Wednesday, November 27, 2019

German Writers Every German Learner Should Know

German Writers Every German Learner Should Know What is it that your German teacher always says? If you can’t speak, then read, read and read! Reading will help you tremendously in improving your language skills. And once you are able to read some of the great writers of German literature, you will understand German thought and culture more in depth. In my opinion, reading a translated work never equals the original in the language it was written in. Here are a few German writers that have been translated in numerous languages and that have influenced people all over the world. Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller (1759-1805) Schiller was one of the most influential German poets of the Sturm und Drang era. He ranks high up in German people’s eyes, alongside with Goethe. There’s even a monument depicting them side by side in Weimar. Schiller was successful in his writing from his very first publication on - Die Ruber (The Robbers) was a play written while he was at a military academy and quickly became renowed thoughout Europe. Initially Schiller had first studied to become a pastor, then became a regimental doctor for a short period, before finally devoting himself to writing and teaching as a professor of history and philosophy at the University of Jena. Later moving to Weimar, he founded with Goethe Das Weimar Theater, a leading theatre company at the time. Schiller became part of a German Enlightment period, die Weimarer Klassik (the Weimar Classism), later on in his life, of which also famous writers such as Goethe, Herder and Wielandt were a part. They wrote and philosiphized about aesthetics and ethics, Schiller having penned an influential work entitled ÃÅ"ber die sthetische Erziehung des Menschen On the Aesthetic Education of Man. Beethoven famously set Schillers poem Ode to Joy in his ninth symphony.   Gnther Grass (1927) Gunter Grass is one of Germany’s most notable writers currently living, whose work has garnered him a Nobel Prize of Literature. His most renowned work is his Danzig Trilogy Die Blechtrommel (The Tindrum), Katz und Maus (Cat and Mouse), Hundejahre (Dog Years), as well as his most recent one Im Krebsgang (Crabwalk). Born in the Free City of Danzig Grass has worn many hats: he’s been also a sculptor, graphic artist and illustrator. Further, throughout his life, Grass has always been outspoken about European political affairs, receiving the2012 European of the Year award from the European Movement Denmark . In 2006 Grass has received much attention from the media involving his participation in the Waffen SS as a teenager. He has also recently voiced his disapproval of facebook and other social media, stating that â€Å"anybody who has 500 friends, has no friends.† Wilhelm Busch (1832-1908) Wilhelm Busch is known as a pioneer of the comic strip, due to his caricature drawings that accompanied his verse. Among his most popular works are Max and Moritz, a children’s classic that recount the mischievous pranks of the aforesaid boys, a ballad that is often read and dramatized in German schools.Most of Busch’s works are a satirical spin on practically everything in society! His works were often a parody of double standards. He poked fun at the ignorance of the poor, the snobbery of the rich, and in particular, the pomposity of clergymen. Busch was anti-Catholic and some of his works greatly reflected this . Scenes such as in Die fromme Helene, where it is hinted that the married Helene had an affair with a clergy man or the scene in Der Heilige Antonius von Padua where the catholic Saint Antonius is being seduced by the devil clad in ballet attire made these works by Busch both popular and offensive. Due to such and similar scenes, the book Der Heilige Antonius von Padua was banned from Austria until 1902. Heinrich Heine (1797-1856) Heinrich Heine was one of the most influential German poets in the 19th century that German authorities tried to suppress because of his radical political views. He is also known for his lyrical prose which was set to music of classical greats such as Schumann, Schubert and Mendelssohn in the form of Lieder form. Heinrich Heine, a jew by birth, was born in Dà ¼sseldorf, Germany and was known as Harry until he converted to Christianity when he was in his twenties. In his work, Heine often ridiculed sappy romanticism and over exuberant portrayals of nature. Though Heine loved his German roots, he often critiqued Germanys contrasting sense of nationalism.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning After reading her poems for the first time, Robert wrote to her: I love your verses with all my heart, dear Miss Barrett- I do, as I say, love these verses with all my heart. With that first meeting of hearts and minds, a love affair would blossom between the two. Elizabeth told Mrs. Martin that she was getting deeper and deeper into correspondence with Robert Browning, poet, and mystic; and we are growing to be the truest of friends. During the 20 months of their courtship, the couple exchanged nearly 600 letters. But what is love without obstacles and hardships? As Frederic Kenyon writes, Mr. Browning knew that he was asking to be allowed to take charge of an invalids life- believed indeed that she was even worse than was really the case, and that she was hopelessly incapacitated from ever standing on her feet- -but was sure enough of his love to regard that as no obstacle. The Bonds of Marriage Their subsequent marriage was a secret matter, taking place on September 12, 1846, at Marylebone Church. Most of her family members eventually accepted the match, but her father disowned her, would not open her letters, and refused to see her. Elizabeth stood by her husband, and she credited him with  saving her life. She wrote to Mrs. Martin: I admire such qualities as he has- fortitude, integrity. I loved him for his courage in adverse circumstances which were yet felt by him more literally than I could feel them. Always he has had the greatest power over my heart because I am of those weak women who reverence strong men. Out of their courtship and those early days of marriage came an outpouring of poetic expression. Elizabeth finally gave her little packet of sonnets to her husband, who could not keep them to himself. I dared not, he said, reserve to myself the finest sonnets written in any language since Shakespeares. The collection finally appeared in 1850 as Sonnets from the Portuguese. Kenyon writes, With the single exception of Rossetti, no modern English poet has written of love with such genius, such beauty, and such sincerity, as the two who gave the most beautiful example of it in their own lives. The Brownings lived in Italy for the next 15 years of their lives, until Elizabeth died in Roberts arms on June 29, 1861. It was while they were living there in Italy that they both wrote some of their most memorable poems. Love Letters The romance between Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett is legendary. Heres the first letter that Robert Browning sent to Elizabeth, who would eventually become his wife.   January 10th, 1845New Cross, Hatcham, SurreyI love your verses with all my heart, dear Miss Barrett,and this is no off-hand complimentary letter that I shall write,whatever else, no prompt matter-of-course recognition of your genius and there a graceful and natural end of the thing: since the day last week when I first read your poems, I quite laugh to remember how I have been turning again in my mind what I should be able to tell you of their effect upon mefor in the first flush of delight I  thought  I would this once get out of my habit of purely passive enjoyment, when I do really enjoy, and thoroughly justify my admirationperhaps even, as a loyal fellow-craftsman should, try and find fault and do you some little good to be proud of herafter!but nothing comes of it allso into me has it gone, and part of me has it become, this great living poetry of yours, not a flower of which but took root and grew... oh, how different that is from lying to be dried and pressed flat and priz ed highly and put in a book with a proper account at bottom, and shut up and put away... and the book called a Flora, besides! After all, I need not give up the thought of doing that, too, in time; because even now, talking with whoever is worthy, I can give reason for my faith in one and another excellence, the fresh strange music, the affluent language, the exquisite pathos and true new brave thoughtbut in this addressing myself to you, your own self, and for the first time, my feeling rises  altogether. I do, as I say, love these Books with all my heart and I love you too: do you know I was once seeing you? Mr. Kenyon said to me one morning would you like to see Miss Barrett?then he went to announce me,then he returned... you were too unwell and now it is years agoand I feel as at some  untoward  passage in my travelsas if I had been close, so close, to some  worlds wonder  in chapel on crypt,... only a screen to push and I might have entered but there was some slight ... so it now seems... slight and just-sufficient bar to  admission and the half-opened door shut, and I went home my thousands of miles, and the sight was never to be!Well, these Poems were to beand this true thankful joy and pride with which I feel myself. Yours ever faithfully Robert Browning

