Popular Culture Today Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Popular Culture Today - Essay Example No country seems to be free from the rapid growth of popular culture. The only difference is that in advanced countries the growth of popular culture may takes place much rapidly than in underdeveloped countries. For example, soft drinks were signs of lavish life styles earlier and it was available in western countries only. However, it is available in all parts of the world at present. In other words, cultural changes or life style changes are taking place in all the corners of the world. Even the tribal people or the people living in rural areas are changing their life styles periodically. Even in some of the most patriarchal societies like Saudi Arabia, one can visualize pop culture changes. America is a country which is striving for changes. Many people are of the view that cultural changes or the development of new popular culture normally originates from America. Since America is a liberal society, it can accommodate any changes. Religion has not much role in politics or social life of the people and therefore America can welcome or accommodate any changes in pop culture easily. This paper analyses the trends in changing popular culture in America. Students may not be typical of the population as a whole, though jeans are widely popular among nonstudents of same age group, and only slightly less widespread among older age groups. So thinking about jeans is a good way to begin a discussion on popular culture (Fiske, p.1). Clothing is one area in which one can witness huge changes as part of the pop culture changes. Earlier, Americans used pants stitched in different ways. Tight pants, loos pants and bell bottom pants were the symbols of fashion at some periods of time in the past. However, the present era is the era of jeans, especially blue jeans. Majority of the celebrities, not only in America, but all over the world are fans of blue jeans at present. Even though jeans provide a rough look, even the soft hearted females are currently fans of jeans. One of the unique characteristics of jeans is the fact that it attracts all people irrespective of their religion, race, culture, gender, socioeconomic status, age etc. Apart from jeans, T shirts also attract Americans very much. Half pants is another major way through which Americans express their fashion concepts. Only on formal occasions, Americans use formal dressings like pants and coats. On all other occasions they like to wear jeans, T shirts, half pants etc. The gap between two different fashion trends has been reduced completely over the past few years. â€Å"Apparel designers used to have an eighteen-month lead time between concept and sale. Now they're reducing that to a year, or even six months, in order to react faster to new ideas from the street† (Who decides what's cool? Certain kids in certain places-- and only the cool hunters know who they are). Current generation is always looking for new ideas and concepts. The better living standards and advancements in scie nce and technology helped them in doing so. For example, the advancements in computer technologies or digital electronics brought huge changes in America and other parts of the word. The size of the computer has come down gradually and as a result of that, laptops, palmtops and gadgets entered the market. Now a mobile phone like Samsung Galaxy S2 or iPhone can perform the activities of a computer without many problems. It is difficult to see an American without a

Policy review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Policy review - Essay Example 2006: 1). Perioperative environment area is the sterile area that should be free of the infection-causing bacteria. Therefore preventing cross transmission of the MRO must be addressed in all perioperative settings including, day surgery, the surgical ward, the holding area, the surgery suite, and the PACU. It is the responsibility of all healthcare staff to protect themselves and their surgical patients from contracting MRO infections. The Infection Control Policy: Prevention and Management of Multi-Resistant Organisms (MRO), a policy directive of the NSW Department of Health, or PD2007_084 would guide all health workers in the prevention and management of MRO. The content of document, PD2007_084, the NSW Department of Health policy directive which is the Infection Control Policy: Prevention and Management of Multi-Resistant Organism (MRO) outlined the roles and responsibilities of healthcare staffs by highlighting the general and specific measures that should be observed as standar d practices in all healthcare units. The general measures refer to infection control measures, use of antimicrobials, and environmental cleaning. Specific measures included surveillance of MRO, screening patients and healthcare workers for MRO, risk categorisation of patients and healthcare workers for MRSA, decolonisation and clearing a patient of MRSA, and risk categorisation of patient care area. Guidelines on specimen collection, decolonisation protocol for MRSA, and relevant readings are also included in this policy. Lee and Bishop (2002:273-274) stated that nosocomial infections are grouped into two categories: exogenous infections and endogenous infections. Exogenous infections refer to those infections from the hospital environment, staff, other patients and visitors. Endogenous infections are cause by microorganism in the patient’s own normal flora, including hospital strains. Lee and