Justification of Assisted Suicide Essay Example for Free

Justification of Assisted Suicide Essay The choice a terminally ill patient makes should be available to them in the event they no longer want to suffer. According to Dame Jill Macleod Clark, who sits on the Council of Deans of Health, states â€Å"those who have cared for terminally ill patients, friends or family know their greatest fears and anxieties are about intractable sufferings, and their desire for a dignified and peaceful death† (2011). When patients who are terminally ill want to hear options the argument has been made that all options are not available because assisted suicide comes with scrutiny and consequences. On the other hand opponents of assisted suicide do not believe this is the only way to secure a good health alternative. Opponents believe that it is important to make a patient feel comfortable and help them improve their quality of life not end life just because it is an option or that they may feel they are a burden to loved ones. Assisted suicide can be performed by a physician or a person who is willing to help a patient end their life. This paper will focus on physician assisted suicide (PAS), this has been a controversial issue in many countries and have many different opinions on the ethics behind assisted suicide. To further examine the data the utilitarian ethics approach will be used. It is important to remember that utilitarian ethics considers the consequences of actions. Indentify the Problem: Assisted suicide is it ethical or unethical? Is it right for a physician to assist a patient to kill themselves? This is the main focus of assisted suicide and the justification of the situation has been at debate for a long time. The problem is if a physician assists a patient with suicide how are they holding up the oath they took as a doctor. Doctors are healers they are to help a person feel better, make them well, and give them treatment when necessary. Physician-assisted suicide is fundamentally incompatible with the physician’s role as healer, would be difficult or impossible to control, and would pose serious societal risks. Instead of participating in assisted suicide, physicians must aggressively respond to the needs of patients at the end of life (Code of Medical Ethics, AMA (1994). † The opponents would say it is a physician’s duty to uphold what a patient may want, if the patient is terminally ill and in constant pain, why should they have to suffer? It is important for physicians to care for their patients and give them what they need to sustain a livable life. To what extent should a physician go to ensure the patient is happy and satisfied with their treatment? At some point a person will know someone who was in constant pain and wanted to end their life only to have to continue with treatment because the attending physician was obligated to do his job, what he went to school for, to ensure the welfare of their patient. The debate is still ongoing as to how assisted suicide would benefit a patient, the pro’s and con’s as well as the consequences of the actions. Clarify Concepts: What is Assisted Suicide? Assisted suicide can be done by a physician or a person willing to help assist a patient in taking their life. What is Assisted Suicide? Assisted suicide is also known as euthanasia and is defined by dictionary. com as also called , the act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme medical measures, a person or animal suffering from an incurable, especially a painful, disease or condition (2012). There are several different kinds of euthanasia, the first can be drugs prescribed by a doctor which is administered by the patient to end life. The second type of euthanasia is by machine, if the patient is on a machine to keep them alive they would request the machine be unhooked to end life. The third and highly debated form of assisted suicide is by physician. A patient may request the help to end their life and this is how the assistance comes into play. A doctor or a person they trust will assist them in passing into the next life. Currently assisted suicide is illegal except in the state of Oregon, the Netherlands and Belgium (Clark, 2011). Indentify Possible Solutions: Proponents and opponents speak out! According to proponents of assisted suicide terminally ill people who will die are in unbearable pain should not be held to continue to endure the pain against their wishes (Fenigsen, 2011). If laws were put in place to help those who are in this position have a choice, it could keep the cost of assisted living facilities and critically ill facilities down. When faced with a patient who requires knowing their options, the option of assisted suicide should be presented to the patient. How this can be achieved is with a guideline for doctors and nurses to follow when speaking to a patient on their options when having to live in constant pain. Proponents believe assisted suicide is ethically justified because it is not fair to a patient to continue to endure endless suffering when there are alternatives if they were available. Opponents compare assisted suicide to abortion. There is no justification for ending a life. Pain could possibly bring on a sense of wanting to do more by a patient if shown they could go on and live their lives. Assisted suicide is not the answer to all problems and it is not an answer to a person living in pain. Give the individual a will to live and they will find a way to go on. Examination and Assumptions Proponents assume that assisted suicide should be legal because it gives a patient the opportunity to determine how they want to end their life. They are given the chance to determine if they want to continue life as they are currently living. The patient would