The Imperial Presidency By Arthur Schlesinger Jr. S....

Throughout history, the term â€Å"Imperial Presidency† has been used in the 1960s to portray the United States presidents and their utilities. â€Å"Imperial Presidency† is grounded on many citations, observations that are devised by many historians. A numerous number of presidents follow the footsteps of presidents before them, in order to live in the shadow, they leave behind. Residing by the thought of, given that the president achieved his successes during his office, they try to repeat the same idea in order for the same successful outcome. However, there is a high chance for bad outcomes to occur, making it discreditable for the president in the current office. Historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr’s use of â€Å"imperial† president is aimed to convey a president with noble personality with his constant accumulation of power in his presidency. The executive power given to the president, sanctions him to be totalitarian and may create a war-like decision t hat affects the country as a whole. The government holds a crucial status to its citizens, executive branch specifically, is overlooked to symbolize leadership. Nowadays, the president’s office is believed to exemplify the values of the American people. There are certain powers allocated to the president by the United States Constitution, however; the responsibility and vacancy of the President tend to evolve from one president to the next. Characteristics of presidents and their effect on political decisions has beneficial aspectsShow MoreRelatedOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 PagesTwentieth-Century World Bonnie G. Smith 83 4 The Gendering of Human Rights in the International Systems of Law in the Twentieth Century †¢ Jean H. Quataert 116 5 The Impact of the Two World Wars in a Century of Violence †¢ John H. Morrow Jr. 161 6 Locating the United States in Twentieth-Century World History †¢ Carl J. Guarneri 213 7 The Technopolitics of Cold War: Toward a Transregional Perspective †¢ Gabrielle Hecht and Paul N. Edwards 271 8 A Century of Environmental

Water has been used to fight f... free essay sample

Water has been used to fight fires throughout history in all types of environments, applications and methods. This is mainly because water in considered inert and has the scientific properties to make it a great fire suppressor (Liu Kin, 1999). Water has a high heat capacity, requires a large amount of energy to vaporize, can absorb large amounts of heat, and expands when it evaporates diluting the surrounding fuel and oxygen sources (Liu Kin, 1999). Water is also readily accessible in most parts of the world, environmentally friendly, and cheaper to uses than any other methods of fire suppression. This is why it continues to be the most sought after fire extinguishing agent. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standard on Water Mist Fire Protection Systems or NFPA750 defines water mist as a water spray for which the Dv0.99 [99%], for the flow-weighted cumulative volumetric distribution of water droplets is less than 1000 um within the nozzle operating pressure (NFPA, 2015, Definitions, para. 3. 3.22). The European Committee for Standardization defines water mist in its CEN/TS14972 as a water spray for which the 90% of the total volume of liquid (Dv0.90) is distributed in droplets with a diameter smaller than 1000 microns at the minimum design operating pressure of the water mist nozzle (VID, n.d.). These definitions are a little confusing but are attributed to an earlier time when droplet size was the only consideration for performance (VID, n. d.). The operation of misting systems is relatively simple. Pressure pushes water through a nozzle or series of nozzles to create a cool, fog-like mist. This mist is suspended in the air due to its small droplet size and is transported throughout the area by turbulent air. The mist performs much a like a gas in the sense it can move around objects and get into crevices and ventilation systems. Surface wetting is still the primary method of fire suppression and helps keep the fire from spreading but it is not a complete saturation like traditional sprinkler systems (Stanwick, 2003). This wetting is assisted by cooling of the surrounding areas, surrounding air, fire, and fuel source (Stanwick, 2003). Another benefit of water misting is the scrubbing effect. In simple terms, smoke is made of liquid and solid particles created through the combustion of the fuel source (Stanwick, 2003). These small particles stick to the water droplets cleaning the air from harmful particles (Stanwick, 2003). This can be an important factor in the ability of this technology to save lives. According to the NFPA, prior to 1999 smoke inhalation deaths outnumbered burn deaths three to one (Hall, 2011). After 1999, there is a two to one ratio for smoke inhalation versus burn deaths (Hall, 2011). Today there are a number of factors that affect water mist performance. As previously mentioned, the surface area of the spray being used has a direct effect on how it reacts with the fire (Hambling, 2001). A normal sprinkler droplet size of one millimeter has a water surface area of two square meters (Hambling, 