Working in Partnership in health and social care free essay sample

Assessment requirements To achieve each outcome a learner must demonstrate the ability to: LO1 Understand partnership philosophies and relationships in health and social care services 1. 1 Explain the philosophy of working in partnership in health and social care 1. 2 Evaluate partnership relationships within health and social care services LO2 Understand how to promote positive partnership working with users of services, professionals and organisations in health and social care services 2. 1 Analyse models of partnership working across the health and social care sector. Review current legislation and organisational practices and policies for partnership working in health and social care 2. 3 Explain how differences in working practices and policies affect collaborative working LO3 Be able to evaluate the outcomes of partnership working for users of services, professionals and organisations in health and Social care services. 3. 1 Evaluate possible outcomes of partnership working for users of services, professionals and organisations 3. 2 Analyse the potential barriers to partnership working in health and social care services 3. We will write a custom essay sample on Working in Partnership in health and social care or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page 3 Devise strategies to improve outcomes for partnership working in health and social care services. The Stafford Hospital enquiry was triggered off by Julie Bailey, through her ‘Cure the NHS’ campaign. Bailey demanded for ‘changes’ in the NHS after the death of her mother in the Safford Hospital in 2007. The Healthcare Commission carried out an investigation into the Hospital which brought the National attention to the scandal. The commission was first alerted by the apparently high mortality rates in patients admitted as emergencies. When the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust which isresponsible for running the hospital, failed to provide what the commission considered an adequate explanation, a full-scale investigation was carried out between March and October 2008. The revelations of the abuse at Stafford hospital were widely considered to be deeply shocking for example, patients were left in their own urine by nurses, and forced to resort to drinking from flower vases. Further enquiry was carried out in July 2009 and the report was released on 24t h February 2010. This lead to the Trust apologising for its fallings and payouts of up to ? 11. 000 were received by some of the affected families. In June 2010 a new public inquiry was set up by the new government chaired by Robert Francis QC which began on 8th November 2010. A million pages of previous evidence and hearings from witnesses were considered. The final report was published on 6th February 2013 and made 290 local and national recommendations which includes that the regulators should monitor and de- authorize the Foundation Trust. The care sector was not left out of this as there have been Serious Case Reviews both in the Children and Adult Services such as Adult A, Victoria Climbee, Baby P and Daniel Pelka among others. These reviews investigated cases of abuse, neglect and subsequent death of these vulnerable adults and children and triggered changes in the law and working practices. As a result, new policies, frameworks and strategies have been developed and implemented to drive the prevention of such cases, for example the Children Act 2004 and The Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty to Safeguards 2007. The Mental Capacity Act stipulates that those with dementia, mental illness or physical disability cannot be labeled as lacking mental capacity or as being unable to contribute to their own decisions without a prior assessment. Information and guidance on use of the Equality Act 2010 with particular emphasis on protection from harassment related to disability was put in place. The Mental Capacity Act works in conjunction with the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards to ensure that vulnerable adults are not a danger to themselves or others. Different policies and government white papers had highlighted the need for collaborative working among Health and Social care providers. Such policies like SOVA (Safeguarding of Vulnerable Adults), No Secrets Guidance, Every Child Matters, Laming reports and Putting People First and so on, mandates Healthcare Providers to safeguard vulnerable individuals in their care from harm and abuse. In the Government Response to the Stafford Hospital Scandal ‘‘Patients First and Foremost’, the NHS affirmed their commitment to a better care: â€Å"Whether in a care home, at the family doctor, in a community pharmacy, in mental health services, or with personal care in vulnerable people’s homes, we will ensure that the fundamental standards of care, that people have a right to expect are met consistently, whatever the settings†. Assignment: In view of the above issues in the Health and Social Care Sector, you are required to write a REPORT based on the instructions below to convey your knowledge, understanding of collaborative working and good practice as well as make relevant recommendations for improvement. Your report should be in three sections meeting all the assessment requirements. You are required to relate your answers to any or both of these case studies: THE MID STAFFORDSHIRE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST AND ADULT A SERIOUS CASE REVIEW. You should ensure you have studied the case reviews and use them both in and out of classroom. You must relate them to the section/assessment criteria and analyse them using different sources of information. The report must be submitted as one document. Please note: The ADULT A SERIOUS CASE REVIEW and the Francis Inquiry report on THE MID STAFFORDSHIRE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST are uploaded in the ‘assignment pack folder’ on stponline. You must research news reports and other websites including the ones further below to familiarize yourself with the given case studies before starting your report. Section A (Indicative word count: 1000) In relation to any or both given case studies explain the philosophy of working in partnership (covering LO1. 