know that at any point in time during their illness they can ask a physician to help them with ending their life. By justifying assisted suicide patients and physicians do not have to fear being found out. They would be able to perform the suicide without feeling they did an injustice. No injustice to the patient and no injustice by the patient would equal a favorable outcome to assisted suicide. Opponents assume that assisted suicide should not be legal because a physician should do what it takes to ensure a patient is being cared for. There should not be an easy way out of a situation when faced with pain or the idea of knowing one is terminally ill. There are hospices in place to take care of these patients, there are ways to maintain pain and keep it at a minimum. Life can go on even for those living with pain with the help of family, friends, and a physician. A patient can continue life and possibly have a normal life without ending it suddenly with assisted suicide. Opponents of assisted suicide assume doctors and nurses who support assisted suicide are failing their patients. Opponents assume that if doctors or nurses even give a hint to a patient that assisted suicide may be an option it could give a patient who was looking for support a sense of hopelessness. This is something that the medical community wants so desperately to avoid. Stephen Wright, who is the chair of the Sacred Space Foundation, put it best when he stated â€Å"the debate about assisted suicide is a slippery slope† (2011). Those who are in favor of a change in the law state there is no evidence that legalizing assisted dying leads to vulnerable people being killed against their wishes (Wright, 2011). But an example of how this did not exactly pan out was in the Netherlands in the 1980’s where it was determined it was legal to let one end one’s own life. With this decision thousands of Dutch patients wanted to have someone help them with assisted suicide requests. Information on assisted suicide and ethics Dr. Gary Black and Dr. Ronald M. Levine, were physicians licensed to practice medicine in Connecticut. The two doctors put forth to the Connecticut courts a request to be protected from prosecution because they wanted to counsel patients on assisted suicide. Both doctors felt that they should be able to at least counsel patients about the option of assisted suicide because the patients they dealt with had life threatening illnesses such as HIVor other terminal issues. The courts did not think the two had a basis to change the law or even the wording of the law. The Connecticut courts gave this as the reason as to why they would not change the law for the two doctors: â€Å"The court noted that Connecticut citizens have raised a myriad of concerns at public hearings on unsuccessful bills that would have amended [section] 53a-56 to permit physicians to assist their patients in ending their lives. As one individual testified at a public hearing on Conn. House Bill 6928, An Act Concerning Death With Dignity (1994): Is assisted suicide the kind of choice, assuming it can be made in a fixed and rational manner, that we wish to offer a gravely ill person? Will we not sweep up in the process some who are not really tired of life, but think others are tired of them? Some who do not really want to die, but who feel that they should not live on because to do so when there exists the legal alternative is a selfish and a cowardly act[? ] Will not some feel an obligation to have themselves eliminated in order that the funds allocated for their illness might be better used by their families? Or financial worries aside, in order to relive the families of the emotional strain involved[? ] (Bostrom, B. , 2011). â€Å"The Decision to Leave a Person Alive. The case of Mr. and Mrs. S became well known in Holland because of press reports and TV broadcasts. As a result of an error in anesthesia, Mrs. S had been in a coma for years. Her husband did not abandon her, visited her every three months, and had been very involved on her behalf. He had devoted all those years to intense reflection, and many times had requested the doctors to put an end on her life. No one wanted to make this kind of decision. Butso reasoned Mr. Sto keep a comatose patient alive is also a decision, and one that needs to be justified† (Fenigsen, R. 2011). Moral Reasoning We will apply utilitarianism to this dilemma by asking, what solution leads to the greater good? â€Å"Utilitarian ethical theory judges the rightness and wrongness of an act in the terms of its consequences in particular, whether it produces the greatest balance of pleasure over suffering for everyone involved (Waller, B. , 2011). † A simple act such as physician assisted suicide may seem simple the patient is suffering, and the patient wants to end their suffering, therefore why not help them end their life. This simple act would come with consequences as with any act. The medical community would be frowned upon; physicians are no longer keeping to an oath they took to be a doctor. The utilitarian would say that we should consider what specific act would produce the best overall consequences (Waller, B. , 2011). The act of a physician assisting in suicide could not possibly have a positive outcome, after all a life has been taken. On one side we have these positive outcomes if we allow assisted suicide, the civil right of a person who is terminally ill and wants to end his and his familys suffering once and for all would be protected. A person will get the right to die without pain and with dignity. Finally allowing assisted suicide would protect patients who are terminally ill because only those who really need it will be helped whiles others will not. But there are also many negative outcomes if we