Book Analysis Time Machine by Wells

The Grapes of Wrath essays

The Grapes of Wrath essays The Grapes of Wrath is quite a compelling movie, filled with many universal truths and observations on human nature and society, especially where class is concerned. The movie is based on the John Steinbeck novel and takes place during the Great Depression in the 1930s when a dust bowl was created in Americas heartland because of drought, over farming and loose topsoil. The movie centers on Tom Joad and the Joad familys experiences during this hard time. One of the universal themes in The Grapes of Wrath is mankinds tendency towards greed. In the movie the Joad family is kicked off of their farm where they worked as sharecroppers for at least two generations. The reasons for the move to California vary for the Joads. The changing technology, in the form of huge tractors that can work the land more efficiently and more cheaply than the sharecroppers can, and the Great Depression of the 1930s cause the big companies that own the land to release the sharecroppers from there homes in an attempt to make the land turn a bigger profit, making the owners of the company richer. But, Murley, the man who stayed behind, hiding among the deserted farms, tells us that it is not that simple. The companies have to use the new tractor technology or they will go bankrupt, leaving their land to be bought by another company who will have to do the same thing to make sure they do not go bankrupt as well. Murley finds it hard to blame a nyone in particular and so has no outlet for his anger at being left with no place to live. Greed also affects the Joad family, when after having their dreams of finding jobs in California shattered, they take work wherever they can get it. Where they can get it, turns out to be a farm where they compete for fruit picking jobs with many other families at well under a fair wage. The farm owners, after luring in the families with a set ...

The September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks - Essay Example The "four buildings" that did not collapse instantaneously sustained extensive damage from the rubbles and were finally demolished. At the same time, a different grouping of the same terrorist crashed "American Airlines Flight 77" into the "Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia" (Cable News Network, 2006). The fourth Airline, United Airline Flight 93, crashed into a field near the "town of Shankville in Somerset County, Pennsylvania" (Cable News Network, 2006). Besides the "nineteen hijackers" in the four separate incidences, "two thousand nine hundred and four" other individuals died immediately due to the direct attacks (Cable News Network, 2006). Moreover, the death of not less than one person was reported as a result of the "exposure to the dust" that resulted from the World Trade Centre. Moreover, another twenty persons are missing and assumed dead (Cable News Network, 2007). According to National Commission on Terrorist Attacks, chapter 5, the victims of this incidence were mo stly civilians. According to National Institute of Standards and Technology (2005) som... One building collapsed as a result of the impact of the rubble from the "twin towers" (National Institute of Standards and Technology, June 2004). The terrorists took control of the airplanes using "box-cutter knives and knives" where they killed flight attendants, pilot and the passenger s (National Institute of Standards and Technology, June 2004). They used "tear gas" or "pepper spray" to keep passengers out of the "first-class" cabin (Mike, 2004). Bomb threats were made on three of the aircraft, but not on American 77. According to the 9/11 Commission Report, the 'bombs" were probably fake. The 9/11 Commission further established that two of the hijackers had recently purchased "multi-function hand tools." The media as well as individuals gave "contradictory and unconfirmed" information (Michael, 2006). Out of the "two thousand nine hundred and seventy four" fatalities, 246 were aboard the plane, 125 were at the pentagon and 2, 603 were from New York. (Cable News Network, 2006). The 9/11 Commission reported that hundreds were killed instantaneously by the impact while others were trapped in the towers and died after it collapsed. According to the commission, about "eighteen people" managed to escape form the tower before it collapsed. Some people jumped from the "burning towers" and landed on the streets and rooftops of adjoining building many feet below (Dennis and Moore, 2002). Moreover, some people in the tower climbed to the roof in hope of rescue but there were no plan for a helicopter rescue. The doors leading to the roof were locked and severe heat as well as thick smoke engulfed the whole area such that it would have been impossible for a "helicopter to land" (CBS, 2004).

