that you yourself think that you have more than enough resources to your disposal. People who always crib that they do not have sufficient facilities available despite having everything can never provide humanitarian services because if one has the mind set of not being self- sufficient, how can he or she help someone else. One is always remembered for his or her good deeds and it is essential to understand that there is no better deed than providing services for humanitarian causes. If eating and having fun is only what we are born to do then we should keep one thing in mind; even animals can do such activity; if God has made us humans there has to be some reason behind it. Only human beings can understand the importance of humanity and it is humanity as a result of intelligence which actually gives the core essence to human existence. You will not need a hefty bank account to contribute towards humanitarian activities. Paying your domestic help fairly is also humanity. You are willing to pay thousands of bucks for your medical check- up but when it comes to paying your employee; you want to save every penny. Humanitarian activities should never be performed in order to achieve fame or to gain a status symbol. You can easily achieve fame by the work you do. Lifting the heavy bag of an old woman is humanity, helping a disabled to cross the road is humanity, helping your mom in doing work is humanity; in fact helping anyone who is in need is humanity. As soon as we understand the importance of humanity in day to day life, the purpose for which we are on Earth is automatically fulfilled.

My First Car gave me a wealth of experiences

In the life of each American, one of the important points that symbol coming of age is the purchase of the first vehicle. This car becomes the starting points of one’s adulthood, giving one the freedom to move around, pick up friends, and expanding the boundaries of one’s environment. My first car gave me a wealth of experiences, most of them connected with pleasant memories. It was a used Fleetwood Cadillac. Although not the most luxurious car one can dream of because of its age, it was a faithful and nice-looking companion that took me to a lot of interesting places. The car was of 1992 make, the last year when Cadillac produced Generation IV Fleetwoods. It was a four-door sedan with an FF C-body platform. My model had a 4.5 L HT-4500 V8 engine, not bad for the time and indicating that it was a luxury car. At the time when it was produced, it was a bargain compared to other luxury cars, especially those of the European make. Today, however, it does not seem as good as other models that are newer and more advanced from the technological point of view. When I got it, however, it was about six years old and still could run for a few more years. I had relatively little problem with repairs, except one time when I ran into an accident through my own folly. Faithful, as I said before, meant to me that I could safely use it for a long time without going too much to the shop, something that frustrates me as it takes up a lot of time. The look was good, too, and the interior felt comfortable. The car was spacious, and this is what I prefer about automobiles that I drive. A car can be elegant and stylish, but if it is too small and friends are crowded when a bunch of four gets inside, it is too small for my tastes. My Fleetwood Cadillac could pick up a crowd of four or even five friends and roar us off to a party or wherever we wanted to go, and everybody was comfortable and enjoying the ride. The inside had been renovated just before I bought it, so I did not have to worry about it. It was done in hushed up, beige and white colors, reassuring without being provocative. The gamut also gave the car a feeling of style and elegance and even underscored its luxury format. This car was with me for three years. It took me to dates, to parties, to school, and later to college. I liked it partly because people liked it – they liked to see me drive by in a good-looking, long vehicle with slightly tinted windows and a shapely form. In a year, I has my Cadillac painted beige, the color that increased the look of elegance. It still looked and felt relatively new, which was why I was reluctant to change it. Being with one car for several years somehow gave me a sense of stability at a time when my life was experiencing sharp swings that are so naturally associated with young age. In a drastic change of environments as I switched from school to college, the car remained with me as a manifestation of my commitment to an old friend. It also saw me through a series of rapid changes in my love life and a string of meetings and partings. Every day, I felt safe knowing that I would open the garage doors and slip into my old friend, starting off to the challenges of this day. A year later, my parents decided to make me a present for my birthday, choosing a newer Toyota model for me. I was excited about their decision as I felt that sooner or later I would have to replace my Cadillac, but at the same time the feeling of departure from my long-time companion saddened me quite a bit. I was able to sell it at a good price, but somehow I still miss its feeling of space and comfort that engulfed me the moment I got inside. To me, this car came to mean my high school and student youth, and I can still see it in the pictures we took at that time. A faithful friend and a good comrade, it was with me in an important period of my life, taking me places and broadening the scope of my experience.

