The different stories Essay Example for Free

The different stories Essay The protagonists from the different stories all seem to have their changes or their epiphanies occur quite quickly. These changes are not brought about by lengthy self-reflection or deep pondering, instead, they occur, seemingly, in a flash, as a series of events seem to suddenly open their eyes. For example, Robert, from â€Å"Cathedral†, goes through a long narration of explaining the hows and the whys of the main event in the story (the visit of his wife’s blind friend) before, finally, expressing his realization in just nine words at the very end of the story. To be more specific with regard to Robert’s case, we see how, in much of the story, he talks not so much about himself as a person – a husband, a friend, etc – but as merely someone who is annoyed by an unwanted visitor. Robert talks much of his wife (with not a lot of affection, take note) and her friend, but he does not talk about himself, only reiterating again and again his annoyance and discomfort. This method of writing distances the readers from Robert and makes him an unsympathetic character who readers may not appreciate. This technique actually strengthens his epiphany, and, in a way, makes it an epiphany of the readers as well. When Robert said â€Å"I didn’t feel like I was inside anything† (Carver), the reader, along with Robert, also realize that though Robert is the one telling the story, he seems not to be in the story as an important character himself. Robert was in his house, yes, but he was not â€Å"in† a relationship with his wife as seen by their strangely cold exchanges (for example the dialogue about Beulah); he was not â€Å"in† any friendly relationships [â€Å"You don’t have any friends,† she said. â€Å"Period. † ( (Carver)]; and he had no connection with the blind man either. In â€Å"Good Country People†, the change in Hulga is abrupt as well. The cold, rude, disconnected and â€Å"intellectual† big blonde moves from self-confidence and self-possession into fear, anger, and panic as soon as she loses that which â€Å"she was as sensitive about (†¦) as a peacock about his tail† (OConnor, Good Country People). Earlier in the story, Hulga is portrayed as a woman who is cold and out-of-touch with the world she lives in because she thinks that her education has separated and made her better than those in her vicinity. She paints herself as someone who cannot be touched by any emotions because, in Hulga’s own words: â€Å"I don’t have illusions. I’m one of those people who see through to nothing† (OConnor, Good Country People). And yet when she loses her artificial leg, suddenly, Hulga is no longer confident or fierce or composed; she is dependent and weak and afraid (â€Å"Her voice when she spoke had an almost pleading sound† (OConnor, Good Country People)). We see with Hulga how all her confidence and brusqueness was stored in that artificial leg and, therefore, with its sudden loss came her sudden change. Lastly, in â€Å"A Good Man Is Hard to Find†, the grandmother is the one whom we see changed. Indeed her change from being a rather selfish old lady (as in sneaking the Pitty Sing into the car and deciding not to own up to her realization of her mistake), is given a 360-degree turn in the face of her own mortality. Even her interaction with The Misfit shows her change. In their first encounter she tries to flatter him , in order to save her life; she says to him â€Å"I know youre a good man. You dont look a bit like you have common blood. I know you must come from nice people! (OConnor, A Good Man is Hard to Find). However, at the mention of talk and prayer, the grandmother suddenly becomes aware of something beyond her picture of him as just a killer and she tells him â€Å"Why youre one of my babies. Youre one of my own children! (OConnor, A Good Man is Hard to Find). This part allows us to see how the grandmother has gone beyond her own self and has acknowledged the humanity of The Misfit, even though he is the eventual death of her. Works Cited Carver, Raymond. Cathedral. 30 July 2009 http://www. ndsu. nodak. edu/instruct/cinichol/GovSchool/Cathedral2. htm. OConnor, Flannery. A Good Man is Hard to Find. 30 July 2009 http://www. turksheadreview. com/library/texts/oconnor-goodmanhard. html. OConnor, Flannery. Good Country People. 30 July 2009

