Monday, May 25, 2020

Profile of George Washington Plunkitt, Politican

George Washington Plunkitt was a  Tammany Hall politician who wielded clout in New York City for decades. He amassed a fortune by engaging in various schemes which he always claimed had been honest graft. When collaborating  on an eccentric book about his career in 1905 he brazenly defended his long and complicated career in machine politics. And he suggested his own epitaph, which became famous:  He seen his opportunities and he took em.   During Plunkitts political career he held a variety of patronage jobs. He boasted of having held four government jobs in one year, which included a particularly prosperous stretch when he was paid for three jobs simultaneously. He also held elected office in the New York State assembly until his steady seat there was taken from him on a very violent primary election day in 1905. After Plunkitt died at the age of 82 on November 19,  1924, the New York Times published three substantial articles about him within four days. The newspaper essentially reminisced about the era when Plunkitt, generally seated on a bootblack stand in a courthouse lobby, dispensed political advice and handed out favors to loyal supporters. There have been skeptics who claimed that Plunkitt greatly exaggerated his own exploits and that his political career was not nearly as flamboyant as he later claimed. Yet theres no doubt he had extraordinary connections in the world of New York politics. And even Plunkitt exaggerated the details, the stories he told of political influence and how it worked was very close to the truth. Early Life The New York Times headline announcing Plunkitts death noted that he had been born on Nannys Goats Hill. That was a nostalgic reference to a hill that would eventually be within Central Park, near West 84th Street. When Plunkitt was born on November 17,  1842, the area was  essentially a shanty town. Irish immigrants lived in poverty, in ramshackle conditions in what was largely a wilderness far removed from the growing city farther south in Manhattan.   Growing up in a rapidly transforming city, Plunkitt  went to public school. In his teens, he worked as a butchers apprentice. His employer helped him start his own  business as a butcher at Washington Market in lower Manhattan (the sprawling market along the Hudson River was the future site of many office buildings including the World Trade Center). He later went into the construction business, and according to his obituary in the New York Times, Plunkitt built many of the docks on Manhattans Upper West Side. Political Career First elected to the New York State Assembly in 1868, he also served as an alderman in New York City. In 1883 he was elected to the New York State Senate. Plunkitt became a power broker within Tammany Hall, and for nearly 40 years was the undisputed boss of the 15th Assembly District, a heavily Irish bastion  on Manhattans West Side. His time in politics coincided with the era of Boss Tweed, and later Richard Croker. And even if Plunkitt  later exaggerated his own importance, theres no doubt  he had witnessed some remarkable times.   He was eventually defeated in a primary election in 1905 which was marked by violent eruptions at the polls. After that, he essentially retreated from day-to-day politics. Yet he still kept a public profile as a constant presence in government buildings in lower Manhattan, telling stories and regaling a circle of acquaintances. Even in retirement, Plunkitt would stay involved with Tammany Hall. Every four years he was appointed to make the travel arrangements as New York politicians traveled by train to the Democratic National Convention. Plunkitt was a fixture at the conventions and was deeply disappointed when ill health a few months before his death prevented him from attending the 1924 convention.   Plunkitts Fame In the late 1800s, Plunkitt became quite wealthy by habitually buying up land which he knew the city government would eventually need to buy for some purpose. He justified what he did as being honest graft. In Plunkitts view, knowing something was going to happen and capitalizing on it was not corrupt in any way. It was simply smart. And he openly bragged about it. Plunkitts openness about the tactics of machine politics became legendary. And in 1905 a newspaperman, William L. Riordon, published a book Plunkitt of Tammany Hall, which was essentially a series of monologues in which the old politician, often hilariously, expounded on his life and his theories of politics.  His lively accounts of how the Tammany machine operated may not have been well-documented, but they give a solid sense of what it must have been like it New York City politics in the late 1800s. He always steadfastly defended his own political style and the workings of Tammany Hall. As Plunkitt put it: So, you see, these fool critics don’t know what they’re talkin’ about when they criticize Tammany Hall, the most perfect political machine on earth. Sources George W. Plunkitt Dies At 82 Years, New York Times, 20 Nov. 1924, p 16. Plunkitt of Tammany Hall, New York Times, 20 Nov. 1924, p. 22. Plunkitt, Champion of Honest Graft, New York Times, 23 Nov. 1924, p. 177.

Thursday, May 14, 2020

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Essay and Study Ideas

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow tells the fictional story of Ichabod Crane, a schoolteacher who competes with another suitor for the hand of Katrina Van Tassel. However, instead of getting the girl, Crane ends up experiencing a very strange and spooky event. Written by Washington Irving, the short story was first published in 1820 and continues to be a popular Halloween tale today, especially because it includes a ghost story about a mysterious headless horseman.   A short piece of gothic literature filled with pranks and humor, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is one of Irvings most enduring works. While the story prompts scares and laughs, it also warrants discussion and literary analysis. Here are a few questions about The Legend of Sleepy Hollow that you can use for study or conversation.   Essay and Discussion Ideas What is important about the title?What are the conflicts found throughout the story?  How does Irving reveal character?What are some of the themes? How do they relate to the plot and characters?Is Ichabod Crane consistent in his actions? Is he a fully developed character? Why?Do you find the characters likable? Are the characters persons you would want to meet?Discuss some of the symbols in the story.Compare The Devil and Tom Walker with The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. What is similar and what is different in terms of plot, storytelling, and themes?What is the primary purpose of the story? Do you find the purpose important or meaningful?How essential is the setting to the story? Could the story have taken place anywhere else? Does the setting represent or allude something?What supernatural or surprising events are employed by Washington Irving? Do you find these happenings believable?What is the role of women?  Does the story end the way you expected? Why?Would you recommend the sto ry to a friend?Would you read other works by Washington Irving based on your reading of this story?

