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Computer technology is advancing so fast that old hardware quickly becomes completely obsolete. The electronic waster (e-waste) from this constantly growing field is polluting the environment, both here and abroad.
Computers contain toxic materials such as lead. Despite the danger of throwing these hazardous materials in a landfill, that’ s exactly where tons of computers end up. Americans reuse or recycle only about 10 percent of the 50 million computers they replace each year, according to ABC News. Eighty percent is being stockpiled, which could create even bigger problems in the future, and the remaining 10 percent is landfilled. Throwing e-waste in landfills creates a potential for toxic waste to leak into our soil and groundwater. Because environmental stands for landfills are tougher in the United States than in many other countries, e-waste is often exported, especially to some developing countries.
Some countries are creating policies to deal with the growing e-waste problem. In the Netherlands , you can bring your old computer to the seller when buying a new one, and the seller must by law accept it free of charge. Japan passed a law in 2001 requiring producers to recycle certain parts.
In the United States, a movement called the Computer TakeBack Campaign is demanding that producers take more responsibility for disposing of old computers, California and Massachusetts recently prohibited certain computer parts in landfills, while Apple and IBM take back computers for a-bout a $ 30 fee. Gateway is one step ahead: They will pay you $ 50 for recycling your old computer when you buy a new one from them. Lastly, many nonprofit programs accept used equipment, and services have popped up that distribute old computers to schools and other organizations.
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Traditionally, universities have carried out two main activities: research and teaching. Many experts would argue that both these activities play a critical role in serving the community. The fundamental question, however, is how does the community want or need to be served?
In recent years universities have been coming under increasing pressure from both the governments and the public to ensure that they do not remain “ivory towers (象牙塔)“ of study separated from the realities of everyday life. University teachers have been encouraged, and in some cases constrained, to provide more courses which produce graduates with the technical skills required for the commercial use. If Aristotle wanted to work in a university in the UK today, he would have a good chance of teaching computer science but would not be so readily employable as a philosopher.
A post-industrial society requires large numbers of computer programmers, engineers, managers and technicians to maintain and develop its economic growth but “man“ , as the Bible says, “does not live by bread alone. “ Apart from requiring medical and social services, which do not directly contribute to economic growth, the society should also value and enjoy literature, music and the arts. Because they can also promote economic growth. A successful musical play, for instance, can contribute as much to the Gross National Product through tourist dollars as any other things.
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No country in the world has more daily newspapers than the USA. There are almost 2, 000 of them, as compared with 155 in Japan, 164 in Argentina and 111 in Britain. The quality of some American papers is extremely high and their views are quoted all over the world. Distinguished dailies like the Washington Post or the New York Times have a powerful influence all over the country. However, the Post and the Times are not national newspapers in the sense that The Times is in Britain or LeMonde is in France, since each American city has its own daily newspaper. The best of these present detailed accounts of national and international news, but many tend to limit themselves to state or cite news.
Like the press in most other countries, American newspapers range from the “ sensational“ , which feature crime, sex and rumor, to the serious, which focus on factual news and the analysis of world events. But with few exceptions American newspapers try to entertain as well as give information , for they have to compete with television.
Just as American newspapers give way to all tastes, so do they also try and apply to readers for all political persuasions. A few newspapers support extremist groups on the far right and on the far left, but most daily newspapers attempt to attract middle-of-the-road Americans who are essentially moderate. Many of these papers print columns by well-known journalists of different political and social views, in order to present a balanced picture.
As in other democratic countries American newspapers can be either responsible or irresponsible, but it is generally accepted that the American press serves its country well and that it has more than once bravely uncovered political scandals or crimes, for instance, the Watergate Affair. The newspapers drew the attention of the public to the fears of the Vietnam War.
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Long bus rides are like television shows. They have a beginning, a middle, and an end—with commercials thrown in every three or four minutes. The commercials are unavoidable. They happen whether you want them or not. Every couple of minutes a billboard glides by outside the bus window. “Buy Super Clean Toothpaste. “ “Drink Root Beer. “ “Fill up with Pacific Gas. “ Only if you sleep, which is equal to turning the television set off, are you spared the unending cry of “You Need It| Buy It Now!“
The beginning of the ride is comfortable and somewhat exciting, even if you’ ve traveled that way before. Usually some things have changed—new houses, new buildings, sometimes even a new road. The bus driver has a style of driving and it’ s fun to try to figure it out the first hour or so. If the driver is particularly reckless or daring, the ride can be as thrilling as a suspense story. Will the driver pass the truck in time? Will the driver move into the right or the left-hand lane? After a while, of course, the excitement dies down. Sleeping for a while helps pass the middle hours of the ride. Food always makes bus rides more interesting. But you’ ve got to be careful of what kind of food you eat. Too much salty food can make you very thirsty between stops.
The end of the ride is somewhat like the beginning. You know it will soon be over and there’ s a kind of expectation and excitement in that. The seat, of course, has become harder as the hours have passed. By now you’ ve sat with your legs crossed, with your hands in your lap, with your hands on the armrests—even with your hands crossed behind your head. The end comes just at the right time. There are just no more ways to sit.
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I asked the soldier what he was in______life. ordinary daily common civilian
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The______goal of the book is to help bridge the gap between research and teaching, particularly the gap between researchers and teachers. joint intensive overall decisive
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My next door neighbor Johnson seems to have______opinion on the show last night. rather the strong rather strong a rather strong the rather strong
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Let me give you a______of how the computer works. demonstration difference deduction distinction
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He offered to______her a hand as the suitcase was too heavy for her to carry. borrow help lend show
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John, let’ s take a taxi, ______? will you shall we would you should we
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The people who objected to the new approach were told that since work had already started, there was no point in______. denying protect protesting competing
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It is difficult for us to explain phenomena that we have little or______direct knowledge. no any no none nothing
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What makes the space shuttle______is that it takes off like a rocket but lands like an airplane. exceptional strange unique rare
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To improve the______is regarded as a good method to increase the farmer’ s income in the south part of the country. sewage drainage aqueduct archway
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They are not so willing______this picture hung in the house. as we to have as we have as us to have as have we
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The______of blood always makes him sick. sight view look form
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He never wrote to his father______he was in need of money. except except when except for except that
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On______side of the street were standing young boys and girls to welcome the President. both two either every
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I didn’ t go to the party, but I do wish I______there. were would be had been will be
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______the rain, we would have had a pleasant trip to the countryside. Because of Due to Thanks to But for
