The Technological Revolution Essay -- Technology

Due to continuous innovations, the American view of science and technology is constantly fluctuating. The ever-evolving image of science and technology in the United States is usually due to how the most recent developments in science and technology contribute, whether in a perceived positive of negative light. In times such as war, where technology essentially determines the outcome, the public’s perception of technology becomes essential, as well as the implementation of said technology. Many other factors are pertinent in determining the way the public identifies science and technology. After World War II and the evolution of nuclear weapons because of the Manhattan Project, the image of science and technology evolved in the United States for a variety of reasons. These motives include noteworthy historical events in which the technology is relevant, the mutable idea of development and popular culture and the media. After World War II, nuclear weapons dramatically grew in prominence. This omniscience of nuclear power also led to a general race to achieve technological hegemony. In 1950, only a few years after the conclusion of World War II, the Korean War began. Due to this escalation of military research because of the Korean War, â€Å"the importance of applied research in universities increased dramatically† (Hughes 113). Although universities are the premier research institutions in America, those against the war effort were appalled that such forces could simply invade universities to achieve an uncommon goal. Some, such as Alvin Weinberg, Director of the AEC Oak Ridge National Laboratories, complained about the â€Å"corruption of science by Big Science† (Hughes 128). The ‘corruption’ Weinberg refers to is the use of science to... ...American fear of Japanese technical dominance and racist sentiments by describing a dystopian Los Angeles, overcome by Japanese manufactured genetically altered robots that begin to replace humans. Both of these cinematic productions reflect a chief trepidation that pervaded America after the Second World War: the potential of technology, specifically robots, to supersede humans. Despite great benefits of the ample innovations since World War II, the image of science and technology remained tarnished by the apprehension that machines would one day replace humans as well as its potential for violence and unwarranted usage. Works Cited Hughes, Jeff. The Manhattan Project: Big Science and the Atom Bomb. New York: Columbia UP, 2002. Print. Pursell, Carroll W. The Machine in America: A Social History of Technology. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins UP, 1995. Print.