2001). A mist spray of one-tenth a millimeter across can have a surface area of more than two hundred square meters (Hambling, 2001). To put this into perspective, in one test a fire temperature was decreased approximately five hundred degrees centigrade and extinguished in two seconds using a mist (Hambling, 2001). That is extremely efficient fire fighting and explains why previously droplet size was considered so important. Smaller droplets also have a much longer hang time in the air (Liu Kin, 1999). This can help them be carried to small crevices and other areas inaccessible by larger droplets (Liu Kin, 1999).Spray flux density is another factor that affects water mist. Spray flux density is the amount of water spray in a unit volume or unit area (Liu Kin, 1999). The spray flux density must be increased enough to remove heat from the fire, cooling it below the ignition point (Liu Kin, 1999). The more it increases the less effect it will have on oxygen in the area. This is why certain heads with spray patters are tested first prior to use. The correct equilibrium must be met for the situation and fuel to optimize the effects and the spray mist (Liu Kin, 1999). The mist must reach the fire to be effective and a fire that creates more heat than the cooling power of the mist will not be extinguished (Liu Kin, 1999). This can further be affected by spray momentum, spray angle, shielding of the source, size of the fire, airflow, size of the area and shape of the area (Liu Kin, 1999). The last factor affecting water mist performance is the spray momentum (Liu Kin, 1999). This is the spray velocity and its direction in reference to the fire (Liu Kin, 1999). This has a direct impact on the droplets ability to penetrate the fire and contact the fuel source (Liu Kin, 1999). The spray momentum produces air turbulence which helps circulate the water droplets (Liu Kin, 1999). This circulation helps reduce the amount of oxygen and fuel vapor which in turn helps extinguish the fire (Liu Kin, 1999). The factors that affect spray momentum are droplet size, droplet velocity, pressure, angle, nozzle spacing, airflow, area size, and area shape (Liu Kin, 1999). The history of misting systems can be traced back to around 1880 and the F.E. Myers company (Lakkonen, 2008). Their creation of the back-bag system included a lance utilizing small water droplets to fight forest fires (Lakkonen, 2008). The biggest drawback of the time was lack of pressure and it wouldnt be until the 1900s that further advancement would be made in this area (Lakkonen, 2008). As better sealing materials were improved and created, the ability to increase pressure advanced and by the 1930s there were multiple companies offering systems that utilized misting technology in their products (Lakkonen, 2008). They were promoted on the benefits of cooling effect, oxygen displacement and low water damages with use (Lakkonen, 2008). One such company marketed a multiple orifice nozzle called a water dust nozzle (Lakkonen, 2008). In the 1940s another company, Factory Mutual, carried out a series of tests with small droplet nozzles and their effectiveness on gasoline fires (Lakkonen, 2008). The results indicated that the performance was comparable to conventional sprinkler systems except flow rates were much lower (Lakkonen, 2008). During this period, fire fighting techniques with water mist were established and the USA and Europe adopted water mist techniques as a manual fire fighting strategy (Lakkonen, 2008). The effectiveness of misting during the period was well recognized but it was still not utilized for fixed applications (Lakkonen, 2008). This was mainly due to the lack of water pressure in the systems that supplied water if any where yet available (Lakkonen, 2008). For the next twenty years there was a period of independent research but no systematic trials (Lakkonen, 2008). The creation and investigation into gases and powder as a fire suppression agent became the mainstream focus (Lakkonen, 2008). These systems were integrated into or along with the conventional sprinkler systems (Lakkonen, 2008). Misting was only considered effective and used in a select portion of the industry, manual fire fighting (Lakkonen, 2008). Around 1970 there were breakthroughs with supporting technologies such as hydraulics, which helped increase the working pressure of the manual firefighting systems (Lakkonen, 2008). This helped create several research groups that were researching misting technologies in different parts of the world (Lakkonen, 2008). By 1980 there was some misting products installed in a number of industrial and public buildings such as the Leipzig Bowling center in Germany (Lakkonen, 2008). The biggest breakthroughs were from Sweden where researches developed new tactic for fighting fires (Lakkonen, 2008). Krister Giselsson and his partner Mats Rosander termed their new tactic offensive fire fighting (Lakkonen, 2008). This new tactic applied misting sprays to indoor fires in short bursts (Lakkonen, 2008). This helped to cool the combustion gases without large amounts of thermal imbalance and without large amounts of scalding hot steam (Lakkonen, 2008). The creators then took the information they collected from the offensive fire fighting