allow assisted suicide. Assisted suicide is against majority of religions. The elderly could become a target for assisted suicide by physicians or even family members. Depressed people who are not fully aware may want assisted suicide and not realize the task they are asking to be performed. Assisted suicide may at ome point be taken for granted by healthcare. The cost of taking care of a terminally ill patient can decrease if assisted suicide was available. Also the fact that some patients may not be able to pay for the medical treatment and the patient may feel ending his or her life would stop the mounting costs. Given these two lists, it would be hard to say which one outweighs the other. For assisted suicide to be justified and legal both sides would have to be carefully considered. A utilitarian would not agree if the assisted suicide was based on the patient’s request. The utilitarian would remind us that other people are affected by a patient’s decision. Even if assisted suicide would be in the best interest of the patient, it may be considered wrong because of the effect it could have on loved one. If loved ones were to support the patient’s decision to terminate their life then the utilitarian would agree that the decision would be beneficial. If we are to use the utilitarian point of view as to whether assisted suicide should be legal, then if it is legal the moral way to ensure that the legal system works is to ensure the best consequences come from the action. Consequences Assisted suicide could work for the patient who is critically ill. It would give them a sense of ending the pain. The patient would no longer have to live in pain or be a burden on family who may be taking care of them. Morally physician assisted suicide could not be justified because. Assisted suicide could pose a problem for the patient because family members may not be aware of their loved ones wish. Doctors and nurses could be held liable by the family for assisting or even suggesting assisted suicide. Those patients wanting assisted suicide could increase if a law was passed allowing patients to ask for help with killing themselves. Currently it is not actable to help a patient in committing suicide but if the law was to take affect and it has in Oregon and other countries, it would pose the ultimate issue. Is it right to kill a person because they are in pain, terminally ill, or have Alzheimer’s? This would open doors for people to ask for assisted suicide when it is not necessary. Others who want to help people kill themselves would want the right to assist in suicides. If the laws are not governed properly and studied the death rate could be higher than normal. Finally the moral idea of taking a life for no other reason than they wanted it and it was warranted because they had the entire item listed on a checklist completed does not seem ethically correct. Not politically correct but ethically correct, there are no morals or scruples considered when taking a life this way, it is the law so be it.

Constantine the Great and His Influence on the Spread of Christianity :: essays research papers fc

Flavius Valerius Constantinus, also known as Constantine the Great, is believed to have been born sometime between the years 274 and 288. He was born in Naissus, which is now known as Nisch Serbia, to the Roman officer Constantius Chlorus. Constantius belonged to one of the Leading families of Moesia and his mother was a niece of the capable and soldierly Claudius, the conqueror of the Goths. Constantine’s mother Helena is said to have been the daughter of an innkeeper o Drepanum, and later became known as St. Helena the Christian Empress. There is, however, nothing to support the assertion sometimes made that she was already baptized before Constantine’s birth and her early influence ultimately brought him to Christianity. Such facts about her life as are known would suggest the contrary- Eusebius of Caecarea declares that Constantine in fact converted his mother. There are, however, other indications that Helena was not a Christian during her son’s early years. At what date Helena did embrace Christianity remains a mystery. Nor can anyone say wither certainty what gods she worshipped during her son’s childhood.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Of Constantine’s early years we know almost nothing, though we may suppose that they were spent in the eastern half of the Empire. In 293 Constantine was betrothed to Fausta the daughter of Madimian, and in this year his father Constantius was made Caesar. Constantine chose to join his father in the west at Boulogne on the expedition against the Picts and before his father’s death he was proclaimed to be his successor. After Constantius’ death Constantine’s troops immediately proclaimed him Caesar in acceptance to his father’s wishes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During the beginning of Constantine’s reign there were great political complications having to do with multiples of emperors ruling over different territories, which lead to the political movement of many wars between different leading parties. Constantine during this time was known to have the most efficient army, but was busy defending his own frontier and had not taken part in any of the quarrels amongst the different Caesars, until 311.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 311 Caesar Maxentius claimed Constantine to be a tyrant and threatened Constantine's land with his overwhelmingly large and powerful army. On Constantine's march into war against Maxentius to save his land and his self-respect he received a vision. This vision assured him that he would conquer in the sign of the Christ, and his warriors were to carry Christ's Monogram on their shields.