March to the Sea - Civil War

March to the Sea - Civil War Conflict Dates: Shermans March to the Sea took place from November 15 to December 22, 1864, during the American Civil War. Armies Commanders: Union Major General William T. Sherman62,000 men Confederates Lieutenant General William J. Hardee13,000 men Background: In the wake of his successful campaign to capture Atlanta, Major General William T. Sherman began making plans for a march against Savannah. Consulting with Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant, the two men agreed that it would be necessary to destroy the Souths economic and psychological will to resist if the war was to be won. To accomplish this, Sherman intended to conduct a campaign designed to eliminate any resources that could be used by Confederate forces. Consulting the crop and livestock data from the 1860 census, he planned a route that would inflict maximum damage upon the enemy. In addition to the economic damage, it was thought that Shermans movement would increase pressure on General Robert E. Lees Army of Northern Virginia and allow Grant to gain a victory in the Siege of Petersburg. Presenting his plan to Grant, Sherman received approval and began making preparations to depart Atlanta on November 15, 1864. During the march, Shermans forces would cut loose from their supply lines and would live off the land. To ensure that adequate supplies were gathered, Sherman issued strict orders regarding foraging and the seizure of material from the local population. Known as bummers, foragers from the army became a common sight along its route of march. Dividing his forces in three, Sherman advanced along two major routes with Major General Oliver O. Howards Army of the Tennessee on the right and Major General Henry Slocums Army of Georgia on the left. The Armies of the Cumberland and Ohio were detached under the command of Major General George H. Thomas with orders to guard Shermans rear from the remnants of General John Bell Hoods Army of Tennessee. As Sherman advanced to the sea, Thomas men destroyed Hoods army at the Battles of Franklin and Nashville. To oppose Shermans 62,000 men, Lieutenant General William J. Hardee, commanding the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida struggled to find men as Hood had largely stripped the region for his army. Through the course of the campaign, Hardee was able to utilize those troops still in Georgia as well as those brought in from Florida and the Carolinas. Despite these reinforcements, he seldom possessed more than 13,000 men. Sherman Departs: Departing Atlanta by different routes, the Howard and Slocums columns attempted to confuse Hardee as to their ultimate objective with Macon, Augusta, or Savannah as possible destinations. Initially moving south, Howards men pushed Confederate troops out of Lovejoys Station before pressing on towards Macon. To the north, Slocums two corps moved east then southeast towards the state capital at Milledgeville. Finally realizing that Savannah was Shermans target, Hardee began concentrating his men to defend the city, while ordering Major General Joseph Wheelers cavalry to attack the Union flanks and rear. Laying Waste to Georgia: As Shermans men pushed southeast, they systematically destroyed all manufacturing plants, agricultural infrastructure, and railroads they encountered. A common technique for wrecking the latter was heating railroad rails over fires and twisting them around trees. Known as Shermans Neckties, they became a common sight along the route of march. The first significant action of the march occurred at Griswoldville on November 22, when Wheelers cavalry and Georgia militia attacked on Howards front. The initial assault was halted by Brigadier General Hugh Judson Kilpatricks cavalry which in turn counterattacked. In the fighting that followed, Union infantry inflicted a severe defeat on the Confederates. During the remainder of November and in early December, numerous minor battles were fought, such as Buck Head Creek and Waynesboro, as Shermans men pushed relentlessly on towards Savannah. At the former, Kilpatrick was surprised and nearly captured. Falling back, he was reinforced and was able to halt Wheelers advance. As they approached Savannah, additional Union troops entered the fray as 5,500 men, under Brigadier General John P. Hatch, descended from Hilton Head, SC in an attempt to cut the Charleston Savannah Railroad near Pocotaligo. Encountering Confederate troops led by General G.W. Smith on November 30, Hatch moved to attack. In the resulting Battle of Honey Hill, Hatchs men were forced to withdraw after several assaults against the Confederate entrenchments failed. A Christmas Present for Pres. Lincoln: Arriving outside Savannah on December 10, Sherman found that Hardee had flooded the fields outside the city which limited access to a few causeways. Entrenched in a strong position, Hardee refused to surrender and remained determined to defend the city. Needing to link up with the US Navy to receive supplies, Sherman dispatched Brigadier General William Hazens division to capture Fort McAllister on the Ogeechee River. This was accomplished on December 13, and communications were opened with Rear Admiral John Dahlgrens naval forces. With his supply lines reopened, Sherman began making plans to lay siege to Savannah. On December 17, he contacted Hardee with a warning that he would begin shelling the city if it were not surrendered. Unwilling to give in, Hardee escaped with his command over the Savannah River on December 20 using an improvised pontoon bridge. The following morning, the mayor of Savannah formally surrendered the city to Sherman. Aftermath: Known as Shermans March to the Sea, the campaign through Georgia effectively eliminated the regions economic usefulness to the Confederate cause. With the city secured, Sherman telegraphed President Abraham Lincoln with the message, I beg to present you as a Christmas gift the City of Savannah, with one hundred and fifty guns and plenty of ammunition, also about twenty-five thousand bales of cotton. The following spring, Sherman launched his final campaign of the war north into the Carolinas, before finally receiving the surrender of General Joseph Johnston on April 26, 1865. Selected Sources History Channel: Shermans MarchSon of the South: Shermans MarchCivil War Home: Shermans March to the Sea

