Biography of General Tom Thumb, Sideshow Performer

General Tom Thumb (Charles Sherwood Stratton, January 4, 1838–July 15, 1883) was an unusually small man who, when promoted by the great showman Phineas T. Barnum, became a show business sensation. When Stratton was 5 years old, Barnum began exhibiting him as one of the wonders in his popular New York City museum. Fast Facts: Tom Thumb (Charles Stratton) Known For: Sideshow performer for P.T. BarnumBorn: January 4, 1838 in Bridgeport, ConnecticutParents: Sherwood Edwards Stratton and Cynthia ThompsonDied: July 15, 1883 in Middleboro, MassachusettsEducation: No formal education, although Barnum taught him to sing, dance, and performSpouse: Lavinia Warren (m. 1863)Children: Unknown. The couple traveled with a baby for a while, which may have been one of several rented from foundling hospitals, or their own who lived from 1869–1871. Early Life Tom Thumb was born Charles Sherwood Stratton on January 4, 1838, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the third of three children of carpenter Sherwood Edwards Stratton and his wife Cynthia Thompson, who worked as a local cleaning woman. His two sisters, Frances Jane and Mary Elizabeth, were of average height. Charles was born as a large baby but he simply stopped growing at the age of five months. His mother took him to a doctor, who couldnt figure out his condition—it was likely a pituitary gland issue, not known at the time. Until his teens, he stood only 25 inches tall and weighed 15 pounds. Stratton never had a formal education: at the age of 4, he was hired by P.T. Barnum, who taught him to sing and dance and do impressions of famous people. Barnums Discovery of Tom Thumb Visiting his home state of Connecticut on a cold November night in 1842, the great showman Phineas T. Barnum thought to track down an amazingly small child he had heard about. Barnum, who already employed several â€Å"giants† at his famed American Museum in New York City, recognized the value of young Stratton. The showman made a deal with the boy’s father, a local carpenter, to pay three dollars a week to exhibit young Charles in New York. He then hurried back to New York City to begin promoting his new discovery. A Sensation in New York City â€Å"They came to New York, Thanksgiving Day, December 8, 1842,† Barnum recalled in his memoirs. â€Å"And Mrs. Stratton was greatly surprised to see her son announced on my Museum bills as General Tom Thumb.† With his typical abandon, Barnum had stretched the truth. He took the name Tom Thumb from a character in English folklore. Hastily printed posters and handbills claimed that General Tom Thumb was 11 years old, and that he had been brought to America from Europe â€Å"at great expense.† Charlie Stratton and his mother moved into an apartment in the museum building, and Barnum began teaching the boy how to perform. Barnum recalled him as â€Å"an apt student with a great deal of native talent and a keen sense of the ludicrous.† Young Charlie Stratton seemed to love performing. The boy and Barnum forged a close friendship that lasted many years. General Tom Thumb’s shows were a sensation in New York City. The boy would appear onstage in various costumes, playing the part of Napoleon, a Scottish highlander, and other characters. Barnum himself would often appear onstage as a straight man while â€Å"The General† would crack jokes. Before long, Barnum was paying the Strattons $50 a week, an enormous salary for the 1840s. A Command Performance for Queen Victoria In January 1844, Barnum and General Tom Thumb sailed for England. With a letter of introduction from a friend, newspaper publisher Horace Greeley, Barnum met the American ambassador in London, Edward Everett. Barnum’s dream was for Queen Victoria to see General Tom Thumb. Barnum, of course, maximized the trip to London even before leaving New York. He advertised in the New York papers that General Tom Thumb would be having a limited number of farewell performances before setting sail on a packet ship to England. In London, a command performance was arranged. General Tom Thumb and Barnum were invited to visit Buckingham Palace and perform for the Queen and her family. Barnum recalled their reception: We were conducted through a long corridor to a broad flight of marble steps, which led to the Queen’s magnificent picture gallery, where Her Majesty and Prince Albert, the Duchess of Kent, and twenty or thirty of the nobility were awaiting our arrival. They were standing at the farther end of the room when the doors were thrown open, and the General walked in, looking like a wax doll gifted with the power of locomotion. Surprise and pleasure were depicted on the countenances of the royal circle at beholding this remarkable specimen of humanity so much smaller than they had evidently expected to find him. The General advanced with a firm step, and as he came within hailing distance made a very graceful bow, and exclaimed, â€Å"Good evening, Ladies and Gentlemen!