Market Segments

CUSTOMER-DRIVEN MARKETING STRATEGY: CREATING VALUE FOR TARGET CUSTOMERS PREVIEWING THE CONCEPTS – CHAPTER OBJECTIVES define the four major steps in designing a customer-driven marketing strategy: market segmentation, market targeting, differentiation, and positioning list and discuss the major bases for segmenting consumer and business markets explain how companies identify attractive market segments and choose a market targeting strategy discuss how companies differentiate and position their products for maximum competitive advantageJUST THE BASICS This chapter looks further into key customer-driven marketing strategy decisions—how to divide up markets into meaningful customer groups (segmentation), choose which customer groups to serve (targeting), create market offerings that best serve targeted customers (differentiation), and positioning the offerings in the minds of consumers (positioning). Then, the chapters that follow explore the tactical marketing tools the Four Ps—by which marketers bring these strategies to life. INTRODUCTIONBest Buy: Embracing the Angels and Ditching the Demons. Best Buy set out to identify its best customers and win their loyalty by serving them better. At the same time, it identifies less attractive customers and began to send them packing. To better differentiate itself in a crowded marketplace, Best Buy needed to stake out is own turn – to identify its best customers and serve them in ways that no discount on online competitor could. Rather than trying to make all customers happy all of the time, Best Buy segmented its market and sharpened it’s positioning.This resulted in what they term â€Å"customer centricity. How has this worked for Best Buy? Very well. They have designed a customer-driven marketing strategy that builds the right relationships with the right customers. Market segmentation involves dividing a market into smaller groups of buyers with distinct needs, characteristics , or behaviors that might require separate marketing strategies or mixes. Market targeting (or targeting) consists of evaluating each market segment’s attractiveness and selecting one or more market segments to enter.Differentiation involves actually differentiating the firm’s market offering to create superior customer value. Positioning consists of arranging for a market offering to occupy a clear, distinctive, and desirable place relative to competing products in the minds of target consumers. MARKET SEGMENTATION Through market segmentation, companies divide large, heterogeneous markets into smaller segments that can be reached more efficiently and effectively with products and services that match their unique needs. Segmenting Consumer Markets Geographic SegmentationGeographic segmentation calls for dividing the market into different geographical units such as nations, regions, states, counties, cities, or even neighborhoods. Demographic Segmentation Demographic se gmentation divides the market into groups based on variables such as age, gender, family size, family life cycle, income, occupation, education, religion, race, generation, and nationality. Demographic factors are the most popular bases for segmenting customer groups. Age and LifeCycle Stage is offering different products or using different marketing approaches for different age and lifecycle groups.Gender segmentation has long been used in clothing, cosmetics, toiletries, and magazines. Income segmentation has long been used by the marketers of products and services such as automobiles, clothing, cosmetics, financial services, and travel. Psychographic Segmentation Psychographic segmentation divides buyers into different groups based on social class, lifestyle, or personality characteristics. Marketers use personality variables to segment markets. Behavioral Segmentation Behavioral segmentation divides buyers into groups based on their knowledge, attitudes, uses, or responses to a product.Occasion segmentation is grouping buyers according to occasions when they get the idea to buy, actually make their purchase, or use the purchased item. Benefit segmentation is grouping buyers according to the different benefits that they seek from the product. User Status is segmenting markets into nonusers, ex-users, potential users, first-time users, and regular users of a product. Usage Rate is grouping markets into light, medium, and heavy product users. Loyalty Status is dividing buyers into groups according to their degree of loyalty. Using Multiple Segmentation BasesMarketers rarely limit their segmentation