Today in class we watch the first half of the first part of Star Trek. We talked about how it was supposed to portray the perfect civilization. In their perfect world, Captain Pike was stuck to a wheel chair and the only way he could communicate was through simple yes or no blinks represented through Morse Code. Morse Code was made in the 1840’s so one would think he should have been able to communicate in a more complete way. Another thing was that the women in the show had very insignificant roles. This could be related to the fact that the episode aired on TV November 17th, 1966, a time when women had insignificant roles in the American work force and political system. If so, then what do you think an ideal perfect world would look like with days molds? Not like there is a lot of time at tech, but I know there is a new Star Trek series called Star Trek: Enterprise that started in 2001. Does the society portrayed in that series fit better into what you think it should?

Morales in taking life

Today in class we discussed the morales of bringing back life to the dead. We talked of how it was wrong or right and most said that there wasn't wrong with it and some said it might affect their views of religion. Now what about the morales of taking away life. In today's society there is abortion, assisted suicide, and the ability to "pull the plug" on people. I realize this is a sensitive subject, but I just thought it would be interesting to talk about the other side of the "playing God" taking instead of giving life. If you wish not to talk about the previous question, what about technology and its ability to choose how a baby is going to look, maybe how it will act or how smart it is, or it can be used to help reduce some problems like the chance of down syndrome. In a sense we are still playing God.

"Did You Know 4.0"

Take a look at the video link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mmz5qYbKsvM

This video provides several examples on how technology affects the world we live in and how technological advances change the way we, as humans, live our lives. In this video, it says, "We are currently preparing students for jobs that don't yet exist... using technologies that haven't been invented... in order to solve problems we don't even know are problems yet." (0:45-0:56) How does that make you feel when you first read that? Are you scared? Proud? Maybe a little intimidated? Human technology is becoming so advanced that it can be intimidating but it is only growing faster and faster.

With all this in mind, how do you feel about what technology is doing to humans and to the world in which we live?

The Subaltern in American Culture

In many ways, especially in Western Culture, we like our heroes to be strong, so that we can better identify with them. However, in this novel, the real heroes, not in the traditional sense, are the underdogs, the underclass, those who we do not usually associate with power or heroism. We also mentioned in class that the book could be seen as an experiment in and of itself. How do you think the casting of the subalterns as the "heroes" or the "discoverers" lend to the unfolding of the novel and its overall suspense?

At the end of chapter nine in the book we are reading, The Calcutta Chromosome, Murugan and Antar are talking over lunch about Ronald Ross and his research in malaria. For this week I thought it would be interesting to discuss Murugan’s philosophical question to Antar.

“Do you think everything that can be know should be known?” as it relates to science or life in general. (Ghosh 59) Should we strive to know everything about anything no matter what the costs? How far is too far morally? Does it make it right if it is for the better good? For example, a lot of what we know about the limits of the human body can be traced back to the Holocaust.

http://www.remember.org/educate/medexp.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_human_experimentation (here's a link so you know I'm not making it up!)

Lingua Franca, in your shoes

We recently read/discussed Lingua Franca and the many cultural, physical, and economical effects of the Earthers arriving. The implants are obviously a very touchy subject for the denizens of this alien planet. A few of us were very opposed to the pressure (albeit unforced) that these implants brought on the aliens.

I have a simple question, that i think relates well to our discussons in class and might give you a new perspective on the subject. Let's say a galactic organization of aliens came to our planet, and they communicated through telepathy. In order to be a part of this, we must be able to understand and speak this new language (get implants). How would you react to this? Would you oppose? Would you get the implants?

Roxton and Malone return

In the end of the book The Lost World, John Roxton and Ned Malone are going to return to the plateau. On this adventure they will not have Professor Challenger or Professor Summerlee. With these two scientist absent and only John Roxton and Ned Malone returning how will it affect the expedition using the main points from the two chapters "Science, planetary consciousness, interiors" and "Narrating the anti-conquest." For example will the journey start moving more to the interior of the plateau, will it be a conquest or anti-conquest.