† A burst of laughter followed this salutation. The Queen then took him by the hand, led him about the gallery, and asked him many questions, the answers to which kept the party in an uninterrupted strain of merriment. According to Barnum, General Tom Thumb then performed his usual act, performing â€Å"songs, dances, and imitations.† As Barnum and â€Å"The General† were leaving, the Queen’s poodle suddenly attacked the diminutive performer. General Tom Thumb employed the formal walking stick he was carrying to fight off the dog, much to everyone’s amusement. The visit to Queen Victoria was perhaps the greatest publicity windfall of Barnums entire career. And it made General Tom Thumbs theater performances a huge hit in London. Barnum, impressed by the grand carriages he saw in London, had a miniature carriage built to take General Tom Thumb around the city. Londoners were enthralled. And the smashing success in London was followed by performances in other European capitals. Continued Success and a Celebrity Wedding General Tom Thumb continued performing, and in 1856 he embarked on a cross-country tour of America. A year later, along with Barnum, he again toured Europe. He began to grow again during his teens, but very slowly, and he eventually reached a height of three feet. In the early 1860s, General Tom Thumb met a small woman who was also in Barnum’s employ, Lavinia Warren, and the two became engaged. Barnum, of course, promoted their wedding, which was held on February 10, 1863, at Grace Church, an elegant Episcopal cathedral at the corner of Broadway and 10th Street in New York City. Scenes of General Tom Thumbs life, including his wedding. Getty Images   The wedding was the subject of an extensive article in The New York Times on February 11, 1863. Headlined â€Å"The Loving Liliputians,† the article noted that a stretch of Broadway for several blocks was â€Å"literally crowded, if not packed, with an eager and expectant populace.† Lines of policemen struggled to control the crowd. The account in The New York Times began by pointing out, in a humorous way, that the wedding had been the place to be: Those who did and those who did not attend the wedding of Gen. Tom Thumb and Queen Lavinia Warren composed the population of the Metropolis yesterday, and thenceforth religious and civil parties sink into comparative insignificance before this one arbitrating query of fate: Did you or did you not see Tom Thumb married? While it may seem absurd, the wedding was a very welcome diversion from news of the Civil War, which was going quite badly for the Union at that point. Harper’s Weekly featured an engraving of the married couple on its cover. President Lincolns Guest On their honeymoon trip, General Tom Thumb and Lavinia were guests of President Abraham Lincoln at the White House. And their performing career continued to great acclaim. In the late 1860s, the couple embarked on a three-year world tour that even included appearances in Australia. A genuine worldwide phenomenon, General Tom Thumb was wealthy and lived in a luxurious house in New York City. In a few of the couples performances, they held a baby said to have been their own child. Some scholars believe that Barnum simply rented a child from local foundling homes. Strattons obituary in The New York Times reported that they did have a child of normal size born in 1869, but that he or she died in 1871. Death The Strattons continued to perform until the 1880s, when they retired to Middleboro, Massachusetts where they had had a mansion built with custom-made small furniture. It was there, on July 15, 1883, that Charles Stratton, who had fascinated society as General Tom Thumb, died suddenly of a stroke at the age of 45. His wife, who remarried 10 years later, lived until 1919. It is suspected that both Stratton and his wife both had growth hormone deficiency (GHD), a condition related to the pituitary gland, but no medical diagnosis or treatment was possible during their lifetimes. Sources Hartzman, Marc. Tom Thumb. American Sideshow: An Encyclopedia of Historys Most Wondrous and Curiously Strange Performers, p 89–92. New York: Jeremy P. Tarcher/Penguin, 2006.  Hawkins, Kathleen. The real Tom Thumb and the birth of celebrity. Ouch Blog, BBC News, November 25, 2014. Web.Lehman, Eric D. Becoming Tom Thumb: Charles Stratton, P.T. Barnum, and the Dawn of American Celebrity. Middletown, Connecticut: Wesleyan University Press, 2013.  Obituary for Tom Thumb. The New York Times, July 16, 1883.

The way in which others view us often shapes our identity...