Arkansas/Arkansaw Book Review

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the state of Arkansas? Chances are, that as an Arkansan the thoughts are quite different than those of someone not born or raised here. Hillbilly, redneck, barefoot, and trailer are a just few of the common first words invoked in the minds of â€Å"foreigners† by the word Arkansas. In the non-fiction work, Arkansas/Arkansaw: How Bear Hunters, Hillbillies, and Good Ol Boys Defined a State, author Brooks Blevins provides readers with his idea of how Arkansass image began, and then perpetuated over time. He provides several examples of the creation and reiteration of this imagine, beginning as early as the 1800s and progressing all the way into the 2000s. Not every example provided in the book reflects a negative image, as Blevins is trying to prove that there are positive aspects, it has progressed over time, and is ultimately the Arkansans perception of it that determines its power. The books provided so much information of the state I am proud to call my home, and I believe that Brooks Blevins was successful in his presentation and purpose! I was pleased to find that Blevins writes this book as an Arkansas native rather than an opinionated outsider with no identity in the subject of his work. I feel that it is this factor alone that gives the book such a genuine feel. I was also pleased to find that Blevins once worked as a professor at Lyon College, which is located in my hometown. This gives me an even stronger sense of familiarity with him. The book is intended to be read by anyone interested in the subject, although it seems natural that interest would be primarily with historians and Arkansas natives. It is this readers interest that actually influences the effectiveness of Blevinss writing. Obviously, efferent readers and aesthetic readers will be seeking different things from the text and therefore take away different things from the text. But in the end, Blevins hopes that all readers will recognize the many ways in which Arkansas has fit into our nation as whole, both then and now. Blevins uses interesting techniques presenting the Arkansas image. The most unique and effective techniques is his vocabulary. â€Å"Arkansaw† is the word he uses â€Å"when referring to the states image and when invoking the mythical place conjured various stereotypes and caricatures† (5). This helps to distinguish general information from information directly related to â€Å"the mixture of fact, legend, and stereotype† that comes to mind when Americans think of Arkansas (5). Blevins also makes use of the word â€Å"Arkansawyer† to describe inhabitants and the â€Å"different reactions Arkansas people have to the Arkansaw image† (6). Another distinction in vocabulary that Blevins chose is the use of the word image in the place of identity, which implies an always active participation in the defining of a reputation. These methods contribute to the tone of the book as well as the readers understanding of the authors presentation. Blevins illustrations of Arkansass image span the course of hundreds of years. The first images presented in the books stem from early travelers to the state. The opinions of most of these travelers were mixed, with many of them describing neanderthal like conditions. Francios Marie Perrin de Lac of Arkansans, â€Å"They pass their time playing games, dancing, drinking, or doing nothing, similar in this as in other things to the savage peoples with whom they pass their time† (12). Other visitors describe humble dwellings, plain clothing, endless hunting and lots of weapons. Throughout most of the books first chapter Blevins recounts the experiences of several travelers who all seem to agree that Arkansas is a state full of lazy, violent people with no regard for the rest of the nations idea of civilization. Blevins suggest that much of the disparity in Arkansass definition of normal and the rest of the countrys comes from Arkansass geographical location. He says that because, at this time, Arkansas is blocked on the east by swamps and on the west by Indian territory it became â€Å"backwater†. Unfortunately much of Arkansass reputation at this time was negative. There are a few travelers that noted the simple goodness of Arkansans at this time. Travelers such as Friedrich Gerstacker and Washintgon Irving presented a softer side to the prominent savage-like image described by others. Gerstackers perception of Arkansans was descibed as primarily positive. He described the Arkansans he encountered as â€Å"honest and upright† and reported that Arkansas was his favorite of all the states in America. Irving said that Arkansans, â€Å"have none of that eagerness for gain, and rage for improvement, which keep our people continually on the move† (22). He had a respect for the slowed down, simple way of like Arkansans lived every day. Blevins depicts both