American Civil War in the West - 1863-1865

American Civil War in the West - 1863-1865 The Tullahoma Campaign As Grant was conducting operations against Vicksburg, the American Civil War in the West continued in Tennessee. In June, after pausing in Murfreesboro for nearly six months, Maj. Gen. William Rosecrans began moving against Gen. Braxton Braggs Army of Tennessee at Tullahoma, TN. Conducting a brilliant campaign of maneuver, Rosecrans was able to turn Bragg out of several defensive positions, forcing him to abandon Chattanooga and driving him from the state. Battle of Chickamauga Reinforced by Lt. Gen. James Longstreets corps from the Army of Northern Virginia and a division from Mississippi, Bragg laid a trap for Rosecrans in the hills of northwestern Georgia. Advancing south, the Union general encountered Braggs army at Chickamauga on September 18, 1863. Fighting began in earnest the following day when Union Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas attacked Confederate troops on his front. For most of the day, fighting surged up and down the lines with each side attacking and counterattacking. On the morning of the 20th, Bragg attempted to flank Thomas position at Kelly Field, with little success. In response to the failed attacks, he ordered a general assault on the Union lines. Around 11:00 AM, confusion led to a gap opening in the Union line as units were shifted to support Thomas. As Maj. Gen. Alexander McCook was attempting to plug the gap, Longstreets corps attacked, exploiting the hole and routing the right wing of Rosecrans army. Retreating with his men, Rosecrans departed the field leaving Thomas in command. Too heavily engaged to withdrawal, Thomas consolidated his corps around Snodgrass Hill and Horseshoe Ridge. From these positions his troops beat off numerous Confederate assaults before falling back under the cover of darkness. This heroic defense earned Thomas the moniker The Rock of Chickamauga. In the fighting, Rosecrans suffered 16,170 casualties, while Braggs army incurred 18,454. Siege of Chattanooga Stunned by the defeat at Chickamauga, Rosecrans retreated all the way back to Chattanooga. Bragg followed and occupied the high ground around the city effectively putting the Army of the Cumberland under siege. To the west, Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant was resting with his army near Vicksburg. On October 17, he was given command of the Military Division of the Mississippi and control of all Union armies in the West. Moving quickly, Grant replaced Rosecrans with Thomas and worked to reopen supply lines to Chattanooga. This done, he shifted 40,000 men under Maj. Gens. William T. Sherman and Joseph Hooker east to reinforce the city. As Grant was pouring troops into the area, Bragg numbers were reduced when Longstreets corps was ordered away for a campaign around Knoxville, TN. Battle of Chattanooga On November 24, 1863, Grant began operations to drive Braggs army away from Chattanooga. Attacking at dawn, Hookers men drove Confederate forces from Lookout Mountain south of the city. Fighting in this area ended around 3:00 PM when ammunition ran low and a heavy fog enveloped the mountain, earning the fight the nickname Battle Above the Clouds. At the other end of the line, Sherman advanced taking Billy Goat Hill at the north end of the Confederate position. The following day, Grant planned for Hooker and Sherman to flank Braggs line, allowing Thomas to advance up the face of Missionary Ridge in the center. As the day progressed, the flank attacks became bogged down. Feeling that Bragg was weakening his center to reinforce his flanks, Grant ordered Thomas men to move forward to assault the three lines of Confederate trenches on the ridge. After securing the first line, they were pinned down by fire from the remaining two. Rising up, Thomas men, without orders, pressed on up the slope, chanting Chickamauga! Chickamauga! and broke the center of Braggs lines. With no choice, Bragg ordered the army to retreat back to Dalton, GA. As a result of his defeat, President Jefferson Davis relieved Bragg and replaced him with Gen. Joseph E. Johnston. Changes in Command In March 1964, President Abraham Lincoln promoted Grant to lieutenant general and placed him in supreme command of all Union armies. Departing Chattanooga, Grant turned over command to Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman. A long-time and trusted subordinate of Grants, Sherman immediately made plans for driving on Atlanta. His command consisted of three armies which were to operate in concert: the Army of the Tennessee, under Maj. Gen. James B. McPherson, the Army of the Cumberland, under Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas, and the Army of the Ohio, under Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield. The Campaign for Atlanta Moving southeast with 98,000 men, Sherman first encountered Johnstons 65,000-man army near Rocky Face Gap in northwest Georgia. Maneuvering around Johnstons position, Sherman next met the Confederates at Resaca on May 13, 1864. After failing to break Johnstons defenses outside the town, Sherman again marched around his flank and forced the Confederates to fall back. Through the remainder of May, the Sherman steadily maneuvered Johnston back towards Atlanta with battles occurring at Adairsville, New Hope Church, Dallas, and Marietta. On June 27, with the roads too muddy to steal a march on the Confederates, Sherman attempted to attack their positions near Kennesaw Mountain. Repeated assaults failed to take the Confederate entrenchments and Shermans men fell back. By July 1, the roads had improved allowing Sherman to again move around Johnstons flank, dislodging him from his entrenchments. The Battles for Atlanta On July 17, 1864, tired of Johnstons constant