What is it that shapes the direction of technological progress in advanced industrial societies? Is it science? Technology itself? Or is it something even more powerful and all-encompassing, like power or money or politics? John Kurt Jacobsen addresses this topic by investigating how contemporary democratic capitalist states govern the development

What is it that shapes the direction of technological progress in advanced industrial societies? Is it science? Technology itself? Or is it something even more powerful and all-encompassing, like power or money or politics? John Kurt Jacobsen addresses this topic by investigating how contemporary democratic capitalist states govern the development and deployment of their scientific and technological resources. He examines the interaction of ideology, profits, and power, and their combined effect upon technology policy in democracies.The "social function of science" has been a contentious area of scholarly study throughout the second half of the twentieth century. Although the book focuses mainly on the United States, for the sake of instructive comparison, it also studies technological development of other societies, including the former Soviet Union and China. Some competing accounts of technical change across the borders include laissez faire, cultural, and neo-Marxist markets. In fact, with regard to laissez faire markets, even to inquire if science has a social function is to deviate from the appropriate images of economic development. What is always politically at stake is who will rule the next stage in production due to each swing in technology, which will, in turn, be associated with a new structure of control. Most recently, the microchip revolution and cyberspace are the most highly publicized candidates for the next upswing in technology--and thus the next new structure of control.The explanatory focus of the book is on ideology, or on ideas about how technology works and should work, and the three key areas of policy contention discussed are industrial development, military uses, and the environment. Students and scholars of science, technology, and sociology should find this book useful in coming to terms with the fundamental questions underlying the development of technology today.

This book, first published in 1994, investigates the political causes and consequences of economic policy in Ireland, and addresses many key debates in political economy and development studies. As a former colony and small, economically dependent nation with durable democratic institutions, the Republic of Ireland shares many of the economic problems of the Third World, and the political structures of the First World. Like many Latin American and East Asian nations, Ireland abandoned autarky in the late 1950s in favour of free trade and 'industrialisation by innovation', but by the 1980s was seeking a new development arrangement as the costs of this strategy became apparent.

This book, first published in 1994, investigates the political causes and consequences of economic policy in Ireland, and addresses many key debates in political economy and development studies. As a former colony and small, economically dependent nation with durable democratic institutions, the Republic of Ireland shares many of the economic problems of the Third World, and the political structures of the First World. Like many Latin American and East Asian nations, Ireland abandoned autarky in the late 1950s in favour of free trade and 'industrialisation by innovation', but by the 1980s was seeking a new development arrangement as the costs of this strategy became apparent.

Santa's more than just a guy in a red suit This playful paper doll collection depicts Kris Kringle's off-season antics, with costumes for taking tropical vacations, conducting home repairs, taking a long winter's nap, and other activities. Also includes cut-outs of Mrs. Claus, reindeer, a snowman, a Christmas tree, and more.

A collection of Sci-Fi masterpieces featuring stories by acclaimed creators Geoff Johns and Kurt Busiek. "Metal Hurlant" magazine was created in Paris in 1974 by Moebius, Druillet and Dionnet, the founding fathers of Les Humanoides Associes. This movement soon revolutionized the medium and inspired countless writers, artists and filmmakers the world over. Versions in various languages flourished everywhere, including in the States with "Heavy Metal." The French version was eventually shut down in 1987. But in 2002, Humanoids relaunched a limited publication of a 13-issue anthology, with one main goal: establishing a creative bridge between the US and Europe. Includes stories written and illustrated by comic book stars Geoff Johns, Kurt Busiek, Guy Davis, and Jerome Opena, among many others.

Join a lively herd of unicorns for coloring enchantment This magical gallery of pictures to color introduces a fun-loving group of unicorns. The mythical creatures frolic with dolphins, romp through forests, preen under rainbows and in fields of flowers, climb mountains, cross streams, fly kites, and make friends with woodland creatures.

Infra-red thermal imaging is a rapid and non-invasive procedure for mapping skin temperature distribution of the human body. The natural infra-red emission from the skin is captured by the imaging camera, and is displayed as a digital image. Advanced software and high resolution infra-red detectors has allowed for a renaissance in the use of infra-red thermal imaging or thermography in medical research and practice. Thermal imaging provides a two dimensional map of skin temperature, which can often indicate a localisation of hypo or hyperthermia and its major clinical value is in its high sensitivity to pathology in the vascular, muscular, neural and skeletal systems and as such can contribute to the pathogenesis and diagnosis. After a brief review of theory and technology of infra-red imaging the bulk of the book consists of a collection of clinical case studies demonstrating the wide variety of applications for thermography in modern medicine. The combined expertise from a number of centres is used to create a database of images that will be invaluable for practitioners in making diagnoses and measuring treatment efficacy.