Essay about The Origins of the Cold War - 679 Words

The Origins of the Cold War The Cold War was a state of extreme hostility and confrontation but without direct militant action between the two world powers, the USSR and the USA. The USSR and the USA were originally wartime Allies during the Second World War; however a string of events and issues caused a built up of suspicion and distrust which finally escalated to what was known as the Cold War. The start of Cold War can be simply defined as the period of time whereby both powers were simultaneously hostile to each other and the idea of peaceful cooperation could not exist anymore. Churchill’s Iron Curtain Speech was a warning of Soviet influence beyond Eastern Europe. Churchill believed†¦show more content†¦The Truman Doctrine was an open and direct confrontation of the Soviets. In it, the Soviets were accused of ‘political oppression’, ‘suppression of personal freedoms’ and were even perceived as ‘evil’ by the Americans. Under the Doctrine, the US policy was to support people who resisted attempted subjugation by ‘outside pressure’ which meant the Soviets. The US felt the need to assist the ‘free’ people against the spread of Communism and saw the Soviets as a threat and an enemy. This was the first concrete and coherent American foreign policy towards the USSR. There was no immediate official response from the Soviet government. However, a few months later, the Soviet ‘Two Camps Speech’ emerged stating Soviet stand to American aggression. It stated officially tha t the USSR was anti- democracy. Also the need to prevent Western powers’ desire to dominate the world was emphasized; therefore the policy of cooperation between the Socialist and Liberal parties would cease to exist. Communist parties in Western European countries were told to adopt a militant anti-government stance. The USSR was no longer keen on peaceful cooperation and acknowledged the fact that the Americans and the Soviets could no longer be allies. This marked the start of the Cold War as the Truman Doctrine instigated and caused the end of any form of peacefulShow MoreRelatedThe Origins Of Cold War1550 Words   |  7 PagesThis research looks at the origins of Cold war, the political, ideological and economical rivalry between the United States and Soviet Union. This research draws upon mostly primary sources including memoirs, interviews and scholarly studies of cold war era conflicts. Most research on this topic focuses on its connection to the famous events and up heavals, which shaped that era. â€Å"From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic an â€Å"Iron Curtain† has descended across the continent. Behind thatRead MoreOrigins Of The Cold War1465 Words   |  6 Pages18.1- Origins of the Cold War †¢ Allies Clash o After World War II finally came to an end, the United States and Soviet Union had conflicting ideas of how to restore the world back to normal. ï‚ § Stalin wanted complete and ultimate control over the countries that were within the borders of the Soviet Union, spreading communist regimes. ï‚ § Meanwhile, the United States wished for all these states that were under Nazi rule to have self-determination. o This essentially formed a rivalry between the idealsRead MoreThe Origin Of Cold War1987 Words   |  8 PagesThe Origin of Cold War: Ideology Clashes According to some sources, the fall of the Berlin wall on November 9th 1989 marks the significant ending of the years long Cold war between the two super power; the United States and the Soviet Union. The Cold War is unlike any other wars as there are no big battles but instead the two superpowers focus their competition on politics, economics, military, and ideological might. Since the Cold War is unique for the aforementioned reason, experts have long debatedRead MoreThe Origins Of The Cold War2356 Words   |  10 PagesHI742/HI747- The Cold War, 1941-1991 How Important were individual figures in the origins of the Cold War? The Cold War refers to a period post World War II characterised by a state of political tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States both supported by their allies from the Eastern and Western blocs respectively. Despite this being such a pivotal point in modern history there is a lack of clarity stemming from much debate regarding the catalyst for the Cold War and the ‘start’Read MoreOrigins of the Cold War Essay1295 Words   |  6 PagesOrigins of the Cold War The purpose of this paper is to explore the origins of the Cold War. To accomplish this exploration, the works of W.A. Williams, Robert Jervis, and Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. serves as the foundation. Before a closer examination of these works, a short explanation of the three common viewpoints regarding the study of the Cold War is warranted. These viewpoints are Attribution, Structural, and Misperception. With these viewpoints to guide the way, the above authorsRead MoreEssay on The Origins of the Cold War817 Words   |  4 PagesThe Origins of the Cold War The Cold War period from 1945 to 1985 was a result of distrust and misunderstanding between the USSR and the United States of America. This distrust never actually resulted any fighting between the two superpowers but they came very close to fighting on several occasions. The Cold War was a result of many different events and factors including the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, the Potsdam Conference of 1945, the differences between communismRead MoreOrigins of the Cold War Essay1179 Words   |  5 PagesOrigins of the Cold War Revisionist historians tend to regard the outbreak of the Cold War as a result of American hostility or, at least , diplomatic incompetence, while the more traditional view lays the responsibility squarely at the feet of the Soviet Union. Assess the validity of each view. The Cold War,said to have lasted from the end of World War II to the dismantling of the Soviet Union in 1991, was one of the most significant political events of the 20th century. For nearlyRead MoreOrigin of the Cold War Essay775 Words   |  4 PagesAfter the Second World War America and the Soviet Union gained power in Europe. Though these to countries never fought one another, they waged a cold war of economic, military and ideological rivalry which last through the second half of the twentieth century. The origin of the Cold War began with the Russian Revolution in nineteen-seventeen, which created a Soviet Russia. The Soviet Russia did not have the same economic and ideological state as the United States. The Civil war in Russia in whichRead More The Historiography of the Origins of the Cold War Essay2691 Words   |  11 PagesThe Historiography of the Origins of the Cold War There have been many attempts to explain the origins of the Cold War that developed between the capitalist West and the communist East after the Second World War. Indeed, there is great disagreement in explaining the source for the Cold War; some explanations draw on events pre-1945; some draw only on issues of ideology; others look to economics; security concerns dominate some arguments; personalities are seen as the root cause for some historiansRead MoreThe United States And The Origins Of The Cold War1717 Words   |  7 PagesProfessor Calvo AMH2042 23 July 2015 The United States and the Origins of the Cold War Essay Thinking about the decisions, strategies and goals of Soviet Union and the United States views on world domination and the possible accomplishment of such. The first and main would be to think and observe critically concerning the worldwide political scenery in the years after World War II (1945). This moment in history; taking all the way through the Cold War, may be seen as a lapse of severe ideological polarization

Family in “The Public Enemy (1931)” - 700 Words

Family in â€Å"The Public Enemy (1931)† A family is defined in different ways and at different perspectives based on the context and experiences of a person. Despite being a basic social unit that influences the society around it, a family remains a dynamic topic whose description has varied over time. To discuss the family and the definitions that the social unit this paper reviews and analysis the movie â€Å"The Public Enemy (1931)† produced by William. In regard to the analysis, this paper will explore the family as a social unit that is affected by the actions of each and every member in the family and the society. The movie â€Å"The Public Enemy (1931)† revolves around the lives of two young men who venture into crime despite having solid†¦show more content†¦As further promises them protection in case they are in problem, using all the languages available to convenience them. This scene shows how the society is strong in defining a personâ€℠¢s course of action that is against the values gained in a family. The reception of the movie from people of different backgrounds was acceptable. Considering that it was released during the time when the film industry was not as developed as today. Despite this, people appreciated the definition of a family is a unit of socialization that does not overprotect the members by secluding them from the larger social units. Many people agree to the fact that the movie depicts a family as a simple unit that allows kids to make their own choices. In the movie, the two boys made their decisions to venture into crime without the influence of their family (Wellman, â€Å"The Public Enemy†). In fact, as they were still engaging in the bootlegging work, his brother Mike tried to convince him otherwise but in vain. People from all backgrounds also appreciate the way the movie shows a family with having good times and bad times, especially in relation to the relationship between the family members. As Tom grew up, he had a good time with the mother and his brother mike as he shared in the warmth of the family. However, his life became the source of bad times when he decided to engage inShow MoreRelatedFamous Trials : Al Capone1092 Words   |  5 PagesFamous Trials: Al Capone The Accused: Al Capone (full name Alphonse Capone), was born into an Italian immigrant family in 1899 in Brooklyn, New York. Capone rose to infamy as the leader of the Chicago outfit during the prohibition era. Prior to being sent to Alcatraz prison for tax evasion, Capone amassed a total income of $100 million as the head of perhaps the most infamous crime syndicate of all time. Once he had served his time for the conviction, Capone died due to a cardiac arrest at theRead MoreAl Capone was a Notorious Mafia Leader1212 Words   |  5 PagesAl Capone was a child from an Italian immigrant family, And was one of the most Notorious and infamous Mafia leader in the world during the Prohibition Era in Chicago. Also he was known as Scarface, Al Capone was sent to Alcatraz Prison in Philadelphia in 1931 from a tax evasion conviction. Al Capone had a personal fortune estimated at $100 million and was responsible for countless murders, His most famous one was the St.Valentine’s Day Massacre. Al Capone was born in Brooklyn, New York, on JanuaryRead MoreAl Capone Essay example1178 Words   |  5 PagesAl Capone was a child from an Italian immigrant family, And was one of the most famous Mafia leader in the world during the Prohibition Era in Chicago. Also he was known as Scarface, Al capone was sent to Alcatraz Prison in Philadelphia in 1931 from a tax evasion conviction. Al Capone had a personal fortune estimated at $100 million and was responsible for countless murders, His most famous one was the St.Valentine’s Day Massacre. Al Capone was born in Brooklyn, New York, on January 17,1899Read MoreComparing The Movie Frankenstein And Frankenstein2368 Words   |  10 PagesFrankenstein due to the fact that he was the main reason for all the damage and devastation that his monster had caused and that Victor Frankenstein had deserved to face the penalties that he had to face of creating such a vicious creature. (Browning, 1931) (Whale, 1931) Jonathan Harker who is the protagonist in the film Dracula is a character that the audience feels apologetic for since he was not responsible for any of the anguish that had been caused. In the movie Dracula, a solicitor that was from BritainRead MoreAldous Huxley s Brave New World1334 Words   |  6 Pagesnovels regarding the destructive outcome of genetic and public manipulation through regime control. The story contrasts two worlds: the traditional world where the â€Å"savages† reside and the new World State: a negative utopia where unrestrained sexual freedom, reproductive technology, and mind numbing drugs run rampant. Aldous Huxley was born in England, July 26, 1894 to an elite family of revered social status (â€Å"Aldous†). Being born into a family of physicians and biologists, young Aldous was expectedRead MoreEssay On Al Capone1271 Words   |  6 PagesAl Capone was a highly known gangster in the 1920s Alphonse Capone born in Brooklyn, New York to a poor US immigrant couple, Gabriele and Teresina Capone, seeking a better opportunity for their then big family of eight children. He was known for running many lucrative illegal businesses that included alcohol bootlegging, gambling, prostitution, and protection. Al Capone was so notorious that he would murder those who got in his way. With little prosecution of his actions, Al Capone believed his selfRead MoreHenri Eveleigh s Let s Go Canada Poster Essay1563 Words   |  7 Pagesitself features little text, however places great emphasis on cheering on â€Å"Canada†Ã¢â‚¬â€not Britain, or some other country, but Canada. The Second World War was the first (and to date, the only) time Canada independently declared war on another nation. In 1931, the signing of the Statute of Westminster â€Å"registered the transformation of the ‘self-governing colony’ of 1914 into a nation which, in law at least, was co-equal with the United Kingdom.† (Stacey 1). The Statute ultimately provided Canada with controlRead MoreAmericas Involvement in Vietnam Essay example827 Words   |  4 PagesAmericas Involvement in Vietnam From the early 1800’s up until 1931 Vietnam was controlled by France, Frances rule was then ended as they were forced to pull out of Vietnam due to the start of WW2, France left a ‘puppet ruler’ named Emperor Bao Dai. This left Vietnam vulnerable to invasion which was an opportunity Japan could not refuse and took advantage of Vietnam’s situation by invading. This sparked the return of a well known Vietnamese communist, Ho Chi MinhRead More Al Capone Essay1867 Words   |  8 Pagesgangster and the single greatest symbol of the collapse of law and order in the United States during the 1920s Prohibition era. Capone had a leading role in the illegal activities that lent Chicago its reputation as a lawless city. Al Capones mug shot, 1931. Capone was born on January 17, 1899, in Brooklyn, New York. Baptized quot;Alphonsus Capone,quot; he grew up in a rough neighborhood and was a member of two quot;kid gangs,quot; the Brooklyn Rippers and the Forty Thieves Juniors. Although he wasRead MoreThe Rise Of The Great Depression1217 Words   |  5 Pagescontributing factor to the economic collapse, American credit was dried up and stretched to its limits in the wake of the failure of banks. Subsequently, World War I was one of the great creators of debt World wide that dried up credit and created financial enemies that would require decades beyond the Great Depression to repair. Finally, President Hoover, who attempted to implement several measures in hopes of pulling the nation out of the downward economic spiral, however; these efforts were late, ill planned

