Saturday, November 30, 2019

Racism in the Tortilla Curtain Essay Example

Racism in the Tortilla Curtain Paper Racism has always been a major issue in the United States, whether it is racism towards the homo sexual, Jewish, or the illegal immigrant racism will always be part of the United States. In the novel The Tortilla Curtain, by T. C Boyle he writes about a man named Delaney Mossabacher. Delaney is a self proclaimed liberal humanist. In the novel Boyle puts Delaney in many situations that make you question his liberal humanist views. While on his way to a recycling center his life is changed forever when he runs over a man named Candido Rincon. Delaney insists on giving him $20 instead of taking him to the hospital. This action makes you question whether he is truly a humanist. Delaney then realizes that Candido is an illegal immigrant living in Topanga creek where he often goes for hikes. When Delaney goes to get his car repaired at the dealership he tells the man he hit a dog instead of telling him he hit a person. This is where he begins to see Mexicans as not being human because they dont live like everyone else. The most controversial part of the novel is when Delaney is arguing with jack at the grocery store. His actions make you question everything he believes in. We will write a custom essay sample on Racism in the Tortilla Curtain specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Racism in the Tortilla Curtain specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Racism in the Tortilla Curtain specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The final part of the story where everyone is looking at the fire you can clearly tell he has lost every ounce of liberal humanist and is now a full fledge racist. It is clear that the actions he takes in these situations clearly make him a very racist person not a liberal humanist like he claims to be. The first instance where Delaney begins transforming from a liberal humanist to a full fledge racist is at the recycling center. While at the recycling center Delaney begins to feel guilty about hitting Candido. He then realizes he is an illegal immigrant because he refused to get medical attention. He also notices that he is living down in Topanga creek because of the contents in the shopping cart he was pushing around. This makes Delaney angry because he feels that Candidio is polluting the environment by living down at the creek. Boyle writes Delaney felt his guilt turn to anger, to outrage (11). This is an important part of the story because this is when he first notices that illegal immigrants are living down in Topanga creek. He also begins to notice that Mexicans are everywhere, from the guys working on the landscape in Arroyo Blanco to the guys working at the recycling center. Delaney is angry because hitting Candido with his car is his first negative experience with Mexicans, and it plants a negative seed in Delaney mind. If Delaney wouldnt have hit Candido he would have never noticed all the Mexicans, but because he thinks that Candido ran into his car on purpose he begins to have racist feelings towards Mexicans. Delaney feels that Mexicans are suddenly out to ruin his life. It is obvious the main reason Delaney is outraged is not because he hit him or because his car is damaged, it is because he ruined his day. Delaney likes to live a very organized and routine driven life and by having this accident it has thrown off his daily routine and he resents Candido for doing that. The second instance where Delaney begins to transform into a racist is when he is at the car dealership getting his car repaired from the damage Candido caused. While at the dealership he begins to talk with Kenny Grissom the man who sold him the car. When Grissom asks him what he hit Delaney replies with a dog, I think it was (13). Although Delaney could have told him the truth that he accidently hit someone, he decides to lie and instead says he hit a dog. This is important because it shows how little Delaney cares about what he did. Although Delaney is a self proclaimed humanist he is contradicting himself by lying and saying he hit a dog. Furthermore Delaney saying he hit a dog is symbolic because it shows the racist feelings he has toward Candido. He feels that Candido is like a dog that relays on society to take care of him. This is when Delaneys true feelings towards Mexicans begin to show because he doesnt see them as regular people but as dogs ready to take advantage of people whenever they get an opportunity. Another clear instance of Delaney losing his liberal humanist views is in the middle of chapter seven part two. Delaney is arguing with Jack Jardine about the fence that is going to be put up around Arroyo Blanco. Jack is trying to convince Delaney that the wall is necessary but Delaney is adamantly against it. Delaney feels that it is wrong to put up the fence up just to keep illegal immigrants out. He says Immigrants are the lifeblood of this country were a nation of immigrants and neither of us would be standing here today if it wasnt (101). When they leave the store Delaney sees Candido being harassed by someone. His liberal humanist side feels he should help Candido but the racist part of him actually wishes harm on Candido. This is the most ironic part of the book because while they were in the store he was defending illegal immigrants. He felt like they have every right to be living in the United States. Once he is outside and actually has to deal with the issue by witnessing the events that took place he completely changes his view on Mexicans. This clearly shows that while he might consider himself a humanist he is actually is becoming more racist every time he has negative experience with Mexicans. He once again feels that Mexicans are just here to make peoples life miserable and to take advantage of them whenever they have a chance. This begins to make Delaney furious because he cant get seem to get away from Candido. He feels that Candido is a nuisance in his life and every time he has to deal with him bad things happen. One of the clearest examples that Delaney has completely lost his humanist views and is truly racist is toward the end of the novel when the people from Arroyo Blanco are evacuated due to the fire. While everyone is standing outside looking at the fire Delaney notices Jose and his friend walking up the road. Delaney immediately confronts Jose and blames him for setting the fire. Boyle writes that Delaney felt as much pure hatred as hed ever felt in his life (287). This is a clear act of racism because even though he had no clue who set the fire, he immediately blames Jose because he is Mexican. He sees him as a no good scum who has nothing better to do then to set fires and ruin peoples life. This incident is really the straw that broke the camels back for Delaney because all the previous incidents didnt really affect his personal life at home, but by Jose setting the fire he puts his family life in danger and Delaney feels pure hatred at him for doing that. He is outraged because he feels that Mexicans have no feelings and all they care about is themselves. This incident put Delaney in the us versus them racist mindset and he gets everyone to yell racist remarks at Jose. At this point Delaney really hates Mexicans because their actions put everything he owns in jeopardy. By the end of the novel Delaney is clearly transformed from a liberal humanist to a racist because of the situations he is faced with. Whether it be things he says, like saying he hit a dog instead of an actual persons. He also contradicted himself by defending illegal immigrants at the grocery store calling them the lifeblood of the country, then turning around and wishing harm on someone just because they are illegal immigrants. His actions also clearly depicted him as a racist by the despicable actions he took on Jose Navidad toward the end of the novel by blaming him for the fire without knowing who actually started it. It is apparent Boyle put him in these situations to make us question his liberal humanist view. Although Delaney is self proclaimed liberal humanist he like many other people was negatively affected by racism. If Delenay was truly the humanist he claimed to be he would not have had so much hate toward Candido, but when his family is affected by immigrants it forces him to have very negative feelings toward immigrants. So while Delaney would have liked to believe he was a liberal humanist, he like many other ethnic groups was adversely affected by racism.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Double Replacement Reaction Definition

