Covering Health Care, California- Anti- Obamacare

https://www.coveringhealthcareca.com/

This website is a not exactly a lobbying website specifcally against 'Obamacare', but moreso, it focuses on the provisions that may need to be put in place due to the new acts that have been passed, specifically for Californians. They are calling it the 'California Resource Guide' - offering an insurance plan so people will not get hit with the extreme estimated costs from the 'Affordable Care Act'. You can purchase an insurance plan called 'Covered California' which assesses the individual on income to get the right amount of coverage desired.

Despite these changes and laws being passed in order to improve the healthcare, there are still huge costs for Americans, it seems that this is only one small step to the massive change that America needs. Henceforth, there is still a need to protect people from these new costs, that there is an even greater  necessity to have health insurance aka 'individual mandate'. It puts a greater pressure on Americans as they mat not even be able to afford the insurance, let alone be able to reep the benefits of being affected of the smaller costs of treatment with having health insurance. Until now, many Americans have just 'got by' without health insurance otherwise their living ability would be jeprodised, this is no longer an optiion anymore. Therefore, they will have to pay for health insurance, and may never have any medical treatment in their life, but still have to pay unecessary costs out for this insurance.

However, many Americans are opposed to Obamacare for the particular reason of the rise in taxes, which is considered a very european view on healthcare. It takes the view that you are looking after everyone else in the country, as well as yourself, which many Americans can't afford because of the amount they earn, or if they are possibly poverty stricken. This 'Covered California' insurance plan enables people to recieve tax credit, but only on this plan.

It is difficult to answer the question of sympathy to such a controversial topic, it is a question that cant be answered yes or no. There are many pro's and con's to this new Obamacare, however because payment still has made for healthcare, its just reduced, but taxes have increased it is hard to see the monumental improvements from this bill that America so desperately needs.

Today Books.

http://www.today.com/id/7139443/ns/today-today_books/t/life-glass-castle-only-made-walls-stronger/#.UyDcVOd_vhM

Written by Denise Hazlick, msnbc.com, 20/03/2006.

This review firstly acknowledges Jeannette's current job as a gossip columnist and this subject is focused on throughout the review. "In the opening pages of “The Glass Castle,” Walls recalls watching someone else do a little digging — her mother".

I think the intended idea of going forward and back to Walls' current life is to make the reader realise if they hadn't before, that this is a true story that can happen to anyone. It stresses that no matter what happened throughout her tough childhood, she became something and didn't let it control her. This can bring light to an emotional story attracting readers to share the experience with her.

This review is problematic as it mainly describes the novel instead of showing the positives and negatives of it. It also features too many of Walls' opinions and reactions of writing the book when there should be different peoples opinions or at least one opinion of a reader. Therefore it would be difficult to call this a 'Review' as there is no reviewing being done. This is a description of the book and a brief look into Walls' life, nothing more. 

The New York Times Review of The Glass Castle

With 'The Glass Castle' remaining at The New York Times Best Seller list for 261 weeks, its no wonder the reviews were raving and praising Walls work on the novel, calling it an "Outrageous Misfortune".

The article seems to highlight that its autobiographical and it is a memoir, therefore especially effective in terms of emotion on the reader as they say "Memoirs are our modern fairy tales". This true story makes it a truly shocking tragedy, according The New York Times.

While The New York Times praises 'The Glass Castle' for its succesful effective through the shockingly true story, it does not seem to offer much criticism. Moreover, after the first two paragraphs, it seems to give a brief summary/description of the novel, rather than critiquing it as a normal review would do. It praises Walls for her even being able to comprehend sorting through her emotions so much so that she could transform it into a novel, as the review says "while at the same time attempting to understand, forgive and even love".

It seems to offer a glimpse into the novel, rather than evaluating it through it strengths and weaknesses in order to convince a reader of this review whether 'The Glass Castle' should be read or not. However, the fact that is stayed in their Best Seller list for 261 weeks, in itself, is self explanatory in the novels raging success.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/13/books/review/013COVERPROSE.html?_r=0

Awaiting some posts still...

CinderFella.

Created by Todrick Hall on Youtube, 'CinderFella" is the story of a male Cinderella going to the ball to be with the Prince and also features Princess Jasmine and Alice from Wonderland as Lesbians. This story is told through a mix of chart music and Disney songs. It represents that love is love no matter the sexual orientation or colour of the skin. Hall describes his video... "I wanted to tell this famous fairy tale in a new and innovative way, combining familiar top 40's songs with classic Disney melodies. This story speaks volumes and I think that love is as classic as this fairy tale. It's time for us to legalize love in all shapes and colours."

The use of Disney characters and songs enables to attract the audience that grew up with Disney, from ages 16-30's. The use of Disney can also help younger people understand gay relationships and how it doesn't have to be the traditional prince and princess story. The stepsisters at the beginning who were men dressed as women could also represent trans people in the community. 

The choice of music and lyrics help represent the sexual orientations shown. "Prince I don't want you bye, I'm gonna kiss the girl" accurately portrays the lesbian side of the story. "Someday we'll be part of your world" meaning that eventually gay marriage will be legal and everyone will be accepted no matter their skin colour or sexual orientation. 

The main issue of identity in this video is marriage for gay, lesbian and trans people. This is still an on-going issue for America, as only 17 states have legalised gay marriage. However this issue is on-going globally, some countries allow it whilst others don't, some being quite strict with this. The main message behind this video is that love is love no matter the gender or colour. "Legalise Love."

Gay Identity in Contemporary USA: George Takei

George Takei, famous for his role in Star Trek, is among the most famous openly gay celebrities, and a prominent activist for gay rights including marriage equality on various social media. In his old age he has become famous for his flamboyance and willingness to say things considered offensive or raunchy (giving rise to his catchphrase, "Oh myyy"). This video is a promotion of the gay identity by way of an attack on its opponents, in this case Arkansas school board member Clint McCance. George Takei's use of his fame to openly shame him and his statements, and by extension the entire opposition to the gay rights movement, is an important signifier of the progress of the movement to the mainstream and the steadily increasing acceptance of gay rights in mainstream US society. His promotion of the help line at the end likewise shows that homosexuality is now more accepted as normal, and that the focus should be on helping gay people to survive the bullying and discrimination they face rather than to "cure" them.