positive and negative travel accounts and memoirs, although he believes that their impact is difficult to measure. As the book progresses through the years, Blevins begins to introduce several famous faces that call Arkansas their home, in what he calls the Heyday of the Hillbilly. He mentions everyone from musicians to actors, athletes to novelists, and intellects to political figures. For each one mentioned, Blevins describes their experience with the Arkansas image, whether they found a way to embrace it or let it bring them down. Its interesting that he does not limit this presentation to individuals born and raised in the state, and includes some that instead have â€Å"adopted† Arkansas as their home state. All of the Arkansans he describes have impacted or been impacted by the image of their state. My favorite part of the book is actually the conclusion. Blevins begins this by describing an incident that I actually remember. In 2000, while the governors mansion was undergoing extensive renovations, Governor Mike Huckabee and his family chose to stay in a triple-wide trailer. The move was quickly met with laughs and â€Å"I-told-you-sos† from all over the country. The best part of the story is that the Huckabee family embraced the situation and joined in the laughter! Huckabee said, â€Å"Let the people laugh. I think that the difference between an Arkansas and an uptight, wound-up northerner, is that were laughing with you, because we like the way we live† (186). This acceptance is what I believe is the central goal of Blevins writing. Through this book, what I think Blevins really wanted to achieve was an acceptance of the Arkansas image. He mentions what he calls the Arkansans inferiority complex and says that â€Å"people of Arkansas are probably more obsessed with their states image than are people of any other state† (186). Blevins suggests that although the nations reaction to the governors manufactured mansion implies that Arkansass hillbilly image still exists, it is no longer in the forefront of peoples mind that they think of Arkansas. Blevins goes on to identify statistics about everything from education to violence, with Arkansas â€Å"generally low where you want to be high and high where low might be a good thing† (188). However, the statistics he discusses show that Arkansas is not always the worst state in the nation. As an Arkansan, I was so shocked to read all of the negative things others about my state, although I have heard some of them myself a time or two. All Arkansans are aware that we are typically viewed in a â€Å"less civilized† light than the rest of the country. But one thing I have always held in my mind is that we cant possibly be nearly as uncivilized as the state of Mississippi.. I laughed to see Blevins use of the phrase â€Å"Thank God for Mississippi†. Part of having pride in your state is accepting that you will never be able to change an image that has been so widespread for so long. Its always better to just embrace it, join in the jokes, and no that no state is free from stereotypes or stigmas. It is a nationwide thing! Overall I was very pleased with Blevins argument in the book. The way in which he chose to approach the creation of the image was interesting and I enjoyed the various accounts he utilized. I also enjoyed learning about famous figures from my state that I had not previously known. He does a great job of presenting the information in a entertaining and real style. His pride in his home state shines through and inspires me to learn more about my state so that I can better embrace my title as a true Arkansan!

About german Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

About german - Essay Example The efficiency is admirable because if something is worth doing the Germans do it right. The obedience to the laws is also commendable. Laws are not created for citizens to pick and choose. They are for the betterment of society. Germans seem to understand this concept. As for the nudity when sunbathing, swimming, or in the sauna, this is laudable due to the shamelessness in the human body. Whether a svelte teenager or a wrinkled old woman the Germans are comfortable with their body. Americans are sometimes efficient, but not across the whole population. The efficiency personality varies among Americans. The obedience to the law is not as important to Americans. It seems that Americans pick and choose laws that are fair. If a law does not appear to be fair an American will fight to change it. For example at a red light in an emergency, an American will run the light. Germans would not. Americans enjoy nudity only for the good looking woman. Men can take off their shirts, but full nudity is obscene to Americans. Women can show everything but the chest and other private areas. Old people that are nude make the Americans disgusted. Germans and Americans are just different in these three