Impact of Institutional Factors and Election Mechanisms on Voter Turnou

In the 2012 United States Presidential election 58.2 percent of the registered voters turnout out to vote (IDEA). This figure is in stark contrast to many other wealthy democracies in the western world for the same election cycle (IDEA). This begs the question, why is voter turnout significantly lower in the US compared to the rest of the first world and other OECD countries? There are countless factors that could affect voter turnout, the most standard of which are based on socioeconomic status. But when considering only developed nations, more is at play in predicting turnout. Focus is turned to institutional factors and the effect election mechanisms, such as registration laws and party systems, have on political participation. Europe and the United States differ on many key aspects of democratic structure including party systems, registration processes, and voting procedures. These unique institutional factors in the United States place an excessive burden on the public and increases the tangible cost to voting, which discourages political participation. In order to discuss these costs, an understanding of how broader institutional an structural factors influence an individuals participation must be reached. In a general context, political participation is defined as any form of individual engagement with politics, but within the scope of this essay, political participation is narrowed to include only the act of voting (Verba). This can be used to explain why voter turnout in the United States is so low compared to European democracies. By investigating the democratic institutions in Italy, Germany, and France, such a comparison can be made and the institutional effect on voter turnout rate can be investi gated. Final... ...rties in America."  Third World Traveler. Princeton University Press, 1984. Web. 1 May 2014. . Timpone, Richard J. "Structure, Behavior, and Voter Turnout in the United States."  The American Political Science Review  92.1 (1998): 145-58.  JSTOR. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. . Powell, Bingham G., Jr. "American Voter Turnout in Comparative Perspective."  The American Political Science Review  80.1 (1986): 17-43.  JSTOR. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. . Verba, Sidney, Kay Lehman Schlozman and Henry E. Brady. 1995. Voice and Equality. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. Selections (BB) pg. 8-10; 23-24; 37-48. World Economic Outlook Database, April 2014, International Monetary Fund. Updated 8 April 2014. Accessed April 2014.