and began creating one of the first fixed water misting systems (Lakkonen, 2008). They would co-operate with the company Electrolux Euroclean (Lakkonen, 2008). Electrolux Euroclean was in the business of industrial cleaning equipment and was inspired to join fire misting when their equipment was accidently used to put out an oil fire (Lakkonen, 2008). Electrolux Euroclean would carry out a number of tests at the Swedish research institute proving the performance of their product and to give baseline scientific references where previously there were none (Lakkonen, 2008). This unusual team organized several demonstrations and fire tests between 1981 and 1983 providing an increase in the general knowledge of misting in Sweden and surrounding areas (Lakkonen, 2008). In the 1980s the Montreal protocol was signed being finalized in 1987 (USDOS, n.d.). This global initiative protected the atmosphere by stopping the production and use of ozone depleting substances most notably chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons (USDOS, n.d. ). Halon was widely used at this time as a fire suppression agent and this started the search for viable alternatives (USDOS, n.d.). The Significant New Alternative program (SNAP) was started by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency helped develop a class of clean agents and renewed interest and funding for research in water misting systems (USDOS, n. d.). Another incident in 1990 would also help water mist technology. The ferry boat Scandinavian Star had a fire break out on the morning of April 7th 1990 (Scandinavian Star, n.d.). The cause of the fire is suspected to be arson but the loss of 159 people is what brought negative publicity on the marine industry (Scandinavian Star, n. d.). Experts franticly searched for fire suppression methods that did not have the weight, large piping requirements, or high water requirements of standard systems to be installed into ships (Lakkonen, 2008). This event also leads to the successful fire demonstrations in Balsta Sweden on 20 June, 1990 (Lakkonen, 2008). These demonstrations were attended by shipping companies, insurance companies, fire and rescue services, and other marine industry companies (Lakkonen, 2008). It is considered a major turning point for water misting systems and the first large marine installations are realized in 1992 onboard Motor Ship Danica, Motor Ship Festival, and Motor Ship Karneval (Lakkonen, 2008). The modern age of water mist technology had begun and was further supported by the International Maritime Industry (IMO) (Lakkonen, 2008). The IMO had multiple resolutions in the mid 1990s that would increase the support and use for this technology aboard ships (Lakkonen, 2008). These resolutions would require the latest safety technology and require features incorporated similar to that of a hotel or building (Wilmot, 2016). The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) would create a technical committee on Water Mist development and release the first standard, NFPA750 Water Mist Fire Protection, in 1993 (Lakkonen, 2008). In 1998 the International Water Mist Association (IWMA) was formed with five corporate members (Lakkonen, 2008). Water misting systems have become even more popular through recent years and have been further investigated by all branches of the military (Lakkonen, 2008). The IWMA has swelled to over fifty corporate members and now holds an annual conference that supports the misting industry (Lakkonen, 2008). This old technology has had resurgence due to continued advancements and the events previous ly discussed. Misting is now common in a number of industries and is continuing to increase in popularity. Today water misting technology is marketed with advantages such as: immediate activation, high efficiency, minimized damage, environmentally friendly, and non toxic (ORR, n.d.). One of the most recent advances in misting technology is the PyroLance. The PyroLance is a portable, high pressure, fire fighting system utilizing misting technology (Schroeder, 2011). It consists of a high pressure lance, a high powered pumping unit and the hoses to connecting the two (Schroeder, 2011). It comes in three different models that can be operated by gas, diesel or power take-off and has a variety of options including: wireless controllers, wireless repeaters, upgraded hoses, extending hoses, mounting systems, water tanks, foam tanks, and abrasive material (Schroeder, 2011). Traditionally firefighters enter a structure to actually engage the fire (Roe, n.d.). This can risk the lives of those trapped inside and the firefighters by introducing more oxygen to the fire (Roe, n.d.). The situation can then escalate becoming more serious through flashovers, back drafts or an explosive type environment (Roe, n.d.). This product is unique because it changes traditional thinking on how to fight fires and can be used in situations that are difficult for fire fighter such as smoldering material between walls or structure panels. The PyroLance is held by the firefighter against the exterior wall or structure of the target and initiates the system (Schroeder, 2011). This activates the high pressure water stream mixed with aggregate which bores a 3mm hole through