Let me tell you about a world that I have visited in my dreams.
In this world great good and light are matched equally by a great dark and evil.
When you are born into this world you immediately begin integrating with machines, computers, and devices. As a toddler and a child your parents and your parenting AI watch you closely to determine which toys your gravitate towards, which programs you pick up easily, and which robots you seem to prefer. Around puberty and always before highschool, you are assigned. Your parents, teachers and of course the AI analyze the data of your childhood and quickly surmise which path in life you would be most suited for and you enter highschool with your future clearly before you.
In highschool you begin to receive your first specific, societally sanctioned upgrades. Some wealthier children may already have received an implant for boosting reading comprehension, or some other Enhancement purchased for them by their families; but in highschool the government are the ones choosing and provided the upgrades.
Those chosen for interpersonal, bureaucratic, or diplomatic work get their language chips and being processing dialects. Those chosen for physical tasks like search and rescue or war begin to undergo preparations to integrate their new bionic parts. Muscles must be primed and cells treated with chemical agents to ensure their young bodies dont reject their new appendages. Those chosen for research or precise medicine start to learn how to control the programming in their eye enhancements, or begin practicing with the delicate instruments that will one day extend effortlessly from their wrists to perform graceful and intricate tasks.
This is the world of Enhancements. Enhanced techniques and skills in medicine have completely eradicated most afflictions. For many average citizens of this world, life is bright and good without instances of pain, disease, or suffering. The good of this world has been enhanced with it's inhabitants.
On the other hand, however, the need for resources and control are still present. For some in this world the Enhancements have only enhanced the dark. The bionic soldier's mind and soul evolve over the course of their life to process feelings like guilt and empathy quite differently than those equipped with more altruistic enhancements. The accuracy and lethality of their enhancements can eradicate as precisely as the surgeons instruments, but with quite a different moral result.
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
Thoughts at the end of Biochemistry
Biodiversity is the fullness of life. Its a fact that with lessened biodiversity there is lessened health and prosperity for all organisms. With the processing power of a human brain, our species can question, study, and prove this fact yet it seems to be our primary directive in existence to oppose and destroy biodiversity.
For generations pests, weeds, germs, and other inconvenient and misunderstood species have been targets, seen as counter to our perfectly human world. With pesticides, antibiotics, Round Up, and disinfectants we obliterate the diversity that keeps us and our planet healthy.
So, on one hand, we see humans obliterating biodiversity for the sake of clean plastic control and then on the other side of our impact on biodiversity, we exert control in the way we carelessly move around, reorganize, and disrupt patterns in nature that preserve biodiversity.
Recently an Israeli space probe crashed into the moon's surface leaving a mess of space junk as well as thousands of tiny, hibernating moss-piglets- Tardigrades. This story reminds me of the countless other ways humans have disrupted pristine eco-systems for our own comfort or curiosity. In the ponds speckled around the hills where I grew up you used to be able to find 4 species of salamanders, a native turtle, birds, and chorus frogs, and fish galore. Sadly, I mostly only know this from natural history texts and a very few actual sightings of these native species. When settlers came to California for the Gold Rush, they brought with them dozens of brand new organisms- some by accident and some intentionally.
One of those brought intentionally was the bull frog, a large amphibian that, for many decades, was a delicious food staple for colonists. Ever tried frog legs? They taste like chicken, honestly, with a hint of pond scum. We introduced this new species into our stock ponds and they quickly multiplied and spread all over the state. Bull frogs are very aggressive, voracious amphibians. They will eat pretty much anything- including all of our native water dwelling creatures, plus some that live on land and fly as well! Bull frogs will eat baby turtles, full grown birds, gophers, and other frogs and still be hungry for more.
I think about the bull frog when I imagine the Tardigrades on the moon. Sure, theyre dehydrated without much chance of being re-animated and brought back to life in the dry desolation of the moons surface. But who knows? Evolution might get mischievous, conditions may change, or there might be some other unknown factor about the moons environment that, in the next 100 years, allows Tardigrades to take over an ecosystem that they were never ever meant to be a part of.
Far fetched, yes. But I see it as the perfect science fiction metaphor for our complete, and often devastating, impact on biodiversity.
For generations pests, weeds, germs, and other inconvenient and misunderstood species have been targets, seen as counter to our perfectly human world. With pesticides, antibiotics, Round Up, and disinfectants we obliterate the diversity that keeps us and our planet healthy.