Double Replacement Reaction Definition A double replacement reaction is a chemical reaction where two reactant ionic compounds exchange ions to form two new product compounds with the same ions. Key Takeaways: Double Replacement Reaction A double replacement reaction is a type of chemical reaction that occurs when two reactants exchange cations or anions to yield two new products.Double replacement reactions are also called double replacement reactions, double displacement reactions, or metathesis reactions.Neutralization, precipitation, and gas formation are types of double replacement reactions. Double replacement reactions take the form: AB- CD- → AD- CB- In this type of reaction, the positive-charged cations and the negative-charged anions of the reactants both trade places (double displacement), to form two new products. Also Known As:  Other names for a double displacement reaction are a metathesis reaction or a double replacement reaction. Examples of Double Replacement Reactions The reaction: AgNO3 NaCl → AgCl NaNO3 is a double replacement reaction. The silver traded its nitrite ion for the sodiums chloride ion. Another example is the reaction between sodium sulfide and hydrochloric acid to form sodium chloride and hydrogen sulfide: Na2S HCl → NaCl H2S Types of Double Displacement Reactions There are three classes of metathesis reactions: neutralization, precipitation, and gas formation reactions. Neutralization Reaction - A neutralization reaction is an acid-base reaction which yields a solution with a neutral pH. Precipitation Reaction - Two compounds react to for a solid product called a precipitate. The precipitate is either slightly soluble or else insoluble in water.   Gas Formation - A gas formation reaction is one which yields a gas as a product. The example given earlier, in which hydrogen sulfide was produced, was a gas formation reaction.

Friday, November 22, 2019

An Inspector Calls Essay Example for Free (#11)

An Inspector Calls Essay An Inspector Calls is a play that investigates the social injustice of society in England. Its author JB Priestly writes a story based on the society reigned by King Edward. In this historic period the British Empire was at its peak of world colonial power. Edwardian society, as the period was known as, was split into different class groups. You had upper class, middle class and lower class. JB Priestly rights about an Edwardian upper class family, called the Birlings and how their transgressions lead to the suicide of a poor lower class factory worker known as Eva Smith. The story begins in the Birling household where the family are celebrating the engagement of Sheila Birling and Gerald Croft. The celebrations are interrupted as the inspector appears, bringing the news of the suicide of Eva Smith. His inquiries reveal each member of the Birling household involvement in the case and the once respectable Birling family are revealed to be rather pathetic and immoral.  In reference to the essay question I shall now write about one member of the Birling family and how their character changes through out the play. Sheila Birling is the daughter of Author and Sybil Birling. It is at her engagement party with Gerald Croft, where the inspector reveals the family’s involvement in the Eva Smith suicide case. In the story Priestly portrays her as a young beautiful lady with a rather selfish and arrogant nature. Using her compelling personality she is able to obtain anything in which she desires through her father. At the beginning of the inspector’s inquiries she seems  somewhat curious about the reason for the inspector’s interference. Of course at this time she is unaware of her contribution to the incident and sits in the room with a feeling of impartial responsibility to the suicide of Eva Smith. After the inspector explains what’s happened and how Eva Smith dies she shows an empathetic side of her personality, which might have surprised the audience watching the play. She shows her remorse by describing her feelings towards the injustice of the case. The inspector interviews Author Birling first before moving on to Sheila. Author Birling insists for the inspector to leave his daughter out his inquiries, but the inspector points out to Mr Birling that he must speak to everybody in the house. The inspector unveils Sheila’s’ involvement by revealing her as the second link in a long chain of events leading to the death of Eva Smith. Edwardian upper class society was well renowned for their ability to exercise total power and control over lower class persons. Priestly shows a perfect example of this during the inspector’s questioning of Sheila. He reveals that after being sacked from Mr Birlings’ factory, Eva Smith found a knew line of work at a clothes shop where Sheila Birling was considered a valued customer. Eva Smith was soon left unemployed after being sacked again. The reason was for being better looking than Sheila in a dress which had Miss Birling’s best interest at heart. Using her social position she was able to influence the managers at the clothes shop into dismissing Eva Smith. Sheila is devastated after hearing the effect of her selfish act. The inspector shows another side to Sheila Birlings’ character, her gentle side. Perhaps Sheila can be separated from the rest of the family as she is the only one, apart from Eric who is able to accept responsibility for her action, unlike her father who a coward at heart made excuses for his actions.: Through the course of the play Sheila slowly changes from a spoilt little rich snob into a mature young lady. She begins to share the inspectors’ views on Edwardian society and brings about a few of her own views.  The purpose of Priestly writing ‘An Inspector Calls’ was to get his views about Edwardian society across England. Using the inspector he criticizes  The social order of Edwardian society. So any comment made by the inspector is a comment made by JB Priestly.  Conclusion  I have been able to successfully answer the essay question using Sheila Birling as my character to show how members of the Birling family changed. JB Priestly reveals the injustice that occurred in Edwardian society. He shows the audience that the upper class people of Edwardian society were consequently not the respectable upright citizens that their class positions would have implied. An Inspector Calls. (2017, Nov 07).