Bishop (2002: 274-275) also stated that the Australian survey showed a higher preva lence of nosocomial infections in large teaching hospitals because they usually have a large reservoir of infection in intensive care unit, specialised burns unit and in transplant operations facilities. In Australia, there has been an increasing awareness of the importance of controlling and managing infection control in the recent years. All staffs are responsible to control hospital infection by observing the infection control policies and guidelines (Lee and Bishops, 2002: 276). Purpose of the Policy The purpose of infection control policy is primarily the prevention and management of MRO in healthcare facilitates so as to ensure the safety of patients and healthcare workers through the implementation of routine and standard practices of preventing and controlling the risk of transmission and colonisation of infectious agents. This will prevent fatal illness or death from MRO infection, prolonged hospital stays, readmissions, and additional diagnostic and treatment cost associat ed with such infectious contamination. Implementation would thereby improve the delivery of healthcare services and protect the lives of both patients and healthcare workers. The purpose of infection control policy is not only for the prevention and management of multi-resistant organism in the perioperative environment but also in every aspect of the

Controversies And Arguments Of Euthanasia Philosophy Essay

Controversies And Arguments Of Euthanasia Philosophy Essay Nonetheless, the vast majority of Australians from doctors to philosophers support voluntary euthanasia. For example, Australian philosopher, Peter Singer, actively supports euthanasia in his book of Taking Life: Human while pro-euthanasia Doctor Phillip Nitschke assisted Bob Dent to die by a lethal injection. This essay explains what euthanasia is and discusses whether voluntary euthanasia should be a right of the terminally ill. Euthanasia means a gentle and easy death, (Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable 2006) and it is usually used to refer to the induced death of those who are incurably ill and in great pain or distress in order to spare them further suffering or distress. It is often referred to as mercy killing. Singer (1993, p.175) classified euthanasia as voluntary, involuntary or non-voluntary. Involuntary euthanasia means without the consent of the person who dies even if they express a wish to live and is effectively murder even if the motives are to benefit the deceased. Non-voluntary euthanasia occurs where a persons mental age is or has always been that of an infant so that they have no capacity of express any preference to live or die such as when someone is severely disabled infant since birth or those who suffer severe brain damages after accidents and become permanently mentally disabled. Sometimes people in this situation are allowed to die by withdrawing medical services such as intensive care treatment. Voluntary euthanasia which is where a person consciously chooses an early death (Singer 1993, pp.175-177). This essay will only focus on ethical arguments as to whether voluntary euthanasia and non-voluntary should be legalised. One argument for euthanasia is the utilitarian principle which says that the lives of some people can be sacrificed for the benefit of others deemed more worthy of care. It has been said that When applying the utilitarian theory to the ethics of euthanasia, can it not be said that Self Deliverance for a competent terminally ill patient is an unselfish act (Maj 2002)? Utilitarianism is commonly expressed as the greatest good for the greatest number (Rohnann 1999, cited in Rich Butts 2005, p. 9). A moral theory is utilitarian if and only if it assesses rules in terms of nothing but their utility. Jeremy Bentham, invoked what he described as a fundamental axiom it is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong (Bentham 1823). Utilitarians theorise that there is the same ground for voluntary euthanasia as for non-voluntary euthanasia as death is the benefit for the person killed but is it possible to justify ending the life of a human being who lacks the capacity to consent in the same way as where people are capable of consenting, and do in fact consent (Singer 1993). Utilitarians consider that death will bring peace to the patient, family and friends and can be justified purely on the utilitarian grounds that a terminally ill person has lost the ability to pursue the intellectual or physical life they once had or has lost dignity by becoming dependent on others for fundamental needs such as going to the toilet. (Maj 2002). Something I can identify with having seen my once proud grandfather after a stroke having to wear a nappy. In my opinion for many once dignity and self sufficiency are lost death is a release. The strongest argument for active voluntary euthanasia is based on respect for individual autonomy or self governance. Autonomy is the belief that every person has the right to shape their own life through their choices which includes the right to choose the time and circumstances of their death and is expressed concerning basic human dignity (Grey 1999, p.21). The principle of autonomy is an expression Kants ideal that having ones own choice whether that choice is good or bad is of paramount importance for life. Kant believes that suggesting someone knows better than yourself in such a personal thing as death is a dubious paternalistic presumption (Grey 1999,p.21) in many ways similar to this current governments belief that they know best what you should see or read on the internet. J.S. Mill in his expression of the harm principle state: the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilised community, against their will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not a sufficient warrant. (Grey 1999, p.21)   Autonomy acknowledges an individuals sovereignty over all acts which only affect self on the basis that it is insupportable to have someone else choose the timing of ones own death. (Grey 1999,p.21).  