The way in which others view us often shapes our identity` The way in which others perceive us can occasionally play a part in the shaping our identity. Our teenage years and our desire to belong both significantly impact who we are today. However, in saying that, it’s evident that as we mature the opinions and views of other become less relevant and are less likely to affect our sense of identity. Your identity defines who you are and is something influenced by various contributing factors. Teenage years are the time of a person’s life when they really start exploring their identity, who they are and who they want to be. During these years it can be hard trying to figure out who you are and where you belong, with the constant†¦show more content†¦As you mature the opinions and views of others are less likely to have any impact on the shaping of your identity. I believe this is because as you mature you have developed not only physically but emotionally and mentally as well, and as a result of this you are more comfortable in the person you are. As spoken about in Artificial Maturity by Tom Elmore, a mature person is unshaken by compliments or criticism, they can receive either without letting it ruin or sway them into a misleading view of themselves, they are confident in their identity. The perception another may have on a mature person rarely interferes with or changes how they see themselves. Our identity can sometimes be shaped by the way others see us. As we have seen, the way in which others view us can have some sort of impact on how we see ourselves. There are also other contributing factors such as our years of adolescence, the basic human need of wanting to belong and maturing; all play an equally important part in the forming of our character and who we are. On balance it appears that there is not only one influence in the shaping of our identity, but there are many. Written explanation I wish to convey to the reader that although the opinions of others can impact the shaping of our identities, there are other factors that also make a contribution. I chose these 3 topics to talk about because of their relevance to the topic ofShow MoreRelatedThe Development of Our Identities Essay1113 Words   |  5 PagesDevelopment of Our Identities  § Identities, as much as the perceptions of beauty, are in the eyes of the beholders. Shaped and molded by them too, we often have very little control over the construction of our identities. Paragraph 2: ids are socially constructed.  § The construction of identities is more often than not attributed to the way in which people perceive you and your personality  § Activities one participates in have their own identities and this Read MoreOur Individual Identity Is Determined by What Others Think of Us1283 Words   |  6 PagesIdentity and belonging - Expository Essay Our individual identity is determined by what others think of us. Our identity is comprised of inner qualities and outer representations of self. It consists of innumerable defining characteristics that make up the whole of who we are in any given moment. These fragments of self include our sexuality, gender, and sense of belonging to a particular culture, nation, religion, family, or some other group. Our identity includes our looks, personality, beliefsRead MoreEssay A Western Identity Crisis739 Words   |  3 Pagesforced to choose an identity for ourselves at one point or another in our lives. Some choose to identify by their outer qualities, while others may identify by their inner qualities. One may identify by their looks, gender, sexuality, political views, or their beliefs. Some may have an identity that is dynamic and ever changing depending on the events faced in life, or some my identify by a single aspect throughout their whole life. Some may even struggle finding an identity due to the countlessRead MoreWorldview Essay1474 Words   |  6 Pagesabout the world we live in and a thorough understanding of the systems of all the beliefs which hope will provide all the answers to the range of questions within ourselves as human beings. In most cases, worldviews are as a result of our human life experiences, and they subsequently shape as individuals in the approach we have to live. This paper attempts to discuss all there is to know about the world views including the development and transformation with an explanation of the various beliefs ofRead MoreThere Comes A Time In Life Where We Finally Reach A Point1683 Words   |  7 Pagesseem to be more open, it is still very present that people, especially parents, tend to want their kids to take on a certain personality or interests that correlates to how they see gender roles and where their gender attitude lies because that is the way society taught up to think. The term gender and sex tend to be thrown around and mixed together a lot over the years. What is exactly is the differences between gender and sex? According to the American Psychological Association, gender is â€Å"culturalRead MoreSkin - We Can Only Understand Our Identity Once We Acknowledge Our Past.992 Words   |  4 PagesOne’s identity is who or what a person is and how they are perceived by themselves and others. Your identity defines who you are and where you fit in. It is a self-representation of your interests, relationship, social activity and much more. Some believe our sense of identity and belonging is shaped by various factors, including our experiences, relationships, and our environments. Conversely, others believe that personality is shaped by nature, and that one is defined by their biological characteristicsRead MoreAnalysis Of Oscar Wilde s Life1267 Words   |  6 Pagesare other people. Their thoughts are someone else’s opinions, their live s a mimicry, their passions a quotation†. He never believed that anyone had a trait that was completely unique, but we are taking bits and pieces of others to form our own identity. The people we take these bits and pieces are our particular and generalized others and they influence who we become and who we are now. Our identity and the person we develop into are strongly impacted by particular others. Particular others areRead MoreThe Discipline Of American Studies Essay1676 Words   |  7 Pagesdirectly links to disciplinary foundations of literary theory, social identity, and cultural conditions demonstrated both in the fields English and American Studies. One specific area of disciplinary focus has been identity emergence and its connection to dominant ideology. Attention to identity emergence in literature has increased in recent decades, especially as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) identities have become more salient. Through the analysis, we strive to locate whereRead MoreThe Box Acts As A Representation Of Adolescents1025 Words   |  5 Pagesexcept for their names, their identity is entirely constructed in the Glade. The box acts as a mother delivering a newborn who has no knowledge of the world, and they struggle to find themselves as life continues. Like all other society, its values and beliefs influence an individual’s construction of identity. When the Gladers are sent up, they immediately emerge into the society with the given responsibilities. Since they are unable to find the purpose of life, they often live day-by-day in lost andRead MorePart 1. Answer The Following Questions About Yourself.1495 Words   |  6 Pagesabout the advantages and/or disadvantages for you of being a member of your particular ethnic/cultural group). †¢ What is your ethnic/cultural/linguistic identity? †¢ What has it meant to belong to your ethnic/cultural group? †¢ What do you like about your ethnic/cultural identity? †¢ What do you dislike about your ethnic/cultural identity? †¢ What are the advantages or disadvantages of belonging to the ethnic/cultural group you identify with? Self-reflecting on my ethnic and cultural background