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Comparative assessment of options for the management of municipal Essay

Comparative assessment of options for the management of municipal solid waste - Essay Example The imperative problem in these countries is lack of resources. This problem produces several others problems which directly or indirectly effect environment of these countries. In addition to this Cambodia has to face natural calamities like flood, drought etc each year. These again contribute in enhancing environmental problems in this country. (Dos, 2005) Cambodia is a small country with many rivers. Major rivers of Cambodia either drain into Tonle Sap or into the Mekong River. The Cardamom Mountains & the Elephant range divide the region into three zones. In the eastern zone rivers flow into Tonle Sap. In the western zone rivers pour into Gulf of Thailand. While the rivers of southern zone flow towards south on the eastern side of the divide. Tonle Sap gets seasonal flow of water. In months of September & October due to monsoon rains ,the flow in Mekong river increases enormously .Thus water overflows and inundates the delta. Flowing north ward this water empties into Tonle Sap. As a result the lake overflows, there by increasing its size from about 2,590 sq km to about 24,605 sq km. These recurring floods are not only big blows to the economy of the Cambodia but also cause devastating effects on the environment of the effected places. After flood decaying plants and animal bodies carried with flood water are remains scattered throughout the places. Due to which the atmosphere of those places get polluted. Decaying substances get dissolved in ground water as well as in fresh water of water bodies. This cause post flood famines in this country. After flood when the water level of Tonle Sap retreats a new layer of sediment gets deposited. Due to annual flooding and poor drainage the surrounding area of the lake gets transformed into marsh lands. During dry seasons these marsh lands are unusable for agriculture .Comparatively lesser amount of silt is carried away from the lake by Tonle Sap River than deposited by Mekong River. Thus gradually silting the lake and decreasing its water level and causing scarcity of water in dry seasons. Cambodia suffers from occasional droughts. These droughts cause soil erosion and reduce soil fertility, which declines agricultural yield in favorable season. Cambodia being an agricultural country, to cope up with this problem increasing yield substantially was necessary. To fulfill this purpose use of fertilizers and pesticides are increasing day by day. Pesticides can be divided into three subgroups namely Insecticides, Fungicides & Herbicides. Insecticides comprise of Chlorine, Phosphorous, Carbonate chemicals such as DDT, Aldrin etc. Herbicides are generally used for controlling growth of weeds. These cause less harm to the environment than insecticides. Example of Herbicides are Atrazine , Propachlor etc. Herbicides do not leave long term effect on soil. Fungicides are mostly used in vegetable farms and orchards. The factors such as soil type , depth of water table , rain fall infiltration and persistence

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Bicycle Thieves Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Bicycle Thieves - Movie Review Example The director of the movie Vittorio De Sica and Cesare Zavattini visit a brothel to do research on the film. The post-war Italy is immersed in poverty and the common people are directionless and destination-less. How poverty makes poor people lose their essential dignity is depicted in the movie poignantly. Ricci and his son Bruno begin to search for the bicycle but Rome is such a big city and police are not of much help. The father and son reach a restaurant, take refreshments and a little wine. The boy gets an opportunity to view the lifestyles of the rich as he sees a family eating plates of pasta and his father tells him "To eat like that, you need a million lira a month at least". After some time, to his great amazement, Ricci happens to see the bicycle thief and pursues him to reach a brothel. An ugly mob gathers, a cop arrives, but he is unable to take any legal action in the absence of the witness, as the complainant Ricci is the only witness. He is frustrated. In the closing sequence of the movie, Ricci is tempted to steal a bicycle himself, and the cycle of theft and poverty continues. Prominent among the Cast are Enzo Stailoa, Enzo Staiola, Lamberto Maggiorani and Lianella Carell. The experiment of introducing non-professional actors and shooting in natural locations is a new experiment and it brings about revised procedures in articulating truth and the ideas that influence the people. It is the demand of the time as well; the film makers face the budgetary constraints in the desperate post-war situation. The studios are devastated; unemployment not only makes the life of the people miserable but impossible to carry on, resulting in suffocating poverty. The experimentation of neo-realist philosophy through this movie has been highly successful. Other Cinematic Characteristics There is a famous scene on and around a bridge over the Tiber. The father, played by Lamberto Maggiorani, who has earlier stuck his son, turns back from his search in fear because he thinks the boy is drowning in the river. So also shooting of the most of the scenes in the movie are filmed i n real locations, without creating artificial and make-believe sets. The director is able to provide the sensitive touch and dealing with the untrained cast has specific advantages. They are ideal raw material for

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Computers Essay Example for Free