Clean Edge Essay

Non-disposable razors recorded average growth of about 5% in retail sales during the period 2007 to 2010 whereas refill cartridge and disposable razors recorded growth of approximately 2% and 3% respectively for the same period. Innovations and new product introductions are the prime factors for the growth. Non-disposable razors and refill cartridge market is broadly classified into three segments namely value, moderate and super premium based on price and quality. Paramount’s consumer research identified distinct segmentation in terms of product benefits and consumer behavior. % of non- disposable razor users are segmented as Involved Razor users, social/emotional shavers; 28% as Involved Razor users, aesthetic shavers and 33% as Uninvolved Razor users, maintenance shavers. Studies from 2009 showed that the retail sales of non- disposable razors and refill cartridge came from 25% volume of super-premium, 43% of moderate and 32% of value segments. In the last decade, the indus try has experienced significant growth in the super premium segment. Product innovation and new technology is leading this sector for a number of new entrants. In 2008-09 the rate of new product innovation leads to 22 new SKUs to be introduced. SWOT Analysis Strengths Paramount Health and Beauty Company’s biggest strength is that it is a well- established brand with deep pockets and a very good association with consumers. The product- Clean Edge Razor, that they nave released, is also technologically in the current market. Weaknesses best The company does not have a slice in the 37. 2% of the pie that corresponds to the super premium segment which has immense potential. Also there is a risk of launching the product in the wrong segment or positioning it wrongly. A wrong move could result in cannibalization of Paramount Pro, another product in their portfolio. Opportunities There is very good growth in the super premium segment especially in men’s grooming. The market is also highly profitable so vendors are ready to stock the products. Also, the maintenance users are a market not ventured by any company till date. Hence the opportunities are immense. Threats A good number of competitors are trying to become the leader in this segment which is expected to grow in the future. The competitors could also catch up with the latest echnology and release a technologically more advanced product. Availability of alternatives like disposable and electric razors make a high threat of substitutes. Because of large number of products available and constant innovation in the sector it is very easy for the consumers to switch the companies. Hence, consumers have a high bargaining power. Entry barriers are low in the industry since no major R;D costs are involved and there are no major regulations. The bargaining power of the suppliers is low. Hence, overall the premium segment of nondisposable razors is an attractive industry to enter into. Positioning Strategy: The first strategy that we suggest is Niche Positioning, targeting the premium segment: As of now, the products released by Paramount in the non-disposable razer segment, Paramount Pro and Paramount Avail are positioned in the moderate segment and as a value -offering respectively. After three years of development, Paramount Health and Beauty Company has come up with a new technologically advanced vibrating razor called Clean Edge. Keeping in mind the superior technology used and the fact that Paramount has not launched a product targeting the premium egment, Paramount could adopt Niche Positioning while launching Clean Edge. However, there are certain disadvantages and advantages: Advantages: Positioning Paramount’s Clean Edge as a niche will accentuate the company’s product portfolio significantly. From the exhibits it is visible that it will result in high and consistent profit margins for the company and the risk involved will be less. Apart from that, the financial requirement of launching the product in the premium segment is only 15 million dollars as against 42 million dollars for the mainstream targeting. Disadvantages: As the trends suggests, understanding the fact that the premium segment has not been targeted significantly, almost all of Paramount’s competitors have launched products for this segment. Also, for the past 5 years, the company’s current products Pro and Avail have not introduced any new innovations as a result of which its customers are moving on to other competitors. The product pro is in the mature face and might need phasing out eventually. The second strategy that can be followed is Mainstream Positioning. The advantages and disadvantages of the same are as follows: Consumers are becoming more and more sophisticated day by day and expect more advanced technology. Paramount’s bread and butter product, Pro was in the mature phase of the product lifecycle so there is a possibility of decline. Positioning Clean Edge as mainstream product will help prevent loyal Paramount customers from being wooed away to more innovative brands. Main stream razor unit volumes are expected to capture over three times the volumes of the niche market in the first year. Clean Edge has the potential for true market domination and would quickly gain ass appeal. Disadvantages: – Paramount already had product in mainstream positioning -Paramount Pro so launching it as mainstream positioning will dilute the brand power and will lead to cannibalization. More marketing support will be needed to reach the target masses. The company would require an extensive advertising campaign, considerable consumer promotions would be needed and thus the expenses associated with them will be huge. To reach full sales potential with this positioning, $42 million marketing budget would be needed for year one. Total sales of Paramount for Avail and Pro for first year (2009) and second year (2010) are calculated using the market size (retail sales) and corresponding market share, both real (2009)and estimated (2010), of Paramount. The cost of Cannibalization is calculated using total sales and percentage of cannibalization given. Analyzing the result, it is evident that launching the product is a profitable venture; however, the cost of cannibalization may change equations. The cost of cannibalization is lower for the niche market as compared to mainstream market. Although, cannibalization djustments give us losses for the first year in the case of both mainstream and niche, the profit obtained in the second year for mainstream is larger than niche market. Branding Strategy The branding should be done in such a way that it emphasizes Clean Edge Razor as a unique and breakthrough product with the usage of latest technology. However, given the tight advertising budget, it should use the well-established name of Paramount rather than build a brand based on the Clean Edge. This should help potential buyers connect with the product quickly and test it. This should ensure maximum sales. Recommendations & Conclusion The recommendation is to introduce the Clean Edge into the marketplace as a niche product since data shows that consumers in the premium segment are willing to switch between the companies. Using advertising and promotion of the new product we can gain market share from competitors. Exhibit 8directly suppo rts this recommendation and snows that even though unit sales are less than main stream sales, the operating profit and the operating profits as % of sales is higher. In both year one and year two, this niche arket is profitable and growing. It is here that Paramount should focus its efforts on product introduction and positioning for the Clean Edge Razor. Once it has launched itself in the niche segment, Randall should then launch it, maybe after 2 to 3 years, in the mainstream category. As the data shows, both niche and mainstream strategy will help Paramount to raise its market share in super- premium non disposable razor segment. But the niche strategy will enables Clean Edge Razor to contribute profit and at the same time, limit the effect of cannibalizing Paramount’s existing products.