Managing Consumer Markets

Question: Explore the managing consumer markets. Answer: Activity 1: World Vision is characterized as an internationally acclaimed non-profit organization that specially focuses on supporting the children who are deprived of the basic human rights and are unable to live life to its fullest. The organization helps these children by collaborating and cooperating with the policy makers and people at both the regional level as well as the international level. The organization raises fund from its stakeholders and thereby uses the fund for the wellbeing of the children. The World Vision also uses certain marketing strategies for these fundraising activities (Samiee et al., 2015). An efficient and effective marketing strategy is essential for any nonprofit organization for the fundraising activities and dealing with the local government. A proper marketing strategy will also help the organization to increase its popularity. World Vision has achieved its acclamation by implementing well-structured marketing strategy. This also helps an organization to attrac t and employ the appropriate people in the appropriate position. From the various previous reports of the organization it is quite evident that it implements marketing strategies. Billabong website provides a broader overview and information framework about the surfing, skiing and skating industries, however, there is a lack of information about the products of Billabong. This may have a twofold aspect, the customers who are willing to buy only the products of Billabong will be faced with difficulties as there are not much information posted on the website about these products. On the other hand, the customers who are willing to participate in the adventure sports activities such as, skating, skiing and surfing will always find the website to be useful. These people will always be willing to buy equipment and merchandise for these activities. Hence, it can be said that Billabong is using a specific technique for addressing its target market. It may be the case that it only targets those people who are actively in the activities of adventure sports. This ensures they will definitely get a steady flow of customers in search of their products as these adventure s ports takes place almost in all the seasons in the year (Giacalone Rosenfeld, 2013). However, the company could have also designed its website in an effective manner that would help the organization to cater the needs of other people who are only interested in the products of Billabong. This will in turn increase the entire customer base of the organization and thereby help it to raise revenue. Activity 2: In order to review the latest news of the company we are aware of the facts that, Nestle has announced drastic news that states that the Australian parents are not well aware about teaching their kids about healthy eating. A majority of parents in Australia think that they are well known about the providing balanced food to their children. However, a study conducted by Nestle revealed that the understanding of these parents is not enough. Very recently on 20th June 2016, Nestle Australia warmly welcomed the decision stating that additional funding will be provided to the Role Models and the Leader Girls Academy program will be extended up to secondary level. Nestle has also observed the exceptionally brilliant outcome that are responsible for changing the lives of the indigenous girls as they were provided the necessary supports for completing their education. Moreover, Nestle Australia has also arranged a discussion session with the civil society organizations and governments of the other countries regarding the present situation in Australia. It decided to invest in the Africa for the purpose of sustainable development. These campaigns of the company are generally aimed at the parents who are in the process of upbringing their children. The company mainly produces baby foods and other instant foods there are other products as well. These promotional and campaigning activities will definitely attract the attention of the target market of the company. Moreover, the company is also within an activity of aggressive advertising, these advertising activities of the company will also help it to attract a significantly large number of potential customers (Priem et al., 2013). As the company has not limited its production in the baby food and instant food it is also in the production of some medicinal products. The production of these medicinal products such as health drink is also widening the range of market which the company is trying tom target. Therefore it can be said that the targeting strategy of the company is well-efficient and will definitely succeed. This is because the company is appropriately targeting the parents by campaigning and other promotional activities and on the other hand for the other products the adults in the markets is addressed by active advertising (Mller Parvinen, 2015). Moreover, the company also has marketing and sales employees who are rigorously studying the market situation and reconstructing their strategies for catering the needs of the customers effectively. Reference List: Giacalone, R. A., Rosenfeld, P. (2013).Impression management in the organization. Psychology Press. Mller, K., Parvinen, P. (2015). An impact-oriented implementation approach in business marketing research: Introduction to the Special Issue on Implementing Strategies and Theories of B2B Marketing and Sales Management.Industrial Marketing Management,45, 3-11. Priem, R. L., Butler, J. E., Li, S. (2013). Toward reimagining strategy research: retrospection and prospection on the 2011 AMR decade award article.Academy of Management Review,38(4), 471-489. Samiee, S., Chabowski, B. R., Hult, G. T. M. (2015). International Relationship Marketing: Intellectual Foundations and Avenues for Further Research.Journal of International Marketing,23(4), 1-21.