Compare and Contrast Illegal Immigration free essay sample

The United States is a country affected by illegal immigration. The term illegal aliens or what is most commonly known as illegal immigrants, the word alien is simply a person who comes from a foreign country. A much more accurate expression for these groups of individuals is the term illegal alien. The term illegal alien is a much more precise term because it deals with both undocumented aliens as well as nonimmigrant visa overstayers. Both terms illegal alien as well as illegal immigrant are used to describe individuals who have broken the law of our country to enter and work illegally. The majority of the immigrants who come to this country illegally are in search of the American dream, because of their economy crisis in their native countries. The United States is a country that is well known for our equal rights as well as the freedom of speech and globalization as well as a constitution that allows for any citizen to exercise their rights and voice their opinions. Immigration Amnesty helps support and forgives those immigrants who show good character rewarding them with legal status in our country. On the other hand, advocates have felt that illegal immigrants have committed a crime and should also be punished. Other countries are communist or are dealing with a corrupted government on the other hand our governments offers many programs as well as assisting with free education and free health care for immigrants. Although illegal immigration can create tension amongst U. S citizens, it also brings benefits as well as burdens to our government. The Dream Act was passed by the United States in the year 2011 it allowed illegal immigrants to attend college and receive assistance from the government. The law abiding citizens felt that it was not fair for them to have to pay taxes for organization that help support illegal immigration. Many illegal aliens are in search of a better life, leaving there home countries they enter the country with motivations and bring good value along with them. Supporting the illegal immigrant’s view of the â€Å"American Dream† the United States passed the Dream Act bill. The Dream Act Bill provides residency to honorable immigrants who graduate from any U. S High Schools as well as immigrants who have arrived as children and have been residence for at least 5 years. Many of the illegal aliens had been crossed over at such a young age, even as young as infants when they entered the United States. True believers of the Dream Act felt that it was unfair to condemn these individuals to a life of low-paying underground, black market labor for the actions of their parents. For many young immigrants this bill was a benediction to be able to attend school and gain residency. The Dream Act gave opportunity to many immigrants believing that they might be tomorrow’s teacher, firefighter, and even our next president. In contrary many opponents thought otherwise about the Dream Act and what it supported. They feel appalled passing the Dream Act considering the fact that the economy is in a struggle dealing with educational budget cuts, Opposing the Dream Act, many of our citizens have criticized how The Dream Act does not require that and illegal immigrant finish any form of educational degree. Many of current illegal aliens will get federal student loans as well as federal work study programs and Financial Aid. Adopting such a large group of illegal immigrants, citizens wonder who will pay for all these government programs. Assisting others before assisting our citizens questions our form of government on weather our laws are to better our society or if they are to only benefit those individuals in our government, The United States has suffered high unemployment in the most recent years, and government cut backs due to the economy’s ups and downs. Many U. S citizens start to wonder and question the fact that they take up the majority of the middle class jobs. The illegal immigrants have most commonly been well known for working hard cheap labor and not getting paid very much to do it. This expansion of low cost labor pool assisted in increase money circulation. As mentioned in the article, â€Å"Should Labor Unions support an Immigration Amnesty? † The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007, this legislation states that for the first time in 40 years, deviate from the long-held Americans have earned a middle class life style and Congress should be working to protect it not take it away. From an economic viewpoint many of these low paying jobs have also had to deal with being exploited and forced to work under harmful conditions. Although illegal immigrants are exploited in many ways, American citizens feel that illegal immigrants are the primary cause for the high rise in unemployment in the United States. However, many of our hard paying labor workers do not have to live in our country to compete with our citizens. Today many our jobs are being performed internationally in many countries. Also with many of our citizens struggling with their small business low paying, illegal immigrants are very beneficial to the economy. Illegal immigrants are well known for their low pay and hard work that they offer. Many of these illegal immigrants are willing to take jobs that many of our citizens would not consider working for. On the other hand not allowing for illegal immigrants to work, would not resolve the economic struggle of unemployment. The word amnesty is basically to forgive any offense that is against the United States government including political offenses. An immigrant if caught illegally trespassing into the United States is fined and deported back their native country. According to amnesty the illegal immigrants are later forgiven for violating or breaking the law. Amnesty helps assist the illegal immigrant by granting them a privilege of legal citizenship. Immigration Amnesty would help up to 20 million illegal aliens that are currently residing in the United States. In contrary allowing illegal immigrants to come into the United States is causing the country as well as our population to become overpopulated. Allowing amnesty is also allowing for others to question our government system and the laws that are set to our citizens to abide. being a law abiding society the government is enforcing laws that are set to our citizens to abide. Being a law abiding society the government is enforcing laws to our citizens but not as a country by encouraging illegal immigration through amnesty. In conclusion although illegal immigrants may affect us in many ways, illegal immigration also benefits us as a country, Illegal immigration has always been an issue in many countries with United States having the most impact with illegal aliens. Although our country has assisted these illegal immigrants with the privileges such as health care, social security, and education it still has not solved such economic issues that are occurring to this day. The government plays an important role in assisting illegal immigrants, for example the Dream Act helps give financial Aid to college students and amnesty also helps benefit illegal immigrants. This legal aid causes tension amongst U. S citizens who are trying to better their financial situations. It seems as though the government chooses to assist illegal immigrants, before trying to better the crisis U. S citizens are dealing with. The government system is taking a risk by passing illegal Immigration laws, not being aware of what consequences this outcome might bring to the economy. In reality illegal immigrants who cross the border are violating the law and in some cases can be bringing illegal drugs into the country. In the United States there are three types of social classes, upper class which consists of wealthy people, middle class people, and lower class which consists of poverty. The illegal immigration cannot better the economy if they are only willing to work for cheap labor, and not bringing any productive skills into the economy. This basically makes the country look bad, and can cause the Great Depression, for the economy to collapse. Although at times the U. S government debate on the issue of illegal immigration, it will continue to have its pros and cons