Computers Essay Books will never be completely replaced by computers. Computers can crash, and all information will be lost. If the power goes out in your house, you cant read on your computer, but you can pick up a book. What you read on a comp. is just light or something on a screen. A book is is a permentent physical printing. If computers replaced books, wed all have serious eye problems. The joy of reading would be lost. Id hate to have to depend on a machine for my relaxing reading time. Books are forever, computers are until it breaks down, and everything will be lost. Books can be taken care of, as can computers, but there are books that are a hundred years old, I havent heard of anyone with the same computer for even 10 yrs. see more:essay on computer I guess comps are getting new and better, but books are still better to read. However, on the up side for comps, 1 comp, can store probebly over a hundred books, sort of like an i pod. But if the 1 comp breaks, that a hundred books too. Computers are good, and should store that kind of stuff, but I dont think it should completly replace the book. That would really suck. You cant haul your computer everywhere you go, like the bus, waiting rooms, the lunchroom, bed, etc. Too large, awkward and unwieldy. Even laptops. You cant just throw a laptop in your purse. I take books with me everywhere I go so I have something to kill the time with when Im waiting. I read everyday on my lunch hour. I read before I go to bed. Sitting in front of a coputer to read makes my eyes, butt and back hurt, because you have to sit up to do it and the computer screen is too bright. Plus, books dont need batteries. I think its okay for kids in school, and Im sure that there are other instances, but I highly doubt that books will ever become obsolete.f a book from reading an actual book instead of a screen. . Finding good novels or non-fiction would be more difficult because of the volume of all kinds and qualities of same. A computer, even a notebook, will never replace a pocket-sized paperback you can stick in a purse and read anywhere. Books dont need batteries, service, defragging or any of those things. Like many aspiring authors, Im excited by the possibilities posed by on-line publishing, but I have some serious reservations about what could happen if there is an unchecked volume of materials placed out there. Also, collecting royalties could make writing for profit even more of a challenge than it is today. Intro Science has made4 mch developments during the recent decades. It has developed many gadgets for our comfort but in my opinion they cn never replace the traditional things and ways. One of the greatest invention of technology and sciences is computer

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Essay --

In the late 1980s, the United States faced the first ever possible threat of creating invincible guns; an Austrian was intercepted in the airport carrying a fabricated Glock (type of handgun). The fabricated Glock is composed of strengthen plastic that was meant to defy airport metal detector. In result congress passed the undetectable gun ban. Although, the federal aviation administration concluded that the Glock wasn’t deemed such a threat at moment it was inevitable that we may face it again in the future. Today, on the twentieth century on May 10 2013 a student Cody Wilson was able to create an undetectable gun through the use of 3D printers, the Gun composed of variety of devices out of thousands of compressed plastics. It was reviewed and concluded operational; the firearm enthusiast student at age 25 was able to create a handgun model known as the Liberator that fires eight rounds. In a couple of months Cody Wilson was able to build not only handguns but as well as high powered rifles such as the semi-automatic AR-15 from a 3D printer as well and possessed the same qualities as the liberator. Ironically, the AR-15 was the same weapon used in the Sandy hook shooting in Connecticut. Although no source can be found in the internet that the weapon had a connection with the enthusiasts creation, it is inevitable that 3D printing was expected to come about. It was first introduce for entertainment purpose with the use of the television but it was not expected to be used to create weapons. Like any other innovation there will always be pros and cons, the positive and negative in Cody Wilsons case, he has brought in our nation an opportunity for evolution towards the way weapons are created. A technology that may strengthen our ar... ...eate an interruption to this policies, as of now a current bill is in process of banning magazines that can hold more than 10 rounds, a New York times journalist suggest with the progression of technology, in the next ten years the average household will no longer be for anything that can be manufactured through their 3D printer, which makes the possibilities limitless. In conclusion, the 3D printing can be compared to a double edge sword, depending on to whom the technology falls on, will determine the future. Though, it is convincing that such technology in the market will only take time before it falls to the wrong hands. Nonetheless, appropriate laws and guidelines are must in order to prevent such catastrophic event. As much as this technology may possess a threat to everyone, I am convinced that the 3D printing technology will lead humanity in a bright future.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Disconnection in the Midst of Connectivity

