Uncontacted tribes are groups of aboriginal people who still live as their ancestors did.
They have chosen to maintain their traditional lifestyles, even after encounters with other tribal groups who do interact with the modern world. An increasing number of these tribes have been having devastating encounters with various groups (illegal loggers, rubber companies, oil corporations, mining concerns) that are after their lands. In some countries, they live in reservation land set aside by the government to live independent of outside harassment and encroachment. In other countries, the government officially claims to protect the rights of these groups, but in actuality consider them a nuisance because they occupy lands that are rich in natural resources that governments and corporations see as an untapped source of revenue.
Although they are called 'uncontacted', researchers know that they exist but these tribal groups choose to have little to no contact with the 'modern' world.
http://www.uncontactedtribes.org/
http://www.amazon-indians.org/Uncontacted-Amazon-Indians-Peru.html
http://www.survivalinternational.org/tribes/isolatedperu
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Homework for Mar 20
a) What are some of the points Chomsky defends? And Foucault?
Chomsky believes that modern society needs to change fundamentally and that the rigid structure that may have been necessary in previous eras are not necessary. He notes that people should be free to do what they want and pursue their self actualization, instead of being cogs in the machine.
In contrast, Foucault does not have the same believe and doesn't trust human nature. He claims that many of the systems that are in place in free society are merely setup by a higher social class to maintain their order and control over those that they have placed below them. He quotes Chairman Mao about the communist belief that different social classes have different goals.
b) What are some of the qualities seen in this debate that are beneficial to good arguments and mediations?
Both people keep calm and professional, don't resort to personal attacks, and use intellectual reasons to back their views. They don't agree with each other, but they keep their interaction in a civil way.
c) Write a quick sketch of their individual arguments (you will develop more on this on Wednesday, in class).
Chomsky: Human nature is that people are creative and should not be subject to arbitrary coersion, so society should help people fulfill their potential. Therefore, coersion and repression of all kinds must be eliminated.
Foucault: Human nature can't be trusted. Humans created the systems that oppress others. Also, it isn't just government. For instance, the educational system is designed to benefit a certain class of people and to keep others oppressed. He also mentions intellectual fields such as psychiatry and the legal profession that are set up in a way to benefit their own members at the expense of others. These institutions are not independent and impartial, but are used as tools by the powerful for their selfish aims.
Chomsky believes that modern society needs to change fundamentally and that the rigid structure that may have been necessary in previous eras are not necessary. He notes that people should be free to do what they want and pursue their self actualization, instead of being cogs in the machine.
In contrast, Foucault does not have the same believe and doesn't trust human nature. He claims that many of the systems that are in place in free society are merely setup by a higher social class to maintain their order and control over those that they have placed below them. He quotes Chairman Mao about the communist belief that different social classes have different goals.
b) What are some of the qualities seen in this debate that are beneficial to good arguments and mediations?
Both people keep calm and professional, don't resort to personal attacks, and use intellectual reasons to back their views. They don't agree with each other, but they keep their interaction in a civil way.
c) Write a quick sketch of their individual arguments (you will develop more on this on Wednesday, in class).
Chomsky: Human nature is that people are creative and should not be subject to arbitrary coersion, so society should help people fulfill their potential. Therefore, coersion and repression of all kinds must be eliminated.
Foucault: Human nature can't be trusted. Humans created the systems that oppress others. Also, it isn't just government. For instance, the educational system is designed to benefit a certain class of people and to keep others oppressed. He also mentions intellectual fields such as psychiatry and the legal profession that are set up in a way to benefit their own members at the expense of others. These institutions are not independent and impartial, but are used as tools by the powerful for their selfish aims.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Chris Jordan Video
Our assignment was to watch the Chris Jordan video from the TED talks website. The graphic artist did a very good job in his presentation. He spoke clearly and kept the audience engaged. He explained a number of his art pieces and how he used visuals to put otherwise incomprehensible statistics, such as the number paper cups that are used every day, or the percentage of Americans who are in prison, into perspective.