Work and private life

The major changes taking place in the job market across the globe are pushing organizations and governments all over the U.S. and the U.K. to rethink their approaches to dealing with the workforce. Big and small organizations alike are compelled to apply policies that seek to create a good balance between work, family and social life. It is imperative that employers realize that their employees are people with a life away from work.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Work and Private Life specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The European Union for example, is encouraging the implementation of guidelines that benefit the organization while at the same allowing employees to meet deal with out of work responsibilities. Advances in technology are also forcing organizations to undergo radical transformations in the way they transact business. The recent global economic meltdown destabilized both employers and employees throw ing all into panic and uncertainty of what the future holds. With reduced income and production going down, organizations were left with no option but to carry out massive lay offs. This frightening phenomenon led to the emergence of other challenges that are now pose new threats to the social settings within the community. Job insecurity for example, would raise alarm at home as families begin to worrying about how to make ends meet. This has seen an increased number of women taking full time employment to supplement husbands’ efforts to provide for families. Negatively, this has increased the rate of divorce and an upward surge of the number of children growing without parental guidance. In addressing this dilemma, most governments are struggling to create healthy work environments that are appealing to employees. Similarly, organizations are working hard to redesign human resource operations with clear intentions of retaining high caliber staff. Flexibility is increasingly becoming a preference for both employers and employees as both parties see work and private life as being inseparable. Most employers are now more concerned about their employees out of work problems are willingly to listen and make it easy for staff to create a balance. According to the EFILWC (2006), these issues are very critical to both the employees and the employers. This paper discusses stress and how it affects work and social life. It also examines how organizations can get flexible enough to create interesting work environments as they seek to maintain employees for longer periods.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Stress in Organizations Stress Defined Many definitions exist to explain what stress is but generally, stress is defined as a response to some form of pressure or interruption. In the book by Cartwright Cooper (1997), stress may lead to worry, nervousnes s or anxiety. Sources of Stress Stress may be the end result of working for very long hours and in poor conditions, having unhealthy work relationships, ambiguity in work roles, and stagnated career development or even non-work related cause. Some of the problems associated with stress are; loss of man hours as absenteeism becomes the order of the day, workers committing suicide, and alcoholism which may lead to even more serious troubles. A number of organizations in the U.S. and the U.K. have had to be subjected to massive losses that are directly linked to stress. Valuable employees have died from stress related causes. Due to the rising costs of dealing with the consequences of stress, organizations are resolving to fight the root causes of stress at work. There is need to invest enough time and resources to reduce the effects of stress. A great number of companies in the U.S. are now paying close attention to the well being of employees so as to avoid incurring so much in healt hcare. Being overworked can also act as a source of stress. Poor time management and lack of skills necessary to do the job are some reasons why employees get overworked. Too much time is therefore spent to accomplish the given tasks. This leads to crises that only worsen the situation by draining the employee’s energy. Usually, those overworked are managers or professionals in various fields who have to answer to the needs of others time and again. Sadly, these employees will be working while at home or even when on vacation. If left unchecked, this could have a serious negative impact on family relations. Any understanding employer knows not to interfere with an employee’s family life. They will instead encourage employees to enjoy every moment they have with the family. Galinsky Backon (2004) conclude that the employees should be advised to see to it that any vacation serves the intended purpose.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Work and Priva te Life specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Effects of Stress Stress and work pressures do not only affect an employee’s performance at work. More often than not, the effect trickles over to the home as it is very difficult to separate work from home life. For most people, managing organizational and family demands can get quite tricky leading to important family relations getting really messed up. Damaged family relations in turn, negatively impact on the employee’s performance at work and the result is a vicious cycle that unless dealt with, will not end. Work disturbing home and home affecting work. Though, home is generally regarded to be a haven of peace where employees can get support and encouragement, a crisis at work easily finds its way into the home and creates instability as it is almost natural and employee to carry work related fears to the home life. When this happens, it weighs down on the spouse who may the n not be able to provide the much needed support to produce a relaxing environment at home. In a case where job loss is eminent for example, a non-working spouse may have to look for employment to enable her assist her worried husband. In the end women are faced with an even bigger task as they have to work while at the same time they are expected by their husbands to manage the home environment. Dealing with Stress For better results, both the employer and the employee should be involved in the fight against stress. A number of strategies can be adopted by organizations to deal with stress and one such solution is to ensure that all employees have their jobs clearly defined to avoid any doubts and conflicts. This makes it easy for everyone to know what is expected of them and in a way, help to build employee confidence. Social events organized by the organization can also play a big role in relaxing and re-energizing employees. On their part, employees can aid the war against stres s through proper time management, building self confidence through whichever means are available, and engaging in healthy practices among others. Organizations and Flexible Forms Background Information To remain relevant and competitive, it is mandatory that companies devise attractive working arrangements. With more and more employees now willing to place carriers in the back burner as they pursue the benefits of healthy family relations, employers have to do quite a lot to attract and keep the best employees.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More A big number of employees would love to have a job that is challenging, can present opportunities for growth and more importantly, able to offer more time off. A strategy being used by most organizations is to formulate mechanisms that give workers an opportunity to achieve a good work-life balance. Simply put, companies are leaning more towards providing a flexible work environment for their workforce. Top on the list of flexibility is having an environment where employees can work but also have room to attend to non-work related matters without fear of punishment. A great number of employees are now using this as a measure when assessing the prospects of a new job. Most employees, especially male are getting tired of missing out on private life and as a remedy, will sneak out of work during the day without the bosses knowing to participate in family. The reason this is happening is because most companies are still managed in a way that separates work and family life. Oblivious of the fact that employees can actually be at work but completely disengaged, some organizations are still under the false impression that employees will consider work to be a priority over family, or other private engagements. Companies quite unrealistically expect workers to always be available to deal with work matters anytime when called upon. Flexibility in Organizations Flexibility has gained popularity over time as an important component of success at the workplace and is seen as a means to give an answer to the changes the discussed above. For success to be realized, flexibility must be seen to benefit both the employer and employees. Employees subjected to flexible working environments are more likely to propel the growth of the organization. Usually, they are satisfied with their jobs, exhibit better mental health and are more willing to stay with their employer much longer. According to Peeters and colleagues (2005), numerous changes affecting families and the subsequent inc rement of women working full time, have made it difficult to draw a line between work and home life. This is further aggravated by technological advancements that have led to possibilities of performing work related tasks from anywhere. A job is generally considered more attractive if it can assist the employees to meet family obligations. Workers making use of the available work-life balance options provided by employers are able to stay longer with the employer than those who do not. The strong relationship between flexibility and commitment is a major reason why flexibility should be a clear choice for both the employee and the employer. Flexible work practices also help to reduce stress, which is a major contributor to absenteeism at work. Employees with high quality jobs and more supportive work environments have been found to be much more relaxed and less stressed. They return home in better moods and ready to give to the important people in their lives. Work can therefore hel p to enhance life off the job but this is if and only if work and family life are well balanced. The way people manage work and personal life is closely linked to how people assess and decide on priorities. Most flexible organizations recognize the value of employees and consequently put the needs of employees ahead of any other. Employee with pressing family issues to deal with must be given time off and any action to the contrary is unacceptable for a flexible working culture. This springs from the fact that when employees are happy customers too will be happy making the organization profitable in the end. Flexibility is strongly supported by the use of existing technologies such as mobile phones, computers and the Internet. Employees can be allowed to work wherever they are using laptops and incase communication with the office is needed, teleconferencing can be used. Working from home, they may be able to take care of parental duties, or even look after a sick relative. To furth er reinforce the achievement of a flexible environment, part time schedules can also be agreed upon. Although there are times when flexible arrangements have failed to work, proper use of a flexible work environment will benefit both the employer and the employee. To advance the use of flexibility, organizations have followed different approaches. Some have allowed employees to work from home one day a week arguing that it is possible for one to concentrate more when phones are not ringing. Others will guarantee workers time of after they have worked for a certain period of time. Given that work-life balance is the need of the hour, organizations are now required to work out systems that enable workers to effectively deal with work-private life pressures. Currently, adopting a flexible working culture is seen as the only way out as organizations strive to retain dependable employees and remain competitive. In the study done by Miller (2006), however, most managers are afraid that a flexible worker may not be trusted. This type of management would prefer to see employees seated and doing work from workstations provided for them at the workplace. Conclusion In as much as most employees favor a job that allows them to strike a good balance between work and private life, all these will not bear much fruit without good management policies that guarantee a strong foundation for success. It is therefore important that an organization develops helpful work-life balance programs. Besides, the organization’s culture must be one that strongly supports these initiatives and uses them to the advantage of the organization as well as the employees. If this is not recognized as a way of working in the organization, even the best designed work-life programs are bound to fail. There is also a need to put in place laws that compel both employers and employees to abide by the use of such available flexible programs. There are instances where some employees have not taken a dvantage of the flexible options offered by their employers simply because the organizational culture does not allow for this to happen. Others, however, have failed to use work-life balance plans out of fear that their jobs could be affected in one way or another. In the U.S. for example, the Family Leave and Medical Act allows fathers to take twelve weeks of paternity leave. Sadly, only a small percentage of eligible men request for this. Similar arrangements in the U.K. have not resulted into any tangible benefits. While most employers offer the work-life balance programs as a way of recruiting and retaining staff, some offer the initiatives to improve production and employee commitment levels. More importantly, some employers use these programs to support employees and their families. It is worthwhile noting that even if a company does not support work-life balance, it is possible for workers to go around the system and to attend to pressing family demands. This rat race can be avoided if companies can appreciate the fact that work and private life are indivisible and greatly complement each other for the success of the employees. People who consider work and personal life to be equally important have been found to be more fulfilled, successful and less stressed. By setting tight boundaries between work and family life, they are able to concentrate on what matters most at any given time. One strategy employed to achieve this is to leave work at work. It does not help to transform home into an office. It is important to make sure that when one is at home, he is really at home an emotionally engaged. Another helpful tactic is to take time for rest and recovery. Also, one can ensure that their priorities are clear set. What is important should be treated as such and must not in any way, be undervalued. It is about being intentional as far as how one wants to live is concerned. Employees operating on extremes emphasizing work more than personal life or vice ve rsa often feel dissatisfied with work and life. Reference List Cartwright, S. Cooper, C.L., 1997. Managing Workplace Stress. California: Sage Publications. Web. European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (EFILWC)., 2006. Reconciliation of work and family life and collective bargaining in the European Union. Loughlinstown. Web. Galinsky, E. Backon, L., 2007. When Work Works. New York: Family and Work Institute. Web. Miller, H., 2006. When Work and Life Balance, Everyone Wins. Michigan: Herman Miller Inc. Web. Peeters, M. C. W., Montgomery, A. J., Bakker, A. B., Schaufeli, W. B., 2005. Balancing Work and Home: How Job and Home Demands Are Related to Burnout. International Journal of Stress Management, 12 (1), pp. 43–61. Web. This essay on Work and Private Life was written and submitted by user Isabel Ramirez to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

