STAR TREK BOLDLY GOES INTO THE CLASSROOM

I was not the best student in grammar school, although I skated through with a some timely help from my parents as well as on the strength of my innate intelligence. This plan kept me going into high school, although it sputtered  quite a bit once I hit biology, chemistry, physics and calculus.  My college career was not an overwhelming success as I had not developed the proper study habits required.  Obviously, I was taking the wrong courses.  I am sure I could have easily 'aced' a class on Star Trek, like the one currently offered at UC Davis in California. Now that's something I could have easily sank my teeth into.
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from theaggie.org (The California Aggie)
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Star Trek as a Social Theory: To Boldly Go Into the Classroom

DAVID MADEY — SCIENCE@THEAGGIE.ORG

January 25, 201818

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  UC Davis students learn how fictional universe mirrors our own

For over 50 years, the science fiction franchise “Star Trek” has captivated millions of fans worldwide. And at UC Davis, you don’t have to travel across the universe to take a ride aboard the USS Enterprise. There’s a class for that.

Anthropology professor James Smith, a “Star Trek” fan himself, is the Captain of the ANT 191: Topics in Anthropology starship crew. The course title is “Star Trek as a Social Theory.”

“This course uses ‘Star Trek’ as a vehicle for understanding critical themes in social theory and anthropology, while also teaching students how to think about ‘popular culture,’ television, and daily life anthropologically,” Smith said.

Each week, students watch a single, 42-minute “Star Trek” episode in addition to assigned readings and in-class discussions analyzing social and anthropological theory. The series acts as a cultural map, mirroring the social constructions of one universe and comparing it to our own.    

“It reflects the optimism of the Kennedy era in the U.S., and also presents an opportunity for us to question some of the assumptions informing that optimism,” Smith said.

Students examine questions like: Should there be a universal standard for making ethical decisions? Does technology make us “more human” or does it enslave us? 

“I want students to think seriously and critically about what these imaginings of future entail so they can learn to understand some of the cultural assumptions that are packed into them,” Smith said.

Currently, the class is watching episodes from “Star Trek: The Original Series” and “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” but Smith says he may explore more of the franchise in the future.  

On Dec. 4, the UC Davis Human Rights Lecture Series explored how “Star Trek” can be used as a tool for students to examine human rights-related topics. And now, for the first time at UC Davis, “Star Trek” has become the framework for an academic course.

Human Rights Studies Director Keith David Watenpaugh and Chancellor Gary May co-hosted the event at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento. The title of the series was “Star Trek/Human Rights: To Boldly Go to Human Rights for All.”

“Certainly in the 50 years since ‘Star Trek’ appeared, talking about, contesting, fighting, and dying for human rights has been a definitive element to being human,” Watenpaugh said.

The “Star Trek” franchise inspired May to pursue the sciences at a young age. With a background in electrical engineering and computer science, May did just that.  

“I’m thrilled to hear about the new ‘Star Trek’ class and I hope to visit it, along with another class called the Science of Superheroes,” May said. “As many people know, I’m a ‘Star Trek’ fan — the original series — and one of the reasons I like it so much is because it deals with broader issues of the human condition: rights, race and ethics.”

As such, May jump-started a 10-year campus-wide initiative entitled, “To Boldly Go.”  The plan seeks to increase UC Davis’ national ranking by strengthening the university’s research expertise and growing a diverse community that represents the demographics of California. A final plan is scheduled to completed this July.  

May is also an aficionado of other superhero franchises like the “Avengers,” “X-Men” and “Justice League” because of their pursuits for good.  

“I want students to feel empowered to be like superheroes — agents of their own success, their careers and their destinies — to do some good in the world,” May said.  

The class will also explore the more specific themes of “Star Trek” such as politics, freedom, translation, empire, capitalism and more. 

“The numerous episodes that responded to human right issues in the 1960s still resonate with us today, and also give us a sense of how people in that era were thinking about rights and also the timeless nature of human rights questions,” Watenpaugh said.

The end of the course entails a creative writing assignment in which students imagine that they are a part of a Klingon or Vulcan High Council. As a member of the council, the students must go revisit the year 2018 and write an ethnographic report on some aspect of the community from the lens of either a Klingon or Vulcan standpoint. The assignment gears students to explore the issues inherently constructed in our society.

“In the Star Trek world, this utopian future emerges after apocalyptic events in our current near future, so there is a message about the end of the world not in fact being the actual end, but rather the beginning of something else,” Smith said.