retreats, President Jefferson Davis gave command of the Army of Tennessee to the aggressive  Lt. Gen. John Bell Hood. The new commanders first move was to  attack Thomas army near Peachtree Creek, northeast of Atlanta. Several determined assaults struck the Union lines, but were ultimately all repulsed. Hood next withdrew his forces to the inner defenses of the city hoping Sherman would follow and open himself up to attack. On July 22, Hood  assaulted McPhersons Army of the Tennessee  on the Union left. After the attack achieved initial success, rolling up the Union line, it was stopped by massed artillery and counterattacks. McPherson was killed in the fighting and replaced with  Maj. Gen. Oliver O. Howard. Unable to penetrate the Atlanta defenses from the north and east, Sherman moved to the west of the city but was blocked by the Confederates at  Ezra Church  on July 28. Sherman next decided to force Hood from Atlanta by cutting the railroads and supply lines into the city. Pulling almost of his forces from around the city, Sherman marched on Jonesborough to the south. On August 31, Confederate troops  attacked the Union position  but were easily driven away. The next day Union troops counterattacked and broke through the Confederate lines. As his men fell back, Hood realized that the cause was lost and began evacuating Atlanta on the night of September 1. His army retreated west towards Alabama. In the campaign, Shermans armies suffered 31,687 casualties, while the Confederates under Johnston and Hood had 34,979. Battle of Mobile Bay As Sherman was closing in on Atlanta, the US Navy was conducting operations against Mobile, AL. Led by  Rear Admiral David G. Farragut, fourteen wooden warships and four monitors ran past Forts Morgan and Gaines at the mouth of Mobile Bay and attacked the ironclad  CSS  Tennessee  and three gunboats. In doing so, they passed near a torpedo (mine) field, which claimed the monitor USS  Tecumseh. Seeing the monitor sink, the ships in front of Farraguts flagship paused, causing him to famously exclaim Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead! Pressing on into the bay, his fleet captured CSS  Tennessee  and closed the port to Confederate shipping. The victory, coupled with the fall of Atlanta, greatly aided Lincoln in his reelection campaign that November. Franklin Nashville Campaign While Sherman rested his army at Atlanta, Hood planned a new campaign designed to cut the Union supply lines back to Chattanooga. He moved west into Alabama hoping to draw Sherman into following, before turning north towards Tennessee. To counter Hoods movements, Sherman dispatched Thomas and Schofield back north to protect Nashville. Marching separately, Thomas arrived first. Hood seeing that the Union forces were divided, moved to defeat them before they could concentrate. Battle of Franklin On November 29, Hood nearly trapped Schofields force near Spring Hill, TN, but the Union general was able to extricate his men from the trap and reach Franklin. Upon arriving they occupied fortifications on the outskirts of town. Hood arrived the following day and launched a massive frontal assault on the Union lines. Sometimes referred to as the Picketts Charge of the West, the attack was repulsed with heavy casualties and six Confederate generals dead. Battle of Nashville The victory at Franklin allowed Schofield to reach Nashville and rejoin Thomas. Hood, despite the wounded condition of his army, pursued and arrived outside the city on December 2. Safe in the citys defenses, Thomas slowly prepared for the upcoming battle. Under tremendous pressure from Washington to finish off Hood, Thomas finally attacked on December 15. Following two days of assaults, Hoods army crumbled and dissolved, effectively destroyed as a fighting force. Shermans March to the Sea With Hood occupied in Tennessee, Sherman planned his campaign to take Savannah. Believing the Confederacy would only surrender if its capacity for making war was destroyed, Sherman ordered his troops to conduct a total scorched earth campaign, destroying everything in their path. Departing Atlanta on November 15, the army advanced in two columns under  Maj. Gens. Henry Slocum  and Oliver O. Howard. After cutting a swath across Georgia, Sherman arrived outside of Savannah on December 10. Making contact with the US Navy, he demanded the citys surrender. Rather than capitulate,  Lt. Gen. William J. Hardee  evacuated the city and fled north with the garrison. After occupying the city, Sherman telegraphed Lincoln, I beg to present you as a Christmas gift the City of Savannah... The Carolinas Campaign and the Final Surrender With Savannah captured, Grant issued orders for Sherman to bring his army north to aid in the  siege of Petersburg. Rather than travel by sea, Sherman proposed marching overland, laying waste to the Carolinas along the way. Grant approved and Shermans 60,000-man army moved out in January 1865, with the goal of capturing Columbia, SC. As Union troops entered South Carolina, the first state to secede, no mercy was given. Facing Sherman was a reconstituted army under his old adversary, Joseph E. Johnston, who seldom had more than 15,000 men. On February 10, Federal troops entered Columbia and burned everything of military value. Pushing north, Shermans forces encountered Johnstons small army at  Bentonville, NC on March 19. The Confederates launched five attacks against the Union line to no avail. On the 21st, Johnston broke off contact and retreated towards Raleigh. Pursuing the Confederates, Sherman finally compelled Johnston to agree to an armistice at Bennett Place near Durham Station, NC on April 17. After negotiating surrender terms, Johnston capitulated on the 26th. Coupled with  Gen. Robert E. Lees  surrender on the 9th, the surrender effectively ended the Civil War.