A Freelance Writers Basic Guide to SEO

A Freelance Writers Basic Guide to SEO A Freelance Writers Basic Guide to SEO A Freelance Writers Basic Guide to SEO By Colin Hands up all those freelance writers who, when scanning the job boards recently, have seen writing gigs looking for copywriters with SEO experience? (should be everyone). Keep your hands up if you don’t understand what SEO is, or if you do, were confused the first time you saw it used? (should still be everyone). And now keep your hands up all those freelancers who have since realised how easy it is to make money writing SEO articles, or who would like to know what it’s all about? (Everyone should still have their hands up). Yes it’s true, SEO seems like one of those fancy modern phrases, that only applies to tech-minded people, but the reality is very different. SEO has been around for a while; it’s only since the Google revolution has it been defined as an entity. Get your head around SEO, and it can be the source of many lucrative writing jobs. This article will give you the low down on SEO, what it is, and how you can earn from it. What is SEO? SEO is an acronym for Search Engine Optimisation. It is the term to describe the methodology used to boost a website’s rating when it is searched for on an Internet search engine, and the resulting page rank it receives in relation to other related websites. This is achieved through the use of web content and articles enriched with keywords, and meta tags in the structure of the webpage. Why is it Relevant? SEO is relevant in the world of e-commerce and online business, and for those involved in the creation of web sites and web content. Because most Internet users don’t browse past the first page of search results they are offered, the higher a website can rank for a given keyword or phrase, the better its chances are of bringing in new customers. Research has shown most users only ever click on the top 5 to 10 results. Yahoo, MSN, and in particular Google, account for over 70% of all search engine traffic on the Internet, so for an online business this avenue of attracting customers is highly valued. What is a Page Rank? Page rank is a way of determining a websites importance dependent on its desirability and exposure. The term was derived by Google, who developed an algorithm to calculate rankings. When this algorithm is executed, it determines the number of links pointing to a website, the amount of relevant content it contains, and then assigns it a number between 1 and 10; 1 being the lowest level of rank, 10 being the highest. The higher a page rank, the better chance a website has of appearing at the top of an Internet search result page. What is a Keyword? A keyword is a word or phrase an Internet user will enter into a search engine when trying to locate something, i.e., a product or information. For example, a website selling herbal tea will list keywords such as, â€Å"herbal,† â€Å"tea,† and â€Å"tea bags,† etc. What is Keyword Density? Keyword density is the numerical factor derived from dividing the number of words on the page of a website, by the number of keywords that are used within it. The more keywords used throughout a web page (and ultimately the entire site), the better the website will rank for that keyword or phrase. Websites that have too high a density tend be considered as spam by search engines, and may be excluded. Cant Website Owners Pay For A Higher Ranking? It’s not possible to purchase search list rankings, because they are free and calculated through algorithms. Instead, a website must earn its rating over time, and through the use of Internet links and keyword relevance. It is possible to pay for promotion based on specific keywords or phrases, however these are separate to the free results offered when running a standard search, and usually appear as sponsored adverts. What Has All This To Do With Freelance Writing? For freelance writers, this means the appearance of more and more writing gigs looking for writers who are able to write dedicated SEO-rich web copy, related articles, and blogs. All these methods are aimed at attracting hits and links to a website, thus boosting its rankings, and pushing it up the search ladder. There are two main methods you might be hired to do this. The first is through the writing of web content for the target site. The aim of this is to attract interested users directly into a website via a landing page. For example, a user will search for the term â€Å"herbal tea,† and find their way onto a website that sells it. They will then be able to read all about it and order their favourite brand before they leave. The second method is through the writing of articles and blogs that are external to the website, but show up in search engine results and guide users towards the main website at the centre of the business. So for example, somebody might search for â€Å"Lemon tea† and discover an article written by a freelance writer on the physical benefits herbal tea promotes. The article will contain a by-line or other links throughout it, that direct the reader to the main website so they can purchase lemon tea. Where there are websites looking for business there will always be a need for writers. Fresh and attractive articles that are written using SEO techniques, and are enriched using keywords in a subtle and sensitive approach, are becoming more in demand. Master SEO writing, and you will never be short of work. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Freelance Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Rhetorical Devices for Rational WritingDeck the HallsThrew and Through

Fix a flat essays

Fix a flat essays Most people who drive cars experience a flat tire at least a few times throughout their lives, I have twice already. What makes it difficult is a lot of these people have no idea how to change a flat tire, so they call for assistance or for a tow truck. The first time somebody attempts to fix a flat tire it may seem daunting, but it is not difficult at all. Almost any driver can do it in less than fifteen minutes, which can be faster than it takes for a tow truck to show up. The first step when somebody gets a flat tire on the road is their safety. They should turn on the flashers to warn other motorists and then slowly and safely pull off of the road. The car should be parked away from traffic but someplace where it is still visible. Soft shoulders and inclines should be avoided. Next, put the transmission in park or in gear and apply the handbrake so that the car will not roll. To indicate to other drivers that you are in mechanical distress, open the hood of the car, place a warning triangle on the road, or set a few flares on the road if it is dark out. The spare tire can usually be found in the trunk of the car, along with a leverage pipe, jack, and a lug-nut wrench. Some vehicles might have the spare tire underneath the car and can be lowered usually from inside the trunk. A flashlight should be used if it is dark out. The leverage pipe is just a hollow pipe that can be used to help loosen a lug-nut that was previously tightened with an air ratchet. The rest of the wheels that are not flat should be chocked with a large rock or a log to help prevent the car from rolling. If the flat tire has a hubcap on it, it should be removed with a screwdriver to allow access to the lug-nuts. A lot of the newer types of cars have hubcaps that do not require a person to remove them for access to the lug-nuts. The lug-nut wrench should now be used to loosen the lug nuts on the flat tire, but do not totally remove them. This is...

International Perspectives in Childhood Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

International Perspectives in Childhood - Essay Example Italy, Sweden and the United Kingdom provide a diverse range of social, economic and political contexts. Including this, they have various policies directed towards the education and care of young children. In this paper, an evaluation between the pre-schooling practices in Sweden, Italy and United Kingdom, exploring the social, political and economic factors influencing pre-schooling in these countries and to critical analysis of the role of children’s right in pre-schools these countries is discussed. Sweden, Italy and U.K are rank in the most top 21 developing countries in the world in childcare well-being Sweden 5.0, Italy 10.0 and U.K 18.2. The UNICEF report card 7 (The United Nations Children’s Fund, 2007). It is discussed in the paper that Sweden offers a maximum fee policy, which lets parents to spend between 1% and 3 % of their family’s income on the childcare. It depends on the number of children they have. Whereas the government of the United Kingdom o ffers 12.5 hours of free early learning in a week, which is applicable to all form of childcare for at least 28 weeks of the year (Guardian, 2008). The paper also discusses the structure of the classes and the approach of teaching adopted by the three countries. The discussion ends on the conclusion where it decides the Swedish nurseries to have the best approach and providing more freedom for the children to play and explore new things. This way, without forcing children, they become geared up to learn new things at appropriate time (Bennett, 2001). Political factor surrounding these countries In Sweden the maximum rate is LIMITED to ?102 a month which is ?1224 a year, families pay less for a second child and a third is around 0.025% or 1% of the family income (Sundelin, 2008). This is because In Sweden, preschools can either run privately or publically. Municipal government of Sweden is responsible for providing preschool, after three to four years. The government made sure that t he places are provided at a reasonable price, including meals. For Swedish children, the maximum cost for the preschool is SEK 1,260 per month for every child. (Sweden.Se, 2011). In the U.K the average yearly preschool parents spend for 25 hours per week stands at ?5,028 per child (Daycare Trust, 2011). The childcare provided in UK is expensive and most of the times parents cannot afford it. Same is the case with Italy, where the daycare centers are not only expensive and limited but offer less number of hours per day, which makes the parents’ job a difficult task. Thus, when the statistics are compared, it is seen that the preschool educators of the three countries are trying to provide facilities to the young children; likewise they are promoting educational structure in their countries. However, the stability that is provided by Sweden is the best. Parents may want to go back to work but good quality childcare is not really affordable for most people that work in the U.K a nd Italy, some people may find it more beneficial not to go back to work and get help from the government for childcare, which have a huge impact on the economy. The government policy in Sweden makes it affordable for their people to go back to work and still have quality childcare. The government not only shares the economical burden of the children’s education, they also give children best day care facilities that can help the parents to continue their job while the children are in safe hands. In Sweden the max