The Difference Between Right and Wrong free essay sample

A paper discussing societys ability to discern between right and wrong. A discussion of the difference between right and wrong and whether society knows how to discern between the two. The author discusses the case of Jon Venables and Robert Thompson who abducted and killed a two year old boy as well as various cases and scenarios to explain the debate. In February 1993, in Liverpool, England, two ten year old boys abducted two year old James Bulger and murdered him. In a case which shocked the whole country, Jon Venables and Robert Thompson were found guilty of murder, and were sentenced to imprisonment, at the age of ten. Since then, there has been numerous moral and ethical arguments put forward, contesting the justifiability of their sentence. The trial of Jon Venables and Robert Thompson was held before an adult jury. Witnesses were called, including Irene Slack, the headmistress of the school where the boys attended. We will write a custom essay sample on The Difference Between Right and Wrong or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In her evidence she said that from the age children enter school, they have a sense of right and wrong.

Risk Management Consultant Presentation and Proposal an Example of the Topic Business Essays by

Risk Management Consultant Presentation and Proposal Introduction Events of all types are produced every day for all manner of purposes, attracting all sorts of people. Creating and managing the environment, in which these people will gather carries with it awesome responsibilities, legal, ethical, and financial. To provide a safe and secure setting and to operate in a manner that ensures the hosting organizations or individuals achieve their objectives in a proper and profitable way, event risk management must be fully integrated into all event plans and throughout the event management process (Silvers, 2007). The 2012 Democratic National Convention is a good opportunity for the DLPSZ Security Firm to provide effective event risk management. Our firm engages in identifying, managing, and responding to risks. Our proposal will demonstrate the social responsibility that our firm will take in providing security to the public and candidates, an explanation of future trends in risk management and our plan to control them, and a scenario plan. Need essay sample on "Risk Management Consultant Presentation and Proposal" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed Social Responsibility Social responsibility is a voluntary assumed obligation toward the good of a larger social unit as opposed to the self alone (Social Responsibility). The DLPSZ Security Firm recognizes this responsibility would request the council for the City of New York to allow our firm to provide the security for the Democratic National Convention, the DNC. Our security firm has been in business for several years. Our firm has dedicated 15 years of service to providing quality security for large corporations as well as multiple smaller organizations. Our firm is locally owned and operated, giving a portion of our services back to the community. Background checks and references are verified on all potential employees. All applicants must submit to a lie detector test and qualify to be firearms certified. A minimum of an associates degree with two years experience is required. A minimum of five years experience may be accepted with firearms certification. Our firm experiences have included large corporations such as the Microsoft Convention and smaller, less formal events. Our firm provides no prejudice on whom and what type of customer we serve. Our dedication and thorough knowledge of our business, enables us to provide the highest quality service at a reasonable cost. Our obligation and responsibility is the protection of the public. The success of our firm is dependent upon our methods in conducting business. Honesty, integrity and hard work are the heart and sole of our organization. Our security firm has a response time rated at one of the highest in overall speed and efficiency. Our emergency response time is rated one of the overall highest in our field. All of our work is 100% guaranteed. It would be an honor and our pleasure if the council would consider allowing our company to oversee the security for the Democratic National Convention. In consideration of social responsibility, our proposal would include but not limited to: (1)Our firm will provide continuous security for the entire function. (2) All security personnel will be casually dressed, blending in with the crowd. (3) Weapons will not be visible to the public. (4) Atmosphere will be family oriented. (5) The entrance and exits to the function would require participates to be scanned by metal detectors. This would eliminate the possibility of any weapons or contraband from entering the premises. (6)The entrance to the function would require participates to be scanned by metal detectors. This would eliminate the possibility of any weapons or contraband from entering the premises. (7)All exit and entrances will be clearly marked and appropriate security personnel will be monitoring all locations. (8) It will be our responsibility to keep all areas free of possible hazards and harm to the