This is difficult to argue against since only in the most horrendous crimes do States now have the power to deprive a criminal of life yet involuntary euthanasia suggests they have the right to kill non criminals. However if a person chooses to die we should respect that wish. Peter Singer believes voluntary euthanasia is a matter of respecting a persons preference and overall well-being, welfare or interests in their particular circumstances such as when they are suffering from cancer. In Holland, a nationwide government survey found that Many patients want an assurance that their doctor will assist them to die should suffering become unbearable (Singer 1993). One argument for euthanasia which involves utilitarian theory is the need to reduce societys costs in an ever more crowded world by reducing the number of people needing intensive care. There are many arguments against euthanasia. The possibility of abuse is one of the most common arguments against euthanasia. Abuse may mean patents are pressured by families or medical facilities to agree to ending their own life. Family may want to see the suffering end but they may also want to see the inheritance now. Doctors may wish to free up scare medical resources for those they believe they can save and in fact hospitals make these sort of choices by withdrawing medical support for the terminally ill. Opponents argue that we can never be sure that a request to be killed is the result of a free and rational decision, particularly as they are likely to be suffering pain, very probably drugged and confused (Singer 1993). Depression is also an issue because it is a form of pressure from within. A depressed person is more likely to choose to take their own life whether or not they are terminally ill. Another argument against euthanasia is the level of protection required to ensure it is not misused will actually make it more painful. No one who is ill is going to want to face a barrage of questions and forms to choose death yet leaving the documentation to Doctors or Family or some other party leaves open the door to abuse. There is also the opening the floodgatesor Slippery Slope argument that if society accepts euthanasia as a universal right of competent terminally ill patients to decide their fate (Maj 2002) then how long will it be before society decides what should be done with the chronically ill, handicapped or simply old who no longer contribute but are a burden on society. The Catholic Church objects to euthanasia on religious grounds saying that the church opposes euthanasia as that life which God has bestowed on each one of us, can never be sacrificed for the sake of the good of self-determination as it contravenes the Thou shalt not kill commandment (Demarco 2003, p. 154).However, the church distinguishes euthanasia from decisions to forego aggressive medical treatment which are medical procedures which no longer correspond to the real situation of the patient, either because they are by now disproportionate to any expected results or because they impose an excessive burden on the patient and his family (Demarco 2003, p. 155). In conclusion voluntary euthanasia may be seen as a way of giving respect to those who are in distress and paid and wish to leave life, family and friends with dignity. While there are arguments against voluntary euthanasia they are, apart from religious moral concerns, easily overcome by putting in place appropriate safeguards such as a number of independent witnesses who must ensure that the person who is contemplating euthanasia is fully aware of what they are doing and that there is no going back. Non voluntary euthanasia is more difficult as no consent is possible but can be justified on the grounds that the benefit to society is larger than the detriment to the individual particularly if the individual is and has been so damaged that they cannot appreciate the life they live. Singer says in his book of Rethinking Life and Death We should say theyre alive but nonetheless their life is not viable. They are alive but that life is not worth living (Singer 1999)

Political Bosses in America Essay -- Politics American History

Political Bosses in America As industrialization caused cites to grow in leaps and bounds, political bosses started to take power. As the 19th Century came to a close, almost every sizable city had a political boss, or at least had one rising to power. Tons of immigrants from every part of the world began to pour into the major cities. Cities have had diversity in the past, but the huge diversity of the American cities was unique. The only thing the new immigrants had in common with each other was the dream of becoming rich and the poverty of their current state. Unfortunately, so many different people with so little in common often left tension between different groups on the edge of becoming violent outbreaks. The famous Tammany set the example early on of how to broaden it's ow...