Managing for Innovation and Creativity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Managing for Innovation and Creativity - Essay Example Creativity and innovation are complementary values in business management. Creativity refers to an artistic outcome or result of the confluence of psychological and emotional dimension of such desire to ascertain business leverage in the market. Innovation, on the other hand, is effected only when all creative mechanism are maximized to take advantage of the rapidly changing and developing market. Innovative measures and creativity relate to some strategic process to unearth opportunities in unpredictable market. Innovation permeates the interfacing of the organization and its business environment. Such process involved planning which will detail some entrepreneurial conceptual framework; implement them and evaluate results to determine outcomes. Economists explained that every entrepreneur needs to be an innovator to see opportunities in market changes and can reinvent ways to attract customers or clients that will avail offered product or services. This are illustrated in strategie s about (a) how product’s quality is introduced to customers; (b) ideation of new method of production or service to satisfy customer’s needs, (c) developing access or opening doors in new potential market, (d) identification of raw materials suppliers who can offer competitive price for these utilities, and (d) business leadership and management as well as its expertise in managing performance. Such therefore require fundamental knowledge on management, marketing strategies and about business roles in order for a company to contribute economic growth to a nation through creativity and innovation. Meanwhile, creativity is essential in marketing activities: promotion, sell, branding, pricing and in strategically administering sales of products. This is an entrepreneurial skill that requires serious analysis in order for entrepreneurs to adapt to changes and developments. Creativity refers to what is trendy, new and the reinvented processes to challenge traditional and c ustomary business practice. It is about introducing a fresh perspective at products or services for customer acceptance and satisfaction.

European Influence on Japan & China Essay Example for Free

European Influence on Japan China Essay The European arrival had an effect on both China and Japan. China and Japan had some similar and different reactions to the arrival of the Europeans. In China and Japan, the European arrival affected the technologies and economies of both societies similarly, whereas the reason of isolation differed in these societies. The technology of the Europeans following their arrival penetrated both the Japanese and Chinese societies. In China, in order to gain the elites interest in the Christian religion, the Jesuit missionaries introduced the technology of cannons and clocks. In Japan during the 1950s, the Portuguese technology of clock and gun making, influenced society strongly. The Japanese and Chinese both openly accepted the new European technologies because they felt they needed to accept the technologies to keep up with the Europeans, who seemed more technologically advanced. In both China and Japan, people were being converted to Christianity. They were being converted from top to bottom. Once a year, China and Japan, were able to trade with the Europeans. They isolated themselves and traded with each other. Japan and China also had some different reactions to the European arrival. They had different reasons for isolating. After Zheng He died, the Chinese government decided to close the ports, except two. The Chinese and the Europeans exchanged goods once a year for the next 400 years. China agreed with the isolation because the scholar gentry saw the voyages as a waste of resources. They rather spend the money on defending China. Japan grew doubts with the European intentions, that both merchants and missionaries might subvert the existing social order. This led to official measures to restrict foreign activities in Japan. Under Ieyasu and his successors, the persecution of the Christians increased to isolate Japan from outside influences. In the 1630s, all the Japanese ships were forbidden to trade or even sail overseas. By the mid-17th century, Japan’s retreat into almost total isolation was complete. A major difference was after Japan isolated themselves, an elite group still remained interested in the Europeans. Unlike the Chinese who looked down on the Europeans and ignored what they had to offer and stay isolated with them. The Chinese and Japanese had similar and different reactions to the arrival of the Europeans. Both of these societies had a technology advancement. Also, they both isolated themselves from the Europeans and instead they traded with each other. They had different reasons for isolating. Also, an important difference was that in Japan, a group remained interested in the Europeans. This differed from the Chinese because after they isolated, they didn’t want anything to do with the Europeans.