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Your Food Diary For:

Friday, January 26, 2018

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Instant oatmeal - Apples and Cinnamon	780	162	9	18	1,020	72
	780	162	9	18	1,020	72
L U N C H
Subway - Seafood Sensation	820	100	38	26	1,480	16
Chips - Chips	375	38	23	5	425	3
	1,195	138	61	31	1,905	19
D I N N E R
California Sushi Sampler	600	92	18	12	1,800	16
	600	92	18	12	1,800	16
S N A C K S
Klondike - Klondike Bar, 1 bar	250	29	14	3	70	23
	250	29	14	3	70	23
Totals	2,825	421	102	64	4,795	130
Your Daily Goal	1,972	246	65	99	2,300	74
Remaining	-853	-175	-37	35	-2,495	-56
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 42 extra calories from exercise today

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Saturday Weight 251.3 lbs

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KOBAYASHI MARU

My 9th grader told me that she has an assignment at school to write an essay on what the United States should do about the nuclear weapons program in North Korea. I wonder if her teacher is familiar with the Kobayashi Maru? (hint: Star Trek reference)  I believe that even Captain Kirk would be stumped by this one. We know what won't work. And I have not heard from anyone who has some good idea that does not involve the destruction of South Korea as collateral damage. I believe we can thank both President Carter and President Clinton for pretending to solve this problem nearly 25 years ago.  The lie that the problem was resolved 25 years ago is just like the lie that the problem in Iran was solved last year. My point is that the solution is unknown. Captain Kirk defeated the Kobayashi Maru stimulation by cheating, but he did beat it. Clinton, Carter and Obama 'defeated' rogue nuclear weapons proliferation by pretending to solve the problem. 

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OPINION

EDITORIAL

You can thank Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton for North Korea’s nukes

By Post Editorial Board

January 6, 2016 | 8:54pm

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North Korea’s boast that it just detonated its first hydrogen bomb met instant doubts from the White House and arms experts. If they’re right, Pyongyang “only” has plain-old atomic bombs. What a . . . relief? But, as one Chinese expert told The Wall Street Journal, the H-bomb claim still shows that tyrant Kim Jong-un is “marching in that direction.” For all this, thank Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. North Korea couldn’t have done it without their gullibility. Back in 1994, President Clinton prepared to confront North Korea over CIA reports it had built nuclear warheads and its subsequent threats to engulf Japan and South Korea in “a sea of fire.” Enter self-appointed peacemaker Carter: The ex-prez scurried off to Pyongyang and negotiated a sellout deal that gave North Korea two new reactors and $5 billion in aid in return for a promise to quit seeking nukes. Clinton embraced this appeasement as achieving “an end to the threat of nuclear proliferation on the Korean Peninsula” — with compliance verified by international inspectors. Carter wound up winning the Nobel Peace Prize for his dubious efforts. But in 2002, the North Koreans ’fessed up: They’d begun violating the accord on Day One. Four years later, Pyongyang detonated its first nuke. Now, the Obama administration (long content to kick the North Korea can down the road) says it will never “accept” a nuclear North Korea. Funny: The president said the same thing about Iran, then cut a deal that guarantees the ayatollahs go atomic. Yet North Korea is more of a wild card, a concentration camp of a nation run by a tiny, ruthless elite. If it ever lives up to its boasts and unleashes that “sea of fire,” will Carter, Clinton and Obama shed public tears for Pyongyang’s victims?

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Your Food Diary For:

Monday, May 15, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Quaker - Instant Oatmeal	600	114	12	24	450	0
	600	114	12	24	450	0
L U N C H
Read - 3 Bean Salad	300	65	0	5	1,500	40
Chicken Tenders	200	14	10	12	520	0
	500	79	10	17	2,020	40
D I N N E R
Grilled Cheese, 2 sandwich	832	74	45	33	700	12
	832	74	45	33	700	12
S N A C K S
Skinny Cow - Salted Caramel Pretzel Ice Cream	480	51	27	6	255	36
	480	51	27	6	255	36
Totals	2,412	318	94	80	3,425	88
Your Daily Goal	3,579	447	119	179	2,300	134
Remaining	1,167	129	25	99	-1,125	46
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g

Your Exercise Diary for:

Monday, May 15, 2017

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
5.0 Mile Urban Hike	69	939
4.5 Mile Urban Hike	74	710
Daily Total / Goal	143 / 30	1,649 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	143 / 210	1,649 / 4,130

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SPOCK, UHURA and ME

It was hard for me to believe that on Friday I took an 18 mile urban hike. I woke up on Saturday with a terrible cold, a bit of a sore throat and intermittent chills. I rested all morning and in the afternoon I joined my family for a slow walk downtown. While we were at Macy's we discovered 'Mr Spock' and 'Lieutenant Uhura' promoting new Star Trek branded makeup from MAC. As you can imagine, this called for a photo.  I declined any opportunity for a complete makeover. 