Ideas for Term Papers

Ideas for Term Papers Ideas for Term Papers Do you need ideas for your academic papers? A term or research paper is a matter of reading several sources on a particular subject. The task of writing such is not too difficult if it is thought out in advance. Use the following steps to help you write a sound term paper: Choosing a subject. This is really where your paper gets its success. If you choose the right topic then you will write a good paper. Finding sources of materials. Normally you would limit your sources to those available on the campus and use materials that are not more than 20 years old. Your content must be sound and authoritative. This is a very important part and it is also quite time consuming. Gathering the notes. As you research your materials you need to make notes of material you intend to use. Ensure you record the bibliographical information as well. Be honest in your use of material. Do not mispresent it to support a point when it actually does not. Do not avoid presenting opposing views if it helps establish yours. Outlining the paper. Once you have gathered your information on your topic you need to then prepare the outline of your paper. Sort your material into main divisions. Then within those use subdivisions, being careful to stay focused and relevant on the subject. It should begin to take on a definite structure. Refine this structure until you are satisfied it covers your subject and materials in a clear and logical way. Writing the first draft. Now using the material you have gathered and following your outline begin to present your points. Write the paper around the outline, being sure that you indicate in the introduction part of the paper what its purpose is. Tell the reader what you are going to say. Then in the body paragraphs explain and support your thesis of your paper making sure your paragraphs are clear and contain a coherent idea that is supporting the topic. Each paragraph should flow logically until you have finished your presentation .Finally, bring your thoughts together in your concluding paragraph. Editing the paper. Once you have finished writing it is time to edit your paper. Read it first and if necessary rewrite parts until you are satisfied with the flow of the paper and that the introduction body and conclusion are a focused unit. If you think you will not manage to do your paper on your own you can always ask our professional writers to assist you. If you give them your requirements they will write your paper. It will be original, custom written to your needs, high quality and plagiarism free. Also, take advantage of our affordable prices and place your order right now. You can easily hire the best term paper writer to have your academic project written from scratch.

List of topics attached Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6000 words

List of topics attached - Essay Example The ethnic conflicts which appeared immediately after the cold war resulted in the disintegration of Sviet Union, Czechos...lovakia and Yugoslavia. There exist various different ethnic, racial, national, linguistic and cultural groups in most of the countries today. Majority of countries on the world map are composed of more than one ethnic group and thus there is diversity in almost all the countries of the world (McGarry and O’Leary, 1993). At times some of the ethnic groups of the society which are in minority do not get recognition and thus equal rights from the other ethnic groups and in such scenarios the minority ethnic groups are practically thrown out of the society which leads to ethnic conflicts. In a state ethnic conflicts are born in circumstances when there is an identity crisis and conflict between various ethnic groups leading to internal conflict in a state. Other types of conflicts are also related to ethnic conflicts, these include ideological conflicts, gov ernance conflicts, racial conflicts and environmental conflicts. The most commonly observed reasons behind the emergence of differences between various groups living in the same country are religious, tribal, linguistic and ethnic differences. These differences very often incolve a mixture of identity and the search for security where prime contention concerns the devolution of power. Ethnicity is sometimes defined as the division of people living in an area into identity groups. Ethnic groups are historically given collectivities and psychological communities, these things can be observed very clearly in Iraq where the total population of the country is not only divide between groups on the basis of racial and ethnic differences, the country has also been divided over various sectarian conflicts i.e. between Shia Muslims and Sunni Muslims. The conflicts going on in Iraq and in some parts of Afghanistan can be classified as ethnic conflicts. Thesis Statement Eversince the beginning of war on terror and the ivasion of Iraq and Afghanistan by the international security forces, a series of conflicts have been observed in these areas which are primarily due to the imposed instability which was caused by the War on Terror. The media reports generated by unbiased agencies and the various researches which have been conducted in Iraq and Afghanistan, a basic difference have been observed to exist between the situation of sectarian conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. It has been observed that sectarian violence and extremism is more pronounced in Iraq than in Afghanistan. There are a number of factors which can be stated as the reason behind