the target (Schroeder, 2011). The firefighter can then switch the aggregate off and initiate the high pressure water system (Schroeder, 2011). This provides a misting spray to the interior of the targeted location with water, foam, or combination of the two, cooling the targeted area and associated fire (Schroeder, 2011). The companys website claims a fire reduction of 900 degrees in less than one minute and that the boring is effective against any type material including steel, concrete, brick, stucco, and wood (Schroeder, 2011). The United Stated Air Force (USAF) conducted extensive testing on PyroLance to characterize the piercing and fire extinguishing capabilities of the system (Schroeder, 2011). Their testing was conducted in accordance with the NFPA 412 Standard for Evaluating Aircraft rescue and Fire-fighting Foam Equipment, Section 6.3.2 (3) (Schroeder, 2011). They evaluated flow rate, foam quality (not discussed here), throw distance, maximum piercing distance between two composite plates, multiple panel piercing ability, and ability to extinguish hidden fires between two panels (Schroeder, 2011). The finding of this testing concluded that this system is very easy to use to pierce an aircraft and apply water or foam to a fire (Schroeder, 2011). Throw tests were determined by placing a series of small fires at various distances and the then measuring to the furthest extinguished fire pan (Schroeder, 2011). The results indicated that the system was effective up to thirty-five and a half feet (Schroeder, 2011). Maximum piercing distance was completed by increasing the separation distance between two panels until they both could not be penetrated (Schroeder, 2011). This test concluded that the system could be used to pierce two aircraft panels separated up to eight feet (Schroeder, 2011). Multiple panel piercing ability was tested by organizing multiple panels at twelve inch intervals and seeing how many/how far the system could penetrate (Schroeder, 2011). This multiple panel piercing test concluded that the system is capable of penetrating five . 153 in thick aircraft panels separated by twelve inches in between (Schroeder, 2011). Ability to extinguish hidden fires between two panels was completed by following the Federal Aviation Association Aircraft Cargo Compartment Minimum Performance Standards for containerized fires (Schroeder, 2011). This test utilized an LD-3 container, eight thermo couples to monitor temperature and empty cardboard boxes stacked inside (Schroeder, 2011). There were also two twelve inch by three inch slots cut into the sides for ventilation (Schroeder, 2011). Two tests were conducted and the internal temperature was reduced to below 110-120 degrees Fahrenheit but the fire did continue to smolder and was not completely extinguished (Schroeder, 2011). This study concluded that the USAF should continue with additional studies to investigate effectiveness of the system to extinguish compartment fires using water, water foam and heat absorbing gels (Schroeder, 2011). The results of this test were primar ily designed to study the piercing ability and not designed for its firefighting success (Schroeder, 2011). There were also a number of recommendations made to help improve the system (Schroeder, 2011). Thos recommendations are: minimum flow rate of the system be at least 10 gallons per minute, the overall weight of the lance needed to be lowered due to the high firefighter fatigue sustained while using the system, the shoulder support should be modified to avoid conflict with the self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), install a power switch on the lance, install and alternator for automatic battery recharging, and lastly resolve the issue with aggregate mixing with water when not actuated (Schroeder, 2011). This study indicates that although the PyroLance system may not be ideal for all situations, it is an excellent tool that can advance the available options to the firefighter. It also supports continued research be conducted for this system to be further perfected. A number of high profile organizations have already added this tool to their firefighting capabilities including the USAF, United States Navy, Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, and many municipalities across the United States. It is extremely popular in other countries including Canada, United Kingdom, Sweden, Germany, Dubai, and is growing its fan base through exhibits and demonstrations at popular events. The advancement of misting technology has been continual since its inception and has increased with a better scientific understanding of how the technology works. Water misting is a viable alternative to traditional sprinkler systems and in areas where water damage from traditional systems is of concern. Currently, misting systems are designed for both solid fuel and liquid fuel fires and are continuing to challenge other portions of the fire protection market. The PyroLance is a great example of the versatility of this technology opening new markets and challenging traditional views. It is a fire fighters tool that should not be overlooked in the quest for saving lives and preventing injury. Does your municipality have this tool in their arsenal?