The Wounded Warrior Project - 1361 Words

The Wounded Warrior Project For as long as there have been wars, there have been warriors who survive — and yet become as much casualties of battle as those who died (Blair). Founded in 2003 in Roanoke, Virginia, by a group of veterans and friends the Wounded Warrior Project took action to help the injured service men and women of this generation. The mission of the WWP is to honor and empower wounded warriors who incurred a physical or mental injury, illness or wound, co-incident to their military service on or after September 11, 2001. The vision of the project is to foster the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded service members in our nation’s history. The project has three purposes: to raise awareness and enlist the†¦show more content†¦Since 2012, WWP Program Grants have held two annual grant cycles to support the increasing number of returning wounded veterans and their reintegration needs. Brett Miller is a U.S. Army veteran and founder of Warfighter Outfitters, In c. His 2005 deployment to Iraq left him with a traumatic brain injury (TBI), saw a unique opportunity to help fellow injured service members through the camaraderie and bonding offered by two of his own interests: hunting and fishing (Newswire). Then there s Staff Sergeant Erick Millette. During two tours in Iraq, Erick survived 17 IED attacks. They left him with the kinds of injuries that you can t always see: head trauma, brain injury, PTSD. Millette’s military career was cut short, but he s taken on a new mission, and that s sharing his story with audiences across the country. He spread the message that it s okay to talk about these unseen wounds of war, to seek out help and to seek out support. Millette says that the Wounded Warrior Project literally saved his life, and now through his work, he s helping save even more lives (Secretary). The Wounded Warrior Project aids in assisting the wounded soldiers through many organized programs (Veterans Charity Organization). Wounded Warrior Project ® (WWP) is officially serving more than 75,000 wounded veterans through its twenty free programs and services offered to engage warriors, nurture their minds and bodies andShow MoreRelatedThe Wounded Warrior Project ( Wwp )1320 Words   |  6 Pages In 2003, John Melia started The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) as a basement operation that donated backpacks full of goods to wounded warriors. Not long after their inception, Melia hired a few employees including future CEO of WWP Steven Nardizzi. Together they began raising millions of dollars and broadening their services for veterans. By 2009 the company had grown to over 50 employees and $ 21 million in revenue. This was when Nardizzi wanted to get more aggressive with marketing and expansion;Read MoreOrganization Analysis : The Wounded Warrior Project877 Words   |  4 PagesOrganization Analysis The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) began in the year 2003 after many veterans and their friends discovered the necessity to send items of comfort to service members who are wounded and coming back home from Iraq and Afghanistan. From that time, the WWP has developed into a full rehabilitative effort to help warriors as they shift back into a life of a civilian. Using an approach that is holistic, the WWP serves soldiers as well as their families through nurturing the body andRead MoreThe Wounded Warrior Project : Financial Management2840 Words   |  12 PagesWounded Warrior Project; Financial Management Within every business sector, whether for profit or nonprofit, there tends to emerge a power house that dominates all others. In the fast food industry it’s McDonalds, in retail sales it’s Walmart, and within nonprofit charities for injured service members it’s the Wounded Warrior Project, Inc. (WWP). Being in existence for only thirteen years, WWP has grown to such a large organization that it has become a common name among military organizations.Read MoreThe Role Of Relational Leadership And Leadership Studies1171 Words   |  5 Pagesmodel in her involvement. One of the criteria of this project was to pick a person who is making social change. With her involvement, I believe she is a good example. In Phase 2 of EIL small groups have to create a service project that would make an impact in the surrounding community or would create larger social change. Mazer with her small group, created a 5k to raise awareness for the Wounded Warrior Project. 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Watching the dvd of the comedians is a delightful way to be entertained, but itRead MoreAftercare for U.S. Veterans1348 Words   |  6 PagesStress Disorder Prescriptions Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Readjustment Counseling (Vet Centers) Rural Health Smoking Cessation Substance Abuse Programs Telehealth Veterans Crisis Line Weight Management Women Veterans Health Care The VA projects in the year 2015 they will spend $59.1 billion on Veterans medical care however only $7.2 billion of that will be dedicated to mental health (VA 2015 Budget Request Fast Facts, n.d.). It provokes the thought, does it matter how much money getsRead MoreThe Injuries Of The Wounded Worrier Program1489 Words   |  6 Pagesalone. This often leads them to deal with more distressful situations, and in many cases leads to unfortunate outcomes. The wounded worrier program works with these individuals to help them back into society with an easy transition. Some of the problems that they have to deal are PTSD, stress, depression, physical limitations that can lead to even suicidal tendencies. The wounded worrier program has many programs that can help military personal to work with these difficulties. One of them is the physicalRead MoreWounded Veterans Essay1618 Words   |  7 PagesWounded Veterans English 101 Effective Essay Writing October 7, 2012 Shawna Rand Wounded Veterans As of December 2009, over 3.3 million American troops have been sent overseas into Iraq and Afghanistan alone; 793,000 of them have been deployed more than once. (Tan, 2009) Sadly, not all of our troops return home alive and many that do face many challenges ahead. Physical wounds surly do not go unnoticed. They are fairly common in war time situations and are even shown in war movies. They show