Outsourcing Policies On German Car Manufacturing Industry Research Paper

Outsourcing Policies On German Car Manufacturing Industry - Research Paper Example German car manufacturers achieve cost-cutting through sub-contracting and outsourcing. How the process of outsourcing affected the German car industry, how it is done specifically, the related laws on outsourcing and labor and the impact of the recent crisis on the process of outsourcing and sub-contracting are the questions that this paper wishes to answer. With the aid of information coming from company reports, datamonitor, newspapers, websites, and researches, we try to examine all these aspects of outsourcing in the German car manufacturing industry. Business Process Outsourcing is one of the latest trends in business. To outsource is defined in the Merriam-Webster online dictionary as "to procure (as some goods or services needed by a business or organization) under contract with an outside supplier" (Merriam-Webster Incorporated, 2010). This is applied in either the manufacturing stage, the marketing stage or after-sales stage. Germany, specifically the automobile industry is one of those that adopt business process outsourcing as part of the business. The paper will include a detailed study and description of the use of outsourcing practices (to include outsourcing in areas such as components manufacture, servicing and retail operations) in the automotive industry in Germany. Before going into details about different outsourcing practices, I will present a brief overview of supply chain of automotive industry which is crucial to understand in order to fully apprehend the benefits and limitations of outsourcing. Consequently, I will analyze major car manufacturers in Germany in terms of their outsourcing activities and processes. Specifically I intend to focus on three major car producers: BMW, Daimler and VW. Their websites contain detailed annual reports that include also information relevant to outsourcing. In addition, I found substantial amount of information in Datamonitor database about specific outsourcing practices of each car manufacturer as well as trends, competitive landscape and supply chain analysis for global autom otive industry, specific countries, particularly Germany. A necessary part of the paper is an investigation of the effect of outsourcing policies on German car manufacturing companies in the past and in the present. The comparison between the past and the present will be to ascertain the effect of financial crisis and how it has changed the policies and practices of the car manufacturing companies regarding their outsourcing policies. The Research Questions and Objectives Research Questions To formulate

In-band or out-of-band SAN appliances Essay Example for Free

In-band or out-of-band SAN appliances Essay Out-of band SAN appliances allow for independent flow of data between servers and storages since it does not function within the data path (InfoWorld, 2001). In addition, execution of management functions by these appliances is independent of application servers, a factor which dictates for having host drives. This has the implication that the positioning of an out-band SAN appliance posses performance concerns in the system (InfoWorld, 2001). Another implication is that increase in the number of server in such a system complicates administration issues. Still, out-of band SAN appliances have its meta-data and control operations separate from the data path. This coupled with the need for having a driver at each host frees the host to engage only in transferring data to and from the storage. Nevertheless, this configuration has the advantage of caching due to the request time delays involved in linking data path information and the appliance for processing. On the other hand, in-band SAN appliances employ a single device for executing all the basic storage management functions namely; data path, control operations, and meta-data management (Kornfeld, 2001). This has the implication that no additional driver software is needed in the host. Also, this enhances scalability of the SAN system. However, this limits the application of in-band SAN appliances in a busy SAN since both meta-data and control operations share the same data path. Despite this, in-band SAN appliances enjoy the privilege of allowing for caching and clustering (InfoWorld, 2001). In addition, being a single device, in-band SAN appliances boast of low cost of implementation and ease of administration (Kornfeld, 2001). Therefore, both in-band and out-of-band SAN appliances have advantages as well as disadvantages. Considerations before choice of a SAN appliance should thus be based on the needs in the particular organization.