Hamlet and Rosencrantx and Guildenstern Are Dead

The plays Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard and Hamlet by William Shakespeare were composed in vastly different contexts and the nature of the plays greatly reflect the context in which they were composed. Hamlet is clearly a product of the times of the early 17th century as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead is a product of the Swinging Sixties as it has very modern views on many issues that have been raised throughout time. A common feature in both plays which represented the context in which the plays were composed was the obvious pre-occupation with morality. In Elizabethan times death was accepted more as a normal event as people did not live to be very old and there was an obvious pre-occupation with the idea of mortality and the afterlife. Hamlet is no exception to this as the play is concerned with death from the start, as we learn that Hamlet’s father had been killed. It is not strange at all that the ghost of Hamlet’s father appears and speaks to him. This reflects the context in which it was composed. People used to be entertained by such encounters with the dead in plays and believed strongly in death and an afterlife. Read this â€Å"The Secrets of Haiti’s Living Dead† The number of deaths that occur in Hamlet is also not surprising as audiences in Elizabethan times were very much pre-occupied with dying and felt comfortable watching it on stage. They also remained true to their beliefs that tragedy could only happen to famous figures. This is partly due to the distinct social classes in England at the time and it was not considered a tragedy so much if a peasant died. Therefore Hamlet is a product of an Elizabethan context in that it is pre-occupied with mortality throughout the play and audiences were comfortable with it because of their strong religious beliefs. Tom Stoppard, however, took two sideline characters from Hamlet and showed that Hamlet could be applied to modern audiences over four hundred years later. Rosencrantz nd Guildenstern, the main characters of the play are also pre-occupied with death. The context in which Stoppard composed the play, however, presents a changed view of death. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern both spend a lot of time thinking about death and what it means to them. They are not sure about it, and have a pretty bleak perception of the whole idea. They continue throughout the play not knowing for sure what will happen to them when they die, but they accept that they must die at some stage in their life. This reflect the context of sixties England entirely, as the trend in attitude was confusion about death. Nobody knew why they were on the earth and nobody knew where they were going when it was all over. Religion was being questioned in the sixties, like all traditional authority figures and this comes through very strongly in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. People didn’t have the assurance as they did in Elizabethan times with their beliefs in the afterlife. The fact that this idea was questioned so much in the play shows the contrast between the two plays and how Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead reflect the values of the sixties. A contrasting theme in the plays is identity. In Elizabethan times everyone was very sure of their place in the grand scheme of things and there was a distinct hierarchy of social classes. The characters of Hamlet are reflections of this context to an extent, because there is a sense of order in the play with the structure of the Danish monarchy. It is a very modern play, however, and there is a sense of disorder in the immediate world of the upper class society. This unrest is expressed from early in the play with lines such as â€Å"There’s something rotten in the state of Denmark†. Every character is clearly defined in Shakespeare’s play and nobody is confused about who they are or where they came from. The opposite of this, however, is Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in the sixties interpretation of the text. They seem to be very confused about their own personal identity and this can be seen frequently throughout the play when they and other characters mix their names up almost every time. The effect of this is humorous, but also comments on the confusion of identity that was being felt in the Sixties. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as characters very much reflect the ideas of the Sixties in this way, as they seem to be drifting throughout the play as observers, and are minor players. They are not sure about themselves, question their own identity and cannot find much purpose in their lives, which makes death difficult for them to comprehend. Because they are such minor players and tend not to take themselves as seriously as the traditional characters such as Hamlet himself, they can easily bring Hamlet down to a human level. They did this in the play when they quickly flattened Hamlet’s wit. In all these respects it is plain to see how the sixties version of the play reflected the context in which it was composed. What makes the contrast between the two plays so apparent is the audience that it was intended for. In Elizabethan times, audiences loved to see revenge tragedies and lots of blood and guts and murder, particularly amongst famous people. Hamlet is a clear product of this context as there are eight deaths in the play, which would have greatly entertained an Elizabethan audience. All people could appreciate Shakespeare’s blank verse and took pleasure in the language used. After all Shakespeare was looking to be the most popular writer of his day and appeal to as large an audience as possible. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead being composed in the Sixties is made for the theatre of the absurd. People in the Sixties could relate best to this, as there was a general sense of rebelling against the system and confusion about identity. Normal prose is used much more in this, as the beauty of language isn’t so much important but the feeling that they express about the situation through the language. The two plays Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead contrast in many ways because of the context in which they were created. The context of Elizabethan times is reflected strongly in Hamlet which holds the values of the early seventeenth century, as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead reflects the values of the Swinging Sixties which are abounded by confusion. These contexts are vital in the study of both plays as they do not differ greatly, apart from the values they carry from the time in which they were composed.

In Search of a Room of Ones Own Essays

In Search of a Room of Ones Own Essays In Search of a Room of Ones Own Essay In Search of a Room of Ones Own Essay History performing arts was everything. Society did not have DVDs to watch and pods to listen to; they went to plays and operas for leisure. A time of history when some of the best play writers and considerably authors were discovered. In Virginia Wolfs In Search off Room of Ones Own she emphasizes the difference between the lifestyle of a man compared to the lifestyle of a women during the Elizabeth era, in how a man had so many more opportunities to become a rite than a woman did. Women could have never been outstanding poets, because they were never able to acquire the skills necessary. A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction. (pig. 386) In order for a woman to be able to write she must have money in her family. Money was crucial to have, because it was needed to receive an education. A woman also needed a room of their own, in order to write and the only way for a woman to have a room of their own was if her parents were extremely wealthy. Having a personal room allowed the writer to relax and think by their selves without any disturbances. Wolf created Judith Shakespeare to show the reader the difference in opportunities compared to her brother William. Judith never had time to sit and relax to write in a room, because she was always being asked to complete chores around the house. When she was able to find ten minutes to spare for writing she had to burn the evidence of her secretive passion, because she couldnt chance being caught by her father. So even Hough She had the quickest fancy, a gift like her brothers for the tune of words. (pig. 386) she couldnt put her great talent to use. Everyday lifestyle for William Shakespeare was much different and much better than Jujitsus. William was able to receive a dally education, because during that time the family would always give the privileges of education to the son In the family. The father believed money was only worth spending on the son and not the daughter. He also had unlike Judith a room to himself where he could sit and practice writing poems and plays. William had the benefit of learning about Virgil, Ovid, and Horace becoming familiar with was Just as talented as William and could have been Just as famous If she had the same opportunities as he did. Instead she was forced to do other duties for her family without any say so for herself. One could easily agree that gender Inequality was a great deficit to the progress for women writing In history. Who knows what great plays would have been written If they were treated fairly. In Search of a Room of Ones Own By triceratops blew to receive a daily education, because during that time the family would always give the privileges of education to the son in the family. The father believed money grammar and structure elements. This greatly benefited William over Judith. Judith was Just as talented as William and could have been Just as famous if she had the family without any say so for herself. One could easily agree that gender inequality was a great deficit to the progress for women writing in history. Who knows what great plays would have been written if they were treated fairly.

