Day: February 9, 2011

Technology: Beneficial or Superficial?

Paloma SpencerLeave a comment

Either in movies or in real life, many of us have experienced the over working, over bearing parent whose blackberry seems to be a survival necessity in their quest to gain a new promotion or simply balance their hectic work schedule.

Though surprisingly, recent technology has provided more ways for people to spend time with their loved ones, rather than taking this time away.

While Avaya executive Craig Wilson double tasked by enjoying a Linkin Park concert with his children and finishing up tasks for one of his clients in Australia, Covestor’s chief executive Perry Blacher engaged in his business’s board teleconference while enjoying a christening celebration at the local English pub.

This is the power of technology: being in two places at once, accomplishing two things at once.

However, arguments still remain that this sense of multitasking takes away from the whole experience.

People may find themselves unable to participate fully in experiences with friends and families, and may also lack proper concentration on their business work.

These issues became noticeable after the rapid development of the Blackberry and have increased exponentially with the inventions of the smart phones and the increased accessibility to social media.

“Home has invaded work and work has invaded home and the boundary is likely never to be restored,” said the director of the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project, Lee Rainie. “The new gadgetry has really put this issue into much clearer focus.”

But an intriguing question still remains unanswered. What drives a person’s desire to balance work and play, even in times of supposed leisure?

Its simple. It’s the recession.

Not only do these business men and woman need steady paychecks, but many have shown an increased worry over simply maintaining their jobs.

“Even if you have a career that is pretty solid, there is the feeling that advancement requires being plugged in at all times,” said Peggy Klaus, an executive coach residing in Berkeley, California.

While pressures may disable parents from taking a true “vacation,” technology has enabled them to be both a parent and a professional.

In my opinion, technology has enabled us to grow in many aspects. And even if one does feel as though the newest gadgets have caused a multitasking, unfocused population, simply do what my parents do and banish it from the dining room table.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/06/business/06limits.html?_r=2&src=me&ref=general

Lights out for lighthouses?

weirdjennyLeave a comment

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Lighthouses have shone a friendly beam for sailors and fishermen for several centuries. However, the new technology, Global Positioning System(GPS), has gradually replaced the role of lighthouses.

The president of the America Lighthouses Foundation, Jeremy D’Entremont, said that “Everyone loves lighthouses, but as far as the government is concerned, they are not exactly a spending priority.”

Although there is 75% of lighthouses are still working in America, federal funding is limited to the mechanical maintenance of the lights. In Britain, the last light keeper retired in 1998.

So now, all British lighthouses are fully automated and monitored by computers, and they can even change light bulbs by themselves. Although that lighthouses are gradually replaced by new technology, they still keep many cultural and historical value. Many lighthouses have turned into hotel, resting places, or museums. Despite the fact that new technology is replacing the role of lighthouses, they still are an important role in sailors and fishermen’s heart!

Super Bowl Sunday Isn’t So Super For Numerous Ticket Holders

Paloma SpencerLeave a comment

While fans crowded with their green and gold jerseys, I can imagine many being quite envious of those who were sitting in the stands, feeling the intense excitement and suspense. Unfortunately, this group of envious supporters didn’t just consist of those watching through the television screen, but also many of those who were turned away from their thousand dollar stadium seats, minutes before the game started.

This Sunday, over 1,000 ticket holders were turned away from their seats after sections of the Cowboys Stadium’s bleachers were left uncompleted.

Wisconsin native Jim Rouleau, a Packers fan who held his season passes with pride, was told his $7,800 seats were “unavailable” and he and his friend simply “could not sit there.”

“We got all the way to our seats,” Rouleau said. “They just turned us away.”

With approximately 1,250 people having bought tickets with seats now deemed unavailable, Mr. Rouleau was not the only one who was simply turned away.

And even though the N.F.L. was able to supply 850 of these confused fans with relocated seating, the several hundred others were left to wait in line, hoping for some type of plausible solution.

Eventually, these unsatisfied ticket holders were either turned away or invited to enjoy the game at one of the stadium’s local clubs. The N.F.L. promised a refund worth three times the ticket’s face value.

However, the $800 to $900 face value of most of these tickets didn’t even come close to the true amount of thousands of dollars numerous customers paid for these seats.

“I’ve just lost eight grand,” said the Dallas lawyer Bradley Geier who spent $9,700 for two tickets that had a face value of $900 each. “Just because they decided to put seats where they shouldn’t.”

These fans not only lost money and an amazing experience, but they also had to undergo the horrid security checks before they were informed of their ticket’s disablement.

“The frustrating thing here is that they wait till the day of the game to say these auxiliary seats aren’t good?” said Dan McGinnity of Spokane, Washington, a Packers fan who paid $900 for his ticket. “Don’t they have any sort of plan ahead of time?”

With this question left unanswered, we can only hope that next year wont face the same dilemma.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/07/sports/football/07fans-super-bowl-dallas.html?src=ISMR_AP_LO_MST_FB