Pro and Cons for Electric Car Essay Example for Free

Pro and Cons for Electric Car Essay Out of the many different kind of cars on the road today, one car stands above the rest. With its zero emissions and sleek design, the General Mortars EV 1 was unstoppable. This car runs entirely without gas or oil of any kind. It runs only on electric power which makes it very eco-friendly. This car was the answer to the smog problem in California and would soon be able to help stop global warming and more of our planets environmental issues. So, why are there none of these cars on the road today? Who made sure that none of these EV 1’s where ever mass produced. Who killed the electric car? This act did not go unnoticed by the public. Consumers were outraged by the recalling of the EV1’s. They wanted to know why someone would get rid of a car that would help out the environment and would make things better for future generations. Someone is to blame for killing the electric car, but whom? Was it the big oil companies and their fear of losing money? Could it be the battery technology in the EV1’s that was faulty? Maybe it was the CARB (California Resources Board) who did not want to support the project. Or was it the consumers themselves who would not accept the idea of a seemingly unreliable car? Chris Pine, the director of the documentary, â€Å"Who Killed the Electric Car? † says that all these factors are to blame. But, there could only be one who could take the name of Car Killer. The car companies are the biggest suspect in killing the electric car. General Motors was the car company that started the EV1 project. They started leasing them publicly in 1997. All 660 that were available for lease, got leased. Then in 2000, tragedy struck as all EV1’s were recalled and the plant was closed down. In 2003 GM officially closed down the entire EV1 project despite the long waiting lists and positive feedback from EV1 drivers. Why would the company that started the project in the first place, decide to shut in down without even 20 years of usage? General Motors said that the reason for pulling the plug of the EV1 was the fact that no consumer was willing to drive a car that you have to charge every hundred miles or so (CBC News). But, since there was a huge demand for the EV1’s in California, I think that is not the only reason. I think the car companies were afraid to lose money from the EV1’s good sales. They wanted to make sure that no other car would sell better than theirs. My opinion that the car companies killed the electric car but, other people see it differently. With a problem this big, maybe many factors are to blame. The consumers themselves need to take some of the blame; many did not like the idea of a car that runs of batteries. In this fast paced world we live in, they though the car would be unreliable. The batteries that run the EV1 are lead acid batteries that would only last 100 miles or so. The consumers wanted a better battery and if there were electric cars all over the world, the oil companies would lose a lot of their profit. Whatever the cause may be, the death of the EV1 will no doubt have a huge impact on the future. Until someone else comes up with a better model of an electric car, the planet will still suffer from global warming. In the future I think we will see more electric cars starting to make it father than the EV1.

Complexity and Ambiguity of Haircut :: Haircut

Complexity and Ambiguity of Haircut      Ã‚  Ã‚   Many critical commentators have pointed out that Ring Lardner's best work was done in the field of satiric comedy. Sometimes his work was more satirical than comic, and sometimes vice versa. His short story, "Haircut," is definitely an exponent of the former, because within the satire of Haircut are some undoubtedly repulsive and tragic elements. The story concerns the events in a small unnamed Michigan town as told by a barber while he is cutting a client's hair. He tells of the death of Jim Kendall, a practical joker whose comedy and other actions leave virtue much desired, and who is killed by a supposedly accidental shooting during a hunt. The only clear theme of the story involves the satirizing of smug small town values, portrayed through Whitey's narration. In this paper I will show how the character of the barber illustrates these deficient values, and how these set the stage for a traditional interpretation of "Haircut" -- one where Jim is deserving of his fate. Finally, I will contrast this interpretation with other critical interpretations, which argue that Lardner's purpose is not so clear, but obfuscated by ambiguity.    The Small Town Barber and Traditional Interpretation From the outset of the story we observe the uneducated and unintelligent qualities of the barber, whose name we learn is "Whitey." His muddled language, full of diction and syntax errors, immediately make the reader skeptical of his reliability. In the opening sentences, for example, Whitey says "You can see for yourself that this ain't no New York City and besides that, the most of the boys works all day and don't have no leisure to drop in here and get themselves all prettied up." The conversational language of the small town, filled with slang and bad pronunciation, riddles the entire narration. Whitey says, "I bet they was more laughin' done here than any town its size in America," and "he'd be settin' in this chair part of the time," and she'd divorced him only they wasn't no chance to get alimony and she didn't have no way to take care of herself and the kids."    This suspicion of Whitey's trustworthiness and character is further characterized by his interpretations of events.