1, M1, M2 M3). In relation to any or both given case studies, evaluate the effectiveness of partnership relationships within Health and Social care (covering LO1. 2, M2, M3, D3). Section B (Indicative word count: 1000) In relation to any or both given case studies carry out the following: Analyse models of partnership working across the health and social care sector (D1). Then review current legislation and organisational practices and policies for partnership working in health and social care (D2). Finally, explain how differences in working practices and policies affect collaborative working (covering LO 2. 1, 2. 2,2. 3, M2, M3,D1,D2 Section C (Indicative word count: 1000) In relation to the any or both given case studies carry out the following: Evaluate possible outcomes of partnership working for users of services, professionals and organisations and then analyse the potential barriers to partnership working in health and social care services. Finally, devise strategies to improve outcomes for partnership working in health and social care services (covering LO3. 1, 3. 2 3. 3, M1, M2, D1, D2, D3) Total word count 3000 words (+/- 10%)

Hiv Aids Essay In English Example For Students

Hiv Aids Essay In English AIDS Whats new ?-Is the message getting through? We already know enough about AIDStoprevent its spread, but ignorance, complacency, fear and bigotry continue to stop many from taking adequate precautions to stop the risk of getting the aids virus. We know enough about how the infection is transmitted to protectourselves from it without resorting to such extremes as mandatory testing, enforced quarantine or total celibacy. But too few people are getting the AIDS message they just cant get the message thought their minds. Perhaps many simply dont like or want to believe what they hear,preferring to think that AIDS cant happen to them. Experts repeatedly remind us that infective agents do not discriminate, but can infect any and everyone. Like other communicable diseases, AIDS can strike anyone. It is not necessarily confined to a few high-risk groups. We must all protect ourselves from this infection and teach our children about it in time to take effective precautions. Given the right measures, no one need get AIDS. The pandemic continues:Many of us have forgotten about the virulence of widespread epidemics,such as the 1917/18 influenza pandemic which killed over 21 million people,including 50,000 Canadians. Having been lulled into false security by modernantibiotics and vaccines about our ability to conquer infections, the Westernworld was ill prepared to cope with the advent of AIDS in 1981. (Retro-spective studies now put the first reported U.S. case of AIDS as far back as1968.) The arrival of a new and lethal virus caught us off guard. Researchsuggests that the agents that are responsible for AIDS probably dates from the 1950s,with a chance infection of humans by a modified Simian virus found in African green monkeys. Whatever its origins, scientists surmise that the disease spread from Africa to the Caribbean and Europe, then to the U.S. Current estimates are that 1.5 to 2 million Americans are now probably HIV carriers,with higher numbers in Central Africa and parts of the Caribbean. Recapping AIDS the facts:AIDS is an insidious, often fatal but less contagious disease than measles,chicken pox or hepatitis B. AIDS is thought to be caused primarily by a virusthat invades white blood cells (lymphocytes) especially T4-lymphocytes orT-helper cells and certain other body cells, including the brain. In 1983and 1984, French and U.S. researchers independently identified the virusbelieved to cause AIDS as an unusual type of slow-acting retrovirus nowcalled human immunodeficiency virus or HIV. Like other viruses, HIV isbasically a tiny package of genes that imfect the blood cells. But being a retrovirus, it has the rarecapacity to copy and insert its genes right into a human cells own chromosomes (DNA). Once inside a human host cell the retrovirus uses its own enzyme, reverse transcriptase, to copy its genetic code into a DNA molecule which is then incorporated into the hosts DNA. The virus becomes an integral part of the persons body, and is subject to control mechanis ms by which it can be switched on or off. But the viral DNA may sit hidden and inactive within human cells for years, until some trigger stimulates it to replicate. There for the HIV virus may not produce illness until its genes are turned on five, ten,fifteen or perhaps more years after the initial infection. During the latent period, HIV carriers who harbour the virus without anysign of illness can unknowingly infect others. On average, the dormant virusseems to be triggered