Technicolor Research Topic Report: Sound and Image. :: essays research papers

Technicolor Research Topic Report: Sound and Image.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This is a written report where my partner on the topic and I presented a ten minute oral summary of our chosen research topic on Technicolor. We chose Technicolor as we felt it had most to say to us, threw the progression of the technology the problems threw out the years of perfecting the technology, to the ultimate glory of the Technicolor experience. As we didn’t know too much on Technicolor we were quite eager and wanted to broaden our knowledge on the subject.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  We started the research primarily on the internet as we found a lot of informative sites we also confirmed the information using books. The books and sites used were www.technicolor.com, www.widescreenmuseum.com/oldcolor/technicolor1.htm and www.imdb.com. The books are as follows, Glorious Technicolor: the movies' magic rainbow / Fred E. Basten. Barnes, 1980 and Mr. Technicolor / Herbert T. Kalmus with Eleanore King Kalmus. Our intention on the project was to separate the project with Tom doing the early years and I doing the later years in the company’s history. We would share the different information with each other helping each other understand the difficult technological information to hand with the different camera systems that were created threw out the years. Technicolor was the collaboration of Herbert Kalmus, Daniel Comstock and W. Burton Westcott in 1912 with the intention of creating flicker free color films, Technicolor as we know today has produced much success and revolutionized the way we look at cinema but this was not without there many teething problems. Actors and critics criticized the technology every step of the way. There first invention produced was the Technicolor System 1 Additive Color, which I’m sorry to say flopped massively due to the unfortunate screening of The Gulf Between in 1917 which only a few frames remain of this film today. This was the first public premier of the technology and was disastrous. The film was captured through two separate filters red and green and the light through those two filters was captured on a single reel of film, when processed this negative had red and green information captured on a black and white reel, when this was processed the reel was placed into a projector and then threw red and green filters. To project the image an adjustable prism that had to manually lined up by the projectionist as two separate images formed on the projection screen this did not work as planned as the projectionist failed to line up the images correctly.

