The Contemporary Society

Contemporary society is continually informed of advances in technology, be they in biology, agriculture, education, or nearly any other discipline or aspect of life. It appears technology is directly or indirectly linked to all recent progress. Certainly, many of the daily activities in which humans engage (reading a newspaper, making coffee, commuting to work, etc. ) require technological devices. With the apparently increased reliance on and development of technology, it seems prudent to consider the consequences inherent in the use and evolution of it. More specifically, one must examine the extent to which humans–the creators of technology, will become redundant in a society in which machines and the tasks they perform are incapable of being extracted from daily routines. As with nearly all issues, the development of technology is advocated by many while it is strongly opposed by others. Regarding the former, one must not search far for arguments favoring technological progress. Proponents, particularly those favoring medical advances, eagerly enumerate the positive outcomes of technological breakthroughs. Some claim a society in which its members are born free of debilitating conditions or cured of them throughout the life span must certainly be a better civilization, or at least a more humane one. In addition, technological efforts to render crops more plentiful, nutritious, and resistant to pests is proclaimed a constructive step towards moral justice, not to mention efficient use of resources. Few deny the moral obligation of providing third world nations the skills and tools to produce food. On a more superficial yet paradoxically significant level, the conveniences made possible by technology are also cause for celebration. That they free humans of otherwise labor intensive tasks and allow many to enjoy other more ‘worthwhile' endeavors, such as leisure activities, is beyond question. In fact, without many currently employed machines, humans would not be able to engage in such a wide variety of daily pursuits. Considering the individual, societal, and global advantages available through technological advances, it is not surprising many favor its continued development. Without ignoring or denying many of the mentioned benefits of technology, it is nonetheless possible to persuasively argue that its unbridled expansion can and is eliminating the need for many human activities and purposes. Ironically, while technology may solve some of humanity's ills (for example, relieving humans from tedious and laborious tasks), by doing such at an alarming pace it is also creating unanticipated and insistent problems. Consider the economic consequences of increased technological use. This trend, although allowing for undeniably greater productivity and reduced costs, gives rise to a potent social issue: mass unemployment. On a nearly daily basis one is informed of human redundancy; business is steadily replacing its human workforce with one derived from technology. It is common knowledge that in many industries, machines are adequate and oftentimes better substitutes for humans. Moreover, as machinery becomes more ubiquitous in the workplace, ‘the role of humans as the most important factor of production is bound to diminish in the same way that the role of horses in agricultural production was first diminished and then eliminated by the introduction of tractors' (Rifkin 283). The replacement of human workers with machines is not limited to a few companies or industries; it is found throughout a nation's business network. More than 75 percent of the labor force in most industrial nations engage in work that is little more than simple repetitive tasks' (Rifkin 283). Such jobs are particularly susceptible to ‘machine takeovers'. In fact, ‘automated machinery, robots, and increasingly sophisticated computers can perform many, if not most, of these jobs' (Rifkin 283). However, the unskilled labor force, particularly that in the manufacturing sector, is not the only one vulnerable to redundancy. As companies restructure their operations to include more computers and high-tech machinery, middle management positions are concurrently declining (Rifkin 284). In a recent article, The Wall Street Journal reiterates this phenomenon by claiming that ‘most of the cuts are facilitated, in one way or another, by new software programs, better computer networks and more powerful hardware that allow companies to do more with fewer workers' (Rifkin 282).

