Module 13

What I have learned.

            I must say this was one of the most interesting classes I have ever taken. I don’t remember a class where I got to write essays about science fiction and some of my favorite movies. I enjoyed, “A logic named Joe” for its real-life prophecies. I also enjoyed “Why the World Doesn’t Need Us.” I find a little peace of mind knowing that our own government was smart enough to cease and desist all biological and chemical weapons because they realize the possibility that it could fall into the wrong hands.

Of course I cannot forget “The world is Flat.” I will be completely honest about this. It wasn’t the easiest reading for me. Other than what I learn on the news, I have no other knowledge of economics. I felt this was a kind of a learn-on-the-fly type situation. I think I handled it pretty well. Also, I know that some of the most important things aren’t exactly the funnest to learn, but the knowledge received is well worth the time.

The opening of closed national markets in such places as China, Germany, and India surely help the world’s economy as a whole. It however put more pressure on us Americans because we Americans are extremely lazy in comparison with these countries. We have excuses for everything. Some Americans are very scandalous and try to work our own government, like it’s the Red Cross. Everyone wants something for nothing. Just watch any episode of judge judy and you can see plain as day what I am talking about.

Another outtake I took from Friedman is that we as human beings must start to learn to accept other people and their beliefs. From a business point of view, we will be working more closely and frequently with people of other countries. But even more than that, I believe that there will come a day when we as a human race will have to unite to overcome something that is bigger than ourselves. I’m not exactly sure what that is, it could be a great number of things. My point is quite simply that if we can trust and work alongside one another in unison, we’ll have the ability to overcome just about any obstacle that gets in our way. Synergy at its highest level will be what is required to save the Earth and possibly our own race.  And all of this has to begin within ourselves. 
      I cannot speak of imperfections in others until I examine my own first. I know for myself, I really don’t have a bias against any country, but there is a part of me that hates all the Mexicans in our area. I have my reasons for this, mostly because a large number of them are thugs, drug-dealers and gun-runners who come here to cause havoc, and to make money illegally, without paying taxes, and then take that money back to their homes in Mexico. Being a meth addict (in recovery),I have seen this on scales that most probably haven’t. But I have to remind myself that even though there are a lot of bad illegal Mexicans, the majority of them are just like you and me. So it’s time I work on myself and accept there is no room for that way of thinking in the future.

While this sounds all fine and dandy, I have learned from Friedman and Joy, that this is unlikely to begin with. It only takes one bad guy for every million people to change laws and make things more inconvenient for us, especially when we could be putting or efforts and resources elsewhere. About a year ago I had a conversation with one of my friends about how we American either have to choose between freedoms or securities, we cannot have both. Being raised to love our country and everything it stands for, it would be almost un-American to change laws like the Second Amendment so that it is no longer a right to bear arms, but a privilege that could be taken away. It would be un-American to try and to censor the internet and other information mediums. A year ago when I had this conversation with my friend, I ultimately found myself agreeing with him that as an American we cannot do anything that would sacrifice our freedoms. I DO NOT FEEL THIS WAY ANYMORE. Thanks to a couple of bad apples it is my position that people should not have the right to carry a gun. I am not saying take guns away, but it should not be a right. Also, in the past I  have caught myself agreeing with many Facebook posts dealing with the censorship of the internet. Being American, I of course was appalled when I first heard of this. But maybe some type of censorship is necessary. There is too much information that can land in the wrong hands if we don’t.

If I was to post this blog on Facebook, I know I would have nothing but negative feedback. People would probably think I am a lunatic and anti-American. However with everything that I have learned from this class, this is my way of thinking now. I know most of my FB friends haven’t read “the World is flat” or “Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us.” So, I feel I have an advantage on them and feel sorry that they refuse to see the things the way I do. The sad thing is that we already have started sacrificing rights for securities and most people haven’t either realized it yet, or haven’t said anything about it. Think of this, we should not have to be stripped-searched, x-rayed, and have shoes inspected like a criminal going to jail, every time we board an airplane. However, I would refuse to board unless everyone else was also strip- searched. I don’t think any American would board a plane unless that was the case. 

It’s for these same reasons that I believe the Second Amendment should be greatly amended again, and even censorship of the internet should be in place. It’s as simple as this, our freedoms and liberties mean nothing if we are dead. Also,things should remain this way until such time that there are no evil entities left in the world. What a sad and necessary situation. I don’t expect all my classmates to think the same as me either, but at least my classmates can relate as to why I would think the way I do.

Don’t get me wrong. I did learn a lot about supply-chains, outsourcing, off-shoring and things of that nature. I know that to survive in the up-coming years I’m going to have to be faster and better then the next guy, whether he is American or Chinese. I will apply these leanings in my daily life. But, I have made it perfectly clear what I got most out of this class; the bulk of this blog!