into action three to six years after first invadinghuman cells. When switched on, viral replication may speed along, producingnew viruses that destroy fresh lymphocytes. As viral replication spreads, thelymphocyte destruction virtually sabotages the entire immune system. Inessence, HIV viruses do not kill people, they merely render the immune systemdefenceless against other opportunistic: infections, e.g. yeast invasions,toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus and Epstein Barr infections, massive herpesinfections, special forms of pneumonia (Pneumocystis carinii the killer inhalf of all AIDS patients), and otherwise rare malignant tumours (such asKaposis sarcoma.)Cofactors may play a crucial contributory role:What prompts the dormant viral genes suddenly to burst into action andstart destroying the immune system is one os th e central unsolved challengesabout AIDS. Some scientists speculate that HIV replication may be set off bycofactors or transactivators that stimulate or disturb the immune system. Such triggers may be genetically determined proteins in someones system, orforeign substances from other infecting organisms such as syphilis,chlamydia, gonorrhea, HTLV-1 (leukemia), herpes, or CMV (cytomegalovirus) which somehow awaken the HIV virus. The assumption is that once HIVreplication gets going, the lymphocyte destruction cripples the entire immunesystem. Recent British research suggest that some people may have a serumprotein that helps them resist HIV while others may have one that makes themgenetically more prone to it by facilitating viral penetration of T-helpercells. Perhaps, says one expert, everybody exposed to HIV can becomeinfected, but whether or not the infection progresses to illness depends onmultiple immunogenic factors. Some may be lucky enough to have genes thatprotect them form AIDS!Variable period until those infected develop antibodies:While HIV hides within human cells, the body may produce antibodies, but,for reasons not fully understood, they dont ne utralise all the viruses. Thepresence of HIV antibodies thus does not confer immunity to AIDS, nor preventHIV transmission. Carriers may be able to infect others. The usual time takento test positive for HIV antibodies after exposure averages from four to sixweeks but can take over a year. Most experts agree that within six months allbut 10 per cent of HIV-infected people seroconvert and have detectableantibodies. While HIV antibody tests can indicate infection, they are not foolproof. The ELISA is a good screening test that gives a few false positives andmore false negatives indicating that someone who is infected has not yetdeveloped identifiable antibodies.) The more specific Western Blot test, doneto confirm a positive ELISA, is very accurate. However, absence of antibodiesdoesnt guarantee freedom form HIV, as someone may be in the window periodwhen, although already infected, they do not yet have measurable levels ofHIV antibodies. A seropositive result does not mean someone has AIDS; itmeans (s)he is carrying antibodies, may be infectious and may develop AIDS atsome future time. As to how long seropositive persons remain infectious, theJune 1987 Third International Conference on AIDS was told to assume FORLIFE. What awaits HIV-carriers who test positive?:On this issue of when those who test HIV positive will get AIDS, expertsthink that the fast track to AIDS is about two years after HIV infection; the slow route may be 10, 15, or more years until symptoms appear. Mostspecialists agree that it takes at least two years to show AIDS symptomsafter HIV infection, and that within ten years as many as 75 per cent ofthose infected may develop AIDS. A report from Atlantas CDC based on ananalysis of blood collected in San Francisco from 1978 to 1986, showed asteady increase with time in the rate of AIDS development among HIV-infectedpersons 4 percent within three years; 14 percent after five years; 36percent after seven years. The realistic, albeit doomsday view is that 100percent of those who test HIV-positive may eventually develop AIDS. Elvis Aaron Presley EssayAIDS CANNOT BE PICKED UP CASUALLY via doorknobs, public washrooms, sharedschool books, communion coups, cutlery or even by food handlers with opencuts. A relatively weak virus, HIV is easily killed by a dilute 1 in 10solution of Javex/bleach, rubbing alcohol and other disinfectants. Even whereparents or caregivers have cleaned up HIV-infected blood, vomit or feces, HIVhas not been transmitted. It is perfectly safe to share a kitchen, bathroom,schoolroom or workbench with HIV-infected individuals. But it is inadvisableto share toothbrushes, razors, acupuncture needles, enema equip-ment or sharp gadgets, which could carry infected blood through the skin. ORDINARY, NONSEXUAL WORKPLACE AND CHILDHOOD ACTIVITIES DONT TRANSMIT AIDS. The rare exception might be direct blood-to-blood contact via cuts or woundsif infected blood (in considerable amounts) spills onto an open sore. Even insuch cases a swab with dilute bleach can kill HIV viruses. Not spread by mosquitoes and other insects:-Theres no evidence of HIV transmission by insects. Researchers report thatthe AIDS virus cannot multiply or survive inside a mosquito. The infectionpattern in Africa where children who are not sexually active might beexpected to have AIDS if mosquito bites were a real threat shows no sign ofinsect transmission. Vaccines still a way off:-Scientists caution that a safe, effective vaccine against HIV may be