The revolutions in the area of information and communications technology have brought the world closer. Literally, the world has shrunk because people from Europe can readily communicate with people from Asia; a daughter in the United States can easily contact her parents in South America. The mobile phone networks, the chat rooms and instant messengers in the internet, together with e-mail have significantly lowered the cost of inter-continental communications and have literally transcended space and time.In addition to this revolution, there is also a great deal of developments in the technologies available to humans in doing their chores and conducting their businesses. Even the simplest task can be automated and would require only a touch of a button for it to function. Washing machines, refrigerators and all sorts of electronic gadgets and equipments have indeed made life easier. This is especially true in the case of developed countries where these technologies are readily avai lable.Life has no hassles and lifestyles have become as easy as pushing another button on the remote control of the television. In less developed countries, however, this is not the case. The tendency is for them to rely on traditional means of doing things and conducting their business. Most of these countries in Asia, Africa, and South America doe not have access to most of these new technologies. As a result, they still tend to use their own bodily strength in conducting their businesses and going about their daily lives.For example, in farming, people from less developed countries use their own muscles and animals to till the soil and harvest their agricultural products later on. On the other hand, those in the developed countries tend to use heavy machinery to conduct the same set of activities. Has the use of technology led people and society to become lazy, apathetic and disconnected to the rest of the world? What about individuality? Has it been enhanced or is it being chall enged by these new technologies? As the world is shaped by these technologies, will individualism be melted into a smorgasbord of collectivity?Connectivity, Individuality, and the â€Å"Global Village† Marshall Mcluhan (41a) declared that the world has become a â€Å"Global Village†. He said this statement back when the use of the internet is not yet as widespread as it is now. This global village will come about as humans become increasingly dependent on electronic media and other forms of electronic technologies. Through this â€Å"electronic interdependence, the visual culture created by the coming of the printing press and the publication of books, humans will come to use electronic media more and more.Through the increasing popularity and acceptance of electronic media and the culture it develops, a new age will come in which humans will develop a collective consciousness and identity and individualism will be integrated into this collective consciousness. McLuha n declared his thesis in the early 1960s, back when the Internet revolution has not yet started climbing its ascent. This is due to the utilization and because of the message propagated by media since according to him â€Å"the medium is the message† (McLuhan, 20b).He also gave warnings that this global village, if its citizens were not aware of the impact of media and its effects on them as persons, then terror, totalitarianism or anarchy will reign in this village. Technology is, in itself, free of normative standards. When it is used towards certain ends, then it becomes an important tool in shaping the concept of the individual about himself, the relationship of other people to him, and how he stands in relation to the society that he lives in.McLuhan assumed that print technology is the bastion of individualism and that if it were rendered in electronic format, its effects on individualism would also change. (McLuhan, 158a). How do these new technologies increase the con nectivity of people around the world? According to Alstyne and Brynjolfsson (4), the speed of the transmission of data and communications has become very quick. In addition, millions of people have access to them, thus increasing the connectivity between and among people all over the world.Although this is the case, the capacity of individuals in absorbing and interacting with so much information is limited. The creation of a more or less uniform social consciousness based on connectivity is simply impossible. There are around 33 million articles and web pages in the Internet in May 1996 according to AlaVista (Alstyne & Brynjolfsson, 4). Transcending the Nation: Emergence of New Imagined Communities Benedict Anderson (6) in his book that sought to describe the nation and why people were so attached to it described the nation as an imagined community.This community was conceived in the minds of people with powerful bonds and relationships that are usually defined by religion, race, o r language. Anderson traced the development of the nation as an imagined community and pointed out that the printing of books in the people’s vernacular and the industry of publication or â€Å"print-capitalism† is instrumental in the emergence of this imagined community. The result of the diffusion of this medium of communication is that people across geographical areas bound by common languages started to drew together and conceptualize themselves as members of a community, albeit an imagined one.It should also be remembered that during the period of the rise of nationalism, the divine right of monarchs to their thrones were being challenged. Later, colonized people were also revolting against their colonial masters in a bid for independence and autonomy. As such, the common struggles, common language, and other commonalities brought these people together through the print media (Anderson, 7). Although it could be surmised that the people in the nations described by Anderson were still individuals, they were bound by a collective consciousness that led to the development of the nation.From the explanation of Anderson regarding the role of print media in developing imagined communities; as well as the discourse of McLuhan regarding the effects of the changes in the print media, it can be concluded that print media and more recently, electronic media have a huge impact in creating a collective consciousness. The problem of today’s electronic media, especially the internet, is that the message is diverse and there is no single coherent message that is being promoted.Rather there is a hodgepodge of messages and millions of files, most of them are unrelated (Alstyne & Brynjolfsson, 5). Given the bulk and diversity of topics in the World Wide Web, Alstyne & Brynjolfsson (5) have argued that what is happening is that there is a â€Å"cyber-balkanization† and fragmentation of internet and technology users according to their interest. As s uch, there are various cliques and groupings of individuals that keep out others who do not share the same interest with them.On the other hand, Pack (16) conjectured that the television is very powerful in shaping the perceptions and understanding of people about the world. Since most of the people of the world are exposed to the television, the advertisements, the shows and even the news reports among others are instrumental in the development of new imagined communities based on interest. Communication and Disconnection As people learn to communicate better in the setting of information and other communication technologies, there is a tendency for people to lose their non-verbal and non-linguistic communication skills.Because of the large amount of time spent by individuals in communicating online or using various information and communication technologies, they spend less time interacting with others, and thus might lose other non-verbal communication skills. This will be a sign ificant loss for society if information and communication technologies hamper the traditional means of communication of individuals in the society. Conclusion Information and communication technologies, as most products of science and innovation, have contributed to an easier lifestyle.However, there are tradeoffs to this. The traditional means of communication are being undermined by the excessive use of these technologies. In addition, the internet, the television and similar technologies are giving rise to new kinds of imagined communities based on common interest and pursuit. These imagined communities, however, lack a single coherent message in comparison to the â€Å"print-capitalism† discourse of Anderson (7) that gave rise to nations as imagined communities.Instead, what is present are a lot of several seemingly disconnected messages that bind certain groups of people across geographies through the process of â€Å"cyber-balkanization† as described by Alstyne & Brynjolfsson (4). In certain aspects, there is also an empowerment of individuality in information technology, especially in the Web 2. 0 technologies that seek to give more preference to the way that individuals conduct their computing and extend their presence online (O’Reilly, n. p. ).In the ending of Big Brother (Orwell, n.p. ) the characters in the novel were subjected to extensive brainwashing through the media—visual, print and even coercion. The novel also showed the potent power of media in propagating a message, even a wrong one at that. Such a scenario, however, is unlikely to happen with the current information technologies available since there is no centralized group or person controlling these technologies. Technologies may have had negative effects on the communication skills of people yet individualism is here to stay.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