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Personal reflective ( Critical perspectives in Global Management) Coursework

Personal reflective ( Critical perspectives in Global Management) - Coursework Example Volkswagen is a company that that had almost disappeared to obscurity in the early 1990s when Mr. Piech took over as the CEO, however through his leadership and management skills, the company has enjoyed sustained growth and development into the greatest European car manufacturer with expanded markets and a variety of products that respond to the needs of customers. The main issue here is that the former CEO Mr. Piech who has now retired upstairs to chair the supervisory board exhibited an authoritarian and autocratic form of leadership which is not characteristic of most modern organizations; as a result workers have little voice in the strategy and operations of the company. even though a new CEO in the shape of Mr. Bernd Pischetsieder has taken over, the main fear is that the former CEO has sufficient personal power to continue controlling most aspects of Volkwagen’s organization from outside, this raises fears of intransigence in terms of organizational operations. Obvious ly, most workers would like more space and ideological input in the operations of the company. ... Piech. It is clear that the former CEO appreciated discipline, authority, and unity of command with him being the major center of the last two. This indicates a distrust of other people’s leadership and a sense of authoritarianism. Max Weber’s bureaucracy also comes out clearly in the operations of Volkswagen with the former CEO appearing as a leader who ensured that every process and decision followed a clearly set path. This is clear in the fear that decision making will always be pushed upwards. Within the contingency theory, it is clear that Volkswagen under Peuch, was a company largely built around mechanistic structures characterized by centralization, strict division of labor, vertical communication, and low trust (Burns and Stalker, 1961). This is a system that current members of the organization fear will be continued under the new CEO, who has largely been groomed by the former CEO and that it will eventually be detrimental to the organization. There are a num ber of problems that can be identified in the Volkswagen case. The first and most clear of all is the problem around leadership and motivation. It is clear that although under the autocratic leadership of the former CEO the company flourished, many of the workers especially in the managerial level expected a new style of leadership synonymous with global trends that would afford them more input into the running of the company and its development to new heights. However, with the presence of the former CEO still looming large and the new CEO most likely to work under the guidance of Mr. Piech, distrust and lack of confidence has cropped up. This may affect morale and performance. On the face of it, the problem is intransigence, with organizational members having the feeling that things may