atleast a decade away, mainly because, like the influenza virus, HIV mutates(changes structure) quickly, producing different strains. (Several differentHIV strains have already been isolated.) An ideal vaccine must be able tostimulate neutralization of both free viruses and those hidden withinlymphocytes, such as T-helper cells. Researchers in various countries havedeveloped and are testing a few preliminary vaccines. One sub-unit vaccine,made from virus coat material (a glycoprotein) genetically cloned in aninsect virus (the baculovirus, which attacks moths and butterflies but nohumans) has been shown to stimulate an immune response in experimentalanimals. Another preliminary vaccine, produced by cloning modified Vacciniaviruses, containing a portion of HIV envelope, is about to enter clinicaltrials in New York. (It would be applies, like the old smallpox vaccine, intoa small scratch.) But to date no vaccine tried in animals or humans has beenshown to prevent AIDS. Testing no solution:Large scale, screening of the public for HIV antibodies offers little pro-tection because todays apparent negatives can become infected tomorrow ortest seropositive when antibodies develop in those already harboring HIV. Reliance on tests could lull people into false complacency. A false nega-tive result may fool someone into risky sexual behaviour. Curiously, despitea widespread demand for tests, especially among high-risk groups, a study inPittsburgh showed that 46 percent of a group of homosexual/bisexual mentested did not return for or want their antibody test results. Many healthexperts therefore believe that mandatory testing would be useless as HIVantibody tests only indicate exposure, not necessarily infectivity. As oneUniversity of Toronto virologist puts it: Widescale compulsory screening forHIV antibodies is not necessarily useful and will do nothing to promoteprevention or cure. Whats needed perhaps is more accurate knowledge aboutthe disease and more responsible behaviour rather than testing.Those who should consider testing might include people known to be at highrisk and any who think they may have been HIV-infected or who wish to betested and have discussed it with their physician. Wh ats needed, as with anyinfectious disease, is not more testing buy more precautions againstinfection. Message clear but still largely unheeded:Despite a veritable lack of AIDS information, experts claim that too fewpeople are changing their lifestyles or behaviour sufficiently to protectthemselves from AIDS. A recent Canadian poll revealed widespread ignorance ofthe fact that AIDS is primarily a sexually acquired infection, not caught bycasual touch. The survey showed that although sexual intercourse amongadolescents has risen steeply in the past 10 years, less than 25 percent ofthose aged 18 to 34 have altered their sexual behaviour to protect them-selves against AIDS, i.e. by consistent use of condoms and spermicide. THE CENTRAL MESSAGE IS CLEAR: UNLESS ABSOLUTELY SURE (and monogamy is noguarantee) THAT YOUR SEX PARTNER IS HIV-FREE, USE A CONDOM (latex, not madeof animal material) plus a reliable spermicide (e.g. one containing nonoxyl-9). Studies with infected haemophiliacs show that condom use by a regular sexpartner reduces infection risks, compared to unprotected sex. And regularcondom use may bring the added reward of preventing other sexually trans-mitted diseases such as gonorrhea and chlamydia or unwanted pregnancy. Many educators say that, by whatever means, AIDS information must get outto young people at an early enough age for them to absorb it before becomingsexually active. Only by acting upon accurate AIDS information can peopleprotect themselves, their sex partners, families and ultimately society fromthis disease. Protection the only answer:The best way to avoid AIDS is to regard it as a highly lethal disease andpractice commonsense prevention. Avoiding infection is IN ONES OWN HANDS. People can protect themselves. To sotp its spread, people are encouraged toobtain and apply accurate AIDS information to their living styles and sexualhabits in order to reduce the risk of getting or transmitting the virus. Sadly, health promoters claim that reaching the many who dont want to knowis no easy task. Health promoters suggest that educators must learn how andwhen to communicate AIDS information in the right way at teachablemoments. Many Public Health Departments are now taking the lead indisseminating education about AIDS with largescale public awareness programs. What of the future?:Many virologists believe that since antibiotics became available in thelate 1940s we have become too complacent about viral infections, no longertake communicable disease seriously, and have modern medical schools whichdevote few teaching hours to anti-infective strategies. In fact, we stillknow little about retroviruses such as HIV. Perhaps special virology researchcentres, like the Virus Research Institute proposed for the University ofToronto, will help to halt the tragic toll of AIDS and other as yet unknownviruses waiting in the wings. For more information on AIDS or aid for AIDS call: local AIDS committees,Public Health Departments, or AIDS Hotlines (in Toronto 392-AIDS.)=============================================================================In everyday conversations, AIDS is usually a source for humour. For anybodywho is suffering from the disease there is very little humour. The bestprevention is not the thought that IT COULD NEVER HAPPEN TO ME, if that wasso all the insurance companies would be out of business. The most reliable person to be put in-charge of preventing you for gettingAIDS is YOURSELF!!!! T A K EP R E V E N T I V EP R E C A U T I O N S Words/ Pages : 3,267 / 24