Biological Causes of Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa Essay

Biological Causes of Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa affect millions of people each year in the United States (1). Popular thought holds that these disorders are caused by women trying to fulfill a culturally imposed ideal body image which stresses thinness. As anorexia and bulimia have proven difficult to treat solely with a psychological-based treatment plan it is likely that there are many factors contributing to these disorders. Research has shown, however, that there is a significant biological component which leads to a manifestation of these disorders (2). Current ideas on the biological origins of anorexia and bulimia will be explored in this paper. These include areas ranging from genetic factors to neurotransmitter and hormone imbalances. Genetics appears to play a significant role in predisposing a person to developing an eating disorder. Abnormal neurotransmitter levels have been shown to exist in people with both bulimia and anorexia. Hormone functioning and levels are also atypical in people with eating disorders. While most studies focus on one area, and usually on just one neurotransmitter or hormone, the different biological causes of eating disorders seem to be related to one another. How these possible biological causes influences the I-function (which is the term for the components of the nervous system which give a sense of being oneself) will be examined as well in this paper. Anorexia nervosa is described as a disorder in which women and men intentionally starve themselves, losing at least fifteen percent of their normal body weight. This self imposed emaciation usually begins during puberty and is most common among middle to upper class Caucasian women, affecti... ...nclusion, however was very useful. http://www.ama-assn.org/sci-pubs/journal/archive/psyc/vol_54/no_6/oa5354a.htm 9. Research Re: Treatment of Bulimia Nervosa. This page is a list of absrtacts from research articles centered on the treatment of bulimia. It is good for a quick overview on what is being done currently in this field. The anstracts were generally easy to understand and follow. http://www.mentalhealth.com/dis-rs2/p25-et02.html 10. Scientific American: Explorations. This page, from Scientific American, is an article from that journal. It focuses on the discovery of two new hormones related to weight control. http://www.sciam.com/missing.cfm 11. Eating Disorders. This is an extensive web site on eating disorders from The Harvard Mental Health Letter. It is well written and very complete. http://www.mentalhealth.com/mag1/p5h-et03.html Biological Causes of Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa Essay Biological Causes of Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa affect millions of people each year in the United States (1). Popular thought holds that these disorders are caused by women trying to fulfill a culturally imposed ideal body image which stresses thinness. As anorexia and bulimia have proven difficult to treat solely with a psychological-based treatment plan it is likely that there are many factors contributing to these disorders. Research has shown, however, that there is a significant biological component which leads to a manifestation of these disorders (2). Current ideas on the biological origins of anorexia and bulimia will be explored in this paper. These include areas ranging from genetic factors to neurotransmitter and hormone imbalances. Genetics appears to play a significant role in predisposing a person to developing an eating disorder. Abnormal neurotransmitter levels have been shown to exist in people with both bulimia and anorexia. Hormone functioning and levels are also atypical in people with eating disorders. While most studies focus on one area, and usually on just one neurotransmitter or hormone, the different biological causes of eating disorders seem to be related to one another. How these possible biological causes influences the I-function (which is the term for the components of the nervous system which give a sense of being oneself) will be examined as well in this paper. Anorexia nervosa is described as a disorder in which women and men intentionally starve themselves, losing at least fifteen percent of their normal body weight. This self imposed emaciation usually begins during puberty and is most common among middle to upper class Caucasian women, affecti... ...nclusion, however was very useful. http://www.ama-assn.org/sci-pubs/journal/archive/psyc/vol_54/no_6/oa5354a.htm 9. Research Re: Treatment of Bulimia Nervosa. This page is a list of absrtacts from research articles centered on the treatment of bulimia. It is good for a quick overview on what is being done currently in this field. The anstracts were generally easy to understand and follow. http://www.mentalhealth.com/dis-rs2/p25-et02.html 10. Scientific American: Explorations. This page, from Scientific American, is an article from that journal. It focuses on the discovery of two new hormones related to weight control. http://www.sciam.com/missing.cfm 11. Eating Disorders. This is an extensive web site on eating disorders from The Harvard Mental Health Letter. It is well written and very complete. http://www.mentalhealth.com/mag1/p5h-et03.html

Western Filipina Relationship

Western-Filipina Relationship Denver Jane C. Diacor Why do lots of Filipino women choose foreigners as better husbands? How do Westerners differ from Filipino men? These are some of the typical questions asked by individuals since Western-Filipina relationship is now observed. And a number of Filipinas preferred husbands from the West in three main reasons: it might be for money, the feeling of acceptance, or for love. Money can be the first reason. It is quite absurd to see a 61 year-old man with a 25 year-old Filipina girlfriend, that’s why many people say that the girl is only looking after the money she could get from that old man. We cannot deny the fact that many wish to change their social status and get out from their life of being a poor, and marrying a foreigner is what they think the solution. However, in my own perspective, it is not really right to marry a person just because of money; others are just being practical. If money is seen as one of the reason in this relationship, the feeling of acceptance is another factor. Based on what I have read on some stories about this cross-cultural relationship, a Filipina said that she has a great feeling with her husband. She added that Western men are not really particular on how you dress or how you look as long as you are staying true to yourself. They will make you feel you are pretty and that you are special to them, unlike Filipino men who are judging you from the way you dress to the way you act. They are straightforward on telling your mistakes unlike Filipino men who are having that sugar-coated statement just to make sure you are not hurt. Thus, Western men will allow you to grow by telling what’s wrong and letting you check your weaknesses and shortcomings. Finally, for love, Westerners are more romantic and expressive in showing their affection. For me, traveling a distant place just to be with your love is quite very romantic. And two people living in an absolutely different world finding each other is true love. In short, the reason why some Filipina preferred foreigners as husband might be because of the money, because of the great feeling with the partner, or because of love. It is really great to find the right person you want to be with for the rest of your life. Either a Filipino or a Westerner, the first things we must consider in marriage or in a relationship is the love, acceptance, trust, loyalty, and understanding.

