Battle of Petersburg in the Civil War

Battle of Petersburg in the Civil War The Battle of Petersburg was part of the American Civil War (1861-1865) and was fought between June 9, 1864 and April 2, 1865. In the wake of his defeat at the Battle of Cold Harbor in early June 1864, Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant continued pressing south towards the Confederate capital at Richmond. Departing Cold Harbor on June 12, his men stole a march on General Robert E. Lees Army of Northern Virginia and crossed the James River on a large pontoon bridge. This maneuver led Lee to become concerned that he might be forced into a siege at Richmond. This was not Grants intention, as the Union leader sought to capture the vital city of Petersburg. Located south of Richmond, Petersburg was a strategic crossroads and railroad hub which supplied the capital and Lees army. Its loss would make would Richmond indefensible (Map). Armies Commanders Union Lieutenant General Ulysses S. GrantMajor General George G. Meade67,000 increasing to 125,000 men Confederate General Robert E. Leeapprox. 52,000 men Smith and Butler Move Aware of Petersburgs importance, Major General Benjamin Butler, commanding Union forces at Bermuda Hundred, attempted an attack on the city on June 9. Crossing the Appomattox River, his men assault the citys outermost defenses known as the Dimmock Line. These attacks were halted by Confederate forces under General P.G.T. Beauregard and Butler withdrew. On June 14, with the Army of the Potomac nearing Petersburg, Grant instructed Butler to dispatch Major General William F. Baldy Smiths XVIII Corps to attack the city. Crossing the river, Smiths advance was delayed through the day on the 15th, though he finally moved to attack the Dimmock Line that evening. Possessing 16,500 men, Smith was able to overwhelm Brigadier General Henry Wises Confederates along the northeastern portion of the Dimmock Line. Falling back, Wises men occupied a weaker line along Harrisons Creek. With night setting in, Smith halted with intention of resuming his attack at dawn. First Assaults That evening, Beauregard, whose call for reinforcements had been ignored by Lee, stripped his defenses at Bermuda Hundred to reinforce Petersburg, increasing his forces there to around 14,000. Unaware of this, Butler remained idle rather than threatening Richmond. Despite this, Beauregard remained badly outnumbered as Grants columns began arriving on the field increasing Union strength to over 50,000. Attacking late in the day with the XVIII, II, and IX Corps, Grants men slowly pushed the Confederates back. Fighting continued on 17th with the Confederates defending tenaciously and preventing a Union breakthrough. As the fighting raged, Beauregards engineers began building a new line of fortifications closer the city and Lee began marching to the fighting. Attacks on June 18 gained some ground but were halted at the new line with heavy losses. Unable to advance, the commander of the Army of the Potomac, Major General George G. Meade, ordered his troops to dig in opposite the Confederates. In four days of fighting, Union losses totaled 1,688 killed, 8,513 wounded, 1,185 missing or captured, while the Confederates lost around 200 killed, 2,900 wounded, 900 missing or captured Moving Against the Railroads Having been stopped by the Confederate defenses, Grant began making plans for severing the three open railroads leading into Petersburg. While one ran north to Richmond, the other two, the Weldon Petersburg and Southside, were open to attack. The closest, the Weldon, ran south to North Carolina and provided a connection to the open port of Wilmington. As a first step, Grant planned a large cavalry raid to attack both railroads, while ordering the II and VI Corps to march on the Weldon. Advancing with their men, Major Generals David Birney and Horatio Wright encountered Confederate troops on June 21. The next two days saw them fight the Battle of Jerusalem Plank Road which resulted in over 2,900 Union casualties and around 572 Confederate. An inconclusive engagement, it saw the Confederates retain possession of the railroad, but Union forces extend their siege lines. As Lees army was significantly smaller, any need lengthen his lines correspondingly weakened the whole. Wilson-Kautz Raid As Union forces were failing in their efforts to seize the Weldon Railroad, a cavalry force led by Brigadier Generals James H. Wilson and August Kautz circled south of Petersburg to strike at the railroads. Burning stock and tearing up around 60 miles of track, the raiders fought battles at Staunton River Bridge, Sappony Church, and Reams Station. In the wake of this last fight, they found themselves unable to breakthrough to return to the Union lines. As a result, the Wilson-Kautz raiders were forced to burn their wagons and destroy their guns before fleeing north. Returning to the Union lines on July 1, the raiders lost 1,445 men (approx. 25% of the command). A New Plan As Union forces operated against the railroads, efforts of a different sort were underway to break the deadlock in front of Petersburg. Among the units in the Union trenches was the 48th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry of Major General Ambrose Burnsides IX Corps. Composed largely of former coal miners, the men of the 48th devised a plan for breaking through the Confederate lines. Observing that the closest Confederate fortification, Elliotts Salient, was a mere 400 feet from their position, the men of the 48th believed that a mine could be run from their lines under the enemy earthworks. Once complete, this mine could be packed with enough explosives to open a hole in the Confederate lines. The Battle of the Crater This idea was seized upon by their commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Henry Pleasants. A mining engineer by trade, Pleasants approached Burnside with the plan arguing that the explosion would take the Confederates by surprise and would allow Union troops to rush in to take the city. Approved by Grant and Burnside, planning moved forward and construction of the mine began. Anticipating the attack to occur on July 30, Grant ordered Major General Winfield S. Hancocks II Corps and two divisions of Major General Philip Sheridans Cavalry Corps north across the James to the Union position at Deep Bottom. From this position, they were to advance against Richmond with the goal of drawing Confederate troops away from Petersburg. If this was not practicable, then Hancock was to pin the Confederates while Sheridan raided around the city. Attacking on July 27 and 28, Hancock and Sheridan fought an inconclusive action but one which succeeded in pulling Confederate troops from Petersburg. Having achieved his objective, Grant suspended operations on the evening of July 28. At 4:45 AM on July 30, the charge in the mine was detonated killing at least 278 Confederate soldiers and creating a crater 170 feet long, 60-80 feet wide, and 30 feet deep. Advancing, the Union attack soon bogged down as last-minute changes to the plan and a rapid Confederate response doomed it to failure. By 1:00 PM the fighting in the area ended and Union forces suffered 3,793 killed, wounded, and captured, while the Confederates incurred around 1,500. For his part in the attacks failure, Burnside was sacked by Grant and command of IX Corps passed to Major General John G. Parke. The Fighting Continues While the two sides were fighting in the vicinity of Petersburg, Confederate forces under Lieutenant General Jubal A. Early were successfully campaigning in the Shenandoah Valley. Advancing from the valley, he won the Battle of Monocacy on July 9 and menaced Washington on July 11-12. Retreating, he burned Chambersburg, PA on July 30. Earlys actions forced Grant to send VI Corps to Washington to bolster its defenses. Concerned that Grant might move to crush Early, Lee shifted