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Social Systems Change as Possible Solution to Information Overload in Essay

Social Systems Change as Possible Solution to Information Overload in Organizations - Essay Example On a daily basis, the generated information can take an average person weeks or even months to ingest through reading, listening, or viewing (Becker, 2008). Information overload is undoubtedly one of the greatest challenges that the modern society has to grapple with especially with the rapid advancement of technology. The information overload does affect people not only at the individual level, but the impact has also penetrated into the corporate world where it is the current major enemy to the efficient production within many organizations. A lot of organizations claim that due to information overload, they have experienced decreased productivity and the general reduction in efficiency of many employees. Indeed, technology is the main cause of information overload as in the ancient days when technology was still low, the rate of information overload was relatively low as compared to modern times. This is because technology advancements generate more information to people, which ma y affect them negatively if not well managed (Becker, 2008). With many organizations suffering from the impact of information overload on their highly esteemed employees, a number of them have taken measures in order to deal with the menace in a rational and logical manner. It is only through organizations implementing radical changes in their social systems that they will be able to find both short-term and long-term solutions to the negative impacts of information overload. ... Therefore, organizations ought to implement changes in their social systems if they are to mitigate the effects of information overload (Strother, Ulijn, & Fazal, 2012). The Merits of Social Systems Change in Solving Information Overload Although the benefits that come with technological advancements are good to any organization or nation, the information overload that comes with technology is detrimental to both the personal and organizational growth. The negative impacts of information overload include reduced overall performance, fatigue, incompetence, laziness, forgetfulness, and the inability to make sound decisions especially during critical situations. This problem has gradually developed over time and is now the epidemic that troubles many corporates. Recognizing the fact that human beings are not the objects of information overload by rather the subjects, organizations should make overhauls that affect the operations of their employees. This is so, because no one can reverse technological advancements, but one can mold a human character to fit in given situations and circumstance in order to negate the effects of information overload (Strother, Ulijn, & Fazal, 2012). One of the major reasons why organizations should go for the social systems change in curbing information overload is that the impact of information overload is more or less social in nature. Some of the adverse effects of information overload include poor performance at work, increased health risks of the individuals, and breakdown or reduced vigor in social relationships. As seen, these effect rest directly upon the subjects of information overload as the object that include technology does not have a direct part to play, but it

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Lord Liverpool’s Government Essay Example for Free