Asian American Literature Essay

The stereotype created of Japanese men as military foes combined nationalism with racism. Since their physique has always been considered small, the danger from the Japanese was perceived to come from the Japanese Superman, possessed of uncanny discipline and fighting skills. Films, often punctuated with racial slurs, were quick to paint Japan’s treachery in battle, its brutality, and disregard for international rules of war. These stereotypic images carried over to Japanese-American men outside the context of the war. Pearl Harbor and the war years enabled Hollywood to revive the yellow peril characteristics and the fear of miscegenation. By the end of the war, Americans had learned to associate brutality and treachery with a Japanese face. Caricatures of the Japanese were found in the cartoons of the period. Warner Brothers, Looney Tunes, created a duck version of â€Å"The Jap† who had glasses, buckteeth and cries â€Å"oh sorry, sorry, sorry† (with slurred r’s). They also created â€Å"Tokyo Jokio† and â€Å"Bugs Bunny Nips the Nips. † The buck-toothed Japanese became a standard cartoon figure. Max Fleischer created a Popeye the Sailor cartoon entitled â€Å"You’re A Sap, Mr. Jap†, which is a song Popeye sings over and over. This cartoon showed the Japanese deceiving Popeye, causing him to cry out righteously: â€Å"Double-Crossing Japanese† The portrayal of women during this period fared no better. The common stereotype was the â€Å"Dragon Lady,† â€Å"Geisha Girl,† and â€Å"Tokyo Rose,† who had a penchant for White men, dressed in tight dresses, and bodies on display. They are sly, cruel, exotic sex objects, or subservient and hardworking. Shirley Geok-Lin Lim, in â€Å"Feminist and Ethnic Literary Theories in Asian American Literature† comments on how â€Å"the image of Japanese-American women usually remains on the margin, invisible, mute or constrained to limited stereotypic images of passion. † The media played on these stereotypes to sell misleading images to audiences, who wanted entertainment that was different from their normal lives and were willing to see and accept anything exotic. The stereotypes of Japanese and Japanese-American women were pervasive in the media because the media perpetuated these stereotypes through their portrayal of Japanese and Japanese-Americans. Unfortunately, for some, they still carry over in the perceptions of the American people. Japanese-Americans are challenging the stereotypical images of the past and have made a voice for themselves in American society. They are fighting against the persistent racism and sexism against themselves by establishing a unifying identity as Americans and monitoring the media’s representations. Although ethnic stereotyping is less common today than it was in the last century, it persists. The images are not so obviously offensive; consequently, many people do not recognize them as stereotypes. In terms of dramatic expression, then, the Japanese film labors under a heavy burden. If it portrays emotion within the traditional Japanese framework, it may achieve authenticity, but the effect is antiquated. If it portrays emotion within the Western framework, it comes across as meretricious and unconvincing. Films that try to blend the two modes often end up antiquated and unconvincing. Yet in animation, which lacks visual realism and features de-Japanized characters to begin with, the expression of emotion paradoxically takes on a more convincing sense of reality. This may explain why most of the serious and ambitious film efforts have used the vehicle of anime. Given the serious dramatic deficiency, Japanese live-action films can no longer tackle any serious or profound subject matter. In the context of contemporary Japanese film, then, anime often conveys a greater sense of reality than live-action films. The thin, insubstantial reality of animated film, that is to say, is more alive — literally, more animated — than the flesh-and-blood reality. And if anime is perceived as more real (i. e. , closer to physical reality) than live-action, this means that, increasingly, anime embodies the Japanese consciousness of reality. The Japanese conception of reality is undergoing a process of animation. The rise of anime as well as manga is a cultural by-product of modern Japan’s tendency to promote modernization and Westernization while rejecting its history and traditions. A medium that fuses elements of East and West, and lacks a clear national identity, could be considered international in a certain sense, and this is doubtless a major reason why anime has so many fans overseas. But the current state of affairs, in which anime represents the mainstream of Japanese cinema, is by no means desirable, inasmuch as it signifies an ever-widening gap between physical reality and people’s conception of it.

Age Discrimination in the Society Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Age Discrimination in the Society - Term Paper Example When employment becomes scarce and population continues to increase, there is a tendency to change job qualifications from skill-focused to the overall qualities of the prospective employee. This includes the age, when it is not really necessary for the job description. The law protects the employment of the citizens aged 40 and above, and is not applicable for any "reasonable factor other than age" (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, n.d.). The law against age discrimination provides an equal employment opportunity for all Americans and helps them reach their full potential as employees with regard to their qualifications. Age discrimination hurts not only the people directly affected by it, but also in the overall effect of morality and the country’s economic thrusts. Age Discrimination and the Society Joyce Kalivas-Griffin, 57, and an experienced school teacher, believes that she failed to get a job she applied for because of her age (Linn, 2010). While she cries for age discrimination, Joyce's situation is not a solitary case in the world of employment. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reports that there is a "33 percent increase in the number of age discrimination complaints filed during the past two fiscal years combined" (Linn, 2010). The impact of age discrimination does not only magnify the unequal treatment of aged employees despite their contribution and experience, but also reflects the superficial perspective of employers when it comes to choosing the right candidate for a job position. The law states, however, that the employer has the right to advertise age requirement only if it is necessary for the job. ... For instance, a man in his mid-50 was laid off because of his age. He is the breadwinner of his family and the sole provider for his children concerning education, food and shelter. His wife, on the other hand, is a plain housewife. His loss of employment has an immediate effect to him and to his family in a sense that the source of income is completely gone. Consider the effect it would bring to this 50-year old man. For so long, his family has been relying on him when it comes to everyday sustenance, and when unemployment comes as a shock, it would be harder for him to recover both financially and emotionally. The feeling of worthlessness enslaves the discriminated man and consequently affects his health due to stress. The money saved within the duration of employment reserved for his retirement years would be spent. The worst thing is, the savings may not be enough to compensate and would force him to resort to debts. According to McDowell (n.d.), the struggle of the victims of ag e discrimination may range from economic difficulties to psychological problems. Denial is a common form of self-preservation in this kind of case. When discriminated because of age, old people tend to do everything just to look younger and prove that they are still capable of doing the task as efficiently as the younger ones. They also resort to self-pity, detrimental to their overall psychological health. Butler (1975) said that victims of age discrimination wished â€Å"they were dead† at a certain point in their senior lives. Personal effects of age discrimination affect the person in all aspects of his life. What is unseen, however, is the impact it can bring to the nation’s economy as a whole. Personal debt is one of the economic constraints of employment discrimination, but