two divisions to Culpeper, VA where they would be in position to support either front. Mistakenly believing that this movement had greatly weakened the Richmond defenses, Grant ordered II and X Corps to attack again at Deep Bottom on August 14. In six days of fighting, little was achieved other than forcing Lee to further strengthen the Richmond defenses. To end the threat posed by Early, Sheridan was dispatched to the valley to head up Union operations. Closing the Weldon Railroad While the fighting was raging at Deep Bottom, Grant ordered Major General Gouverneur K. Warrens V Corps to advance against the Weldon Railroad. Moving out on August 18, they reached the railroad at Globe Tavern around 9:00 AM. Attacked by Confederate forces, Warrens men fought a back and forth battle for three days. When it ended, Warren had succeeded in holding a position astride the railroad and had linked his fortifications with the main Union line near the Jerusalem Plank Road. The Union victory forced Lees men to offload supplies from the railroad at Stony Creek and bring them to Petersburg by wagon via the Boydton Plank Road. Wishing to permanently damage the Weldon Railroad, Grant ordered Hancocks tired II Corps to Reams Station to destroy the tracks. Arriving on August 22 and 23, they effectively destroyed the railroad to within two miles of Reams Station. Seeing the Union presence as a threat to his line of retreat, Lee ordered Major General A.P. Hill south to defeat Hancock. Attacking on August 25, Hills men succeeded in forcing Hancock to retreat after a protracted fight. Through a tactical reverse, Grant was pleased with the operation as the railroad had been put out of commission leaving the Southside as the only track running into Petersburg. (Map). Fighting in the Fall On September 16, while Grant was absent meeting with Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley, Major General Wade Hampton led the Confederate cavalry on a successful raid against the Union rear. Dubbed the Beefsteak Raid, his men escaped with 2,486 head of cattle. Returning, Grant mounted another operation in later September intending to strike at both ends of Lees position. The first part saw Butlers Army of the James attack north of the James at Chaffins Farm on September 29-30. Though he had some initial success, he was soon contained by the Confederates. South of Petersburg, elements of V and IX Corps, supported by cavalry, successfully extended the Union line to the area of Peebles and Pegrams Farms by October 2. In an effort to relieve pressure north of the James, Lee attacked the Union positions there on October 7. The resulting Battle of Darbytown and New Market Roads saw his men repulsed forcing him to fall back. Continuing his trend of striking both flanks simultaneously, Grant sent Butler forward again on October 27-28. Fighting the Battle of Fair Oaks and Darbytown Road, Butler faired no better than Lee earlier in the month. At the other end of the line, Hancock moved west with a mixed force in an attempt to cut the Boydton Plank Road. Though his men gained the road on October 27, subsequent Confederate counterattacks forced him to fall back. As a result, the road remained open for Lee throughout the winter (Map). The End Nears With the setback at Boydton Plank Road, fighting began to quiet as winter approached. The re-election of President Abraham Lincoln in November ensured that the war would be prosecuted to the end. On February 5, 1865, offensive operations resumed with Brigadier General David Greggs cavalry division moving out to strike Confederate supply trains on the Boydton Plank Road. To protect the raid, Warrens corps crossed Hatchers Run and established a blocking position on the Vaughan Road with elements of II Corps in support. Here they repulsed a Confederate attack late in the day. Following Greggs return the following day, Warren pushed up the road and was assaulted near Dabneys Mill. Though his advance was halted, Warren succeeded in further extending the Union line to Hatchers Run. Lees Last Gamble By early March 1865, over eight months in the trenches around Petersburg had begun to wreck Lees army. Plagued by disease, desertion, and a chronic lack of supplies, his force had dropped to around 50,000. Already outnumbered 2.5-to-1, he faced the daunting prospect of another 50,000 Union troops arriving as Sheridan concluded operations in the valley. Desperately needing to change the equation before Grant assaulted his lines, Lee asked Major General John B. Gordon to plan an attack on the Union lines with the goal of reaching Grants headquarters area at City Point. Gordon began preparations and at 4:15 AM on March 25, the lead elements began moving against Fort Stedman in the northern part of the Union line. Striking hard, they overwhelmed the defenders and soon had taken Fort Stedman as well as several nearby batteries opening a 1000-foot breach in the Union position. Responding to the crisis, Parke ordered Brigadier General John F. Hartranfts division to seal the gap. In tight fighting, Hartranfts men succeeded in isolating Gordons attack by 7:30 AM. Supported by a vast number of Union guns, they counterattacked and drove the Confederates back to their own lines. Suffering around 4,000 casualties, the failure of the Confederate effort at Fort Stedman effectively doomed Lees ability to hold the city. Five Forks Sensing Lee was weak, Grant ordered the newly returned Sheridan to attempt a move around the Confederate right flank to the west of Petersburg. To counter this move, Lee dispatched 9,200 men under Major General George Pickett to defend the vital crossroads of Five Forks and the Southside Railroad, with orders to hold them at all hazards. On March 31, Sheridans force encountered Picketts lines and moved to attack. After some initial confusion, Sheridans men routed the Confederates at the Battle of Five Forks, inflicting 2,950 casualties. Pickett, who was away at a shad bake when the fighting started, was relieved of his command by Lee. With the Southside Railroad cut, Lee lost his best line of retreat. The following morning, seeing no other options, Lee informed President Jefferson Davis that both Petersburg and Richmond must be evacuated (Map). The Fall of Petersburg This coincided with Grant ordering a massive offensive against the majority of the Confederate lines. Moving forward early on April 2, Parkes IX Corps struck Fort Mahone and the lines around the Jerusalem Plank Road. In bitter fighting, they overwhelmed the defenders and held on against strong counterattacks by Gordons men. To the south, Wrights VI Corps shattered the Boydton Line allowing Major General John Gibbons XXIV Corps to exploit the breach. Advancing, Gibbons men fought a protracted battle for Forts Gregg and Whitworth. Though they captured both, the delay allowed Lieutenant General James Longstreet to bring troops down from Richmond. To the west, Major General Andrew Humphreys, now commanding II Corps, broke through the Hatchers Run Line and pushed back Confederate forces under Major General Henry Heth. Though he was having success, he was ordered to advance on the city by Meade. Doing so, he left a division to deal with Heth. By late afternoon, Union forces had forced the Confederates into Petersburgs inner defenses but had worn themselves out in the process. That evening, as Grant planned a final assault for the following day, Lee began evacuating the city (Map). Aftermath Retreating west, Lee hoped to resupply and join with General Joseph Johnstons forces in North Carolina. As Confederate forces departed, Union troops entered both Petersburg and Richmond on April 3. Closely pursued by Grants forces, Lees army began to disintegrate. After a week of retreating, Lee finally met with Grant at Appomattox Court House and surrendered his army on April 9, 1865. Lees surrender effectively ended the Civil War in the East.