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Fracking A Controversial Controversy - 1486 Words

Fracking is a highly controversial practice that utilizes the injection of water, chemicals and abrasives to extract relatively inaccessible pockets of natural resources. Although fracking has the potential to benefit the domestic economy, the practice of hydraulic fracturing, if left unregulated and mismanaged poses significant risks to the environment, the ecosystem and safety. Fracking has become a highly controversial and publicized topic in recent years due to rising concerns into the potential benefits and consequences of using hydraulic fracturing to retrieve natural gas and oil reserves. With concerns over water pollution, mismanagement of toxic waste and irreversible environmental damage mounting, the practice of fracking has†¦show more content†¦This pursuit toward a greener future and cleaner environment has encouraged many to research fracking and its potential consequences to America. If the practice of fracking continues without the necessary regulation and ma nagement to construct the infrastructure required for extraction, transportation and consumerization, the practice has the potential to generate serious problems. The mismanagement of the practice has the potential to create environmental damage such as water contamination, radioactive spills, and increased seismic activity that could cost thousands in dollars in damage. Furthermore, the unintended consequences of fracking can have detrimental effects on the environmental. The potential for water contamination can pose both an immediate and long term risk to environmental stability, including landscape distortion, inhabitability and ecological displacement. This contamination of drinking water can also be detrimental to the human environment, limiting the amount of safe water available for both the residential and commercial human environment. With the increase of fracking, the level of disapproval for the practice has only mounted. Concerns including overconsumption of

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Marketing & Management Popular Consumers

Question: Discuss about theIndustry Training for Popular Consumers. Answer: Introduction: Colgate Palmolive is regarded as one of the most popular consumers good manufacturer in the world. The organization has its presence in almost 200 countries (Colgate.ca, 2016). As a result, Colgate Palmolive utilizes segmentation analysis in order to reach each and every parts of the world market. At the time of evaluating segmentation analysis, we have found that Colgate Palmolive utilize two types of segmentation namely need based segmentation and psychographic segmentation (colgate palmolive canada: Fighting for a share in the toothpaste market, 2016). We believe that Colgate Palmolive is focusing on these two segments so that it can able to fulfill basic as well as psychographic needs as well. We have found that need based segmentation include basic needs such as clean teeth, reduce sensitivity, whiter smile and improve overall health. We have identified that Colgate Palmolive focuses on the provided quality of the product in order to fulfill the requirements of need-based segmentation. On the other hand, Colgate Palmolive utilizes age wise segmentation of the entire market for the fulfillment of the requirement of psychographic segmentation. We believe that Colgate Palmolive is targeting both segments of the market. However, we have identified that the prime target of Colgate Palmolive is to fulfill the requirements of psychographic segmentation. Since, we have identified that the requirements of need-based segmentation is very basic that the company has to follow in order to conduct business effectively. However, the requirements of psychographic segmentation demands specific focus from the organization. For instance, children like flavored toothpaste whereas adults focus on different factors like cavity, fresh breath and other health benefits (colgate palmolive canada: Fighting for a share in the toothpaste market, 2016). For that reason, Colgate Palmolive has introduced different types of toothpaste in order to target different age group people effectively. Colgate Palmolive also utilizes different promotional strategies in order to improve the effectiveness of targeting. For instance, the company focuses on the utili zation of attractive packaging in order to target children from the market. On the other hand, we have found that the company highlighted the health benefits of the toothpaste in order to grab the attention of the older customers. We have identified that Colgate Palmolive has consciously positioned itself in the niche market so that it can able gain competitive advantage in the market. We have also found that the prime focus of Colgate Palmolive is to position itself as a health product that individuals require in their daily life. We believe that premium-positioning strategy of Colgate Palmolive has able to provide the competitive advantage over its prime competitors. However, we have also identified the fact that Colgate Palmolive has made a conscious focus effort to position them in such a way so that people not only perceive it as a health product. Rather lot of effort has also been made in order to become popular among the children as well. From the above analysis, we can assess the fact that Colgate Palmolive has utilized unique strategies in order to reach as many customers as possible. We have also identified that the company has implemented different strategies for different segments in order to fulfill the objectives of the organization. References: colgate palmolive canada: Fighting for a share in the toothpaste market. (2016).richard ivey school of business foundation. Retrieved 10 August 2016, from https://www.ivey.uwo.ca Colgate.ca. (2016).Colgate.ca. Retrieved 10 August 2016, from https://www.colgate.ca