Good ideas that one could use as inspiration for a presentation include: keeping good eye contact, not making distracting gestures or movements, and using visual aids that enrich (instead of being a crutch or distraction).
Good ideas that one could use as inspiration for a presentation include: keeping good eye contact, not making distracting gestures or movements, and using visual aids that enrich (instead of being a crutch or distraction).
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Politically Incorrect
In class we were talking about our favorite advertisements. Considering that I stopped watching a lot of TV as soon as we got our first computer when I was a freshman in high school (a Tandy PC from Radio Shack), it took me awhile to think about a 'good' commercial. I vaguely remember the one where the old woman is sitting on the floor and she says "I've fallen and I can't get up." I don't so much remember the commercial, but that line became a running joke in popular culture. Then there's the Kit-Kat bar song that I remember singing with my brother and sister when we were little kids. However, I think the oldest commercial that I can distinctly remember growing up was the one for the airline British Caledonia.
Watching this commercial brings back a lot of childhood memories. I now also understand why our mom didn't particularly like us singing this jingle. Of course, it does have a great tune and funny words. And to this day, I still think that the ending with the grouchy housewife is probably the funniest part.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Ambush at Curtiss
Friday's class was quite interesting to say the least. I didn't get out of my biochemistry class on time and considering that Moly-Bio and Curtiss Hall are probably the 2 most distant classroom buildings on campus, it wasn't surprising that I got to class a few minutes late. When I got there Victor the instructor asked what grades we got on our first graded assignment and I answered that I got an "A." After hearing what other people got, I wished I had played "deaf" and not answered. I guess that is what happens when you enter in the middle of a heated discussion. If there is one thing worst than having the lowest grade in a class, it's having the highest.
It is said that you should have a personal philosophy. I like to say that mine is something to the effect of, "Aim Low! That way, when you fail, you have less to fall!" It's sort of like that quote about pride always comes before the fall. I don't like being at the top. I always like being second best.
I didn't have any major weaknesses that were pointed out on my paper. What are my strengths? Although it wasn't noted on my paper, I guess it could be summed up as 'OCD'. I spent at least 4-6 hours spread over a weekend working on the paper. That sounds like a lot of time for a 250 word essay! However, said essay was worth 10% of my grade. Why did it take so long? Because I probably re-wrote and revised it over ten times before actually submitting it.
Whenever I submit any homework, whether it is a writing assignment, math, chemistry, or what not, it is always with the attitude that it is the best that I can do given the time constraints. So if I don't know any of the answers on a test, I will do my best to have legible handwriting and write something that sounds at least half-way intelligent. In other words, inaccurate but precise!
I think one thing that caught a lot of students in the class off guard is that Victor grades a lot stricter than what they are familiar with. In the sciences (biology, math, chemistry, physics, etc) the professors are pretty strict about the majority in the class being about a C, with very few at either end of the curve. In the humanities, grading is usually somewhat more lax, with the majority getting a B, and anybody who scribbles something on a piece of paper usually getting at least a C-. But Victor really sticks to the "old school" curve, with the average being a C, even if grades may be skewed to the D side. I guess it is what it is. If I were teaching the class, I'd probably cut students some slack for the first assignment and then turn up the heat as the semester progresses with the idea that I expect a lot more in April that I did in January. But then again, I'm not in charge. I'm just one of the schlubs at the back of the room.
The big question is whether I'll be able to keep up the 'A' rated material for the rest of the semester. After all, writing quality pieces is a time consuming process, and I'm taking 18 credits (15 of science) and work 2 jobs. Hopefully I can pull it off, though, as I need Eng 250 to pull up the rest of my GPA!
BTW, this blog took me 25 minutes to slap together and went through 1 revision (if anybody is keeping track)...
It is said that you should have a personal philosophy. I like to say that mine is something to the effect of, "Aim Low! That way, when you fail, you have less to fall!" It's sort of like that quote about pride always comes before the fall. I don't like being at the top. I always like being second best.