analysis to only one or a few variables. PRIZM NE (one of the leading segmentation systems) classifies every American household based on a host of demographic factors. Segmenting Business Markets Consumer and business marketers use many of the same variables to segment their markets. Business marketers also use some additional variables, such as customer operating characteristics, purchasing approaches, situational factors, and personal characteristics. Many marketers believe that buying behavior and benefits provide the best basis for segmenting business markets.Segmenting International Markets Companies can segment international markets using one or a combination of several variables. * Geographic factors: Nations close to one another will have many common traits and behaviors. * Economic factors: Countries may be grouped by population income levels or by their overall level of economic development. * Political and legal factors: Type and stability of government, receptivity to foreign firms, monetary regulations, and the amount of bureaucracy. * Cultural factors: Grouping markets according to common languages, religions, values and attitudes, customs, and behavioral patterns.Intermarket segmentation is segmenting of consumers who have similar needs and buying behavior even though they are located in different countries. Requirements for Ef fective Segmentation To be useful, market segments must be: Measurable: The size, purchasing power, and profiles of the segments can be measured. Accessible: The market segments can be effectively reached and served. Substantial: The market segments are large or profitable enough to serve. Differentiable: The segments are conceptually distinguishable and respond differently to different marketing mix elements and programs.Actionable: Effective programs can be designed for attracting and serving the segments. MARKET TARGETING Evaluating Market Segments In evaluating different market segments, a firm must look at three factors: 1. Segment size and growth, 2. Segment structural attractiveness, and 3. Company objectives and resources. The largest, fastest-growing segments are not always the most attractive ones for every company. The company also needs to examine major structural factors that affect long-run segment attractiveness. * A segment is less attractive if it already contains m any strong and aggressive competitors. The existence of many actual or potential substitute products may limit prices and the profits. * The relative power of buyers also affects segment attractiveness. * A segment may be less attractive if it contains powerful suppliers who can control prices. Selecting Target Market Segments A target market consists of a set of buyers who share common needs or characteristics that the company decides to serve. Undifferentiated Marketing Using an undifferentiated marketing (or mass-marketing) strategy, a firm might decide to ignore market segment differences and target the whole market with one offer.This mass-marketing strategy focuses on what is common in the needs of consumers rather than on what is different. Differentiated Marketing Using a differentiated marketing (or segmented marketing) strategy, a firm decides to target several market segments and designs separate offers for each. Concentrated Marketing Using a concentrated marketing (or n iche marketing) strategy, instead of going after a small share of a large market, the firm goes after a large share of one or a few smaller segments or niches. It can market more effectively by fine-tuning its products, prices, and programs to the needs of carefully defined segments.It can market more efficiently, targeting its products or services, channels, and communications programs toward only consumers that it can serve best and most profitably. Micromarketing Micromarketing is the practice of tailoring products and marketing programs to suit the tastes of specific individuals and locations. Micromarketing includes local marketing and individual marketing. Local marketing involves tailoring brands and promotions to the needs and wants of local customer groups—cities, neighborhoods, and even specific stores. Local marketing has drawbacks. It can drive up manufacturing and marketing costs by reducing economies of scale. * It can create logistics problems. * The brand†™s overall image might be diluted if the product and message vary too much in different localities. Individual marketing is the tailoring of products and marketing programs to the needs and preferences of individual customers. Individual