American life at 1920s Essay

The sound of bullets abroad ended, but the ring of change in America blasted as large as a bullet. As the Great War ended, change manifested America and it was never to be the same. With a stock market boom, consolidation of businesses, and an increase in buying power, American life became modernized. The automobile was introduced as it ushered in a new era of society and increased freedom. Family pressures diminished as children began to explore the world as their own through being a flapper, dancing to jazz, or living the glamorous life that authors like F. Scott Fitzgerald idolized in the twenties. These changes did not arrive without a continuous longing for a prewar era of control, laissez faire government, and a sense of normalcy. These tensions were manifested in ideas like the Red Scare and the prohibition. Although change survived, the difference in ideas between old and new ways created tensions within American society that was eventually manifested to form a new, modernized culture. From the new advances in technology and in business (1), a new culture of youth usurped the traditional voice of society and questioned the roles thrust upon them (2), but it also created a racist and nativist country (3). In post WWI, the technology in American homes became more advanced due to the modernization of America’s economy and business. After a recession that began in the twenties, the stock market boomed, reflecting the growing prosperity of America (EV 712). In the pre WWI era, laissez faire capitalism and the support of big business was how the government ran the economy. Throughout the war, the government intervened in the economy, doing away with big business, and enlarged their presence to the delight of reformers. There was an increase in strikes from workers asking for higher tariffs. After the war, the government imposed high tariffs such as the Fordney-McCumber Tariff and Smoot-Hawley Tariff, which were enacted to protect growing business and prosperity of domestic manufacturers (EV 713). They also encouraged the consolidation of big businesses, and even if companies did not merge, the companies cooperated in price fixes and markets (EV 714). Because of the given protection and consolidation, businesses were able to create mass produced goods and lower the prices of their goods to sell to their consumers which was defined by one word: Fordism (EV 714). The methods provided luxuries that past generations were unable to obtain as they decreased production time, cost, and created leisure time. The companies,  led by Henry Ford, began to increase the pay of their workers (EV 714). This increased pay led to greater buying power of the workers who were also the consumers (Doc E). Strikes decreased and unions, like the AFL and the IWW, declined in membership because of the pay increase, inability to cope with new manufacturing abilities, and the desire of management to use ways like the â€Å"American Plan† to destroy unions (EV 716). From the pay raise and continuous decline of prices and manufacturing, the technology increased. The greatest achievement of the twenties that was manifested from the new business system was the automobile. Led by Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler, the automobile led the way in changing America (EV 712). The new, affordable invention created a new America by giving the youth independence while bringing families together (EV 721). Cars created an easier way to get around, creating a more modern society (Doc F). It embodied the change in America as an offspring of the tensions from big businesses as society realized it needed this new version of buying on credit, merging businesses, and leisure time to sustain a contemporar y culture and technology. The technology adapted in this era fell away from the idea of all work and no play as workers were now able to escape their feeble lives through conveniences, like movies, radios, and television. Through this new technology and advancement in business, Americans broke from traditional ideas and changed into a new and modern culture. Societal changes between youth, women, and culture emerged in the post WWI era. The children and teenagers of the era before the war were ignored and restricted. They lived a Victorian lifestyle that meant that they were seen, but not heard. As the war emerged, the youth felt they had reached adulthood much faster than their parents due to the responsibility that was thrust upon them (Dear Parents). This shocked the older generation because of the activities that the younger generation enjoyed. With an increase in entertainment, movies and music, the youth broke traditional ties. The old tradition was to court someone that was appropriate to marry; the new idea was to date with no intention of marriage. Things like petting and necking became mainstream, and the youth became much more open about their sexual lives, a topic condemned before the war (Doc. B). In addition to the youth, women made a more prominent role in society. Women began to break away from ideas of separate spheres during the war. Before the war, women were meant to fulfil  their motherly duties by teaching others the good and bad of society, like smoking (Doc. J). But during the war, women stepped up and replaced the men in the jobs they left vacant. As they took men’s jobs and roles in society, they established a greater confidence in themselves. This confidence allowed them to stand up to men and led to an increase in divorce rates (Doc. K). Their heightened presence in the workforce made it an excellent time to increase their political might. Organizations like National American Woman Suffrage Association and Woman’s Party fought for the right to vote (EV 658). The 19th amendment was enacted in 1920 allowing women the right to vote which gave women the chance to voice their opinions and establish independence (EV 673). With their increased political influence, women increased their educational standards. More women started going to college, becoming more liberal and breaking traditional ties (Doc. D). Through the liberal ideas and the haze of post war, the flapper movement emerged. A flapper was a liberal woman who displayed w ild fashion and modern ideas (Dear Parents). With all these changes occurring in youth and women, culture began to modernize. The mentality before the war was to make a life before living life (Dear Parents). The idea was to save money, but as people began to see the lives that were being lost at the front, they started to live their life to the fullest as shown by Lindbergh flying across the Atlantic and putting â€Å"ethics† above the desire of money (Doc. I). There was much more leisure time as innovations took over menial jobs. The increase in leisure time caused an increase in entertainment, like the radio and movies (EV 724). Also, family time was a cherished event before the war, but with the emergence of cars, a new sense of freedom emerged (EV 721). With this new sense of freedom, prohibition became a joke. Before the war most of the country, besides immigrants, backed the idea of temperance and a law to stop the consumption and distribution of alcohol. So the 18th amendment was enacted in 1919, which was prohibition (EV 673). But almost three years after the law was enforced, people began to ignore it. From the beginning the Volstead Act was weakly enforced and underfunded, and New York was the first state to repeal it in 1923 (EV 736). Places like night clubs began to spring up to thwart the act (Doc. A). The rate of intoxication arrests increased (Doc. C) and gangs emerged rivaling to control the liquor business (EV 737). This modernization in culture brought upon the questioning of  truth. The traditional view was that God created mankind and everything was based on the Bible. In the 1920s though, advances in science and research was encouraged. People began to believe Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. This created a clash between the old and the new. The people who believed in the biblical ideology called themselves Fundamentalists and wanted to ban the education of evolution in