public. (9) Constant attention will be given to the safety of all participants from environmental and physical mishaps (Chavez, Tenon, & Knap, 2004). Future Trends in Risk Management As the firm chosen to provide security for the 2012 Democratic National Convention, members of the security staff are aware of the possible future trends that may affect risk management. Risk management refers to the attempt to solve or minimize a problem before it occurs (Tarlow, 2002). Although, it is impossible to predict the future, future trends are dependent upon past trends therefore, our company will view past security measures to modify them in order to bring them current. Trends in risk management inclusive of increased violence and crowd control are a couple of the firms main focuses. Increased Violence As the economy takes a turn for the worse, there is an expectation of violence to increase due to economic instability. There are many causes of economic instability, many of which concerned citizens feel presidential candidates are at liberty to control, such as oil prices and job availability. The frustrations of some members of the crowd may be taken out on the presidential candidates (Scalet, 2004). Economic instability may increase crime rates and crime may be drawn to the convention. Crowd Control Prior to September 11, 2001, many risk managers were not faced with the issue of terrorism. In the post World Trade Center, the threat of terrorism from bombs, nuclear attacks, and biochemical weapons, is a reality. Therefore, many risk managers are not only faces with standardized crowd control issues but they are also faced with individuals who believe that killing is for the purpose of making a political statement (Tarlow, 2002). At the Democratic National Convention, many individuals of different races, religious backgrounds, economic status and social backgrounds will be in attendance. The control of the crowd depends on the number of security members observing the crowd. Managing and Responding to Risks In identifying the future trends in risks, our firm has developed a plan to manage and respond to the risks that could potentially harm the candidates. Our firm has hired extra security that will be placed in the following areas parking lots and the crowd. Members of the security staff will be in the crowd and will be in charge of journalists, who are anxious to get photos of the candidates. Communication is also key within our firm. In having good communication, security members are assured that all members are in the designated places at the designated times. Our firm is fully aware of the severity involved if issues arise during the convention therefore; our firm is capable of teamwork and keeping constant communication if any changes occur. With the assistance of the New York Police Department, traffic will be directed by members of the police force. In consideration to September 11, the FBI will be contacted concerning the identification of any terrorist who may be a threat to the convention. Prior to the Convention and throughout the Convention, police officers and police dogs will consistently patrol the arena on the inside as well as outside, to assure the safety of the candidates. In addition, our firm will work closely with the Secret Service and the FBI to provide protection that our firm is unable to provide. Members of the FBI will also observe the crowd for any suspicious activity. Our firm understands the responsibility involved in securing the candidates and is certain that our firm is able to provide safety to the public and the candidates. Scenario-Based Thinking Our security firm incorporates state of the art risk mitigation techniques in conducting adaptive, threat analysis and mitigation planning and response. Part of this threat planning analysis involves scenario-based measures, allowing our security professionals to integrate intelligence collection and liaison efforts, enabling futures-based threat planning environment with predictive analysis. In conducting scenario thinking approaches to our security efforts, our firm seeks to identify both the uncertainties which exist in the multi-threat environment, allowing total available resources to communicate in threat response, and resource allocation and direction. Threat Environment Analysis According to commonly accepted doctrine on obtaining situational awareness of a potential threat environment and identifying knowledge threats, our firm applies the S.T.E.E.P. (Social, Technological, Economic, Ecological, Political) Analysis method to obtain baseline knowledge of the Democratic National Convention threat environment and identified information gaps (Van Der Heijden, Bradfield, Burt, Cairns, & Wright, 2002). In applying the S.T.E.E.P. Analysis to our DNC pre-security project bid analysis, our teams of security experts have identified obvious social factors of the increased violence and crown control challenges which accompany such an event. Additionally, our firm has created a series of security-based scenarios based on contemporary social factors which may encourage various groups of various political, social or demographic influences seeking the DNC for exposure or support. Additionally, the mainstream of micro-media capable devices presents a twofold threat to the crowd