ABC Management Company: Organizing for Mid-Range Service

1. List some of the important organizational and service factors that the executives of ABC Management should consider before responding to the owners of the three mid-range service properties. Since the hotels are within the mid range (350-500 rooms), a room director will be needed to supervise the departments that make up the rooms division, another director for the food and beverage department and supervisors in the subdivision under the food and beverage department.Other key members of the management team that should be included are a director of sales and marketing, controller, and a director of human resources. Other hotel service and organizational factors should also include an executive housekeeper and director of catering as part of the management team. Some of these positions may be limited as some of them can be done by one person. I am a strong believer in department heads. Considering that they are taking in three hotels with a range in size of 350-450 rooms each, it wo uld be best to consider department heads for more control and organization. 2. Create an organization chart that ABC Management could use to identify management positions for the operation of a 450-room, mid-range service hotel. Aside of the organization chart, briefly describe each management position’s primary responsibilities. Primary Duties of each department head are listed below. However, they are not limited. There are just a few items listed. Position Oversees Responsibility General Hotel Manager All departments†¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Responsible for maximizing revenues and flow through to GOP to meet or exceed budgeted EBITDA. †¢Ã‚     Responsible for preparation of property budget and forecasts. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Manages labor standards and property level expenses to achieve maximum flow through to the bottom line profit. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Promotes 100%Guest satisfaction throughout property. Instills the 100% guest satisfaction objective to AGM and hourly associates.†¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Ensures that all guest related issues are resolved in a manner consistent with the company’s goals and objectives. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Recruits qualified applicants. Trains employees in accordance with company standards. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Motivates and gives direction to all employees. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Communicates all policies and procedures to entire staff Rooms Division Manger Front Desk, Uniform Services, Housekeeping †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Train hotel associates/administration †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Communicates all policies and procedures to entire staff Supervise continuous 7 day/week, 24 hour front office operation, night audit and housekeeping operations and assigned staff, including hiring, training, evaluating performance and scheduling work. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Formulate budgets and prepare monthly revenue/expense forecasts. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Maintain customer service/satisfaction standards; handle customer service issues. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Maintain and operate all computer equipment. Food and Beverage ManagerFood Production, Restaurants, Banquets, Cocktail Lounge, Room Service †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Check budgets, payroll and food order invoices from suppliers †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Hire and schedules servers, bartenders and other food service employees, assigns kitchen staff to cooking and preparation tasks, and determines service standards for personnel. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Knowledge of American and ethnic cuisine, food preparation and the costs of purchasing items for particular dishes. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Plan menus for restaurants and special events like banquets. Sales & Marketing Manager Sales & Marketing†¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Develops and manages sales/marketing operating budgets. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Plans and oversees advertising and promotion activities including print, online, electronic media, and direct mail. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Develops and recommends product positioning, packaging, and pricing strategy to produce the highest possible long-term market share. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Achieves satisfactory profit/loss ratio and  market share in relation to preset standards and industry and economic trends.Controller Hotel Finances†¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Takes ownership for the production of monthly financial and management accounts, budgets and forecasts and to ensure strong financial controls and processes operate throughout the business. †¢Ã‚      Manages a designated team, ensuring month end accounts are prepared in a timely and accurate manner, producing statutory accounts, preparing business budgets and forecasts, managing cash flow and working cross functionally in order to champion commercial initiatives.Accounting Manager Payables & Receivables†¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Achieves accounting operational objectives by contributing accounting information and recommendations to strategic plans and reviews. †¢Ã‚      Meets accounting financial objectives by forecasting requirements. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Confirms financial status by monitoring revenue and expenses. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Maintains accounting controls by establishing a chart of accounts. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Guides other departments by researching and interpreting accounting policy; applying observations and recommendations to operational issues.Director of Human Resources Human Resources Department†¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Employee services and counseling. †¢Ã‚      Employee safety, welfare, wellness, and health. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Charitable giving. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Organizational and space planning. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Performance management and improvement systems. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Employment and compliance to regulatory concerns. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Policy development and community communication. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Compensation and benefits administration. 3. Create an organization chart that ABC Management could use to identify front office positions for the operation of a 450-room, mid-range service hotel. Aside of the organization chart, briefly describe each front officeposition’s primary responsibilities. Position Oversees Responsibility Front Office MangerAssistant Front Office Manager, Security Agent, and Reservations Supervisor †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Is able to effectively interpret financial results in regards to revenues, payroll, costs, and expenses. †¢Ã‚      Establish and monitor cost and expense control systems and procedures to achieve budgets. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Take corrective measures and actions to ensure highest possible profitability. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Personally and frequently verify that guests are receiving the best possible service. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Demanding on service standards as well as hygiene standards. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Ensures speedy and accurate service at all times.   Assistant Front Office Mgr Front Office Supervisor AM/PM, Front Desk Agent†¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Responsible for employees to project professionalism and are well trained to provide friendly service. †¢Ã‚      Periodically inspects rooms to ensure cleanliness and well maintained rooms. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Assists the Front Office Manger. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Aware of new market trends and activities of competitors.Security AgentSecurity of the hotel†¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Check doors and stairwells to make sure the locks are secure and no danger is lurking. †¢Ã‚      Patrols outdoors as well as room hallways and activity areas. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Response to complaints and calls for help. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Purchases, maintains, and monitor security cameras, alarm systems, and other electronic surveillance equipment. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Escort unruly patrons from the property. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Administrative Duties.  Ã‚  Reservations SupervisorReservation Agent†¢Ã‚   Reserves rooms for guests. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Interacts with upper management to inform them of special events or local  affairs. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Communicates with housekeeping and service staffs to share customer concerns and propose resolutions. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Communicates with the sales and marketing department for develop advertising and promotional campaigns.  Ã‚  Front Office Supervisor Front Desk†¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Reports to Assistant Front Office Manager. †¢Ã‚      Overview of the Front Office Department. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Checklist of all arrival and departures. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Handling complaints and issues about the service. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Welcoming and greeting all guests and the VIP. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Bookings and Reservations. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Supervise the Front Office Staff on a daily basis. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Schedule employees.Reservation AgentGuest Reservations†¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Register guests as they come into the hotel. †¢Ã‚      Inform guests on hotel happenings †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Works as a liaison between guests and maintenance personnel. Front Office AgentGuests †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Greets and welcomes guests. †¢Ã‚      Reservations. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Cash and Credit Card handling. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚   Check guests in.  The above positions may even be trickled down to just a few positions as they can go under one position. For example, the Front Offic e Agent can do the same tasks as the Reservation Agent. I indicated these for just in case ABC Management needed them in order to service the guests better by splitting up the positions and responsibilities.

