The Digital Era is here to stay and we are in the midst of the staggering developments that it produces. Results for any inquiry a person desires reveals itself in a single mouse click or the use of a cell phone. It is no wonder nearly everybody seems to be in a hurry, in an attempt to keep up with lightening speed technology.
Let us not forget the past decades, when the evening news was the main broadcast of current events. There was also the news of the hour on your favorite radio station, or, I should say about every half hour. Oh wait, that is still popular, if you are listening to the radio instead of your iPod.
It used to be beneficial to always carry loose change in your pocket. Not only could you provide your fellow man with change for a dollar, but you also had coins to use in a payphone in case of emergency, or at least, make an urgent call. Hey, forget those days. Use your digital cell phone. Much quicker. So is a text message.
Yes, I know. People still carry pocket change for other reasons, while they also carry checkbooks. Some of these people have also discovered the digital convenience of debit cards. I cannot imagine many of them wanting to write checks anymore.
The Information Superhighway, in the opinion of this author, is probably the best invention in modern times since peanut butter and jelly. Yes, the Internet has not only changed your life or mine, but has affected life as we know it on the whole planet earth.
Access to information is instantly obtainable. Communication to anywhere in the world is accessible right there on your keypad. And a great big thank you to the Digital Era, you can also shop anywhere you desire from your computer.
The Digital Era has also come to terms with photography. Not many of us need film for our cameras any more. A memory card will do just fine, thank you. It is smaller, holds more photos and they can be downloaded on your computer. Really. Yes, you get your photographs much quicker this way.
Please, do not assume this article was written in any disdain for the Digital Era we live in. If you need to, please classify this writing as a rant at a possible reason why everybody feels the need to rush through every activity of their day.
Time travels fast enough without us helping it along. So slow down and consider our digital inventions as tools to enable convenience in our lives, or perhaps as rewards to our intelligence as we progress into our technological future.
As your life may seem to go too fast, remember, you can capture the quick precious moments on your memory card, with your digital camera, upload them on your computer and email them to your friends and family. Make use of our Digital Era because it is quicker this way.
Quality Of Life Technology
There is a ?good new/bad news? scenario to importing and exporting products for those regions of the country that boast busy sea ports. Specifically in Southern California, the Long Beach Port manages trade valued annually at more than $100 billion, making it the second-busiest seaport in the United States. Yet, this prosperity significantly negative impacts the quality of life in Southern California.
Everything from clothing and bicycles to toys, furniture and clothing arrives at the Port before making its way to store shelves throughout the country. Specialized terminals also move petroleum, automobiles, lumber, steel and other products. A major economic force, the Port supports more than 320,000 careers and jobs in Southern California and 1.5C million jobs throughout the United States. It generates about $17 billion in annual trade-related wages statewide.
With a Green Port Policy sponsoring efforts to minimize or eliminate negative environmental impacts, the Port also is a driver for environmental programs. Acting as a model for ports around the world, the Port of Long Beach created such programs as the Green Flag vessel speed reduction air quality program, Green Leases with environmental covenants and the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan.
Obviously, products manufactured overseas (called outsourcing) need to be shipped to the United States and disseminated across the country. The most cost-efficient way to ship is by sea, where tons of goods move through regional ports, bringing more jobs but also huge traffic congestion and air quality issues.
This brings ?Big Issues, big money with big impacts,? according to Art Leehy, the chief executive of the Orange County (California) Transportation Authority. He, along with many local and state leaders, is grappling with the impact on the infrastructure, environment and economy around Long Beach and the Los Angeles ports, since combined, are ranked fifth in the nation for dollars and tonnage shipped. There is even more concern in New York (the largest port in the nation), Texas, Illinois and New Jersey, who all outrank Orange County in traffic through their ports.
?It's a regional source of money,? and ?Today it provides jobs to the region,? say some of the proponents. However, on the negative side, it increases traffic and congestion on the freeways, and local roads as well as the railways. There is more noise and air pollution, potentially unsafe railroad crossings, and huge costs involved in maintaining the roads and/or widening freeways to support the additional traffic.
Municipal, as well as state leaders struggle to find ways to mitigate this negative impact on residents by concentrating on ways to improve the quality of life. Some of these enhancements are grade separations, quiet zones, and safer rail crossings. All these efforts help the situation, but in addition, counties need to work with more synergy to continue to develop ways to improve the situation for those communities experiencing heavy movement of cargo.
According to experts, this will continue to be a problem, due to the growth pattern over the past several years. There is an increase in international trade and less manufacturing in the United States. Driving this scenario, simply put, is an increase in consumer consumption. We, as a nation, consume too much and it is not likely to change in the future.
Both Tom Watson & Dr. Joe Greco are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Dr. Joe Greco has sinced written about articles on various topics from Real Estate, Web Development and Small Business. Dr. Joe Greco is Director for the Center for the Study of Emerging Markets (CSEM) located in Fullerton, California. As part of the College of Business and Economics at California State University, Fullerton, CSEM was established to promote the flow of gl. Dr. Joe Greco's top article generates over 1900 views. to your Favourites.