Lord Liverpool’s Government Essay Liverpool faced many economic and financial problems, as well as some political problems. Some of these problems included national debt, unemployment, wars with France and America and popular protest groups. Each of these factors also contributed to the popular unrest which occurred during this period. Liverpool was highly effective in defeating Napoleon and also in dealing with protest groups. Additionally he was also successful in bringing about some economic prosperity as well as reducing the deficit. However he was least effective in gaining the support of Prince Regent. Liverpool was most successful in winning the war with Napoleon in 1815. Liverpool had been the only person which had been able to defeat Napoleon to date which consequently made him seem unbeatable. During the war Napoleon implemented an ‘economic blockade’. In response the British tried to stop America from trading with certain countries, this hardened American opinion of the British and they now wanted independence. This eventually led to another war, however this was resolved in a few years. Liverpool’s military success led to him gaining much support and therefore strengthening his position. Liverpool was also successful – to an extent in restoring economic prosperity. The war had disrupted British trade and economy and it had also encouraged British economy to over specialise in war industries which resulted in inflation and rising prices. The Corn Laws which were implemented in 1815 caused bread prices to rise rapidly in the poor harvest of 1816; this angered many working class people and caused a lot of popular unrest, it also made Liverpool very unpopular, the corn laws benefited the upper classes. Additionally by 1815 Britain had and  £861 million national debt and the deficit had reached  £13 million. The income tax which had been imposed in 1799 and brought in  £15 million was defeated by 37 votes and abolished in March 1816. This meant that the government lost a substantial amount of revenue therefore worsening the economic state of the coun try. Further the end of the Napoleonic war in 1815 caused depression as the economy shifted from a war economy to a peacetime one. Liverpool’s government thought lower tariffs on imported goods would mean lower prices for costumers and therefore increasing demand and stimulating trade which would mean economic prosperity. Liverpool’s main source of revenue was the indirect tax. During this time the government was also under increasing pressure gain the support of the people as in the election of 1818 they had lost seats. The government was severely embarrassed over its handling of Peterloo, the spy system and the Queen Caroline Affair. Matters were only made worse by Castlereagh’s weak defence of the government position in each of the matters. The government was in deep embarrassment and on the verge of losing support from voters. As a response Liverpool shuffled the cabinet in 1822. Canning was appointed as foreign secretary. This was highly controversial and further cabinet changes took places. This was an attempt to make the restore the people’s faith in the government and Liverpool hoped to regain some credibility. This reshuffle provided the impression of change, however this was not really the case therefore it wasn’t particularly effective in solving any problems. There was also much radical threat in Britain at the time. During this time Liverpool did several things to try and suppress radical action: introduced the six acts, suspended the Habeas Corpus and the Seditions meeting act. Also people were transported and some were executed due to Luddite protests. These acts allowed the magistrates to take action necessary in order to prevent any action which seemed revolutionary. This made the government seems repressive and reactionary. This was also the first time any government had to deal with mass protest and therefore it could be said that perhaps for the experience they had, the government dealt with matters fairly effectively. Although there are perhaps better ways in which it could have been handled the government was somewhat effective in oppressing revolutionary protest. Liverpool was clearly most effective are regards military action – winning the war with Napoleon and also restoring the peace with America. As regards to the economic and financial problems Liverpool was somewhat successful in reducing the problem rather than getting rid of it.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Bias In Printmedia :: essays research papers

Print media provides its readers with information, but what the reader very often does not recognize is the bias within the articles. Bias is not so easily recognized. Writers have the gift to blend the bias in with their work. It is so well done, that in order to see the bias, one must thoroughly analyze the article. A person must also know what the types of bias are and how they are used. There are many different types of bias that are used in health related articles such as statistics and crowd counts, word choice and tone, and through omission. Print media demonstrates these types of bias in many articles.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One method of bias being used is print media is through statistics and crowd counts. A writer can manipulate the reader into thinking that the results are very high or very low in some cases. In The Toronto Star on October 23, 1999, the article â€Å" Pregnancy biggest threat to women, V.N. says† uses statistics to give an estimation, â€Å" an estimated 585,000 women do every year†. This article explains how pregnancy affects many women. By using this statistic, it gives the reader an approximation, but not an exact number. This is used to make the reader think that the statistic is very high. Another article in The Toronto Star, â€Å"Tamil health crisis probed†, on October 29, 1999,demostrates bias by saying, â€Å" At least 70,000 people†. The article is talking about the Tamil community and how 70,000 people have been affected, but it does not give the amount of people in that community. This type of bias is often used in print med ia to make an article more important than it is.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Bias through word choice and tone is often used in print media sources. By choosing specific words, the writer can easily influence the reader’s opinion about the article. Certain words give the reader a different meaning. In an article, â€Å"Health care to receive $3.8 billion injection†, in The Toronto Star, on October 22, 1999, the Governor, Hilary Weston, is reading a passage from a â€Å"throne speech† given by the government to introduce a Patient’s Bill of Rights. By using the word, throne, the writer suggests that the speech given is very important. During this speech, there is a â€Å"caucus chuckle† from a Liberal at the meeting. The writer uses caucus to indicate that it is more than a normal chuckle during an important speech.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

