1.

 

People react to computers in many different ways. Some are horrified by their mere presence. others become engulfed by their wizardry. Still others try to adjust to them and learn about them. one could say these people "go with the flow." Basically, however, there are two types of people when it come to computers: those who praise their abilities and those who scorn their compliexities. But, even those who detest computers usually realize that they are necessary, and will soon become as common as the telephone or the television.  

 

Two authors who have several differing opinions, yet also share similar views on computers are Judy Mann and Frederick P. Brooks, Jr. . Judy Mann discusses in her article, "A Staff Writer Becomes Invalid in Read Mode," her frustrating attempts to learn how to use a computer. Brooks, author of "The Joys -and-Woes - of Programming," talks about computers as being the greatest invention since the wheel. Brooks is professor and Chairman of the Comptuer Science Department at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, while Mann's experience of computers comes from her job as a writer for the Washington Post.
 

Judy Mann begins her article by describing her miserable attempt at writing her story for the second time. The first time having been a disaster, she starts off by explaining that all of her "bon mots" had been deleted from the screen. Mann continues to describe computers as a source of deep and abiding anxiety. For Mann, computers were becoming a dreaded fear. One of her worst experiences with a computer occurred when she mistakenly pushed the wrong button and the machine flashed that she was "Invalid in the Read/Write Mode," and subsequently lost the beginning of her work. Another of her bad experiences with computers happened in one of her first computer classes. When she tried to make some

corrections on an article lights started to "flash wildly on the screen and her instructor was throwing up his hands and signaling the computer to abort the entire effort."  

2.

 

Who was the better president, FDR or Regan? Although these presidents are from different times, it is possible to compare them with the achievments that they accomplished. FDR achieved many more accomplishments than Regan possibly because Roosevelt's time was much different as they were coming out of the depression. Another reason could be that Roosevelt had more time in of f ice than Regan and was able to accomplish more. FDR is considered a better president than Regan for several different reasons.

 

"Roosevelt lacked direction but his capacity for growth, or at least for change, was enormous." The admirer or Roosevelt looks at him as an ardent social reformer and sometimes a master planner. Roosevelt lacked depth but if he saw a large number of people wanting something that he would not allow political precedents to inhibit him.

 

In Sears article he stated that an outstanding president must possess three important qualities. He must have self -knowledge, empathy, and strength in decision-making. FDR's loss of the use of his legs to a childhood disease gives him a great deal of self knowledge. Sears stated that Roosevelt was one of the three outstanding presidents along with Washington and Lincoln. Koening classifies FDR as one of the strong presidents who would flourish in a time of crisis or change. Roosevelt usurped Congress's powers which shows that he was a strong president. Hofstadter discusses that we should look more towards the character of Roosevelt and othe rpresidents than ther programs because their characters are much more stable.

 

3.

 

With almost every year comes a change in clothing styles, but what is the determining factor? Many possibilities have come up in articles, but only a few have made a frequent appearance. Many factors are not spelled out because every designer has his/her own way in determining theri line of clothing for the upcoming year. Does the designer know what the consumer is looking for? Just hink about how many ideas are tossed around in the designers head, will he/she choose the right one and satisfy the consumer? Every designer has a consultant that looks at the ideas and decides which would he the best style to market but they are never positive (Hochswender, 1991) . Popularity of a designer could play a role in determining style, but any designer can make some clothes that will be popular even though the name isn't. Many possibilities are brought out, and the only way that this question will be answered is to become a designer and find out for yourself.       

 

One idea appeared frequently, and that was a seasonal factor. Clothes are made to keep people comfortable when they wear them. A designer can take each season and decide what style of clothes to make, because people don't want to wear the same clothes in hot and cold weather. The materials that are used to make the clothing are determined by the seasons (Wayne, 1991). Silk and cotton are favorites of the people all year round, but the designer has to find what will be worn. There are other means of designing clothes and they are shared by many designers.  

 

4.               

Obedience to Authority

 

Creon infuriated by Antigone's betrayal for the burial of her brother Polynbices, faces his neice to discuss her situation. Antigone is betraying Creon because she has to bury her brother even though Creon specifically forbids it. Through discussing Antigone's father Oedipus, who killed his father and slept with his mother, Creon tries to anger Antigone. Antigone responded to this by saying she was leaving to bury her brother.

 

Creon tried to convince Antigone that a burial by a priestly abracadabra would not put her brother to rest. Antigone understands what Creon is saying, but she must put her brother's body to rest, so her brother is no longer humiliated.

 

Antigone has pride for her brother and this is one reason for her betrayal to Creon along with defiance to Creon' s tyranic rules. Creon consistently brings up the topic of executing her but then admits there is something in him that can't make him go through with it.

 

At the highest point of hte argument, Creon twists Antigone Is arm. She says it no longer hurts, and this was Antigone's way of standing up to him verbally. if Antigone decides to bury her brother, Polynices, Creon said he can, t bail her out because of his high standard as a king and how the people would accept him for doing this. At one point Creon says he should have buried Polynices because of hygiene but, this is a lie because Polynices is setting an example for other invaders.  

5.

 

After looking at Eric Fromm, s ideas on working I will try to answer using my own experiences, the experiences of people I know or have known, and the piano tuner's experience, how well Fromm's ideas are born out. Fromm's views consist of:

 

           

      -Unless man exploits others, he has to work in order to live

      -People are "animals that produce".

      -We develop power of cooperation, reason, and a sense of beauty by working. 

      -The worker is free to control his own work.

      -Ever-increasing production, and the desire to make bigger and better things 

        has been alienated from the working person.

 

      Fromm gives me the feeling that he thinks that work is something that needs to be done, and that there is no pleasure for the worker at all.

 

In my own experiences, I find that some of Fromm's ideas are true and others are not. I feel I do have to work in order to survive and live. THere are many things that we need on a day-to-day basis, and without money I would never be able to achieve them. Work has also given me practice to survive in the world. I have learned cooperation, reason, and- a sense of beauty by working. Working as a waitress I find that having to work with people all day has given me the ability to be able to co-operate with them as well as reasoning with them. Enjoying what I do has given me a sense of please customers. I disagree with Fromm's free to control his own work. In one of my 

6.

 

Today we live in a disposable civilization. Products manufactured are not meant to be kept for a great deal of time. For example, the American car will only remain in good condition for about five years. THe car manufacturers are not putting top-quality into their product, therefore, more cars have to be purchased by the consumer in order for them to have a satisfactory automobile. The auto manufacturers, previously, were only concerned about selling as many cars as possible with little quality because it would give them a larger profit margin, therefore, the American car is disposed of after so many years, then a new car is expected to be purchased. American manufacturers are, finally, engineering more quality into what they build. In addition, smaller products, such as shoes are produced with poor quality materials. For example, a pair of shoes purchased by me, disintigrated after one month of use. The inside soles and glue of the shoes were unable to withstand body heat, therefore, discintegrating leaving them very uncomfortable for me to wear. Again, the manufacturers were not concerned with the durability of the shoes and the quality that should have been built into the shoes. Their sole concern was to make a high profit. Also, television manufacturers produce t.v. sets without quality, it being at the bottom of the list. For example, a t.v. set given to my family as a gift gave out after only one and one-half years of use. The picture was the culprit, to have it replaced would have cost more than the original price of the t.v. set. Therefore, we had to buy a new one. In conclusoin, it is the fault of the manufacturers of these products, and many other products, that cause our civilization to be one of disposable characteristics. It lies in the hands of the manufacturers to give the people what they demand in products, quality. Therefore, the American society is a disposable civilization.