Cmo emigrar legalmente a los Estados Unidos

Cmo emigrar legalmente a los Estados Unidos   Obtener una tarjeta de residencia permanente es el requisito imprescindible para emigrar legalmente a los Estados Unidos. Esa tarjeta tambià ©n se conoce como permiso de residencia o como green card.   Es cierto que se puede permanecer legalmente en Estados Unidos sin esa tarjeta, pero en otro estatus y siempre se tratarà ­a de una estancia temporal, aunque puede ser ms o menos larga. La tarjeta de residencia permite permanecer y trabajar de forma permanente en los Estados Unidos y puede ser, adems, un puente hacia la adquisicià ³n de la ciudadanà ­a americana por naturalizacià ³n. En este artà ­culo se explican las formas de obtener la tarjeta de residencia y trmites especiales, cules son los requisitos de que debe cumplir el solicitante, los tiempos de tramitacià ³n y, finalmente, cules son los errores que pueden causar el problema de que la green card no sea aprobada. Cà ³mo se adquiere la tarjeta de residencia permanente Aproximadamente, cada aà ±o fiscal 1 millà ³n de personas extranjeras obtienen la tarjeta de residencia por uno de los numerosos caminos creados por la ley para sacar la green card. La mayorà ­a, aproximadamente 6 de cada 10, la obtienen por ser familiar de un ciudadano o de un residente permanente.   Las estadà ­sticas acreditan que en la mayorà ­a de los casos se necesita un patrocinador, es decir, un familiar o una empresa, esto à ºltimo para el caso de trabajadores. Sà ³lo en casos especiales no se necesita patrocinador. Por ejemplo, ciertos casos de trabajadores excepcionales con reconocimiento internacional por su trabajo, asilo, loterà ­a de visas de diversidad o visas de inmigrante de inversià ³n EB-5, cancelacià ³n de la orden de deportacià ³n dictada por un juez, etc. Lo importante de este apartado es entender que no es suficiente querer emigrar. Es necesario reunir los requisitos para poder iniciar uno de los caminos creado por las leyes migratorias.   Trmites para la tarjeta de residencia Los trmites son diferentes segà ºn el tipo de camino que cada persona sigue para obtener la green card. Por ejemplo, en las peticiones de familia el patrocinador debe enviar la peticià ³n, probar parentesco, acreditar medios econà ³micos para el sostenimiento de la persona patrocinada, etc. Por el contrario, si se trata de una peticià ³n por empresa se va a necesitar una aprobacià ³n previa por parte del Departamento de Trabajo. En el caso de que se trate de asilo, se necesita una decisià ³n afirmativa parte del Servicio de Inmigracià ³n y Ciudadanà ­a (USCIS, por sus siglas en inglà ©s) o de una corte migratorio.   Si se trata de la visa de diversidad, hay que aplicar en octubre por internet en la pgina del Departamento de Estado y ganar una loterà ­a que se celebra en mayo del aà ±o siguiente, etc. Es decir, los trmites son distintos segà ºn el camino que se emplee para la residencia. Requisitos que debe reunir el potencial migrante En la fase final de la tramitacià ³n de la green card el proceso puede pararse y la peticià ³n negarse si se considera que la persona es inadmisible.   Es cierto que dependiendo del camino para la green card, algunas de esas causas no se tienen en cuenta, por ejemplo, estancia ilegal en casos de green card por razones humanitarias como la visa U. Pero la regla general es que hay que mirar con lupa esas circunstancias, ver cundo no aplican, cundo es posible pedir un perdà ³n, cundo hay que simplemente esperar o cundo no se puede hacer nada. En otras palabras, hay que asesorarse con un abogado de inmigracià ³n. Adems, en los casos en los que el problema surge por estancia ilegal en los Estados Unidos y se est en el paà ­s es conveniente entender cundo se puede ajustar el estatus a pesar de esa circunstancia y cundo no es posible y necesariamente hay que salir de USA para completar el proceso mediante un procedimiento consular. Esto es importante porque en el momento en que se sale de los Estados Unidos salta lo que se conoce como el castigo o penalidad de los 3 à ³Ã‚  10 aà ±os, que complica y mucho la obtencià ³n de la tarjeta. En otras palabras, si se tiene al menos una causa que convierte a la persona en inadmisible hay que asesorarse para ver cà ³mo aplica a las circunstancias personales de cada caso.   Duracià ³n de la tramitacià ³n Los tiempos de espera desde que se inicia el proceso de la peticià ³n al momento en que se aprueba y se obtiene la green card puede variar desde apenas 4 meses a ms de 20 aà ±os. En estos momentos los trmites ms rpidos son para los familiares inmediatos de ciudadanos, es decir, cà ³nyuges, padre, madre e hijos solteros menores de 21 aà ±os. Por otro lado, los mexicanos que son hijos casados de ciudadanos estn teniendo una demora superior a los 22 aà ±os. Las demoras, particularmente en peticiones de familia, hay que tenerlas en cuenta, porque pueden ser mucho ms largas de lo que se cree. Errores que perjudican el proceso de obtencià ³n de la green card Entre todos los errores destacan los siguientes: - Mentir a un oficial migratorio o del consulado. Y lo cierto es que es frecuente que la mentira sea sobre cosas que no afectarà ­an a la obtencià ³n de la green card. Sin embargo, el mentir es considerado un fraude de ley que es causa de denegacià ³n de la residencia. - Quedarse ilegalmente en Estados Unidos cerrando el paso a muchas de las formas de obtencià ³n de la residencia (aunque no todas ya que en algunos casos sigue siendo posible). - Casarse como turista inmediatamente despuà ©s de ingresar a los Estados Unidos - Casarse con un novio distinto al que patrocinà ³ la visa K-1 Conclusià ³n Hay muchas formas de obtener la green card. Pero como dice el dicho, hay las que hay y no se puede inventar lo que no hay. Adems, es importante entender los trmites, todo lo que se pide, dà ³nde surgen los problemas y cules son los tiempos de demora para la forma especà ­fica que se utiliza para sacar la green card. Para finalizar, es de interà ©s tomar este test de respuesta mà ºltiples sobre cà ³mo sacar la green card y cà ³mo conservarla, ya que en asuntos migratorio el mejor consejo es estar informado para evitar los problemas. Este es un artà ­culo informativo. No es asesorà ­a legal.