Popular Music and Its Use in Propaganda Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Popular Music and Its Use in Propaganda - Essay Example The observation was also conveyed that pictures of violence are prominent in song descriptions especially for the rock genre. The report was purportedly to show the destructive repercussion of popular music on the juveniles. (Music's Deadly Influence. August 3, 1999. CWA Concerned Women for America. [internet]). Another paper says that on a daily average, two and a half hours are being spent by teenagers listening to music more than half of which containing allusions to drugs and alcohol. (Parker-Pope, Tara. Under the Influence of...Music February 5, 2008. The New York Times. [internet]). How popular music sways the human individual was once explained by the philosopher and composer Theodor W. Adorno in that mass habitual listening first results into the tune being first perceived, then recognized and finally accepted. That cycle finally ends singly in acceptance and becomes a way of everyday life. It was on this premises that Adorno, together with his friend Max Horkheimer, likewise a philosopher, strongly argued against the aspect of popular music having the tendency to be used for propaganda purposes. (Adorno, Theodor W. assisted by George Simpson. Theory about the listener. Institute of Social Research. New York. 1941. soundscapes.infor [internet]). Music is admittedly universal and is estimated to have started its development as early as fifty thousand years ago in Africa and must have undergone numerous evolutions as generations come and go. (History of classical music traditions. Wikipedia. [internet]). Naturally, genres and styles likewise crop up and fizzle out. Music itself in general could have already been used in announcements, declarations and in other forms of communications for thousands of years, that is, even before the emergence of pop culture. Known is the fact that music has been historically linked with political and social activities, including dynamics in expressions such as those pertaining to anti-war themes, patriotic songs and other varieties of delivering a message. In these instances, since the object is the people, the song or music must be one readily acceptable by the masses. (Music and politics. Wikipedia. [internet]). In the specific case of popular music, if indeed it is a valuable tool for propa ganda, then its use for that purpose must have already traversed the period from the middle of the 1950's or even before and up to the present. Presidential candidates in the United States of America have oftentimes used well-known songs in their political campaign or propaganda. The themes can vary from political platform or planned programs of government to direct or subtle character assassination against the adversaries. Music in politics has been used even during the time of George Washington, the first president, whose supporters had flutes blown out while rejoicing when the general was unanimously nominated. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson had also their campaign songs, ironically composed by the same talent, in the election of 1800. Eisenhower, Franklin Roosevelt and John Quincy Adams likewise had their own. William Henry Harrison famously campaigned with the song entitled Tippercanoe and Tyler, Too; he had other songs for his political advertising one of which attacked Martin Van Buren as someone like Satan. Franklin Roosevelt

Themes in Romeo and Juliet Essay Example for Free

Themes in Romeo and Juliet Essay The story of Romeo and Juliet continues to interest and engage viewers and readers to the present day. One of the reasons for this may be that it explores universal themes which are still of interest and concern to everyday people. The play makes us think about issues, such as love, loyalty to one’s family and friends, authority, and fate. Each of these themes is discussed below in relation to the play. Loyalty Romeo and Juliet contains many examples of loyalty of one person or group to another person or group. Loyal actions in the play do not always have positive results and cannot always be seen to have been the best course of action. At times, as we see in the opening of the play, loyalty can lead to violence and people behaving dishonestly or wrongly. Student Tasks 1. In your groups, discuss and decide on a definition of loyalty. In your answer consider the following: What is loyalty and how does a loyal person behave? Where does loyalty start and stop? 2. Think of at least three examples of when a person or group shows loyalty in Romeo and Juliet. Write down: a. Who was loyal to whom? b. How they were loyal—what did they do that showed loyalty? c. What the result of their actions—did their loyalty have positive or negative outcomes in the end? 3. Using the scenes of Romeo and Juliet that we have studied in class, find three quotations that show that a character is feeling torn or pulled in two directions by their loyalties. Write down the quotation and explain what it shows about the character and to whom they are loyal. Authority Authority is illustrated and explored in Romeo and Juliet. In Shakespeare’s time, authority was very closely linked in people’s minds to the natural  order of the world and to the will of God. For example, the authority of the king or queen was believed to be given to them by God. Therefore, anyone who went against the authority of the king or queen would be considered to be committing a crime or sin against the wishes of God. People who went against authority were seen as going against the natural order and many people believed that this could only end in disaster. Student Tasks 4. There are many other words related to the word ‘authority’. For example: authoritarian, authorize, authoritative. Look up each of these words and find out what form of word that they are, for example, noun, adjective, adverb. Write a brief definition for each of the words including the word ‘authority’. 5. Find and write down three examples from the play where one person or group has authority over another group. 6. Describe three situations in the play when a person or group disobeys authority. What is the end result in each situation? Which of these examples of disobedience are the most serious ones in your opinion? 7. Are there any situations in Romeo and Juliet where people in authority do not do their jobs properly? For example, do the people in authority always carry out their jobs as carefully and as well as they should? 8. What message or idea do you think Shakespeare might have wanted to say in Romeo and Juliet about the nature of authority and about obeying authority? Love Love in Romeo and Juliet is presented almost as a disease that makes you physically ill and that makes you behave in a foolish way. Student Tasks 9. Read the two statements about the theme of love in Romeo and Juliet. As  a group, choose the statement that you agree with more and find quotations and examples from the play to support your opinion. Be prepared to contribute your ideas to a class discussion. a. â€Å"Romeo and Juliet† is one of the greatest love stories of all times.† b. â€Å"Romeo and Juliet† is more about passion, hate, and the importance of obedience than it is about love.† Fate versus free will In Shakespeare’s time, fate was seen as your personal fortune or destiny that was predetermined by God. You could escape or avoid it. Your fate was said to be aligned with the stars (that is why astrologers have such importance for some people). On the other hand, there is free will. This is where a person takes control and makes his or her own destiny thereby changing the will of God. This was seen as a sin. Student Tasks 10. Write down three examples of fate or free will from Romeo and Juliet. 11. What message was Shakespeare trying to convey about fate and free will?

Are Electric Cars the Future of Transportation?