I would also like to thank all my fellow classmates for their kind words and lack of judgment, especially with my last essay. I am not ashamed of my past, it has made me the man I am. But it’s also something I don’t go blabbing to everyone. And to you Professor Jensen, I would not change anything about the class. I believe you have a great dynamic relationship between, “The World is Flat” and the rest of your readings, especially the last one. What a great way to open our eyes and end your class. You have done a great job…..

….. Good luck to everyone!!!!!

Sincerely,

Paul James Baltazar Jr.

and remember what Kyle Reese of the Terminator said,"There is no fate but what we make."
OUR FUTURE IS NOT WRITTEN.!!!!

Module 12

 Finally a reading that I can relate to! I am going to open up to all my readers and explain some of my thoughts and feelings that I process on a daily basis. I have always felt uneasy about the future. Though, I'm not the type to bite on doomsday theories. I have always thought that I think or know too much. It would be important to understand that I am a recovering meth addict of a binge that lasted the better part of ten years. During this period of my life I have began to think in teams of what I would consider 'deeper than most.' Lets get one thing straight, while it is true that I did suffer from paranoid delusions, these dilutions steamed from great truths. I have been clean almost six years, however some of my delusions still haunt me, not because I am delusional, but because I know Earth will be facing troubles of grave consequence in the future.

I have always been big into science, excelling past most of my peers in high-school, being pro-active in science and environmental groups. I have spend countless hours studying astronomy and earth sciences. I have also heavily contemplated doomsday theories, trying to collect all the supposed evidence these doomsday theorists employ, apply my own understanding of science, and think for myself about weather they are right or wrong. In the end I find most doomsday theories de-bunk themselves. However, during the most intense moments of my life, worldly thoughts would drive me insane. I even to the point where counseling and anti-anxiety pills were necessary. Though I was a meth addict and suffering from delusions and paranoia, it didn't mean that I was wrong about what was bothering me. Nor does it mean I was stupid, these problems are real, I knew it then and I know it now. And this reading only adds to my list of things to worry about. I am just grateful that I can now live a normal life. I take everything in stride despite the knowledge I posses.

My number one concern for this planet is over-population. It has always been my personal assessment that we humans can not control our sex drives, it is in our programming to reproduce and we will continue to do so at an exponential rate! In the future we will have no other choice but to move on to another planet or dimension so that we can virus off it, just as we have done to the Earth. But to accomplish such a feat would mean massive improvements in technology, which leads us to a catch 22. How can we become so technologically advanced that we can travel to another solar system and/or dimension, with out having to deal with the problems that Bill Joy describes in his article “Why the future doesn't need us?”

The only correct answers are within the article itself. First, we must agree as a species as to what we what and where we want to go. Second, we must learn to accept other's religions and ideologies, so that we are able to work together. And third, above all costs, be ethical and moral about how we advance in our technology. What I am talking about is world-peace and the end of greed. So, for all practical intents and purposes I could end this blog right now. Being that world peace is about as possible as time-travel, and greed is so very abundant and in many forms.But I won't!

Space-travel or even dimensional-travel that would solve the unstoppable problem of world over- population, might and could very well be a possibly in the future, or so lets hope. However we are not close to achieving this kind of technology and it would only make sense that to achieve higher technologies, we must advance the technologies that we have now. I could very well see an artificial-intelligence of some sort as the only possible brain that could conceive such scientific notions that might be required for our goal of space/dimensional travel. So we can not stop building on what we already know, we just have to be responsible and ethical about it. There is a difference between, being able thinking for yourself and being able to feel emotions. As far as A.I. is concerned, as long as emotions are kept out of the computer loop I think we would be OK.

I could also very well see nanotechnology (GNR) uses for materials required in such a feat as space-travel. The subject of nanotechnology is nothing new to me, however I haven't thought about it for some time. I remember reading a sci-fi book by Micheal Crichton titled “Prey.” This book was about nanotechnological, intelligent machines the size of germs that were made to cure all types of desease. Supposedly, they were to enter the body and attack just the virus, bacteria, or cancer. However these machines acquired a mind of there own and went on a killing spree. This kind of technology sound very scary, but it too must be explored for the sake of our future. But can this done safely? Being built in the private sector!

There are a lot of questions that I don't have the answers to. What I do know is that there are many things to be afraid of, but we can not live our lives in fear. If we do what's the point? I was born and raised a Christian. For the better part of my life I have always believed in God and Jesus. However, because of my great understanding of science I have began to question. This is a personal matter that I deal with on a daily basis. But I truly hope there is a loving and merciful god. I want to believe that more then anything. Besides, I can not think of anything better to intervene with the problems of our future than that of the second coming of Christ!