Economics †Genetically Modified Food Essay

Introduction In this essay, arguments will be presented which agree and disagree with the question that ‘genetically modified crops are the only way to feed the world’. Genetically modified (GM) foods are made from genetically modified organisms (GMO). Examples of genetically modified organisms include animals, plants and bacteria. The genetic makeup of GMOs are further altered by making specific changes to their DNA and this is done by genetic engineering. Developing nations of India and Africa will be explored in their outlooks on the pros and cons of GM crops and will illustrate how this effects demand and supply. The conclusion will provide a statement which reflects the benefits of GM technology but how care must be taken to ensure the highest level of safety to human and environmental health. In support of genetically modified crops Support for the concept that GM crops are the only way to feed the world take this viewpoint for a number of reasons, one which includes that by increasing the production in supply, the demand for foods will be met by those who are currently experiencing food shortages. Food shortages are an ever increasing problem in third-world countries, including India and Africa. A major cause of food-shortages in these countries comes from there rapidly expanding populations. The increasing demand for food puts pressure to produce and provide more. For this reason, third-world countries face several agricultural challenges. Mangala Rai, Secretary of the Indian Department of Agricultural Research and Education, expressed that production food of from less land would be achieved only through the widespread use of GM crops. Mr Rai understands there is resistance to this concept however stresses that it will solve the desperate state India is in. (, September 2007). Although India is reported to be the second largest producer of wheat, in 2006 and 2007 they imported mass amounts of grain to meet the gap between supply and demand. India’s government took action and approved trials in GM cotton crops and this resulted in India surpassing the United States to become the second biggest producer of cotton in 2006 and 2007. (, February 2008). Researchers from University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Bonn in Germany reported results from farm trials conducted in India, that GM cotton crops dramatically increased yields and considerably reduced pesticide use compared with non-GM crops. ( February 2003). After experiencing great success with GM cotton, C. D Mayee, a senior scientist, and chairman for Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board said, ‘India’s first expected GM food crop is brinjal. Field trials of GM brinjal started in August 2007 and is expected to be commercialised by 2009’. ( February 2008). Similar challenges regarding GM crops were experienced with Africa, which we will illustrate next. In 2002 and 2003, many African countries including Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Lesotho, Swaziland and Zimbabwe were affected with a major food crisis. Unless food aid worth over US $507 million was distributed, it was estimated that 13 million people would suffer extreme starvation by the end of the year. There was initial concern from these countries to accept GM foods from the World Food Programme (WFP); however these countries (excluding Zambia who decided to its satisfaction that GM food aid was not necessary to meet the needs of Zambia’s population and secured non-GM from other sources) national governments elected to accept the GM grain, agreeing that the most important factor to prioritise was the need to alleviate hunger and this outweighed any other concerns. Clive James, chairman of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications, said, ‘India can become self sufficient in food production by use of biotechnology in food crops’. He went on to further say, ‘The biggest risk associated with this technology in India is not using it’. (, February 2008). In support of the distribution and production of GM crops throughout Africa is biotechnologist Dr. Wynand van der Walt ( February 2003). He said the GM function offers opportunities to ensure food security in Africa and that there is no evidence to suggest that it poses a negative threat to human health or the environment. Over 3 billion people on all continents consume foods from GM crops and no proven cases suggest their hazardousness. Dr. Wynand van der Walt (February 2003) stated the following: We have high food prices and high food insecurity. We cannot wait for long term policy discussions. The urgency is now and all of us have an obligation to go out and communicate and counter the misinformation we face every day about GM crops. Graph (a) illustrates the relationship between price and foods from GM crops: [pic] Foods from GM crops are less expensive than foods from non-GM crops. Demand for food is high (D), and supplies of food from GM crops is high (S). Against genetically modified crops Those against the argument that GM crops are the only way to feed the world debate this point of view for a multitude of reasons, some which include the potential negative human and environmental impact. Although certain governments from developing countries like India and Africa support and have agreed to accept foods from GM crops as a way to feed their rapidly growing population, passionate anti-GM activists from these same countries strongly oppose its application and have put pressure on political parties to ban GM technology. In 2006, a large informal network representing organisations and individuals from more than 15 states of India was formed called â€Å"Coalition for GM Free India† (. April 2008). Members of this coalition believe that farmers’ science and knowledge, especially with regard to ecological farming, is the only sustainable way forward for farming in India. Their aim is to raise awareness and educate the general public, the media and civil society groups of the destructiveness of GM crops. The Coalition organised a meeting in Hyderabad where over 250 people took part to protest against the use of GM in their food, including farmers and consumers who have directly suffered from the GM cotton crops including those who have experienced huge financial losses, allergies while working in GM cotton crop fields and others who have lost their livestock that grazed on GM cotton crops. There has been a huge outcry from the Indian people to their government to cease GM crop trials. In support of the ban against GM foods in India is leading scientist Dr P M Bhargava (, July 2008). He stated the following: The problem is that no one