schools. William Jennings Bryan endorsed this cause (Doc. G) and so did fundamentalist Aimee McPherson who enco uraged many to join her side through her charisma (Doc. L). John T. Scopes, a believer in evolution, went against this law and taught evolution to his class. This led to the Scopes Trial which found Scopes guilty, but led to a change in thought and a break from biblical ideas. Through the changes of youth from traditionalism to liberalism, their ideas changed reflected in the rebellion against the prohibition and the change of women’s roles. The idea of control was seen to be diminished as the questioning of ideas once unquestioned, like evolutionary versus biblical, were thrown into the limelight. These fears of change and control made the society into a contemporary thinking, but led to the nativism and Americanism that prevailed American thought. In the post WWI era, nativist sentiments and racist tendencies were rampant. Up to 1890, immigrants mainly came from the Northern and Western parts of Europe, Americans welcomed them and attempted to help them in the Progressive Era. But, as immigrants started coming from Southern and Eastern Europe and Asia, they didn’t assimilate and the melting pot ideology was ending (Doc. Q). The popular sentiment now was 100% Americanism partially due to major propaganda efforts during the war. These nativists believed that there was sufficient population and immigrants were overcrowding the country (Doc. O). This popular movement resulted in a shift in the government’s policies to support the people’s wants. The government enacted a quota limit act on May 19, 1921 and an Immigration Act in 1924 which limited the number of aliens of a nationality to 2 percent of the population (Doc. M). Many organizations, like the American Legion, backed the government in their decisions (Doc. N). With the government executing the laws, the Supreme Court enforced them through their cases. The case of Sacco and Vanzetti exhibits the Court’s bias towards nativists(Sacco Vanzetti). More anti-immigrant sentiment was created when the new Bolshevik regime took over in Russia(EV 706). This Russian Revolution caused the Red  Scare to take over in America, in which nativists believed Russian-Americans were trying to instill communism in the government(Doc. P) and deported them through the Palmer raids (Red Scare). Along with the immigrants, African Americans were being alienated. After Reco nstruction, African Americans were trying to blend in with the whites, but this became difficult because of the Jim Crow laws creating segregation(EV 655). Even as they fought in WWI, the armies were segregated by race(EV 690). Because of the segregation, African Americans had to create their own identity. With the spread of jazz music (EV 726) and their great migration north for better jobs, the Harlem Renaissance was born in the 1920s (EV 728) which allowed blacks to become confident in themselves and their race (Doc. H). But this confidence did not help their circumstance with the whites as shown through the revival of the Ku Klux Klan, which now targeted blacks and immigrants (EV 734), and the mass race riot of Rosewood (Doc. R). The emergence of the KKK caused people like Marcus Garvey to urge black independence and summon them back to Africa (EV 735). Immigrants and African Americans were trying to find a home in the nation called the melting pot, yet they were rejected by Americans because of the new sentiment caused by the war. It was through the changes and the tensions in the twenties that changed society through its manifestations. The automobile prevailed as the leader of the changes as it increased the freedom of the youth that lead the change from traditional conservatism to liberalism that affected all branches of society, including the mistreatment of immigrants and minorities. All of these tensions felt within this era manifested in a way to make America brilliantly prosperous and live the legend of the roaring twenties that is always glorified. But it was through these ideas that America would eventually succumb to through a Great Depression.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Free Essays on Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin was a famous printer, author, inventor, scientist, public servant and diplomat. He was commonly called â€Å"the first civilized American.† Franklin was born on the seventeenth day of January in 1706, on Milk Street in Boston Mass., he was his parents fifteenth child. Benjamin obviously respected his father, who probably taught him to read, so early that he could not remember learning it. While he was a young boy, A private teacher, George Brownell took Benjamin on. â€Å"Under him I acquired fair Writhing pretty soon, but I fail’d in the Arithmetic & made no Progress in it.† (Franklin’s Memoirs, ed. by Max Farrand, p. 20, University of California Press, Berkeley, 1949.) At 10-years-old he was taken home to assist his father in his business. Benjamin did not like what his father did though, so him and his father took a walk one day around Boston, observing the craftsmen at work and looking for a congenial trade. One of his cousi ns was a cutler, and that occupation was seriously considered. Franklin’s fondness for books, he decided to sign indentures with his elder brother James, who in 1717 had returned to Boston from London with a printing press. At the age of seventeen, Benjamin had a trade, he still had much to learn about men and women. He found work in New York, but heard that there might be some in Philadelphia. He roamed Philadelphia for a while, and that’s how he met his soon to be wife, Deborah Read. After looking for a while he was finally employed at Samuel Keimer’s printing shop and rooming Deborah’s home. After some time at that, the provincial governor, Sir William Keith urged him to a business for himself and sent him back to Boston with a letter to his father. His father thought that Benjamin was too young for such a thing, and refused immediate support. He went back to Philadelphia and worked for his friend Denham for about 4 months until Denham unexpectedly died. After t... Free Essays on Benjamin Franklin Free Essays on Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin was a famous printer, author, inventor, scientist, public servant and diplomat. He was commonly called â€Å"the first civilized American.† Franklin was born on the seventeenth day of January in 1706, on Milk Street in Boston Mass., he was his parents fifteenth child. Benjamin obviously respected his father, who probably taught him to read, so early that he could not remember learning it. While he was a young boy, A private teacher, George Brownell took Benjamin on. â€Å"Under him I acquired fair Writhing pretty soon, but I fail’d in the Arithmetic & made no Progress in it.† (Franklin’s Memoirs, ed. by Max Farrand, p. 20, University of California Press, Berkeley, 1949.) At 10-years-old he was taken home to assist his father in his business. Benjamin did not like what his father did though, so him and his father took a walk one day around Boston, observing the craftsmen at work and looking for a congenial trade. One of his cousi ns was a cutler, and that occupation was seriously considered. Franklin’s fondness for books, he decided to sign indentures with his elder brother James, who in 1717 had returned to Boston from London with a printing press. At the age of seventeen, Benjamin had a trade, he still had much to learn about men and women. He found work in New York, but heard that there might be some in Philadelphia. He roamed Philadelphia for a while, and that’s how he met his soon to be wife, Deborah Read. After looking for a while he was finally employed at Samuel Keimer’s printing shop and rooming Deborah’s home. After some time at that, the provincial governor, Sir William Keith urged him to a business for himself and sent him back to Boston with a letter to his father. His father thought that Benjamin was too young for such a thing, and refused immediate support. He went back to Philadelphia and worked for his friend Denham for about 4 months until Denham unexpectedly died. After t...