Smells like teen spirit Essay Example

Smells like teen spirit Essay Kurt Cobain was 24 years old in the spring of 1991 and at his creative best to produce the album â€Å"Nevermind†. Kurt was the spine of the band Nirvana. Soon after the release of this album, Nirvana’s popularity reached dizzy heights especially riding on the terrific waves of the song â€Å"Smells like teen spirit†. The fiery class of this song effectively overshadowed the rest of the songs of the album. This five minute two second song conquered the music charts worldwide.Smells like teen spirit is categorized under the music genre popularly called grunge. Though this obscure genre was popularized by the groups like The Fartz, The U-Men and Pearl Jam but it had to Cobain’s genius that immortalized it. Grunge is typically characterized by the chaotic blend of extreme frequencies. The tone of music, vocals and bass undergoes frequent unexpected fluctuations. Loud and high frequency flow of a song is mixed with slow tempo of dissonant harmonies. Primarily, this quality differentiates grunge from closely related genres like punk rock, heavy metal and hard rock. The â€Å"dirty† sound from rock guitar, often emanating from the edge of the strings, is a common feature of this genre. Another unique feature of grunge is the lyrics. Lyrics from most of the grunge bands keep the fans involved in interesting mysteries. The words may express anxiety, fear, depression and even raging anger. Most of the first-time listeners would find it hard to derive any meaning. Due to the imposition of high pitch guitar play, even figuring out the lyrics becomes a challenge. Do not be surprised to locate severalversions for smells like teen spirit.Kurt had a sharp intellect and impressively huge vocabulary that he used generously in his lyrics. Many people have tried to make sense of these lyrics since the time of its release. Though, the words were clarified in the cover for their album â€Å"Lithium†, the meaning that they hold still pose ma ny puzzles. The music video depicts the band performing on a basketball court, surrounded by delirious fans. The boundary between the performers and the audience is blurred, portraying the non-conformity associated with teenagers. Nirvana and the contemporary bands captured the fantasies of their fans by showing their grit to challenge conventions. The seemingly meaningless lyrics typify that you have to frame your mind as a teenager’s in order to understand them. Rebellion and ecstasy is the life and blood of this song.The lyrics have been debated quite a few times. In his own words, while discussing the song in Michael Azerrads â€Å"Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana†, Cobain said, I felt a duty to describe what I felt about my surroundings and my generation and people my age.. There is a prominent concurrence of contradiction in the lyrics.A seemingly popular belief is that Cobain named this song as an aftereffect of going out with Tobi Wail, a singer who used t o wear a perfume called Teen Spirit. Focusing on the different parts of the song can help us to understand the teen revolution that this song stood for. â€Å"Load up your guns, and bring your friends† depicts a contradiction. But metaphorically, loading the guns may actually mean to gear up for a party or a teen gig. â€Å"Its fun to lose, and to pretend† may also sound as a conflict of opposite feelings but metaphorically, it pictures the confusion of identity that majority of teenagers try to carve out in a group. â€Å"She’s overboard, and myself self-assured† is an instance of sense of complacency in the mind of teenagers. The companion is overboard or overwhelmed, while the narrator is in control of his senses. â€Å"I know I know, a dirty word† could be pointing to drugs or any other form of intoxication, including the wild parties as well. The series of â€Å"Hello hello hello, hell no† are touching the conflicts, peer pressure and à ¢â‚¬Å"catch-22† situations that adolescents land themselves into. There is a constant struggle to identify themselves in a group.There are plenty of decisions that form the turning points of one’s life. Teenage is a stage of life that will most likely carry the imprints forever. The choices about career paths, friends, habits etc get embedded as identifying parameters. â€Å"When the lights out, its less dangerous† probably meant to diminish the throb caused by light when one is high on drugs.†Here we are now, entertain us† meant to highlight the teen parties. The chorus emanates from a series of unrelated words like â€Å"Mulatto, Albino, Mosquito† etc showing the high degrees of unbiased acceptance that the teenagers extend to their group members. You may have any limitation or you may be an exception to the rest of the society, the teen gang would always embrace with open arms.   