What different tactics were used by both sides in an attempt to win the conflict in Vietnam between 1956 and 1968?

During the Vietnam War, there were many different tactics used by American and Vietcong in order to win the war. These tactics had an influence over the opposition's use and the choice of tactics. From the beginning of the war the Vietcong realised that in order to win they must win the â€Å"hearts and the minds† of the peasants. This way they could be provided with shelter, food and such like, also they would be able to enlist more fighters for their cause and above all else the peasants would see that communism was the war which their country should be heading. In order to do this they operated by a special code dealing with the peasants, they brought up rules such, not to damage the land and crops or spoil the houses, not to insist on buying or borrowing land, never break the rule, to help them with their daily work. These rules ensured that the peasants would support the Vietcong and help them at any opportunity. As well as these gestures of kindness towards the peasants, they would also educate them as to why they were so poor and, explain how much better communism would be to them. The American on the other hand although realising to some extent that the war was only going to be won with the support of the peasants were far less active in their approach to helping, and indoctrinating them. On the news and publicly they were seen to be helping them but the soldiers were far willing as well as the peasants were already prejudice against the US involvement in the war. An example of the American focussing on the peasants was the â€Å"Strategic Hamlet†. Under the guidance of the CIA they uprooted whole villages and took the peasants to an enclosed area and kept them under guard. The idea was to stop the peasants influenced by Vietcong, however, this was an understandably very unpopular tactic, and moreover it turned more peasants against the Americans than it did win the support. American used high technology weapons that were capable of destroying practically anything. They were particularly keen on using their advance and bombs. At first they bombed specific targets but when they realized that this had a little effect, then they began to use blanket bombing, this was known as â€Å"Operation Rolling Thunder†. It was a bombing campaign that was put over the North of Vietnam in 1964. It was originally set up to last about eight weeks but in actual fact it continued for over three years. The Vietcong had no such armaments and technology compared to USA, so they relied on using Guerrilla warfare. This was originally adapted by Mao Zedong for use by China; Ho Chi Minh exploited Chinas tactics very carefully. The Guerrilla warfare made it almost impossible for the US to know who was their â€Å"friend or foe†. Also, they used Ambush techniques to attack enemy and isolated units. The â€Å"Hit and Run† tactics were designed to put small holes in the enemy that eventually amounted to winning the war. The Vietcong resource from the beginning were stretched, not necessarily manpower but weapons and other resources were scarce. So the Vietcong used unexploded bombs to produce Traps such as â€Å"Bouncing Bettys†, mines that one triggered would jump up and explode around main victim that stands on it. â€Å"Booby Traps† such as concealed holes in the ground usually covered by leaves and just deep enough so someone cannot get out. Also such traps as the â€Å"Punji Trap† which is similar to the concealed hole, but with spikes in the bottom. There was also the grenade attached to a trip wire, which meant that when a soldier walked through the wire, the grenade would spring out and explode on them. The idea of these traps was not actually meant to kill the enemy but to maim them. The important point of this was that if someone is dead then they only needed a body bag, but if they are injured the enemy has to spend time and resources healing them instead and the other troops had to hear their comrades scream with pain, which is very draining on morale. When fighting the Guerrillas would go out in groups and only engage in ambush situations. This meant that they used their knowledge of the area they were fighting in to hinder the USA. This led the American to develop chemical weapons that were used to make the Vietcong more visible. Agent Orange was a chemical defoliant that was used to clear areas of terrain where the Vietcong was suspected to be, but it also caused birth defects among women. Another favourite weapon used by the USA was Napalm. It was a mixture of petroleum jelly with phosphorous that was dropped from fighter – bombers over suspected Vietcong inhabited areas. All that needed was one drop and then it would burn through to the bone and this caused the victims would die of phosphorous poisoning. America would use a combination of troops that were closely supported by planes and helicopters. The planes would be mounted with a gun known as â€Å"Puff the magic dragon†, a devastating 30mm cannon that could rip up any thing with a â€Å"wall of lead†. The Vietcong were ill – equipped compared to the Americans but they had an establish route called the â€Å"Ho Chi Minh Trail† that was a complex web of jungle tracks which ran from North Vietnam to Saigon carrying about 60 tons of aid per day. In the beginning of the war it took six months for a soldier to navigate his way the trial but as the route became to used more often the experienced soldiers was able to get through in six weeks. The Americans was desperately try to bomb the route but it was invisible from the air so it was impossible to hit with any accuracy. As the war progressed the USA became more and more frustrated because of the increasing number of soldiers they were getting, and the tactics they used became more aggressive. They started to use policies of â€Å"Search and Destroy†, where groups of troops would go out with the aim of killing any members of the Vietcong they find. They sent small platoons into areas where the tunnels had opening and send men into there with grenade to blow up the Vietcong and shoot any survivors. The troops were trained to think of the Vietcong as scum and had no problem in slaughtering them, and any Vietcong supporters were also killed. Jets, boats tanks and helicopters would support all of these patrols if they found a suspect target. Whole villages were often raised to the ground to stop a couple of Vietcong members or supporters. The Vietcong used a similar tactic called ‘Find and Kill', although this was conceptually the same as ‘search and destroy' it was much more successful. One reason for this was that the USA soldiers wore uniforms, therefore it was easier to recognize who the troops was. Another reason was that the USA soldiers had to contend with Vietcong mines and traps. America also used â€Å"Fire Zones†, where a village was warned that they were going to be destroyed by leaflet drops or by word of mouth etc. anyone then found on the area after a specific time was either shot, napalmed, or pineapple bombed which is a single bomb that would explode into thousands of tiny fibreglass balls, so they couldn't be picked up by x – ray. In another attempt to stop the Vietcong Operation Ranch Hand was used, planes would drop chemicals (agent blue) that would destroy crops, the idea being to starve the Vietcong but unfortunately it just turned more of the peasants against the USA. One USA success was the Tet Offensive. The Vietcong used conventional warfare. It was a disaster and was the closest the US ever came to victory. However it was nowhere near enough to win the war for the US. The USA campaign suffered further after the ‘My Lai' massacre. This was when the USA attacked a small village in Vietnam. Its 700 inhabitants were made up mostly of the elderly people, women and children. The soldiers were ordered to kill all the inhabitants in cold blood and burn the village to the ground. The USA appeared cold and heartless with no regard for human life. When the USA press got hold of the story the American public was shocked and the war became even less popular. Particularly so as it was revealed that most of the inhabitants of My Lai were not in fact Vietcong. By the late 60's America became desperate, and decided to employ a much-feared and unpopular tactic, the use of chemical weapons. These weapons included napalm and Agent Orange, which stripped the land bare, making guerrilla tactics harder to carry out. However the use of such weapons produced some horrific injuries and pictures, which the press thrived upon, there were already several active peace movements in America. The US made a terrible mistake in allowing them to be covered by the press. The Vietcong were party to some terrible atrocities, but because they never allowed themselves to be followed into battle these were never seen. The media portrayal of the war was a major factor, as it is n any modern war. Already horrific stories and pictures are sensationalized, and can influence people almost totally. By 1967 the career soldiers had almost all been used and so the government introduced conscription. This meant that many soldiers were there against their will and wanted only to finish their tour of duty. They started to care less and less about winning the war as they were more occupied with staying alive. Consequently the morale suffered, ragging occurred more often for unpopular commands. The Vietcong on the other hand were highly motivated, they were fighting for a cause they believed in, and were there on their own free will, even women were allowed and willing to fight. As the war went on they became more confident, better armed and trained. This led to the â€Å"Tet Offensive†. On the January 31st, 1968, more than 70, 000 Vietcong launched an attack on more than a hundred cities and towns. I Saigon they managed to enter the US Embassy building and kill 5 marines, and take over a local radio station. In military terms the Americans won, an estimated 37,000 Vietcong soldiers were killed compared to the 2,500 American troops, but it proved to the soldiers and the American public that the Vietcong had an inexhaustible supply of people and that the Americans would not win the war.