Mr Spock, me and Lieutenant Uhura

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Your Food Diary For:

Saturday, September 17, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Creamy Wheat - Enriched Farina	480	100	0	16	340	4
Apple Fritter	600	82	28	8	0	0
	1,080	182	28	24	340	4
L U N C H
Chili, 1 cup	180	16	5	15	790	5
Fried Chicken Tenders	380	22	25	18	970	2
	560	38	30	33	1,760	7
D I N N E R
Panda Express - Broccoli Beef Entree, 5 oz	150	13	7	9	520	7
Panda Express - Grilled Teriyaki Chicken, 6 oz	300	8	13	36	530	8
Panda Express - Mixed Vegetable, 8.6 oz	80	16	1	4	540	5
	530	37	21	49	1,590	20
S N A C K S
VANILLA ALMOND GRANOLA	375	69	12	8	90	21
YOGURT ALMONDS	250	25	16	5	23	22
Yogurtland - Toasted Coconut	500	104	21	17	271	75
	1,125	198	49	30	384	118
Totals	3,295	455	128	136	4,074	149
Your Daily Goal	2,887	361	96	145	2,300	108
Remaining	-408	-94	-32	9	-1,774	-41
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 957 extra calories from exercise today

Your Exercise Diary for:

Saturday, September 17, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
Walking slow speed urban hike 5 miles	111	787
Daily Total / Goal	111 / 30	787 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	809 / 210	10,146 / 4,130

My daughter took a picture with Spock and Uhura as well.

RED ALERT

This week the plan is simple.  Do not gain any weight.  Not a pound.  Not an ounce.  This is going to be a good week.  I will be traveling to Traverse City, Michigan for a quick three day visit and then zipping south to visit an important fabric customer closer to home back in Illinois.  I have learned that in Traverse City there is a brand-new YMCA that just opened this past September - so that is something to look forward to as well.

Regarding my current condition... I have sounded the red alert(s)

Red Alert Gif (Star Trek)

Red Alert Gif (often used on the Drudge Report)

Yesterday, my caloric consumption was much reduced compared to where it has recently been.   I need to reverse the course of my recent weight gains.  Yesterday, was my first effort to cut back from the higher calorie days that I have been getting re-accustomed to.  It is time to un-accustom myself!

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 Saturday MENU

breakfast   oatmeal, two apples, 6 pitted dates                               600 calories
lunch         chicken tortilla soup, codfish, almonds, artichokes     714 calories
dinner        coconut wraps, spinach, hearts of palm, wasabi peas  700 calories

total calories consumed 2014 calories

calories burned

elliptical machine 92 minutes, manual, level 20              2243 calories

CALORIES BURNED 2243 CALORIES

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Saturday net calories NEGATIVE 229 calories

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THIS GUY WILL (APPARENTLY) CONTINUE EMBELLISHING HIS STORIES EVEN IN THE FUTURE!

The 'RED ALERT' from the original 1960's Star Trek TV show

STATISTICAL, ANALYTICAL DISCUSSION of the ELLIPTICAL

On Sunday I had an extremely vigorous workout on the ELLIPTICAL machine, having MOVED THE DIAL all the way to LEVEL '20' and logging a 760 calorie burn in just 32 minutes.   I was personally impressed with this new achievement.   I was not sure if I could do it again.   That lack of confidence was put to rest early yesterday morning.   At 7:00AM I took the elevator up to the fitness room and once again set the dial to MAXIMUM, set the time to 30 minutes (this machine is calibrated to offer a two minute cool down - which I negate by turning the dial back up to MAXIMUM for the final two minutes) and tested myself.   My success on Sunday was no fluke, I was able to duplicate the result yesterday morning.   Which got me to thinking....

