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Missile Defense

Technology has always found its greatest consumer in a nation's war and defense efforts. Since the last attempts at a "Star Wars" defense system, has technology changed considerably enough to make the latest Missile Defense initiatives more successful? Can such an application of science be successful? Is a militarized space inevitable, necessary or impossible?

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lchic - 07:53am Nov 1, 2002 EST (# 5433 of 5440)
~~~~ It got understood and exposed ~~~~

Aesthetic design is fundamentally different from advances in technical or functional design such as a better automobile engine. Its impact on consumer behaviour involves what has been called "the best looking thing that works" (Cwi, 198b). If a consumer dote not like the way, a product looks, he or she may not even try it. Similarly, a rich endowment of natural resources does not guarantee a national can effectively develop up-scale value-added products, e.g., Canada is the largest timber-producing country in the world and yet imports Swedish IKEA furniture. This is not because Swedish pine is better but rather due to superior design.

The growing importance of aesthetic design results from four fundamental demographic changes: rapid urbanization, the rising levels of general education, the increasing participation of women in the economic and political process, and the aging of the population (Chartrand, 1987c1. It concerns four ill-perceived but increasingly important dimensions of economic competitiveness: advertising, consumer hedonics (Holbrook, 1987), the emerging narrowcast marketplace, and improved product design (Chartrand, 1987d). While the impact of improved aesthetic design has not been quantified, its impact on economic competitiveness has been recognized:

There is, then, another aspect to culture, namely good taste, good design and creative innovation, that should enable smaller industrial economies to compete effectively in the world economy... In this endeavour, higher quality implies an organic relationship between business and engineering on the one hand, and design and craftsmanship, on the other ... High quality products, technologies, plants, homes, cities and locales require the presence of creative artists of all kinds. To increase long-run supply of artists... governments must support the artists and the arts. The long-term return from investment in artists and the arts is real and substantial. In the absence of strong public support of this sector, Canada will not read these benefits. Governments at all levels should increase their contribution to their respective councils (Royal Commission, 1985:115-16).

http://www.culturaleconomics.atfreeweb.com/University.htm

lchic - 07:58am Nov 1, 2002 EST (# 5434 of 5440)
~~~~ It got understood and exposed ~~~~

In an era when 10% of the world's population, using technology, can meet the basic wants and needs of the enire population ....

there is the 'problem' of how to gainfully employ the remaining 90%

Aesthetic

considerations and approaches
can create goods and service
that meet individual needs

The designer, the artist, the craftsman, the tailoring of program to meet individual preference - is the key to gainful employment along with poverty reduction

lchic - 08:05am Nov 1, 2002 EST (# 5435 of 5440)
~~~~ It got understood and exposed ~~~~

RU Duma - passes legislation to hide truth

In future no
names
info
tactics
information

rshow55 - 08:12am Nov 1, 2002 EST (# 5436 of 5440)
Can we do a better job of finding truth? YES. Click "rshow55" for some things Lchic and I have done and worked for on this thread.

We need redemptive solutions - to situations where there have been terrible injustices - and terrible mistakes.

Questions of aesthetics are central.

(And I think Lchic is beautiful ! )

For us to lessen inhumanity in the future - - we have to deal with things that have happened - within the limitations that we can actually make work - as things are.

I believe these postings from this board on February 27th, 2001 - a few days before almarst was invited on the board - are worth posting again. I appreciate the chance the Guardian-Observer gave me to do so. http://talk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?14@@.ee7b085/401

As the Webster appointment demonstrates again, and as the missile defense boondoggle-fraud shows again and again - we have a lot to sort out.

And on some things, it seems to me, we've made a good start. For me, this will be a busy, hopeful day. Lchic's postings are important and beautiful !

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