marketing has also been labeled one-to-one marketing, mass customization, and markets-of-one marketing. Choosing a Targeting Strategy Which strategy is best depends on: * Company resources. * Product variability. Product’s life-cycle stage. * Market variability. * Competitors’ marketing strategies. Socially Responsible Target Marketing Target marketing sometimes generates controversy and concern. Issues usually involve the targeting of vulnerable or disadvantaged consumers with controversial or potentially harmful products. Problems arise when marketing adult products to kids, whether intentionally or unintentionally. The growth of the Internet and other carefully targeted direct media has raised concerns about potential targeting ab uses. The issue is not so much who is targeted, but how and for what.Controversies arise when marketers attempt to profit when they unfairly target vulnerable segments or target them with questionable products or tactics. Socially responsible marketing calls for segmentation and targeting that serve not just the interests of the company, but also the interests of those targeted. DIFFERENTIATION AND POSITIONING Value proposition: How a company will create differentiated value for targeted segments and what positions it wants to occupy in those segments. A product’s position is the way the product is defined by consumers on important attributes. Positioning MapsPerceptual positioning map show consumer perceptions of their brands versus competing products on important buying dimensions. Choosing a Differentiation and Positioning Strategy The differentiation and positioning task consists of three steps: 1. Identifying a set of differentiating competitive advantages upon which to build a position, 2. Choosing the right competitive advantages, and 3. Selecting an overall positioning strategy. 1. Identifying Possible Value Differences and Competitive Advantages To the extent that a company can differentiate and position itself as providing superior customer value, it gains competitive advantage.It can differentiate along the lines of product, services, channels, people, or image. 2. Choosing the Right Competitive Advantages How Many Differences to Promote Ad man Rosser Reeves believes a company should develop a unique selling proposition (USP) for each brand and stick to it. Other marketers think that companies should position themselves on more than one differentiator. Which Differences to Promote A difference is worth establishing to the extent that it satisfies the following criteria: Important: The difference delivers a highly valued benefit to target buyers.Distinctive: Competitors do not offer the difference, or the company can offer it in a more distinc tive way. * Superior: The difference is superior to other ways that customers might obtain the same benefit. Communicable: The difference is communicable and visible to buyers. Preemptive: Competitors cannot easily copy the difference. Affordable: Buyers can afford to pay for the difference. Profitable: The company can introduce the difference profitably. 3. Selecting an Overall Positioning Strategy The full positioning of a brand is called the brand’s value proposition.More for More positioning involves providing the most upscale product or service and charging a higher price to cover the higher costs. More for the Same positioning involves introducing a brand offering comparable quality but at a lower price. The Same for Less positioning can be a powerful value proposition—everyone likes a good deal. Less for Much Less positioning is offering products that offer less and therefore cost less. â€Å"Less-for-much-less† positioning involves meeting consumers†™ lower performance or quality requirements at a much lower price. More for Less positioning is the winning value proposition.In the long run, companies will find it very difficult to sustain such best-of-both positioning. Developing a Positioning Statement Company and brand positioning should be summed up in a positioning statement. The statement should follow the form: To (target segment and need) our (brand) is (concept) that (point of difference). Communicating and Delivering the Chosen Position Once it has chosen a position, the company must take strong steps to deliver and communicate the desired position to target consumers. All the company’s marketing mix efforts must support the positioning strategy.Discussing the Issues 1. List and briefly describe the four major steps in designing a customer-driven marketing strategy. 