An Overview of the Economy of Bermuda Research Paper

An Overview of the Economy of Bermuda - Research Paper Example The country has enjoyed steady economic superiority since the end of the Second World War, although it has been affected by recession since 2007 following the global recession. The country enjoys the fourth highest per capita income, which is 50 percent higher than that of the US. The industrial sector mainly focuses on construction, and there is little agriculture since only 20 percent of the island is arable. Bermuda has a robust financial regulatory system making it an important regional and global offshore financial center. International business is the major foreign exchange generating industry in the country (Anderson, 2011). Bermuda is a reinsurance center and an insurance region with firms writing significant business from USA and U.K. In 2010, 15,078 international companies were registered in the island, many of which are U.S owned (Reinsurance Association of America, 2011). These companies spent approximately $2 billion in the country in 2009, making them an important sourc e of foreign exchange. This sector provided $1.5 billion in its total output corresponding to 26.1 percent of the total GDP. International business is also the third largest employer in the country. The sector had 4,287 jobs in 2010, a reduction from 4,431 in 2009. This reduction has made tourism the largest employer in Bermuda. ... Other countries involved in the import chain are the UK, Canada, and Caribbean countries. Bermuda’s exports are mainly re-exports of pharmaceuticals. These exports are valued at $783 million and export partners include Spain, Germany, Denmark, and the UK. Duty on imports and exports is a major source of revenue for the government (Fabian, 2011). Duty rates in the country are high and are reflected in the consumer retail prices. High prices are countered by high wages that keep up with the cost of living and poverty is practically nonexistent. The government generates approximately 24 percent of its revenue base equivalent to $225.4 million from import and export duty. The government does not impose income, sales, or profit taxes, but levies real estate tax (Fabian, 2011). Bermuda’s tourism industry is the second largest employer with over 4,349 jobs in hotels and restaurants. The industry has been experiencing declining numbers of visitors, which currently stands at 585 ,266 visitors (Ministry of Finance, 2011). The decline can be attributed to the declining travel industry particularly the airline sector. The tourism industry generated approximately $383.9 million in 2011. The cruise and yacht front have reduced the gap created by the failing airline sector. The number of visitors arriving by air grew to 236,038 in 2011 and cruise visitors were 415,711. Three quarters of visitors to Bermuda are from the US, and the slowdown experienced in the country has significantly affected tourism (Government of Bermuda, 2011). Tourism sponsored events such as the Bermuda International Invitational Race Week increased the number of visitors to the island. Hotel occupancy rates have increased with large hotels enjoying the highest occupancy rates. The 2010 census

Entrepreneurship and Innovation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 2

Entrepreneurship and Innovation - Essay Example The people will be recruited and given jobs according to their strengths and skills in particular field. This report illustrates the estimated financial needs and total forecasted net cash flow in the first operating year. The venture will differentiate their products and services by innovative promotional activities to attract customer and increase their customer base. Part A Description of the Venture The venture is to open a clothing store that will provide people variety of clothes and accessories. It will offer most inclusive selection of clothes in stores as well as in online shopping. By offering a complete selection of fashionable items, the new venture will quickly gain good response among customers and also increase the sales. The new venture will certainly fulfil the need of customers by providing most inclusive selection and by having good educated employee force. The business venture will constantly monitor the competitive business condition to ensure innovation and diff erentiation in their products. The clothing venture will adhere to maintain strict control in financial activities. The major creativity which will distinguish the products of the new venture will be to provide multi-sport wear to match the lifestyle of customer, tailored customer service and variety of sizes to choose which can fit the potential customer. Major Issues of the Venture One of the chief issues for new clothing venture is the recent decline of apparel manufacturing industry. The chief reason for this demur is that the retailers are relocating their production offshore. Due to low cost advantage in other countries, several clothing brands relocated their production offshore that resulted in job cuts of employees in the UK. The new clothing venture will outsource their products from British manufacturing companies because the demand of British products is at present increasing. The outsourcing from British manufacturing company will help to boost the confidence of the app arel industry and determine the problems of producing apparel goods in the UK. The new clothing venture can create job opportunity for several people in the UK (Freitag, 2011). Feasibility Study of the Venture The fashion sector of the UK is active compared to many of the markets. The fashion market is influenced by international market and it is dominated by seasonal style, disparity and desire of people. Therefore, businesses related to clothing and fashion need to consider the diversity of people’s opinion and thoughts towards brand and fashion. The fashion sector of the UK provides complete view of customer’s purchasing behaviour (Experian Information Solutions, 2010). The clothing market of the UK has shown excellent growth. In between 2004–2008, the expenditure on clothing items in the UK had increased by 10%. The supermarket such as ASDA and Tesco had accounted for increasing in sales of clothing products than other outlets. In the year 2008, the supermar kets’ share had raised to 23% compared to 10% in the year 2000. It is expected that this expansion will continue because of increase in customer expenditure on non-food products. The clothing mar