Are Electric Cars the Future of Transportation? To boost the research and purchases of electric cars to reduce future pollution of the environment, manufacturers and consumers would benefit from subsidies and incentives from the government. This could provide a more economical and environmental friendly means of transportation in the future that would help in protecting the environment. There is the debate on the research and development of a more efficient electric car would produce more pollution by means of manufacturing. The long term gain in managing to produce an electric car that does short distance travel as well as long distance could mean less pollution as the technology advances to make on that is more efficient than today’s version of electric cars. As children from the 1960s to the 1980s, we watched The Jetson’s with the idea that one day the future would be very much like life living there. Flying cars, robot maids, instant full meals, and also traveling around with jet packs. Life seemingly made much easier with the use of technology. So far today, transportation has progressed in technology from horse drawn carriages to gasoline powered cars and now on to the way of electric cars. There has been an effort in trying to lower the effects of pollution from the technology of standard cars in the last few years. Cars have been manufactured for years, however, in the early years there was not a cause for concern with the environment. The main reason being the amount of cars on the road were not as many due to that many people could not afford one since it was considered a luxury. Over the years, cars became more affordable. Families were able to afford more than one car and soon became multi car families. With the addition of more cars being manufactured and running on the road, the emissions being produced have increased creating pollution that is causing many issues. With the current technology, manufacturers are attempting to find ways to make electric cars that are more affordable, reliable, and efficient. Once electric cars are more readily affordable, became able to travel long distances, and the installation of charging stations, the emissions would decrease and the environment would being to improve from the lack of pollution. There are a few advantages to electric cars. The first is dependency on fossil fuels by standard cars would be gone, which would reduce the costs of fuels if one purchased a hybrid of an electric and fuel cross type of car. If one purchased a fully electric car, then the fuel costs would be completely cut and thus saving money by having no fuel expenses. This would mean either a substantial decrease or complete cut in fuel costs with either type of car given the current rising costs in fuels. The other advantage over changing from a standard car to an electric one is that if there was a complete switch to an all-electric or a plug-in extended car, the nation would save 15 billion gallons of gasoline each year. (Pasadena Star-News, 2013). Thus reducing the costs for gasoline for both the nation as well as consumers. Maintenance is another issue with both standard and electric cars. There is a cost difference between the two. The advantage with electric cars are that a lot of mechanics observe that even though electric car engines still have moving parts, the maintenances is way easier, faster and cheaper (PR Newswire US, 2014). With an electric car, the rides should be quieter and smoother than a standard one. There’s a $7,500 federal tax credit for buyers of plug-in electric vehicles, and there are incentives for building charging stations and battery plants. (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2013) With federal and state tax credits, some models of electric cars are arguably competitive with standard mid-line economy cars. The cost of a Nissan Leaf, is listed for $30,000 to $31,000 at the Boulder Nissan dealership, will drop to $17,500 to $18,500 after federal and state credits. (The Denver Post, 2013) Tax credits, subsidies, fuel, maintenance, no emissions, and reliability are just to name a few more of the advantages to owning an electric car. The idea that being able to cut costs towards fuel purchases and maintenance is appealing when faced with the rising costs of both as well as the credits to lower the initial purchase cost. Battery, plug-in hybrids, hybrids, and hydrogen fuel-cell cars are the four types of electric cars currently in development. Battery electric cars have electric motors and battery packs with no other means of propulsion. The distances is usually about 100 miles. Plug-in hybrids act like an electric car from the first 15 to 50 miles, then can be switched over to a onboard internal-combustion engine that acts as a generator. Hybrids either use an electric motor as assists for the gas engine, or allow short bursts of electric-only driving. The hydrogen fuel-cell cars has a fuel cell that produces electricity from hydrogen which replaces the battery pack (Motavalli, 2012). While these are the current standards with these types of electric cars, the improvement in technology will change those over time. Environmental advantages with the electric car versus a standard one is that an electric car does not emit any emissions. A standard car emits pollutants from by the way they are powered. The way a standard car works is by combusting fuel, which in turn creates carbon dioxide that cannot be minimized through the use of emissions-control devices (Kliesch, 2011). A full electric car does not require any fuel, which in turn would not emit any emissions to create pollution. While there are many advantages to owning an electric car, there are disadvantages as well. One is the currently the way electricity is used to charge one is produced. Depending on the source of electricity generated will determine the amount of pollution. There are several different sources used in how electricity is generated. There are renewable sources, such as solar, wind and hydropower. Then there is the natural gas, coal-fired and nuclear plants. While the renewable sources would mean for the electric car to be manufactured by no pollution effects to the environment. The next in line for least amount of pollution is the natural gas plants, while coal-fired is the worst to emit high levels of carbon dioxide as well as particulate matter. Nuclear plants, while not a threat from global warming or smog-forming pollution standpoint, pose the dangerous threats of nuclear disasters and nuclear proliferation (Kliesch, 2011). Renewable sources are still being incorporated into the curr ent technology and life styles. While there is quite a few different types of pollution, a car produces 3 different types. The types produced from cars are categorized as – in-use, upstream and vehicle-manufacturing emissions. The definition of in-use is when a person is actually driving the car. While upstream emissions result from the production and transportation the fuel a car uses to where it is used. The third manufacturing-related emissions, accounts for about 10 to 20 percent of a vehicle’s lifetime greenhouse output (Kliesch, 2011). To be fair, that is only a portion of what contributes to pollution on a large scale. Those are what accounts for a standard car’s emissions. The electric car produces no in-use emissions, but they do have upstream emissions from where the electricity is produced in order to charge the battery. If one looks at the amount of pollution emitted by a standard car versus an electric one, it can be seen as to how much of a difference there is. A difference that is also affected by the location the car is driven in. If one lived in California and had an electric car, driving 12,000 miles in a year would emit about 1.6 tons of carbon dioxide. However, by contrast a hybrid would emit about 2.9 tons and a 25 mile per hour car would emit about 5.9 tons (Kliesch, 2011). Being that California has the most advantage with the cleaner of electricity produced, it would be a huge impact on reducing pollution by changing from a standard car to an electric one. The reason the government should be offering incentives and subsidies to the consumer as well as manufacturers are to help in reducing the dependency upon petroleum-based fuels. By investing into cleaner energies and cleaner cars, the impact of pollution caused by those would help the environment over a period of time. As the population that inhabits the Earth, this is the only planet able to sustain human life and needs to be protected for future generations to live here. In time there will be too much pollution that will cause many more health issues and possibly make the Earth unlivable in the future. With purchasing an electric car, one would have an immediate change in fuel costs. It would depend on the type of car purchased. If it were an all-electric car, then fuel costs would be eliminated. With a hybrid type, the amount of fuel purchases would possibly be cut up to half or perhaps more. To put it to numbers, drivers may ultimately compare fuel efficiency by how much it would cost to purchase fuel versus cost to charge with electricity. If gas costs $3 per gallon and typical mileage is 25 miles per gallon, it will take 4 gallons of gas to go 100 miles, at a total cost of $12. The per-mile cost is one hundredth of that, or 12 cents per mile. For the Prius, at 50 miles per gallon, fueling costs are half that: 6 cents per miles (PR, N, 2014). This is a considerable difference in cost per mile for standard car versus an electric car. As long as technology improves in different areas, then the advantages will outweigh the disadvantages on owning an electric car. The current means of manufacturing and ways to recharge an electric car to be improved to reduce the level of pollution side effects on the environment as well as lower the costs to purchase an electric car. The improvements with an electric car being able to travel further distances by improving the battery capacity and then implementing of charging stations much like gas stations. While those improvements are being made with electric cars, the technology for current production of electricity will be improved upon as well. This will reduce the pollution created from not only standard cars, but as well as the general usage by homes and businesses. This will bring forth protecting the population to being able to live in a healthier, better breathing environment much like in the days prior to the invention of cars. With the ground work in place for evolving the future of transportation to improve the environment, it is also going to be making an impact on the future of how electricity is made. While technology will change to improve the electric car, it will also change how electricity is produced. This will reduce the impact to the environment with the emissions produced from some forms of electricity production and standard cars. The placement of incentives and subsidies will enable consumers and manufacturers to purchase and develop a cheaper, environmental friendly electric car. The research into making an electric car travel further distances will also boost research into changing how electricity is used to recharge the battery. In time there will be charging stations very similar to today’s gas stations, allowing people to travel further instead of staying within a certain distance. The quiet and smooth ride of an electric car could change the comfort level versus the standard. Wit h the rising costs of fuel and maintenance for a standard car would decrease if each home were able to afford the initial purchase of an electric car. In time, electric cars will be manufactured for less and be similar in purchase cast a standard car, or perhaps even less. The future of the environment seems dependent on putting more effort into the research and manufacturing of a more economical and efficient electric car. References PR, N. (2014, March 7). Electric Cars set to offer consumers a number of benefits as advocacy towards sustainable automobiles grows. PR Newswire US. (2013). Plugging in; Many benefits of electric cars justify subsidies for public charging infrastructure in Colorado. The Denver Post (Denver, CO). KLIESCH, J. (2011). WHY ELECTRIC CARS ARE CLEANER. Mother Earth News, (244), 58. (2013, October 20). Are electric cars the vehicles of the future?. Fort Worth Star-Telegram (TX). (2013, December 15). The Green Way; Americans missing benefits of electric cars; About 45 million households meet criteria for driving battery or electric plug-ins but don’t have vehicles. Pasadena Star-News (CA). p. 9. Motavalli, J. (2012). The Road Ahead for Gasoline-Free Cars. Futurist, 46(2), 6-7.

Illustration Paragraph Essay

So, let’s suppose that you have done some brainstorming to develop your thesis. What else should you keep in mind as you begin to create paragraphs? Every paragraph in a paper should be Unified—All of the sentences in a single paragraph should be related to a single controlling idea (often expressed in the topic sentence of the paragraph). Clearly related to the thesis—The sentences should all refer to the central idea, or thesis, of the paper (Rosen and Behrens 119). Coherent—The sentences should be arranged in a logical manner and should follow a definite plan for development (Rosen and Behrens 119). Well-developed—Every idea discussed in the paragraph should be adequately explained and supported through evidence and details that work together to explain the paragraph’s controlling idea (Rosen and Behrens 119). top Read more:  How many sentences in a paragraph for college. How do I organize a paragraph? There are many different ways to organize a paragraph. The organization you choose will depend on the controlling idea of the paragraph. Below are a few possibilities for organization, with brief examples. Narration: Tell a story. Go chronologically, from start to finish. (See an example.) Description: Provide specific details about what something looks, smells, tastes, sounds, or feels like. Organize spatially, in order of appearance, or by topic. (See an example.) Process: Explain how something works, step by step. Perhaps follow a sequence—first, second, third. (See an example.) Classification: Separate into groups or explain the various parts of a topic. (See an example.) Illustration: Give examples and explain how those examples prove your point. (See the detailed example in the next section of this handout.) 5-step process to paragraph development Let’s walk through a 5-step process to building a paragraph. Each step of the process will include an explanation of the step and a bit of â€Å"model† text to illustrate how the step works. Our finished model paragraph will be about slave spirituals, the original songs that African Americans created during slavery. The model paragraph uses illustration (giving examples) to prove its point. Step 1. Decide on a controlling idea and create a topic sentence Paragraph development begins with the formulation of the controlling idea. This idea directs the paragraph’s development. Often, the controlling idea of a paragraph will appear in the form of a topic sentence. In some cases, you may need more than one sentence to express a paragraph’s controlling idea. Here is the controlling idea for our â€Å"model paragraph,† expressed in a topic sentence: Model controlling idea and topic sentence— Slave spirituals often had hidden double meanings. Step 2. Explain the controlling idea Paragraph development continues with an expression of the rationale or the explanation that the writer gives for how the reader should interpret the information presented in the idea statement or topic sentence of the paragraph. The writer explains his/her thinking about the main topic, idea, or focus of the paragraph. Here’s the sentence that would follow the controlling idea about slave spirituals: Model explanation—On one level, spirituals referenced heaven, Jesus, and the soul; but on another level, the songs spoke about slave resistance. Step 3. Give an example (or multiple examples) Paragraph development progresses with the expression of some type of support or evidence for the idea and the explanation that came before it. The example serves as a sign or representation of the relationship established in the idea and explanation portions of the paragraph. Here are two examples that we could use to illustrate the double meanings in slave spirituals: Model example A— For example, according to Frederick Douglass, the song â€Å"O Canaan, Sweet Canaan† spoke of slaves’ longing for heaven, but it also expressed their desire to escape to the North. Careful listeners heard this  second meaning in the following lyrics: â€Å"I don’t expect to stay / Much longer here. / Run to Jesus, shun the danger. / I don’t expect to stay.† Model example B— Slaves even used songs like â€Å"Steal Away to Jesus (at midnight)† to announce to other slaves the time and place of secret, forbidden meetings. Step 4. Explain the example(s) The next movement in paragraph development is an explanation of each example and its relevance to the topic sentence and rationale that were stated at the beginning of the paragraph. This explanation shows readers why you chose to use this/or these particular examples as evidence to support the major claim, or focus, in your paragraph. Continue the pattern of giving examples and explaining them until all points/examples that the writer deems necessary have been made and explained. NONE of your examples should be left unexplained. You might be able to explain the relationship between the example and the topic sentence in the same sentence which introduced the example. More often, however, you will need to explain that relationship in a separate sentence. Look at these explanations for the two examples in the slave spirituals paragraph: Model explanation for example A— When slaves sang this song, they could have been speaking of their departure from this life and their arrival in heaven; however, they also could have been describing their plans to leave the South and run, not to Jesus, but to the North. Model explanation for example B—[The relationship between example B and the main idea of the paragraph’s controlling idea is clear enough without adding another sentence to explain it.] Step 5. Complete the paragraph’s idea or transition into the next paragraph The final movement in paragraph development involves tying up the loose ends  of the paragraph and reminding the reader of the relevance of the information in this paragraph to the main or controlling idea of the paper. At this point, you can remind your reader about the relevance of the information that you just discussed in the paragraph. You might feel more comfortable, however, simply transitioning your reader to the next development in the next paragraph. Here’s an example of a sentence that completes the slave spirituals paragraph: Model sentence for completing a paragraph— What whites heard as merely spiritual songs, slaves discerned as detailed messages. The hidden meanings in spirituals allowed slaves to sing what they could not say. Notice that the example and explanation steps of this 5-step process (steps 3 and 4) can be repeated as needed. The idea is that you continue to use this pattern until you have completely developed the main idea of the paragraph. Narration, description, process, clasification, illustration  topics sentence,controlling idea,give example,explain,complete,transition