To Kill A Mockingbird - The Maturing Of Jem Finch Essays

To Kill A Mockingbird - The Maturing of Jem Finch Society is not as innocent to a child as it may appear to be. In fact, when one really understands the society in which he lives he is no longer a child. This is much the same case as found in To Kill A Mockingbird, by Leigh Harper. Although Jem, being a child at the beginning of the novel, is immature and unaware of the society in which he lives, he matures mentally to the point where he sees the evil in society and gains a knowledge of death. Like most children, at the beginning of To Kill A Mockingbird Jem and Scout are both young, play together, and have childhood monsters or fears like other children. Primarily, in To Kill A Mockingbird, Jem is young. Scout states their age when it supposedly all starts: "When I was almost six and Jem was almost ten..." (10). Here Jem is only nine years old and therefore still a moderately young child; it is assumed he is therefore immature. Jem also spends his time playing with his five year old sister. This also occurs very early in the novel: "Early one morning as we were beginning our day's play in the back yard, Jem and I heard something next door in Miss Rachel Haverford's collard patch." (11). As the novel progresses, Jem no longer plays with his sister Scout, but he is doing so at this point and he would appear to anyone as one child playing with his sister. Lastly, Jem has childhood fears like most any child does. All children have their fears or monsters. In Jem's case it i rthur Radley, commonly known as Boo: " Let's try and make him come out..." Jem said if he wanted to get himself killed, all he had to do was go up and knock on the front door... " It's just I can't think of a way to make him come out without him gettin' us."... When he said that I knew he was afraid. (17-18) Often, during his first summer with Dill, Jem talks of Boo and his house much like a child discusses a haunted house. Primarily it is assumed that Jem is a child due to three main points that come across; Jem is young, plays with his little sister, and has childhood monsters. However, as the novel progresses so does Jem to the point where he matures mentally enough to see the evil in the society around him. Jem's awareness of the society in which he lives can first be noted when his father accepts the case of a black man and others begin to talk of him rather rudely: " Have they been at it?" I (Scout) asked. " Sort of. She won't let him alone about Tom Robinson. She almost said Atticus was disgracing the family. Scout... I'm scared." (149) Here Jem gains his first taste of fear from his society in which his own aunt was getting cross at his father for defending a black man. When Mr. Robinson is pronounced guilty by a white jury things only heat up for Jem: "It was Jem's turn to cry. His face was streaked with angry tears as we made our way through the cheerful crowd." (214). Jem grows so angry and frustrated with the justice system and society in general that he becomes overwhelmed at this moment and begins to cry bitterly. At this point Jem is no longer a child and when he takes his frustrations to his father it only becomes clearer: "It ain't right, Atticus," said Jem. "No son, it's not right." (215) The fact that Jem becomes aware of the society around him in these three incidents support the theme that Jem is no longer a child but has matured mentally to the point where he sees the evil in the society around him. Just as Jem in his maturity gains a sense of the society around him, he also obtains a knowledge of death. The primary death was that of Mrs. Dubose, the elderly lady down the street: "Did she die free?" asked Jem. "As the mountain air," said Atticus..."...I wanted you to see what real courage is... It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what." (116) Here Jem and his father Atticus have an emotional talk over

Basic Healthcare Service Should be Free to All Cit Essays - Health

Basic Healthcare Service Should be Free to All Cit Essays - Health Basic Healthcare Service Should be Free to All Citizens Mohamad Fikri Nizam Bin Mat Ghani 1412309 Soris Bin Hamadul 1412451 Madam Zuridah Hayati Binti Abdul Hamid Section 5 International Islamic University Malaysia 8 th December 2017 Basic Healthcare Service Should be Free to All Citizens Every living human needs to take care of their lives and health, making that basic healthcare is one of the important aspects in human beings life. The meaning of basic health services is the minimum degree of health care considered to be necessary to maintain adequate health and protection from disease. Basic health service also can be describe as benefits that all federally qualified health maintenance organisations (HMOs) must offer. For example, the diagnose of the patient, use of ambulance and issuance of non-controlled medicine or the medical service that does not need an extensive care such as flu where the patients can