Cobain was crying out loud that he is one of them, but uniqu e.Cobain has said, The entire song is made up of contradictory ideas . . . Its just making fun of the thought of having a revolution. But its a nice thought.. The book Teen Spirit: The Stories Behind Every Nirvana Song describes Teen Spirit as a typically murky Cobain exploration of meaning and meaninglessness. The lyrics still remain as one of the most debatable aspects.Let us focus on the composition of music for this song. It is written in the key of F minor, with the main riff constructed from four power chords,   played in a syncopated 16th note strum. The chords occasionally lapse into suspended chord voicings as a result of Cobain playing the bottom four strings of the guitar for the thick sound. While melodically and harmonically simple, Smells Like Teen Spirit is based around an alternating loud/quiet dynamic that shifts from minimalistic, moody verses to loud chorus sections. The song begins with Cobain strumming the main riff solo, adding distortion when the rest of the band joins in. During the verse Cobain plays a sparse two-note guitar line. The band builds up to the chorus as Cobain begins to play the same two notes on every beat of the measure and repeats the phrase Hello, hello, hello, how low? The band then launches into an explosive chorus where Cobain resumes the main guitar riff and screams the lyrics. Between these pieces, the weird drawl of the guitar has become a defining quality for the song. After the second chorus, Cobain plays a guitar solo that resembles his vocal melody from the verse.Kurt Cobain’s voice merges with the pace of the music. He has heavy and low mumbling with the slower drum beats but picks up the pitch with the rising delirium of his guitar. The listener actually floats along with the varying rhythms of this song. The heavy drum beat in the background alters in tempo in perfect synchronization with the guitar and vocals. The lyrics pierces listener with immense honesty and reflects the ordinary teen enthusi asm. The furious pace of guitar casts a spell on the listener as it is made to scream, cry and wail. The live performances of this song show the effortlessness of Cobain while performing it. It almost seems that he would burst his veins while screaming but he drew his voice from guts. The lyrics and their ambiguous meaning added spice to this songs flavor. The impression of this song added a new dimension to the world of rock, especially grunge. People all over the world could now truly appreciate the rebirth of this music genre.The genius of Kurt Cobain and the ingenuity of Nirvana, will keep the teen spirit high for generations to come.;

Essay on The Duck Commander

Essay on The Duck Commander Essay on The Duck Commander he men of A&E’s wildly popular reality show â€Å"Duck Dynasty† catch squirrels with their bare hands and skin frogs with a single flick of the wrist. They say things like â€Å"My idea of happiness is killin’ things† and â€Å"That is how you trap a lizard, boys.† They sit with their legs wide apart and their barrel chests puffed out. They project a primal, frontier masculinity- the rifles slung over shoulders, the endless supply of camouflage pants, the craggy faces swallowed by beard. And for some reason, people are watching. About 8.6 million viewers tuned in to the season premiere of â€Å"Duck Dynasty" last month, beating out both â€Å"American Idol† and â€Å"Modern Family." It was the biggest audience for a reality show episode on cable this year. The current TV landscape features a slew of backwoods reality shows: â€Å"Buckwild† on MTV, â€Å"Hillybilly Handfishin† on Animal Planet, â€Å"Swamp People† on the History Channel, â€Å"Redneck Island† and â€Å"Bayou Millionaires,† both on CMT. Of the group, TLC’s â€Å"Here Comes Honey Boo Boo†- with its tiny wannabe beauty queen and her rowdy Southern brood set against a backdrop of mud-diving and pig-foot-eating- has gotten the most mainstream cultural attention, generating a debate about â€Å"hixploitation† and the queasy appeal of hillbilly reality TV. But â€Å"Duck Dynasty† remains the genre’s ratings success and breakout star, in part because it is so slyly self-aware. The â€Å"Honey Boo Boo† gang knows that they are crafting a brand, of course, and they’re good at it; they embrace country bumpkin stereotypes so fully (urging viewers to â€Å"redneck-ognize,† for instance) that it is hard not to be charmed by their total comfort with themselves. But the men of â€Å"Duck Dynasty† are savvier- after all, the show is partly a kind of promotional reel for the thriving business at its center. We have long seen reality shows that bank on the spectacle of wealth: â€Å"My Super Sweet 16,† â€Å"The Hills,† â€Å"Real Housewives,† â€Å"The Kardashians.† The opulence is a kind of joke, all that pornographic materialism, the surgically smoothed faces and the gaudy mansions. We’re supposed to shake our heads at the extravagance and feel reassured of our own relative groundedness. â€Å"Duck Dynasty,† though, makes watching other people’s prosperity feel like a less bitter pill. It stars the Robertsons, the family behind the multi-million-dollar company Duck Commander, which built its fortune manufacturing duck calls in the swampy wilds of Louisiana. Affluence is more palatable, of course, when it comes in down-market packaging, muddied and unshaven. â€Å"DUCK DYNASTY† MAKES BEING A MAN SEEM AS STRAIGHTFORWARD AS A PUNCH TO THE FACE. Like â€Å"The Osbornes† and â€Å"The Kardashians,† â€Å"Duck Dynasty† is less reality show than sitcom: for all its kooky antics, it persistently reinforces traditional family values. Each episode ends with a tidy scene in which the Robertsons say a prayer around the dinner table, grateful for the roasted duck and for each other. All the Robertson men are happily married to confoundingly sane and good-looking women. Producer Scott Gurney has called the show â€Å"’Modern Family’ in camo.