2. Discuss the behavioral variables used to segment buyers and provide an example of each. 3. Explain how companies segment international markets. 4. Name and describe the characteristics of useful market segments. 5. In the context of marketing, what is a product’s â€Å"position†? How do marketers know what it is? Under the Hood: Marketing Technology When you think of hybrid or electric automobiles, you probably think don’t think â€Å"sports car. But the Fisker Karma is about to shatter that stereotype. It’s been called the hybrid with â€Å"sex appeal† and is often compared to a Mercedes-Benz roadster. During the haughty Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races, it was seen cruising around Monterey, California with the likes of Ferraris and Lamborghinis. In the increasingly crowded field of new-generation electric vehicles, Fisker Automotive wants to carve out a niche as a high-performance eco-car with lots of style. The creator, Henrik Fisker, was formerly head of design at Aston Martin.The Fisker Karma goes from 0 to 60 in six seconds, can go 125 miles per hour, and can travel 50 miles on electric power and 300 miles on combined electric and gasoline power. All this performance and style does not come cheaply, however. Prices range from $87,900 to $106,000. The company already has orders from 1,400 buyers. If this is above your means, don’t worry—the company is promising a lower-priced, mass-market version for the rest of us in a few years. 1. On what basis is Fisker Automotive segmenting the automobile market? Is the company using a single segmentation approach or a combined approach?Explain. 2. What market targeting strategy is Fisker pursuing with this automobile? How is the company differentiating its automobile and which value proposition is it using? Staying on the Road: Marketing Ethics In 2009 Anheuser-Busch launched the Bud Light â€Å"Fan Can,† a promotion that included 27 different color combinations of its cans in college team colors. For example, students at Louisiana State University could purchase purple-and-gold cans of Bud Li ght. Anheuser-Busch timed the campaign, called â€Å"Team Pride,† to coincide with students returning to campus and with the kickoff of the football season.Several schools, such as Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa State, University of Colorado, and others, objected strenuously. As a result, Anheuser-Busch halted the program in those markets. The promotion also caught the attention of the Federal Trade Commission. Both the FTC and college officials are concerned about the high rate of underage and binge drinking on college campuses. Some school officials also were concerned about trademark infringements, and about the appearance that they support Budweiser’s activities.As criticism brewed around the country, A-B released a statement claiming that it did not mean to encourage underage drinking—it just wanted to create more fun for sports fans. Although the company halted the promotion in areas where college officials objected, controversy surrounding the promotion appear ed in newspapers and on television nationwide. 1. What type of market targeting strategy is Anheuser-Busch using with the Team Pride promotion? 2. Was this a wise promotion? Explain. Rough Road Ahead: Marketing and the Economy Vanilla Bikes Portland-based Vanilla Bicycles sells hand-built bikes with price tags ranging from $4,000 to $12,000.Now, after only nine years in business, owner Sacha White has stopped taking orders – not because business had dried up but because he has a five-year waiting list. White and his crew of three make only 40 to 50 bikes a year. Frames are made from exotic metals, are welded with silver alloy, and weigh as little as 30 ounces. No two Vanilla bikes are the same. Each is custom fitted to the client and features intricate metal carvings and an artisan paint job. Amazingly, almost all of these high-end velocipedes are sold to middle-class customers. Still, orders have not ebbed with the economic downturn.In fact, Vanilla could ramp up production significantly and still sell everything it makes. However, White claims that would compromise the special nature of what customers consider to be works of art. Vanilla bikes are so special that when Portland bike couriers describe something as cool, they routinely say, â€Å"That’s soooo Vanilla. † 1. Based on the segmentation variables discussed in the chapter, construct a profile for Vanilla Bicycle’s probable target market. 2. Given that most luxury products suffer in an economic downturn, why has Vanilla still succeeded?