The Non-universality and “Culturality” of Literature Essay Example for Free

The Non-universality and â€Å"Culturality† of Literature Essay Features that Makes Literature Uniquely Cultural and Not Universal By romance novels alone that are judged as trashy and unhelpful to the critical thinking growth of women and yet hundreds of such books are still hoarded, it is already quite evident that literature is one discourse in a person’s life that is deemed as necessary and important—if such romance novels can be considered as literature that is. Romance novels are known to contain sexual innuendos, hot coital sessions, shallow plots and character developments and other literary elements which can be regarded as being unliterary and even mortifying in the conservative circles. For centuries, romance novels in all forms and genres have been created, edited, published, banned, exalted, and burned. Whether those banned and burned novels end up with such fate because they are considered to be too much for the general public for the taboo subjects they depict or because the books does not have any literary value, this could just mean that there are certain subjects that stirs scandals and controversies in particular settings and culture. But a taboo subject in one particular culture does not mean that it is a taboo subject in other cultural settings—it could be something like the Theory of Relativity wherein something is applicable in one setting while it cannot be the same circumstance for other settings. It is because of this aspect that certain genres and forms of literature be regarded as unique only to particular setups. Thus, literature is not something which is seen as universal that involves the entire human race—literature is something which can be judged as a discourse or subject that is cultural and universal the same way that it is only women who are majorly magnetized by romance novels compared to men and the same way that sex is something which is considered as taboo in Asian countries while the West nonchalantly discuss about it. Literature therefore is not universal for if this is true, then why is it that some novels, poetry or plays are majorly disliked by a group of people while another group of people greatly admire it? If literature supposedly connects human beings and links everyone together with a â€Å"universal thread†, then why is it that people still have great conflict on themes, plots, dialogues and characters presented in books? Literature therefore is cultural and particular in a way that it embodies the language of a nation, the history of society, a society of a group, a culture of a country, the customs, traditions and practices of state. Thus, what is literature but something which is uniquely distinct to a culture? Before a discussion on whether literature is universal or not, it should first be explained on what is literature. Literature is often defined as a produce from one’s imagination that has ascetic creativity and which reflects humanity in that one single product of humanity or ascetic creativity: â€Å"Stories from myth and legend persist in our culture because they evoke deep emotional responses from us, shaped as we are by those stories, often from a very young age† (Trupe 164). Then, a written work that is fictional can be considered as literature but this definition is actually wrong and misleading. Going back to the subject of romance novels, can these books be regarded as literature when they so obviously do not contain any ascetic creativity at all? Just because something is ictional or imagined, it does not mean that it is literature. But at the same time, not all literature is fictional—are there not biographies, autobiographies, speeches and essays that are wholly true but are still seen as literature? Maybe, literature is such a broad subject that it is indefinable—even John Spriggs who wrote on literary discourse and criticism wrote that literature should not be defined at all because it would restrict literature to a particular aspect (Easthope 168). But if literature cannot be defined at all, then it means that it is something which can cause confusion among people—academic and common alike. Eagleton though has a different idea on what can be regarded as literature. According to Eagleton, literature is defined by the particular language it utilizes. He asserts that literature â€Å"transforms and intensifies ordinary language, deviates systematically from everyday speech† (2). Thus, any work can be regarded as literature if it uses a special language unique only to literature and very different form â€Å"everyday speech†. Going back to the thesis of the paper, if what Eagleton says is true, then it just means that literature is not universal since there would be people who would fail to understand this special literary language used in literature. If the language in literature is uncommon and unique only to literature, then it uses a particular language which would distinguish it from other words that people use. However, there is a counterargument to this claim presented by Leech and Short (as cited by Simpson). According to Leech and Short, although literature uses a particular set of language and linguistics unique to it, it still manages to use the ordinary language in a way that it is just creatively expressed (as cited by Simpson 6). In fact, what makes the literalists the same as other people is that they follow a particular set of rules the same way that a lawyer or journalist or doctor would be using particular vocabulary and sentence construction that is unique to their profession. Thus, literature is unique in the sense that it uses creative language but it is not unique in the aspect that it is the only discourse that is unique in using a different set of codes or syntax. It is Horace, who first came up with the idea that literature serves two purposes: utile et dulce. That is, literature can educate people and be utilized by the masses (utile) and literature can be appreciated for its sheer ascetic creativity that brings out the beauty in the things around human beings—nature and human nature. Horace concludes that there are two purposes, literature is not something which can only serve one master—to either teach people something or to showcase its literary beauty—instead, it should be a balance of what literature is trying to aim for. However, modern literary critics and academicians believe otherwise: Literature should just either be a utile or be a dulce. L. Insana on â€Å"Redefining Dulce et Utile: Boccacio’s Organization of Literature on Economic Terms† uses this argument on utile and dulce in trying to find out what Boccaccio is trying to express in his controversial Decameron that both teaches the public something and at the same time, it reveals a literary beauty that only Boccaccio can create (n. p. ). Thus, while the concept of dulce and utile may be something that has long been created hundreds of years ago, it can be applied even to economic settings as what Insana has done in the critique of Boccaccio’s Decameron. Nowadays, the argument that literature is either a utile or dulce is not true anymore since literature not serves many other purposes outside utile and dulce. For example, literature can be a means to unite the world through form and content—serving as a means for people to unite in a single universal thread—something which is opposite to the thesis of this paper and something which this paper is trying to disprove of. There are conclusions that literature is connects people because it has the ability to link each culture and group not just by the means of language but also through experiences. People are united because of literature exists to have the â€Å"same universal thread† with other literature. All in all, this is what literature is believed to be used for: â€Å"to give us a better understanding of who we are, and a greater ability to know others and thereby help us to understand others, not destroy them†. This universal thread opinion on the objective and form of literature is truthful in some way since the experiences of societies are almost the same as everyone else: Works of literature consist of ‘human experience’ and so contrast with the texts of mass or popular culture; created by individual authors literature can evoke a ‘genuine personal response’ in the reader—as Leavis explains elsewhere (see Leavis and Thompson 1933), popular culture, collectively and commercially produced, is stereotyped, formulaic, anonymous and deficient in ‘human experience’. (Easthope 4) Each individual, no matter where they come from or what they do experiences the same needs, desires and wants to the person next to him/her. People all suffer, people all feel happiness, people all have the capability to love and be loved and people will die one day. Thus, all the collation of hopes, dreams and fears are true no matter where you may go. However, the experiences of a society are still different from another. Though they do experience the same economic or political problem like the other societies and countries, their own experience is unique only to themselves. Literature, particularly fiction, conspires to human freedom: in this way it has a political effect. But the vision projected by literature, its implicit philosophy, sits opposite the political understanding of the world. (Rolin 40) Thus, though a person in Japan feels the same heart ache as that of a person in Wales and writes the same kind of poem or prose that centers on their grief, it would still be different because of the certain cultural aspects that envelopes them. All in all, this is what is being pointed out why literature can never be the same for all the people in the world—because each group of people contains certain cultural influences and characteristics that are only unique to them. Aside from language which clearly differentiates one culture or country to another, there is also the history to consider, the traditions and even the practices of a particular culture. Zipes clearly gives an example in how fairy tales of a country is used to determine the differences of the locale’s color and beliefs: Each village and community in Europe and in North America developed various modes of storytelling and different types of tales that were closely connected to their customs, laws, morals, and beliefs. (xvi) The same way that a man tends to sway more towards the non-fictional forms of literature or the comic books and sci-fi, women tends to gravitate more to the romantic and whimsical forms of literature, there are also differences in how the literature of a village or community in a particular country in a very specific time would be different from another country in a altogether different time span. Though human experience is the same for everyone, there are still great and tremendous differences in human experiences that would make literature very non-universal and would instead be concluded as being very cultural. A very specific example would be the language of a culture or a nation; Eagleton explains that literature contains a unique language to be identified with just literature, that such â€Å"literary discourse estranges or alienates ordinary speech† (2). However, he also points out that though ordinary speech is alienated, the said literary discourse also â€Å"brings us into a fuller, more intimate possession of experience† (Eagleton 2). Literature through the means of language becomes more complex and yet meaningful—something that each culture can relate to as they have their own distinctive features. Another example would be in how a famous literary figure, Defoe has written fictional works that â€Å"are admired today†¦[and] can be found in the material of journalism he practiced in an age when the boundaries between journalism and fiction, fact and fancy, were less distinguishable than they are today† (Underwood 45). This example illustrates how any form of literature can imitate the life and time of the author making the literature one of its kind when compared to other literary works that also imitates the life and times of their particular authors. But most credible as an evidence and sample to thesis is perhaps the case of how William Shakespeare embodies his play, Henry V as something that reflects the early English life, according to Schwyzer: Henry V is traditionally regarded as the most English of the histories, and hence of all Shakespeare’s works. The words ‘‘England’’ and ‘‘English’’ resound through the play, occurring more than one hundred times. Henry is constantly reminding his men of what they are or should be capable of on the basis of their Englishness, and he is himself referred to by the French king as ‘‘Harry England. ’’ (Schwyzer 126) What Schwyzer presents is not that the play was inspired by England or the life of England, but that it the play itself evokes or contains themes of what it remains to be seemed as English. This â€Å"englishness† as what Schwyzer calls it is another term for the existence of a national literature that aims to mirror what it means for a particular nation to be a nation. In conclusion, there is no universal thread the links human being together even of literature shows the same human experience for everyone. Literature is not universal; it is cultural because of the many distinct features that are embodied in a literary work like language, way of life, background, etc. However, though literature is no universal, it is still an ongoing process of development and improvement that hopefully one day, does indeed bridge the world together and be called universal. Works Cited Eagleton, Terry. Literary Theory: an Introduction. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 1996. Print. Easthope, Antony. Literary into Cultural Studies. New York: Routledge, 1991. Print. Insana, L. â€Å"Redefining Dulce et Utile: Boccacio’s Organization of Literature on Economic Terms†. Heliotropia 2. 1 (2004). Web. Heliotropia. org. 17 May 2010. Rolin, Olivier. â€Å"The Subtle Genius of the Novel†. The Review of Contemporary Fiction 28. 3 (2008): 40. Web. Literature Resource Center. 16 May 2010. Schwyzer, Philip. Literature, Nationalism, and Memory in Early Modern England and Wales. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2004. Print. Simpson, Paul. Language Through Literature: an Introduction. New York: Routledge, 1997. Print. Trupe, Alice. Thematic Guide to Young Adult Literature. Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 2006. Print. Underwood, Doug. Journalism and the Novel: Truth and Fiction, 1700-2000. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2008. Print. Zipes, Jack (ed). The Oxford Companion to Fairy Tales. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000.