I write this blog under the idea, or perhaps illusion that there are others out there who are at least mildly interested and/or amused by my daily thoughts.   The biggest fan of this blog is actually me.  I have often gone back to read something I wrote to remember precisely what I was thinking as pounds were initially melting off.   After yesterday's workout I was curious about my first time on the ELLIPTICAL.   I found the posting I was searching for (it was not too difficult - I cleverly titled that February 1st post: ELLIPTICAL) and read about the first time I made the switch from TREADMILL to ELLIPTICAL.    On that day in February I had what I thought was a VIGOROUS WORKOUT ON THE ELLIPTICAL MACHINE.  I had set the machine to my then current weight of 272 lbs and set the "resistance" to "10" and lasted precisely 30 minutes.   AT THE TIME I WAS VERY PLEASED WITH MYSELF.  I had 'graduated' from the simplicity of simply treadmill walking to a much more interesting exercise.   MY CALORIE BURN THAT DAY WAS 322.   I could not have imagined that within 4 months I would be spending the SAME 30 MINUTES on the SAME MACHINE with a vastly different result.  Now I can set the dial to MAXIMUM, set the time to 30 minutes, enter my current weight of 220 lbs and log a 760 calorie burn.  That is truly progress!

When I turn the dial to MAXIMUM ON THE ELLIPTICAL there is a part of me that feels like Scotty being asked to give more power to the warp engines

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 Monday MENU

breakfast  DUNKIN' DONUTS EGG/HAM/CHEESE, 2 apples.             350 calories
lunch        MARIANO'S HUGE SALAD, GINGER CHEWS.                  857 calories
dinner       PANERA BREAD SOBA NOODLE, BEEF STEAK JUMBO 690 calories
SNACK    3 apples, 2 NATURE VALLEY OATS 'n HONEY BARS.       644 calories

TOTAL CALORIES CONSUMED  2541 CALORIES

calories burned

7AM elliptical 32 minutes LEVEL 20                                   762 calories

SUNDAY net calories  calories 1779 calories

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COLONOSCOPY

Hi, it's me...I'm back.  The endoscopy and colonoscopy procedures were scheduled for 8AM and I was instructed to arrive one hour early. As I was anesthetized I have no memory of the procedure.  I do know that I started getting hungry last evening, and I was hungry when I woke up this morning. So, I headed to Mariano's Market for a BIG DELICIOUS SPINACH SALAD with a myriad of toppings after my release from the hospital at 10:00AM.

I was not looking forward to this procedure, but I didn't go 'kicking and screaming'

INITIAL COLONOSCOPY RESULTS:

Although I left the hospital with two sheets of paper regarding the colonoscopy and endoscopy results, they don't mean much too me.  A 5mm polyp was found which I am led to understand is in itself not a gigantic issue. Some diverticula was found, and this too, is not a major issue as best I understand at this time.  And finally, the report indicated that my terminal ileum appeared normal (and I am writing this sentence having no idea what that is - I will look it up later.)

The initial endoscopy report noted a small hernia.  (Again, until I speak with my doctor, I don't know what to make of this)  The doctor found evidence that I might have 'Barrett's esophagus.' The report also noted that my stomach and duodenum were normal.  Obviously I need to speak with my doctor to find out what any of this really means.



 THURSDAY MENU
breakfast  4 cups chicken broth, 1 package Jello-o Gelatin                                    60 calories
lunch        8 cups chicken broth, 2 packages Jell-o Gelatin                                  120 calories
dinner       4 cups chicken broth, 1 package Jell-o Gelatin                                     60 calories

total calories consumed 240 calories

CALORIES BURNED
12 Midnight (long before the Colonoscopy Preparations began)  32 minutes elliptical 532 calories

Thursday net calories 292 calories

Following the protocols for preparing for a colonoscopy certainly agree with someone who is trying to lose weight.  Nevertheless, I do not recommend it.

BECOMING OVERWEIGHT - A HUGE ACHIEVEMENT

Since this journey began I have been dreaming of becoming overweight.   Huh?  You ask.   Well, I must remind you that I began this adventure at 309 lbs and was classified at CLASS III MORBID OBESITY.  Eventually I 'graduated' from that classification and into 'only' CLASS II OBESITY and then into CLASS I OBESITY.  I am currently nearing the end of my membership in CLASS I OBESITY.   I bought a pair of 36" waist cargo summer shorts for my next stop on the 'waistline express.'   I tried them on last night to see just how far away I was from wearing them.  To my, happy shock, I actually could get them on and I could zip them up!  Now they are far too tight and uncomfortable to wear (aside from the fact that here in Chicago it is not shorts wearing season just yet)  The point is, I do think that there is a chance of me graduating out of CLASS I OBESITY tomorrow when I step onto the scale.   If not I do not reach this goal tomorrow morning, it's sure bet that I will graduate from CLASS I OBESITY within days.   Graduation out of the CLASS I OBESITY will give me a brand-new classification - OVERWEIGHT.   Not that many people would be so happy being officially overweight - but under my circumstances - I will be ecstatic.