go to clinics and leave at the same day. In Malaysia, basic health service are mainly offered and maintained by government, although there exist private hospitals and clinics, public hospitals still the main choice for majority of the citizens. Furthermore, as quote from website of expat.com, "Malaysia offers some of the best healthcare in South-East Asia" (expat, 2011, p. 2). This proves that the Malaysia government have done their best in providing good health care service. However, the health service offered is not free of charges, instead the citizen needs to pay a small fee to get the treatment in public health institution, even if the fees is small and only nominal fees needs to be paid to get healthcare service especially in public clinic the citizen still have to paid for it (expat, 2011). This raise an issue because the citizens have paid the tax and even if they does not receive all health service free of charges they should at least receive basic health service free of charge but that did not happen. The basic healthcare service here are the services such as use of ambulance, diagnosis and issuance of non-controlled medicine which should be free to the citizens because the citizens have already paid the public healthcare through the general taxation of income like income tax (expat, 2011). Thus, it is agreed that basic health care service should be free to all citizens. Furthermore, to strengthen this view the point on the economic, social and psychology perspective will be provided in the following paragraphs. In Economic Perspective, it Increase the Purchasing Power In the Economic perspective, by giving free basic healthcare, it can cause individual buying power to increase because the disposable income will increase. The cost for people to acquire the health care has caused the increase in spending because they have to spend more money for the things related to health making their consumption to be limited (Kumar, 2014). Their limited consumption can be related to the decrease of their disposable income because they have to set aside a portion of their income for health use especially when there are emergencies and also for the precaution in the future. Moreover, according to Keynesian theory, when the disposable incomes of the individuals become lower, it will affect their consumption to be also lower (Riley, 2015). This theory is based on that the miscellaneous consumption of the people will change based on their disposable income, where in this case the income that individuals can use after deducting amount for their responsibilitie s such as paying tax, insurance and emergency precaution. It can be explained that people will consume less if they are worried for the future when there is emergency situation that occurs and the needs to use of money, this situation caused them the need to save the money for the emergency health use of the future. This is because the amount of disposable income will affect the level of consumption of people. Other than that, the economic activity of a country also will become slower or lower because of the low consumption level (Mandel, 2011). According to both Classical economic theory developed by Karl Marx and Keynesian economic theory that been developed by an English economist, John Maynard Keynes , it also mentioned that the level of consumption of

(Employment and Society) Discuss the significance of the psychological Essay

(Employment and Society) Discuss the significance of the psychological contract for the occurrence of emotional issues in the work situation - Essay Example bserved that each year more and more managers turn to these contracts to maintain and retain motivation in their workforce to achieve higher efficiency, effectiveness and productivity. An unspoken contract between the organization and the job holder begins at the recruitment level. This contract also plays a central role to maintain a healthier relationship between the manager and the job holder. As the nature of the employment changes, so does the psychological contract. Once the organization and the job holder get a thorough and deep understanding of the changing nature of the contract, it benefits both the parties, employers and employees. Psychological contract is the best way to understand and get a deeper knowledge regarding human responses, because these responses may result in some ambiguous challenges if not learned. This is a contract which proves to be really beneficial to control the emotional issues that are experienced in a work situation. Dealing with problematic issues between employers and employees, it makes their relationship stronger, removes communication barriers between them and results in increased efficiency, from both parties. This contract works well in both small and large groups within an organization. The issues which are emotionally laden can be treated and covered by this psychological contract. Unlike legal contracts, these psychological contracts have unspoken expectations. A psychological contract profoundly affects one thing the most - loyalty. It is because of this contract that parties expect, in one way or the other, that they need each other. This leads to interdependency among them and there is no doubt that interdependency is a key to manage dependency in a very mature relationship. The working staff will be able to answer one important question: ‘Who needs who and what?’ This helps in resolving many emotional issues in a workplace. Psychological contracts help an individual to maintain the right psychological

