Bionic Person

I believe the development of a bionic person is an inevitable event in the future of our species.  Technology is growing at unimaginable speeds, and I believe the curiosity of the human race will always outweigh the question of whether or not this is a good idea.  The transhumanist movement believes it is their duty to help move our species past the point of biological necessity and limitations.  They feel that one day soon we will be able to cross a point where individuals will be considered as "posthuman" and become a new species through the evolution of technology combining with biological processes.  Ray Kurzweil has been quoted as saying that by the middle of this century we will combine our intelligence with "the cloud" and increase our intelligence as a species a billion times and with the help of nanotechnology the human race will no longer die of disease.  I personally enjoy the idea of living a natural life and rolling the dice to see what's next, but I would never stop anyone else from using their freedom to try and see what else we can do with these meat bodies.  Maybe the world will be more exciting with computer chips implanted in our brains and the ability to read everyone's thoughts? Maybe privacy is just an outdated illusion that we're holding onto like hipsters with their cassette tapes?

If we do create bionic "people" than they will absolutely be used in the military.  It's a frightening idea to imagine soulless entities engaging in war, but with the use of drones already encompassing a large percentage of the bombings under Obama, it doesn't seem that different.  I have a very hard time supporting anything that the military does so I'll have to say no I would not support the idea of a bionic military.  Perhaps if the machines develop a consciousness they can teach the leaders of the government how to use one though? That I would support.

If we allow the term, or idea of, energy to encompass a large aspect of our definition of qi than I believe acupuncture has proven to be effective for thousands of years.  The manipulation of needles at specific points on the body has been shown to alter the energetic pathways of the body, allowing the immune system to function properly and heal itself.  Acupuncture can effect hormonal imbalances, influence enzymatic pathways, stimulate the nervous system, and effect PH levels inside the human body.  These energetic shifts optimize our health and create a more harmonious environment for our bodies and our minds.

Whether Kirlian photography shows the existence of an "aura" or just a "corona plasma discharge" caused by water in the air around the objest, it shows that on some level our energetic existence extends past our physical bodies.  We interact verbally with other people all day long but rarely do we stop to think about how we effect others on a more subtle level.  Kirlian photography to me represents this presence that exists outside of our visual field.  Possibly Kirlian photography is a reminder that our words and expressions have an impact on everything and everyone we come in contact with.  A light that can either inspire happiness and creativity, or leave a lasting mark of fear, anger, or resentment.

Our intentions have a direct affect on our health and this idea is no longer held only by practitioners and supporters of so called "alternative" medicine.  Many double blind placebo studies have shown that when people believe they're taking a medication for some illness, they often will have healing results.  This phenomenon has even been observed when the subjects knew for a fact they were taking a sugar pill and not a medication for high blood pressure.  It has been hypothesized that by just focusing their intention for a brief moment on their blood pressure the subjects in the study altered their internal chemistry and received health benefits.

week one

Living Systems


Living systems are open self organizing living beings that interact with the environment. These systems are maintained by flows of information, matter, and energy.  Due to this definition, all human beings must be defined as a living system, for we rely on our outside world for all the essentials of being alive.  Our internal environment's homeostasis requires the functioning of billions of probiotic organisms, just as their live's require our internal combustion and metabolic processes.  If one were to remove themselves from the natural world completely than all life would quickly vanish in that subject. 


Disney Taps Mind Control

Our discussion tonight about disney's research into brainwave reading technology is a frightening topic for me.  Although all technological advances come with some conspiratorial fear, Disney as a corporation I find especially frightening.  They are one of the six corporations that own every large media network along with Time Warner, Viacom, Rupert Murdoch's News Group, CBS, and NBC.  The idea of these companies being able to read brainwaves and market to individuals directly seems incredibly invasive and disturbing.