Fall of Enron

Q1- Who were the key stakeholders involved in, or affected by the collapse of Enron? How and to what degree were they hurt or helped by the actions of Enron management? Ans- The key stakeholders affected by the collapse of Enron were its employees and retirees. Stakeholders and mutual funds investors lost $ 70billion market value. Banks were also affected by the meltdown of the company. They included big banks like J P Morgan Chase and Citigroup. Not only the stakeholder and bondholder lose out, the confidence in the company also fell. This was the major setback for the company. The actions of Enron management left a deep scare for its 4000 employees which lost out their jobs and also impacted others around them. Some blamed Arthur Andersen; Enron’s accounting firm and some blame the board of directors for insufficient oversights. The damage was so big that it was likely to take years for the court to sort the wreckage. The company did not think of its future and took many bad steps just to earn money. The CEO should have looked into the company matters long time ago and took action so that hundreds of jobs could have been saved. The companies who were associated with the big firm were affected on a very large scale. This was the biggest bankruptcy of a firm with $63.4 billion in assets. Q2- Considering all aspects of the case, what factor or factors do you believe most contributed to the collapse of Enron? In your answer, please consider both external and internal factors. Ans –Enron’s non transparent financial statements did not clearly depict its operations and finances with shareholders and analysts. The company started manipulating the revenue figures. Enron used many methods to make the companies condition look better by starting different accounting practices. They also broke the legal and ethical integrity of the company by overseeing the company’s financial reports. Even supporting the political parties didn’t help them. They had a complex business model and they misrepresented their financial status to the public so that they can have a better position in the eyes of the public and earn money on basis of that. All the above issues that led to the bankruptcy of the company were perpetuated by the actions of Lay, Skilling, Fastow and other executives. They all led to the collapse of the company. Lay did not enquire about the decisions that Skilling and Fastow were taking. He just approved to everything that they kept in front of him. Skilling always wanted to keep up to the Wall Street expectations and for this he gave pressure on his executives to find new was to hide the dept. This was the major setback for the company as they didn’t know that in future everything was going to come out and it would have led to bad consequences. Lay did not enquire about all this and approved of all the work Skilling was doing. Q3- What steps should be taken now by corporate managers, stakeholders, and policy makers to prevent a similar event from occurring in the future? Ans- People should not lie about the company’s financial status just to bring it up In the market. Eventually the truth is going to come out one day or the other. Auditors should properly keep track of the finances. Managers, stakeholders and directors should be aware of everything that is happening in the company. Policy makers should think about what steps they are taking and how it will affect other people lives. They should not make policies for the benefits of the big companies who give them finances for their political endeavours. Updated case: Many executives at Enron were indicated of variety of charges and then sentence to prison. Enron’s auditors, Arthur Anderson, was found guilty in a united states district court, but by the time the ruling was over turned at the US supreme court, the firm has lost most of its customers and had to shut down. Employees and shareholders received limited returns in the lawsuits they filed. As a consequence of the scandal, new regulations and legislation were enacted to expand the accuracy of financial reporting for public companies. Special purpose entities Enron used special purpose entities—limited partnerships or companies created to fulfil a temporary or specific purpose—to fund or manage risks associated with specific assets. The company elected to disclose minimal details on its use of special purpose entities. These shell firms were created by a sponsor, but funded by independent equity investors and debt financing. For financial reporting purposes, a series of rules dictates whether a special purpose entity is a separate entity from the sponsor. In total, by 2001, Enron had used hundreds of special purpose entities to hide its debt. The special purpose entities were used for more than just circumventing accounting conventions. As a result of one violation, Enron's balance sheet understated its liabilities and overstated its equity, and its earnings were overstated. Enron disclosed to its shareholders that it had hedged downside risk in its own illiquid investments using special purpose entities. However, the investors were oblivious to the fact that the special purpose entities were actually using the company's own stock and financial guarantees to finance these hedges. This setup prevented Enron from being protected from the downside risk. Notable examples of special purpose entities that Enron employed were JEDI and Chewco, Whitewing, and LJM. The justices agreed to look at two issues in the appeal of Mr. Skilling's 2006 conviction that could have broader repercussions, say legal observers. One deals with the government's contention that Mr. Skilling violated his legal obligation to provide â€Å"honest services† to Enron shareholders because he lied about the energy-trading company's financial condition before it collapsed into bankruptcy in December 2001. Mr. Skilling's attorneys maintained that prosecutors misapplied the honest-services statute, arguing their client hadn't lied and didn't cheat Enron or its shareholders. The second issue involves Mr. Skilling's claim that he wasn't able to get a fair trial in Houston, site of Enron's headquarters, because of anger in the community over the company's collapse. Daniel Petrocelli, Mr. Skilling's lead attorney, said the Supreme Court's decision means the defense â€Å"will finally get an opportunity for a full, frank and fair hearing† of issues that led to â€Å"Jeff's wrongful conviction.† The Justice Department declined to comment. The Supreme Court earlier accepted for review another appeal related to corporate honest-services fraud. That case involves the conviction of former Hollinger International Inc. Chairman Conrad Black. Oral arguments in Mr. Black's Supreme Court case are scheduled for December. No date has been set for oral arguments in the case of Mr. Skilling, who is in federal prison in Colorado. The question of what constitutes honest-services fraud is under debate. â€Å"The lack of clear guidance† on the statute â€Å"has been a problem in this area of criminal law for years,† said Mark Biros, a former federal prosecutor and now a partner in the Washington office of Proskauer Rose LLP. â€Å"It would be helpful to everyone if the Supreme Court steps in.† Mr. Biros said the court might be considering treating the Skilling and Black appeals as companion cases. The justices could use the two cases to provide a broader interpretation of the honest-services issue, he said. The court's agreement to hear Mr. Skilling's arguments on the location of his trial surprised Columbia Law School professor John Coffee. â€Å"The area of venue is something the Supreme Court hasn't touched for a long, long time,† Mr. Coffee said. If the court agrees with Mr. Skilling, whose attorneys argued for a venue change before the trial, it could have a wide impact. In the 2006 trial, Mr. Skilling and former Enron Chairman Kenneth Lay were convicted of fraud and conspiracy. Mr. Skilling was also convicted of insider trading. Shortly after the trial, Mr. Lay died of heart-related problems and his conviction was vacated. Former Enron chief financial officer Andrew Fastow, 44, was sentenced to six years in prison Tuesday, more than two years after he pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy for his involvement in the energy company's 2001 collapse. Jurors in the Houston trial of Enron founder Kenneth Lay and former CEO Jeffrey Skilling reached a verdict Thursday, the sixth day of deliberations, finding both defendants guilty of most conspiracy and fraud charges.