I must admit that the BMI tables that generate these classifications are somewhat controversial.   At 309 lbs - there isn't a soul on planet earth that would have seen me as anything but obese.   At my last current recorded weight, 229.6 lbs - I do not think that there would be too many people who would look at me who say, "Wow, look at that guy - he's obese."   I do somehow manage to wear my clothes well - but when that shirt comes off, I can see that I do still have plenty of extra flab that needs to be David Copperfield(ed) into 'thin air' (pun intended).

STAR TREK: SO VERY TIRED  (SIMPSONS SPOOF)

I only have to remember back to December 2014 to be sympathetic to Scotty.

Announcer: "Star Trek XII: So Very Tired"... see the original cast in the latest and greatest adventure!

[three Birds of Prey confront the Enterprise]

Sulu: Captain, Klingons off the starboard bow.

Cpt. Kirk: [exasperated] Again with the Klingons.

[activates communicator]

Cpt. Kirk: Mr. Scott, give me full power.

[in the engine room]

Scotty: It's no good, captain.

[Scotty is too fat reach the engineering computer]

Scotty: I ca'not reach the control panel!

This is not exactly the type of 'bucket list' that's too healthy!

Even skinny people probably have difficulty with
today's cell phones.

Fat AND Happy?  That's a myth.
HOWEVER, SOON I WILL BE OVERWEIGHT AND HAPPY!
I THINK I HAVE EXPLAINED THAT UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCE.

I am apparently very close to being (only) OVERWEIGHT.  I am very excited. I am getting close to tipping the scale at a weight that my body has not seen since the 1980's. Although I did get down to 220 lbs for about 5 minutes 8 years ago - I never saw 219 lbs. This time, I expect to take this journey much further.  I still have the life-long dream of a Grand Canyon mule ride beckoning me...if a donkey trip is to be in my future...I still have a long way to go...  This is an exciting time in my life.

I still kinda cracks me up and amazes me...

...that only two days after 'discovering' that I weighed 309 lbs at a doctor visit...
...and only 48 hours after managing to eat like a normal human being for two consecutive days...
...I decided that I was going to lose (at least) 100 lbs AND BLOG ABOUT IT. (daily)
...I believe that's called CHUTZPAH!
...Who does that?
...Who does that, and puts their own name on their so-called diet plan, RABBI HILLEL DIET?
...and who names their own program and prints up their own business cards?
...apparently, I do - because I did.

I titled today's blog entry: BECOMING OVERWEIGHT - A HUGE ACHIEVEMENT.
There might be something oxymoronic about that title...

You see, as I am about to become ONLY 'overweight' for the first time in nearly a decade...
This particular achievement has seen me become far LESS huge.
So, in a way, it's a SMALL achievement.
(Getting to 309 lbs - that was an unwise, unwanted, undesired, unhealthy LARGE achievement)
I am glad to be forfeiting that dubious accomplishment!

BMI	Classification
< 18.5	underweight
18.5–24.9	normal weight
25.0–29.9	overweight
30.0–34.9	class I obesity
35.0–39.9	class II obesity
≥ 40.0	class III obesity

My 'magic' number is 224.2. (6ft, 1/2 inches tall) to exit OBESITY.

224.2 lbs will officially classify me as overweight!
The question: Did I manage to drop 5.4 lbs this week?  It's a tall order...

VISIT ME TOMORROW AND FIND OUT...
...I KNOW I WILL!


THURSDAY MENU

breakfast  one scrambled egg, two sausage links, SHMURAH MATZO                 280 CALORIES
lunch        JACK'S DELI & RESTAURANT (yep I did go back!)
                 SCRAMBLED EGGS w/NOVA LOX, PICKLE, TOMATO, MATZO   439 CALORIES
dinner      JIMMY JOHN'S bootlegger club UMWICH w/veggies                           280 CALORIES

total caloric consumption     939 CALORIES

CALORIES CONSUMED
YMCA 9AM elliptical machine 35 minutes     485 calories

THURSDAY NET CALORIES      454 CALORIES

JACK'S DELI & RESTAURANT: On my return visit, I ordered SCRAMBLED EGGS w/NOVA LOX, tomato and matzo.  UNBELIEVABLY DELICIOUS!  no, seriously!

more from JACK'S YIDDISH 101
I didn't see this sign during my first visit on Tuesday...and this one is the best of  all of them!