So, on one hand, we see humans obliterating biodiversity for the sake of clean plastic control and then on the other side of our impact on biodiversity, we exert control in the way we carelessly move around, reorganize, and disrupt patterns in nature that preserve biodiversity.
Recently an Israeli space probe crashed into the moon's surface leaving a mess of space junk as well as thousands of tiny, hibernating moss-piglets- Tardigrades. This story reminds me of the countless other ways humans have disrupted pristine eco-systems for our own comfort or curiosity. In the ponds speckled around the hills where I grew up you used to be able to find 4 species of salamanders, a native turtle, birds, and chorus frogs, and fish galore. Sadly, I mostly only know this from natural history texts and a very few actual sightings of these native species. When settlers came to California for the Gold Rush, they brought with them dozens of brand new organisms- some by accident and some intentionally.
One of those brought intentionally was the bull frog, a large amphibian that, for many decades, was a delicious food staple for colonists. Ever tried frog legs? They taste like chicken, honestly, with a hint of pond scum. We introduced this new species into our stock ponds and they quickly multiplied and spread all over the state. Bull frogs are very aggressive, voracious amphibians. They will eat pretty much anything- including all of our native water dwelling creatures, plus some that live on land and fly as well! Bull frogs will eat baby turtles, full grown birds, gophers, and other frogs and still be hungry for more.
I think about the bull frog when I imagine the Tardigrades on the moon. Sure, theyre dehydrated without much chance of being re-animated and brought back to life in the dry desolation of the moons surface. But who knows? Evolution might get mischievous, conditions may change, or there might be some other unknown factor about the moons environment that, in the next 100 years, allows Tardigrades to take over an ecosystem that they were never ever meant to be a part of.
Far fetched, yes. But I see it as the perfect science fiction metaphor for our complete, and often devastating, impact on biodiversity.
Tuesday, August 6, 2019
My 3 Day Experiment with NOVA Food Classification
Ive always enjoyed a good dietary tracking assignment! To me its like a challenge: how well can I eat this week? For this "experiment" however, I didnt actually make any real changes to my habits. Furthermore, the NOVA classification is one of the best Ive come across for rating or classifying ingredients. Its simple, no-nonsense and clearly evaluates how "whole" a food truly is.
I was pleased to see that my efforts of the last year or so to really "clean" up my diet seems to be working. I still struggle with "convenience" foods like the frozen potstickers when I come home from work late or a sweetened caffeine drink when I want a mid-day pick me up. For the most part, however, my primarily NOVA category 1 diet only takes me a marginal amount of extra time every day. Other than the convenience foods, my biggest pitfall continues to be alcohol- high in calories and hard on the body, but ultimately still irreplaceable.
*sips her whiskey*
I was pleased to see that my efforts of the last year or so to really "clean" up my diet seems to be working. I still struggle with "convenience" foods like the frozen potstickers when I come home from work late or a sweetened caffeine drink when I want a mid-day pick me up. For the most part, however, my primarily NOVA category 1 diet only takes me a marginal amount of extra time every day. Other than the convenience foods, my biggest pitfall continues to be alcohol- high in calories and hard on the body, but ultimately still irreplaceable.
*sips her whiskey*
Monday, August 5, 2019
Who wants an aura selfie!?!
I have an idea for Apple! Listen up, Tim Cook! For the next iPhone XX (or whatever you're on now) we want a Kirlian camera option on our selfie cam!
Think about it! Millennials love filters!
Plus, remember mood rings!! A Kirlian camera on the iPhone would be like a mood ring selfie! Every time you take a photo of yourself, or your friends, a leaf, or your cat you'll not only capture their basic image but the color of their aura will let you capture just how they're feeling in that moment, forever.
Think about it! Millennials love filters!
Plus, remember mood rings!! A Kirlian camera on the iPhone would be like a mood ring selfie! Every time you take a photo of yourself, or your friends, a leaf, or your cat you'll not only capture their basic image but the color of their aura will let you capture just how they're feeling in that moment, forever.
Look, its time for all the haters to succumb to the peer pressure and get over themselves. Selfie's used to be lame, but they're obviously here to stay. Forever.
Come on, Tim Cook, win over the few remaining selfie holdouts (like myself) by appealing to our interest in mysticism that's grounded in science! And when these cameras are commonplace on every phone in the world- remember, you heard it here first!