The Secret of Ella and Micha Chapter 7

Ella Dean's got his music blasting upstairs at full volume and it's rattling the ceiling. I start picking up the garbage in the kitchen, avoiding the confrontation of seeing him again. Propping the trash can against my hip, I drag my arm along the counter, pushing a line of bottles into it. I pull out the bag and tie the string shut, holding it far away from me. â€Å"God, that stinks.† â€Å"Still cleaning up after dad, I see.† Dean enters the kitchen. He's dressed in slacks and a button down shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His dark brown hair is cut short and it shows off the scar on the top of his forehead, where I accidently hit him during a freak accident while we were playing baseball with a tent pole and a basketball. â€Å"Nothing changes around here, even when you leave for a year.† He opens the fridge and steals a beer. â€Å"Although, you do look different. Did you finally clean up your act?† â€Å"Do you really care if I did?† I drag the garbage bag toward the back door. â€Å"I think you made it perfectly clear the last time you were here that you don't give a shit what happens to me.† He pops the cap off the bottle. â€Å"Are you still on that?† â€Å"You told me I killed our mother,† I say quietly. â€Å"How could I be over that?† He sips his beer and shrugs. â€Å"I thought you left so you could move on with your life.† I summon a deep breath. â€Å"I didn't move on. I bailed just like you did.† â€Å"I ran away for the same reason you ran away because staying here means dealing with the past and our pasts are the kind that need to be locked away and never revisited.† â€Å"You mean dealing with mom's death. And the fact that it was my fault she's dead. Or that I'm responsible for her death.† He peels at the beer bottle label. â€Å"Why do you always have to be so blunt about everything? It makes people uncomfortable.† I'm changing back into my old ways and I need to collect myself. Opening the back door, I toss the garbage bag onto the back steps. â€Å"Do you want to go get some dinner or something? We could go out to Alpine where no one really knows us.† He shakes his head, gulps down the rest of the beer, and then tosses the empty bottle into the trash. â€Å"The only reason I came back here was to get the rest of my stuff. Then I'm out. I got stuff to go back to that's more important than family drama and alcoholic fathers.† He leaves me in the kitchen and a few seconds later, the music is turned up louder. It's an upbeat rhythm and it drives me crazy, so I crank on the kitchen radio, blasting â€Å"Shameful Metaphors† by Chevelle. I start sweeping up the kitchen, blocking out my brother's words. He always liked to nitpick me apart, which was fine, but at the funeral, he crossed a line we can never come back from. The back door swings open and the wind rushes in as my dad stumbles into the kitchen. His shoes are untied, his jeans are torn, and his red shirt is stained with dirt and grease. His hand is wrapped with an old rag that's soaked in blood. Dropping the broom to the floor, I rush to him. â€Å"Oh my God, are you okay?† He flinches from me and nods his head, staggering to the sink. â€Å"Just cut myself on the job. No biggie.† I turn down the music. â€Å"Dad, you weren't drinking at work, were you?† He turns the faucet on and his head slumps over. â€Å"The guys and I had a couple of shots during lunch break, but I'm not drunk.† He removes the rag and sticks his hand under the water, letting out a relieved sigh as the water mixes with his blood. â€Å"Is your brother home? I thought I saw his car in the driveway.† I grab a paper towel and clean up the blood he got on the counter and on the floor. â€Å"He's upstairs packing up some stuff or something.† He dabs his hand with a paper towel, wincing. â€Å"Well, that's good I guess.† I lean over to examine his hand. â€Å"Do I need to take you to the doctor? That looks like it might need stitches?† â€Å"I'll be fine.† He grabs a bottle of vodka, takes a swig, and then douses his hand with it. â€Å"Dad, what are you doing?† I reach for the first aid kit above the sink. â€Å"Use the rubbing alcohol from the first aid kit.† Breathing through clenched teeth, he wraps up his hand with a paper towel. â€Å"See, good as new.† â€Å"It can still get infected.† I take out the kit and set it on the counter. â€Å"You should really let me take you to a doctor.† He stares at me for a moment with his eyes full of agony. â€Å"God, you look so much like her, it's just crazy†¦ â€Å"He drags his feet as he walks out the doorway and into the living room. Seconds later, I hear the television click on and the air fills with smoke. Suppressed feelings surface as I put the first aid kit back into the cupboard. Cranking up the music, I drowning out my pain and busy myself with the dishes. My phone vibrates in my pocket and I wipe my hands off on a towel before checking my messages. There's the voicemail from Micha from yesterday that I still haven't listened to and a new text message from him. The text message seems like the less dangerous of the two. My hand trembles as I read it over and over again, then finally respond. I toss the phone on the counter and focus on cleaning because it's simple. And simple is just what I want. Micha I barge into Ella's house. Something bad happened, probably because of her douche bag brother. Ella is scrubbing down the counters with the same amount of energy as a drummer. Her hair is pulled up, but pieces hang loose in her face. She has the music on, so she doesn't hear me come in. I walk up behind her, wanting to touch her, but instead I turn the music down. She drops the paper towel she is holding and reels around. â€Å"You scared the hell out of me.† She presses her hand to her chest. â€Å"I didn't hear you come in.† â€Å"That's kind of obvious.† I search her green eyes, crammed with misery. She fidgets with a stack of plates and carries them over to the cupboard before backtracking to the sink. She's wound up over something and too much energy is in her. Her mom was like that a lot of times. But Ella's not her mother, whether she realizes it or not. I collect the plates from her hand and set them in the sink. â€Å"Do you want to tell me what's got you all worked up?† Tapping her fingers on the sides of her legs, she shakes her head. â€Å"I should have never sent you that text. I don't know why I did it.† She starts to turn away from me, but I catch the bottom of her shirt. â€Å"Ella May, stop talking to me like we're business associates. I know you better than anyone and I know when something's bothering you.† â€Å"I said I was fine.† Her voice is tight as she forces back the tears. The girl never lets herself cry, even when her mom died. â€Å"No, you're not,† I steer her by the shoulders toward me. â€Å"And you need to let it out.† She stares at the floor. â€Å"I can't.† I tuck my finger under her chin and raise her head up, looking into her eyes. â€Å"Yes, you can. It's killing you inside.† Her shoulders quiver and she lets her head fall against my chest. I rub her back and tell her it will be okay. It's not much, but it's enough for the moment. Finally she pulls back and her face is unreadable. â€Å"Where's Lila?† â€Å"I left her with Ethan at the shop.† I sit down on the kitchen table that's stacked with unopened bills. â€Å"She's supposed to come back here when her car's fixed.† She gazes out the window, lost in her thoughts. â€Å"She could just go home after Ethan's done. She doesn't need to come back here.† â€Å"Where does she live?† â€Å"In California.† â€Å"Then she probably shouldn't leave tonight.† I glance out the window at the sun setting behind the shallow hills. â€Å"It's late and she's going to be driving by herself, right?† Ella nods, spaced out as she twists her hair around her finger. â€Å"And I worry about her making the drive by herself. I mean she practically freaked out when we ran into Grantford at the restrooms over by the lake.† My fingers grip the edge of the table. â€Å"You ran into Grantford?† She lowers her hand from her hair and lets it fall to her side. â€Å"Yeah, but it wasn't a big deal. He just acted like himself and you know how that is.† I release the table from my death grip, trying to clear the anger out of my head. No matter what Ella says, Grantford never should have left her on the bridge that night when she was that out of it. I stretch my legs out in front of me and change the direction of the conversation. â€Å"How did you end up becoming friends with Lila?† She bites down on her lip, contemplating. â€Å"We were roommates.† She shrugs, letting her lip pop out from her teeth and it drives me crazy because all I want to do is bite down on it myself. â€Å"She was really nice and different from all my friends here and I wanted a change.† I hop off the table and move in front of her. â€Å"Change is good, but completely shutting down is a whole other story, Ella, have you†¦ Did you ever talk to anyone about what happened with your mom?† Her shoulders stiffen and she turns for the doorway, preparing to leave. â€Å"That's none of your business.† I block her path. â€Å"Yes it is. I've known you forever, so I get full rights to what's inside your head.† Her eyes narrow and she puts her hands on her hips. â€Å"Get out of my way, Micha Scott.† â€Å"What is it with you using my last name?† I say. â€Å"Before, when you'd get mad at me, you'd just call me a douche bag.† â€Å"I don't use those words anymore,† she says flatly. â€Å"I'm nicer than that.† â€Å"Really?† I accuse. â€Å"Because you sure seem pissed off at me all the time.† â€Å"I'm trying not to be,† she fumes. â€Å"But you're making it very hard for me.† â€Å"Alright, you need a time out. I've had enough of your stubborn crap.† I pick her up by the waist and throw her over my shoulder. She lets out a startled gasp, and pounds her fists onto my back. â€Å"Dammit Micha, put me down!† Ignoring her, I walk out the back door and down the empty driveway. I think about grabbing her ass just because I can, but I'm afraid she might bite me†¦ although, that doesn't sound bad. â€Å"Micha,† she complains furiously. â€Å"Put me down!† My mom steps out of the house as I carry her toward the garage. She's dressed in a black dress a little too short for her age. Her highlighted hair is fluffed up like a poodle and her makeup is caked on. She must have a date. She stops on the top step and tilts her head to the side to get a better look. â€Å"Ella, is that you?† Ella stops fussing and lifts up her head to look at my mom. â€Å"Hi, Miss Scott. How are you?† â€Å"Hi, honey, I'm doing good†¦ but is there a reason Micha's carrying you like that?† she questions. â€Å"Are you hurt?† Ella shakes her head. â€Å"No, I'm fine. Micha just thinks he's funny.† Which means she secretly likes what I'm doing, but won't admit it. â€Å"Actually, I'm taking her for a ride,† I say slyly, inching my hand up the back of Ella's leg, and she slaps the back of my head playfully. â€Å"I'm taking you for a ride in my car. And you think I'm the pervert?† My mom sighs, shaking her head, and opens her purse. â€Å"Well, it's nice to see you two together again.† She takes out her car keys and her heels click as she trots down the steps. â€Å"Micha sure has missed you while you were gone.† â€Å"Bye mom,† I wave her off, heading for the garage again, as my mom climbs into her Cadillac parked in the street near the curb. â€Å"Is she going on a date?† Ella asks curiously. â€Å"She's been going on a lot of dates lately.† I swing open the car door and set her down in the passenger seat. She tries to climb out. â€Å"I'm not going anywhere tonight Micha.† I gently push her back into the seat. â€Å"I'm not going to let you sit around in your room and sulk while your brother's around. Let's go out and have some fun.† She pauses, crossing her arms over her chest and her boobs nearly pop out of her top. â€Å"But I need to be there when Lila comes back. I can't just let her come back to Dean and my dad passed out on the couch.† â€Å"I'll take care of it.† I rip my gaze from her tits, take out my cell phone, and text Ethan. Me: Taking Ella up to The Back Road. Wanna get Lila and meet us up there? Ella slumps back into the seat. â€Å"What are you up to?† I hold up my finger. â€Å"Just a sec.† Ethan: Yeah, sounds cool. Me: Is Lila up for it? And make sure u ask her. Don't just assume. Ethan: She said she's good†¦ but is Ella ok with going up there? Me: We'll c when we get up there. Ethan: Dude, she's gonna kick ur ass. Me: C U there. I stuff my phone into the back pocket of my jeans and close her door before climbing into the driver's seat. â€Å"Where are you taking me?† she asks, trying to appear annoyed but her inquisitiveness seeps through her eyes. â€Å"It's a surprise.† Once the garage door is open, I peel down the driveway. â€Å"And Lila and Ethan are going to meet us there.† â€Å"A surprise, huh?† she mulls it over. â€Å"I'm not a fan of surprises.† My lips spread to a grin. â€Å"You're such a liar.† She stays silent and I know I've won this one, which is rare, but I'll take it. With a swift crank of the steering wheel, I align the car onto the road and spin the tires off into the night, happy because I managed to chip away a tiny piece of that armor she's wearing.