management of such an event. Not only are many weapons capable of being disguised as media recording devices, but, these media capture devices may also be used to conduct counter surveillance activity against law enforcement and security personnel, coordinate terrorist activities, or capture, exploit, and rapidly transmit media of a terrorist attack to be exploited for mass panic effect. In analyzing the myriad of potential threats which exist within the DNC environment, our security experts have determined that the best scenario-based planning approach is a multilayered security approach, maximizing liaison, as previously mentioned, under the direction of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Secret Service, and the New York Police Department. The three major threat areas our organization has analyzed, trained and prepared for are Preventive Screening, Passive Threat, and Active Threat. Preventive Screening Security personnel have liaison with federal, state and local law enforcement on deploying necessary resources for extensive physical and technological measures to be deployed outside of and within the structure of the convention center and the immediate city clock surrounding the convention center. Extensive role-play scenarios have been administered and collectively enhanced involving the deployment of plain clothes security personnel within a six-block soft perimeter to observe and report activity on suspicious personnel, facial image capture from strategically placed surveillance equipment along routes of an ingress to the convention location, and the implementation of facial recognition software to electronically transmit suspect information to law enforcement databases. Passive Threat In scenario training for the passive threat environment, our security personnel have engaged in scenario-based training involving the active containment of passively resistant personnel, involving the use of cover/contact crowd control measures to avoid deliberate attempts to distract or lure security personnel into situations designed to preoccupy security personnel and exploit openings in the security perimeter. Additionally, our personnel are highly trained in a variety of scenarios and in the arrest of demonstrators using non-lethal use of force tactics and equipment designed to isolate potential riot situations and restore order in coordination with designated law enforcement partners. Active Threat In the event of a violent demonstration, terrorist attack, or deliberate attempt against the security and well being of the convention and its attendees, our security personnel will by policy defer to the authority and direction of designated federal law enforcement officials, However, our security personnel have implemented scenario-based training, and is prepared to delivered services in areas of high risk personnel protection, protective convoy escort, property protection, crowd control, inner and outer perimeter containment, and technical measures designed to enhance surveillance containment capabilities and cellular signal-jamming capabilities to assist in gaining operational control of the crisis environment. Conclusion In conclusion, our security firm has been operating for years. Our employees are all degree holders and understand the need of safety in our clients and community. Our firm has also done other events with a high success rate. An extensive background search will be performed on all employees and all employees will go through extensive training. Every member of our security firm has signed confidentiality agreements to protect every candidate. If chosen, our firm has outlined in details what plans are proposed for coverage of the Democratic National Convention. Explained in our proposal, our firm has been able to make sure that all points of interest have been covered concerning the participants of the convention and the public. Our firm has also incorporated the use of the S.T.E.E.P. Analysis method in order to prepare for the risk that may take place during the event. Our firm has also mapped out a plan for the safety of law enforcement agents that will participate in helping provide security at the convention. Council members will notice that the proposal includes the use of local, state and federal police. Our firm understands this is a huge responsibility and knows that teamwork and consist communication with other law enforcement agencies is the key to the success of the event. In closing, our firm understands the responsibility involved with providing security for the convention and can ensure the safety of the publ ic and the candidates and ensure our firm can provide effective risk management. References Chavez, D., Tenon, J., & Knap, N. (2004). Social Responsibility. Journal of Parkland Recreation Administration, 22 (3), 22-38. Scalet, S. (2004) In Depth: Democratic Party Convention Security. Silvers, J. (2007). Risk Management for Meetings and Events. . Massachusetts. Elsevier Limited. p. 1-3. Tarlow, P. (2002). Event Risk Management and Safety. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.. p. 85-89. Van Der, H., Bradfield, B., Cairns, & Wright (2002). The Sixth Sense, Ch. 7 Scenario Planning in the Organizational Context. John Wiley and Sons, Inc. Wiktionary. Com. Social Responsibility.