I didn't have any major weaknesses that were pointed out on my paper. What are my strengths? Although it wasn't noted on my paper, I guess it could be summed up as 'OCD'. I spent at least 4-6 hours spread over a weekend working on the paper. That sounds like a lot of time for a 250 word essay! However, said essay was worth 10% of my grade. Why did it take so long? Because I probably re-wrote and revised it over ten times before actually submitting it.
Whenever I submit any homework, whether it is a writing assignment, math, chemistry, or what not, it is always with the attitude that it is the best that I can do given the time constraints. So if I don't know any of the answers on a test, I will do my best to have legible handwriting and write something that sounds at least half-way intelligent. In other words, inaccurate but precise!
I think one thing that caught a lot of students in the class off guard is that Victor grades a lot stricter than what they are familiar with. In the sciences (biology, math, chemistry, physics, etc) the professors are pretty strict about the majority in the class being about a C, with very few at either end of the curve. In the humanities, grading is usually somewhat more lax, with the majority getting a B, and anybody who scribbles something on a piece of paper usually getting at least a C-. But Victor really sticks to the "old school" curve, with the average being a C, even if grades may be skewed to the D side. I guess it is what it is. If I were teaching the class, I'd probably cut students some slack for the first assignment and then turn up the heat as the semester progresses with the idea that I expect a lot more in April that I did in January. But then again, I'm not in charge. I'm just one of the schlubs at the back of the room.
The big question is whether I'll be able to keep up the 'A' rated material for the rest of the semester. After all, writing quality pieces is a time consuming process, and I'm taking 18 credits (15 of science) and work 2 jobs. Hopefully I can pull it off, though, as I need Eng 250 to pull up the rest of my GPA!
BTW, this blog took me 25 minutes to slap together and went through 1 revision (if anybody is keeping track)...
Thursday, January 19, 2012
First two weeks of classes
It seems that I am not as "bad" at public speaking as I thought I was. I've been able to say things in class without freaking out. Why am I taking English 250? Well, it's required. I could have tested out, but I figured that getting a decent grade would help pull up my GPA. And thus far, it has been a good change of pace from my other classes of biology, biology, biochemistry, microbiology, and biology.
Our class discussion of George Carlin's sketch about how America is controlled by a small handful of powerful interestest was rather interesting. In particular, I was surprised that there are many people out there that believe we still have any real choices in elections, especially at the Federal level. Don't get me wrong. There are good people out there running for higher office. However, they have little chance of winning in a system designed to keep them marginalized.
A handful of Wall Street firms give large amounts of money to the leading candidates of both parties. Whoever wins, Wall Street gets their man in office.
Our class discussion of George Carlin's sketch about how America is controlled by a small handful of powerful interestest was rather interesting. In particular, I was surprised that there are many people out there that believe we still have any real choices in elections, especially at the Federal level. Don't get me wrong. There are good people out there running for higher office. However, they have little chance of winning in a system designed to keep them marginalized.
A handful of Wall Street firms give large amounts of money to the leading candidates of both parties. Whoever wins, Wall Street gets their man in office.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Blog Exercise I
Here is Frank Sinatra singing Old Man River from the 1946 MGM film Til the Clouds Roll By. One of the great things about this film is that it is in the public domain, which means that you can download it freely from websites such as archive.org or buy it from Walmart for $1. Although the storyline isn't particularly memorable, it stars a lot of famous actors and actresses of the 1940s and has scores of great songs composed by famous American songwriter Jerome Kern.
Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn from the 1950s movie Roman Holiday.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
What were they thinking? That's what goes through my head whenever I work on an antique furniture piece that has been coated with five layers of paint. Of course, it could have been worst. They could have thrown the piece out... The best part about restoring antique furniture is to see the finished product. It wasn't something you found at the store and then shelled out a whole lot of money to get. You actually put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to arrive at something that is really quite beautiful.
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