Monday, November 4, 2019

Nepal Economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Nepal Economy - Essay Example Mica, hydropower and forest products are the other sources of income for this country. The only Hindu nation in the world is a picturesque unit of living for visitors and dwellers as well. An estimation done last year shows a population of about 29,331,000 people with the annual growth rate of 2.2 per cent. The country has its capital Katmandu, a very historic city. The people of this country, commonly called Nepalese speak Nepali and English for their communication. The country follows several political aspects adopted from India. The currency of this country is Rupees. Population: about 29,331,000 (2009 estimate) The geographical location of Nepal is at southern Asia. It shares its boarders with India and China. This roughly trapezoidal shaped country’s troposphere is uncommonly diverse. The total area of land mass is 147,181 Sq. Kms. It spreads a long line of 800 kms with a width of 200 Kms. Nepal can be seen as three physiographic areas; the Mountain Hill, Siwalik region and Terai regions. This diversity accounts for the abundant river water in the country. This environmental unevenness intersects Nepal’s north to south flowing river systems. Nepal is surely a very poor country. Lack of exploitation methodology implemented on natural resources accounts for the failure of increase in living standards of the people. Even today, about half of its population live below the international poverty line(IPL) of US$1.25 a day. The country’s telecommunication system is under rated at the world standards of the current point of international usage of phones. An alarming figure of over 19 people is estimated to use one phone. Jaggedness of the landscapes add to the failure of installation of land line telephones. They are limited to the use of city and town centers only. Nepal’s economy stands at 115th position in the world level. Over 70 percent of the work force in the country contributes to 40 per cent of its GDP. Rest of the work force and

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Making an Ethical Decision Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Making an Ethical Decision - Essay Example Mary and her colleagues should not have agreed with the decision because considering individual circumstances, 6 months are not an unfair amount of time to expect to be out on maternity leave. This is because, among other reasons, it is in the best interest of their children for them to take longer leave. According to a study carried out by the economic journal in 2005, children of American women who resumed work within 12 weeks were more likely to have cognitive and behavioral issues (Lerner 2011).This is because despite the fact the fact most mothers will have physically recovered from the childbirth in under this time. There are a myriad of psychological factors that need to be factored in such as time spent with the children. There is at present, sufficient medical evidence to indicate that a mother spending short periods of time with their newborns is a leading contributor of infant disorders and even death (Lerner 2011). While giving brief leave may appear to make economic sens e to employers in terms of increasing the mother’s time at work, ergo, productivity at closer scrutiny, it is likely to be counterproductive. This is because nursing mothers who are also working are more prone to stress depression and frustration (Melnick 2011) and as such may not be the best of workers. Pursuant to management’s turn down, there are several avenues the employees can consider some more radical than others. One cause of action would be to try to renegotiate with management and, attempt to come up with a compromise. This could involve offering to shortening their time off or even providing statistical evidence. That is if any can be found, that women given time off will ultimately be better workers. Alternatively they could take activists routes and through their union take assertive actions like striking or suing management. The situation has several stake holders primarily of course, are the women employees particularly those who plan on having children in posterity. Nonetheless, the whole firm including management and fellow workers as long clients has a stake in this. This is because if the women’s claims are correct, the productivity of the company would go up in the long run if their demands are met. In case they decide to go on strike, the whole firm and clients will be affected directly or indirectly. Furthermore, other companies in the area and/or country will be affected since not many companies give their employees that much time off with the average time being less than 3 months, which is the amount of time the national Family Leave Law allocates (Lerner 2011). In case Mary’s efforts are successful it would spur others to follow suit and as such a large part of the labor industry may feel the impact. In fact, Melnick posits that six months is ideal because according to research after about this period, work did not translate to poor parenting (Para 3). Management could try to settle the problems in several ways. Herein, two significant ones will be considered. For one, they could like it had been suggested of the women try to come to some compromise, this way they could offer an increment of time off to what they consider reasonable and try to convince them to take the deal. Alternately, management could avail daycare facilities within the premises of the firm for nursing mother’s time off with their kids. While management may find this an expensive venture, assuming they rejected the initial petition for financial