The Impact of Terrorism on Liberty Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The Impact of Terrorism on Liberty - Essay Example Yet, to be effective in the fight against terrorism, the terrorist must be well defined and the target needs to be focused. Terrorism is by its nature an act that feeds on the public's fear of violence more than it relies on the violence itself. To confront these fears we react in numerous ways to diminish the possibility of a senseless and unwarranted attack on our population. In a free society, we leave ourselves open to be penetrated and we remain perpetually at risk. Our freedom of movement, loose borders, and laws guaranteeing individual liberty place a heavy burden on the organizations the public expects to protect them from a surprise attack. To reduce the terrorist threat, it becomes necessary to erode the liberties that the same organizations are sworn to protect. This dilemma manifests itself in a debate over this tradeoff as liberty is sacrificed for security. At what point does the security become more troublesome than the fear Is the security worth the cost To sufficiently analyze the debate that surrounds this question, it is first necessary to frame the question with a well-focused definit ion of terrorism. The objectives of the terrorist must be considered as well as their motivation. ... The importance of the debate can not be overstated. The founding principles that reside in the Constitution of the United States are at stake. Freedom of speech, association, and movement become at risk as laws are enacted which silently chill the document's intentions. This slow creep into heightened security does not repeal, but rather steps on and renders meaningless the 4th Amendment. The debate is a high stakes debate and one we can not afford to get wrong. It is generally accepted that the public wants universal freedom as guaranteed by the Constitution. It is also understood that the public requires security and is willing to compromise their liberty when necessary in extreme and demanding circumstances. Determining the point that additional security is no longer worth the loss of liberty is an arduous task that is of great concern to everyone. Getting it wrong could mean the meaningless and unnecessary loss of lives or liberty. The necessary information to analyze the debate that surrounds this issue comes from a consensus viewpoint of government and international agencies as it pertains to the definition of terrorism. A recent study from the University of Chicago and other relevant academic works will be used to define the motivation of terrorism. Laws such as the Patriot Act and Homeland Security Act will be analyzed to grasp their reach. The viewpoints of the Department of Defense, Department of Justice, and State Department will be considered as well as credible opposing viewpoints. A realistic assessment that the increase in security has had on the daily lives of Americans will be considered as well as the implications it has on the future. An attempt will be made to separate the reality from the political rhetoric as the question is