Changes that have occurred in the last generation with regard to Essay

Changes that have occurred in the last generation with regard to personal and family finances - Essay Example When the man of the house lost his job, the wife would join the workforce, providing the needed income until the man found another job. In instances of divorce the woman, who previously wasn’t working, would get a job to support her kids. A stay at home parent provided the necessary safety net during times of economic distress.Poor saving habit is another danger to the financial stabilities of today's families. If parents with two paychecks saved the second one then this would act as a safety net. With the change in generation, there has also been a significant decline in savings amongst families. Parents are using the additional incomes on extravagant items for their children and themselves. An increased push for housing in decent school districts is responsible for the financial crisis faced by many families at present. This situation is as a result of a loss of confidence of the education system. The government should increase investment in the schools that the middle incom e took their children to. The increased demand for these so-called decent preschools and good colleges lead a rise in their cost. The extra income earned by the woman pays for this. It is a fact that two-income families earn more today than what a family with individual breadwinners used to earn a generation ago. The cost of mortgage, taxes, health insurance and daycare are higher than before. The net effect is that the discretionary income of today's dual-income families is lower than before.

Cycladic, Greek and Roman Collection Essay Example for Free

Cycladic, Greek and Roman Collection Essay Cycladic, Greek and Roman collection of various kinds of vases has played a great role in demonstration of their culture and belief. Greek philosophy of art is realistic and that images reflect the people’s custom and myth. Basically, designs and arts in vases served two purposes in the lives of these people: in terms of form and function and the mythology associated with their beliefs. These painting in vases according to an online article come in four classes, in which the first two are recognized as relating to ancient form of art, such as (1) relating to mythology and (2) relating to heroic age and ancient Greek traditions. However, in some instances, myth is not depicted in the art. Thus to view vases of this period is to understand the essential uses of these objects to Greek culture and traditions that are suggested in the figures. Amphora for instance is a two-handled vase commonly used for storing transporting foods; most images drawn here speak the activity associated with it. There are others that are used exclusively for mixing and cooling wine and for drinking water and wine; in the same way describe the perspective of the people who are using it. General Impressions: Attic Black-Figure Neck-Amphora of 525-500 BCE (myth/everyday life scene) This type of Greek pottery represents a culture and art that is mimicry of activity usual of these people of their period. As Robin Osborne puts it they â€Å"don’t just symbolize, they do things, and the things they do are of interest for their mental as well as their physical side† (p. 29). The figures on the vase could be interpreted as a celebration of young men in which the man at the center performs while the rest are expectants. The gestures are suggestive of what the celebration was all about; obviously, the activity has something to do with competition of physical strength. As the designs in this amphora are closely associated with activities done outside the home, it is presumed that designs represent the activity of the carriers. Red Figure Volute Krater of 330-320 BCE (large and with a sister-piece in the same gallery) This Apulian vase has a unique characteristic because it is highly mythical as reflected in the figures representing angelic beings, a bearded man and two women. The images portray the lighter side of life, in which men interact with the underworld. The figure on the neck is presumably a noble man because of the decorations around the image. The vase as Tom Rasmussen and Nigel Jonathan Spivey noted is â€Å"attributed to the Underworld Painter† (p. 181). The Krater is a kind of vase used for mixing wine and water. This