Sunday, August 4, 2019
Acupuncture as Energy Medicine
In preparation for this discussion I did a cursory Google search for "Acupuncture and Energy Medicine" and what I came away with was a fairly long list of businesses and practices under some combo moniker of the two - Acupuncture and Energy Medicine.
I struggle with this conflation. As I start to peel my feelings apart I see conflict arising from two places. One is that I have always had a deep part of my stomach that turns over whenever I identify myself in such woo-woo terms as an "energy worker" or "energy healer". I think this is something that comes from my upbringing, and as a fairly integral part of me it should be looked at, acknowledged, and then ultimately set aside.
The more persuasive reason I struggle with the conflation of Acupuncture and Energy Medicine is that I find it too simple of a parallel to draw. I don't believe that "Energy Medicine", as the term is understood now, can possibly encompass all of the functionality of Acupuncture or TCM.
The mechanisms of our bodies, down to the cellular level, are functioning constantly to produce and exchange energy. I do not think this is the energy that most people think of when they hear a phrase like "Energy Medicine". It is probably correct to assume that most people who embrace the term Energy Medicine are using it to refer to medicine who's concepts and techniques are primarily non-material. But by a scientific definition aren't x-rays, MRIs, and cancer radiation all energy medicine? And when we're working with this energy, called Qi, aren't we doing Energy Medicine?
But then there is also matter; and matter is also governed by physics. Physics governs the movements of energy and matter. And when we are working with Qi we are also working with the matter of a person.
Its true that, inside the human body, neither of these things, energy or matter, is much of anything without the other. Indeed, this duality is what makes life- Life. Like Yin and Yang the two cannot be separated and so to call our work Energy Medicine alone is a 50% misrepresentation. We cannot assume that most people understand this duality of our medicine, and so to refer to Acupuncture as an Energy Medicine without the greater understanding of the context puts us at risk of selling ourselves short.
I struggle with this conflation. As I start to peel my feelings apart I see conflict arising from two places. One is that I have always had a deep part of my stomach that turns over whenever I identify myself in such woo-woo terms as an "energy worker" or "energy healer". I think this is something that comes from my upbringing, and as a fairly integral part of me it should be looked at, acknowledged, and then ultimately set aside.
The more persuasive reason I struggle with the conflation of Acupuncture and Energy Medicine is that I find it too simple of a parallel to draw. I don't believe that "Energy Medicine", as the term is understood now, can possibly encompass all of the functionality of Acupuncture or TCM.
The mechanisms of our bodies, down to the cellular level, are functioning constantly to produce and exchange energy. I do not think this is the energy that most people think of when they hear a phrase like "Energy Medicine". It is probably correct to assume that most people who embrace the term Energy Medicine are using it to refer to medicine who's concepts and techniques are primarily non-material. But by a scientific definition aren't x-rays, MRIs, and cancer radiation all energy medicine? And when we're working with this energy, called Qi, aren't we doing Energy Medicine?
But then there is also matter; and matter is also governed by physics. Physics governs the movements of energy and matter. And when we are working with Qi we are also working with the matter of a person.
Its true that, inside the human body, neither of these things, energy or matter, is much of anything without the other. Indeed, this duality is what makes life- Life. Like Yin and Yang the two cannot be separated and so to call our work Energy Medicine alone is a 50% misrepresentation. We cannot assume that most people understand this duality of our medicine, and so to refer to Acupuncture as an Energy Medicine without the greater understanding of the context puts us at risk of selling ourselves short.
Monday, July 29, 2019
Radioactive Superheroes: Trump affiliated interest group thinks you deserve superpowers
The tide of deregulation in the Trump era continues to creep up the shore. Thanks to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and a special interest group, Scientists for Accurate Radiation Information, or SARI, the legally permissible amounts of radiation allowed to persist in our daily lives could increase significantly as regulators consider the validity of a concept touted by SARI called "hormesis".
Proponents of hormesis believe things that are damaging in high doses, such as radiation, are actually beneficial in regular, low doses. This defies all conventional wisdom, especially around something as recognizably toxic as radiation.
Radiation persists in our daily lives in all kinds of ways- the food chain, radioactive medicine, airports and airplanes, just to name a few. And until recently, the EPA, NRC, and the Department of Labor have upheld regulations limiting the permissible amount of radiation emitted by machinery, and acceptable in food, as well as acceptable levels of exposure for workers who make their living in these radioactive industries. Since President Trump's election, however, and the influx of pro-deregulation officials in the EPA and other regulatory agencies these limitations are at serious risk.