Issues in Accounting Theory and Practice (Case Study National Case

Issues in Accounting Theory and Practice ( National Greenhouse Accounts Factor) - Case Study Example The greenhouse gases include methane, carbon dioxide, specified hydrofluorocarbons, nitrous oxide, sulphur hexafluoride and specified perfluorocarbons. There are four methods used to conclude scope 1 emissions. The first one is fuel combustion that focuses on fuel combustion and the emissions it releases. There is ‘emissions of industrial processes’ that deals with greenhouse gases resulted from carbonates consumption and using fuels as carbon reductants or feedstock. It also focuses on the release of synthetic gases in certain cases. Another method used in scope 1 fuels’ fugitive emissions, which focus on emissions from the removal, manufacturing and supply of fossil fuels. The fourth method is ‘waste emissions’ that deals with the release of GHG from the decay of organic material in facilities handling wastewater. The Contex Company has a lot invested in the use of transport fuel. It rents and leases motor vehicles, which means the company is respon sible for direct emissions through fuel combustion. They also provide equipment used in mining that results to the release of methane. The first method is fuel combustion, and it is appropriate for Contex because the company deals with motor vehicles that release GHG through use of fleet fuel. This is also because the most vital source is GHG emissions from the combustion of fuel that account for more than 60 per cent reported emissions. Activity 2 Scope 2 emissions are in most cases a type of indirect emission. The scope deals with activities that produce electricity, cooling, heating or steam that a facility consumes, but are not part of the facility. They take place mainly at electricity generators because of the consumption of electricity at a different facility. The emissions of scope 2 also come from electricity obtained from outside sources. The scope provides the factors of emissions through the electricity’s supplier or by using the NT’s emission factor. The g eneration of NT electricity largely represents a combination of the generation of diesel and natural gas, which is a logical equivalent for the fuel mix employed in outside electricity generation. The factors of emission for scope 2 show data depending on on-grid activity specifically, year average of annual financials, state-based activity, and physical traits of the demand and supply of electricity (Australian Government 2011). To formula, calculate the scope 2 emissions purchase of electricity from an NSW. Y represents the emissions of scope 2 calculated in CO2-e tones, while Q is the amount of purchased electricity in the year and used from the facility’s operation. EF is the factor of scope 2 emission measured in KGs of carbon dioxide emissions for every kilowatt-hour, for a territory or state. GHG Source Quantities used Calculation Emissions tonnes CO2-e Scope 2 – Indirect Energy Purchased electricity - NSW 2,000,000 (2,000,000 x 0.89)/1000 1,780 Purchased elec tricity - Victoria 1,000,000 (1,000,000 x 1.21/1000 1,210 Purchased electricity - Queensland 250,000 (250,000 x 0.88)/1000 220 Activity 3 To calculate the emissions of scope 3, there is need to use a number of emission factors. The main emission factors covered for scope 3 are for organizations that engage in burning fossil fuel and those consuming electricity purchased from other sources. Scope 3 estimates the indirect emissions related to extraction, manufacturing and transport of fossil fuels for those

Advanced Financial Reporting & Regulation Essay

Advanced Financial Reporting & Regulation - Essay Example However, the proponents of the fair value accounting method argued that this accounting technique was just a messenger and not a major cause or contributor of the subprime mortgage crisis. The paper critically assesses the arguments that have been placed regarding the fair value accounting method being a main reason for the occurrence of the subprime mortgage crisis or the GFC. The idea as to whether the fair value accounting method has actually contributed to the financial crisis or has only played a constrained role in exacerbating the intensity of the financial downturn is evaluated and assessed by taking into consideration the views and arguments presented by different scholars and academicians in their literary works prepared and presented in this topic. The use of empirical evidences and descriptive information are made to analyze and assess the role of the fair value accounting method in the financial crisis. The second part of the report includes a comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of the fair value accounting method with the traditional accounting methods like the deprival value method of accounting, historical cost method of accounting and the r eplacement cost method of accounting. The report is concluded with a suitable conclusion in which it is highlighted that the role of the fair value accounting practice is much limited as a major reason for the occurrence of the Global Financial Crisis of 2008. The role of the fair value accounting technique in the financial crisis of 2008 is a controversial and highly debated topic. The fair value accounting method is the generally used accounting standard in the United States of America and has been specified in the FAS 157 in the year 2007. This accounting method includes the terms of accounting in which the different kinds of financial assets like the mortgage backed securities are priced and valued as per the current market value or mark to market value instead

Affect of oil on our economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Affect of oil on our economy - Essay Example Oil also has consequences that are unintended and have negative impact. In the previous decades, the prices of oil have always been high going for $100 per barrel. Because of increased oil consumptions in nations like China and wars in major oil countries like Iraq. The production of oil in fields that are conventional could not supply the demand efficiently hence the prices increased. The high prices made companies it Canada and USA to begin drilling, hard to get crude. Then all over sudden, the demand for oil started to reduce in places like Asia and Europe and in the USA, due to economies that were weakening and the introduced efficiency measures. Later in 2014, oil supply had risen much more that what is actually demanded. The unused oil was stored away for later use, by September, prices reduced sharply (Cochran, et al.45). The boom before the fall boosted Texas economy for nearly a half a century was finally over. The oil business in West Texas will take at least two years to recover as Houston audience was told by an economist who is familiar with Texas oil producers’ economic indicators. As the boom brought good moments in life, the downturn will lead to economic problems in Texas and other places that were beneficiaries of the boom (Henderson, Rebecca D 37). The cost of oil, permits issued and the numbers of rigs operating in Texas are in the decrease and this means the jobs of many people are in stake. Oil indexes were at the peak in October at it stood at 312.9 but it reduced in December to 309.5, and that was officially the end of a 54 month duration that the Texas energy industry expanded. It is expected that 50,000 upstream jobs will be lost in the Texas as the contraction of oil industry continues, plus additional 250,000 more jobs that are related to the oil and gas industry. GE Oil & Gas is one of the companies that has cut job, it informed the regulators that it is going to lay off 330 of