scenario only depicts that wine had always been part of Greek celebrations and tradition, in which some of these celebrations were associated with religious festivities such as in Anthestiria, or a celebration of wine. The image of gods in the vase is only a representation that a religious activity is celebrated with the presence of wine. Greek Theatrical Masks Masks for ancient Greek Theater according to Graham Ley have been â€Å"significant elements of the worship of the god Dionysus† (p. 17), in which early vase paintings may have adopted. Early existence of theater was not to entertain; rather it was to celebrate Dionysus- the god of wine and fertility. As part of tradition, plays of that period dramatized man’s experience and relationship with gods. There are many reasons why early actors and actresses wore masks. Primarily, they help recreate or portray different characterization especially when there were few actors were available. Masks such as the one used to show tragedy may show exaggeration of facial expressions that is little bigger than the face enough to envelop the head. Masks in its primary function help create a powerful effect since one or more roles may be played by one actor. Red-Figure Chous, 400-350 BCE A wine jug or a chous dated 400 to 380 BCE with figures of a man and hounds slaying him to death, while the legs of a lady is shown turning away from the scene. The head of a man is at a distance looking at the man’s direction. The chous named Oinochoe is a red-figure vessel, which according to the description is Aktaion depicting his death (Museum of Fine Arts). The story of Aktaion is only a myth that was very popular in ancient Greece. The story which is also played in theaters during that period represents that the supernatural beings like Artemis mingled with ordinary people. Likewise, in the presentation of the story in a chous, it shows only that not only actual events are drawn on jags; myths are also painted because it tells about their beliefs. Libation Bowl (Phiale Mesomphalos) This vessel is really interesting because it is made of pure gold dated around 625 BC. It has no decoration except the inscriptions â€Å"The sons of Kypselos dedicated (this bowl) from Heraclea† (Museum of Fine Arts). Libation bowl mirrors an ancient Greek culture because by tradition, it is used in rituals when pouring something as an offering. Greek just like other civilization of the world was highly ritualistic in expression of their religious beliefs. Name three things you learned about ancient Greek and Roman life from this collection. I discovered and appreciated Greeks’ artistic ability, intelligence, and religiosity. People at that time in the absence of papers had recorded important aspects of their history through arts; that parts of their existence were expressed with their interaction with what they know as their gods as shown in arts; and lastly, I think myth is not myth in the perspective of these people; rather, the gods and their stories were real for these people. What impressed you personally about the museum collection and the opportunity to view actual artifacts from an era 2500 years ago? The opportunity to see various collections of artifacts has amazed me and gave an impression that Greek and Roman culture had shared tremendous impact in the present time. The ingenuity and intelligence of the people is so vast that the absence of formal education, people were able to leave a wonderful legacy for this generation and the generation to come. How can we today learn from this ancient civilization through its arts? Ancient Greek civilization as Kerri O’Donnell puts it is â€Å"the birthplace of western civilization† (p. 4). Around 2500 years BC when this civilization flourished, signs of developments have been noted such as the development of sports, religious beliefs and practices, literature, arts, and customs that have depicted in the figures drawn on vessels. Though many of those beliefs are considered highly mythical, yet what people should appreciate about Greek civilization is their ability to contribute knowledge that serve as foundation of many discoveries of the modern world. Work Cited â€Å"Collection Search Result. † Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. http://www. mfa. org/collections/search_art. asp? recview=trueid=154081coll_keywords=red+figure+chouscoll_accession=coll_name=coll_artist=coll_place=coll_medium=coll_culture=coll_classification=coll_credit=coll_provenance=coll_location=coll_has_images=coll_on_view=coll_sort=0coll_sort_order=0coll_view=0coll_package=0coll_start=1 Ley, Graham. A Short Introduction to the Ancient Greek Theater. USA: University of Chicago Press, 1991. O’Donnell, Kerri. The Ancient Civilizations of Greece and Rome: Solving Algebraic Expressions. USA: Rosen Classroom, 2005. â€Å"Origins of Greek Pottery. † http://www. 2020site. org/greece/vases. html Osborne, R. Archaic and Classical Greek Art. USA: Oxford University Press, 1998.