It's Deja Vu All Over Again
Friday, November 21, 2003
Me Again
I could not help but post this article. It is from my undergrad university e-letter. The article talks about a couple's experience with inter-state commerce and issues of space - asking the question "Where is the sale taking place?" The article mentions Wiener (my favorite guy).
Coping with Computers
Wednesday, November 19, 2003
Space and Technology
Wireless Integration: A New Kind of Computer Lab
I found this article on wireless computer labs. It is interesting considering our recent discussions of space. A point I had not considered before - with campuses going wireless and more students carrying laptops, pocket PCs, Palms any class turns into a computer lab.
Tuesday, November 18, 2003
Nanotech: The European Commission Website
Another good source of info for those of us who are not familiar with nanotechnology. It seems what this technology will bring, i.e., the ability to manipulate the structure of matter-- the CONTROL, is really unprecedented in human history.
moms and blogs
I'm not sure how I'm going to tie this into our conversation (but I'll think on it). I just thought it was darn funny. From the blogger homepage .... here's a link to an article in The Onion and Blogger's official stance on the problem of having your Mom find your blog.
Hey all, its been a while, but here is my insight/question:
why is it that cyberpunk stuff (and I admit my knowledge of the genre is limited) always envisions such a negative or violent future?
Can we talk about nanotechnology
I have to say it is hard for me to understand the novel without much knowledge of nanotechnology. I wonder whether we can talk about this briefly in class. The Foresight Institute link may be a good place to start with.
Monday, November 17, 2003
Diamond Age - Ethnic Utopia, and the Right to Read, and Yes Bud's Dead
I have some slight observations about Diamond Age:
First being that the book appears at first to be an ethnic utopia, if ethnicity is considered in terms of today’s ethnic groupings. I say “at first” because I am not far enough into it to know if this statement holds throughout. As I read, I am amazed at the existence of ethnicities: Asian, Black, Victoria, Eurocentric (German words, English time period, Polish something or other), Imperial, and Trailer. While these groups do not necessarily exist as melded or necessarily accepting one another (see the conversation between Hackworth and Lord Finkle-McGraw p.14-21 about people being born subjects or choosing to take an oath and the dynamics there), maybe I am in awe of Stephenson’s ability to draw together so many ethnicities. Ok. That’s it, I am awed by Stephenson.
Second: I thought the small paragraph about the newspaper was very interesting (p. 31):
“Hackworth got all the news that was appropriate for his station in life, plus a few optional services . . . A gentleman of higher rank and more far-reaching responsibilities would probably get different information written in a different way, and the top stratum of New Chusan actually got the Timeson paper.”
Third: I am so glad Bud died (if you haven’t read to page 50 this is your fault not mine). I couldn’t have read much more of the book without knowing he got caught and “took a long walk off a short pier.” Part of my disdain was his use of technology, but most of my feelings toward him was his attitude.