Standard Business Questions in English

Standard Business Questions in English There are a number of standard business questions used when making generally inquires into the nature of a company. The following dialogue covers a number of standard business questions. The reference section then provides variations and related business questions for a number of the standard business questions used in the dialogue. Business Reporter Thank you for taking the time to meet with me today. Manager: Its my pleasure Business Reporter: Who do you work for? Manager: I work for Springco. Business Reporter: What does Springco do? Manager: Springoco distributes health products throughout the United States. Business Reporter: Where is the company based? Manager: Springco is located in Vermont. Business Reporter: How many people do you employ? Manager: Currently, we have 450 people on staff. Business Reporter: Whats your annual revenue? Manager: Our gross revenue is about $5.5. million this year. Business Reporter: What type of distribution services do you provide? Manager: We distribute to both wholesale and retail outlets. Business Reporter: What sort of internet presence do you have? Manager: We have a storefront, as well as an online forum. Business Reporter: Is your company public? Manager: No, we are a privately held company. Business Reporter: What type of logistical structure do you have? Manager: We ship from four regional warehouses. Business Reporter: Where are your products manufactured? Manager: Most of our products are manufactured abroad, but a number are also produced here in the United States. Standard Business Questions Who do you work for? Variations: Which company do you work for? Where do you work? Related Questions: What kind of job do you have? What do you do? What are your responsibilities? What does X do? Variations: What kind of business does X do? Which business is X in? Related Questions: What type of products does X sell/manufacture/produce? What type of services does X provide/offer? Where is the company based? Variations: Where is your company located? Where are your headquarters? Related Questions: Where do you have branches? Do you have any offices abroad? How many people do you employ? Variations: How many people does X employ? How many people does X have on staff? How many employees are there at X? Related Questions: How many divisions are there? How many people are on staff in that branch? How many people do you employ in (City)? Whats your annual revenue? Variations: Whats your turnover? What type of revenue do you do? Related Questions: Whats your net profit? What are (were) your quarterly earnings? What type of a margin do you have? Is your company public? Variations: Are you a publicly traded company? Are you on the stock market? Is your company privately held? Related Questions: Whats your companys stock symbol? Which market are you traded on? Where are your products manufactured? Variations: Where are your goods produced? Where do you manufacture/produce your merchandise?