Ray Bradburys Farenheit 451 Essay - 2895 Words

Fahrenheit 451 : Novel Project Novel Notes Plot Summary Set in an unspecified city during the twenty-fourth century, Fahrenheit 451 follows Guy Montag a fireman whose sole job is to burn illegally owned books and the houses that they reside in. Originally guy enjoys his job, noting that it even brings him extreme pleasure, however as the story progress Guy Montag begins to question why he does what he does, and begins to become rebellious. As he meets individuals along the way Montag learns that there’s more to life and society than the suppressive government has taught them. At the begging of the story Guy begins to talk to his neighbor Clarisse McClellan, a seventeen year old girl who has a completely opposite outlook on life than that†¦show more content†¦Beatty insists that books are not needed in their current society where homogeneity and structure is mandated by the government. During Beatty’s visit, Millie tries to organize the bedroom and ends up finding the book under his pillow, which we later find out is only one of about 20 that he has stolen over the years. Montag has become disgusted with his wife and her friends because all they do is sit and watch television, occasionally engaging in gossip that shows just how selfish they are, and how they lack concern for their husbands, children, or even the impending atomic war. Fed up with this nonsense Guy Montag takes out a book and reads a poem to the women. Mildred’s friends tear up and begin acting very emotional, not understanding why. Guy quickly hides the books in the backyard and is called out to another fire alarm. He was not prepared for it to be his own house. Guy’s own wife, Mildred was the one to report him. Montag burns his own house down along with all of his possessions alone, at the orders of Chief Beatty. Afterwards the two get into an argument, and after Beatty continues to harass Montag, Guy flips the switch and burns the chief to the ground. Instantly, an attack hound named â€Å"The Mechanical Hound† is alerted to track down Montag. After the hound stabs Guy once with a procaine needle, it is incinerated. Montag quickly gathers his booksShow MoreRelatedRay Bradburys Farenheit 4511257 Words   |  5 Pageschaotic to be controlled. In the world of Fahrenheit 451, it seems, superficially, that man has conquered fire at last; the home, man’s refuge from everything undesirable in the world, is fireproof. Why, then, are things still burning in this gilded utopia? In this futuristic society where there is no such thing as an uncontrolled fire, fire has been reduced to a mere tool to be wielded by mankind. As such, fire, in Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, is a reflection of the true nature of each characterRead MoreAnalysis Of George Orwell s 1984 And Ray Bradburry s Farenheit 4511243 Words   |  5 PagesIn George Orwell’s 1984 and Ray Bradburry’s Farenheit 451, both Winston Smith and Guy Montag struggle to attain happiness under a manipulative society. Two main factors that hinder the character’s actions are manipulation and dysfunctional relationships. I n both texts the protagonists are overwhelmed and ultimately is controlled by the government. However Guy Montag overcomes the conflict by fleeing away from the cruel society while Winston smith in 1984 is forcibly manipulated in control by theRead MoreReview of Ray Bradburys Fahrenheit 451 Essay1496 Words   |  6 PagesReview of Ray Bradburys Fahrenheit 451 In Ray Bradburys novel Fahrenheit 451, the author utilizes the luxuries of life in America today, in addition to various occupations Read MoreThe Similarities Between Societies1321 Words   |  6 PagesSocieties Ray Bradbury is one of those rare individuals whose writing has changed the way people think, by a mere spark he has entranced the reader, just after a few short pages and you are hooked. He has more than five hundred published works that exemplify the American imagination at its most creative – from technological advances to futuristic societies. Also his timeless, constant appeal to audiences young and old has proven him to be one of the truly classic authors of today. Ray Bradbury incorporatesRead MoreThe New World And Fahrenheit 451 Essay864 Words   |  4 PagesTreasury, once said â€Å"if you do not stand for something, you will fall for anything.† The formation of an individual’s beliefs, sense of belonging, and sense of community all stem from the realization of self identification. Brave New World and Fahrenheit 451 both depict a futuristic society where self identification is either being stripped from citizens or has been completely eradicated altoge ther. The rise of technology in both societies has usurped the importance of knowledge and personal experiencesRead MoreThe Debate About Censorship1495 Words   |  6 Pagescensorship, with some censors targeting material deemed to be indecent or obscene. Because of this, ideas have been suppressed under the disguise of protecting three basic social institutions: the family, the church, and the state. In Ray Bradbury’s book, Farenheit 451, there is a strong theme of how censorship molded society. It is a futuristic society where firemen burn books instead of put out fires. The censorship in the book was drastic, to the point of making owning a book illegal. CensorshipRead MoreCritical Response Fahrenheit 4511592 Words   |  7 PagesThe novel â€Å"Farenheit 451† written Ray Bradbury between 1950 and 1953 is thought provoking novel which raises important concerns about what the future may hold. Predominantly told through the eyes of the protagonist Guy Montag Bradbur y warns humanity of a future containing mind manipulation, abuse of technology and heavy government censorship. The purpose of this book is clearly to warn society of the path we are headed to if we continue to value new technology over knowledge by showing us â€Å"that although