An Essay On An Economics Article Essays - Azurix, Enron, Free Essays

An Essay On An Economics Article Essays - Azurix, Enron, Free Essays An Essay On An Economics Article There is a major debate brewing in the Florida water districts. The discussion concerns a company called Azurix and their novel offer. Azurix is a spin-off the huge Houston based gas and oil company Enron. The offer: in exchange for financing a portion of the four billion-dollar everglades clean up, Azurix acquires the ability to sell the water that they store as part of the project. This seemingly innocuous plan can have huge affects on Floridas economy. The privatization of the water management in Florida could work in a positive manner and eliminate the projected shortages by creative management, or it can act negatively and make it harder and more expensive to obtain water. There is some precedence for the appearance of private industry in water management. In Tampa Bay, three different water districts have come together to build a large desalination plant to service the entire area. The plant will be built and run by S&W Water LLC, a private company. Although this brand of involvement is not unheard of, the level of involvement that Azurix proposes would give it virtually complete control of the water supply of Florida. This monopoly has some people excited and some people worried. Those who are optimistic about the proposed change, which includes many water district managers, citizens, and local officials, hope for the best possible results. They argue that the private sector can conserve more water, improve service, and decrease water shortages. Advocates advance that farmers are permitted far more water than is necessary for crop maintenance. There for excess water is wasted. However, if agronomists are able to make a profit on conserving water, then the use of this valuable supply is much more efficient. This newborn capability will make agriculture more profitable and provide a boost to one of Floridas largest industries. The optimists also tout improved service. Private industry has more money to put into research and development; hence, the ability to supply clean fresh potable water to the tap can be improved. It is argued that their plan can decrease water shortages by diversifying the way Florida gets its water. Although Florida really does not have a shortage of water, it has water at the wrong time. The majority of Floridas fifty-five inches a year of rain falls during the summer; the time when the population is at its lowest point. The diversification of how water is procured will allow for a more even distribution of this resource. Some areas, such as the St. Johns River Water Management District will tap surface sources, and others will develop aquifer and storage recovery units that store water from the wet times to doll out during the dry times. Clearly, the notion of privatizing water has tremendous potential to help Florida. Not withstanding this optimism surrounding the proposition, it is not be without its detractors. Factions of the proponents claim that privatization is good in some areas of public services, water this group contends can not be private. The water that every one and every thing depends on can not be for sale to the highest bidder. The naysayers contend that when a company like Azurix has a monopoly on water, conservation will not be a priority. Water for sale on the open market with out limits would lead to the loss of this resource. Opponents contend that the sale of Florida water across state borders could be detrimental to the precarious balance that we struggle to maintain today. The lack of conservation could prove to be deadly to the environment. With the downfall of the environment, the tourism industry would fail. This failure would spell disaster for the Florida economy. In conjunction with the lack of conservation of water, the prices will rise. The company that controls the water supply will be able to name its price. This can damage the pool and lawn industries as well as lawn landscaping and nursery businesses in areas dependent on city or treated water. Agriculture, normally the largest employer of unskilled labor, can suffer increased cost, which can result in a loss of jobs and the competitive edge to foreign competition. This can be a significant drain on the economy. Privatizing the water works of Florida