The eNotes Blog A Class on the Art of the FinalFarewell

A Class on the Art of the FinalFarewell (George Eastmans (co-founder of Eastman-Kodak) suicide note. Eastman shot himself in the heart after suffering from chronic spinal pain which left him partially disabled.) When someone makes the decision to take their own life, often the first thing many people want to know is whether they left a suicide note. Some people, like Eastman, leave just a few words the living are left to ponder; others leave long, detailed letters of regret, pain, and loss. Whatever the method, there is no denying that the final, written words of anyone who has made this decision are compelling. Taking a class  on the composition of suicide notes thoughwell, thats definitely new. But philosophy professor  Simon Critchley of New Yorks the New School  Ã‚  believes there is much to be learned, artistically and rhetorically, from suicide notes. He recently hosted a course called the  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Suicide Note Writing Workshop. One of several classes offered in month-long series of programs called The School of Death, Critchley came up with the idea after hearing about a program called The School of Life in London.   Critchley (my kind of guy) called it   Ã¢â‚¬Å"a particularly nauseating philosophy of self-help.† Critchley realizes it is a dark subject and also a way of mocking creative-writing workshops.   But, in the workshops defense, the professor explained to  The New York Times,   Ã¢â‚¬Å"We’re not mocking suicide. We’re doing this as a way to understand it. And why not be a little insensitive? People are terrified in talking about death.† Fifteen students signed up for the workshop which looks closely at suicide ethics from antiquity to present-day. Suicide notes themselves, Critchley says, are a relatively recent innovation. In antiquity, there was no need to leave a note,† he said. â€Å"It would have been obvious why you killed yourself.† Notes examined include those left by   Adolph Hitler,Virgina Woolf, Kurt Cobain. After analyzing a variety of suicide notes, from both the infamous and ordinary people, the class was asked to write their own last words. They were given just fifteen minutes to do so and the goodbyes had to be contained to a 4 x 6 index card. One woman wrote this for her children: When you inevitably discover those things I kept secret, let these not diminish the reality nor the magnitude of my love for you. It is an interesting way to think about communication, especially since these last words, when not a classroom exercise, come from people who largely failed at communicating.

Texas vs. Hopwood Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Texas vs. Hopwood - Essay Example The essay "Hopwood vs. Texas" talks about the judicial activism and judicial activism by the example of the case Hopwood v. Texas which remains one of the most intensively litigated cases featuring the long battle over affirmative action in higher education and a good example of judicial activism. Judicial activism entails that the Court majority employed personal or political principles that surpass the intended boundary delineated by the legislation. The rise of judicial activism has sometimes been labeled as an â€Å"end of democracy and the judicial usurpation of politics. One of the drivers for the increased public concern has arisen from the tendency of the courts to utilize their power to decide cases as a mode of invalidating laws passed by legislatures, and even the people themselves via ballot initiatives, wherein judges in some circumstances enforce their own policy on a reluctant society. The Supreme Court plus other federal judicial bodies not only have surpassed their constitutional limits but have disputed the principle of federalism that ought to safeguard the balance of power between the national government and the governments of the states. In some instances, the judges appear to surpass their power with regard to deciding cases that are before the court. Judges are expected to exercise judgment with regard to interpreting the law as per the Constitution. Judges should utilize their power to rectify injustices, especially in instances in which other branches of the government fail to act to do so.... Hence, courts have a critical role to play in shaping social policy on issues such as civil rights, safeguard of individual rights, public morality, and political injustice (Cox, 2012). The core questions on judicial activism centers on whether courts should be awarded the power to annul legislation in the name of the constitution. Judicial activism could lead to some form of despotism (Vijayan, 2006). The courts claim that the power grounded in inferences obtained from the constitution’s credit as the supreme law, as well as from the nature of the judicial office. Discussion over judicial activism predictably comes back to issues regarding judicial supremacy: first, every section of the constitution’s letter and spirit is in principle deemed â€Å"enforceable† by the judiciary; second, every other public official, is bound by his oath to the constitution itself, to take the Supreme Court’s declarations on the Constitution as binding on himself. Based on t hese teachings on judicial power the Supreme Court possesses an effective authority to alter the meaning of the constitution among its ordinary powers (Stephens & Scheb, 2008). As such, judicial supremacy has attained some measures of legitimacy by virtue of popular acquiescence to its terms. It is not the absence of constitutional authority that makes judicial activism a serious problem since courts are not designed to render wide public policy. Activist courts have undermined virtually every aspect of the public policy in the arena of: permitting racial inclinations and quotas; establishing a â€Å"right† to public welfare assistance; obstructing criminal prosecution; upsetting state referenda; and, discerning a right to