The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire

The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire Free Online Research Papers The Roman Empire was known for many things. Its government, its leaders, and even certain achievements in history. People read about the Rise of the Roman Empirebut what about the fall? Many things in Roman History ultimately led to the fall of the Roman Empire. The population was decreasing. Plagues swept through the Roman citizens and birth rates were at all time lows. They welcomed barbarians who fed them food polluted with lead. Roman wealth in the West was deteriorating and the barbarians who kept camp outside the empire were often just as wealthy as the empire as a whole. Rome was being populated more and more by the barbarians than Roman citizens. This led to the military practically being led and populated by barbarians. The Roman legion was losing dominance because of the military advances of the cavalry. The Romans were also losing the value of their money. Coins worth one dollar were being spent as if they were worth 2 or three. Roman coins consisted mostly of four type of precious metal. Aureus were made from gold, Denarius were made from silver, sestertius and dupondius were made from bronze, and as was made from copper. As time went by the Roman coinage was losing value. They were still being accepted as a form of payment until the middle of the third century B.C to third century A.D. The coins kept being replaced and denominated until they were basically worth nothing. The Aerarium, or the state treasury, was overlooked by the Quaestors, then the Praetors, and then the Prefects. Eventually the Emperor took over and made his own treasury. It was known as the Fiscus. The Aerarium was still around but was used for tribute. Other Imperial territories put their money in the fiscus. The Roman trade is what was driving the economy. The Romans knew of two type of business man. The negotiators, part bankers because they lent on interest, and the Mercatoers, usually pleblians or freedmen. The negotiators bought and/or sold things in bulk and/or did whole sale quantities of goods. The Argetarii were considered to be a subset of the negotiators. They acted as agents in public or private auctions, kept deposits of money for individuals, cashed cheques, and served as many changers. They kept strict books or tabulae which were considered legal proof in courts. The Mensarii were public bankers anointed by the state. The Romans did not only trade with each other but also with India and China. The Roman social class was divided in to several classes based on ancestry and property. The broadest division was by ancestry. The Patricians, persons who could trace their ancestry to the First Roman senate established by Romulus, and the pleblians, the other citizens. At first only Patricians were allowed to hold public offices and the classes couldn’t intermarry. This changed when the pleblians had a sort of workers strike. The with held their labor and pulled enough power to change things.After this the status on the patrician and pleblians became less and less important. There were also non-citizens. This group consisted of slaves, freedmen, foreigners, and women. The freedmen, women, and foreigners had different legal rights from those of citizen status but slaves had no rights what so ever(shocking). The free born women belonged to the social class of their father until they were married. After that they take the status of their husbands. Women who were freed could mar ry but had restrictions. They couldn’t marry knights or Senators and they didn’t take their husbands rank. Foreigners had the Latin Right. A form of Roman citizenship but people under the Latin Right couldn’t vote and they had fewer rights under the Roman Law. The slaves were not allowed to marry. The Roman Empire seems(when you read it) as if it was doing fine. The economy was okay, social classes set in order, and the leaders were in the driver’s seat†¦most of the time. The Roman Empire was said to have fallen on September 4, 476 A.D. He over took Romulus Augustulus and seized control of Italy. He didn’t take the title as emperor and ended 500 years of Roman rule. Research Papers on The Rise and Fall of the Roman EmpireQuebec and CanadaThe Effects of Illegal Immigration19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraPETSTEL analysis of IndiaBringing Democracy to AfricaAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeTwilight of the UAWDefinition of Export QuotasWhere Wild and West MeetGenetic Engineering

Victor Vasarely, Leader of the Op Art Movement

Victor Vasarely, Leader of the Op Art Movement Born on April 9, 1906, in Pecs, Hungary, artist Victor Vasarely initially studied medicine but soon abandoned the field to take up painting at the Podolini-Volkmann Academy in Budapest. There, he studied with Sandor Bortniky, through which Vasarely learned about the functional artistic style taught to students at the Bauhaus art school in Germany. It was one of a variety of styles that would influence Vasarely before he became the patriarch of Op Art, an abstract form of art featuring geometric patterns, bright colors and spatial trickery. An Emerging Talent Still an emerging artist in 1930, Vasarely traveled to Paris to study optics and color, earning a living in graphic design. In addition to the artists of the Bauhaus, Vasarely admired early Abstract Expressionism. In Paris, he found a patron, Denise Rene, who helped him open up an art gallery in 1945. He exhibited his works of graphic design and painting at the gallery. Vasarely unstintingly joined together his influences- the Bauhaus style and Abstract Expressionism- to reach new levels of geometric precision and foster the Op Art movement in the 1960s. His brilliant works went mainstream in the forms of posters and fabrics. The ArtRepublic website describes Op Art as Vasarely’s â€Å"own geometric form of abstraction, which he varied to create different optical patterns with a kinetic effect. The artist makes a grid in which he arranges geometric forms in brilliant colors in such a way that the eye perceives a fluctuating movement.† The Function of Art In Vasarely’s obituary, the New York Times reported that Vasarely viewed his work as the link between the Bauhaus and a form of modern design that would spare the public â€Å"visual pollution.† The Times noted, â€Å"He thought that art would have to combine with architecture to survive, and in later years made many studies and proposals for urban design. He also devised a computer program for the designing of his art as well as a do-it-yourself kit for making Op Art paintings and left much of the actual fabrication of his work to assistants.† According to the paper, Vasarely said, It is the original idea that is unique, not the object itself. The Decline of Op Art After 1970 the popularity of Op Art, and thus Vasarely, waned. But the artist used the proceeds from his Op Art works to design and build his own museum in France, the Vasarely Museum. It closed in 1996, but there are several other museums in France and Hungary named after the artist. Vasarely died on March 19, 1997, in Annet-on-Marne, France. He was 90. Decades before his death, Hungarian native Vasarely became a naturalized French citizen. Hence, he’s referred to as a Hungarian-born French artist. His wife, the artist Claire Spinner, preceded him in death. Two sons, Andre and Jean-Pierre, and three grandchildren, survived him. Important Works Zebra, 1938Vega, 1957Alom, 1966Sinfel, 1977 Links to nytimes.com/1997/03/18/arts/victor-vasarely-op-art-patriarch-dies-at-90.html