The Archetypical Low-Cost Air Carrier: Southwest Airlines :: Aviation Southwest Airlines Flying Essays

Abstract The seventh largest major domestic airline in the United States (US), Southwest Airlines, is commonly known or referred to as a low-cost carrier. Southwest Airlines is the only major airline that provides short-haul, point-to-point service in the United States. In fact it was the first airline of its type ever started; it has become the archetypical low-cost airline. The idea has proven itself so well, that other start-up airlines have based their company strategies upon the basics of Southwest. Today, there are two other low-cost air carriers (the other two airlines are considered national airlines and not major airlines) that are actively and aggressively competing with Southwest Airlines for business and profit turning. The three American low-cost air carriers are currently posting profits even in light of the US economy’s current state of affairs, with Southwest Airlines first, JetBlue second, and Air Tran third, in profits. How is this possible when the major six airlines are reporting losses of millions and millions of dollars each quarter? The answer to this question begins about 30 years ago. The Archetypical Low-Cost Air Carrier: Southwest Airlines The product one airline can offer is the same exact product the next airline can offer, a single available seat mile (ASM) for sale. The difference between the airlines lies in the marketing, routing, pricing, executive decision-making, and the operating strategies that each airline chooses to espouse regarding that one product. It is through these strategies that an airline must find productivity in total revenue passenger miles (RPM) flown to be profitable. When the ASM is filled with a fare-paying passenger, sales or income is recognized, and it converts to an RPM. The relationship between the ASM and RPM are directly related and is expressed in percentages known as Load Factors (LF). This LF is a management tool used to determine the efficiency and health of the airline. It is necessary to keep these two variables in balance of each other. Southwest Airlines load factors are represented in Figure 1 and 2.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   RPM LF = ASM Many airlines choose to use the hub network, which induces costly effects in all areas of the airline. It is the point-to-point; short haul airline that is capable of keeping costs low and turn profits, Southwest Airlines has proven just that. Southwest Airlines survived the initial years of deregulation, years of cyclical business cycles that may have led to recessionary and or inflationary periods, and its 25-year

No definition of a miracle is adequate Essay

Many philosophers have attempted to define what exactly constitutes a miracle in a number of ways outlining definitions which contain the criteria for what phenomena can be counted as miraculous. Whether a definition is adequate seems highly subjective but will likely be one that is acceptable by non-Christians as well as Christians who in all probability will want a definition that accepts many of the miracle in the Bible to indeed be miraculous. Mackie’s definition of miracles describing them as events that occur when the world is not left alone and is intruded by something that is not part of the natural order necessitates that miracles are caused by a supernatural entity which may be considered to be God. This appears to suggest that his definition would indeed be adequate for some Christians given that it sets apart miracles from coincidences turning them into occurrences which could provide evidence for their faith. Moreover it allows a more specific idea of what constitutes a miracles disallowing events with an entirely naturalistic explanation maintaining them as unique events. However, Hick likely would criticise Mackie’s arguments for not be adequate given the ambiguity of what the natural order and the laws that govern it are. Hick suggested that laws were generalisations that are formed after events have happened, suggesting that that the natural order couldn’t be intruded upon. Also it may be that what is perceived to be an intrusion by something outside of the natural order is actually just a lack of understanding of the natural order on our part. This means that though an event such as the Moon Landing would have been defined as inadequate centuries ago, today it would not. This undermines the adequacy of the definition given that what it encompasses will change with time. A further issue with the adequacy of Mackie’s definition is that it could be argued to not be sufficiently specific given that it makes no attempt to define what exactly constitutes something distinct from the natural order, and it may in fact not be God. This would undermine its adequacy for Christians who believe that God is responsible for causing miracles and may not accept they are caused by other beings. Swinburne’s definition of a miracle appears to resolve this issue defining miracles as a violation of a law of nature by a god (a very powerful rational being who is not a material object). That said, the requirement for God to intervene in the world poses a number of challenges to Swinburne’s’ definition especially given that God’s need to intervene in his creation contradicts the idea that he is an all powerful being if the world requires changes. Additionally philosophers like Wiles would argue that if God has the ability to intervene in the world in order to perform miracles in certain instances then his failure to prevent evil and suffering in the world undermines his characteristic of omni-benevolence. For this reason a definition that requires God’s intervention to cause miracles may be inadequate given the contradictions that would occur if such an event happened. On the other hand, many Christians do accept that God intervenes in the world and if so this definition of miracles may indeed be adequate also determining whether God is responsible for an event may be impossible as it may just be due to limited understanding of events. Additionally, Swinburne’s definition is undermined by Hick’s challenge arguably even more so than Mackie’s given his explicit use of the term ‘natural laws’ and also would likely be subject to change as understanding changes. Holland’s definition of miracles appears to avoid the contractions associated with Swinburne and Mackie’s explanations not requiring the physical intervention of God suggesting from the outset that it may be more adequate. This is because Holland only requires miracles to be an extraordinary coincidence of a beneficial nature interpreted religiously. The emphasis on interpretation also removes the difficulties associated with determining the cause of the miracle while still encompassing Biblical miracles. However it would likely be criticised for being too subjective given that different people would differ on whether the same event is miraculous. Additionally the Catholic church which usually requires a person to have performed at least two miracles in order to be Canonized as a saint would likely not accept miracles as defined by Holland as they only accept events without naturalistic explanation suggesting the definition is inadequate for how the term miracle is used by some Christian denominations. In conclusion, it seems probable that no definition of miracles is adequate given that although Swinburne and Mackie’s definition of miracles may encompass many of the instances of how miracles are used, they are undermined by the difficulty in determining natural laws and also whether God physically intervened. Likewise while Holland goes some way to avoiding these contradictions in his definition it remains highly subjective and also doesn’t reflect how miracles are used in Christianity. Additionally it will likely also lead to significant differences between what people consider miracles. Moreover, the existence of so many contrasting definitions of miracles suggests that there isn’t a single definition that is adequate given that there is no consensus on what makes an event miraculous so any definition will be subject to significant disagreement. For this reason the statement that no definition of miracle is adequate can be considered to be true.