Business Owners What You Can Do About Workplace Harassment

Business Owners What You Can Do About Workplace Harassment With the recent rash of harassment revelations in the media, companies are taking their anti-harassment policies more seriously than ever. And it’s not just the Weinstein Company and Fox that are looking at their exposure to lawsuits. If you are the owner of a business – any business with employees – you need to learn everything there is to know about workplace harassment, and how to 1) prevent it and 2) handle it if it does occur. Let’s first get clear on the definition of workplace harassment: Harassment under federal law is â€Å"unwelcome conduct that is based on race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity and pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, or parental status.† Two common types of harassment are Quid Pro Quo (â€Å"This for That†). In quid pro quo harassment, enduring the offensive conduct becomes condition of continued employment. Examples: Denying employment or a promotion for failure to perform sexual acts or participate in religious activities. Giving preferential treatment in exchange for sexual cooperation or joining a religion. Hostile Work Environment. Here, the conduct is severe or pervasive enough to create a work environment that a reasonable person would consider intimidating, hostile, or abusive. Some more considerations: A â€Å"hostile environment† may be created by the unwelcome conduct of supervisors, co-workers, customers, contractors, or anyone else with whom the victim interacts on the job. Harassment occurs when this conduct renders the workplace atmosphere intimidating, hostile, or offensive. Factors to consider include but are not limited to the frequency and severity of alleged harassment, whether it is physically threatening or humiliating, and whether it unreasonably interferes with work. Behaviors contributing to an unlawful hostile environment may include but are not limited to discussing sexual activities, unnecessary touching, displaying sexually suggestive or racially insensitive pictures, using demeaning or inappropriate terms or epithets, using indecent gestures or crude language, or sabotaging a victim’s work. Why you want to avoid harassment claims. Harassment claims are easy to file and hard to get dismissed. They consume time (an average of 318 days), they cost huge amount of money regardless of their validity (average of $40 $125K in settlements which can cover back pay, compensatory damages, punitive damages, and attorney’s fees costs), and they can damage a company’s reputation/brand irreparably. According to the New York Daily News, New York State has settled at least 85 lawsuits involving claims of sexual harassment or sex discrimination at agencies, hospitals, prisons and schools it oversees, costing the state a combined $11.87 million. Clearly you want to avoid such lawsuits if you possibly can. Even before a lawsuit, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment have an impact on your organization. The acts themselves are disruptive in the workplace, decrease employee morale, increase absenteeism and turnover, reduce productivity, and damage the reputation of the company. It’s a no-brainer that every company must address harassment before, during, and after it happens. Harassment Lawsuits Harassment lawsuits gain teeth not because the harassment happened, but because they did not respond properly. Take these two examples: Chopourian v. Catholic Healthcare West is one of the best-known cases in the harassment category. In this case, a physician assistant made 18 complaints regarding working conditions and bullying at Mercy General Hospital, all of which were ignored, before she was fired. The reason for her termination? Allegedly failing to report for work – but it was found that she was explicitly told not to come in for coverage that day. When she obtained alternative employment, she lost it because Mercy General would not provide her with required â€Å"privileging.† She was awarded $168 million in a settlement, just three days into a jury trial. In contrast, in Chaloult v. Interstate Brands, an employer won the case because it was proven that the claimant did not complain to management and a witness confirmed the alleged harassing behavior could not reasonably be defined as harassment. Importantly, the employer correctly trained employees and had a protective anti-harassment policy that covered where to report harassment and provided multiple channels for reporting. The company even continued the investigation after the employee resigned. You must take your responsibility seriously as an employer. As an employer, if you knew or should have known and failed to take prompt and corrective action, you can be liable – regardless of whether an employee or some other party perpetrated the action. In contrast, if you reasonably tried to prevent and promptly correct the harassing behavior through training, a policy known to your employees, and prompt investigation/corrective action, you have strong footing to defend any lawsuits. See this article from the American Bar Association on how to avoid putting your company at risk. If you have a small company, you can bring an outside organization in to advise you on your policy and handle any complaints. In Madison, WI, where I live, a local employment agency, QTI, provides this service (and gave a presentation on the topic that I attended last week – thank you QTI for providing information and inspiration for this blog). There are many questions that can arise as to what policies to put into place. For instance, should your company have a â€Å"no-dating† policy? A â€Å"required snitching† policy? Hugging protocol (as NBC just put into place)? Can you go too far with attempting to stop workplace harassment? Regardless of the size of your business, it’s essential to protect yourself and your company from time-consuming, expensive, and