† Duck Commander CEO Willie Robertson is the most responsible of the bunch, perpetually wrangling his less industrious relatives, who want only to hunt and fish. The workplace and the wilderness are dueling existential forces. â€Å"Everyone here is doing nothing, and I can’t fire you because you’re kin to me!† Willie bellows. He plays the straight man in an ensemble that includes his wisecracking brother Jase, their wacky old uncle Si, and their flinty, no-nonsense father, Phil. Willie Robertson described the show as â€Å"guided reality† in a recent interview, sounding a bit like a producer instead of a star. The characters are mugging and winking every step of the way, preempting our own judgments. Jase’s deadpan asides are a highlight of the show. â€Å"When you hear CEO, you think chief executive officer. But when I look at Willie I think that if you saw him walking down the road

Consumer Expenditure Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Consumer Expenditure - Assignment Example The most affected continent is Europe. For instance in Spain and Greece consumers have turned into investing instead of expenditure. The harsh economic conditions have made it unpredictable to spend a lot of money. This has made selling and manufacturing companies go bankrupt. In an argument by Blythe the economic conditions witnessed in Europe may be witnessed in other nations if the consumer population is not advised to spend more (56). However, the consumer population argues that the limited resources they have does not allow them to spend most of it in buying secondary goods. This scenario has forced the selling and manufacturing companies reconsider how to lure more consumers to purchase their products. This paper will focus on how consumers make decisions concerning the expenditure. Additionally, it will give an insight on how the rational consumer budgets their limited resources. It will also focus on how the selling and manufacturing companies strategize to increase the numbe r of sales of their products. The decision making process on expenditure among the consumers depend on several factors. One of the most significant factors is the income levels of the consumer. It is an obvious assumption to say that low income earners are the least spenders. With an increase of employees in this bracket the cutting cost on expenditure will continue to rise. Low income earners shift their focus first on necessary needs like paying rent providing food to their families and investing in education. Considering these priorities, it is evident that the money spend to purchase the other products is very limited. According to an argument by Barro saving also denies the consumers a significant amount of money to spend on other goods (106). It is the same scenario with high income earners. This bracket focuses more on investing and securing their financial future. With the global economy under numerous uncertainties, saving provides the most logical way to secure ones financ ial future. Apart from the income statements of consumers, the price of households goods determining the decision making on expenditure. Noel argues that a perspective on the market 2 years back from now, it is estimated that the price of general commodities has risen by an average of 50% (93). The basic needs like food and clothing have also been affected. This in turn means that, the consumer population will tend to cut cost on other products in order to have enough resources to acquire the basic goods they need. The uncertain financial and economic future has also made it difficult on consumers to spend more resources. Rational consumers on the other hand use all the means possible to maximize their resources and fulfill all their needs. Rational consumers also face the difficulty of planning expenditure on their very minimal wages and resources. To optimize this, this bracket of consumers cut expenditure cot on everything expect for the basic human needs. However, they tend to a lso spend very minimal on the basic needs. According to Blythe rational consumers greatly consider the future of their financial positions. In this way they are categorized as the least spending consumers (132). However, analysts argue that rational consumers’ decision of saving might at the end cost their financial security. According to Noel saving without spending on investing makes no difference from a person who spends money

Philosophy of religion Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Philosophy of religion - Assignment Example Plato calls for an in-depth inquiry between the processes of thinking in relation to the soul. Thus, he posts a question on why should a just soul lived through a just life be the ruler of society. Rather than simply agreeing with his teacher, Plato’s dialogues seek for the confrontation of these ideas though subsequently agreeing with it (Miller, n.d., pp. 173-174). The virtuous man is another philosophical awareness that he inculcates in Republic where the ruler is demanded to be good and must prioritize the people. There is what McPherran (1996) regards as an agnostic inclination of Socrates on the goodness of death since Socrates does not claim expertise on the subject matter. He recognizes the existing religious beliefs including the tales that come with mythological teachings but does not adhere to it. He is more persuaded on gods and judges that will determine one’s fate on the afterlife (p.259). The concept of the soul and the afterlife is a widely debated relig ious topic. The conception of Socrates and the stress he puts on the tending of the soul points out to his belief on a metaphysical form of man. As a religious topic, the soul can be perceived in most of all world religions with varying understanding from heaven and hell in Christianity to reincarnation and nirvana to Buddhism along with many other beliefs. 