Furthermore, the true motives of these hormesis advocates should be considered next to their benefactors- tobacco moguls, DOW chemical, ExxonMobil, and utility companies.
Could little bits of radiation truly be "good" for us? Or does it make more sense that industry giants continue to try to protect their bottom line by relaxing costly regulations at the expense of the health of millions.
Proponents of hormesis believe things that are damaging in high doses, such as radiation, are actually beneficial in regular, low doses. This defies all conventional wisdom, especially around something as recognizably toxic as radiation.
Radiation persists in our daily lives in all kinds of ways- the food chain, radioactive medicine, airports and airplanes, just to name a few. And until recently, the EPA, NRC, and the Department of Labor have upheld regulations limiting the permissible amount of radiation emitted by machinery, and acceptable in food, as well as acceptable levels of exposure for workers who make their living in these radioactive industries. Since President Trump's election, however, and the influx of pro-deregulation officials in the EPA and other regulatory agencies these limitations are at serious risk.
Furthermore, the true motives of these hormesis advocates should be considered next to their benefactors- tobacco moguls, DOW chemical, ExxonMobil, and utility companies.
Could little bits of radiation truly be "good" for us? Or does it make more sense that industry giants continue to try to protect their bottom line by relaxing costly regulations at the expense of the health of millions.
Thursday, July 18, 2019
Thoughts on Duality after Biochemistry Class
Now that my very first day of Acupuncture school is under my belt, I look forward to the next three years of my education with a few broader questions taking shape.
During that first class my TCM cohorts embarked on a miniature debate about, basically, integration of TCM as appropriation. It seems that several fall readily on the side of traditionalism, believing that the integration of TCM, especially a sloppy integration, into Western medical practice does a disservice to the principles that our system of medicine is founded on. Basically, an all or nothing idea. Several others in the class seem to still be considering these questions.
Personally, I am happily undecided in this issue. It fits in nicely with the themes of this journey to becoming a healer that Ive been on. In considering this question- traditionalism vs integration, Im reminded of other seemingly polar relationships Ive encountered- physical vs. psycho-spiritual, energetic vs. biological, forceful vs. non-forcing, etc.
I think Rebecca Rupp's article in the Guardian paints the picture of these dichotomous ideas in a beautiful dance. Speaking about the formation of our star, the Sun, our planet Earth, and indeed, ourselves she spins a tail of elements, metaphorical and periodical flying, spinning, and joining together in space. She says, "We are the stuff of stars." Which to me harkens one of the most woo-woo statements Ive heard certain hippies make. But the statement that Rupp is making is a literal one! Now, depending on who you are, the truth of this may strike you as incredible, or even divine, or you may find its truth to be whats makes it so banal. That one statement, and Rupp's pontifications around it, illustrate the duality I find bouncing back and forth in every worthwhile thing I know and do.
Its a duality I hope to see wrestling, back and forth, as I continue on this journey toward becoming a healer.
During that first class my TCM cohorts embarked on a miniature debate about, basically, integration of TCM as appropriation. It seems that several fall readily on the side of traditionalism, believing that the integration of TCM, especially a sloppy integration, into Western medical practice does a disservice to the principles that our system of medicine is founded on. Basically, an all or nothing idea. Several others in the class seem to still be considering these questions.
Personally, I am happily undecided in this issue. It fits in nicely with the themes of this journey to becoming a healer that Ive been on. In considering this question- traditionalism vs integration, Im reminded of other seemingly polar relationships Ive encountered- physical vs. psycho-spiritual, energetic vs. biological, forceful vs. non-forcing, etc.
I think Rebecca Rupp's article in the Guardian paints the picture of these dichotomous ideas in a beautiful dance. Speaking about the formation of our star, the Sun, our planet Earth, and indeed, ourselves she spins a tail of elements, metaphorical and periodical flying, spinning, and joining together in space. She says, "We are the stuff of stars." Which to me harkens one of the most woo-woo statements Ive heard certain hippies make. But the statement that Rupp is making is a literal one! Now, depending on who you are, the truth of this may strike you as incredible, or even divine, or you may find its truth to be whats makes it so banal. That one statement, and Rupp's pontifications around it, illustrate the duality I find bouncing back and forth in every worthwhile thing I know and do.
Its a duality I hope to see wrestling, back and forth, as I continue on this journey toward becoming a healer.
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