reputation-damaging harassment claims. If your organization is not in compliance with the best practices in this area, I recommend taking action now. Category:Life and LeadershipBy Brenda BernsteinFebruary 26, 2018 5 Comments Prasanta says: February 27, 2018 at 10:07 am I feel this particular article is predominantly biased to female employees as they are facing harassment most of the time. But harassment is also rendered to male employees too. Moreover, this safeguard s available only in USA. For e.g. I was a Dutch MNC employee but suddenly lost job without identifying any reason even though I had a severe road accident while on duty and but my employer did not give any monetary compensation even though iI have developed physical limitations due to this accident. I lost my job as I raised my voice. There are legal safeguards in India but takes years to get justice and one can die before the justice is delivered. This is not USA. Log in to Reply Brenda Bernstein says: February 27, 2018 at 10:21 am Thank you for this input and international perspective, Prasanta. Its true that we have a lot of protections in the U.S. that are not available in other countries. And you are absolutely right that harassment can be perpetrated against any protected class. What youre talking about I believe is retaliation for whistleblowing. Heres what I found on Wikepedia: Whistleblowers are often protected under law from employer retaliation, but in many cases punishment has occurred, such as termination, suspension, demotion, wage garnishment, and/or harsh mistreatment by other employees. A 2009 study found that up to 38% of whistleblowers experienced professional retaliation in some form, including wrongful termination.[citation needed] For example, in the United States, most whistleblower protection laws provide for limited make whole remedies or damages for employment losses if whistleblower retaliation is proven. However, many whistleblowers report there exists a widespread shoot the messenger mentality by corporations or government agencies accused of misconduct and in some cases whistleblowers have been subjected to criminal prosecution in reprisal for reporting wrongdoing. As a reaction to this many private organizations have formed whistleblower legal defense funds or support groups to assist whistleblowers; three such examples are the National Whistleblowers Center[28] in the United States, and Whistleblowers UK[29] and Public Concern at Work (PCaW)[30] in the United Kingdom. Depending on the circumstances, it is not uncommon for whistleblowers to be ostracized by their co-workers, discriminated against by future potential employers, or even fired from their organization. This campaign directed at whistleblowers with the goal of eliminating them from the organization is referred to as mobbing. It is an extreme form of workplace bullying wherein the group is set against the targeted individual.[31] 28 whistleblowers.org. whistleblowers.org. Retrieved 2012-07-08. 29 wbuk.org. wbuk.org. Retrieved 2017-01-30. 30 pcaw.co.uk. pcaw.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-07-08. 31 Matthiesen SB, Bjorkelo B, Burke RJ Workplace Bullying as the Dark Side of Whistleblowing in Bullying and Harassment in the Workplace: Developments in Theory, Research, and Practice (2012) Log in to Reply Beth Garner says: February 27, 2018 at 11:07 am re: can you go too far with attempting to stop workplace harassment seeming a bit ridiculous and overly detailed. I used to think some of the guidelines I read or heard in company policies were verging, or even falling squarely, into the realm of the absurd. Then I listened to the comments questions of many men, and realized that many of them, even the most well-intentioned, really do not know the boundary between acceptable collegial behavior and harassing behavior. For far too long in so many areas of life men have been subtly taught that so many obnoxious kinds of behavior are the norm that now they cant see where the line is, and actually need detailed instruction. I know it often seems silly and excessive, but it is unfortunately often necessary in order to re-educate many on what is appropriate and what is inappropriate. Log in to Reply Brenda Bernstein says: February 27, 2018 at 11:19 am Its true, Beth. Specific rules are much easier to follow than use your judgment. And, blanket rules have their downsides too. If Ive been friends with someone for years and have an established relationship, or if someone is going through a hard time and needs a shoulder to lean on, a 1-second hug policy doesnt seem to apply. I guess the lawyers at NBC decided having the rule would cover their butts (no harassment intended) so its a better policy as a base. Log in to Reply B G says: February 27, 2018 at 6:53 pm Brenda, your reply illuminates a good reason why companies need very specific guidelines. You are speaking as a woman with certainty about the comfort level of the person you hug, and their openness willingness to be hugged by you. Being hugged in the workplace by a man: a mans assumption that the established relationship is such that a hug is appropriate may be wildly off the mark. The woman being grabbed and hugged may not want to be hugged at all! The man may think the hug is offering comfort, but he may be sensorily blind to the fact that the woman is holding herself rigid, slightly pushing him away, and averting her face with a grimace. She may be reluctant to tell him his hug is unwelcome; she may realize his intention is good and not want to offend him. In addition, that hug may have been intended innocently, albeit executed awkwardly. What about the quick close hug by a man with an erection who presses his groin against yours, rubs his chest against your breasts and qu ickly lets go? It may be only a second or two, and no one else may realize what the is doing, but that is certainly not ok! So, hugs, innocent as they may seem, do need to be curtailed. Log in to Reply