How to Read George Saunders “Lincoln in the Bardo”

How to Read George Saunders' â€Å"Lincoln in the Bardo† Lincoln in the Bardo, the novel by  George Saunders, has become one of those books everyone is talking about. It  spent two weeks on The New York Times bestseller list, and has been the subject of numerous hot takes, think pieces, and other literary essays. Not many debut novelists get this kind of adulation and attention. Not all debut novelists are George Saunders.  Saunders has already made his reputation as a modern master of the short story- which explains his low profile, even among avid readers. Short stories usually don’t get much attention unless your name is Hemingway or Stephen King- but the story has been having a bit of a Moment in recent years as Hollywood has discovered that you can base entire feature films on shorter works, as they did with the Oscar-nominated Arrival (based on the short story Story of Your Life by Ted Chiang). Saunders is a delightful writer who combines a sharp intelligence and wit with science fiction tropes and a keen understanding of how people live and think to produce unexpected, unusual, and often thrilling stories that go in directions no one can possibly claim to have predicted. Before you rush off to buy a copy of Lincoln in the Bardo, however, a word of warning: Saunders is deep stuff. You can’t- or at least you shouldn’t- just dive in. Saunders has created a novel that really is different from any other that has come before, and here are a few tips on how to read it. Read His Shorts This is a novel, it really is, but Saunders honed his craft in the field of short stories, and it shows. Saunders divides his story up in smaller stories- the basic plot is that Abraham Lincoln’s son, Willie, has just died of fever in 1862 (which really happened). Willie’s soul is now in the Bardo, a state of being in-between death and what comes later. Adults can remain in the Bardo indefinitely through sheer willpower, but if children don’t shuffle off quickly they start to suffer horribly. When the President visits his son and cradles his body, Willie decides not to move on- and the other ghosts in the graveyard decide they must convince him to go for his own good. Each ghost gets to tell stories, and Saunders further divides the book into other snippets. Essentially, reading the novel is like reading dozens of interconnected short stories- so bone up on Saunders’ short work. For starters, check out CivilWarLand in Bad Decline, which is not at all what you think it is. Two others you can’t miss would be 400 Pound CEO (in the same collection) and The Semplica Girl Diaries, in his collection Tenth of December. Don’t Panic Some folks might be tempted to assume this is too much for them- too much history, too much literary trickery, too many characters. Saunders doesn’t hold your hand, that’s true, and the opening of the book is deep, lush, and extremely detailed. But don’t panic- Saunders knows that what he’s done here might be overwhelming to some, and he’s structured the book with alternating waves of energy- highs and lows. Make it through the first few dozen pages and you’ll start to see how Saunders offers up a moment to catch your breath as he slides in and out of the main narrative. Watch for the Fake News When Saunders dives out of the narrative, he offers up the personal stories of the ghosts as well as glimpses of Lincoln’s life before and after his son died. While these scenes are offered up realistically, with the dry tone of historical fact, they’re not all true; Saunders mixes real events with imagined ones pretty freely, and without warning. So don’t assume that anything Saunders describes in the book as part of history really happened. Ignore the Citations Those historic snippets are often offered with citations, which serve to both burnish that sense of realism (even for the imagined moments) and root the story in the real 19th century. But a curious thing will happen if you simply ignore the credits- the veracity of the scenes ceases to matter, and the voice of history becomes just another ghost telling its tale, which is a little mind blowing if you allow yourself to sit with it a while. Skip the citations and the book will be even more entertaining, and a little easier to read. George Saunders is a genius, and Lincoln in the Bardo will no doubt remain one of those books that people want to talk about for years to come. The only question is, will Saunders come back with another long-form story, or will he go back to short stories?

A rhetorical analysis of the New York Times Essay

A rhetorical analysis of the New York Times - Essay Example This can be analysed to mean that although there are plans in minds of many people, there lacks mechanisms or ways of executing them. According to Nathan, it is only through autonomy, that this can be realised. The second comment is from, Rebecca. She is also pleased with Cain’s article. Rebecca is also worried that in her school, there has been efforts to restructure several buildings, but unfortunately, she only hears of open plan, which according to her, makes her very nervous (Cain, Para. 4). The way she puts across her statements, it is evident that ethos is strong in her case. She even argues that after reading the article, she forwarded it to her head of school and the committee dealing with the restructuring plan. This indicates that she found some ethical appeals, and in this case, from a reliable source and expert testimony, bout how collaboration lacks creativity. Maria, the third commenter, on the other hand, argues that group work inhibit her creativity. She further argues that when she is alone she is free to focus task at hand (Cain, Para. 5). Her arguments can be argued to be in logos because she gives accounts of her own experience. She points out that dealing with groups; she cannot be able to make firm decisions since she has to be rational with the observations of other persons in the group. Cain poses a rhetoric argument that pulls various mixed reactions from readers. Much of this is seen when every commenter tries to justify the issue of lack of creativity and implantation phase of collaborations. Comments or the top three comments use different techniques to catch the attention of the readers that follows them. For example, Maria goes on to point out how disappointed she was because even if there were plans in her school to restructure some buildings, they are only mere talks, which she terms as â€Å"open plans†, but without implementation or