2. Does commitment to philosophical exploration imply the embodiment of certain virtues? If so, does this, or could this, lead to the practice of asceticism? Consider either the case of Socrates or Plato (or both) to answer this question. The call of Socrates toward a virtuous life toward the nurturing of the soul and the embodiment of the just ruler does to an extent lead to asceticism as contemplated. The virtues of a ruler are of paramount importance to Socrates in the Republic. He regards that a man who desires so strongly for one thing will necessarily be weak when it comes to other things. He must be able to divert this

South Carolina Nullification Essay Example for Free

South Carolina Nullification Essay Throughout the great American history, Americans have been through a colossal amount of conflicts, and wars. However, they still figured out a way to compromise and accept each other’s differences. As America improves, they gradually lead to a making of a powerful and organized government. Yet in â€Å"South Carolina Ordinance of Nullification† a conflict arises, where South Carolina is furious at the federal government and wants the best for themselves. Like many other states South Carolina is one of which that had its own negative opinions towards the federal government, leading to a larger problem. The document â€Å"South Carolina Ordinance of Nullification† both supports and contradicts American and constitutional principles. In early 1860’s the Civil war took place, against the North and the South parts of America. In the time that was taken to reach the civil war, many small disagreements and arguments took place that eventually led to having an immense war. However, around three decades earlier, South Carolina had been having disagreements with the federal government. On May 19, 1928 the Congress of the United States passed the Tariff of 1828. The tariff was designed to protect industries in the northern United States which were being driven out of business, by low-priced imported goods by putting tax on them. Well it seems as if this was a great idea, until, the south started to feel the effects of it, on their antebellum economy. The south called the tariff of 1828, â€Å"Tariff of Abominations†. â€Å"South Carolina felt that the protective features of tariffs were harmful to them and they also claimed that they were unconstitutional because they favored North over the South. (u-s-history. com)A government should serve their people with equality and liberty. Instead the federal government chose to be unfair and help the north because that’s where they lived. This case continues to go on, as South Carolina and other southern states get more furious and lead on to making a Nullification of crisis. The Nullification of Crisis includes South Carolina’s opinions and how the tariff of 1828 is the opposit e of, liberty and justice for all. Since the federal government had passed a tariff that is unfair to the south, for the good of the North. South Carolina was so furious that they started talking about the seceding from the union and working their own independent state, where they can have their own laws. However, South Carolina believed that constitutionally, the state government of each state had more power within that state than did the federal government. Therefore, if a state considered it necessary, it had the right to nullify any federal law within its boundaries. The idea South Carolina had was injudicious, they thought of themselves as being more powerful than â€Å"The Federal Government†, the main and the most powerful government in America. The idea of a state being more powerful than a federal government does not exist. It doesn’t say anywhere in the constitution that a state could not follow the federal government laws and have more power than them as well. In addition, if South Carolina and other states had more power than the federal government, you wouldn’t need a federal government and there would be no point of having the â€Å"United States of America†. Moreover, when President Andrew Jackson found out about the nullification of tariffs passed by the congress, he declared an act of open rebellion and ordered U. S. ships to South Carolina to enforce the law. â€Å"Before federal forces arrived Calhoun and Senator Henry Clay had an agreement which lead to congress passing out the tariff of 1833. This lowered the tariff gradually over a decade and prevented any armed conflicts. †(. loc. gov) This shows the strength of the federal government over all the states. In conclusion, the â€Å"Ordinance of Nullification† was a document with many personal opinions and conflicts. For example, the federal government wasn’t equal to the south, by letting north have the positive affect of the tariff of 1928 and south have the negative affect. In result south tried to show that they have more power than the federal government by nullifying the tariffs. However all of this ended with an agreement. Throughout most of our history when a conflict derives a compromise is always made. After all, the conflict and work the Americans went through in the past, made an abundant change for us in the future.