Wal-Mart Market Analysis

Wal-Mart Market Analysis Wal-Mart is the second largest company in the world. Its focus is on mass merchandising as opposed to specialty merchandising. The idea behind mass merchandising is to offer products and services in one convenient store to better manage a consumer’s time. An example of how Wal-Mart mass merchandisers is by offering a multitude of products and services within one convenient store. They sell sporting goods, electronics, housing needs, clothing, groceries, consumables, and toiletries all in one convenient location. Similar to a mall, Wal-Mart meets all of its customers’ needs in one location. This is a very valuable ability because it allows the customer to have more control over his or her time. (Research and Markets, 2010) The company operates under three main operation segments. Its most common segment will be its Wal-Mart. The second common segment found in the United States is Sam’s Club. Sam’s club is similar to Wal-Mart except that it is larger in size and puts more emphasis on wholesale retail. They are more popular with businesses and large families. The company’s last segment consists of International stores. Though Wal-Mart has few locations outside the United States its name is widely known. (Research and Markets, 2010) Within the United States, Wal-Mart has a variety of mass merchandising locations. Wal-Mart’s products and services within each location are based on demographics and surrounding stores. Superstores, discount stores, and neighborhood markets are the three types of stores Wal-Mart might open, given a certain demographic. If a community is large and consists of multiple school districts and many families, Wal-Mart will consider opening a Superstore or neighborhood market. Within a neighborhood market, Wal-Mart offers lower pricing to compete with higher priced stores such as Targets, Kohls, ShopRites, ACMEs, and Super fresh. Even shopping malls competing with Wal-Mart. Discount stores are located in smaller communities, mostly consisting of elderly individuals or small families. (Research and Markets, 2010) Wal-Mart’s is a very powerful company due to its low pricing and high volume. It drives mom and pop shops and local small retail stores out of business due to the inability to compete with such a large chain. Although this is disappointing, Wal-Mart is one of the largest employers, providing jobs for over a million employees. So it does its share to contribute to employment. (Market Research, 2010) Everyday Wal-Mart is increasing its market share. Years back Wal-Mart was just another retailer, but due to massive expansion and lower prices, Wal-Mart now competes in almost every type of retail business. Wal-Mart is now opening grocery stores, gas stations, and supercenters that sell everything imaginable in order to maximize its market share. Everyday Wal-Mart is devising new ideas to keep a huge control over the market share. Ideas of incorporating a grocery store within a clothing store were farfetched 10 years ago, but now it is typical to buy dairy products and sporting goods all in one store. Now farfetched and even crazier ideas such as selling used cars, financial services, and home improvement needs can be realized within Wal-Mart’s ability to expand its products and services. (Market Research, 2010) Wal-Mart has the ability to continue growing to higher and even deeper depths. The goal for Wal-Mart is to not let its goals of expanding interfere with its normal and everyday operations. Low prices and convenience are a must for Wal-Mart to continue operating. Today Wal-Mart is a common name in retail just as Ford is common to automobiles. ? References Market Research, Initials. (2010). The Age of wal-mart. Retrieved fromhttp://www. marketresearch. com/map/prod/805195. html Research and Markets, Initials. (2010). Analysis of wal-mart stores. Retrieved from http://www. researchandmarkets. com/reportinfo. asp? report_id=552122

Ona

Ona "Ona" is as Much a Love Story as it is a Tale of Ritualized Beliefs and Cultural Behavior Patterns Often stories in a particular culture take into account, and capitalize on symbols of that particular culture for thematic effectiveness. Many indigenous stories thus contain generalized patterns of beliefs that serve as the backdrop which enables readers to relate to the stories and the content thereof. Buchi Emecheta's "Ona" is a powerful love story that centers around ritualized beliefs and cultural behavior patterns of one African tribe. The story is legendary in nature, alluding to its cultural import. It is about Abagdi, a very wealthy local chief, who is love with Ona, one of his mistresses. Agbadi is head over heals for Ona despite the fact that he has many wives. Agbadi is particularly crazy about Ona because, unlike the other women, she is not submissive as she was the daughter chief Obi Umunna.ONA WorkshopThe cultural theme in the story is that man enjoys hunting, taming and conquering even in matters of love; Agbadi finds a special thrill in trying to win the unconquerable love of Ona. Ona is a woman ahead of her time, unwilling to be controlled, even by the strong and powerful Agbadi, not only because of her individual desires, but because of her respect for the cultural norms of her society.From the onset of the story we learn that Agbadi proposes marriage to Ona. Since Ona's father, Chief Obi Umunna, had no sons, he raised Ona to be very assertive and assume what is considered boylike traits. Thus, like a man, her father raised her never "to stoop to any man" (629). Does this mean that women and men are not considered equals in this society? Evidently, it seems the only reason Ona was thought...