Comparing poems Nothings changed Essay

The Poem ‘nothings changed’ is based on Tatamkhulu Afrika himself who spent many years in South Africa and his autobiographical poem which describes most of what him and others had experienced and his own feelings expressed during the policy of Apartheid, introduced by the government in his country. This forced many popular attractions such as beaches, buses and even towns to be changed to ‘white areas’ only. For some this meant leaving the country forever all just because of the colour of there skin. The poem itself is set out in six stanzas, each including eight fairly short but important lines. This kind of layout and structure in the poem creates a sense of control, showing how the poet is extremely clear about what he is saying and feeling in his head with no sudden actions leading to rage. Within the pattern of the poem the line lengths do also vary from a whole entire stanza to just two little words. For example: ‘District Six. No board says it is: but my feet know, and my hands, and the skin about my bones, and the soft labouring of my lungs,and the hot, white, inwards turning’. This shows how the structure of the strong poem changes in the stanza’s, gradually getting bigger sentences as the stanza speaks on, giving a feeling of confidence in the poet proving he knows what he is talking about with all the information gathering. The whole poem is written in the present tense, although always recalling past experience he had the poet is constantly reliving the experience as he writes every word. This makes this poem in particular stand out from ‘what were they like?’ due to the fact it is easy to identify what is going on. The poet also clearly states how he is feeling and what he is exactly doing as he writes, describing every little detail by putting us in his shoes. The poem overall describes how he returns to the wasteland that was once his home and relives the anger he felt when the area was first destroyed. With him seeing the restaurant Which consists of being expensive, stylish, exclusive with a guard at the gatepost it makes him think about the poverty around it especially the working mans cafi across from it were people live without eating from plates and on a plastic table top. This makes him reflect that despite the changing political situation, there are still huge inequalities between blacks and whites. Even though South Africa is supposed to have changed, he knows the new restaurant is really ‘whites only’. He feels that nothing has really changed overall. The deep anger he feels makes him want to destroy the restaurant completely – ‘to smash the glass with a stone, or a bomb’. Secondly the poem ‘what were they like’ written by Denise Levertov who wrote poems that opposed American fighting in Vietnam in the 1960’s. This particular poem is against the typical American ignorance of the Vietnam war. She published the poem to show her true feelings about what the American army themselves had done to the people and the way of life of Vietnam. The structure of the poem is like an interview, having the interviewer or questioner ask all the questions together and then the speaker answer each question after one another. Altogether there are six questions followed by six very surprising answers. Also at the end of the poem the answers are followed by a rhetorical question ‘who can say? ‘ This makes the reader think in there head about the answer and shows the unusual treatment Vietnam received by the American army. In the poem itself she compares two different periods, before and after the war had ended showing the interesting experiences people were put in and what she wants answered for. The tone in the first section of the poem includes a thought on curiosity and full of wonder and also could be considered as being questions which are asked quickly and impatiently as when reading them you want to get to the answers straight away. Also the tone of the questioner may seem to be angry and a state of foolishness and insensitivity, yet still having a sense of sadness because of the loss of such an innocent country and the people who lived there during this hectic time. The questioner themselves represent the uninformed Americans and the response being Denise Levertov giving the impression that the questioner should have known more about Vietnam. The responses to the questions seem rather bitter and brutal to the suffering people as when read seem honest and quickly spoken in your head which is what the poet is trying to get at to show the emotion of which happened during the war itself. Overall both poems include some similar qualities, both being completely true and poets experiencing the lives lived out there. Yet ‘nothings changed’ is describing the life long change of the country since introducing the law of Apartheid in the 1960’s and how the country is still living with it, and overcoming the stress and changes the country had to make to change the lives of black and white people which is something of anger and hatred. This is shown by a personal experience form living in the country and visiting local areas and recording the atmosphere of the place. This anger can also be shown in ‘what were they like’ although this particular poet may have had experience from Vietnam she was not there to see it and includes in her poem questions referring to the fact she wants answers to what has happened in the past war against America. This shows the poems are different one including life experience on unfair laws made and the other just wanted answers on what she believes what happened in the Vietnam war is completely wrong.