knows what effect these foods will have on us. In animals, we have a good idea about their possible ill-effects. In science, we collect evidence on the basis of which we make predictions. All our predictions so far are not in favour of GM foods unless they are tested extensively and exhaustively, which they are not today. Experts are crying themselves hoarse; it is for the Indian government to listen. If all our politicians and scientists were committed to their country, not a single GM product would have been permitted in India as of today. I would say that as of today we do not have reasonably conclusive evidence that GM foods are safe. We should therefore exercise the precautionary principle and ban their use unless incontrovertible evidence regarding their long-term safety is obtained, which would take 10 to 25 years. It is a pity that alternatives to GM crops such as integrated pest management and the use of bio-pesticides, which are cheaper and better, and organic agriculture, are being ignored by our government in spite of the enormous evidence in their favour. Objection of accepting GM crops was Zambia of Africa which we will point to next. National government officials (NGOs) of Zambia were sceptical in accepting the GM food-aid from the WFP in their time of famine. Though they did ultimately reject the GM food from WFP, they did not do so before carrying out a thorough investigation. An expert delegation was assigned to travel to the United States and the European Union where they met with the biotechnology industry, government food safety officials, academic scientists and NGOs with an interest in and expertise on GM food safety issues. From these meetings, it was determined that the risks related with the GM maize were greater than Zambia was comfortable with and declined the WFP food-aid. ( October 2004) Although the Zambian government were under enormous pressure to accept GM grain, their stance was supported by several Zambian and regional non-governmental organisations, including Consumers International (CI) and the Zambian Consumer Association (ZACA) which ignited a campaign to press for alternatives food supplies to be made available to the country. In its campaign, CI lobbied the WFP to explore alternatives for supplying Zambia with non-GM grain from countries where such grain was available. There is very little scientific information regarding the long term health risks derived from GM crops and for this reason, many opinions are formed on the ethical stance that GM food implies. Some of these include the dependence on industrialised nations by developing countries, tampering with nature by mixing genes among species, and labelling of GM crops are not mandatory in some countries, including the United States. With so much uncertainly associated to GM crops and with retrospective gained regarding the famine threat to Zambia in 2002 and 2003, CI provided some recommendations including (. October 2004): (i) That the WFP and the U. S. Agency for International Development should immediately stop exerting pressure on affected developing country governments and presenting these countries with a misleading scenario of ‘No Choice. ‘ (ii) That the WFP and all donors should provide real choices (i. e. , sources of non-GM food aid) to any country that rejects or restricts GM food aid. Failure to do so renders the WFP’s long-standing recognition of the â€Å"the right to choose† meaningless. The WFP has a duty to actively seek options for providing non-GM foods that are in fact available to countries that prefer the non-GM alternative. (iii) The WFP should put in place additional mechanisms that enable it to respond appropriately to situations where recipient countries impose restrictions on the acceptance of GM food aid. For example, the preferences of recipient countries should be ascertained in advance of a crisis, so that planning could emphasize making the supply of food sources with different characteristics (e.g. , GM/non-GM) roughly match the expected demand. (iv). Consumer organizations in developing countries should inform themselves on the scientific, economic, trade, ethical and other aspects of the debate over GM foods and crops, so that they may constructively engage with their governments when a national risk analysis on this issue is required. Graph (b) illustrates the relationship between price and foods from non-GM crops: [pic] Foods from non-GM crops are more expensive than foods from non-GM crops. Demand for food is high (D), and supplies of food from non-GM crops is low (S). Conclusion The production of food from GM crops certainly proven scientifically that it has the capability of solving many of the worlds food-shortage problems as was illustrated in our examples in the developing nations of India and Africa. However to depend on it as being the only way to feed the world would be hasty, especially as there is little data reporting of its long term affects on the human race and the environment. In saying that, to ignore proven potentially beneficial technology would be a careless. Whilst our advancement in technology is commendable, we must proceed with care to avoid unintentional impairment on human health or the environment. List of References Layton, A, Robinson, T & Tucker, IB 2009, Economics for today, 3rd edn, Cengage Learning Australia, South Melbourne, Victoria. Environmental Graffiti, ‘GM Crops only way for India to feed itself, says Government’, May 2007, viewed 23 September 2009, . Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2009, viewed 17 September 2009, . Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2009, viewed 17 September 2009, . Foundation for Biotechnology Awareness and Education, The Political Saga of GM Crops in India, 2008, viewed 25 September 2009. Genetically modified crops in India produced greater yields, reduced pesticide use, new study finds, February 2003, viewed 25 September 2009, . Human Genome Project Information, August 2006, viewed 19 September 2009, . International Food Policy Research Institute, Status of Genetically Modified: What is Being Grown and Where, May 2009, viewed 26 September 2009. May-June 2009, ‘Introduction food crisis in the Americas. (REPORT: FOOD CRISIS)’ NACLA Report on the Americas, vol. 42, no. 3, p. 15(1), viewed 18 September 2009, Business Economics and Theory. Gale. Search me! economics, Gale Document Number: A199854228 Guterman, Lisa, 2000, ‘Scientists leave the lab to defend bioengineered food’ The Chronicle of Higher Education vol. 46, no. 32, p. A29(4), viewed 20 September 2009, Business Economics and Theory. Gale. Search me! economics. Gale Document Number: A61878337 World Food Programme, 2009, viewed 25 September.