Facts About Whitehorse, Capital City of Yukon, Canada

Whitehorse, the capital city of the Yukon Territory of Canada, is a major northern hub. It is the largest community in Yukon, with more than 70 percent of Yukons population living there. Whitehorse is within the shared traditional territory of the Taan Kwachan Council (TKC) and the Kwanlin Dun First Nation (KDFN) and has a thriving arts and cultural community. Its diversity includes French immersion programs and French schools and it has a strong Filipino community, amongst others. Whitehorse has a young and active population, and the city has many amenities you might be surprised to find in the North. Theres a Canada Games Centre, which 3000 people attend every day. There are 700 kilometers of trails extending through and out of Whitehorse, for biking, hiking, and cross-country and downhill skiing. There are also 65 parks and many rinks. Schools are well-equipped with sporting facilities and offer a variety of skilled trades programs that support a thriving small business community. Whitehorse is also set up to handle tourism, and three airlines fly in and out of the city. Around 250,000 travelers also drive through the city every year. Location Whitehorse is located just off the Alaska Highway, on the Yukon River about 105 kilometers (65 miles) north of the British Columbia border. Whitehorse is situated in the wide valley of the Yukon River, and the Yukon River flows right through town. There are broad valleys and big lakes around the city. Three mountains also surround Whitehorse: Grey Mountain on the east, Haeckel Hill on the northwest and Golden Horn Mountain on the south. Land Area 8,488.91 sq. km (3,277.59 sq. miles) (Statistics Canada, 2011 Census) Population 26,028 (Statistics Canada, 2011 Census) Date Whitehorse Was Incorporated as a City 1950 Date Whitehorse Became the Capital of Yukon In 1953 the capital of the Yukon Territory was transferred from Dawson City to Whitehorse after the construction of the Klondike Highway bypassed Dawson City by 480 km (300 miles), making Whitehorse the highways hub. Whitehorses name was also changed from White Horse to Whitehorse. Government Whitehorse municipal elections are held every three years. The current Whitehorse City Council was elected on October 18, 2012. The Whitehorse City Council is made up of a Mayor and six Councillors. Whitehorse Mayor Dan CurtisWhitehorse City Council Whitehorse Attractions Yukon Legislative AssemblyYukon Beringia Interpretive CentreMacBride Museum of Yukon HistoryWatch the Northern LightsTake the Whitehorse Waterfront Trolley Main Whitehorse Employers Mining services, tourism, transportation services, and government Weather in Whitehorse Whitehorse has a dry subarctic climate. Because of its location in the valley of the Yukon River, it is relatively mild compared to communities like Yellowknife. Summers in Whitehorse are sunny and warm, and winters in Whitehorse are snowy and cold. In the summer the temperature can be as high as 30Â °C (86Â °F). In winter it will often drop to -20Â °C (-4Â °F) at night. In summer daylight can last as long as 20 hours. In the winter daylight can be as brief as 6.5 hours. Whitehorse Weather Forecast City of Whitehorse Official Site City of Whitehorse Capital Cities of Canada For information on the other capital cities in Canada, see Capital Cities of Canada.