New York and Nebraska

In this world no two places can be considered to be same. All the places have a certain amount of distinctness, a certain flavor and a very dominant persona. If we consider two places, New York and Nebraska, there are a lot of similarities and contrasts, as they are the states of a same country, i.e. United States of America. Both the states have discrete histories but have common grounds on the basis of European Settlers. Nebraska became officially part of United States of America only in 1812 after Missouri Treaty bill.   New York on the other hand was dominant by the point of British and it was an important place in terms of the revolution for Independence.Comparisons between New York and NebraskaNew York and Nebraska are both large states of America and have lot of importance to the country. Both the states being large on their own are blessed on natural terms. On the whole the two states have similarities on the basis of its large parks and greenery. Also both the states are b lessed with the amount of voluminous rivers flowing through them. Nebraska and New York have a very good base in agriculture and have large share of their economy dependent on agricultural products. On a religious point of view too, both the states comprising have similarities in terms that both have a maximum population of Christians than any other religions. The states also are very rich in its heritage and culture and the no. of museums both have are outstanding, as both the states have a view of protecting and highlighting their culture.Contrasts between New York and NebraskaFirstly the climate of both the states is very different, and their discreetness is so high that the state of Nebraska has in fact two climates in its region. The state is grossly divided between a humid climate and a steppe climate. Also the effect of Global warming though being everywhere in the world is marginally higher in Nebraska compared to New York. This is assessed by the following:‘Nebraska i s home to an incredible diversity of native wildlife species, including 346 birds, 83 mammals, 87fish, 47 reptiles and 13 amphibians. Rising temperatures in the state will likely change the makeup of entire ecosystems, forcing wildlife to shift their ranges or adapt. Global warming could contribute to a 20-50 percent decline in forested area, particularly in eastern Nebraska, where grasslands and savanna could replace forests and woodlands’.(Courtesy: Myra Wilensky, â€Å"Global warming and Nebraska†. Retrieved on May 4, 2008 from http://www.nwf.org/globalwarming/pdfs/Nebraska.pdf#search=%22%22global%20warming%22%2C%20Nebraska%22)Both the states have a massive difference in the terms of economy as the state of New York is one of the key finance providers of the nation compared to Nebraska. One of the major contrasting feature of the two states politically is Nebraska is a religious Republican follower while the state of New York is avidly a Democratic supporter.Conclus ionBoth the states have their own theories of running the economy and are well blessed with flora and fauna. The comparison between the two states assesses the fact that how much ever two places might be distinct or similar, both of them are unique in their own way.Reference:1)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Myra Wilensky, â€Å"Global warming and Nebraska†. http://www.nwf.org/globalwarming/pdfs/Nebraska.pdf#search=%22%22global%20warming%22%2C%20Nebraska%22 New York and Nebraska In this world no two places can be considered to be same. All the places have a certain amount of distinctness, a certain flavor and a very dominant persona. If we consider two places, New York and Nebraska, there are a lot of similarities and contrasts, as they are the states of a same country, i.e. United States of America. Both the states have discrete histories but have common grounds on the basis of European Settlers. Nebraska became officially part of United States of America only in 1812 after Missouri Treaty bill.   New York on the other hand was dominant by the point of British and it was an important place in terms of the revolution for Independence.Comparisons between New York and NebraskaNew York and Nebraska are both large states of America and have lot of importance to the country. Both the states being large on their own are blessed on natural terms. On the whole the two states have similarities on the basis of its large parks and greenery. Also both the states are b lessed with the amount of voluminous rivers flowing through them. Nebraska and New York have a very good base in agriculture and have large share of their economy dependent on agricultural products. On a religious point of view too, both the states comprising have similarities in terms that both have a maximum population of Christians than any other religions. The states also are very rich in its heritage and culture and the no. of museums both have are outstanding, as both the states have a view of protecting and highlighting their culture.Contrasts between New York and NebraskaFirstly the climate of both the states is very different, and their discreetness is so high that the state of Nebraska has in fact two climates in its region. The state is grossly divided between a humid climate and a steppe climate. Also the effect of Global warming though being everywhere in the world is marginally higher in Nebraska compared to New York. This is assessed by the following:‘Nebraska i s home to an incredible diversity of native wildlife species, including 346 birds, 83 mammals, 87fish, 47 reptiles and 13 amphibians. Rising temperatures in the state will likely change the makeup of entire ecosystems, forcing wildlife to shift their ranges or adapt. Global warming could contribute to a 20-50 percent decline in forested area, particularly in eastern Nebraska, where grasslands and savanna could replace forests and woodlands’.(Courtesy: Myra Wilensky, â€Å"Global warming and Nebraska†. Retrieved on May 4, 2008 from http://www.nwf.org/globalwarming/pdfs/Nebraska.pdf#search=%22%22global%20warming%22%2C%20Nebraska%22)Both the states have a massive difference in the terms of economy as the state of New York is one of the key finance providers of the nation compared to Nebraska. One of the major contrasting feature of the two states politically is Nebraska is a religious Republican follower while the state of New York is avidly a Democratic supporter.Conclus ionBoth the states have their own theories of running the economy and are well blessed with flora and fauna. The comparison between the two states assesses the fact that how much ever two places might be distinct or similar, both of them are unique in their own way.Reference:1)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Myra Wilensky, â€Å"Global warming and Nebraska†. http://www.nwf.org/globalwarming/pdfs/Nebraska.pdf#search=%22%22global%20warming%22%2C%20Nebraska%22