Biography of Spiro Agnew, Vice President Who Resigned

Biography of Spiro Agnew, Vice President Who Resigned Spiro T. Agnew was a little known Republican politician from Maryland whose unlikely ascent to the vice presidency prompted many Americans in the late 1960s to wonder Spiro who? Agnew  was an unremarkable figure known to speak in a deadening monotone who was nonetheless notorious for his combative relationship with the press and unwavering loyalty to his boss, President Richard M. Nixon. He once referred to journalists as a tiny, enclosed fraternity of privileged men elected by no one† and to Nixons critics as â€Å"nattering nabobs of negativism.†Ã‚   Agnew is perhaps most well-known for the end of his career. He was forced to resign from office after being charged with extortion, bribery and conspiracy and pleading no contest to income-tax evasion in 1973.   Early Years Spiro Theodore Agnew (also known as Ted)  was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on Nov. 9, 1918. His father, Theophrastos Anagnostopoulos, had immigrated to the U.S. from Greece in 1897 and changed his surname. The elder Agnew sold produce before entering the restaurant business. His mother was American, a native of Virginia.   Spiro Agnew attended the public schools in Baltimore and entered  Johns Hopkins University to study chemistry in 1937. He transferred out of the prestigious school after struggling academically and enrolled at the  University of Baltimore Law School. He earned his law degree, but only after being drafted into the Army during World War II.  He returned to law school after being discharged and received his law degree in 1947, then went on to practice law in Baltimore. Early Career in Politics Agnew was little known outside of his home state of Maryland before Nixon chose him as a running mate. His first foray into politics came in 1957 when he was appointed to  the Baltimore County zoning appeals board, on which he served three years. He ran and lost for a judgeship in 1960, then won the Baltimore County executive position two years later. (The position is similar to that of mayor of a city.) During Agnews tenure, the county enacted a law requiring restaurants and other establishments to be to be open to customers of all races, built new schools and increased teacher salaries. He was, in other words, a progressive Republican. After creating a name for himself in the populous Maryland County, Agnew sought and won the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 1966. He beat a Democratic candidate,  George Mahoney, who supported segregation and campaigned on the slogan  Your Home Is Your Castle- Protect It. Charging Mahoney with racial bigotry, Agnew captured the liberal suburbs around Washington and was elected governor, Agnews Senate biography reads. But he would serve as governor for fewer than two years before he caught to eye of his partys presidential hopeful, Nixon. Rise to the Vice Presidency Nixon chose Agnew as  a running mate in the campaign of 1968, a decision that was controversial and unpopular with the Republican Party. The GOP viewed the progressive urban politician with suspicion. Nixon responded by describing Agnew as  one of the most underrated political men in America,  an old fashioned patriot† who, having been raised and elected in Baltimore, was a master strategist on urban issues. â€Å"There can be a mystique about a man. You can look him in the eye and know hes got it. This guy has got it, Nixon said in defense of his choice for running mate. Agnew was elected vice president in 1968; he and Nixon were  re-elected to second term in 1972. In 1973, as the Watergate investigation was churning toward a denouement that would force the resignation of Nixon, Agnew ran into legal trouble. Criminal Charge and Resignation Agnew was facing possible impeachment or criminal charges in 1973 for allegedly accepting payoffs from contractors when he served as Baltimore County executive and vice president. But he remained defiant in the face of a grand jurys investigation.  I will not resign if indicted! I will not resign if indicted! he proclaimed. But evidence that he  evaded  paying his income taxes- he was accused of failing to report $29,500 in income- soon led to his downfall. He resigned from office on Oct. 10, 1973, under a plea deal that allowed him to avoid prison time. In a formal statement to  Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Agnew stated: I hereby resign the office of Vice President of the United States, effective immediately. A judge sentenced Agnew to  three years of probation and fined him $10,000. Nixon became the first president in U.S. history to use the  25th Amendment  to appoint a successor to the position of vice president,  House Minority Leader  Gerald  Ford. The amendment establishes the  orderly transfer of power  for replacing the president and vice president in the event they die in office, quit or are  impeached. The prosecution of the case removed Agnew from the presidential line of succession, which turned out to be a fateful decision. Nixon was forced to resign less than a year later, in August 1994, amid the Watergate scandal, and Ford took over the presidency. Agnews resignation was only the second by a vice president. (The first took place in 1832, when Vice President John C. Calhoun resigned the office to take a U.S. Senate seat.) Marriage and Personal Life Angew married  Elinor Isabel Judefind in 1942, whom he met while employed at an insurance company during his law-school years. The couple went to a movie and for chocolate milkshakes on their first date and discovered they had grown up four blocks apart. The Agnews had four children: Pamela, Susan, Kimberly, and James. Agnew died of leukemia in Berlin, Maryland, at the age of 77. Legacy Agnew will forever be know for his rapid ascent from obscurity to national prominence and his scathing attacks on the news media and polemics on society and culture. He was critical of efforts to lift Americas economically disadvantaged out of systemic poverty and of civil-rights protestors in the tumultuous late 1960s. He frequently used derogatory slurs, such as,  Ã¢â‚¬Å"If youve seen one city slum, youve seen them all.† Agnew reserved much of his ire for members of the news media. He was among the first politicians to accuse journalists of bias.   Spiro Agnew Fast Facts Full Name: Spiro Theodore AgnewAlso Known As: TedKnown For: Serving as vice president under Richard M. Nixon and resigning for tax evasionBorn:  Nov. 9, 1918 in Baltimore, Maryland, USAParents Names:  Theophrastos Anagnostopoulos, who changed his surname to Agnew, and  Margaret Marian Pollard AgnewDied:  Sept. 17, 1996 in  Berlin, Maryland, USAEducation: Law degree from the University of Baltimore Law School, 1947Key Accomplishments: Enacted a law in Baltimore County requiring restaurants and other establishments to be to be open to customers of all races, built new schools and increased teacher salariesSpouse Name:  Elinor Isabel JudefindChildrens Names:  Pamela, Susan, Kimberly and JamesFamous Quote:  In the United States today, we have more than our share of the nattering nabobs of negativism.  They have formed their own 4-H club  -   the hopeless, hysterical hypochondriacs of history.   Sources Hatfield, Mark O.  Vice Presidents of the United States, 1789-1993. U.S. Government Printing Office, 1997.Naughton, James M. Agnew Quits Vice Presidency And Admits Tax Evasion In 67; Nixon Consults On Successor. The New York Times. 11 October 1973.  https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/big/1010.htmlSpiro T. Agnew, Ex-Vice President, Dies at 77. The New York Times. 18 September, 1996.  https://www.nytimes.com/1996/09/18/us/spiro-t-agnew-ex-vice-president-dies-at-77.html

Financial Statement Forecasting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Financial Statement Forecasting - Essay Example There is no denying the fact that;" investors and share holders around the world base their decisions on financial and economic forecasts (Olley, 2006, 1)." Thus a professional, pragmatic and propitious financial statement forecast will fortify its plans of rapid future growth by exploiting novel business opportunities, undergoing product diversification and resorting to aggressive acquisition. The success of a company depends to a great extent on the reliability of its financial statement forecasting. To ensure this, it is a must that," the assumptions made in the previous Corporation Budgeting cycle, but not limited to, estimated sales volume, capital requirements, staffing resource requirements, customer demands and vendor contracts" are all meticulously verified and updated to reveal all the possible changes and the most recent data available (Harvard, 2008). All the possible changes projected or encumbered should be balanced by an appropriate action by the management. Microsoft Excel is the most common tool used during forecasting. Financial forecast has to be customized to suit the external and internal realities of a business and has to be flexible to accommodate future changes. The most common methodologies used for forecasting are Current Year Budget, Straight Line, Year to Date Actual plus Estimated Future Spending and Prior Year Data.Though the data required to achieve a financial forecast is basically the same as what is required to accomplish the budgeting process, forecasting differs from the budgeting process in the sense that a budget is a statement prepared a year in advance that gives guidelines for spending and acts as a yardstick for analyzing the business performance of a company, forecasting involves extrapolating the current performance of a company to estimate the future income, expenditure and growth prospects..References Financial Forecasting (2008). Harvard. Retrieved August 24, 2008, fromhttp://www.vis.harvard.edu/staff/policies/financial_forecasting.php Funky Finance (2008). CIMA. Retrieved August