Immigrant kids Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Immigrant kids - Essay Example This paper seeks to show that consideration for needs of immigrant children is a reason for the government to provide them with public attorneys to represent them so that these children can gain proper legal advice to ensure they get a fair chance of restarting their lives. Most unaccompanied child immigrants come for Central American countries such as Honduras and Guatemala which have over the past few years come to be riddled with violence and insecurity to such an extent that they have essentially become failed states. Children in these countries have ended up becoming the victims of situations over which they have no control and a large number of them have been forced from school and into conducting illegal activities on behalf of the various gangs that have become prominent in Central America. A result has been that many of these children have had their lives taken away and have been forced to grow up too quickly because that is the only way through which they could achieve their survival. One would argue that their choice to come to the United States has, therefore, not been one made out of a need only for the need to achieve economic prosperity, but also to ensure that they are able to rebuild their lives in a manner that allows them to live awa y from the violence and poverty in their home countries (Scott 1). These children have to be treated in a responsible way that ensures that not only are all their immediate needs catered for, especially when one considers that age, but also that they are able to gain legal representation to ensure that they are allowed to build a life in the United States without the fear of being deported back to their home countries. Immigrant children need legal representation in order to make the courts understand that they have not come to the United States willingly but are victims of circumstances. One would argue that unaccompanied child

Effective team Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Effective team - Essay Example communication between members, the team has clear objectives and goals it wants to accomplish; there is positive and open criticism in the team and members feel free to air their concerns during team meetings. Other attributes include there is active participation of members, the team is self-conscious, and finally, the team moves forward when all members are satisfied about a given issue. In effective teams have such attributes as minimal or no communication at all, serious personal differences between the team members, the team has no clear set objectives or goals it want to accomplish, negative criticism, which limits members’ participation, in active members during team meetings, etc. When new members join a team, it is imperative that formal introductions are made before the agenda of the meeting is discussed to enable the new members feel at easy and part of the team. When discussions break-down in a team, it is the duty of the team leader and members collectively to help iron out the differences without taking any sides. Therefore, team leaders and members have a responsibility of ensuring that there is good communication and trust between team members, and as leader, you are enthusiastic, fearless, and charismatic (Cranmer, 2011). However, as a leader you must ensure that demeaning behavior like laziness, complacency, power coalitions, and strong silos are not tolerated in the group if you want to build a strong and effective team. Ultimately, I am a strong team builder, with charismatic attributes, good communication, and interpersonal skills. However, I must state that I like making fun and teasing others, missing some group meetings attributes, which have sometimes landed me in problems with my team members. Therefore, during my end of semester course project, I will ensure that I will maintain the highest discipline, be punctual in all my team